Crockpot Peach Salsa Chicken and Vegetables

Happy Crockpot Monday! It has been a glorious Monday for so many reasons, but among my top reasons are I figured out statistics (!!!!!!), the weather was beyond gorgeous and my class got out early because of said gorgeous weather. All in all a fantastic day!

With the summer like weather I saw fit to create a summery crockpot meal. This is definitely among my favorite crockpot recipes. It was so full of flavor and really what's not to love about peach salsa?

Ingredients:

• 3 or 4 chicken breasts
• 3/4 of a 16 oz jar of peach salsa, or salsa of choice
• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 1 cup carrots, sliced
• 1 yellow squash, sliced
• 1/2 tablespoon taco seasoning 
• 1/2 cup water

Place chicken breasts at the bottom of a lined crockpot. Sprinkle with taco seasoning.

Layer in onions, carrots and yellow squash. 

Pour peach salsa on top of vegetables.

Finally, pour 1/2 cup of water into crockpot. 

Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.

Healthy Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Pie Pancakes

Does statistics stress anyone else out? I have an exam in stats this week and have been majorly stressing about it, especially since my professor absolutely stinks. 

Anyway this weekend I had to drive home from school for a doctor appointment. Between the doctor appointment, getting lots of blood taken (per usual by now) and studying for stats I really did not get a break. I drove back to school early this morning, grabbed a quick load of groceries before getting back to my apartment, unloaded and hit the study grind again. 

For lunch I wanted something fally, is that even a word?, and frankly after wasting so much time on school this weekend I wanted to cook. So I made chocolate chip pumpkin pie pancakes! It was breakfast for lunch and I regret nothing! These pancakes were the fluffiest pancakes I have ever made and they aren't unhealthy! Pancakes never fail to make everything better, especially when they are healthy!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole wheat or gluten free flour
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon (more or less depending on your taste)
• 1/2 cup canned organic pure pumpkin
• 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1 tablespoon butter of choice, melted
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips

In a large mixing bowl combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon.

Once the dry ingredients are mixing together add in egg, butter, pumpkin and melted butter. Thoroughly combine ingredients.

Spray a skillet with nonstick cook spray. Heat to a medium/low heat.

When skillet is warm place batter in amounts of your choosing onto skillet, I did slightly less than 1/4 cup sized pancakes. 

When bubbles start to form flip pancakes, if bubbles do not form (the batter is dense, so this is possible) check the underside of the pancake with a spatula. When it has turned golden flip it and allow other side to cook through. 

Repeat with remaining batter. 

Serve pancakes warm with toppings of choice, or allow pancakes to cool and freeze for later.

Nutrition per pancake (I made 7 medium sized pancakes):

Calories: 80

Carbs: 12

Fat: 3 

Protein: 3

Sodium: 127

Sugar: 2

Easy Oatmeal

Lately my stomach has been on the fritz. One day last week it got so bad I really just wanted to puke to feel better. My mom recommended I eat a bowl of oatmeal because it is easy on the stomach. I cannot eat plain oatmeal so I threw in some extras that were also easy on the tummy to add some flavor. It was a filling meal and it did help soothe my upset stomach.

Soothing Upset Stomach Oatmeal

• 3/4 cups GF oats
• 3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, or milk of choice or water
• 1/3 cup vanilla greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1/2 small granny smith apple, chopped
• 3 tablespoons frozen blueberries
• 1/2 tablespoon raisins
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter and co white chocolate wonderful peanut butter
• SPRINKLES!

Microwave oats according to package instructions. I don't like my oats runny which is why I used 3/4 cup almond milk instead of an entire cup. 

Top cooked oats with greek yogurt, granny smith apple chunks, frozen blueberries, peanut butter, raisins, cinnamon and sprinkles. The sprinkles are totally necessary component to make any stomach feel better!

The before mixing picture always looks so much better than the after picture!