Go for the Gold

I'm sitting on my sectional IN MY HOME IN CANADIA. Can't believe my first year at BYU is done!! I've had such an amazing year and met some really (and I mean REALLY) stellar people. Ugh I miss them all already!!

So basically this last couple of weeks have been very crazy. Pretty much everything I thought was happening actually wasn't, and now I'm readjusting my thought process. I've learned A LOT about life and what I want out of it (and a few things I definitely DON'T)!

Some life lessons from Annie as of 2015:

• Go for the GOLD.
• Work Hard, Play Hard.
• FOMO Isn't a Real Thing. 
• Have Courage.
• Be Kind. (I know it's from Cinderella.... stop it. It's the best advice I've probably ever heard)
• Let Love In.

I kind of want to talk about each of these things separately... PROOOOBABLY in different posts ;)

First of all: GO FOR THE GOLD.

Oh my gosh. This one is so real. Through my experiences (and experiences of others I've talked to) it never pays off to listen to ANYONE who tells you to do less, be less, reach less, dream less, or achieve less. If anyone tells you that you can't do it, or that you shouldn't try, or that it's too hard... DON'T LISTEN.

Seriously. It's gunna take too long?? The time's going to pass anyway. And then you'll wish you had done it.

It's too hard? Other people probably have done it... and if they haven't? There's gotta be a first. Why not you??

Here comes the hard one...

You might not make it. True... but then again... you might! And hey, even if you don't... chances are your efforts won't be in vain. You'll learn invaluable lessons. You'll grow. You'll move on and find something even MORE wonderful!!

So seriously guys. Be your very best!! Don't settle for less. Push yourself. Stretch. Be uncomfortable. Pack in all the incredible, wonderful, and astounding things life has in store for you!! You're worth more than you could possibly imagine.

And now? There must be cashew butter.

Coconut Cashew Butter.

LOW CALORIE COCONUT CASHEW BUTTER.

Staaaaaahp.

Coconut Cashew Butter (with optional protein boost!)

Ingredients:
1 Cup Cashew Pieces (I like them roasted AND salted)
3/4-1 Cup Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
3/4 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk (I like Silk!)
1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder (I like Cellucor)
Sweetener to taste (I use Splenda and Truvia Brown Sugar Baking Blend)












Directions:

Put cashew pieces in a food processor and let er rip!! Add the almond milk, protein powder, and sweetener and blend until SMOOOOOOOOTH. Add in the coconut and pulse till combined. I like it super chunky ;)

This recipe is lower calorie, high protein, and DELICIOUS on anything!!

I like it on overnight oats :) and sandwiches. And 1 minute cake. And ice cream. And spoons.


















Much love

xo

Annie

Cookie Dough Cravings

Finals... They're coming here!!

It's my last Monday of the semester and I couldn't be more conflicted!! On one hand... I am SO excited to go back home. I miss the homeland like crazy and can't wait to see everyone... AND sleep in my queen bed! No more twin XL for me!

Buuuut on the other hand.... I'm going to miss this beautiful place!! And in the Summer it is even more stunning. The music, the weather, great food, MY FRIENDS!!! *crying*.... Next year is going to be so different. Tons of my favourites are moving on to the bigger and better (you know who you are!) and while I'm so thrilled for them, I'm going to miss them!!

Missing people is weird. It's like... something I'm not super used to experiencing. I'm pretty accustomed to constantly starting over and making new friends. Friends have always been pretty transient for me. Family has been my constant.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my friends. Always have. And I'm always so so so excited to meet up with people I haven't seen in a while. But active missing? Like that hole in your heart when you don't see them? Not as much.

Things are different now. And that's scary/crazy/wonderful/terrible!! I'm pretty lucky I have people in my life and heart that I can miss :)

Anyway. The real reason we are here: Cookie. Dough. That you can feel great while and after eating. This exists? Yeah baby, it exists. Do I eat it on the daily? But of course. Can YOU?... well, now you can ;)








Single Serving Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Ingredients

2 TBSP coconut flour (I like Bob's Red Mill)
1-2 TBSP milk of choice (I like Silk Unsweetened Cashew Milk)
A few drops of vanilla extract
2 drops of butter extract
Pinch Salt
Pinch Baking Powder (Sounds weird, but it lends that raw cookie dough taste)
Sweetener to taste (I like using Splenda and Truvia Brown Sugar Blend)
Add ins! Chocolate chips, rolled oats, cinnamon, pecans, coconut, oreos.... anything you like in YOUR cookies :) Keep in mind this alters the nutritional value!



Directions

Add everything but your mixins and stir with a fork! If you need a little more milk to get the consistency you want feel free! Coconut flour is a VERY thirsty flour and soaks up liquid like a sponge. Unfortunately it cannot be substituted in this recipe....

