Chicken Enchilada Soup

This is such a quick, easy, and healthy recipe!  I was AMAZED at how much flavor there was in the soup. Family gave it 2 thumbs up!

Ingredients:

1 pound cooked, shredded chicken
1 (15 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, mashed
1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce
1 can black beans (drained & rinsed)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (4 ounce) can of chopped green chili peppers
2 gloves garlic, minced
2 cups water
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

Directions:
1.  Place chicken, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, black beans, onion, green chilies, and garlic into a slow cooker. Stir together.
2.  Add water and chicken broth.
3.  Season soup with the chili powder, salt, black pepper, & bay leaf.
4. Stir in corn and cilantro.
5. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours.

Topping options:
shredded cheese, crumble up tortilla chips, cilantro

Pot Roast

Such a simple & yummy recipe! Great for those long winter days.

Ingredients

2 lbs pot roast

2 carrots, sliced

1 cup frozen peas

2 onions sliced

3 potatoes cut into cubes

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 packet dry onion soup mix

Garlic powder

Dash of sea salt & pepper 

Directions

1. Spray crock pot with nonstick cooking spray or add crock pot liner.

2. Add cream of mushroom soup & onion soup mix. Stir together.

3. Dip pot roast in flour on all sides. Add garlic powder to each side as well. Place in crock pot.

4. Add carrots, peas, onions, & potatoes into crock pot.

5. Add dash of salt & pepper.

6. Cook on low for 8 hours.

Slow Cooker Creamy Mexican Chicken

Ingredients:

4 small boneless, skinless chicken breast (can be frozen)
15 oz. can black beans, drained
7 oz. can chopped green chilies
1 cup frozen corn
1 large onion, diced
3 bell peppers, chopped
15 oz can diced tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp. chili powder
1/2 tbsp onion powder
1/2 tbsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. cumin
2/3 cup plain Greek Yogurt
Fresh cilantro

Directions:
1.  Add chicken breasts to slow cooker.
2.  Top with all remaining ingredients EXCEPT greek yogurt and cilantro.

3.  Cook on low for 8 hours or until chicken breasts begin to fall apart easily.
4.  Remove chicken and shred. Add chicken back to slow cooker.
5.  Add greek yogurt, cover and continue to cook on low for 30 minutes.
6.  Stir well and serve on top of quinoa or rice.
7.  Top off with cilantro & enjoy!

21 Day Fix: 1 red, 1 green, 1/2 purple, 1 yellow.  Count additional yellows for rice or quinoa.  If add cheese on top, count 1 blue as well.

Slow Cooker Eggplant Lasagna

This is such a quick, easy, healthy meal to make for the whole family to enjoy!  The eggplant acts like the noodles and can't even tell it's eggplant.  Winner!

Ingredients:

1 large eggplant, sliced thin
6 cups pasta sauce (no sugar, low salt)
2 cups Greek yogurt
2 cups reduced fat shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup reduced fat shredded parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon dried oregano
8 fresh basil leaves - chopped (optional for topping)

Directions:
1.  Spray slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
2.  Pour 2 cups of sauce evenly with the bottom of crock.
3.  Place a layer of eggplant slice atop sauce.
4.  Mix Greek yogurt with 1/2 cup mozzarella, 1 cup Parmesan, & oregano.  Layer the mixture atop eggplant slices.
5.  Repeat layering sauce, eggplant, yogurt.
 **Make sure you reserve some sauce for the top layer**
6.  Sprinkle remaining cup of mozzarella evenly across the entire dish.  Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
7. Garnish with fresh basil before serving. Enjoy!

**You can add meat to this if you'd like.  I have tried it with ground turkey.  I just fried it up ahead of time, and added it to the greek yogurt mixture.  Tasted delicious!

Tortilla Crust Pizza

This is a fun, healthy alternative to pizza crust by using tortillas. Kids loved putting the toppings on their pizza! 

Ingredients:

8 inch tortilla

Pizza sauce (try finding jar sauce with no sugar added, healthier pizza sauce, or make own sauce)

Toppings of your choice (see below for suggestions)

Cheese (see below for suggestions)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425.

