"Rice crispy" treats

One of my families favorite desserts is rice crispy treats. I think we could all eat an entire pan in one sitting. I decided to clean up our favorite treat and came up with these little healthy treats that taste delicious! 

Ingredients:

-2 cups puffed rice

-1 cup of whatever crushed raw nuts you'd like ( I used walnuts and sunflower seeds)

-1/2 cup brown rice syrup

-1/2 cup sunflower seed butter ( you could also use almond butter)

1. Mix the brown rice syrup and nut butter in a small sauce pan over medium heat.

2. While that's on the stove top mix together the puffed rice and nuts in a bowl.

3. Once the nut butter mixture starts to bubble pour it over the puffed rice and nuts and stir until well combined. 

4. Now you can either put the mixture in a small pan or like I did,

put it into muffin tins to make indivuidual treats. Make sure to spray the pan with non stick cooking spray! 

5. Pop in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes or until they're cool. Enjoy! 

Paleo lemon blueberry scones

I've been a little obsessed with scones lately and wanted to make some that were both gluten and dairy free. They didn't turn out half bad.... 

Ingredients 

-2 cups almond flour

-1 cup tapioca flour

-1 tsp baking soda

-pinch of sea salt

-zest of a lemon

-2 eggs

-2 TBSP pure maple syrup

-juice from a lemon

-3/4 cup blueberries

1. Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees

2. Mix together the almond flour, tapioca flour, baking soda, salt and lemon zest.

3. Add in the eggs, maple syrup and lemon juice and mix until well combined.

4. Gently stir in the blueberries.

5. Cover the baking sheet with parchment paper and place about 8 large spoonful of dough onto the sheet. 

6. Put in the oven for about 18-20 minutes of until the tops are golden brown. 

Protein Smoothie Bowl

I usually don't do smoothies a lot because I honestly hate cleaning out the food processor when I'm done... But I was craving something sweet for breakfast so fruit with almond and cocoa nibs sounded delightful. 

Ingredients

-1/3 cup frozen raspberries

-1/2 cup frozen peaches

-1/2 packet of egg white vanilla protein powder

-1 cup organic green juice

Toppings: more fruit, cocoa nibs, nuts, ect. 

1. Put everything in the food processor or blender and combine until smooth. I put mine in a bowl because I love my smoothies thick but you could add more juice and drink it out of a cup as well. Add toppings and enjoy! 

Game Changer

Who knew that something that I loved so much would turn out to be my worst nightmare. Ever since I could walk I danced. My mom specifically put my in ballet because she said I was such a crazy child and ballet would teach me discipline and how to listen. My entire life revolved around ballet. What I ate, how much I worked out, what I did in my free time and how much I could socialize all circled around dance. I even moved away from home my junior year to further my training. I loved it and knew that I could become the ballerina I wanted to be. My mind was set on my goal and nothing would stop me from reaching it, except of course myself.

 This year was a HUGE game changer in my life. I started to doubt every move I made and the environment at the studio was not a supportive one. The dreadful long hours of standing around and endless classes was really taking a tole on my mental and physical health. I started to (dare I say it...) HATE ballet. I dreaded coming in everyday to take class. I had terrible anxiety and would cry all the time. The teachers were thoughtless as they went on their own business teaching the same classes day in and day out. I felt like a robot just putting myself in auto pilot as their words went in one ear and out the other.

 With audition season brought a whole new mess of problems, constantly worrying about what the future held. Acceptance letters brought happiness but the rejections hit me hard. I knew I had been slacking in class but not enough to not get accepted to places I had in past years gotten scholarships to. I was disappointed in myself and was stuck in a very dark hole that seemed to be getting deeper by the second. I questioned if this is really what I wanted anymore. A ballerinas life is filled with uncertainty but could I handle that? Could I handle moving from city to city for the next 5-10 years? No company position is ever garanteed for more than 36 week and the thought of not knowing what I would do to make ends meet terrified me. That's when I decided that this is not what I wanted to do anymore. This was not m dream like it had been for so many years. 

I am quitting ballet. As hard as it is for me to say it, I have new dreams and new passions that I want to discover. My love for nutritious food and healthy living has sparked a new light in me. It's something that makes me happy and right now I'll jump on any train that's going to lead me to my happiest self. I will always have a great love for ballet and the arts but for right now it's making me miserable and that is why I have to give it up. 

Healthy Peanut Butter Cups

yup! you heard that right... healthy peanut butter cups! i of course like anything chocolate and these definitely satisfy my sweet tooth without the guilt.

Ingredients:
-4 TBSP coconut oil
-1/4 raw cocoa powder
-1/2 cup natural peanut butter
-1 tsp vanilla extract
-2 1/2 TBSP coconut sugar

1. in a small sauce pan melt the coconut oil over low heat. once melted add in the rest of the ingredients and stir until everything is mixed together.

2. put cupcake liners into a muffin tin and evenly distribute the mixture into about 8 of the muffin tins.

3. put in the freezer for 30 minutes or until the chocolate if firm.

4. keep the peanut butter in the fridge so the coconut oil doesn't melt again.

5. ENJOY!!

Kale Chips

I do not like the taste of kale at all... so when my friend had made kale chips i was very reluctant to try them. to my surprise i really liked them and the best part is there super easy to made and a great healthy replacement to regular chips. It's low in calories, high in iron and vitamin A, C, K and calcium. It's also full of powerful antioxidants and  is a great anti-inflammatory food. The benefits of this leaf are amazing!

Ingredients:
-one bunch of kale
-olive oil
-sea salt

1. clean and cut the stems from the leaf of the kale

2. dry off the kale and place on a baking sheet. i have an olive oil mister so i used that to cover the kale but if you don't have one just pour a little olive oil on the sheet and mix the kale until its completely covered. top with sea salt or any other spice you'd like.

3. place in the oven at 350 degree for 15-20 minutes or until the kale is crisp.

4.store in an airtight container.

Cinnamon Roll Baked Oatmeal

I LOVE oatmeal almost as much as i love coffee and ballet. when i became gluten- free i was relieved to know that they made gluten free oats but since id been so use to packets of oatmeal i had to find ways to create a yummy breakfast without the convenience of Quaker.

Ingredients:
-1/2 cup gluten free quick oats
-1/4 cup applesauce (you could also use 1/2 a ripe banana or 1/4 cup pumpkin)
-1/4 cup of almond milk
-1/2 tsp cinnamon
-1 1/2 TBSP brown sugar (or you could use coconut sugar, stevia or pure maple syrup)
-1/4 tsp of vanilla extract
-optional: raisins, walnuts, chocolate chips, ect...)

1. pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees

2. mix all the ingredients in a small bowl. grease a ramekin baking dish or a small loaf pan and pour the oatmeal into the dish.

3. bake for 15-20 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

4. top with almond butter, brown sugar, maple syrup or chocolate chips and enjoy!