Luv What You Do

Balancing a Busy Life with a Healthy Lifestyle

Comfort Stew April 16, 2013

Filed under: Clean Eating,Soup,Vegan — Luv What You Do @ 7:37 am
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After a rainy week and a mostly gray weekend, I felt like some soup was in order.

 

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Monday was a busy day in the kitchen…possibly more so since I was gone the week before and was looking forward to planning meals this week.  For week day lunches, I decided on Curried Lentil, Squash, and Apple Stew from Chloe’s Kitchen.

 

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It was quite an arm workout to cut the squash.

 

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I wasn’t much in the mood to take photos along the way, but I had to share the finished product!

 

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Almost on cue as I added the curry, the BOY appeared.  I had to laugh at his predictability!  I poured a bowl to take to work and saved the rest for later in the week.

 

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Dinners this week are going to be simple.  We have plenty of leftovers to get us though the week!

 

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This morning I am still trying to wrap my brain around yesterday’s tragedy.  What is there to say when I have so many questions?  Although I am building my skills as a ‘writer’, I can’t think of the words that will convey my grief and disbelief while capturing the significance of what happened.  In my opinion, runners (and triathletes) are the friendliest and most welcoming group of people.  They are supportive and empathetic…I can’t imagine anyone choosing to target such a group.  And maybe it’s because I know the elated feeling that you are supposed to have when you cross the finish line after running 26.2 miles that I feel even more sad for the runners, volunteers and spectators who will never look at the sport the same.

 

I know that this stew won’t bring with it real comfort, but there is no doubt in my mind that the blogging community (many of whom are runners) will ban together like it always does to offer support, encouragement, and love to those in Boston and beyond…and that is comforting to know!

 

 

 

Curried Lentil, Squash and Apple Stew

From Chloe’s Kitchen

Makes 6 Servigs

 

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 carrot, peeled and diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
1/2 cup dried lentils
2 1/2 cups vegetable broth
2 tablespoons tomato paste
3 cups peeled butternut squash (1/2-inch cubes)
1 large unpeeled apple, diced
5 ounces baby spinach

 

Directions

In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high heat, and sauté onion and carrot until almost soft. Add garlic, ginger, curry and salt, and let cook a few more minutes until fragrant.

Stir in lentils, broth and tomato paste. Bring to boil, cover and simmer for 25 minutes. Add squash and apple, cover and simmer for another 25 minutes (because my squash cubes were so big, this was 50 minutes for me), or until vegetables and lentils are tender. Remove lid and stir in spinach until wilted. Add salt to taste and serve.

 

Coconut Fudge Balls April 3, 2013

Filed under: Clean Eating,Snacks — Luv What You Do @ 10:02 pm
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I’ve been wanting to make another batch of energy balls using my dried coconut!

 

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I finally had some time on Monday, and was excited to combine the coconut with chocolate, kind of like the Chocolate Coconut Chew Larabars.

 

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The dried coconut is the perfect compliment to the sweet dates.

 

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Everything chopped up nicely and the flavor was exactly what I was hoping for (sometimes these ‘recipes’ end up being more like ‘experiments’).

 

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I did need to stream in some agave to help the balls come together.  To be honest, I didn’t really measure it, but you’ll know when you’ve added enough because a ball of dough will form.

 

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Then you can either press the ball into a greased pan to make bars or roll it into balls.

 

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Yummy!!!  Need I say more?  These healthy-ish balls are FULL of flavor!

 

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Store these balls in the fridge for an afternoon or mid workout snack!

 

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Does anyone else try to make homemade Larabars?

What is your favorite flavor?

 

So I had plans to share with you the Strawberry Balsamic Quinoa Salad that I have been eating for lunch this week because it is awesome, but I didn’t get any pictures of it.  I will definitely try to snap one later this week and share that recipe soon because it will be perfect for spring strawberries!

 

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I will get your mouth watering with pictures of tonight’s Grilled Garlic Pepper Shrimp form The Grilling Bible courtesy of the BOY!

