Flippin' Out and Rainbow Beans & Rice

I crave red beans and rice all.the.time.

 

It could be 105 degrees outside and this girl still wants her some hot, hearty RBAR.

I recently made a big 'ole batch using my traditional recipe, but by adding a variety of bell peppers, a chopped tomato, corn, and spinach, it magically became rainbow RBAR.

 

Even better.

  Of course, with the other addition of my hunter/gatherer husband's venison sausage, this dish was total bliss.

 

I ate it on a bed of white rice then sprinkled on some Tabasco for a kick.

 

YUM.

Ok, let's switch gears and talk about the new Chobani Flips.

 

I saw these in the yogurt section the other day and this was pretty much me...

 

 

Delicious.

 

HAPPY FRIDAY! YOU ARE LOVED!!!

Nut Butter Candy & A New Puppy

Well, my family of 3 just became 4. 

Meet Oliver! 

He is a 3 week old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who has completely stolen our hearts.

I mean, can it get any cuter??? 

Seriously, though. Show me something cuter than this little man.

My heart skips a beat.

You are loved, Mr. Oliver.

Ok, now let's talk about something equally as important as puppies...peanut butter cups.

I am obsessed with anything Justin's and recently tried their milk chocolate peanut butter cups.

All I can say is adios, Reeses.

These.things.rock.

The ONLY downgrade is that you can not push out the middle and eat that first then eat the remaining peanut butter chocolate ring, like you can with a Reeses cup. 

You know you do this.

But Justin's peanut butter cups have 100% better texture, flavor, and ingredients than my once beloved Reeses, so they win with flying colors.

Nom.

When I purchased these incredible cups of heaven, I also purchased these guys...

Yep. 

Read it and weep with joy, my friends. 

IT'S A FREAKING JUSTIN'S SNICKERS.

My pants are totally tighter this week. 

Worth it :)

Happy Sunday! 

YOU ARE LOVED! 

Like, even more than I love my new puppy, which is crazy but true.

Have a great week!

Coffee.Donuts.Chicken.

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So let's talk about something.

 

I really love donuts. You know this.

 

I also really love coffee. Like...whoa love.

 

What you may not know is how much I love fried chicken.

 

I don't eat it everyday because I like wearing things other than stretchy pants, but man oh man do I crave salty, chicken-fried ANYTHING on a daily basis.



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Well, some geniuses up in Philly got together and were all like "Hey, let's make coffee, and some donuts, and fried chicken too, because we're awesome and people love us".

 

And they called it Federal Donuts.

 

I can not put into words how happy this makes me.



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I.must.go.here.

 

I just felt the need to share this place, because it's genius and we all should go...while holding hands...and skipping...and singing the hallelujah chorus.

 

Happy Friday! YOU ARE LOVED!



Peanut Butter Banana Chip Balls

 

A few days ago, I made banana chocolate chip bread. 

 However, I replaced whole wheat flour with coconut flour and sugar with honey.

The result? 

Delicious...but crumbly :(

I broke the bread up in a bowl, mixed the bread crumbs with 1 cup of peanut butter, and created seriously amazing Peanut Butter Banana Chip Balls.

Then I dipped them in white chocolate mixed with coconut oil and sprinkled with chocolate sprinkles.

Whoa.

These are like cake balls, but SO much more rich and flavorful.

LOVE.

Peanut Butter Banana Chip Balls

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup coconut flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

• 1 cup peanut butter

• 1/2 cup white chocolate
•  2 tsp coconut oil
• Chocolate sprinkles, for topping

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and butter and flour your loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl,  mix together bananas, honey, egg, and butter.
4. Add banana mixture to flour mixture and stir until barely combined.
5. Fold in chocolate chips.
6. Pour batter in pan and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until edges of loaf start to brown.
7. Let loaf cool completely before removing from pan.
8. Once cool, break bread up in a bowl creating bread crumbs.
9. Add peanut butter and stir until thoroughly combined.
10. Roll into golf ball-size balls.
11. Place balls on wax paper.
12. Place white chocolate and coconut oil in a microwave safe bowl, and microwave until smooth, stirring half way through heating.
13. Dip balls in white chocolate, sprinkle immediately with sprinkles, and allow white chocolate to set.

ENJOY!

Creamy Vanilla Maple Almond Butter

Key word CREAMY. 

Dry, crumbly almond butter is the worst. 

I need to be able to almost drizzle my almond butter, but not in an oily way. In a "whipped into submission" way. If you are like me and enjoy a spreadable nut butter without the added palm oil, welcome.

Now, raw almonds with a pinch of salt make a delicious almond butter on their own, but I decided to add a few drops of organic vanilla extract and spoonfuls of organic maple sugar to add a little zing.

Ok, let's be real. I was just trying to copycat my beloved Justin's maple and vanilla almond butters. 

This homemade version is not an exact replica, but it is still freaking delicious. It also costs about 14 cents per ounce to make, vs the 62 cents per ounce for Justin's. 

Major savings here.

Homemade almond butter rocks. 

This does not mean that I will stop buying deliciously overpriced nut butters from time to time, but there is definitely something wholesome and satisfying about making your own. 

Do it.

Creamy Vanilla Maple Almond Butter

Ingredients:

• 8 cups roasted, unsalted whole almonds
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 2 Tbsp organic maple sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Place almonds in an 8 cup food processor (if you have a smaller one, just split the recipe in half and make in two batches).
2. Process for 3 minutes, scrape down the sides, and add salt and maple sugar.
3. Process for another 3-5 minutes until almonds release natural oils and mixture becomes creamy.
4. Process in vanilla extract until combined.
5. Pour almond butter into a jar or airtight container.

ENJOY!