WHAT!? The Egg was Cooked HOW? Breakfast for Dinner!

I love breakfast for dinner! It's definitely not very low in carbs (ahem, the pancakes), but believe it or not, we would die without the glucose from carbohydrates. (Ok, so technically your body can use your fat and muscle reserves for energy, but if you don't have a medical condition, this is generally bad idea. Doing this for too long can lead to ketoacidosis which can be deadly). Even though there are healthier carb options, this is my weekly binge! You can make pancakes healthier by not using syrup. I topped with some berries instead :) 

A hard boiled egg is a great source of protein to top off a dinner like this!

AND THE EGG WAS COOKED IN A PRESSURE COOKER! You can also use a crock pot :)

Using a pressure cooker with eggs doesn't save too much time, but it makes farm fresh eggs so much easier to peel. The shell slides right off :)

If using a crock pot, put the eggs in 2 cups of water for 2 hours. (This clearly takes longer, but you don't need to supervise and can go on with your day). 

If using a pressure cooker, keep it on low pressure for 5 minutes. Remove and place in a bowl of ice water for a few minutes. 

Pancakes:

WF's organic mix

2 cups of skim milk

2 tablespoons of canola oil

Strawberries and blackberries

Eggs:

Egg

Paprika

SUPER SIMPLE!!! This is another great kid's meal as well. Like this? Make sure to share and "like" on Health Chick's Facebook page!

My OMG! Pasta! (Seriously, the BEST pasta... ever)

Pasta in a pressure cooker! It CAN be done :). I was going to use Saturday as my leftover day, but I decided I wanted to get creative today. 

And thus this amazing pasta was born. 

1lb of pasta (I used whatever we had left over)

15 Kalamta olives, sliced

2 large tomatoes, diced

2-3 cloves of garlic, minced

Fresh basil (I also used dried basil)

1/2 small jar of artichokes

1/3 sweet onion, diced

3/4 can of garbanzo beans (my son ate the rest)

3/4 cups of spinach

ground pepper

2 cups of water

^ Mix that all in a crock pot or pressure cooker.

In separate bowl, combine 3 tablespoons of balsamic vinaigrette, 1 tablespoon olive oil, powdered garlic, ground pepper, and a spritz of lemon juice. 

When pasta is finished cooking, add the dressing. 

Top with feta and some more spinach. 

I am not a pasta eater, but this was absolutely incredible. 

Everything is bite size and great if sharing for a little one as well. I just had to break the pasta pieces in half for him. 

Homemade Guacamole and Turkey Wraps

Contrary to belief, you CAN freeze deli meat. You just have to store it correctly, which is exactly what I did. I'm so thankful I did this because I have so much to do tonight, and completely forgot to get the crock pot going this morning. It saved us!

Turkey Wraps: 

2-3 Wheat Wraps

Deli Turkey (ours was uncurred)

Pepper Jack Cheese

Tomatoes

Lettuce

Annie's Horseradish Mustard (this is AMAZING)

Homemade Guacamole:

2 Large Avocados

1 Squeezed Lime

1 Tomato, Diced

1-2 Cloves of Minced Garlic

1/4 Cup of Fresh Cilantro

1/4 Chopped Onion

1 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes

1 Tablespoon of Ground Cumin

Greek Chicken Caesar Pita... from a Crock Pot!

Disclaimer: My husband deleted all of my pictures of last night's dinner. Every. Last. One. So I found a very similar picture (although it looks prettier) and gave that person credit!

This is an interesting one! And it was very, very good :)

2 chicken breasts

1/2 cup of Caesar dressing

1/2 cucumber

1/4 cup of feta

A handful or two of lettuce

Cherry tomatoes

2 small cloves of minced garlic

1/4 red onion

1/2 cup of croutons

Greek dressing (1-2 tablespoons)

Pinch of dill

2-3 pitas

Optional: Kalamata Olives

Put the chicken in the crock pot with the Caesar dressing for 7 hours. Chop up, and mix in with all of the other ingredients. Warm the pitas in the over for 5 minutes. Stuff with the salad. 

SO GOOD! My son was literally yelling for more with this one. 

