Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Creamy Green Apple Smoothie

Creamy Green Apple Smoothie
 
Ingredients
  • 2 cup fresh spinach
  • 1 green apple, peeled and cored, roughly chopped
  • ½ avocado
  • ½ cup coconut milk
  • 1½ cups water
  • juice of ½ lemon
  • handful of ice
Instructions
  1. Pour liquid into your Blendtec or other blender.
  2. Then add the apple, avocado, spinach, and lemon juice.
  3. Then add ice.
  4. Mix well until completely smooth.
  5. Drink up buttercup.

Artichoke Lemon Pesto Chicken "Pasta"

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Artichoke Lemon Pesto Chicken Pasta
Prep time:  
Cook time:  
Total time:  
Serves: 4-5
 
Ingredients
  • 1lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed (or chicken thighs if you prefer)
  • 1 large spaghetti squash, cut in half lengthwise (get a BIG one)
  • 12-15 artichoke hearts, cut in half (I used jarred artichokes that were in olive oil for more flavor)
  • ⅓ cup walnuts
  • 4-5 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4-5 tablespoons vegetable broth
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ cup fresh parsley
  • ½ cup fresh basil
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 3-5 cups of spinach (optional)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 405 degrees (not 450, stop questioning me)
  2. Cut the squash in half lengthwise, place cut side down on a baking sheet and bake for 30-35 minutes or until squash gives when you poke the outside of it.
  3. Use a spoon to remove the excess seeds then a fork to thread the strings from the squash. To make spaghetti, duh.
  4. But while the squash is baking, make the pesto and chicken.
  5. Place a large pan over medium-high heat, add a splash of fat and 1 minced garlic clove. As soon as the garlic becomes fragrant, add the halved artichokes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and let cook until slightly browned and tender on all sides.
  6. Once artichokes are browned, add them to a food processor along with the walnuts, olive oil, vegetable broth, and second garlic clove. Puree until smooth.
  7. Then add the parsley, basil, lemon, and salt and pepper. Puree once more until smooth. Taste and add more lemon and salt and pepper to your preference.
  8. Once pesto is done pureeing, add the chicken to the same pan that you sautéed the artichokes in.
  9. Cook chicken over medium-high heat until browned on all sides. Sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper.
  10. Once chicken is cooked through, add in about ¼ of a cup of the pesto to the chicken along with the spinach, in the pan and mix well to coat. Cover and let cook for 2-4 minutes or until spinach is wilted.
  11. Then add the threads of spaghetti squash to the pan (or a large mixing bowl if you need more room). Mix spaghetti squash, pesto, and chicken all together.
  12. Serve with some fresh basil on top.
  13. Love pesto in a new way!



*Could use whole grain pasta if you want instead of spaghetti squash!

Banana Granola Pancakes


Hearty Banana Granola Pancakes
Prep time:  
Cook time:  
Total time:  
Serves: 2
 
Ingredients
  • 2 bananas
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 tablespoons coconut flour
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • pinch of salt
  • ¼ cup Granola
  • syrup, to top (as much or as little as you want)
Instructions
  1. Place banana in a food processor and puree until smooth.
  2. Then crack eggs into food processor and mix together.
  3. Lastly, add in the food processor the coconut flour, vanilla extract, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
  4. Puree until smooth.
  5. Now heat up a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Once skillet is hot, pour around 2-3 tablespoons of the mixture into skillet. I made each pancake about 3 inches, and that was perfect for flipping.
  6. Wait until each pancake begins to form bubbles on the surface sprinkle with granola, then flip. If you use your spatula to press under the sides of the pancake, all the way around, it will be easier to flip.
  7. Make all pancakes with the batter.
  8. Top with syrup. Yummo.
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Thursday, April 18, 2013

Cajun Chicken with Tomato and Avocado Salsa

Ingredients (Serves 2)

300 grams Chicken Breast
50 grams Baby Cos Lettuce Mix (any lettuce)
1 X Large Tomato
1 Medium Avocado
1/2 Small Red Onion
1/2 X Fresh Lime
2 x tea spoons Cajun Seasoning

Cooking Instructions

Cut chicken breasts into thin strips and season with cajun seasoning.

Spray a non stick pan with olive oil and heat pan on medium-high. Place chicken strips onto pan and cook each side until outside is light brown.

Whilst chicken is cooking cut tomato and avocado into small cubes and place into bowl. Cut onion into small pieces and add into tomato and avocado mix then squeeze lime juice into mix.

Place baby cos leaves onto plate and once chicken is cooked place strips onto the bed of cos lettuce (any lettuce will do)

Pour salsa over chicken.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Workout 3

Using your body weight is an easy, convenient way to exercise when you don't have access to a gym. You can do it anywhere! Below is a workout I came up with that uses only your body. All you need is a wall!


5 rounds:

1 minute wall sit
1 minute plank
30 second handstand hold against wall

Modify if needed. You can cut the times in half. So, do 30 seconds of wall sit & plank then 15 seconds in handstand.



Banana Walnut Oatmeal

I just made up this recipe this morning since I was in a hurry and it turned out really good! Simple & quick :)


What you need:
1 banana
1/2 cup steel cut oats (any oatmeal will work)
1/8 cup walnuts

Directions:
1. Mash banana in bowl
2. Add 1/2 cup oats to mashed banana and stir
3. Add water and microwave on high for 1 minute
4. Add walnuts & enjoy!