My new favorite peanut butter

We all know of my obsession with peanut butter.  That’s why I was thrilled when Nanette at Krema sent me a big box of peanut buttery goodness!

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In addition to Krema AND Crazy Richard’s Smooth and Crunchy Peanut Butters I also got some Cashew Nut Butter and Almond Butter.  That was the best package I’ve gotten in a while!  Nanette is the best!  Her whole company is also made up of BYU grads.  Go Cougars!!!

All of the butters are super smooth and creamy and the crunchy has so many nut chunks in it!  Holy Yum.  The Krema Smooth Peanut Butter is easily the smoothest peanut butter I have EVER tasted.  I like to keep it in the pantry so it is really runny almost syrupy.  For a thicker peanut butter, you can just keep it in the fridge.

I will be throwing this stuff into tons of recipes but here are a few things I’ve done with it:

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My favorite way to enjoy Greek yogurt is ½ c plain yogurt, 1 T. Krema Peanut Butter, ½ T. real Maple Syrup and, of course, a few chocolate chips.

I also made these yummy no bake peanut butter cookies, courtesy of Tina.

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Simply mix up ½ c. oats, ¼ c. whole wheat flour, ¼ c. Krema Peanut Butter, ¼ c. agave nectar and ¼ c. chocolate chips.  Stir well and plop in rounded tablespoons on wax paper on a plate.  Put in the fridge overnight to set.  (Our cookies may or may not have made it to the next day… I’m just sayin’).  Makes 8 cookies.  So why are there only 6 in the picture?  I’ll never tell…

For all of you in Utah County, Krema is sold at Macey’s and also at Kroger stores in other areas.  Crazy Richard’s is sold at many Whole Foods.  In December, they were listed in Cooking Light as the best peanut butter on the market and I can definitely attest to that!  This month Prevention magazine listed them as one of their top 50 healthiest everyday foods!  Way to go Krema!

Thank you Nannette for one of the best packages I’ve gotten in a LONG time!

(These products were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of review.)

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admin, March 12th 2010 | Tags: , , ,
Posted in Healthy Treats, Product Reviews, Snacks

Cordial Cherry Pudding

Talk about a healthy holiday recipe right here!  If you love chocolate covered cherries, you will LOVE this one!

Start by throwing these things into your magic bullet or blender:

  • 1 container cherry yogurt (I use weight watchers brand because it doens’t have high fructose corn syrup OR aspertame)
  • 1/2 c. cottage cheese
  • 1 T. low fat cream cheese
  • 1 T. cocoa
  • 1 packet Truvia (Stevia)

Blend all that goodness up and put into your bowl.  Top with about 15 chocolate chips and enjoy!

Don’t forget to email me if you are interested in my 6 day “Holiday Melt Down” Meal Plan!  See here for details!

3 Comments

admin, November 18th 2009 | Tags: , ,
Posted in Healthy Treat

Apple Pie and Ice Cream Oatmeal

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This oatmeal could possible ressemble apple pie and vanilla ice cream.  It is SO good! 

Cook 1/4 cup of oats with 1/2 cup water on the stove along with half an apple chopped into chunks.  Make sure this all cooks together so the apples are cooked.  After cooking stir in 1 T. flax seed, 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder and cinnamon. 

Top the oatmeal with 1 Tablespoon of peanut butter over half and 1/4 cup plain oatmeal mixed with stevia on the other half. 

I’ve been having this oatmeal everyday this week and it is to die for!  All the flavors mix together wonderfully!

2 Comments

admin, July 30th 2009 | Tags: , , ,
Posted in Breakfast

Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse

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Talk about yummy!  The other day I really was feeling like some peanut butter and chocolate chips (one of my favorite combo’s unfortunately).  I decided to try to fit some healthier things into the mix.  Here’s what went in:

  • 1/4 cup plain yogurt
  • 1 T. cocoa
  • stevia (Truvia) to taste
  • 1 T. natural peanut butter
  • 15 chocolate chips

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I put it in a small little bowl and ate it with a teeny little baby spoon. :-)   It made me savor every bite!  I hope you try this one when you really need some chocolate!

