Crockpot Honey Apple Pork Loin

Ingredients:

Pork Loin, 2.5-3 lbs.

Red Delicious Apples, 3 sliced

Honey, approx 4 T

Cinnamon, 2 T

Process:

Lay the apple slices (from two of the apples) in the bottom of the crockpot.

Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Cut slits in the pork loin (approx 1/2″-3/4″).

Drizzle some honey into the slits.

Then place apple slices into the slits.

Place the pork loin into the crockpot.

Drizzle the top with the remainder of the honey.

Place the rest of the apples on top.

Then sprinkle the whole thing with cinnamon.

Cook on low for 7 hours.

For more flavor, you may poke holes in the pork. Then place the pork loin in a bag with honey and cinnamon and marinate it overnight.

Stuffed Zucchini Cups

Stuffed Zucchini Cups

Ingredients:
2 large zucchini or yellow squash, about 12 inches long
2 tsp. + 2 tsp. olive oil (may need more, depending on your pan)
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 green pepper, finely chopped
2 T finely minced fresh garlic
1 lb. ground turkey (or any ground meat your prefer)
2 C flavorful tomato-basil pasta sauce ( I use Barilla brand from Walmart) 
2 cups low-fat mozzarella or other mild white cheese (Can omit if on Paleo diet or wanting to save calories)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350F/175C. Chop onion and green pepper. Heat 2 tsp. olive oil in a non-stick pan, then saute onion and pepper for 3-4 minutes, until just starting to soften. Add minced garlic and saute about 1 minute more, being careful not to brown the garlic. Remove the onion, pepper, and garlic mixture to a bowl.

Add 2 tsp. more olive oil to the pan. Crumble in the ground turkey, I seasoned mine with Mrs. Dash and some Oregano,  and cook over medium heat until the meat is well browned. Tilt pan to see if there is any extra fat, and remove with a spoon if there is, then stir cooked vegetables and garlic back into the meat. Add tomato sauce and simmer until the mixture has thickened and liquid has cooked off, about 10 minutes, then turn off heat.

While meat cools, cut zucchini into 2 inch thick slices, discarding ends. Use a sharp spoon or melon baller to hollow out a cup in each zucchini slice, leaving just over 1/4 inch of zucchini flesh. Be careful not to get too close to the skin or the cups will leak liquid when they cook.

Spray baking sheet with nonstick spray and stand up zucchini cups, open end up. Stir 1 1/2 cups grated cheese into the cooled meat mixture (it doesn't need to be completely cool), then spoon the meat-cheese mixture into zucchini cups, pressing down with the spoon and mounding it up a little over the top of the zucchini.

Bake zucchini cups for 20 minutes, then remove from oven and use remaining cheese to top each one with a generous pinch of cheese. Put back in oven and bake 10-15 minutes more, until zucchini is slightly soft when pierced with a fork and cheese is melted and lightly browned. Serve hot. ENJOY!

Clean Eating Cookie Dough Yogurt

So something about me that you may or may not have known is that I LOVE cookie dough.  I love cookie dough plain, blizzards, anything cookie dough.  It could definitely mess up my fitness and health progress if I let it.  My coaches husband found this recipe and shared it on her blog and I LOVE IT!

I love peanut butter and chocolate.  I love yogurt.  This clean eating cookie dough yogurt is AMAZING to say the least.  Now, a disclaimer. I would not use this as a snack for every night but it is a great treat to replace your Blizzard.  Let me know what you think!

Ingredients

➡3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1 tbsp nut butter, 1 tbsp honey, 1/4 tsp vanilla, pinch of sea salt, 1 tbsp mini chocolate chips.

Directions:

➡Combine Greek yogurt with the nut butter, honey, vanilla and sea salt. Mix until smooth. Top with mini choc chips and enjoy!!!
Share this recipe with someone who might enjoy it!!!

Post in the comments if you tried it and what you think!!

Share this recipe with someone that you think would like it!!!

Clean Banana Bread

2 cups Almond Meal
1 heaped tsp. Baking Powder
1 heaped tbs. Protein Powder
1/2 Cup Oats
3 Tbs. Agave/rice malt syrup
2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
3 Eggs
3 Large Bananas, mashed in a bowl
1/2 C. Walnuts , Crushed
1 sprinkle himalayan salt
1 sprinkle of  desiccated coconut (if desired)


Preheat oven to 360

Place all of the ingredients (except the salt and coconut) into a bowl and using a mix master, mix until a smooth consistency.

