Berry Cheesecake Protein Fudge

If you follow me on Instagram, you already saw pictures of last night’s coyote sighting:

Coyote

(I can’t help but think, “They see me rollin’.. they hatin’…”)

I was driving to Zumba and paused to let a pack of coyotes walk past. I snapped a quick shot from the side window and called the Pilot to let him know they were in the neighborhood so he could keep watch on the dogs. Even though they’re kind of scraggly, I think coyotes are beautiful, but definitely know to stay away and keep the pets away. A few years ago, some jumped my parents’ wall and attacked one of our family’s dogs (she is ok now, thank goodness). My little brother saw it happening and yelled for my dad, who ran outside to scare them away. Even though I’m technically a “dog person,” not much of a coyote fan.

Zumba was a lot of fun, and afterwards I took pics of the first Summer Shape Up workout.

Blooper shot:

Blooper  1 of 1

I made a fail whale when planning SSU and realized that next Monday, when it was set to launch,  is also Memorial Day. Since many of us will be spending the day BBQing and enjoying with family/friends, so let’s plan on rolling out the new Shape Up the Monday after that: June 3rd. I have a lot of fun giveaways planned to go along with it (the first one is worth $3000!) so stay tuned for more details and how to sign up. I’ll have the intro post up Sunday June 2nd for those who like to plan ahead 🙂

Since we were out antiquing and playing at the farmer’s market, I didn’t prep as much for the week as I’d planned. I did make some new protein fudge, though.

Protein fudge  1 of 1 2

I wasn’t kidding when I said I was newly obsessed with the protein fudge thing.

It’s such an easy, healthy snack, and I wanted to play around with how customizable it can be. The verdict: you can put pretty much whatever you want in there.

May I suggest some cream cheese and berries?

Fudge  1 of 1 2

I made this batch before I did our grocery shop for the week, and found some organic frozen berries + some goat cream cheese. They worked out quite well together.

Berry cheesecake protein fudge  1 of 1

Here’s the recipe for this protein fudge version:

1. In a large bowl, combine the following:

-2 scoops vanilla or chocolate protein powder of choice (I used Sun Warrior and each scoop is 21g)

-1 scoop coconut flour (ground oat flour would work well, too)

-1 heaping tablespoon nut butter of choice (I used sunflower seed butter)

-1 tablespoon coconut oil

-1 T cream cheese of choice

-1 t xlyitol or sweetener of choice to taste

-1 teaspoon vanilla extract

-pinch of sea salt

-squeeze of lemon juice

-1 tablespoon of maple syrup or a little more to help the mixture come together. This is going to be dependent on how creamy your nut butter is.

2. Press into a storage container, and add your berry layer. For mine, I used 1/4 C thawed, frozen berries, pureed in the food processor with a squeeze of lemon juice. Place in the fridge to harden.

3. Cut into squares and enjoy!

Fudge  1 of 1 3

(try out the mint version, too, if you’re looking for an easy, portable snack option)

This morning, I’d love to take Liv swimming. I don’t want her to be afraid of the water -from what I can tell, she loves it so far- and it seems like every little thing has been keeping us away from pool time. Too windy, too hot, I don’t feel like packing everything and driving out there, wah wah.

Outside7

Today, we’re going for it.

Hope you have a happy Monday! See ya later today with a new playlist!

xoxo

Gina

 

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36 Comments

  1. Sharon on May 20, 2013 at 10:17 am

    Coyotes! Scary…In my old home town they’ve spotted cougars in residential areas. And I don’t mean older ladies picking up young guys! Full on cougars! Yikes…

    • Fitnessista on May 20, 2013 at 10:24 am

      i love that you clarified the type of cougar. haha!

  2. Kristi on May 20, 2013 at 10:23 am

    We have had quite a coyote problem in Colorado recently. They have gotten very bold and attacked a toddler at a nearby playground this week. She is okay thank goodness (her mother was right there) but it is so scary to think what could have happened.

    That fudge looks like it would not last 5 minutes in my house. Yum!

    • Fitnessista on May 20, 2013 at 10:26 am

      OMG. that is so scary!!

  3. Emily on May 20, 2013 at 10:23 am

    Yum! Can’t wait to try this. I think it will be great to have as an afternoon snack before my workouts. (And probably cheaper than buying bars on the reg.) Thanks!!

  4. jen on May 20, 2013 at 10:33 am

    we have Coyote issues in mass too and also foxes. they are beautiful and it seems the beautiful animals are usually the violent ones. protien fudge sounds good, I’m just getting started on the protein powders so I will be trying out many of your recipes!

  5. Colleen on May 20, 2013 at 10:33 am

    Try adding rice crispies into the mint version, AWESOME!

    • Fitnessista on May 20, 2013 at 10:35 am

      that sounds glooooooorious

  6. Julie on May 20, 2013 at 10:34 am

    How can it be “too hot” for the pool??? Hope you girls have fun today & enjoy your swim. 🙂

    • Fitnessista on May 20, 2013 at 10:35 am

      exactly! haha
      thank you- have a happy monday 🙂

  7. Katie on May 20, 2013 at 10:36 am

    Hi Fitnessista! These bars look so yummy and I love that its customizable. With what I have on hand, Im thinking a PB chocolate version! I have been following your blog for a year and a half now, but this is the first time I have left a comment… just wanted to say, thank you for all of the amazing food and fitness inspiration 🙂

  8. Natalie @ FreshLifeFindings on May 20, 2013 at 10:50 am

    These bars look so yum! May have to give them a try soon 🙂 And looking forward to summer shape up!

