Tag Archives: healthy

Mar 31 2013
8 Comments
Blogging

March Foodie Pen Pal Reveal

The Lean Green Bean

If you haven’t already noticed, I LOVE to go crazy with themes.  Whether it is for Lindsay’s Foodie Pen Pal Program, or a birthday party, if there is a need for a theme, I am there 150%.  So after all the fun I had last month with my Valentine’s Day box, I was excited to throw something together for St. Patrick’s Day.  See what I put together for Brie over at A Foodie’s Recipe Box.

This is my fifth month participating in the Foodie Pen Pal Program, and it is fun, fun, fun! If you want to learn more, check out my first Foodie Pen Pal Post.  It will give you all the details you need to know to sign up :)
For the month of March, I received my package from Katie of Baking and Swimming.  She put together a small collection of her favorite things which ended up being a perfect balance between sweet treats and heathy snacks.
FPP March
Most of what Katie packed in the box was new to me (except for the Girl Scout Cookies, of course).  So each and every bite was an adventure.
I was most excited to try the White Chocolate Peanut Butter.  I have seen so many different versions of this stuff around the blogosphere but have never had the pleasure of picking up a jar for myself.  And let me tell you, this stuff is AWESOME!  Pretty much tastes like Nutter Butters, especially when you spread it on graham crackers.  Divine :)  And to wash it down I took a sip of the Sparkling ICE Pomegranate Blueberry flavored water.  So delicious and refreshing!  I am going to have to be on the lookout for this stuff.  All of their flavors sound amazing.
Next, Harper and I dug into the Peanut Butter filled Pretzels and Girl Scout Cookies (though not at the same time).  Both were scrumptious and a big hit with the entire family.
Katie also included a few meals of convenience, which as a mommy of an adorable toddler and a part time music teacher, I extremely appreciate these days.  Since Katie is from Texas and is a self-proclaimed Tex-Mex lover, she sent me a package of her favorite tortilla soup mix.  I am looking forward to jazzing this up with some shredded rotisserie chicken and topping it off with some grated cheese and sour cream….yum!  Katie also sent me her favorite muffin mix for an easy breakfast on the go.  This is going to be a great activity for Harper and I to enjoy together.  All you need to do is add water and bake.  Doesn’t get more simple than that :)
Finally, Katie indulged my S’mores addiction by sending me a delicious and nutritious Pure Protein Bar (which came in very handy the other day when Harper took an unexpected nap in the car on the way to the grocery store.  Hungry mama locked in the car until sleeping baby wakes = potentially cranky mama.  Thank God for snack stashes!).
Thanks Katie for an awesome box! I hope your pen pal was as generous to you as you were to me :)

Interested in becoming a Foodie Pen Pal? CLICK HERE to fill out the participation form and read the terms and conditions. Who knows, I might be your next Foodie PenPal :)

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Mar 07 2013
19 Comments
CSA Box

What’s in the Box? #64

boxquestionintrowhite

Today was a big day!  Today, Harper and I dropped off all the paperwork for her preschool.  Which means her first day will be Friday.  I can’t believe my little girl is going to start school already!  Where did the time go?

I actually hadn’t planned on Harper starting school until the fall.  When looking into preschool options after Harper was born, I learned about some co-op preschools in town and loved the concept of being able to work at the school one day a week.  However, those programs start when they are 2 years, 9 months.  Which, to be honest, sounded perfect to me.  But Harper had other plans.

Ever since her first experience with daycare at church, Harper asks if she can go to “church tomorrow” everyday.  Through a mommy friend of mine, I learned that the church offers a preschool as well.  So we went ahead and looked into it and were very happy with the program.  After two weeks of working on the large packet of paperwork, we finally turned it in today.  Which means, it’s official.  My baby is going to school.

So in the spirit of celebrating this important milestone, let’s get wild and crazy with another weekly produce party :)

Last week we had 6 link ups!  And from the looks of it, everyone is ready for St.Patty’s day.  Greens all around.  There was Green Eggs No Ham, Kale Pesto, and a delicious Broccoli and Cheese Pizza.  My Irish roots have me doing a little jig over these delightful dishes.  Thanks ladies for sharing your festive eats :)

Now let’s take a look at what I will be working with this week…

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After 2 years of participating in my CSA, it is rare that I receive a veggie that I have never tried before.  So this box will go down in history for my introduction to Romanesco broccoli.  Thanks to this party, I have seen other folks get it in their box before, but I have never had the pleasure of trying it for myself.  I can’t wait to start looking up recipes.

