Clean Eating High Protein Waffles

Looking for a healthy alternative to the favorite breakfast food? Look no further! I have a recipe that is clean and higher in protein that normal waffles, thanks to greek yogurt. So, bust out your waffle iron and mix up these simple ingredients for a delicious breakfast!!


CLEAN EATING HIGH PROTEIN WAFFLES:

You will need:
 1/2 cup of greek yogurt
4 eggs
3/4 c. of whole wheat flour
1/4 t. salt
1/4 c  coconut or olive oil
1/2 c  milk ( I used almond milk)
1/2 t vanilla
1 T cinnamon

Mix all ingredients together. I do not have a mixer so I  just used a whisk. Cook according to your waffle iron directions. You could use this mix for pancakes as well. Top with some butter and syrup or honey and enjoy!!!

Batter in the iron!

Ready to eat!

Recipe: Kale Chips

Kale chips are the perfect snack food: delicious, healthy and easy! All you need are two ingredients: kale and olive oil. Simply arrange the kale on a baking sheet, drizzle olive oil over top and broil at 350 for 8-10 min. Chips are done when toasted and crisp. You can also add any seasonings you want. What are you waiting for? Go make some kale chips! This can be done in the toaster oven too.

Only two ingredients. 

Delicious kale chips!

My Crock Pot Makes Me A Good Cook

I have said it before, and I will say it again: My crock pot makes me a good cook! I have never been a natural in the kitchen. I have to follow a recipe. I'm not usually comfortable just making it up as I go along. Thank goodness for the slow cooker. My favorite meals are usually made in it: lasagna, sausage and peppers and a new favorite, buffalo chicken pasta. I made if for the first time last night, and it was delicious. It is also a clean eating recipe. You won't find any perservatives here! You can add lots of veggies as well. Here's the recipe:
You Will Need:
1 lb natural chicken
1 small container regular Frank's hot sauce (Don't use the buffalo flavors-lot's of icky things in them)
1 can cream of chicken (I use Pacific Natural Foods brand, all organic ingredients.)
1 can crushed (or diced) tomatoes ( I like Eden Organcis, BPA free!)
Diced onions and peppers-however much you like
1/2 cup of grated cheese
12 oz of pasta ( I used whole wheat rotini)
To Prepare:
Put chicken in crock pot. Season with salt and pepper if you like. Stir in hot sauce and cream of chicken soup. Add  tomatoes, peppers and onions. Put on either high for 2-3 hours or low for 3-4 hours. Stir in cheese after it's done cooking. Turn off crock pot. Cook pasta, drain and then add to mixture. Stir well and serve! Add ranch if you like. Absolutely delicious!

Sweet Potato + Quinoa Burgers

I did a quick internet search for this recipe, and found, oh, so many recipes. I finally just had to pick one out of the bunch. The one I picked claimed to have the secret recipe to "non-mushy" burgers. Who wants mushy burgers?? Not I!  Whoa. Close call. Here is my take on the recipe:

What You Will Need:
cooked sweet potatoes
cooked quinoa, cooled.
1 TB ketchup
1 TB curry powder
oats (not the instant kind)

Okay, so I played with the amounts. I only had one sweet potato in my house. So I only used one. I only cooked 1 cup of quinoa, but only used about 1/2 cup of it. I just played with the quinoa/swt pot mixture until I thought it was even. Then add onions, and seasonings/ketchup Blend them in a food processor or mash together well. Then I slowly add the oats in until the mix wasn't so sticky. I didn't measure it out.  Make into patties. Here's another secret to non-mushy burgers:put patties in the freezer for 20 min or so before you bake them. This helps with the stickiness factor. I then baked the patties in my toaster oven. You could cook on skillet as well. (I only had 3.5 patties)

 This was a super easy recipe and turned out delicious!!!

Foodie Friday: Clean Eating Chicken Wings

This recipe is clean because I used all natural chicken, baked (not fried) and there are no icky preservatives! I found the on The Gracious Pantry's blog. Click the link for the recipe. I pretty much followed the recipe exactly. Except I left out the onion powder and molasses, only because I didn't have any. I did use Frank's Hot Sauce, but not the buffalo sauce since it has preservatives in it. I used 1/2 cup of honey, because it was pretty spicy. I also used my own spices, a combo of paprika, basil and pepper. They turned out freaking amazing!! I will def be making this again. Simple and delicious!

