Homemade Pumpkin Pie!

Single Crust Recipe

1 1/3 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup shortening

3 1/2 tablespoons cold water

Mix flour and salt together in medium bowl. Cut shortening into flour (I just used my hands). Add the cold water 1 tablespoon at a time. Mix dough and repeat until moist enough to hold together.

With flour on your hands, shape the dough into a ball. On a floured board, roll your dough out about 1/8 inch thickness. Cut your dough with a sharp knife about 1 1/2 inches bigger than your upside down 8 inch pie pan.

Roll up your dough onto your rolling pan to ease it into your pie pan.

Filling

2 cups mashed, cooked pumpkin (cooled, and strained)

12 ounces evaporated milk

2 eggs, beaten

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees!

In a large bowl, mix all of the ingredients together then pour into prepared pie crust. 

Bake for 40 minutes or until knife inserted and comes out clean.

The pie filling looks more runny when you use fresh pumpkin and less orange, but it firms up nicely in the oven. You may need to cook your pie 5-10 minutes extra if using fresh pumpkin.

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/13711/homemade-fresh-pumpkin-pie/

 I followed this recipe, but made my own pumpkin.

Simple Overnight Oats Vegan Friendly

Ingredients

1/2 cup Quaker Oats rolled oats

3/4 cup Coconut Milk or Silk almond milk

1 tablespoon chia seeds

1/2 cup frozen fruit (I used Giant's brand of mixed berries)

Mix all ingredients in a container big enough for oatmeal and chia seeds to expand.

I use frozen fruit for my overnight oats because when the fruit melts down it adds more flavor to the oatmeal. I was using fresh fruit, but the oatmeal was very bland the next day. If using fresh fruit, I'd wait 2-3 days before eating the oats so they have more time soften and mix with the oats better.

What are your favorite overnight oats recipes? Let me know, I look forward to trying them.

Simple Strawberry-Banana Protein Smoothie

Ingredients

1 cup dole frozen strawberries and bananas

1 cup Coconut Milk

1 scoop Muscle Milk Protein Powder

This is a nice simple recipe/treat before or after a workout. It took me 2 minutes to prepare this because everything is already ready, you just have to toss it in the blender for a minute.

Now, you can use fresh fruit, I just find it easier to use frozen fruit and to store frozen fruit. I always end up wasting a ton of produce when I buy it fresh. 

Peanut Butter Coconut Protein Bites

Ingredients

1/2 Cup peanut butter

1/3 Cup raw oatmeal

1/4 cup Vanilla whey protein powder

3 Tsp raw honey melted/warm

4 Tbs unsweetened coconut flakes (optional, exterior of bites)

Directions

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl until the oats are moistened. It may seem quite tough to mix at first, but it will come together. I used my hands to "knead" the dough together better.

Divide the dough into about 15 one inch pieces and shape into round bites. Roll the rounded dough into coconut flakes (optional, best to keep them from sticking together).

Store in an air tight container or in the refrigerator.

Enjoy!

Homemade Holiday Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Difficulty: Medium

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Inactive Prep Time: 5 hours

Cook time: 1 hour 55 minutes

Yield: about 6-8 servings

Dough Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes
2 egg yolks
3 tablespoons milk

Filling Ingredients:

1 & 1/2 cups canned pumpkin

1/2 cup brown sugar

2/3 cup heavy cream

7 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk

6 & 1/2 tablespoons evaporated milk

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 & 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

pinch ground cloves

pinch salt

2 whole eggs

1 egg yolk

9 inch pie pan

Making the dough: In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt. Add the butter and mix with paddle attachment. Mix until the mixture holds together when clumped, and pecan sized butter is visible.

Meanwhile, whisk together the yolks and milk in small bowl. 

Add the yolk mixture to the flour mixture and mix until a dough forms. Transfer the dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap, wrap well and store in the refrigerator for several hours.

On a lightly floured surface, roll half of the dough into a 11 to 12 inch circle about 1/8 inch thick. Line the pan with dough and crimp the edges. Chill the pie shell for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Line the pie shell with aluminum foil and fill with dried beans. Bake the shell until it is golden brown, approx. 45 minutes. Remove the foil and beans.