I am also excited to see another 2 lbs worth of red garnet sweet potatoes.  I was immediately inspired to whip up another batch of this Sweet Potato Turkey Shepherd’s Pie.  We have company coming over for dinner on Friday and this will be the perfect meal :)  I plan on serving it with a side salad using that gorgeous head of red leaf lettuce.

Apparently I am on a comfort food kick because those turnips make me want to spend my weekend cooking up this Beer-Braised Beef with Onion, Carrot, and Turnips dish.  It is DIVINE!  I would love to make this for my company except for it takes hours to cook, and on a Friday night after a day of music classes and toddler fun, I just don’t have the time.  So I like to save these recipes for the weekend, when I can start preparing it early enough that dinner can be served at a decent hour.

Speaking of the weekend, I love to juice on the weekends.  And those grapefruits, apples and beautiful bunch of kale would make a killer combo.  I might even have a few carrots left over from last week to throw into the mix too :)

I have been on a Greek yogurt kick lately (maybe because they were on sale at Ralphs and I bought a boatload).  And I love the addition of fresh berries sliced on top.  It is a delicious daytime snack or after dinner treat.

Finally, I will be making this Apricot Pork Chops recipe and serving the sugar snap peas on the side.  I like to give them a quick boil and then toss them in butter, lemon zest and garlic.  Yum!

Your turn:  What are some of your favorite ways to use the fruits and veggies shown?  Any special recipe, tips or tricks you’d like to share?  Looking forward to reading your responses :)

Linking up for the first time?  Click here for more info…and Welcome!

PS: Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!  You only have until March 11th to get your entries in.  Remember to leave a comment on the original post letting me know that you have completed the tasks.  Your comments act as your entry into the giveaway.  Good luck!

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Mar 04 2013
30 Comments
Cooking

Homemade Granola Bars & A Giveaway!

Homemade Granola Bars- In Her Chucks

I love a good, healthy, and hearty snack.  It curbs my hunger between meals and helps perk me up during a midday slump.  Unfortunately, many of the “healthy” snacks you find at the grocery store aren’t really healthy at all.  Instead, they are full of unnecessary ingredients such as corn syrup, preservatives, and artificial flavors.  You might as well make a beeline for the donuts (a personal weakness).  Or, to ensure that you are giving your body the fuel it needs to get through the day, make your favorite snacks at home.  And these Cranberry Almond Granola Bars are a great place to start.

Ingredients

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds

1 cup sliced almonds

1/2 cup ground flax-seed

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

1-ounce unsalted butter, plus extra for pan

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

6 1/2 ounces chopped dried cranberries

Preparation

Butter a 9 by 9-inch glass baking dish and set aside.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread the oats, sunflower seeds, almonds, and ground flax seeds into a half-sheet pan.  Place in the oven and toast for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

In the meantime, combine honey, brown sugar, butter, extract and salt in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat.  Cook until the brown sugar as completely dissolved.

Once the oat mixture is done, remove it from the oven and reduce the heat to 300 degrees F.  Immediately add the oat mixture to the liquid mixture, add the dried fruit, and stir to combine.  Turn the mixture out into the prepared baking dish and press down, evenly distributing the mixture in the dish and place in the oven to bake for 25 minutes.  Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.  Cut into squares and store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Recipe slightly adapted from FoodNetwork.com via Cupcakes and Cashmere

Not only are these bars super delicious, they are super simple to make!  In fact, I might even go as far as saying they will have you swearing off packaged foods forever (Unless of course you are starving and stranded at a gas station in the middle of nowhere without your homemade stash.  Then you might make an exception).  And like my homemade granola, the possibilities are endless.  So you will never get bored with all the combinations you can think up.

Hungry for more healthy snacking ideas?  Conscious Box is full of them!  In fact, they were the ones who introduced me to Amazing Grass which sparked my Fresh Start Challenge.  They are always inspiring me to live a healthier, happier, more sustainable life.

