Clean Pumpkin Muffins

       That moment when you realize; the school year is back in full swing, your first wedding anniversary is fast approaching, and you feel like a bloated mess...

That's when you coax your hubby into a clean eating lifestyle, until further notice.

We're eating all fruits and veggies, lean proteins, healthy fats and staying away from white rice, pasta and bread.

Anywho, I've said all that to say, here is my first baked goodie. I was afraid that making a healthy muffin would result in a dry, flavorless, mess... So glad I was wrong. I loved the result and I want to share the recipe with you.

What you'll need:

Ingredients

3/4 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 tsp all natural peanut butter ( or your fav nut butter)
1/2 cup rolled oats
2 tbsp flax seeds ( I didn't grind mine, I like the crunch factor. Otherwise, grind em!)

1tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1tsp baking soda

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup walnuts

1/4 dried cranberries

cooking spray

Tools:

Oven ;)

food processor

baking tins or muffin tin

Directions:

• preheat your oven to 350
• use your processor to grind the oats
• remove oats from processor and place in a medium bowl
• add dry ingredients to  bowl with oats, stir ( excluding walnuts and cranberries) 
• add pumpkin, egg, honey, nut butter and vanilla to processor
• mix until smooth
• add dry ingredients to wet, mix
• fold nuts and cranberries into your batter 
• spray your tin
• fill 2/3 full with batter ( top with more nuts and berries if you desire) 
• bake until a tooth pick comes out clean
• cool in pan then, remove and finish cooling on wire rack

 Recipe yields 6 muffins.

Your oatmeal should resemble flour, once chopped

Pumpkin puree

Filling the tins

Fresh from the oven

Hope you enjoy!

That's my 2 cents!

-Kimba

Soup Series: Spicy vegetable soup

Making vegetable soup is seriously simple. A few steps and you're on your way to a serious nom nom nom session. First, you pick  your favorite veggies. Then, boil your water. Next, chop said veggies, add Sazon and let those vegetables cook down to a delicious, nutritious, satisfying soup. I'd like to share what ingredients I used to make the soup you see pictured below :-)

What you' ll need:

broccoli

 celery

 carrots

 cabbage

 scallions

 crushed red pepper flakes, to taste ( I used 2tsp)

black pepper, to taste

1 packet Sazon (Goya)

7 or 8 cups of water

Instructions: 

• In a large stock pot bring water to a rolling boil
•  as water boils chop/dice veggies into bite sized pieces 
• add Sazon packet to boiling water and add veggies
• season with pepper and red pepper flakes
•  allow veggies to cook down for an additional 20-30 minutes on a low heat setting or until they reach your desired texture

This soup makes a great start to a meal, a good snack to tide you over until your next meal, or served with salad and perhaps some garlic bread makes for an entree.

Enjoy!

That's my 2 cents!

- Kimba

Chewy Cranberry Almond Oat Bars

Hello Friends,

Need a healthy snack? Want to make it fresh?  If so, keep reading.

Healthy, check. Flavorful, check. Vegan, check. Today I'd like to share a simple cranberry almond oatmeal bar recipe with you. (I made this recipe with my vegan friends in mind.)  You'll only need 7 ingredients. With mashed banana standing in for sugar and fat, you're on your way to a healthy snack.

What you'll need:

2 cups old fashioned oats

2 ripe bananas

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/3 cup almonds (crush half, leave half whole)

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

NOTE: This recipe yields 8 oat bars.

Easy instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 350.
• In a large bowl, mash two large bananas. Press out all lumps. (use a large spoon to mash the bananas against the side of your bowl.)

• Add 2 cups of oats and mix well with spoon until all oats have lumped together.
• Sprinkle with salt, drizzle vanilla, mix again.

      

•  Add cranberries and almonds by folding into mixture with spoon.

• Coat cookie sheet with cooking spray press your oat mixture onto pan. (Cookie sheets are too big. Use the edge of your spoon to press your oats into a rectangular shape.)
• Sprinkle with cinnamon.

• Bake for 30 minutes
• Remove, allow to cool. Cut, and enjoy. Wrap your leftovers in wax paper to snack on later.

 That's my 2 cents!

-Kimba

Cilantro and Garlic Grilled Shrimp

Cilantro and Garlic Grilled Shrimp

Hungry? I know you are. Thanks for stopping in to check out my latest recipe. This cilantro and garlic grilled shrimp is flavorful and luscious. So quick, so simple, you can't pass up trying this recipe. Top your salad or steak with it, serve as an entree with lots of veggies on the side, or stick em' with toothpicks and serve as  hors d'oeuvres. Whatever you plan to do with these shrimp, they are sure to please!!

What you'll need:

shrimp ( I used just under a half lb)

1/2 tbsp of olive oil

1/2 tbsp minced garlic

salt and pepper to taste

5 or 6 stems of fresh cilantro diced 

a grill pan or grill (stir fry pan or wok will also work)

large bowl

Instructions:

• Peel, de-vein, and rinse your shrimp
•  in a large bowl drizzle oil over shrimp
• add garlic and cilantro
• mix well
• heat your grill pan or wok (or toss on skewers and place on grill)

• cook until pink. DON'T overcook your shrimp.  No one likes rubbery shrimp. (maybe your dog will)
• remove from heat and ENJOY!!!! 

That's my 2 cents!


-Kimba

Craving dessert? Here's a healthy one :-)

It's just after dinner... you want something sweet but, you don't want to ruin your healthy eating for the day. Here is a dessert that is sure to please your sweet tooth.  This dessert checks in under 200 calories( If you eat the whole thing. Share it and you've got a 100 calorie treat!!!) Nom!!!!

*Bonus: this takes less than 10 minutes to prepare!

What you'll need:

Strawberries (Half cup hlaved, 25 calories)

Cool whip (2tbsp, 20 calories)

Flour tortilla (100 calories)

1/2 tsp butter (35 calories)

1/2tsp sugar (7 Calories)

1/2 tsp brown sugar(7 calories)

Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 400
Place your tortilla on a cookie sheet
Spread butter over top side of tortilla
Sprinkle with sugar
Bake for 6 or 7 minutes (until edges are golden brown.)

Slice your berries, top with cool whip, ENJOY!!!!


(Note: replace the butter with butter spray if you like that kind of stuff! It'll save you 30 calories)
That's my 2 cents!

-Kimba