Foodie Friday: Spanish Noodle Skillet

I tried this recipe for the first time this week. It turned out pretty good, so I thought I would share.
You Will Need:
1 lb of beef (I prefer grass fed)
1 small onion, diced
1-2 bell peppers, chopped
1-2 cups of noodles (I used whole wheat elbow macaroni)
2 cups of tomatoes, pureed in food processor or diced well
1-2 t. of paprika
1 t. basil
1/4 t. oregano
3/4 c  water
*bacon is optional but adds that extra kick (I used 5-6 strips)

To Prepare:
1. Cook pasta according to directions on box.
2. Brown the beef.
3. Cut up veggies and cook bacon while doing steps 1 and 2.
4. When beef is done, drain excess fat. Put back in skillet and add spices, peppers, onions, water and tomatoes. Cover and simmer for 10 min.
5. Add cooked noodles, stir well, cover and simmer for 5-10 more minutes. Top with bacon.
Manja!

Foodie Friday: Coconut-N-Garlic Chicken w/ Broccoli and Asparagus

What's for dinner tonight? Spice up the normal chicken dish with some coconut oil, garlic and paprika. I have been cooking with coconut oil instead of olive oil lately. There are numerous benefits to using coconut oil, but I really just love the taste.
To Make Chicken:
Heat coconut oil over medium heat. I like to saute some onions and garlic in the oil too. Throw chicken in and cook til done. I add broccoli on top the last few minutes of cooking until it turns bright green.

For the asparagus:

In a separate pan, I again sauteed more onions and garlic in the coconut oil over medium heat. Then I add asparagus. Sprinkle paprika on top. Cook til asparagus is tender.

Paprika is a new favorite spice of mine. It has antioxidants and adds that perfect sweet spice to any vegetable. I didn't really measure any ingredients. Just went by taste. Don't be afraid to experiment and have fun with it!Manja!

(Oh and excuse the crappy cell phone pics. I need a new camera, bad. )

Foodie Friday: Warm Quinoa Breakfast Cereal

Oh the diversity of quinoa! Betcha didn't think you could eat it for breakfast! This recipe uses cinnamon and agave to transform quinoa into a wonderful, oatmeal like dish. It's delicious!

You will need:

1/2 cup of water
1/2 cup of milk (I use almond milk)
1/2 cup of quinoa
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup chopped nuts (I use almonds or sunflower seeds)
2 tsp of agave or honey

To Prepare:

1. Combine milk, water, and quinoa in a small pot. (Add some vanilla if you like.)Bring to a boil and then reduce to medium-low heat and cover. Simmer for 12-15minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed.
2. Cool quinoa for about 5 minutes. Next add agave and cinnamon, stirring them into the quinoa.
3. Transfer to a bowl and add the chopped nuts and blueberries. Manja!

Foodie Friday:Crock Pot Lasagna

I am taking part in The Feminist Breeder's Family Food Friday, by posting recipes every Friday. I hope to share some healthy and delicious recipes with everyone. This is a favorite of mine because it's really simple. Just layer ingredients in crock pot and you are good to go!
You Will Need:
1 lb. ground beef or turkey or chicken ( I use grass fed, organic)
1 jar of spaghetti sauce
16 oz of cottage cheese
1 bag of spinach
Whole wheat lasagna noodles (uncooked)
shredded cheese (whatever kind you prefer)
To Prepare:
1. Spray crock pot with some kind of non-stick coating. I like to use an olive oil spray.
2. Brown your meat and add whatever seasonings you like.
3. Layer in crock pot: noodles (enough to cover) half of the beef, half of the sauce, half of the cottage cheese and however much spinach you want. Add some cheese. Repeat layers again and top with cheese.
4. Set on low and cook for 4 hours.
See how easy? It turns out a little soupy, but delicious!! Manja!

Clean Eating Chicken Alfredo

This is one of my favorite recipes to make. It's delicious and creamy withouth the fat. Also, quick and simple to make. There is no heavy cream or butter, so it really stays light.  The trick is using a "cream of" soup. I prefer cream of celery since it is lighter. You could use chicken or mushroom too. Be careful of all the extra additives in these soups. I used Pacific Natural Foods Brand that I found at Whole Foods.

Ingredients:
8 oz of whole wheat pasta (I use thin spaghetti)
1 lb of chicken tenders or breasts, cut into cubes
1 cup of broccoli
1/c of sliced onions
1 can cream of soup
1/2 cup of milk (I use almond milk)
1/2 cup of parmesan cheese (or whatever kind you like really)
1/4 tsp ground pepper or prefered spices

1.Prepare pasta according to directions. Add broccoli in during the last 4 min of cooking. Drain.
2. Cook chicken in skillet over med-high heat. Cook unti well browned, stir often. Add onions.
3. Add soup, milk, cheese, black pepper and pasta mixture to the skillet and stir well. Cook until mixture is hot and bubbling.
4. Enjoy! Add as many extra veggies as you want. Top with additional cheese if needed.

Sweet Potato Pancakes

A healthier version of a breakfast favorite. Makes a great "breakfast for dinner" meal as well.