There are lots of exciting things happening over at ConsciousBox.com.  For starters, they have a brand new website.  One of my favorite features is that you can earn points for rating the samples in your box which can then be used towards some great discounts on your favorite products.

And in celebration of their new site launch, Conscious Box is giving away a 3 month subscription (a $59 value) to one lucky reader.  

Here’s how to enter…

1.  Head on over to ConsciousBox.com and create a profile (this is totally free) and leave a comment here telling me you have done so.

2.  ”Like”  ConsciousBox and In Her Chucks on Facebook and post a comment on their wall telling them what you thought about their new site (ps: don’t forget to tell them “In Her Chucks” sent you!).

3.  ”Share” Conscious Box’s new page with your FB friends and leave a comment telling me you have done so.

4.  Subscribe to this blog and leave a comment telling me you have done so.  If you already subscribe to my blog, then leave me a comment telling me that you are already subscribed (and thanks for the support!).

5.  Pin this giveaway and comment here with a link to your post.

The more entries you have, the better your chances are to win.  The giveaway will close at 12:01 am on March 11th.  A winner will be randomly selected and announced on March 12th.  Make sure to include your email address with your comment so that I can contact you if you win.

Good luck!

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Feb 28 2013
11 Comments
Blogging

February Foodie Pen Pal Reveal

It’s been a while since I have participated in Lindsay’s Foodie Pen Pal Program.  I took a break during our big move until I felt settled and organized again.  I missed getting and giving my monthly boxes.  It feels so good to be back ;)

This is my fourth month participating in the Foodie Pen Pal Program, and it is fun, fun, fun! If you want to learn more, check out my first Foodie Pen Pal Post. It will give you all the details you need to know to sign up :)
For the month of February, I received my package from Jennifer of Food Gourmet the Healthy Way.  She was so thoughtful to include all local goodies from our shared state of California.  There was also a nice balance of sweets and healthy treats.
fpp- february
After two weeks of clean eating, I was looking forward to a some sweet indulgences, but nothing that would throw me completely off my routine.  So Jennifer’s box was the perfect balance.
I was most intrigued by the big bag of salt water taffy.  So many beautiful colors and yummy flavors to choose from.  I grabbed a handful while I continued to open up the rest of the box.
The next thing to catch my eye was the jam.  There is nothing more delicious than homemade jam.  And anything strawberry is an immediate favorite.  I can’t wait to spread this on everything from bagels, to muffins, to toast.
I recently fell in love with Hail Merry Chocolate Macaroons and these Coco-Roons could be its identical twin.  Soft and chocolately, it’s hard to keep my hand out of the bag.  I can’t wait to try some of the other flavors.  Hello Almond and Strawberry PB & J!
And finally, a bag of local dried apricots.  My favorite snack.  So sweet and chewy I love to pair them with a salty counterpart like a handful of nuts.  Get’s me excited for summer and the prospect of fresh apricots.
Thanks Jennifer for an awesome box! I hope your pen pal was as generous to you as you were to me :)

Interested in becoming a Foodie Pen Pal? CLICK HERE to fill out the participation form and read the terms and conditions. Who knows, I might be your next Foodie PenPal :)

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Feb 26 2013
12 Comments
Cooking

Tomato Basil Bisque

Tomato Basil Bisque - In Her Chucks

I am a meat eater through and through.  No meal is complete without a big lump of protein on my plate.  So when I went through my Fresh Start Challenge meal plan and saw that there was a vegetarian soup on the menu, I was skeptical.  I mean, I love veggies, and I love soup, but can’t we toss some chicken in there to boost up the heartiness factor?  Well let me just say, this soup is perfect just as it is!  Not only was it incredibly delicious, but it was definitely hearty!  The quinoa and goat cheese help to bulk up the texture and give it enough protein to keep you full and satisfied without weighing you down.

