December 29, 2014

PRODUCT REVIEW: PB2 (peanut butter substitute, gluten-free) AND CONTEST/GIVEAWAY to be added very soon!!


(GIVEAWAY TO BE ADDED SOON, SIT TIGHT...)




I tried a few different recipes I found online throughout the week and we have really enjoyed using these PB2s!

It has the consistency of powdered sugar so it works perfectly in things like cake icing, and it's a super-concentrated peanut taste so it gives amazing flavor!
Other than that, you can add it to protein shakes, make protein balls, pancakes, add a little water & maple syrup for the best pancake topping ever!

Here are the online recipes we tried:


PB2 Popcorn

Serves 2
Ingredients
1 Tbsp. coconut oil
1/2 tsp. salt (or less)
2 Tbsp. PB2
1/3 cup popcorn kernels
1 Tbsp. powdered sugar
Instructions
1. In a small bowl, combine coconut oil, salt, and a tablespoon of PB2. Melt in the microwave for 20–30 seconds.
2. Place the popcorn kernels in a large microwave-proof bowl, pour the oil mixture over top, and stir to coat. Cover with a vented lid, and cook on high until there’s a second or two between popping noises. If your microwave has a popcorn setting, go ahead and trust it.
3. Immediately after removing the popcorn, sprinkle it with the remaining PB2 and the powdered sugar. Toss all together, and enjoy.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 103
Protein: 3 grams
Carbs: 7 grams
Fat: 8 grams
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I LOVE making various banana breads, and this was pretty darn good!

PB2 Banana Bread
Serves 8
Ingredients
2/3 cup PB2
1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 scoop unflavored whey isolate
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2–4 packets of stevia
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3 very ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup egg whites
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare a standard size loaf pan by lining it with foil or parchment paper, and then spray it lightly with coconut oil.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the PB2, flour, whey protein powder, baking powder, salt, stevia, and cinnamon.
3. Add the mashed bananas and the egg whites to a separate bowl, and beat together until smooth. Stir in the applesauce and vanilla.
4. Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, and stir until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, and bake for about a half hour. The peanut butter banana bread is done when a toothpick can be inserted into the middle without getting covered in uncooked batter.
Nutrition Facts per Serving
Calories: 109
Protein: 9 grams
Carbs: 19 grams
Fat: 1 gram
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I want to add this amazing article from a dear personal friend of mine who is a beast in the gym! :)

Hello my Defiant Friends!
As you all know, I love to cook, bake, decorate cakes, and just generally love everything about food.  I also love to create original recipes that work on a healthy nutrition plan.  On my training and nutrition program, I get one ‘Feed Meal’ every week, and I usually choose pancakes as my meal.  If I were given the choice of a last meal, it would probably involve pancakes.  I just LOVE them!
You can easily make very healthy pancakes using protein powder alone, so they are low carb.  But for my Feed Meal, I need some carbs.  So here is the most amazing recipe I have come up with in a long time.  These pancakes turn out moist & hearty, more like an apple cake.  I have always loved peanut butter on fresh apples–something my mom taught me when I was a kid.  So I use a peanut butter ’syrup’ which I think goes amazingly well with the apples,  but you can just use maple syrup or honey if you don’t have the specialty ingredients lying around.  This completely satisfies my sweet tooth, while avoiding eating a damaging food like a carrot cake with white flour, sugar, etc.  This recipe uses no refined white flour, & you can even make it completely flourless if you’d like.

Apple Pie Protein Pancakes Recipe

-1 medium apple, sliced
-1/2 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze almond milk (or water)
-1 whole egg
-1 tsp cinnamon
-1 tsp apple pie spice
-dash of nutmeg
-dash of ground cloves
-1 to 2 scoops Vanilla protein powder (I use Sun Warrior)
-1/4 cup Bob’s Red Mill Pancake mix
-1/2 tsp Baking Powder
-Dash Himalayan salt
-Stevia or Ideal Brown Sugar xylitol to taste
-1/8 cup chopped pecans–optional
-raisins–optional
Syrup*

Blend the apple slices with the liquid & the egg until the apples are completely blended.  Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl & make a well in the center.  Pour in the apple mixture & whisk very gently until blended. Do not over mix. If too stiff, add more liquid; if too runny add more protein powder. Fold in the pecans & raisins, if using.
Heat a griddle to very hot–400 degrees. Pour or spoon mixture onto griddle. These will steam a lot  & create big bubbles on top as they cook.  Watch to make sure the bottom isn't burning, and turn over as soon as they are cooked enough to hold together.  They are very dense & moist, not fluffy & light like regular pancakes. I love the heavy apple-cake-like texture!
Serve with PB2 ‘Syrup’* or use honey, Grade B maple syrup, blackstrap molasses, or your favorite pancake syrup.  Savor every bite!  And you may even want to lick the plate when you’re done!  Haha!
You could also use oats instead of the pancake mix.  Just blend them up with the apple & egg.

PB2 ‘Syrup’*
-2 Tbs PB2 or other dehydrated low-fat peanut butter
-Stevia or Ideal Brown Sugar Xylitol to taste
-Water, honey or maple syrup to preferred consistency
-Himalayan salt to taste
In a small bowl or cup, place the PB2, sweetener & salt.  Add water, honey, maple syrup–or a combination thereof–slowly, mixing with a whisk until thoroughly blended.  It doedoesn'tke much liquid to get a syrup-like consistency.
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PB2 is an amazing product by Bell Plantation.  It’s dehydrated, defatted peanuts that becomes peanut butter with the addition of just a few drops of water.   You can purchase it by clicking here or the sidebar to the right:  PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter.   For really amazing decadence, they have a Chocolate PB2!  This is NOT to be used in great amounts, but is a wonderful alternative to eating half a jar of regular peanut butter, as some of us can do if we get started on it & lose control!
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Also, let me stress again that this is a Feed Meal, otherwise known as a Cheat Meal, for me.  It’s not something I can have everyday on a pre-contest or even Improvement Season nutrition plan.  For the average person who is not getting up on stage, though, it would be a great breakfast treat anytime, or freeze the pancakes for later & take them with you.  Very portable, & you can roll them up & munch on them even in the car–without the syrup of course!  But they are delicious on their own.
See—eating healthy can be really easy & delicious!!!
Be Defiant!  Fight For Your Health!
Christy


I hope you enjoy this if you make it! :)
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A tip from the company:
Just a hint...sometimes if you start out with using a little less than a tablespoon of water and then gradually adding the water to the PB2 you can get it more to a consistency that you like. 

PB2 is made with the highest quality peanuts that are slow roasted and then cold pressed to remove the fat and oil.  All that’s left is a delicious natural roasted peanut flavor.  PB2 with chocolate is simply PB2 blended with the finest cocoa beans to give you rich chocolate flavor.  Both are all natural, made with no preservatives and are gluten free.  If you have any doubts about the benefits of PB2 versus traditional peanut butter, keep in mind that PB2 is all natural without the fat or added hydrogenated oils of other brands.  PB2 and PB2 with chocolate have only 45 calories per serving (2 Tbsp) and 0 grams of saturated fat.  When compared to traditional peanut butter which is 190 calories per serving (2 Tbsp) and 3 grams of saturated fat.  
AND HERE:
http://www.bellplantation.com/

While you're there, grab some of their snacks!!



#PB2




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