Tag Archives: food

February 26, 2013 · 11:36 AM

My Name is Nikki and I’m a Green Monster Addict

It’s true. I’m hooked!

For a while I was nervous to try smoothies that incorporate spinach in them, but I was foolish and didn’t know what I missing out on!

Thankfully my friend Jac did a Guest Post here about them and then pinned a recipe over on Pinterest that finally made me try them.

The recipe she pinned was for a Blueberry Pie Green Monster and when I followed the link, I found even more of these Green Monster recipes. Then, one caught my eye and I knew I had to try it. Which one, you ask? Well, the Cookie Dough Green Monster, of course!

I actually had all of the ingredients on hand and just needed to pick up some baby spinach, so that’s exactly what I did and then tossed everything in the blender as per the directions on the recipe and enjoyed!

I always have a bunch of bananas, frozen in a gallon size Ziplock, They’re a staple item for me.

Is this cup fitting for the color of this smoothie, or what?! I also had a fear of it tasting Wicked, but thankfully it was not.

I think it’s safe to say I’ve been enjoying the addition of Green Monsters to my day. If I could lick the side of the cup, I absolutely would!

I have also tried the Peanut Butter Green Monster, but I tweaked that one a bit and LOVED it! I used coconut water and a chocolate coconut peanut butter in it. Yum!

Today I made the Banana Bread Green Monster and tweaked this one as well. I didn’t have walnuts on hand, but I did have Banana Bread flavored Quaker Oats (Weight Control variety) so I used that in place of regular oats and walnuts. OMG….this may be my new favorite!

I tend to use Almond Milk or Coconut Almond milk in my Green Monsters and I like to add ground flax seeds to them as well. You’ll need to take any changes as well as brands you into consideration when figuring out the calories for these. Each of mine were around 400 calories.

Let me know if you try any of the other flavor recipes from the blog where I found these or if you know of another blog that features these cups of green goodness!

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Filed under Health & Fitness, Recipes, Snacks & Treats

Tagged as food, Health & Fitness, healthy-living, Personal Growth, Recipes

February 12, 2013 · 12:30 PM

{Recipe} Chicken “Bruschetta”

It’s been a while since I’ve tried a new recipe, so I hit the web in search of inspiration for the boneless, skinless chicken breasts I bought on-sale the other day.

Not seeing a particular recipe I liked, I decided to take a little of this and a little of that, from the ones that did catch my eye. The result was pretty tasty so I decided to share it.

Chicken “Bruschetta” served over whole-wheat pasta

Chicken “Bruschetta”

Ingredients:

8 ounce bag of spinach
3 Tb chicken stock
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
salt and pepper, to taste
chopped garlic (use as much or as little as you like)
onion powder
Italian seasoning
2 large tomatos, coursely chopped
1 small onion. chopped
1/4 cup Roasted Peppers (I used frozen ones from Trader Joes)
1/3 C fresh parmesan cheese, grated

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place the spinach in the bottom of a 9 x 13 glass baking pan. Drizzle with the chicken stock, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Arrange the chicken on top of the spinach and season well with the salt, pepper, garlic, onion powder and Italian seasoning. Add the chopped tomato and roasted peppers, then top with the parmesan cheese

2. Loosely tent the pan with a piece of aluminum foil. Bake for 15-20 minutes, remove the foil and continue to bake for another 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Serve immediately.

I made some thin, whole-wheat spaghetti to serve with this and it was very yummy. I liked the ease of this dish and how you can easily change the ingredients to fit your taste-buds.

Have you tried any new recipes lately? Do you have a go-to website to find dinner inspiration?

2 Comments

Filed under Main Course, Recipes

Tagged as Dining, dinner, food, healthy-living, Recipes

February 5, 2013 · 3:30 PM

Pancakes! Pancakes! Pancakes!

Today is National Pancake Day!

Normally I would love to toss the kiddies into my truck and head over to iHop for some pancake delishiousness, but that’s just not happening. Instead, we have decided to make some for dinner tonight, right here in the comfort of our home.

The boy has requested traditional pancakes, the girl will most likely want chocolate chip and I’m going to have a banana protein version.

Of course I had to hop on Pinterest to see what they had for inspiration and as usual, they didn’t let me down. I found a paleo version of the pancakes while just browsing thru what the people I follow pinned. (Thanks Jackie!)

