Peanut Butter Banana Shake

I run track in college, so it's important that I get all of my nutrients.  After a hard workout this shake is great because it includes:

1. protein (helps with muscle recovery)
2. potassium (helps with cramps)
3. calcium (because running involves pounding on your bones)
4. fiber (helps with... well you know)  

Ingredients: 2 bananas chopped and placed in freezer for 15 min,

1 scoop peanut butter, 4 scoops low fat yogurt, half c. milk

(sometimes I add a half scoop of vanilla whey protein mix)

Blend.  Add more milk if you want it less thick.

Bottoms up!

Owl Cupcakes

We made these for my roommate's birthday.  We just copied from a picture out of a cupcake book.

Ingredients: Chocolate cupcake mix, chocolate frosting, oreos, junior mints, and banana runts (or you could use orange reeses pieces).

See the cyclopse owl... haha.

This would be fun for kid birthday parties too!

DIY Loom Hats

I learned how to make hats with a loom about a year ago, and now I've made over a dozen for friends and family.  This one is for a 16 month old girl.  I bought the Loom Kit at Wal-Mart in the craft section by the yarn.  The kit is about $17 and yarn cost $1-3, so after you buy the kit it takes less than $5 to make a hat!  Warning: it takes me an average of 3-4 hours per hat so I do it on long car rides or while I'm watching tv.

For the rim... I use 17 rows. 

For the rest of the hat... I use 20-24 rows. 

For the pom pon... I wrap the yarn around four fingers.

This is what the loom looks like.  The green is for adults and red is for toddlers.

Tips: I like to use thicker yarn (like I used on the toddler's hat).  It's also fun to double up two colors at the same time to create a "peppered" look.  Mix colors, play with different size rows, and be patient.

Sorry that I'm not very detail with instructions on how to make them.  When you buy the Loom Kit it comes with better instructions!

Here's a link to the Loom Kit sold at Wal-Mart:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Darice-Easy-Knitting-Round-Loom-Set-Neon/10727494?findingMethod=rr

Oven Baked Wedge Fries

Preheat oven to 375. (1 potato serves 1 adult) Cut potatoes into thin wedges. Toss with oil in large bowl. Lay out wedges on cookie sheet. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic, & seasoning salt. Bake for 35 min or until golden on edges. Pull them out after 15 min, flip with flat spatula and sprinkle more seasonings, then place them back in. Enjoy!
(I like to dip the fries in bbq sauce... yummy!)

Crock Pot BBQ Chicken

Put frozen chicken breasts (no need to thaw) in a crockpot. Cover with your favorite bbq sauce. Throw in 1/2 c. water. Set on Low for 6 hours. The last hour you can set to High. Should be tender and easy to pull apart. Yum!

Healthy Cheeseburger Sliders

Use whole grain rolls for the bun. Still yummy!

Chicken Pot Pie

Preheat oven to 400. In a dish or pie pan mix 1 c. cooked chicken pulled apart, 1 c. frozen veggies (thawed), and one 10 oz can cream of chicken. In a separate bowl, mix 1 c. Bisquick, 1/2 c. milk, 1 egg. Pour the Bisquick mixture over your pie filling. Sprinkle top with salt, pepper, and italian seasoning for flavor. Bake for 30 or until golden brown.