Almonds in Heaven Bars

My almonds went to chocolate heaven today and you’ll be in heaven too after you try these blissfuly nutty chocolaty delights!

These were easy to whip up and oh so worth it!  Let’s just say it is going to be a great week!  These luscious treats will only cost you 123 calories per serving and are rich in omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids, which is code for they’re good for you!

What you’ll need:

• 1/3 cup of Slivered Almonds
• 1/2 cup of all Natural Peanut Butter
• 2 Tbsp of Unsweetened Cocoa Powder  (heaping tablespoons)
• 4 Medjool Dates (pitted and chopped)
• 10 Raspberries
• 1/4 tsp of Vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp of Salt
• 1/2 tsp of Unrefined Coconut Oil

How to make the magic happen:

• Roast the almonds in a 400 degree oven for 5 minutes
• Remove the pits of the dates and chop them
• Combine all ingredients in your food processor until everything is chopped and you have a crumbly dough-like consistency
• Place dough on wax paper and form into a rectangular bar  (see note below *)
• Freeze for at least 2 hours before cutting
• Cut the mixture into 10 equal mini bars
• Enjoy with your favorite cup of tea or a cool glass of coconut milk

* you can also form into balls, cookies, square bars, whatever your precious heart desires.

Hope you savor these little slices of heaven as much as I do!  Make, share, and cherish!

It’s my “Oh Yes!” Juice

This dazzling, extremely refreshing concoction with a surprising subtle kick will have you saying “Oh Yes” too!

“Oh Yes” Juice

Not only is it deliciously revitalizing and makes you feel like you are at a spa, it also happens to be packed full of Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Potassium, Folate, and anti-inflammatory compounds such as lignans and gingerols which aid cardiovascular and digestive systems.   What more can a girl ask for?

What You’ll Need:

• One Orange
• One Lime
• One Cucumber
• A pinch of freshly grated ginger (or a little more if you like ginger)
• Ice
• Optional: one stevia packet
• Pretty Glass to serve it in

How to Make the Magic Happen:

• Squeeze the juice of one orange and one lime into your blender
• Add Ice and mix a bit
• Peel, cut and add cucumber
• Add freshly grated ginger
• Mix it all together, serve in a pretty glass, enjoy!

Perfect for a post-workout refreshment, an afternoon with the girls, a morning juice, or however your beautiful, healthy self desires!  Makes two servings so it’s perfect for sharing!

Make it, share it, and “Oh Yes” enjoy it!

Exquisite Simplicity

Effortlessly delectable simple eats can bring more sophistication to your dishes than you ever thought!
Today’s ingenuously scrumptious treats: Roasted Fennel and Brussels Sprouts

Incredibly easy to prepare yet so flavorful your tastebuds will experience a tremendous journey through zestful sweetness, savory tenderness, and fragrant spiciness!  As if just the fact that these super easy to make divinity delights are simply delicious wasn’t enough to get you roasting; they are also exceptionally good for you!  Both Fennel and Brussels Sprouts are high in Vitamin C, Fiber, Potassium, and Folate which are a winning combination of antioxidants for your inmune and cardiovascular systems.  Taste + Health + Simple = No brainer!
What You’ll Need

• 1-2 bulbs of Fennel (adjust your amounts based on the number of peeps you’re feeding)
• 1 pack or bag of bussels sprouts
• 2-4 Tbs of olive oil
• Salt and Pepper to taste

How to Make the Magic Happen

• Preheat oven to 400 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
• Wash your Brussels Sprouts and Fennel Bulbs
• Trim the end of Brussels Sprouts
• In a bowl sprinkle 1-2 tbs of olive oil (depending on your serving size) salt and pepper to taste on the brussels sprouts and coat them evenly
• Place the Sprouts on the baking sheet
• Cut the Fennel Bulbs lengthwise in half, and repeat to quarters, place on baking sheet and sprinkle with 1-2 tbs of olive oil (depending on serving size), salt and pepper to taste
• Bake 30-40 minutes until everyone is tender and happy

Serve with your favorite protein or enjoy these simply devine bites on their own.

Ditch the muffin! Go burn the muffin top!

