Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites: 80 Day Obsession Approved Recipe

Chocolate Peanut Butter BITES

Ahhhh, another week of this 80 day program down &

another "refeed" {aka glycogen boost} day is UP.

Read more about what the heck we're doing HERE in my post about 80 Day Obsession!

I decided to choose a new approved treat to try this week - although the chickpea brownies I've made twice now are my SOULMATE SNACK - so they better be good, right??

This recipe is actually from my trainer for these 13 weeks - who also just so happens to be the creator of a life-changing meal/recipe plan called "fixate" that I've been following for a larger part of the past 3 years.

Any meal plan that allows some freedom for chocolate & peanut butter is a win in my book, am I right!?

I'm slapping my own name on these tasty nuggets + sharing a couple of my own personal tweaks. BUT.. I gotta give credit to my girl Autumn for being the OG creator of this one!

Ready for the recipe??

Here we go..

Ingredients:

1 cup All-Natural Peanut Butter

(the original recipe called for smooth, but I went CHUNKY!)

1 tbsp Cornstarch

3/4 cup Coconut Flour

2 tbsp pure maple syrup

(next time I'll probably try honey or agave instead)

8 oz. Semi Sweet Chocolate, 62% cocoa or higher, chopped

2 tsp extra virgin organic coconut oil, unrefined

*I also used a little pink himalayan sea salt!*

Directions:

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper & set to the side.

Combine the peanut butter, cornstarch, coconut flour & maple syrup in a bowl; stir with a spatula until the mixture forms a uniform dough.

 

Using {clean.. duh} hands, shape the dough into 24 one inch balls. If you want to make the next step easier, place a toothpick in the center of each ball.

Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet & refrigerate for about 20 minutes.

Fill a small pot with about 2 inches of water. Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low.

Place a heat-proof mixing bowl over the pot & add the chocolate and coconut oil. Stir for 2 to 3 minutes, or until just melted.

Remove balls from the refrigerator.

If you used them, hold a ball by the toothpick and dip into chocolate, swirling to completely coat. I personally just rolled them in the chocolate & dropped them on the sheet. It's a bit messier, but I like working with my hands.

 

Return to baking sheet. Repeat with each ball.

If you want to amp up your flavah, sprinkle a SMALL amount of himalayan salt on the balls, before the next step.

Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until chocolate has hardened.

Finally, store in airtight container & try not to eat them all!

They are SO darn good, y'all.

These are most definitely still a TREAT, so remember moderation & savor one at a time.

For my readers who are following the fixate plan, one of these is equal to a "yellow container."

If you're working through 80 Day Obsession like we are, one of these is equal to a "dirty yellow container" ONLY on your refeed day!

 Give these a try & let me know what you think!

They're HEAVENLY.

Growing Ghoens: Week 25 Bump Date

Oh sweet girl, we just wrapped up week 25.. my heart bursts with joy thinking about how big you're getting & that in just a few months, we'll be holding you tight.

Here's what we did together this week.

Monday, our sweet friend Hollen welcomed baby Ezra into the world. So we whipped up a pan of lasagna & took it over on Wednesday night to hug momma & baby. What joy new life brings!!

I chuckled each day as I added to my magazine stack. Normally I just get my shape magazines. Now, we get lots of family & maternity magazines. Times are changing already around here & I love it!!

I finally went to get my hair done after almost 7+ months of neglect.. Oops. I couldn't wait any more because your Aunt Lou is getting married in a WEEK!!! Your momma & aunties are bridesmaids & your cousin Finley is a flower girl. If you were here, you'd be in it too, pumpkin!

At the end of the week, we took your oldest sister, Moose-girl, to the vet for all of her shots. Hoisting her up in the car is an interesting task with a belly our size now. I mean, I've got a cauliflower baby in my tummy now :)

Otherwise, we wrapped up another round of 21 Day Fix Extreme workouts & finally decided on our next strengthening program.. announcement coming soon!

We partnered with another dear friend & momma who join our #GracefullyBalanced coach family.

Welcome, Lauren!

We wrapped up our bible study in Judges. And are gearing up for 1 Samuel.

We helped minister to Hollen & her family as they've gone through some very hard times since the baby was born at the beginning of the week.

(Please pray for them, y'all!)

And we started planning what will probably be your dad & I's last little get away together as a family of two in April.

#SoSurreal

 Okay, I'm keeping this post short.. so this is all for now!

