Sunday, March 25, 2012

Starbucks Fix for Cheap

Who doesn’t love Starbucks…well the drinks, not the price.  Starbucks is definitely an occasional treat, but doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy some of my favorite drinks at home. Check out how quickly you can whip up a glass of Passion Tea Lemonade or a Frappuccino for a fraction of the price!


Passion Tea Lemonade
8 packets of Passion Tea
8c water
3-4 Crystal Light Lemonade on-the-go sticks
Directions: Boil water in a pot (or tea kettle). Add packets and let steep then cool. Pour into a 2qt pitcher and add lemonade packets. Stir.

Makes 4 16oz servings.
Nutrition Information: 5 calories
Cost per serving = $0.62

 Frappuccino
½ c chilled strong coffee (1c water + 2T ground coffee)
2 ½ T instant vanilla pudding – (sugar-free and fat-free will save some cals)
1c skim milk
2 c ice
Get creative and try different pudding flavors, sugar-free syrups, or other milk options. Create your own!
Directions: Put everything in a blender/Magic Bullet and blend until desired consistency. Top with a dollop of whipped cream or chocolate syrup if you feel like treating yourself. Enjoy!
Makes 1 16oz serving.
Nutrition Information: 137 cals, 24g carbohydrate, 0g fat, 8g protein
Cost per serving: $0.60

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Chickpeas, not just for the ladies

The chickpea (aka garbanzo bean), is a tasty legume that is a great source of protein, fiber, and folate. If you’ve tried hummus you’ve had chickpeas, but they can become way more than a dip for your pita chips. Watch my video on some more creative ways to incorporate this nutritional powerhouse into your diet – even as a dessert!




Roasted Chickpeas
·         1 (12 ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained
·         2 tablespoons olive oil
·         Seasonings of choice (Ex: salt, cayenne pepper, lemon pepper)


Directions: Preheat oven to 450°F. Drain and rinse chickpeas, and blot dry with a paper towel. In a bowl, toss chickpeas with olive oil, and season to taste with whatever you like! (Examples: salt, garlic salt, and cayenne pepper, hot sauce, lemon pepper). Spread evenly on a baking sheet, and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until browned and crunchy.

Serving size: ~1/2 cup. Makes 3 servings.

Nutrition Information: 180 calories, 20g carbohydrate, 7g fiber, 10.5g fat, 6.7g protein

Price per serving: $0.40

 1 1/2 cups chickpeas (1 (12oz)can, drained)
 1/8 tsp plus 1/16 tsp salt
 1/8 tsp baking soda
 2 tsp pure vanilla extract 
 1/4 cup natural peanut butter 
 1/4 cup milk of choice  
 3T brown sugar
 3T  quick oats
1/3 cup chocolate chips

Directions: Add all ingredients (except for chocolate chips) in to a food processor and blend until very smooth. Then mix in the chocolate chips. Enjoy and try keeping the secret that these are chickpeas =)
Serving size: 2 tablespoon. Makes 8 servings.
Nutrition Information: 141 calories, 20g carbohydrate, 6 grams fat, 4 grams protein
Price per serving: $0.28