 

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I still don’t know what’s with the Christmas plates : )  Looking for dessert, I highly recommend these Double Chocolate/Single Chin Brownies!

 

Coconut Fudge Balls

Adapted from German-Chocolate Fudge Bites

 

Ingredients

1 cup pitted dates

1 cup dried coconut

1 cup almonds

4 tbsp cacao powder

2 tsp vanilla

1-2 tbsp agave

 

Directions

Combine dates and coconut in a food processor and blend until combined.

Add almonds, cacao powder and vanilla.  Blend until well combined.

Stream in agave until a ball of dough starts to form.

Roll dough into balls and refrigerate for ~2 hours until set.  Store in an air tight container in the fridge.

 

Splash! March 21, 2013

Filed under: Clean Eating,Seafood,Swimming — Luv What You Do @ 10:06 pm
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That is the sound I expected to hear when I dove into the pool this morning.

Instead…I got more of a swish as I slowly eased myself in reacquainting myself with the water.

 

Truth be told I wrote the title of this post last night in hopes that I wouldn’t back down from my planned swim.  It has been a LONG time since I went swimming for exercise.  But I have been eyeing a June triathlon, which means that training should have started weeks ago!  With my March goal in mind, I drove to the park district pool at 6:05pm for a swim.  I decided to join Caitlin’s Ironman March and although I am a few miles away from my 26 mile running goal, I am yet to swim or bike.

 

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I was so freezing cold on the short drive over to the pool that I almost turned around and definitely thought about walking around the track in my swim suit covered in PJ’s. Yes that is what I wore to the gym!  But once I walked onto the pool deck, I was consumed by heat and humidity…a nice change during this ice cold winter.   The pool was almost empty and quiet.  One of the benefits of the park district pool compared to the gym is that it is MUCH warmer for senior water aerobics.

 

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The goal for today’s workout was to get into the pool, so once I was in, I had to decide what to do.  I figured that 20 minutes of swimming (any kind) would be a great start.  I alternated between freestyle and prone kicking.  A few strokes in and I remembered how peaceful swimming can be and because my newish goggles actually worked, I was way more relaxed in the water!

 

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I was really proud of myself for getting up AND getting to the pool, so I enjoyed my reward of a few minutes in the hot tub.  I would have loved to have stayed longer but I had to get myself ready for work.

 

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I forgot my contacts at home, but luckily I had planned to swing back home anyways to eat a bite of breakfast.

 

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Since Thursday’s have turned into a marathon day, I planned for an easy dinner tonight that the BOY could get started without me.  Yesterday’s dinner was just as easy.  I had planned to make stirfry, but the BOY said that he wasn’t that hungry.  Instead, I roasted up some broccoli to have with leftover salmon (from Tuesday).  Easiest week of meal planning EVER!

 

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I found this salmon recipe on a blog, commented on it, planned to make it, and then totally forgot where I found it.  Please tell me that I’m not the only person who this happens too!

 

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I share this with you so that you know that I can’t take credit for the recipe and because it explains why I have no idea what the portions are supposed to look like.

 

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Yet somehow this Asian inspired salmon turned out AWESOME!

 

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If this is your recipe, thanks for the easy weeknight meal (and leftovers) and please take credit in the comments! 

Clean Eating Magazine (one of my faves) just emailed me with 15 Awesome Salmon Recipes!  Go check it out!

 

 

When was the last time you went swimming?

Any good pool workouts to share?

What are you eating for dinner this week?

Why do I have so many questions tonight?

 

 

Orange Ginger Salmon

 

3/4 to 1 pound of salmon

~3 tbsp fresh squeeze orange juice

~1 tbsp tamari or soy sauce

Ground ginger to coat

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line baking pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.

Mix orange juice and tamari, stirring well.  Coat salmon and marinate while oven preheats (longer if you have time).