Photo Credit: Google: Tina Rupp

Super Spinach & Strawberry Smoothie

What an awesome breakfast this was!! My son LOVED it! I loved it, too. It is SO SO simple. 

7-8 large strawberries

.5-.75 cup of spinach

1 cup of plain yogurt

Freshly squeezed lemon and lime

It's a great way to get some veggies in as well (and spinach is a super food :)

Crock Pot!! Spicy Italian Sausage SUPER soup!

This is a perfect balance between sweet, spicy, hearty, and light. There are so many different flavors and it leaves you wanting more when you're finished. I just wished I  used more fresh basil. 

1 lb of spicy Italian sausage (turkey or regular)

1 cup of spinach

28oz of beef broth

1/3 of a sweet onion

1 can of Italian tomatoes

1 can of Great Northern Beans

1 cup of chopped carrot

1/2-1 cup of chopped celery

2 garlic gloves, minced

Fresh basil leaves

Ground pepper

Add potatoes for more heartiness. I didn't this time. 

Cook for 7 hours in a crock pot. I used the pressure cooker again ;)

CROCK POT! The best chicken tacos you'll EVER have

That's right - chicken tacos made with a crock pot (or pressure cooker).

Amazing in an understatement when referring to how good these taste. My husband couldn't stop eating them, and these are now on the top of his "list" of "best things I've ever made."

So, TRY IT!

2-3 chicken breasts, eventually shredded

1/4 cup of water

1.5 cups of frozen corn

1 can of black beans

1-2 tablespoons of Adobo Sauce (depending on how hot you want them)

1 lime, squeezed (I also threw an additional sliced lime in the pressure cooker. Worked well)

3/4 cup fresh cilantro 

1 cup of salsa

1 crushed garlic clove

Red pepper flakes, cumin, chili powder, ground pepper

If using a pressure cooker, put everything in the pressure cooker, cook and shred the chicken, and put it on top. 

If using a slow cooker, put the raw chicken in first and put everything else on top. When it's finished, shred the chicken. (cook for 6-8 hours)

I used a pressure cooker tonight. 

Top with (if you wish): Additional salsa, avocado, sour cream, or cheese.

Grocery Shopping List!! (and a recipe surprise)

Milk

2 packages of English muffins

Pitas

Wheat wraps

Chopped Spinach

Lentils

Italian marinade mix

Avocados

1 Lemon

Garlic Dressing

Pancake Mix

Black Beans

Strawberries

Orange Juice

Monterey Jack Cheese

Beef Broth

Chicken Broth

Tortilla Chips

Salsa

Celery

Chicken Bouillon

Great Northern Beans

Carrots

Tomatoes

Green Pepper

Yellow Pepper

Red Pepper

White Onion

Yellow Onion

Limes

Romaine Lettuce

Chipotle Peppers

Spicy Italian Sausage

Diced Tomatoes (Reg)

Diced Tomatoes (Fire roasted)

Garlic

We still have chicken in the freezer from HT

......and get READY! It's going to be a week of all slow cooker and pressure cooker recipes, since that's the most requested :)

Kitchen Hacks You HAVE to read!

Ever wonder if there are kitchen tricks that would make your life a little easier? Well behold!

1. Want to speed up the ripening of avocados? Put them in a brown paper bag with an apple or banana. They all give off ethylene gas, which causes ripening to happen. The brown paper back traps the gas from escaping. 

2. Garbage disposal "gunked" up? Pour a 1/3 cup of baking soda down the disposal and follow with some vinegar. Wait about 10 minutes, and run the water with the disposal on. A lot of the particles will have broken free and are able to be flushed away.

3. Run out of stainless steel cleaner for your appliances? Use oil and vinegar! Liberally spray some vinegar on your appliances and wipe off. Then, put a small amount of oil on a rag and rub in a circular motion. Voila!

4. Burn marks on your pan that won't come off? No problem! Put a small amount water in the pan and add 1 cup of vinegar. Boil. Turn off the heat and add baking soda. Once it fizzes, scrub away! If it's still stubborn, add more baking soda and rub it into the pan really well. Let it sit for an hour and then scrub off.