(180 cals)

2 Comments

admin, June 23rd 2009 | Tags: , , ,
Posted in Healthy Treat

Cream Cheese Yogurt Dip

I apologize that I haven’t been a very good poster today.  I actually haven’t even photographed any of my meals (still getting used to this whole blogging thing!) so I am putting on a recipe, or more like “idea”, I made a few weeks ago and hadn’t posted yet.  Try this!  It’s great!  (PS.  I have a funny story after the recipe so don’t leave yet!)

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Today I had a ripe pineapple and wanted something sweet to dip it into.  I made my little protein carmel cream cheese creation (this works as so many things!!!) and stirred it into some plain yogurt and presto!  You’ve got a great fruit dip!

  • 1 1/2 oz fat free cream cheese
  • 1/2 scoop vanilla protein
  • 1 T. sugar free Da Vinci Carmel Syrup
  • Stevia to taste

Stir that into about 1/3 cup plain yogurt.  Enjoy with fruits, veggies, pretty much anything!

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This morning Saundra and I did our first “long” run for our race.  I put the word long in quotes because to many people 4 miles isn’t long.  To some it is short.  But to me it is long.  And I was nervous about it.  We want all of our long runs to be mainly down hill because that’s how the race will be.  So, we parked my car at the mouth of Hobble Creek Canyon and drove her car up 4 miles.  We parked at a camp ground and began our run.  It actually felt great!  No knee pain or heel pain (I think I may have a heel spur…  getting x-rayed on Monday.  I’ve had whatever it is for a while and it comes and goes.  So this is not a new thing) and the run felt awesome.  We chatted the whole time and that made the miles fly by. 

We get to my car 40 minutes later only to realize I didn’t have my keys.  And neither of us had our cell phones.  I haven’t done this whole “leave-one-car-drive-the-other-one-up-a-canyon” thing much so I didn’t even think twice about just brining my keys with me and leaving them locked in Saundra’s car.  Silly me.  Here we are 4 miles downhill of my keys.  Turns out I know a few of Caleb’s friends moms that live in a neighborhood close by.  So, we jogged to one of their houses but she was out of town.  I used their phone to call Brandon and he came and picked us up.  To get out to the road to meet him we had to go up a big hill and out through the neighborhood.  All in all, we ended up going about 5 1/2 miles.  After the first four we walked a little bit because my legs were shot.  I was proud of myself and I’m ready for the real 5 1/2 miles next week!

Question of the day:   What is the farthest you’ve ever ran and why (training for an event, just for fun, etc.)?

My Answer:  6 miles.  I’ve done this a few times.  I’ve ran a 10k and attempted training for a half marathon but then quit because I didn’t like it.  Lame reason, I know.

3 Comments

admin, May 16th 2009 | Tags: , ,
Posted in Snacks

Strawberry Overnight Oats and Homemade Chocolate Coconut Protein Bars

This morning I almost didn’t get up.  If it wasn’t for the fact that I was running with Saundra I probobly would have stayed in bed!  I’m glad I got up though because we had a great run and some good girl bonding time.

After my run I had a bowl of Strawberry Overnight Oats.  It was really great!

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The night before I put these things in the bowl:

  • 1/3 cup oats
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1/3 cup plain yogurt
  • 1 T. homemade sugar free strawberry syrup

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This morning I topped it all off with:

  • 1/4 cup cottage cheese
  • 1 T. flax seed
  • Strawberries
  • 1 T. peanut butter
  • Stevia

It made a great big bowl and tasted really good to my hungry tummy!

After taking Caleb to school I wanted to try out this homemade protein bar recipe I got from a friend.

  • 4 scoops chocolate protein powder
  • 1/4 cup peanut butter
  • 2/3 cup flax seed
  • 1/2 cup water
  • Splenda/Granulated Stevia to taste

Mix all that together in a bowl.  It’s going to be hard to mix.  Just keep on stirring.

