Mushrooms Are The New Black [coffee]

Hey Fit Fam,

Hopefully you read my blog about me being [almost] caffeine free for FOUR WEEKS!

If not be sure to check it out HERE and learn more about WHY I cut (most) caffeine in order to address/treat adrenal fatigue!

One of the products I mention in that Instagram post is MUSHROOM COFFEE and MUSHROOM ELIXIRS. These products are probalby foreign to most of you (they were to me until a few months ago) so I wanted to give them their own little blog entry.

SAVE 15% off with code SIMPLYSTACY

Recently I've been doing a TON of reasearch on something called ADAPTOGENS. You may be  taking them and don't even realize that is what they are called (things like rosemary, aloe vera, milk thistle, licorice root, ginsing, maca, goji, etc.) But there are a TON of others adaptogens that you may have never heard of ... like Ashwagandha, Rhodoila, Chaga Mushrooms, Reishi Mushrooms, Cordyceps, etc.

In short, adaptagens are a natural substances that works with a person’s body and help them adapt. Adaptogens are a natural ally in dealing with things like stress and fatigue because they work with regulating important hormones.


Pending which one you take .. they can offer a host of benefits (naturally)

• Boost immune system
• Support a healthy weight
• Increase physical endurance and mental focus
• Lower Stress (ie cortisol levels)
• Encouraging a balanced mood 

There are a few that I plan to start incorporating in 2018 (once I'm back home from travel and have time to order them) but in doing this caffeine cut I got a jump start on a few! Here is a little breakdown of a few I've been using.

Cordyceps (Supports Energy and Performance)

Cordyceps is an adaptogen, not a stimulant, so it helps you produce and maintain steady energy levels. Coffee can give you an energy spike, followed by a crash; cordyceps, on the other hand, helps your body produce its own energy.

REISHI Mushrooms
Reishi is classified as an adaptogen. It has no side effects, it is useful in a wide variety of illnesses and conditions, and it helps the body return to a normal and balanced state.

Reishi is gaining acceptance as being helpful in combatting the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy, and its anti-stress effects are believed to contribute to easing tension, strengthening the immune system, sharpening concentration and improving memory.

CHAGA Mushrooms
This one has SO MANY beneifts - read here. But in short .. it is the antioxident king!! It smashes things like green tea in terms of levels of antioxidants!

So far the products I've used are from a brand called Four Sigmatic. The mushroom coffees and elixirs (that contain these adaptogens listed) that I have personally tried are:

CHAGA Mushroom Elixir Mix 
See above for what CHAGA is. I use this one in AM mixed with my decaf for it's antioxidant properties. You don't have to mix with coffee. You actually mix it with 8oz of water. I just mix it with my decaf because for ME much of nixing the caffeine addiction was HABIT in the form of drinking my morning coffee ... not so much the caffeine.



Mushroom Coffee Mix
This one is made up of Chaga and another shroom called LIONS MANE. It does have a little caffeine plus the NATURAL kick/focus from the shrooms! I have this in place of my coffee or mixed with my decaf. It has 50mg caffine and also cordyceps and chaga for natural energy and antioxidant properties.
I already describe CHAGA above, but Lions Mane is basically a natural cognitive enhancer. It's been shorn to support memory and concentration!

DECAF Mushroom Coffee Mix
This has both Chaga and Reishi mushroom extracts! See full descriptions above. You can also read all about these shrooms on their page but in short this coffee has these benefits:

• Reishi dual extract is known for its potential ability to support occasional stress
• Earthy chaga dual extract balances the lighter roast beans with its rich flavor while helping to reduce coffee’s natural acidity and potentially supporting immune function with antioxidant properties.

Cordyceps Mushroom Elixir Mix
See full description of Cordyceps above. I took this one pre-workout since cordyceps help your body produce natural energy.

Mushroom Hot Cacao Mix
They have two. One is good before bed. The other (pictured) in AM or Pre-Workout. I've had them alone with just unsweetened almond milk, mixed in my coffee and even mixed in my ice cream at night.

 




Each of these producs have a unique taste (hard to explain) but all taste very mild and are really good in my opinion. As mentioned, I've been mixing in my decaf most of the time instead of drinking alone. However many people mix with milk or water (pending the product) and a sweetener or in smoothies! The COFFEES can be BREWED or PRESSED just like regular coffee! The elixirs and hot cacao you just mix with water/liquid.

As for the MUSHROOM COFFEE (regular and decaf) it does taste like COFFEE! This one would be a great alternative for someone that can't handle coffee because of the ACID! So instead of buying a "low acid coffee" you may want to check this out instead! My husband can't tolerate coffee very well because of an ulcer so I'm hoping this will allow him to enjoy "coffee" without stomach pain!

I'm not sure I've ever seen a webpage that is more organized and more educational than Four Sigmatic. For real, I think I spent like 3 hours on there reading! So make sure and check it out HERE.
 The site has SO MUCH information it can be a little overwhelming finding it all! So I've made it easy for you! If you don't want to just go to the main page, you can also follow any of the specific hyper links I mention throughout the blog or here below to take you directly to things like:

FIND MY SHROOM

START HERE (examples of times/situations you may want to take each)

SO MANY BLOGS about medicinal mushrooms! With endless reasearch and studies!

FAQ that answers just about anything you can think of.

RECIPES using their products.