  9. Ashley @ Life and Fitness on May 20, 2013 at 10:54 am

    Omg I would be freaked out if I saw a coyote near my house. There’s been a fox roaming my neighborhood lately. I think people have been feeding it. People forget it’s still a wild animal even tho it looks cute.

  10. Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries on May 20, 2013 at 11:02 am

    I’ve been eyeing your mint version of this since you posted it, and I’m loving the looks of this one too! Question – how much is a “scoop” of coconut flour?

    • Fitnessista on May 20, 2013 at 11:12 am

      21g

  11. kt h on May 20, 2013 at 11:11 am

    You are so creative! Heathy @ Food and Yoga for Life posted a protein carrot cake recipe that will also help you use up your coconut flour. I made it yesterday and it was amazing: http://foodandyogaforlife.blogspot.com/2013/05/protein-carrot-cake.html

    Enjoy the pool!

    • Fitnessista on May 20, 2013 at 11:12 am

      yum!! thank you for the link 🙂

  12. Becca on May 20, 2013 at 11:23 am

    Can’t wait to try these!!! We are in the middle of moving so most if my baking stuff is packed! 🙁 but this is first on the list when we get all settled in!! I like the idea of a almond butter and chocolate version!!!!

  13. Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie on May 20, 2013 at 11:34 am

    Have so much fun with Livi!! That protein fudge looks fabulous!

  14. Anne on May 20, 2013 at 12:11 pm

    Haha oh my gosh I was wondering what the purple stuff from your last post was. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but that Protien fudge is gorgeous!

  15. Danielle on May 20, 2013 at 12:31 pm

    This look awesome! I just made the mint version last night and can’t wait to try them out. I’ll have to try this flavor next!

  16. Ashley {The North Carolina Cowgirl} on May 20, 2013 at 12:35 pm

    We’ve started to see and hear more and more coyotes around our part as well. They like to chase the horses so we get donkeys to keep them away.

    Love the comment from Sharon and how she clarified what type of Cougar she was talking about, haha.

  17. PracticingGrace on May 20, 2013 at 1:09 pm

    Do you think I could use almond meal??? Instead of the oat/coconut flours?

  18. Ruthie on May 20, 2013 at 1:24 pm

    Do you think it would be possible to somehow go live w/the grocery list and week’s meal plan prior to the day before? I’ve done several of your Shape Ups now, both live or after the fact and prefer following along a million percent. However, the one thing that has consistently stopped me from doing so has been not having enough time to look things over, put together my list, get to the store to stock up, and then actually have the time to get in one big cooking sesh to get all the recipes ready for the week before all the workout craziness kicks in. It’d be a huge help to have a little more lead time on the stuff that requires prepping ahead and then still fun to see it all come together on go-day.

    • Fitnessista on May 20, 2013 at 2:34 pm

      i think what i’m going to do is have a sign up, and when you sign up you get the entire first week. does that sound good?? i’ll launch everything a week before it actually happens. so maybe have sign ups begin next tuesday, and then launch week 2 the following wed? does that sound ok?

      • Ruthie on May 21, 2013 at 8:52 am

        Sounds FANTASTIC for a personality type like me! Thank you so much for the response in the first place & for being so accommodating on top of all the work you already put into these. I think it’ll really make a big difference & can’t waiiiiit to follow along!

        • Ruthie on June 3, 2013 at 10:33 pm

          Wanted to follow up on Day 1 to thank you again for this!! Officially getting started today, it was SOOOO much easier to hit the ground running since I’d had the weekend to meal plan/shop/do food prep on all the recipes you suggested ahead of time. You’re the best!!

  19. Jaime on May 20, 2013 at 1:34 pm

    Looking forward to Summer Shape Up! This past Winter Shape Up really kick-started my back-to-fitness-and-healthy-eating habits, post baby. Thanks for moving it back a week 🙂

  20. catherine c. on May 20, 2013 at 2:02 pm

    Can’t wait for summer shape up 🙂

  21. Sylvia on May 20, 2013 at 2:22 pm

    Oh goodness! I’m thinking some protein fudge is on the horizon for this evening. Especially since I have half a block of cream cheese sitting in my fridge with no other purpose in life 🙂 Have fun at the pool!

  22. Vidya on May 20, 2013 at 2:40 pm

    Made protein fudge today 😀

    Chocolate peanut butter fudge yum!!!

    After all the ingredients the mix still looked powdery and didn’t blend nicely together so instead of more maple syrup I added a small bit of almond milk and it really blended well 🙂

    Thanks for the recipe!

  23. Hannah on May 20, 2013 at 4:52 pm

    I tried out the protein fudge, I had a little difficulty getting everything to blend together. It may have been because I did not use coconut oil as I only had coconut butter. To get everything to blend I ended up using probably 4 tablespoons of peanut butter and some almond milk. It came out delicious! I also used a little extra cocoa powder to make them taste extra chocolatey and peanut buttery. Thanks for the recipe! I can’t stop eating it.

    • Fitnessista on May 20, 2013 at 5:02 pm

      yeah the coconut oil helps provide a decent amount of smoothness to it! glad you made it work and are enjoying it! 🙂

  24. joelle (on a pink typewriter) on May 20, 2013 at 5:03 pm

    That “fudge” looks amazeballs.

    Great shot of the coyote! I’m from Nevada, and one caught my best friend’s cat when we were little. 🙁 They mean business.

  25. Kammie @ Sensual Appeal on May 21, 2013 at 12:17 pm

    Omg I woulda been so scared if I saw a coyote. It’s kind of cute though 😛

  26. JB on May 24, 2013 at 2:29 pm

    How do you think I could make a maple fudge flavor? These are awesome and addictive!

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