Gluten Free Protein Pancake

On my quest to eat a more healthy nutritious diet, I came across this recipe on www.toneitup.com. I am loving Katrina and Karena's workouts, whole food recipes, and overall adorableness! This is a staple breakfast recipe in their diet and has now become one of mine. I keep dry ingredients together in baggies so all I have to do is mix in the wet ingredients and I have a nutritious breakfast!

Ingredients:

1/4 cup egg whites
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (organic whey - I got from Fresh market)
2 tbs vanilla almond milk or skim
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tbs ground flaxseed
After above ingredients are mixed together add 1/2 banana (mashed)- mash first, then add!!
Add a handful of fresh or frozen blueberries
Pour into a pan that has been sprayed with olive oil cooking spray ~ heat on medium. Cook one side until you see the little bubbles.. just like cooking any pancake! Flip over (careful!) and cook on the other size until the middle is done (peek inside with a fork).

Top with two sliced strawberries and optional powdered stevia. This is so yummy! If I make it without blueberries, it tastes just like banana nut bread. And who doesn't love banana nut bread?!

Mushroom Rice Casserole

My cousin Tara used to make this when I was growing up and it was definitely one of my all time favorite dishes. I call it mushroom rice casserole because, well, I don't know it's proper name. And it combines two of my favorite foods..mushrooms. and. rice. Sooooo this is mushroom rice casserole. It is so yummo, I could eat the entire dish.

1 cup long grain rice (I am a slacker and I use two bags of boil in the bag rice)
1 can french onion soup
1 can beef broth
1 can sliced mushrooms (I am not a slacker and I like to sauté 1 package of fresh mushrooms in butter)
1/4 cup butter (if I sauté the mushrooms, I omit this)

Preheat oven to 350.
Combine all ingredients in and 8 X 8 casserole dish, cover and bake 45-60 minutes.

This is delicious!

Pulled BBQ

I found this recipe on this blog, and I have to say it will definately be a staple on my menu. It is easy, it's a crock pot meal, and oh so yummoooo! Thank you Bate's family for sharing. I also adapted their version slightly to what I had on hand.

Pulled BBQ

Meat:
3-4 lb. Boston butt shoulder roast
3 onions roughly chopped
2 minced garlic cloves

Rub:
4 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 Tbsp. paprika
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

Mixture (combine the following):
3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
4 tsp. Worcestershire sause
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. seasoning salt
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 Tbsp. Stubbs Liquid Smoke

Apply rub on roast. Place in crockpot with onions and garlic. Pour 1/2 of the mixture over roast.

Cook on LOW for 10-12 hours or HIGH 5-6 hours.(this is what I did) take meat out and shred it. Add remaining sauce.

We enjoyed them on wheat rolls. We ate them up so quickly, I didn't get a picture of the sandwich. My husband absolutely loved it. We will definately make this again and again!

Pepper Popper Dip

This dip is such a hit! My good friend Tiffany made this and I had to get the recipe. If you like jalapeno poppers, you will love this. It's so easy to make and so yummy! It has just the right amount of heat.


16 oz softened cream cheese
1 cup mayonaise
4 oz can diced green chilies
4 oz can diced jalapenos, drained
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cream cheese, mayo and peppers. Pour mixture into a baking dish. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake for 30 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and brown. Serve with tortilla chips.

The Right Stuff

"You got the right stuff, baby
Love the way you turn me on
You got the right stuff, baby
You're the reason why I sing this song
All that I needed was you
Oh girl, you're so right
Said all that I wanted was you
You made all my dreams come true"

All my dreams came true Saturday night with I got to go to the New Kids on the Block/ Back Street Boys concert! I didn't go when I was younger, and for the past 20 years, I have been missing that piece of my life's puzzle. Well not anymore! Six of my girlfriends and I piled into a minivan and hit up the Boro for a night of dancing and laughter! First we stopped at Lucky 32, and let me just say, "Shut the front door!" that food was good. My grilled chicken, pimento cheese, fried onions, and bacon sandwich was DIVINE!

After getting our bellies full, we headed to the show. There were two generations there, the mix of 30 somethings who were about to have another preteen crush, and the tweens, who were having there first preteen crush. Well, maybe their second. After all, there is someone named Justin Bieber, who ever he is. And in all of 1980's glory, there were teal tights and teased hair, flash dance shirts and tutus. And I had the time of my life! The music was great. We danced like kids (in our 1x1 space). I laughed and screamed and sang until I had no voice. And lets just say, the boys have grown up.....WOW! Those Boys have turned in 2 Men!

I so enjoyed my girl's night! I enjoyed catching up with some girlfriends. We all chase the babies around and it's hard to meet up often. There were memories made that I will never forget. Here are a few more pics from the concert...I need to go tease my hair and hang my Joe McIntyre poster on my wall.

Elisha and Susan

Deanna and Me

Me, Kim, and Elisha

Me, Deanna, Susan, and Emily