Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bites - A Diet Friendly Easter Treat

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bites

A Diet Friendly Easter Treat

So good!

I've had my eye on this recipe for a while (recipe here) so I thought that Easter would be the perfect opportunity to try it out. 

I knew that I didn't want to eat Chocolate Eggs or Bunnies but I didn't really want to go completely without either.   Everyone knows by now that I have an ample supply of Peanut Butters to choose from, so these were the perfect recipe. 

I thought that some of you may be in the same situation as me, so I wanted to share these little treats with you.

Mmm Chocolate Dribbles

Recipe By Cara Lyons

Recipe here

Makes: 36 (Mine made less than this even though I used a Tablespoon)

Hands-on time: 35 minutes

Total time: 3 hours, 5 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups pitted dates

1 1/2 cups puffed rice cereal (TRY: Nature’s Path Organic Rice Puffs)

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/4 cup coconut flour (I used self raising flour as that was all I had) (TRY: Bob’s Red Mill Organic Coconut Flour)

1/2 tsp sea salt

5 oz (about 9 tbsp) natural unsalted creamy peanut butter (I used Peanut Butter & Co Dark Chocolate Dreams)

1/4 cup raw honey

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

7 oz (200 grams) 70% dark chocolate, chopped

1 tbsp coconut oil

I had Chocolate left over.

Can I swim in this? 

INSTRUCTIONS:

Bring a kettle of water to a boil. To a medium heat-proof bowl, add dates. Add boiling water to cover. Set aside for 5 minutes. Remove dates from water with a slotted spoon and reserve 2 tbsp of the soaking water; discard remaining water.

Meanwhile, to a food processor, add rice cereal, oats, flour and salt. Process into fine crumbs. Transfer mixture to a medium bowl.

To food processor, add dates, reserved soaking water, peanut butter and honey. Process until smooth. Add vanilla and process until combined.

Return cereal mixture to food processor and process on high until a soft, sticky dough forms, about 30 seconds.

Freshly mixed...where a spoon? 

Using a small cookie scoop or a spoon, scoop 1-tbsp portions of dough and roll into round balls with hands. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover and freeze until firm, about 2 hours.

The balls...hee hee

Using a double boiler or a heat-proof bowl over simmering water on low, melt chocolate and coconut oil, stirring until smooth; keep heat at lowest setting. Remove peanut butter balls from freezer. 

Let the excess drip off

Working with one at a time, gently dip in chocolate mixture with a spoon. (I put a toothpick in each one, coated the top by dripping chocolate over it with a spoon and turning the ball around to coat it). 

Looking good

Let excess drip off, and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.  

Jackson Pollock inspired? ;)

After 30 minutes I drizzled lines of chocolate over the top because I'm fancy like that ;) 

MAKE AHEAD: Once bites are set, transfer to a resealable freezer bag or covered container and freeze up to one month. Thaw for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Full of goodness

HOW THEY TASTE 

OMG these were delicious!  They were a little different as I added the Dark Chocolate Dreams Peanut Butter as others in the household are not Peanut Butter fans (what is up with that?). 

The consistency and taste reminded me a little of the Europe Jupiter Bars that I had when I was a kid, but coated in Dark Chocolate.  I'm not a fan of Dark Chocolate but I loved these and I think it's because the Coconut Oil made it sweeter. 

They are very rich so you can only have one or two, which is good!  

From the non Peanut Butter fussy eater: "These are really good!" with a shocked expression.  Ha ha I was shocked he liked them too! ;)

There really wasn't much of a Peanut Butter taste because of the type I used so I would like to try them again with unblended Peanut Butter. 

THE NITTY GRITTY 

I put it all into My Fitness Pal and they were 121 Calories as I used a few different ingredients. 

Not bad for a treat :)

I hope you enjoyed this post and the recipe.  

Whatever you do, remember to have a Happy Easter!

Mel xxoxx

Knock Out Gnocchi - Weight Loss Week Twelve Day Seven - Weight Loss Eating Plan

Week 12

Day 7 - Tuesday
8/04/2014 
Knock Out Gnocchi

The Week Totals (Including today!)

I wanted to do this first because I know that's why you're all here ;)

Price for the total weeks portions: $72.19
Amount for total groceries you would need to make all of this weeks food: $151.01 
I added up the things I already had, added 2 x 3L of milk as I have coffee everyday and took out some things I didn't use like Mayonnaise and Celery.  

I also added things like a whole bottle of Vanilla Extract for $11, Cinnamon, Baking Powder etc and only used maybe a few teaspoons.  I still have plenty of food left and I could probably make it stretch another week, I would just need dinners.

