Chocolate Protein Pancake

Chocolate Protein Pancake

What do you make on a morning when you have a little time to cook yourself breakfast, but not too much time, want something chocolate, but not too sweet, and high in protein?  This pancake! I had heard that you could make a pancake out of nothing but banana and eggs, but honestly that sounded not only boring to me, but a little suspect.  I couldn't really imagine what it would taste like (banana quiche?) and unless I drowned it in syrup I imagine it would be hard to swallow.  So I added in a few of my favorite ingredients to make it chocolate (cocoa powder), heart healthy (nut butter & raw walnuts), and flavorful (cinnamon). I honestly wasn't sure how the end result would be, and if it would taste good enough to eat without butter and syrup on top (which of course makes everything taste better).  I suggest you let it cool for a couple of minutes before eating, to let the chocolate and peanut butter flavors settle, and the addition of the walnuts was a spectacular choice. I didn't have much time to eat it once I was done, but that was no problem since I devoured it in less than five minutes because it was so good.  And extremely filling. It would be a perfect breakfast to serve your kids before a busy morning of school or sports, or for anyone heading to the gym or planning to be active. And it's the type of fullness that feels like you did your body a favor and you're stronger for it.  Definitely going to be on my short list for a go to perfect first meal of the day.  You can use whatever nut butter you prefer, and even add a little honey if you want the pancake sweeter. Or be like my kids, who would inevitably cover it with butter and syrup before gobbling it up.

Peanut Butter and Nutella Bites

Peanut Butter and Nutella Bites

These delicious little bites of heaven were a creation of mine last Spring in anticipation of a bunch of outdoor parties to which I had been invited.  Basically a layered version of my Inside Out Peanut Butter Cups, these tasty treats were a huge success and my poor friends who were lucky enough to try these have been waiting for 4 months for the recipe. Sorry for the delay, but it's been a crazy summer.  And now that Fall is here, I have actually been in my kitchen baking again, and too busy to sit and write a whole lot.  Hopefully I can get my act together soon, and once all the weekend events fade into snow days, I will have time to post all the delicious recipes I have been saving up.  I know I need to make these again soon, since I enjoy packing my kids' lunch boxes with homemade goodies and these definitely fit the bill.  As I mention in my ingredient list below, you can sub out the Nutella with a healthier chocolate alternative as there are numerous ones to chose from.  I actually bought an organic soynut butter at the store yesterday and used it to make an organic chocolate crisped rice treat.  But if you love peanut butter and chocolate as much as I do, and like simple recipes with a limited amount of ingredients, this dessert is a no brainer. And so so good.

Creamy Breakfast Polenta

Creamy Breakfast Polenta
with over easy eggs and crispy fried ham

Usually when I think of a breakfast porridge, I think sweet, as in oatmeal with bananas and maple syrup.  But this meal is completely different, and since I know sugar is not good for you, it is a great alternative to a typical American breakfast. The flavor of the buttery polenta, combined with a runny fried egg and some crispy ham is ridiculously satisfying first thing in the morning.  Super high in protein, this meal will set you up with tons of energy for the day ahead.  And the best part?  The polenta cooks while you sleep!!