Protein Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Loaf

 

 Protein Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Loaf

I'm 22 weeks pregnant and I've been craving pumpkin chocolate chip, but I wanted it to be semi healthy. This is delicious!! It's hard not to eat a ton of it at once. I did do a couple things differently, mainly because of laziness. Instead of 1 cup of whole wheat flour (we don't have any) I was going to blend a cup of oats for oat flour. But I didn't want to do that so I just added a cup of quick oats. Instead of honey I used a few squirts of Truvia, because we are almost out of honey. I also used zero sugar chocolate chips, and the only protein powder I have is the Ryse Jet Puffed Marshmallow powder. I also just cooked it in an 8x8 pan.

It would be delicious with a little bit of peanut butter and sugar free maple syrup!

It's SO GOOD though and I'll definitely make it again! Not sure if anyone else likes it yet, no one has tried any for some reason. I know my husband wont try it because he's not a huge pumpkin fan, especially with chocolate. My youngest loves pumpkin so we'll see. I don't hate the idea that no one tries it though, more for me! :)

Click here for the Protein Pumpkin Bread by Oh Snap Macros

Easy Bread Machine White Bread

 

Easy Bread Machine White Bread

I FINALLY figured out how to make fluffy white bread! All the recipes always call for the water to be 110 degrees. I actually read the label on the yeast I've been using, and it said to heat the water to 120-130! That seemed to make all the difference, I guess the yeast wasn't getting as activated as it should have before because my bread is usually pretty dense. The only other difference I made is that I used 2 1/4 tsp yeast instead of a packet. I used the 3 hour bread setting for 1.5 loaf.

Next time I'll try adding some garlic, my sons loves to make garlic toast.

Click here for the Best Bread Machine Recipe from AllRecipes

Cumin Lime Black Bean Lentil Salad

 

Cumin Lime Black Bean Lentil Salad

Terrible picture, I just wanted to save the recipe before I forgot. It's loosely based on the recipe linked below. I chopped up 4 little cucumbers, 2 bell peppers, 3 jalapenos, 1 pint cherry tomatoes, and 1/4 red onion. I also added 1 can black beans and 1 can of lentils. I forgot I wanted to add some corn, so I'll do that tomorrow. I also forgot to order cilantro so I added some squeeze tube cilantro to the dressing mix. 

For the dressing mix I did 1 tsp oregano, 2 tsp cumin, 1 tsp salt, pepper, a giant glob of jarlic, about a tbs of tube cilantro, 1 lime, 1 tbs dijon and some avocado oil to help it go a little farther. I might add a scoop of greek yogurt when I have a bowl of it tomorrow too just for extra protein.

The flavor is so good! I love the dijon and the extra seasoning. I find sometimes that veggie salads like this can be bland so this is the first time I doubled the seasonings, and I'll be doing that again. 

Click here for the Black Bean Lentil Salad with Cumin-Lime Dressing recipe by The Garden Grazer

Another pregnant bell pepper!

For snack I had some with a side of cottage cheese, really good and filling!

Cinnamon Sugar Biscuit Waffles

 

Cinnamon Sugar Biscuit Waffles

I just took a can of biscuits, and sprayed down my mini dash waffle maker with butter spray. Once they were cooked I rolled it in a cinnamon/sugar mixture. We just ate them as is, and I thought they were just ok, a little dense, but the boys loved them. I loved how easy and quick it was! 

Chicken Cordon Bleu Sliders

 

Chicken Cordon Bleu Sliders

   While these weren't exactly gross, they weren't that great. They were kinda bland and it tasted too much like mayo. I followed the recipe so I don't think it's anything I did but who knows. We will still eat them but I wouldn't make them again. There are too many other super delicious slider recipes out there!

Click here for the Chicken Cordon Bleu Slider recipe from I Wash You Dry

I've made all of these slider recipes and they are delicious and I'd make them again:

Pickle Garlic Butter Cuban Sliders by Cocina Republic

Italian Grinder Sliders by Easy Family Recipes

Ham & Cheese Sliders by Averie Cooks

Monte Cristo Sliders by The Country Cook

And I made sliders once with a meatball, marinara, garlic butter and mozzarella but I can't find the recipe!

Hot Chicken Dip 2 Points

   I just threw this together really quick for a 3 point lunch. All points are 0 unless noted.

Hot Chicken Dip

- 1 can of chicken

- 1/4 cup nonfat greek yogurt

- 2 tbs Bolthouse Farms Ranch (2 points)

- A bunch of Frank's Hot Sauce

- Seasoned with garlic, salt and pepper.

  Break up the chicken chunks with a fork, then mix everything up. I had this with 1/2 a large cucumber (0 points), and 14 Ritz Crisp & Thin Salt and Vinegar chips (2 points). Since the half a cucumber was over a cup of veggies, I earned a point making this meal 3 points instead of 4. 

5 Point Lunch Including Starbucks

I get up at 5am every day to get my oldest ready for school. Normally I go back to bed at like 7am after he's all dropped off and I get home. But the past few days I've started to immediately come home and go work out on the treadmill for 30-40 minutes. What's happening to me?? Who am I?? No but seriously, it's been nice and I feel better, hopefully I can keep it up.

My youngest, Zach (he's 10) usually wakes up around 6am as we are getting ready, either we are to loud or the dogs are playing and that wakes him up. Since we were up and ready after I worked out, we decided to go to Target! I wanted to find some warm clothes for us, but Target's clothes have not been good lately, Walmart's been having way cuter clothes.....no idea what's happening with that. But I picked up these Ritz Crisp & Thins that are 13 for 2 points, or 18 for 3! We also stopped at Starbucks, which is rare because the only Starbucks near us is inside the Target, no drive thu's nearby unfortunately. I got a venti cold brew with sugar free vanilla and cold foam. I'd never had it before, it's delicious and only 2 points! 

So when we got home I cut up an apple and had this for a lunchy snack thing. Filling and yummy.

- 13 Crisp & Thins Cream Cheese & Onion. 2 points.

- 1 Laughing Cow Garlic and Herb Wedge. 1 Point

- Starbucks Cold Brew with Sugar Free Vanilla and Cold Foam. 2 Points. Could be zero points if you don't get the cold foam.

- 1 Apple. 0 Points

3 Point Reese's Chocolate Rice Cake

                        3 Point Reese's Chocolate Rice Cake

- 2 tbs Reese's Dairy Whipped Topping. 1 point.
- Quaker Chocolate Crunch Rice Cake. 2 points.

I love this with a cup of coffee for an afternoon pick me up!