As I said I'm averaging about 1500 calories per day.  I made sure I had a variety of foods for the blog but if you were doing this for yourself, you could make things stretch more and have sandwiches everyday and the same cereal.

The current price for the 1500 calorie 7 day meal plan is $150.  So I would say it is cheaper to buy it all yourself, considering I still have heaps of food left.  Like Bread, Peanut Butter, Eggs, Cheese, Ham, Tomatoes, Rolled Oats, Grapes, Rice Cakes, Brown Rice Crackers, Cereal, Milk, Mixed Rice Crackers, Nut & Fruit Mix, Baked Beans, Hommus, Yoghurt and more! 

Simple and delicious

Breakfast: Baked Beans on Toast

Homemade Coffee (low fat milk, no sugar)

Ingredients: 1 Slice Molenberg 12 Grains & Seeds Original Bread (Coles)
100 grams Corale Baked Beans (Aldi)
25 grams Westacre Tasty Shredded Cheese (Adli)
10 grams Farmers Union Light Greek Yoghurt (Coles)
*This breakfast cost: $1.33 and would last approximately 4 serves due to the amount of Baked Beans.

Settled for an old favourite this morning, added a little Yoghurt on top for something different.

Heaven on a Rice Cracker

Morning Snack: Peanut Butter & Raisin Rice Cakes

Ingredients: 2 Pure Harvest Rice Cakes (Aldi)
20 grams Kraft Peanut Butter No Added Sugar Or Salt (Woolworths)
20 grams Just Organic Sun Dried Raisins (Aldi)
*This snack cost: $0.33 and would last approximately 10 serves due to the amount of Rice Cakes. 

OMG! I forgot how good Peanut Butter and Raisins were!  I remember having this as a kid but on Celery, I think they were called Caterpillars.  I was out of Banana so decided on Raisins, this combo is awesome!

Pizza Quesadilla? 

Lunch: Toasted Wrap

Ingredients: 2 x Bakers Life Wholegrain Wraps (Aldi)
20 grams El Tora Medium Chunky Salsa Dip (Aldi)
20 grams Westacre Tasty Shredded Cheese (Aldi)
30 grams Baby Spinach Leaves (Aldi)
10 grams Berg Sliced Leg Ham (Adli)
30 grams Cherry Tomatoes (Coles)

*This lunch cost: $1.69 and would last approximately 4 serves due to the amount of wraps.

Trying to think of a different lunch today and to use up the wraps, I came up with this.  I put one wrap on the sandwich press (mine didn't totally fit but it still worked), put on the fillings and toasted it.  I tasted like a Pizza due to the Salsa, Cheese and Ham.  I guess you could almost call it a Quesadilla, whatever it was, it was delicous!

I know I didn't have an afternoon snack today but honestly I was so full from the lunch! 

I'm going to Gnocchi you out!

Dinner: Creamy Tomato Gnochhi (Weight Watchers)

*This meals cost: $4.00 (Coles) Not on special anymore sorry :(

Due to last nights dinner (see here) being so disappointing, I was not expecting much from this dinner.  It was so yummy! The Potato Gnocchi was a good consistency and the Creamy Tomato Sauce was delicious!  I would recommend this!

*Total cost for today's portions: $7.35*These prices are calculated by current costs and specials and calculated per gram or item.Keep in mind that I'm also consuming about 1500 calories on average.

Glasses of water: 6

Sneaky Strength Training

Exercise: Dancing + Strength Training

I realised that I hadn't done any strength training this week so I snuck some in at the end of my routine.

Above is the Strength Training I use.

My Fitness Pal - Food Diary

Did you enjoy taking this non Lite n' Easy journey with me this week?  Have any suggestions?  Have you ever forgotten to order and how did you cope?  

It's been fun sharing my ideas and recipes with you all, but the calculating, calorie counting and weighing everything I put in my mouth... you know what I mean! ;) It all got to me by the end of the week, so happy to be back on Lite n' Easy next week.  

As always, there will still be more recipes to come.

All the best, Mel.

Hot Pot Not So Hot - Weight Loss Week Twelve Day Six - Weight Loss Eating Plan

Week 12

Day 6 - Monday
7/04/2014 
Hot Pot Not So Hot

Deliciousness in a bowl

Breakfast: Wildberry Bites with Fruit & Nut Mix

Homemade Coffee (low fat milk, no sugar)

Ingredients: 50 grams Weet-Bix Wildberry Bites (Woolworths)
30 grams Wholefoods Oh So Natural Nut & Fruit Mix (Aldi)
60 ml Paul's Smarter White Milk (Woolworths)
*This breakfast cost: $0.84 and would last approximately 10 serves due to the amount of cereal.

