Another Healthy Breakfast!

Spinach Cream Cheese Crepes

Inspiration: ibreatheimhungry

Ingredients

• 2 oz cream cheese
• 2 eggs
• 1 packet stevia 
• 1/2 c. spinach
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

• Put all ingredients in a blender or magic bullet. Blend until smooth. Let rest for 2 minutes so the bubbles can settle. 
• Pour 1/4 of the batter into a hot pan greased with coconut oil. Cook for 2 minutes until golden, flip and cook 1 minute on the other side. Repeat with the rest of the batter. 
• Serve with coconut oil, stevia, and cinnamon or pure maple syrup and fresh berries, or any other toppings desired.

I love it when we find ways to make food healthy!

Mango Ice Cream
source: Russell LeBaron
Ingredients:

• 1/2 of 1 frozen banana
• 1 mango, sliced
• 4 "milk cubes" (fill ice cube tray with milk and freeze)
• 1/4 c milk (dairy, coconut, almond)
• 1/4 tsp. stevia
• 1/4 tsp vanilla

Directions:

1. Put all of the ingredients in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth.

Just another way to do sweet potato fries!

Sweet Potato Fries

source: skinny ms.

Ingredients

• 2 medium sweet potatoes scrubbed, peeled, and sliced into julienne strips
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• Kosher or sea salt to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Combine spices in a small bowl. Add potatoes, spices and olive oil to a large mixing bowl, toss to coat all potato slices. 
3. Place potatoes in a single layer on a cookie sheet lightly sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, or use a non-stick baking sheet. Bake 30 minutes or until tender on the inside and crunchy on the outside. Turn potatoes after 15 minutes of cooking time.

I'm going to be making this all the time now!

One-Ingredient Ice Cream

source: use real butter
Ingredients:

• 2-4 bananas

optional mix ins

• 1-2 Tbsp peanut butter
• 1-2 tsp. cocoa powder
• chocolate chips
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• dash vanilla
• 1 Tbsp honey
• dried coconut flakes

Directions:

1. Slice bananas and put in freezer at least one hour, until nice and frozen.
2. Put banana in a food processor or blender. It will get pretty chunky at first, you can add some milk (dairy, coconut, or almond) to help it get creamier faster.
3. Continue to blend until you have a nice creamy, ice cream like texture. Add in any mix-ins you may want and pulse a few times more.
4. Dish up and enjoy!

Yummy healthy whole grain bread

Multi-Grain Bread

source: Ruth LeBaron

**This recipe makes a big batch (about 5 or 6 loaves of bread)

Ingredients:

• 4 c. warm water
• 1/2 c. milk powder (or replace 1 c of warm water with 1 cup of milk)
• 2 eggs (or 4 tbsp egg powder)
• 2/3 c gluten flour
• 1 1/2 tbsp salt
• 1/2 c honey
• 1/2 c potato flakes
• 3/4 c coconut oil (or olive or canola)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 c whole wheat flour

For yeast-

• 3/4 c warm water
• 1 tbsp sweetener (sugar, honey)
• 4 1/2 tbsp redstar yeast

Directions:

1. In a seperate bowl mix water and sweetener. Then add yeast and allow to proof until double.
2. While yeast is proofing, combine the rest of the ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook.
3. Add yeast to the dough when doubled.
4. Knead dough about 10 minutes, adding 6-8 additional cups of flour until a soft, moist dough is formed and begins pulling away from the side of the bowl.
5. Remove lid from the mixer and let sit about 45 minutes, or until it has risen to double it's original size.
6. Grease the bread pan and transfer the dough to the pan and let it sit another 45 minutes or until it is an inch above the pan.
7. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
8. Bake bread in oven about 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

**For cinnamon rolls use 1 c potato flakes and 3/4 c sugar rather than honey.

*NOTE: For Multi-Grain

• 2-3 c. cracked whole grain (wheat, oats, 9-grain, etc...)
• 5 c. boiling water (Instead of 4 c. warm water)

1. Before starting bread! Add cracked whole grain to the boiling water and let sit for an hour.

2. After the whole grain has sat for an hour follow above recipe.

Somewhat healthier, yet still yummy cookies!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Inspiration: sparkpeople

