Penne with Tomato-Eggplant Sauce

This recipe was found in Better Homes and Gardens and happens to be 21 Day Fix friendly! Its delicious and soooo easy! What's better than a crockpot meal in the dead of winter after a long day at work!?

Ingredients:

• 1 medium eggplant, cut into 1" cubes (peeled if you prefer)
• 1 28 oz can italian-style whole peeled tomatoes in puree, undrained and cut up
• 1 6 oz can no salt added tomato paste
• 1 4oz can sliced mushrooms, drained
• 1/2 c chopped onion
• 1/2 c water
• 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano, crushed
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 3 cups hot, cooked whole wheat penne
• 3/4 cups kalamata olives, sliced
• 2 Tbsp snipped fresh Italian parsley
• 3/4 c grated parmesan (optional)

Directions:

Place eggplant, tomatoes, paste, mushrooms, onions, water, oregano, garlic, salt and pepper into a crockpot. Cook on low 7-8 hours, or high 3 1/2-4 hours. Serve over hot pasta and top with olives, parsley and cheese. Makes 6 servings.

Each serving: 1 1/2 green, 1 yellow, 1 orange, 1/2 blue (if you use the cheese)

Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Salad

This recipe is THE BEST!! It is my favorite "21 Day Fix recipe" that I've run into! Just try it, I promise you'll love it! It makes 5 servings, so its perfect for a week's worth of lunches! The recipe was originally written by Kendra Fletcher.

Ingredients:

Salad:
5 Green Containers of: (use what ever combination you'd like)
-Sweet peppers
-Shredded carrots
-Green or finely chopped purple onions
-Tomatoes
-Celery

5 Yellow Containers of: (use what ever combination you'd like)
-Cooked Quinoa
-Black beans
-Corn

5 Red Containers of cooked and shredded chicken breast.

Sauce:
-5 tsp olive oil
-1/4 cup Frank's Hot Sauce
-2 tsp chili powder
-1/4 tsp paprika
-1/4 tsp cumin
-1/8 tsp garlic powder
-1/4 tsp salt
-1 packet stevia

Directions:
Mix all ingredients of salad in a big bowl. Mix together sauce, pour over salad and gently stir until well coated. This salad tastes better the longer it sits! Makes 5 servings, every serving: 1 Green, 1 Red, 1 Yellow, 1 teaspoon.

Fajita Chicken Bake

This recipe could not be any easier!!! I will definitely put it on my monthly dinner rotation. Its like a crockpot meal, but thrown in the oven and done in 35-45 minutes! This recipe is from The Pinning Mama.

Ingredients:

• 3-4 Boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1-2 tsp Taco seasoning, I like McCormick's Mexican blend
• 2 Bell peppers in assorted colors, deseeded and thinly sliced
• 1 onion, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1-2 Tbsp Oilve oil
• 1/2 Cup Shredded Cheddar or Mexican Blend Cheese

Spray your pan, place chicken breast in and sprinkle mexican or taco season over them. Then place the sliced peppers and onions on top of that, drizzle with oil and cover with cheese! Pop in a 375 degree oven for 35-45 minutes and you'll have juicy chicken, slightly crunchy veggies and a crispy cheese topping. Perfect alone, with rice or shredded and placed in a tortilla! So easy and so delicious!

Asian Slaw Stir Fry

Day one of closely tracking my nutrition went well! I goofed and thought I was supposed to be -500 cals today, but it should have been -750. I will just switch it with tomorow! :) But I was right on point and got in a killer shoulder/chest/tri workout! Feeling good!

I wish I would have taken a picture, but this dish was yummy and SUPER filling...all for under 400 calories! Save this for when you're starving because you will be STUFFED!

Ingredients:

• 4.5 oz organic tempeh (sub chicken breast or tofu if you'd like!)
• 1/2 Tbsp oil
• 5 cups shredded Asian slaw
• 2 Tbsp Just Great Stuff powdered PB (or PB2)
• 1/4 C low sodium soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp grated ginger
• 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
• 8 oz Shiratake noodles, prepared per directions on package
• Optional: 1 Tbsp crushed peanuts

Directions:

Saute tempeh in oil until brown. Remove tempeh and sauté slaw for 5 minutes, leaving it still slightly crunchy. Drain out the excess water. Mix together PB, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and vinegar and then pour over slaw. Add tempeh and noodles to mixture and toss. Add crushed peanuts if you have room for extra calories.

