Artisana Cashew Butter Oatmeal Cookies

Hi, everyone! Hope everyone has had an awesome weekend :). I have so far but its not completely over just yet.

Yesterday morning after my yummy bowl of oats that included my new Artisana Cashew Butter I hit the gym for an awesome sweat session. An episode of The Hills kept me on the elliptical for 30 whole minutes!! Then I did a modified version of Jillian Michael's circuit from her new book. Ass kicker fo sho!!

My arms were shaking so bad when I got home I went to pull a glass out of the fridge, dropped it and it shattered everywhere. I hate cleaning up glass!!! I then slipped into my bikini and headed over to my parents for a long day in the sun :).

One of the little ones friends got to come over and play. Here they are cuddling...
Later my mom and I prepared for dinner. The spread included lots of fruit, grilled corn, white and sweet potato fry mixture, steak and pork chops. Here's my plate and some of the fruit...
Grilled food isn't very pretty. Sorry.

We got home late and I tried to stay up with man but the sun really sucked it out of me and I crashed!!! Sorry babe!

I slept in this morning, cuddled my man in the bed and then got up and made a yummy bowl of oats with a new Artisana Nut Butter, Cocoa Bliss
I used the whole baby jar. hehe. It was so yummy and melty. I loved the slight flavor of coconut that came through from the coconut oil and butter. AMAZING!!! To bad I am all out :(.

A few hours later I though Id try my hand at some cookies using the Artisana Raw Cashew Butter. I really had to think because of my recent finding that I have an egg and milk allergy :(. They came out amazing!! The final product..
They are egg free and dairy free. I will call them...

Artisana Cashew Butter Oatmeal Cookies

• 1 1/2 cups oat flour
• 3/4 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup or less of organic sugar (I used a little less than a 1/2 cup and about 10 drops vanilla stevia)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (omit if using vanilla stevia)
• 1/2 cup banana puree
• 1/3 cup Artisana Raw Cashew Butter

Mix wet and dry ingredients in separate bowls. Batter will be thick. If you want add a few splashes of non dairy milk but not to much.

Spoon onto sprayed cookie sheet..
I added organic dairy free chocolate chips to half the batter.

Then flatten cookies with back of spoon or fork...
Next, bake @ 375 for 6 to 8 min.

They are great straight out of the oven...
Look at the perfectly browned bottom and the gooey chocolate...
I loved the cookies and so did my nieces, nephews and my mom and dad (the man isnt here yet to taste). They said you could really taste all the ingredients. Nothing over powered. I could still taste the Raw Cashew Butter and banana. YUM!!

If you make these let me know what you think.

Thanks so much to Tristan over at Artisana for letting me sample these awesome nut butters!! I am a huge fan! I hope you like my recipe.

I am now getting ready to head out on the lake with my parents for some more fun in sun. Lots of sunscreen and shade for me today!!!

CONFESSION OF THE DAY: I used to never wear sunscreen until I got pregnant. I played softball all my life and every summer from the time I was about 10 until about 20 and never wore it!!! I was never aware of the dangers. I would even slather on the baby oil and lay on the trampoline! Skin cancer please. Now I am much more aware and rarely go outside with out it. I hope all of you slather up with it this summer!!

New Recipe, New Product

Ok lets see where my pics start????....
OK that's yesterdays breakfast. There was no gym yesterday so I just slept in a little and got up and made this scrumptious green bowl of oat bran. I used 1/2 cup oat bran, small chunk of banana, chia seeds, and water. Then I nuked that sucker, added more water, spinach, and cinnamon. Then I blended the hell out of it, added more banana and an unmeasured spoonful of Heathers homemade almond butter. NOM NOM!!

Snack was a fab smoothie...

• few leftover blueberries and blackberries
• strawberries, frozen
• mango, fresh
• 1 cup UVAM
• stevia
• cinnamon
• fresh ginger

I also had a bowl of LFCC with a few slices of Boarshead turkey with pepper...
Lunch was amazing....
Another one of my leftover Black Bean Turkey Burgers slathered in rrp hummus, steamed green beans, and what I now declare my favorite fry of all time, kobocha squash fries. Here's a close up of those babies...
They were a biaach to cut but totally worth it!! :) They had almost the same taste and texture of real homemade thick cut fries. I could eat this version of burger and fries for every meal, no joke!!

