Paleo Pumpkin Soup

Perfect for a cool, fall day :)

Ingredients:

4T coconut oil

3 (large) garlic cloves, minced 

2 cups chicken broth

2 1/2 cups canned puréed pumpkin (not pie filler)

1 can (13.5oz) light coconut milk

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Sea salt & black pepper to taste

Method:

Melt coconut oil in large sauce pan. Add garlic until just browned, then add chicken broth. Once boiling, add pumpkin, coconut milk, and spices. Stir well, lower heat to medium-low & let cook for another 10 minutes. 

Pour into individual bowls, top with an extra sprinkling of pepper, and serve!

Makes 4 servings; 225 calories each :) 

Homemade Granola

Granola seemed easy enough to make myself, so I threw a bunch of stuff together, and, I was right! Came out delicious :)

Ingredients:

1 cup old fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup shredded coconut

1/2 cup coconut oil, melted

1/4 cup flax seeds

2 T honey

2 T maple syrup 

Method:

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients in medium mixing bowl & spread on baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Bake for 20-25 minutes, tossing & re-flattening a couple of times. Let cool & voila! 

Great mixed with yogurt or to simply eat as a snack :) 

Spiced Pumpkin Seeds

Ingredients:

Fresh seeds from 1 pumpkin; pulp removed

Olive oil

Ground cumin

Paprika

Garlic salt

Sea salt

Method:

Rinse & dry seeds. Place in small mixing bowl & drizzle with olive oil. Give a generous sprinkling of ground cumin, then add sprinklings of other spices & salt. Mix well, and place on aluminum foil lined baking sheet. Bake (in toaster oven) on 325 for about 20 minutes. 

Let cool & enjoy :)

Chocolate Coconut Cookies with Sunflower Seeds

Ingredients:

2 eggs

2/3 cups unsweetened natural applesauce

3/4 cups shredded coconut

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 

1 cup raw sunflower seeds 

1 scoop vanilla protein powder 

Method:

Whisk egg & apple sauce together until well combined. Add other ingredients and mix. Drop round scoops onto parchment paper lined cookie sheet, flatten with palm. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes - makes about 12 cookies.

105 calories each :) 

Sweet Tooth Lunch

An easy & sweetly delicious lunch

Ingredients:

4oz chicken breast

1 medium sweet potato

1 tablespoon coconut oil

Sprinkling of cinnamon

Method:

Wash & bake sweet potato in microwave (7-9 minutes depending on size). Boil chicken until just cooked through. Mash sweet potato with fork until texture is whipped-like. Once chicken is cooked, cut into small chunks. Combine sweet potato, chicken & coconut oil until mixed. Mix in cinnamon to taste & voila! Does the trick for the ol' sweet tooth - protein & carbs keep you full too! 

385 calories

Pumpkin Spiced Oatmeal

Ingredients:

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

3/4 cup almond milk

1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder

1 teaspoon (heaping) cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 

Few pinches of ground ginger

Place ingredients in microwaveable bowl, heat for about 2 minutes, stir & serve :)

300 calories

18 grams protein!

Protein Date Balls

Yes, mildly inappropriate name. Oh well, it's what they are :)

Ingredients:

14 pitted dates

2 tablespoons sunbutter (or nut butter of choice)

2 tablespoons of flaxseeds

2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted 

1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I used Raw Protein by Garden of Life) 

Method:

Let dates soak in hot water for about 10 minutes. Drain water & mash with fork. 

Once dates are a paste-like texture, add other ingredients one by one, mixing well. 

Roll into balls, about the size of golf balls. 

Keep refrigerated & enjoy!

108 calories each