Month: September 2014

Passionfruit Protein Popsicles

Happy fall everybunny!  It’s officially fall, but California still thinks it’s summer. Kind of awesome, kind of not, especially when the rest of the country is shopping for boots and scarves while sipping on pumpkin spice lattes, and we are over here sweating it out during this insane heat wave! I’m having fall FOMO (fear of missing out) and want to wear all of my fall clothes, dark nails, and dark lipstick!

So if you live on the west coast, or you’re experiencing a heat wave like we are, these popsicles are the perfect way to cool down. Greek yogurt popsicles are awesome because they’re creamy and loaded with protein! I love combining them with fresh passionfruit for a sweet and tart combo and some crunch from the seeds. Great for post-workout, an afternoon pick-me-up, or healthy dessert option!

But don’t worry, I’m working on some healthy pumpkin recipes for all of my pumpkin loving bunnies!

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Passionfruit Protein Popsicles
Makes 4 Popsicles

1  (16 oz.) container Chobani 0% Original Greek Yogurt
2 passionfruit

Cut passionfruit in half, scoop out each half of the fruit and place in the bottom of a popsicle mold. Fill the rest of the popsicle mold with Greek yogurt. Freeze overnight and enjoy.

Mini Polenta Pizzas

I loveeee pizza. I mean… I am part Italian. I have quite a few friends that are gluten free and some friends that are trying to limit their bread intake, so I accepted the challenge to make bread-less pizza. This actually may have outdone my Cauliflower Pizza. Not only does this recipe taste amazing, but it’s also gluten free AND vegan!

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Sooooo, what is polenta?
Polenta is a paste or dough made from stone-ground yellow corn, which is boiled and then typically baked or fried.

I’ve been buying my polenta at Trader Joe’s, and I’m really happy with the consistency and texture. If you didn’t know this already, Trader Joe’s has a list of every single Vegan product that they carry! This list is super helpful if you are interested in eating a more plant based diet, or if you are interested in trying new products! There are so many treats on the list that I actually had no idea were vegan!

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Mini Polenta Pizzas
Serves 1

1 tube Polenta (I love Trader Joe’s brand)
1 tsp olive oil
1 Tbsp marinara sauce
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella or vegan cheese
2 mini bell peppers
2 mushrooms

Preheat the broiler to high. Cut four 1/4 inch thick pieces of polenta from the tube/packaging. Place the polenta disks on a baking sheet covered in foil. Brush one side of the polenta with the olive oil. Place in the oven and broil until the tops begin to turn golden, about 1-2 minutes (watch closely as broiler heat varies). Remove from oven and flip the polenta disks over to the opposite side. Spread each polenta disk with marinara sauce, then top with cheese and other toppings. Place the baking sheet in the oven again and broil until the cheese is golden and bubbly, about 1 more minute. Serve warm.

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown:
Produce: bell peppers, mushroom, and marinara sauce
Whole Grain: polenta
Protein: cheese
Plant Based Fat: olive oil

Rabbit Food Meal Tip: Complete this meal with a full serving of veggies by tossing your extra veggies (bell peppers and onions) in a bowl with two cups of fresh salad greens and balsamic for an extra filling dinner.

Looking for more healthy & single serving pizza recipes?
Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

Personal Pan Pizza
Portobello Pizza
Rustic Ricotta & Peach Pizza
Light & Crispy Pita Pizza
Cauliflower Pizza

Motivational Wallpapers // 05

Just believe and do… a simple statement that can seem impossible at times but when acted upon is unstoppable. The power of believing in yourself is stronger than any force of nature yet for so many it is very difficult to do. But I encourage you to take hold of this truth and dare to believe in yourself! Amazing things will happen when you do. It may take a little time… but soon enough you will begin to see the results of your believing and doing!

Computer-Sample-She-Believed-She-Could-So-She-Did-Wallpaper2 DL-She-Believed-She-Could-So-She-Did-Wallpaper2

// click to download // SHE BELIEVED SHE COULD SO SHE DID (1856 X 1161) // DESKTOP

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// click to download // IPHONE (1936 X 3000) // SHE BELIEVED SHE COULD SO SHE DID

I hope you love the new free motivational wallpaper download!
Health & Happiness
xo Catherine

Looking for previous Motivational Wallpapers?
Motivational Wallpapers // 01
Motivational Wallpapers // 02
Motivational Wallpapers // 03
Motivational Wallpapers // 04

Healthy Baked Avocado Fries

I am sooooo excited for you guys to try this recipe! I’m a huge snacker. I snack alllll day, and this is one of my new favorites. It’s so rich an filling that I can usually only eat a few slices at a time! Luckily, it’s a snack with a purpose, because avocados are filled with healthy fats that will leave you feeling satisfied but not weighed down.

