Breakfast Pizza

 Happy FriYAY! 

Looking for a fun brunch item for the weekend? This breakfast/dessert pizza doesn’t disappoint! 

KETO FRUIT PIZZA 

CRUST::
•1 1/2 c Almond Flour
•2 TBS Sweetener
•1 stick Melted Butter
• Dash of Vanilla Extract

FROSTING::
•Full block of softened Cream Cheese
•2 TBS Heavy Whipping Cream
•2 TBS Almond Milk
•1/4 c Sweetener of choice
• 1 TSP Vanilla Extract

• Epicure Summer Berry seasoning (optional)

TOPPINGS: 
•Blueberries
•Strawberries (quartered)
•Raspberries 
•Blackberries
DIRECTIONS:
• Preheat Oven to 350F
• Combine all CRUST ingredients well
• Bake for 6-7 minutes
• Let cool, begin mixing all FROSTING ingredients
• Spread frosting on top of cooked crust
• Top with berries of your choice
ENJOY!!!

Bon Appetite  

Margaret
Live, Laugh, Love 
Be Totallyawake4-life 

Fathead Dough Pizza

 Nom nom - tonight we are having a fan favourite grain free / keto pizza crust recipe!

What you need:

12 oz shredded mozzarella cheese - melted until gooey quickly mix in following:

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp xanthum gum

2/3 cup coconut flour

2 eggs 

Mix together and roll out evenly onto non stick silicone baking tray - I used some parchment paper over top to prevent my rolling pin from sticking to the crust.

I also added some Epicure Pizza seasoning sprinkled on top! Than bake at 350F for 15-20 minutes!

Then take out and add sauce and toppings and bake again for another 10-15 minutes or so to heat those up! 

Take out of oven when cheese is bubbly and cut into desired slice sizes!

The crust was AWESOME and loved being able to pick it up eat like a normal pizza without it being a floppy disc where the toppings all slide off! Definitely my new favourite! 

Bon Appetite

Margaret

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life

Low Carb Perfect Portions Banana Bread

Baking in the kitchen today to use up some ripe bananas - gluten free banana and dark chocolate chip perfect portion petites ... each one has 60 calories, 6 carbs, 2 fat and 7.4 protein - nice little breakfast on the go for Paul and I and snacks for the kids - ended up with 60 of them for the freezer so we should be good to go for a while 🤣 

I doubled the recipe that come on the gluten free flour bag as I had 6 over ripe bananas to use up and I used egg replacer cause I have a little one with an egg allergy and I used Stevia in lieu of sugar cause Paul needs low carb now with his diabetes. Also added 2 tsp of Epicure Apple pie seasoning cause I like a little extra flavour kick with my banana bread! 

Happy Baking!

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

Day 24 Epic Life recap

Breakfast Apple nachos with chocolate truffle yogurt ... this is a fan favorite snack for the children too! 

Lunch grilled cheese with cold veggies and dip ... cravings for carbs really getting the best of me the past week or so! Trying hard to maintain portion control to remain on plan.

Dinner Pesto chicken for dinner ... not shown protein bar and grapes after the gym.

Move more challenge plus 60 minutes in the pool at the gym

Have an Epic Day

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

Avoiding Picky Eaters

Love this awesome visual for kids!

The news tonight was discussing the important of labeling food benefits for children specially when introducing new food. Helping them learn to make the connect that food isn’t just about eating what we “like” but about eating what our body needs to be nourished! 

Focusing on benefits that are not only accurate but are goals that children would be motivated to achieve - protein helps to build strong muscles so you can jump and climb, veggies give you energy so that you can run faster and grow taller and so forth ... young children really want to be big and strong motivating them to make connection that healthy eating is KEY to doing that!

Another trick I use with children is that your “taste buds” are just like everything else in your body - they grow bigger every day so while your taste buds might not have been big enough to appreciate broccoli (or whatever new food your trying to palette) today they might be bigger so it’s important to keep trying to see if your taste buds are big enough yet. Again children CRAVE being seen as “big enough” so using words and presentation of food in a way that motivates them to want to try verses trying to battle or barter or bribe them to get them to try! Intrinsic motivation is the BEST route to life long healthy eating! 

