Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites

These energy packed bites taste like peanut butter cookie dough, which is good news for all my fellow cookie dough addicts.You can find a bunch of different versions of these "energy bites" all over the web, which is great because it means these are really adaptable. Don't like coconut? Leave it out. Go without the flour for gluten free, and add a little more oats. Add some dried fruit, poppy seeds, different nuts etc. Whatever you have on hand can easily be incorporated. They can be made more or less healthy depending on your audience.  These are great for a quick snack on the way to the gym or after a run, or even just something sweet to help with those cravings.

Layered Enchilada Casserole

I was a little skeptical about this recipe, but it had all the right components so I thought I would try it out and I am so glad I did. It tastes kinda like a deconstructed enchilada. Basically, it's a Mexican version of a lasagna. Corn tortillas replace the noodles, and guacamole replaces the cheese filling (sounds weird, right? I thought so too, but the guacamole was the best part!). It can be made vegetarian or with some ground beef added to it. I made a lot of changes to try and enhance the flavor and to make it less TOMATO heavy. Here they are: I added mushrooms, corn, and chili powder; used diced tomatoes with green chilies; changed the proportions a bit, and added some toppings. I cooked mine until the cheese on top was slightly crispy--it gave it a really yummy flavor and texture.

Have Courage

This is one of my favorite quotes, and recently it's been all I can think about. On the scale of success and failure, it is easy to swing too far either way. What I mean is this: when I am achieving my goals, working hard, feeling good--I am on top of the world. I feel like I've made it, this is it, I will forever be in this state of success. But then, when I slip-up, make mistakes, fall back into old patterns (which I always inevitably do) there is a similar feeling of finality. The self-doubting thoughts of "I'll never make it, so why try?" and "It's IMPOSSIBLE" (<---see previous post for my thoughts on this word) come into play. Doubting leads to discouragement, and discouragement leads to the destruction of your goals, hopes, and dreams. At least this is what it FEELS like. Luckily our feelings do not always reflect reality.

I really do believe this quote--whatever successes you have in your daily life, they aren't set in stone, they don't last forever. We have to continually keep trying. But failure isn't final either--it doesn't last forever and it will not destroy all your desires for the future. YOU/I/WE CAN RECOVER FROM FAILURE! The most important thing to remember is to simply continue forward with courage. Success and failure is just part of the deal, neither one will completely define me or you. With that in mind, I feel a little more motivation to work a little harder, and do a little more.

Red Bananas

Quick Facts:

• Bananas are technically a berry
• The banana "tree" is actually a giant herb
• Red bananas are slightly sweeter than the traditional yellow banana and taste like a cross between a banana and a raspberry
• Good source of Vitamin C (15% DV)
• High in Potassium (approx. 400 mg/banana)
• Serving size: 1 banana
• Calories: approx. 90/banana
• How to eat it: Any way you would normally eat a banana (below are instructions to make a Dessert or Breakfast Banana Burrito YUM!)

Preparation

About Me

Hi! I'm Nora, a Utah-born Arizonian. I'm a food-lover, recipe tester, and wanna-be runner. PJ's, TV shows, and a bowl of popcorn add up to my perfect evening. Even though I'm a introvert, I love the feeling of trying new things and meeting new people--it just takes a little more convincing for me to do so.

Quick Facts

• I've got three brothers AND three sisters. Auntie to nine nieces and two nephews. 

Photo Credit Tiffanie May Phototgraphy

• Graduate from Brigham Young University, in Provo, Utah. Studied Exercise and Wellness and graduated in the top 5% of my class.

• My Degree covered areas of Human Anatomy, Physiology, Nutrition, Prevention of Chronic Disease, Weight and Stress Management, as well as General Health Promotion. 
• In 2012 I married my Husband, Mitch, who is the most supportive husband a girl could ask for. He just finishing his second year as a medical student here in Arizona. GO MITCH!

• We are both terribly in love with are sweet, smiley daughter who joined our family last August.

• I am passionate about finding ways to help make nutrition, exercise, and mental health more accessible and applicable to a wider range of individuals. Health does not have to be hard, it just needs to be a habit.

Cajun Shrimp Tacos with Spicy Tomatillo Dressing

These shrimp tacos have become a staple in my kitchen. Most of the time spent preparing them is just in chopping the veggies. If you've got those ready to go, this is a really fast meal. I buy frozen shrimp and then thaw them under cold water for 15 minutes prior to cooking, if you think ahead it is better to thaw them in the refrigerator the day before. Either way, if you are using frozen shrimp, make sure they are full thawed before cooking. Shrimp cook REALLY fast, and they continue cooking even after you take them off the heat. Therefore, make sure to keep a good eye on them, and only cook them for about 60 seconds on each side. Any longer and they will be tough and chewy. I like my shrimp tacos on flour tortillas (I buy the Tortilla Land's uncooked flour tortillas, which makes these tacos taste even more fresh) but corn is also good if you are looking to go gluten free.

Pico de Gallo

Pico de Gallo is basically a fresh salsa. There are a lot of variations on it, so you can use the ingredients that you like, and leave out the ones you don't. Depending on what I am making, I will usually make my Pico without any peppers, but if you want it a little more spicy, add some Anaheim peppers that are finely diced.

Ingredients:

• 2 large Tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 Red Onion, diced
• 1/4 cup Cilantro, diced
• 1/2 tsp Garlic Salt
• 1 tsp Lime Juice

Cooking Directions:

1. Stir all ingredients together, serve with chips or on top of any dish of your choice.

Spicy Tomatillo Dressing

This dressing is a copy-cat recipe from Cafe Rio, from a wonderful site called "Favorite Family Recipes" which has a bunch of amazing recipes to try. My dad LOVES their copy-cat sweet pork, and he says he'll eat anything if it's covered in this dressing. I didn't do much to change this recipe, except for cutting the lime juice in half. Depending on the size of the lime, it comes off too sour if there is too much lime juice. NOTE: if you are halving the recipe, it also works well to substitute 3/4 cup of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing for the mix, mayonnaise, and buttermilk. (When substituting I especially like to taste my dressing before completion to make sure the balance is right, sometimes more cilantro is needed or more garlic etc.)

Chayote Squash

Quick Facts:

• In the same family as cucumber, melons, and other squash.
• All areas of the fruit are edible, including the tendrils, roots, seeds and leaves.
• Good source of Vitamin C (about 17% Daily Value)
• Serving size: 1/2 Chayote Squash
• Calories: Approx. 20/serving
• Chayote Squash Season: December - April 
• How to eat it: Eat as you would a summer squash or cucumber.

Grapefruit

Quick Facts:

• Named after the way it grows in grape-like clusters on trees. (Check it out here)
• 5 different types of grapefruit
• High in Vitamin A (<----click for more info)
• High in Vitamin C
• Serving size: 1/2 grapefruit
• Calories: Approx. 60/serving (varies with size)
• Grapefruit Season: January - June
• How to eat it: raw or broiled.

I am a BIG fan of grapefruit. My husband doesn't care for it one bit, so I don't buy it as often as I'd like (I'd rather spend the money on things we both enjoy), but when I do, I get to have it all to myself and it's a real treat. It's true that grapefruit takes some work to eat, but that almost makes me like it more.