She's ALIIIIVVVEEE

Hi guys!!

Wowzas, haven't posted here in a long time 😅 I've just been so excited about my @cafekass instagram page! But I'm back here for smore fun!

One thing I did want to share was this new Costco discovery of mine... HAVE YOU HEARD OF TRUFRU CHOCOLATE COVERED RASPBERRIES!?!

They're in the freezer section at Costco - the raspberries are almost like "partly freeze-dried", and frozen, and dipped in white and dark chocolate, and delicious, and heavenly, and probably contain magic or something... (I'm still trying to figure out why they're so addicting). Best of all... they're low in calorie, and a perfecto guilt-free snack/dessert/meal/breakfast/whatever way you want to eat them! Not kidding I'd rather have a handful of these than a gourmet "restaurant dessert"... #alwayscravingthem

Let me tell ya... these things MELT in your mouth. You take a bite and right after your teeth break through the glorious, cold, rich chocolate, they dive deeper into the depths of a sweet and tangy raspberry that disintegrates like cotton candy. Not even joking here.

BONUS they make SO MANY dishes 50,000 times better. I threw them on/in some of my favorite recipes and discovered a whole new world of yum.

Haha in case you can't tell... I kinda like these things....

TruFru might very well be my favorite Acai Bowl topping... 

And making a healthy Chocolate Chunk raspberry "milkshake" with them... A  whole nother level...

👆👆These recipes are all on my instagram page! (@cafekass) 👆👆

AND SHE'S A GENIUS

I'm a genius.

These. Are. Amazing. And will definitely be on my menu at Bakery Zero!! But till then, we might just have to wait (& trust me it'll be worth the wait...)

They taste exactly like the cauliflower crust pizza at Malibu Farm but BONUS: you don't have to drive all the way to California - and pay $20 - to get one! Soooooooo good and only 135 calories 😳

Like I said... I'm a genius. #foodnerd

Update: More Pointers & Lots of Pics!!

Hi guys!!

Update: Life is good.

I'm gonna let you in on a few secrets of mine...

• Find yummy healthy things
• Pick the healthy(er) option
• Know your weaknesses
• Make your own food
• Love your life

First Que: find yummy healthy things

Any acai bowl/smoothie lovers here? How bout peanut butter lovers? I LOVE ME MY SMOOTHIES AND PEANUT BUTTER!! So obviously combining the two is like a recipe from  heaven.

Below are sneak peaks of things that make me hyperventilate (<-- definitely used spell check on that one). 

The Acai bowl is from a place called Pressed For Juice in Las Vegas. This is evidence that it is possible to eat healthy while on the road on long trips with your fam! Highly HIGHLY suggest this place - this acai bowl has it's thick smoothie base on the bottom, yummy granola and fresh fruit, and its topped with their HOMEMADE PEANUT BUTTER. Its to die for.

The smoothie is homemade and one of my go-tos!! It's got PB2 powder, cacao powder, pink himalayan sea salt, stevia, 1/2 banana, and ice! 

Moral of the Que: Honestly I'd choose these things over a rich, buttery, pound cake for dessert. Not only do I genuinely think they taste yummier, but they make me feel better, less heavy, happy, and they're better for my body! YASSS. 

    

Second Que: Pick the healthy(er) option

If you're an OG reader here, you might know that I LOVE Malibu Farm in Malibu California. This place has 2 money examples of substituting to still be able to eat the things that you love. 

The first example is their cauliflower crust pizza (YUM). Replacing the crust for a veggie is an awesome healthier option and it tastes sooooooo good. 

The second example is this ice cream. It is vegan, meaning it contains no animal products (i.e. milk, cream, eggs, etc). The fact that this stuff is made out of coconut milk makes it so that it settles well in your stomach, it is healthier for you, and it serves as an awesome delicious alternative to your average ice cream. (BTW this is PB flavored too 😏)

 

Third Que: Know your weaknesses

My weakness = nuts. All nuts. Pistachios, almonds, cashews, peanut butter (okay overkill on the PB kass...) 

I have very little portion control with these things and  a visual example of this is seen below...

