Zucchini Boats

Here is one of my favorite healthy meals that i make! My mom is the one that told me to do this, so i give her all the credit. First things first. Take your zucchini and slice them in half. Then carve out a little of the middle of each half. Carve out enough to be able to hold the meat, but not so much that you don't have any zucchini left. ;) Then put them face down in a half inch of water and cook at 350 degrees for around 10-15 mins. Cook them long enough to make them pretty soft, but not mushy.

While the zucchini cook in the oven, have your super sweet husband brown your meat. I used 97% lean ground beef, but ground turkey is really good in these as well. We seasoned the meat with garlic salt, basil, and pepper.You can season it anyway you want! I've also added in diced onion which rocked!

Once the meat and the zucchini are done place the boats on another pan and fill them full of meat, cheese and sauce! Then broil them at 400 degrees until the cheese browns. Approx 3-5 mins.

My FAVORITE sauce is Hunts pasta sauce No Sugar Added. It blows regular Hunts out of the water. It makes me wonder why they add the sugar in the first place. Try is seriously!!

Here is a picture of the finished product!! Yummy!!! If it need extra sauce you can dump some more on top, that's what i do!

Let me know what you think if you try it!! I hope you are having a great weekend!

XOXO

Meggan 

Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls

Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls  (*Almost Completely Clean)

Dough:                                                        
2 Packets Yeast
1 tsp. Sugar
2 C. Warm Water, Divided
3/4 C. Oil (Vegetable, Olive, or applesauce)
2/3 C. Honey
1/4 C. 100% Maple Syrup
Splash of Vanilla
1/2 tsp. Salt
2 Eggs
Dash of Nutmeg
6-7 C. Whole Wheat Flour

Dissolve yeast and sugar in 1 cup of warm water. In a separate bowl add oil, honey, maple syrup,vanilla, salt,eggs, remaining 1 cup of warm water. Mix together. Add yeast mixture, and mix again. Add 2 cups of whole wheat flour. Mix for approx. 5 minutes on med. speed. Add remaining flour and 2 dashes of Nutmeg and mix for 5 more mins. Cover and place in a sunny/warm place for 1-2 hrs (or until dough doubles in size)

Filling: (the non-clean part)
1 C. Brown Sugar
1 C. Sugar
1/2 C. Butter
1/4 C. Whole Wheat Flour
1 1/2 Tbs. Cinnamon (My husband isn't a fan of cinnamon so we used less and it was still amazing)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl. Roll out dough in a rectangle and cover with filling mixture. Roll up and cut into 1" rolls. Place in greased baking pan (we use 2- 9x13 and 1- 8x8 pans) Bake for 20-25 mins *We use convection for 17 mins. Makes approx. 20 rolls

We made frosting to go with it, but they are sooo good alone. They also freeze great.

Blueberry Greek Yogurt Bread

Blueberry Greek Yogurt Bread:

1 C. Whole Wheat Pastry Flour                1/2 C. Honey (or 100% Maple Syrup)
3 Tbs Whole Wheat Pastry Flour              1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 C. Vanilla Protein Powder                   3 Ripe bananas
1/2 tsp. Salt                                              2 Eggs
1 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder                         3/4 C. Plain Greek Yogurt
                                       1 C. Blueberries

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Mash bananas with a fork until they are liquidy.
Add bananas, eggs, vanilla, honey, and greek yogurt to kitchen-aid. Mix until there are no lumps.
In a separate bowl mix all the dry ingredients.
 Add to the wet ingredients in the kitchen-aid.Mix until combined.
 Fold in blueberries gently by hand.
 Pour batter into 2 greased loaf pans.
Bake for approx. 1 hr. or until top is golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
*We use convection oven and it takes about 47 mins.

Greek Yogurt Pancakes

Greek Yogurt Pancakes:

2 Eggs                                            1 C. Whole Wheat Flour
1 1/2 C. Plain Greek Yogurt            2 tsp. Baking Soda
2 Caps of Vanilla

In two separate bowls:
Mix wet and dry ingredients.
Combine and fold together.
WARNING: The batter looks crazy/weird, don't be scared!
Spoon onto a sprayed pan or griddle that is heated to Med/ Med High.
Flip when they start to bubble on the surface.

Makes about approx. 6 fluffy, super filling, fast, easy and fool proof pancakes.

*I love to top mine with brummel and brown, and 100% maple syrup, or greek yogurt, fruit and a drizzle of honey.*My husband loves them with natural peanut butter and maple syrup, fruit and whipped cream, or nutella.

Chocolate Avocado Cupcakes

These are my husband's new favorite dessert. He has asked me to make more of these on several occasions. {Which is saying a lot due to the fact he usually isn't a big chocolate fan.}

I originally got the idea from some chocolate avocado doughnuts I pinned on Pinterest.

1 1/2 C. Whole Wheat Flour        1 Mashed Avocado

1/3 C. Cocoa Powder                 1 C. Vanilla Almond or Soy Milk

1 tsp. Baking Powder                 3/4 C. 100% Maple Syrup

1/2 tsp. Salt                                  1 tsp. Vanilla

                                                     

                                                     1 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar

In two separate bowls-

Mix dry ingredients and wet ingredients.

Combine and fold together.

Bake at 350 degrees for approx. 22 mins

*We use a convection oven and they take approx. 17 mins

They are fantasic alone but if you are looking for a "frosting" Mix natural peanut butter and a smudge of honey and dollop on top.