More to come later this week on mama bear's new program that is going to usher us into trimester 3!!

I love you to the moon, baby girl.

Zucchini Noodle + Pesto Chicken Bowl Recipe

I'm a few days behind on this recipe.. you've gotta forgive my foggy brain, please!

This recipe was actually whipped up mainly by the HUBS, so I can't take full credit.

Thanks, boo!

It was EASY, flavorful & healthy.

PLUS, you can definitely tweak it to your tasty or modify the ingredients depending on what you have at home.

Ingredients:

Zucchini (spiralized)

Chicken Breast (cooked & shredded)

Pesto Sauce

Mushrooms (sautéed)

Sun Dried Tomatoes

Garlic (minced)

Himalayan Salt + Fresh Pepper

First of all, we spiralized 2 large zucchinis.

Which fed both of us 3 times each.

You could definitely do a quick sauté & season on these, but we decided to go raw with ours & let the topping warm the "noodles!"

We also used two (large) boiled then shredded chicken breasts, which was the perfect amount for two zucchinis.

Sorry this is how I measure.. or don't measure.

It's mostly guesstimating!

In a pan, we sautéed sliced mushrooms with the minced garlic & then added in sun dried tomatoes. The sun dried tomatoes we had were stored in olive oil so we squeezed them out a bit so they weren't saturated!

Then, we tossed in the shredded chicken & coated everything in pesto sauce!

Top off with some red pepper flakes if you like a little SPICE!

This was awesome night one.. & even better as leftovers!

Give it a try & if you make any tweaks, let me know.

I bet some artichoke hearts or sautéed spinach would be AWESOME in here too!

Go crazy.

Growing Ghoens: Week 24 Bump-Date

It's our week 24 bump date & we're officially SIX months into this pregnancy, y'all!

_______________________________________

We kicked things off during week 24 on a video chat with momma's business partners.

Then we dove into work!

We made LOTS of videos this week for some gals (fellow mommas mostly!) who are ready to dive into coaching to serve their families while they help others.

How cool is our job!?

I get to be home with YOU one day, while supporting our family financially, because we're helping women be healthy & start businesses that make a positive impact on other people!!

#BLESSED

Otherwise, this week was full of breakfast food, some exercise (I missed 2 of 7 days), outdoor time & a fun day with family. Your Aunt Tecia & cousin Olivia came to see us from Georgia. ALL 9 of us girls got together for dinner (for THREE hours at Chick Fil A.. HA) to catch up & LAUGH!!

They even got to feel you a couple of times!!

Besides that, we had some mega heartburn, continued insomnia & achy hips/pelvic area.

Ofcourse there are not my favorite symptoms during pregnancy.. but they're awesome, in a way.

It's amazing to me how I haven't really changed my routine much at all, but my body continues to change all on it's own for YOU on a weekly basis.

And these symptoms are just a natural part of that process.

Anyone who thinks our bodies as women aren't MADE & equipped for childbirth is cray.

I was literally MADE to be your momma, baby bear!

On Tuesday we met with a midwife & really liked her.

She encouraged us to pursue a natural birth if that's what we really wanted & explained how she specifically would support us. She told us that the best ways to prepare for your arrival are to learn + practice breathing techniques daily & to research how the female body functions during labor so that I understand the process once we're in it.

I loved something that she said.

"ELIMINATE fear"

She told us not to listen to people's negative/horror stories.

There's truly nothing to fear in birth.

YES, it's going to be the hardest thing I've ever done.

And there will be pain.

But that my hardest experience in life is going to reward me..

..with my GREATEST gift!!

She is SO right..

_______________________________________

Momma's special friend, Hollen, hit her due date this week.

So we decided to take her dinner to make things easier while they wait for their baby boy to arrive. I hope you two will be pals while we live here!!

We are truly so blessed to have such wonderful friends, baby girl.

They love you & pray for you often!

Over the weekend, we got to go sit by our neighbor's pool & do some reading.

Look how much mommy's body is changing!

We're going to need a maternity bathing suit STAT. Check out my belly button.. and widening hips!

Making room for you, little cantaloupe <3 font="" nbsp="">

Your Aunt Uli, Uncle Jeff & cousin Aspen showered you with some special gifts this week too. You even got some cute newborn hand-me-downs you'll get to wear in a few months! Hopefully, we'll get to visit with them again soon.

