The Most Ultimate Meatloaf

One of my favorite bloggers and now food network stars is the Pioneer Woman.  She has a hearty, rustic style and I love every recipe I try of hers.  This meatloaf was no exception.  I wouldn't necessarily consider myself a huge fan of meatloaf, but after trying this recipe, I can definitely see myself making it again.  The only suggestion I have is to use a broiling pan and not the grate that I used because you will be left with a big mess! -E

Recipe Link: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/meatloaf-recipe.html


You will definitely get your daily serving of protein with this meal

Be sure to put a pan underneath to catch all of the messy drippings

Use the extra sauce to pour on the meatloaf. Also try her mashed potato recipe for a perfect pairing!

Mashed Potato Recipe: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/11/delicious_creamy_mashed_potatoes/

Green Machine Pancakes

So I get that the color of these might be a turn off…but seriously they are REALLY good.  I was given this recipe from Kaity, who was one of my friends in college.  They are packed with nutrients and are surprisingly super yummy. I usually double the recipe since I make it for my L and me.  Give it a try!

Ingredients
1 heaping handful of spinach
1/4 cup egg whites
1 packet truvia
1/2 scoop vanilla protein
2 T almond milk
1/4 t baking powder
1/4 cup oats

Directions
Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth
Spray a frying pan/griddle with cooking oil
Pour 1/4 cup of batter on to pan
Flip when bubbles start to form on the top of the batter
Enjoy :)

-E

Myth or Magic: "Military Diet" Day 3

Here is my day three of this diet I have been trying.  It says not to weigh myself until the morning of the fourth day, so tomorrow I will have the results for you tomorrow :) 

Breakfast--5 Saltine Crackers, 1 Slice of Cheddar Cheese, and 1 Small Apple

Lunch-1 Hard-Boiled Egg, and 1 Slice of Toast

Dinner--1 Cup of Tuna, 1/2 of a Banana, and 1 Cup of Vanilla Ice Cream

Myth or Magic: "Military Diet" Day 2

Day 2 of my "Military" diet wan't too bad. I will have to say that I have been craving brownies all day... I think I have chocolate deprivation from two days ;) Anyway here we go with Day 2.

Breakfast--1 egg, 1 Slice of Toast, and 1/2 Banana

Lunch--1 Cup of Cottage Cheese, 1 Slice of Cheddar Cheese, and 5 Saltine

Crackers

Dinner--2 Hot Dogs, (no buns), 1 Cup of Broccoli, 1/2 Cup of Carrots, 1/2 Banana, and 1/2 Cup of Vanilla Ice Cream

Stay posted for Day 3
-E

Myth or Magic: "Three Day Military Diet" Day 1

Ok so I am always one of the first people to say that all of these cleanses and crash diets are completely ridiculous.  However, I have never really taken the time to try any of them out (mostly because they are actually just starving you). So my friend sent me this 3 day "military diet" that she had heard of and after looking it over I decided it didn't seem to be anything that would harm my body or deprive it too much of nutrients.  I understand that this is not a real military diet and I am pretty positive that it will not make me lose ten pounds in 3 day, but hey why not give it a try??  So this diet claims that all of the food combinations if consumed properly without any extra additions will work together and help you lose weight. One of the first things I noticed was that ice cream was included in this diet....very strange. Anyway if you want to look it over here is the link 3 day Military Diet

I tracked my meals for the day and I will let you know in three days how this diet works out ;)

Day 1
Breakfast--1/2 Grapefruit, 1 Slice of Toast, 2 Tablespoons of Peanut Butter, and Coffee or Tea

Lunch--1/2 Cup of Tuna, 1 Slice of Toast, and Coffee or Tea (any brew, as long as it's caffeinated)

Dinner--3 ounces of any type of meat, 1 Cup of Green Beans, 1/2 Banana, 1 Small Apple, and 1 Cup of Vanilla Ice Cream (YUM)!!!