5. Bread getting moldy quickly? Don't put in the fridge! It actually dries it out this way. Take half, or whatever you won't in the next few days, and put in the freezer. Freezing it preserves the freshness.

6. Need to separate eggs? Reuse a plastic bottle! (if you use plastic, otherwise, snag a friend's before they throw it out and give it another purpose). Crack the egg open, squeeze an empty plastic bottle, place over the yolk, and slowly unsqueeze. It will suck the egg right up! Thank the Chinese for that great tip! Make sure to thoroughly was before using again. 

7. Eggs expired or missing the date? Don't throw out yet! You can tell if they're fresh by placing in a pot of water. If they sink, they're still fresh. If the tip sticks out of the water, it needs to be used that day. If it fully floats, toss it. 

8. Are two glasses stuck together? Stop! Don't break them! Fill the inner glass with ice cubes. Places the glass in a pot of hot water. Heat expands, the cold will shrink. You should be able to get the glasses unstuck. 

9. Brown sugar becoming hard? Put some marshmallows in the bag. The moisture from the marshmallows keeps the sugar soft. 

10. Tired of bugs ruining your drinks in the summertime? Take an extra large cupcake wrapper or coffee filter, turn upside down, and place a straw through the middle. It will perfectly cover the top of your drink.


More of Health Chick's favorite hacks to come! 

Boring Eggs!? Not Here!

Add a little spice to those boring eggs! (literally, there's hot sauce :) 

The scrambled eggs that weren't supposed to be...

I desperately wanted a pizza today. But I didn't give in. Don't worry (Although it's coming. We all need pizza nights)

Then when I was making an omelette, it decided to stick to the pan, even though I prepped it really well (time for new pans). 

Alas, you have colorful scrambled eggs :)

2 Eggs

2 tablespoons of Milk

Chopped Veggies:

*Assorted Peppers

*1/8 onion

*1/2 celery stalk

1/4 cup of feta

sprinkle of garlic powder

ground black pepper

top with hot sauce

A Heavy Heart: Getting through the tough days

This is a little change of pace, but we'll put this under the "wellness" part of this blog. 

I'm sitting watching my son sleep. It's been a weird day. I found out a friend from high school passed away yesterday. He was such a sweet, caring person. He would have literally given you the shirt off his back, and I'm sure if you spoke with his really close friends, he probably did just that. 

I thought yesterday was hard. I couldn't wait for 5:30 for my husband to get home and take my son so I could have a break. He sounded like a broken record, stuck on "mamama" all day long. He wouldn't play with his toys, he wouldn't play with his friends, he wouldn't even eat all his food. He just wanted to sit on my lap and lay his head on my shoulder, which was sweet, but I had other things to do at times. He cried most of the day, even though he wasn't hungry, he wasn't wet, and he took a decent nap. I couldn't figure out why he needed me so badly yesterday. 

I brushed it off. We read some stories with his friends, went for a walk, and came back to what I thought was him being "reset". Nope. As soon as I put him down, he cried, again. Luckily my husband was almost home and I could escape. 

I told me husband I didn't know what was wrong him. He wasn't my usually cheery baby and I couldn't stand this "phase" he had hit. My husband put him to bed for me so I could relax, and to be honest, the snuggles I was missing didn't even cross my mind. I just prayed he didn't "need" me as much tomorrow. 

And he didn't. He didn't cry every time I put him down. He contently played with his toys. He went right down for his nap, not needing to snuggle in my arms and lay his head on my shoulder. He didn't yell,"Mama" when I went to the bathroom, and he didn't climb in my lap every time I was paying attention to someone else. 

Babies can't communicate effectively. For this reason, they're really good at picking up what emotions and vibes you're giving off. I'm sure my vibe was "frazzled" yesterday. I try so hard to create a peaceful environment for him, and yesterday probably didn't seem quite right to him.

I woke up tired yesterday. It was also the anniversary of my grandfather's death. I was trying to move past both, sure to move on with my day. But my son knew better. He didn't need me. He knew I needed him. His cries for mama were to let me know he was there, his calmness when we sat down and snuggled were to get me to slow down and appreciate the moment. He was letting me know he was there for me. 

