Soft Chewy Granola Bars

These are better then the ones I buy in the store! For now on I am making these! 

RECIPE HERE for Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars. 

Granola Bar Recipe

4 Cups Oatmeal

1/2 Cup Butter

2 Cups Rice Crispy Cereal 

1/2 Cup Raisins

1/2 Cup Shredded Coconut

1 1/2 Cups Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup Honey

2 TSP Vanilla 

3 TBLS Flax Seed 

Over low heat, mix BUTTER, BROWN SUGAR, and HONEY

When bubbling, add VANILLA. 

Let boil on Low Heat for 2 minutes. Stirring the entire time. 

Mix together all the remaining dry ingredients. 

Then add your Sugar/Butter Mixture to the Dry Ingredients. 

MIX VERY VERY VERY WELL! 

Line a 8x11 pan with Tin Foil. 

Put the granola in the pan and press it down flat. You want to make sure your granola is packed tight in the pan. 

When cooled about 3 hours later. Pull out foil and cut with pizza cutter into bars. 

Put into bags or wrap tightly. 

YOUR DONE!!!

These were so yummy and they are chewy and soft! Even 2 days later!!! 

ENJOY! 

Chicken Tomato Basil Pizza

This Pizza was soooo good. My 5 year old said it was delicious!!! Who knew healthy pizza could be so yummy??? 

To start you may need these two recipes. 

Pizza Dough Recipe

Pizza Sauce Recipe 

Chicken Tomato Basil Pizza Recipe 

You need: 

Pizza Dough

Pizza Sauce 

15 - 20 Cherry Tomatoes Sliced 

2 TSP Basil 

1 - 2 Cups Cheese ( I used a Fiesta Blend ) 

1 - 2 Cups Shredded Cooked Chicken

Olive Oil

After you have placed your dough on your pan. Brush the dough with Olive Oil. 

Cover the dough with sauce. 

Sprinkle with Cheese. 

Add Tomatoes. 

Add Chicken. 

Sprinkle entire pizza with basil. 

Bake at 350 Degrees, for 15 minutes. 

Your done!!! 

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!

Simple Pizza Dough

Since I made pizza sauce, RECIPE HERE.  I had to make pizza right??? I did not have time to make a batch of bread dough and wait for it to rise. I made no rise pizza dough. It was a very light dough, and it had a great whole wheat flavor without taking away from the pizza itself.

No Rise Pizza Dough Recipe

2 1/2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour

2 Cups White Flour

5 TSP Baking Powder

2 TSB Salt

3 TBSP  Olive Oil 

1 3/4 - 2 Cups Water 

In a mixer add all the dry ingredients. Add Olive oil and Water slowly and let it mix till it forms a soft ball. Dough should not be sticky. Let it mix for 1-2 Minutes. 

I made individual pizzas. I divided the dough into 6 parts and rolled each section out and placed it in my pan. You can use all the dough for one large pizza. Roll it out onto a floured surface. 

After dough is placed onto your pan, brush with olive oil. 

Add your toppings and bake at 350 for 15 minutes!  

Homemade Pizza Sauce

This is actually super easy! I was surprised. The flavor was AMAZING and even my husband liked it (that is saying A LOT ). In our garden, we grew TONS of tomatoes. I had to find something to do with them. I am not very good at making Salsa, so I had to find something else to do with them. This is what I came up with.

Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe 

You Need:

6-7 Very Ripe Tomatoes, Peeled

2 TSP Chopped Garlic 

1 Large White Onion, Diced

4-6 TSP Basil 

2 TSP Sugar ( Optional ) 

1-2 TBSP Salt 

1/4 TSP Pepper

1 TSP Oregano

1 TSP Thyme

(If you want a thicker sauce add one can of tomato paste)  

Cook Onions and Garlic in Olive Oil. For about 5 Minutes. 

In a blender Puree Tomatoes, Blend VERY WELL. 

Add tomatoes to onions and garlic. Keep on a low heat. 

Add all the seasoning. 

 Basil 

 Sugar ( Optional ) 

TBSP Salt 

 TSP Pepper

 Oregano

 Thyme

Cover and let simmer for 30 Minutes. Let all the flavors blend together! 

I stirred my sauce every 5-10 minutes. 

I put my sauce in four, 8 OZ Jars. Let cool. I saved one for pizza that night, and froze the others. 

Label your Jars with the date! 

I used the tomatoes and onions from my garden. My Basil from my Kitchen Pots, see them HERE. 

With 35 Minutes of work and about 50 cents worth of seasoning, I am DONE! 

Strawberry Peach Smoothy

This is a great after workout Breakfast drink! I love the chunks of fruit in it. It has an awesome taste, my kids never know its healthy for you!

You Need:

1 Cup Frozen Strawberries 

5 Ice Cubes

4 Peaches - Halved with pit removed. 

1 Cup Coconut Milk

1 Cup Strawberry Greek Yogurt

Blend Yogurt, Ice Cubes, and Milk, till smooth, then add other ingredients. Blend till ALMOST smooth! I like little chunks of peaches and strawberries in mine. Enjoy!!! 

Peach Coconut Breakfast Drink

This was sooooo yummy, I can't wait to make it again!!!

You Need: 

3-4 Large Peaches, Halved with pit removed. 