Meanwhile, making the filling: Lower the oven to 325 degrees F. In a medium saucepan, mix together the pumpkin and sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently. until reduced and thick, about 15-20 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the cream, milks, vanilla, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt, eggs, and yolk. Pour the filling into the pie shell and bake until set, about 45 to 55 minutes. Cool and serve.

Simple Cherry Pistachio Oatmeal

1 C. Old fashioned oats

2 C. Water

1/8 Tsp. salt

1/4 C. Fresh red cherries, pitted and halved

1 Tsp. Vanilla extract

1/4 C. Crushed pistachios

Combine water, salt, oats, and cherries in a sauce pan. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 4-6 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Put into serving bowls and top off with pistachios.

Cucumber Tomato & Cheese No Bread Sandwiches

Ingredients:

10 cucumber slices, peeled

5 tomato slices, seeded

1oz cheese sliced into 5 slices

Salt

Pepper

5 toothpicks

Directions:

Top each of the 5 cucumbers with 1 slice of tomato and 1 slice of cheese. Dash with salt and pepper then add a top cucumber. Insert a toothpick into each "sandwich" to keep it from falling apart.

Enjoy.

Green Tea Vanilla Honey Sorbet

Ingredients:

2 Green tea bags

2-1/2 cups hot water

1/4 cup honey

1/2 tsp vanilla

Directions:

In medium sauce pan, bring 2-1/2 cups of water to boil. Remove pan from heat and add tea bags. Steep tea for 2-3 minutes until water turns light green. Return pan to heat and add honey. Bring honey and tea to a boil. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Add vanilla. 

Pour mixture in dish and place in freezer. Stir every 30-45 minutes until shaved ice consistency is reached.

Makes 5 half cup servings. 56 calories per serving.

This recipe is the best recipe ever, honestly. It is the perfect skinny summer snack because it is refreshing and low in calories. It is super sweet and perfect for the whole family. The kids will love it. They might be afraid to try it because it is green, but they'll love it once they do. 

You can also add your own personal twist to this treat, like a sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice. 

I think my next plan is to make a spiced Chai version of this sorbet. If I do, I'll post the recipe.

Cinnamon Grilled Pineapple & Greek Yogurt Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2 tbs coconut oil or coconut oil cooking spray

1 cup sliced pineapple

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup Greek yogurt

Directions:

Heat oil in grill pan until hot. Place pineapple in the hot pan (it should make a sizzling noise). Sprinkle upright side of pineapple slices with all of the  cinnamon. Cook pineapple for two minutes, until desired grill marks are achieved. Flip and cook other side for two minutes as well.

Remove pineapple from heat and serve over Greek yogurt. Enjoy.

 Voila, here is what your finished snack will look like. It is sweet, crunchy, tangy, and all under 200 calories for the entire recipe.

Muscle Milk

Muscle Milk protein powder makes the best tasting protein shakes ever.

They have Vanilla Creme and Chocolate flavored protein powders that are only 150 calories a serving. This 150 calories gives you roughly 32 grams of protein. Sounds good, right? Just wait, the recipes I made using this powder are even better.

The first recipe is a super easy pumpkin pie protein packed smoothie.

Pumpkin Pie Protein Smoothie Recipe:

1/2 cup canned pumpkin 

1 tbs coconut milk

1 cup water

1 scoop Muscle Milk vanilla creme protein powder

1/2 tbs pumpkin spice

1 frozen banana

1/2 cup ice

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy. This recipe is absolutely delicious. It tastes like a mix between a pumpkin pie and a spice cake. You will enjoy your workout even more with this drink. It supplies lasting energy and keeps you full longer than most protein smoothies. Also pumpkin aids in fat burning, so it is the perfect smoothie for your diet and your health.

The next recipe I made using the Chocolate Muscle Milk protein powder. This drink is better if you have chocolate cravings that are hard to control.

Chocolate Protein Icee Recipe:

1 cup water

1tbs coconut milk

1 scoop chocolate Muscle Milk protein powder

1/2 banana

1 tsp cocoa powder

1 tbs Almond butter

1 1/2 cups ice

Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix until icy. 

