Apple + Almond Stuffing

Apple and Almond Stuffing 

(Taken from the Beachbody website!)

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 45 mins

Total time: 1 hour

Serves: 6 servings, about 1½ cups each

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 6 cups whole-grain bread cubes
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 medium celery stalks, chopped
• 3 cups coarsely chopped apples (about 3 medium apples)
• ¼ cup finely chopped fresh sage (or thyme)
• ½ tsp. sea salt (or Himalayan salt)
• ½ tsp. ground black pepper
• 2 cups low-sodium organic vegetable (or chicken) broth
• ¾ cup chopped almonds

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375° F.
2. Lightly coat a 3-quart baking dish with spray. Set aside.
3. Spread bread evenly on large, rimmed baking sheet. Bake for15 minutes, rotating pan half-way through. Set aside.
4. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
5. Add onion and celery; cook, stirring frequently, for 5 to 6 minutes, or until onion is translucent.
6. Add apples; cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until apples are tender-crisp.
7. Combine onion mixture, bread, sage, salt, pepper, broth, and almonds in a large bowl; mix well.
8. Place stuffing in prepared baking dish. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until cooked through.
9. ENJOY!!!

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this dish and I hope you love it just as much as I do!! :)

xoxo, 

Katie

Creating Your Perfect Workspace

Being able to work from home has been the greatest thing, but before I created my own workspace, it wasn't so effective. I was working from the couch, in front of the TV. I was working from my bed. I was working in rooms with other conversations going on. This wasn't working for me, so I designed a space that where I could have peace and quiet, with no distractions. I want to share a few tips for those of you who are entrepreneurs, own your own business, or work from home! As well as share my ultimate work mode playlist...

  1. Pick your space out, and make it your own. Make sure it's somewhere where there will be no distractions. No TV in the room and somewhere where there won't be family members coming in and out all day long.

2. Make it cute. I always keep a candle on my desk and light it every time I sit down to work, I picked out a desk that matches my workspace, and I make sure everything on my desk matches. I currently have a mini pumpkin on it for fall, and at one point I had a vase with flowers on it. You want your workspace to be enjoyable to work in, but also not too cluttered at the same time.

3. Get organized - get a pen holder, folders, get a desk with a drawer, anything you'll need to keep things clean in your workspace. Make sure the room you are working in is clean - this makes for a clear mind when you sit down to work and you won't be surrounded by a mess.

4. Create a work playlist that motivates you or is easy on the ears when you're trying to focus. 

5. Create an area that is near natural light and keep a lamp on your desk or use a floor lamp. The light will help you stay awake and energized.  

6. Choose comfort. Pick out a desk and chair that you will be able to use for hours at a time. The worst thing is putting your desk together and realizing it is too short/tall for you or too small/big for you. You need to be comfortable with what your workspace consists of.

7. Keep inspration all around you. Create a vision board and hang it on the wall. Use notebooks with inspirational quotes on them. Fill your desk drawers with personal development books.

 My perfect work playlist

Bashed Out - This is the Kit

Jealous - Labrinth

Misbehaving - Labrinth

Beneath Your Beautiful - Labyrinth, Emeli Sande

Fragile - Kygo, labrinth

Dancing On My Own - Calum Scott

We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off - Ella Eyre

Lost Boy - Ruth B.

Purpose - Justin Bieber

i hate u, i love u - gnash, Olivia O'Brien

All I Want - Kodaline

Impossible - James Arthur

Kiss Me - Ed Sheeran

A Little Too Much - Shawn  Mendes

Tenerife Sea - Ed Sheeran

How Will I Know - Sam Smith

One - Ed Sheeran

Heal - Tom Odell

Safe With Me - Sam Smith

Omen (Acoustic) - Sam Smith

Hold Back The River - James Bay

Make You Feel My Love - Adele

Life is Worth Living - Justin Bieber

BoRdErSz - ZAYN

679 - William Single

Issues - Kina Grannis

Please Keep Loving Me - James TW

Sun Models - ODESZA

I'm Not The Only One - Sam Smith

Lay Me Down - Sam Smith

Make It To Me - Sam Smith

Like I Can - Sam Smith

Leave Your Lover - Sam Smith

Not In That Way - Sam Smith

I've Told You Now - Sam Smith

Life Support - Sm Smith

Latch (Acoustic) - Sam Smith

Too Good At Goodbyes - Sam Smith

Perfect - Ed Sheeran

Best Part - Daniel Caesar (feat. H.E.R.)

