Wednesday, October 17, 2012

2-in-1

Guess what this post is gonna be about?
If you guessed more microwave desserts... You are correct.

I told you I am obsessed. But, hey, at least I admit it, right?! 

Ingredients:
1 tbsp dry oats
1 tbsp cinnamon roll protein powder
1/4 package cinnamon roll Duncan Hines Frosting Creations (optional... you can just use all protein powder, or just lots of cinnamon!)
1 tbsp pumpkin puree (adds moisture, not flavor!)
a few banana slices (optional, but recommended)
1 egg white
1 tbsp almond milk
1 tsp plain Greek yogurt
1/2 tsp cinnamon (heavy dash)
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp maple syrup
pinch of salt
pinch of nutmeg
sprinkle of brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 packet of Stevia

Frosting:
1-2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt
1/4 tsp maple syrup
1/2 packet of Stevia (optional)

Directions:
Mix all ingredients thoroughly, then pour into a sprayed microwave-safe mug.
(I also add in a sprinkle of cereals and granola. It adds such good texture! As does extra banana slices.)

Microwave for 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
Meanwhile, mix the ingredients for your frosting. Pour into a baggy, push to a corner, cut the tip.
After your cinnamon "roll" has cooled for a few minutes, pipe your frosting on top, and top with whatever else you'd like! (Let it cool for a little bit just so the "icing" doesn't immediately melt off!)
Then enjoy every single cinnamon-y bite!

Clean banana bread funfetti cupcake, anyone?
Ingredients:
1 tbsp oats
1/2 tbsp whole wheat flour
1 egg white
1/2 tsp sprinkles*
sprinkle of crushed Fruity Pebbles*
1 tbsp almond milk
1/2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 banana, melted in the microwave for 30 seconds (easiest to use overripe)
1 tbsp pumpkin puree (adds moisture, not flavor)
dash of cinnamon
pinch of salt
sprinkle of brown sugar
1 packet of Stevia
1/2 tsp baking powder

Frosting:
1-2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt
1/4 tsp maple syrup (or any other flavoring of your choice. You can add in some cocoa powder to make it chocolate frosting!)

1/2 tsp sprinkles and a sprinkle of crushed Fruity Pebbles to top*

*If you don't want to use Fruity Pebbles, just use as many sprinkles as you want! Surprisingly, 1/2 tsp comes out to be enough for at least a topping, but then again, I also used crushed Fruity Pebbles. I only used both of them because you can have quite a bit more for less calories/sugar/etc., and they also have a brighter color and fruiter flavor! I loved the addition, but again, it's all personal preference!

Directions:
Mix all ingredients thoroughly, then pour into a sprayed microwave-safe mug.
(I usually always top with some extra banana, haha.)

Microwave for 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
Meanwhile, mix your frosting ingredients. After your cupcake has been plated, plop on your frosting, sprinkles, and any other fun additions!

I've been receiving some really great feedback on my microwave "clean" desserts, and it's inspiring me to get even more creative and experimental in the kitchen! Thank you to anyone who has tried any of my recipes, it means the world to me, and I'm so glad you like the result! I appreciate it so much, so thanks a million! 

What I Ate Wednesday #24 - It's Already Mid-October!?

It's October 17th already? W h a t!? It's already WIAW again?! This year is FLYING by!
On the bright side, at least the holidays are almost here!! YAY!! Can't wait to bake cookies, watch the snow fall, and watch ALL THE CHRISTMAS MOVIES!