Ingredients

• 3/4 c oatmeal
• 1 c whole wheat flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 c coconut oil
• 1/4 c unsweetened applesauce
• 1/3 c light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 3/4 c dark chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grind oatmeal in blender or food processor until flour consistency. Transfer to a medium bowl and stir in flour, baking soda and salt. 
3. In a separate bowl soften coconut oil in microwave about 15 seconds. Cream together oil and sugar. Add applesauce, egg, and vanilla, mix until smooth and creamy. 
4. Add in the dry ingredients until just combined. 
5. Add chocolate chips to the cookie dough and mix until just combined.
6. Spoon cookie dough onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until the tops are golden. If the cookies have a tendency to flatten, put the dough in the fridge between baking.
7. Cool the cookies for 2 minutes on the cookie sheet before transferring to cool completely.

This cornbread is the best EVER

Except for the sunshine muffins.... But those are half cupcake... :) This cornbread is healthy and delicious. I couldn't stop eating it! It's not as healthy when you get to that point! Haha. Enjoy!

Sweet Potato Buttermilk Cornbread

source: Paula Deen
Ingredients

• 1 c whole wheat flour
• 1 c cornmeal
• 3 T honey
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ c butter
• 1 egg
• 1 c buttermilk
• 1 ½ c peeled and grated sweet potato

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter with two forks, a pastry cutter or your fingers until mixture is crumbly.
3. In a medium mixing bowl beat egg until frothy. Stir in buttermilk, honey, and sweet potatoes. Pour mixture into flour mixture stirring just until blended. Pour batter into greased 9x9x2 inch baking dish.
4. Bake 20 minutes or until center springs back when pressed. Cool in pan on wire rack. Cut into squares and serve.

Matched Trilogy

Matched ***
by Ally Condie
Book Type: YA, Fantasy, Romance, Dystopia
Summary: Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.
summary found on goodreads
My Review: This book was fairly fun. It was a new concept. I thought it started out interesting, it developed well... At first. Then it kind of felt a bit drawn out and dramatic for me. They claim on the descriptions that this story is a bit of a love triangle but honestly? It was two boys in love with one girl who really is just in love with one boy. And the drama is not as well done as it could be because of that. The chick knows who she wants from the beginning so you KNOW who she is going to end up with. It was predictable and a bit melodramatic. Okay, it was not the best book. But the concept at the beginning was new and interesting. But pretty quickly the story got old and I was ready to move on.

Crossed ***
by Ally Condie
Book Type: YA, Fantasy, Romance, Dystopia
Summary: In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky — taken by the Society to his certain death — only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.
Cassia’s quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander — who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia’s heart — change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever
summary found on goodreads
My Review: This book has a little more action than the first, which isn't hard. But definitely made it more interesting and exciting. So that part was good. But really, it was even more dramatic and cheesy than the first book. And not cheesy in a good way. It was just a bit lacking. Ehh. I almost didn't finish the story. But like I've mentioned before I have an insanely hard time not finishing a story, even if I don't LOVE it.

Reached **1/2
by Ally Condie
Book Type: YA, Fantasy, Romance, Dystopia
Summary: After leaving Society and desperately searching for the Rising—and each other—Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again: Cassia has been assigned to work for the Rising from within Society, while Ky has been stationed outside its borders. But nothing is as predicted, and all too soon the veil lifts and things shift once again.
In this gripping conclusion to the #1 New York Times-bestselling Matched trilogy, Cassia will reconcile the difficulties of challenging a life too confining, seeking a freedom she never dreamed possible, and honoring a love she cannot live without.
summary found on goodreads
My Review: AGHEHFJHH really? There was nothing redeeming about this book. A plague?? Yeah okay. So the society that these kids hate is destroyed way too easily so of course everyone has to start dying of a plague. Had to be exciting somehow right? OH and throughout the book I totally got the vibe that both boys were falling for other girls... Yet at the same time they are still totally obsessed with Cassia, who is totally weird in this book by the way. She's dramatic in the last book, but she's crazy in this one. LAME. The love doesn't feel real, it's not cute, it's not exciting... I didn't care who she ended up with in the end... Honestly it's just cheesy and a bit lack luster.

