Shredded Mexican Chicken in the crock pot

This is such a simple and delicious recipe.  I like to make a large batch on the weekend and eat it throughout the week.  By using the crock pot, you can make this recipe with very little work.

It is great to use for fajitas, nachos or taco salads. I can't wait to add some avocado and eat up!!

Shredded Mexican Chicken
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
14 oz. can of low sodium diced tomatoes
1/2 cup of salsa
cumin to taste, about 1 1/2 TBSP
Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle, about 2 tsp
pepper to taste
1/2 medium onion sliced
1/2 medium bell pepper sliced

Throw everything into your crock pot.  I use crock pot liners because I hate cleaning my crock pot.  Cook on high about 4 hours or low for about 6 hours.  I pull out the chicken and shred it with about an hour left to cook.  This way all the chicken really soaks up the flavors.

Strawberry cupcakes with fresh strawberries

Strawberry cupcakes are my weakness.  There is one of those fancy cupcake stores near my house that sells the most delicious strawberry cupcakes for only $3.99 each!!  Yikes.  I only treat myself occasionally since they are also full of sugar and fat.  I have really been craving one this week so I decided to make my own.

Here are the unfrosted cupcakes straight out of the oven. Nice pink color with no fake dyes!!

Strawberry Cupcakes
12 oz fresh strawberries or can use frozen unsweetened
1-2 tsp sugar

Cut the fresh strawberries into small pieces and sprinkle with sugar.  Let sit about one hour. Then puree in your blender. Makes about 1.5 cups of puree.

2 1/4 cups cake flour (lighter than regular flour but you can use regular all-purpose)
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup splenda or stevia substitute ( you will need less stevia maybe 1/2 cup)
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
6 TBSP butter at room temperature
1/4 cup Greek yogurt

3/4 cup strawberry puree
1/4 cup almond milk or regular milk
6 egg whites
2 tsp. vanilla

In a mixer, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, splenda and salt.  Add butter and Greek yogurt and mix until the mixture is course and crumbly.  In a separate bowl, mix puree, vanilla, milk, and egg whites.  Add the liquid to the dry mix and blend about 2 minutes.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Makes 20 cupcakes.

Each cupcake contains 123 calories, 3.3g fat, 20g carbs and 2.8g protein.

I used vanilla protein powder, Greek yogurt and more strawberry puree to make a healthy frosting!! Delish!!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Coconut Protein Granola Bars

Yes, a little bit of everything delicious!!  I used my regular granola bar recipe but was really craving chocolate and coconut.  I decided to modify the recipe and it turned out great!!

I ate another bar while I was getting everything ready for this post!! Hehe.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Coconut Protein Granola Bars
1 ripe banana, mashed (if you want to leave out the banana just used 4 more ounces of applesauce)
4 oz. unsweetened applesauce
3 TBSP honey
1 TBSP dark chocolate peanut butter (I use Peanut Butter & Co. If you don't have this, just add 1 tsp cocoa powder to regular PB.)
6 scoops vanilla protein powder
2 cups rolled oats
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup shredded coconut (I only had sweetened and really wanted the coconut, so I used it!)

Start by mashing the banana well.  Add the applesauce, honey and peanut butter and blend well. Add the protein powder and oats.  You can use more oats and less protein powder as you like or just use 4 cups of oats.  I wanted the added protein in mine.  The mixture will be sticky and a bit tough to mix but it will work.  If yours is too dry, add a little bit of water until it can be mixed well.  Then add chocolate chips and coconut and mix well.  You could also substitute nuts or dried fruit.  Whatever you like.  This was just what I was craving yesterday!! 

Press the mixture into a lightly greased 13x9 cake pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Makes 15 granola bars. Each has 144 calories, 3.4g fat, 18.3g carbs and 12.3g protein.  Delish!!

Blueberry Protein Oatmeal

I love oatmeal for breakfast!!  Sometimes I like to change things up when I get tired of the same old bowl of oatmeal.  This recipe can be changed up if you'd prefer to add other berries or nuts.  Sometimes I add mini chocolate chips and peanut butter to make it more of a dessert!!

Blueberry Protein Oatmeal
1/2 ripe banana mashed or 4 oz. unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup oats
2 egg whites
1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder
1/8 cup almond milk

Mix all of the ingredients together in a large mug or ramekin.  Fold in blueberries, nuts or chocolate chips.  The above picture has 1/4 cup fresh blueberries but I wanted more so maybe add 1/3 to 1/2 cup blueberries.  Microwave for 1.5 to 2 minutes until just set in the middle.

Serving without add-ins- 300 calories, 3.3g fat, 39g carbs and 29g protein.

My blueberries added 15 calories, 0.5g fat, 6g carbs and 0.5g protein.