You’ve probably noticed that I like to keep my ingredient lists rather small. I like my recipes to be intriguing but not intimidating. My goal is to make healthy eating fun, easy, simple, and delicious for everyone. I hope you love these 4 ingredient Avocado Fries and super easy High Protein Ranch Dip made with only 2 ingredients!

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This question comes up pretty often. What is panko and why is it better than regular bread crumbs?
Panko is a Japanese-style breadcrumb traditionally used as a coating for deep-fried foods. The biggest difference between panko and standard breadcrumbs is that panko is made from bread without crusts.

Panko’s crustless bread is coarsely ground into airy, large flakes that give fried foods a light, crunchy coating. The flakes tend to stay crispier longer than standard breadcrumbs because they don’t absorb as much grease.

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For this recipe I’ve paired my Avocado Fries with a High Protein Ranch Dip. One of my favorite healthy eating swaps is using Greek yogurt instead of Sour Cream. It has way less fat, much more protein, and contains probiotics which are live bacteria that support the healthy bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract and may help treat some digestive disorders and flatten your tummy. Since plain greek yogurt is tart, you get a very similar flavor to sour cream, but with tons of benefits.

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Healthy Baked Avocado Fries
Serves 2

1 large avocado
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup egg whites (or egg whites from 2 eggs)
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

Preheat oven to 425. Cut avocado into small slices. Place flour, beaten egg whites, and panko bread crumbs in separate bowls or plates and form an assembly line. Once slice at a time, dip avocado into the flour and dust off excess. Next dip the avocado into egg whites, and lastly, coat with panko bread crumbs. Place complete led avocado slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Repeat until all slices have been coated. Bake for 15-20 minutes until edges become golden brown. Remove from oven and serve with High Protein Ranch Dip.

High Protein Ranch Dip
1  container (5.3 oz.) Chobani 0% Original
1/2 packet Simply Organic Ranch Dip Mix

Add half of the packet of ranch dip mix to the Chobani Greek yogurt container and mix well.

Balsamic Tofu & Pineapple Avocado Tacos

I’ve been daydreaming about this recipe for a few weeks, and finally buckled down and made it. I don’t know why, but the combination of pineapple, avocado, and tangy balsamic seemed absolutely mouthwatering to me. I’m so happy with the way the balsamic baked tofu turned out, I might have to make this again with some brown rice and veggies another night!

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Balsamic-Tofu-&-Pineapple-Avocado-Tacos-1If you are new to cooking with tofu, you will find that it needs to be pressed of excess liquid so that sauces and flavors can be absorbed into it. There are gadgets like the TofuXpress, but if you don’t have one that’s totally fine. The way I press liquid out of my tofu is with two plates, a few pieces of paper towel, and a jar (to add weight on top). After leaving the tofu in between the paper towel and plates for 20-30 minutes, your tofu will be good to go! Below is my crafty little setup!

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Balsamic Tofu & Pineapple Tacos

Serves 4

1 package extra firm tofu (14oz)
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp honey mustard
1/2 Tbsp agave

8 corn tortillas
2 cups pineapple, cubed
1 avocado cubed

Drain tofu and place on a few sheets of paper town on a plate. Cover with another few pieces of paper towel and another plate, and weight the top with a jar, can, or other object of about 1 pound. Let the tofu stand 20 to 30 minutes to extract excess liquid. While tofu is being pressed, mix together the balsamic, honey mustard, and agave. After excess liquid has been extracted from the tofu, chop into small 1/2 inch cubes. Transfer tofu cubes into the bowl of balsamic mixture and let it marinade for 20 minutes. After tofu has marinated, transfer to a baking pan lined with parchment paper (save excess balsamic for later). Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Using a spatula, flip tofu, drizzle with remaining balsamic mixture, and cook for another 10 minutes. Toss the tofu with pineapple and avocado, and place in corn tortillas. Enjoy!

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown:
Produce: pineapple
Whole Grain: corn tortillas
Protein: tofu
Plant Based Fat: avocado
Free Extras: balsamic and honey mustard

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