Peanut Butter Energy Bites!!!

1c oatmeal
1/2 c peanut butter
1/3 c honey
1/2 c coconut(could sub with something else, anything really)
1/2 c wheat germ ( could sub also)
1/2 c ground flax
1 t vanilla 
1/3 c mini choc chips( or rasins, other dried fruit, nuts...)

Mix all well , chill about an hour, roll into bitesize balls and refrigerate what you dont eat!

SOOOO ADDICTING!!! 

Oatmeal Cookies... Got to Try em!!

Sooo Yummy... well... they aren't your typical cookie because they aren't as sweet... BUT they are pretty darn healthy and Cal and Brock are addicted:) Here is what I did...

Ingredients:

Dry ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour (a pinch more depending on the moisture of the mix)
• 1 13/4 cups of oats
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp Cinnamon (I did three TBSP and it was a little much)
• 1/2 tsp Nutmeg

Wet ingredients

• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup applesauce (can use smashed bananas instead) (Could do 1/2 c peanut butter instead also)
• 1 Tablespoon Molasses (I didn't have this and it was still really good without it) (Can add 1T of sugar free syrup instead also)
• 1 egg (beat with 1 Tbsp Water)
• 1 tsp Vanilla

Yummy ingredients

• 1/2 cup raisins (or more:))
• 1/2 cup walnuts (if you like nuts... really good without nuts too:))
• 1/2 cup freeze dried apples (could probably used just dried apples or even fresh ones...)
• ** You could also add dried cranberries or blueberries or whatever you like!

Preparation:

1. In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together.
2. In a medium bowl, mix all the wet ingredients together. Hint: when measuring out the honey, spray the measuring cup with oil or baking spray--your honey won't stick).
3. Mix the wet stuff with the dry stuff. Add the raisins and walnuts and mix. If the mixture seems too wet, add a bit of flour. If it isn't binding together very well, you may wish to add an egg white.
4. COOL the mix for 20 minutes in the fridge.
5. Preheat the oven to 335 degrees (lower temperature due to the honey in the recipe which will burn more easily).
6. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto your baking sheet (I recommend lining the baking sheet with parchment paper). Keep in small balls... if they are too flat they can get too dried out...
7. Bake for about 10-12 minutes or until golden on the bottom of the cookie. The cookies freeze very well and make a great snack! Enjoy.

Whole Wheat Bread

I love this bread because it is fast, easy and deliciously moist. It comes from my mother-in-law's nutritionist friend. the ingredients are listed in the order you add them, which is why flour appears twice.
3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/3 cup gluten
4 tsp yeast
2 1/2 cup water (120 - 130 F)
1 Tbsp salt
1/3 cup oil
1/3 cup honey
1 1/4 tsp lemon juice
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup powdered milk
1/2 milled flax seeds

Mix the first three ingredients then add water all at once and stir to combine. (I mix it by hand because the dough hook on my machine doesn't do a good enough job.) Let stand for 10 minutes to give the yeast a chance to do its thing. Add salt, oil, honey and lemon juice and beat for 1 minute with your dough hook or mix vigorously with a spatula until well combined. Add last 3 ingredients and mix well before after each new addition. Knead for 6-10 minutes in the mixer or by hand. If you are using a mixer, the dough will be very sticky so just pour into two 8" x 4" greased loaf pans. If you are kneading it by hand, you will need to use flour so it doesn't stick to everything but use as little as possible so it stays tender. You can shape the loaves for bread pans or put your shaped loaves on a cookie sheet rustic style. Warm your oven to 200 F and let bread rise there for 10-15 minutes. That's it! If you let it rise too long, it will fall while baking. (I know this from sad experience.) Leave your pans in the oven and turn it up to 350 F and bake 30-35 minutes.

Apple Oatmeal Snacks

1 egg (or can substitute 3 TBSP water and 1 TBSP milled flax)

1/2 C honey

1 tsp vanilla

-Cream together the above items then add:

1/2 C natural applesauce (no sugar added)

1/2 C margarine (can substitute an additional 1/2 C applesauce here)

-Once above mixture is creamy, add the following:

3/4 C whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 heaping tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 oats

(optional: add dried fruit such as craisins, raisins, dried blueberries, etc.)

-Drop by teaspoonful onto greased cookie sheet.  

-Bake in pre-heated oven at 350* for 8-10 mins.  

They're kind of cookies, but not quite.  These are also great as muffins, just add a few extra minutes to baking time.  Hmm... maybe I could try them as pancakes...I'd probably grind the oats into flour for that one... Tell me what you think.  :)

Chicken Fajitas

You Will Need 
1 pkg. McCormick® Fajita Seasoning Mix
2 tbsp. oil, divided
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts or boneless beef sirloin, cut into ½-inch strips
1 medium onion, cut into thin strips
1 medium bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1/4 cup water
8 flour or corn tortillas
Assorted Toppings: Shredded Cheese, Salsa, Sour Cream, Guacamole or Sliced Tomatoes

HEAT 1 tablespoon of oil in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add meat; cook and stir 3 minutes or until no longer pink. Remove from skillet. In same skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Add onion and bell pepper; cook and stir 3 to 5 minutes. Return meat to skillet.

STIR in water and Seasoning Mix. Cook and stir 3 minutes or until heated through.

SPOON into warm tortillas. Serve with toppings, if desired.

Blog with Lots of Good Recipes

Hello again,
Emily Pugh sent me this link that I thought I would share with all of you. I have not looked over the entire blog but I thought you may want to check it out. I AM NOT SAYING THAT ALL OF THE RECIPES FIT INTO OUR CRITERIA but maybe you will find something that will.

Christin

Via pinterest I found this blog that is basically doing the same thing all of you are! I know you ladies are already setting up your own blog of recipes but this might help giving you guys some more ideas on good/healthy things to eat!

http://8weekstoabetteryourecipes.blogspot.com/p/breakfast-smoothies.html

-Emily Pugh

Whole Wheat Waffles

Whole Wheat Pancakes

Mix:

1 1/4 c whole wheat flour

1/4 c ground flax (if you don't have this you can just add 1/4 c more flour but you will be missing out...)

1 c oats (quick or regular)

2 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

then add:

2 eggs

2 c milk

1T olive oil

Mix well and make into pancakes or waffles. We love a little butter and some agave nectar or 100% pure maple syrup on top. Hope you like them, they are chuck full of really great ingredients!

Christin Ricks