{FITNESS FRIDAY} & Paleo Granola/Cereal Recipe

 

Image Source

can also be found on my Pinterest Fitness Board 

Another great at home workout!  No excuses with this one and I may even do this over the weekend to avoid the revolutionist at the gym.  

Paleo Granola/Cereal Recipe

I bet you're wondering what makes it "paleo".  Well it's actually just gluten, grain, and processed food free.  

This granola or cereal (depending on how you want to eat it!) is a great substitute to your typical "whole grain" morning cereal.  Just swap almond or coconut milk for dairy milk and you've got yourself a fully blown #paleo breakfast that feels like a typical kid breakfast!  I love mixing in berries and half a banana into mine.   Ok, ok I know... onto the recipe.

Ingredients:

1 cup almonds (raw)

1 cup cashews (unsalted)

1/2 cup coconut flakes (unsweetened)

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup sunflower seeds (without shell)

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

1/4 cup coconut oil

1tsp almond extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 275*F (135* C)

Put the cashews, almonds, and coconut flakes into a food processor or blender.  Pulse until broken up into small chunks (Don't add the coconut if you were able to find shredded)

Place the honey, coconut oil and almond extract into your mixing bowl and place in the microwave.  Microwave for 30-45 seconds

Add the blended nuts, seeds and coconut flakes to the mixture and stir until thoroughly coated

On a baking sheet (lined with parchment paper), spread the mix evenly

Bake for 20 minutes or until the paleo granola is lightly browned stir halfway through

Remove from the oven and let cool or set for about 15 minutes

Break into chunks and enjoy

*NEW FEATURE* fitness friday!

Who made a resolution to get to the gym more often or be a healthier version of you? This weekly feature is for you!   I wanted to show you how easy it is to not only get in a great workout at home with minimal equipment and a recipe to go along with it.   Since we are just coming off of the Holidays the "recipe" isn't really all that impressive, but I don't really do fancy all that often.  I just try to change it up so that I don't get tired of the same ole chicken dish or what not.    I wanted to share all things I make with you, though.  Just because this dish isn't glamorous doesn't mean it isn't quick, easy, inexpensive and healthy! 

This Chair Workout I found on Pinterest is great for you busy mom's, students, anybody! 

I typically always have veggies, a white onion, garlic and some kind of meat to sauté together.  

I use sunflower oil because it's inexpensive and natural.  Vegetable Oil is typically soy which doesn't fall under my Paleo Diet restrictions so I tend to stay away from it.  If you switched to this you wouldn't even taste a difference.  I use it for sautéing and for salad dressings.

Depending on how many people you have eating with you dice your white onion and sauté in the sunflower oil. 

While the onions are cooking I cut up the broccoli, cauliflower and a clove of garlic.  Again, the quantity depends on how many you have eating with you.   I'm usually eating alone or with one other, so I don't make very much at a time. 

A rotissary chicken is a great way to keep quick meat/protein in the fridge.  My grocery store charges about $5-$6 and I usually get a few meals out of it.  I use these for soup, salad, and to toss into veggies. 

I diced the chicken breast and tossed it into the pan with my veggies to heat it. 

I usually add one turn on the grinder of salt and two turns of pepper

Once all the veggies are cooked to your liking and chicken is heated plate your food and enjoy!  I added a garnish of salsa for a little added flavor and spice!

Enjoy!

weekend workout & workout wear || 22

When I'm working out I don't want to have to think about how many each individual move is supposed to be done.  I like to create these "mean 15's" and DIRTY 30 so that you can easily know that each move is either 30 seconds or you do 30 of them.   This workout should sufficiently kick your booty and sculpt your arms :)
I know I'm ready for a butt whooping.  Today I'll be taking a trial yoga class and then running, so I won't be doing this dirty 30 but, maybe tomorrow or Monday morning!

I do know however, that it doesn't matter what you do with your body if you aren't putting the proper food in, you'll never truly feel good.  A blogger friend and I have been emailing back and forth about the Paleo diet.  She knows that I do it a fair amount of time (excuse the occasional slice of Za!), and was curious on more info so she could too try it.   I was so happy that someone actually wanted to hear about it and wasn't turned off immediately by what you have to eliminate.   If you're interested in Paleo, I'm certainly not an expert, but I do try to do it to the best of my ability 85-90% of the time and am willing to answer any questions.
Looking and feeling good comes from the inside out!

Enjoy your weekend!

paleo shrimp scampi with angel hair

I saw a rendition of this on Pinterest and decided it looked and sounded too delicious to pass up trying.  For those of you looking to swap out pasta or carbs this recipe is perfect for you!  It was also incredibly easy to whip up!

I started with:

1 spaghetti squash

1/2lb of Raw frozen shrimp (I thawed and peeled myself, you could also buy fresh raw shrimp)

2 cloves of garlic

garlic powder

sunflower oil

salt and pepper

basil flakes

First, I cut my spaghetti squash in half (sometimes the grocery store will do this for you, that is what I recommend) and then gutting it much like a butternut squash

Season it with the sunflower oil and as much garlic powder, salt, pepper and basil flakes as you prefer.  I used my hand to spread the mixture. 

Put the half in the microwave for about 8-9 minutes.  

While the spaghetti squash is cooking (enjoy the aroma and...) peal and rinse your shrimp.

I seared the shrimp in the sunflower oil and sprinkled in some salt, pepper and basil flakes.  Once I flipped the shrimp I added in the two minced garlic cloves (you do NOT want to burn garlic, yuck!).

While your shrimp is pinking your squash will likely go off.  Take it out and use a fork to pull it apart. 

Add in the squash, mix and serve!

Enjoy! 

Paleo No Bake Cookies

No-bakes are the favorites out of a lot of my friends.  They are so easy and yummy - so, I thought this they were easy enough to turn into Paleo friendly snack. 

 These snacks are too good to be true!  

Ingredients:

1/3 cup Honey

1 1/2 tbsp Cocoa (I use 100% Cacao unsweetened) 

1/3 cup Coconut Oil

1/3 cup Almond Butter

1 tsp Vanilla

2 cups Dried Unsweetened Coconut

Directions:

Put honey, cocoa, and coconut oil in bowl or saucepan and bring to boil either on stove or in microwave

Immediately remove from the heat once it's boiling.

Stir in the almond butter and vanilla until it's fully incorporated

Stir in coconut

Scoop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet covered in parchment, wax paper, or tin foil

Refrigerate to set. 

Enjoy! 

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