Sprinkle salmon with ginger and place in the oven (or on the grill in foil)

Cook for 18 minutes.

 

Coconut Balls March 19, 2013

Filed under: Clean Eating,Running,Snacks — Luv What You Do @ 9:52 pm
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It seems that you guys joined the BOY as big fans of yesterday’s Indian-Spiced Chicken Burgers

Thanks for all of the comment love! 

Reading your comments is one AWESOME way to end the day!

 

The day started off with a run around the track.  I must admit that there was nothing speedy about today’s workout.  Sore doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel (thanks Jenna!), and I had the most painful cramps that I’ve felt in decades.  Yuck!  Getting to the track was a victory in itself. This morning’s run looked like this…

5 minute warm up

10 minute jog

10 minute faster jog

10 minute back to jog

2 minute cool down

 

I believe that workouts like this are supposed to be a run/fast run combination (in case you are looking to try it out).  I determined my pace by heart rate/feeling and adjusted for the above mentioned fatigue and cramps.  It must have been a worthwhile workout because I was sweating when I was done and 12 hours later, I am even more sore : )

 

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Although I have been really limiting my dairy, I have been wanting to try this new Chobani flavor.  It’s one small serving and topped with KIND granola makes the perfect post run snack. 

 

Speaking of snacks…I have an awesome new no bake energy bar recipe for you!

 

Confession: My first attempt at this recipe came from a cookbook and was a totally disaster!

 

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I don’t blame the cookbook, I blame the super soft apricots that tasted sweet like candy, but just didn’t stand up to the food processor in energy bars.  So I had to trash version one and start from scratch on my own version.

 

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I was inspired by this dried coconut that we picked up at Costco yesterday.  This brand makes the most amazing dried mango EVER, and so the BOY and I were excited to try this stuff too.

 

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For the nuts, I chose a blend of almonds and walnuts because I had both in the house, and because I love the flavor combination that they create with the dates.

 

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You do have to be patient because it takes a few minutes to break everything down and blend it together.

 

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If you are having trouble getting everything to stick together, you can stream in some liquid.  I chose fresh squeezed orange juice, but agave or honey would work too.  The last step is to simply roll the dough into balls and coat them in more coconut.

 

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Please excuse the poor lighting on these pictures.  It was a dark and stormy day!

 

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But don’t let that deter you from making them!  I know that when it comes to coconut, you either love it or hate it.  Well not me!  I used to hate the stuff, but slowly it is growing on me, and these Coconut Balls are soft, chewy, sweet, and delicious!

 

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Do you like coconut?

What is your favorite coconut recipe?

 

 

Coconut Balls

 

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups dried, pitted dates

1/2 cup dried coconut chunks

1 cup almonds

1/2 cup walnuts

1-2 tbsp fresh squeeze orange juice

1/2 cup organic unsweetened shredded coconut

 

Directions

Place dates and coconuts in your food processor and blend until combined.

Add nuts and blend for another few minutes until everything begins to get combined.  Drizzle in 1-2 tbsp of fresh orange juice (or agave and honey) as needed to help everything blend together.

For the dough into balls and roll in shredded coconut.

Store in the fridge to snack on throughout the week!

 

Indian-Spiced Chicken Burgers March 18, 2013

Filed under: Chicken,Clean Eating,Dinner,Soup — Luv What You Do @ 8:56 pm
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The BOY and I came back from our grocery shopping trip today with plenty of fresh fruits and veggies, lean meat, and healthy snacks.  As always, Monday is prep day for the week ahead.  For this week’s meal plan, I had to simplify things a bit.  Last week was way too busy and crazy for me to be making dinner each night, so I made things a little easier with some store bought stuff.  And I know that I can always eat leftovers for lunch.

