Chocolate Shakeology Peanut Butter and Jelly Fudge

For those of you who aren't in our Shakeology cult (which you should be because it will change your life forever), you must realize that we drink this shake daily, and using any nutritional supplement daily can get a tad bit boring.  That's not to say that the recipes that we get sent every month aren't unbelievable, and there are a multitude of recipes on the web for people to switch it up and make it new and exciting, and that's part of the reason that I'm here.  I used to use protein powder in a lot of different recipes, however as my clean eating evolved, so did my understanding about what was in most protein powders, and so I eliminated it from my diet.  However, when I started on Shakeology a few months back, I realized that there was a whole new world of opportunities for those recipes out there that do include protein powder, so I have taken it as my personal mission to find as many ways possible to incorporate this super dense, super-food meal supplement in my life in a variety of forms.

Not all of these recipes with be the 'healthiest' of snacks or meals.  There is, indeed, a difference between this recipe, and a recipe for a shake or protein pancake.  Nonetheless, I think it's important that we have a variety of avenues for any food to remain a constant in our diet, and so that is what I will achieve.  Today's recipe admittedly has a large amount of sugar, albeit natural sugars, they are still sugars. Therefore, you shouldn't make a pan of this fudge, sit in front of your TV, and stuff your face with the entire pan.  But, on those days when you're rummaging through your pantry or fridge looking for something to satiate that sweet chocolate desire, this will do just that. And rather than it being a Milky Way or Snickers, it will be something that has tons of antioxidants, nutrients, and proteins, especially when you add in all the nuts and berries that are combined into the fudge.  This recipe was modified from Averie Cooks, and looked so simple and delicious that I just couldn't help trying it out with Shakeology.  So here we go!

Ingredients:
- 3/4 c. honey (or brown rice syrup, agave nectar, maple syrup)
- 3/4 c. peanut butter (I used Teddy's All Natural Smooth)
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 c. Chocolate Shakeology
- 1/3 c. diced dried cranberries (or diced raisin, dried blueberries, or dried fruit of your liking)
- 1/3 c. chopped almonds (or other nuts, or omit)
- 8x8 disposable aluminum baking pan sprayed with Pam



Note:  This is a fast moving recipe so have everything ready to go before you begin and work quickly through the steps.

Directions:
1.  Pour the honey into a medium-sized sauce pan and heat over medium-high heat until it almost begins to boil; turn of heat.
2.  Add the peanut better and stir until smooth.  Add the vanilla extract and stir, using caution as it could bubble up a bit.
3.  Add the protein powder and stir, taking care to work quickly because batter will get increasingly stiff as time elapses.  Quickly fold in the diced fruit and peanuts.
4.  Spread over the bottom of the 8x8 pan and place in freezer for a minimum of 90 minutes.  Remove from the freezer and slice fudge into desired size.

I would suggest keeping the fudge either in the freezer, and taking it out 5-10 minutes before you want to eat it, or in the fridge.  Otherwise, at room temperature, it may get a little bit soft.  This one's a keeper for sure, so ENJOY!!!

Keep Moving.  Keep Strong.  PUSH PLAY EVERYDAY!

Shakeology Chocolate Almond Butter Cups

Oh Chocolate Shakeology...how you have changed my life.  For those of you who don't know what Shakeology is, there is a link provided so that you may further educate yourself. It's my sure fire way to guarantee that I get almost all my vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and nutrients into my daily diet.  If I had to choose one food item, that if I could wave a magic wand, everyone would take part in, this is what I would choose.  This is also what I would choose if I was deserted on an island and had to choose one food item to live off of (that is if we presume that I am choosing the item that I know will benefit my health and well-being, if not, then I'm choosing a Kimball's Double Day).

Shakeology is designed to be a meal replacement, but much like protein powders, you can pretty much use the powder in a number of ways, to make a number of different meals.  Where most people probably won't do much more than throw it in a blender with some fruits and milk, I'm always looking for an alternative way to spruce it up, and sneak it into my daily diet.  Sometimes it's a Shakeology Chocolate Pancake, but in this case it was a frozen dessert!

I came across this recipe on Facebook through an Eat Clean Diet post.  I'm always a bit confused by some of their recipes that have protein powder, mostly because when you read an ingredient list on the majority of protein powders, it's nothing but mystery words that cannot be deciphered.  But, it does not mean that I'm required to use protein powder, because to me that seems to take any food item from "clean" to scientifically altered (which just doesn't seem quite so clean).  But, when I come across something that tells me I can make Frozen Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, damn straight I'm gonna find a way to make it cleaner, and healthier so I can enjoy this tasty little treat!

Ingredients:

1 Scoop Chocolate Shakeology
5 tbsp. Unsweetened Chocolate Soy Milk
5 tsp. Almond Butter
Olive Oil Spray





Directions:

1. Combine Chocolate Shakeology and Unsweetened Chocolate Soy Milk in a small bowl, and whisk until smooth.  (I'm not going to lie, I just kept adding soy milk until it was a thick shiny consistency that could be scooped, but wasn't really liquidy).
2. Spray 5 silicon mini-muffin holders with Olive Oil spray. (If you use regular muffin tins with wrappers, make sure that they are aluminum, not paper, or else they will not come out.  Honestly, I've tried this same idea with aluminum and it's still difficult, so I would highly recommend only using silicon muffin holders.)
3. Divide half of the Shakeology mixture between the five silicone mini-muffin holders.  Place in the freezer for 15 minutes.
4. Take the holders out, and in each container place 1 tsp. of Almond Butter in the center, and then cover each of the 5 holders with the remaining Shakeology.
5.  Place back in the freezer for 30-45 minutes.
6.  Enjoy these tasty frozen Shakeology Chocolate Almond Butter Cups as they slowly melt on your fingertips and you decide that maybe you could live without a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup ever again!