The Ok to "Stuff" Yourself

The other day, I was thinking about my moms delicious stuffed peppers she made when I was younger. I think this is when I fell in love with green peppers.  Then I was introduced to the chile relleno and fell even more in love with the poblano pepper. 

Last week, I talked about green vegetables on my TV segment and of course I featured poblanos in my display. Perfect opportunity to whip up my skinny stuffed poblano peppers. 

I start off with ground chicken, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder and a little salt. While that is browning, I cut my poblanos in half and take the seeds out. If you like a little more heat, leave a few in. I will also toss a few seeds into my chicken.

I then add fresh pico made by my favorite supermarket. 

And next goes in the quinoa. I make a batch of quinoa at the beginning of each week so I can easily add it to recipes throughout the week. 

It's time to stuff. I like my meat mixture to be warm because it adds steam to my peppers and makes them soft. 

Place stuffed peppers on a baking sheet and cover with foil so the peppers steam further and get nice and soft. 

With 5 minutes left, uncover the peppers and add 2% sharp cheddar until melted. 

Chop up an avocado, place pico on top and a yummy dollop of fat-free plain Greek on the side. 

Skinny, healthy, packed full of protein, whole grains and flavor!  Cool was proud I had color on my plate and she was a little envious of my lunch today. (BTW she is NEVER jealous of my lunch!) 

Crazy's Skinny Stuffed Poblano Peppers

Serves 4 

1 pound ground chicken (or turkey)

3/4 cup cooked quinoa 

1 tablespoon cumin

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 large poblano peppers, divided and seeded

1 cup 2% shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 avocado, chopped into 1/2 inch cubes

1 cup of salsa or pico de gallo, divided

1 5 ounce container of fat-free plain Greek yogurt

1. In a medium skillet, brown chicken with cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, salt and black pepper. 

2. Slice peppers in half, lengthwise, and take out the seeds. 

3. As the chicken finishes cooking, add in 1/2 cup of salsa and quinoa. 

4. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 

5. Stuffed each pepper with 1/4 of the meet mixture. Place on a foil lined baking dish or baking sheet and cover the peppers with foil.

6. Bake for 40 minutes. 

7. Place 1/4 cup of cheese on each pepper and place back in the oven for 5 minutes or until melted. 

8. Serve warm with 1/4 chopped avocado, 2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt and 2 tablespoons of salsa. 

Good Flix, Good Food, and Good Brews!

Friday night was a treat and my husband and I had the opportunity to go out on the town and try out a new place, Flix Brewhouse.  If you live in the Des Moines area and you have not been there, I urge you to go.  I mean how can you go wrong with a movie, adult beverages, and food.  And by food I don't mean just popcorn and DOTS, yes you can still get those there as well, but you can get pizza, sandwiches, appetizers and even dessert.  Flix Brewhouse is on the top floor of the Merle Hay Mall so if you haven't been to the mall for awhile, you are in for a treat. 

 

I feel like the mall has really stepped up their game, and it was very inviting once we opened the door. 

 

I mean how can this view not be inviting?  This is their brewhouse, think of those as clear beer mugs.  That's a lotta beer! 

 

When we walked up the escalator this is the view you first see.  Wait, are we going to the movie? A restaurant? Or a brewery?  To all those questions, the answer is YES!  What a great concept rolled into one place, and you never have to leave. 

 

We purchased our tickets for "American Sniper," and then went to the bar for a drink before heading into our seats.  The theater encourages you to come 30 minutes before the movie starts because that's when they start seating for the movie.  This allows you to talk with your server, get the run down or how everything works, and get your orders in before the movie starts.  If you are like us, that usually arrive late for a movie, plan ahead.  They don't let you in once the movie starts.  Good thing I read that online before we went!

We sat down in our comfortable rocking chairs and our server greeted us and gave us the all needed info: "your tables move out, the menu is right there, if you need something when the movie starts just write it down and push the button, 45 minutes before the movie ends I will bring the checks around."  Sounds pretty easy right?  All we had to do was look through the menu and figure out what wanted to eat.  We went to the late movie, but hadn't eaten yet so we decided we needed food, and popcorn wasn't going to cut it this time.  Looking through the menu they had all the same movie favorites with popcorn and candy as well as a full menu that you can get 7 days a week.  You don't even need to purchase a movie ticket to eat.