Pray - Sam Smith

Writing's On The Wall - Sam Smith

I'm A Mess - Ed Sheeran

Yours (Wedding Addition) - Russell Dickerson

Only One - Tim Halperin

Found And Beautiful - Lana Del Rey

Healthier Apple Pie

I love to bake and I love tasty fall treats, but I don't love all of the sugar that comes along with it, so I decided i would try to make a healthier version of an apple pie! There were lots of recipes on Google and Pinterest and I kind of took bits and pieces from a few to make my own. I feel like a cheater using a store bought crust, but it was my first time ever baking a pie!! :)

What you will need :

*Crust (you can make your own, but I bought a whole wheat one from the store)

Filling :

* 4 cups peeled apples, sliced thin

* pinch of stevia

* 1/2 raw walnuts

* 1 Tbs maple flavored agave syrup

* Cinnamon

Crumble Topping :

*1/2 C gluten free oats

* 1/2 C whole wheat flour

* 6 Tbs coconut sugar

*1/4 C unsweetened apple sauce

*1/8 tsp salt

Instructions :

Precook your crust using the directions that it comes with. In a large mixing bowl, mix together filling ingredients and spread evenly over the baked crust. Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the apples and bake 50-60 minutes at 350.

I paired it with a scoop of Halo Top and omg so delicious. Now I have had TWO pieces and I am not having anymore because it is still A TREAT and not meal plan approved! :) But sometimes, you just need a little sweet treat in your life :) 

ENJOY!!! and if you try it out, let me know how you liked it! :)

Pumpkin Pie Energy Bites!

Pumpkin Pie Energy Bites

Ingredient List :

* 1 C pitted dates

* 1/2 C raw walnut halves

* 1/3 C canned pumpkin puree

* 1/4 C unsweetened coconut flakes

* 1 tsp. organic maple flavored agave syrup

* 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

How to : 

* Place dates in a medium bowl; cover with water. 

Let soak for 10 minutes. Drain. Set aside.

* Place walnuts in food processor; pulse until finely ground

* Add dates, pumpkin, coconut, maple syrup, pumpkin pie 

spice; pulse until well mixed. Place in a medium bowl.

Refrigerate, covered, for 30 minutes.

*Roll into balls and roll in coconut flakes

* Store refrigerated, in an airtight container.

***I got this recipe out of Autumn Calabrese's "The Fix" cookbook and then I just modified it a little bit to machete more my style! Tastes just like pumpkin pie, Enjoy!!!

xoxo, 

Katie

IG : @katie_roeser

Almond Chocolate Protein Squares

Almond Chocolate Protein Squares 

What you'll need :

*1 cup wheat flour

*1 cup whey protein powder, vanilla flavor

*1/2 cup almond flour

*1/2 tsp. sea salt

*1 cup all-natural almond butter

*2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

*1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

*handful of dark chocolate chips 

How to :

1. Line an 8 x 8 pan with parchment paper. Set aside.

2. Place wheat flour, protein powder, almond flour, and salt in food processor and pulse to mix. Or if you don't have a food processor, mix by hand.

3. Add almond butter and extract, pulse for one minute or until crumbly

4. Add almond milk, pulse for 1 minute, or until mixture forms a soft dough.

5. Press dough into prepared pan. Smooth top with a spatula 

6. Cut into squares

7. Drizzle melted chocolate on top

8. Freeze for 10 minutes or until chocolate sets
9. Store in freezer for up to one week in airtight container.  

B.A.L.A.N.C.E.

B.A.L.A.N.C.E  -- it's such a weird thing sometimes. There's no right or wrong way to approach this. The type of balance you need when it comes to nutrition, depends completely on your goals. When I first started my fitness journey, I was 100% following my meal plan with absolutely no cheats/slip ups. This was because I had 45 lbs to lose and I was ALL IN. If you have a huge goal like that, then why give yourself the option on 80/20? If you want to see the results, go all in and be strict with yourself.

Right now, I would say I'm doing about 90/10. The only time I ever eat something not on my meal plan is the occasional weekend drink or cheat meal (which are typically rare) or some type of chocolate during the week.

Some people (aka my family) think that I am still to strict with what I eat, but the thing about healthy eating is that YOU are the only one who knows what's good for your body. Just like I know that if I have a giant cheat me or a couple drinks, I am 100% going to wake up the next day feeling like crap, bloated, and full of regret. When I eat good, I feel good, so it's not being restrictive, it's listening to your body.

But with balance, you just have to do what is right for you and your goals. If you want to live that 80/20 nutrition balance, or that 100/0, then go for it! Only you know what will work for you, your body, your goals, and your lifestyle.

P.s - When you do decide to give yourself treats and cheats, make sure it's only for one meal and not the entire day. A day of cheats turns into 2 days, then a week, and then you're completely off of your plan. When you have a holiday weekend like this one, indulge a little if you'd like, then get right back on track :)

Stuffed Peppers

STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

Ingredients:

4 bell peppers your choice of color

1.5 cups quinoa 

1 lb cooked lean ground turkey 

1 cup shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese 

1 can black beans rinsed and drained

1 cup corn

1/2 onion

3 tsp Chili powder

1. bring quinoa to a boil & simmer & while simmering, start cooking turkey

2. brown onion in a pan & add in chili powder

3. combine everything into a bowl & mix

4. cut the tops off of the peppers and stuff with the mixture

5. sprinkle cheese on top

Bake at 375 for 30 minutes until cheese is melted and pepper is done to desired tenderness. 

ENJOY!