 

Monday: Indian Spiced Chicken Burgers (recipe below)

 

Tuesday: Orange Ginger Salmon

 

Wednesday: Almond Butter Stirfry

 

Thursday: Store Bought Chicken Sausages with Roasted Mushrooms

 

Lunch: Leftovers and Carrot, Chickpea, and Barley Soup*

Snacks: Coconut Balls

 

*Do you ever make soup and it tastes great but doesn’t picture well???  Well that’s what happened with this orange creation.  I was planning on dedicating an entire post to this soup, but since my photos didn’t turn out, I scrapped that idea.

 

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But you can find the recipe for this wonderful soup at Shape Magazine.  This is an old recipe that I have been making for years, and I just discovered that you can find fresh carrot juice at Mariano’s.  Enjoy!

 

Moving on to tonight’s dinner…

The Indian-Spiced Chicken Burgers were the BOY’s suggestion.

 

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He found them in the Martha Stewart’s Great Food Fast cookbook.

 

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I modified the recipe a bit to make it easier and quicker, and it turned out just as good!

 

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The BOY tucked his burgers into a toasted pita with sour cream cumin sauce (sour cream, cumin, lemon juice, salt, and pepper).  As always, he rapidly began assembling his sandwich, so I had to snap my photos quickly to keep up with him.

 

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One bite into dinner and a big smile spread across his lips.  For those who know him, the BOY has a VERY picky palate, so his rave reviews of this dinner were great to hear!

 

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Instead of a sandwich, I decided to eat my burgers with a huge salad and a side of roasted broccoli.

 

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I couldn’t agree with the BOY more!  These chicken burgers are full of flavor, and I can’t wait until this summer when we can cook them up on the grill!  Warning: you might see these at our next BBQ!

 

And with that…I’ve gotta run and catch the second half of the Biggest Loser Finale!

 

 

Indian-Spiced Chicken Burgers

From Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food

 

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds ground chicken breast
4 scallions, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger (or ground ginger)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cardamon
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper, to taste

 

For Sandwich:
4 pitas (6 inch)
1 cucumber, halved and thinly sliced
1/2 cup fresh cilantro sprigs

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a medium bowl, place the chicken, scallions, ginger, lemon juice, paprika, cumin, cardamon, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper; mix well with your hands to combine. Set aside to marinate for at least 10 and up to 30 minutes.

Gently form the mixture into sixteen 3/4 inch patties (about 3 tablespoons each).  Season the patties with salt and pepper (if desired) and place on a foil lined baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray.

Bake for ~15 minutes, turning once mid way until chicken is fully cooked.

For sandwiches…halve the pitas crosswise (toast on the grill, if you like). Into each pocket, place 2 chicken patties, cucumber slices, and cilantro sprigs. Serve with cumin yogurt sauce (1/2 cup plain yogurt + 1/2 tsp cumin).

 

Note: I made some changes to the original recipe for ease and time.  Read the Recipe as Written

 

Ch Ch Chia-What’s the Hype? March 2, 2013

Filed under: Breakfast,Clean Eating,Drinks,Oatmeal — Luv What You Do @ 6:05 pm
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As I was creating, devouring, and sharing this incredible breakfast bowl, I was surprised to see how many people weren’t familiar with chia seeds.

 

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What are Chia Seeds?

 

Chia is a member of the mint family that grows abundantly in southern Mexico.  These seeds are rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids and antioxidants, and they also provide calcium, fiber, iron, and magnesium.  Chia seeds were an important energy source for Mayans, Incas and other ancient cultures, and remain a dietary staple in  many South and Central American countries.

 

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Why Eat Chia Seeds?

 

The benefits of chia seeds, also known as salvia hispanica, are plentiful!  Chia seeds can be eaten raw or in a variety of recipes.  Many people even drink them in their favorite juices and smoothies.  Chia seeds are important in hydration.  They can hold 9x their weight in water, which is why they have caught the attention of distance runners.

 

Chia also…

* Provides energy
* Boosts strength
* Bolsters endurance
* Levels blood sugar
* Induces weight loss
* Aids intestinal regularity

 

 

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What Should You Do with Chia?