Haha. Anyways, since today is Wednesday, that means it's time for me to post some weekly eats!
Spooky Snacks and Healthy Halloween Treats
10/10/12 - Dessert/Snack: another clean dessert/nighttime snack!
Strawberry-pumpkin mini microwave cake stuffed with chocolate and topped with all the thingssss! And some homemade caramel almond milk “ice cream” (with some not-so-healthy PUMPKIN PIE ICE CREAM) alongside! 
10/11/12 - Breakfast: ugh... I just love OIAJ so much.
 I finished this entire jar all by myself... And I’m very proud! Hahahaha.
The most perfect and fluffy pumpkin pie egg white oatmeal with a sprinkle of granolas (plain, peanut butter & oatmeal raisin!) + a few Cinnamon Toast Crunch squares + banana slices + plain Greek yogurt + cinnamon + Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter... All inside a nearly-empty Cinnamon Raisin Swirl jar!
10/11/12 - Snack/Dessert: probably my absolute FAVORITE single-serving dessert yet!
"Reese's" protein muffin with my usual sides!
10/12/12 - Breakfast: this came out SO good, omg. My oatmeals have been so greatly plump lately!
Let's call this my ‘Friday favorites’ oatmeal! Haha. The FLUFFIEST chocolate protein egg white oats with granola (plain & peanut butter) + a sprinkle of my favorite cereals (Cinnamon Toast Crunch & peanut butter Cheerios) + banana slices + some plain Greek yogurt + cinnamon + White Chocolate Wonderful & Biscoff spread!
10/13/12 - Breakfast:  a super cold fall morning called for (PROTEIN!) PANCAKES!
I decided to try out some clean pumpkin "powercakes"... I mean, they took nearly an hour to finish and perfect, but they seriously turned out to be some of the BEST pancakes I've EVER had! Plus, this is ONE SERVING! 5 BIG PANCAKES! Without the toppings, the calorie count is only about 180-200 with loads of protein! Thank you, Kacey!
I topped them with healthy chocolate sauce & maple Greek yogurt frosting, along with banana & granolas and what not! This looks like the un-healthiest thing ever, when it was actually the COMPLETE opposite!
{Let me know if you guys want the recipe for all of this!}
10/13/12 - Dinner: eh... Treated myself to my favorites from KFC with absolutely no regrets... until afterward! I've felt nauseous with a sour stomach, on and off, for days after eating this. Bleh. The mashed potatoes, fries and popcorn chicken were worth it, though! Haha. Oh, and the biscuit... Mmmmmmm!!
But, anyways, even though I had treated myself to cheese-y bread the night prior, I decided to go ahead and eat this for dinner anyway because I really wanted it. I got my old absolute favorite meal — the "laptop"... Except it's now apparently 10x smaller and comes in a weird box, haha. I also had some of the best fries and mashed potatoes, and the best biscuit, evaaaah! The grilled chicken was alright... I think it's what made me kinda sick, though. My mom has felt kinda sick after eating from there, too... Bleeeh!!
10/14/12 - Breakfast: this smelled like pure fall in a dish/bowl!!
Perfect post-workout power-breakfast! The best pumpkin pie protein egg white oatmeal with some granola + some cereals + banana slices + a spoonful of pumpkin pie yogurt + a spoonful of plain Greek yogurt + cinnamon + shredded coconut + clean chocolate sauce + maple yogurt frosting + a drizzle of light maple syrup + some of my favorite nut butters!
10/14/12 - Lunch: I love me some food.
Don't judge, don't judge... Haha. I found pumpkin spice bagel thins, and naturally HAD to buy and try them IMMEDIATELY! 110 calories, 3g of sugar and 5g protein? PLUS IT’S PUMPKIN?! Yessss!! Perfect!!
Haha. This lunch consisted of a pumpkin spice bagel thin (half with Dark Chocolate Dreams, banana & coconut, and half with Biscoff spread & granola), a Boca original vegan veggie burger (70 calories and 13g of DELICIOUS protein!), some baked chicken, a pickle & a plate of fresh vegetables with plain Greek yogurt + ranch powder to dip! I've had this a few times lately... Too goooood.
10/14/12 - Dessert/Snack: microwave protein cinnamon roll with maple Greek yogurt frosting & homemade almond milk pumpkin pie ice cream! I also had my usual side of a sliced apple and pear.
{Recipe coming soon!}
10/15/12 - Breakfast: this peanut butter took me/my family quite a bit to finish, even though it was a small jar... It was too salty for my liking, but otherwise, it was good! The granola gave it really nice texture and made it extra filling.
This OIAJ consisted of brownie batter protein egg white oatmeal with granolas + cereals + banana slices + a bit of plain Greek yogurt + cinnamon + a mini dollop of Biscoff spread, all inside a nearly-empty jar of banana granola nut Planters peanut butter!
10/15/12 - Dinner: calories shmalories... This was PACKED with SO many nutrients, I don't/didn't even care if it's "high in calories". Forrealsies.
2 WHOLE hard boiled eggs (team yolk forever!), some lean deli turkey, chickpeas, vegetables, and a medium-sized microwaved “baked” sweet potato all over baby spinach, artisan & iceberg lettuce. Dressing is plain Greek yogurt + salsa, with a drizzle of hot sauce and grated Parmesan.
10/15/12 - Dessert/Snack: this microwaved clean dessert was VERY successful!
Banana bread FUNFETTI "cupcake" with maple yogurt Frosting!
My brother saw me make this and really wanted to try one, so he tried my "Reese's" cake (with even more peanut butter), and he loved it!! I'm so happy and proud, haha.
{Recipe is coming!}
10/16/12 - Breakfast: strawberry shortcake (it was actually pink-ish in person, haha. Promise!) & melted banana egg white oatmeal with granolas + cereals + banana slices + plain Greek yogurt + cinnamon + White Chocolate Wonderful & Biscoff spread! Oh, and a splash of extra almond milk.
This was absolutely delicious!
10/16/12 - Dessert/Snack: essentially, this is basically my "Reese's" mini cake/muffin with a bit of tweaking. I wish I got better pictures of it before devouring it, but I really didn’t expect it to be good enough to take pictures of, though! Haha. I expected it to be just like the original... But it was even BETTER!
It turned out to be bigger than my usual ones, and SO. SUPER. MOIST. AND. PERFECT. I don’t know WHAT I did so differently... Maybe it was the addition of baking soda, but I can’t even describe how good this was. It tasted like one of those “lava cakes” from Applebees/Chilis/Dominos, except 100% clean and healthy... AND stuffed with peanut butter goodness!
I know the measurements are weird, as are some ingredients, but it was an experimental on-the-spot thing that turned into something worth sharing immediately! Hehe. (Btw, you can always sub ingredients and add more/less as you please. I just add what I want!)
10/17/12 - Breakfast: I didn't have testing today, so I only had a 2 hour school day... Which means I obviously stayed home instead of going! Hehe.
Woke up early, had an amazing workout session, then got to have this beauty! (Currently eating, btw.)
The fluffiest pumpkin pie egg white oatmeal with granolas + some of my favorite cereals + banana slices + pumpkin pie yogurt & plain Greek yogurt (a dollop of both!) + shredded coconut + cinnamon + some Dark Chocolate Dreams, all inside a nearly-empty White Chocolate Wonderful jar!
Smells incredible!!

