AmaZING Nature Hike

My active lifestyle includes teaching fitness classes INDOORS. When I have an opportunity, I like to be active OUTDOORS to explore nature and the beautiful sights and sounds that it offers. My outdoor adventure took me to Daley Ranch and Dixon Lake in Escondido, California. The weather has been unusually hot and humid in San Diego therefore we take the time to exercise outdoors early and late in the day. The views were amazing, and Zing was the perfect fuel for the late day adventure!

Daley Ranch is a great place to hike. Their website provides a map and details about hiking, biking, and horseback riding at Daley Ranch. If you are an animal enthusiast, the website gives you details about the animals and plans that are native to the area so you know what you might encounter. 

Zing Bars are perfect to pack for an outdoor adventure. 

Zing Bars are Practical

They fit in your pocket and do not melt in the heat.
They hold their shape through your movements.

Zing Bars Taste Good and are Healthy

Zing bars come in a variety of flavors. You are bound to find one or more that you enjoy!
The bars are designed by registered dietitians and combine high protein with good fats and good carbs.

Zing bars celebrate what is in them ... as well as what is not. 

They are made with NON-GMO, natural ingredients.
They do not contain: gluten, soy, sugar alcohols, artificial colors, or artificial flavors.

Where can you find Zing?

Look on their website to see where they are sold near you!

Spicy Black Bean Gluten Free Pizza

I love the blank canvas that a gluten free pizza crust provides. When you purchase a pizza crust you have the opportunity to customize the toppings to fit your diet and preferences.

Pizzas Need to Look Good and Taste Good

Since people eat with their eyes first, I try to make my pizzas visually pleasing and full of color. When coming up with recipe ideas, I consider taste, color, and texture. There are many gluten free crusts available on the market. The one I used today was by Scharr. I like this crust as it is a bit thicker than some of the other crusts and is sturdy in your hand even when the toppings are piled high!

Ingredients

• 1 Gluten Free pizza crust (I used Scharr Specialty Breads & Wraps for this recipe)
• 1 cup black beans
• 1/4 cup NutCrumbs
• 3 large cloves of garlic 
• Sprinkle of crushed red pepper
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 12 slices of red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup cheese

Craft your Pizza One Layer at a Time

On the base of the crust I added crushed red pepper, 3 cloves of garlic (diced), and 1 cup of black beans partially crushed.

Layer 2: 1/4 cup of  Nut Crumbs (Spicy) to add flavor and texture to the pizza.

Layer 3: 1/2 cup diced onions on top of the Nut Crumbs and 12 slices of red bell pepper in a radial pattern

Layer 4: 1/2 cup cheese

I cooked according to the pizza crust directions and awareness of my oven temperature. I preheated the oven to 410 as I was preparing the pizza and cooked for 15 minutes. 

Date and Seed Bars

Cooking is something that brings me joy! I get excited to try a new recipe or make a few changes to a tried-and-true No Bake Date Delights Energy Bar Recipe.This recipe allows for customization in flavor profiles and well as presentation. You can make them in squares, rectangles, use a cookie cutter, or even roll into balls. Have fun! Play with your food! Make cooking fun!

Recipe:

• 2 cups pitted dates (I get mine from Futterman Farms)
• 1 cup nuts of choice (I used peanut this time)
• 1 cup oats (I use gluten free)
• 1 serving SunWarrior Classic Plus Chocolate Flavor Plant Based Protein
• 1/4 cup pepitas/hemp seeds to garnish top - optional

Options:

• Substitute 1 TSP vanilla flavoring or vanilla protein powder for the chocolate protein powder
• Substitute I TSP coconut flavoring for the chocolate protein powder and ADD 1/4 cup dried cranberries and 1/4 cup coconut 

Instructions:

• Combine 1/2 of the ingredients at a time in a Vitamix and blend until a paste is formed. 
• Add the "dough" to a glass pan and flatten with the flat end of a spatula
• Sprinkle the seeds to the top and push into the bar with the flat end of a spatula
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes
• Cut into bars the size of your choice

NOTE: From time to time, the mixture can be extra moist depending on the moisture of the dates you are using. When the mixture is extra moist, the bar "dough" could bunch up and stop the mixture. If this happens, use a spatula and remove the mixture from the Vitamix. After a few minutes, add 1/2 back at a time and pulse until a thick smooth paste.  Add a bit more oatmeal if necessary. Each batch of dates is different!