2. Spread pizza sauce on top of tortilla.

3. Place desired toppings on top.

4. Sprinkle cheese on.

5. Place on cookie sheet and cook for 8 -10 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

6. Use pizza cutter to cut pizza.

7. Enjoy!

Topping Suggestions:
Veggies (green container): sliced red peppers, diced tomatoes, chopped red onions, mushrooms, baby spinach

Cheese (yellow container):  crumbled feta cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, shredded jack cheese

Protein Toppings (red container): chopped, cooked chicken breast, cooked lean ground turkey, cooked shrimp, cooked chopped ham

Variations of Bread: (counts as yellow container)
Instead of tortilla, use: english muffin or whole wheat pita

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Very delicious & juicy sandwich! Toasted the bun to give it a little crunch when eating it!

Ingredients

1 Pork Loin
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup water
1 cup onions and mushrooms, chopped (I don't like mushrooms so didn't add them)
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp garlic powder
1/4 cup red wine (or apple cider) vinegar
1/4 cup yellow mustard
1 whole wheat bun or roll

Directions
1. Combine first 6 ingredients in crockpot.
2.  Cook on low for 7-8 hours
3.  Drain & shred pork.  Return to crockpot.
4.  Stir in red wine (or apple cider) vinegar and yellow mustard. (I let it stay in slow cooker on keep warm for an additional 30 minutes before serving to let all the flavors soak in.)
5.  Serve 1 red container (about 2/3 cup) of pork on whole wheat bun

21 Day Fix: 1 red, 1/4 purple, 1/4 green, 1 yellow (if served open face; if served on whole bun is 2 yellow, if served bunless its 0).

Taco Casserole

A different twist to eating tacos.  My husband says tastes like nachos!

Ingredients:

1 lb lean ground turkey, browned & drained

1 small onion diced

1 small taco seasoning packet (could make own taco seasoning mix too)

8 oz jar of taco sauce

Plain Greek Yogurt

Low Fat Cheddar Cheese

Whole Grain Hard Tortilla Shells

Optional toppings:
Roma Tomatoes

Iceberg lettuce

avocado

Directions
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Brown turkey & onion.  Drain any excess fat.

3.  Add taco seasoning packet with 1/4 cup water. Stir until well mixed

4.  Layer 13 x 9 pan with crushed up taco shells.

5.  Place half of meat mixture on top of crushed taco shells

6.  Top with a THIN layer of greek yogurt and small amount of cheese.

7.  Repeat the layers: crushed taco shells, meat mixture, thin layer of greek yogurt, and small amount of cheese.

8.  Bake in oven for 15 minutes.

9.  Add your desired toppings and enjoy!

21 Day Fix Container Equivalence:  1 red, 1 blue, 1 yellow (and if you add veggies to top its' 1/2 green).

Clean Eating Crock Pot Group

Fall is here which means - Crockpot season!!

I am running a FREE 5 day Clean Eating Group starting Monday 10/12. This group will provide shopping list & recipes for the whole family to enjoy!

Want to be a part of this (or if anything, have dinner planned out for one week)? Just email me @ pamelatimm@gmail.com to find out more details! 

What a Difference a Year Makes

These two pictures were taken a year apart.

Pic on left taken LAST year. At that time was tired, had low self esteem, crabby ALL the time, ate food to hide my feelings, & HATED how I felt in my clothes.

Fast forward to NOW & picture on right I have: ENERGY, confidence, POSITIVE ATTITUDE, happy, & eat to FUEL my body. All of this thanks to 21 day fix. It CHANGED my life!

All of this from doing 30 minute workouts, eating clean, and drinking Shakeology daily.  It has given me a whole new, HAPPIER perspective on life.  And I'm paying it forward to help others feel as GREAT as I do.

~ Pam

Honey Balsamic Dressing & Walnut Salad

Yummy salad that I like to make for work as a way to get all of my vegetables in for the day. Flavorful and the walnuts add an extra crunch to it as well.

Ingredients:

baby spinach
romaine lettuce
grilled chicken (I grill 2 chicken breasts on Sunday night to eat all week)
gorgonzola cheese
walnuts
dried cherries (optional)
green onions

Dressing:
6 TBSP balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tsp raw honey
2 tsp dijon mustard
6 TBSP extra virgin olive oil

Directions
1. Mix dressing ingredients together.  Place in blender to really mix them up. (I just mixed it by hand).
2. Add all ingredients for salad in a bowl.
3. Pour dressing on top and enjoy!

