Homemade Granola - 103 calories per serving

I wanted to take a shot at making granola since I wanted to use granola for my Greek yogurt (but refused to pay the store price for it). This is what I came up with after browsing a hand full of recipes & doing my own "thing" This recipe makes a quart (or 16-1/4 c servings)

 Ingredients:

2 1/2 c rolled oats
1/2 T cinnamon
1/2 c nuts (I used almonds I ran through my Ninja)
1/4 c dried fruit (I used raisins)
3 T sweetener (I used agave)
1/2 t vanilla
1/4 c unsweetened coconut flakes
2 T hemp seeds
1 T chia seeds

Preheat oven to 300 degree F. Mix all the ingredients together until fully incorporated. I lined a cake dish with parchment paper & spread the mixture evenly. I toasted it for 30 minutes, mixing it up every 10 minutes. 

Below you'll find the nutritional information based on one 1/4 c serving...which is the perfect amount of topping for your Greek yogurt! :)

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 26 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories  103 Calories from Fat  35

% Daily Value*

Total Fat  3.9g 6%

Saturated Fat  1.2g 6%

Trans Fat  0.0g

Cholesterol  0mg 0%

Sodium  2mg 0%

Potassium  98mg 3%

Total Carbohydrates  14.9g 5%

Dietary Fiber  2.3g 9%

Sugars  4.7g

Protein  2.9g

Vitamin A 0% • Vitamin C 0% Calcium 2% • Iron 5%

Nutrition Grade C+

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Nutritional Analysis

Good points

• No cholesterol
• Very low in sodium
• Very high in manganese

Bad points

• High in sugar
• Contains alcohol

Soooo yummy!

Enjoy!

Nancy,

xo

Homemade Puerto Rican Coconut Pudding - Tembleque

Like a lot of my fellow Ricans, I have grown up with tembleque "from the box", the good ol' "pour powder & add milk to a pot, stir & bring to a boil" type technique. But after a recent trip to Cozumel, Mexico, we spent the day at Sky Reef (which is truly an amazing place; snorkeling, massages, drinks & lunch right on the reef!), had lunch there & eventually ordered dessert; coconut pudding. 

Upon coming back from vacation, I vowed to FINALLY make my beloved "tembleque" from scratch & added a slight twist of my own. 

Ingredients:

4 c of coconut milk
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c cornstarch
1/2 c unsweetened coconut flakes

Heat 3 cups of coconut milk in a pan (don't bring to a boil, just get it hot). While that's going, take the 1 c of coconut milk & mix in the sugar & cornstarch until there are no lumps. Once that's done & milk in the pot is hot (borderline to a boil), add the 1 c mixture & stir until it thickens (it took mine about a minute to thicken up). Once it thickens, mix in the coconut flakes. Once everything is incorporated, pour into 8-1/2 c ramekins or into a dish to chill in the fridge. Garnish with cinnamon. 

Below is the info based on 1-1/2 c serving. 

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 146 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories  388 Calories from Fat  284

% Daily Value*

Total Fat  31.6g 49%

Saturated Fat  27.9g 139%

Trans Fat  0.0g

Cholesterol  0mg 0%

Sodium  19mg 1%

Potassium  316mg 9%

Total Carbohydrates  27.9g 9%

Dietary Fiber  3.7g 15%

Sugars  16.5g

Protein  2.8g

Vitamin A 0% • Vitamin C 6% Calcium 2% • Iron 12%

Nutrition Grade C

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Nutritional Analysis

Good points

• No cholesterol
• Very low in sodium

Bad points

• Very high in saturated fat
• High in sugar

Enjoy!

Nancy,

xo

No-Bake Walnut Brownies

I am finally taking full advantage of my Ninja & just using it every chance I get! I realized I still had a huge bag of walnuts in my kitchen that my sister gave me. I am normally not a picky eater, but there are some foods out there that I am hesitant towards (walnuts & mushrooms are the two that pop in my head right now! lol). I don't mind them, but I am indifferent towards them! Walnuts are okay with paired with something else (I don't like the walnut's aftertaste on its own)...which is why the bag as been in my kitchen for months; untouched! lol

Today, I began to search Pinterest for some ideas & after viewing a this recipe, modified it a bit to what you see below. 

1 c dates
1 c walnuts
2 T dark cocoa powder or carob powder (I used dark cocoa)
1 t vanilla
pinch of salt

I combined everything in my Ninja (I think next time I am going to do the walnuts first & then add the dates). Once everything is combined & well mixed, instead of rolling them into balls, I just pushed them into a small baking pan I had & put them in the fridge for about 2 hrs. I did line the pan with parchment paper. I then cut up into 12 pieces. 