Sunflower Butter Cookies

It's Back-To-School time! 

This means setting alarms, packing lunches, and homework. 

Food Allergies and School Lunches/Parties

Parents with food allergies are familiar with what they can provide for their children. SunButter is a GREAT product for school lunches, school parties, sports team celebrations, and after school snacks. SunButter is FREE FROM the Top 8 Allergens so EVERYONE can enjoy!


SunButter can be substituted in any recipe that calls for NUT BUTTERS. I love the taste of SunButter and use it in recipes all the time. My favorite SunButter products are the single serving packs for a grab-and-go snack or for travel, as well as the Organic Jar, and No Sugar Added Jar.

Cookies 

I modified a tried-and-true 6 Ingredient NUT Butter Cookie Recipe using SunButter Organic Sunflower Butter.

Base Ingredients:
1 cup SunButter
1/2 cup SUGAR (increase flax seed or protein powder and cut down/omit if you wish)
1 FLAX EGG (you can use a traditional egg if you wish)
1/2 cup FLAX SEED
1 TBSP VANILLA (optional)
1 cup sunflower seeds (I diced 1/2 of them)

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Combine ingredients in a stand up mixer
3. Use your hand to roll cookies into balls of approximately equal size
4. Place balls on un-greased (or parchment lined) cookie sheet about 2 fingers distance apart. NOTE: Smaller/flatter cookies will turn out crispy.
5. Take a fork and lightly press it into top of ball both horizontally and vertically
6. Cook 10-15 minutes depending on size of cookies
7. When done, let cool for a few minutes so they hold their shape!

Sunflower Butter adds a RAY of SUNSHINE to each and every day!

Simple Scrumptious Smoothie Bowl

Smoothie bowls can be a great breakfast, snack, or dessert. What makes them great is the versatility of the recipe and the speed at which you can prepare one! The simple recipe is a BLANK CANVAS that allows you to create your masterpiece! The formula can be adapted to make an "ice cream" too.

Smoothie Bowl Formula (Breakfast):

2 Frozen Bananas + 3/4 cup Milk of choice (I use almond milk) + 2 pitted dates + 1 cup of berries (organic if possible as berries are consistently on the EWG's Dirty Dozen List)

Options:

• Add protein powder ... vanilla or chocolate
• Cut the recipe in half to create a snack rather than a meal! 

A FAST, SIMPLE, and NUTRITIOUS Breakfast

A smoothie bowl contains natural sugars from bananas and berries and protein from the milk variety you use. You can top the bowl with the flavor and texture profiles that you prefer.

Healthy breakfast toppings include:

• Granola
• Oats
• Nuts
• Seeds ... Hemp, Chia, Pepita, Sunflower
• Coconut (no sugar added is preferable)
• A few slices of the fruit you added
• Dried fruit
• Diced protein bar
• Crumbled rice cake 
• Handfulls Fusions

You can add protein powder to the smoothie bowl if you wish the added protein in your diet and are looking for the breakfast to hold you through a workout or get you through to a late lunch.

Smoothie Bowl Formula (Dessert):

2 Frozen Bananas + 1 cup Milk of choice (I use almond milk) + 8 pitted dates + 1 TBSP coconut butter

Options:

• Add protien powder (chocolate or vanilla)
• Add 1 cup of fruit to flavor and reduce milk to 3/4 cup
• Add flavoring (vanilla, maple, coconut)
• Add 1 TBSP nut/seed butter

A FAST, SIMPLE, AND HEALTHIER OPTION for Dessert

The smoothie bowl formula provides you with the BLANK CANVAS with which to create your masterpiece. You can create the flavor profile you wish. You can get nostalgic and think about flavors from your childhood such as chocolate chip, black cherry, cookies and cream, just to name a few. Make it your own! Play with your food! Enjoy the healthier version of "ice cream".