So here is the I found and what I’ll be using in the kitchen tonight:

This stack of fluffy goodness is made from 4 simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand!
Photo and recipe from RecipeBoy.com – Click on the photo to view both!

I’ll be using this recipe to create all three variations I mentioned above (unless the picky boy sees me, then he’ll be having Bisquick pancakes….don’t judge!) I think I’ll add some cinnamon and a scoop of vanilla protein powder to my banana pancakes….think a healthy version of banana bread!

Do you have a healthier version of pancakes that you love? Care to share your recipe? (wink wink)

2 Comments

Filed under Family Fun, Health & Fitness, Recipes, Snacks & Treats

Tagged as Dining, Family, food, Health & Fitness, healthy-living, Pancakes, Recipes

January 15, 2013 · 1:06 PM

What’s Your Super Bowl Game Plan?

It’s quickly approaching! Super Bowl Sunday is right around the corner and that means Super Bowl parties and snack food galore!

You know what I’m talking about…. Nachos, Wings, Dips, Pizza, Chili, Chips, Desserts….you name it! All lined up on a table, waiting for you to stuff your face with them while you scream, laugh, curse and catch up with family and friends.

If you are one of the many people who made getting in shape your New Years resolution, it means you’ve been putting in some serious gym time and watching what you eat. Why toss that all out of the window for one party? Granted, some of you are reading this and thinking, “I’m entitled to a cheat day!” or “One evening of eating these foods won’t kill me.” and you’re right…but why waste all of those calories or tempt yourself to travel back down the road of poor eating habits when you don’t have to?

What you need a is a healthy game plan!

Here are two links to some recipes that look great and will save you calories, while giving you the flavors and foods you associate with Super Bowl parties:

Better Homes and Garden: Healthy Game Day Snacks

Eating Well: Healthy Super Bowl Recipes and Menus

For the most part, it comes down to using lower fat/calorie dairy products or substituting some Greek yogurt in place of sour cream, baking instead of frying and using as many fresh ingredients as you can. You will always have more control over what you put into your body if you are the person preparing it because you are in charge of the ingredients. I know it’s easier to pick up the phone and order a few pizzas, but I highly recommend preparing some items from scratch, on your own. (If you do order, at least opt for a thin crust with veggies….please!)

If you are hosting the party, or just staying home to watch, you’ll have a little more say on what gets served for the game watching festivities. However, there is nothing wrong with bringing something to party if you are invited somewhere. Your host will appreciate it and you’ll know there is at least one healthier option for you.

Also, don’t forget that beer can eat up a lot of your calorie allotment for the day, plus it also contains a lot of sodium. If you choose to have a few beers during the game, opt for light varieties and don’t forget to drink water between drinks!

Another tip? Don’t skip your pre-game workout! Hit the gym or go for a run before you head out for the big game. Doing so will not only burn calories, but it’ll start your day off with a healthy mind set and you’ll be less temped to sabotage yourself once you arrive at the party!

If you try any of the recipes from the sites above, please let me know. Also, if you have lighter versions of football snack food favorites, please feel free to share a link to the recipe on your blog or post the recipe below!

Pleasant Surprises + Recipe

The other day when I came home from work, there was a box sitting on my table. At first I thought it was just a holiday present I had ordered and then I took note of the return address on it. It was the prize pack I won a few weeks back from participating in the #PastaFits twitter party! I had completely forgot about it, so it was a very pleasant surprise.

Of course, being the child I am, I had to rip into it to see what I won! The box was filled with all different types of pasta, ranging from gluten-free to veggie, The Carb Lovers Diet pocket guide, a spaghetti spoon and a $25 Visa gift card!

I’m a big fan of pasta, so this prize pack is right up my alley. I was even making pasta for dinner that night! Here is the recipe I prepared. It’s from a cookbook I received for Christmas a few years back, called Preserving Our Italian Heritage. It’s not the healthiest dish in the world, but it’s one of my favorites to have occasionally, in moderation. The light cream can be substituted with half & half to save some fat, of course. You can also use whole wheat, whole grain or gluten-free pasta!

