Spinach & Cheddar Chicken Burgers

With all the gorgeous weather we've been having lately, this past week the family and I took the opportunity to do some grilling!  Unfortunately, our burgers didn't exactly get cooked through before the propane went out on the grill lol but we finished them up inside and they were delish!  Who gets to attempt to grill in November in PA anyways!!

One of my favorite burger recipes, and an alternative to using ground beef or turkey is an amazingly yummy Chicken Burger!  

Ingredients:

• 4 oz Wilted Spinach
• 1/2 small Onion
• 1 Clove of Garlic
• 2 Green Onions, roughly chopped
• 1 lb ground Chicken
• 2 TBSP Balsamic Vinegar
• 2 tsp Soy Sauce
• 1 tsp Lemon Juice
• 1/2 tsp Chili Powder
• 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1/2 cup Panko/Whole Wheat Bread Crumbs

Directions:

• Place Spinach, Onion, Garlic, and Green Onions into a food processor and blend

• Empty into a large bowl and add the following:
• Ground Chicken
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Soy Sauce
• Lemon Juice
• Chili Powder
• Cheddar Cheese
• Panko/Bread Crumbs
• Mix it all together and then form into patties

• Refrigerate for 2 hours, grill, and enjoy!

I served mine on a whole wheat bun with a touch of mustard.  So good and so easy! Try it out and let me know what you think!

Comfort Food - Mac N Cheese!

It's no secret that I absolutely love the 21 Day Fix Cookbook, Fixate.  This is my number one, go to tool for meal prep!  It's been such a time saver!

One of my absolute favorite recipes is the Mac N Cheese recipe.  It is to die for!  I've made it pretty much every week since I picked this baby up!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups cooked whole wheat macaroni
• 4 tsp coconut oil
• 2 Tbsp whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk
• 1 1/4 cups sharp cheddar cheese
• 3 cups cooked chicken breast
•  6 cups steamed broccoli
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp ground pepper

Instructions

• Pre-make the chicken, broccoli, and macaroni.
• Note: follow the box of macaroni for cooking instructions but skip any "extras" like salt or oil
• Melt oil in a large saucepan
• Add flour and whisk continuously for 1 minute or until brown
• Slowly whisk in almond milk, stirring constantly for 1-2 minutes until thickened
• Reduce heat to low and add cheese, continue to whisk for 2-3 minutes until all cheese is melted
• Add chicken, broccoli, macaroni, salt, and pepper.  Stir for 1 minute or until heated through.
• Serve immediately and enjoy!

Mason cannot get enough of this recipe!  He loves it!  

Another thing I LOVE about this is how great the leftovers keep.  I'm always skeptical of reheating broccoli but this heats up perfectly!

The Salad Dressing Debate

What's your dressing of choice?  In this house, we are a bit divided!  Hubby loves Italian, that's all he eats...unless its on pizza, then it's Ranch all the way!  I myself am a true Ranch lover at heart! 

When I started my clean eating journey I assumed I would just have to give it up all together.  That was until I stumbled upon this amazing recipe!

Looking for a clean and healthy Ranch Dressing recipe?  Look no further!

Ingredients

• 1/2 Cup thick Greek Yogurt (I use Fage 2%)
• 1 tsp Lemon Juice
• 1/4 tsp Onion Powder
• 1/4 tsp Celery Seed
• 1/4 tsp Salt

Instructions

Mix it all together!  Yes, it's that easy! :)  If you like your dressing a little creamier like I do, whisk in a little bit of water until you get to your desired consistency.

Try it out and let me know what you think!

Challenge Group 411

Many of you have heard me talk about Challenge Groups and how much I absolutely love and believe in them.  Maybe I've even told you about them, asked you to join, or maybe you've been a challenger!

I wanted to take some time to explain what exactly a Challenge Group is and why I feel they are vital to success.

Let's start with my Challenge Group background.

I was a challenger in my first group August of 2014. I was nervous, scared I would fail, wouldn't be able to hang, wouldn't get the results that others were achieving. 