I ended up eating the fruit and ice-cream a little later for dessert

Stay posted for day 2 and 3
-E

Low Calorie Chocolate Pumpkin Muffin

So these aren't completely guilt free, but they are definitely a good substitute if you are craving a sweet treat and don't want to consume a ton of butter. They are super easy to make and they only consist of two ingredients.  All you need is a can of pumpkin and devils food cake mix. You just have to mix them together and stick them in the oven! It is easy peasey. Have the oven preheated to 425 and cook them for 20 minutes rotating after 10 minutes. Now go make them! Trust me they are sooooo worth it and less than 140 calories each!
-E

Ingredients
Canned Pumpkin
Devils food cake mix

Directions
Preheat the oven to 425
Mix the can of pumpkin and the cake mix with an electric beater
pour the mixture into cupcake liners
bake for 20 minutes rotating after 10 minutes
enjoy :)

Guilt-Free Banana Oatmeal Muffins

Now that we are smack dab in the middle of bikini season the question is how to keep off those extra pounds that were most likely shed during the previous few months in anticipation of the pool parties and beach days to come.  These banana oatmeal muffins are just the key! They are low calorie, don't include any white flour, or unnatural sugars.  I actually got this recipe off of Lauren Conrads blog http://laurenconrad.com/. If you are interested in fun, girly blogs I definitely recommend checking it out!  Anyway, I was a little skeptical about these muffins since they lack almost everything that makes a muffin a muffin.  I was really impressed with the finish product and found it a great grab and go breakfast on those days you are running late (never me of course...).  Give them a try and let me know how you like them.  Try out different combinations of fruits and nuts to add in and get creative!!
-E

Ingredients

• 3 Ripe Bananas 
• 1 cup Vanilla Almond Milk (Any milk will work)
• 2 eggs
• 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
• 3 cups Oats
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 3 teaspoons Cinnamon
• Any fruit or nut combination. (I used blueberries)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F.
2. Smash the bananas with a fork, until the lumps are gone.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir together 
4. This is the base. You can now mix in whatever fruits or combinations you want.  I chose blueberries for mine
5. Put the mixture into paper baking cups in your muffin tin.
6. Cook for about 20 minutes 
7. Let the muffins cool for about 10 minutes

The Fine Art of Juicing

If you have Netflix, you've probably come across the abundance of documentaries about the health food craze of juicing. If you're like me, having watched all six seasons of Dawson's Creek and with nothing better to do, you've probably given one or two a try. Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead was the first film I came across and it left me wanting more. How could you not be captivated by a guy who chooses to consume nothing but vegetable and fruit juices for 60 days, losing 100 pounds and gaining an entire life full of youthfulness in the process. Something that incredible is truly inspiring, enough so to make me go to Walmart and purchase a juicer for myself.

If curiosity has tickled your fancy, I highly recommend checking out this flick and maybe even dabbling in the art of juicing. The easiest way to dip your toe into the water is to visit your local Whole Foods and give it a go. When you're ready to make that initial juicer purchase, congratulations! Find the cheapest juicer you can get from Walmart and stock up on some greens while you're there. 

There are so many endless combinations of fruits and vegetables when it comes to juicing. It really comes down to this: juice whatever your little heart desires. Initially, I googled a bunch of juicing recipes and wrote them down and made sure to pick up the exact ingredients from the store. Doing that is completely fine, but it can also be a waste of time. For me, I found the ingredients listed in the recipes to be more of a guide rather than an outline when deciding what to pulverize. This is my advice, pick up a moderate amount of ingredients that are priced right and look fresh. You don't want to buy too much and end up throwing it all away (trust me, it's pretty painful tossing away your hard earned cash). I will be sure to periodically post pictures and lists of ingredients when I have the sudden impulse to grind up some veggies. 

Tonight for dinner, I decided to juice.

What I added to my delicious juice:

• 3 carrots
• 4 stalks of celery
• 1 red pepper
• 1 green apple
• 1 jalapeño pepper
• 1 large bunch of parsley

The end result is a beautiful multicolored concoction that your body will thank you for a million times over. Make sure to stir your juice periodically, as it will separate and settle. 

Make sure to stir

Bon Appetit

-L

Here are some great substitutes for those cravings that can be so difficult to overcome...I know my weakness is pasta and bread products. I love my carbs, but I am trying to eliminate them from my diet for the most part. I'll let you know if these replacements actually do the job  -E