Salsa di Caserta – (Cream Sauce with Sweet Sausage, Green Peppers)Ingredients:

1 lb. sweet sausage
1 cup onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup parsley, minced
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 large green pepper, chopped
1 cup light cream
1 tsp. dried marjoram, crushed
1/8 tsp pepper
1 lb. farfalle pasta, or your favorite pasta, cooked al dente

Remove sausage from casing, crumble into a skillet. Stir and cook until sausage is no longer pink. Add onion and garlic, saute until onion is soft and light colored. Drain any excess fat that might be in the pan. Stir in the light cream, parsley, cheese, marjoram, salt and pepper. Bring to a low simmer and make sure you do not boil, reduce heat, cook and stir over medium heat 6-8 minutes until thickened. Toss with the pasta and enjoy!

2 Comments

Filed under Health & Fitness, Main Course, Recipes

Tagged as dinner, food, Health & Fitness, healthy-living, PastaFits, Recipes

November 29, 2012 · 9:00 AM

Fuel Your Body Right

I hope you are enjoying the quick tips, workouts and fitness motivation I have been posting. I love searching Pinterst for fitness inspiration, and hope that the stuff I find, inspires you as well.

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1 Comment

Filed under Health & Fitness

Tagged as Diet, fitness, food, health, Health & Fitness, healthy-living

November 27, 2012 · 8:30 AM

Healthy Baking Substitutes

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and that means many of us will begin baking for family events, holiday dinners, office parties, cookie exchanges and quite honestly, just because it makes us feel festive.

That sweet tooth and favorite cookie recipe doesn’t have to be ignore this season. All you need to do is change your perspective on food and make a few improvements on those sugary, overly processed ingredients our recipes normally call for.

Here’s a handy list I found on Pinterest:

It’s amazing how much sugar and how many calories you can save with these simple substitutes. What’s even more amazing is that you can’t even tell you changed anything with most of them.

Do you have any healthy holiday baking tips?

2 Comments

Filed under Recipes, Snacks & Treats

Tagged as Diet, Dining, food, health, Health & Fitness, healthy-living, Holidays, Personal Growth, Recipes

October 24, 2012 · 10:20 PM

Chicken Scarpiello with Fusilli

Did you know that this month is National Pasta Month? I certainly didn’t and I almost felt ashamed because I am Italian and I do LOVE me some pasta! I can thank the lovely @ComplicatedMama, @PastaFits and the #PastaFits hashtag over on Twitter, for pointing this out to me. In celebration and to get in the spirit of the #PastaFits Twitter party, I whipped up one of my favorite recipes for dinner:

Chicken Scarpiello with Fusilli

Chicken Scarpiello with Fusilli

Ingredients:

1 Large Jar of Roasted Red Peppers
1 Chicken cut into parts (I actually cheat and use chicken tenders cut into chunks)
1 Pound of Sweet Sausage, cut into pieces
3 cups of white or cremini mushrooms, sliced
2 Tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons of flour
2 Tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons of red wine vinegar
3 cups of Chicken Broth
1 cup of homemade tomato sauce or good quality store bought sauce
2 Tablespoons of fresh chopped parsley or (1 tablespoon of dried)
Fusilli Pasta (or similiar shaped pasta)
Olive Oil
Kosher Salt & Fresh Cracked Pepper, to taste

Directions:

Cut the peppers into 1/4 inch strips and set aside.
Heat some olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt and pepper and cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes on each side. Transfer to a plate and reserve.
Add the sausage to the skillet and cook until browned, about 2 minutes. (Reduce the heat as needed to keep the skillet from burning). Toss in the mushrooms and cook along with the sausage, stirring, until softened, about 2 minutes.
Add the peppers and stir in the flour. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the vinegar, broth and tomato sauce and bring to a simmer, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze. Season with salt and pepper.
Return the chicken to the skillet along with any juices. Cover and simmer, gently, until the chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes (a little less if using the chicken tenders method like I tend to).
While everything simmers, prepare the pasta according to the package directions for Al Dente. Strain and toss with the chicken, sausage and sauce.
Garnish with parsley and parmagiano cheese.

It sounds like a lot of work, but it comes together really quick and easy. I love that this dish makes a lot of left overs for my family and I love most pasta dishes even better the next day.

Do you have a favorite pasta dish? Worried about enjoying pasta while trying to reach your fitness goals? Don’t be! It’s all about portion control and making some simple substitutions to lighten up some of the heavier, more calorie dense recipes out there.

