Tis the Season...Football Season!

Time to Tailgate

That's right, football season is back. And that means the smell of tailgate food is in the air!
I went for a long time without enjoying tailgating, because I was afraid to eat the foods most people had.

But, the truth is, you can tailgate and stay healthy at the same time. All you have to do is check out these two articles I wrote for Ezine, and check back tomorrow for my Final 5 picks.

Start football season off right with delicious and nutritious tailgate foods for you and your guests. My bet is that they will never know they're doing their body a favor by choosing your party!

Top 5 Picks: Tailgating Food Ideas - Top 5 Tailgating Foods You Will Love

5 More Picks: Tailgating Foods You Will Love - 5 Tailgating Food Ideas

Try these tailgating tricks and let me know how they go over at your next tailgate party!

Always remember, you can have fun, eat great, and stay healthy all at the same time! :)

Grilled Herb Chicken, Crunchy Mac N Cheese, and Coleslaw

Grilled Herb Chicken, Crunchy Mac N Cheese, and Coleslaw

Ok, this is a bit of a blast from the past. Dusty had to go down to Dothan to help out his brother, so our dinner plans got messed up for tonight. But, this gives me time to catch up on some recipes I never got to post. So, tonight, I have for you grilled chicken seasoned with my special blend of herbs, macaroni and cheese with a bit of a crunch on the top, and a coleslaw mix that I put together myself. I'd really like feed back on this if you give it a go. Remember to be open to new ideas and flavors, and at least give them a try before you bash it. You may stumble upon something great! Here it is guys:

Grilled Herb Chicken

Ok, so first you want to belnd your herbs together. I have a wonderful mortar and pestle (and I highly recommend getting one if you don't have one) that I use to crush my herbs. However, a small food processor or a coffee grinder will be just fine. Just be sure you don't use the same coffee grinder you use for your coffee, otherwise you will get herb flavored coffee next time!
Take a fairly large bit of dried oregano & basil, a smaller bit of parsley & rosemary, and a few dashes of garlic & onion powder (again, when it comes to seasoning with herbs, I say season to taste). Crush in your mortar and pestle, or grinder of your choice, until the herbs become a powder like consistency.
Sprinkle onto 2-4 all natural boneless/skinless chicken tenders (which you could marinate in lemon juice for added flavor and as a tenderizer) using a spoon. Only season one side to begin with.
Now, place your chicken on the grill over a med-high to med-low heat, seasoned side up.
When it is time to flip your chicken, then season the other side. Be sure to be cautious of burning your seasoning, as it is easy to do.
Check your chicken with a meat thermometer or a small cut in the middle to check for any pink.

Crunchy Mac and Cheese

Use 100 % whole wheat macaroni style pasta. Cook the pasta until tender. Strain.
Then, add in 1/4 to 1/2 c of a 2% sharp cheddar shredded cheese and a touch of milk (I prefer vanilla almond milk) to help the cheese melt.
Scoop out two 1/2 c servings of the macaroni and place in two 4 oz ramekins. Top with crushed Fiber One cereal or finely chopped toasted almonds, and a small sprinkle of the shredded cheese.
Let it bake in a 350 degree oven for 5 minutes or so, until the cheese on top has melted.

Kelli's Coleslaw

Take a prepacked coleslaw mix and add in all natural, plain, non-fat yogurt and 1/2 to 1 whole packet of the ranch dip mix.
Mix well and enjoy.
*Now, I am not a fan of mayo, and the plain yogurt just didn't seem to give it enough flavor. I am a ranch addict, and thought it'd be cool to try. I was not too sure with the first bite, but the taste seemed to grow on me. You could easily just substitute the yogurt for mayo in your favorite coleslaw recipe.

There you have it. A good 'ole southern dinner, without the fat and calories most of our classics have.
Remember, what works for me may not work for you. Just always look for a healthier solution, like non-fat yogurt for mayonnaise. It's all about your health and doing what is best for your body. :)

Always remember, you can have fun, eat great, and stay healthy all at the same time! :)

Homemade Cheese Pizza

Homemade Cheese Pizza

What's better on a rainy night than a good pizza and a good movie?! Especially now that you can rent movies at Wal-Mart for $1.00. Well, that is exactly what Dusty and I are going to do tonight! Dinner and a movie at home in the rain!
But, rather than put nasty, greasy, processed, and refined delivery pizza in our bodies, I have made a Homemade Cheese Pizza! The sauce simmered all day for the maximum amount of flavor and I made the dough fresh, right before we ate it!
Now it's time to settle in, watch The Soloist, and enjoy this awesome dinner. But first, I want to share my pizza recipe with you, so you, your friends, and your loved ones can do the same!

Homemade Cheese Pizza

2 small cans of tomato sauce
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Basil
Oregano
Parsley

Ok, for the sauce it is much better if you eyeball the amounts rather than measure them out. I normally do this, but today I thought I would try measuring it out to share with you guys; but, it is not half as good. The sauce is way overpowering this way. Just season and taste until you find the perfect balance for your taste buds. Simmer on a low heat while you prepare your crust, or simmer all day for maximum flavor.