Your nursery is beginning to feel more & more like YOUR room rather than just A room. It's such a special place in our home now!!

That's it for now, I think.

Next time I post our weekly bump date it's going to be MARCH.. & before we know it, JUNE will be here!!

We're ready for you, babe.

Well, almost.

You keep growing healthy & strong in there.

Take your time.

And come when the time is right.

But we can't wait to smooch you!!

A Peek BACK to Inspire Others: #TransformationTuesday

These aren't the best quality photos, but you get the gist.

The girl on the left partied hard. Drank too much. Was an emotional eater. Had out of whack priorities. Enjoyed the gym, but didn't go enough. And felt SUPER insecure.. even though you would have never known it.

The girl on the right (older & pregnant, actually) enjoys life. Indulges in moderation. Knows healthy ways to cope with emotions/stress. Has more direction in life. Exercises to celebrate her body rather than punishing it for bad choices. And is proud of the woman she is still becoming.

There are a handful of years in between these two photos, but the major differences are.. I put the Lord first, made taking care of myself a priority, grasped the concept of a healthy mind/body/spirit & started pursuing things I love.

I didn't have to hire a personal trainer or life coach (nothing wrong with either).. I simply acknowledged my short-comings, recognized the change I needed, surrounded myself with positive people & did the work.

It wasn't rocket science. I didn't smoke myself on a daily basis.

I made small, consistent changes starting with fitness & nutrition that began to transform myself from the inside-out.

Which, in turn, began to impact the people around me.

Taking care of yourself creates a ripple effect..

Why the heck wouldn't you want to be your best self & help others?

I'm so grateful I took the plunge to change my life a few years ago. Which is positively impacting my family even today..

I only look back now to inspire others to move forward!!

Want to know how I did it & get started too?

Email lindseykollar@yahoo.com to join one of my accountability groups. Next opportunity is the beginning of March so reach out soon!

#TransformationTuesday #GracefullyBalanced

Growing Ghoens: Week 23 Bump Date

It's our week 23 bump date & I can't believe how quickly time is F L Y I N G!

I feel like you must be growing like a weed because our bump is creeping up higher & higher towards my rib cage.

Some mornings when I lay on my back, your kicks seem SO high! I love our morning time together before the day gets started..

Not only did I get to watch you kick this week, but you're moving so much now that my belly sometimes looks like it's doing the wave.

I LOVE it!

I'll try to share a video here sometime..

Our heart is so full, sweet girl.

We were MAJORLY blessed this week by someone from our church {anonymously} who decided to surprise us with your stroller from our registry.

Wow, God is good!!

If you're reading this post, thank you SO much for your generosity & love for our family! This meant more than you know.

See that lamp in your room?

Well, your dad helped pick it out & assembled it after church on Sunday. We sat in your chair to talk about where we should put it.. imagining rocking you to sleep at night & not wanting it's light to hurt your little eyes when you look up at us.

As real as you are to you dad & I, we can't fully imagine what life is going to be like when you're here. You will be our greatest adventure & responsibility.

And we don't take that lightly!!

Tuesday was Valentine's Day, little one.

I joked that I was going to give you a little treat or two because it meant that we both got to eat some of the chocolate covered fruit I made your dad :)

Your papa teej (my daddy) actually sent this little box of snoopy chocolates for the two of us too! He sure does adore you..

What did you think of the steak dinner we whipped up for our date night in?

Your dad was so sweet & cooked our meat extra long to be safe. He doesn't know that we almost lost a tooth eating it.. but it didn't matter to me because I love that he thinks of keeping us safe!!

Wednesday was your MiMi's birthday (my mommy). We spent the day with her having lunch, shopping for wedding dresses (your Auntie Lou is getting married soon) & then talking about the book of Judges in our weekly discipleship group.

We chatted about whether or not you hear us talk about God or read the gospel.

I want nothing more than to plant seeds now that will hopefully blossom one day into a beautiful relationship between you & Christ, sweet girl!

 Check out these sweet "woolies" you got from your Aunt Ali this week!! Your little piggies are going to be comfy & cozy in these precious little booties.

Momma would have never met Ali if it weren't for our coaching businesses.

Her friendship has meant so much to me (I'll tell you about it one day) & I can't wait for her to come scoop you up & meet you. 

Other than that, it was a pretty normal week for us.