My workouts and awkward flexing poses are right here!

Happy WIAW, lovelies! Have a great day, and remember to stay positive and keep pushing.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Sunday Motivation: Prove Them Wrong

You're always gonna be blessed with the people who try to bring you down... try to tell you that you can't do something. I say 'blessed', because it's true! Without those people, who would be your motivators? In every aspect in life, prove the disbelievers wrong. The bullies, the haters, the negative Nancys, and the miserable Melvins... Prove them all wrong.
When you think you can do something, that means you CAN do it. If you push yourself hard enough, and you tell yourself that you can, you will... With no doubt about it.

Have a mess up? Learn from it. Get back up, and learn from the experience. Recovering from an eating disorder? Have people doubting you can do it? Prove to those people who think you're never gonna recover wrong. Let the haters be your motivators and nothing more. Feel like giving up? Don't. Why? Because there are people who are waiting for you to give up. There are people who would kill to see you fall. Prove 'em wrong. Every single one of them.

Live freely, stay positive, and most importantly; keep pushing. The moment someone tells you that you can't do something, that's a sign you must prove them wrong.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Healthy Reese's Cake... for One?

I know I just posted more clean microwave desserts yesterday... But, last night, I created what I'd consider my best microwave dessert yet, and I couldn't wait any longer to post about it! I remade it tonight and used three different kinds of peanut butters. I'm addicted and I don't even mind it! It came out extra good tonight, though... I don't know if it was the pumpkin pie ice cream or the sliced apple with it, but it was incredible.

It's even better than it looks. That's a promise.
(I forgot to add baking powder when making it the first time, therefore it rose oddly. Oopsies!)

Ingredients:
1 tbsp dry oats
1/2 tbsp whole wheat flour
2 packets of Stevia/sweetener
1 egg white
1 tbsp almond milk
dash of cinnamon
pinch of salt
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tbsp unsweetened natural cocoa powder
1/2 tbsp milk chocolate protein powder
1/5 overripe banana, mashed
1 tbsp pure canned pumpkin puree (doesn't provide flavor, but makes it moist and fluffy and perfect!)
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp (or more) nut butter of choice (I used a bit of Biscoff, White Chocolate Wonderful, AND Planter's banana nut granola!)
optional sprinkle of granola (recommended!)