Ingredients

4 large carrots, chopped,

1 medium onion, chopped

2 tsp Tamari

2 tbsp coconut oil, divided

1/2 red bell pepper, chopped

1 stalk celery, chopped

3 cloves fresh garlic, minced

28 oz can whole tomatoes, drained

1 cup organic marinara sauce

1 1/2 cups fresh basil leaves, chopped

2 tsp honey

1 1/2 cups coconut milk

1/4 tsp Celtic Sea Salt (more or less to taste)

Fresh ground pepper to taste

Dashes of dried thyme, rosemary and oregano

2 tbsp nutritional yeast

2 cups chicken broth

Prepared quinoa

Goat cheese

Preparation

1.  In a large soup pot, heat the Tamari and 1 tbsp coconut oil over med-high heat.

2.  Stir in the chopped onions, celery and bell peppers and sauté for about 5 minutes before adding the garlic, carrots and about 1/2 cup chicken.  Sauté another 5 minutes.

3.  Add the tomatoes, coconut milk, basil, broth, salt, marinara sauce and remaining spices (wait to add the remaining 1 tbsp coconut oil and nutritional yeast until the very end before pureeing).

4.  Let soup come to a boil and cook on low-med heat for about 1/2 hour, allowing all of the flavors to meld together.

5.  Pour all of the contents from the soup pan into a blender, along with 1 tbsp coconut oil and the nutritional yeast.  Blend on high for about 30 seconds until smooth and creamy.

6.  Portion out soup into bowls and add prepared quinoa, mix until combined.  Top with crumbled goat cheese.

Recipe slightly adapted from Amazing Grass:  Fresh Start Challenge

What I love most about this dish is how super duper easy it is to make.  Just throw everything in a pot, let it hang out for a bit and then toss it in the blender.  And with enough soup for 4-5 servings, there is plenty to share or hide away in the freezer for later ;)

PS:  Congratulations to Tiffany T for winning the Amazing Grass Giveaway!  And a big thank you to everyone who participated.  Cheers to a Fresh Start!

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Feb 18 2013
27 Comments
Health

Fresh Start: The Final Days & a Giveaway!

It’s hard to believe just two short weeks ago I began this Fresh Start Challenge.  The time has flown by but I am feeling better than ever.

But now that the challenge is over, where do we go from here?

The most important thing to take away from this challenge is the lifestyle changes that will last beyond the two weeks.  This includes a commitment to choose fresh, raw foods that will help fuel my body, giving me the energy I need to get through my days.  I am fortunate enough to get a weekly delivery of local and organic produce to support this goal.

I am grateful for the variety of delicious recipes I picked up during this challenge.  I am looking forward to sharing them with you and making them a regular staple in our weekly meal plans.  I am also excited about the new ingredients such as coconut oil and Celtic Sea Salt that I am not only aware of but a big fan of thanks to this challenge.

Here’s a look at my last few days of eats during the Fresh Start Challenge…

Day 121.  First Thing:   Amazing Grass’s Amazing Meal mixed with Coconut Water-  In addition to all the yummy recipes I learned during this challenge, I am most grateful for being introduced to this delicious and energizing drink.  It has become such an important part of my daily routine and I look forward to continuing it beyond the challenge.

2.  Breakfast: Fruit Salad with Walnuts and Dates-  Starting my day out with a fresh bowl of fruit topped with nuts really puts a smile on my face.  It was a great excuse to enjoy some more of  those fresh strawberries that came in my box this week as well as the leftover bananas from all the pudding.  Refreshing and delicious.

3.  Lunch:  Goat Cheese Quesadilla-  The plan for lunch today was supposed to be a bowl of Tomato Basil Soup but since I didn’t have time to make it the night before, I settled for another Goat Cheese Quesadilla…which was amazing!  I layered in some leftover sautéed kale which helped to make this a well-rounded and filling meal.

4.  Snack:  Raw Coconut Fudge-  This snack was actually on the menu for Day 10, but I neglected to read the directions which suggested you soak the nuts for 6-8 hours.  So I soaked the nuts and then made it on Day 11, but again neglected to read the directions that suggest chilling the fudge for 2-3 hours.  So I had to wait until today to enjoy it.  Luckily, it was worth the wait.  And I am excited to share the recipe with you soon.

