Coconut Oatmeal Squares

These squares taste even better than they look!!!

I was using up some random ingredients I had in my pantry. If you don't have sweet rice flour, substitute almost any flour other than coconut or almond.

Not only is the macronutrient ratio (protein/carbs/fat) AMAZING, but they are super satisfying and perfect for snacking!!

Coconut Oatmeal Squares

Ingredients:

1 cup quick cooking oatmeal
3/4 cup sweet rice flour
1/3 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (33 grams)
1/3 cup granulated stevia
2 tablespoons ground flaxseeds
pinch of salt
1/2 cup 0% plain Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons nut butter of choice
3/4 cup unsweetened cashew milk
1 teaspoon mini chocolate chips (or more!!)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Stir together dry ingredients (oatmeal through the flaxeeds) in a large bowl. Add wet ingredients (yogurt through the cashew milk) and stir to combine.

2. Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray. Add the mixture to the loaf pan. Sprinkle the mini chocolate chips on top. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until knife comes out clean.

3. Allow to cool, then cut into 12 squares!

Nutrition Information: 114 Calories, 3.5 grams Fat, 14 grams CHO, 6 grams Protein

Healthy Mac and Cheese Cupcakes

Holy comfort food... these are amazing. I've read a lot of mac and cheese recipes using butternut squash to make a creamy cheese sauce, so I thought I'd give it a shot. Baking them in muffin/cupcake tins is a great way to control the portion size. Although your still probably going to want to eat the whole thing :)

Creamy, cheesy, delicious mac and cheese. You wouldn't even guess they are healthy.

Make this. Now.

Healthy Mac and Cheese Cupcakes
Ingredients:

1 (12 oz) package frozen cooked butternut (or winter) squash
3 minced garlic cloves
3/4 cup chicken broth
3/4 cup unsweetened cashew milk (this is what I had, cow's milk should work fine)
Salt and pepper
1 1/2 cups shredded Colby and Monterey Jack Cheeses
3 cups cooked whole wheat elbow pasta (I used Barilla Protein Plus)
3 teaspoons panko breadcrumb
Parsley for garnish

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Spray a 6 cup muffin tin with cooking spray.

2. Nuke butternut squash in the microwave for 2 minutes. Add to a large sauce pan with the garlic, chicken broth, and milk. Bring to a boil then simmer for about 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

2. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to coat. Evenly distribute the pasta mixture to the muffin cups. Top with about 1/2 teaspoon panko bread crumb and then bake for about 18-20 minutes. Turn the oven to broil and cook for about 2-3 minutes or until slightly browned. Garnish with chopped parsley.

Per one "cupcake": 233 calories, 9 g Fat, 26 g Carbs, 12 g Protein

Cream Cheese Stuffed Pumpkin French Toast

Pumpkin season never ends in my apartment. Had a Whole Foods and Trader Joe's adventure last night and found pumpkin flavored Rudi's bread and Trader Joe's Pumpkin Cream Cheese. Amazing apart, and even more amazing together.

I haven't had too many gluten-free breads (I'm not gluten-free) but I've heard they usually don't taste that great. I happen to think the texture and flavor of Rudi's is really good.

If you find another pumpkin flavored bread, it's totally fine to use!

Cream Cheese Stuffed Pumpkin French Toast 

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

4 slices Rudi's Pumpkin bread
2 eggs
1/3 cup unsweetened cashew milk (or any milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
5 drops liquid stevia (optional)
Trader Joe's Pumpkin Cream Cheese

Directions:

1. Heat a non-stick pan over medium high heat.
2. Spread 1 tablespoon cream cheese over each slice of bread and make two sandwiches.
3. Whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, stevia, and cinnamon.
4. Spray your pan with cooking spray. Dip each sandwich in the mixture (about 20 seconds each side). Add to the pan and cook about -2 minutes. Flip, then cook about 1-2 minutes on the other side. Serve!

Peanut Butter Pumpkin Bread

I'm really not sure why loving pumpkin makes you a "basic bitch", but since I loved pumpkin way before it became cool, I'm excluding myself from that hashtag. Plus, this bread is far from basic. It's moist and pumpkin-y and perfect for fall.

 I used baked kabocha squash (Japanese pumpkin) for this recipe, but regular pumpkin should work fine (or even baked butternut squash). 

Peanut Butter Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:

2 flax eggs (2 regular eggs works fine too!)
1/2 cup almond flour
1/4 cup millet flour
2 scoops vanilla protein powder
1/2 cup baking stevia
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup cooked kabocha squash
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1/2 cup unsweetened cashew milk (or any milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. To make the flax eggs, mix the flax seed with 1/4 cup of water in a small bowl. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
3. Add the flax eggs and remaining ingredients to a food processor or blender and blend until smooth (don't overmix!).
4. Add to a small loaf pan and bake for 40-45 minutes or until knife comes out clean. Allow to cool, then cut into 8 pieces. Enjoy!

Macros per serving: 7.5 fat, 7 carbohydrates, 8 protein

Blueberry Baked Oatmeal

Baked oatmeal is a great make-ahead for busy mornings. You can top this with fruit, yogurt, syrup, nuts- whatever you like! It's like eating cake for breakfast :)

Blueberry Baked Oatmeal

Ingredients:

- 2 cups dry oatmeal
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3 packets stevia
- dash of salt
- 2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla cashew milk (or whatever milk you prefer)
- 1 egg plus 2 egg whites, beaten
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 (6 oz) container blueberries

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix all dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Mix wet ingredients in another bowl. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix well.

2. Spray a 12x9 pan (or you can use a round cake pan) with cooking spray. Add oatmeal mixture to the pan.

3. Top with blueberries and bake 25-30 minutes or until knife comes out clean.

I topped mine with Greek yogurt "frosting" (Greek yogurt mixed with whey protein) and more peanut butter!

Serves 4