Peanutty Peanut Butter Squares

Who loves peanut butter? This girl right here has a serious love for PB. Like if I could marry peanut butter, I would. These delicious snack are just what this nurse needed. This is such a great snack especially for a pick me up. 

Serves: 16 (1 square each) Prep Time: 20 min. Cooking Time: 23 min. 

Container Equivalents (per serving): 1 yellow 2 1/2 tsp. 

Ingredients: 

• 1 1/2 cups all-natural smooth peanut butter
• 1/2 cup raw honey (or pure maple syrup)
• 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda, gluten-free

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Lightly coat 8x8 inch baking pan with spray. Set aside.
3. Combine peanut butter, honey, extract, eggs and baking soda in large bowl, mix well
4. Evenly spread batter into prepared pan. smooth top with a spatula.
5. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes. Squares may be a little soft when coming out of oven, but they will continue to cook. 
6. Cool. Cut into squares. 

Macaroni and Cheese with Broccoli and Chicken

This amazing new cookbook came out called Fixate, all based around the 21 day fix and 21 day fix extreme container system. I absolutely love Mac and Cheese, growing up, it was my absolute favorite meal. I literally could have it all the time. As I was flipping through the cookbook and seeing what I wanted to try, this was the first thing that I wanted to make. And let me just rave for a minute on how amazingly delicious it is. OHHH and did I mention....healthy too. Who would have thought that Macaroni and Cheese would taste so good and be so healthy?!?! I sure didn't. I hope that you can enjoy this recipe as much as I did. I can't wait to make it again. 

Serves: 8 (2 cups each). Prep Time: 20 mins. Cooking Time: 17 mins

Fix Container Equivalents: 1/2 Green, 1/2 Yellow, 1/2 Red, 1 Blue, 1/2 tsp

Ingredients:

• 4 oz. dry whole wheat macaroni (or pasta)
• 4 tsp organic grass-fed butter (or extra-virgin organic coconut oil)
• 2 tbsp. unbleached whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk
• 1 1/4 cups freshly grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese
• 3 cups cooked chopped chicken breast, boneless, skinless
• 4 cups chopped broccoli florets, steamed
• 1 tsp. sea salt (or Himalayan salt)
• 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

Directions: 

1. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Set aside
2. Melt butter in large sauce pan over medium heat
3. Add flour; cook; whisking constantly for 1 minute, or until brown (don't let it burn)
4. Slowly whisk in almond milk; cook, whisking constantly for 1 to 2 minutes or until mixture thickens and there are no lumps.
5. Reduce heat to low. Add cheese; cook; whisking constantly, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until melted
6. Add chicken, broccoli, salt, and pepper; cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute, or until heated through
7. Serve immediately 

Variations:

• Asparagus, green beans, or brussel sprouts can be substituted for broccoli
• A combination of cheeses like cheddar and Gouda, cheddar and monterey jack, and cheddar and asiago can be substituted for sharp cheddar. 

Pork Chop and Baked Apple Wedges

I had pork chops in my freezer and I needed a protein for my salads this week. I found this recipe and thought it would be great for atop a kale spinach salad. This recipe is super quick and so delicious. I found it in the Brazil Butt Lift Recipe book. I did change it a little from the original because I did not have some of the ingredients. 

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided use
• 3 tsp. fresh lemon juice, divided use
• 1 clove of garlic minced
• 1 (5oz.) raw lean pork chop, centered cut. (I made enough for 3 services)
• 1 medium apple, cored, cut into 8 wedges
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven 350 degrees
2. Combine 1 tsp. oil, 2.5 tsp lemon juice, minced garlic in a small bowl; mix well
3. Place pork chop in a shallow dish, pour lemon juice mixture over chop, turning and using a brush to cover both sides. Marinate for 20 minutes, discard marinade.
4. While pork chops are marinating, combine apple, remaining 1/2 tsp. lemon juice and cinnamon in a small bowl; mix well 
5. Place apple wedges on baking sheet, lightly coated with spray
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until tender and bubbly. Remove from oven and set aside.
7. Preheat oven to Broil
8. Broil pork chops for 3 to 5 minutes on each side, or until no longer pink in the middle.
9. Serve pork chops with apples and a salad.

Hope that you enjoy this simple, easy, and healthy recipe!

Homemade Chicken Soup

Life has kinda been getting in the way of everything! So today on my day off and halfway through the week, I figured I would do some major meal prepping as well as make one of my favorite things homemade chicken soup. It was one of those days that I was just in the mood for moms homemade chicken soup. It is simple, healthy, and delicious...oh and did I add, perfect for having multiple containers left to freeze for another day.

Ingredients:

• carcass of turkey or chicken (this time I used a BJs chicken roaster carcass)
• 3/4 pot of water
• carrots
• celery
• onion
• tomatoes
• parsley 
• salt (sprinkled) 

Directions:

1. boil 3/4 pot of water and carcass in the largest pot you have
2. skim foamy white stuff off the top
3. add the rest of the ingredients 
4. cook for 2 to 3 hours 
5. stir occasionally, 

This has been my family recipe for homemade chicken soup for years. It is so simple and so delicious. I make a huge pot of it and have it for months left over in the freezer and I take it out as I want it. Its a simple, cheap, and healthy way to have the best soup ever. 

Hope you enjoy it and if you like the recipe, share it and comment with a review! 

ENJOY!

Insanity: The Asylum Results

In life we are our biggest critics, our biggest naysayer, our biggest challenge. How often do we overthink something or tell ourselves that we cant do something. in life we are our own worst enemy. Today, as I write this blog post I truly cant help but smile. I cant help but be proud of myself for accomplishing something that I never thought that I could. for completing the hardest workout program I have ever done. its a little program called insanity the asylum. talk about being in tip top shape after you complete this and feeling like an athlete, oh my goodness, yes I do. I truly wish that I could go back to when I was playing sports and would have done a program like this, I would have been a serious elite athlete. but even thou I cant go back, I can strive today to be better than ever. I can do things now that when I was a young athlete, I would have never been able to do.

