Saturday, January 31, 2015

Slow Cooker Sriracha-Pineapple Chicken with Guacamole


Slow Cooker Sriracha-Pineapple Chicken with Guacamole

Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 onion, thick sliced

3/4 cup reduced sugar ketchup
2 Tablespoons Sriracha Rooster Sauce (I use about 2 1/2 to 3 Tablespoons, but you may want to taste it before using that much)
3-4 Tablespoons crushed pineapple (freeze what you don't use from the can)
1/4 cup agave nectar (or if you want a sauce with less sugar, use Truvia or Stevia)
1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Guacamole:
2 avocados
1 Tablespoon fresh-squeezed lime juice
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon Himalayan Salt
2 teaspoon finely chopped green onion
Optional:  Cilantro to taste

Instructions:  

  • Spray the inside of the slow cooker with non-stick spray.
  • Place onion slices on the bottom of the slow cooker.
  • Place the chicken breasts on top of the onions.
  • In a large bowl, whisk the Sriracha, ketchup, pineapple, agave, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic powder together.  
  • Pour the sauce over the chicken and onions.
  • Set the slow cooker on Low for 6-8 hours or High for 2-3 hours.
  • Remove the chicken and let them cool for a few minutes so you don't burn yourself. Be careful! The chicken will be hot!!  
  • Shred the chicken. I use two forks. It's super easy.
  • Remove the onions, set aside if you want to mix them back in later.
  • Pour the sauce into a small saucepan and simmer over low to reduce and thicken the sauce a bit. I simmer it until it's almost reduced by half.
  • Mix the chicken and the sauce together until the chicken is coated. Add the onions back in if desired.

For the guacamole (doesn't get easier than this!):
  • In a medium bowl, scoop the avocado into the bowl and mash. 
  • Mix in the lime juice, Himalayan Salt, chili powder, and green onion. 
  • Optional: add cilantro 

Serve the chicken on a whole wheat bun with guacamole. 

Variations:
Serve in a whole wheat tortilla or on organic whole wheat bread. 


Mix chicken into an egg white omelet. Add cilantro.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Ghee. Making Homemade Ghee This Weekend...Wish Me luck!

Lately, I've seen a ton of recipes using Ghee as a replacement for oils and butters, but I've yet to try it. I came across these instructions on how to make my own from Everyday Maven and I'll be making some Ghee weekend.... I'll let you know how it turns out!

How to Make Ghee
copied from Everyday Maven

Prep: 1 min
Cook: 45 mins
Total time: 46 mins

Ghee has the same fat content as Butter and equal Points Plus values.

Oven Roasted Chicken with Lemon-Garlic Potatoes and Green Beans

Oven Roasted Chicken with Lemon-Garlic Potatoes and Green Beans


Oven Roasted Chicken with Lemon-Garlic Potatoes and Green Beans
adapted from www.realsimple.com

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 75 minutes
Servings: 2



Baked Coconut Shrimp With a Spicy Pineapple Dipping Sauce



Baked coconut shrimp with a spicy pineapple dipping sauce. Healthy, easy, delicious.

Prep Time: 10 min
Total Time: 26 min
Servings: 3-4

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

But I don't want to be addicted...

Eat better, feel better. It seems easy, right?!

But what we don't realize is that we are addicted to bad food and it might be harder than we think to simply eat better.

Junk Food Addiction May Be Real— In a study of rats, the more fattening foods they ate, the more they wanted. (I read this in Business Week, so that's how I know it's legit.)

Monday, January 26, 2015

Monday, January 19, 2015

Melt In Your Mouth Banana Chocolate Muffins



Melt in your mouth Banana and Chocolate Muffins that are yummy AND healthier than some other recipes I've come across. Try for yourself. You'll see...  ;-)

My 2 year old nephew stayed over last night and this morning as I was scrolling through my Facebook feed, I came across a recipe for Banana Bread Brownies. I love banana bread, but didn't want all that sugar and processed ingredients. Plus, that recipe had lots of sugary frosting on top. I found by putting chocolate chips in a baking recipe, it adds enough "sweet" that frosting isn't needed.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Double Berry Shakeology

Double Berry Shakeology
from Shakeology

This delicious smoothie has the flavor of sweet raspberries and strawberries, plus 12 grams of fiber per serving!

Prep Time: 5 min
Total Time: 5 min.
Yield: 1 serving


INGREDIENTS

1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 scoop Strawberry Shakeology
1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
1 cup ice

DIRECTIONS

In a blender, add almond milk, Shakeology, raspberries, and ice.  Cover and blend until smooth.