This is my tub of Costco Cashews (my fav) after just over a week....

SO know your weaknesses... because I know I am very susceptible to inhaling these I decided to divide the rest in individual little baggies with reasonable portions. I allowed myself one of these baggies each day so that I didn't sit there mindlessly with the entire tub on my lap and demolish a ton in one sitting. 

Fourth Que: Make your own food

I have realized that when I go out to eat, I can often make the same thing at home but 10x healthier, 10x less calories, and probably 10x yummier... so I started to loove cooking for myself and started to not like eating out as much. Plus I noticed that my self control was lower at restaurants cuz I'd see everything everyone else was eating and want some ice cream too, but I would get frustrated cuz I knew I had 35 calorie ice cream at home.

Tip: Make this at home! Its SOOO GOOD!

Turkey Avo Almond Cran wrap! (50 cal wrap, turkey slices, spring mix, chopped almonds, 1/4 avocado, dried cranberries)

Last Que: Love life!

While yes, it is always good to pick the healthier option and exercise and eat healthy etc. etc. make sure you don't get overly concerned about it. Life is (at least it should be) so simple. Don't spend too much time thinking about it! If you have a bad day and eat 5 slices of pizza and feel sick, get excited to drink a smoothie and eat a salad tomorrow! Or if you drank a smoothie and ate a salad yesterday, treat yoself to pizza! Listen to your body and love life! 

PB Choc Lava Cake

Any fellow peanut butter addicts out there? 𝠉✋

This STEAMING hot molten lava peanut butter chocolate cake is sooo delicious. I love when things taste naughty but they're actually full of clean, healthy, good-for-you ingredients!
This cake is rich, chocolaty, gooey, peanut buttery, decedent, dairy-free, gluten-free, flourless, sugar-free, quick, easy, and ahMaiZINg!

PB Choc Lava Cake

Serving size - 2 cakes
Ingredients:

• 1 c Enjoy Life 69% cacao dark chocolate chips (dairy, nut & soy-free) *Pic Below
• 1 T Maranatha chunky peanut butter
• 1 egg
• 1 t vanilla extract
• 1/8 c vanilla coconut yogurt (or greek yogurt if not dairy-free)
• pinch of salt
• 1/4 c powdered peanut butter (I use PB2 powder)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400* Fahrenheit

Rub 2 ramekins with coconut oil

In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the coconut yogurt, egg, salt, vanilla extract and salt (preferably with a stand mixer) until frothy

Melt your chocolate with a tsp of coconut oil until smooth 

In multiple intervals, slowly add your egg mixture into your melted chocolate while constantly whisking (this ensures your eggs don't scramble from the heat of the chocolate)

Once everything is whisked together, mix in 1/4 c PB2 Powder

Pour some of the mixture into the ramekin until it is 1/2 full

Add in 2 T chunky peanut butter (the more the merrier in my opinion!)

Fill the rest of the ramekin with your chocolate mixture until the peanut butter is completely covered 

Bake for 10 minutes and make sure to let it slightly cool before trying to separate it from the ramekin

Sprinkle some additional PB2 powder on top to make it look cuuuute 

DEVOUR 

(and definitely take a video of the molten lava peanut butter that spills out at the first spoonful!!) 

(Oh! & tag @bakeryzero on Instagram so everyone can see the molten lava goodness!)

(Oh! & bonus points if you add AMAZING cheesy Christmas music to the video! 😆)

Homemade Healthy Twix

THESE ARE GOOD.

When I'm bored, sometimes I'll start throwing things into a food processor and try to make something new and yummy (haha, anyone else?) A few weeks ago I decided that I was going to try to make healthy Twix. So I tried it... BOOM. So good.

• Dairy free
• Gluten free
• Refined sugar free
• Guilt free!

