What is better than coffee? Coffee ice cream.

What is better than coffee ice cream? 150 CALORIE COFFEE ICE CREAM made with whey protein powder. Yes, yes I am screaming about this ice cream.

Arctic Zero makes pints of ice cream in a variety of flavors (including coffee and chocolate peanut butter, my current obsessions) so you can eat the entire pint for 150 guilt-free, gluten-free, protein-packed calories.

Visit www.myarcticzero.com to check out all their flavors and find out where you can scoop some up in your neck of the woods or visit Amazon.com and have Arctic Zero shipped right to your door.

Now I really must go to the gym and stop on the whey for another pint of coffee.

There’s a new fro-yo place in town. I should know, I stalked the joint.

I watched its every move. When the sign went up, I messaged my friends. When booths were installed, I alerted the neighbors. When my niece was looking for a job, I sent her the link to the online application. When the grand opening announcement was released on Facebook, I direct messaged my local contacts.

The frozen yogurt shop has been open for well over a month! And it really is absolutely fabulous.

From what I’ve heard.

I still haven’t been in the place because I cannot be trusted in a store with that many calories. But, I am on their mailing list so I am well aware that right now they are featuring pumpkin frozen yogurt.

To know me is to know I LOVE PUMPKIN. So guess who has been craving pumpkin ice cream? Fro-Jo!

So last night I whipped up a single serving of…

Pumpkin Protein Ice Cream

• 1/3 cup vanilla protein powder
• 1/3 cup water (I’m sure unsweetened almond milk would be great, too)
• 2 T pumpkin puree
• Cinnamon and nutmeg to taste

Blend all ingredients together and pour into a freezer safe dish. Freeze. Eat.

Now I really must go check on the new cupcake shop now that my craving for pumpkin fro-yo has officially been…squashed!

Question: What is better than dessert? Answer: Two desserts!

I couldn’t decide which dessert to bring to the the POM Summer Menu Series this week: Pomegranate Sorbet or Pomegranate Protein Ice Cream. They were both easy to make and so refreshing, so I brought both.

Here’s the scoop…

POM Sorbet

• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup POM Wonderful pomegranate juice

Stir together all ingredients and pour into an ice cream maker following your machine’s instructions for freezing.

POM Protein Ice Cream

• 2 cups POM Wonderful pomegranate juice
• 1 cup vanilla protein powder

Blend ingredients together and pour into ice cream maker following your machine’s instructions for freezing.

Enjoy!

Now I really must go…I had so much fun making this ice cream, I’m going to enroll in sundae school!

I thought I’d share a few more ideas with you to give for fitness! This is my third list so if you need a refresher on my first two gift giving guides click right here.

This list contains a few things you can start whipping up quite easily over the next few weeks. I think yule spread a lot of Joy if you make any of these presents on…

THE FIT LIST

Hot Chocolate Protein Kits

I am a bit obsessed with hot protein drinks now that our temps have reached below zero, but who’s complaining?  Not only are protein lattes and mocha’s packed full of protein, but they taste ahhhhmazing, too! Bundle up 3-4 servings of Protein Freeze inside a cellophane bag, top with dark chocolate chips and/or marshmallows, tie with a bow, and tuck it inside a really cute mug. Be sure to include the recipe for a Whole Latte Protein or a Peppermint Protein Latte with your gift, too!

You might want to give Hot Chocolate Protein Kits to: Your training buddies, your personal trainer, your favorite high school or college athlete, and your really hot friends.

Protein Ice Cream Kits

Protein Freeze makes fantastic ice cream! Make ice cream kits by scooping up 3-4 servings of vanilla or chocolate Protein Freeze into a cellophane bag, top with dark chocolate chips and/or marshmallows, and tie with a bow. Package up your protein packets inside an ice cream bowl and maybe even include an ice cream scoop. Be sure to add some brief instructions, too. Something like: Blend 3/4 cup Protein Freeze, 3/4 cup water, 2T Peanut Butter and freeze! Top with dark chocolate chips and enjoy!

You might want to give Protein Ice Cream Kits to: Your coach, your teachers, or your really cool friends.

Personalized Notepads

One year my niece and nephews made notepads for their parents for Christmas gifts. They drew up some masterpieces and then we hit the local copy shop and had them made into pads of note paper. You can easily design some paper on your computer, too, with a great quote, your gift recipients name or initials, or something personal for the lucky recipient.

You might give Personalized Notepads for: Aunts, grandparents, coworkers, friends, and your favorite blogger.

Candles

Nothing says, “You light up my life” better than a candle. I retired my glue gun many moons ago and replaced it with double stick tape. I dressed up this candle with some ribbon I found at Super Target last week. Simply stick the double stick tape to the jar and adhere the ribbon on top. Try this same technique with ornaments, too.

You might want to dress up a candle for: A hostess gift, your neighbors, and your really bright friends.

Now I really must wrap this up so I can pack up my whey and fly to the gym!

Protein ice cream, where have you been all my life?

Fast Track sent me some chocolate Protein Freeze last week. When it arrived, I tore open the package and read the instructions on the label:

Preparation: Pour entire container of Protein Freeze powder into a large bowl. Add 12 cups of water and 1 cup of nut butter. Blend and then freeze.

If you know me, you know I rarely follow a recipe to the letter but this time I was tempted because I think chocolate and peanut butter is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

I decided to make an individual serving to start. So I grabbed my Magic Bullet blender and mixed together 1/3 cup Protein Freeze, 2/3 cup water, and 2T natural peanut butter. I popped it into the freezer and a few hours later I had protein chocolate peanut butter ice cream which IS proof that God loves us and wants us to be even happier.

A few hours after that, I had my second batch in the freezer and a batch of chocolate oatmeal protein cookies in the oven. I had to see if Protein Freeze could pass my baking test, didn’t I? Let me just say, I was not disappointed. I’ll share that recipe with you another time because I have to tell you about the protein latte I made with Protein Freeze. Remember my recipe for A Whole Latte Protein? Well, Protein Freeze stood up to that challenge, too.

Today I decided to make another serving of Protein Freeze ice cream using a packet of Starbucks VIA instant coffee instead of the peanut butter and the result was a rich, dark chocolate ice cream. I have another batch brewing in the freezer right now.

I have my mind set on making cinnamon protein ice cream and since I haven’t ordered my tub of vanilla Protein Freeze yet, I tried making cinnamon ice cream with a vanilla protein powder I have in my cupboard and it was a flop. I don’t know what makes Protein Freeze different, and they are understandably holding that trade secret close to their pecs because, trust me, I asked. I guess they can keep their secret and as long as they keep making it no one will get hurt.

Now I really must go, I need to place an order for Protein Freeze and ask Santa to bring me this popsicle maker so I can make my Muscles Pop!