You will need:
1 cup mashed sweet potatoes (2 medium size)
1.5 cups of flour
4 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
1/4 c. butter, melted
1.5 c milk
2 eggs, beaten
2-4 t. cinnamon(depending on taste)
2 Tb of flax seed or wheat germ (optional, but adds fluffiness)

 To Prepare:
Prick the sweet potatoes with a fork and cook in microwave 7 min or until tender. Cut open skins and let cool.  When cool, remove potato from skin and mash with fork. Add melted butter to potato and stir. Add milk and eggs to the potato mash, stir well. Meanwhile, stir together all dry ingredients:flour, baking powder and salt. (I like to do this while potatoes are cooling.) Add your wet ingredients to your dry ingredients and stir til well blended. Add cinnamon There you have your batter! Cook on preheated skillet, like you would with regular pancakes.Manja!

Balsamic Quinoa Salad

This is one of my favorite quinoa recipes to make. Easy and delicious!! Serve it as a side dish or add meat/tofu or even beans for a main meal.



-1 cup quinoa
-2 cups water
-1 small onion, sliced
-1 cup dried cranberries
-1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
-1/4 cup parsley, chopped(or your favorite spice)
-1/4 cup olive oil
-1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
-3 cloves garlic
-salt and pepper

 
-Combine the quinoa and water in a small saucepan, bring to a boil, and then simmer for about 15 minutes stirring occasionally. All the water should be absorbed and the quinoa's outer coat should be translucent when it's done. Add the quinoa to a bowl and set aside.
-While the quinoa is cooking, heat some olive oil in a skillet and add the sliced onion. Cook for 10-15 minutes on low heat, until carmelized. Add to the bowl.
-Add the dried cranberries, chopped walnuts, and chopped parsley to the bowl. Season with salt and pepper and stir to combine all ingredients.
-Cook the garlic in the skillet that the onions were prepared in, adding additional oil if needed. Whisk the cooked garlic, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar together.
-Pour the balsamic dressing over the quinoa mixture and stir to coat everything. Chill the salad in the refrigerator for about half an hour. I add feta cheese afterwards too. Enjoy!

the magic of quinoa!

Spicy Gen 'So Dish With Tofu

This was my first time making ANY tofu dish! It was kinda fun.Since starting my new clean eating habit, I am definitely more interested and motivated to cook than ever before. I am also finding out that I am not so bad at it, which is slightly surprising. Plus, I get the added benefit of knowing exactly what is going into my food. I love Chinese food, but am finding that take-out is not so in line with clean eating. So I decided to make it on my own. This was my first shot at the recipe, and it was pretty simple and turned out yummy.

 Ingredients:

• 1 (16 ounce) box organic, firm tofu
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour (or can use cornstarch)
• vegetable oil (for frying)
• 3 chopped green onions
• 1 tablespoon minced ginger
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 2/3 cup vegetable stock
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 4 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon chili paste for the spice!!
• steamed broccoli
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar  
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil (optional)

1. Drain, dry and cut tofu into one inch chunks.
2. Mix egg with 3 Tbs of water.
3.  Dip tofu in mixture.
4.  Sprinkle flour over tofu to completely cover.
5. Heat oil in pan and fry tofu pieces until golden brown and set aside.
6.  Drain oil.
7.  Heat 3 Tbs vegetable oil in pan on medium heat and add onions, ginger and garlic, cook for about one minute.
8. Add vegetable stock, soy sauce, sugar, chili paste, coconut oil and vinegar.
9. Mix 2 Tbs of water and 1 Tbs flour and pour into mixture, stirring well. Add fried tofu and coat evenly.
10. Serve with steamed broccoli over your choice of rice.

Delicious!!!!!!

  

EZ Granola

Making a batch of your own granola has never been easier! This recipe is simple and would be a fun thing to make with children. Thanks to Ashley for the original recipe. This is my own take on it. I plan on using it in place of cereal. However, it's good on it's own for a snack, or you can add to yogurt for a protein boost.

EZ Granola

3.5 cups of rolled oats(can use steel cut oats)
3 TB of ground flax seed
1/4 cup of sunflower seeds
1/2 cup of almonds (finely chopped)
3 t. of cinnamon
1/4 cup of brown sugar
1/4 cup of olive oil (extra virgin is best)
2 TB of honey (a local honey is great to combat allergies)
2 t. vanilla extract

Mix together all ingredients. Preheat over to 375. Spread the mixture evenly on a baking sheet.  Bake for about 10 min, stirring once half-way through. DO NOT BURN. Watch closely. Yes, I burnt my first batch and had to throw it away. Burnt granola just does not taste good. Also, you can add raisins/dried fruit in after you cook it. Makes approx 6 cups, approx 10 grams of protein per cup.

                                                        Some ingredients.......

                                    which transform into magic granola!!! Yum!







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