Protein Pancakes (No Powder Necessary)

Forget those damn Blueberry Banana Pancakes. Those things don't even taste like actual pancakes. But THESE do! 

Did I also mention they have 29g of protein with NO protein powder used in the batter? And that they are only 7+ on WW for the ENTIRE BATCH? Oh, yes.

These were made on a whim in my kitchen one day (literally, I just grabbed ingredients that had protein in them, avoiding powder after my last mishap) and they turned out fabulous. I then made them again, adapting the recipe (see below) to alter the nutrition a bit. Enjoy!

PROTEIN PANCAKES (NO POWDER NECESSARY)

Servings: 1 batch = about 4 pancakes

Nutritional Information:

WW Points Plus: 8+ for recipe #1, 7+ for recipe #2

Note: Nutrition on the left is for recipe #1, nutrition on right reflects recipe #2 (see below)

Ingredients:

• Recipe #1: Uses real eggs / no yogurt
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1/4 c lowfat cottage cheese
• 1/4 c oatmeal
• 2 TBSP flour
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• Dash of pumpkin pie spice
• Optional: fruit topping
• Recipe #2: Uses egg substitute / yogurt
• 6 TBSP Egg Beaters
• 1/4 c lowfat cottage cheese
• 1/4 c oatmeal
• 2 TBSP flour
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• Dash of pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 c vanilla Greek yogurt

Directions:

1. Combine egg, oatmeal, cottage cheese, flour, extracts, and spice in a bowl and stir.
2. Following nonstick spray, place about 2 small spoonfuls of mixture in the pan. 
3. Let cook on low until mixture begins to bubble and then flip to the other side.
4. Top with yogurt/fruit/more spice and enjoy! 

Italian Parmesan Chicken

Give it a go and tell me if you like it or not. My family LOVED it, I not so much (I am not one for zesty foods, and much more prefer my Parmesan Ranch Chicken... they are very similar recipes, though).

ITALIAN PARMESAN CHICKEN

Servings: About 4 (depends on amount of chicken)

Nutritional Information:

WW Points Plus: 1+/oz of chicken, about 1-2+ for spices (nutrition below was for 1/4 mixture)

 = about 6+

Ingredients:

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 3 TBSP egg beaters (or one egg white... can also omit this and use water to help moisten the chicken)
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 cup Panko
• 1/2 packet Good Seasonings Zesty Italian mix
• 3/4 cup WW Italian blend cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F and coat a cooking pan with nonstick spray.
2. Note: I did not cut the chicken into strips as we had it frozen, although I would highly recommend that this dish be served in small pieces and not as a large chunk of meat, so slice chicken into small length-wise strips.
3. In a small bowl, combine Panko, garlic powder, Italian mix and some of the cheese.
4. Dip chicken into the egg and then coat in the spice mixture.
5. Place in the pan to bake for about 40-45 minutes at 350° F (if whole chicken, may need to lower cooking time/adjust for strips) or until center of meat is no longer pink.
6. Enjoy!

Blueberry Banana Pancakes

REVISED POST/RECIPE NOTES to make original post DELICIOUS!:

I tried this recipe a few months ago, and it was pretty bad. I vowed that I would try this recipe again, and when I made them again this morning, they were actually good. I didn't make too many revisions, but the small ones I did make made a BIG difference...

• Use 2 eggs, not 1. It makes the WW Points Value 4+, but they taste much better.
• Do NOT add protein powder.
• DO add a few sprinkles of Pumpkin Pie spice (or cinnamon) to taste.
• Spray pan with Pam nonstick spray and cook on LOW heat.

ORIGINAL POST: 
I have made this recipe once before, as it is actually the symbol for the Cooking Cadenza Chef. I did not add any protein powder that time, but I was lacking vanilla/almond extracts, so I tried to plump up the flavor of the mixture by adding cinnamon. Since I used WAY TOO MUCH cinnamon the last time I made these, I thought I would give them another go on this snowy, Sunday morning. I added not only the extracts to the original egg/pancake batter mixture, but also went ahead and threw in a scoop of vanilla protein powder to try and off-set the carbs. I'm not sure if the protein powder was what killed this recipe or not, but I've gotta say, these things did not taste nearly as good as I thought they would. I think I was anticipating something as phenomenally delicious as my Blueberries & Cream Oatmeal recipe.

