Avocado Corn Salad

Because let's face it, avocado makes everything better!

This is a quick and easy salad that's perfect for outdoor functions because there is no mayo.  It's light and delicious with a good dose of protein.

For good measure, I roasted the corn.  It made the corn a bit sweeter and deeper in flavor and really added to the flavor of the salad.

Corn and Avocado Salad

2 cans of corn, drained + salt and pepper
29 oz. can of black beans, rinsed and drained
4 basil leaves, torn
1 tsp. olive oil
1 avocado, diced
3/4 cup crumbled goat cheese
Juice of one lime
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Preheat oven to 400.  Spread corn in single layer on large baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Roast for 9 minutes, toss, and then roast for about 9 more minutes (keep and eye so it doesn't burn).    Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

Once corn in cool, combine corn, black beans, avocado, goat cheese, basil, and salt and pepper in large bowl.  Add olive oil and toss to combine.    Finish off with the fresh lime juice, salt and pepper.  May be served at room temperature or cold!

Blog Bites: Maple Bacon Breakfast Muffins

Ah, football.  Welcome back!  I'm a HUGE Jets fan, and had some tickets to the home opener with some friends.  I was looking for something fun and easy that wouldn't necessarily need to be heated up. 

When I saw these muffins on Mystery Lover's Kitchen, I knew these were the ticket.  On the blog, there is a from scratch version as well as a version using a pancake mix.  I used the one with the pancake mix and they were delicious!

I only made a couple of modifications to this recipe.  One is I made mini muffins.  I doubled the batter and it made about 32 mini muffins.  I also used maple flavored bacon to up the maple factor.

Maple Bacon Breakfast Muffins from Mystery Lover's Kitchen

Sunshine Smoothie

I am a big fan of the smoothie.  It's quick, easy, and when you make it at home and can control the ingredients, it's delicious.

I do have a small blender, but for this bad boy I used my Ninja because I had some whole fruits and wanted a really high quality blender to do the work.  As a word of warning, the smoothie itself wasn't completely smooth, but it was definitely enjoyable!

This smoothie is bright and citrusy and perfect for summer (or when you need a summer boost in the dead of winter!).

As a tip, whenever I use bananas in my smoothies, I use frozen ones.  It eliminates the need for ice and it makes the smoothie super thick and creamy!

Sunshine Smoothie

1 frozen banana
1/2 seedless orange, peeled and sectioned
1 cup chopped pineapple
1 small container 0% Greek yogurt
1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of choice)

Throw all the ingredients in blender and mix until smooth!

Chocolate Coconut Raspberry Overnight Oats

I am kind of sort of obsessed with overnight oats.  I absolutely love them for breakfast, but have also found they are a great make ahead lunch for the week!  And oats are pretty much a blank canvas, so you can really choose the flavors that work for you.

For me?  That's always chocolate.  And I had found these delicious raspberries at the store and so the wheels started spinning.

You can make these the night before or a couple of nights before and either way?  Delicious!

Chocolate Coconut Raspberry Overnight Oats

1/3 cup oats
1/3 cup 0% plain Greek yogurt
1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk (or milk of your choice)
1/2 tsp. coconut extract
2 1/2 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 packet Stevia or sweeter of choice
1/2 cup fresh raspberries

In a bowl, combine oats, yogurt, milk, extract, cocoa powder, and Stevia.

Spoon half of the oats mixture into a mason jar.  Layer half the raspberries.  Spoon the rest of the oat mixture and top with the rest of the raspberries.

Let sit overnight and enjoy!

Fabulous Find: Plenti Greek Yogurt

I am a huge Greek yogurt fan.  No lie.  But I like "stuff" in my yogurt.  Real fruit, seeds, granola, etc.  The yogurt on its own just isn't quite filling enough for me.

So I was intrigued when I saw this new find in the grocery store.

Greek yogurt?  Check.  Oats?  Check.  Flax?  Check. Pumpkin Seeds?  Yes please.

And bonus, no nuts!  I, for one am not a fan (love the flavor, cringe at the texture).

The label is pretty good too!

Now, I will warn you.  If you expect crunch, forget it.  The oats and seeds have been in the yogurt so it's not at all crunchy.  However, if you are looking for a filling snack with a chewy texture and full of goodness?  This is for you!

I have had the black cherry and blueberry flavors and both are wonderful!  I believe there is also vanilla and strawberry as well!

Definitely keep an eye out for it!

Fabulous Find: Quest Protein Bars

There are so many protein bars out there at this point.  It's really hard to choose!

Add in that I'm not a fan of nuts (I love peanut butter but not actual peanuts, go figure), and my options in protein bars are severely limited.

Plus, I don't love some of the ingredients I'm finding in these bars.

That changed when I stumbled upon Quest bars in, of all places, 7-11. 

What I love most about these bars is that they don't taste "protein-y".  They actually taste like a candy bar!  And the ingredient list is far better than most I've seen. 

I haven't tried all of them, because some do have nuts, but some favorites are mint chocolate chunk (pictured above), S'mores, and cookies and cream.

They run about 170 calories a bar and are super filling.  One of my pre-gym favorites!

I've seen them sparingly, in 7-11 and in King's, but they are also available online!

For more information:  Quest Nutrition

Blog Bites: S'Mores Bars

 First of all, apologies for the lack of posts.  I recently moved and am getting ready to go on vacation, but I have lots of stuff coming up in mid-August!

Now back to the good stuff.

Who doesn't love a good S'More in the summer time?

These bars from Fabulously Frugal were easy, if a bit messy, to make.  I cheated a bit and just used pre-crushed graham cracker crumbs.  They were gooey and delicious and probably could be eaten with a fork to avoid getting marshmallow all over you!

S'Mores Cookie Bars from Fabulously Frugal