5.  Dinner:  Baked Salmon with Sautéed Kale-  Believe it or not, I was so busy Friday, I completely forgot to eat dinner.  I happened to be talking to my mom around 10pm and I noticed that I was unusually hungry.  Luckily, I had this salmon marinating in the fridge and my mom walked me through cooking it in the oven while we were on the phone (usually I refer to google for such a thing but since I have Verizon, I can’t talk and surf).

6.  Snack:  Young Coconut-  After such a yummy and flavorful meal, this was the perfect way to cleanse my palate.  I always save the coconut water for the following day (way better than bottled) and then scrape off the meat from the walls using a spoon.  A great way to end the evening.

Day 13

1.  First Thing:   Amazing Grass’s Amazing Meal mixed with Coconut Water-  The Amazing Meal is delicious enough to drink with coconut water or your milk of choice, but can be easily added to your favorite smoothie.  It is a wonderful way to jump-start your body in the morning or can also serve as a pre or post workout snack.  The possibilities are endless :)

2.  Breakfast:  Naturally Sweetened Goat Yogurt-  I went ahead and tried another new flavor today and to be honest, it’s not nearly as good as the strawberry or the mango.  It’s not terrible, but without the fruit to mask the pungent goat milk flavor, it was a little tart for my liking.  Especially first thing in the morning.  So for now on, I am sticking with the flavors I like best.

3.  Lunch:  Lettuce Wraps Stuffed with Tuna Salad-  Choosing to wrap your sandwiches in lettuce instead of bread is an easy and delicious way to cut back on processed grains.  Since I had gestational diabetes while pregnant with Harper, this was the only way I could enjoy my lunch most days.  And to be honest, I have come to prefer eating my sandwiches wrapped in lettuce now.

4.  Snack:  Apple Topped with Peanut Butter-  Knowing that we were going to be out and about running errands, I got my snack all ready to go before we left the house.  When the time came for me to enjoy it, I realized I had left it on the kitchen counter…darn!  Enter Trader Joes…they always come through :)  Bought a bag of organic sliced apples and a new jar of unsalted, unsweetened peanut butter and snack was served!

5.  Dinner:  Black Bean Tostada-  I am in LOVE with these beans.  If you thought I was into beans before, these beans take the cake.  This will definitely be a recipe I plan to share…once I make a new batch of them ;)

6.  Snack:  Almond Milk Ice Cream-  Sometimes, ice cream just tastes better out of a carton.  And this almond milk frozen dessert is no different.  Since there was only a few bites left anyways I decided to skip the bowl and just grab a spoon.  PS:  I am totally hooked on this stuff!

Day 14

1.   First Thing:   Amazing Grass’s Amazing Meal mixed with Coconut Water-  To think this whole journey started with one green drink…For those of you out there who are skeptical about this cup of greens, I encourage you to give it a try.  If you like the taste of fresh juiced greens, they offer an original flavor and for those of your who prefer something sweet, why not try a vanilla chai or chocolate?

2.  Breakfast:  Raw Steel Cut Oats-  I don’t know about you, but whenever I eat cereal with fruit, there has to be an equal fruit to cereal ratio on my spoon.  And when the fruit is all gone but there is still cereal left?  Better slice up some more fruit so I can enjoy the rest of the cereal.  Does that mean that instead of eating Raw Steel Cut Oats with fruit, I am really eating fruit with Raw Steel Cut Oats?

3.  Lunch:  Tomato Basil Bisque-  I finally had time to whip up a fresh batch of this amazing soup.  And then proceeded to eat two bowls of it.  It is just so darn tasty!  I have plans to post the recipe later this week so stay tuned.

4.  Snack:  Naturally Sweetened Goat Yogurt-  After an unsuccessful experience with the Vanilla, I went back to my old faithful, Apricot Mango.  And it really was the perfect snack while I was in the midst of prepping dinner.  Soooo creamy :)

5.  Dinner: Stir-fry Chicken and Vegetables with Soba Noodles-  It’s not often that I eat pasta, but since I haven’t eaten it in nearly 2 weeks, I was very excited about this meal.  And the recipe delivered!  Silky soba noodles, tossed with green onions, red bell pepper and diced chicken drenched in a homemade cilantro peanut sauce, this dish is a definite winner.