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I then pressed it all into a bread pan and pressed some chocolate chips and coconut into the top. 

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That mixture is in the freezer and when it’s hardened I will get it out and cut it into 6 bars to individually wrap.

I plan on having one with a smoothie for lunch so I’ll tell you all how they are! 

I have a lot on my to do list for today:

  • Laundry
  • Plan tomorrow’s workouts for clients
  • Cut veggies for salads
  • Make a CD for camp tomorrow
  • Email clients about camp
  • Update my blog books
  • Spring clean:  organize the “computer desk area”

I hope you are all have a great morning so far!

4 Comments

admin, May 13th 2009 | Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Breakfast, Snacks

Cafe Mocha Overnight Oats

Good morning all you bloggers out there!  This morning my alarm was set for 5:30am but Brynley came in at 5:10am because she had to go potty.  Then Aubrey woke up at 5:20.  I fed her and as I came back into my room the alarm had just started going off!  So my day started bright and early!  Camp this morning was great.  I had a little scare because I thought my cd player wasn’t going to work.  I even sent Saundra home to grab another cd to try only to realize the cd player wasn’t even ON!  Ah!  It was early, that’s all I can say.

After camp I had a wonderful breakfast that really hit my sweet tooth!  It was Cafe Mocha Overnight Oats.

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Last night I put this in the fridge:

  • 1/4 cup oats
  • 1/4 cup Calorie Countdown chocolate milk
  • 1/4 cup plain yogurt

This morning I added:

  • 1/2 Dark Chocolate Mocha Zone Bar (I’ve been anxious to try this and it was really good!)
  • 1 T. cocoa
  • Stevia
  • 1 T. natural peanut butter

It was divine!  So wonderful that I even scraped the bowl with my rubber spatula!  When I break out the rubber spatula that’s when you know it’s good!

I’ve got a busy day of working today.  I have a client at 1:00pm and then I’ll go back again tonight for some more appointments.

I hope you all have a great day!  I’ll catch up later!

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admin, May 12th 2009 | Tags: , ,
Posted in Breakfast

Cinnamon Apple Overnight Oats

This morning was supposed to be my “sleep in” morning.  Turns out Aubrey was up in the night and Brynley woke up at 5:45am because she had to go potty.  I was able to go back to sleep but it wasn’t quite as nice as I was hoping for.  I got up at 7:15am and had a little pre workout snack of yogurt, fiber 1 cereal, a few walnuts and a little coconut.

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I took the girls to the gym with me only to realize that I had forgotten Aubrey’s bottle and she was already getting hungry.  I knew if I came home and got the bottle…  I’d probobly just stay  home so I went anyway and told them I’d only be 20 minutes!  I busted out some 30/60 sprint intervals on the arc trainer for about 20 minutes and came home. 

After my workout I had Cinnamon Apple Overnight Oats.

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These oats were so good!  Here’s how you make overnight oats:

The night before add equal amounts of oats, yogurt and milk to a bowl.  I did 1/3 cup of each today.  Stir to combine.  Refrigerate overnight.  In the morning add your toppings.  Today I did 1/4 an apple chopped up, cinnamon, stevia, 1/4 cup cottage cheese and 1 T. almond butter on the side.  They were so good! 

They didn’t keep me full super long though.  Probobly because I ate them right after my workout.  After I ate them I put in my garden which is hard work!  That could also be why I was hungry early. 

I add the soil conditioners to the dirt and tilled it with the claw (talk about a great workout right there!).  Then I planted tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, broccolli, cauliflower, zuchinni, summer squash, spaghetti squash, watermelon, canteloupe, cilantro, anaheim peppers and tomatillos.  Most of those things I’ve never done before so we’ll see how it all works!

I was starving for lunch after doing the garden for 2 hours.  I had a big egg salad made with 1 egg, 2 egg whites, 1 T lf mayo, mustard, celery, avocado, cucumber and red bell pepper.  The bell pepper in it was fantastic!!!  I had that with two small slices of homemade bread and the left over brocolli slaw salad with some Sesame Ginger dressing. 