I was out of shape, overweight, and down right miserable. I hated leaving my house, I was embarrassed of how I looked and felt.  I knew I needed to do something and decided I needed to give it a try. So I took the plunge, orders T25, the 3 Day Refresh, and Shakeology and dove in head first. 

The Challenge Groups typically consist of 4 weeks.  The first was pre-game week. We all got to know each other, talked about our goals, our WHY, all things to get us comfortable with the amazing people we would be spending the next 21 days working with. 

When the 21 day challenge went in to full swing I was so ready to do this! My coach was motivating me! Other coaches and challengers were motivating me!  And most importantly, I was motivating myself!  I saw all these other amazing challengers ready to kick some major ass and I was right there with them!  If they could do this, so could I!

My first Challenge Group I lost 4.2lbs and 8.5 inches!  Pretty awesome right?!  It felt incredible!!

Since my first Challenge Group over a year ago, I've continued to either participate in other coaches groups or have hosted/co-hostsed my own.  Not a month has passed that I haven't been involved in one of these amazing groups!  I attribute a HUGE part of my success to these awesome Challenge Groups and here's why.

Weight loss is difficult enough as it is.  It can seem unattainable and overwhelming.  Doing it alone only intensifies these difficulties.  What these Challenge Groups provide you with is a safe environment to post your triumphs and struggles, a group of amazing people all working towards a common goal, and a coach to help you every step of the way. 

To date I have lost 23lbs and 27 1/4 inches!  I've still got more to lose and will continue to do so by hosting and participating in these amazing Challenge Groups :)

I would love to share this amazing opportunity with you!  I cannot stress enough how life changing all of this has been for myself.  I'm finally happy in my own skin again.  I no longer dread leaving my house.  And most importantly, I'm enjoying life again!  A benefit for both myself and my family :)   

Yummy Chicken Parm...or Bust!

Chicken Parm is a favorite meal in the Blasco household.  All 3 boys love it.  It's something I can make and know that everyone will eat it and be happy!  We have a favorite recipe that I've been making for years...I don't even remember where I got it, I just know that we love it!

Unfortunately, it's not the healthiest meal ever!  The recipe basically involves dipping the chicken in melted butter and then heavily breading it with a flour/breadcrumbs/cheese mixture...sometimes even double dipping!!

By now, I think it's pretty clear that I'm in love with the Fixate cookbook!  Each recipe that I've tried has been so delicious!  So tonight, it was time to try the Chicken Parm recipe! 

Shawn was very skeptical!  He's very set in his ways and likes what he likes!  But, he agreed to try it. 

This recipe took some time, I would recommend making the chicken and sauce ahead of time!  But it isn't a difficult recipe by any means!

Pasta Sauce Ingredients

• 2 TBSP Olive Oil
• Medium Onion, chopped
• 4 Cloves Garlic, chopped
• 1 6oz can Tomato Paste
• 1/4 Red Wine
• 2 28oz cans Whole Peeled Tomatoes
• 2 TBSP Agave Nectar
• 1 tsp Sea Salt
• 1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper
• 3oz Parmesan/Parmigiano Cheese Rind (not totally necessary, but I did include this in my sauce)
• 3 TBSP Basil

Pasta Sauce Directions

• Heat oil in large sauce pan and add onion, cook for 5-6 mins, stirring frequently
• Add garlic and tomato paste, stirring constantly for 2-3 mins
• Add wine and cook for 2-3 mins stirring constantly
• Add tomatoes, agave salt, and pepper, bring to a boil and reduce heat to a gently boil, cook for 3 mins
• Add cheese rind and cook for 1 hour, stirring occasionally
• Add basil and enjoy!

Chicken Ingredients - get ready, there's a lot lol!!

