Ginger Peach Pudding Parfait... Oh My!!

So I was perusing my US Weekly (don't judge me) and came across this AMAZING looking recipe that's totally 21 Day Fix approved... I'm in the throws of another round, and as you know, I have a wicked sweet tooth. Let me just say, this totally hits the spot.

Ginger-Peach Pudding Parfait

What you'll need:

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1.5 TBSP vanilla protein powder (I choose to use Shakeology)
• 3 TBSP chia seeds
• 1 tsp ginger
• 1 cup diced peaches
• 1/2 cup all natural granola or oats
• 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

What you'll do with it:

1. In a blender, combine the almond milk and protein powder until smooth. Stir in the chia seeds and ginger (and oats, if using), and refrigerate overnight. 

2. In 2 dishes, layer the chia pudding with the peaches, granola (if using), and coconut. Serves 2!

Enjoy! Share with a friend who'd LOVE this recipe!

Chocolate Coconut No-Bake Cookies...

What if you could have cookies that looked like this...

and not feel ANY guilt?!

Introducing... Chocolate Coconut No-Bake Cookies!!

What do you need?

• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 3/4 TBSP chocolate protein powder (I choose Shakeology)
• 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 2 TBSP cacao powder
• 3 TBSP honey
• 2 TBSP coconut oil (melted)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

What do you do with it?

1. In a bowl, combine the cinnamon, oats, protein powder, coconut, and cacao. In another bowl, combine the honey, coconut oil, and vanilla. Stir together.

2. Form into 6 cookies and place on an unlined cookie sheet. Freeze for at least 2 hours. Serves 2!

Enjoy, friends!

So this 3 INGREDIENT PEANUT BUTTER FRUIT DIP totally blew my mind...

You guys... isn't Pinterest the BEST?! I swear, I get so many really great ideas from there that I use in my every day life... recipes, hair, nails, workout ideas... you name it and you can find it on Pinterest.

Here's my latest discovery... I can't WAIT to try this fruit dip. I mean, anything with peanut butter is basically golden in my book, but add honey and yogurt?? I may have just hit the jackpot.

It's so simple, it's ridiculous.

• 1 TBSP honey
• 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
• 10.5 oz Greek yogurt. 

Blend and enjoy! :)

Vegan Roasted Red Pepper Pasta...

Ok. So I come from an Italian family, and we LOVE pasta. Way too much, in fact. I love the starch, and I love the cream sauces. Doesn't everyone?! Ha.




However, they don't have a whole lot to offer nutritionally. So I'm constantly on the lookout for recipes or ideas that satisfy the "cream sauce" monster in my little Italian brain, but that still offer some nutritional benefits.

Enter... Vegan Roasted Red Pepper Pasta <3

First, I need to give credit where credit is due. This gorgeous creation is courtesy of the Minimalist Baker, and I found it on Pinterest. I highly recommend checking out their site for some delicious ways to spice up your menu. :)

Here's what you'll need:

• 4 cloves garlic 
• fresh parsley/basil 
• 2 red bell peppers 
• 2 shallots 
• 1.5 TBSP cornstarch (or arrowroot powder) 
• 2 TBSP nutritional yeast 
• red pepper flakes 
• salt/pepper 
• 1.5 cups unsweetened almond milk 
• 2 TBSP olive oil 
• 12 oz. gluten free pasta 
• vegan Parmesan cheese 








Here's what you do with it:

1. Heat oven to 500 and roast red peppers on a baking sheet until charred - about 25-30 minutes. Cover in foil for 10 minutes to steam, then remove (peel away) charred skin, seeds and stems. Set aside.

2. Cook pasta according to package instructions; drain, toss in a touch of olive oil, cover with a towel and set aside.

3. While the red peppers are roasting, bring a large skillet over medium heat and sautee onion and garlic in 2-3 Tbsp olive oil until golden brown and soft - about 4-5 minutes. Season with a generous pinch of salt and pepper and stir. Remove from heat and set aside.

4. Transfer sautéed shallot and garlic to blender with roasted peppers, almond milk, nutritional yeast and cornstarch. Season with desired amount of salt, pepper and red pepper flakes.

5. Blend until creamy and smooth, taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more salt and pepper or nutritional yeast for flavor. You want the flavor to be pretty robust and strong since the noodles don't have much flavor - so be generous with your seasonings.

