Healthier Peanut Butter Cookies!

UPDATE:  I used 1/2 cup brown sugar instead of the white, and loved them even better, if that's possible!  If you don't want to use any artificial sweetners, you could use 1 cup of either brown or white sugar.  Another yummy addition is dark chocolate chips!  At least with 60% cacao.

Oh my, what a Monday I've had!  It has been the  MOTHER of all Mondays!  

So, I treated myself to some peanut butter cookies!

Not just any peanut butter cookies, but a bit more figure friendly peanut butter cookies.

I have finished my Advocare 24 day challenge, and feel amazing! I have lost a total of 13 lbs. and 6 inches total from all over. 

So as not to sabbatoge myself on my not so good days when I need a little comfort from....food.  I know, still working on that.  But hey, making changes a litttle bit at a time.

Here is my recipe which I'm still tweaking to lessen the sugar, but it's still pretty good.

Healthier Peanut Butter Cookies

• 1 cup Peanut Butter ( I used Smucker's Natural PB, Creamy)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup stevia
• 1 egg (lightly beaten)
• 1 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Mix peanut butter and sugars in a bowl until blended. 

Add the egg and baking soda and stir until combined.

Use a cookie scoop to make all cookies same size.  Make sure to squish (that's my technical term for the day) them down with a fork, and make a cute little criss-cross pattern.

Bake for 10 min. Makes about 28 cookies.

Each cookie is about 73.5 calories.  Not bad right?

Did you notice that there's no flour?!  It's not a typo......

These cookies are high in protein and low in calories.

My kids even love these and haven't missed the old version.

Enjoy,

Aimee



Healthy Recipes

I'm trying to lose weight not only for my health, but before the dreaded bathing suit season.....YIKES!!!

My brother and his wife are advisors and distributors for a company called, ADVOCARE.  I love this program....you're not starving yourself (those diets are doomed to fail), their products are natural, and nutrient rich.

Well, I just got done with the first week, which is the cleanse week.  I never felt hungry or deprived!  Needless to say, I'm loving my results!  I'm down 5 lbs, 2-1/2 inches around the waist, 1-1/2 inches around the hips!

They are big encouragers of losing weight the right way.....real food, vitamin enriched protein shakes, and supplements. Foods that are less processed (not easy). Exercise is recommended, which I'm starting this weekend. Adovocare is basically a springboard for a healthier lifestyle.

Anyway, I wanted to share a few food ideas that are healthy and a great way to help you lose weight....the right way.

Chicken Berry Salad

• 4 oz. chicken diced, cooked,  and seasoned with rosemary, basil, and sea salt
• organic 1/2 & 1/2 salad (spinach & spring mix) I use Wal-Mart's Marketside brand
• Fresh Strawberries (cut into bite sized pieces)
• Fresh Blackberries
• 2 TBSP Light Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

Salmon and Roasted Asparagus with Cherry Tomatoes

• Wild caught Salmon, 
• 1 bunch fresh Asparagus
• olive oil
• sea salt & pepper
• Grape Tomatoes
• Mrs. Dash's (Salt-Free) Tomato, Basil, Garlic seasoning

Very lightly, coat salmon with olive oil, (use a pastry brush).

Season salmon with Mrs. Dash and bake on a baking sheet or glass pan, in a pre-heated 400 deg. oven for 12-15 min .
Rinse asparagus and dry it well. 

 Break or cut off bottom ends.

Drizzle 1 tsp. olive oil over asparagus and sprinkle with salt & pepper to taste.

Cut grape tomatoes in half (length-ways) and combine with asparagus.

Mix the asparagus with your hands to evenly distribute all ingredients.

Place on a baking sheet in a single layer, and roast on top rack of oven at 400 deg. for 15 min.

I usually serve this with organic brown rice, or you could roast some red potatoes too!

I'm experimenting with quinoa, so stay tuned!



Here's to a long and healthy life!
Aimee