Have an amazing day

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

Cocoa Bliss Bars

Found this share from an Epicure consultant named Denise Byrne in the Epic Life group and wanted to share and this is the easiest way for me as the group is a closed group cannot share posts from it.

What You Need

• 1 cup each of dates and walnuts
• 1/4 cup cocoa
• 1/4 cup hemp hearts
• 1/4 cup coconut
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Maybe a Tbsp of avocado oil
• 1 tablespoon Cocoa crunch and Chocolate Truffle

What You Do

• Processed it all in the food processor
  You can soak the dates in some boiling water for a few minutes too.
• Press into the perfect petite pan or roll into balls. 

Makes 18 bars each bar is 98 calories. 9 grams of Fat 2 mg sodium 3 g carbs 1 g dietary fibre and 2 grams protien 

If you wanted to double your protien without affecting the calories too much add 2 scoops of Vital Protein Collagen peptide powder than the break down would be 102 calories, 9 grams of fat, 8 mg sodium, 3 g cars, 1 gram fibre and 4 grams of protien per bar. 

These are awesome for snacks on the go and much healthier than other bars!

If you need a little bit of 'sweetener' add in some honey but the dates are sweet on their own! 

Have an amazing day! 


Margaret
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
Be Totallyawake4-life

Getting Creative with Cravings

When you’re craving Haagan Dazs for breakfast but that’s not on plan Torani sugar free syrups to the rescue!

What You Need

2 cups spinach 

1 cup plain Greek yogurt or scoop protein powder or half serving each

2-3 slices of frozen beets

1 Oz Torani Sugar Free White Chocolate syrup 

1 Oz Torani Sugar Free Raspberry syrup 

What You Do

Place all ingredients into your blender
Blend until smooth.

Add Cold water as needed to consistency you like.

Perfect knock off with just on 100 calories and packed with protein and low carb and you can balance your plate with slice of toast with a healthy fat and piece of fruit!

Have a great day!

Margaret 

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

Non Traditional Pizza yay or nay?

I am typically not one to mess with my traditional pizza - however lately have been trying to increase my palette and add variety to meals while still only having to 'cook once' with the more picky eaters in the house - so doing a 'build your own pizza night' and allowing them to stick to their traditional toppings and me to venture out will help to keep everyone happy! I am the first to admit that I eat with my EYES if something looks fun and appetizing to my eyes I am more inclined to try it. So when the lovely Leanne Cole from my Epic Life Challenge just shared this photo my eyes went WOW that looks delicious and now I just HAVE to try this recipe for Garden Ranch Pizza.

 What You Need

• 1 recipe prepared Creamy Ranch Dip - I am going to use Epicures  
• 1 (12”) prepared thin gluten free pizza crust or whole wheat no red sauce 
• 2 cups of fresh veggies (I would likely do sweet peppers, spinach, cherry tomatoes, grated carrots maybe some broccoli tiny)
• 3/4 C partly-skimmed mozzarella cheese, grated
• 1/4 C 3 Onion Dip Mix seasoning - just the dry not prepared
• 1/4 C parmesan cheese, grated

 What You Do

• Preheat oven to 425° F (220° C).
• Spread Creamy Ranch Dip on pizza shell.
• Add vegetables and top with mozzarella, 3 Onion Dip Mix and Parmesan.
• Bake for approximately 10–15 minutes, or until shell is golden-brown and cheese is melted.

Approximate nutritional info for 2 slices on a whole wheat pizza crust using greek yogurt to make the ranch dip - nutritional info will vary depending on the crust you use and veggie toppings and ranch dip of choice. 

Perfectly balance your plate by enjoying 2 slices of pizza with a side salad and vinaigrette dressing or veggies sticks and shown.

Nom nom nom!

