Pure Fitness Nutrition Meal Replacement Bar Review

I'm on the go a LOT with a full time job, church responsibilities, blogging and other errands. I can't always get a healthy meal in and stopping at McDonald's or Wendy's gets old after awhile. When I was given the opportunity to try some meal replacement bars, I jumped at the chance. This seemed like a product made just for me!

These protein bars from Pure Fitness Nutrition are 100% natural and pack 25 grams of protein into each bar, are low calorie and gluten free which is what most of us are looking for.

The three bars I was sent were:

• Peanut Butter Jelly Crunch
• Dark Chocolate Cranberry
• Banana Chocolate Nut

The first I tried was the Peanut Butter Jelly Crunch. I'm all about anything peanut butter so this was the one I ate first. It was good, not overly sweet and quite chewy. In fact the bar is quite large for me and I only ate half of it at my first sitting. I wrapped it up and it was just as fresh the next day. This bar definitely filled me up while sitting at my desk at work. I ate the bar instead of my normal yogurt for breakfast and it did the job.

The next one, the Dark Chocolate Cranberry blended two of my favorite flavors; dark chocolate and cranberry. Hubby hates both so I knew this bar was mine..... all mine! I liked the combination of sweet cranberries and how it contrasted with the dark chocolate flavor. Again, this bar is large and a bit heavy so I only ate half at a time. Seriously, it is filling! Each bar has 3 grams if fiber so that's part of it.

The last one, Banana Chocolate Nut was probably my least favorite, but it's probably because I prefer my bananas in their natural peel and not really any other way. I'm not even a big fan of banana bread! I know, odd right? Anyone who is a fan of banana bread, banana milkshakes and the like will probably gobble this right up. It was good, but I liked the other two much better.

So my final thought is this: for $18.99 for a pack of 6 or $29.99 for 12, it's not a bad deal at all and it's better then hitting the drive thru and paying twice that for an unhealthy meal that would not leave you satisfied. If you are interested in purchasing your own, go to their website and look around. They have several other flavors aside from the three I tried and I'm sure there is something there for everyone.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

8 Great Recipes for a Memorial Day Barbecue

With the Memorial Day holiday coming up and the weather getting warmer by the day, now is a great time to gather family and friends for an outdoor party.

Not sure what to make? I'm always looking for new grill ideas and after a quick trip around the My Recipe Magic and a look back into my archives, I have some great recipes to share that are sure to please everyone.

Turkey Burgers with Cilantro Mayo by Lori's Culinary Creations 

If you're in a fishy mood, here is a recipe for Orange Grilled Salmon found over on Favorite Family Recipes

A great vegetarian option would be the Grilled Italian Polenta found on Dancing Carrots blog. 

 

A nice side dish is some Marinated and Grilled Broccoli by Lori's Culinary Creations

Or a flavorful Zucchini Pesto Pasta Salad from Little Kitchen Big Flavors. 

Who doesn't love a traditional potato salad. Here's a Fully Loaded potato salad by Good Recipes Online

And for dessert, how about some Cherry Lime Cupcakes from Home in the Finger Lakes?

Or a Fresh Cherry Tart from What's Cooking with Ruthie

WIth all these new recipes, you will be sure to have a fun Memorial Day barbecue and build some lasting memories with your friends and family.

Hamburger Pasta Casserole

Pasta, pasta, pasta!!  So easy to make, so versatile to use. The possibilities are endless especially when you have a plethora of leftovers that need to be eaten and the family is hungry. I had this challenge earlier this week. So where did that evenings culinary adventure take me? It took me to a casserole dish that combined an earlier spaghetti recipe with a pound of hamburger and some leftovers and turned it into a delicious dinner that can also be a freezer meal for a later date. But that did not happen here since hubby gobbled up the leftovers. So no freezer meal for me. 

Ingredients

8 oz Angel Hair pasta
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced

1 lb lean hamburger meat 
1 teaspoon dried Thyme
1/2 of a 15 oz can of tomato sauce
3/4 cup fat free sour cream 
Half of a 10 oz package frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
3/4 cup low fat cheddar cheese, divided
3/4 cup low fat Monterrey jack cheese, divided

For complete nutrition information, click the magic button  

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a large pot of boiling water, cook the pasta according to package directions. I usually put a teaspoon of olive oil and some garlic in the boiling water. The oil keeps the pasta from sticking and the garlic adds flavor. Drain and set aside.

In a large deep skillet, heat the olive oil and add the chopped garlic. Cook until fragrant. Add the ground beef and crumble it while cooking. Drain any excess fat before going on to the next step.