4 Comments

Filed under Main Course, Recipes

Tagged as Dining, dinner, food, Recipes

October 24, 2012 · 3:00 PM

Nothing Says Fall Like Apple Crisp

The title of this blog is very true to me. Some people embrace everything pumpkin when the fall rolls around, but for me, it’s apples. You can keep your pumpkin muffins, pumpkin lattes and pumpkin pie. Give me crisp, delicious apples! I love the variety of apples that you can find (not to mention the cheaper prices) in the grocery stores and come on, who doesn’t love apple cider or a fresh caramel apple?!

The one thing I am not a fan of is pie. I don’t know why, but I just don’t like them. It makes Thanksgiving dessert a little tricky since most people associate pie with the holiday (I wonder why that is exactly…hmmm.) Anyway, since I don’t like pie I end up making apple crisp in the fall and right now, my kitchen is full of autumn scents as the brown sugar, cinnamon, apple goodness bakes away in my oven!

Apple Crisp

Warm apple crisp served with slow churned, french vanilla ice-cream.

1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup regular oats
1/4 cup butter or stick margarine, cut into small pieces
4 sliced peeled Rome/Granny Smith/Gala or Macintosh apples
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
a pinch of nutmeg

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°.
Spray 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray (I use one meant for baking with flour added)
Combine flour, sugar, oats, and cinnamon in a medium bowl; cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture is crumbly.
Arrange apples in the baking dish and sprinkle with crumb mixture. Bake at 375° for 45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Now I know this is a fitness blog and it’s about being healthier, but I like to treat myself every now and then, and when I have apple crisp, I serve it with ice-cream. There are a lot of good, slow churned ice-creams on the market today, as well as varieties made with almond or coconut milk. I also like the Haagen Das Five line which isn’t full of ingredients you can’t pronounce. To me, as long as you don’t indulge in stuff like this everyday, it’s okay to enjoy!

Remember, it’s all about portion control and moderation!

Sunday Funday

Normally in this house, Sundays are as lazy as it gets. There is usually a late start to us getting out of bed, breakfast, looking through the Sunday paper and then we watch the NFL RedZone channel all day while yelling at the TV and checking our Fantasy Football scores. Yesterday, however, I didn’t feel like sitting home. I don’t know if it is because the Broncos had a bye week or if it was just the nice weather calling to me, but I wanted to be outside.

To start the day off, the hubs and I got dressed and headed over to the Englishtown Auction. At first I was thinking we should go for a run, but I’m happy we decided to just walk around there. We were able to have some alone time, talk and just enjoy being together. Neither of us had been there in quite some time so we just walked, soaked up some sunshine and checked out what the vendors were offering. I always forget that they have great local farm stands there. They are not organically grown, but sometimes my budget doesn’t allow me to stick with all organic stuff, and to be quite honest, I’m okay with that these days. I scored some beautiful strawberries and amazingly large sweet potatoes while there. I really should have picked up some more stuff, like eggplant, peppers and cauliflower but to be honest, I didn’t feel like carrying them around with me and the sweet potatoes were heavy enough to be considered a workout.

A sample of the farm stands at the flea market. Most items were between $1 – $3 per basket. You can’t beat those prices!

After walking around the market, we headed home, and my son decided it would be fun to go bowling. It was nice to go out as a family, especially since my daughter has reached that age were she is too cool to hang with us and is usually running around with her friends instead. It was also nice to get my son away from the video games and have both kids being active without the aid of an electronic device. I’m not going to say this excursion was all laughs and giggles, but it was nice to be out as a family and enjoy some time together.

Our afternoon of bowling. Top left: Matt who was happy he got to choose want we did today. Top Right: Maddie bowling, Bottom Left: Me hoping for a strike, Bottom Right: Maddie & Mike Instagraming or checking FB. lol.

These days, we all tend to be so busy. Between work, workouts, school and chores, there just never seems to be enough time for everything. Yesterday I realized that there are certain things you just HAVE to make time for and family time is one of them.

What kind of activities do you like to do as a family?

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Tag Archives: food

My Name is Nikki and I’m a Green Monster Addict

{Recipe} Chicken “Bruschetta”

Pancakes! Pancakes! Pancakes!

What’s Your Super Bowl Game Plan?

Pleasant Surprises + Recipe

Fuel Your Body Right

Healthy Baking Substitutes

Chicken Scarpiello with Fusilli

Nothing Says Fall Like Apple Crisp

Sunday Funday

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