So how about you are you one to venture out and trying alternative 'pizza toppings' or are you your tried and true red sauce and pepperoni and cheese toppings?

What is your favorite pizza?

Drop me a comment.

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

Protien Power Petite Bars

As you know by now if you follow my blog Breakfast is so not my forte - I am typically not hungry when I first wake up and will often skip breakfast as a result. To help with ensuring I start my day off right and keep my blood sugars balanced throughout and avoid those lows that lead to me making poor choices later in the day I have taken to prepping 'easy breakfast' options lately! 

This Protein Power petites recipe is one of the ones from the Epic Life challenge this past September and I am in love with it!  You can batch cook this recipe because they freeze amazingly well and just defrost in the microwave for a tasty quick breakfast option! 

If you are doing the 'balanced plate' eating you can either have 6 bars on the go or you can balance 3 bars with a cup of plain Greek yogurt flavored with an Epicure Sweet Dip and some berries and a healthy fat choice of nuts or seeds sprinkled on top! 

   

What You Need:

• 2 C  quick oats or gluten-free oats
• 2 scoops Protein powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp  Cinnamon, or Chai Spice
• 1/2 C egg whites
• 3/4 C  unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 C 2% plain Greek yogurt
• 2 Tbsp Epicure Cocoa Crunch or Tutti Fruity Whole Food Sprinkle 

What You Do

1. Preheat oven to 350° F (180° C).
2. Place oats in a food processor and blend to the consistency of flour.
3. In a medium bowl, mix oat flour with remaining dry ingredients.
4. Whisk egg whites with remaining wet ingredients. Fold wet and dry mixes together.
5. Stir in whole food sprinkle.
6. Divide batter by heaping tablespoonful among petites or small muffin mold and bake 12–15 minutes. When cool to the touch, flip mold onto rack and twist to pop out petites.

You can easily tweak this recipe by adding in different flavor combos - I sometimes add a wee bit of pineapple puree and than change out the Cocoa Crunch or Tutti Fruity for Coconut Lime sweet dip and add shredded coconut. You can add other dried fruit like Craisins and change the Cinnamon or Chai to a pumpkin pie spice combo - options are endless depending on what you are craving!

While you can make this in any muffin mold I think the petite bar pan from Epicure is amazing and a must have purchase if you do not have one  - I love it for perfect portioned brownies and cheesecakes as well cause it allows for that sweet tooth fix without a huge serving temptation. I can freeze them and pull out just one for those days I just need a little something something!!!

Have a great day

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

Powerhouse Waffles YES PLEASE!

I love a nice 'brunch' on a Sunday morning -  there is something about the weekend and being able to have the time for a nice big breakfast as it often needs to to tied me over until dinner time cause life gets busy on weekends and lunch often slips past on me. So these protien packed Powerhouse Waffles are JUST the thing!

If you have not already caught on to the awesomeness that is Greek Yogurt I highly recommend trying it out - unlike traditionally made yogurts Greek Yogurt is packed high with protien and if you choose the plain it is very low sugar/carbs which makes it a nice powerhouse option when balancing your plate! I use it as both a yogurt AND as a lower calorie sour cream replacement in my recipes - it is perfect. For a yogurt option it  does need to have a little flavor added to it otherwise it definitely tastes more like sour cream than yogurt we are used to!

My favorite brand is the Oikos Triple Zero because it has on added sugar, fat or preservatives so is a nice clean option and it is one that does not seem to aggravate my psoriasis since it is a 'dairy' product.

