Coconut Cashew Butter

I am sharing this recipe with you the day after I tried it.  This rarely happens, as I usually don't get around to posting the recipe until enough people ask for it or I have some extra time.  Extra time?  Ha!  What is that?  However, this recipe was so very delicious, I had to share right away!  I recommend serving warm and fresh on a piece of toast.  I tried mine on Ezekiel raisin toast.  What a treat!  Enjoy, friends!

(adapted from The Suburban Soapbox and Vitamix Whole Foods Cookbook)

Coconut Cashew Butter

2 cups raw cashews
1 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut flakes/chips

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 325*F.
2.  Place parchment paper on baking sheet and cover with a thin layer of coconut and cashews.
3.  Place in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until light to golden brown.
4.  Let cool completely.
5.  Put in Vitamix or other high-powered blender.
6.  (On Vitamix)  Select Variable 1, then turn on machine and quickly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High, using tamper to press ingredients down towards blade.
7. Blend for 1 minute until you hear a high-pitched chugging sound.  Butter will flow freely through blades and resemble peanut butter texture.  Stop machine.
8.  Store in an airtight container for up to three weeks in fridge.

For mason jars to store the butter in (affiliate link): 

Coconut Lime Smoothie

For those of you with Instagram, follow me!  Click the button on the side of my blog to follow me @witnessmyfitnessdotorg.  I post a plethora of recipes, meal ideas, and workout ideas!  This recipe is one of the many.  I will be posting more to my blog as well.  This smoothie has a great balance of creamy, sweet, and tangy!  I loved it!


Coconut Lime Smoothie 

1 cup light coconut milk 
1/2 cup water
2 scoops unflavored whey protein 
2 Tbsp Chia Seed or Flax Seed
1 very ripe banana
2 Tbsp lime juice 
1 1/2 tsp lime zest
2 cups frozen spinach
Ice- as needed

Place in blender in order listed. Blend until smooth. Serves 2. Enjoy!

Chicken Vegetable Soup

It's a good day for soup!  Here is a yummy recipe that I came up with a few weeks ago.  Simple and delicious!  

Chicken Vegetable Soup

(All vegetables need to be chopped)

Serves 6-8

4 cups chicken broth or stock 

6 small red potatoes 

3 large carrots 

1 sweet onion 

4 celery stalks 

1 cup of frozen or fresh corn 

1 head of broccoli 

2 red peppers 

1-2 zucchini or yellow squash 

Salt  

Pepper 

Trader Joe's "21 Season Salute" (or other salt-free seasoning) 

1 1/2 - 2 cups cut up or shredded cooked chicken 

Method:  

1. Add broth to large pot or crockpot. 

2. Add potatoes, onion, carrots, and celery. Simmer. 

3. After simmering for 10 minutes, add all other ingredients. Add salt and seasoning to taste. 

4. Simmer covered until veggies are tender. If using a crockpot, simmer on low until veggies are tender, then turn to warm.

*Freezes great for prepped meals!

Speaking of soup, are you in need of new soup bowls?  I sure am!  These are cute! 

(Affiliate link)

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Mug Cake

I experimented in the kitchen the other day, trying to create a healthier version of this recipe.  I am so very pleased with the yumminess I created via the microwave!  Without further ado, here is the recipe:

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip

Cake:
1 Egg
7 Tbsp Oatmeal Flour (Ground Oatmeal)
1/4 c Pumpkin Puree
1 Tbsp Maple Syrup
2 Tbsp Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
1 Tbsp Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
1 tsp Stevia in the Raw
1/4 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
1/8 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Baking Powder

Spray oversized mug with cooking oil spray (I used coconut).  In mug, mix all ingredients except chocolate chips until blended well.  Add chocolate chips and stir. Cook in microwave on high for 1:15.  Check for doneness and cook for 15 second intervals until make "springs" back when you press on it with your finger.  Turn mug upside down onto plate and gently tap the mug until cake comes out.

