Recipes Archives - Nutrisimo

Better Breakfasts: Banana Protein Pancakes

September 30, 2015 By Nutrisimo Leave a Comment

What could be a better breakfast on a crisp fall morning than a stack of banana protein pancakes? Well… it might not be cold in Florida just yet, but these pancakes are amazing nonetheless. 😉

Lately it seems as though nutritionists are talking all about protein. By now, most of us know that protein keeps us satisfied longer, helps build lean muscle, and is even said to aid in better sleep and lowering blood pressure. So if you know all of these awesome benefits of protein, then you (like me) are probably trying to find some easy ways to add more protein to your diet. It’s really not that hard, just a few tweaks here and there and the improvements are made!

Everybody is different, and with the plethora of diets that are common these days it’s hard to tell every one to just “Eat More Chicken.” But alas, do not despair, there are many ideas that could be modified for your individual person. With a little research, we can all have our protein and eat it too!

One of the ways I get a little extra protein in my breakfast during the week is to make these delicious banana protein pancakes. They are super fast to whip up and super tasty too. Fluffy, warm, and filling, these pancakes satisfy my cravings in a flash while helping me get that little bit of extra protein in.

Banana Protein Pancakes

1 ripe banana (medium-sized)
1 egg (can substitute with egg whites)
1 scoop protein powder –> this is the one I use

In a bowl, mash up the banana with a fork until smooth. Next add your egg. I’ve found this helps it blend better then when you add your protein powder right away. Lastly, add a scoop of protein powder and mix until a batter consistency is achieved. Begin warming your skillet and spray with coconut or olive oil. Next, pour in your batter. You can make multiple pancakes or one large one. Cook evenly on both sides. These delicious pancakes can be served with peanut butter, honey, yogurt, fruit or any toppings you like!

I have made these pancakes with many different kinds of protein powder. The nice thing is that they come out well with a variety of powders. So if you don’t care for Whey Protein, you could easily substitute for a plant based one instead! I’m currently using the MRM All Natural Whey Protein in Rich Vanilla and LOVE it!

In the past I’ve also had good results with Plant Fusion, and Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Standard. Depending on the type of protein powder you use, you may need to add more liquid to the mix. If you use a plant-based powder and your pancakes come out really thick, try adding some almond milk.

Please comment below and let me know how your banana protein pancakes turn out! Snap a picture and tag @nutrisimo on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, so I can see your creation. I’m so excited to see all your pictures!

Review of Quest Pasta

August 5, 2014 By Nutrisimo Leave a Comment

You’ve probably heard of Quest bars before, but have you ever heard of Quest Pasta? Today I’ll be sharing my review of Quest pasta, and some recipes for preparing it.

Quest Nutrition is an amazing company that continues to prove they are one of the most innovative brands out there. I love the Quest bars, so I was really eager to try their pasta. I was so curious to see how it would taste and what it was made of. What makes Quest pasta different from regular pasta you buy at the grocery store? Unlike whole wheat pasta, or brown rice pasta, the Quest pasta contains no active carbs. It’s basically a low-calorie pasta that’s great for those of us that are more sensitive to gluten, or watching our weight. With only 20 calories per serving, Quest pasta is guilt-free and delicious!

But let’s get down to the real question, how does it taste?

We’ll start off with the classic spaghetti. These guilt-free noodles are low-carb, zero-fat, low-calorie, and gluten-free. Wow. The description impressed me before I even tasted it! For my review of Quest Pasta, I decided to cook it in a more creative way than spaghetti and meat balls. I ended up making my own recipe and the result was this Creamy Garlic Mushroom Pasta. If you want to try it, I’ve included the recipe below. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

4 cloves garlic
1/4 onion
olive oil
4 olives
2 or 3 mushrooms (optional)
3 tbsp. Parmesan cheese
2 tsp. evaporated milk or regular
2 tsp. water
1/8 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. oregano

Make sure you rinse your noodles really well before cooking. Upon opening, you get a fishy/ocean smell, but don’t worry, it doesn’t effect the taste. Flash boil the noodles for 1-2 minutes, and then rinse again. Now they are ready to use.

BASE:

Drizzle olive oil into your pan and allow to slightly warm. Add in minced garlic and chopped onion. Once garlic and onions are slightly golden, stir in noodles and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Lastly, stir in the chopped olives.

CREAMY SAUCE:

Now that the noodles are cooked, begin making the sauce.

Get out a small bowl or container. Chop some mushrooms (optional) and toss them into the bowl. Next, measure out your oregano and cheese and add that in as well. Microwave the contents for 25 seconds. Once your mixture is warmed add your evaporated milk, water, and salt. Stir well before pouring over the noodles. Mix well until the pasta is evenly coated with your creamy sauce. Pour onto a plate and garnish with fresh tomatoes and basil.