Even VIDEO LESSONS that allow you to take a 3 hour course and become a mushroom expert, ha!

I'm not a "shroom" expert. I am still learning about these products and simply wanted to share with you what I've been trying out! So I highly suggest you use the links above (specifically Find My Shroom) to see which (if any) may be best for you! Just like many supplements and herbs ... they are not one size fits all! But luckily they have this great little guide!

I can't wait to dive deeper into the world of ADAPTOGENS and am thankful I found this product during my CAFFEINE CUT ... which is now over, ha. I may not cut back as much as I was during my Adrenal Restore, but I am going to continue limiting the amount I take in daily.

I was able to get Four Sigmatic to give me a discount code that I can pass on to YOU so that YOU can save some money! Just type in SIMPLYSTACY at checkout and you will save %15 off your order.

Xo
Stacy


**Some products and links may be AFFILIATE links. Meaning I may or may not recieve commission or product as part of a sponsorship or affiliation with the company. But please know that any product I post about I use and stand by.**

6 Gut Friendly Foods For Your Kitchen (Plus Anti-Inflammatory Gummies Recipe)

Hey Fit Fam,

Improving gut health doesn’t have to be a difficult feat if you keep gut healthy foods in your kitchen. We all know that gut health is important, but many of us don’t realize just how much of an impact the foods we eat play a role in how we feel, think and behave. Before you plan your next shopping list, read more about the foods that can improve your life in more ways than one.

6 GUT FRIENDLY FOODS FOR YOUR KITCHEN

YOGURT

• Spoon your way to a better digestion with a cup of yogurt. 
• Yogurt contains probiotics, which are a powerhouse for digestive health. Probiotics are live micro-organisms that promote health benefits when consumed and support the "good' bacteria in the gut (3).
• Look for yogurts that contain live cultures-an active bacteria that has been shown to help promote in overall gut health and aid in reducing digestive distress (12.)
  
  (I know it's not some fancy flavored yogurt. But we are talking about GUT HEALTH. Probably the best yogurt on the market for this would be Nancy's.)

CAYENNE PEPPER

• Spice up your day with a sprinkle of cayenne pepper in your meals.
• Research has shown that cayenne pepper can assist in bringing necessary enzymes to the stomach which ultimately aid in metabolizing food (1).
• Also, a great aid for relieving intestinal gas as it encourages peristaltic motion - the movement of muscles located in the digestive tract (2).

AVOCADO

• Avocados are not only a delicious addition to any meal, they are also a one-stop-shop for a wide array of vitamins and nutrients, and are full of potassium, fiber, magnesium, and monounsaturated fats (4). 
• Fiber is largely found in avocados with approximately 4.5 grams per half, which contributes to healthy digestion as a result of its ability to feed the ‘friendly’ bacteria and remove waste in a minimal amount of time (5). 

ROOIBOS TEA

• Gut healthy foods don’t necessarily have to be a food! 
• Steep a warm cup of sweet and flowery rooibos tea for its digestive health benefits. Even add a scoop of Vital Proteins Bone Broth for an added digestive boost.
• Rooibos tea is rich in nutrients such as manganese, iron, zinc, and calcium to promote a healthy inflammatory response. Studies have shown that rooibos tea has the ability to promote improved digestion and abdominal comfort (6). 

QUINOA

• Quinoa is fiber-rich with a whopping 5 grams per cooked cup (8), mostly consisting of insoluble fibers which help to deliver friendly bacteria to the gut (7). 
• Rich in antioxidants–which flush out free radicals from the digestive tract (10)–and other minerals, quinoa boasts, even more, iron, fiber, and zinc over other common grains (9). 
• Magnesium is the star player in quinoa, where one cup can offer 30% of the recommended daily amount (9).

VITAL PROTEINS BEEF GELATIN
(my number one GUT HEALER)

• Gut healthy foods can be made even healthier with an all natural supplement. Maintain a digestive support with supplements such as Vital Proteins Beef Gelatin.
• Gelatin is most beneficial for improving the lining of the digestive tract and combating intestinal damage which ultimately prevents permeability (11). Gelatin is slower to digest, moves through the GI tract further and coats the small intestine.
• Beef Gelatin and Collagen Peptides' nutritional benefits vary only slightly. The main difference is how they're used. Gelatin works best while cooking, or with hot liquids, soups and broths. Both can be used cooking, but Beef Gelatin dissolves well in warm liquids, gummies, parfaits, hot teas, and more.

Anti-inflammatory CBD Gummies

You can omit the CBD if you want or don't have. But not sure why you would! It is AMAZING for inflammation! Check out THIS BLOG on how I am using CBD and am "Healed Not High" and THIS BLOG for any confusion as to what HEMP you should and SHOULD NOT be buying!!

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup water
4 tbsp. Vital Proteins Beef Gelatin

1 heaping scoop 1st Phorm Lemonade, Apple or Blueberry BCAAs
3 cups mixed fresh or thawed frozen strawberries, blueberries or apples (pending BCAA flavor)
 *Can omit if you want to get carbs elsewhere or want no carb gummies*

DIRECTIONS:
Add the Beef Gelatin to 1/4c of the water in a small bowl. Stir and set it aside for 3 minutes to let the gelatin bloom.

Mix the other 1/4 of the water, bcaas and 1 full dropper of UNFLAVORED IGNITE CBD OIL.

