Quest Creation - Strawberry Cheesecake Jello Bars

I think it is time I come clean...I am...a Quest Bar addict...There, I said it! I am not ashamed either! These bars taste amazing, are super healthy, and you can turn them into crazy creations! For example, how about some Strawberry Cheesecake Jello Bars?!

This dessert is fantastic! It is a great way to satisfy that sweet tooth.  Plus, it is packed full of protein and very low in fat.  

Don't worry, it is very easy to make! You only need four ingredients.

Vanilla protein powder, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, sugar free fat free strawberry jello mix, and that wonderful Strawberry Cheesecake Quest Bar. 

Unwrap the bar, place on microwave safe plate, and warm it up.  

It only needs 8-10 seconds in the microwave.  Just enough to make it soft enough to mold. 

Place the bar between some parchment paper and roll it nice and thin.  

I am using a small 5x7 baking dish, so I made it to fit.  You could use any shape and size dish.  If your dish is much bigger, you may want to use two bars.  

Coat the dish generously with some non stick spray and just lay the flattened bar in there.  It doesn't have to be a perfect fit because the bar will expand some as we bake it.  Into the oven at 350 for 10-12 minutes.  

Ta-Da! 

Now we have a beautiful and tasty crust for our bars. Stick this in the fridge while we mix up the jello part. 

Add the whole package of jello mix to one cup of boiling water.  If you want, you can add a sweetener to two.  I used one little Splenda. 

Make sure all the powder is dissolved and stick this in the freezer, just to take the chill off.  

In a shaker cup, add 1/2 scoop of vanilla protein powder and 1/2 cup milk.  Shake it up real good!

If you don't have a shaker cup, you can just use a whisk or spoon.  I find the shaker works really well though! 

Now add the jello mix.  It's ok if it a little warm, you just don't want to add boiling hot liquid to milk...Mix it up some more!

Really work those arm muscles! 

Now you should have a very pretty pink mixture.  Don't worry, we are almost done!!

Stick this back in the fridge or freezer for a bit.  You want to make sure your Quest Bar crust, and jello mixture are completely cool before we do the next step!!

Once you are sure everything it cooled, slowly pour the jello mixture over the crust.  If the jello mix is even a little bit warm, it will start to melt and break apart the crust.  

Stick the in the fridge for about an hour or until the jello has set.  I know...waiting is the worst part!!

 It is so worth it though!! As you can see, I was a little impatient and forgot to take a finished product picture...I couldn't wait to eat a piece!!

 I got six nice sized bars from this recipe.  Let's be honest though, I ate the whole dish by myself...And why shouldn't I?! The whole dish is only 260 calories! That is much less than any teeny tiny piece of cheesecake you might get at a restaurant.  

 That bite is pure perfection! 

The jello is cold and creamy, the crust is sweet and crunchy, and together it is simply amazing!

Yum!!!

 The whole dish also has a whopping 36 grams of protein! I really look forward to this treat after a tough workout!

If you're only excuse for not making this is that you don't have any Quest Bars, then let me stop you right there!!! Go here and buy some now! I promise you will be glad you did :)

Strawberry Cheesecake Jello Bars

• 1 Strawberry Cheesecake Quest Bar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk (120ml)
• 1 package sugar free fat free strawberry jello mix
• 1/2 scoop MTS vanilla whey (15g)
• 1 cup water
• sweetener if desired

1. Microwave Quest Bar for 10 seconds.
2. With a rolling pin, flatten the bar between parchment paper. Make is fit whatever size dish you are using. 
3. Coat dish with nonstick spray and place flattened bar on bottom.
4. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes
5. Let cool completely.
6. Mix together entire package of jello and 1 cup boiling water.  Let cool.
7. In a shaker cup, mix milk and protein powder.  Add jello mixture once it is cool. 
8. Once crust and jello mixture are both completely cooled, slowly pour jello over the crust.
9. Place in fridge for 1-2 hours or until jello is set.
10. Enjoy!!

Makes 6 Bars

Whole Dish - 260 calories

7g Fat

29g Carb

36g Protein 

LARABAR

I have been on a wonderful "trying new bars" streak lately! Not complaining at all! I absolutely love  trying new flavors from different companies.  I have been seeing LARABAR posts all over Instagram so I was becoming very intrigued!  I contacted the company and was thrilled when this package arrived at my doorstep!

They asked me to pick four flavors to try and review.  Let me tell you, that was not an easy task! With flavors like Banana Bread, Blueberry Muffin, Apple Pie, Cashew Cookie, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Pecan Pie, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (just to name a few) how was I going to decide?!

