Coconut Popsicles

I am dyyyying to be back at the beach. Seriously someone please come and kidnap me and take me to the coast! It probably doesn't help that I am writing this with this song on repeat.....


You may have noticed that my coconut love affair is still going strong. I think this is the real thing y'all....like, forever! I mean, we haven't said it to each other yet, but I really feel like coconut may be.... the one.


These popsicles definitely don't hurt that argument. Sweet, creamy, coco-nutty, and uber delicious now that it's a bajillion degrees outside every day. I can eat one of these with my eyes closed and pretend I'm at the beach..... right?

I found this recipe by just doing a google search. I switched it up a little to make it slightly easier on my pocketbook and waistline. Y'all have to try this one- it'd be a great contribution to a 4th of July party!

Coconut Popsicles

adapted from Delish

1 cup sweetened shredded coconut (truthfully, unsweetened would work just fine)

14 oz of Coconut Milk

3/4 cup fat free half & half

1 can (13.5oz) fat-free sweetened condensed milk

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp coconut extract

Blend all ingredients with a hand mixer or blender. pour into popsicle molds and... this is the hard part, put them in the freezer and WAIT for them to set. About 5 hours. I know!

PS- the girls at my summer camp have decided that instead of playing "house" or "school" they're going to play "restaurant", which I am totally digging.
This was one of the menus....

But the best part was when I was working on a newsletter and one of them came up behind me and put this on the table and said "here's your margarita Ms. Susan". LOL how did she know!?!?

Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes

During the school year my working hours are 715am-345pm. This summer I agreed to be the a site director for my district's summer camp and now my hours are 9am-6pm. Huge change- not a fan.


Not having to be in until 9am, you would think that would give me plenty of time to cook a great breakfast every morning....not really. My entire schedule has changed. I can't get to my workout classes until later in the evening now, which means I get home a little later, which means dinner is a little later and bedtime is a little later. Breakfast has now become a throw-together-whatever-I-can-find meal.


My top choices as of late have been:
two eggs in a whole wheat tortilla with melted jalapeno jack cheese
protein oatmeal- protein powder, oats, coconut milk, shredded coconut
Greek yogurt and frozen fruit smoothie
or a bowl of cereal which I know will leave me hungry again in an hour.

These babies, which I of course found on Pinterest, now join that list! They were quick to throw together, super filling, and tasty! Since they cook on a lower heat and the batter is a bit thicker than normal pancakes, I was able to get dressed and fix my hair while they were cooking. A breakfast that lets your multi-task! Love it.

Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes
adapted from Biggest Loser Recipes

3 egg whites
1/2 cup rolled oats- dry
1/2 cup greek yogurt (I used peach)
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Blend all ingredients together with a blender or hand held blender, this is a MUST. Heat non-stick skillet over medium-low heat and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Pour batter into pan about 1/4 cup at a time. Flip when they start to bubble (may be 2 mins or so) Cook until both sides are golden brown, respraying the pan each time.
I topped mine with some Apple Butter, mmm mmm tasty!
*NOTE- these will be thicker than normal pancakes, they will also have a different texture than normal pancakes because they're made with oatmeal instead of flour. My recipe made me 3 good sized pancakes, but you can certainly make them smaller or double the recipe.

Another Tip Worth Passing Along- WATER edition

It's been Damn Hot here lately. Mid to upper 90's every day and some days have been muggy and humid, so it was no surprise to find a Tip of the Week from My Fit Foods in my inbox a few days ago that concentrated solely on the importance of hydration. I found the email interesting and wanted to -again- pass it along. Enjoy!

*As always, MyFitFoods does not pay me in any form, I just find some of their tips to interesting, relevant to many people, or just plain educational so I pass them along. You're welcome.

My Fit Foods: "Tip of the Week" Are you Pouring on the Pounds?

