monster cookie protein balls

​This recipe is from the amazing Elyse Ellis (@elyseaellis on Instagram). I had them first at my bestie Heather’s house, and I was hooked. She shared the recipe, and I shifted it around to accommodate my Crohn’s restrictions (no dairy, gut friendly, etc) and make them lower calorie. This is what I came up with, and They. Are. Bomb. The kids love them. I love them. They’re easy to make and macro friendly. Major win in my book. Mmm.

Recipe: Monster Cookie Protein Balls

Makes 29 scoops

104 Calories ea.

Ingredients:

2 c quick oats
1/4 tsp salt
4 scoops Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
1/4 c mini semisweet chocolate chips
1/8 c mini M&Ms
1 c natural creamy peanut butter
1/2 c honey
1/4 tsp vanilla

Directions: 

Put all into KitchenAid mixer and mix using paddle attachment. Scoop using cookie dough scoop onto parchment paper. Serve immediately or freeze. Enjoy!

easy rotisserie chicken tacos

​This recipe is incredibly easy and quick. My sis Dena introduced us once when we came down to AZ (years before moving here), and we make it all the time. 

Recipe: Easy Rotisserie Chicken Tacos

Ingredients:

Rotisserie chicken

505 green salsa

Avocado

Corn tortillas * 

Limes (opt)

Directions:

Toast up tortillas on a cast iron skillet. (* Alternatively, you could use flour tortillas, lettuce for a wrap situ, etc.) Layer on the chicken, some avocado, and the green salsa. Squeeze a bit of lime juice on top, and enjoy!

white bean chicken chili

I’d never made this before but saw a recipe on Pinterest that sounded super cozy. Unfortunately, it was a stovetop recipe, and I really wanted to be lazy and use my Instant Pot. I looked for an IP recipe and found one that looked good, but I liked parts of the original one (ha). So I decided to kind of create my own using both recipes as inspo. This is what I came up with. Perfect soup for a cold, winter day. Yum.

White Bean Chicken Chili

Serves: 8 adults

Calories: 231/ea (sans toppings)

Ingredients:

1 can Rotel

1 4oz can diced green chilis

3 chicken breasts/thighs

1/2 can corn, drained

3 cans white beans (Great Northern or Cannellini or a mix of both)

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 med onion, diced (or 5 tsp dried minced onion)

2 c chicken broth

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp oregano

1-2 tsp chili powder

Salt & pepper to taste

1 brick (8 oz) cream cheese 

Toppings (optional):

Avocado

Cilantro

Limes

Tortilla strips

Directions:

Put all ingredients (except cream cheese and toppings) in Instant Pot (or any pressure cooker). Cook on high pressure for 10 min, then natural release for another 10 min. Release pressure. Shred chicken. Add cream cheese. Stir well. Serve with toppings. Enjoy!