 

 

We agreed on the Mediterranean pizza and a side of french fries and put our order in.  The movie started, we order a couple drinks, and waited for the food.  I will tell you that I was unable to get a picture of the pizza since the movie had started already but it was delicious.  It had artichokes, spinach, sun dried tomatoes, feta cheese and kalamata olives on it and it was the perfect marriage of the sweet marinara sauce paired with the saltiness of the artichokes and olives.  I have always loved olives on my pizza but I think I just found a new favorite.  I would go back to just eat the pizza, it was that good!

I used to love beer and because of my stomach issues I am unable to consume more than an equivalent of a glass of beer without having stomach spasms.  For this reason I am glad I went with my husband because he loves beer and so I get to weigh in on his ordering and tell him the beers I would like to try.  I get to have my taster sip of each one that he ordered and he gets the rest.  Since "American Sniper" is a long movie we got to try a good selection of the beers.  Also I should mention if you are planning on going even though they are a micro brewery they still have wine, liquor, and soda as well.

I was impressed by each beer that I tried.  Flix has 6 core beers and then a slew of special release beers.  Carl first tried the Naughty Squirrel which is an English brown ale, I didn't try this one but Carl said that "it was a creamier brown ale, velvety with a smooth finish."  We then tried the Dupulus Belgian 2x IPA which was a Belgian double IPA.  Even though it was an IPA it started off with a big robust taste but finished very smooth.  The last beer we had was the Cornfed Collar India Red Ale, this is a collaboration that Flix Brewhouse had with 3 other local breweries: Confluence, Peace Tree, and New American.  I will tell you this was our favorite of the night.  It was hoppy with a smooth malt finish.  This beer is worthy of a trip in itself.

And lastly the movie "American Sniper," was a wonderful movie full of emotion.  I would recommend it because it was definitely an eye opener and makes you appreciate everything we have because of the wonderful soldiers that fight for our freedom each day.

Thanks Flix Brewhouse for a wonderful and entertaining night out, and thank you for Merle Hay Mall for having such a great establishment.  We will be back!

-Cool

Cooking with Color

The one question I get asked over and over again is, "Do you cook at home?"  Then after I respond "Yes, I cook at home because I have a family that is hungry ALL THE TIME."  People usually ask "well what do you cook?"  At which my response is "color!"  It might be because I'm a sarcastic person and love to see people's faces dumb founded by what I've just said but it's the best answer I have came up with besides, "food, duh!"  My mom taught me very early in life that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.  Since I was never really good at keeping my mouth shut I guess being sarcastic was what I turned to.

So when I cook at home I actually plan my meals around how it's going to look on the plate?  Think about it, remember I'm not the crazy one. Color to me not only means a pretty and appetizing plate, but it usually means there's more vegetables and healthier as well. I also try to make sure there is at least 3 different food groups on the plate as well to round out the meal and give options.  If my kids don't like 1 thing on the plate then they at least have 2 other options to fill up on. 

So if I was planning on chicken with some quinoa which is pretty boring whitish/brown plate, I will make sure there is some green or red vegetables on the plate so that plate is more appealing to the eye.  See vegetables are not only good for you but they are pretty as well.  When your plate is full of color, it not only looks good but it tastes so much better.  You don't eat with just your mouth, but with your eyes as well. 

I decided to document most of the meals that we have had in the past week and I think the pictures speak for themselves, well maybe except for the Casey's pizza, but since it was taco I'm going to justify it!

 

My husband made breakfast this day.  I think my love of colorful food has rubbed off on him, what do you think? 

Last Tuesday: I had some pizza crust in the fridge so we had a pizza with fig jam, Parmesan cheese, blue cheese, bacon bits and arugula.

Wednesday night is the night that Carl works and so I usually ask the kids what they want for dinner. This night they wanted Mac N Cheese, so I added some ham and sautéed kale to it and I will tell you it was delish.  This was so good that I am still craving some of that boxed mac n cheese with kale!

Thursday night I wanted steaks.  I had been baking sweet stuff all day and was in a sugar coma.  I needed savory food STAT!  I got home and by the time I had unpacked my stuff and caught up with the kids, Carl was almost done cooking dinner.  I added in some ramen at the last minute since it takes 3 minutes to cook,  made a couple Moscow Mules and dinner was complete.

Friday night was pizza night.  CASEY'S TACO PIZZA with Canadian bacon for the kiddos.  We dug in so quick I forgot to take a picture until we went back for more.  So good!

Saturday night was a throw together meal.  I realized I was only taking pictures of my plates so I decided to start taking pictures of the kids' plates as well to show you they eat the same thing as us. I only cook one meal and if they don't like it, well there's always the next meal.  