Airborn Trilogy

Airborn ***1/2
by Kenneth Oppel
Book Type: YA, Alternate History, Steam Punk, Fantasy
Summary: Matt Cruse is a cabin boy on the Aurora, a huge airship that sails hundreds of feet above the ocean, ferrying wealthy passengers from city to city. It is the life Matt's always wanted; convinced he's lighter than air, he imagines himself as buoyant as the hydrium gas that powers his ship. One night he meets a dying balloonist who speaks of beautiful creatures drifting through the skies. It is only after Matt meets the balloonist's granddaughter that he realizes that the man's ravings may, in fact, have been true, and that the creatures are completely real and utterly mysterious.
summary found on goodreads
My Review: I found this book thoroughly enjoyable. I have to say that although the story starts out exciting with a lot of action, for some reason I could NOT get into the story until Kate joined the tale. As soon as this little firecracker came into the scene Matt developed and grew as a character. He became much more dynamic and relate-able, which in turn created a depth to the story that was lacking earlier on. Kate is an incredibly strong-willed and determined young woman who takes Matt on an adventure he never could have imagined, on top of the incredible journey he is already on! The ship that Matt works on has crash landed on an island in the middle of nowhere, Kate wants to explore the island and threatens to do so on her own if Matt won't join her. Matt can't ever allow someone to put themselves in danger if he can help it, so he joins her on a journey of danger and discovery. This story is full of intrigue, pirates, adventure, near-death experiences, and young love. It is a blast once you get into it. Don't give up on it if you feel the beginning is dragging or not gripping enough, it picks up and doesn't stop until the very end of the book. :)

Skybreaker ****
by Kenneth Oppel
Book Type: YA, Alternate History, Steam Punk, Fantasy
Summary: A legendary ghost ship. An incredible treasure. A death-defying adventure.
Forty years ago, the airship Hyperion vanished with untold riches in its hold. Now, accompanied by heiress Kate de Vries and a mysterious gypsy, Matt Cruse is determined to recover the ship and its treasures. But 20,000 feet above the Earth's surface, pursued by those who have hunted the Hyperion since its disappearance, and surrounded by deadly high-altitude life forms, Matt and his companions soon find themselves fighting not only for the Hyperion--but for their very lives.
summary found on goodreads
My Review: This book was even better than the first. Matt received quite a bit of money after his adventure with the Pirate Szpirglas and is finally able to work toward fulfilling his dream of being a captain of an airship by attending the Airship Academy in Paris. He has been working hard at school and during his hands on training with a ship, his crew discovers the Hyperion, a long lost ghost ship. The captain almost kills his crew attempting to get to it. Once Matt returns to Paris many unsavory men/pirates are aware that Matt has knowledge of the coordinates of the alleged ghost ship and will stop at nothing to find it themselves. Of course the vivacious and lively Kate is determined to find this ship and examine it's contents herself. So she finds a captain crazy enough to attempt the journey. Which of course leads to Matt being roped into a journey up to a ship that is floating at deadly heights. Matt is finding that life with Kate is always an adventure and this one turns out to be even more dangerous and exciting than the first! 

Starclimber ****1/2
by Kenneth Oppel
Book Type: YA, Alternate History, Steam Punk, Fantasy
Summary: Pilot-in-training Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries, expert on high-altitude life-forms, are invited aboard the Starclimber, a vessel that literally climbs its way into the cosmos. Before they even set foot aboard the ship, catastrophe strikes:
Kate announces she is engaged—and not to Matt.
Despite this bombshell, Matt and Kate embark on their journey into space, but soon the ship is surrounded by strange and unsettling life-forms, and the crew is forced to combat devastating mechanical failure. For Matt, Kate, and the entire crew of the Starclimber, what began as an exciting race to the stars has now turned into a battle to save their lives.
summary found on goodreads
My Review: Matt and Kate have once again come out of an adventure with a handful of money. Money that helps continue to support Matt's family and his schooling. This summer Matt is looking forward to spending a lot of time with Kate. Plans change dramatically when they are approached by none other than Mr. Lunardi who wants to recruit Kate to join a team going into outer space for the first time and invite Matt to join a TRAINING program where he is expected to compete against 99 other older, more experienced men to try and get a spot on the spaceship. Matt desperately wants to go on this thrilling and very possibly life-threatening journey and will work harder than he ever has in life to go. On top of everything else Kate has announced that she is engaged to another man. Will Matt get to go into space? Will Kate really marry some other guy? Or will Matt get the experience of a life-time and keep Kate for himself? Read the third and final installment of this story to find out! And don't worry, this is the best story in the trilogy. I LOVED the ending. Perfect end to a thrilling adventure. Yay for Airborn! :)

