Triple Berry Truffle Shake

I've been trying to figure out how to get more vegetables into my diet.  And the biggest issue is that I like food to taste YUMMY-- and no matter how hard I try, steamed spinach and broccoli is not yummy -- to me at least.  I know veggies are good for me.  They fill me up; they are full of nutrients, but I just can't down a veggie shake just to get all that goodness.

Then my good friend Adrienne introduced me to her Triple Berry Truffle Shake.  I'm hooked. Chocolate, berries, protein and spinach make this shake filling, full of nutrients, remarkably filling and DELICIOUS!  All at the same time.  We've got a winner!  This baby gives will check off a serving of fruits, vegetables and protein from your to eat list.  I dare you to eat it all in one sitting too.  I'm full/satisfied with  just over half the recipe.

One caution though.  The longer it sits the more the spinach flavor will blossom.  I like to eat it fresh from the blender.  I would not love it a half hour later.  Just saying it might taste a little like eating grass at that point-- no offense to you grass lovers out there.

I dig this shake after a tough toning or weight lifting session.  Happy Eating.

Triple Berry Truffle Shake
1/2 cup frozen berries (raspberry, blueberry, I do a mix)
1 cup fresh spinach, stems torn off
1 scoop chocolate protein powder*

1 1/2 cup water

Puree together in your blender and enjoy!

* or 1 scoop vanilla protein powder plus 1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder makes a good dark chocolate protein powder substitute.

Mint Chocolate Protein Cocoa

Snow has been flurrying this morning, draping the house and yard in festive white-- which makes me feel like it really is December!!!  But [here comes a first world problem]  my protein smoothie is too cold to enjoy in the freezing weather.  You know the problem.  Hot at the gym.  Drive home in a freezing car (my heater doesn't like to work in the winter...).  Run inside and finally get warm only to drink a frozen shake and feel chilled again.

What I really wanted today after my chilly drive home was some hot cocoa.  But I needed some protein to compensate for the weight lifting I did today.  Solution:  Turn my vanilla protein powder into Hot Cocoa.  It was pretty darn good too for only 15 grams of carbohydrates and no sugar added.

Mint Chocolate Protein Cocoa
1 cup warm milk
            (I microwaved mine for
             1 minute 30 seconds on high)
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 tsp peppermint extract

Mix together the vanilla protein powder and the unsweetened cocoa powder in a small bowl.  Smooth out any cocoa chunks.  Stir into hot milk.  Add Peppermint extract for a touch of minty cheer.

Granola Bars meets Protien

After playing with the chocolate peanut butter crunch recipe, I found a recipe for chewy granola bars.   SCORE!  Then suddenly I wasn't satisfied with my previous creation.  Yes it tasted yummy, but could I amp up the protein and turn it into a granola bar style.  So my kitchen has been transformed into a test kitchen yet again.  (Why is good never good enough?!?  I really ought to think about it, but today I am cooking...)

Homemade low calorie granola (check) (I wouldn't eat it for breakfast but it is good for this purpose!)
Protein Powder (Check)
Peanut Butter (Check)
Apron (check)

Let the play time Begin!  I feel like I am back developing recipes for my cooking classes-- ingredients scattered, apron smeared, sticky fingers, children neglected, no they are at school, dog neglected.  I.E. all around crazy fun in the kitchen.

My kitchen gets trashed

I started with the idea from back to the cutting board using granola and rice crispies for the bulk of the bar.  I added some peanut butter and protein powder, but it was way too dry.  Added some milk.  Ooops too much.  New batch.  On batch #3, I figured out the ratios.  (Good thing I buy protein in bulk)

Here is the finished product


Peanut Butter Protein Granola Bar
 2 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp peanut butter
1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
1/4 cup rice crispy cereal
1/3 cup plain granola
10 chocolate chips
Melt peanut butter in a small bowl.  Stir in milk and protein powder.  Add granola and rice cereal.  Form into a granola bar shape.  Dot with chocolate chips.  Enjoy responsibly.

Nutrition facts: 375 Calories, 11 grams of fat, 15g carbohydrates, 27 grams protein

Plain Jane Granola (good for making granola bars, but not breakfast worthy)
5 cups quick oats
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp oil
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.  Spread onto a cookie sheet.  Bake at 325 for 50-60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, or until it is a deep golden brown color.  Allow to cool.  Use it to make granola bars.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protien Crunch Bar

Special K's Bar

I love my post workout recovery shake.  But for days when I am on the run (literally post workout running or errands)  I need something quick, easy,  very portable and tastes good at room (car) temperature (few things are worse than a room (car) temperature smoothie.  YUCK!)  But I hate paying $1.25 or more for protein bars.  Solution?

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Crunch Bar.  The goodness of oats and peanut butter combined with chocolate and crispy cereal make this good enough to eat!  This recipe was DEVOURED by my kids before I could even take a picture of it.  Lesson learned:  Hide these from the kids!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Crunch Bar
1/2 cup milk
1 cup crunchy peanut butter (can substitute with almond butter)
2 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp cocoa powder
1 1/4 cup vanilla whey protein powder
1 cup quick oats
1 - 1 1/2 cup rice crispies cereal

Combine peanut butter, milk, honey and cocoa powder in a medium sauce pan.  Heat over low to melt peanut butter.  Stir in whey protein powder and oats.  Remove from heat.
Grease up (spray with non-stick cooking spray) 2 loaf pans.  Grease hands.  Knead in as much rice cereal as you can.  Divide dough into the 2 loaf pans and push down  and spread evenly.   Let cool. Cut into bars.  Wrap in plastic wrap.  Room stable.  Makes 16 bars.
HIDE FROM CHILDREN!
160 calories, 8 g fat, 0g cholesterol, 10g carbohydrates, 13.5 g protein