Fancy Banana Pancakes

1 banana 

3 strawberries 

2 eggs 

1 tablespoon vanilla 

1 tablespoon honey 

1 tablespoon fat free Greek yogurt 

1/4 cup oats 

Blend together ingredients until smooth. 

If you would like not to use the strawberries, feel free to substitute your favorite fruit. I do not recommend apples, only because they are so hard. Berries work best, but pineapple and peach works just as well. 

Cook like regular pancakes - but without the guilt! 1 banana gives you enough energy for a high-intensity 60 minute work out. I garnished mine with some honey, strawberries, and Greek yogurt! 

Feel free to use whatever flavor Greek yogurt you would like. I used plain, because I like the main flavors to be the banana and strawberries. 

Enjoy!

Banana Blueberry Oat Pudding 

1 cup Bob's Red Mill Steel Cut Oats 
2 cups water 
1 cup almond milk 
1 banana 
1/2 cup blueberries 
2 teaspoon honey 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 Place your oats in a pot with the almond milk and the water. Bring to a boil, then reduce immediately to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes before adding half of the banana (smashed with a fork), and the blueberries (also smashed with a fork). Add the honey and vanilla extract and lightly simmer for another 10 minutes. Refrigerate until cool, I recommend overnight. Take the remainder of your banana and slice. Place in a plastic bag and freeze. Scoop a spoonful of your pudding onto a plate and garnish with the frozen banana. Eat as much of this dessert you desire, as it is full of healthy vitamins and minerals, and is guilt free. 

Enjoy!

Watermelon Smoothie

2 cups watermelon, cubed and frozen 

1/4 cup watermelon juice 

Blend until smooth. This is an incredibly refreshing drink, with vitamins and minerals:

 Watermelon also contains thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, choline, lycopene and betaine. According to the National Watermelon Promotion Board, watermelon contains more lycopene than any other fruit or vegetable.

Watermelon is also 92% water 

Guide to Nuts

Morning Tea

Tea is very good for you to drink in the mornings because it helps to rev up your metabolism (thank you caffeine). 

Mine is a fun mixture that I make myself! 

1 part green tea leaves

1 part jasmine buds 

1 part dried goji berries 

The green tea is mostly for the caffeine and to boost yourmetabolism, but the jasmine might surprise you. Jasmine tea has been know to have the following health benefits: stress relief, high in antioxidants, reduces cholesterol, release of fat from your cells, fights bad bacterias, reduced your chances of getting the flu or a cold, regulates insulin production (fights diabetes), and regulates blood circulation.  

Goji berries have been used in Asian medicine for over 5,000 years. It is a vegetarian total protein, packed with amino acids and rich in vitamin A. They have over 20 trace minerals and vitamins. They have been wildly accepted in Asia as a premium superfood that not only enhances health, but increases your daily energy. 

On occasion I add a tablespoon of honey or a squeeze of some lemon. When I ice it on hot days I typically add both. 

Enjoy! 

Tomato Duxelle

1 plum tomato

3 small mushrooms (cremini or white) 

2 tablespoons breadcrumbs 

1 tablespoon olive oil 

Cut tomato in half and scoop out the center. Place in oven at 400 degrees. They should be baking for 30 minutes while you prepare the stuffing, and they will cook the last 15 minutes together (45 minute total) 

Mince the mushrooms, after removing the stems. Sauté in olive oil until golden brown. Add the breadcrumbs and stuff your tomatoes. 

Garnish with lemon if desired. 

Enjoy!

Peppers and Onions

2 small onions, sliced 

5 peppers, small

1 tablespoon olive oil 

Salt and pepper 

Place your peppers directly over your open flame. Make sure all sides are perfectly blackened before placing in a bowl covered in plastic wrap. 

Carmelize your onions, placing them in a pan with the olive oil. Keep your flame low. Low and slow is the correct way to carmelize onions - it should take around 30 minutes to properly brown your onions. 

Remove the skin from your peppers and cut into strips. Add to your onions and toss together until your flavors marry together. 

Enjoy!