After three trials of attempting to make the perfect, scrumptious, delightfully healthy and filling buckwheat muffins; the buckwheat wins for now!  My wise friend Sylvia says; “sometimes you just have to catch the wave and ride it”, well today that wave screamed ditch the muffin, go burn the muffin top!  I am so passionate about making healthy food taste scrumptiously delicious that I forget to share my other passion, getting and staying fit!  It’s always amazing what moving your body does for you; those endorphins you release when you exercise will make you feel better than any muffin!  You don’t have to drive to the gym and spend two hours in the process.  Simply get out, go for a walk, play at the park, go for a swim, turn on your iPod and shake your booty, just move!  You, your muffin top and your future muffins will love you for it!

There once was a girl in dress who ate her watercress!

Yes Watercress; love it and eat it often!  This peppery savory herb is loaded with all the good stuff your awesome bod dreams of!  Packed with a superhero triple combo of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals, Watercress is good for your inmune system, your skin, your bones, your heart, and with only 11 calories per 100g of raw leaves, your shapely waist will love it too!

So without further ado a

This is my Watercress Tomato Salad without her dress, I will show you the finished Watercress in a Dress in one hot minute, but not before we take a minute to chat about my Tuesdays.  I like to make my Tuesdays vegan, they are my Very Vegan Tuesdays, it is a way for me to take at least one day to be closer to mama earth, eat sensationally clean, and make a contribution to our environment by reducing consumption of animal products.  I encourage everyone to pick one or two days per week where you consume less animal products, this will make both your wallets and derrières very happy!  Hot minute is here and I present you Watercress in a Dress:

What You’ll Need:

• One bunch of watercress, washed and trimmed
• One scrumptious tomato, washed and sliced
• 1/4 – 1/2 of one yellow pepper diced
• 1/4 – 1/2 of one orange pepper diced
• 1/4 cup of cooked quinoa
• 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil, vinegar of choice, salt and pepper (optional)

How to make the magic happen:

• Toss your watercress with about a 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil (preferably good quality extra virgin olive oil) and a dash of vinegar (I used champagne vinegar, but balsamic will be yummy too)
• Arrange your plate with watercress and tomatoes, top with the diced peppers.
• Top everything with your quinoa
• Sprinkle a dash of olive oil to the whole thing, salt and pepper to taste.
• Taste

Serve, taste, enjoy!

Welcome to my triple H Hour! Hump Day Happy Hour!

Happy Hour Time!  This thirst quenching goodness full of vitamins, potassium and powerful phytonutrients is how I celebrate today’s Hump Day Happy Hour!

What you’ll need:

• one orange
• one cucumber
• two sprigs of mint
• 1/4 cup of water
• 3-4 Ice cubes
• 1 stevia packet

How to make the magic happen:

• Juice the orange right in your blender
• Add water
• Peel, cut and add cucumber
• Add mint leaves
• Mix until just blened
• Add Ice and crush
• Mix until frothy
• Serve in a pretty glass (I like a champagne glass for this one)
• Garnish with an orange slice and fresh mint

Put your favorite music on and go enjoy this very delectable happy drink!

Hungry! Now what…

Let’s face it, sometimes we just need to whip up something quick.  This something quick can be as equally scrumptious and healthy as when you are totally prepared.  And today I’ve got your back with my Hurry Up Caliente Beans!

This little fiber all-star also rich in vitamin C, B vitamins, iron, folate, and protein, can be enjoyed as a snack, a side, or a meal!

What You’ll Need:

• ½ large or 1 small sweet onion
• 2 serrano peppers de-seeded
• 1 can low sodium kidney beans – drained and rinsed
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon raw agave nectar

How to make the magic happen:

• Sautee onions to sweat adding a pinch of salt to release moisture
• Add worcestershire sauce
• Add Serrano pepper
• Add beans
• Add cumin and garlic sir to combine
• Add agave nectar stir to comine
• Simmer on medium to low heat for approximately 20 minutes

Serve and enjoy immediately, keep for later, or you may opt to get creative stuff a pepper to dazzle your tastebuds even more!

However your little heart desires to serve this little health promotin delicious gem, it will be a healthier, happier heart!