I finally narrowed it down and decided on Chocolate Chip Brownie, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and Key Lime Pie.  I love that they even included a thoughtful little note :) 

 I have said it before and I will say it again...it is easy to make a bar taste good...but the real task is having a bar that tastes good AND is good for you!  If I just want something that tastes good I will go eat a Snickers bar! After reading more about these bars, I was very happy about how healthy they are! LARABARs are gluten free, and made from a blend of unsweetened fruits, nuts, and spices.  With the exception of the UBER bars, which contain honey, LARABARs are vegan friendly too! Each flavor has no more than nine ingredients. 

So they got the healthy part covered, but how do they taste?! Eeny Meeny Miny Moe! Key Lime Pie was up first.  

You can see all the pieces of nut and fruit! Unfortunately for me, my husband loves Key Lime Pie so I had to share this bar with him.  

I love the texture of these bars! Soft and chewy.  The flavor was great! I could really taste the citrus and coconut.

My husband really really enjoyed this flavor!! This bar has 220 calories, 10g fat, 31g carb, and 4g protein.  We would both absolutely eat this bar again!

 While my husband's favorite dessert is Key Lime Pie, my top pick is Carrot Cake! 

Similar macros on this bar.  Only 190 calories, 8g fat, 32g carb, and 3g protein.

 Still that same great chewy texture.  The fruit and nuts give this bar the perfect amount of sweetness.  

I will say it wasn't exactly what I was expecting in terms of taste.  I was expecting a little more carrot flavor.  I will say that it still tasted amazing! I could really taste the cinnamon which I love! 

Let's try something for all those chocolate lovers out there!! Chocolate Chip Brownie! 200 calories, 9g fat, 31g carb, and 4g protein.  This was awesome! Nice and chocolately, but I still felt like I was eating a healthy bar.  It wasn't too chocolately or too sweet which I liked.  

Actual chocolate chips throughout the bar gave it a great texture.  Yum!!

I saved the one I was most excited about for last. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough!  210 calories, 11g fat, 28g carb, and 4 protein.

I actually took this one to work with me.  I work as a nanny and we just happened to be at the park on that particular day.  It was very hot and I had this bar in my lunch bag...getting all melty...

Oh goodness was it fantastic! It was slightly messy because of all the chocolate chips, but I was not complaining! It was like eating warm, gooey, cookie dough!! Hands down my favorite out of all four!

I would absolutely recommend giving these bars a try! If you cannot decide which one to try first, try two at once! 

I will be trying more flavors in the very near future! These are sold at most local grocery stores and at Whole Foods.  You can also order them online.  LARABAR is just one of the five different lines of bars that they carry.  They also have UBER, ALT, RENOLA, and JOCALAT. So many different kinds and flavors of bars! Good luck just picking a few :)

Thank you LARABAR for allowing me to try some of your tasty and healthy bars! I really enjoyed them!

Check out LARABAR on all of your favorite social media sites!

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Pumpkin Oat Cookies

This may come as a huge shock to some, but I am going to bake something and NOT add protein powder! Yes, I do actually make some tasty treats without using protein.  Of course, you could add it if you wanted, but I have had some requests lately for some protein free recipes.  Here are my super simple and super tasty Pumpkin Oat Cookies!

I love these because they are so quick and easy to make! 

All you need is oats (I prefer quick), canned pumpkin, baking powder, cinnamon, vanilla, and sweetener of choice. I have also made these and added things like chocolate chips, a bit of peanut butter, raisins, or some nuts.  I kept this batch super simple.

One bowl, one spoon, and all the ingredients!

Mix it up good!

I make 12 cookies out of this recipe.  Take about 2 tablespoons of dough and roll into a ball.

You can make them bigger or smaller if you like, but I think this size is perfect.

 Flatten them down a bit.  You can place them pretty close together on the baking sheet because they won't really rise or spread.

Bake them at 350 for 15-18 minutes.  

 And done! Now these cookies will stay very soft.  If you want a crunchier cookie, I suggest adding a fat source like peanut butter, oil or butter.  

I aboslutely love soft cookies though, so these are perfect for me.

And yes, I consider this whole tower of cookies to be one serving :) Only 240 calories for a dozen cookies!!

I love having these for breakfast! Great for on the go and they freeze well.  

What's better than a plate of pumpkin cookies for breakfast?! 

Nothing, nothing is the answer! 

Pumpkin Oat Cookies

• 1/2 cup quick oats (40g)
• 1 cup canned pumpkin (240g)
• 1/2 t vanilla
• 2 t cinnamon
• 1/2 t baking powder
• sweetener to taste

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl.

2. Roll into balls and flatten a bit.

3. Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes.

Makes 12 cookies - 240 calories for entire batch

3g Fat

49g Carb

9g Protein

Corn Fritters

I have made just about every flavor of pancake you can imagine! I have made sweet ones like chocolate and pumpkin, and I have made savory ones like spinach and broccoli! I feel like some people get a little apprehensive about the savory pancakes...I understand! So instead of calling these pancakes, I will call them corn fritters!!

