Dill Salmon & Asparagus Foil Pack

This recipe is super easy because its 4 ingredients thrown in a foil packet! Its also super healthy (excellent source of vitamin B12, vitamin D, selenium, niacin, omega-3 fatty acids, protein, phosphorus, and vitamin B6) delicious and literally no clean up required!! Am I the only one who loves cooking in foil?

Ingredients:

• 1-4oz salmon fillet
• 10 asparagus spears
• a few sprigs of fresh dill
• 1 teaspoon EVOO

Directions
1) Place asparagus spears and dill on a 12in by 12 in square of aluminum foil, drizzle with EVOO
2) Place salmon on top of asparagus and dill, seal packet, cook in oven at 425 degrees 

Roasted Jalapeno Hummus

I could eat Mediterranean food on a daily basis, and not feel bad AT ALL because it is super healthy! Everyone knows the benefits of this type of eating right? A true Mediterranean diet consists mainly of fruits and vegetables, seafood, olive oil, hearty grains, ~ foods that help fight against heart disease, certain cancers, and diabetes. This doesn't mean eat GYROS all day, (darn.....) but I digress...

Basically, I have had my fair share of hummus, and I have my favorites for sure! I finally decided to make some of my own and see if I could spice it up AND make it even healthier!! So today I went searching for a basic hummus recipe and of course added my own twist and it was pretty delicious!! If you love cilantro, you are gonna love this!

Ingredients:

• 
4-5 cloves garlic, skin on
• 1 15-ounce can chickpeas, slightly drained
• 2-3 jalapenos
• 1/2 ripe avocado (optional)
• 1 lemon & 1 lime, juiced

• 1 tbsp cumin
• 3/4 - 1 tsp sea salt (optional)
• 3-4 Tbsp olive or avocado oil
•  Handful fresh cilantro
• 1/4 cup tahini  (this is optional as well, I don't use tahini in my hummus) 

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Place garlic cloves with skin still on and whole jalapeños on a baking sheet. Drizzle garlic cloves with a small amount of oil of choice (avocado or olive are best) and roast for 15-18 minutes, flipping jalapeños once to ensure even roasting.
3. Once done, remove from oven and set garlic aside.
4. Wrap jalapeños in foil to steam for a few minutes. Then carefully peel away skin and remove seeds.
5. Using a blender or food processor, add slightly drained chickpeas, oil, cilantro, avocado, salt, cumin, lime, lemon, roasted jalapeños (start with one and work your way up to desired spice level), tahini and peeled garlic cloves (you should be able to peel away the skin or just squeeze the garlic out).
6. Blend until creamy and smooth, scraping down sides as needed. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.

 Recipes yields about 8 quarter-cup servings.

 

21 Day Sugar & Wheat Free Eating Group

Who the hell can actually eat no sugar or wheat? That is INSANE, right? And why would a person want to torture themselves like that?? And if someone eats no sugar or wheat, what is possibly left for them to eat? Celery sticks? I am not eating celery sticks for the rest of my life, so I think I will pass on the whole no sugar or wheat thing.....

These were my thoughts exactly!! Until, of course, I actually tried it for myself.( Funny thing is, I can make a judgement about something before I actually try it, and that is no way to live for me anymore. It definitely stunts growth of any kind that I should hope to achieve)  I tried eating sugar and wheat free because I found I was having an addictive response to it! I would eat one brownie and then not be able to stop! It was frustrating. So I decided I would try eating S/W free, and see how my body responded.. I went all in! I got on a food plan that was completely devoid of all things that included sugar or wheat, and this meant trying foods that I had never thought to try before! Including oat bran, steel cut oats, and my fave, QUINOA!!I lost weight and mental fog, my skin cleared up, I had  TON more energy, I found that my body functions optimally when I am eating this way!!

Do I eat completely S/W free today? Not 100%! I still like cookies and brownies on occasion..I cannot lie. This S/W free way of living is TOTALLY doable! It has changed my life! I challenge you to try it for 21 days!! I am starting a FREE 21 day clean eating Facebook group where I will supply you with all that you need to succeed! Just email me that you want to join!

The challenge starts May 11th, 2015!!

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Overnight Oats (No Cooking Involved!!!)

Overnight oats are seriously so simple, you could have your 4 year old make them for you!!       ( Or your seriously cooking~impaired hubby....) They are oats soaked overnight in the liquid you add to them, and that is how they "cook"!! In the fridge! 

The "base" of these oats is 1/3 cup of each: steel cut oats, fat~free plain Greek yogurt, and unsweetened almond milk, as well as 1 tbsp of chia seeds.The toppings are really endless!! I like to mix it up, some of my favorite combos are blueberry~banana, apple~cinnamon and raisin, and peach~raspberry! 

Why are these all the rage right now? They are all over Pinterest, and so many people are trying them...because they are SOOOO healthy!! They are truly delicious and taste like they are a dessert...plus they are fun! They are a great way to get in our steel cut oats- I mean the real thing. Not Cream if Wheat, or instant oatmeal...I know people who have no clue what steel cut oats are because they have only had instant (which are horrible for our bodies...IMO!) 

So, I hope you like these and discover you love steel cut oats as much as me!!

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup steel cut oats
• 1/3 cup fat free, plain Greek yogurt
• 1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 tbsp chia seeds

Mix all of the ingredients in a mason jar (or even just a bowl) ....you have your base!!
 
Now, you can add your fruit combination! The possibilities are endless..think berries, apple, pear, banana, CANNED PUMPKIN!!!, pineapple, raisins, peaches, oranges...as much as will fit in the jar (its usually about a cup of fruit)

 Place in fridge overnight. Eat as is, or if you like you oats a bit more indulgent, top with something crunchy (like granola) and something with healthy fats – like nut butter or nuts.

Breakfast Loaf

Breakfast Loaf

For the past 2 years I have eaten this Breakfast Loaf each morning without fail!! It is SO

delicious, it seriously tastes like a blueberry muffin from Whole Foods! I discovered this concept back when I used to work in an office and I was getting up at 4am to fit in my workout, eat breakfast, shower and get my son to school and then to work across town by 8 am! I had NO TIME in the am to prepare a healthy yummy breakfast every day!! So I tried the Breakfast Loaf, and I was hooked!! To save time I make 10 at a time, and then store in the freezer! I thaw a few at a time in the fridge...Its so easy and versatile, you can definitely customize the fruits to fit your taste!! And I would LOVE to hear your personalized fruit combo, as well as other healthy add ins you have tried!! (think nuts, dried fruits, get creative!!)

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup oat bran
• 2 medium eggs
• 1 medium banana
• 1/3 cup frozen or fresh blueberries
• dash of cinnamon

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, pour into mini loaf pan that has been sprayed with non stick cooking spray. Bake for about 13 minutes at 425. 

Tips:

Make these in batches! I prepare 10 at a time. When cooking in batches, the baking time increases to about 30 minutes (for 10 loaves) You can substitute nearly ANY fruit for the banana and blueberries! I LOVE canned pumpkin, apple, raspberry, just to name a few substitution ideas!!