Quest Protein Review

Hello!

I'm really excited to share yet another Quest review with you! I've tasted a few protein bars before, not that many, but so far my favorite has probably been the Quest bars. :) I love that Quest makes their products taste so good that you actually crave them. I've heard or read many times that people just can't find a delicious tasting snack, but you won't have to feel like that once you try Quest!

To start, I would like to once again thank Quest for so generously sending us these products to review. :) It has been a super enjoyable experience for the Nutrisimo crew to taste each of the amazing protein bars! Eager to know how they taste? Great, keep reading! 

Like this? Go see the original review: Brownie Bites

I was really looking forward to trying the Strawberry Cheesecake Quest bar, and I was not disappointed. Yes, the Quest bars have been raved about, and you may wonder if they are really as good as people say. My answer is 'yes.' They are absolutely fantastic! You'd never think that a protein bar could really have the flavors that these do - it is incredible. Not just are the flavors amazing, but the ingredients are good for you! Take a look at the Strawberry Cheesecake nutrition facts below:

 The Strawberry Cheesecake Quest bar was so unique from the other bars. It had a really fruity flavor on behalf of the strawberry, but not so much of cheesecake. If I could improve this bar, I would strengthen the cheesecake flavor and make the texture of the bar a little creamier. The taste was definitely similar to the White Chocolate Raspberry Quest bar, but I personally preferred  the Strawberry Cheesecake bar to the other. I did microwave this bar for about 17 seconds, which really enhanced the flavors, but I'm sure it would be really tasty without microwaving it too! :) This bar would be perfect used in a cookie recipe to give it a creamy texture and berry flavor. I was very pleased that this bar didn't contain any sucralose, since some of their other bars do, so that was an extra bonus! Overall, I highly enjoyed this bar and would say it's definitely a keeper!! 

P.S. Keep reading, because Michaela is going to share with you her thoughts of the Quest bars...

Love,

Olivia

Courtesy of: http://www.browniebites.net/opinions-quest-bar-protein-bars/#comments

Before I start- it's Michaela! The Quest bar that I'm going to tell you about is the Vanilla Almond Crunch. Ready for my insight on another of Quest's products? Keep reading!

Okay, I feel like I keep on saying this, but I was really anticipating trying this bar. It just looked good from the wrapper. Anyway, I didn't use it in a recipe, because I just wanted to get the un-tampered flavor of the bar. Again, I microwaved it for around 17 seconds to bring out the flavor. And it was  delicious! 

Courtesy of: Living, Learning, Eating

What I love about Quest bars is that when you open them up, instantly an amazing flavor wafts from the package. It was very unique from the other bars because it didn't have that fruit flavor; however, it had a great vanilla taste in it, and even some crunchy almond bites were spread throughout the bar - very unique! I loved how it was creamy and crunchy all at once- definitely a winner. :)

I'm completely serious when I say this, but this Quest bar didn't even taste like a protein bar! It tasted like I was eating dessert. :) This would make a delicious treat to have once in a while before or after your workout. 

Love, love this pic. Thank you, A Spoonful of Sunshine!!

There are also some recipes that use this bar on Quest Nutrition's YouTube channel that look really good, so I'd suggest looking there if you want to make it in a recipe. Following are two of the videos I found that use this bar. 

Love,
Michaela

Peanut Butter Protein Shake

Happy Monday! :)

I thought I'd share one of my favorite shakes with you, before I go for my morning run.
This is just a quick little post, so I hope you enjoy it.

I love having a protein shake for breakfast. Shakes are quick to make, and this particular shake is delicious and satisfying. You can use any protein powder you want for this recipe. I recommend a vanilla whey protein, but use whatever you like. I just so happen to use whey, but I'm sure this would taste great with a soy protein or some form of vegan protein as well. Whatever you've got - use it! :)

Now sometimes this shake comes out like thick, creamy, ice cream. Other times ... it comes out a bit icy and more in a liquid form. I think the trick to making this thick and creamy, is using a frozen banana. I have tried it with a fresh banana, and it never tastes nearly as good. I highly recommend using a frozen ripe banana. If it's not frozen... well, I guess you'll see how it comes out.

Also, make sure that you put 1 cup of ice. If you put too little ice, it won't be as thick and cold. If you use too much, it will be more icy and not creamy. 

Well, that's all for now. I hope you try this super simple and incredibly delicious shake. I'm telling you, this is not only perfect for refueling after your workout, but this is a great meal replacement, breakfast, snack, or... dessert. This cures my sweet tooth like nothing else. Yeah. It's awesome.

