Five Things For Friday: Clean Recipes

If you don't have a foam roller can I just tell you... GO GET ONE!  It will be the best frenemy you have ever had!!

Ok guys.  You know my goal is to get in to some booty shorts at some point this year.  I've been trying really hard to keep my diet super clean.  I am on MyFitnessPal {my username is Jennwarnick} every day putting in my stuff and trying to eat a lot of veggies and protein.  I've made my diary public so you can check out what I've been eating for ideas.  I've had a couple people ask me for the recipe links of stuff they have seen me eating on there.  So here are a few of my faves I thought I'd share...

No bake energy balls from Gimme Some Oven.  

I work out first thing in the morning and since I try to stay in bed as long as possible I don't have time to eat any breakfast.  Not that I really want to either.  I'm still waking up and jumping around on a full stomach is no bueno.    So I started keeping these in the fridge.  I just grab a couple every morning on my way out the door and they give me just enough pep to make it through my workout.  She has a couple different varations on her site you should try them all out. 

Ginger Cilantro Baked Tilapia from The Kitchn

This is probably my favorite dinner right now.  It is so easy and we all love it.  Well, Ivy just likes her tilapia baked plain but loves it when I make this dinner.  I just use the frozen tilapias from Costco.  The longest part is cooking the brown rice to go with it.  

Source: biggest-loser-recipes.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Biggest Loser Pancakes

This is our new go to pancakes.  I add about a half teaspoon of baking powder to the mix.  They are really yummy and super filling.  Even Ivy who could probably win the world championship pancake eating contest only eats three.

Sweet Potato Pancakes from The Gracious Pantry

These are on my list to try.  I am loving sweet potatoes right now and these just sound way yummy to me.  If you are looking for a good source of clean eating recipes check out The Gracious Pantry.  Tons and tons of good information on there.

  
Crockpot Tortilla Soup by Chef in Training

Umm this is our favorite soup.  To keep it clean you need to nix the all the cheese and sour cream and tortilla chips.  Try making your own by just cutting up some corn tortillas and tossing with a little bit of olive oil and salt.  Bake at 400 until crispy.  We also add avocado.  I cut out the chile powder so Ivy will eat it.  I also have just used diced tomatoes and some onions instead of Rotel.  Might be awesome for the Super Bowl eh?  

Have a fun weekend!  And I'd love any other recipes that you have been loving so go ahead and share em! Also I'm thinking Monday is a good day to start Round Three of the Ruffled Sunshine 24 Day Challenge.  See ya then!

Superbowl Food Roundup

Guys, I love football.    All of my Sundays for the past few months are spent snuggled up on my couch watching.   We are Broncos fans.  But I do have a soft spot for the Bears and the Jets.  Want to know something funny?  Ivy will ALWAY root for the opposite team as Darin and I.  She roots for the bad guys as she calls them.  We even tried to trick her by telling her the team we wanted to win was the bad guys.  But then she would switch as soon as we would cheer for that team.  Gah!  That silly girl.   I am SO sad that the season is ending.  And yes I'm being totally serious!  In all honesty I'm not super stoked on the teams in the Superbowl this year,  I'm just hoping for a fun and exciting game.  Of course us girls think the fun part is to come up with a yummy menu of snacks and appetizers.  One of my favorite kinds of dinner.  In a rut or need some ideas?  Here's a little roundup of some things we might be having this Sunday.  

Source: iowagirleats.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

These buffalo chicken poppers are at the top of my list of things to try.  I really like buffalo chicken dip but these would be fun to change it up a bit, and they just look super yum.   You can find the recipe at Iowa Girl Eats.

I am fairly certain that Peanut Butter and Jelly popcorn is going to make an appearance at the big game this year.  Darin has been asking for it ever since I munched the last little bit a month ago.  It can be made ahead of time which rocks since we will be rushing home from church to watch the game.

Ok.  My next suggestions is going to lack a photo.  Seriously.  Looking back through old recipes I've posted I really am kind of embarrassed.  On the other hand its nice to see that my photography has gotten infinitely better!  If you are looking for more of a meal may I suggest fish tacos?!  Fish sticks are awesome in fish tacos.  I highly recommend the ones from Costco. They make you feel better about eating fish sticks.  Make sure and grab some avocados and splurge on some fresh tortillas.  Round up all of your favorite taco fixings and its an easy dinner that people can make themselves.  Which is always a bonus right? 

These cookies still reign supreme in our house I'm pretty sure.  Anther great thing to make ahead of time and pop in the freezer til Sunday.

Source: afarmgirlsdabbles.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

If you are looking for a hearty soup can I suggest this one from A Farmgirl Dabbles ?!  Its kind of a lot of work, but it is SO so worth it, we scarfed it up.  It was a little spicy so if you are trying to please the littles too, maybe cut back on the red pepper flakes.  That is some seriously good soup I tell ya!