I became really upset this morning at myself for not realizing this yesterday. For not slowing down and appreciating the day, and my son. It hit even harder when I got the call about my friend. His mother will never have those moments where she's able to sit down and appreciate the love between her and her son. What she'll never have again, I neglected to acknowledge was right in front of me.

So whether he truly just needs me, or somehow knows that I need him, I'll make sure to listen next time. I'll slow down, and be thankful in that moment, understanding that one day he probably won't need me anymore, but that I'll always need him... 

Today really put that in perspective for me. 

Rest in Peace, Tom. Go comfort your mom, and your whole family. They need you now more than ever. 

Low Carb/High Protein Chicken Stir Fry!

This is an excellent dish. It's satisfying but doesn't make you feel stuffed. I've made this before, but this time I used a different soy sauce (Organic Shoyu) from WF and I actually wasn't impressed. If you're going to make this, I'd opt for a soy sauce lower in sodium. Otherwise, this is awesome! Low net carbs because of the fiber in the veggies :)

Ingredients:

2 grilled chicken breasts

1 red pepper

1/3 sweet onion

1 small bundle of asparagus 

3 cloves of garlic, minced

2-3 tablespoons of soy sauce (start with two)

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

Red pepper flakes

A pinch of cumin 

Ground black pepper

Also, take note of the wine glass. It's been one of those days!

The Scare Tactics of Food Babe

Microwaves can kill you. Chocolate is poison. Really, Vani, beer?

Bug coated candy. Fish bladder in beer. Detoxifying your liver (I'll get to this in a separate post).

"Junk Food Kills More than Wars, Starvation, and Genocide."

Formula's not safe. Yogurt's not safe. Microwave popcorn's not safe. Wheat's not safe. Next it's going to be water. 

That took me five minutes of looking at Food Babe's page. What irks me the most is that she has zero background to be making those claims. She's successful because of fear-mongering and bandwagon approaches, not for presenting scientific, researched information. Just because you're a good speaker doesn't mean you know what you're talking about.

Before I start breaking down some of her claims, let me first say there are a few things I agree with - limiting your intake of processed food and additives, and preparing your own food whenever you can.

Okay, let's get started...

Microwaves work by vibrating water molecules, which in turn heart your food. Microwave uses range from radars to communication devices, and believe it or not, they are also used to treat muscular problems. It is true that microwaves give off tiny amounts of radiation, but that amount is extremely restricted by the FDA over the course of its lifetime. We are actually exposed to radiation on a daily basis in the air; to combat this, our bodies regularly repair any damaged cells. Therefore, as long as you use common sense*, your body has you covered. 

*The most radiation is given off within 2 inches of a microwave. Please don't stare into it. It would also be wise not to run it all day long.

------------------------------

Chocolate isn't poison.The ingredients  in it aren't poison. Give me a break (of that KitKat bar...). It seems as though her main concern is High Fructose Corn Syrup, growth hormones, and tans fat. First of all, it is very simple to find chocolate without trans fat. Secondly, growth hormones? How much chocolate was this woman eating? Last I checked, the amount of dairy in chocolate was minimal compared to many other products people consume on a daily basis. I guess my body missed that memo with all that Halloween candy I used to eat :/. I could use an inch or two. I know growth hormones have their (scientific) purpose. With that being said, I'm not a fan. Even so, I don't see a reason to avoid chocolate. Ever. (In moderation). Unless for medical purposes. 

--------------------------------

Beer... I can't even  mentally process some of her claims. So I'm going to stick with the whole fish bladder in Guinness. You are not drinking fish bladder. Not even close. There is a substance called Isinglass, which is produced from the collagen of dried swim bladder. Sounds a little gross, but you're still not drinking it. In order to make Guinness, they use a process called fining. This is when leftover materials and particles are removed during the brewing process. All the Isinglass is used for is helping to remove these particles at the bottom of the brew. Actually, it's a very environmentally friendly practice. I can definitely see the issue for vegetarians and vegans, however. In this case, there are some beer companies who do not use this practice. Call the company if you have specific questions.