If adding the berries add the berries and sweetener large blender.  Blend on high until smooth.

Pour the berry juice (if used) and BCAA/CBD mixture into a medium saucepan and place over medium-low heat.

Add the bloomed gelatin and continuously until the gelatin is melted.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the magnesium, if using.

Pour into silicone molds or a large glass dish.

Refrigerate until solid, about 2 hours for molds or 4 hours for a large dish.

FREE SHIPPING for all US VITAL PROTEINS orders - HERE
FREE FAST Shipping on all 1st Phorm orders - HERE

**Some products and links may be AFFILIATE links. Meaning I may or may not receive commission or product as part of a sponsorship or affiliation with the company. But please know that any product I post about I use and stand by.**

Sources
(1) Maji, A. K., & Banerji, P. (2016). Phytochemistry and gastrointestinal benefits of the medicinal spice, Capsicum annuum L. (Chilli): a review. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine,13(2). doi:10.1515/jcim-2015-0037 (2) “Spices Exotic Flavors & Medicines Chile Pepper.” History & Special Collections UCLA Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library, 2002. Accessed 27 Feb. 2017. (3) Guarner, F., Perdigon, G., Corthier, G., Salminen, S., Koletzko, B., & Morelli, L. (2005). Should yogurt cultures be considered probiotic? British Journal of Nutrition,93(06), 783. doi:10.1079/bjn20051428 (4) Lu, Q., Zhang, Y., Wang, Y., Wang, D., Lee, R., Gao, K., . . . Heber, D. (2009). California Hass Avocado: Profiling of Carotenoids, Tocopherol, Fatty Acid, and Fat Content during Maturation and from Different Growing Areas. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry,57(21), 10408-10413. doi:10.1021/jf901839h (5) Naveh E., Werman M. J., Sabo E., Neeman I. Defatted avocado pulp reduces body weight and total hepatic fat but increases plasma cholesterol in male rats fed diets with cholesterol. Journal of Nutrition. 2002;132(7):2015–2018.(6) Gilani, A. H., Khan, A.-u., Ghayur, M. N., Ali, S. F. and Herzig, J. W. (2006), Antispasmodic Effects of Rooibos Tea (Aspalathus linearis) is Mediated Predominantly through K⁺-Channel Activation. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, 99: 365–373. doi:10.1111/j.1742-7843.2006.pto_507.x (7) Slavin, J. (2013). Fiber and Prebiotics: Mechanisms and Health Benefits. Nutrients,5(4), 1417-1435. doi:10.3390/nu5041417 (8) Repo-Carrasco-Valencia, R. A., & Serna, L. A. (2011). Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa, Willd.) as a source of dietary fiber and other functional components. Ciência e Tecnologia de Alimentos,31(1), 225-230. doi:10.1590/s0101-20612011000100035 (9) Nascimento, A. C., Mota, C., Coelho, I., Gueifão, S., Santos, M., Matos, A. S., . . . Castanheira, I. (2014). Characterisation of nutrient profile of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus), and purple corn (Zea mays L.) consumed in the North of Argentina: Proximates, minerals and trace elements. Food Chemistry,148, 420-426. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.09.155 (10) How to Help Digestion. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2017, from http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/14432/1/How-to...(11) Cardile, V. (2012). Gelatin tannate reduces the proinflammatory effects of lipopolysaccharide in human intestinal epithelial cells. Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology, 61. doi:10.2147/ceg.s28792 (12) Guyonnet, D., Chassany, O., Ducrotte, P., Picard, C., Mouret, M., Mercier, C., & Matuchansky, C. (2007). Effect of a fermented milk containing Bifidobacterium animalis DN-173 010 on the health-related quality of life and symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome in adults in primary care: a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics,26(3), 475-486. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2007.03362.x

Collagen Creamer Holiday Loaf

Hey Fit Fam,

Oh the irony!! I was sipping on my Gut Healing Coffee Saturday morning (with some Gingerbread Vital Proteins Collagen Creamer added in) .. when I got an email for a new recipe that calls for this creamer... but the recipe was for a CAKE (technically a loaf.)

Yup ..  Vital Proteins collagen coffee creamers don’t just go in your coffee or tea.
You can BAKE with them as well.

Before we get to the recipe let me tell you about these creamers. If you already have some and know the benefits .. feel free to scroll on down and get to the recipe details.

If you are a "bulletproof coffee" fan then these creamers are right up your alley!
Or maybe you just want an EASY and delicious way to get in your collagen and some healthy fats to start your day!

Vital Proteins Collagen Creamers are a nourishing way to boost your morning brew. Also great in teas, baked goods, and desserts, these versatile Creamers are Whole30-approved and free of dairy, artificial flavors, added sugars, and carrageenan. A healthy way to start your day, they’re rich in clean collagen protein and healthy fats from organic coconut milk.

• Boost Energy: VP Collagen Creamers are rich in energy-boosting MCTs, a type of healthy fat found in coconut milk.**
• Add Protein: VP creamers boast 10 grams of clean collagen protein from grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine per serving.**
• Support Connective Tissues: As the most abundant protein in the body, collagen is responsible for the maintenance of healthy hair, skin, nails, bones and joints.**
• 100% Clean: VP's Whole30-approved Collagen Creamers are made with only real-food ingredients and are free of artificial sweeteners, refined sugars, dairy, and gluten.**

Questions about collagen in general? Where to start? Why I use Vital Proteins? Send me an email! Or check out by blog - “Healing My Gut With Collagen”

I personally aim to get 20-30g of collagen a day from mixed VP sources! Because I mix my sources I don't use full serving of the creamer in the morning. One tablespoon will do! But don't forget... 20g of Vital Proteins Collagen (from any source) should be your daily goal to see all the amazing health benefits!