Disclaimer: Products were given in exchange for my honest opinions. All opinions and pictures are my own.

Double the Dough

Vanilla Rich Extra Large Pecan Cookies

2 cups (4 Sticks) butter, softened

1-1/2 cups granulated sugar

4 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 eggs

4-1/2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups (11.5-oz package) HERSHEY'S Milk Chocolate Chips

1 Cup pecan halves

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Beat butter until creamy.
3. Add granulated sugar and brown sugar to butter and beat until creamy and smooth.
4. Add vanilla and eggs. Beat well.
5. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating until completely blended. 
6. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
7. Drop by large spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool Completely.

Enjoy your really big and delicious cookies!

Paleo Pro Products

www.paleoproproducts.com offers a wide variety of proteins that don't contain ingredients that aren't paleo friendly, unlike other common protein powders and products.

This is the Chocolate protein powder. It is delicious mixed with coconut milk or Silk Soy Milk. I tried it in 8oz of Water, 1 Tablespoon of coconut milk and 30g of the Paleo Pro protein powder and it was excellent and very satisfying. They also offer this protein powder in Aztec Vanilla and Plain Naked.  

For the Plain protein powder I made a Blueberry Smoothie. 

It was the best smoothie I've made so far.

RECIPE:

1/2 Cup Blueberries

2 Tbs PB Fit Peanut Butter Powder

1 Tbs Coconut Milk

1 Cup Water

1 Cup Ice

30g Plain Naked Paleo Pro Protein Powder

Put all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. The smoothies tasted exactly like blueberry pancakes. It is sweet and peanut buttery and very smooth. Most Protein powders have a chalky, weird aftertaste, but this one tastes exactly like the ingredients I put in it and nothing more.

For the Aztec Vanilla Paleo Pro protein powder, I made protein pancakes.

They turned out to be better than normal pancakes. 

RECIPE:

1 egg

1 banana

30g Aztec Vanilla Paleo Pro protein powder

1/4 cup blueberries (optional)

1 Tbs coconut oil

2 Tbs Peanut Butter (optional)

Cut and mash the banana up into a pulp using a fork. Add the egg and protein powder and mix until combined. Add Blueberries to the mix. 

Place coconut oil in pan and heat. Spoon out batter like normal pancakes in pan and cook like a pancake. Use peanut butter spread on top of pancakes for additional protein and flavor.

The Paleo Recovery Powder is perfect after any workout and will leave you feeling refreshed. It is perfect mixed in water or in a smoothie.

Disclaimer: Samples were given in exchange for an honest review.

Pacifica Culinaria

www.pacificaculinaria.com offers some of the greatest avocado oils on this Earth.

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Here are a few of their avocado oils:

All Natural Avocado Oil- It is a lot lighter than an actual avocado, but it still has the same taste as the raw avocado. It is perfect for cooking because it has a high smoke point. It is also high in mono saturated fat. I think this oil is perfect for making omelets and sauteing onions.

Also, the oil can double as a beauty treatment for dry hair or dry skin. Go ahead give it try. I'd suggest only using the All Natural Avocado Oil for this purpose or else you'll smell like a dinner instead of a person.

Blood Orange Avocado Oil- This oil is perfect to use in place of a salad dressing, It is infuse with blood orange, so it adds the perfect amount of citrus flavor to any salad. It is also good in grilled or sauteed foods too. 

Tuscan Herb Avocado oil- I think this oil is best with fresh bread and raw or cooked vegetables. It is light and flavorful and makes the perfect, healthy dip. The kids will love it too. 

Chipotle Avocado Oil- You should put this on baked chicken. It makes it taste so much better and it adds a southwestern feel to an ordinary dinner. 

Roasted Garlic Avocado Oil- This oil is good just the way it is. You can add it to noodles and have garlic roasted avocado oil noodles. They will be delicious and you're stomach will not feel any regret from eating this healthy oil.

Key Lime Avocado Oil- This is another one of Pacifica Culinaria's great avocado oils that are perfect for salad or baked chicken. 