 

My favorite way to eat chia seeds is for breakfast before a long run.  I love Overnight Oats and of course the Dough Boy Smoothie.  My newest discovery is this Breakfast Chia Bowl.  Chia is a wonderful addition to smoothies and shakes and it’s texture, when mixed with water, lends itself to gels and puddings.

 

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Here are some new recipes to try…

 

Chia Pomegranate Pudding

From Dr. Oz

 

1 oz ground chia seeds

3/4 cup pomegranate juice

 

Directions

Mix ingredients together in small bowl. Let sit for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

 

 

Chia Tea

10 oz of your favorite iced tea
1 tablespoon chia seeds
Sweeten to taste

 

Directions
Stir chia seeds into tea for about 10 minutes, and enjoy.

 

 

Chia Ice Pops (this is great for hot summer runs)

1 c frozen strawberries
1 c frozen mango chunks
.5 c orange juice
1/3 c chia seeds
1/4 c water

 

Directions

Processes all ingredients in a high powered blender and liquefy. Pour into ice-cube or popsicle molds, and freeze.

 

 

Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

From Shape Magazine

 

1/4 cup of chia seeds
3/4 cup of almond milk
1 tbsp. cocoa powder
Small spoonful of sugar (1 – 2 tsp.)

 

Directions
Combine chia seeds and almond milk. Stir in cocoa powder and sugar. Let sit for 30 minutes or overnight until mixture has thickened. Stir and enjoy!

 

 

Raw Spring Power Applesauce

From Raw Vegan Chef

 

2 cups baby spinach, gently packed

3 apples, cored and chopped

1/4 cup chia seeds

juice from 2 oranges

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

dash ground nutmeg

 

Directions

Put all of the ingredients in a food processor, fitted with the “S” blade.

Briefly process until the ingredients resemble chunky applesauce.

Enjoy! (Note: if you wait 10-15 minutes before serving, the chia seeds will gel with the orange juice for a brilliant texture.)

 

 

More Recipes…

Chia Chipotle Bean Burgers

Chia Fresca From Oh She Glows!

Crockpot Apple Crumble Breakfast Pudding

Whipped Banana Scottish Oats

Honey Whole Wheat Chia Seed Pancakes from PB Fingers

Chia Energy Bars from No Meat Athlete

Chia Margarita

 

Do you eat chia seeds?

What is your favorite chia recipe?

 

 

For more information about Chia Seeds, here are the Top 10 Benefits of Chia Seeds and 10 Unique Uses for Chia Seeds from Wellness Mama.

 

Resources

Dr. Weil

EatRight.org

MyChiaSeeds.com

Natural News

OneGreenPlanet.org

 

Tex Mex Shredded Chicken February 26, 2013

Filed under: Chicken,Clean Eating,Crock Pot — Luv What You Do @ 9:19 am
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It’s a simple week of meal planning here…

 

Monday: Slow Cooker Shredded Tex Mex Chicken (recipe below)

 

Tuesday: Shrimp Stirfry

 

Wednesday: Chicken Sausage and Veggies

 

Thursday: Out to Eat

 

For lunch this week, I have Curried Red Lentil Soup with Kale.  Yum!

 

 

The best and easiest crockpot recipe that I know is this Two Ingredient Crockpot Chicken.  I share it with everyone who is looking to use their crockpot more often.  When I found this recipe for Shredded Tex Mex Chicken on Fearless Homemaker, it reminded me of a fancier, more complex version of my favorite.

 

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This recipe takes just a few minutes longer to prep, but is worth the effort.

 

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The addition of the jalapeno and lime are fantastic and give this dish robust flavor.

 

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Instead of dicing my chicken, I got lazy and cooked them whole, which is another easy option.

 

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When dinner was ready, the BOY made an overflowing Tex Mex sandwich with cheese and sour cream.

 

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I opted for lettuce wraps (although I probably should have bought bigger lettuce leaves).

