Monster cookie energy balls

If you like monster cookies, and who doesn’t, this is a great no bake snack that will satisfy your sweet tooth.

INGREDIENTS

2 ½ cups quick oats

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1/2 cup mini m&m's

DIRECTIONS

Combine oats, peanut butter, honey, chocolate chips and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Use a wooden spoon or a handheld mixer to combine. Add the mini m&ms and stir in.

Shape into one-inch balls and refrigerate for 30 minutes. This recipe will make about 36 balls. Store in a covered container in the fridge.

Notes: Resist the urge to add extra chocolate chips or m&ms. It will make these crumbly.

Ooey gooey Chex mix (that tastes like a scotcharoo)

If you're from the Midwest you know that Scotcharoos are a staple at any potluck, tailgate or holiday. They are one of my favorite desserts, but I have to be honest, I don't make them very often. They’re not overly difficult but something about making them isn’t my jam. So when my friend Dayna had this Chex mix concoction at their tailgate party that tastes just like Scotcharoos (without the chocolate frosting on top) I had to get the recipe from her. And it is literally the easiest recipe ever.

Ingredients:

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup honey

1 package butterscotch chips

1 box Corn Chex 

In a large microwave safe bowl, melt honey, peanut butter and butterscotch chips together. Once melted, stir in the cereal.

Dump it onto some parchment paper and let it dry for a couple hours. Break into clumps and eat with friends! You can also add nuts, granola, M&M’s, chocolate chips, Reese’s pieces, drizzle some dark chocolate over the top…get creative!

This makes a huge batch so store the leftovers in a plastic container.

5-Ingredient Bread (clean eating)

When it comes to bread I am so very picky. I’m a bread lover to the core but I’ve always been anti-wheat bread (or pasta or tortillas for that matter). It’s just a nasty taste to me. So when I saw this recipe on a clean eating website I did not have very high expectations, despite the great reviews. The bread turned out pretty dense but it was actually really good! Especially toasted! I sprinkled some everything but the bagel seasoning on the top before I baked mine. Because there’s no preservatives, if you’re not going to eat it up in 3-4 days, I would suggest freezing half and pulling it out as needed. As a party of one, I take out 1/3 of a loaf from the freezer at a time. I can’t wait to try it as rolls next time to use with sandwiches.

Makes: 12 servings - Serving size: 1 slice

Each Serving Contains: 0 Protein, 1 Carbohydrate, 0 Vegetables, 0 Fat

INGREDIENTS

1 Tbsp yeast

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 Tbsp honey

1-1/2 cups warm water

3 cups whole wheat flour

 

DIRECTIONS

Add yeast, salt and honey to water and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Gradually mix in flour until dough forms and is not sticking to your hands. Add flour in increments of 1 Tbsp at a time, if necessary.

Put in lightly oiled bowl and cover with damp towel for 20-30 minutes. Mine didn’t seem to rise much after 30 minutes so I did an hour.

Preheat oven to 400°F. Place in lightly oiled loaf pan and bake 15-20 minutes, until hollow when tapped.

Note: Optional toppings / additions before baking:

• Everything but the bagel seasoning
• Sprinkle with garlic powder
• Herbs: oregano, parsley, rosemary
• Sun-dried tomato
• Olives

You can also roll into 12 individual rolls instead of using a loaf pan.

Italian dressing

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp red-wine vinegar

3 Tbsp water

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese

1 tsp honey

½ tsp garlic powder

½ tsp dried oregano

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp black pepper

In small airtight container, combine vinegar, water, oil, parmesan, honey and spices.  Shake well and chill in refrigerator until serving.

This doesn’t make a huge batch so if you’re doing it for a family or wants to keep some on hand, I would double or triple the recipe.  The flavor is good and it’s comforting to know what exactly is in your dressing! 

Honey garlic crockpot meatballs

Ingredients:

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup honey

1/2 cup ketchup

2 Tbsp soy sauce

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 (28oz) bag fully cooked, frozen meatballs

In a medium bowl, mix together brown sugar, honey, ketchup, soy sauce and garlic.  Place frozen meatballs in a 3-4 quart crockpot and pour sauce over meatballs.  Stir so all meatballs are coated evenly. Cook on LOW for 4 hours, stirring occasionally.

This was such an easy party appetizer.  The glaze was perfectly paired with the frozen meatballs for a warm, hearty appetizer that everyone enjoyed.  Super simple.  Super tasty.  

Honey Garlic Alfredo Pizza

Honey Garlic Alfredo Pizza

Review by Lyndee:

If you’ve ever been to Fong’s Pizza in downtown Des Moines, IA and tried their honey garlic alfredo pizza, you know it’s amazing! My friends and I love it so much I decided to take a stab at making a version we can have at home anytime we like.  I must admit, it turned out pretty spectacular.  I even went so far as to add a little something, something to one and continue the creation.

Ingredients:

2 pack of pizza crust

1 jar Classico light Asiago Romano Alfredo

3 Tbsp minced garlic

1 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese

1 Tbsp Italian seasoning

1 Tbsp honey

2 packages Kraft 5 cheese Italian (shredded)

In a bowl, combine alfredo, garlic, honey, seasoning and cheese.  Drizzle crusts with honey. Spread on your alfredo mixture. Top with shredded cheese.  Drizzle with honey and bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes or until cheese is golden brown. 

This is your basic pizza.  Now for the second one I added chopped spinach and chunks of chicken breast.  It was amazing!! You could also add bacon crumbles or diced tomatoes too.  Use your imagination. Get crazy.  Next time I will try a whole wheat pizza crust and see how that melds with the honey and  garlic flavors.  Yum!!! 

Honey Garlic Pork Chops

Review by Lyndee:

Ingredients

1/4 + 1/8 cup honey

3 tbsp soy sauce

6 cloves garlic, minced

6 pork loin chops, boneless, trimmed of excess fat, 4 oz each

Directions

In a shallow dish, whisk together honey, soy sauce and garlic. Coat chops in mixture.

Reserve left over honey mixture for basting. Place chops on greased grill over med high heat, close lid and cook, basting 2 times.

Number of Servings: 6

These were ok.  Rob liked them better than I did. I mixed up the marinade (adding a splash of sesame oil) and let the chops soak in the fridge for 3 hours.  I baked them at 350 for 35 minutes. Then I broiled them for 2 minutes to caramelize the honey.  I’m not sure if the flavor would’ve been more prominent if I had grilled them or what.  

Easy Reduced Fat Honey Mustard

Review by Rachael:

¼ cup Mayonnaise (I used fat free) 

1 Tablespoon Honey

½ Tablespoon Lemon Juice

1 Tablespoon prepared Mustard

Mix together all ingredients. It was a little lumpy at first but after using the wire whisk it was just fine. Everyone enjoyed it and it was very easy. You could use lime juice as well, if desired. This would also be an easy recipe to alter if you wanted it sweeter.