"Frosting"
1/4 c Plain Greek Yogurt (Fage works great!)
2 tsp Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2 tsp Stevia in the Raw

Whisk all ingredients together until smooth.  Pour on top of hot mug cake and sprinkle with a little more pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon.  Share with someone special or enjoy all to yourself!  I shared it with my daughter! :)

PB&J Smoothie

I made this smoothie yesterday and it was delicious!  Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Makes 2 20oz servings

1/2 cup coconut milk (or milk of your choice)

1/2 cup water

1 1/2 bananas, frozen

2 scoops/servings of unflavored whey protein

1 1/2 Tbsp natural peanut butter 

3 cups frozen spinach (or fresh w/ a handful of ice.

1 cup frozen berries 

Put all ingredients in blender, with liquid on the bottom.  Blend until smooth.  Enjoy!

Instagram Me!

I've changed up my Instagram a bit!  I kept getting requests for fitness folks to follow me on my personal account, and because I put my family up on there a lot, I've decided I feel more comfortable with a  separate account devoted to fitness and nutrition.  Now I can post pictures of food and fitness to my heart's content!  Please feel free to follow me @witnessmyfitnessdotorg !

Fabulously Fit Friend: Nicolle Lost 117lbs!

I have this friend that has always been in my life for almost as long as I can remember.  My first sleepover was at her house.  Her dad and my dad were in a couple different worship bands together.  We have gone to church (three...maybe four...completely different churches) together most of our lives.  In the last few years I noticed she was shrinking.  She was eating healthy and making changes in her life to improve her fitness.   She strived to keep the right spiritual mindset throughout this journey.  Nicolle is truly an inspiration!  She lost a total of 117 lbs.  Here is how she did it!

How did you begin your weight loss journey?  What made you desire change?

I was honestly pretty overweight my whole life and I was never aware how obese I really was. Occasionally people would bring up dieting and eating healthier but I attributed my size to bring big boned with slow metabolism since a lot of my family are the same way. When I was 19, a coworker suggested going to curves because she had been really wanting to lose and asked me if I would be her accountability partner. Honestly, going to the gym never had crossed my mind previously because again, I attributed my size to just "how God made me." I was shocked when I went to curves and was weighed and measured for the first time in a LONG while at a whopping 261 lbs. I'm so thankful for God blessing me with that coworker who challenged me and made me aware of how unhealthy I was.

What changes did you make to start to see results?  Did you set goals?  If so, what were they?

I signed up for curves the same night I was weighed and measured. It was really helpful having an accountability partner to start my weight loss with. I had no previous experience with exercise or eating healthy but at first it consisted of going to curves and having Lean Cuisines for lunch---but no other changes. The weight started coming off pretty quickly at first probably because I had so much to lose and my original goal was being under 200 or no longer being a plus size.

Where did you look for encouragement and help when you needed it?  
 The coworker I had was again such a blessing and she really was turning me to scripture. She made me aware of gluttony being a sin and not taking care of myself was not bringing God glory as my body is a temple to the Lord. God definitely provides strength during the times I needed it most.  At one point, I started to take weight loss to the extreme and working out became and idol. It was important for me to remember "Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." (1 Timothy 4:7, 8 ESV) I had to be in the Word and not sacrifice my prayer time and time with The Lord for exercise because that was not God glorifying. 
How long have you kept it off?  How are you keeping it off?

It's been a long time. Since I started losing I haven't put any back on (with the exception of 5 lbs here and there) I no longer go to curves or eat Lean Cuisines but I made staying fit a lifestyle. I have to make conscious decisions to stop when I'm full and not have cake every single time someone offers it. At work I go walking around the building every break. I pack my own healthy lunches and snacks instead of eating out. I go out hiking with friends or do workout videos at home. I try to stay active and am much more aware of my body and the decisions I make with food. 

If you could give the readers three tips for getting healthy, what would those be?

1. Remember that our chief end is to glorify God (and enjoy Him forever) and that aspect applies to your healthy lifestyle too. Don't forget to honor The Lord in your habits and seek Him for the strength you need.
2. Make a lifestyle change. You can't fad diet just to go back to eating bad every day after you lost the weight.  You are going to gain it all back if you do. You need to make conscious efforts to have self control, make smart food decisions (but also be realistic and realize you still can have pizza or cake sometimes too).
3. Be active. You don't have to be in a gym for 3 hours a day, but work it into your schedule. For me, it's walking on breaks at work, hiking with friends, workout videos, or for days that I'm so busy and I dont have time to set aside to exercise, I will honestly dance while I'm cleaning the house. Find something to do to stay moving even in small ways.