Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

I have been wanting to make homemade peanut butter cups for quite some time now, and this weekend I finally did. They are super easy to make, and not to mention, HEALTHY.

Mine were made with only 3 ingredients! I bought semi-sweet, organic chocolate chunks, coconut oil, and organic peanut butter. You can also use almond butter, or anything along those lines. Using a peanut butter such as Skippy or JIF would be defeating the whole purpose of the healthy aspect of these cups. For the chips, I would also recommend either dark chocolate or even vegan chips, depending on your preference.  

What you want to do first is take a cupcake tin and line it with your cupcake liners. Next, you will need a small pot filled with a little bit of water. Bring to a boil, and put a bowl on top of it to melt the chocolate. Make sure that the water does not touch the bottom of the bowl, or else it may burn the chocolate.

Once the water has come to a boil, add a cup and a half of your chocolate chips (or chunks). Once the chocolate starts to melt, add 2 tsps. of your coconut oil, and make sure everything is melted together. You may have to use more than a cup and a half of your chips depending on the size of your cupcake tins (I had to use the entire bag in order to fill 12 tins). Once your chocolate and coconut oil are melted, take a tbsp. and just coat the bottom of your cupcake tins. Put in the freezer for 2 minutes so that the chocolate can start to set a bit.

Once your chocolates have set, take a tsp. of your organic peanut butter, and add to the center of each cup, then add the remainder of your melted chocolate over the peanut butter. You can also add some melted coconut oil to your peanut butter and mix it up before adding it to your cups for some more flavor.

Once you have added the remainder of your melted chocolate to your tins, place in the freezer for about 15-20 minutes (or until ready to serve).

This is a great snack for Sunday Football, or if you are having a small get together with friends.

Here is the outcome of mine....

Enjoy!!

Bulking in Full Effect !!

It’s bulking season, so get those weights ready! 

Fall and winter are the perfect seasons to get in shape, just in time for summer! Since I’ve had a broken bone in my pinky toe, I have not been able to do too much with weights or running on the treadmill, but as soon as I am all healed, you bet your ass I am going to get back down to the weight I should be at, and start toning my body! (I will also be more motivated to motivate YOU as well!)

As I have mentioned in previous posts, you should pick certain days you want to focus on upper body, and the other days focus on lower. You can also alternate and do interval training on certain days that you are feeling energized and ready to kill it in the gym! Cardio should be done at most 3 times a week in order to even out the weight training. If you are spending too much time on cardio, you are going to start losing muscle, and we don’t want to lose muscle during bulking season!

If you are new to lifting weights, you should always start with what you can handle. Once you start building up the muscle, you will be able to lift a heavier weight, but in the meantime, start off with 5 or 10 pound weights to get your body used to lifting.

Exercises to try out:

• Overhead Press- holding a dumbbell down on each side, knuckles facing outwards, push dumbbells up towards the ceiling, and bring down until your arms look like a goal post, shoulder-length. Repeat by pushing up to the ceiling, and back to shoulder-length
• Squat, Curl, Press- holding a dumbbell in each hand, start off in a squatting position, with each arm to your side, dumbbell hanging on each side. Once you come up from your squat, curl both dumbbells up towards your chest, and then press them up with both arms straight up to the sky, holding dumbbells tightly.
• Bent-Over Rows- bend your knees slightly, back straight, shoulder back, holding a dumbbell in each hand. Keep your head and chin up, and row both arms as if you are kayaking back.
• Lateral Raises- with a dumbbell in each hand, starting off on your sides, bring both arms out to your side as if you have wings like a bird. lift them to each side slowly (shoulder-length), and then bring back down to starting point.
• Lunges (with weights)
• Squats (with weight)
• Jumping squats

Although I have been doing the bike and the elliptical, I have not been able to do much weight training in terms of my lower body, and this has been bothering me A LOT. For those of you who ever had a sprain or broken bone, you feel my pain! It’s ok though, because as soon as you are back to normal, you are going to feel like a new person! 

Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice!

What should be on your grocery list this fall?

I have put together a list of some foods you should be adding to your grocery list this fall. I chose these foods because they are not only in season, but they are healthy for you, and you can use them in a ton of recipes! 

• Apples
• Brussel sprouts
• Pears 
• Dates
• Parsnips
• Pumpkin
• Cauliflower
• Sweet potatoes
• Pomegranates
• Squash

I seriously cannot believe that fall is approaching us in a week! Time for all of those pumpkin EVERYTHING. I have been searching for some healthy recipe’s containing pumpkin that are easy to make, delicious, and healthy, all in one bite!

Don’t forget the butternut squash that will also be in season! I love taking recipe’s from Cooking Light online, and the magazine’s.

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/golden-pumpkin-walnut-loaf

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/butternut-squash-soup