Crust

3 c whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
1 tbl almond oil* (or olive)
2 tbl sugar (preferably raw)
1 pkg yeast
1 c warm water

Combine your sugar, water, and yeast in a small bowl.
Combine your flour and salt in a large bowl and make a well (push the flour to the sides so there is a hole at the bottom of your bowl).
Pour your yeast and oil into the well.
Slowly combine to form a dough (my dough was a little dry, so just add in little bits of water to help make a smooth dough).
Knead your dough in to smooth ball.
Let rise in a greased bowl for about 1 hour or until doubled in size (I stick it in an oven safe bowl on the lowest setting for a quick rise).
Punch down and let rest for 10 minutes while you prepare you toppings.

Ingredients

Use between 1/4- 1/2 c of the sauce, depending on your personal preference.
Use 1/2 c of a 2% cheese (I used the Italian 3 Cheese Blend).
You could also pile on multiple veggies, or use a turkey or veggie pepperoni.

*I used almond oil, because I prefer it over olive, but either is fine. Also, I used 3 packets of Truvia in place of sugar.

There you have it, homemade pizza that is much better for you and just as good to you!

Always remember, you can have fun, eat great, and stay healthy all at the same time! :)

Picnics

Picnic for Two

Today has been an active day for Dusty and I! We went to a local walking trail, walked 3 miles, stopped for a picnic lunch by the lake, and went back for 3 more miles.

Now we are getting dressed to go to the Dinner Theater, so needless to say I am not cooking dinner tonight.

I do want to share a tidbit on sandwiches however:

The Perfect Turkey Sandwich

It is really not necessary to have 2 slices of bread to make a sandwich.
Just try laying your all-natural sandwich meat or all-natural nut-butter on one slice and folding it over.
Also, use a 100% whole grain/whole wheat bread. It's much better for you and stays with you longer.

I know it's pretty basic, but that's really all there is to it. Slim down you sandwich and add in more grain and fiber, and you'll be set to go!

Always remember, you can have fun, eat great, and stay healthy all at the same time! :)

A Quick and Beneficial Breakfast

Apple Streusul Bar and Almonds

Have you ever had one of those mornings when you wake up late and/or you absolutely don't feel like fixing anything, even a bowl of cereal? There is a breakfast you can have that is delicious and nutritious, and requires very little effort!

Fiber One's Apple Streusel Bar and a few almonds are the perfect combination! The nuttiness of the almonds counteract the sweetness of the Fiber One bar perfectly.

Here's what you do:

Fiber One Streusul Bars with Almonds

It's really simple, open up the box of Fiber One Apple Streusul bars and take one out.
Get a small condiment bowl, and place 5-10 almonds in it.
Unwrap you bar, and enjoy alternating the sweet and nutty flavors.

The key to this breakfast is to really stop and savor the flavors. It is amazing how wonderful they are together.

This is a great breakfast for the morning of a light hiking or biking trip (like Dust and I are about to do). I stumbled upon it when I was chaperoning a church camping trip, and did not want to eat the disgusting camp food.

Always remember, you can have fun, eat great, and stay healthy all at the same time! :)

Delicate Chicken With Veggies

Delicate Chicken with Veggies

It is so nice to know that fall is on its way! There is nothing more comforting than a big pot of stew, chili, or soup simmering on the stove!

This meal was not meant to be a stew, but time did not allow me make it the way I wanted to. I was going to make oven roasted chicken tenders with vegetables for dinner, but I ended up having to sear my chicken and add it to the crock pot along with my veggies to cook all day while I went to school and to work. And boy, was it delicious! The chicken simply fell apart on your fork when you tried to pick it up and the veggies were nice and soft.

Here's how I did it:

Delicate Chicken With Veggies

Veggies
The night before, I placed one can of carrots (drained), 1 peeled and quartered potato, and 1 peeled and quartered sweet potato, and 2 cloves of garlic in my large cast iron pot. I added 1 can of low-sodium chicken broth, a bit of water, and a good bit of Mrs. Dash Original Seasoning to the veggies. I brought it all to a boil, and then let it simmer over a med-low heat for about 20-30 minutes.

I placed the cooled cast iron pan in the refrigerator to sit overnight.

The Chicken
Today at lunch, I seared the chicken over a high heat with a very small (1/4-1/2 tsp) amount of almond oil.

Once the chicken was seared I placed it, along with my veggies from the night before, into the crock-pot on a low heat and let it cook all afternoon.

Now, I prepared my veggies the night before because I knew I simply would not have time to do it today. You could easily prepare both your veggies and your chicken on the same day. Place them in the crock-pot together to cook all day, or place them in a roasting pan and cook in the oven for dinner.

However you choose to make this meal, make sure to share it with someone you love.