**If following 21 day fix plan, use 2 green containers (1 full of spinach, 1 full of romaine lettuce), 1 blue container (1/2 full of walnuts, 1/2 full of gorgonzola cheese),1 orange container of dressing, & 1 red container of chicken cut up. **

Turbo Fire Chili

This meal was quick & easy to make. So delicious to enjoy on a cold fall day. Enough for the whole family to eat and have leftovers.

Ingredients
2 lbs lean ground turkey
1 can of each:
corn
chili beans
diced tomatoes
black beans
1 onion diced
3 garlic cloves
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 package of chili seasoning
low - fat shredded cheddar cheese (optional for topping)

Directions
1.  Brown turkey in pan.  Drain fat from meat.
2.  Mix all ingredients in crock pot.
3.  Cook on HIGH for 2 hours of LOW for 4 hours.
4.  Top with cheese if desired.

**I like to add some noodles to my chili so made some whole wheat noodles to mix in.

Mexican Shrimp

This shrimp was very flavorful and delicious served with some whole grain rice. YUM!

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cups precooked frozen shrimp, thawed and shelled. (I had tails on mine so just cut them off).
1/4 teaspoon each: cumin,coriander, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. ( I didn't regular paprika so used smoked paprika and tasted good.)
1 pinch dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tbsp low sodium chicken broth
2 tsp coconut oil
Optional: chopped cilantro for serving.

Directions:

1.  Mix seasonings together in a bowl, then add shrimp and coat thoroughly.

2.  Heat coconut oil in a large skillet.  When the pan gets really hot, add the shrimp carefully one at a tie.  Make sure they fit in the pan loosely and are not over lapping one another.
3.  Let the shrimp brown for a minute on one side.  Then flip them over to brown on the other side.

4.  Remove the shrimp and set aside.
5.  Pour chicken broth into pan and scrape off the seasonings and oil that are on the pan. Bring to a boil.
6.  Remove pan from heat once broth is boiling and add shrimp back into pan.
7.  Mix shrimp with broth until coated.
8.  Dish it up and enjoy!

I served this shrimp with brown rice.  Could add a nice steamed vegetable to it as well.

21 Day Fix containers: 1 red container for the shrimp.  

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Made these 21 Day Fix approved chocolate chip cookies on a rainy day and were delicious! Very moist, fluffy, and yummy.

Ingredients:

3 cups almond flour

1tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp sea salt

1/4 cup pure maple syrup or raw honey

1 large egg

2 large egg whites (1/4 cup)

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup semi-sweet (or dark) chocolate chips

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2.  Combine almond flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.  Mix well and set aside.
3.  Put oil and maple syrup (or honey) together in a large mixer bowl.  Beat until creamy, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.
4.  Add the egg, egg whites, and vanilla extract and beat for another 2 minutes.
5.  Gradually add the almond flour mixture to egg mixture.  Mix well until blended.
6.  Mix chocolate chips into batter.
7.  By rounded tablespoons, drop onto prepared baking sheet. (I line my baking sheets with parchment paper so easy clean up.)

8.  Bake for 14 - 16 minutes or until golden brown.  (My oven was hotter so they cooked in about 8 minutes).
9.  Remove from baking sheet onto cooling rack immediately after taken out of oven. Enjoy!
10.  Make sure to store cookies in an airtight container.

21 Day Fix diet:  1 cookie is 1 1/2 yellow container.

*Adapted from "Fixate" cookbook

Take Time to Breathe

STRESSED TO THE MAX!

Why do I do this to myself?  Put so much pressure on me - to have PERFECT classroom, have a CLEAN house, be the 'Pinterest' mom- and feel GUILTY when none of those happen.

Today, it all came at once and I just broke down.  I asked myself  'why put all that pressure on myself?'

I DON'T have to be perfect.  Who cares if house is a mess?  My classroom isn't perfect?  Don't have a fun activity planned for every minute of the day for the kiddos?  Just need to be PRESENT for my family & students. And be ME.

So, I am going to BREATHE and let everything go.  It will all work out.

Zucchini Bread

A healthier version of traditional zucchini bread.

Ingredients:

Nonstick cooking spray
6 large egg whites
1/2 cup melted coconut oil
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp sea salt
3 tsp ground cinnamon
2 1/2 cups grated zucchini
1/2 cup chopped raw walnuts

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2.  Lightly coat two 9 x 5 inch loaf pans with nonstick spray.
3.  Combine egg whites, oil, applesauce, sugar, and extract in a large bowl.  Set aside.