Add in your mixins and get ready for some cookie-dough-lovin! Roll it into little balls and freeze it, crumble it on a smoothie, spread it on pancakes, or just spoon it onto some healthy peanut butter mousse like me ;)

Couldn't be easier!!

I'm always looking for suggestions on what to healthify... anything in particular y'all want to see on the blog? Let me know here, fb, insta, whatever!!

xo

Annie

thunderr_katt <--- my insta handle ;)

#becausehelives, and zucchini loaf!

Happy Easter Everyone!

I hope you all had a marvellous weekend full of family, friends, and good food :) It's my first Easter I've ever spent away from my family! I didn't even realize it was happening to be honest..... But it came and went just the same.

Today I want to share a couple of things. Some thoughts, something special, and finally something healthy and delicious.....

.....And YES, in that particular order.

First, some thoughts for today. The past few days have been trying to say the least. I won't go into the details (because hey, there's delicious food to be baked) but I have been forced to take a good hard look at my life and where I want it to go.... and how this all fits with my faith. I have wondered why certain doors have closed that seemed so perfect at the time. Even options that would be "alright with me" or "decent I guess" have been whisked away before I could catch hold.

General Conference could not have come at a better time. I still felt some concern after the Saturday sessions... but just as the sun silently breaks over those beautiful Utah mountains each day, hope came quietly this morning. I was able to breathe for the first time in a long time and be still. I felt my worry quelled and my fear fade. My choices were reaffirmed and I'm grateful.

I'm grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ. I know He lives. I know that He loves each of us so perfectly and blesses us abundantly every day. I know His hand is in my life always. I'm sure many of you have seen this... but in case you haven't:

http://www.mormon.org/easter?cid=HP_SA_4-4-2015_dMIS_fMRMN_xLIDyMSTHD1_

Watch this. It's truly beautiful.

And now.... Some food to go with my thoughts. What's a girl to do when she's away from home for her first Easter ever?? Clearly go buck in the kitchen. TONS of SKINNY french onion soup, coconut cashew butter, carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, and healthy chocolate chip zucchini streusel loaf to start off the week!















How's about that zucchini bread recipe... hmmm?


How does a protein packed, dense and springy loaf with a coconutty, pecan, cinnamony, sweet topping sound? With a big spread of butter? Hold me back. Did I forget to tell you it starts with a pancake mix....? BUT STOP. It's Kodiak Cakes Powercakes. The Holy Grail of pancake mixes!! It's flipping delicious, just needs water, and is SUPER healthy!!

 This is how I've been eating it.... with a big smear of Brummel and Brown Yogurt spread. #todiefor.

 It's also pretty divine with a drizzle of honey, or a bit of cookie butter. Or Nutella. Or anything. Ugh stop me.

 Look at that thick slice! Served up alongside some peanut butter mousse :) Breakfast is the best!!

 Sorry about the plastic spoon.... #studentprobs

Please make and enjoy!

xo

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookie Streusel Zucchini Loaf (With POWERCAKES!)

1 cup Kodiak Cakes Powercakes*

1.5 scoops protein powder of choice (I used Cellucor* Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough)

1/3 cup Truvia baking blend* (or granulated sugar of choice)

2/3 cup splenda (feel free to sub for 1/3 cup more sugar)

¼ tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

1 egg

1/3 cup applesauce

1/3-1/2 cup milk of choice (I used Silk Cashew Unsweetened*)

1 medium zucchini, grated

1 tsp vanilla extract

Topping (Optional… but not really ;) feel free to play with this! Different nuts, chocolate chips, granola….)

¼-1/3 cup old fashioned oats

¼ cup pecans, chopped

¼ cup unsweetened flaked coconut

½ tbsp. cinnamon

1-2 tbsp Truvia baking blend

Combine all dry ingredients listed above, then add wet. Mix until the batter is just blended. It should be about the consistency of regular quickbreads! If it’s not quite right, add a little more milk to thin it out. Pour into greased and parchment lined loaf pan.

In a separate bowl, combine all ingredients for the streusel topping. Sprinkle evenly over the top of your loaf.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean!

This came out springy, moist, cinnamony, streusely, and not overly sweet! Perfect for a breakfast bread alongside of a protein shake or as a snack with a steaming cup of tea J If you aren’t a fan of fat free baking I would substitute some of the applesauce with a neutral flavored oil, or even coconut oil!

This recipe is: low sugar, high protein, low fat, and delicious!!

*I'm clearly not affiliated with anyone, much less these great companies (but I'd like to be!!). These opinions are completely my own.