Quick Tip to Jump Start your Weight Loss

     I was visiting a local retail shop the other day and got into a discussion on weight loss with the lady working there.  When she asked how I lost my weight I told her the first thing I did was to stop drinking calories.  Her eyes kind of lit up!  She hadn't even thought of that, she said.  If you look at how many calories you drink in a day you can jump start your weight loss by cutting out the high calorie drinks.  It can really add up.  I lost between 10-15 pounds just by cutting out the drinks!

Wheat Free Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

Here is a classic favorite made without flour, if you can believe that.  I did everything in my food processor for this recipe.

What you need:

1/2 cup natural crunchy peanut butter (I love Kroger Brand......only two ingredients!)
1/2 cup unsalted real butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup egg whites (or 2 egg whites)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups whole oats (keep one cup separated, we'll use that first)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

How to make them:

Preheat oven to 375 F.  Using the multi-purpose blade, take the separated cup of whole oats and the 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder and put them in your food processor.  Turn it on until the oats look like flour.  Add butter, peanut butter, sugar, brown sugar, egg whites and vanilla to food processor and mix until everything looks creamy.  This should only take about a minute, if that.  Add the rest of the whole oats to the food processor.  Hold down the pulse for about 2 seconds, 10-12 times or until all the oats are mix into the batter.  Do not over mix.  Scoop out rounded teaspoonfuls of batter and place on ungreased cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart.  Bake 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on baking sheets for a minute or two and then finish cooling on a baking rack.  Make several batches and freeze the left overs (if there are any!) for a great healthy snack. 

Wheat Free Pumpkin Walnut Bread

I modified a typical zucchini bread recipe and then mixed everything, once again, in my blender.  I had to help my blender along a little bit with a spoon, but I was still able to get everything mixed good (and I have a really cheap blender!).  I also used a food processor to turn my whole oats into an oat flour so that I didn't have to use wheat flour since I am sensitive to it.

What you need:

1 cup of egg whites
1 cup of sugar
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
2 cups of canned pumpkin
2 cups of whole oats ground into flour (in food processor)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

How to make it:

Preheat oven to 325 F.  Grease two 4x8-inch loaf pans.  Beat eggs, sugar, and vanilla in blender until foamy.  Add pumpkin to egg mixture and blend until mixed.  Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl first and then gradually add them to the blender.  This is where you may need to help your blender along in order to get it all mixed good (but don't stick your spoon in to far or you will hit your blades and dull them).  Once everything is mixed well, add your walnuts and mix on your blender's lowest setting or you will turn your walnuts into mush.  Split batter between your two greased pans and bake for 1 hour or until done.  These will be very moist, heavy loaves because of the egg whites and a tooth pick inserted may not come out clean even when the loaves are done baking.  This is a great alternative to regular bread if you have a wheat sensitivity.  You can easily substitute 2 cups of zucchini or 2 cups of mashed bananas to make your favorite breads without the oil and wheat.  This is a very healthy recipe.  Enjoy!

Search Amazon.com for food processors and blenders

Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie Delight

Here is another super easy smoothie that can conquer the biggest chocolate craving.  Give it a try!!

What you need:

1 cup of chocolate Soy milk or your favorite chocolate milk
1 cup of  Raspberry yogurt (I use Kroger brand)
1 cup frozen raspberrys
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
A scoop of fat free cool whip (for topping, optional)

How to Make them:

Throw everything in the blender, turn it on high, and blend till smooth.  Pour it in a cup and top with cool whip for a great, healthy dessert that is sure to delight the chocolate lover.

Strawberry Vanilla Protein Smoothie

This one is super easy and very healthy.  Sometimes I take a small amount of the smoothie and freeze in it a bowl to eat later as frozen yogurt.

What you need:

1 cup of vanilla flavored Rice or Soy milk (you can use skim milk too)
1 cup of  Strawberry Vanilla yogurt (I use Kroger brand)
1 cup frozen strawberrys
1 scoop vanilla protein powder

How to Make them:

Throw everything in the blender, turn it on high, and blend till smooth.  Pour it in a cup or to-go mug and you have a great healthy snack or meal that is very filling because of all the protein.

Wheat Free Healthy Blender Pancakes

This is one of my favorites.  These are not your typical pancakes so don't expect light and fluffy!  These will be heavier then you are used to because of the egg whites but my kids love them, even without butter or syrup and I make them almost every day.

What you need:

1 cup egg whites
1 cup natural peach yogurt
2 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)


How to make them:

Put all ingredients in the blender and turn it on high. Blend until you have a nice looking batter. I turn my blender on liquefy. If the batter looks a little thick I add just a little milk so that it will blend better. Cook on an electric skillet or stove on medium low. I usually get 12-16 medium sized pancakes out of this batter.

Sometimes I will put a different flavor of yogurt in or even cut up a banana or apple. I have also added vanilla protein powder to these for the extra protein. They taste great and you can make a bunch and freeze them for snacks. Enjoy!