• 2 TBSP Pine Nuts
• 1 TBSP Cornmeal
• 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
• 1/2 tsp Ground Paprika
• 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper
• 1/4 tsp Ground Cayenne Pepper
• 1/2 tsp Dried Oregano Leaves
• 1/2 tsp Dried Thyme Leaves
• 1/4 tsp Sea Salt
• 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
• 1/4 cup Almond Flour
• 1/4 cup Coconut Flour
• 2 TBSP Grated Parmigiano Cheese
• 1/2 cup Low Fat Buttermilk
• 1 Large Egg White
• 1 lb Chicken Breasts
• 1 TBSP Olive Oil
• 2 TBSP each of shredded Mozzarella Cheese and Parmesan Cheese (you will need this amount X number of chicken breasts used)

Chicken Directions

• Preheat oven to 425
• Put pine nuts and cornmeal in food processor, pulse until finely ground
• Combine nut mixture, onion powder, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, oregano, thyme, salt, baking powder, almond flour, coconut flour and grated parmigiano cheese.  Set aside.
• Wisk egg white and butter milk in separate bowl
• Heat oil in large skillet, add chicken and cook for 3-4 mins
• Transfer chicken to baking dish and bake for 10-12 mins
• Reduce oven temp to 350
• Top each chicken breast with 3 TBSP Pasta Sauce and 4 TBSP of Mozzarella and Parmesan mix
• Cover with foil and bake until cheese is bubbly, then enjoy!

I made this in stages.  I made the chicken first and then before topping with the sauce and cheese I left it sit out covered in foil while I made the sauce which takes time!  I baked the chicken the second time for 15 minutes.

So...what did my family think??  I LOVED it!  I practically had devoured my plate before Shawn had finished cutting his up lol!!  Hey, I was hungry lol, and it was delish!!

BOTH boys LOVED it too!  They even asked for seconds! 

And Shawn...well...he really liked it too!!!  He said he would definitely eat this healthy version again :)  Now, if only I could get him to eat whole wheat pasta lol!!!  Slowly converting him :)

There are so many amazing recipes in Fixate, I seriously cannot get enough!  Love trying all these new recipes and experimenting with them on my family!

And the Verdict is...

Tonight in the Blasco house we had Fixate Turkey Chili.  Most nights I have to make 2 or 3 different meals.  Hubby and my oldest, Carter, are pretty picky eaters.  Tonight I decided NOT to make multiple meals and was determined for everyone to eat what I was making!

It didn't take long for Shawn to waver my confidence...he walks in to the kitchen as I'm cooking the ground turkey and says "that better be beef!".  Ummm sure honey...it's beef lol!

So he leaves the kitchen for a bit and comes back in while I'm working on the onions and peppers and says "wow, does that smell good!" :)  Ok I think, now that's more like it!

And he was right, it did smell really good!  The further along in the recipe I got, the more excited I was for everyone to try it! 

Here's the recipe.

Ingredients

• 2 tsp extra-virgin organic coconut oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 lb ground turkey, cooked
• 2 cans (15 oz each) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes
• 1 cup red wine
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp salt

Directions

• Heat oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat
• Add onions and peppers, cook 5-6 minutes stirring occasionally
• Add garlic and cook for additional minute
• Add remaining ingredients, bring to boil, reduce to gentle boil for 20 minutes or until slightly thickened

Serves 6, about 1 and 1/2 cups each

Such an easy recipe and seriously so good! 

So, what did my family think? 

Mason loved it!  He loves pretty much anything I cook :)

Carter wouldn't try it lol!  He ended up eating Star Wars cereal for dinner...he's a work in progress...and according to his father, is stubborn like his mother!

And Shawn...he liked it!  He said next time more chili powder and less peppers lol.

But I'd say it was a hit!  And we will definitely be making this again!

Another Day, Another Salad

I'm not only a lunchtime salad eater on the week days, I'm a weekend salad eater too.  They are just so quick, easy, and filling.  If you haven't noticed, those 3 factors are pretty key for me to help keep things balanced!

Today's salad is a healthy version of a cobb salad from Fixate!  I am in love with this cookbook!

