And cookies, cakes, breads… Make me desserts and yum yums and I’ll train even harder! It’s no shocker that I love to eat but not at the cost of my waistline anymore. These days there’s so many substitutes for sugar, flour and butter that it’s easy to make healthier meals, especially dessert! I don’t feel as guilty enjoying a tasty dessert when I know it’s Paleo, or the ingredients used are clean… in fact, I tend to eat more… hence the extra circuit-training and yoga-ing! I

This morning I planned a fun circuit training session for myself after yoga. You can literally do this one below anywhere and all you need is a jump rope!

At Home Circuit Workout 

-50 jumping jacks

-30 sec. jump rope

-20 alternating lunges

-30 sec. jump rope

-10 tuck jumps

-30 sec. jump rope

-20 squats

-30 sec. jump rope

-60 sec. high knees

-30 sec. jump rope

-10 jump squats

-30 sec. jump rope

-10 burpees

-30 sec. jump rope

-60 jumping jacks

-30 sec. jump rope

-20 sec. mountain climbers

-30 sec. jump rope

-60 sec. plank

-60 sec. side plank

-60 sec. forearm plank

-60 sec. side forearm plank

You’ll build up an appetite and when you’re through, you should reward yourself with some delicious Paleo Banana Pancakes made with only five ingredients! Easy peesy!

Let’s Pretend It’s the Weekend Banana Pancakes- makes 2 

Ingredients:

-2 eggs

-1 banana

-nutmeg

-cinnamon

-honey

Directions:

1. In a bowl, beat the eggs and add a dash of cinnamon, honey and nutmeg.

2. Peel your banana and mash it into the bowl until the texture becomes creamy.

3. Spray your pan and pour the pancakes on.

4. Cook on medium heat, flipping once.

5. Drizzle maple syrup or more honey on top if desired! At 130 calories a serving, you can’t go wrong!

I’ve gotten a lot of requests for Paleo brownies and this one that I’m sharing is one of my favorite recipes that I’ve created thus far. It’s clean, made with veggies and is light and airy instead of heavy and dense. I bring these to parties often and people always want the recipe, so I encourage you to share!

Zucchini and Carrot Paleo Scotch Brownies- makes 12

Ingredients:

-1 large zucchini

-4 large carrot sticks

-1 cup almond butter

-1 egg

-1/4 cup honey

-1 tsp vanilla

-1 tsp baking soda

-1 tsp cinnamon

-1 tsp nutmeg

-1/2 cup of butterscotch chips (I used Nestle Tollhouse)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350. Spray a 9×9 baking dish and set aside.

2. Chop the zucchini and carrots up finely and combine all the ingredients in a large bowl.

3. Add the chips last and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes up clean. Enjoy!

I had never heard of this term “Scotchie” until Tuesday when one of my students, Lori, brought me in some. These looked and smelled so good from the get-go that while the students were in shavasana, I snuck away to eat a couple! So good! Lori is one of the most dedicated and hard-working students that I have ever taught. Her smile is bright and she is strong, flexible and humble. Ya’ll know how much I like and admire those qualities and traits in people/students! I snapped this pic of her awhile back in Pindasana, it’s perfect form really.

Lori’s Oatmeal “Scotchie” Cookies- gluten free!

Ingredients:

-1 1/4 cups Bob Millls gluten free all purpose flour

-1 teaspoon baking soda

-1/2 teaspoon salt

-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

-1 cup C&H sugar blend with stevia

-3/4 cup packed brown sugar

-2 large eggs

-1 teaspoon vanilla extract or grated peel of 1 orange

-3 cups quick or old-fashioned oats

-1 2/3 cups (11-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Butterscotch Flavored Morsels-(Make sure gluten free, mine were, but some nestle products say made in factory that uses wheat)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375° F.

2. Combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in oats and morsels. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

3. Bake on parchment paper for 7 to 8 minutes for chewy cookies or 9 to 10 minutes for crisp cookies. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

I’m getting hungry just looking at all those pictures! Speaking of pictures, why is everyone so OBSESSED with Instagram? My friend Miranda calls it “EgoGram” and I couldn’t agree more! We had a long discussion yesterday where we decided to “unfollow” certain yoga girls on Instagram because they are killing the spirit of yoga! We could care less about seeing you half-clad in poses, never mind on how you do your hair, how rich/broke you are, how amazing you are in handstand blah, blah, blah.

I love Instagram for pictures. Pictures of friends I rarely see, of my brother who I miss dearly, of my cousins who all live in Rhode Island and of my students, showing their progress in certain poses. And randomness too. Not for abdominal shots, gun shows, and the stupid, overuse of hashtags. Where did the word “hashtag” even come from? My husband thinks all these social media network “thingies” are stupid and ridiculous and sometimes, I agree with him. But I’m not gonna stop taking pictures, especially of food. I post for you followers!

Speaking of Andy, when we meet in the midwest, he liked his meat and potatoes as much as the next guy, but with a veggie wife at home, he rarely saw the likes of that in our kitchen. Last night, I made him a “meat” and “potatoes” kind-of dish. He ate it all, so I’m guessing it was good, or maybe it’s because chef’s will eat whatever you give them, as long as they didn’t have to cook it!

Veggie “Meat”loaf and Cauliflower- Sweet Potato Mash- serves 2

Ingredients:

-1 lb lean ground turkey (I use the Trader Joes’s or Foster Farm brand and if you are vegetarian, substitute seitan, it’s just as good!)

-1 egg

-1 red onion

-1 head cauliflower

-1 sweet potato

-1/2 cup almond milk

-3 cloves garlic

-bell pepper or chili peppers (I used 2 of each)

-2 tomatoes

-3 T olive oil

-2 T balsamic vinegar

-celery salt

-salt and pepper

-fresh herbs

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375.

2. Chop up the veggies and garlic and add everything into a large bowl.

3. Mix the meat and veggies with your hands until everything is combined.

4. Place on sprayed cookie sheet or foil and bake for 35-45 minutes until golden brown. Enjoy with ketchup or your favorite condiment. This is a low calorie, healthy, and easy meal to prepare in less than 10 minutes.

For the Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Mash, cut them up in chunks and boil until soft. Place the cooked potato and cauliflower into your food processor, adding the almond milk as you pulse. Pulse for as long as you like; the longer the creamier!

 

And the finished product….

Andy is now not working nights, if only for a minute, and I’m enjoying cooking and eating dinner with him while it lasts! Normally we eat together on Sunday and Tuesday nights, so these extra meals are an added treat! Tonight I’m grilling up some butternut squash.. still thinking of what I’ll pair it with.. white wine for sure though!