Paleo Collagen Holiday Loaf

 

Loaf Ingredients
:
1 c cashew butter

1/2 c applesauce

1/2 c maple syrup

2 eggs

1 t vanilla extract

1 t fresh grated ginger root

1/2 c cassava flour

1 t baking powder

2 scoops Vital Proteins Collagen Creamer, Coconut

1/4 t salt

1 T lemon juice

Gingerbread spice (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice) to taste

Glaze Ingredients:

1 scoop Vital Proteins Collagen Creamer, Coconut - (I bet the gingerbread one would be BOMB)

2 T coconut milk

2 T raw honey

1 t arrowroot starch

Instructions
:
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a standard loaf pan and set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, add in cashew butter, applesauce, maple syrup, egg, vanilla extract and fresh grated ginger root. Mix until well-combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together cassava flour, baking powder, Coconut Collagen Creamer, salt, and spices.
4. Slowly add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until well-incorporated.
5. Add in the lemon juice and whisk again.
6. Pour batter into the loaf pan and bake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean.
7. For the glaze: add all ingredients to a high speed blender and blend on high. Let the glaze sit for a few minutes to thicken. Best served on the holiday loaf when it has cooled slightly.
8. Serve immediately.


* I have no clue if any substitution to make this more “macro” healthy are possible (such as a different sweetener than honey or maple syrup, lite coconut milks, egg whites instead of egg, different nut butters, etc. But feel free to try *

*If you only have one flavor of the Creamers any of them would work for this recipe (Vanilla, Coconut or Gingerbread.

*Here is the recipe for my GUT HEALING COFFEE I mention that I was sipping on.

Whenever you order Vital Proteins .. I'd appreciate it if you use my link!
Any of the hyperlinks in any of my blogs will work. Or you can just use THIS LINK!
I also keep this link in my instagram bio as well!

Xo
Stacy

**These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

**Some products and links may be AFFILIATE links. Meaning I may or may not recieve commission or product as part of a sponsorship or affiliation with the company. But please know that any product I post about I use and stand by.**

No Bean Sweet + Spicy Chili

Hey Fit Fam,

There really is nothing like a hot bowl of chili on a cold fall/winter night!

One problem ... I don’t personally find “soups” very filling .. even if they are loaded with lots of beans! I think it’s a “mental thing” for me and one reason I rarely mix my foods together and like eating them separate! So instead of putting all my carbs in the chili itself .. I like to make my it a little lower carb so that I can have my carbs on the side - in the form of maybe a sandwich, some cornbread, roasted reds, “fried” polenta, my rice cake creations…or whatever you think goes well with a bowl of chili! I won’t judge you if your side is Fritos .. because well .. Fritos + Chili is BOMB!

Me and the hubs had a Chili cook-off years ago and cooked up our famous Sweet & Spicy Chili and OF COURSE we WON because it’s so freaking good! That recipe is filled with all sorts of BEANS and several things to make the base, so I took that recipe and simply modified it with NO beans and  much EASIER base (easy as in .. out of a box .. ha.) I also added a "secret" ingredient to make it more VOLUME with less than ONE extra carb per serving and instead of basic ole grocery store stock - - I used a COLLAGEN based bone broth (one of my favorite products for gut health by the way.)



Feel free to add beans to this and use a basic chili base of diced tomatoes, rotel, tomato paste, etc.,  if you prefer. But this boxed soup I used was so full of flavor! It was the perfect chili base for sure (and if you like your salt they do have a full sodium version as well.)

If you make it please TAG ME on your socials and let people know they can find the recipe here on the blog!

 

NO BEAN Spicy & Sweet Chili

Makes FOUR servings

Serving Size (see notes at bottom***)
MACROS (using exact brands listed)
Calories: 238

Protein: 25.2
Fat: 7.5

Carbs: 16.8

Fiber: 2.5

Sugar: 9 

Sodium: 228.8

   
INGREDIENTS:
(*) One Container Trader Joe's Roasted Red Pepper Soup
(**) One Scoop Vital Proteins Collagen Bone Broth (Ckn or Beef) - Use THIS link to order with FREE shipping in the United States!
(**) One packet Miracle Noodle Rice - (Order HERE and use code STACYNOV for a discount in the month of November. If you see this at a different month just use whatever month it is --STACYDEC , etc.)
(*) 1lb Extra Lean Ground Beef (96/4 from Trader Joe’s)
(*) 1tsp Hot Sauce
(*) 1-2tsp Cumin
(*)1tbs Chili Powder
(*) 1/2 -1tsp - Cayenne Pepper
(*) 1tsp Brown Sugar
(*) 1/2-1tbs Cinnamon
(*) 1tsp Oregano - (I actually used 3 drops Doterra Oregano Essential Oil because I didn’t have any spice)

WHAT TO DO:
* Prepare Miracle Rice as directed. Set aside.
* Stir Collagen Powdered Bone Broth in a little bit of water and stir. I didn’t measure the water. Probably around 1/2 cup.
* Brown meat .. add all spices, the bone broth and the cooked miracle noodles and let all the flavors cook in for a little bit.
* Pour soup in crock pot
* Add meat mixture to crock pot
* Stir - let simmer for a few hours. It’s already COOKED so no set time. This just locks in all the flavors really well. I did low all day!
* Taste it to see if you need any more spices to your liking! Add whatever you feel it needs!! I used the higher end of all the spices listed above and still ended up adding a little more of most.




