Protein Muffins

Ingredients

Olive oil spray
1 cup 100% whole-wheat flour
4 scoops protein powder plus more flour to make a complete cup
2  teaspoons baking powder heaped
4 large eggs
1 cup plain, low-fat Greek yogurt (I was out so I blended equal amounts if applesauce and cottage cheese to make 1 cup
¼ cup oil
½ cup honey
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract (if using plain/unflavored protein powder) 1 tsp if flavored
Splenda to sprinkle on top before baking

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, protein powder, and baking powder.In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and yogurt, then add the oil, honey and vanilla.Pour the liquid mixture into the flour mixture. Mix with a fork just until combined.Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups. Bake 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in one of the muffins comes out clean. Cool and enjoy!

Vitamix Broccoli Cheese Soup

This changed my life! So easy...So versatile.

3 cups cooked frozen broccoli (I roasted mine this time the oven with S&P) reserve 1 cup and chop if chunky is your thing
1.5 cups chicken stock
1.5 cups milk
2 cups cheddar shredded
Red pepper flakes
S&P
2 TBS diced onion
1 carrot (I roasted it with the broccoli)

Place stock, milk, onion, cheese, broccoli, and pepper flakes in that order in blender.

On variable speed move up to 10. Then high for 5 to 8 min until hot bubbly and steamy.

Add your chopped reserved 1 cup broccoli and S&P is you need it.

Done!

Pressure Cooker Lentils with Spicey Sausage and Stew Meat

Pressure Cooker Lentils (electric)

1-2 tbs tomato paste

Can of stewed tomatoes (Italian or some flavor…chop them)

1 lb hot sausage in bulk tube cooked (leave a little of the grease to brown the stew meat in drain off rest)

Stew meat browned in the sausage oil

1c lentils

Beef stock 3tbs or so better than beef bouillon

Onion 1 med diced.

Carrot like 4 small/med diced

Cayenne and crushed red pepper

2 bay leaf

S and P

4 garlic cloves minced

6-8 cups water

 

Brown your sausage in the pressure cooker and then drain off most all the oil/fat. Scoop out sausage and set aside. Brown the Stew meat. Next add all the rest of ingredients. Place pressure cooker on high for 25 min if you like your lentils a little soft and 15 min for firmer.

Far Enough Along!

Well the excitement is spilling out from everywhere!!!! And I am far enough along that I feel comfy saying  Woohoo! The hubs and I are expecting our first little miracle! I have been told since I was 18 I would never have children and we had even tried fertility treatment before and failed. After a break of trying for a while we were going to re start treatment when I randomly took an extra preg test I had laying about. After my messed up surgery I am always sick and tired so I didn't think anything of being so tired. So Memorial Day morning I took the test and started hollering for the hubs because the test said pregnant before the control lines even appeared. My hubby thought I was dying or there was a spider on me...same thing in our house haha. Anywho. That weekend I took 2 more tests and that following Tuesday when the DR office was open I took a blood one to confirm...Sure enough! We had a baby on the way! An I hadn't even known it for months! I was almost 12 weeks out by the time I got in that following week with an OB appointment. We are so excited and so blessed its insane! I am still labeled as high risk but all is well there :)

Our little bundle is Due December 18th and we found out 2 days before my birthday we are having a little girl! I swear I have rainbows shooting out of everywhere. That day we went and bought her first little girl outfit to celebrate!

I am trying to be crafty and make a few things for her like burp cloths, changing pad, nursing scarfs, and a couple baby blankets.
Well I made 2 nursing infinity scarfs  and my first baby blanket. The scarf was amazing and I think I will wear it now haha and so easy one seam! You take jersey knit fabric a piece about 30 inches wide and 60 inches long....I found this that was 58 wide and so I just had her cut a little over 30 long to save some cash and not have left over fabric.  Fold the long way in half and sew the two ends together...that's it! Here it is...

 

Here is a pic of the simple blanket I did...

 



Moroccan Bulgur Salad

For the salad

½ cup bulgur, uncooked
½ cup pitted dates, chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup pistachios
1/2 can mandarin oranges in water drained, optional
2 cups baby spinach leaves

For the dressing

1 can mandarin oranges in water drained 1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2  tablespoon apple cider vinegar
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup fresh cilantro leaves, packed
1-2 tablespoons water to adjust consistency

INSTRUCTIONS

Cook the bulgur according to package directions, adding the dates and salt just at the end of the cooking time. This helps soften the dates a bit and gives the bulgur good flavor. Cool the bulgur for 20-30 minutes for a cold salad.In a food processor, combine all the dressing ingredients. Puree until smooth. Toss the cooled bulgur and dates mixture with the other salad ingredients. Drizzle or toss with the dressing. Serve immediately.

Vitamix Fruit Smoothies

I make one of these just about every day! They serve 2 to 3

Best cheese sauce of your life!

2 tbs butter
1 tablespoon heaped flour
2 oz cream cheese
1 heaping cup sharp white cheddar
Dash mustard powder
Dash white pepper
Few dashes salt
1 to 1.25 cups milk.

Make a roux with butter and flour. Whisk in milk until all the lumps are gone. Add everything else and whisk until thick and bubbly!

This is so good I could eat it with a spoon no joke. And creamy....mmm so versatile too. Serve over veg, pasta, chicken, rice you name it!