Always remember, you can have fun, eat great, and stay healthy all at the same time! :)

Coffee With the Girls

Cinnamon Biscotti

So, today I stopped by my friend Elisabeth's house for a cup of coffee while Dusty was in class. It was so nice to just sit back and chit chat! Now, had I half thought about it, I would made biscotti for us to enjoy with our coffee. But, just because I forgot our biscotti does not mean you should not get to enjoy it! I found a great recipe online for a Double Chocolate Biscotti, tweaked it a little bit, and am going to share it with you now.

Double Chocolate Biscotti

Approximately 1 c whole wheat flour
1/2 c raw sugar
1/4 c dark cocoa powder
1/4 c dark chocolate chips
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 salt

Combine these ingredients in a medium bowl.

1/2 tsp vanilla
1 large organic egg (or an egg substitute equivalent to one large egg)
1 large organic egg white

Whisk these ingredients together in a large bowl, and add you flour mixture to it.

Make sure that your dough is not too wet, divide it in half, and place on a greased baking sheet. Form the dough into 2 separate flat loaves.
Bake at 350 degrees for 22 minutes.
Cool for 10 minutes and then cut into slices.
Bake the slices for an additional 15 minutes to help them firm up.
And that's it, serve and enjoy!

Of course, if you make this Double Chocolate Biscotti, be sure to use a dark chocolate, it's healthier for you! WebMD states that it's a great antioxidant and can help lower your blood pressure. But, chocolate lovers, that does not mean you can indulge in dark chocolate and get away with it. Moderation is the key for all foods.

Now, personally, I am not a fan of chocolate. As you can see in the picture above, I adapted this recipe and made a Cinnamon Biscotti.
I simply replaced the cocoa and chocolate chips with cinnamon. Also, I used an Agave Nectar in place of raw sugar (just measure to taste, but be sure that it does not make your dough too wet!).

Replace the chocolate in this recipe for your favorite ingredients like cinnamon, blueberries, almonds, etc. , and enjoy with your next cup of coffee!

Always remember, you can have fun, eat great, and stay healthy all at the same time! :)

Fresh Cinnamon Toast

Fresh Cinnamon Toast

My fiance, Dusty, absolutely adores cinnamon toast. So, when I was at home in Dothan the other day, I got some fresh cinnamon sticks from daddy (the famous chef, "Pa"). Last night, when Dust asked if I'd make him some cinnamon toast, I jumped at the opportunity to use the cinnamon sticks! Here's what I did:

Fresh Cinnamon Toast

Take out one piece of whole wheat bread.
Spread on a very thin layer of a light butter (I recommend Promise Fat Free Spread, because it is what Cardiologists recommended).
Take one cinnamon stick and grate a reasonable amount onto your bread. There are no specific measurements, it is simply to your liking (cinnamon is great for you, so don't feel bad for going a tad bit heavier on this spice).
Top your toast off with a hint of raw sugar (I use no more than 1/2 of a packet of Sugar in the Raw).
Place in the toaster or oven until the bread is slightly toasted and the butter has melted.

This is a great way to simply spice up your boring morning routine. Don't just sprinkle on the cinnamon, take a little bit of extra time to grate it on instead! Then chow down with a hot cup 'o joe!

Always remember, you can have fun, eat great, and stay healthy all at the same time! :)

"Chinese Make-In"

Sweet and Sour Chicken

So, I have been wanting Chinese food sooo bad lately! But of course, we all know that Chinese Take-Out is sooo bad for us. Even the vegetables are drenched in oils, and not the good oils! So, I have created a Chinese Make-In Menu that you can make anytime. I prepared the foods this morning, and had my fiance pop them in the oven 30 minutes before I got home!

"Chinese Make-In"

Sweet and Sour Chicken:
Take a couple of cups of crushed Corn Flakes or Fiber One Cereal, along with a hint of Mrs. Dash Original Seasoning and place in a ziploc bag.
Add in bite size pieces of all-natural boneless/skinless chicken tenders and shake to coat all of the pieces.
Cook on a greased baking sheet at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

The Sauce
Combine apricot preserves with a fat-free catalina dressing and heat over a medium heat. There are no real specific measurements for this recipe. Just play with it and dip the tip of your finger in to test the flavor (use a clean finger each time, of course!).

The Chinese Rice:
Of course, when it comes to Chinese you always want to go with the Steamed Rice as opposed to the Fried Rice. If you feel it is tasteless, add a dab of Sweet and Sour to flavor it!
The joys of "Chinese Make-In" are that you can make your rice healthy! Simply replace white rice with brown rice.

2 cups boiling water
1 cup of brown rice

The Chinese Vegetables
In my opinion, the best part of the meal!
Take a mixture of your favorite veggies, steam them, and enjoy!
A few good veggies are cabbage, carrots, water chestnuts, and broccoli!

And there you have it. An easy, delicious, and healthy Chinese dinner! Once you make this meal a few times, you will be able to whip it up in no time!

Always remember, you can have fun, eat great, AND stay healthy all at the same time! :)