I believe in creating not only healthy recipes, but DELICIOUS ones that are good for you. This one may have received high marks in its score for health value, but I'm going to be honest, I feel as though these ingredients are better kept separate. One scrambled egg, one banana, Greek yogurt/fresh fruit, and a protein shake on the side. Much better.

Perhaps it was the protein powder that did me in... I'm not quite sure. I would at least like to give this recipe another go in the future... again just egg/banana with some blueberries (you know, keeping things simple). We'll see. That being said, as much as I love bananas, I generally try and avoid them anyways for all their sugar. Sure, they are great for potassium and as my mother says, "no one ever got fat eating a banana," but for 70% of my daily sugar value (albeit natural) and for really being pretty carb-heavy (97% carb), I generally gravitate away from them and toward different potassium-infused, lower-sugar fruits/veggies instead. Honestly, I think they should only be enjoyed more as a treat before/after a long run for added energy and to prevent muscle cramps. Otherwise, they just aren't all that worth it for me.

So my verdict on these deliciously deceivingly good for you pancakes? Just break out the real box of Hungry Jack and have a side of scrambled egg, Greek yogurt, and fruit. You're taste buds will thank you later, I promise.

* Author's Note: I will try this recipe at least one time again in the future when I can play around with some of the ingredients... there has to be a way to get these things to taste good (after all, they do have basically an entire daily value of sugar in them)!

SEE REVISIONS ABOVE to make this recipe DELICIOUS... it is possible!

BLUEBERRY BANANA PANCAKES

Servings: Yields about 6 pancakes

Nutritional Information:

WW Points Plus: 2+ (using one egg), 4+ (using two eggs)

Note: Nutritional values below are for just the blueberry banana pancake mixture and do not include any blueberry yogurt topping or protein powder added to the batter. Nutritional values assume 2 eggs used in the mixture.

Ingredients:

• 2 large eggs
• 1 medium banana
• 1/2 c blueberries (approximately)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• Dash of pumpkin pie spice/cinnamon
• Optional: Vanilla protein powder, oatmeal, etc
• Toppings: yogurt, honey, fruit, whipped cream, syrup, etc

Directions:

1. Break two eggs into a bowl and gently whisk until they are lightly scrambled.
2. Next using a fork, mash a banana into the egg mixture until both ingredients have been thoroughly combined.
3. Add extracts and spices until all of the mixture has been coated as well as any additional ingredients.
4. Grease a pan with either a little bit of butter or non-stick spray before spooning some of the batter onto the griddle.
5. Allow sides to slightly brown before turning pancake over to cook both sides.
6. If you choose to add blueberries, place them on the pancake before flipping it inside the pan.
7. Remove pancakes and top with flavored yogurt, jelly, honey, whipped cream, fruit, or syrup (be creative!) and... enjoy!

Cheese Omelet & PB Toast

Simple recipe and meal, I know. But I just couldn't resist... you see, yesterday morning I set out to try and make Eggs Benedict... you know, in honor of the Pope's resignation. But then I realized I didn't actually know how to make them, so I made a cheese omelette instead (much easier). Of course, seeing as breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, I also paired it with some PB toast and Greek yogurt. Just another idea if you find yourself in a rut I suppose... Enjoy!

CHEESE OMELETTE & PB TOAST

Servings: 1

Nutritional Information:

WW Points Plus: 6+

Ingredients: (in case you were overly curious as to what I used)

• 1 large EB egg
• 3 TBSP Egg substitute
• 1/3 c WW Mexican blend cheese
• 1 slice Healthy Life white bread
• 1/2 tbsp JIF Peanut Butter 

Directions: I highly doubt these are necessary...