Dessert smoothie bowl toppings include:

• Gluten Free chocolate chips
• Granola
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Crumbled Gluten Free cookies
• Dried fruit 
• Fresh fruit
• Diced protein bar
• Coconut (I prefer no sugar added) 
• Handfulls Fusions

Frozen Adaptation:

Prepare the smoothie bowl with the desired sweetness from dates and ADD an ADDITIONAL TBSP COCONUT BUTTER. I usually prepare the dessert version if I am going to freeze it and make an "ice-cream" treat. Put the smoothie in individual containers and cover for 30 minutes then serve with or without toppings. You can also put the smoothie mixture in a large container and freeze and portion out servings as you wish!

The consistency is icy the longer it stays frozen. I suggest eating it after 30 minutes of freezing for a soft serve consistency or within 3 days for an "ice cream" like consistency.

TIP

When bananas start getting brown, peel a few and keep them handy in the freezer. If you keep a few frozen at all times, you can make a smoothie bowl in minutes!

Did you ever think it would be possible to hold JAM in your HAND?

I love the line of products from Zego. Their Fruit & Chia bars taste like JAM! Yes, Zego has provided you with the opportunity to hold JAM in your HAND without getting messy.

A HEALTHY JAM in your HAND
Fruit & Chia Bars come in Blueberry, Raspberry, and Strawberry flavors. The addition of chia creates a JAM like texture and adds:

• crunch
• extra fiber
• protein
• Omega 3 fatty acids
• calcium

Zego Fruit & Chia Bars are made with natural ingredients and satisfy you with natural sugars rather than artificial. They have a natural sweetness from the berries, but are not overly sweet.

Imagine the possibilities
I love knowing that I can pack one in my pocket to fuel me when I am out on a hike, riding my bike, or taking a jog and they will not melt. The bars are portable and can go with you in a school lunch, in your purse, in your car, in a gym bag, in your desk at work, or in your carry-on luggage.

 Pack a Zego wherever you go!

Hiking, Biking, and Gluten Free Dining on Mackinac Island

May 16, 2018 the Detroit News reported that Trip Advisor named Mackinac Island the hottest US destination for Summer Travel 2018. My family and I have visited the island several times over the years and had a trip planned for this year. Our trip was planned before the story broke. We love the island and this trip was just as magical as past trips. I cannot wait to go back!

Mackinac Island is an ESCAPE
When you take the ferry to the island you leave the hustle-and-bustle of the city behind and enter a quaint island community. Motorized vehicles are limited to emergency vehicles (fortunately we rarely have noticed one!). People get around the island on foot, on a bike (even a bicycle built for two), or on a horse/horse and carriage.

Mackinac Island Activities
Mackinac Island has historic Fort Mackinac that people can visit, an art museum, miles of trails, several shops, and restaurants. Many people golf on the island and bring home famous Mackinac Island Fudge when they return.

Arch Rock (pictured above) is a popular tourist attraction. 

The pace of life on the island is slow; as island life should be! The homeowners take pride in their property and creating beautiful gardens.

Mackinac Island Food
As someone that MUST adhere to a gluten free diet, Mackinac Island has more restaurants each season that have gluten free options. 

Goodfellows Restaurant has a gluten free pizza crust (and they do not have an up-charge for it either!). We ordered a pizza half vegetarian and half with cheese and pepperoni to meet everyone's needs.

The Village Inn is known for their PLANKED WHITEFISH. Many restaurants on the island try to recreate this dish, but none come close. This dish is gluten free. The menu contains other gluten free dishes and the staff works with you to customize your order if you wish to modify something on the menu. I love this restaurant! They serve generous portions of vegetables with each meal!

The Gate House Restaurant has a large selection of gluten free options. Pictured here are a side of veggies, a chicken sandwich with chips and a hamburger with fries.

Mission Point Resort has many restaurants from which people can choose. Each restaurant offers some gluten free options. Below is a warm chicken salad from Round Island Bar & Grill.