** 
You can omit the Miracle Rice if you want. But this is something you can add to make it have more volume and a little more filling without adding any macros (An entire bag only has 3carbs.)

** You can omit the Collagen Bone Broth Powder and do some store bought stock. But this is SO much better and has TONS of gut benefits. It is an unflavored powder so you can add it to so many things for the benefits of bone broth! Believe it or not ... I also use a scoop of it in my Smoothie Bowls every day (recipe coming soon so make sure and subscribe.) Again .. you can’t taste it! In smoothies it just makes them fluffier! Since using one scoop of this DAILY for two weeks as part of my Vital Proteins collagen regime I have noticed a DRASTIC difference in my bowel movements! If you have any question about this Vital Proteins product or any of the others .. please Email Me! You can also check out the blog entry "Healing My Gut With Collagen"

*** People often ask me how I “track” bulk meals like this....simple!! I know that this recipe serves FOUR. So I just poured it all in a big bowl after it was cooked and measured it and then divided that number (in grams) by 4 .. that is a serving size! You can then put it in individual containers for each day or just remember that number and scoop it out each time! If you are serving this to a group and don't want to go to that trouble and want to try to guesstimate .. I noticed "one serving" was about
1 and 3/4 of a regular size ladle!

Balsamic Blackberry Reduction

Hey Fit Fam,

I can NOT take credit for this amazing creation. But whoever came up with it is a flat out genius!

Balsamic reduction is so good in general .. don't ya think? Now add some chocolate blackberry flavor in the form of COLLAGEN PEPTIDES!?! OMG .. I die!!

For this recipe they put the reduction on blackberries and made a blackberry fruit salad!!
But you could skip the blackberries and mint part of the recipe and JUST make the reduction and use it on whatever you want! I am thinking it would be an amazing salad dressing! Oh yes ... I'm gonna do that this weekend! Stay tuned to Instagram Story to see how I use it and if you make it TAG ME so I can see what you came up with!

BALSAMIC BLACKBERRY REDUCTION (Fruit Salad) 

Ingredients:

4 cups of fresh blackberries
2 scoops of dark chocolate & blackberry peps1/2 cup balsamic vinegar, reduced
mint leaves
 
Instructions:

1. Rinse blackberries, gently pat dry and set aside.
2. Heat vinegar in medium sauce pan over low heat until it's reduced to a syrup-like
   consistency.
   
3. In a medium bowl, toss blackberries and Dark Chocolate and Blackberry Collagen
   Peptides together until berries are covered.
   
4. Scoop berry mixture evenly into four small bowls.
   
5. Drizzle reduced balsamic over the top.
   
6. Add mint leaves to garnish. 
   
   
   
    Shop VITAL PROTEINS - HERE. Or by using any of the hyper links within the recipe. 
   
   
   Please note this blog may contain affiliate links. However always know whether I'm getting a percentage of sales or not .. I only post products that I use myself and BELIEVE IN! By using these links to make your purchase you are simply saying "thank you" to me .... and helping me continue to provide you FREE blog content!

Fall Harvest Pasta Recipe For World Pasta Day

Hey Friends

There is indeed a day for everything and today is apparently WORLD PASTA DAY!

Little Stacy fun fact. I ate pasta pretty much every day of my life from childhood through early adulthood. I'm not kidding. I really only liked angel hair with tomato sauce!! I was a picky eater as a kid and that is what I wanted ... ALL.THE.TIME. In college I lived at the "pasta station" at the cafeteria and as a young adult I did the semi-vegetarian thing for a while and was clueless how to do it in a healthy way .. so pasta was pretty much my dinner every single night, lol. I can't even imagine what my carb intake was back then and how low my protein probably was!! Oh how I wish I had known then what I know now!

These days .my carb intake is pretty stinking high .. so I've been incorporating REAL DEAL pasta into rotation!

Of course I have to eat Gluten Free pasta because of having Celiac. There are SO MANY out there that honestly taste just the same as wheat filled pasta (from what I can remember.) I don't have a favorite brand. This go round I got Barilla and it was REALLY good!

For my LOW CARB PEEPS .. or if you just don't want to waste carb macros on a little pasta .. or if you want to add a little something TO the real pasta to make it MORE VOLUME for essentially ZERO carbs .. keep reading! I've got a pasta hack below the recipe!

The biggest thing about pasta is coming up with a sauce that isn't crazy in calories/carbs. Most people don't want that since you are already getting a TON from the pasta.

FALL is in the air and pumpkin everything is in full supply so I wondered what the yummy FALL HARVEST SALSA at Trader Joe's would taste like on PASTA?! I mean .. pasta sauces are often TOMATO based .. so is salsa. So why not give it a try! The macros for this salsa are great (3c per serving) and it really dosen't take much at all! So I added a few things to it and BOOM!! I'm happy to report that it was DELISH! It really did make the perfect pasta sauce!

