Breakfast with a Smile - Gluten Free Granola

I love the crunch!

5 days a week I eat breakfast at my desk.  I generally make it ahead of time
and bring it in bulk. I switch it up week to week but I could probably eat yogurt. fruit and granola every day, every week, indefinetly.

Greek yogurt is a great breakfast pick for me.  I like 2% Fage the best. The fat keeps me full and satiated without being as heavy as the Whole.  I can't stand the taste of the 0% and don't feel satisfied afterwards. There is no point in eating it if I'm going to be hungry again in an hour.

I like to top my yogurt with fresh berries, some agave and granola. I love the crunch!
Homemade granola is my go-to when I want something crunchy and slightly sweet.

Store bought granola is usually high in sugar and fat. Which is why my taste buds love it and my waist line hates it!

I decided to experiment and make my own granola so I knew what was going into it. 
Plus it's so easy and cheap to make in bulk that I feel guilty not making it.

Gluten Free Homemade Granola

• 1C GF Oats
• 1/2C Coconut Oil, melted
• 1/4C sweetener of choice. I like creamed honey.
• 1 Tbs cinnamon
• 1 Tbs nutmeg
• 1/4C unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1/4C chia seeds
• 2Tbs pumpkin seeds
• 2 – 3Tbs slivered almonds
• 2 Tbs crushed walnuts
• *Chopped dried apricots – I chopped up about 6

Toss the oats w/cinnamon and nutmeg so they’re coated

Add the sweetener and oil together, mix fully then pour over oats

Add nuts/seeds/fruit and mix well

Place in oven on low heat, about 200 degrees

Occasionally toss mixture so it evenly browns.

I take it out after 45 mins or so but it depends on how light or dark you like your granola.

It’s easy to burn so keep an eye on it!

*Any dried fruit works or none at all. The world is  your granola, do it your way!

Workout :: Booty Burn

Everyone seems to love a big booty these days. I think we all know who to thank...
I remember a time when my main goal was to minimize my backside, not to draw more attention to it.  Oh how the tides have turned. I embrace my ASSets now. The widely accepted 'bigger is better' attitude helps a great deal but age also has a lot to do with it. It took me a very long time to be OK with what I see in the mirror.

Diet and exercise also helped in gaining self acceptance. Not just because I look and feel better. But because I know how hard I work and the effort I put into my health and fitness. Spending as much time in the gym as I do, it is easy to become bored and fall into a rut.

That can create two problems. The first being unmotivated to even go to the gym. Who wants to do something they think is boring? The second problem is, that failing into a rut or steady routine yield little to no results. Your body easily becomes accustomed to your level of exertion and you start to plateau.  I avoid that by taking classes and by reading and researching different exercises.

A little research can go a long way. The above video is one of the exercises I do on leg day, specifically when I am targeting my Glutes! The machine is an assisted pull up machine used for...assisted pull-ups.  I use it for its traditional purpose on occasion but I also use it to build them glutes.

I start by wrapping a resistance band around the foot pedal of the machine.

Instead of standing on the pedal with both feet and pulling myself up,
I use one foot and push down!

I pick a heavy weight, I had this on about 160lbs here. Don't be afraid to go heavy, you're stronger than you think. Depending on what I am working, I adjust my foot position to feel it in different parts of my leg / thigh / butt.
 
For example, I push down with my heel to feel it in the glutes or use the ball of my foot to feel it more in the quads.I use a SLOW and controlled movement to really target the area I am working.

Give it a try and feel the burn!

Breakfast Cookies!

Cookies for Breakfast!

This was a pantry clean out experiment that worked out nicely.  They taste better than they look, I promise.

I needed to condense the contents of my overflowing pantry and decided using up some assorted nuts, oats and chia seeds was a good start.  I always have nuts on hand. Cashew, Almonds, Walnuts - I have them all.

They provide protein and healthy fat that keeps me full & happy. Who doesn't want to be happy at breakfast. Right?

• 2 mashed bananas 
• 2c gluten free oats (I Like Bob's Red Mill)
• 1/4c coconut flour
• 2 Tbs almond milk 
• 4 dates (soaked over night)
• 1/2 c walnuts
• roughly 2Tbs liquid egg whites
• chia seeds, shredded coconut flakes, dried cranberries (as many or few as you like)

Bake at 350 degrees for about 8 a 10 min or until the edges brown.

I made a little dent while they were warm for some leftover jelly that needed a home.  I was inspired  by a recipe I saw but I would only recommend that if you're eating them right away, otherwise they got a little soggy. Enjoy!

 

Easy As (Pizza) Pie

What's for dinner?

Good Enough to Eat :)

I had leftover spaghetti squash that I made into a "pizza crust" the other night.

I'm not trying to lie & say this is a legit replacement for delicious, gluten-y REAL pizza crust.
It was however, an alternative way to eat spaghetti squash, which I happen to love!

Recipe adapted from www.sharedappetite.com  

• 1 small to medium spaghetti squash (this was a personal pizza)
• 1 egg (beaten)
• 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella  
•  salt / pepper / garlic powder / dried basil (a dash of each)
  I roast my squash but you can microwave it, turning every 3 min until it's soft.

Cut and remove seeds. Make sure to strain, strain & strain again the stringy squash goodness! A cheesecloth or dish towel can help this process.

Mix the strained squash into the egg, add remaining ingredients & pop into the oven.
(I used a pie pan that I sprayed with Pam). 

I watched mine, about 15 minutes, at 350 degrees, until it looked brown.

I remove it from the oven & topped with my fav toppings.

Place it back it until the cheese melted.

Quick & delicious.