Recipe Makeover - Spinach Dip

Let's all be honest for a second, okay? 

Getting in the daily greens can be TOUGH, especially if you aren't just a lover of greens, and the lovely salad does get real old from time to time, and if I have to saute spinach with my food one. more. time. I'll....you get the idea.

So basically, I am always trying to think of ways to get my greens in and this recipe I found below is a fun new way!

I found the original recipe here & modified it to fit Stimulock Protocol. (pinned here as well)

Spinach Dip: 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of frozen spinach - thawed
• 1 cup 1% cottage cheese
• 1 tablespoons onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoons garlic powder
• sea salt to taste 

Directions:
1. Using a blender, blend the cottage cheese until it is smooth and creamy2. Put the cottage cheese in a large mixing bowl, and add all other ingredients. Stir well.

I ate this today for lunch with my 1 cup of raw squash chips (just squash cut in thin slices). Gives it a nice crunch and all you really taste is the dip. Which, by the way, tastes like ranch dip, so I'm a fan!

***For all of you "EWW, Cottage Cheese! BARF" people - I feel ya, I'm not a fan of the chunky stuff either, BUT this is totally worth it, plus there are no chunks! 

REMEMBER: If you eat this as your lunch, it counts as your protein, and to only eat cottage cheese 2-3 days a week because of its high sodium content.

What did you think? What yummy veggies did you eat with it? 

Recipe Make Over - Pizza Spaghetti Bake

I don't know about y'all, but I crave pasta, like a lot. So the easiest recipes for me to play around with are the ones that have all the pasta goodies w/out the fatty/carby noodles. 

Last nights dinner was

Pizza Spaghetti Bake - I found the original recipe here on Pinterest, but knew I needed to make a few modifications in order to be able to have it be "protocol friendly". 

Serves: 3-4   (1C & 1/2 should give you the correct serving size)

Ingredients

• 1 large spaghetti squash (about 600 grams)
• 1-2 pounds lean ground beef or turkey (I use 2 in order to make SURE I get my 5oz)
• ½ yellow onion, diced
• 1 cup pizza sauce (no sugar added) (or make the protocol recipe in the back of your Stimulock Book) 
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• sea salt and pepper, to taste
• 3 eggs, whisked
• (optional: add anything you like with pizza: veggies,basil, etc.)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Option 1 - Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise. Place spaghetti squash cut side down on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the skin of the squash gives when you press on it. Then reduce oven heat to 350 degrees. 
3. Option 2 -  I always prep the morning of by cutting my spaghetti squash in half width wise, place it "hole down" in a crock pot of about 3 inches of water, put it on Medium heat for 8 hours. It's ready to scrape out into the dish when you get home! 
4. Once squash is done cooking, remove threads and place in baking dish.
5. Place a large pan over medium heat. Add beef/turkey and onion. Cook until pink no longer remains.
6. Add pizza sauce, dried basil and sea salt and pepper to the pan and mix well.
7. Add meat mixture to the baking dish and mix well with spaghetti squash threads.
8. Lastly, add whisked eggs to the baking dish and mix everything together until you can no longer see the eggs.
9. Place in oven and bake for 1 hour or until the top of the mixture forms a slight crust that doesn’t give when you press on it in the middle of the dish.
10. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Once again - This is an AWESOME protocol dish. This one and my "shrimp scampi pasta" are two dishes I would eat anytime, on Stimulock or not...yea, they're that yummy. 

How did you like it?! Yummy right?! 

Bye Y'all!

6X26 UPDATE

Geeze,

Sorry friends, I haven't updated yall in a while. However - I AM DOING GREAT! 40 something days strong and I feel amazing. My weight is coming off slower this time because I don't have as much to lose as I did last time, but I feel like a million bucks and I can tell that I am losing inches like crazy. I'll measure this weekend and give you an update on just how many.

17 days until I'm 26! 

My 8's are loose, so I am headed in the right direction. Even if I don't "fit" in a 6 by my 26th birthday I am CONFIDENT that I did SO well and will be 100% happy with how far I came in such a short time.

Then when I get back from my "Golden Birthday Trip" I will get back on Stimulock, finish up, until I reach my goal, then lock this new weight in! <- MOST IMPORTANT PART

I'm excited! Sorry about not updating sooner!!

(Here is a photo of how skinny my face has gotten! YAY) I'm so happy that I haven't cheated ONCE! It hasn't been easy but BOY is it worth it! 

How are you doing?! Have you reached your goal? How are you feeling? More energy? Less cravings?!

Recipe Make Over "Shrimp Scampi Pasta"

Yall....SHUT THE FRONT DOOR.

For real, I made this last night and am HIGHLY considering making it again tonight...

Shrimp Scampi Pasta - I modified the recipe here to meet Stimulock Protocol

INGREDIENTS

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray (to taste)

14 - 18oz of Cooked Shrimp 

Minced Garlic (and/or garlic powder)

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (optional)

2 medium zucchini, cut into noodles (get God's gift to Stimulock Clients here)

Sea Salt & Pepper to taste

Chopped parsley, for garnish

Directions:

Place a large sauté pan over medium-low heat.

Put everything into pan 

Cook until "Zoodles" are to your liking. 

This is 2 servings!! ( YUM ) 

Like it? Cook it and let me know what you think!!