This is a teriyaki marinated chicken breast with farro and sautéed veggies.  The kids asked for seconds of everything, they loved it.

The kids didn't get the Moscow mule! 

Sunday night is usually our night for pizza but since we had it on Friday I made some "Sammy's."  A hoagie layered with lunchmeat of choice and pepperoni and mozzerella cheese and baked until cheese is melted and piled with lettuce, pepper rings, tomatoes and drizzled with Italian dressing.

Monday night was tuna casserole and grapes.  Pretty basic but yes I do make casseroles, and yes I love the peas in there.

Tuesday was St. Paddy's Day so nothing says Irish like taco salads!  Okay maybe not but they sounded good and I had cooked ground beef in the fridge.

 

The next time you plan your meal challenge yourself to filling your plate up with color.  I bet it not only tastes better, but I think you will feel better as well.

 

Have a wonderful week!

 

-Cool

 

 

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day and Go Green!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  My friend Cool is taking the day off to celebrate like a handful of my other friends (for some reason think this is THE holiday of the year). Today I am going to celebrate with you by sharing why green fruits and vegetables are powerful foods that you should be eating every day. 

I start my day each with a green smoothie. I am not going to lie, I am not the best with my green veggies and this past year, I made myself a promise that I would have at least 2 servings of green vegetables a day. Smoothies have been my life saver to achieve this goal. 

Why should you eat green?  And did you know there is more to green fruits and vegetables than kale, spinach and collard greens? 

KIWI

One medium kiwi provides about 60 calories, 100% of daily vitamin C needs and more potassium than half a banana.  Kiwis also make a smart snack choice—just cut, scoop and eat. I love them because 2 are a serving size and I get 4 grams of fiber.

AVOCADOS

Avocados contain monounsaturated fat, a good heart-healthy fat. This fruit is ready to eat when slightly soft, and can be added to dishes for its fresh and creamy flavor. Add to your favorite entrées, use as a substitute for your favorite condiment or even add to smoothies.

GREEN BELL PEPPERS

One pepper has only 30 calories, and delivers a day’s worth of Vitamin C, supporting healthy immune function.  Peppers are great sautéed in entrée dishes, or make a delicious crunchy snack with a dip. This is truly my go to vegetable at lunch time.

BROCCOLI

One cup of broccoli provides an excellent source of Vitamin K, supporting bone health.  Broccoli also contains as much Vitamin C as an orange, and is a good source of fiber to help with weight control and healthy digestion.  Besides being eaten raw or cooked, broccoli can be added to soups, stews and casseroles for a health kick.

ASPARAGUS

This nutrient-dense vegetable contains folic acid, helping the body make healthy new cells and prevent birth defects during pregnancy.  Need new ideas for asparagus recipes?  Try Roasted Asparagus Salad with Citrus Dressing.

KOHLRABI

This unfamiliar vegetable is a member of the cabbage family.  It has a sweet, juicy texture that tastes similar to broccoli stems.  Enjoy raw, roasted, steamed or add to a favorite soup.  I like them sliced and topped with freshly ground pepper. These are a family favorite!

CUCUMBER

Cucumber is best eaten raw or barely cooked, leaving the skin on for added fiber benefits.  Store up to one week in refrigerator; use leftover cucumber for a personal spa day.

Crazy's Morning Kickstart Shake 

1 kiwi fruit, roughly chopped

1/2 avocado, roughly chopped

1 cup baby spinach, roughly chopped 

1 cup milk (skim or vanilla almond)

1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder 

1 tablespoon chia seeds

Put in blender and purée to the consistency you like. Add ice if you like it more frothy. I also freeze my spinach and my chopped kiwi for the week so it's ready to go and it serves as my ice. 

Cheers to you today! 

~Crazy

Lemon Your Way to Health

Ok, you all know by now I am a little crazy when it comes to nutrition, food and well just about anything. I like to share in my "crazy" on occassion, so today I want to share with you my love for lemons. 

My lemon health started when a couple of years ago, I read a tweet (Yep just 140 characters) that starting the day with warm lemon water was the key to beautiful skin. Sold!  That's all I needed to know. A natural fruit and water=anti-aging goldmine? Done and done. I started religiously drinking it and have been ever since. 

I constantly have fresh lemons in the  house. I prefer fresh because of the flavor and bottled juices just do not have the same taste. I roll my fresh lemon on the countertop to get the juices flowing and  then cut the lemon in half. 

