Ooey-Gooey Chocolate Brownies

Almost a year ago I posted a recipe for OMG Paleo Brownies. To be honest, that was the only time I ever made those brownies. Today I was in the mood for baking, and made up my mind I was going to. I pulled out the old recipe I had and wondered how I could tweak it so it wasn't as high in sugar. The original recipe calls for Agave or Honey, but I haven't been using either of those sweeteners as much as I did in the past. I've read few articles about how Agave could cause a big impact on your blood sugar, so only use it sparingly.

This recipe calls for Erythritol - Erythritol is the only sugar alcohol that does not raise Blood sugar.  I thought I'd give it a shot since I had some that needed to be used up.

Chocolate Brownies 

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ingredients 

• 1 cup unsalted creamy almond butter (~250g)
• ½ cup canned coconut milk (~120 mL)
• 2 large eggs (~104g)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract (~10g)
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (~27g)
• ¼ cup Z Sweet (~48g)
• 25 drops Stevia
• 1 tsp instant coffee
• 1/3 cup Dagoba 72% cacao chips (80g)
• chopped walnuts (optional)

directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8 x 8 baking dish with coconut oil. Whisk together the almond butter, coconut milk, eggs, vanilla extract and salt. Then add the cocoa powder, sugar, Stevia, instant coffee and chocolate chips. Pour into the prepared baking dish and top with chopped walnuts (optional). Bake for about 15-20 minutes. Allow it to cool prior to eating.

Extras should be refrigerated.

Serves 12 | Calories ~ 207 | Fat - 18.6 g | Carbs - 11.7 g | Protein - 5.5g | 

New Beginnings :)

There is no excuse for neglecting this blog over the last few months, but I've made it a promise to be accountable starting 2013. I've realized that setting goals and making plans help you achieve success and keep you motivated as you track through life. Back in July, I thought I would take some time off since I had many family obligations, but one month turned into two, into three, and so on. It wasn't to say I wasn't staying active but I definitely missed blogging and creating fun recipes to share, and it was time to get back on track...

Here are some things I've got back into the habit of doing:

1) Making homemade meals and eating wholesome food
2) Exercising daily
3) Spending more time with people I love
4) Finding ways to be more financially conscious
5) Being more Green/Eco-Friendly

I'm sure I will add more to this list as time goes on, but I wanted to let people know this blog hasn't crossed over into the black hole and will have many exciting things for 2013....

Healthier Banana Bread

Every time I buy bananas, they end up turning black before we finish all of them. Even if I buy less, we'll still end up with a few that are too ripe for my liking, so I end up freezing them for either smoothies or a yummy dessert. Another option is to make raw banana bread bars...recipe to come :)

This weekend, I decided to use up some of those bananas. I posted a recipe for banana muffins a while back, but this one was a little different since it wasn't as sweet. There is no added sugar in this recipe! It's hard to believe, but I promise it won't even taste "healthy."  I can't take the credit for this yummy snack since I found it at Keirsten's Kitchen. 

Banana Muffins 

(adapted from Keirsten's Kitchen)

Ingredients 

• 2 cups blanched almond flour 
• 2 T cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 3 medium ripe bananas (mashed) 
• 3 large eggs 
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 T melted coconut oil
• 1 T apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp baking soda.

Method

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, mix almond flour, nutmeg, and cinnamon.  You may need to "sift" the almond flour to remove large clumps.
3. In a separate bowl, combine mashed bananas, eggs, and vanilla and mix well. Finally, mix in melted coconut oil. This is done last since coconut oil is hard, you don't want it to clump up when added to cold ingredients.
4. Combine dry ingredients with the wet ingredients. Stir until combined. 
5. Add the baking soda, do not mix. Add the apple cider vinegar. It will bubble up like a science experiement. Mix well.
6. Fill greased loaf pan with batter. 
7. Bake loaf for about 40 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
8. Let cool  and enjoy with your morning coffee or a dallop of whip cream :)

I'm back!

Sometimes I feel like a broken record and really there is no excuse for taken so long to start blogging again. In all honestly, I haven't been cooking up a storm as much as I used to. I guess I realized we ended up with lots of leftovers and we liked rotating in a few many favorite recipes. So that explains my lack of recipes...I'll be sure to post something good in the next few days...

Besides cooking, I've finally been able to get back into working out. A few weeks ago, I sprained my ankle doing sprints, and I end up being out 2 weeks. It wasn't pretty, my ankle swelled up and looked pretty bad. Epson salt soaks and wrapping it up helped a lot. Important lesson learned, pay attention when running and make sure you wear proper shoes with good support. 

After the swelling went down, I was able to ease back into my workout by doing several bike rides. It was a lot of fun and reminded me of the times I used to wake up early and bike around the city. After my ankle was fully healed, I was able to start light "cardio" and pick up on my weight training. It was a nice break, and I was more motivated then ever to get back into some type of routine, which brings me to today's workout - "Train like Jane."

I've been looking for some variety in my "weight lifting" routine, and bought a voucher for CoreFitness Chicago. I finally made it out there and was super excited that I did. Today's class was Suicide Sunday, non-stop circuit of pulling weighted sleds, chin-ups, pushups, burpees, mountain climbers, plank, wall holds, flipping over tires, and running around.  It was really great, and I can't wait to go back again. I love intensity and this is exactly what I needed. It was challenging like any workout should be and still super fun.  After these classes are over, I might give CrossFit a try, who knows? We should all step out of our comfort zone and try something new. If you don't try, you'll never know....

Have a fun night and I'll be back tomorrow ;) 

Staying Active {Pineapple Mango Smoothie}

Staying active is important, but so is giving your body rest. I was absent Tuesday and Wednesday but doesn't mean I wasn't staying healthy.

Tuesday was a busy day and after a long day at the office, I was really exhausted. My legs felt it from Monday's workout and decided to take a rest day. After you exercise, your body is trying to rebuild and repair any of those muscles that were torn during your workout. Time is important. Without giving your body enough time to rebuild and repair, you end up doing more damage than before. That's why it's common not to exercise the same body part two days in a row.  Tuesday's dinner was left over burgers that we made last week! Delicious :)

I was back to business on Wednesday. I started my day with a hearty breakfast. Scrambled eggs and Broccoli. It was so hardy I couldn't finish it and ate the rest for lunch after I finished my workout.

I also had a great smoothie for lunch. It was full of tropical flavor. I tested Jay Robb's pineapple whey protein. I use this protein powder over other brands mostly because it doesn't have many extra additives. I'd rate the flavor a 7/10. It was good, but I like the Orange flavor much better...


I spent the rest of my afternoon with the family. My sister cooked up a favorite Indian Dish - Malai Kofta. We all needed a walk after dinner.  We ended going on an adventure trying to follow a bunch of firetrucks that passed by. We couldn't figure out what the commotion was all about, but we got a nice walk out of it.

I was actually still pretty full from yesterday that I skipped breakfast today and enjoyed a Iced Coffee...recipe coming soon ;) But in the meantime here's that recipe for the smoothie that helped me recover from my sweaty workout...




Pineapple Mango Smoothie

1/4 mango chunks
1/4 cup pineapple chunks
1/2 cup ice
1 cup almond milk
1 scoop Jay Robb Pineapple Whey

Blend together for a creamy tropical post-workout drink.