Have a fabulous week and may God bless you exceedingly and abundantly this day! Please remember to comment and let me know how you liked this shake, and don't forget to subscribe to the blog! Thanks!

Lots of Love,

Mariah

Healthy Homemade Granola Bars

Granola bars are one of my very favorite snacks.

They are satisfying, delicious, healthy, and easy to grab when you're in a rush. Granola bars can be extremely basic and quick, or they can be sweet and flavorful. There is so much you can do with a granola bar. You can eat them just as they are, or crumble them over your yogurt or ice cream. They are the perfect complement to a steaming cup of cocoa, coffee, or tea. Granola bars are also fabulous snacks for the road because they aren't too messy, and are really filling. Overall, I love granola bars.

However, I must clarify that I am not a fan of all granola bars. I have found that many granola bars contain high fructose corn syrup or other harmful ingredients. Besides that, why spend money buying granola bars, when you can enjoy the experience of making your own healthy bars at home?

Not only will you be saving money, but you will also be sparing your body of all those unhealthy ingredients. I have an awesome granola recipe for you to try today. I have tried a variety of granola bar recipes in the past, but this one is by far my favorite.

Have some fun with this recipe and experiment with your favorite flavors. You can really get creative and customize this recipe to your preference. As a peanut butter lover, I would recommend adding that heavenly goodness to this recipe. If you are a choco-holic, you can add chocolate chips/chunks, or you could even try adding cocoa powder. I'm sure you could even make these into pumpkin granola bars if you like.

Granola Bars

• 1/4 c. canola oil
• 1/4 c. applesauce
• 1/2 c. packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1 c. all-purpose flour (or whole wheat)
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 c. old-fashioned oats
• 1 1/4 c. crispy rice cereal
• 1 c. mixed nuts
• 1 c. raisins

In a bowl, mix together the oil, sugar, vanilla, and egg. Next add in your dry ingredients.

When they are thoroughly combined, add in your raisins and nuts. If you are adding chocolate chips, now would be the time to add those in. Next press the granola mixture into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned.

This recipe should yield about 24 granola bars. When your granola is done baking, let it cool for about 5 minutes, and enjoy!

I hope that you love this recipe as much as I do - or more! Please let me know how you liked it once you tried it. If you have any questions or suggestions, please comment and let me know. I am so eager to hear how you guys liked it, so once you make these granola bars, please remember to tell me how they turned out. Thanks!

These granola bars would make a lovely gift. You could make them a bit sweeter - maybe add some chocolate chips - and wrap them up beautifully and tie them with a ribbon perhaps. These are great for packing in your school lunch-box, or as an after-school snack. When and where do you like to eat your granola bars?

Question of the Day:

What is your favorite granola bar? 

(I like Nature Valley peanut butter crunch.)

Zucchini Muffins

Today I have one of my favorite muffin recipes to share with you!

When the weather gets cool and fall begins to arrive, I love sipping on chai tea and eating warm muffins. My favorite types of muffins are corn, pumpkin, and zucchini. I thought I'd share my delicious zucchini muffin recipe today, so let's get baking!

You will need:

3 c. all purpose flour (or whole wheat)

1 1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. oil

1/2 c. applesauce

1 c. water

3 eggs

1 tbsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. cloves

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 c. shredded zucchini

1/2 c. chopped walnuts

1 c. raisins

Gather your ingredients and preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. 

In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar, water, eggs, and spices. Mix together thoroughly. 

Next you will add in your raisins, walnuts, and zucchini. Stir till everything is equally combined. Using a large spoon, scoop your batter into your muffin tins. Be sure to spray them! This recipe makes about 18 muffins. When the oven is ready, just pop them in and let them bake for 20 minutes or until done. I usually touch them to feel their firmness and test them with a knife or toothpick.

Let them cool and then enjoy!

I hope that you like this recipe. I absolutely love it! The walnuts make these extra delicious. You can have fun with this recipe and add some chocolate chips, maybe replace walnuts with pecans or do a mixture. I've heard of zucchini carrot muffins before. Perhaps you could use 1 cup of zucchini and 1 cup of carrots.

Please let me know how you liked these muffins, and if you made any adjustments.

I bet they would taste fabulous with some semi-sweet chocolate chips! If you add those please tell me how you liked them.

Thanks! Have a fabulous day and may God bless you exceedingly and abundantly.