6.  Dessert:  Kombucha-  I have never jumped aboard the Kombucha train.  I guess I just don’t know much about it.  But this delicious drink was a great way to end the evening.  It was tasty and refreshing and has loads of health benefits.  Might just have to get hip to the Kombucha craze.

And with that, the 2 week Fresh Start Challenge is complete.  It was a wonderful journey and I truly learned a lot about how to make better choices in the food I eat.  Plus, I have more than enough recipes and ideas to keep me going down the right path.

Now it’s your turn for a Fresh Start.  The generous folks over at Amazing Grass have offered to giveaway 1, 15 serving bottle of Amazing Meal to one of my faithful readers.

To enter: “Like” Amazing Grass  and In Her Chucks on Facebook and leave a comment telling me that you have done so.

For additional entries…

1.  Subscribe to this blog and leave a comment telling me you have done so.  If you already subscribe to my blog, then leave me a comment telling me that you are already subscribed (and thanks for the support!).

2.  Follow @amazinggrass on Twitter and leave a comment on this post letting me know you’ve done so.

3.  Follow Amazing Grass on Pinterest and leave a comment on this post letting me know you’ve done so.

4.   Pin this giveaway and comment here with a link to your post.

The more entries you have, the better your chances are to win.  The giveaway will close at 12:01 am on February 25th.  A winner will be randomly selected and announced on February 26th.  Make sure to include your email address with your comment so that I can contact you if you win.

Good luck!

*Full Disclosure:  Amazing Grass provided me with one bottle of Amazing Meal free of charge.  I was not paid to write this post. With exception of some of the factual information given about the various products, all opinions regarding the products are my own and 100% honest.

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Feb 11 2013
14 Comments
Health

Fresh Start: Day 5 & 6

Nothing makes a girl feel better than a fresh haircut :)  Yesterday, while Daddy and Harper spent the day together, Mommy (that’s me) took some time to herself for a little pampering.  It’s not often that I get to be by myself, let alone do something for myself.  But thanks to my loving husband, I got to do both!  So now I am feeling refreshed on the inside and out.

In order to make sure I kept up with the challenge during mommy’s day out, I packed up my lunch and snacks and took them with me.  And it went perfectly.  The hardest part was dinner.  My day went a bit longer than expected and so by the time I was headed home I was beyond hungry.  I passed by a ton of restaurants that were calling my name (*cough* In-N-Out *cough*) but I was determined to make it back for my planned Fresh Start meal.  Thanks to some hard-core self-control I was able to stay on track and enjoy a delicious bowl of shrimp and veggie stir fry.  Success!

My intention was to post this for you all yesterday, but I was so tired from my fun-filled day that my eyes wouldn’t stay open long enough to finish the post.  So my apologies for keeping you on the edge of your seat but here’s what I have been cooking up this weekend…

Day 51.  First Thing:  Amazing Grass’s Amazing Meal mixed with Coconut Water-  There are a number of reasons why starting your day out with a large glass of greens is beneficial.  For starters, green superfoods such as wheat grass and Spirulina help to cleanse and detoxify your body.  Because your body naturally cleanses itself in the early hours of the morning, feeding your body green superfood as soon as you get up will aid in the cleansing process and as a result gives you a boost of energy.

2.  Breakfast: Spinach and Egg Scramble-  Greens, garlic and goat cheese, oh my!  I am loving this hearty and delicious breakfast scramble.  The addition of avocados really does take it over the top.  I might even had to invite a sprouted tortilla to the party next time :)

3.  Lunch:  Chicken Sandwich with Sprouted Bread and an Apple- I have to admit, I am not one for sandwiches, never have been, but this brown bag lunch had me jumping for joy.  Not sure if it was the toasted sprouted bread, the avocado spread or the grated carrots I stuffed in the middle, but this is my new favorite lunch.  And pairing it with an apple satisfied my need for that crunchy side (instead of chips…).

4.  Snack:  Apple with Almond Butter- It may not look like the most beautiful snack, but it sure was yummy.  In fact, in the midst of me scarfing it down, both Harper and Freddie joined in on the fun.  Good thing I had extra apples and almond butter to refill the stash.

