Day What? Meal Number?????

OK, ok. So I admit, I have lost count. However, I am still cooking my crock pot (CP) recipes. I made salsa chicken (lean chicken tenders layered with a delicious choice of salsa and heat) and served it over a garden salad with a small amount of mexican cheese. Another CP meal was lean ground turkey with sliced onions and taco seasoning served over lettuce.

And today. Today is a snow day! Don’t be mislead. I do not like snow…at all. I like flip-flops and tank tops. However, I do like snow days once in a while. In this crazy life, I feel like snow days are kid days and catch up days. I am working from home today and don’t have the stresses of a crazy, snowy, icy commute. The frittata, filled with vinegar peppers and onions, is already in the CP (yes, I believe this is CP meal 10) and I am actually sitting down to type this with a nice, hot cup of tea knowing my kids do no need to rush anywhere. Love.

I hope you can enjoy your day. Stay safe.

Love Heavy Bag Sessions

Thank you Mackenzie and Kerri for always coming fully prepared and ready to kick some serious butt.

Crock Pot Meals 5, 6 and 7

OK…I have been crazy and not able to blog my meals but I promise I have been cooking.

Day 6, Meal 5: This was Marinara at its simplest. The day turned out to be a snow day and I was actually home with the kids. I love this. I threw everything I had into the crock pot: crushed tomatoes and all of the italian seasonings I could muster up along with onions and garlic…always plenty of garlic. I threw the crock pot on low and let the kitchen smell like it did when my dad used to cook “gravy” all day!

Day 8, Meal 6: This meal was sent to me by my friend Kelly Pearsons (Thank you Kelly). The dish is called Slow Cooker Honey Chicken with Quinoa. You can use brown rice instead of quinoa. I didn’t use anything. The chicken was amazing. You can check out all the details here:

Slow cooker honey chicken w/ quinoa

Ingredients
3 large frozen chicken breasts (if your’s are thawed, adjust cooking time)
1/2 cup soy sauce
3/4 cup honey
1 TB olive oil
1 tsp onion powder
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 cup sesame seed (optional)
1 cup quinoa (cooked according to package directions) – could substitute with rice

Instructions
1.Place chicken breasts in a crock pot. Combine soy sauce, honey, olive oil, onion powder, garlic, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Stir until combined. Pour sauce over chicken. Cook on low for 4-6 hours, or until the chicken easily falls apart.
2.Serve chicken over cooked quinoa. Add extra sauce from the crock pot on top and add sesame seeds for show.
3.Enjoy!

Day 9, Meal 7: French Toast Casserole! In the pot as I write this. I am praying my kids enjoy this when they wake up this morning.

Slow Cooker French Toast Casserole

Yields: 9 Servings | 1 Serving: 2 Triangles | Calories: 227 | Total Fat: 7 g | Saturated Fat: 1 g | Trans Fat: 0 g | Previous Points: 4 | Points Plus: 6 |Cholesterol: 9 mg | Sodium: 187 mg | Total Carbohydrate: 34 g | Dietary Fiber: 4 g | Sugars: 19 g | Protein: 9 g

Ingredients
•2 whole eggs
•2 egg whites
•1 1/2 cups 1% milk, (almond or soy will also work)
•2 tablespoon honey
•1 teaspoon vanilla extract|
•1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
•9 Slices whole grain bread
•
•FILLING:
•3 cups finely diced uncooked apple pieces (Honey Crisp or Gala are both great in this recipe)
•3 tablespoon honey
•1 teaspoon lemon juice
•1/3 cup diced raw pecans
•1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

Add the first 6 ingredients to a medium mixing bowl, whisk to combine. Lightly spray the inside of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.

Add all the filling ingredients in a small mixing bowl and stir to coat apple pieces, set aside.

Cut bread slices into triangles (that’s in half, just triangle shaped). Place one layer of bread (6 triangles) on the bottom of the slow cooker, add ¼ of the filling and repeat until there are 3 layers of bread. Add the remaining filling to the top.

Pour egg mixture over bread. Cover and cook on high 2 to 2-1/2 or low 4 hours, or until bread has soaked up the liquid.

3 Bananas (diced) can be substituted for apples.

Note: Drizzle with 100% pure maple syrup if desired.

Day 2, Meal 3 and Day 3, Meal 4 – Ok….and Yum.

Ok, some meals are better than others. Needless to say, I will give you my last two day’s meals, as promised.

Day 2, Meal 3: I made this recipe with everything I had left over in my refrigerator….chicken sausages (very trim), sweet onions, green peppers and vinegar peppers. I don’t measure, per say, I am Italian after all. (Michelle, I know you always got worried when we bake together. Michelle is a great little baker. Me? Not so much.)

Anyway, I literally threw everything in the crock pot (or crack pot as I am calling it these days) and there you go, supper is served. Need more detail? I am happy to give it to you, just inbox me. I will be honest…the peppers and onions were absolutely delicious. The sausages were lean and trim but blah. They appeared and tasted as if they were boiled. In my opinion, sausages should be crispy. Next time I will skip the meat but prepare my peppers and onions for the week this way. (I like to cook a bunch ahead and then store them in the refrigerator for omelettes, etc.)