Later I had a snack plate and a few nibbles of un pictured fruit....
That's rrp hummus and crunchy almond butter for dipping.

Later in the evening after doing some shopping with my mom. I came home to find a package on my doorstep. I quickly ripped into that sucker open to find this...
I had spoken to them a while ago but totally wasn't expecting this!! THANK YOU SO MUCH ARTISANA!! I was outta my mind excited and proceed to unscrew some tops and lick the lids. YUM!!! I had to contain myself though so I put on my walkin shoes and headed outside for a stroll.

I walked about 2.2 miles and then came in to fix dinner. For dinner I had some turkey breast fillets that needed to be used so I combined some old recipes to come up with Baked Turkey Tenders. This is what I used for the crust...

• 2 slices of ww bread toasted and crumbled
• 1/4 cup dry oatmeal
• some crumbled sliced almonds
• salt

I threw it all in a bowl and then cut my turkey into strips. I then sprayed the turkey pieces with Pam and rubbed each piece down with some split fresh garlic before dipping it in my breading. Then I baked @ 375 for about 15 to 17 min. Here's the mans plate...
He dips everything in ranch.

My plate...
That's a few pieces of roasted garlic on my plate.

Right now I am waiting for my awesome breakfast to digest before I hit gym. I was super excited to try a new Artisana nut butter with my breakfast. I made a typical bowl of oats with some added chia seeds and then drizzled with a heaping spoonful of Raw Organic Cashew Butter...
Check out the info here. Man that stuff was delish. When I opened the jar my first thought was that it looked like silk!! So soft, creamy and smooth. The taste was even better than it looked, if that's possible!! Yum!! I cant wait to eat more.

I see baking in my future.....

CONFESSION OF THE DAY: I can't stand long toenails! It really freaks me out. I keep mine cut super short. The mans get so long they have been known to slice me open and draw blood while in the bed! GAG!!! (insert puking sounds here)

Kiddie Crack

For lunch yesterday I had a kobocha squash bowl filled with left over spaghetti sauce/meat.....
SUPER GOOD!! I also had a little snack plate on the side with veggies and hummus...
After I ate my lunch I asked the little one if shed like to try something new...



Since I cant participate in the "crack wrap" fun (no dairy :(), I thought Id see if the little one would go for it. Is it bad I asked my 4 year old if she wanted "crack"?
She hates being left out of pics...The verdict...


Although she acted like she liked it she didn't finish it which tells me something different. I think it was my fault though because 2 triangles of Laughing Cow Swiss may have been a little much. Oops. Sarah, you now have preschoolers on your "crack".

Later I was really craving something sweet, so I quickly smashed that with a bowl of oat bran...
+bananas, chocolate chips and peanut butter. It did the trick!! Happy belly :)

When the man got home I went on a little 3 mile walk/jog. I made dinner as soon as I got home. I made my Black Bean Turkey Burgers, except this time I used really lean ground chicken breast in place of the turkey. *If you make these make sure you use this method in step 3 for cooking or otherwise they may fall apart*. I completely forgot pics because the man had a friend over.

I hit my weight class this morning, did some extra weights+cardio after and then came home for some brekkie. The decision was hard . I ended up with a bowl of oat bran and a side of slutty cottage cheese with berries...
Anyone who reads my blog knows what a slut cottage cheese is. She often just jumps in bed with anyone/thing and she absolutely does not discriminate! If you look back at some of her "journeys" you'll see she likes all things meaty (here, here, and here), especially sausage. She's been known to jump in on some tossed salads (sorry no available pics of that). She also likes cherries/berries (see above). Sometimes she likes to get down and dirty with some chocolate or peanut butter (here, here, here, and here). She also has been know to be submissive and let someone else dive into her (here). I am really shocked my husband doesn't like cottage cheese! Wow, this healthy food, fitness and family blog suddenly took a turn to kiddie "crack" and soft core porn. Sorry!! :) Oh and sorry for the cross outs on the links. Having a few technical difficulties.

Back to my day. I had the pleasure of meeting up for a play date today with a fellow blog reader in my area. I also take a class with her at the Y. I know our little ones had an awesome time and Kim couldn't be any sweeter!! Kim, I am looking forward to our play date/lunch next week with Heather!!