Healthier Chimis

Baked Chimichangas
source: blogchef
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2lbs ground turkey
• 1 (1.25 ounce) packet taco seasoning
• 1 ¼ cups water
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons fresh oregano (chopped)
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro (chopped)
• 2 green onions (chopped)
• 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies
• 2 cups shredded Coly-jack cheese
• 1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
• 6 large whole wheat flour tortillas
• 4 tablespoons melted butter

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. In a large skillet add ground turkey and brown over medium high heat. Add the taco seasoning and stir. Add the water and stir. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the liquid has reduced by 2/3.
2. Add cumin, oregano, cilantro, green onions, and green chilies. Simmer until the rest of the liquid has evaporated.
3. In a small saucepan heat the refried beans until warm, smooth, and easy to spread. Warm the tortillas according to package directions. Lay a tortilla onto a flat surface (such as a cutting board), spread a thin layer of refried beans into the center of the tortilla, top with the meat filling mixture, and sprinkle some cheese over the meat. Roll up the tortillas while tucking in the sides. Place onto a lightly greased baked sheet, arranged so that they are not touching. Repeat until all of the tortillas are rolled.
4. Brush the chimichangas on the tops and sides with melted butter. Place into the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. During the last few minutes of cooking top each tortilla with remaining Colby-jack cheese. Bake until the cheese has melted.

Simply delicious.

Pico De Gallo and Guacamole 

source: The Pioneer Woman

Ingredients:  

pico de gallo

• 5 whole Plum (roma) Tomatoes
• ½ whole Large (or 1 Small) Onion
• 3 whole Jalapeno Peppers
• Cilantro
• Lime Juice
• Salt To Taste

guacamole

• 3 whole Avocados
• Pico De Gallo
• Lime Juice
• Salt To Taste

Directions:
Pico de Gallo

1. Chop jalapenos, tomatoes and onions into a very small dice. (Leave seeds in your jalapenos for a hotter pico). Adjust amount of jalapenos to your preferred temperature. 
2. Chop up a nice-sized bunch of cilantro. Just remove and discard the long leafless stems before chopping. No need to remove the leaves from the stems completely. Place all of these ingredients together in a bowl and give it a good stir.
3. Squeeze the juice of half of one lime into the bowl. Add salt to taste and stir again.

Guacamole

1. Start with buttery-soft avocados. Halve them lengthwise and remove the pits. Next, with a spoon scrape the “meat” out onto a large plate. 
2. Next, with the bottom of a clean cup (or with a fork) mash the avocados, making sure to leave it relatively chunky. Add just a couple of shakes of salt to taste. 
3. Next, add a generous helping of Pico de Gallo. Fold together. Lastly squeeze the juice of half of a lime over the top. Give it one last stir.

I finally got creative... And it paid off

Cabbage Vegetable Soup
source: ME!
Ingredients:

• 1 T olive oil
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced small
• 2 celery stalks, diced small
• 1 medium onion, coarsely chunked
•  2 garlic cloves
• 1/3 c cabbage, coarsely chopped
•  3/4 c dried lentils
• 1 can tomato sauce + 1 can water
• 2 c beef bouillon or 2 tsp. better than beef bouillon base + 2 c water
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 2 bay leaves
• Cayenne pepper to taste (optional)
• beef/steak, chopped into 1/2 in. cubes (optional)
• grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Bring 1 1/2 c water to boil. Add lentils. Cook at least 10-15 mins.
2. Season meat with pepper, saute in olive oil until cooked through, set aside.
3. Heat up olive oil. Add onion, carrot, and celery. Cook about 5 mins or until softened. Add garlic, cook about 2 mins. more.
4. Add liquids and seasonings and bring to boil. Add cabbage. Cook another 15-20 mins or until veggies are soft. Serve with parm.