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Looks like a good plate of food, huh?  Funny, because I was full on hungry about 30 min later.  I had about 2 T. almond butter and that hit the spot.  :)

I learned today that I like working out early.  My whole day feels out of whack.  I didn’t even put the breakfast dishes away until just a bit ago and the house is a Dis.aster.  A lot of it probobly has to do with the fact that I had to do the garden but still.  I feel very … scatterbrained and like I’m living in a pig sty.  I may start exercising early every day.  We’ll see.

Question of the day:  What time of day do you workout and do you like it?  Why or why not?

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admin, May 8th 2009 | Tags: , ,
Posted in Breakfast

Oatmeal and Yogurt Parfait

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This was a really good variation of traditional oats.  I loved this and will definately have it again, maybe even tomorrow. :)

Let me talk about each layer:

  1. First layer is oatmeal.  Not loaded oats, just traditional oatmeal.  I did 1/4 cup oats with 1/2 cup water nuked for a minute and a half.  Then I stired in 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder and 1 T. sf ff vanilla pudding mix. 
  2. Second layer is yogurt and cottage cheese.  I took half of a container of Weight Watchers raspberry yogurt and blended it with 1/4 cup cottage cheese until smooth.  Many blenders won’t blend this because there isn’t any liquid.  I use my magic bullet.  If your blended won’t mix this, you can either add a teensy bit of milk or just stir it together. 
  3. Third layer is sliced strawberries.  I sliced up about 7 strawberries.
  4. Last layer is 1/4 cup Fiber 1 cereal and 1 T. slivered almonds.

To assemble layer half the oats, half the yogurt/cottage cheese, half the berries and then half the cereal and almonds.  Then repeat the layers with the remaining ingredients. 

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There you have it!  An Oatmeal and Yogurt Parfait!  What do you think?  (This has 375 calories.  Feel free to adjust the amounts to fit your calorie needs.)

In my world today:

I am so sore from my new workout program!  I’m loving it.  I got up and got the workout in.  I just did 45 min of lifting and I’m going for a run later tonight.  I ran some errands, did some cleaning, you know, the usual.  Nothing too crazy around here, but that’s how I like it.  I hope you’re all having a wonderful day!

2 Comments

admin, April 2nd 2009 | Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Breakfast

Whole Wheat Yogurt Pancakes

 

100_0474I got this recipe from Kath at www.katheats.com.  These were the fluffiest whole wheat pancakes I’ve had in a long time!  I made them for breakfast this last Sunday and the whole family loved them!  You want to know the best part?  I had a couple the next day and toasted them in the toaster and the still tasted great!  I had them how Kath does with a mashed banana and peanut butter spread on them.  They were divine and kept me full for quite a while!

  • 1 c whole wheat flour
  • 1/3 c milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 c plain yogurt
  • 2 t sugar
  • 2 t oil
  • 1 t vanilla
  • 1/2 t baking powder
  • 1/4 t baking soda
  • 1/8 t salt

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Mix the ingredients together and pour about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake.  Cook on a griddle over medium heat.  I actually doubled the recipe and came out with 20 pancakes.  According to my calculations and ingredients one pancake had, are you ready for this, only 66 calories!  Wowzers, huh?!  I loved them and will definately be making them again.  Thanks Kath for all the great ideas!

In my world today: 

Aubrey had to get casted for her helmet today.  :(   It was sad.  Luckily the process didn’t take long because she was definately not loving it.

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It should come by the end of next week hopefully.  We should find out soon if insurance will cover it.  I hope it does because if not it will cost us a very pretty penny! 

Brynley’s at dance right now, Caleb’s at a friends house and Aubrey’s asleep.  What am I doing awake?!  I should be napping!  Ok, I’ll catch you all later!  Hope you have a great day!

6 Comments

admin, March 31st 2009 | Tags: , ,
Posted in Breakfast