Finding Johanna

The first day Chris is off of shift is always a fun day in our house. We wake up and I make breakfast and we have a DVR marathon. This morning I made my favorite banana flax muffins.  I decided to add blueberries this time and they were amazing. Here is the recipe just in case you're new to the blog.  3/4 Cup whole wheat flour  1/2 cup oats  1/4 cup coconut sugar  2 TBS ground flax  1 tsp cinnamon  1/2 tsp baking soda  1 tsp baking powder  1/4 tsp salt  1 egg  2 1/2 TBS coconut oil  1/4 tsp vanilla  1 mashed banana  1/2 cup almond milk  (optional mix ins: chopped pecans and blueberries)  I've been so inspired by the health and fitness posts on Instagram that after breakfast I decided I needed to take a trip to Tyler and hit up Brookshire's Fresh. We decided to eat lunch there as well since just like whole foods they have a huge chef prepared section and salad bar area.

I have used Instagram for a while to post selfies and photos of my random daily life, but it wasn't until a few days ago that I discovered the ability to use Instagram as a motivational tool. It started with a simple hashtag click and suddenly I was aware of the tons of users who, like me, were working hard to eat healthy and get fit. I have started following several of my favorite users and I have already started a tiny following of my own. The blog is a great tool that I will continue to use, but for a quick share of my healthy breakfast when Emma is nursing Instagram is sure to keep me on track! If you follow me on Instagram then you know I have been getting a lot of inspiration from a book I got last Christmas Hungry Girl To The Max The Ultimate Guilt-Free Cookbook which has tons of great ideas on ways to avoid eating too many calories while still getting full and feeling like you're treating yourself. I love oatmeal and he recipe for a growing oat bowl is simple a

I love Kale! I don't know if it is because of the health fad with kale right now but I feel really good about myself when I eat it. I love it sauteed and mixed with rice and I love it cooked down in soups.  Chicken Kale and White Bean Stew  3 stalks of Kale chopped (rib removed)   3 carrots chopped  1 onion chopped  2 cans of cannellini beans  1 can of tomato sauce  2 chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces  1 carton of chicken broth  Seasoning of choice  DUMP ALL INGREDIENTS INTO A CROCK POT ON HIGH FOR 6-8 hours  It was so good like this but I decided to switch up the leftover by adding curry paste and coconut milk plus a little ginger and lemongrass.  If I am going to say I love kale I have to say I am madly and deeply in love with Chocolate. Can't live without it - it keeps my soul singing! I try to find ways to eat chocolate and still be healthy.  Banana Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies  2 Bananas mashed  2/3 c

Every time I cook Salmon for some reason I feel like I have to have broccoli too!  I wanted to try something different than my usual roasted broccoli on the side so I made a broccoli pesto pasta. I boiled the broccoli and the whole wheat rotini together. I took out the broccoli when it was tender and put it in the food processor with olive oil, garlic, and a few pecans. I seasoned it with salt, pepper, and red pepper flake.  After the pasta was cooked I drained it and tossed it with the broccoli pesto.  It was so good that I saved a little to eat cold like pasta salad for lunch today!  I made a chicken wrap from heaven to go with it. I cooked chicken in a skillet with honey and balsamic reduction.  I seasoned it liberally with black pepper and put it on a whole wheat tortilla with goat cheese and fresh strawberries.  I think next time I will add spinach leaves but today I didn't have any.  This would also be great over spinach