6. Once blended, place sauce back in the skillet over medium heat to thicken. Once it reaches a simmer, reduce heat to low and continue simmering.

7. Once sauce is thickened to desired consistency, add noodles. However, before tossing add a touch more olive oil, salt and pepper to the un-tossed noodles for added flavor. Then, toss to coat. 

8. Serve with vegan parmesan, red pepper flakes and fresh chopped parsley or basil.

Superfoods for GORGEOUS Skin

I'm always looking for natural ways to enhance the appearance of my hair, skin, and nails. In my never-ending pursuit of knowledge (I literally research the hell out of EVERYTHING that interests me... maybe it's the teacher in me!), I came across this article housed in the Beachbody Blog. I absolutely LOVE the advice and the tips for ingredients I should be looking for to counteract some of the damage that comes with sun and aging... not to mention the grey hairs I keep pulling out. Ha!!

"It’s no secret a healthy diet and active lifestyle does wonders for your appearance. Not only does eating clean help you keep the weight off, but it also enriches your beauty. When you take care of yourself your health radiates from the inside out! Good nutrition naturally nurtures healthy, glowing skin to help keep it free of acne. That’s why many skin-nurturing beauty products on the market have ingredients like citrus, acai berries, camu-camu and other potent superfoods in them; these ingredients are as good for you insides as they are for your exterior.

Good nutrition also can do wonders for strengthening your hair from heating products you may use every day and it also supports healthy growth and texture. Finally, when you’re eating right you may also notice your nails become stronger, grow faster and maybe don’t crack and break as often. This is all thanks to good nutrition! So what should you be eating to enrich your hair, skin and nails? 

Here are a few ingredients that are great for all of the above. You can find these ingredients in many foods at your local grocery store and you can find ALL of them in Shakeology.

Biotin: Helps promote the health of hair, skin, and nails.

Chlorella: Phytonutrient that helps support healthy skin.

Citric Acid: Helps provide antioxidant protection for the skin.

Folic Acid: A deficiency may cause gray hair.

Cocoa: Antioxidant support for healthy skin.

Gingko: Antioxidant support for skin and promotes healthy circulation.

Goji Berry: High in antioxidants which help minimize damage from free radicals that injure cells and can damage DNA.

Grape Seed Extract: Used to protect collagen and elastin in skin (anti-aging).

Green tea: Comes from the Camellia Sinensis tea plant, which is rich in antioxidants and that detoxify cell-damaging free radicals in the body.

Magnesium: Can help cells repair faster.

Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5): Helps reduce signs of aging, skin disorders, and gray hair.

Schisandra: Helps to prevent aging.

Vitamin A: Is often used to help skin conditions including acne, eczema, psoriasis, cold sores, wounds, burns, and sunburn.

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Used for treating acne, maintaining healthy hair, skin and nails. It also has anti-aging properties.

Vitamin B6: Beneficial for acne and various other skin conditions.

Vitamin C: Powerful antioxidant that can be used to help repair and firm the skin.

Vitamin E: Stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, primary components of your skin that help prevent scarring from wounds and acne.

Vitamin K: Helps promote healing and helpful for mild bruising and swelling."

Slow Cooking up a STORM!

So I sincerely forgot how AWESOME the Crockpot is. I mean, seriously. Set it and forget it. How simpler can it get?!

Last week, my husband David requested a special birthday dinner. Lucky for me, it was easy as hell to make. But in the end, you've whipped up this amazing meal, and you look like (a leaner, sexier version of?) Betty Crocker. :)

Behold... Honey Garlic Chicken!!

Want to know how to make it?
Here's what you'll need:

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken thighs (I have also used breast cutlets)
• 1/2 cup soy sauce (I used Bragg's Liquid Aminos)
• 1/2 cup ketchup (I use Publix Greenwise organic)
• 1/3 cup honey
• Garlic to taste (I used 4 cloves, minced)
• Dried basic to taste (I used 1 tsp)

What you want to do with it:

• Lay your chicken at the bottom of the slow cooker.
• Whisk all other ingredients together in a bowl.
• Pour mixture over chicken.
• Set on low and cook about 6 hours. 

David likes when I serve it over brown rice, because he likes to drizzle the extra "juices" over it. I also like to serve with oven-roasted asparagus. So good!!

Enjoy!! Share with a friend who is a fellow chicken and/or slow cooker-lover! :)