---------------------------------

Junk Food Killing More People Than Starvation  - this one actually made me extremely angry. Clearly she has never been in the trenches of starving nations, or even spent time with starving kids in her own. According to the World Hunger Organization, 1 in 8 people in the world is starving... right now as a type this, and she enjoys her detoxifying shake. See, the difference between me and her is that I've taught about hunger, I've crusaded against hunger, and I've done something about hunger. I could be completely wrong, but I have not seen anything where she tries to help those in need. And maybe, just maybe, if she had, she would know that she is wrong when applied to children. She would know that cookies and chips trump an empty belly any day. She would know people who would be eternally grateful for canned foods (and they wouldn't die because of them).

As you hug your little ones tonight, think about something she's not telling you: 3.1 million children died of starvation last year. Granted most aren't in developed nations, but that doesn't mean children in those countries don't have severe complications from hunger. You better believe that if my child was hungry and I had no access to other food, he'd be getting junk food. Every.Single.Day. It is generally cheaper and much more accessible. I would do my best to get healthier foods, but for some, that isn't always an option.

I used to be part of Americorps and I taught in an under-served area . I had to keep snacks in my room every day. Silence (ahh sweet classroom silence) often brought about a few rumbling tummies. I had a few students whose backpacks I would fill weekly, especially when the school food bank wasn't stocked. My husband would always ask where I was going with spaghetti and sauces at 6am. Yup, that's right. WHEAT spaghetti. SAUCE from a CAN.... and a B on their math test because they weren't thinking about their next meal.

Although she's correct in the sense that more people are suffering from obesity than hunger (in the US, which she doesn't specify), it's not applicable to children. And it's certainly not okay to diminish the urgency of world hunger (and backyard hunger) with her anti junk food crusade.

-------------------------------------

Formula - feed.your.baby. I loved breastfeeding. I was lucky enough to be able to breastfeed my son for just about a year. But I also supplemented, and I didn't feel an ounce of guilt. We all know breast is best. There's so much push for it, that if my dog could talk, he could tell you that. But what is once again getting lost is that formula today is so close to breast milk, and your baby will grow either way. I hear all the time mothers terrified of ruining their child's IQ or not having that special bond. Don't let breastfeeding dictate that. IQ is much more about genetics and how you interact with them in their environment than it is their source of DHA. And bonding? psshht. If you knew my brother, that would be anecdote enough to throw that claim out. He is the biggest mama's boy I know. And then it always comes down to this: some people can't breastfeed. Donor's milk is expensive. Why should they be made to feel guilty for feeding this child? And what about those who don't want to? It's their decision, not Vani Hari's. If it doesn't affect her, it's none of her business... especially when she has zero experience or professional knowledge of the subject matter.

-------------------------------------

Healthy living is a lifestyle, not a bunch of scary rules. Moderation is key. Enjoy life. Don't be afraid of it. And certainly don't believe everything you read (even what I say - although you can always double check me!)

_________________________

.....one last parting thought: I CANNOT WAIT to be able to snuggle on the couch during movie night with my son and rip open a hot bag of microwave popcorn.

Part 2: Holy Crap! Pizza

So I (unknowingly) bought a different crust this time. It wasn't as good. With that being said, it was still an awesome pizza! I'll figure out the right crust and report back.

I changed it up a little this time. I couldn't find pre-made Balela at WF, so I made my own. 

Pizza ingredients:

1/2 green pepper

1 red pepper

A little TJ pizza sauce

Mozzarella cheese

1/6 of an onion (thin slices)

Garbanzo beans

Black beans

Olive oil

Balsamic Vinegar

6 leaves, chopped, of fresh Basil

Ground pepper

Remember to put the vinegar and olive oil on the base of the crust before you put your sauce on. 

This is also one that my son loved! (Although he literally eats anything.) This one had him saying, "Mmmmmooohhh!" (aka: more)

Chicken Caesar APPLE Wrap

This is one of my favorites. It's another one that you might find the combination to be odd, but you have to try it. You'll never eat a plain Caesar salad again!

2 chicken breasts, grilled and chopped

1 bag of mixed lettuce 

1 cup of croutons

1 large apple, sliced

1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese

Ken's light Caesar dressing (mix in 2 tablespoons at a time until it's the taste you want. I like it light)

Ground pepper

Whole wheat wraps (or eat as a salad)

Super Food Mexican Soup - SO Good!!

