Summer Eats {Peanut Butter addiction & Black Bean Salad}



English muffin with peanut butter, banana, and honey.

This has been my breakfast every morning for like 2 weeks straight. It's even better if you sprinkle some cinnamon on top....nom nom nomm. or you can even add some flaxseed! I could keep going.. Tell me you all have tried this and love it just as much as I do? I mentioned before I was having a hard time transitioning to organic peanut butter... well, I stopped trying to force it down, and am back to the good ole' regular Jif! I figure with all the other organic foods I'm eating, that it's OK to say goodbye to organic pb. I had withdrawal from it.

Moving on...along with this minor breakfast obsession, I've also been crushing on the lovely Bethenney Frankel and her simple but delish recipes.

Here is a recipe for Oatmeal Chocolate/Peanut Butter Cookies that I love - as Bethenney says, "it's still an indulgence, but using no white sugar and the peanut butter makes it high in fiber."

Bake time: 23 minutes (rotate halfway through)

Makes 8 large cookies or 16 small

INGREDIENTS:

-3/4 cup oats

-2 tbls butter

-3/4 cup raw sugar

-1/2 cup natural peanut butter {natural? ehh.}

-1 egg

-1/2 tsp almond extract

-1 cup whole-wheat flour

-1 tsp baking soda

-1/4 cup soymilk

PREPARATION:

1. Preheat oven to 350. In large bowl - mix together ingredients. Stir well until they are all combined.

2. Use a 3 oz. ice cream scoop to drop batter onto cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Press the scoop of dough flat.

3. Bake for 23 minutes - rotating the cookies at around 12 mins.

4. Cool slightly on baking sheet before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

One last recipe for ya. This one is AMAZING for the summer & is always a big hit for cookouts, get togethers with friends, or just as a side dish for your family on a hot summer day. If you like a cold dip with avocado {another minor obsession} and black beans you will love this. My step mom makes a killer dip just like this, but I couldn't find her exact recipe when I wrote this, so I found this very similar one that is figure friendly.

Southwestern Black Bean Salad

{Weight Watcher recipe}

Servings: 12, Size: 1/2 cup, Calories: 106, Points: 3

INGREDIENTS:

1 15.5 oz can black beans rinsed and drained {I use organic}

9 oz frozen corn, thawed

1 tomato, chopped

1 small hass avocado, diced

1/4 cup red onion, chopped

1 scallion, chopped

1 lime, juice of

3 tbsp EVOO

1 tbls cilantro

salt and fresh pepper

PREPARATION:

Combine beans, corn, tomato, onion, scallion, cilantro, salt and pepper. Mix with jime juice and EVOO. Marinate in the refrigerator for 30 mins. Add avocado right before serving.

ENJOY!

I forgot to mention...we won our soccer game last night {are you surprised? We RULE.) Yours truly missed scoring a goal by about 2 inches. I kicked the ball over the goalies head and it just missed going in :( ALMOST though! Not too bad for my first game of the season and it was my left foot. I'm hoping I develop some mean thighs over the course of our season because today mine are a hurtin' and I could use some more muscle there...

and...

WHO watched the crazy Bachelorette episode last night?

I'm not even going to give Bentley the time of day to address him. I'm sure we all feel the same there. As for Ashley, why is she ruining her chances with all the other men {who want to be there} over him? I can't imagine how stupid she feels now watching that episode. I feel bad for her but she really needs to get it together before she ruins her chances of finding love all together. William, please do not make an ass out of yourself anymore. You're giving cbus a bad rep. Thanks.

xo. katie