Lots of Love,

Mariah

Perfect Snaque for Breakfast

Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but that doesn't mean it has to be huge! Sometimes I am not very hungry in the morning, and a I prefer to have a light breakfast that will satisfy but not stuff me. It is on such morning that I like to have a refreshing bowl of fruit and yogurt. Parfaits are absolutely incredible, and in my opinion are one of the best breakfast options. Yum!

Besides the fruit you can add to your yogurt, you can also enjoy some crunchy granola.

My sister makes fabulous granola. She just throws it together and broils it in the oven, so it's hard to say what she does. She really doesn't have a recipe, but it always tastes amazing. I'll have to see if I can get her to write down what she does so I can share it with you. It is soooo delicious! I love it so much, that once she made me my very own jar of it. (She's super sweet!)

Today I wanted to share with you a breakfast from a while back. I've been meaning to post this forever, so I don't have the granola anymore, but I thought I would share with you a yummy breakfast or snack idea. Try the Perfect Snaque with some vanilla flavored or plain yogurt. I really like it.

About a month ago, I was introduced to the Perfect Snaque by one of my favorite healthy living bloggers, Anna Stocker. She has great recipes, and her blog is very inspirational, so definitely check her out: http://healthylivingmaintenance.tumblr.com/

She loves the Perfect Snaque products, and thanks to her, I was able to try one. I received the Almond Quinoa Crunch from the Perfect Snaque, and it was really good.

I had it over my yogurt once, and another time I had it just as cereal with some 1% milk.

I really liked it as a cereal, but the yogurt was delicious too. I'm sure this would be great in a parfait. It's very crunchy and has a nice flavor. It is a mixture of toasted coconut, almonds, sprouted lentils, and quinoa. I was surprised that their were lentils in this mix, but they were surprisingly good. 

Besides being all natural and super healthy, it also cured my sweet tooth. I had 1/4 cup of the Almond Quinoa Crunch with 1/2 cup of yogurt, 1 tbsp. chocolate chips, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. It was really delicious!

Well, that's all for now! Check back tomorrow for an upper-body workout I'll be posting.

Have an awesome day and may God bless you! :)

Love & Grace,

Mariah

Game Day Goodies

Today I have such an amazing recipe to share with you.

This snack is healthy, simple, and so delicious! It's perfect for parties, picnics, family gatherings, tailgates, game-days, or whenever you want a tasty morsel.

I made this snack yesterday and it was gone in about 5 minutes! You'll probably want to make a double batch so they last a bit longer. :)

If you ever read my post "10 Healthy Snack Ideas," then you'll remember I shared a recipe for vegan goldfish crackers. I made those for my brother's birthday in June, and everyone loved them. The other day, I was thinking about those delicious crackers, and decided to adjust the recipe a bit, and create my own design. The inspiration for these crackers came from the lovely Taralynn. She is having a Game Day Recipe Contest, so that was my motivation for making these. ;)

FOOTBALL CRACKERS:

• 1 c. whole wheat flour
• 2 tbsp. yeast
• 1/4 tsp. onion powder
• 1/8 tsp. turmeric (slightly rounded)
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 5 tbsp. oil
• 3 tbsp. water

You will be making this in your food processor (a blender should work), so gather your ingredients and let's begin! First off, pour all of your dry ingredients into the food processor. Then secure the lid and turn on your processor. Allow the dry ingredients to mix well before stopping.

Next, add in your 5 tbsp. of oil. We were low on olive oil so I used Canola oil. However, you can use whatever oil you like, I don't think it will alter the result. Now pulse the dry ingredients with the oil about 15x or until crumbly. Then add the water and pulse until the mixture just comes together.

Lightly flour your surface, and place the dough there. I never use a rolling pin, but if you  prefer to, then by all means use one. With your hands (or rolling pin) spread out the dough. I like my crackers to be thin and crispy. If you like your crackers a bit thicker, then don't press out the dough too much. Press it out according to your desired thickness.

Once the dough is pressed out, it's time to cut out our shapes. I didn't have a football cookie cutter, so at first my footballs didn't really look like footballs. However, my very clever sister came to the rescue and cut out a football shape from a stiff bookmark.

We pressed the cut-out onto the dough and traced it with a sharp knife. We then drew a line down the middle and about five little slashes through it to make it look like a football.

Once we finished cutting out the crackers, we popped these in the oven for about 15 minutes. You will want to bake these at 350 degrees. Once they are crispy and slightly browned, pull these out and let them cool. That's all there is to it! You now have some cute and crispy crackers to crunch on.

