Fudgy Avocado Brownies

OMG- Who doesn't love brownies???!!! I'm a chocolate freak!! So when I stumbled across this I thought I had died and gone to heaven!! I will admit....I have to have some kind of sweet every night. It's my downfall- always has been BUT...when it's a treat like this- there is no GUILT attached!! Give these a try! Not only will you be surprised at how amazing they are but your entire family will be fooled as well!! YUM! You are welcome ;) 

Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray
1 medium ripe avocado, mashed
¼ cup extra-virgin coconut oil, melted
1 large egg, lightly beaten
½ cup pure maple syrup
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ tsp. sea salt (or Himalayan salt)
¼ cup gluten-free flour
⅓ cup dark chocolate chips
Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Line an 8 x 8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil. Lightly coat with spray. Set aside.
3. Combine avocado, oil, egg, maple syrup, and extract in a medium bowl; mix well. Set aside.
4. Combine cocoa powder, salt, and flour in a medium bowl; mix well.
5. Add cocoa powder mixture to avocado mixture; mix well.
6. Add chocolate chips; mix until blended.
7. Pour batter into prepared pan; spread to make even.
8. Bake for 33 to 36 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
9. Cool for an hour before removing from pan. Cut into 16 squares
Recipe courtesy of: Team BeachBody Blog

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins- gluten free

Choc Chip Banana Muffins -- Wonderful!!! I'm a muffin lover and so are my children- so when I come across a new recipe I am all over it! These are EASY, quick and such a healthy choice!
(adapted from wellplated.com)

These muffins are:
-gluten free
-no refined white sugar
-super duper easy to make!

INGREDIENTS:
2 super ripe bananas
2 eggs
2 TBSP raw honey
2 cups oats, plain
1/2 cup DARK choc chips (I like the mini version)
1 cup plain Greek yogurt (full fat)
1.5 tsp gluten-free baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp PURE vanilla extract (please toss that fake crap NOW)
pinch sea salt

DIRECTIONS:
1. Mix all ingredients in a blender EXCEPT choc chips, until very smooth.
2. Pour batter evenly into lined muffin tin.
3. Evenly divide the choc chips between each muffin.
4. Bake at 400 degrees, around 15 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

***NOTE
The texture will be a bit different from a regular muffin, a bit denser and chewier.

21 day fix approved chocolate shakeology cake

Who doesn't love a good sweet treat minus the guilt???!!! THIS GIRL!! This is not only 21 day fix approved BUT also packed with nutrients!! What??!!! This is the beauty of shakeology. It has so many different uses. Not only do I have it EVERYDAY as my post workout shake packed with nutrients but I also use it for so many of my sweet tooth chocolate treats! If your not on the shakeology train....you NEED to be!! YUM!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp sweetener Stevia (optional)
• 1 scoop Chocolate Vegan Shakeology
• dash of salt
• 1 egg
• optional mix in: 1 tsp peanut butter, cocoa powder
• 2 or 3 tbsp vanilla almond milk (unsweetened)

Directions:

1. In a mug mix Shakeology, baking powder, salt, cocoa, and sweetener.
2. Next, mix in an egg and  2-3 tablespoons of water/milk.
3. Mix until dry ingredients are wet.
4. If you’d like to add peanut butter, put one dollop in the center and push it down a bit.
5. Microwave for 90 sec.
6. When it is done the edges will pull from the sides.
7. Enjoy!            Recipe courtesy of simple clean fitness

Overnight Slow Cooker Raisin Steel Cut Oats

Here is another fabulous SUPER easy breakfast! What I love about overnight oats is that you literally have breakfast cooking for you while your sleeping! We wake up and breakfast is piping hot waiting for us to enjoy! Everyone in my house loved this one today. Clean, healthy and delicious! Enjoy!!


Overnight Slow Cooker Raisin Steel cut oats

Ingredients:

1 Cup Organic steel cut oats
2 Cups water
2 Cups Almond milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1 cup organic rasins

Spray slow cooker with cooking spray
Combine all ingredients in slow cooker
Cook on warm overnight for 8 hours

Serve and enjoy!!

Recipe Courtesy of Christine Scudder- Fit Mom Of Three

Oven "Fried" Chicken Tenders

Oven "Fried" Chicken Tenders

This is a recipe inspired by Autumn Calabrese's, oven fried chicken and waffles recipe in her Fixate cookbook. I was looking to make something fun for the kids for dinner and this ended up being a total score! I skipped the waffle end of it and substituted a few ingredients.....this is what the end result was! It was Excellent!! An all around crowd pleaser and there were plenty of leftovers for sandwiches the next day. Enjoy!!

Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp oregano leaves
1 tsp dried thyme leaves
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking powder- gluten free
1/2 cup almond flourr
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/4 cup grated parmigiano cheese
2 large eggs

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degree F
Spray baking sheet with olive oil- set aside
Hand mix eggs in large dish
Mix all ingredients in large shallow dish excluding chicken- set aside
Cut chicken breast into tenders
Coat chicken tenders in egg mixture, then dredge in dry ingredient mixture- coating chicken thoroughly.
Place chicken on prepared baking sheet and bake for 18-20 min or until chicken is no longer pink

I served chicken with hand cut baked sweet potato fries and it was perfect!
Recipe inspired by Autumn Calabrese's Oven Fried Chicken And Protein Waffles recipe located in Fixate cookbook.

21 Day Fix Approved Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are a favorite for every household!! I know they are in mine! My children love them and so do the kids BUT traditional chocolate chip cookies are made with less than whole ingredients. Processed foods, refined sugars and TONS of butter. No good. I can give my children (and treat myself) to yummy sweets like cookies and feel good about it when they are made with whole, clean ingredients. Sweetened with only natural sweetners and gluten free. These cookies have both those qualities and are not lacking taste in any way. They are delicious!! My husband (who is always hesitant when he hears "gluten free", loves them too! Give these a try! They are sure to be a crowd pleaser in your house as well!

Chocolate Chip Cookies:

Ingredients:
3 cups almond flour
1 tsp baking soda- gluten free
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup organic coconut oil, melted
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 large egg
2 large egg whites
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup semi sweet or dark chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
Combine almond flour, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Mix well and set aside.
Beat oil and maple syrup in large mixer bowl until creamy, approx. 4-5 minutes.
Add eggs, egg whites, and extract; beat for an additional 2 minutes.
Add almond flour mixture to egg mixture and mix until blended.
Add chocolate chips and mix until just blended.
Drop by rounded Tbsp. onto prepared baking sheets.
Flatten cookies with spatula if traditional cookie appearance is desired. Bake for 14-16 min or until golden brown.
Store in airtight container.

21 day fix container- one cookie = 11/2 yellow

Recipe courtesy of Autumn Calabrese- Fixate cookbook.

Fit Mom Of Three's own Clean Eating Meatballs And Sauce

Okay- I will start off by saying that after YEARS of trying, I have finally mastered the Italian classic of Meatballs and sauce!! My husband is a huge Italian food fan so his approval finally meant this batch made the cut! This sauce with meatballs is delicious, made with only clean, whole, organic foods and my family loves it! Kid approved too- which is always a tackle in this house! This batch of meatballs and sauce feeds us for two nights and I still have leftover sauce to freeze. I usually take it out of the freezer for my homemade whole wheat pizza and cauliflower crust pizza. You really get a great bang for your buck with this meal! The first night of the batch is usually had with brown rice penne pasta and the second night I make them meatball parm hero's on whole wheat rolls. I choose to have the meatballs alone with a nice mixed green salad on the side loaded with tons of fresh raw veggies and my homemade balsamic dressing.

Meatballs:
2 pound of ground sirloin- hormone and antibiotic free
2 organic free rage brown eggs (large)
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon dried minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried minced onions
1 medium onion finely chopped
1/2 cup panko whole wheat bread crumbs

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Line baking sheet with parchment paper- I like to spray with my misto olive oil sprayer. Spray generously. Set aside.
Mix all ingredients well in large bowl
Roll into medium balls ( I make them small to medium).
Place each meatball onto prepared baking sheet.
Once all meatballs are on sheet I spray each meatball with olive oil to create a nice outer layer.
Bake for 15-18 minutes.
Remove from oven and place meatballs in pot of already prepared and simmering sauce- recipe follows this.
I let simmer for at least 1-1/2 hours on low setting.


Classic Italian Sauce:
Ingredients:
3 heaping tablespoons minced garlic ( you can lesson amount if your not a huge garlic fan as I am)
1 29oz can tomato puree -organic
1 29oz can crushed tomato with basil
2 15oz cans organic diced tomatoes
1 15oz can organic tomato sauce
1 small can tomato paste
2 teaspoons sea salt
3 teaspoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons oregano
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons onion salt
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Red pepper flakes to add to each portion separately if desired

Directions:
Add all ingredients into large sauce pan
Simmer on low covered for 1 1/2 hours
Serve with Fit Mom Of Three's Classic Italian Meatballs

Recipe Courtesy of Christine Scudder- Fit Mom Of Three