Lots of exercising, food (several treats + some new healthy recipes) & time with family.

 I'm having such a fun time in this new season of life connecting with other mommas & mommas to be..

..gaining wisdom from them, building new friendships, helping them get healthy & even showing them how this business we're a part of can change life for their families.

It's simply amazing how God is so at work in every aspect of our lives.

Giving us what we need at the right time & aligning our paths with the right people at the right time.

His hands are all over our family.

Protecting, providing, correcting & directing us.

We surrender you to Him & know there's no safer place to be!!

Here's to wrapping up month 5, baby bear!

Teriyaki Chicken, Veggie & Rice Bowls

Teriyaki Chicken, Veggie & Rice Bowls.. oh my!!

I found this recipe on pinterest earlier in the week to share with the women in my online accountability group (shout out to the gals in my February Virtual Fit Camp). While I was typing it up to share with them, I decided to try it out THAT night because it sounded so good!

I mean, having defrosted chicken already laid out in the fridge just seemed like a sign also.

Right!??

First of all, this was SO darn easy to make.

It seriously took me 30 minutes or less to get EVERYTHING together.

Secondly, this recipe was flavorFULL & guilt free.

There are several substitutions that can be made from the original recipe to tweak it to your taste!

Lastly, you could absolutely make this in bulk for meal prep to eat on the whole week.

And no.. it would NOT get old & boring.

Okay, so the original recipe can be found HERE via GimmeDelicious

These are the instructions from that blog post, but I'll drop my own tips & modifications at the bottom!

Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 12 mins
Total time: 17 mins

Ingredients:

1 lb boneless/skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon oil
2 cups broccoli florets
1 bell pepper, sliced into strips
sesame seeds for garnish (optional)
2 cups cooked brown rice
4 meal prep containers

For the teriyaki sauce:

¼ cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
½ teaspoon sesame oil (optional)
¼ teaspoon ground ginger (optional)

Instructions:

Heat a large pan to medium-high heat. Add chicken, season with salt and pepper and cook until no longer pink 2-3 minutes.

Whisk all the ingredients for the teriyaki sauce in a small bowl.

Add the teriyaki sauce to chicken and cook for 4-5 minutes or until sauce is thick.Remove chicken from heat.

Add the broccoli florets and bell pepper to the same pan. Stir fry for 2-3 minutes or until the bell pepper is slightly softened.

Divide the chicken and broccoli into 4 meal prep containers. Add ½ cup of brown rice into each container. Sprinkle with sesame seeds (optional) and cover. Refrigerate for up to 4 days.

My PERSONAL modifications & tips..

For me personally, recipes are more like guidelines.

I'll peek at the list, see what I have & WING it.

Occasionally I'll substitute based off what I have at home OR just leave things out & hope for the best. Let's just say I'm not a fan of making multiple grocery store runs throughout the week & that fuels my creativity.

Let's start with the chicken!

To cut down on cook time, we chopped the trimmed breasts into SMALL bite-sized pieces. I seasoned them on the cutting board with himalayan sea salt, fresh cracked pepper, garlic powder & some red pepper flakes for heat. For the actual cooking, I browned up those little "nuggets" in coconut oil - I prefer it usually over other oils.

Now, for the veggies.

I went with what I had. And NO. I am not above frozen veggies - I can buy them inexpensive & in bulk at SAMs. I always prefer fresh produce, but use frozen veggies as a secondary option on the regular. This week, I had frozen broccoli florets that I steamed in the microwave with fresh carrots & onion that I minced up & mixed in. Once those veggies were all steamed, I seasoned them a bit & put to the side until everything was done. I then mixed the veggies IN with the chicken & sauce so they too were lightly glazed.

For the sauce, I only made a couple of tweaks.

I used liquid aminos instead of soy sauce (same measurements) & agave nectar instead of honey (same measurements).

As a side/carb, I whipped up a quinoa + brown rice blend. It was a perfect little bed for the teriyaki combo!

Both hubby & I were big fans of this recipe!!

In the future, I'd try a few modifications:

adding green onion or cilantro

using shrimp or lean beef instead of chicken

leaving out meat if I want a lite, ALL veggie meal

subbing peppers, snap peas or cauliflower into the veggie mix.

or tossing some chopped water chestnuts on top for crunch

I really think you could customize this completely to your taste!!

Give it a try & let me know what you think.

Happy, healthy eating, friends.