Cinnamon Roll Protein Shake

Ingredients:
2 scoops vanilla Whey Powder
1 tbsp sugar-free instant vanilla pudding
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp imitation vanilla (or 1/4 tsp extract)
1 packet artificial sweetener
a few dashes butter flavor sprinkles or butter-flavor extract
8 oz. water (or low-fat milk)
3 ice cubes

240 calorie chicken salad

I love chicken salads.  Here is a delicious one I eat for lunch that is surprisingly low in calories, but high in flavor, protein and satisfaction

What you'll need:
Rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked chicken
Arugula
Green onion
Slivered Almonds
Semi-soft goat cheese
Fat-Free balsamic dressing

Place 1 cup or more of arugula into your bowl
Chop and toss in 2 green onions
Add 3 ounces of shredded chicken
1 ounce goat cheese
2 Tbsp of slivered almonds
Finish with 2 Tbsp of fat-free balsamic

Enjoy!  You will not feel deprived and the creaminess of the goat cheese makes the balsamic divine.  It's truly a salad I can eat all year long - and it's great for protein!

Best Baked Salmon

This is a way to bake salmon my mother taught me.  It's the easiest and most delicious!

What you need:
Glass baking dish - big enough to fit the fillet
Fillet of Salmon
Olive Oil
Sea Salt
Pepper

Put 2 Tbsp of Olive Oil into the dish
Turn oven onto 400 degrees and place dish immediately into the oven, while cold
Let oven preheat with the dish of oil
While the dish is preheating, salt and pepper your salmon to taste.  You can also add other spices, but I'm a salmon purest, so I usually only put sea salt on it
Once the preheat alarm goes off, carefully take out the dish with the hot oil
Place the seasoned salmon into the dish, skin side down
Cook the salmon for 7-15 minutes, depending on it's thickness.  You will want to check on it and see if it's fully cooked until it's the desired level of pink you like to eat

Remove and enjoy!  Make sure to take the salmon immediately out of the dish once you've determined it's cooked enough to prevent it from over cooking while it sits.  Guaranteed delicious moist fish every time.

Fiesta Chicken Recipie

This is also on my VLOG, should you want to watch me make it.  Very exciting.

What you need:
Glass baking dish - preferably a casserole dish
Chicken - any combination that will fit in the dish.  We like 2 breasts, 2 legs and 2 thighs
1 bottle of Pace Picante Sauce, mild
Foil

Turn on the oven to 400 degrees
Place the chicken into the glass dish
Pour the Pace Picante over the chicken until it's swimming in it
Cover the dish with foil
Place in oven for 1 hour

After an hour, check that the chicken is done to your liking.  Enjoy!

Best Tool of the Trade: Cuisinart Hand Blender

I know they are a little pricey, but this tool has been the best tool thus far.  I got the Cuisinart Hand Blender with the whisk and chopper attachment a lllooonnnggg time ago.  I never used it - except to make individual servings of salsa - and I'm allergic to corn chips, so you can imagine how often that happened.  Now I am so thankful that I have it.  I use it multiple times a day and I just throw it in the dishwasher between uses so it's ready for my next meal.  The chopper is perfect for making tasty purees when you are blending multiple ingredients (which I do a lot because I'm trying to get in a little fruit or veggie at every protein meal).  The hand blender is great to make an individual smoothie - again, great because my entire family is not on the smoothie train that I'm currently riding.  All in all - hands down best and most convenient product to date.  And now it's earning every penny of it's original purchase cost.

Egg and Tuna Salad Puree

1 hard boiled egg
1 oz. canned Tuna
1 small green onion
1/2 baby dill pickle
1/8 or less of fresh avocado
1 T. of low-fat mayo
1/2 T. of yellow mustard
Pinch of sea salt

Blend them all together in a blender (I use the Cuisinart Smart Stick chopper attachment)

Low fat Chicken Salad Puree

1-2 T. of Humus (I like garlic flavor or original)
1 oz. Canned chicken
Pinch of Sea Salt

You can also puree in green onion and/or a half of a baby dill pickle

I blend it in the Cuisinart Smart Stick chopper attachment.