1 Cup Coconut Milk

12 Ice Cubes

1 Cups Greek Vanilla Yogurt 

Blend Everything together. This is not a smoothy, it will not be thick.

I hope you like it!!!

Hello!!!

 The month of August has flown by, and I am not ready for Summer to be over! Last week my husband and I took are boys to Disneyland! We had so much fun. It was a great family vacation, that I felt like I could relax a little. Being on vacation and keeping up my normal eating and exercise was impossible. I tried to eat as healthy as a could, but thats kinda hard when your limited to Disney Food. I must have walked miles each day, but that does not compare to my normal lifting workouts. When I got home yesterday I was 4 pounds heavier!!!! I was shocked, I never ate ice cream or any other un-healthy Disney treat, but still I gained weight :(

So this week is my week to work it off and get back to our normal schedule. I have also decided that I am going to post my new recipes that I try, and the things that we cook. The biggest question I get asked, is "What foods do you eat?"

Today I woke up and was looking on Pinterest, and found a great

 Ab workout. I LOVE the wide leg plank! I can really feel that one working. 

And my Journey continues!!! Thanks for reading!

Busy Weeks!

The last couple weeks have been crazy busy!!! I have not had more then 5 minutes to myself to blog about anything. So I will do a quick update!!!

This weekend I went shopping, for my Birthday! It was finally time that I needed new clothes that actually fit me! This time I went shopping I did not find a lot of stuff that I liked! I was so disappointed. I really hate the styles right now, and its so hard finding clothes that don't make me look like I am trying to be 14, or 50. I was able to find a couple super cute things that make me look good, and I went down another size!!! I am a Medium in tops, and a 6 in pants!!!!  6 . . . 6 . . . I can't believe it!!! This week I weight 137. This is the smallest I have been since about 9th-10th grade!!! I think I was skinnier back then, but I did not have muscle like I do now!

Not many people can say that they got down to their 9th grade size after 3 kids, and 4 pregnancies!!! I am super happy with how things are going, and I will soon be at 130. I know that I have about 10 more pounds of fat to loose. I want to see my Abs, all of them :)

The last 2 weeks, I have been working total body everyday. My workouts look like this,

100 Different Leg / Butt Exercises

100 Different Arm / Chest / Back Exercises

100 Different Ab Exercises 

*Example - 20 Crunches, 20 Sit Ups on the Ball, 40 Bicycle Crunches, 20 Reverse Sit Ups. 

Repeat 3-4 Times. 

This takes me about 45 minutes to complete.

A couple times a week I will go on a run as well. Last week we ran 4.2 Miles in under an hour, and that included doing a HUGE set of stairs, 3 times!

Durring the day, I have been doing small exercises. While I am folding laundry I do squats, after I make my bed I do 10 Sit Ups. I I find that if I keep moving through out the day, then I don't get tired as easy. I feel motivated. Every morning I wake up and look into the mirror, and I can see a little more definition. Its such a good feeling to know that my hard work is paying off!

I am also eating really healthy still. My family and I are still following the Clean Eating diet. We cook as much as we can out of our garden, this cuts a huge expense and it feels awesome to know that you grew such yummy food!

Hope everyone had a good week! Thanks for reading!!!!

Easy S'mores!

I have had a crazy busy weekend, and its been rough to find time to get on the computer!!! My husband came up with an awesome idea. I am sure he is not the first person to try this, but I have never seen it before, and it worked out so great, I thought I would share! I know this is not "Clean Eating" but everyone loves S'mores and when we made these I limited myself to 1/2 a S'more! I am getting will power ;) hahaha!

Super Easy S'mores! 

Step One - Pre-Heat Oven to About 200 Degrees 

Step Two - Cover Metal Pan with Tin Foil

Step Three - Put Graham Cracker with Marshmallow onto pan.

Like This. 

Bake until Marshmallow is big and fluffy. About 5 Minutes. 

Step Five - Take out of Oven. 

and

Put Chocolate on Marshmallow. 

Add Graham Cracker to the top! 

Your Chocolate will be melted and Soft! 

That's it ENJOY!!!!! Super easy and you can make as many as you need to in minutes! I know it takes the fun out of having a camp fire, but this is the next best thing :) 

Hello Wednesday!!!

This morning I woke up and had an awesome workout, from my living room! I love working out at home, I get to do strange looking faces when I exercise without anyone looking at me funny . . . except my kids :) I love to use my fitness binder, and try new workouts.

The best feeling is half way through my workout, I change and I feel like a machine! I can do more reps, I lift heavier weights. Its as if something in my headed changes and I can take on the world. Its such an amazing feeling. I think I workout to feel that way. All my problems disappear when I workout!

I have formed an addiction, I can't wake up and not workout. I love the way my body feels, my mind is clear, and I am a much happier person through out the day. Since I have really increased my workouts, I can see a huge change in my muscles. Especially my arms! I have been working out for over an hour now. Switching up my days for different muscles is a must. I get a more beneficial workout, working only certain muscles at a time.

I have cut back on anything unhealthy. I have decide that Sunday is my day, that I will let myself have a small treat, but during the week me and my family eat Clean and we eat really healthy. We are trying so many new recipes, from Pinterest, and even recipes in my cookbooks, that I used to not even look at. Its nice to try new things, and take old recipes and turn them into something healthy.

So far my Wednesday, has been a great day.