What really makes a pancake a pancake anyway...I mean yes, these are round-ish and cooked in a skillet...Does it really matter though?? These little bite sized guys are super tasty and super healthy! Call them what you want, I love them!

Ya, simple too! Four ingredients!

Canned corn, egg substitute, MTS vanilla whey, and baking powder.

*You can use fresh corn too*

*Real egg would be fine*

*Not quite sure about the sweet/savory combo? Use unflavored protein*

Drain your corn and get as much liquid out as possible.  Dab with a paper towel if you are impatient. 

I love using canned veggies! So simple and you can buy in bulk because they never go bad.

 Mix together the egg, protein powder, and vanilla first.  When that is nice and smooth, stir in the corn.

I went the sweet route with these, but you can definitely make them savory.  Add some peppers, onions, garlic, salt and pepper...

Get your skillet nice and hot, coat with non stick spray, and cook like pancakes whatever these things are!

The batter will be a little runny so it is quite impossible to make them perfectly round!

Nice and golden brown!

These have a perfect little crunch to them.

I love mine topped off with a little sugar free syrup and spray butter.

If you made them savory I bet they would be awesome with some sour cream and salsa for dipping!

Either way they are delicious! You could be all fancy and use a fork, but I think they are the perfect little finger food!

Such a great way to add veggies to your diet too! There is a whole can of corn in these.  

And yes, I consider this whole plate one serving :)

You get about 14-16 fritters for only 242 calories plus 33 grams of protein! Great for breakfast! Low carb and low fat too. 

Enjoy!

You can order MTS whey here! Use code KH30 and save 30%

Corn Fritters

-1/2 cup corn (125g)

-3 T egg substitute (46g)

-1 scoop MTS vanilla protein powder (30g)

-1/2 t baking powder

*If you want to make them savory you can use unflavored protein powder and add any additional spices and chopped veggies

1. Mix all ingredients together! (best to mix everything but corn first and then stir in the corn last)
2. Cook like pancakes on a hot pan.
3. Enjoy!

Whole Batch - 242 calories

4g Fat

17g Carb

33g Protein 

Pumpkin Banana Pancakes

So, fall is over...BUT that doesn't mean all the pumpkin deliciousness has to be over too! Seriously, why only pumpkin in the fall?? Why only candy canes at Christmas?? ( I don't know about you, but I could enjoy a fun peppermint treat any time of the year ) Watermelon and corn on the cob only in the summer?? I could go on...

One of my goals is to start baking more.  I LOVE baking! I don't know why I don't do it more often.  I have been in a rut lately of eating easy snack foods like pretzels, protein bars, bagels, crackers, etc.  So when I have the time, I am going to start trying to bake/make things more often.  This morning I made some super yummy pumpkin pancakes!

I took a recipe from this amazing blog.  It's called Chocolate Covered Katie - The Healthy Dessert Blog.  She has so many awesome and healthy recipes.  I took her pumpkin pancake recipe and altered it a bit to fit my needs.  I am SURE if you follow her recipe they will be delicious!! I just made a few little changes.  I subbed oat bran for half of the flour, added extra cinnamon and pumpkin, left out the oil and pumpkin pie spice, and added some egg beaters and banana.

The batter was SUPER thick! I am sure you could add more milk if you wanted to thin it out.  I like more dense pancakes.  Almost muffin-like... In fact, I bet I could put this batter into a muffin pan and it would work great! I am gonna have to try that.

The batter was soooo thick.  Next time I probably will thin it out a little bit, but I do like them this way.  I sprayed the pancake flipper ( does it have a more proper name ) with some pam and pressed them down a bit.  

I am definitely NOT a pretty pancake maker!!! Meh, who cares...they taste the same no matter what! I don't have time to make them perfect circles!

Once again, not the most beautiful looking things...But they were yummy! I topped with some spray butter, sugar free syrup, and even more cinnamon.  

These are not what I would call your "traditional" pancakes.  They are not super light and fluffy.  They are more dense, kinda doughy, and hearty pancakes.  I love the pumpkin, banana, and cinnamon combo.  I think next time I will try baking them as muffins.  I will let you know how they turn out :)

Pumpkin Banana Pancakes

• 1/4 cup whole wheat flour (30g)
• 1/4 cup oat bran (30g)
• dash of salt
• 1/4 t baking soda
• 1 t baking powder
• 2 t cinnamon
• 5 splenda packets
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 t apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin (120g)
• 1 t vanilla
• 1/2 banana thinly sliced
• 1/16 cup egg beaters

Simply mix all the ingredients together by hand.  Get your pan nice and hot, a little non stick spray, and flip when ready! Since they are a lot thicker than your average pancake, you won't see them bubble when ready to flip. You just have to kinda check and see when the bottoms are a little brown.  

I have also made these before and just topped them with some cream cheese and cinnamon.  I haven't tried it yet, but I bet some peanut butter on top would be awesome too!

Do you prefer "traditional" pancakes or different flavors?