Below is the nutritional information based on 1 piece. Enjoy! <3 font="">

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 27 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories  109 Calories from Fat  57

% Daily Value*

Total Fat  6.3g 10%

Trans Fat  0.0g

Cholesterol  0mg 0%

Sodium  62mg 3%

Potassium  152mg 4%

Total Carbohydrates  12.7g 4%

Dietary Fiber  2.2g 9%

Sugars  9.5g

Protein  3.0g

Vitamin A 0% • Vitamin C 0% Calcium 1% • Iron 4%

Nutrition Grade C+

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Nutritional Analysis

Good points

• Low in saturated fat
• No cholesterol
• High in manganese

Bad points

• Very high in sugar
• Contains alcohol

Enjoy,

Nancy

xo

Coconut Cashew Energy Bites - No Bake! 3 ingredients!!!

Lately I have become more & more drawn to my kitchen & probably spend 1+ hrs in it a day & have been loving it! I have been exploring recipes & just having fun with my whole ingredients. So, today, being the totally cashew nut that I am, FINALLY decided to do something with CASHEWS!!!

This recipe is super fun, easy, no bake & only has three...yes THREE simple ingredients!!!

So, please forgive me...I forgot to add the 3rd ingredient in the shot, but with all honesty, the 3rd ingredient was kinda of an afterthought! lol. Sorry unsweetened shredded coconut...I cannot tell a lie! 

Coconut Cashew Energy Bites

2 c pitted dates
2 1/2 c cashews
1/2 c shredded unsweetened coconut

Put them in a food processor (I used my Ninja!) & I think I blended mine for about 30 secs, scraped off the edges & did another 30 secs. Then I dumped them in bowl & rolled them into two bite balls! Easy peasy!!!!

OMG! They are just so yummy & this consistency is PERFECT for the balls to form neatly!!!

This recipe made 24 balls & below is the info based on 1 ball! 

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 31 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories  139 Calories from Fat  72

% Daily Value*

Total Fat  8.0g 12%

Saturated Fat  2.5g 12%

Trans Fat  0.0g

Cholesterol  0mg 0%

Sodium  3mg 0%

Potassium  178mg 5%

Total Carbohydrates  16.3g 5%

Dietary Fiber  1.9g 8%

Sugars  10.3g

Protein  2.7g

Vitamin A 0% • Vitamin C 0% Calcium 1% • Iron 6%

Nutrition Grade B-

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Nutritional Analysis

Good points

• No cholesterol
• Very low in sodium

Bad points

• High in sugar

Enjoy!

xo,

Nancy

Coconut Carob Truffles

This recipe is really uber easy & took about 10 minutes to make!!!! 

Coconut Carob Truffles

Ingredients

2 c pitted dates

1/8 c unsweetened coconut flakes

1/8 c powdered carob

Put all the ingredients in a food processor (I used my Ninja) & blend for about 2 minutes or until it's this consistency.

Dump into a bowl. I coated my hands with coconut oil so it wouldn't stick to me. The roll into balls & then roll around in some extra powdered carob. While I was rolling them in the carob, I had thought about maybe doing coconut flakes too? 

And viola! Put in the fridge for about an hour & viola!!!! 

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 24 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories  78 Calories from Fat  14

% Daily Value*

Total Fat  1.5g 2%

Saturated Fat  1.3g 7%

Trans Fat  0.0g

Cholesterol  0mg 0%

Sodium  4mg 0%

Potassium  149mg 4%

Total Carbohydrates  16.8g 6%

Dietary Fiber  1.8g 7%

Sugars  13.7g

Protein  0.8g

Vitamin A 0% • Vitamin C 0% Calcium 2% • Iron 1%

Nutrition Grade C+

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Nutritional Analysis

Good points

• Very low in cholesterol
• Very low in sodium

Bad points

• Very high in sugar
• From calorie count!!!!

Enjoy!

xo, 

Nancy

Losin' It!

I am back & re-dedicated to my weight loss journey! Since the beginning of the month until today, I have lost 7 lbs. It's been a struggle, but I have no other choice than to live a healthier, better lifestyle for myself & those around me. I do not want to depend on pills & other pharmas to make me "healthier" down the road with burdening me with more side effects. 

Right now, I am struggling with anemia (which my "side effects of that have been moodiness, lack of energy, constipation & at one point, heart palpitations) as well as slight knee inflammation. I will admit, that I am currently taking an anti-inflammatory for my knee (2x a day), but am trying to just manage with one until I don't need them anymore.

As for the anemia, my blood results came in last week, so I just "found out" about it (although I've known I've had iron issues for a few years, but they were just that "issues" not a diagnoses). I have a Dr's appt on Wednesday to read the results; however this is a "simple" fix. I do not want to go another medication & now with knowing, I have been good the past week with eating more iron. 

I have been juicing more & staying more on track (I use the Lose it! app!!!) which is kinda sorta fun seeing what's going on!

Thanks for reading!

Nancy
xo