4.  Combine all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl; mix well.

5.  Add flour mixture to egg mixture; mix until just blended.
6.  Fold in zucchini and walnuts; mix until just blended.
7.  Divide batter evenly between the two pans.
8.  Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until golden brown and toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
9.  Cool bread in pans 5-10 minutes, remove from pans and transfer to rack; cool completely.

**I did half of the recipe because didn't have 2 pans.

Tip: Leftover slices can be wrapped individually and stored in the freezer for future meals.

How to survive the weekend

Before 21 day fix, I would use the weekend as an excuse to eat unhealthy. Now, I follow these tips to help me stay on track and not undo al the hardwork I did during the week.

Diamond Coach

Diamond Coach - for real??? I was in shock this morning (July 30, 2015) when I became a Beachbody Diamond coach.  Like, this is for real?  I had to rub my eyes to make sure. (In the Beachbody world, you have to do xyz to make Diamond. It is a big milestone in your business when you hit Diamond.)

6 months ago, I signed up as a Beachbody coach because I had AMAZING results from the 21 day fix and drinking shakeology. I felt confident, had more energy, and was happy and wanted to help others feel this way too.

So, I set a goal to reach diamond in my first year with Beachbody and then I started HELPING people reach their fitness goals and helping THEM feel incredible too. I kept hearing in my head that I could not do become a diamond coach but I wanted to prove to myself that I COULD do it.  So, I worked hard, learned from my lows, read and listened to lots of personal development, worked every moment I could, and I DID IT!!  

Beachbody has given me this WONDERFUL opportunity that has helped me to learn who I am, get me in the BEST shape of my life, build AMAZING friendships with people. and pay off debt.  

Dream BIG and those dreams WILL come true!  

~Pam

3 Day Refresh

                                   

What is the 3 Day Refresh?

3 Day Refresh is a scientifically designed program that helps you fast-track your weight loss, kick-start healthy eating, and get a clean break from bad nutrition habits. 3-Day Refresh is a simple, straightforward program that will help cleanse your body and improve the way you feel— without starving yourself. Unlike juice cleanses or liquid fasts which tend to be high in sugar and low in protein (leaving you feeling weak, hungry, and sluggish), this easy-to-follow program helps support your metabolism while nourishing your vital organs.

How does it work?

For 3 days you’ll have a superfood-packed Shakeology® shake for breakfast along with a fruit option; a Fiber Sweep digestive health drink later in the morning; a satisfying, high-protein Vanilla Fresh shake for lunch, accompanied by fresh fruit, vegetables, and healthy fat options throughout the afternoon. For dinner, you’ll have another Vanilla Fresh shake along with your choice from a list of delicious, easy-to-prepare dinner recipes. You can also have tea twice a day and as much filtered water as you like (you should drink AT LEAST half your body weight in ounces per day).

Who should do the 3 Day Refresh?

*Anyone who wants to lose weight fast

*If other cleanses have tried and failed other cleanses (this one is cheaper and healthier than others).

*People who want to kick-start their healthy eating habits.

*Anyone who has "fallen off" the wagon and needs to get back on track with healthy eating

*If looking to get more energy

*Getting ready for a trip or event that would like to lose that 'bloating' weight

My experience with the 3 Day Refresh

The first time I did 3 Day Refresh was right after my trip to Nashville and the following weekend we had rented a pontoon with friends.  I wanted to lose the bloating fast that I had gained from Nashville and wanted to look good in my bathing suit.

So, I decided to do the 3 Day Refresh.  It was hard the first day to stick strictly to eating only the food I had chosen and not 'finish' my kids food that they didn't eat.  But, as the days went on, it got a little easier.  By end of day 3, I was a little crabby and jealous of my family eating.  However, I stuck to it all 3 days and did not stray once.  

The results were amazing!  All of the bloating was gone and I felt great!  Refreshed, energized, had an amazing night of sleep, and was back to eating healthy.

I highly recommend this to anyone!  It is definitely doable - and only 3 days!

Click here to order 3 Day Refresh

PiYo

   

After completing 4 rounds of 21 Day Fix, I needed a change in programs.

PiYo is a low impact, high intensity workout meaning it gets you sweating without doing intense cardio.  It incorporates Pilates and Yoga moves.  I haven't done much of Yoga or Pilates except for 21 day fix and thought since I liked those, might as well give PiYo a try.