Doest that help get your menu's rolling?!  But here's where I need your help.  A Superbowl party isn't complete unless you have some kind of dip, no?  I'm looking for something different to try but haven't stumbled across the right thing yet. Have you got THE dip you could share?    I'd love you forever.

And just so you know.  I guess I am going for the Giants.  There is just something about Tom Brady that bugs!!!  Am I right?

Fall Has The Best Food!

We had the best fall-ish  weather this weekend.  I never mind if it rains on Sunday because I just want to be home and cozy up with my family on the couch and watch some football.  And its even better when we get brilliant blue skies on Monday morning!

I also had the baking bug this weekend and tried a few new recipes.  REALLY yummy recipes.  Good enough to share recipes! 

{Darin has our drive with all the pictures at work this week, so all photos are from their respective posts}

 Baked Donuts

I made these baked donuts from 101 cookbooks in two shifts this weekend.  I tried them out Friday night and refrigerated the rest of the dough for Sunday.  You probably shouldn't make them.  Because then you will eat them all up.   You will convince yourself they are perfectly healthy since there is only like 2 tablespoons of butter in the whole recipe-really its true .  Or go ahead and make them.  You probably have more will power than me!  Just be sure and eat them hot out of the oven, since that is when they are the best!

{A little side note, I used a pastry brush to put the melted butter instead of dunking them like she suggests.  Gotta keep them healthy!} 

  Reese's Peanut Butter Cookies

These cookies are seriously some of the best I have ever made.  I made them a couple of weeks ago and used a bag of dark and milk chocolate Reeses. Have you tried the dark chocolate reeses?!  Seriously way better than the original.  Next time I'm using all dark.  They were a huge hit for First Friday at Greenies.  I even broke my no shortening rule to try them out.  I'm definitely going to have to try them with all butter next time.  Although, I probably shouldn't make those again either.  ;)

Buttery Caramel Sauce

Our neighbor dropped by some awesome apples so it was the perfect excuse to try out this homemade caramel.   I'm actually not a huge caramel fan, but I thought I would give it a shot.  Its really good.  And just like Missy, I ended up skipping the apple and using my finger! I'm thinking it would be a great gift for our new neighbors down the street, with a bag of apples of their own.  

Creamy Corn Chowder

Sunday has become soup day in our house.  Ivy loves soup and will actually eat things that aren't fruit or cheese when its in soup.  So we've been trying out some new recipes and this one was a big hit.  I know I'm only trying to please three people in this house, but when a recipe is from Our Best Bites then its bound to be good!  And if you froze some corn this summer than this is one of the yummiest ways I know to use it.  

{The only thing I did different was to NOT add the hot sauce.  My three year old does NOT like spicy!}

So get out your grocery list because you need to add some more ingredients to try out some new recipes!

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{And here are a couple other recipes I am storing away for the next rainy day...}

Honey Caramel Apples

Cinnamon Toasted Pumpkin Pie Tarts

Best Buttermilk Pancakes

Favorite Football Food- Rootbeer Pulled Pork

First off, sorry no picture.  We actually had this last Sunday and I forgot to take one.

I heart pulled pork!  It is one of my favorite foods, especially cooked this way.  I also love Cafe Rio style pulled pork, but this is just a fun twist.  We had it first at my friend Carrie's house this past February.  I'm so lucky she shows me all these yummy recipes.  I got the recipe from her and tweaked it a bit, then I saw it in the Betty Crocker cookbook just how I make it!  So here's the recipe via Betty Crocker.

Pulled Pork with Root Beer Sauce 

1 2 1/2-3 pound pork roast

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 Tbsp oil

1-2 medium onions, cut into thin wedges 

6 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups root beer, divided

1 cup bottled chili sauce

1/4 tsp root beer concentrate (optional)

several dashes bottled hot pepper sauce (optional)

hamburger buns

cabbage(optional)

cheddar slices (optional)

1.  Sprinkle meat with salt and pepper.  In a large skillet, brown meat on all sides in hot oil.  Drain off fat and transfer meat to crock pot.  Add onion, one cup of the  rootbeer and the garlic.

2. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.

3. For sauce- in a sauce pan stir together the remaining 3 cups of rootbeer and chili sauce.  Bring to a boil and reduce heat.  Simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes or until mixture is reduced to 2 cups.(This usually takes about an hour for me so plan accordingly!) If desired add concentrate and hot pepper sauce.  

4. Transfer meat to a cutting board or plate.  Using 2 forks, pull meat apart into shreds.  Using a slotted spoon, transfer onion to plate, discard cooking juices.  Place meat on hamburger buns, with desired toppings and root beer sauce.

Oh man, this stuff is so good.  I must be hungry!  A couple of things- don't use diet rootbeer and watch carefully when the sauce starts to boil.   You do NOT want to clean this stuff up after it boils over!