Healthy Homemade Twix Bars

Ingredients:
Base layer-

• 1 c coconut flour
• 3 T coconut sugar
• pinch of salt
• 1/4 c egg whites (or a whole egg)
• vanilla
• 1/2 c apple sauce
• almond milk to reach desired consistency

Caramel layer-

• 12 soaked dates
• 1/4 c water 
• 2 T maple syrup
• pinch of salt
• a few tsp carob powder (optional - this just gives it more of that "toffee" taste)

Chocolate-

• Dark Chocolate 
• 1 T Coconut oil

Directions:
Mix all of the ingredients for the base layer until the mix reaches a firm/doughy consistency and press into a pan lined with parchment paper
**You can either place this in the freezer to set OR bake on 375 for 10 minutes**
While the base layer is either setting (or baking), strain the dates and place them into a food processor with 1/4 c water and process until it reaches a smooth consistency
Add in the maple syrup, salt, carob powder, and more water if needed
Once the base layer is ready, spread the date caramel evenly on top
Place it back into the freezer to set again
After about 10 minutes in the freezer, take out your base and caramel concoction and slice into twix-sized bars and either space them out on a plate, or place them on a cooling rack (so you can pour your chocolate evenly on top)
Melt the dark chocolate with the coconut oil
Pour the chocolate evenly over the twix bars until they are all covered
Place your bars back into the freezer and wait for them to set (should only take a few minutes)
Enjoy your dairy-free, refined sugar-free, grain-free, guilt-free treat!

SOO YUMMAY

Tourin' Whole Foods Park City

 

I LOVE touring grocery stores. Especially "specialty"/"nerdy healthy-food-containing" stores. On my Instagram @healthyutahspots, I have been posting pix of my favorite healthy places/menu items to eat around Utah! It has been so fun & I've been so excited to get such a positive response!

Through this account, I was so stoked to be invited to an exclusive pre-store opening event for @WholeFoods in Park City. YES. I was jumping up and down when I saw the tickets - I've always loved Whole Foods! 

• Toured the amazing new features in this GINORMOUS store (double the size of most Whole Foods)
• Treated to a live Jazz band, cute cheese plates, chocolates, and amazing samples
• Fed a yummy dinner
• AND my friend @TristanTausinga & I left with the cutest goodie bags! 

I LOVE GOODIE BAGS

Someone's gonna need to hold me back because I get a little too excited over these places #foodnerd... 

If you'd like to know my favorite "healthy spots" around Utah feel free to follow my instagram account, @healthyutahspots 😊 Catch ya later! 

SHOOT these are my favorite...

  

   

Copycat Cubby's Wild Rice & Kale Salad

One of my most favoritest salads ever... Can't decide if it's a good or bad thing that this re-creation is so spot on cuz now I can have it 4.5 times a day every day 😳

I LOVE this salad from @cubby's (as previously mentioned in my "Healthy Reminder" post when madre & I hiked Timp)

FYI - I do like to change a few things in this salad. Keep in mind that you can have fun & go crazy with each ingredient swap!

Copycat Cubby's Wild Rice & Kale Salad

(I like using spinach so technically this is a 'Wild Rice & Spinach Salad' 😆

Serves 1
Ingredients:

• large handful of spinach (or chopped kale) 
• 1/2 of a microwaveable Minute Rice "Ready to Serve" Multi-Grain Medley cup (got this @Walmart - pic below)
• chopped grilled chicken (I use Foster Farms frozen pre-cooked grilled chicken breast strips @Walmart - pic below)
• garlic salt
• 1/2 thinly chopped gala apple 
• 1/2 of a sliced avocado
• dried cranberries
• slivered almonds
• fresh grated parmesan
• lime juice

Directions:

Slice up 1/2 apple and 1/2 avocado
(I would suggest massaging the avocados into the greens - it also acts as the dressing)

Microwave the Multi-Grain Medley rice cup

Microwave the chicken to defrost it, then cut the strips into smaller pieces. Sprinkle on some garlic salt and grill on medium-high heat for just a few seconds to get it a bit of crispier/charred (grilling is optional)

ASSEMBLE! 

Throw everything inside of a bowl, mix it all up, and squirt lime juice on top as the healthy dressing! 

TRUST ME & TRY THIS SALAD - IT'S INCREDIBLE 

Plus, it's super easy, super cheap (got of my all ingredients from Walmart), and super healthy.