Day 3, Meal 4: I turned a recipe for Spinach Mozzarella Frittata into Pepper and Onion Frittata. It was absolutely delicious but don’t be fooled by the cooking time. The recipe called for 1-1.5 hours. Mine wasn’t cooked for close to 3 hours. Albeit, it was healthy, hot and delicious.

Slow Cooker Spinach and Mozzarella Frittata

Yields: 6 Servings | Serving Size: 1/6 of entire recipe | Calories: 74 | Previous Points: 2 | Points Plus: 2 | Total Fat: 3 g | Saturated Fat: 1 g | Trans Fat: 0 g | Cholesterol: 54 mg | Carbohydrates: 3 g | Fiber: 1 g | Sugars: 1 g | Protein: 10 g

Ingredients
•1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
•1/2 cup diced onion
•1 clove garlic, minced
•1 cup 2% shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
•3 eggs
•3 egg whites
•2 tablespoons 1% milk
•1/4 teaspoon black pepper
•1/4 teaspoon white pepper
•1 (packed) cup chopped baby spinach, with stems removed
•1 Roma tomato, diced
•Salt to taste

Directions

In a small skillet, add oil and sauté onion and garlic on medium heat until tender, about 10 minutes.

Lightly spray the inside of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine sautéed onion and garlic, 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, and remaining ingredients; whisk to combine, and pour into slow cooker. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup cheese on top of egg mixture. Cover, and cook on LOW for 1–1 1/2 hours, or until eggs are set and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Day 2: 2 Recipes and Counting!

Yes, the buffalo chicken was delicious last night. I loved it served right from the crockpot over lettuce.

So, I got home from teaching 5 classes and working all day at my full time job and decided to prepare this overnight treat/breakfast. And it was delicious! I loved waking up to the smell of cinnamon!

Slow Cooker} Overnight Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal
Yield: 4 Servings

Serving Size: 1 cup prepared oatmeal, 1 tablespoon dried fruit,
Adapted from Our Best Bites

Ingredients

Non-stick cooking spray
2 large tart apples (such as Granny Smith or Pink Lady), chopped
1 1/2 cups skim milk
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup whole grain oats
3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon cinnamon (more or less to your taste)
2 tablespoons milled/ground flaxseed
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Additional Toppings
1/4 cup dried fruit (raisins, cranberries)
1/4 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans)
Instructions

Spray a 3 1/2 quart or larger slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Combine chopped apples, milk, water, oats, sugar, butter, and flax- stirring to combine. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours (overnight). Stir in 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt into the oatmeal just before serving.

If desired, serve with additional toppings (1 tablespoon dried fruit and 1 tablespoon chopped nuts, each)

Nutritional Information:

Calories: 321; Fat: 13 g; Carbohydrate: 46 g; Fiber: 6 g; Protein: 7 g

Guilt? Maybe. Crock Pot Challenge. Anyone in?

I love peanut butter….any way, any time!  However, maybe guilt has taken over but my family needs a variety of healthy foods so I am going to challenge myself.  Maybe reporting this challenge to you will force me to do this but I am determined.  Anyone want to join me?  The challenge is 20 healthy Crock Pot recipes in 30 days.  And I am starting today.  No excuses because it can be done overnight while you sleep!  The first item on the list is pulled buffalo chicken on lettuce wraps.  I will send you an update as I move forward.  And feel free to push me along if I am going off course.  You can also join me or simply send me any family friendly, healthy Crock Pot recipes.

Mangia Mangia!!!!! Thank you www.skinnytaste.com.

Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps Skinnytaste.com Servings: 6 • Size: 1/2 cup chicken + veggies • Old Points: 3 pts • Points+: 3 pt Calories: 147.7 • Fat: 0.1 g • Carb: 5.2 g • Fiber: 1.6 g • Protein: 24.9 g • Sugar: 1.7 g Sodium: 879 mg
Ingredients:
For the chicken:

• 24 oz boneless skinless chicken breast
• 1 celery stalk
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic
• 16 oz fat free low sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup hot cayenne pepper sauce (I used Frank’s)

For the wraps:

• 6 large lettuce leaves, Bibb or Iceberg
• 1 1/2 cups shredded carrots
• 2 large celery stalks, cut into 2 inch matchsticks

Directions:
In a crock pot, combine chicken, onions, celery stalk, garlic and broth (enough to cover your chicken, use water if the can of broth isn’t enough). Cover and cook on high 4 hours.

Remove the chicken from pot, reserve 1/2 cup broth and discard the rest. Shred the chicken with two forks, return to the slow cooker with the 1/2 cup broth and the hot sauce and set to on high for an additional 30 minutes. Makes 3 cups chicken.
To prepare lettuce cups, place 1/2 cup buffalo chicken in each leaf, top with 1/4 cup shredded carrots, celery and dressing of your choice. Wrap up and start eating!

 

Kids Love Fitness Too!!!!!!!!!!!!!