MACROS: They will vary based on brand of pasta, amounts, type of protein you use, etc.
The macros for the Fall Harvest Pasta Sauce ONLY (using the amounts listed and NO add-ins) are:
Calories: 55
Fat: 0
Carbs:14
Fiber: 2
Protein: 0

FALL HARVEST PASTA

INGREDIENTS:

2oz (or amount you choose) of Pasta
3 servings (90g) of Trader Joe's Fall Harvest Salsa
1/4+ serving of Pumpkin (I also use Trader Joe's or Libby's)
Protein of choice - I used my already meal prepped crock pot ckn.

OPTIONAL ADD INS:
** I like a "kick" so I added in some red pepper flakes
** You may need a tiny bit of unsweetened almond or cashew milk if it's dry! I used like 1-2 tbs.
** Parm cheese (I did 5g .. one serving)
** Little bit of (any) cream cheese. Oooh .. maybe even TJ's pumpkin cream cheese! This will make it more of a creamy pasta sauce! I didn't try it with THIS recipe but have with marinara sauce or tomato sauce and it is so YUMMY!

WHAT TO DO:
Just make the pasta as directed.
Drain
Put pasta back in pot and stir in the salsa, pumpkin, cooked meat and any other add-ins you want (the red pepper, seasonings, milk, cream cheese, etc.)
Put on low heat until the "sauce" is heated with the pasta
Serve and sprinkle on cheese if you wish!

** PASTA HACK **
Want to eat your pasta and SAVE your carbs?!? I often incorporate THESE noodles into my meals .. especially when carbs are lower.

They stink when you open them but once you rinse and blanch they no longer stink and they pretty much just take on the taste of however you season them! So don't let the smell scare ya away! They are a GREAT pasta substitute for those on low carb or just those that want more VOLUME foods!

For example .. one of the days I had this I was HUNGRY. So I mixed in ONE ounce of these noodles in with my 2oz of regular pasta and had MUCH more volume. Or you could JUST use these noodles and have an entire bowl for literally like a few carbs! I purchase mine HERE online because it is cheaper to buy them by the box. You can also find them at SOME wal-mart stores, vitacost, etc. I need to do a full review on some of their other products because so many of their "Ready To Eat" items (like Pho, Curry, Pad Thai, etc) are SO FREAKING GOOD! I've NOT seen those in stores but they have "variety" packs on the webpage! Sometimes they give me a coupon. Please EMAIL ME if you want before you order and I'll see if I have one!

You can also spiral up some zucchini or sweet potato and saute it in a pan  Both are really yummy "pasta" subs or add-ins.  Of course the sweet potato will have more carbs .. but still less than the pasta!

Happy Pasta Day!
Stacy


  

Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Pancakes

Hey Fit Fam,

I bake with protein SO often that I can't tell you the last time I made pancakes or waffles that were not some sort of protein creation. Nothing wrong with some protein baking .. but man I forgot how melt in your mouth delish a REAL pancake without any protein added is!!!

My carb intake is kinda crazy right now so I've been trying to find ways to get in more carbs without going crazy on fiber (yes too MUCH fiber can be just as bad as not enough.)

While I AM NOT a huge pumpkin fan ... there is ONE company that seems to just get it right. I don't know HOW but pretty much ANYTHING from Trader Joe's that is PUMPKIN ... is AMAZING. It's like they have figured out the perfect spice ratio or something. I literally STOCK PILE their Pumpkin Pie Spice and Pumpkin Spice Pumpkin Seeds!! I buy enough every October/November to get me by until NEXT pumpkin season!

Well .. now I will add ANOTHER Trader Joe's pumpkin product to my stock pile pantry. Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancake Mix! They also have a GF Pancake & Waffle Mix. No clue what the difference is .. haven't tried that one.

Honestly I was kind of shocked! The macros aren't even BAD for pancakes! So even on normal to modest carb macros these would work. I just don't think pancakes are that "filling" so I save them for when my carb macros are higher so I can either have MORE than one serving or have another carb on the side (for example I also had a bowl of blueberry oats with my glorious stack.)



As you all know ... I rarely make things as the instructions tell ya to! So I skipped the oil and skipped the full egg and made a couple substitutions .. which make them lower fat and therefore the PERFECT pre-workout carb (I try to keep my fats lower pre and post workout.)

Of course I also had a side of sweet eggs with this stack of glory .... because ya still gotta get in protein at each meal!! I just scrambled up some egg whites and added some cinnamon and stevia. But HERE and HERE are two really great sweet egg recipes! SWEET EGGS ARE LIFE!

This GF Pumpkin Pancake recipe below is for a SINGLE serving! Adjust the ingredients if you want to make more! I made 2 servings the other day and kept everything pretty much the same. Except I used a LARGE egg white, doubled the applesauce and added 2 more tablespoons of water. Everything else stayed the same and they tasted great!