 

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We were both big fans of Mexican flavor (in case you couldn’t tell by all the Fiesta posts this summer) and this dinner got thumbs up all around.  We also got a good laugh out of my mini lettuce wraps.

 

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I ate my lettuce wraps with a side of broccoli, not because it actually goes with the meal, but because we had broccoli that needed to be cooked and topped with avocado.

 

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One of my favorite things about this recipe is how versatile it is!  I have plenty of leftovers to eat during the week on a salad or wrapped up as a taco.  Meal planning this week is weather dependent.  We have a big storm blowing in and there is a chance that I will be staying at my parents.  Not to worry, I have left the BOY with plenty of healthy options to fend for himself!

 

 

 

Slow Cooker Shredded Tex Mex Chicken

From Fearless Homemaker

 

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 1/4 teaspoon cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon coriander
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1 jalapeno, seeded + minced
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-2″ pieces
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/3 cup (packed) cilantro leaves, chopped (I did not use these)
the juice of 2 limes

 

Directions

-Heat the oil in a medium-sized sauté pan. add the onion, sauté for 5 minutes. Add the cumin, chili powder, coriander, paprika, jalapeño, and garlic.  Sauté two more minutes. Transfer this mixture to the slow-cooker sprayed with cooking spray.

-Sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt + pepper.  Add it to the pan where you cooked the onion and spices. Sear chicken on all sides.  Then transfer to the slow cooker.  Add I lime juice and cilantro and stir.

-Cook on low for 3-4 hours or if you have the time cook on high for 6-8 hours until chicken is cooked through.  The chicken pieces will be fall-apart tender at this point .  You can either leave them as is or shred them with two forks before returning them to the crockpot for another 30-60 minutes.

-Serve as tacos, in a sandwich, with lettuce wraps, or with rice.

 

So, It’s Friday… February 1, 2013

Filed under: Breakfast,Clean Eating,Running — Luv What You Do @ 10:43 pm
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Let’s See…

 

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Where to Begin?  I guess Breakfast makes sense!

 

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Not this morning’s breakfast though….that was eggs with veggies made by my Mom (Thanks Mom!), but yesterday’s breakfast. 

 

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Doesn’t look like anything special, I know!

 

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But it is a wonderfully tasty, hearty, and filling way to start the day, so well worth sharing.

 

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I was intrigued when I discovered this recipe in the Wheat Belly book.  By the way, has anyone read it? Thoughts?

I love a warm breakfast on a chilly morning, so I thought I would give this a try.  I was happy that this easy and quick combination of flaxseed and coconut tasted so good…especially when covered in fresh blackberries.

 

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After breakfast, I made an early trip to the track.  I forgot my running shoes in the car, and had to trek back out to get them. 

Brrr…it was crazy COLD!

 

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I warmed up quickly though once I started my run.  The plan…60 second speed/recovery intervals.

 

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However, about 15 minutes in, I saw someone I recognized on the track.  My friend/coworker was a few paces ahead of me.  I was excited to catch up to her and abandon my speed work.  It was great to chat and enjoy some company for the rest of my run. 

 

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Thursday was a long day at the office, but I was excited for dinner plans with a few of my friends that night.  We laughed the entire time, and I am so lucky to have such amazing girl friends in my life.  Afterwards, I went back to my parents, where I spent the night…hence this morning’s fantastic breakfast.  I unplugged for the day, which was lovely, but I have a lot of catching up to do this weekend.

 

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But, I’m not going to start that tonight.  I didn’t get home until 8:15pm, which is insane.  After another long day at work, I swung by Whole Foods for dinner, groceries, and I just couldn’t pass up this bottle of wine.  One big glass later, I am exhausted, ready for bed, and making plans for tomorrow’s big adventure. 

Details to come…

 

How was your week?

What are you doing this weekend?

