Skinny Vanilla Mocha Frappe

I received a Magic Bullet this past Christmas. My original intention with it was breakfast smoothies, very simple. I never realized the wonders that the Magic Bullet would bring into my life! It comes with a little book of recipes – salsa, hummus, baby food, scrambled eggs, soups galore, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese … this list could go on and on. This past Sunday I wasn’t ready to move into the food category, but I thought it was the perfect day to test the waters with a recipe I found (where else?) on Pinterest. It’s basically a homemade version of my beloved Starbucks® Mocha Frappuccino® Light. Brilliant! It was a great afternoon treat: delicious, refreshing and relatively easy to make. I think it will be my go to treat this summer, making the coffee pre-beach and enjoying the frappe post-beach. Enjoy!!

Skinny Vanilla Mocha Frappe

Original recipe: Peanut Butter & Peppers

Ingredients:

• 1 heaping teaspoon instant coffee – I used regular coffee, see Notes below
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 cup skim milk
• 3 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 packet stevia or 1 tbsp. sugar (to taste)

Directions:

1. In a cup mix coffee and water and stir until combined. Place in a shallow container, cover and freeze for approximately 4 hours or overnight.
2. Once coffee is frozen, place in a blender with the milk, vanilla, stevia and cocoa powder. Blend until combined.

Notes:

• You do not need to use instant coffee, you can brew a strong cup of your favorite coffee and freeze it, just make sure it’s 1 1/2 cups.
• If coffee is to frozen for your blender to handle let it sit on the counter for a few minutes to thaw out.

Calories: 43.3, Fat: 0, Sodium: 65, Carbs: 7, Sugar: 6, Protein: 4.2

What’s your favorite afternoon snack? 
XO
Kate

Healthy Snacking

Congratulations! You officially made it through the 2012 festive feasting season. Studies show that the average American gains 1-2 pounds during the holiday season. And, those extra pounds tend to become permanent baggage. Yikes! Whether or not healthy eating, working out or weight loss was in your 2013 resolution, it’s time to get back on the horse.

Personally, one of the hardest parts of this time of year is going from constantly stuffing my face back to normal eating habits. I’m always hungry. My recommendation? Healthy snacks to help you through the day. Here’s one easy recipe idea, as well as 10 other snack ideas:

No Bake Energy Bites

Original recipe: thetwentysixthyear // Gimme Some Oven

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (dry) oatmeal (I used old-fashioned oats)
• 1 cup toasted coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup ground flaxseed
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Instructions: 

1. Stir all ingredients together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed.
2. Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.
3. Once chilled, roll into balls. Mine were about 1″ in diameter.
4. Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Makes 18 bites. Serving size is 1 bite, approximately 148 calories.

Substitution Options:

• Replace peanut butter with any nut butter (almond butter, sunflower seed butter, etc.)
• Replace chocolate chips with chopped dried fruit, dried berries, chopped almonds, pecans or sunflower seeds or any other chips (butterscotch, dark chocolate, etc)
• Do not replace the honey – it holds everything together!

Other healthy snacking ideas, listed as per serving:

1. Cherry tomatoes (9)
2. Cucumber slices (1/4 whole cucumber) + hummus (1/4 cup)
3. Tiny twist pretzels (18)
4. Baby carrots (3/4 to 1 cup)
5. Banana (1) .. alone or add peanut butter (2 Tbsp)
6. Quaker white cheddar rice cakes (2)
7. Apple (1) .. alone or add peanut butter (2 Tbsp)
8. Chobani greek yogurt (1 cup)
9. Edamame (1/2 cup)
10. Sugar free hot chocolate (1 packet) — perfect this time of year!!

Happy 2013!!
XO,
Kate

Bunny Bait

Bunny Bait (here and here) is completely holiday appropriate and addictive.  Plus the four-year old I nanny basically made this treat all on her own from breaking up the pretzels to pouring in the popcorn and M&M’s to stirring it all together to finally sprinkling on some fun pink sprinkles.  A kid friendly and kid approved Easter snack that can be made in less than ten minutes!  Doesn’t get much better than that!

Ingredients:

1 bag popcorn, popped
1 bag Easter M&M’s
pretzel sticks, broken up
8 oz white chocolate, melted
colorful sprinkles (optional)

Directions:

In a large bowl mix together popped popcorn, M&M’s, and pretzel sticks.  Melt the white chocolate in the microwave for one minute, stir till smooth, and drizzle over popcorn mixture.  Stir well making sure to get all the pretzels and M&M’s at the bottom of the bowl coated with white chocolate.  Spread the mixture on a long sheet of parchment or wax paper, sprinkle with colorful sprinkles (optional), and let cool.  To serve break cooled mixture into pieces and place in a bowl.

**Recipe Source:  Sing for Your Supper**