MODIFIED Trader Joes Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancakes
Serving Size:1
Makes 3-4 small/medium pancakes

INGREDIENTS:
* 1 serving (dry mix) - Trader Joe's GF Pumpkin Spice Pancake Mix outta the box!
* 1/8 serving (literally like 15g) Canned Pumpkin (Feel free to use more. I was trying to keep fiber low)
* 1oz Unsweetened Applesauce
* 2 tbs liquid egg whites (or just a regular medium egg white)
* 1-2 tablespoons of water

** I also added a few shakes of their Pumpkin Pie Spice and a few squirts of liquid stevia. But I'm sure you could omit this**


WHAT TO DO:
Mix, Mix, Mix (I just used regular ole metal whisk)
Then make them as directed!
As always when it comes to pancakes .. PATIENCE PAYS OFF.
Cook them on medium low so they are nice and golden and soft on the inside!
If you turn up the heat because you are dying to dig in (yes I've been guilty many times) .. you will get a crispier and much less fluffy pancake!


I topped mine with pan softened apples (with cinnamon and stevia) one day and pan softened banana (the same way) the next day. BOTH were amazing!!

Oh and yea that is pumpkin spice cheerios on the ones right here on the right! Currently .. I am kind of obsessed with any flavor of Cheerio's.

I also skipped any kind of syrup and drizzled mine with my yummy Low Fat Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter

Head on over to my pic on Instagram and leave me a comment if you make them! Or just comment here on the blog! Nobody ever talks to me on here, haha!


XoXo
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Low Fat Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter

Hey Fit Fam,

If you know me at all ... you know that I love me some nut butter! I can't remember a day I've gone without it!

While healthy fats are your friend (don't fall for that low fat crap) ... there are times when you want the taste of peanut butter without the fat. For me this is typically pre/post workout when I like to keep my fats low(er) or on days when I'm going out to eat somewhere and fats are going to be plentiful!

In these cases ... I often use PEANUT BUTTER POWDER instead of the real thing. The problem?! One reason I eat nut butter is to get in HEALTHY fats and MOST of the peanut butter powder on the market is just a bunch of fillers or fillers with added protein powders. Go ahead and look at that PB2 or popular flavored pb powder label .. just a bunch of fillers!

But NOT the one I use.... Crazy Richards's PURE PB Powder has ONE ingredient ... PEANUTS!!



Their (real) natural peanut butter is MY FAVORITE nut butter. The crunchy is pretty darn good too .. I am just a smooth PB kinda girl! Theirs is so smooth and runny and you guessed it .. just peanuts! But it's nice to have a lower fat powder option that is the same quality. (I am not sponsored. Not Paid. Just love this brand.)

Speaking of NATURAL PB .. one reason most people hate it is because of the STIRRING required.
Well stir no more! I came up with a GENIUS HACK! Have you seen it on my Instagram?
If not ... check it out HERE!

Without further rambling ..  here is the recipe for my homemade PUMPKIN SPICE PEANUT BUTTER DRIZZLE!

You can use however many grams your macros allow! Mine varies based on what meal I'm eating and how much nut butter I want to use! But just as an FYI .. 6g is enough to cover my SWEET EGG WHITES and I usually do 10-15 for meals where I want a really good size serving. Just another example of how the serving size on a label is not ONE SIZE FITS ALL. Make your serving ... whatever size fits YOU and YOUR macros! That is the glory of apps like My Fitness Pal .. you can plug in BY THE GRAM! Whoop Whoop!

Here are a few of my favorite way to eat PB Powder (with or without the added pumpkin spice seasoning. It's just as good without it.)

* On my sweet potatoes (Have you tried THIS sweet potato recipe bowl yet? I eat a version of this almost DAILY.)

* On my sweet eggs (HERE is one recipe and HERE is another. These these don't call for nut butter but stay tuned because MORE sweet egg recipes are on their way to the blog.)

* On my chicken (yes on chicken .. add some cinnamon and don't knock it till you try it.)

* On Rice Cakes or Toast

* In smoothies or on top of smoothie bowls

* On my NIGHTLY PROTEIN ICE CREAM that you see EVERY SINGLE NIGHT on my InstaStory. All ya gotta do is order some LEVEL ONE by 1st Phorm and hit me up for instructions! Those hyperlinks above get you FREE SHIPPING and 110% money back guarantee if ya don't like it! But in case you need it. The URL is just www.1stphorm.com/stacy. Can you use a different protein? I'm sure you can but it will probably be runny/thin and not taste as delish! I have tried others in the past and they DO NOT WORK alone. You have to add thickeners (which often cause people bloat.)


* Last but NOT least .. on PANCAKES, WAFFLES, MUFFINS and my beloved #BAEBreakfastCake (More recipes coming for these coming soon. In the meantime you can check out my VERY OLD and VERY basic .. basic batter base.)







Oh and in case you missed it .. THESE (above and to the right) are the NEW Pumpkin Spice Pancake recipe I posted on Instagram that features this glorious pumpkin spice peanut butter drizzle. THEY ARE SO GOOD! I have had them back-to-back days .. just mixed up the fruit/toppings! Literally ... you do NOT need to put syrup on this stack!! I tried and it actually ruined the taste! This Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter drizzle is all you need!!

XoXo,
Stacy


PUMPKIN SPICE PEANUT BUTTER DRIZZLE 

Ingredients:

Crazy Richard's PURE PB Powder
Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pie Spice
Water

What To Do:
I mix together the PB Powder and a few shakes of the pumpkin pie spice (this is the ONLY one that I like.) And then I literally put the water on the tiniest stream possible and hold my container under the water while mixing with a knife (it's easier to get in the corners of my container with a knife.) I do this so that I don't add too much and make it to runny! I like mine not too thick .. not too thin. If you let it sit while you make your food it will thicken up a little. You can also put in the fridge and it thickens it some as well.

