Friday, August 23, 2013

Protein Power Ups



Hey guys, long time no see. I've been a busy girl but I've been keeping up with all the recipes I've made along the way. Some of them are more Paleo than others but I'm going to work my hardest to get them posted.

So, what's going on in my life you ask? I have another figure competition approaching very quickly. Actually it's in two weeks! I've been playing around intermittent fasting. It seems like it is working so far because I'm not eating quite as strictly as I was the first time but I'm already leaner.

I know that protein powders are controversial in the Paleo world, as they should be. Many of them are made with less than optimal ingredients. I have chosen to include them in my life up to a certain point. I have a hard time eating enough protein without feeling like I'm going to blow out my stomach. I use Carnivor, which is a beef protein, and it actually tastes pretty good. I personally like chocolate the best and cooking with it is awesome!

The other day I ran across a website called Proteinpow.com and I was so excited that there are so many ways to bake and cook with protein powders. I'm not a huge fan of just putting them in a shaker bottle and drinking. That's boring. There was a recipe on the site for strawberry protein bars and I was intrigued. The only problem is that it called for strawberry whey protein, which I don't use, and chocolate, which I can't have during contest prep. So.... I made a verson that I can have! I made a few different flavors including pumpkin pie, chocolate peanut butter (my favorite), mocha, and orange cream (which was my least favorite). Keep in mind that this is not 100% Paleo.






"Chocolate Peanut Butter"

Ingredients:

  • 2 scoops Carnivor chocolate protein powder
  • 3 Tbsp coconut flour
  • 2 Tbsp PB2 (can use almond butter, sunbutter, or other nut butter)
  • 1/2 cup coconut milk (use less if you are using a regular nut butter, play with it until you get the right consistency)

Directions

  1. Mix the dry ingredients together.
  2. Start adding the coconut milk to the dry ingredients a little at a time while stirring. Once it has a dough consistency, stop adding the milk. You don't want it runny. 
  3. Take a teaspoon and dip out a portion a little smaller than a golf ball.
  4. Using your hands, roll the dough into little balls. There should be enough to make 10-12.
  5. At this point you can get creative and roll the balls in shredded coconut, more PB2, or a mixture of unsweetened cocoa and stevia.