Pesto Shrimp

Pesto: 3 tbsp basil paste (you can find this in the produce section in a small tube, normally near the salads), 2tbsp minced garlic, 1/4 cup evoo, 1/4 cup reduced fat parm, pepper to taste. Marinated shrimp for a few hours, throw on skewers and grill for a few min each side! Healthy protein packed dinner thats oh so yummy!!

Guilt free apple pie

Clean apple pie?!?! oh yes i did!!! I have a huge sweet tooth and i love to bake. Im always trying to come up with a healthy version of my favorite guilty pleasures. Apples have been super cheap and we have been picking pecans from the trees across the street so this was fairly inexpensive. 

The crust: 1/2 cup pecans, 1/4 c dates, 3/4 cup almonds or almond meal, 1/4 c flax, 1 tbsp melted coconut oil, 1 egg. Process all dry ingredients together then add oil and egg, mix. Spray a baking dish with coconut spray and bake @ 375 for 10min. Remove and add 

FILLING : 3 apples peeled and sliced thinly, 1/4 c unsweetened apple sauce, 1 tbsp cinnamon (we like our cinnamon!), 1/4 c honey, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp lemon juice. Top with a mixture of 1/2 cup oats, 1/4 c chopped pecans, 1 tbsp coconut oil, sprinkle of truvia. Bake again for 25-35min. Serve warm with Greek yogurt.

You can omit the topping or leave out the extra pecans in the topping if you're watching your fat intake, since there is a good amount of nuts in the crust. 

Pesto Crusted Chicken

If you dont already know, i have a thing for pesto! I love experimenting with it anything from stuffed chicken, pasta, pizza, sandwiches, etc. I LOVE IT! Especially when it's homemade. 

Cut chicken breast in half and place in a plastic baggy, pound with a meat mallet until thin. In a bowl combine 1 tbsp basil paste, 1 tbsp minced garlic, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/3 cup 2% Greek yogurt or low fat sour cream, 1/4 cup low fat Parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup part skim mozzarella cheese. Spread on chicken, roll them up and secure with toothpick. Coat with egg wash and roll in panko. Bake 20min at 375. Served with mashed sweet potato and roasted asparagus.

Granola Bars!

Seriously, these are better than any store bought granola bar and WAY better for you. Next time i am going to make them without the protein powder so that the kiddos can snack on them (they def dont need 30grams of protein in one snack!)

2 cups rolled oats
6 scoops protein powder
1/2 cup chopped almonds (i used dark chocolate roasted)
1/4 cup roasted sunflower seeds (or any other nut of choice)
3 tbsp melted peanut butter(i used 1tbsp white chocolate wonderfall, 1tbsp dark chocolate dreams, 1tbsp peanut butter)
3tbsp honey
1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
water (i used about 1/4cup)

mix all ingediants and add water until slightly doughy, press into a baking dish and bake at 350 for 15-20min. I cut into 10 squares and each bar has over 30grams of protein!!