MY FIRST WIAW

So, up until this point my posts have been one recipe only. After looking through Kat's Health Corner and LactoseFreeLizzie's gorgeous eats however, I decided to check out what WIAW was all about!

And here is my first WIAW... (tell me if I did it wrong)








BREAKFAST
This morning I had to go to the hospital to have some blood work and an ultrasound done. Yay! Needles. Apparently before an ultrasound you are not allowed to eat or drink anything after 12:00 pm the night before. I'll post more about the results later. For now though, just know that the only thing on my mind was FOOD. I was famished by the time we were done, and more than ready to eat breakfast. The technician said that food tastes better after not being able to eat for a few hours. Right she was...

Egg beaters, unsalted sunflower seeds and fruit salad (170)

LUNCH
Today I tried to use up some of our miscellaneous veggies and leftovers from Christmas lunch at my Grandma's, which explains my turkey soup. I found the cookie dough cake recipe from LactoseFreeLizzie. I've been having stomach issues lately whenever I eat dairy (lactose intolerance maybe...?) so I have been looking at her blog for ideas until my test results come back.

Soup made from leftover turkey, water, veggies and garlic/onion powder (123)

LactoseFreeLizzie's Cookie Dough Cakes made with apple chunks. Topped with peanut butter! (139)

SNACKS #1
My parents finally let me eat some Greek yogurt today, to see if it affects me at all. About 10 minutes later my stomach got all bubbly, but no pain, so we'll see what happens next!

Baby carrots with peanut butter. (93)

Cooked apple chunks topped with Greek yogurt and cinnamon. (85)

DINNER
I just love Baked Falafel!

Pita bread with falafel and tomato sauce. Turkey and sunflower seeds on the side. (283)

SNACKS #2
Unpictured: Protein cookie dough cereal from Fitnessista and a few nibbles. (222 calories)

I should have mentioned by now that I have an obsession with peanut butter... I just thought my blog's title was pretty self explanatory. Below are some really low-cal snacks (1/4 c. cereal + 3/4 tbsp = 110 cal). The microwave muffin is based off of an idea from LactoseFreeLizzie's idea: 1/4 cup flour + almond milk + 1 Tbsp grain-sweetened chocolate chips + 1 tsp peanut butter = 175 calories... Microwave for 45 seconds to achieve DELICIOUSNESS)

Kashi Go Lean cereal with peanut butter. (110)

Healthy microwave chocolate chip muffin with peanut butter. (175)

Made more because yesterday's got soggy! (210)

And that concludes my WIAW... unless I have another snack before bed, which is very likely! (Edited to add: I did have an apple peel and some more bites of my apple cookie dough cakes- Totally healthy of course!)

*Finishing Mission Impossible III as we speak  I write*

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Tomorrow I will post my recipe for healthy sugar cookies so stay tuned to be ah-mazed!!!

Question #1: Have you done WIAW yet? Any tips or suggestions for a newbie?

Question #2: Are you lactose intolerant? When did you discover it and what were your symptoms?

Question #3: Have you watched the new Mission Impossible yet? I personally can't wait. I love action flicks!

GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN

You would think when temperatures max out at 105 degrees, that one would not want to add additional heat, but... not me! 

Yes, you read that correctly. While others sipped chilled smoothies, ate crisp, cold salads and even placed ice cubes directly to their foreheads, I was baking in the kitchen. Rest assured though, it was all worth it in the end. 

And what, you may ask, was I baking? Well, to go along with the theme of Going-Against-The-Grain, I made muffins with...

PUMPKINS AND APPLES

The recipe was originally from a Better Homes and Garden cookbook (affectionately known in my house as "The Red Checkered Cookbook"). I twisted it and made a healthy version of my own however, adding apples, replacing the oil, and a whole lot else that I won't even go into now...

Pumpkin Apple Muffins

Servings: 12 Muffins

Dry Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup dry oatmeal (I used quick oats)
• 1 cup flour (I used whole wheat pastry flour)
• 5 Tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 tsp baking powder

 Wet Ingredients:

• 2 egg whites
• 6 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup skim milk
• 1 apple, peeled and shredded or chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray muffin tins with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Combine all dry ingredients except for the baking powder in a bowl. Remove 3 Tbsp of the dry mixture and put in a separate, small bowl. Then add the 2 tsp baking powder to the larger amount of dry ingredients.
3. Combine the egg whites, 4 Tbsp applesauce, pumpkin puree and milk in a bowl. 
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Then add the shredded apple and mix.
5. In the small bowl with the separated flour mixture, cut in the 2 Tbsp of applesauce. (This will act like a low fat streusel topping).
6. Divide the batter between 12 muffin tins (I used 1/4 cup for each).
7. Top with the streusel topping and place in the oven. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until done.

Enjoy now, OR save this recipe until Thanksgiving when pumpkin and apple are SUPPOSED to be used in baking. Either way, this guilt free recipe is a must-have with awesome nutritional stats:

Nutrition Facts:
Calories- 99
Fat- 1g
Carbs- 21g
Fiber- 3g
Sugar- 8g ( Approximately 4.5 grams added sugar)
Protein- 3g
Sodium- 142mg