Ingredients

• 2 cups romaine
• 1 cup baby spinach
• 1 hard boiled egg
• 1 slice turkey bacon
• 2 tbsp diced avocado
• 2 tbsp blue cheese (I used feta)

Directions

• Quarter hard boiled egg
• Cook turkey bacon and chop into small pieces
• Add egg, turkey bacon, avocado, and cheese to mixed greens
• Drizzle with salad dressing of choice (I used the Lemon Dijon dressing from Fixate) and Enjoy!

Back on the Wagon

The past few weeks I've been very "on" and "off" in my health and fitness journey.  Some days I would eat so well only to ruin it with late night snacking after everyone else had already gone to bed for the evening.  I had no self control.  I forgot how much emotional eating had once affected my life.

Tonight, our boys are spending the night at Benny's (that's what they call my mom :) ) and Shawn and I were able to go on a little early anniversary date night. 

I've been eating well all week, hitting my workouts, feeling great.  I was so worried that I would sabotage myself tonight like I so often do! 

We went to Luigi's, a family owned Italian restaurant, and I totally kept on my A game!  I ordered a salad with tomato balsamic vinaigrette, only using a small amount, whole wheat pasta with red sauce and lightly breaded chicken breast, finishing less than half the plate, one glass of wine, and a sliver of Shawn's coconut cream pie! 

I am so PROUD of myself!  Normally I would have ordered my favorite pasta dish, Skip's combo, complete with manicotti, stuffed shells, cavatelli, and a meatball, and likely a dessert all for myself.

I feel GOOD tonight.  And I will feel GREAT when I weigh in tomorrow morning :)

Tomorrow marks Day 1 of the 21 Day Fix for me.  I've done it a few times in the past and absolutely love the workouts and the meal plan.  I'm excited to commit for the next 21 Days!

Here are my results from the first time I used this program, can you say AMAZING!  I was so pleased and can't wait to see what this round holds!  Looking forward to sharing this round with you all through my blog!

I'd love to take this journey with anyone who is motivated to making positive change in their life.  If you are interested in learning more about this amazing program message me and lets chat :)

Lunch Time Challenges

Working from home comes with so many challenges.  Staying focused on work and not being temped by housework, TV, and the beautiful outdoors just to name a few!  But one of the biggest challenges I've faced is coming up with new ideas for lunches! 

When I first started working from home 2 years ago, I would run out at lunch time and pick up Taco Bell, Wendy's, anything quick and easy.  Nutrition was not in the forefront. 

Once I started my health and fitness journey 1 year ago, all that changed.  But even so, I still had that big challenge to face...what the heck was I going to eat for lunch?  I would fall in to ruts, getting tired of all of my usual options and some times causing me to fall off the wagon. 

Last week, I received my copy of Fixate and OMG let me tell you what, it's going to be a LONG TIME before I start running out of lunch ideas now!  So many options, so many variations!  I've tried a few recipes so far and there is one that absolutely has me hooked!  I've had this salad 3 times in the past week it's that good! 

I'm calling this my Asian Chicken and Pineapple Salad.

Here's how I made it:

Chicken Ingredients (makes 3 servings):

• 6 pieces of chicken strips
• 1/3 cup reduced- sodium soy sauce
• 2 tsp sesame oil
• 2 tsp grated ginger

Chicken directions:

• Place chicken in re-sealable plastic bag/container and combine all ingredients
• Marinate in refrigerator for 30 minutes
• and grill! - tough stuff huh! :)

Salad ingredients (makes 1 serving):

• Equal parts spinach and arugala - I used 1 cup each
• 1/2 shredded carrots
• 1/2 snap peas
• 6 chunks of pineapple
• 1 tsp sesame seeds

Mix it all together, top with chicken, drizzle with your dressing of choice, and ENJOY!

If you're a 21 Day Fixer - the portions for this are 1 Red, 3 Green, 1/2 Purple, and then Orange depending on how much dressing you add!  I used 1/2 an Orange.

 If you try this out - let me know what you think!  I'm in love and I hope you like it too!