Mmmm Nutty and Fruity

This cereal mix was so good yesterday I decided to have it for breakfast this morning.  Seriously yummy!

Aren't they Grape

Morning Snack: Grapes (30 grams)

*This amount of Grapes cost: $0.05 and would last approximately 33 serves.

Oldie but a goodie

Lunch: Baked Bean & Cheese Toastie

Ingredients: 2 slices Molenberg 12 Grain & Seeds Original (Coles)
100 grams Baked Beans (Aldi)
25 grams Westacre Tasty Shredded Cheese (Aldi)
1 Pink Lady Apple (Aldi)
*This lunch cost: $1.83 and would last approximately 4 serves due to the amount of Baked Beans.

Simple, quick and delicious.  I can't remember the last time I had a baked bean toastie.

Mmm Banana

Afternoon Snack: Banana Smoothie

Ingredients: 2 Cavendish Bananas (Aldi)
100 ml Paul's Smarter White Milk (Woolworths)
10 grams Kraft Peanut Butter No Added Sugar Or Salt (Woolworths)
*This smoothie cost: $0.76 and would last approximately 10 serves due to the amount of milk.

I wanted to use up the last of the Bananas as they were getting a bit brown.  I really don't think there was enough Peanut Butter to add any flavour, I'd leave it out next time.  The Berry Banana Shake (recipe here) is so much better than this, I will have to make it again! 

Not So Hot

Dinner: Beef Hot Pot (Weight Watchers)

*This meal cost: $4.00 (Coles)
Thank you to those that told me about the special price, you know who you are :)

This meal was absolutely horrid! It looked disgusting, it's pretty bad when I can't make a dish look appealing.  It tastes just as bad as it looks, maybe even worse. 
It was bland, salty, goopy and the meat was fatty, stay away!

*Total cost for today's portions: $7.48
*These prices are calculated by current costs and specials and calculated per gram or item.
Keep in mind that I'm also consuming about 1500 calories on average.

Glasses of water: 7

A smaller workout is better than none

Exercise: Dancing (About my routine here)

I had to cut it short today as my foot was sore, sometimes it happens when I stand, walk or dance on them too much.  My heel was hot, sore and I could barely walk on it, I soaked it in an ice bath and it seemed to help.  Does this happen to anyone else?

My Fitness Pal - My Food Diary

A Healthy Way To Wrap - Weight Loss Week Twelve Day Five - Weight Loss Eating Plan

Week 12

Day 5 - Sunday
6/04/2014

A Healthy Way To Wrap

So I may have put too much on...

Breakfast: Healthy Breakfast Wrap

Ingredients: 1 x Bakers Life Wholegrain Wrap (Aldi)

10 grams Berg Sliced Leg Ham (Adli)

30 grams Cherry Tomatoes (Coles)

1 x Extra Large Egg (Coles)

30 grams Baby Spinach (Aldi)

*This breakfast cost: $1.45 and would last approximately 4 serves due to the amount of Spinach.

Love Eggs for breakfast so I thought I'd do a breakfast wrap. I wanted to use up some of the baby Spinach, so I thought it was a good way to incorporate it.  30 grams is a lot for a wrap so you may not want to load as much on and my wrap did fall apart, it was still good though :)  

You could even toast the wraps if you have a sandwich press.

Wrap it up and wrap you lips abound it ;)

Morning Snack: Cavendish Banana (Aldi)

 *This Banana cost: $0.25

Tasting Plate

Lunch: Healthy Tasting Plate

 20 grams Coles Simply Less Hommus Dip (Coles)

20 grams Coles Simply Less Roast Pumpkin and Harissa Hommus Dip (Coles)

20 grams El Tora Medium Chunky Salsa Dip (Aldi)

1 x Carrot (Coles)

1 x Bakers Life Wholegrain Wrap (Aldi)

65 grams Green Seedless Grapes (Aldi) 

*This lunch cost: $1.31 and would last approximately 8 serves due to the wraps. 

Hommus anyone?

I wasn't sure if this was going to be filling enough but it was.  I made the Tortilla Wrap chips the same way as yesterday's post (here) but cut them into strips.  You could bulk it up with more veggies, fruit or crackers.