Stir in the tomato sauce (you can use jarred pasta sauce too if you would like), the sour cream, thyme and salt and pepper. Stir until beef is covered with the sauce mix.

Mix 1/4 cup of each cheese with the pasta and arrange the mix in the bottom of a large baking dish. 

Next, layer the spinach on the top of the pasta then the beef mix.  Top with the remaining cheese and the panko bread crumbs. 

Bake in the oven for 30 minutes. I like my panko topping golden brown, so I turned on the broiler to high and cooked it an additional 3 minutes. Perfect!!

Boy was this good! My original plan was to freeze half of this for a later date, but hubby made sure that wasn't going to happen!! With this dish, it's an all in one meal. You've got your meat, veggies and pasta. The cheese within the pasta base gave it more flavor and the chunks of spinach was delicious. This meal is sure to please the entire family, even those who are not spinach fans. 

Rachael Ray 4.25-Qt. Casseroval Dish (Google Affiliate Ad)

Atlas Marcato Pasta Machine (Google Affiliate Ad)

Certified International Roma 5-Pc. Pasta Bowl Set (Google Affiliate Ad)

Banana Buckwheat Pancakes

I'm always looking for good recipes for pancakes since hubby loves pancakes and I love fruit. I've always said why not combine fruit into my pancake recipes and have the best of both worlds? Since I took a grains and flours class last summer, I've tried incorporating buckwheat flour into my regular recipes for breads, cupcakes and pancakes. Buckwheat is a wonderful substitute for all-purpose flour in my recipes and it's better for you too. For today's pancakes, I added bananas and the result was a delicious pancake that was a big hit at my house. 

Ingredients
1 cup buckwheat flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons sugar (optional)

1 egg, beaten

1 cup 1% milk

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 banana, sliced thin, then in half to form half moon shapes

a little butter, as needed to prepare the pan

Directions
In a large bowl, combine buckwheat flour, baking powder, salt and sugar (if you choose to use). Whisk these dry ingredients together.

One at a time, add the egg, milk and oil to the dry mix, blending well after each addition. Add the sliced banana and stir together. 

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the small amount of butter and after the butter melts, pour 1/4 cup of pancake batter for each pancake into the greased skillet. 

Cook each pancake for 1-2 minutes, or until the edges look brown and bubbles break the surface. I find buckwheat pancake batter to be thinner then regular flour batter, so don't be surprised if your pancake is thinner then what you are used to.  Flip the pancakes and cook on other side for about a minute, or until cooked through. Serve immediately.

I served mine with more sliced banana and a couple of strips of bacon. Hubby just has to have bacon with breakfast. These pancakes were very good and the chunks of banana made each bite just heavenly! You would never realize this was not made with regular flour, with the exception that they are thinner. But no worries... they are just as good and your family will absolutely love this pancake recipe!

T-Fal Giant Pancake Pan (Google Affiliate Ad)
Chef Buddy Pancake Batter Dispenser (Google Affiliate Ad)
Vosges Bacon Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix (Google Affiliate Ad)

Garlic Shrimp over Rice

As faithful readers, you know how often I cook with shrimp. It's been a favorite of mine since I was a kid and it was part of a meal we would eat at a local fish place in Berkeley. CA when I was growing up. As I've grown into an adult, shrimp recipes have always found a way into my ever growing culinary arsenal and I cook it frequently. Coupled with one of my other favorite foods, GARLIC, this is an easy and flavorful meal.

Ingredients:

12 oz medium shrimp, shelled and deveined
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 small shallot, sliced into rings
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

For complete nutrition information, click the magic button

Instructions:
Thoroughly rinse the shrimp and pat them dry with paper towels.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add shallot, garlic and red pepper flakes; saute one minute. Increase heat to high. Add shrimp and paprika. Paprika has a strong flavor, so if you're not that into it, use less then 1/2 teaspoon Cook, stirring quickly, about 2 - 3 minutes.

Add lemon juice; cook 1 minute more, just until shrimp are pink and cooked through. Sprinkle with parsley and serve over instant white rice and corn for a quick weeknight meal. 

So there you have it. An easy shrimp recipe that comes together quickly on those busy weeknights. Enjoy!

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Hancock Gourmet Lobster Company's Maine Shore Dinner (Google Affiliate Ad)

Crusted Chicken with Zesty Jalapeno Sauce

You know those days when you have just pulled chicken breasts from the fridge and now you're standing there wondering "what would go good with chicken tonight?"  or "baked chicken again? HELP!" There are so many recipes for chicken out there that it can make your head spin.