When we got back from the park I had a leftover Black Bean "Chicken" Burger for lunch, over a bed of greens, spread with rrp hummus and a side of sweet potato rounds....
Hit the spot!!

CONFESSION OF THE DAY: It really bugs me when people don't say "Bless you" after a sneeze.

Back To Dinner And Cutting A Cantaloupe

This was yesterdays lunch...
Hugh Jass salad containing...

• jicama
• spinach
• plain lettuce
• carrots
• tomato
• red pepper
• leftover green pea guac
• baked chicken
• 1/2 cup chickpeas
  

After lunch I went to the doc. to get a shot to keep my rash from coming out while vacationing in the Dominican Republic (I have Polymorphous Light Eruption (PMLE). I also got a call from my other doctor telling me that I am allergic to eggs. Bummer, but I already had a feeling, that is why I cut them out a while ago. He is also making me an appointment with a GI doctor because he feels my problem is deeper than just eggs. Oh, and I am really bummed that I have to cut out my favorite pb of all time :(.

Back to food. Truth be told I haven't cooked a real dinner in a about a week. The man was outta town all last week until late Wed. night, Thurs. they were left to their own devices because I was out for girls night, Fri., we went to the Cheesecake factory, Sat., we were on the lake all day and a party that night, Sun., I don't really remember???and Mon., we ate at his moms. So what to do to ease me back into dinner making??? I decided on something simple. Spaghetti.

The man had his the old fashion way with noodles. I ate mine mixed with spinach, chopped up kobocha squash and a side of green beans...
Mmmm!! This squash is great, sweet or savory just like all the others. For a snack later in the night I had some blended LFCC with cocoa powder and dark chocolate stevia. I also added an unmeasured spoonful of pb...
It was glorious :).

This morning I decided not to hit up the gym. I though 3 days in a row may be a little much. I continued with the chocolate theme for brekkie...

• 1/2 cup oat bran
• small piece of sliced banana
• water
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
  

I then nuked for 2 min. added stevia, cocoa powder, more water, more sliced banana, and a tbsp. crunchy almond butter. It was Marv!!! :) My morning snack was a Gingered Strawberry Mango Smoothie and a side of LFCC...

The smoothie contained...

• a chunk of fresh mango, skin and all
• fresh and frozen strawberries
  
• 1 cup UVAM
• stevia
• ice cubes
• hunk of fresh ginger

I then proceeded to try and de clutter the fridge by chopping up and condensing the massive amount of fruit we had in the there. I also took some pics and made a video for you on how I cut a cantaloupe.

Here's my tutorial. First, you cut the sucker in half from end to end...
(Ignore the small piece on the side. I got ahead of myself)

Then you of course scoop out the seeds...
Next you take a half and continue to half...
Until you you get small pieces that look like this...
Here's the final step of cutting your cantaloupe...




All my cut up fruit ready to gobbled up...
Of course I snacked on a few pieces while cutting. The watermelon wasn't very ripe :(. I need tips on picking a ripe watermelon????

CONFESSION OF THE DAY: I have a killer gag reflex that used to not allow me to clean the toilets. I used to make the man do it all the time. I finally sucked it up and starting doing it myself. Over the weekend one our toilets got clogged with some nasty!!! Wish me luck cleaning the brown rings out today!!! hahaaaaaa!!!

Chia Seeds, Kobocha Squash And Fast Food

Don't worry, I didn't eat the fast food.

After a super busy, fun filled weekend the man and I decided to take it easy on Monday. I slept in, got up and ate brekkie, let it digest and then headed to the gym (the little one was at my mother in laws). When I pulled up to the Y it was jam packed! I circled the parking lot like 4 times and could not find a space, so I decided to take my workout home. I walked 2 miles with the hub and then I ran/walked the 3rd one alone. When I got back to house I did some random free weights. I was really sweating and it felt great. I made a cottage cheese smoothie when I was done...

• 1/2 cup LFCC (lactose free cottage cheese)
• 1 cup UVAM (unsweet. van. almond milk)
• 3 in. banana chunk
• fresh and frozen strawberries
• stevia

Yum it was perfect for cooling me down.