Weird things happened when I started drinking in the morning...

This is my morning face before Shakeology. Wait. Who am I kidding?  This is my face most mornings.  Just ask my coworkers. Or my family. I hated mornings with a passion!!  


I used to drink my Shakeology in the afternoons, which was great (when I stuck to it).  But I'd find that come the afternoon, I wasn't hungry, so I'd procrastinate drinking it and next thing I know, it's dinnertime... 

Shortly before Christmas my work schedule changed. It switched to start at 7 am now. Ugh, right?!  I already struggled with mornings and getting to work at 8 am. How was I going to do this?! I decided to change my thinking and tell myself I CAN be a morning person.

That didn't work.

I was like a zombie. I may have even growled at people until I finished drinking my coffee. Looking back, I probably still growled at them after drinking coffee and just blamed it on whatever I felt like that day.  This needed to change.

So what if I started drinking Shakeology in the morning?  (Do I dare say it...BEFORE my coffee...) *GASP*

This is when weird things started happening...


Shakeology Sunshine Bars: A sunny recipe for dreary days



Shakeology Sunshine Bars
from Shakeology Blog

Prep Time: 10 min.
Total Time: 3 hrs. 10 min.
Servings:  12 (1 bar each)


INGREDIENTS

2 scoops Chocolate Shakeology
1 cup egg white powder
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 Tbsp wheat germ
2 Tbsp flax seed
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ cup unsweetened almond milk
¼ cup raw honey
¼ cup all-natural almond butter
ripe medium bananas, mashed
Nonstick cooking spray

DIRECTIONS


  • Combine Shakeology, egg white powder, oats, wheat germ, flax seed, and cinnamon in a large bowl and mix well. 
  • Mix almond milk, honey, almond butter, and bananas.
  • Press into an 8 x 8-inch pan that is lightly coated with spray. Cover with plastic wrap and press down to flatten into pan. Refrigerate for 3 hours. 
  • Cut into twelve bars.



Nutritional Information (per serving):

Calories: 182
Total Fat: 5 g
Saturated Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 3 mg
Sodium: 99 g
Carbohydrates: 25 g
Fiber: 4 g
Sugar: 10 g
Protein: 12 g

This Powerful Yet Incredibly Restorative Pose Is A Great Way To End Your Day :)


Monday, January 12, 2015

How to Lose 10 pounds in a Month

...according to WikiHow

Cowboy Caviar Two Ways




Cowboy Caviar

from Becky

Prep Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings:  8-12


INGREDIENTS:

2 (15 oz.) cans black eyed peas
1 (15 oz.) can black beans
2 cups corn, fresh or frozen
1 cup red onion, minced
1 green bell pepper, small diced
1 red bell pepper, small diced
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
5 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup minced cilantro
3 scallions, sliced thin
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
Juice of 1 lime

DIRECTIONS:

  • Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and toss to combine. 
  • Cover and refrigerate at least one hour. 
  • Serve with tortilla chips, pita chips, on top of burgers, sandwiches, or on the side of your favorite grilled meats and fish.






Quinoa Cowboy Caviar

from Foodnetwork.com


INGREDIENTS:
1 cup cooked quinoa
¼ cup fresh corn, cut off the cob
¼ cup cooked black beans
¼ cup red bell pepper, chopped
¼ cup chopped red onion
½ lime, juiced
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 avocado, cut into small pieces (or guacamole – whatever you prefer)


DIRECTIONS:
  • Rinse and cook the quinoa according to the package instructions.
  • Meanwhile combine the corn, black beans, red bell pepper and red onion in a bowl. Toss to combine. 
  • Add the cooked quinoa into the mixture, and add the lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.
  • Add chopped avocado right before serving.



10 Reasons to Drink More Water



CLICK HERE to Determine if You Are Drinking Half Your Body Weight in Water


How to Determine if You Are Drinking Half Your Body Weight in Water

How to Determine if You Are Drinking Half Your Body Weight in Water
By Brian Richards from Livestrong.com

Drink half of your body weight in ounces in water every day.

Chocolate Chai Shake

I wish I could remember where I found this to give credit where credit is due.  I definitely need to try this! I'm thinking it'd be delicious with Vanilla Shakeology, too!


