PB&J Oatmeal Yogurt Parfait

I got this recipe idea from a girl I follow on Instagram @cef0968

PB & J Oatmeal Yogurt Parfait
Cook 1/2 c oats with 1 c water
Stir in 2 T vanilla whey protein powder

Mix 1/4 c PB2 with water until desired consistency

Then layer in a clear glass/jar with nonfat plain Greek yogurt and blackberry chia jam or whatever fruit of your choice!

(I refrigerated mine for close to an hour and a half while I got my oil changed and my tires rotated because I didn't have time to eat it before I left. It's good cold but I might try it warm next time!)

Logan View, Lincoln, London

One of my friends, former teammates and roommates, Jordan Larson-Burbach is playing volleyball in the Olympics for team USA. I played with her in high school at Logan View, then lived with her for a year in Lincoln while she played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and now it's still hard to believe that I'm watching her compete with the rest of the world as an Olympian! Very cool.

There are three of these signs up as you enter the Logan View school district from each direction, I get to drive by one every day and I love every minute of it.

Chocolate Banana Mug Muffin

(STUFT Mama's 3 Minute Banana Muffin Mug)

Chocolate Banana Mug Muffin
1 banana mashed
2 T whole wheat flour
2 T oats
1 T ground flaxseed
2 T eggwhites
1 pkt stevia
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t unsweetened cocoa powder

Mix together and pour into a mug sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Microwave for 3 minutes then dump on plate.

Yesterday I topped mine with Land O Lakes all natural cinnamon butter and PB2, today I topped mine with PB2 and Walden Farms zero calorie chocolate syrup!

I can't wait to try different things in the muffin like applesauce and other fruit toppings!

 

 

Trail Mix

Just a little healthy, clean, all natural snack I threw together!

Trail Mix
1/4 c raisins
1/4 c raw sunflower seeds
1/4 c soynuts
1/4 c raw pumpkin seeds

Chocolate Banana Pancakes

Chocolate Banana Pancakes
1/2 c oats
1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
1/2 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/2 banana mashed
2 eggwhites
1 egg
1 t baking powder
1/2 t cocoa powder
(stevia and cinnamon optional)

Mix together and cook on medium heat like regular pancakes.

I enjoyed mine with a little all natural Land O Lakes cinnamon butter, PB2, and Walden Farms zero calorie chocolate syrup, amazing! Can't wait to try other toppings!

Recipe from Katie's Clean Eats

Healthy Cookie Dough Dip

I know, the title looks like an oxymoron but it's the truth, I promise!

This recipe is similar to Chocolate Covered Katie's recipe.

Healthy Cookie Dough Dip
1 can garbanzo beans/chick peas, drained
1/4 c PB2
1/4 c brown sugar
2 t vanilla
1/8 t baking soda
1/8 t salt
3 T oats
1/4 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk

Combine in food processor and blend well. Add mini chocolate chips and enjoy with pretzels, graham crackers or fruit! I like mine on top of cottage cheese with Walden Farms zero calorie chocolate sauce.

Chocolate Caramel Coffee

I drink coffee every morning. Before my parents moved into their new house, I had the privilege of using my mom's Keurig. Now that they have moved out, I am back to my regular old coffee maker.

I never seem to make just the right amount for my travel coffee mug so I always have leftover cold coffee when I get home later in the day.

I got tired of dumping out that extra bit of coffee each evening so I came up with a solution. I poured the extra coffee into a small plastic cup and set it in the freezer. Now when I want an iced coffee I can use that big chunk of frozen coffee instead of regular ice cubes which dilute it anyway.

Lately my favorite thing to add to my coffee, no matter hot or cold, is chocolate soy milk and sugar free Torani caramel syrup. Delish!

Overnight Oats

I LOVE making overnight oats for one main reason, they are ready to eat right when I wake up without any morning prep work! Most of the time I even take them on the go with me in my handy little plastic Ball jars I found at WalMart of all places!

Same disclaimer: Not sure who came up with this recipe first, but they are also a genius and this is the recipe I have compiled for myself.

Overnight Oats
1/3 c oats
1/3 c unsweetend vanilla almond milk
1/3 c plain greek yogurt
1 t chia seeds

Then the possibilities are once again endless...I have added 1 whole peach, 1 whole mashed banana with 1 t unsweetened cocoa powder or 1 T PB2, 1/4 c blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries, and maybe a little honey, 100% all natural maple syrup or stevia for sweetener...whatever you'd like!

Shake well in container, refrigerate overnight, and enjoy cold the next morning!

Let me know what flavors you come up with!

Blackberry Chia Jam

Disclaimer: I have seen some form of this recipe in several different places, I don't know who thought of it first, it wasn't me, but whoever it was is genius.

Blackberry Chia Jam
1 c blackberries (or any fresh/frozen berries)
1 T chia seeds
1 pkt stevia

Mash all together and refrigerate. You can double or triple the recipe like I do and you'll have jam for days!

I love it on top of my oats, mixed in my cottage cheese, or as part of an all natural PB&J on whole wheat bread with Dark Chocolate Dreams or White Chocolate wonderful from Peanut Butter & Co!

Eggwhite Oats

My favorite meal of the day is breakfast, just ask Tyler, and lately my favorite thing for breakfast has been some rendition of my 'oats' recipe:

Eggwhite Oats
1/3 c oats
1 T ground flax
4 T eggwhites
1/3 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk
Microwaved for 1:45 and more almond milk added for desired consistency.

I have stirred in banana, PB2, or cinnamon with mine. I have topped it with PB2 and mini chocolate chips, steamed apples, chia seeds, and cinnamon, or PB2 and blackberry chia jam. The possibilities are endless!

What do you like to add to your morning oats?

I'm dating Forrest Gump

Most of the world should know by now that I am in fact dating Forrest Gump. If Forrest Gump was a real person and not just a character played by Tom Hanks in 1994, he would be my boyfriend Tyler.

The friendly Lieutenant Dan wave in Madison, Wisconsin...

 Tyler and I as Forrest and Jenny for Halloween...

 Forrest smile...

 Forrest pose in Minnesota.

 Forrest pose at a wedding...

 Forrest smile at another wedding...

 Forrest pose number 2 in Colorado...

 Forrest on the park bench outside Bubba Gump Shrimp Co...

 He definitely felt at home...

 Lieutenant Dan, he made it to Bubba Gump Shrimp Co in Breckenridge, CO!

 And the Forrest smile at yet another wedding.

I'd say the pictures are living proof that I am dating a Forrest Gump wannabe.

Since last time...

Since the last time I posted on my blog (back in March)...
-I turned 24 in April.
-I graduated with my Masters Degree in Speech-Language Pathology in May.

-I ran the Lincoln Half Marathon in May.

-I went on our family's annual fishing trip to Minnesota in May.

-I entered the 'real world' as a school based speech-language pathologist (and continued working part time in Hy-Vee's floral department as a floral designer).
-I've attended 5 weddings with about 5 more to go in 2012...

-I celebrated 4 family member's birthdays in July- Mom (50), Dad (52), Tyler (27), and Brylen (1).

-My parents finally moved into their new house which means I have settled all of my stuff into their temporary (my new) house! I also helped Tyler move to Columbus : ( so he can start his teaching/coaching job in a few weeks!
-I've started eating much cleaner and training for the Omaha-Lincoln Market to Market Relay in October!
-And I've also golfed quite a bit!

What have you been up to this summer?

st. patty's day

Tyler and I had a few people over to his house for some brews and munchies before going to listen to a local band, Third Frate, play at a bar in town. There was plenty of green beer to go around on St. Patty's Day!