We slowly got ready for the day and headed out to pick up the little one and eat dinner at my in laws house. No pics there. But my sweet mother in law marinated me a chicken breast cause they were having BBQ sauce soaked ribs. She also steamed me some asparagus because they were having sugared green beans and potato salad. I also brought a chunk of kabocha squash baked, that sweetie pie Heather gave me. I was full after we ate but by the time we left I was ready for a the treat I had waiting in the fridge...
Look how thick...That's just plain old UVAM with 2 tbsp chia seeds (also given to me by sweetie pie Heather). It was nice and thick when I got home so I added some stevia, cinnamon, 1 spoonful of LFCC and blended away. Yum, it was like a nice cold vanilla pudding.

I was on a roll with 2 new foods in one day :).

This morning I woke up at the butt crack of dawn for the weight class at the Y. I almost talked myself outta going (do you ever do that?) but I am glad I didn't. After the class I did 10 min. on the elliptical, 10 min. on the stair climber and then some deadlifts and tricept press downs.

For breakfast...
That's a rough copy of Heathers Chia Protein Oat Bran. Mine contained

• 1/2 oat bran
• water (unmeasured)
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 large strawberry, chopped

I nuked it and then added stevia, cinnamon and more water. I started eating it but I was still hot and sweaty from the gym and the oats were making it worse. I popped them in the freezer and ate the LFCC. When I finished the LFCC I went back for the oats. The were good all cooled off :).

For my snack I had this...
That's a quarter of a kabocha squash ( I am so confused on how to spell this) heated and filled with an unmeasured spoonful of Trader Joes Crunchy Almond Butter. I love this squash, skin and all! Its so dense and really fills you up. Here's the nutrition facts I found on them just in case you are wondering.

Well, I am starting to get hungry for lunch and I have yet another doctors appointment to get ready for soon.

Have a great Tuesday!!!

CONFESSION OF THE DAY: I will absolutely not let my little one eat fast food. All the grandparents know this but this weekend the rule was broken and I am still a little upset. I am trying to get over it. I know I cant keep her from it forever but as long as possible would be nice :).

Cheesecake, Lake and A Sunday Brunch

Friday night my man and I went to a late, sorta last minute dinner with another couple to the Cheesecake Factory (we both had gift cards). I ate a little something before leaving because like I said it was late and way past the time I normally eat. We sat outside and it was so nice! I ended up just ordering a small salad that I couldn't finish because my tummy was bothering me once again :(. Everyone ordered cheesecake for dessert but me. Here's the line up, this was the little ones piece it was Vanilla Bean....
This was the mans, Oreo...

The man friend had Plain Cheesecake with Raspberry sauce...
The lady friend had good ole Strawberry...
I wasn't sad :). I dipped into the peanut butter jar for dessert when I got home :).

The next day started early and ended late. We were on the lake all day and night for a Memorial Day party. Here's a shot of my friend and I...
I will say there was lots of snacking and Jello shots involved. hehe (apparently there's something on my chin in this pic).

Surprisingly, I felt good this morning (I know how to practice moderation) and was pumped for my planned girls brunch at Marche with the dear sweet Heather and one our readers, Mandy. I was so excited to meet a reader. She was super sweet and I cant wait to get together again. Kim, next time you have to join us!! Here's Mandy showin off our appetizer...
Dips for the bread...
That's butter, blackberry jam, a peanut/almond butter, Nuttela and honey. YUM!! (I ate most of it)

I order the scrambled baked eggs...
I wasn't a fan so I returned them and got the Organic Steel Cut Oats with strawberries...
Much better :). My belly was super carb loaded!!

All the girls...

I had such a fun time and was able to go back to Heathers house where she showered me with gifts. One of them being this a kabocha squash that I have been dying to try!!!
Heather, you gave me way to much, so next lunch I am buying!!! Do you hear me??? Gosh, shes such a generous sweet heart!!

Anyway, when I got home I totally passed out for like 3 hours. This was my dinner...
A fabulous ending to my great weekend with friends and family. That's what its all about :)!

CONFESSION OF THE DAY: I used to be really shy and scared to tell the waiter or waitress at a restaurant my special requests (with are many). I do it so much now that I am much more confident making the requests. Since I am paying for it I should get what I want and what makes my tummy happy!

Hope everyone had a great weekend and has a great Memorial Day tomorrow!!!