I promise you'll be filled and happy after this meal! :)

2015, I'm comin' at cha!

Happy New Year! So I've hmmed and hawwed about whether I was going to make my big, scary resolution public, but in the end, I've decided I need the accountability, so here it is! I am going to compete in a figure competition in 2015! I've had the idea in my head for a few years, but truthfully, I didn't have the belief in myself to even put the idea into words. This past year I have put almost all of my attention on emotional and mental healing (first year following my divorce, new city, new house, new job), and even though it has brought me to a place where I feel stronger and better than ever, I have neglected my body in the meantime! Strong soul + less than best body = time for a new challenge! And a figure competition was on my radar!

I have a ways to go. I would like to dedicate the next 2-3 months just to getting my body where it SHOULD be, and only then will I buckle down and begin rigorous competition training. I am giving myself TIME. I am dedicating PATIENCE to this. I have accepted I will cry, laugh, regret, hope and probably cry some more during these next 6 months! I will have to push myself like I've never pushed before, but I need this. I need to prove to myself that I can achieve what ever I put my mind to, as crazy as it may sound. 

I'm going to be using my blog to journal my experience, to keep myself accountable and to share tips and tricks that I discover along the way! If I can do this, anyone can, and I just want to remind anyone out there that may have this goal in the back of their head that its WORTH IT to go after that goal, no matter how far away it may seem! I'm definitely a candid person, so I apologize in advance for any TMI!! And if you are prepping to compete or have big physical changes you want to make this year, please connect with me! I would love to stay connected with those who have big dreams so we can keep each other motivated!

Obviously this takes guts to put yourself out there and show the world your "before" pictures, but there is NOTHING like accountability to stay focused and motivated to reach your goals. There's true power in saying "I'm going to do it" out loud! But that doesn't mean you need to announce it to the world. ;) Even a small, private group of people to check in with daily makes a difference! If you have struggled with keeping motivated, I'd like to help you! Together we can do it! Just fill this out so I know what your goals are and I will be in contact with you! :)

Coconut Macaroons

So I was SERIOUSLY craving something sweet yesterday and happened to run across these cookies from Skinny Ms. What a life saver! They were so sweet one did the job!



Ingredients:

• 2 medium (very ripe) banana
• 2 cups finely shredded coconut (I used unsweetened coconut)
• 2/3 cup mini chocolate chips, (gluten-free/vegan used in this recipe, Enjoy Life brand)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the bananas and coconut until well blended. Stir in the chocolate chips. Shape into 16 cookies or drops and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Don't allow the cookies to touch. Bake until coconut is golden and cookies are set, approximately 20 to 25 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature while still on the baking sheet. Store in an airtight container.

Garlic & Romano Cheese Mashed Cauliflower

Thanksgiving is my FAVORITE meal of the year. So I am going to be real honest, I'm not sacrificing flavor on this day. But when you come across a healthy swap that tastes just as good, I'm down with that. Here's a great example from Faithfulness Farm...


Ingredients:

• 1 head cauliflower
• salt & freshly cracked pepper
• 4-6 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 c cream
• 1/3 c grated Romano cheese
• Salt & freshly cracked pepper

Directions:

Clean cauliflower and break into large pieces. In a large piece of aluminum foil, tightly wrap cauliflower and peeled garlic cloves that have been seasoned with salt and pepper and place in 350°F oven and bake for 45-55 minutes or until tender. Put into casserole dish and mash to desired consistency (I like a little texture to mine, but if you want them really smooth, use an immersion blender in another bowl!). Add EVOO and cream and mix in well. Add the grated Romano cheese and season with salt and pepper as desired. Makes 3-4 servings. Can be made ahead and reheated in a 350°F oven until piping hot.