Well, the first week I spent most of my time watching the TV and trying to learn the moves than actually working out.  I was getting frustrated and wanted to quit.  But, I continued with the videos and started to get the moves down.  By the third week of the program, I was hooked!  Plus - you get to workout barefoot!

At the end of the month 2 with PiYo, I had lost 5 INCHES in my waist! I was BLOWN away because I hadn't felt like it was a workout because I wasn't sweating.

This program is great if you have bad knees or just hate cardio.  You will gain flexibility through PiYo as well as lose those pesky love handles.

Click here to order PiYo

Insanity

                                   

Insanity was the VERY FIRST program I ever did with Beachbody back in 2011.

Before I had kids, I was a huge fan of the gym and would go at least 4 times a week.  My visits to the gym consisted of attending a Boot Camp Class, Spinning Class, or go on the Eliptical 30 minutes and than lift weights.  (Sometimes I'd do a Spin class and than go to Boot Camp).

After my first child in July 2011, I knew I didn't want to commit an hour or more to the gym (when you factor in travel time, time to workout, and driving home, it would be at least an hour and a half.)  When I got pregnant with my first, Owen, I watched Insanity infomercials and LOVED how intense it was, used no equipment, and could be done in the comfort of my home.  I decided when I was ready to get my body back into shape, I was going to order Insanity and complete the program.

So, I ordered the program shortly after Christmas and was excited/nervous/scared to begin.  How was I going to like working out at home?  Was it going to be hard to motivate myself?  Would I not push myself to the fullest?  Was it going to feel weird working out at home?  All of those thoughts ran through my head.  I pushed them away, knew I wanted to get my body back and feel good about myself, and just went for it.

Not going to lie, the program was hard.  I was sweating BUCKETS after workouts and even while showering afterwards.  But, I was feeling GREAT.  My clothes started to feel looser, had MORE energy, and gained my self confidence back.

Before Insanity:

 After 60 Days:

I did complete the full 60 days and had TREMENDOUS results.  It was amazing!  And from that point on, I have not set foot in a gym!  Love the fact I could push play and be done within an hour - with just working out at home and using my body as resistance.

Once I had baby #2 in April 2014, I decided to do another round of Insanity.  I had great results again, but was getting tired of the 60 minute workouts and I didn't follow the meal plan.  That's what led me to do 21 Day Fix, which helped me learn about clean eating and healthy portion control.

Click here to order Insanity

21 Day Fix

It was time to take care of myself again.  After having Olivia, life changed in a hurry.  Being a mom to two kids was a big task like I had not imagined- double the laundry, double the dishes, double the attention to be given.  It was a big adjustment and at times, felt I couldn't do it (had no energy, felt unhappy with my body, and just felt yucky).  

And along with the craziness of 2 kids, I was starting a new job (going back into the classroom to teach Kindergarten after being out of the classroom for 4 years).  I was BEYOND stressed and was not a happy person.  That’s when I realized I needed to start taking care of ME so I can be a better mom, wife, teacher, and person.  Then I remembered how I felt when I worked out doing Insanity after having Owen (my oldest). Working out was a way for me to feel good about myself, feel energized, and to feel healthy. So I decided to set time aside for ME to stay sane.  How did I do it?  I got up 30 minutes earlier in the morning to get it done.  If I didn't set that time aside in the morning, I knew it wouldn't get done.

Once I started following the nutrition plan and using healthy foods through correct portion control and working out 30 minutes with the 21 day fix, I got into a better place.  I wasn't crabby with my husband & kids, had more energy at night to play, and felt my self confidence increase.  Even better than FEELING great, the pounds and inches started FALLING OFF and I got my body back to a size I have not been in since before kids!  This is the healthiest I have felt and I am a better person for it.  Doing 21 day fix has changed my life for the better!  

Click here to order 21 Day Fix

Clean Eating Cookie Dough

This is a great healthy alternative to cookie dough for those sweet tooth cravings!

Ingredients:

1 plain greek yogurt (I used vanilla)
1 tbsp peanut butter
1 tbsp honey
1/4 tsp vanilla
pinch of sea salt
1 tbsp chocolate chips (mini, semi-sweet, dark - whatever kind you have handy)






Directions:
Mix all ingredients together and enjoy!