5.  Dinner:  Asian Salad with Marinated Chicken-  I had tried this salad for lunch with tuna on Day 1 but I was excited to give it a go with the marinated chicken.  Loved it!  But my favorite part has got to be the dressing.  A simple recipe that is easily thrown together with ingredients you have in your home, it will take any ordinary pile of lettuce to a whole new level.

6.  Snack:  Young Coconut-  This was a definite first for me.  One bite and I was immediately whisked away to a tropical island in the middle of the ocean.  The texture was different from what I expected…soft and smooth.  And the flavor was pretty mild.  Not as “coconutty” as I thought it would be.  But either way, a nice, sweet, way to end the day.

Day 61.  First Thing: Amazing Grass’s Amazing Meal mixed with Coconut Water-  On the meal plan, they suggest mixing your Amazing Meal in a smoothie or with Coconut Water and I always choose the latter.  I love the taste so much there is no need to mask it in a smoothie.  What I am usually not a fan of is Coconut Water.  So in truth, the Amazing Meal masks the taste of the Coconut Water :)

2.  Breakfast: Raw Steel Cut Oats-  A bowl of soaked oatmeal was exactly what I needed to get my day going.  Drenched in unsweetened almond milk and decorated with a variety of fruits, nuts and seeds, Harper and I couldn’t get enough of this breakfast-y goodness.  I liked the addition of the bananas this time.  It gave a slight sweetness to the oats as well as making it feel a bit more like cold cereal.

3.  Lunch: Goat Cheese Quesadilla-  This is my second time enjoying this lunch and I have to say, this go around it was even more delicious.  I sautéed some kale, onions, garlic and zucchini and served it alongside and it was delightful.  I had planned on eating it cold since I was out and about but the girls at the salon offered to warm it up for me, which made a world of difference.

4.  Snack: Carrots-  I never thought I would devour a bag of carrots as quickly as I gobbled these puppies up but after hours in the salon I was pretty hungry.  Plus they were so sweet and crunchy, it almost felt like I was eating a sugary treat.  Almost.

5.  Dinner: Shrimp and Veggie Stir Fry-  By the time I got home, it was nearly 9pm.  I was beyond starving and ready to eat anything that was put in front of me.  The meal plan called for fish kabobs but I neglected to read that they needed to marinate for a while (oops…), so I chose a dinner from later in the week that easier to whip up at the last minute.  So yummy and satisfying.

6.  Snack:  Avo-Banana Pudding with Fruit-  I was skeptical about whether the pudding would still taste good, but surprisingly it had gotten even sweeter.  I can’t wait to start experimenting with other flavor combinations and textures on the next go around.  Dark chocolate bits maybe?

One more day to go until week one is completed.  Which also means Valentine’s Day is just a few days away.  What are your plans for the holiday dedicated to love?

Wanna join me in turning over a new leaf?  Check out Amazing Grass’s Two Week Challenge and commit this new year to creating a new you :)

*Full Disclosure:  Amazing Grass provided me with one bottle of Amazing Meal free of charge.  I was not paid to write this post. With exception of some of the factual information given about the various products, all opinions regarding the products are my own and 100% honest.

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Jan 29 2013
17 Comments
Cooking

Chicken and Swiss Chard with Couscous in Brodo

Chicken and Swiss Chard with Couscous in Brodo

Believe it or not, this has been one cold winter for us Cali folks. The other day Freddie texted me this picture from the car…

photo

Yeah…36 degrees. In these parts that’s considered unacceptable. But if I were to find the silver lining in all of this (which I like to do), 36 degrees is the perfect weather for a warm bowl of soup :) Especially when it’s easy to make, contains ingredients you already have in your fridge and super, duper delicious!

But before we get to the recipe, let’s settle something here. What the heck is brodo? Well, according to my Google search, brodo is another word for broth or clear soup. Nothing special, but when you add it to the title of your recipe, it makes it sound so much more fancy. And these days, I’ll take all the fancy I can get :)

Ingredients

6 cups low sodium chicken broth

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts,

2 garlic cloves, smashed

3/4 cup Israeli couscous

3/4 cup thinly sliced carrots

1/2 bunch Swiss chard, center ribs and stems removed, leaves torn into 2 inch pieces

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

1/4 cup fresh dill fronds

2 tablespoons thinly sliced chives

Lemon wedges (for squeezing)

Preparation

Bring broth to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and garlic, reduce heat to low, and cover. Cook until chicken is cooked through, 10-12 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate; let cool. Shred into bite sized pieces; set aside.