Well, help is here! I recently had this dilemma and after looking in the fridge so long that my ears started getting cold, I pulled out some leftovers and got to work. This recipe is adapted from Elly Says Opa's recipe but instead of using my popper ingredients as a stuffing, I changed it a bit and made it a sauce to put on top of my chicken. Then my husband said "Let's add bacon" and it went into the sauce as well.

5 strips of bacon
1 cup corn meal
1 egg, beaten
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut lengthwise
1 1/2 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeds removed and diced
1 cup chicken broth
2 cloves of garlic, diced
1/4 cup chive & onion flavored cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup plain cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
For complete nutrition information, click the magic button

Cook the bacon until crispy. Set the bacon fat aside... You'll use it later. Chop the bacon and set it aside.

Heat another large deep skillet with olive oil. 

Put the egg and corn meal in two different coating trays. Dip the chicken pieces in the egg, then into the corn meal. Place the chicken in the skillet and cook over medium heat, turning occasionally, until crust is crispy and chicken is no longer pink on the inside. The best way is to use a food thermometer to ensure it is cooked all the way through.

Meanwhile, in the bacon skillet, heat the bacon fat. Add the jalapenos and cook until soft. Add the chicken broth and garlic, scraping the bottom of the pan to add more bacon flavor. Add both cream cheeses and stir until smooth. Add the cheddar cheese and blend until melted. 

Finally, add the chopped bacon and serve as a sauce over the chicken. 

The chicken turned out to be so very moist and tender with a crispy crust that was very flavorful in itself. The sauce was not as spicy as I thought it would be. Cooking it in the bacon toned down the heat while keeping the jalapeno flavor intact. And using two different cream cheeses gave the sauce a hint of onion and keeping it soft and creamy. 

Now, I cheated and used canned corn as a side dish. It was a "Fiesta Blend" that we found at Big Lots and I think the black beans and peppers added some zest to an otherwise boring side dish. 

So, next time you're standing there in front of the fridge, scratching your head to find a good recipe for chicken, give this one a try. It's juicy chicken with a jalapeno punch. 

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Can't Wait Willow Review & Giveaway

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

About Shine Bright Kids:
The Shine Bright Kids series provides children and their families with a relevant framework to help instill solid values and teach the importance of making good choices. The principles that will be explored include: using good judgment, taking responsibility, having a positive attitude, and demonstrating perseverance.

About the Author: (Recognize the last name Ziglar?!?)
Christy Ziglar, financial planner, mother of twins and niece of legendary motivator and the world’s original optimist, Zig Ziglar, is bringing the same timeless wisdom and ageless advice to an entirely new, younger audience through her new Shine Bright Kids picture book series.Christy is available for Q&A, author interviews, Skype calls, etc.!

The first book in the series: Can't-Wait Willow!
Willow is so excited that the Over-the-Top Circus has finally come to town! The only problem is, that when left to her own devices, she can’t say “no” to some good things. On the way to the show, she is distracted by enticing treats and fun that she just can’t turn down. Willow arrives late and is sad to find that, not only has she has run out of time, but money, and she won’t be able to enjoy the pink cotton candy she’s been dreaming of. Willow is given valuable advice and a second chance and is ultimately taught the lesson that sometimes in life you have to say “no” to good things to end up with something great!

About the Illustrator: 
Thanks to her first grade teacher, who recognized her superior skills in drawing a robin, Luanne Marten has been drawing, painting and sketching ever since. She is a great experimenter and has a fresh, whimsical approach to bring her characters to life.

My thoughts
This book tells a short, simple story about making choices in life. Beautifully illustrated with lots of bright colors, the pictures tell the story along with the words. Willow is faced with choices on her way to the circus she had dreamed about and because of that, she misses out on the day's show. Written on a child's level, the story is easy to understands and teaches the lesson that sometimes you have to say no to eventually get what you want. 

I was a little surprised that Willow's parents are not mentioned in the book. In today's world, not many parents would let their child walk to the circus alone. I found that a bit odd, but since the focus is on Willow and her choices, I can see why she was by herself. Perhaps the author wanted to teach kids that they CAN make good choices even if Mom and Dad are not nearby. 

Connect
Visit the author''s website. The website has great resources to support the book, including a printable poster with 'Ways to Shine Bright,' as well as reward chart you can use at home with your children. There is a wealth of information on there. 
Visit the publisher, Ideals Books website 
Like Ideals Books on Facebook
You can also see a Trailer for the book 

Win your own copy
Thanks to our sponsor, one lucky reader will win their own copy of Can't-Wait Willow. How awesome is that? Just simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below to be entered to win. Giveaway is open from May 10, 2013 to May 24, 2013 and is open to US Residents 18 years and older. Please be sure to complete the mandatory entry for any additional entries to count. Good luck!!

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