So silly enough, all I can think of when I read 'peanut butter cups', is the movie '50 First Dates'. I think of the Hawaiian actor calling Adam Sandler's character, 'Mr. Peanut Butter Cups'. Lol. Thought I'd just share that. Now that thats out of the way-- onto my amazing new recipe. The Raw Peanut Butter Cup. Omg. My boyfriend was impressed! He's like, how'd you do that? They really look like the real thing! Uh huuuhh. Cause I'm good like that, duh! Haha. Jk. With very easy instructions you can too! 

These are the ingredients you will need to make 6

1 cup melted coconut oil
2 tbsp 100% pure maple syrup
6 Tbsp. Peanut butter (or almond butter)
Pinch of Pink Salt 
1/4 cup cacao powder 

I placed 6 parchment paper muffin liners inside of a muffin tin, so it would hold up. I didn't have to grease mine, because mine are non stick. So make sure your liners won't stick first, cause if so- might need to oil them before so they won't get stuck. That'd be sad :( 

Chocolate Mix- Mix your cacao powder with the salt, and melted oil.

-I placed about 1 tbsp. of the chocolate mix in each liner. (Remember you need to use the other half to put as the top layer.) 
- Let set in freezer for about 20 minutes, until completely firm. Then add your peanut butter on top. Then add the rest of your chocolate mix evenly on the other 'cups'. If for some reason it isn't enough, you can easily make a tad bit more of the 'chocolate mix' using 1/2 of the original ingredients for the recipe. 

I hope you love them as much as we do :) 

Your probably wondering... whats with the 'Quinoa Love Bowl'? Well I love them. I have been making some variation of a quinoa bowl for lunch or dinner for a while now. And like I said, I LOVE them. So I've decided to title these bad boys and hopefully start a trend, or # or whatever. Feel free to #QuinoaLoveBowl on Instagram or Facebook so I can see your quinoa bowl creations. Their is no right or wrong. Well, they gotta be healthy, I mean c'mon ;) Anywho. This one was a bit more complicated than your average quinoa bowl. But I have been wanting to make my own curried lentils for a while and tonight was the night! I of course add kale with it and quinoa along with roasted sweet potatoes (no oil) and topped with scallions. Yuuuuum.

So for the curried lentils. You'll need :

1/2 red onion (chopped)
2-4 cloves garlic (minced)
1 cup lentils (I used green)
2 cups vegetable broth & 2 cups water 
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp pink salt
1 tsp chili flakes ;) (optional, but c'mon)
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp (spicy) curry powder
1/2 tsp coriander

Optional: Serve with-
+ Green onion for topping
+ roasted sweet potato (no oil, baked in the oven plain)
+ 1/2 cup red quinoa
+ chopped kale

---
Saute the garlic & onion first. Add in spices and cook on a very low heat. Add in the lentils and toss around to coat them with the mix already in the pan. Then add in the water & broth. Bring to a boil. Then cover and bring to a simmer for about 45 minutes, until lentils are at your desired consistency. Serve with whatever you'd like! Enjoy :)

So in my attempt to not use any 'sugar' and also agave. I am going through some old favorites and revamping them : ) Like my  first favorite dessert I ever made.... A v o c a d o Brownies. Yum! They were good before, sure. I had way too much agave going on in them :/ So nowwwww their even B E T T E R. I'm excited for you to try them and love them! :) You will need a food processor for this recipe. Food process the crust then press with your hands the shape of the crust you want. Then food process the icing and pour it on and ice/shape it in the way you'd like. I then added some chia seeds :)

*Once you have put in a pan, I recommend putting parchment paper on the bottom, so it's easier to come out, Let it set in freezer for 20 minutes, then keep in fridge. It is sooooo good. Can't wait for you to try!

Recipe : Crust
1 cup almonds
1 cup pitted dates
1/4 cup cacao powder

Icing:
1 Avocado
2 Tbsp. 100% Maple Syrup 
1/4 cup cacao powder
2 Tsp Coconut Oil
1 Tsp vanilla extract
Dash of salt 
Dash of cinnamon

Hello! Hello! I hope you all are doing well since the new year has begun! (Ahem, My birthday was Jan.13th By the way ;). / I think 2015 is going to be extra special. Of course, I am thankful for everyday- but as we evolve and grow, to me, it just keeps getting better. Some days not so much maybe. I know there can be rough periods in our life that we wish would hurry up and get outta there! (Believe me, I know). But then there are those moments afterwards that are the sweetest. Like right now, for me. I hate saying this, cause please don't go out there and try to get sick (Lol.) But I feel so renewed after being sick. I started the year off with a bit of a cold, sore throat, etc. I was out of work for a few days. And I just decided to sleep those days. I don't go to Dr.'s anymore for actual antibiotics unless it's completely necessary. (You should really research the effects of antibiotics). So I take matters in my own hands. Eating raw garlic, (Yeah, I said it :/ ) And taking Wellness Formula, seriously the best thing I ever discovered. And also taking Good Belly & making ginger tea, and juicing ginger. All of which did help, but it does take it's sweet time to get out of your body. But regardless, it happened. I think the thing is after being sick, or maybe even when you've indulged a bit too much. You just don't feel very good, and not clean. And I typically want to clean my house and clean up my diet. Which is exactly what I'm doing! 

-I'm pretty excited, cause part of doing so- I got two new books from the store. One is a journal, and one is a 2015 planner. Very exciting. I love journals & notebooks. I also am updating this website! So you'll be seeing some new things happening here shortly ;) Oh and some re-vamped recipes. More on that later. 
But I wanted to write this because after just having my birthday & starting the new year with all of our resolutions, I wanted to talk about balance. Balancing any new goals or regimens isn't easy. Even starting something new and trying to make it a ritual isn't so easy :/ Again, believe me I know. 
But give it a go! A real go! I want to use a reference that you may or may not like, sorry for this- I know I'm a cheese ball. But I was watching Devil Wears Prada yesterday. Sort of a *spoiler alert* if you haven't seen it and want to... But Anne Hathway's character works at an office for a very mean high end designer. And she just got chewed out once again by the Designer boss lady & she runs out and goes to talk to her only sort of a friend, co worker. And he says that deep down, you know you aren't reaaaally trying. And how she wants to cry about it, etc. And asks what do you want me to say, "Poor you? Poor you?" And I just really started to think about that in different aspects of my life. (Oh wait, and then after that scene she gets a make over and comes back into the office totally owning it. Yes!) *End spoiler alert.* So take it from Devil Wears Prada. Give whatever your trying to make a habit or something a part of your life, apart of you, give it a real real chance. And don't give up. Just don't do that. I'm an actress, wanna be singer, and want to be a more fitness involved person & a super clean, nutritious, eater. But I have to work on it really hard. We all do.  Alright ya'll. TGIF! 

Nom Nom Nom. 

Wanted to share with you my latest smoothie recipe. This is a great pick me up, for an afternoon slump. 

2 handfuls of spinach
1/2 banana
1 espresso shot
1 tbsp peanut or almnod butter
1 tsp cacao powder 
unsweetened almond milk
and iceeee
and blend it up until smoothie smooth :) 

Oh and enjoy !