Pumpkin Chia Protein Bars

Happy Friday! Or shall I say Fri-YAY!!

I hope everyone had a productive and successful week! It's not exactly over yet, so you still have some time to make it a productive one, if you already haven't. If you have, just sit down and stop being an overachiever. :)

Yesterday was picture day at Sophia's school. If you saw her picture last year you're probably having a good laugh down memory lane. She was mean muggin' that camera like nobody's business. When I picked her up from school, I asked her if she smiled for the camera this time. She assured me that she did! 

Some of yesterday's events were a bit overwhelming and I think I had a mini anxiety attack. Nothing bad...some good, big things happening! But to calm down, I got in the kitchen and baked. 

Today started off great, but what isn't great when you start it with Pumpkin Chia Protein Bars?!

Pumpkin Chia Protein Bars

What you’ll need:
¼ cup brown sugar
3 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp Maple syrup
½ cup apple sauce
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 egg whites
2 Tbsp Chia seeds
½ cup almond milk
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin
2 cups oat flour (you can either buy or put oats in a blender to make flour)
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 scoops Vanilla protein powder

Topping
¼ cup rolled oats
¼ cup chopping walnuts

What you do:
Preheat over to 350.
In a large bowl, mix together the first 11 ingredients (through pumpkin).
Mix in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and protein powder.
Spray 13x9 baking dish with cooking spray and Pour mixture.
Sprinkle walnut and oats over top the batter.
Bake for 35 minutes. Check center with knife to make sure done.
Cut into 24 squares.

Enjoy!

XOXO

Protein Puppy Chow

Heyyyyy!!! It's FRIIIDAY!!! What a week it's been! I feel like this is the first day I actually get to get some work done. I mean thats not 100% true, because let's be honest...I'm not getting any work done right now either. :)

Needless to say, I'm glad its Friday and the weekend is full of fun stuff! We're celebrating my Sister-in-law's big dirty 30 birthday this weekend! Shenanigans.

Before Friday came and made us all excited, I made this Puppy chow that also made us excited...so I wanted to share this super easy and glorious recipe with ya. 

My first experience with puppy chow (that I can remember) was in middle school when my friend’s mom made it after school one day.  I remember it being TREMENDOUSLY good, but never recreated it myself. I always see it around during holiday season (coming up close!!!) at parties or as little holiday gifts from coworkers and neighbors. If you’re not familiar with the traditional Puppy chow, it’s usually Chex cereal with butter, peanut butter, chocolate, and powdered sugar caked on it. All that good stuff.

I’ve been going through a cereal phase lately and Barbara’s Puffin cereal was on sale at Publix 2 for $5. Sold! Load em up! With 4 boxes of Puffin cereal, and a Pinterest full of puppy chow ideas, I bring you Protein Puppy Chow. Much healthier than the traditional kind so shove handfuls in your mouth eat them like a lady with no guilt!! (Well not SO much guilt…) Addicting!!!! 

What you’ll need:
6 tbsp Chocolate PB2
4 tbsp water
2 ½ cups Puffin Cinnamon cereal
1 Scoop JP+ Vanilla Complete powder

What you do:
In a bowl, mix together PB2 and water.
Add in the cereal and mix until completely covered.
Pour cereal into large gallon sized bag and pour complete powder into bag.
SHAKE!
Place In freezer for about an hour
Enjoy!

XOXO

Protein Tuna Patties

Protein Tuna Patties

What you need:

1 can Albacore Tuna (The ones I buy from Costco are 7oz)
½ cup cottage cheese (small curd)
1 whole egg
¼ cup Chopped onions
½ cup black beans
 Salt and pepper

What you do:
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and form into small/flat patties. Heat up skillet, spray with cooking spray. Cook patties over medium heat until browned on one side & flip over to cook on other side.

This recipe made about 6 patties for me. I ate 2 patties with mustard and hot sauce on top of a kale & arugula mix. My 3 year old also ate 2 patties! (CHA CHING...kid approved!)

XOXO