Don't Drink Yourself Fat! One thing you may be overlooking every day in your quest to be healthy and feel your best is HYDRATION.     It is very easy to go through your day - have a glass of tea here and there, drink a water bottle or two, and then think you are hydrating just fine.  That is not the case.  Most of us are chronically dehydrated and even worse - we substitute with things like tea, coffee, alcohol, fruit juices, and other higher calorie beverages that end up dehydrating us even further and packing on the pounds.  These beverages are also processed quickly by the body, spiking your blood sugar.   Check out these drinks: 12 ounces orange juice - 135 calories 12 ounces cola - 150 calories 12 ounces Red Bull - 165 calories 12 ounces whole milk - 215 calories 12 ounces beer - 150 to 200 calories Starbucks Venti Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha - 700 calories Long Island Iced Tea - 780 calories Margarita - 740 calories McDonald's Chocolate McCafe Shake (15.8 ounces) - 880 calories Smoothie King's The Hulk Strawberry (40 ounces) - 2,070 calories   Americans now consume 450 more calories a day in beverages and that is twice the calories that we did 30 years ago.  Unfortunately, this is all leading to a chronically dehydrated and overfed nation which is contributing to our obesity and disease epidemic.  After all, our bodies are on average 70 % water (80% when we are born), our blood 90% water, and our brains 80% water.  Wouldn't it make sense that hydration is just imperative?   Check out these symptoms of chronic dehydration:   ·         Weight Loss Resistance ·         Fatigue ·         Constipation - not eliminating at least once a day ·         Difficulty concentrating, memory lapses ·         High Blood Pressure ·         Acid-Alkaline Imbalance ·         Cravings and Overeating ·         Premature Aging, Wrinkles ·         Leg Cramps and Muscle Twitches   Our 21 Day Challenge eliminates caffeine and alcohol for 21 Days because we know that re-hydrating the body will kick start the metabolism (as well as the many other tricks up our sleeve).  Drinking .5 to 1 full ounce of water per body pound is the key.  So, if you weigh 200 pounds, you will need to drink at least 100 ounces of water daily.  That is approximately 3 liters a day bare minimum.  If you drink any coffee or tea or exercise daily - add another liter just to be safe.  The goal is clear urination but keep in mind - if you take ourDaily Fit Packs (Multi, Antioxidant, Fish Oil, Cinnamon, and Milk Thistle) - which by the way is the ultimate metabolism and anti-aging support, then you will have bright yellow urine due to a byproduct of the B vitamin - Riboflavin.    The quality of water you drink is of the utmost importance.  The amount of chlorine in today's tap water impairs thyroid function and that is definitely "Drinking Yourself Fat".  A water filtration system is an improvement but if you want the best in the country - check outMountain Valley Spring Water.  Its purity, its mineral content, and its pH are the best thing you can put in your body daily.  Our My Fit Water is bottled by the Mountain Valley people.  And we couldn't be more proud of that fact.  The best water in the USA! Stay hydrated this summer My Fit Nation!   Yours in Health, Meg McCall, B.S., M.S. Candidate in Human Nutrition   Resources:  Batmanghelidj, F.MD, Water for Health, for Healing, for Life, Warner Books, 2003  Amen, Daniel, MD, The Amen Solution, The Secret to Being Thinner, Smarter, Happier, 2011

Strawberry Orange Yogurt Cake w/Honey Whipped Cream

My friend Leah from Food for the Fresh is guest posting this drool-worthy recipe. My words cannot even begin top describe her tasty creations... so I'll let her do it!

Sweet Green Pea Humm-ish

Honestly, I was skeptical about this one.
I thought "What do I eat this with? Chips? But it's sweet... hhmm, should I eat it on carrots? Well, that seems silly... eating one vegetable with another......" Ponder, ponder, ponder. Searches through the fridge, freezer, and pantry. Twice. (because obviously in my shoebox sized kitchen I could have missed something the first time)....... "Okay, well aside from a spoon, chips it is!"


Dip. Crunch.
Dip. Crunch.
Bigger dip. Crunch, crunch.
Dip, crunch, dip, crunch, dip, crunch.


"And now I've eaten half the bowl....."


You really need to try this stuff. The salt from the chips really highlights the sweet from the peas. I greedily ate every bit of this myself, double dipping and finger sucking as I went.

Sweet Green Pea Humm-ish
Adapted from Simply Recipes

1/2 tbs evoo
1/4 cup chopped onion - mine was a little more
1 cup frozen petite peas
1/2 cup water
2 tbs tahini
1 tbs sour cream- or plain greek yogurt
black pepper to taste

In a small pot, saute the onion in evoo until translucent. Add the peas and water, cover and bring to a boil, then reduce and let simmer for about 5 mins. Drain the peas and onion. Pour into a food processor or blender and add in tahini, sour cream, and black pepper. Pulse until pureed. Serve very chilled with salty tortilla chips.

*Tip: for a more creamy puree, add a touch more sour cream- more tahini will make it more nutty tasting.