Directions:
Mix everything incredibly well, then pour into a mug.
Stuff your peanut/nut butter the best you can into the mix. Top with a sprinkle of granola, if wanted. (I recommend it! It gave mine an awesome textured bottom!)
Microwave for 2 minutes...
*99.9% chance yours will have rose normal if you added baking powder. Mine did today! Haha.*
Top with ALL THE THINGS! Including even more nut (or cookie) butter when it's still warm so it melts off and makes a wonderful gooey mess surrounding it. I also recommend eating it with clean or not-so-clean pumpkin/pumpkin pie flavored ice cream or frozen yogurt. They go hand-in-hand.
Trust me.

Are you guys sick of my microwaved, clean desserts yet? Because I'm not. And I may continue to post them as often as I am. Depends how creative I can get! Hahah. I hope you all are enjoying them, though, and aren't too annoyed of them yet! I'll try some other recipes out soon... Promise!

P.S. I know this isn't necessarily packed with protein, but you can of course compromise and use JUST protein powder, or add even more! Do whatcha please and experiment for yourself!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Obsessed is the Word...

Guys. I've become obsessed.
With microwaved desserts.

Now, I know that sounds... sketchy... processed... unhealthy... You know, all things that these desserts aren't!

After experimenting and creating the beauties otherwise known as my pumpkin mug cake, and my protein brownies, I've come up with three more microwaved desserts since. It's become an addiction... and I'm not so sure I have a problem with that!

Let's start with pumpkin, of course!
How did this happen? Well... I couldn't decide between a pumpkin muffin or a protein brownie, so I created a pumpkin and banana microwave cake/brownie! Of course a few mini marshmallows were added in for fun.

Ingredients:
2 tbsp dry oats
2 generous tbsp pumpkin puree
2 tbsp almond milk
1 egg white
1/5 banana, mashed
1 packet of Stevia/sweetener
*optional* sprinkle of brown sugar
pinch of salt
healthy dash of cinnamon
dash of nutmeg
dash of pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp baking powder
4 mini marshmallows, halved (if wanted)

*I also added in a sprinkle of fat-free/sugar-free pumpkin spice flavored pudding mix, just for more flavor... But, that is COMPLETELY optional. It will come out just fine without it!*

Directions:
Mix all ingredients, then pour into a microwave-safe rectangular or square dish. (Also, make sure to spray it with cooking spray just in case it decides to stick!)

Microwave for 3 minutes, check if it's done (if not, microwave it for another minute), then top with desired toppings.

So fluffy! So goooood!
This came out looking odd because I mixed in the baking powder super last minute, but don't let the looks of it fool you! It tasted like a legit sugar cookie. Aka, delicious.

Ingredients:
1 tbsp dry oats
1 tbsp packed whole wheat flour
3 packets of Stevia/sweetener
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp liquid egg white
1-2 tbsp almond milk
1/5 overripe banana, mashed
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp plain Greek yogurt
1/4 tsp maple syrup (this actually made quite a difference, so make sure to add either maple or agave syrup, or maple extract!)
dash of cinnamon
pinch of salt

Directions:
Mix...

Horrible mixer = me.
... Then microwave for 2-3 minutes in a circular bowl!
Trust me when I say this. tasted. like. a. SUGAR COOKIE! Try it for yourself!

Now, this was an odd combination that turned out to be one of my favorite desserts yet. SO, so good.

Ingredients:
1 tbsp dry oats
1/2 tbsp packed whole wheat flour
1/4 package strawberry shortcake flavored Duncan Hines Frosting Creations
1 tbsp pure canned pumpkin puree
1/5 overripe banana, mashed
1 egg white
1 tbsp almond (or any type of) milk
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 packet of Stevia/sweetener
pinch of salt
dash of cinnamon
Filling:
1/4 tsp Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter (or any chocolate/flavored peanut butter)
1/4 tsp unsweetened natural cocoa powder (or sweetened, whatever you prefer)


Directions:
Mix everything very, very well.
Using your measuring spoon, stuff your peanut butter and cocoa powder into the middle of the mix the best you can. The deeper, the better!

Microwave for 1 minute and 40 seconds in the mug of your choice...
Then, VOILA!
Let's take a look inside, no?
Ooooooooh, yes. Everything about this was right.
It smelled delicious... tasted scrumptious... and was just an all-around GREAT clean dessert!
I like my toppings. Hehe.

A lot of people have been requesting, on my Instagram, that I post these... So, I hope you all like them and try them out for yourself!
Bon appetite, my loves!