Line a small baking tray with baking paper and then pour the batter evenly into the baking tray.

Sprinkle the batter with salt and place into the oven for 35-40 minutes or until crispy golden brown.

Once the banana bread is removed from the over, sprinkle with the desiccated coconut (if desired)

Cool for a minimum of 20 minutes before serving.

Recipe from Clean and Green App.


Serves 8-10
Dairy Free

Love is in the Air

So Valentine's Day is over and some of you are dating new people, in a relationship, or just going on friend dates :) . Whatever it might be I feel like it is always the same question ... "Can I take you to dinner?" Well... that is sweet and all but for some of us we only eat out once a week for our cheat meal because eating out doesn't always have the healthiest choices.  I decided to pick my teams brain for some alternative date ideas and this is what we came up with .  Feel free to comment below and share your ideas :)

*Putt Putt
*Lazer Tag
*Arcades
*Ice Skating
*Roller Skating
*Bowling
*Hiking
*Movies
*Boating
*Fishing
*Skiing
*Snow Tubing
*Scavenger Hunt with other couples
*Amusement Parks
*Cook dinner together
*Rock Climbing
*Karaoke
*Go for a walk at the river or park

What else can you think of for me to add to the list? :)

Clean Salad Dressing

How many of us eat salad thinking we are making a good and healthy choice? I know I used to until I read the back of the dressing labels.  I am a ranch girl or was. Now I try to eat it in moderation, if at all.  I found some clean salad dressing recipes that I am going to be trying.  The recipe below I have tried and LOVE.  I am going to try the ones in the pictures. Try them out and let me know what you think! I will keep you posted on which ones I make.  

Here is the one I make and love it!

Creamy Garlic Dressing 

Ingredients:
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3 to 5 cloves garlic, crushed
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp. Himalayan salt
1/2 tsp Dijon Mustard
1 tbsp unfiltered honey or raw agave nectar

Place all ingredients in blender and blend on medium high for 30 seconds or until well mixed.  Store in airtight container in refrigerator.  If dressing solidifies when cold, let sit at room temperature until liquid.  Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Clean Crock Pot Ziti with a Twist

As a teacher, coach and graduate student I am always looking for ways to keep it simple and quick!  Today I tried this recipe and gave it a bit of a twist. It was delicious!  

My quick note is that when you are trying to lose weight I would not eat pasta or dairy meals like this more than once a week!  Yes it is on the healthier side but it still packs quite a few calories and carbs with the cheese, cottage cheese and pasta!  Mind your portion sizes and you will be just fine!  

Ingredients 

•1 (1 lb. 7.8 oz.) jar marinara (no sugar added) look for sauce with the fewest ingredients.
•3 cups penne shells (whole grain, dry)
•2 cups fat free cottage cheese
•2 cups skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
•1 large zucchini (1/4” slices)

•1 can diced tomatoes

•1 tablespoon fresh oregano (finely chopped)

•1 tablespoon fresh basil (finely chopped)
•1/4 teaspoon black pepper

•Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and garlic powder

Directions
1.In a large mixing bowl combine cottage cheese, mozzarella, oregano, basil and black pepper. In the Crock Pot, spoon 1/4 of marinara onto the bottom, add 1 cup penne shells, 1/3 of zucchini slices and top with 1 cup cheese mixture. Repeat until you have 3 layers. Top off with the remaining marinara and cheese, then top it off with a can of diced tomatoes.
2.Note: Keep penne shells and cheese away from the edges by about 1”. Pasta tends to get hard and cheese burns if allowed to touch the sides while cooking.
3.Cover and cook on low for approximately 2 hours or until penne noodles are Al Dente (firm but not hard). Not all crock pots cook the same so be sure that the penne is done before serving. The cook time is recommended based on the crock pot used when preparing this recipe. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before serving.
4.Tip: If you prefer your ziti a little more on the thick side, allow to cook an additional 30 minutes to 1 hour.

5.  I added chicken to this meal by boiling 4 chicken breasts until just cooked and then cutting up into chunks and layering with the pasta.  That way I got my serving of protein.

Nutritional Content: (Makes 13 servings)

Serving Size: 3/4 cup Calories: 168 Total Fat: 8 g Saturated Fat: 4 g Trans Fat: 0 Cholesterol: 21 mg Sodium: 476 mg Carbohydrates: 25 g Sugars: 4 g Dietary Fiber: 2 g Protein: 15 g