Sweet Potato and Chicken Sausage Hash


Sweet Potato and Chicken Sausage Skillet Hash

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Servings:  4


Slow Cooker Maple Chicken and Sweet Potatoes


Slow Cooker Maple Chicken and Sweet Potatoes 


Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 8 hours in slow cooker
Servings:  4

Saturday, January 10, 2015

BBQ Turkey & Sweet Potato Muffins, aka "Meatloaf Cupcakes"



BBQ Turkey & Sweet Potato Muffins
aka "Meatloaf Cupcakes" according to my nephews

Author: Andrea

Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Servings:  4-6

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Slow Cooker Quinoa Tex-Mex


Slow Cooker Quinoa Tex-Mex
Author: Chelsea

Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 3-4 hours
Servings:  6-8

You're only as disorganized as you say you are

10 Habits of a Highly Organized Person: 
How Pro Organizer Fay Wolf Keeps Her Life Under Control

I want to be organized. My goal is to be more organized. So many times I've rearranged my kitchen, my entryway, my desk, etc., and I stay organized for a short while. Then slowly I lose my drive and get lackadaisical. To change this, I'm looking to the experts.

Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix



Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Mason Jar Zucchini Pasta Salad with Avocado Spinach Dressing

photo Sugar-Free Mom

Mason Jar Zucchini Pasta Salad with Avocado Spinach Dressing

Author: Brenda Bennett | Sugar-Free Mom

Prep time:  10 mins

Total time:  10 mins

Servings:  2

Slow Cooker Chicken Marinara with Basil and Zucchini Noodles


Slow Cooker Chicken Marinara with Basil and Zucchini Noodles

Adapted from: Happy Healthnut

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time:  4 hours
Total time:  4 hours 10 mins
Servings:  4

Meal Prep Mondays



Every weekend, Social Media Specialist (and fitness fanatic) Amanda Meixner preps her meals and shares her photos on her Instagram account. Her simple photos remind us meal prep doesn’t have to be hard, so we’re going to start posting hers every week to inspire you. Follow her on Instagram and check out her blog, Running Wild.

I'm in love!

I'm in love!  Have you tried the new ready-to-juice packages from Harvest Sensations? I found them in the produce section of Fresh & Easy. I throw it all in my Ninja with some water. Two servings in each bag, which means my morning juice is good to go for two days. It's perfect!


Monday, January 5, 2015

At-Home PiYo Workout to Stretch, Sculpt, and Strengthen

At-Home PiYo Workout to Stretch, Sculpt, and Strengthen
From Shape Magazine, by  Caitlin Carlson

Get the most out for your exercise bucks with a high-intensity, low-impact routine that combines Pilates, yoga, strength training, and cardio.




When you're overwhelmed, it's hard to fine time to squeeze in a workout session into your already overpacked scheduled—even though you know any amount of physical activity can help you deal with both of those things. And nothing beats yoga when it comes to squashing down anxiety or stress, and an intense cardio or strength training routines to torch fat and rev your metabolism, so how do you fit it all in? This genius PiYo routine, created by trainer Chalene Johnson combines all of those elements, and gets the job done fast. The moves are inspired by both yoga and Pilates, and you use your own body for resistance, so you’ll build lean, fat-fighting muscle while getting a deep stretch. Plus, the short rest periods and quick pace mean there’s also a cardio component—so while you lengthen and tone your entire body and calm your mind, you’ll rev your heart rate to burn fat and calories. So if you’re looking to maximize what little time you have to get sweaty, this workout is for you.

How it works: Starting with the first exercise, complete 10 reps, then immediately move on to the second move without resting in between. Continue this pattern until you've finished all 6 exercises.

Rest for one minute. Then, repeat the entire circuit two more times for a total of three rounds

You will need: Mat

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Healthy Grab and Go Cheesy Egg Muffins



Healthy Grab and Go Cheesy Egg Muffins

Sometimes you want a hearty breakfast that you can eat on the go or throw in your bag to take to school or work. Usually the most portable of breakfast ideas are carb and sugar loaded. These tasty breakfast egg muffins are a great alternative and can be made in advance! You decide what meat, cheese and vegetables you want to put in it, making the combination possibilities endless. And since you make a bunch in advance you have ready to go breakfast options all week.

20 Reasons You Should Drink Lemon Water in the Morning



Adding lemon to water not only quenches thirst better than any other beverage, but it also nourishes our body with vitamins, minerals and trace elements which we absolutely need. Lemon with water can be considered the best natural energy booster. When we wake up in the morning, our bodily tissues are dehydrated and are in need of water to push out toxins and rejuvenate the cells. In other words, this homemade “lemonade” helps eliminate internal toxins, regulating proper kidney and digestive tract functions by forcing them to work as smoothly as possible.