Kale & Quinoa

It's no secret that I love junk food. It also isn't a secret that I love a good salad! After all the Halloween candy last night, munching on this delicious kale and quinoa salad was a great refresh-reset type of meal! Accompanied by Buddha's Brew kombucha (pineapple greens, my fave), this lunch was the perfect pick-me-up after a major sugar crash.

This salad has:

puple kale

leafy greens

blueberries

red + brown quinoa

raspberries

raw almonds 

1 tbsp feta cheese

drizzle balsamic vinegar

I have so many other things to update, but this week I have MIDTERMS so.. time to get back to studying. womp womp

Verde Chicken & Cilantro Lime Quinoa {KandiPie Kitchen}

Hi there!

Today I am sharing a recipe that I use for my health coaching clients.. and myself! :) It is currently one of my favorite meals. I love everything salsa, cilantro, lime, hot sauce, and so this is perfect for me.

I serve this on top of a salad, because I love salad and because #povertymacros. Well, if I was still counting macros. haha.

The chicken is super easy: in a crockpot, add 4 chicken breasts and 1/2-3/4 jar "my brothers" salsa verde (you can use any brand but that's my favorite). Cook on low 8 hours or high 4 hours. When the chicken is cooked thoroughly, use a large fork (I use a wooden spoon/spork type thing) to shred the chicken inside the crockpot. Let it sit on warm/low for another 20-30 minutes to soak up all the salsa and juices left in the crockpot.

For the quinoa, I have already prepped a large container of quinoa for the week, so I just use 1/2c red quinoa, cooked according to the package instructions. It doesn't have to be red quinoa, either. Mix the 1/2c quinoa with 1-2tbsp plain greek yogurt (depending on how creamy you like your textures). Also mix in the juice from 1/2 a lime, and a handful of fresh cilantro, chopped.

You can mix the quinoa and chicken together and eat it as a "one bowl meal" or you can use them for burritos, salads, etc. So many possibilities! :)

Happy eating!

Quinoa & Turkey Meatballs

This is a delicious spin on an old favorite.

I use quinoa instead of noodles since well, its healthier. That and Sophia will eat anything she thinks is "wice, mommy!" ..... so here you go!

You will need:

1lb ground turkey
1 cup quinoa, cooked
Your preferred marinara or spaghetti sauce
Cheese (optional)
1 egg
fresh parsley
fresh garlic (or garlic powder)

Mix meat, cheese, egg, and spices in a bowl. Divide meat evenly in to non-stick mini muffin tin (sorry, you can roll the meat in to balls too, but I don't touch raw meat!) Heat at 350 until done.

Heat sauce in a pan, pour over cooked quinoa, top with meatballs and cheese. If you're feeling really adventurous, you could spread the quinoa over a portabella mushroom and garnish with a stem of parsley!

enjoy!

Finding my "umph"

Gahhhhh This has been the longest week ever. But not even the week- I started feeling sick LAST week. I took 2 days off. I went back to the gym, back to running. Felt worse, took a few more days off. Taking time off to be sick means... cheese. Yeah. Everyone has their own comfort food, right? Well, in my family... we put cheese on EVERYTHING growing up. So, cheese and crackers (always reminds me of my late great grandma Poole) is my number one comfort food, especially if I'm sick. So, I didn't eat my weight in cheese or anything, but, I definitely ate more than I normally would.

I got back in the gym today and it felt great. My throat is still scratchy and raw, and I'm still coughing a little... I couldn't wait any longer. You know.. in the movie Tommy Boy where Richard tells Tommy "I can hear you getting fatter!" .. That is how I have felt with every passing day that I didn't get in the gym. I ran a 2 mile HIIT (treadmill, not elliptical! Ouch to my shins, but what a feeling of accomplishment!), and did arms/shoulders/chest.

Then I came home, and conducted girl scouts. After my scouts left, I prepared Olivia's & my favorite dinner! Chicken stir-fry over quinoa. Its so easy and fast, and by far one of the heartiest dinners (to me).

Easy peasy lemon squeezy..

• sautee organic boneless skinless chicken in some pam and a dash of olive oil until they're white on each side. Remove from pan, dice (you can probably chop them up completely raw but.. I'll gag. So I have to cook them a little first!) Put back in pan.
• add a dash of low sodium soy sauce. cook until chicken is almost finished.
• add in 1/2 bag of frozen stir fry veggies (plain, no sauces/butter added! I use great value brand since its cheap, simple, and walmart is the local grocery store). 
• add another dash of low sodium soy sauce, 1/8c water, bring to boil. Cover, reduce to simmer.
• Meanwhile, you should have had your quinoa cooking. haha.
• Scoop finished quinoa onto your plate (measure your serving, of course! PORTION control!), top with stir-fry goodness, & sprinkle with sesame seeds.

enjoy! 

Weekend!

Yay! The weekend (is almost gone... so I'm not sure why I'm cheering, haha).

Today is weigh in day.. and measure in day! I lost .5 pound.. and I lost an inch on my torso, but gained up to 1/2" everywhere else. I know why. I had wine this week. I had 2 rest days this week. I had part of a piece of chocolate cake last night for Jessica's birthday. I had pita bread last night (not a lot) at dinner. Its ok. It was a great celebration for a really sweet friend, and I will hit it hard this week! :)

the slice of cake we split between the 3 of us... and still didn't finish it. 

Another lovely Pinterest thing from yesterday: I FINALLY learned how to create the "beach wave" look with my flat iron! I love the way my hair turned out and I can't wait to practice more. I will probably look like this a lot now.. because I LOVE the whole "just back from the ocean" look. LOVE LOVE LOVE

Yesterday I was browsing Pinterest and I saw THIS recipe for Quinoa salad. So I decided to make it. Only... I modified it a bit, and I am about 100000x positive mine tasted better than the one in the recipe. haha. So, here you go, my modified quinoa salad.

1c cooked quinoa
1/4c rice vinegar (I'm totally leaving this out next time, btw)
1/8c olive oil
2 roma tomatoes, diced
cilantro
basil (leaving this out next time too...)
oregano (also going to leave out! I think that a more spanish based flavor will be better without the italian seasonings)
4oz diced green chiles
1 can of black beans, rinsed & drained
1 orange bell pepper diced
1 clove garlic, chopped finely
sliced black olives
cholula (adding way more of this next time)
optional: crushed red pepper

it was really good, except I know for sure I don't want to include the oregano or basil next time. those were included in the original recipe. 

Ok. :) Today I am going through my closet and dresser to rid myself of things I feel the need to cling to, but don't wear. Also I will do the same with my jewelry and all the random little things in my room. This week I am doing a purge throughout the entire house.. one room at a time! :) How exciting. Hopefully the decluttering will help our house look better to potential buyers. The painter starts in the morning at 0730. I can't wait to see how the house looks all boring tan. Maybe then someone will fall in love with this place and buy it. Because if that happens, and things go the way they might.. we could be picking a place to live in St. Thomas in about 5 months. So please, pray that someone buys my house!!!