Chocolate PB Banana Protein Shake

Absolutely a treasure! I made it yesterday after a good workout at the gym last night. I'm absolutely in-love. Shhhh! Don't tell my hubby I have a new love. Haha

It is amazing how peanut butter doesn't need much to flavor something. It is a very nice touch.

The shake is a must before or after the workout. It is full of vitamins and protein to tide you over until dinner is ready.

The shake has:

1 scoop chocolate protein powder

1 banana

1 tablespoon chia seeds

1 tablespoon peanut butter

1 1/2 c milk (any kind will do: soy, almond, cashew, 2%, 1%)

This makes enough for 2 servings.

ENJOY!!!!

Smoothies to Better Health

Last night I took the time to cut up fresh fresh fruit and vegetables. I packaged 8 meals of smoothies and placed it in the freezer to make for a quick breakfast that's healthy. Nothing like a cupful of fresh food with milk and protein powder. YUM!

I made a green smoothie pack and triple berry smoothie pack. It was fun and I'm extremely excited to start drinking these today. This morning we went with the green smoothie. YUM!

Each smoothie pack consists of 2 servings.

Green Smoothie has:
1 cup Kale
1 banana
1 kiwi
1/2 apple (any kind you choose)
2 cups milk (any kind: soy, almond, 2% milk, 1% milk)
1 scoop protein powder
1 tablespoon chia seeds
splash grapefruit juice

The pack only consists of the fruit and kale. The liquid, chia seeds, & protein powder is added when it is made.

It is delicious!!!

Berry Smoothie pack has:
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup blackberries
1/2 cup strawberries (chopped)
1 cup kale

I can't wait to try the Triple berry smoothie tomorrow. It is so great! 

Enjoy!

Fruity Chicken Salad

Another salad right? I can't help it. I'm really getting into this new healthy lighter meals. Salad like I said before can be very versatile with what veggies, fruits, protein, & toppings. It is also a great way to get in your veggies & fruits for the day. 

Tonight's dinner salad is just that, versatile. I took a picture without the thigh meat and one with the meat. You can choose to eat it however you like. 

Right there the salad can eaten like this without the meat in it or it can be eaten like this second photo.

The salad contains:

1/4 cucumber

1/4 red bell pepper

1/2 blood orange

10 red grapes

4 strawberries

8 blackberries

1/2 avocado

1/2 roma tomato

0.5 oz fontana cheese

0.5 oz smoked cheese with onion

2 cups baby spinach

2 fried boneless, skinless chicken thighs (optional)

This salad was a perfect end for the day.

Enjoy!

Strawberry & Blackberry Salad

Due to my diabetes, recently I decided that it is time to start eating more salads. Salads are so versatile with what you can add to them. There are all sorts of proteins, fruits, veggies, and a large combination of healthy toppings to choose from. 

During the summer, I usually only make salads. It helps keep the house cooler since the stove/oven isn't on. It also is light enough meal. Usually in the summer months, if I eat a regular meal after a long day in the sun, I have a bad night with a tummy ache. 

But this change is quite refreshing even in the middle of the winter. 

I brought this for lunch today. 

The salad contains:

5 strawberries

5 blackberries

2 large crimini mushrooms

1/4 peeled cucumber

1 roma tomato

2 cups baby spinach

0.5 oz smokehouse onion cheese

0.5 oz fontana cheese

2 t chia & hemp seed mix

I'm pretty excited to eat this! Lately I'm craving veggies and fruit. It's definitely a nice change to processed meats and bread. 

Enjoy!

Cherry-Brown Sugar Glazed Ham

Christmas I made this 6 pound smoked ham with an amazing cherry-brown sugar glaze. I took the picture and forgot about posting it. I just looked over it and my mouth is watering. I just have to post it and the recipe on that glaze.

I believe the glaze is very versatile and can be used for many different kinds of meats and poultry. I have been thinking of using it for the slow cooker as a sauce for some country ribs and veggies. 

Cherry-Brown Sugar Glaze:
3 tablespoons brown sugar 
3/4 teaspoon ground mustard 
1 1/2 cups cherry preserves 
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon 

Combine jam, brown sugar, mustard and cinnamon in small saucepan. Heat over medium heat until it comes to boil. 

I then brushed part of the glaze on the ham after it has already cooked for 1 hour at 325 degrees. I then placed the ham back in the oven for another 30 minutes. I brushed it again with the glaze and let it sit until dinner is ready to be served.

The remaining amount of glaze was put in a gravy boat to pour over the ham when served.

The ham isn't perfect, but boy does it make my mouth water! It was a perfect addition to our family Christmas dinner.

Again, the glaze on the ham can be used for any recipe you can come up with. It is very versatile and extremely tasty.

Mega Dinner Salad

I made a promise to myself that I need to start eating healthier especially since my diabetes is out of hand currently. What better way to do that than to start small with a dinner salad. I absolutely love salads. Salads are very versatile. You can make them with almost anything your imagination can come up with. 

I can eat them in the winter or summer. Last night I made an amazing salad for my husband and me. It started off as an idea from Jamie Oliver's Proper Chicken Caesar Salad and then I just made it into something of my own.

The salad contains:
4 large crimi mushrooms
1/2 cucumbers
1/2 white onions
1 vine tomato
1 avocado
1 oz fontana cheese
1 oz smokehouse onion cheese
1 red bell pepper
3 slices bacon (cut into batons)
2 slices toasted marble rye (cut into cubes)
1 oz turkey lunchmeat
2 c spinach
1 T butter

This is what makes it similar to Jamie Oliver's Proper Chicken Caesar Salad, I baked chicken leg quarters with bacon on top of it. The chicken has the skin on it. My husband ate it with the chicken. I just had what you see in the picture which was enough for me. The chicken definitely would enhance it even more and my husband enjoyed it. 

Enjoy!