Pacifica Culinaria Recipes

Avocado Deviled Eggs

Ingredients:

2 Avocados peeled, pitted and mashed

4 eggs, hard boiled

1 Tb. Cilantro, chopped

2 tsp. Jalapeño peppers, chopped

1 tsp. salt, to taste

1 dash hot sauce

1 tsp. Dijon style mustard 

1 pinch paprika

Worcestershire sauce, to taste

Directions:

Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Cover, and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, cool and peel. Slice eggs in half, and remove yolks to a mixing bowl. In the bowl with the yolks, mash the Mayan Pearl Avocado, cilantro, green onion, and Jalapeño. Add the lime juice and season with salt, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce and mustard. Mix well and fill empty egg white halves. Chill until serving. Sprinkle with paprika just before serving.

Tuscan Herb Halibut Steaks

Ingredients:

2 large garlic cloves, minced

1 lemon

1 tsp coarse salt

2 Tb. Tuscan Herb Avocado Oil

4 -1 inch thick halibut steaks

Directions:

Prepare grill. Squeeze juice from Mayan Pearl Lemon into a small bowl and stir in garlic, salt and Pacifica Tuscan Herb Avocado Oil. Put halibut in a large dish and pour marinade over it, turning fish to coat. Marinate halibut, covered and chilled at least 15 minutes or up to 1 hour. Grill halibut on medium high heat until just cooked through, about 5 minutes on each side.

Boxed Orange Brownies

Purchase your favorite boxed brownie mix. Make as instructed except replace all or half of the vegetable oil or butter with the Blood Orange Avocado Oil. 

My favorite thing about these avocado oils is how light oil feels, but still manages to capture the flavor and texture of an actual avocado.

Disclaimer: Products were given in exchange of an honest review.

7 Benefits of Green Tea and Recipes

Green tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant. Green tea has a lot of benefits that you'll love to know about. The benefits of green tea will leave you satisfied with this unsweetened and cozy drink or other recipes you wish to use green tea in.

1. Immunity                                                                                                                                         - Green tea helps boost the immune system because it is rich in antioxidants. These help fight off infections and viruses like the flu. Green tea is perfect for flu season. It is warming, relaxing, and it protects you. And all you have to do is steep and sip.                                            
2. Breath                                                                                                                                               - Green tea inhibits the growth of bacteria that can cause gum disease and other diseases tat cause bad breath.You can use the green tea as a mouth wash. All you have to do is soak a tea bag in half of a cup of water and then swish the green tea in your mouth.                                      
3. Cholesterol                                                                                                                                        -Green tea has tannins. Tannins are known to aid in lowering levels of LDL (bad cholesterol). Green tea can also reduces the amount of cholesterol absorbed into the body during digestion.    
4. Skin                                                                                                                                                  -Green tea applied topically protects the skin from sun damage. Ingesting green tea reduces inflammation, free radicals and detoxifies the body.                                                                       
5. Allergies                                                                                                                                           -Green tea stops histamines from reacting to allergens like pollen, dust and dander.                     
6. Hair                                                                                                                                                   -Green tea helps stop hair shedding and helps add shine and softness to hair. You can drink the tea or apply it as a rinse.                                                                                                                   
7. Weight                                                                                                                                              -Green tea increase the metabolic rate of the body. Green tea reduces bloating and inflammation and it detoxifies the body.

Green tea is best with nothing added to it and served warm, but if you don't enjoy the flavor of green tea, here are a few recipes to try.

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1. Citrus Mint Iced Tea

Toss some mint leaves, orange slices and green tea bags into a boiling teapot for a delicious homemade tea. Serve over ice and garnish the glasses with orange or lime slices. 

2. Green Ginger Mint Tea

Green tea with spearmint is a popular Moroccan digestive. Green tea lives, such as gunpowder leaves, are rolled into small balls that unfurl in hot water to release a slightly bitter, smoky infusion. This refreshing brew is also good iced. Sweeten with honey, if desired. 

3. Mango Calendula Ceylon Tea

When sweetened with mango and ginger, delicate teas like green gunpowder make for refreshing afternoon drinks or light, fruity iced teas. Add sugar after steeping if you wish to accentuate the fruity flavor.