This program taught me that I needed to dig deeper and push myself to a whole new level. it taught me that I can truly  do anything that I put my mind to. I just need a goal and a desire to crush it. I won't lie, it was not an easy 30 days. and I can honestly say that I cannot wait to take a few days off from working out and giving my legs a rest and time to recover. it was a hard 30 days and I don't know if I would have made it if it was longer than 30 days. it was the perfect balance of strength, agility, flexibility, and pure badass.

Day 0 (Top) Day 30 (Bottom)

Sometimes in life, we have to challenge ourselves, challenge our minds, challenge our bodies and challenge our reason for doing what we do day in and day out. sometimes we get stagnant and hit a plateau but when you challenge yourself to go out of your comfort zone and do something that you never thought you could do, you make amazing strides.

It truly is more than the workout itself. it the lessons you learn day in and day out about yourself and how strong you are. you learn that when you want to give up and throw in the towel, you have to rise up and use the towel to wipe off the sweat, blood, and tears. you have to make each day a fresh start, a new beginning, a new chance to be the best version of yourself. I lost 6.5 inches off my body and I was able to do more moves for the fit test on day 30 than starting day 0.

Now that I officially an Insanity: The Asylum Graduate, I have learned a tremendous amount over the last 30 days.
1. I am stronger than I think
2. I can achieve anything I put my mind to
3. Having a support system of fit friends and family and our amazing clients in our accountability groups, helped me immensely when I wanted to give up but got the extra support and motivation that I needed
4. I really need to get focused on my nutrition. no matter what workouts that I am doing and how hard I work it is the nutrition aspect of it all is the most important. you truly need to fuel your body with the food that is best for it. I can say 100% that I was no where near focused as I wanted to be during these last 30 days. I struggled with the nutrition aspect and next round, I plan on being dialed in
5. Shaun T is my man! seriously his workouts are my soul workouts. I feel like even thou we are not working out together in person, every day that I pushed play and worked out, I felt that he was there coaching me on, motivating me and making me dig seriously deep.
6. I might not have lost a tremendous amount of weight but I leaned out, toned up, muscles started popping through and my strength, agility, and flexibility are better than I have ever been
7. I can say whole heartedly, I am in the best shape of my life after doing these last 30 days.
8. You can truly change your life in 30 days.
9. Wake up every morning and make yourself proud. Make sure that you were better than the day before.
10. Don't forget to go out there and do your best. As Tony Horton says, do you best and forget the rest.

As I find the words to close out this blog post, I am somewhat speechless. I don't know how to finish this. Your health and fitness journey is such a crazy ride. We have highs and lows and ups and downs. We hit bumps in the road and we can have the best. Before I started Insanity: the Asylum, I hit a major plateau. I felt like I wasn't getting the workout that I wanted or needed. I felt like I wasn't getting the results I wanted. I had done multiple workout programs and I saw amazing results. I think I needed to shock my body and do an insane workout like asylum. and you know what it worked! not only did I transform my body but I feel like a whole new person physical. stronger than ever and feeling leaner. its amazing what working out and eating clean can do for you body.

What is next for me??? you might be asking....not too sure. I know for the next few days, I will be taking a rest days and maybe just some stretching. workout wise...eeks I don't know. I was thinking of doing a hybrid program of Insanity Max 30 and Insanity the Asylum.

Will you join me on my next journey??? Join me for 21 days and start your amazing health and fitness journey. Whether you need to lose 10 pounds or 100 pounds, this is for you! Fill out the form below and be selected to join our amazing group!

Hope you all have an amazing day! Remember that you can truly do anything as long as you put you mind to it!

~Nicole

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TurboFire Chili

So, I have heard some amazing things about this TurboFire Chili and I needed to try it. It is absolutely delicious and you can make it in the crock pot! I love using my crock pot and recently I haven't really been using it. I now have meals for the rest of the week and also monday next week. Nothing like being ahead of the game. If you do not like the beans, I would suggest you omit them and add gree peppers, mushrooms or other veggies of your choice! You can really make it your own! Just remember don't over indulge. It is absolutely delicious and you can definitly eat more than you wanted to! If you are following the 21 Day Fix or 21 Day Fix Extreme, it would be 1 red, 1 yellow, 1 green.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. lean ground turkey
• ½ cup diced tomatoes
• 1½ cups frozen whole kernel corn
• ½ onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 (15oz.) can black beans
• 1 (15oz.) can pinto, chili, or kidney beans
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• ½ cup water
• 1/2 package Lawry’s chili seasoning
• 4 oz. low-fat shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

Directions. 

1. Brown turkey. Drain and discard any fat. 
2. Place all ingredients except cheese into a slow cooker. 
3. Cook for 4 hours on low or 2 hours on high. 
4. Top with 1 oz cheese if desired.
5. ENJOY

Mama K's Famous Banana Bread

I love banana bread! My mom makes the best banana bread and whenever I have riper than ripe bananas, I always like to make it! Reminds me of home and is healthy.

Ingredients:

• 3 large ripe bananas
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 4 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted and cooled
• 1.5 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon each salt and baking soda

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325. lightly grease a 9 x 5 in loaf pan
2. In a mixing bowl, mash up bananas.
3. Beat in sugar, then egg and butter. 
4. In another bowl, stir together flour, salt, and baking soda
5. Add mixture in bowl to banana mixture and stir until all flour is moistened
6. Pour batter in prepared pan
7. Bake 55-60 minutes 

It is simple and easy to make and absolutely delicious! Hope you enjoy!