Sometimes I replace the water with melted coconut oil if I WANT some healthy fats but a different flavor than what you get from PB itself! It's so good!!! Not to mention ... Coconut Oil only has FAT macros! Peanut butter also has carb and protein macros! So this is a great way to add in some fat macros when that is ALL you need!

Caramel Latte Cold Brew PrOats

Hey Fit Fam,

COFFEE:  The most important meal of the day.

No. Truer. Words. Okay .. coffee + carbs .. and also this fabulous Collagen Crepe.
But you get the idea! Coffee really is BAE. Oh and if you haven't checked out the GUT HEALING COFFEE that I have every morning .. get on it!

I can remember when I first became a “semi-regular” coffee drinker..... it was 2004 and I started out drinking the BAD stuff .. not the good stuff!!

Before I say anything else ... note that when I was a teenager and even in college .. Starbucks runs weren’t really the “thing”.  I don’t even recall a Starbucks being in near my college campus?! However I’m sure there was one somewhere nearby as I didn't attend a small university (ETSU for those wondering.)

I'm not saying I never had coffee before 2004. I was just not a regular coffee drinker. I would have a yummy (calorie filled) vanilla cappuccino from a gas station machine from time to time, a cup at work here and there, but it wasn’t until I landed a job as a Morning News Anchor tin 2004 that I started relying on coffee and even later before I actually started ENJOYING it. That is because I usually just drank the horrible news break room coffee at work. Sometimes I stopped at the gas station if I was out on a story and needed a pick-me-up. But ya ready for this … I didn’t even OWN a coffee pot until probably late in my 20’s! I know, I know, shocking coming from someone who literally drinks a MINIMUM of 40oz a day now .... and has a "custom" Starbucks drink I created a few years ago. it tastes like Nutella btw. Here is the link. Within it is both my REGULAR drink described and also my version of a healthy frappuccino!

Okay, enough random personally coffee history.
The bottom line is that my blood is 80% coffee and I love ANYTHING and EVERYTHING coffee related.
So when I created these Caramel Cold Brew PrOats .. I knew I had a winner!!!


Here is the recipe! If you try them make sure and snap a pic and tag me on Instagram!

I love seeing when you all make my recipes!! It makes me more motivated to post them!



XoXo
Stacy






Caramel Latte Cold Brew Oats

INGREDIENTS:

*1/2 to 1 scoop of Level One Caramel Latte Protein -- How much you use will really depend on how many grams of oats you use and how flavorful you want them!

You can order this protein (one of the ONLY ones that doesn't hurt my stomach because it's low temp processed and high quality) by using THIS LINK (www.1stphorm.com/stacy). Using the link will get you FREE SHIPPING but also 110% money back if for some reason you don’t like the flavor, etc, But I promise if you like caramel and coffee .. you will! Vanilla Level One would also work in this if you want a more versatile flavor!

NOTE: You can also use this protein as a COFFEE CREAMER and it only takes like a tablespoon or less! You can stir it up really well but it’s best blended — hot or cold!

*Oats of choice using amount of choice (I use between 30-40+g of Bobs Red Mill gluten free quick oats. I get mine on Vitacost because they are cheaper.

*Water (or any milk of choice.) Use amount in cooking instructions.

*Optional: Instant Coffee packet. Or you could do already brewed coffee just don’t use the water. Use the coffee instead of water. 

TOPPINGS:
*NEW Trader Joes FIND — Cold Brew Coffee Caramel Square. I found these at the check-out area! I only used 1/2 a serving and that was MORE than enough ... but use as many as you want.

*Trader Joe’s Espresso Pillows. I also find these at the check-out area. I also only used 1/2 of a serving ... just for a little extra texture for very few macros.

WHAT TO DO:
Make Oats as your directions tell ya to. I use quick oats so I microwave mine using the “hot cereal” setting (or a lower wattage if you don’t have pre-sets) for 2 min. I then take out and stir and let sit for 1-2min.

Slowly add in Level One Protein and (optional), Instant Coffee, and maybe a little more water .. then stir, stir, stir.

Microwave again for 1-2 min (watch so you don’t end up with a mess.)
Let sit again to get thick. Add more water if you want thinner.

** OR before microwaving that 2nd time, use THIS HACK for volume oats **

If you want DOUBLE THE VOLUME FOR NO EXTRA CARBS just some extra protein .. you can slowly stir in some pasteurized egg whites before you microwave that 2nd time. How much you use depends on how many protein macros you want to use. I usually use 3 to 6 tablespoons.

Put your Coffee Square(s) on top while HOT and allow it to melt into your oats! Add your Espresso Pillows if you desire (or any other coffee toppings you want.)

DIG IN!!

You can get 1st Phorm LEVEL ONE with FREE SHIPPING & 110% Money back by using THIS LINK (If you need it later it's just www.1stphorm.com/stacymccloud)

What is LEVEL ONE and WHY DO I USE IT so much?!

Check my Instagram Story tomorrow (11/9) for details on what makes LEVEL ONE da bomb .. all the ways you can/should use it ... how it’s different than 1st Phorm's other protein (Phormula 1) and why it’s one of the ONLY Proteins that doesn’t hurt my stomach in ANY way 🙌🏼

If you miss the Insta Story or aren't on the gram .. just email me and I’d be happy to tell ya all about it!!