Return broth to a boil and add couscous; cook until al dente, 7-8 minutes. Add carrots and continue to boil until carrots are crisp-tender and couscous is cooked through, 2-3 minutes longer. Remove from heat and stir in Swiss chard; season with salt and pepper. Divide soup among bowls and garnish with dill and chives. Squeeze a bit of lemon over each bowl and serve.

Recipe from Bon Appetit

What I like most about this soup is the crisp, clean flavors. The dill, chives and lemon really bring this dish to life by adding a subtle sweetness. But don’t let this healthy dish fool you…it’s darn hearty! Between the couscous, chicken and Swiss chard your belly will be happily full. And the leftovers? Even better. The longer you let the flavors mingle, the more delicious it will become. So bring on the cold weather Mother Nature…because I got soup for days!

PS: Don’t forget to enter the giveaway! You have until February 1st to get your entries in. Remember to leave a comment on the original post letting me know that you have completed the tasks. Your comments act as your entry into the giveaway. Good luck!

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Oct 26 2012
17 Comments
Babies

Little Duck Organics: Review & GIVEAWAY

As parents, we have a whole lot of responsibilities.  You know, like making sure our kid is bathed, clothed and fed, just to name a few.  But I would take it a step further and say that not only are we responsible to meet our child’s needs but we are responsible to meet those needs responsibly.  Does that make sense?

Let me break it down a little bit more.  When it comes to our child’s nutritional needs, we as parents are responsible for feeding our children food.  But I would suggest that we are just as responsible for offering our children the best food that we possibly can.  Making sure that they are eating food that is full of nutrients, comes from a good, clean source and will help them grow big and strong.  Unfortunately, living in a culture that tends to value convenience over quality, it can be hard to find foods that are healthy and yet favorable to a lifestyle on the go.  Especially when it comes to little ones.  Which is why Little Duck Organics is literally the answer to my prayers.  It’s healthy, it’s convenient, it’s portable and it’s absolutely delish (not that I steal all of Harper’s snacks or anything…).

Little Duck Organics is a line of toddler snacks that is organic, has no sugar added, is gluten-free, non-GMO verified, kosher, sourced locally when possible and like I mentioned before, absolutely delicious :).  It is made of 100% freeze-dried fruit which comes in small bite sized pieces making them perfect for teeny hands to hold.  Little Duck Organics snacks are appropriate for children as young as 6 and as old as…well, OLD!  With flavor combinations such as Apple & Banana, Blueberry & Apple and Strawberry & Mango (my personal fav!) Little Duck Organics can be enjoyed by the whole family!

In addition to offering good food, Little Duck Organics has a passion to do good too.  Which is why they have teamed up with 1% For Humanity to help reducing poverty, hunger and malnutrition in children worldwide.  Now that’s what I call spreading the love.

And since Little Duck Organics is the coolest snack company on the planet, they have offered to send one lucky reader a 1 oz snack of your choosing!

So here’s how to enter…”Like” Little Duck Organics  and In Her Chucks on Facebook and leave a comment telling me that you have done so.

For additional entries…

1.  Subscribe to this blog and leave a comment telling me you have done so.  If you already subscribe to my blog, then leave me a comment telling me that you are already subscribed (and thanks for the support!).

2.  Follow @LittleDuckOrg on Twitter and leave a comment on this post letting me know you’ve done so.

3.  Pin this giveaway and comment here with a link to your post.

The more entries you have, the better your chances are to win.  The giveaway will close at 12:01 am on November 2nd.  A winner will be randomly selected and announced on November 3rd.  Make sure to include your email address with your comment so that I can contact you if you win.

Alright…time to get busy!  Good Luck and Quack, Quack!

*Full Disclosure: Little Duck Organics provided me with products free of charge. I was not paid to write this post. With exception of some of the factual information given about the various products, all opinions regarding the products are my own and 100% honest.

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