 

 

Hot Coconut Flaxseed Cereal

From Wheat Belly by William Davis, MD

 

Ingredients
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/2 cup ground flaxseeds
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup chopped walnuts, walnut halves or raw hulled sunflower seeds (optional)
1/4 cup sliced strawberries, blueberries or other berries (optional)

 

Directions
Combine the milk, ground flaxseeds, coconut flakes and walnuts or sunflower seeds in a microwaveable bowl and microwave for 1 minute. Serve topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a few berries if desired.

 

Note: I added my cinnamon before microwaving. I would recommend topping with nut butters, more coconut, and fresh fruit.

 

A Crockpot Kind of Day January 30, 2013

Filed under: Chicken,Clean Eating,Crock Pot — Luv What You Do @ 8:58 pm
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Isn’t every day a crockpot kind of day?

 

I know today is!  Even though I made this for Sunday night dinner, tonight is just as wet and icy.  Which is crazy considering yesterday was 60 degrees and I was running outside before work.  I said to the BOY that I don’t know of anyone else who uses their crockpot as often as we do.  We had a cold and lazy weekend, so when I woke up Sunday morning, I immediately went searching through my cookbooks before heading out to the grocery store.  With an ice storm heading our way, there was a chance that we’d be spending all day indoors (which is exactly what happened).  For lunch, I made the most amazing Lentil Chili.  Then after the Indiana game, the BOY helped me throw dinner into the crockpot.

 

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He chopped up the onion, red pepper, and chicken, and I told him he would definitely get props when I posted this recipe on the BLOG.

 

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I pulled out the food processor to make homemade peanut butter and then used it to make the peanut sauce.

 

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This recipe is perfect for two people because we were quickly able to get chicken and veggies in the crockpot and this sauce pureed in the food processor.

 

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I include this second picture just so you can see how liquidy the peanut sauce is.  This worried me a bit, but everything thickened up in the crockpot.

 

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The other benefit of having a friend in the kitchen (besides the fact that I like hanging out with the BOY) is that they can take some action shots!

 

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So I should preface this by telling you that although I truly enjoy peanut butter, I’ve never been a huge fan of peanut flavored chicken when eating out.

 

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However, this dish is UN-BE-LIEVE-ABLE!

 

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The light peanut taste blends beautifully with the strong Asian flavors and hint of a kick!

 

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And if possible, I found this even better leftover for lunch!  The flavors were stronger, and I ate slowly savoring each and every bite.  Based on the BOY’s reaction, I definitely see this recipe getting moved into our monthly rotation, and I have been sharing the recipe with everyone I know.  As a confused mother nature continues to throw thunderstorms, hail, snow, and ice our way, there is no better appliance than your slow cooker to create healthy comfort food! 

Let me know what you’ve been making to stay warm this winter and Stay Safe!

 

 

Clean Peanutty Thai Chicken

Form The 150 Healthiest Slow Cooker Recipes on Earth

 

Ingredients

1/2 cup smooth peanut butter (I recommend homemade)

1/2 cup chicken broth (or homemade stock)

1/4 cup low-sodium tamari sauce

juice of 1 lime

1 tbsp rice wine vinegar

4 cloves garlic, minced

1-inch chunk peeled fresh ginger

1 tbsp honey

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes  *can adjust or omit to change the heat of the dish!

1 sweet onion, chopped

1 red bell peppers, cored, seeded, and chopped

1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless, chicken breasts, chopped

 

Directions

In the bowl of a food processor, combine the peanut butter, broth, tamari, lime juice, vinegar, garlic, ginger, honey, and red pepper flakes. Process until smooth, scraping down the sides as necessary, and set aside.

Combine the onion, bell pepper, and chicken in the slow cooker and pour the sauce evenly over all.  Stir gently to coat.  Cover and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or low for 5 to 6 hours until the chicken is cooked through but still juicy.  Don’t overcook! 