My son was feeling a little under the weather today. Needless to say I didn't have too much time to cook dinner. So it was a pressure cooker kind of night and this soup is amazing! It is packed full of antioxidants and other foods that are great for you. The ingredient list is a little long this time, but it's mainly just chopping veggies. This is one you have to try on a rainy or sluggish day. It's definitely a pick-me-up.

2 chicken breasts, cooked and chopped

1 medium onion, minced

4 medium garlic cloves, chopped

3 tbs of red chili powder

3.5 cups of chicken broth

1 yellow pepper, diced

1 cup of chopped spinach

1 can of diced tomatoes

1 can of spicy black beans (WF's are great)

1-1.5 cups of corn

1 small can of diced green chili peppers

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp cumin

1/2 cup of freshly chopped cilantro

salt and pepper

Serve alone or with tortillas and sour cream.

Weekly Shopping List!

Here's the shopping list for the week. I had quite a bit of meat in the freezer, so I didn't buy too much this week. We went Saturday afternoon instead of Sunday morning. Mistake. It's so much more pleasant on Sunday.

Spinach

Bagged Salad

Fresh Cilantro

2 cans black beans

Garbanzo beans

2 red peppers

Soy sauce

Diced tomatoes

Pickles

Rice Vinegar

Chopped green chile peppers

Lemonade

Cheddar Cheese

1/2 pound turkey

Fresh peanut butter

Frozen corn

Chopped assorted veggies

Chicken broth

Milk

Carrots

Asparagus

Chicken

6 Limes

1 Lemon

Feta

Freezer bags

Tortilla Chips

Tortillas

2 packages English Muffins

2 Avocados

1 Mango

1 onion

Pizza crust

Spices: Chile powder, coriander, cumin

Mmm-Kabobs! (that sounds like a bad boy band song)

So I took this picture the last time we had kabobs. We ate them tonight, but I completely forgot to take a picture! These are some of my favorites. Flavorful and filling in a good way. And they're very lean, especially if you use chicken instead. 

1lb chunked chicken or beef

1 sweet onion

1 green pepper

A handful of cherry or grape tomatoes

1 zucchini (we used a yellow pepper today instead)

Super easy! Marinade the beef in Italian dress or the chicken in barbecue sauce overnight. Make sure to put holes in the meat with a fork before marinating. Fire up the grill!

Quick & Easy Sandwiches!

I didn't have too much time to cook today, so I made some quick sandwiches. Super easy and very good!

Per Sandwich:

2 slices whole wheat bread

1 slice provolone

2 slices ham or turkey

1-2 slice of roast beef

handful of lettuce

2 slices of tomato

A few slices of onion

Ground black pepper

A tsp of balsamic vinegar

1/4 avocado (very ripe, to use a condiment - spread like butter)

We had a catastrophe: We ran out of pickles. I almost had a meltdown. Do NOT serve without pickles. (unless you don't like them, but that would make me think you're an alien :)

Lettuce Bowls

These turned out so well!

Very healthy and lean!

1/2 head of Iceberg lettuce - not the highest nutritionally, but it does the job 

Freshly chopped chives

Balela 

1/2 cucumber

1 apple

Grape or cherry tomatoes

1 lemon 

1lb of chicken (pepper and garlic)

1 tsp olive oil

ground pepper

1/4 cup feta

Cut the head of lettuce in half - carefully take out the center and you will have at least two usable "bowls"

Put the balela in first

Add in the fruits and veggies

Finish with the chicken breast, sliced

I drizzled freshly squeezed lemon juice, with 1 tsp olive oil, and ground pepper on the top and sprinkled some feta. 

So so good!

Twisted Tacos!

Okay, so they're not really tacos. They're twisted because there's no shell.... chalk that up to poor storage. 

But they still came out really well! My husband had fish and I had chicken

Ingredients:

1/2 pound chicken or fish

1/4 red onion

1/3 mango

1/3 head of red cabbage

1 lime

1/2 cup of ranch dressing, and mix with hot sauce until it's the taste you prefer. 

Remember, all of my recipes are supposed to be very simple! If you'd like to add more ingredients, go for it!