While these are cooling, you can make this next delicious recipe!

WHITE BEAN HUMMUS

• 1 can cannellini beans (or 2 cups)
• 1 handful fresh basil (or 1 1/2 tsp. dried)
• 2 large cloves garlic
• 2 tsp. balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 tbsp. lemon juice (or one lemon)
• 1 large tablespoon (like for eating) tahini

Put all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.

This hummus is perfect for veggie dipping! Slice up some peppers, carrots, celery, zucchini... all your favorite vegetables, and enjoy this amazing snack! Now if you are going to make this for a game-day gathering, make the cute football crackers and serve them with this dip. It will definitely be a crowd-pleaser. It is oh-so-good. You will definitely be making this recipe again and again. [WARNING: May be addicting.]

Words cannot describe how absolutely fantastic these crackers & hummus are. They are a taste sensation. We added a bit more garlic to the hummus, and it had such wonderful flavor. We also added fresh basil, which really makes the flavor pop. Yummy goodness, that's what this is. Do yourself a favor and go make this amazing snack now.

Please let me know when you try it. I am so eager to hear how you like the crackers and hummus. If you make this for a game day get-together, please share your success stories, I would love to hear them! Thank you so much for reading! I hope you love these as much as my family does.

God bless you today and always! Have a marvelous day filled with the joy of the Lord.

Lots of Love,

Mariah

Thursday Nibbles

Well, it's Tuesday, and I promised you a post on Thursday.
I guess better late than never, but I am truly sorry for taking so long to share this post with you. Here are a few pictures and some quick descriptions to give you an idea of a low-carb, clean-eating day.

Breakfast was amazing! I had Banana Bliss Pancakes (as I have come to call them.)
They were soooo good, and I will definitely be making them again.

For lunch I had a plate full of greens! :)
I had a bit of salad, some green beans with garlic, and cucumber salad.

Shortly afterward, I was ready for my snack, so I had 2 tbsp. of raisins, 12 almonds, and a steaming cup of green tea.

Then, about an hour before we headed to soccer practice, I had 1 tsp. of peanut butter, a banana, and a cup of milk. 

I never got a picture of my dinner, but I had more cucumber salad, and about 3/4 can of tuna.

It was a simple day of eating, but very satisfying and rewarding. I felt wonderful filling up on healthy foods and limiting my carb intake.

Well, thank you for reading this long-overdue post. :)

If you want to see more posts like this, let me know. I would be happy to share with you some meal plans for a clean-eating day, low-carb days, or any such things. Just comment below to let me know!

Have a wonderful Tuesday! May God bless you exceedingly and abundantly today.

Lots of Love,

Mariah

Peanut Butter Banana Bites

I shared this recipe with you in my "What I Ate Wednesday" post, but I though that this recipe deserved it's own page. :) As I said last night, I was really craving a pb&j. However, since I had committed to two days of no wheat, I couldn't succumb to that desire. I decided to get creative, and find a way I could eat some peanut butter without going overboard, and without breaking my bread-free decision.

What immediately came to mind were frozen banana coins with peanut butter. Sadly, I had no frozen bananas, so that wasn't an option. The bananas in the fruit basket were still slightly green, but I needed something, so they had to work.

I peeled the banana, ate half, and sliced up the other half. Then I took a butter knife and spread a thin layer of peanut butter over four banana coins. On the other four (I had eight in total) I spread a bit of strawberry jam. Then I joined the two together and secured them with a toothpick.

My banana coins were very slippery - I think it had something to do with their being a bit green still - so it was a little difficult to spread the peanut butter and jelly. If you use a ripe banana, I don't think you will have any trouble.

Originally, I wasn't planning on adding the cottage cheese; but the plate looked a bit empty, and it needed a finishing touch. So, I spooned a heaping tablespoon of cottage cheese onto the center of the plate and sprinkled everything with cinnamon.

These were quick to make and very satisfying. They weren't sweet, but they took away my craving for a peanut butter sandwich, so that was wonderful. As I mentioned before, you could make these more like a dessert by adding some form of chocolate. It does seem like chocolate makes everything better. :)

Well, I hope you enjoy this little snack/treat. Please let me know if you try them, and what adjustments you made - if you make any. Have an awesome day and may God bless you!