Bowl of deliciousness

Afternoon Snack: Loaded Cereal Bowl

 50 grams Weet-Bix Wild Berry Bites (Woolworths)

1 x Cavendish Banana (Aldi)

30 grams Wholefoods Oh So Natural Nut & Fruit Mix (Aldi)

70 ml Paul's Smarter White Milk (Woolworths)

*This snack cost: $1.10 and would last approximately 10 serves due to the amount of cereal.

I wasn't expecting to burn so many calories exercising today so afterwards I was staaaaaarving!   I know it may seem strange to some to have cereal in the afternoon but it was a quick snack that is easy to prepare.  I didn't realise that this combination of the Cereal, Banana and Nuts would be so delicious! It was so good! This would make a great breakfast too.

Finally something decent

Dinner: Vegetable Cannelloni (Lean Cuisine)

 *This meal cost: $6.29

You should know my feelings on Lean Cuisine meals by now, if you don't they aren't positive, but I really enjoyed this one.  I'm pretty sure I've had it before, but it just has so much more substance than the other meals I've had.  I would have this again and recommend it.

*Total cost for today's portions: $10.40
*These prices are calculated by current costs and specials and calculated per gram or item.
Keep in mind that I'm also consuming about 1500 calories on average.

Glasses of water: 8

I wasn't even going to exercise today!

Exercise: Dancing and Cleaning

I danced around for about an hour today and then continued dancing around while cleaning and this (above photo) was the result.  I was shocked when I saw just how much I had burned off!  Can I just say, funnest way to exercise and clean ever. ;)

My Fitness Pal - Food Diary

Got a favourite snack, food, obsession or exercise? I'd love to hear from you, comment below :)

Shake It & Make A Shake - Weight Loss Week Eleven Day Five - Lite and Easy (Lite n' Easy)

Week 11

Day 5 - Sunday
30/03/2014

Shake It & Make A Shake!

Mmmm Butter

Breakfast: Fruit n Muesli Toast with Butter

Blueberry Yoghurt

I find this breakfast a little light and I'm usually hungry after.  I'm not sure if I will order this again for that reason.  I haven't tried the Blueberry Yoghurt on it's own, I usually have it with muesli, OMG it's so sweet!  I have been having light Greek Yoghurt and frozen Blueberries so maybe that's why, but to me it was like eating pure sugar! ZING!

Berry Delicious!

Morning Snack: Dried Apricots

 *Addition: Berry Banana Shake (Recipe here)

I worked out this morning (more details below) so I knew I needed to add in some extra calories and I thought a shake was the perfect way to do it.

I thought the ingredients may not go together, but it was amazing!  So yummy!  Sometimes shakes can mix together and the flavours get muddled up, but not this one, I could taste everything in there.  I will definitely be making it again!

Sooooo gooooood!

Look at that Mustard Relish ooze

Lunch: Corned Beef and Mustard Relish Wholegrain & Oat Sandwich

& an Orange

 *Addition: Kiwi Fruit (that I didn't have yesterday hee hee)

The other option was Thai Green Curry and I've had that kind of recently so I wasn't feeling it.  I decided for this and toasted it for some crunch, it is a little boring but I enjoyed it.

No nuts...

Afternoon Snack: Crunchy Noodle Snack

This is pretty yummy and surprisingly filling.  I think it would be much more delicious with Peanuts but you know I like nuts... ;)

Garnished with some Basil

Dinner: 31 Lasagne

Last time the meat was a bit gristly, but tonight it was delicious.  I didn't have any gristle at all, maybe I was just lucky tonight. 

Do you find this with Lite n' Easy dinners sometimes?

Glasses of water: 9

*Addition: These are items that are not part of the 1200 calorie Lite n' Easy plan.  I have added these to increase my calorie intake from the calories burned off during exercise.  For a more detailed breakdown, please see the My Fitness Pal image at the bottom of this post.

:( Crappy to Happy :)

Exercise: Dancing (Melercise) & Strength Training

I was in the worst mood this morning, I don't know why.  You know how some days you just wake up and everything annoys you and you just want to be alone in a dark room, that was me today.  Usually I would just stay in that mood all day, but I know how much happier I have been feeling after exercise so I decided that's what I would do.

So I did, I did an hour of dancing and felt amazing.  All of my bad mood melted away and I enjoyed the rest of my Sunday.  I think this is the first time ever that I have worked out on a weekend.

My Fitness Pal - Food Diary

It's interesting to note that when I exercise and eat more calories, there is a higher weight loss suggestion (bottom of food diary), than when I don't exercise and just eat the recommended 1200 calories.  It makes sense to me but we will see :)

Hope you enjoyed your weekend! :)