I like warm water versus hot water. Hot water can break down the healthy enzymes and nutrients in the lemon. I take a cup and microwave it for about 80 seconds and it's perfect. 

Squeeze half of the lemon in and enjoy while warm. I do this on an empty stomach, after my workout in the morning and sip on it while I get ready. 

Recently, a friend shared an article on the drinking a cup of lemon water:  http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/ask-diet-doctor-hot-lemon-waters-real-benefits

Sure lemon has a lot of health benefits, but as you can see it probably isn't going to work miracles. However, this is what I personally know:

-It has helped with my energy levels in the morning

-It has improved my skin and I can tell when I skip a few days because I lose a little bit of my glow

-It helps with digestion, if my tummy hurts, this really works and it takes down bloat 

-If my eyes and face are puffy in the morning, lemon water takes care of that

-If I eat a little too much sodium (hello pizza), lemon water reduces the dreaded ankle swelling

-I haven't been sick one day since I started drinking daily lemon water

-Honestly, it just makes me feel good. 

If you don't like it warm, that's fine too! Throw a slice into your daily water indulgence. Now go squeeze, sip and lemon your way to a healthier feeling you! 

~Crazy

        

Healthy Eating is Easy With a Little Plan

Who knew that a breakfast like this could come together in less than 10 minutes?  Just a little planning and you could have a colorful nutritious breakfast even during the week!

 

 

Saturday morning the kiddos woke up and we started the day out like most other saturday mornings.  The kids went to the kitchen to their shelf and picked out their "snacks," which usually consist of anything from cereal, granola bars, raisens, fresh fruit, triscuits, or sometimes they get in the fridge to get yogurt or cheese sticks.  They are always so hungry in the morning that they can't even wait to let me make breakfast even though it might only take 5 minutes.  In parenting we choose our battles and as long as I provide them with good food options that they can be self sufficiant how can I get mad at that?  The kids then take their snacks out to the living room and watch some cartoons while I make "real" breakfast. 

 

Paxton's favorite spot while watching cartoons.

I knew that the temperature was going to be nice out and that we would want to take full advantage of it as much as we could so I needed to make sure we had a filling breakfast.  I go to the fridge and realize that I still had some of my breakfast sausage and millet mixture left. 

 

**HEALTHY COOKING TIP: I get questions all the time about what how to cook healthy and my answer is always "planning."  Without a plan, you will always do what you have always done.  In my fridge at any given day I will usually have a bowl of cooked ancient grains, and cooked protein option.  Sometimes I mix them together, sometimes they are seperate.  I do this because even though the grains only take 20- 35 minutes to cook, who has that kind of time each day?  If you have some already cooked in the fridge and all you have to do is warm it up in the microwave than you are more likely to use it.  And you just made convenient food healthy!!  I know, MIND BLOWN, right?  Just like the grains, if you have cooked ground beef in the fridge that is just seasoned with salt and pepper, or some cooked chicken breasts than the options are endless on what you can do with it.  This way when you are thinking at 4:00p what you are going to have for dinner and dinner has to be fast than you can throw the two together, add some vegetables, maybe some cheese and you have a fast easy healthy dinner.**

  

Okay so back to my breakfast plan, and how I always have precooked proteins and grains in my fridge, I grab the breakfast sausage and millet mixture and heat it up in the microwave for about 90 seconds to build my filing breakfast.    

 

 

I then see I have lots of vegetables so I add a little olive oil, green peppers and cut kale and cook up to add to the sausage and millet mixture.  

I am a big fan of over easy eggs and the running yolk creating a natural sauce for the breakfast, but make whatever type of eggs that you like, or don't use eggs if you don't like them.  It's your breakfast!

And look, you've got breakfast in 10 minutes.

Now I don't really have a recipe for this one just because it's more of what you like and it's more of an idea of what breakfast could be.  I know I did this on Saturday but it doesn't take longer than 10 minutes to make so it could make its way into the weekday breakfast.

My little breakfast helper, that didn't want her own, but knowing full well she would just eat off mom's plate.  I don't put salsa in her side because"I no like picey food."

Here's the other guy that "wasn't hungry" but just wanted to try half of my breafast. Good thing I know that know full well that my kids will eat anything off my plate so I just load up and plan on eating about 1/3 of it.

Now it's your turn, try making a plan this week to help you eat healthier.  What tips do you have for others to eat healthy?  What works for your family or what questions do you have that we can help you out on your healthy eating journey?

Let us know.

-Cool