Lots of Love,

Mariah

What I Ate Wednesday

As I was sipping on my green tea, I thought it would be the perfect time to share with you what I have eaten today. Over these next few days, I shall be focusing more on consuming fruits, veggies, and protein. Please don't misunderstand me, carbs are wonderful and important for a healthy body. However, I have discovered that my body responds better to a more veggie-full diet. It has been my observation, that by eating mostly fruits/veggies and protein, I feel lighter/leaner, more energized, and definitely healthier.

Eating wholesome carbs (brown rice, oatmeal, whole wheat bread) in balance is absolutely wonderful, and I am not recommending omitting them from your diet. Honestly, I love carbs... and maybe a bit too much. It's not hard too consume to many, and even if you are eating healthy, wholesome carbs, in needs to be in moderation. 

Personally, if my typical day was like this, I know I wouldn't feel too great. 

Breakfast: Oatmeal

Snack: Banana, 7 almonds

Lunch: Peanut butter & jelly sandwich, salad

Snack: Green tea, granola bar

Dinner: Baked sweet potato, 1c. broccoli, grilled chicken

Dessert: 2 tbsp. chocolate chips w/ popcorn

Eat-clean/Be-lean Day

Breakfast: Chai tea, banana pancakes, 1 c. mixed berries

Snack: Green tea, 10 almonds, 1 tbsp. raisins

Lunch: 2 hard boiled eggs, large salad

Snack: 1/2 c. cottage cheese, 1/4 c. applesauce

Dinner: Grilled chicken, 1/2 c. brown rice, 1 c. broccoli

Dessert: Low-fat frozen yogurt w/ berries

Anyway, I figured that sharing each meal/snack with you, would keep me accountable. I'll just be posting some picture with a brief description. If you want the recipe for anything, let me know. Otherwise, I do not intend to post these recipes.

So, here's my breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner, and treat!

8:30 A.M.

This morning I was rushing to get my breakfast. I had planned on having a veggie omelet, but with all the rushing I got confused and my omelet became a veggie scramble. First I sauteed my veggies. I had 1/2 onion, garlic, some corn, and mushrooms. Then in a sprayed pan I mixed 1 large egg with 1 tbsp. of salsa. I ate the eggs over the veggies, and then topped it off with another tablespoon of salsa, and a sprinkle of feta cheese as a garnish. :)

I forgot to snap a picture of the rest of my meal, but I had 12 almonds and 1 tbsp. of raisins. Then for lunch I had this fantastic salad. Oh my, beans are sooo good on salad.

They are a great source of protein for those times when you don't want eggs or meat.

12:00 P.M.

This salad was just so scrumptious! I put white beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans over my salad. I don't know how much salad I had, but I had about 1 cup of beans.

I ate this with my favorite balsamic dressing. Yum!

I started getting hungry at around 2:30, so I made myself some turkey tomato roll-ups, and a cup of green tea. It was a the perfect light snack to hold me over.

2:30 P.M.

I took four slices of turkey, and covered them with sliced tomato. Then I squirted some mustard over them and rolled them up. This snack was inspired by Cassey Ho at Blogilates.com.

Okay, here's the last one! For dinner I had another salad - no beans this time - and a little banana treat. Everyone was eating peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, and I wanted one so badly! I didn't give in to the craving though, I found a way to satisfy my desire without the bread!

These peanut butter banana bites hit the spot! My pb&j craving vanished. It' so rewarding to create healthy alternatives. :) I didn't know what to call these babies. They are mini pb&j sandwiches on banana, with a cottage cheese and cinnamon dip. Anyway, they're delicious, so next time you're craving a peanut butter & jelly sandwich, try this!

Now let's all just admire how cute these are and how wonderfully these pictures came out!

I sliced one banana, ate half before, and used the other half for these sandwiches.

I didn't measure anything this time. I'd guess I used about 1 tbsp. of peanut butter and 
1 tbsp. of strawberry jam. I used a heaping tablespoon of cottage cheese for the center dip, and sprinkled them with cinnamon.

I am so pleased with how these came out! They look so gourmet! Wow! Please try these and let me know how you like them. They are a perfect snack or a nice little treat for your sweet tooth. Of course you can make these even more like a desert by adding chocolate shavings, chocolate sauce, or maybe chocolate chips. If you have any other ideas on how to make these a healthy dessert, please comment below and share your thoughts.

Well, goodnight! I hope that your Wednesday was wonderful and filled with all the blessings of our Lord. :) Check back tomorrow for more healthy recipes! I will be sharing my Thursday meals with all of you. Also, I am going to my brother's soccer practice tomorrow, and will share with ya'll the exercises I'll be doing with my sis. :)

Lots of Love,

Mariah