I came across PaleOMG a long time ago and saved recipes like a mad woman to add to our weekly dinner menus. If you're curious about Paleo eating or are looking for healthy recipes, this blog is fantastic! It just goes to show you what I have been saying for a long time, healthy food doesn't have to be boring and tasteless. I made this Simple Bacon and Spinach Stuffed Chicken last night for dinner and OMG was it good. I made a few changes based on what I had in my kitchen. I didn't have mushrooms so I added artichokes and since I was only stuffing two chicken breasts, I only cooked 3 strips of bacon. For some extra flavor, I used half spinach and half arugula. Chicken breasts can be so boring, but stuffed with all of this goodness, your mind will be blown. Add this one to your menu.
And on a non-Paleo note, the PB&J Bars from Trader Joe's are UNREAL. A little California bird told me I needed to try it and I immediately added it to my weekly Trader Joe's run. For the love of the five year old child inside of you, PLEASE run and get one. You can find these at the cash register ;)
And...on a much more serious note, my friend Jen posted THIS and I can't help but share it. I know, I know a viewing assignment last week and now a reading assignment this week, but seriously, it's worth your five minutes. I couldn't agree more with everything that she shares in this post. This world of blogging and social media is wonderful, creative and so much fun to be a part of, but like all good things in life, MODERATION. And balance. And grace.
For the past five weeks, Wrigley has been in obedience training school and on Friday, we brought our Doodle home! Our house was quite quiet without the little monster romping around but we are happy to have our snuggly boy back where he belongs. There were many, many tears when we dropped him off at the end of January, but I can say now with confidence that this might be the best thing we will ever do for our dog. Not only did Wrigley get daily training sessions, several times a day, but Mark and I also had several sessions, at least an hour each so that we know what Wrigley was being taught and so that we can reinforce it in our own home. With a tiny baby only a few months from arriving, I now have more peace of mind knowing that our family dog will be well behaved and as loving as ever.
Welcome home, Wrigster!
This week's installment of Health & Fitness Friday is an assignment...actually more like a plea. PLEASE WATCH THIS DOCUMENTARY. Mark and I watched this on Netflix last month and it pretty much sums up our thoughts on the commercialized food industry in America and why we eat the way that we do. When it comes down to it, food marketers and the industry as a whole sends out tricky and deceptive messages. Diet sodas and low fat packaged foods- I'm looking at you. Artificial sweeteners are no bueno and "low fat" means higher in sugar and other additives. It's been years since I carefully counted and nit-picked every single calorie I ate throughout the day but the truth of the matter is, when you cut out the junk and eat clean, whole foods, it's not necessary. And guess what? It's nearly impossible to get a "perfect score" every single day. If you keep 85-90% of your day on the right track, it's okay to indulge every now and then. I have so many thoughts on this and could go on for days, but instead, I urge you all to do your research and pay attention to what you are putting in your bodies. Healthy habits for life can be achieved by anyone.
This documentary is filled with great content that is explained in a clear and concise way. If you have access to Netflix, I highly recommend watching Hungry for Change. Your 90 minutes will be well spent. Additionally, you can find the official Hungry for Change website HERE.
For more inspiring Health + Fitness Friday posts, head over to my friend Jen's blog, A Daily Dose of Davis, and see what everyone is writing about this week.
Enjoy the weekend, everyone!
Eggs seem to always be labeled as a breakfast exclusive food but I don't understand why. I haven't always been a fan of eggs but over the years, my love for the liquid chicken has grown and so has a list of endless possibilities.
Eggs on burgers.
Eggs on pizza.
Eggs on salads.
Eggs for dinner.
GENIUS.
Frittatas are a weekend breakfast favorite in our house, but they also make an appearance on the dinner menu from time to time. In a quick pinch, these are easy and delicious to make and a complete meal on their own. Eggs, plus veggies plus cheese baked Served with thick cut bacon and a simple mixed greens salad, this is better than the average Breakfast for Dinner menu.
I made a similar frittata for our New Year's Day brunch and more than the actual recipe, I instantly was drawn to the method of preparation. Instead of whisking all of the eggs up together, the whites are separated, whipped and folded in, making for an extra fluffy frittata. Our frittatas have been forever changed.
Tomato, Asparagus, Kalamata and Basil + Mozzarella Frittata
adapted from Donatella Arpaia
8 extra-large eggs
1/2 cup half and half or whole milk
1/2 cup grated Romano cheese (or Parmigiano-Reggiano)
1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1/2 lb. asparagus spears, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2 cups grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise
1/4 cup kalamata olives, chopped
Preheat oven to 425 degrees and place rack in the center.
Separate 4 of the eggs, placing the yolks in a medium bowl and the whites in a large one. Add the remaining 4 eggs to the egg yolks and whisk in half and half, Romano, Mozzarella and basil. Beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until they have formed stiff peaks. Fold whipped egg whites into egg yolk mixture and season with salt and pepper.
Heat the olive oil in a large, non-stick, oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add chopped asparagus and cook until bright green, about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes and olives and saute for an additional 2 minutes. Pour egg mixture into the pan and cook, lifting the edges with a spatula to allow the uncooked eggs to flow to the bottom of the pan. Cook until the edges of the frittata are firm and the center is still runny, about 7-10 minutes. Place the pan in the oven and bake for an additional 8 minutes, until set, puffed and golden.
Cool slightly and flip over onto a large plate. Cut into wedges, serve and enjoy!
Every day, about mid-afternoon, I find myself wanting a snack. A sweet snack. I know they say that if an apple doesn't sound good, you really aren't hungry, but I tend to disagree. My taste buds need variety and an apple doesn't always cut it.
I recently mixed up my own version of these No Bake Energy Bites and with a few simple swaps, I made this recipe Paleo. These bite sized snacks are perfect to grab on the go in the morning on the way to the gym or during that mid-afternoon "I don't want an apple I would rather have a cupcake but I know I need to make healthy choices" craving. Both sweet and satisfying, I promise it's love at first bite and a sweet treat you don't have to feel guilty about.
Paleo Snack Bites
makes 20-25 bites
1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1 cup almond flour (or almond meal)
2 tsp. chia seeds
2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup pure grade a dark amber maple syrup (or raw honey)
1/3 cup mini dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup unsalted almond butter
1 Tbsp. extra virgin coconut oil
Gather all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Mix until combined. Place bowl in freezer for 30 minutes to an hour. Scoop out mixture in small spoonfuls and form into balls.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer for up to two weeks.
Happy Fat Tuesday! I thought today would be appropriate to share some of my favorite sweet eats from past posts. With Valentine's Day in just two days, you still have time to gather everything you need to whip up something sweet for your sweetie! And if you're giving up desserts for Lent? Well, sprint to gather your ingredients now and enjoy something indulgent before tomorrow.
Out of everything listed below, I'm not sure I could even try to pick a favorite. Any of these delights would be a perfectly sweet ending to the day. I'll take one of each, please!
.jpg)