Ingredients 

• 2 1/2 cups of quick oats or gluten-free oats
• 2 scoops of protien powder of choice - I like either Wegmans brand Protein powder or from Amazon Collagen Peptides 
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon 
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2/3 cup of egg whites
• 2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 Tbsp honey
• 2 tsp  vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425° F (220° C). Place a lightly oiled Waffle Mold on a sheet pan - I love my waffle mould it is so quick and easy to make many waffles all at once - I got it  from Epicure
2. Place oats in a food processor and blend to the consistency of flour - I love my Blendtec blender for quickly turning oats or almond or cocount into flour for me!
3. Add to bowl and combine with protein blend, cinnamon, and baking powder.
4. Mix wet ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix with dry ingredients until just combined.  
5. Pour approximately 1/3 cup of batter into each mold, filling all corners. I gently bang the waffle mold on the pan to help flatten evenly over the mold.
6. Bake 12–15 minutes, or until golden. 
7. When cool to the touch, flip mold over a platter and gently remove waffles. 
8. Repeat steps 5–7 with remaining batter.

These Powerhouse waffles freeze AMAZINGLY! I love to batch cook them and than freeze 2 at a time in Ziploc baggies and can quickly pull out from freezer pop into the toaster and toast them up for quick breakfast during the week too! 

You can serve them with traditional maple syrup and whipped cream and icing sugar for that true 'Sunday Brunch waffle treat' but now that I am clean eating I prefer to opt for even healthier low calorie choices  - so I forgo the maple syrup and whip cream and love to serve mine with an Epicure Sweet Dip  and Plain Greek Yogurt mix and fresh berries!
 

In this photo I have made up a Chocolate Truffle Sweet Dip and topped with Cocoa Crunch Whole Food Topper and than a half a cup of strawberries and blueberries. The chocolate truffle sweet dip is awesome as it is sweetened with natural sugars and gives the meal a 'chocolate whipped cream' flare! The Epicure Whole Food topppers are a great addition as they add 2 g fibre per serving & omega-3 fatty acids so great to add breakfast & desserts for that little pop of nutritional boost.

For those who like a breakdown of calories and macros for a balanced breakfast

If you get a chance to try a recipe please leave me a comment on the blog with your own review! 

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

UTSPÄDD Popsicle molds ROCK!

Image source IKEA

OK as an early childhood educator for over 25 years I can honestly say I have tried all sorts of homemade Popsicle options over the years with my crew but the UTSPÄDD from IKEA Catalogue is by far my favorite now! 

Image source IKEA

Silk Almond Milk Popsicle's!

Easy to fill - once filled with liquid the cap does not LEAK so you can easily toss in the freezer without worry AND I love that while eating because it is a 'tube' vs 'stick' mold it does not drip all over as it melts so unless your toddler decides to purposefully tip it over and watch his melted portion spill - its virtually mess free! 

Plus homemade allows you to control ingredients - they were just the Silk Almond Milk - Dark Chocolate poured into the molds and frozen and oh so creamy and tasty! 

Get them at your local IKEA! 

Have an amazing day!

Margaret
 Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
Be Totallyawake4-life

Grain Free Crescent Rolls

We are celebrating a little mans 3rd birthday today - and he requested 'goat cheese pop tarts' is what he calls them but in reality they are a version of grain free stuffed crescent rolls that we adapted to meet his dietary needs! 

 We love these because they are awesome warm out of the oven in the winter months but also just as tasty cold for picnic lunches! 

Grain Free Crescent Rolls

What You Need: Adapted from here

• 2 tablespoon flax seed 
• 1 packet Active Dry Yeast
• 1 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
• 3/4 cup Unsweetened Applesauce
• 4 Large Egg Whites 
• 1 Large Organic Egg Yolk
• 1 tablespoon Ghee or Dairy Free Butter Alternative 
• 2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 2 teaspoon liquid stevia 
• 2 cups of Soy flour  - plus some extra for rolling
• 3/4 cup coconut palm sugar
• 2 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1/2 generous cup of Coconut flour
• 1 tablespoon Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk

What You Do:

• In a small bowl, whisk together the flax seed and yeast.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the almond milk, applesauce, egg whites and extracts. Dump the flax seed/yeast mix on top and quickly whisk together.
• In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the 2 cups of soy flour, the coconut palm sugar , baking powder and salt. Dump the dry over the wet and fold together with a rubber spatula.
• Shape the sticky dough into a ball and cover with plastic wrap. Place the bowl in a warm area for 1 hour + 20 minute.
• Measure out your coconut flour. Take about 2 tablespoons out and dust it over the slightly risen dough. Gently fold the mixture until it absorbs the coconut flour, then dust another 2 tablespoon over the dough and fold in again Continue to do this until all the coconut flour is mixed into the dough. Then knead the dough into a ball.
• Using a cutting board or other smooth flat work surface (this is an awesome option) dust with about 2 tablespoons of of soy flour, place the dough on top, then dust again with same amount of soy flour. Roll the dough into a rectangle, then use a pizza cutter to slice the rectangle into 12 tall triangles.
• Line a large cookie sheets parchment paper and set aside.
• Create the crescents by rolling the dough triangle, starting from the widest end and rolling to the triangle point. 
• Cover the cookie sheet with plastic wrap and place in a warm area for 1 hour 
• In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and almond milk.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Brush the crescents with the egg wash and bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. 
• Let crescents cool on the pan. Serve warm!

Bakers Addiitonal Notes:

For a savory version: Stuff with heaping teaspoon of Chevre goat cheese and a raspberry jam and roll up and apply the egg wash as normal.

For a Kids will Love you forever: Stuff with a couple slices of pepperoni and shredded cheese and roll up. Sprinkle some  pizza seasoning on top of the egg wash. Serve with a side of marinara sauce 

 

For the Chocolate Lover: Add 2 teaspoon of Enjoy Life chocolate chips to each crescent as you roll them up. Apple the Egg Wash and than sprinkle some chocolate topper onto them.

For an Apple Pie Version: Dice a Granny Smith apple and marinate in 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 3 tablespoons coconut sugar and 2 teaspoons Apple Pie spice. When the apples are soft, add a spoonful to each crescent as you roll them up. Apple the Egg Wash and sprinkle with a wee bit more Apple pie spice!

 Have an amazing day!

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

Elf on the Shelf Pancake Portraits

These are an awesome treat for either breakfast or lunch or a balanced snack leading up to the holiday or for Christmas morning ~ a gift left behind by your Elf before heading back to the North Pole ... we make them using our Grain Free pancakes ~ recipe can be found here. 

Elf Pancake Plate

What You Need

•  Pancakes
• Breakfast sausages or bacon would work too
• Raspberries or Strawberries
• Cucumber slices

What You Do

• Cook sausage until well cooked through and set on paper towel to drain excess grease
• Prepare your pancakes
• Slice cucumbers and cut in half
• Arrange food on the plate to resemble an elf and present to children!

Have an amazing day!

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

Melting Snowman Sugar Cookies

 

 

Melting Snowman Sugar Cookies 

Makes about a dozen cookies

 

What You Need for Cookie Base

• ¼ cup butter or ghee
• ½ cup coconut palm sugar
• 1 large egg
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
  
• ½ cup coconut flour  
• 1-2 tbsp tapioca flour/starch 

 What You Need for Snowman

• Marshmallows
• Fuzzy Peach for nose or other 'orange' candy
• Pretzels ~ we used gluten free 
• Black food coloring or gel for eyes
• Frosting ~ we like Dairy Free Buttercream

 

What You Do

• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• In a medium mixing bowl add the butter, coconut palm sugar, egg, baking powder vanilla extract and blend with a handheld blender for 2 minutes on medium speed.
• Add coconut flour and blend until combined.
• Allow the dough to sit for 5 minutes.
• After 5 minutes add 1 tbsp of tapioca flour and knead dough until firm. If it is sticky or not firm, add another tbsp of tapioca flour.
• Dust a surface with tapioca flour and roll out to desired thickness
• Use cookie cutters and cut desired shapes and place on cookie sheet and bake for 8 minutes. We just did round for the bottom of the snowman but you can make any shape you want!
• Allow to cool before frosting.

 The kids just love these fun whimsical little snowman treats!

Have an amazing day!


Margaret
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
Be Totallyawake4-life