This was a delicious pasta, that was satisfying yet light. I was amazed at how well it cooked and very pleased with this pasta dish. Although I was unsure of what to expect the Quest Pasta to taste like, I was pleasantly surprised. It cooks well and is a great way to get enjoy your pasta dishes without the gluten or carbs. If you’re looking for an alternative to pasta, this just might be what you’re looking for. If you’re interested in trying the Quest Pasta, click here.

Tasty Tuna Burgers

July 5, 2014 By Nutrisimo Leave a Comment

If you’re planning on throwing some burgers on the grill, why not give these tasty tuna burgers a try? Summer is here, and that means beach days, picnics, and barbecues! These Tasty Tuna Burgers are the perfect meal for any event you’re hosting. Tuna burgers are a delicious twist on the classic beef burgers, and one that your guests are sure to enjoy. The best part about these burgers? They’re super quick to make. Now you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time in the sun. Ready? Then, let’s get cooking!

TASTY TUNA BURGERS:

6 oz. can tuna, drained
1 egg
1/2 c. seasoned Italian bread crumbs
1/3 c. onion minced
1/4 c. celery
1/4 c. bell pepper, minced
1/4 c. mayonnaise
2 tbsp. chili sauce
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1 dash hot sauce
1 dash worcestershire

Combine all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Once the ingredients are well mixed, shape into four patties. Place the patties onto a greased cookie sheet or other baking pan. Broil on high for about 10 minutes on each side, or until golden. Another option is to cook these on a grill. They’re delicious either way.

CAUTION: Broiling is fast, 10 minutes may be too long for some ovens, so keep a close eye on your tuna burgers so they don’t burn.

These are sooo good. I hope that you love them as much as I do. Please comment below and let me know how you liked these tasty tuna burgers. How did you serve them? Did you opt for a burger bun, lettuce leaf, or collard green? They also taste great wrapped in a tortilla. What way will you eat your burger?

Two Ingredient Pancakes

September 5, 2013 By Nutrisimo Leave a Comment

Did you read that correctly? Is it possible that you can make two ingredient pancakes?

Yes, my friends, you can. If you’ve never heard of the banana egg pancakes, then you’re in for a real treat. These have been floating around the internet for a couple years now, but some people have still never heard of them. I’ve also seen quite a few doubters. I realize that it may be difficult to believe that you can make pancakes from only two ingredients, but please bare with me. I was doubter too. When I saw bloggers making banana egg pancakes I was immediately turned off. That sounds gross! So… I think these pancakes need a better name so that you’ll give them a chance.

Seeing Taralynn and Cassey Ho rave about how good they were, I decided to give these two ingredient pancakes a try. My first attempt was a complete flop but… I tried again. I think I tried making these about three times and I never liked them. They didn’t look or taste like pancakes. Three strikes and you’re out, so needless to say – I gave up. However, a couple months later Cassey Ho posted this picture of her gorgeous stack of pancakes. (Can pancakes be gorgeous???) When I saw how beautiful and delicious they looked, I was determined to master the two ingredient pancakes.

Watching Cassey’s video really helped me. After I watched it I tried again and… success! The pictures you see are my very own two ingredient pancakes. They came out perfectly! So from my own experience I recommend a skillet and coconut oil. I’ve tried whisking my ingredients together, but go ahead and blend them up. I know in this video she uses a whisk, but in her more recent videos she recommends a blender.

I love my Vitamix blender, and I can personally testify that it works so well for making pancakes (and a lot of other stuff), but if you want something smaller and less expensive, try using the Magic Bullet. I’ve heard great things about it.

Two Ingredient Pancakes:

– 1 ripe banana

– 2 eggs

*sprinkle of cinnamon (my personal preference)

Peel your banana and place in blender. Crack two eggs and add to your blender. Blend together until smooth. Heat skillet and spray with coconut oil. Using a ladle or 1/4 c. measuring cup, pour batter onto skillet. Cook until small bubbles appear. Gently flip pancakes and cook until both sides are golden brown. Serve warm and enjoy these two ingredient pancakes with maple syrup and fruit.

And there you have it! A delicious breakfast that’s super quick to make and extremely delicious. These pancakes are super healthy and light that they don’t leave you feeling sluggish or stuffed. They may take a few tries, but if you watch the video, I think that will help you master the art of making two ingredient pancakes. I’m so glad I gave these pancakes a second chance, they are so good. Please comment below and let me know if you try these! What are your thoughts on two ingredient pancakes?

*This post contains affiliate links