 

Waiting for the Storm January 27, 2013

Filed under: Clean Eating,Soup,Vegetables,Vegetarian — Luv What You Do @ 4:42 pm
Tags: , , , , ,

There has been talk since yesterday of a big, dangerous ice storm heading our way.  Yuck!  When I spoke with my parents last night, they both said that we should plan on laying low today.  When I woke up around 8am, the weather still looked fine, so I decided to head out to the grocery store for some staples before the expected 10am winter mix.

 

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I don’t think I have ever been to the grocery store before 9am. The store was quiet, which was nice, but the pharmacy didn’t open until 10am (which stinks before I needed some allergy meds).

 

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I was home before the BOY even emerged from the bedroom.  The weather outside was gray, but warm.  If a storm wasn’t heading our way, I might have bundled up for a run. Instead, I put some errands on hold to stay in my warm, comfortable home.   I made us some eggs for breakfast and sat down to watch last week’s Biggest Loser.  Meanwhile, I got started on moving some files form old computer to my new computer.  2 hours later, there was no wintery mix insight, and I was beginning to feel guilty about sitting on the couch in my jammies all day.  My mom called around noon and mentioned that some rain had started by their house.  She invited us over to brave the storm with some television and chili.  However, I had the same idea here!

 

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The BOY turned on the Indiana basketball game, and I started chopping up veggies for Lentil Chili.

 

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This is a vegetarian recipe from one of my new cookbooks.

 

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I was super excited to try this chili.  It has a complex flavor profile, and I even picked up cayenne at the grocery store this morning.

 

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This chili is jam packed with vegetables!

 

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Before you even add in your lentils, beans, tomatoes, and veggie broth.  I used only 4 cups of broth due to space limitations in my pot.

 

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If I was going to spend the day, hiding from the rain, I decided to make the most of it.  I kept plugging away at my computer getting to know Windows 8 and started a few loads of laundry.  I also sat with the BOY cheering on Indiana during a stressful conference game.  By the time Indiana secured a victory against Michigan State, my chili was ready for consumption.

 

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And OMG…it is GOOD!

 

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So simple and rich, the chili tasted amazing covered in sweet avocado.

 

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I recommend saving this recipe for your next rainy Sunday (or even Superbowl Sunday)! 

 

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The rain never came down as hard as I expected, but a few minutes ago, the BOY looked out the window.

And my car…is covered…in a sheet of ice.  Yikes!  I will definitely have to thaw it out in order to get to CrossFit tomorrow.

 

 

Did you get hit with a winter storm today?

How did you spend your Sunday?

 

Mine was much lazier than expected, but I am happy to be moved into my new computer!

 

If you are having a quiet day in (like me), here are three more veggie chili recipes that I love!

Crockpot Vegetarian Chili

Crockpot Lentil and Sweet Potato Soup

Ultimate Vegan Chili

 

And…dinner is already in the crockpot, which means that I will have another easy recipe coming your way.  Clue…this one involves homemade peanut butter!

 

 

Lentil Chili

From the Forks Over Knives Cookbook

Ingredients

3 yellow onions, chopped
1 1/2 cups celery, chopped
4 carrots, chopped
2 bell peppers (1 red and 1 green), chopped
1-2 garlic cloves, minced
6 cups 4 cups vegetable broth
2 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. ground chipotle powder or smoked paprika
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 cups red lentils, rinsed
1 (28-oz.) can crushed tomatoes
1 (15-oz.) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
zest and juice of 1 lime

 

Directions

In a large soup pot over medium-high heat, sauté onion, celery, carrots, bell pepper, and garlic in 1 cup of the vegetable broth. Stir occasionally and cook until vegetables soften, approximately 5-7 minutes.

Add chili powder, cumin, paprika, ground chipotle powder, and cayenne pepper and cook for an additional minute, stirring well.

Add lentils, crushed tomatoes, kidney beans, and remaining vegetable broth into the soup pot. Cover and bring to a boil. Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer until lentils are soft, approximately 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

 

*Note: this recipe made 12 cups of chili, which is more than enough to eat, share, and try freezing.

 

 
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