Happy Spring!!

Once the seasons change I personally feel as if I crave, and want to make recipes that go with the new season. It is finally spring so instead of warmer foods it is time for fresher, cold foods. This recipe can be made for a lunch, or dinner and is healthy but also yummy. I’m going to be honest I’m not a huge salad girl, only if the salad has things on it and good flavor to it. This recipe is a sweet but also has a nice zip to it as well.

Ingredients: this recipe can make up to 4 servings

• 1½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon best-quality balsamic vinegar
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped shallot
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
• 6 cups baby spinach
• 1 cup sliced strawberries
• ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
• ¼ cup toasted chopped walnuts

Feel free to not use some of the toppings and change up the recipe to what you prefer this is just what I like and make. 

Directions:

1. Whisk oil, vinegar, shallot, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes to allow shallots to soften and mellow a bit.
2. Add spinach, strawberries, feta and walnuts to the bowl and toss to coat with the dressing.
3. ENJOY 🙂

This recipe is quick to make only takes about 15 minutes to make!! 

Nutrition Facts:

• Gluten Free
• Soy Free
• High Fiber
• Low Carbs
• Vitamin A and Vitamin C

Sundae Recipe

Eating healthy is hard and from all that hard work you deserve a cheat dessert! I personally have a sweet tooth so I like to make my cheat cheat something yummy and sweet. Anything from cupcakes, to cake to ice cream I LOVE!! So this cheat dessert is going to be a sundae. But not any sundae….. a Oreo Sundae!

Ingredients:

• Cookies and Cream ice cream
• 2 cups of chocolate chips
• Oreo cookies (largely chopped or minis)
• Whip cream
• Oreo cookie crumbles to top it off

Instructions:

1. Scoop the desired amount of ice cream into a sundae bowl
2. Top with chocolate chips and oreos
3. Finish off the sundae with whipped cream, and oreo cookie crumbles
4. ENJOY!!!! 🙂

This recipe is just my go to favorite cheat cheat dessert. Feel free to change up this sundae to your favorites, or even do a different cheat meal. The point of this is to know everything is good in moderation! Always try to be the healthiest version of yourself but also be happy with what you’re eating.

Bowl of Heaven

I’am a Chipotle LOVER!!! Sadly, when being here at school there is no Chipotle, the closest one is in Concord, NH. My roommates and I will take trips 40 minutes away just to get it. There is Burrito Me on Main Street but no no that is not the same as Chipotle. What I love is being able to have my original favorite bowl but also being able to change it up when wanted. This recipe can be good for a lunch or even a dinner, and also it is filling and not wicked unhealthy. A plus when making it at home is you don’t have to make it as salty, like Chipotle does. Again, I’m personally more of a bowl type of girl but burritos are good as well.

Ingredients for Chicken: (I use chicken, feel free to also use steak or have a vegetarian bowl)

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 chipotle peppers in adobo, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts)

Ingredients for Rice:

• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup white basmati rice
• 2 cups water
• 1 lime
• 2 tablespoons freshly chopped cilantro

Toppings!!!! (the best part)

• pinto or black beans
• chicken or steak
• corn
• queso
• sour cream
• tomatoes/salsa
• cheese
• lettuce
• guac       Those are just some topping ideas to get you thinking!

Alex Bowl: what I usually get or make

• extra brown rice
• pinto beans
• chicken
• mild salsa
• corn
• sour cream
• cheese
• lettuce
• guac
• with a tortilla on the side!!

Instructions: 

1. 1. Combine the vegetable oil, chopped chipotle peppers in adobo, garlic powder, cumin, dried oregano, and black pepper in a small bowl and stir to combine.
   2. Place the chicken in a large zip top plastic bag and add the marinade. Zip the bag and mix the chicken into the marinade. Place it into the fridge and let it marinate for at least 1 hour.
   3. Heat an indoor or outdoor grill to about 400 degrees F (medium high heat). Place the chicken onto the grill and grill 5 to 6 minutes per side, until the chicken is cooked. Remove the chicken from the grill and let rest for 10 minutes. Chop the chicken into small bite sized pieces and use as needed.

1. 1. In a heavy saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the white rice and lime juice and sauté for 60 seconds to toast the rice.
   2. Add the water and bring the rice to a boil. Cover and reduce the heat to low and cook until the rice is tender and all the water is absorbed.
   3. Add in the cilantro and fluff rice with a fork.

1. Arrange equal parts of the white rice and chopped grilled chicken in 4 bowls. Top with equal parts of the pinto beans, corn, guacamole, pico and cheese. Season with salt and pepper as needed and serve immediately.

After a few times of making my own homemade Chipotle bowl, I have mastered how to cook it and what flavoring I like best. Remember, make the bowl look pretty because who doesn’t like mouth watering foods? Save money and be your own Chipotle from your own kitchen! 

Let’s get fruity this week!

Something my mom has always made for me ever since I was little for a snack was a fruit salad parfait. But not any kind, a eye appealing but also yummy Rainbow Fruit Salad Parfait. It is very important to include eating fruits in your daily diet, and sometimes it can be hard. This is a easy way to include the 2 servings of fruit each day. For this specific recipe it is more aimed to be a dessert but it can also be a snack if wanted. It is a very easy, and also quick recipe nearly anyone is able to make. I even had made this recipe for the little kids I babysit and they loved it! The presentation of this recipe little kids love and makes them want to eat it more. This dessert/snack can be a great thing to bring over to a party, or have at your place when people come over.

Rainbow Fruit Salad Parfait

Ingredients: 

• Tall glasses to make the parfait in
• 2 cups of each type of fruit
• 1 1/2 tsp of vanilla pure extract
• 3/4 cup of powered sugar
• Whipped cream (if desired)
• Granola (if desired)

Fruit Rainbow: 

• Red: strawberries, cherries, raspberries, cranberries, watermelon
• Orange: oranges, mandarin oranges, cantaloupe
• Yellow: banana, pineapple,
• Green: kiwi, green grapes
• Blue: blueberries, blackberries
• Purple: purple grapes

These are just some options for the different color fruits you can choose for the parfait. Each parfait is unique and is individualized for each person depending which fruits they like best. That is one big reason why this recipe is good because it is very versatile and can be easily changed.

Directions:

1. Put each fruit in its own bowl
2. Add 1/4 tsp vanilla and 2 tablespoons of powered sugar to each bowl
3. Mix until the sugar dissolves
4. Evenly distribute the fruits into the tall glasses
5. MAKE SURE to start with the purple fruit on bottom and go from there ending with red fruit
6. If wanted top off with some whipped cream and granola!!!
7. Eat right away or refrigerate right after making

Feel free to change the recipe to how you like but this is just the recipe my mom made for me and then I started making for myself and other people. The vanilla and powered sugar gives it a yummy flavor rather than just having plain fruit. And of course this is a healthy recipe. Remember eat your fruits folks!

Photo: from Google