Vegetable Beef Stew

This dinner was a winner in our house!  Everyone ate it up.  And it was great to just throw everything into the crockpot to have a nice hot meal to enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pound beef stew meat
2 TBSP cooking oil
2 medium potatoes - peeled and cubed
2 medium carrots - cut up
1 medium onion - cut into thin wedges
1/2 cup sliced celery
1 9oz package frozen cut beans
3 TBSP quick cooking tapioca
1 TBSP instant beef bouillon granules
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
3/4 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 16oz can tomatoes- cut up
1 1/2 cups water

Directions:

1.  In large skillet brown meat in hot oil. Drain well.
2.  In crockpot, combine: potatoes, carrots, onion, celery, frozen beans.  Mix together.
3.  Add seasonings to crockpot - tapioca, worcestershire sauce, thyme, salt, pepper.
4.  Stir in browned meat, undrained tomatoes, and water.
5.  Cover and cook on low for 10-12 hours or high 5-6 hours.

Come home to dinner already made!!

To prepare the night before:

*Brown meat, let cool, and place in container.  Cut up celery, onions, & carrots together in separate container.  In the crockpot, put the tapioca, bouillon granules, worcestershire sauce, thyme, salt & pepper, undrained tomatoes, & water.  Place all 3 items in refrigerator overnight.  Next morning, cut up potatoes and add to crockpot along with frozen cut beans, vegetables, & meat.

Taco Stuffed Summer Squash Boats

I needed to do something with this gigantic summer squash my neighbor gave me.  When I came across this recipe said its a great meal that is packed with vegetables but a good one for veggie haters, I just had to make it!  And I was surprised at how well the squash cooked and had a mild taste.  Great alternative to the traditional tacos.

Ingredients:

4 medium summer squash, cut in half lengthwise
1/2 cup salsa
1 pound lean ground turkey
1 tablespoon taco seasoning
1/2 small onion, chopped fine
1/4 cup bell pepper, chopped fine
4 oz can tomato sauce
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup reduced fat Mexican blend shredded cheese
1/4 cup chopped scallions or cilantro, for topping

Instructions: 

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees & bring a large pot of water to a boil.
2.  Using a spoon, scrape out the seeds of the squash, reserving 3/4 cup and storing the rest for later use.
3.  Place the squash in the boiling water for 1 minute, than place on a paper towel to drain.
4.  Spoon 1/4 cup salsa into the bottom of a large baking dish and arrange squash face up.  Set aside.
5.  Brown turkey in a large skillet until no longer pink.  Add seasoning, onion, pepper, 3/4 cup reserved chopped squash, tomato sauce, & water.  Stir to combine.  Cover and simmer 20 minutes.
6.  Fill each squash boat with the turkey mixture, then top with cheese. Cover with foil & bake 35 minutes until squash is soft and cheese is melted.

7.  Garnish and serve with salsa.

Chicken with Mango Avocado Salsa

Wow- did the sweet & spicy flavors combine well together. The sweetness of the mango tamed the strong sriracha marinade to give it some flavor. Make sure you put oil on your grill so chicken does not stick!

Ingredients
12 ounces fresh chicken breast (about 3 small breasts)

Marinade
3 tbsp sriracha
juice of 1 lime
1 tbsp honey
pinch of garlic powder

Add together in small bowl.  Whisk to combine & set aside.

Salsa
2 cups mango , diced
1 cup avocado, diced
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, minced
juice of 1 lime
1 tbsp red onion, finely diced (optional)
salt & pepper to taste

*missing cilantro in picture

Add all ingredients together in a medium sized bowl.  Stir well and place in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Instructions:

1. Prepare grill to medium- high heat
2. In small bowl, add sriracha, lime juice, honey, & garlic powder.  Whisk to combine & set aside.
3.  Pat chicken breast dry with a paper towel and place on oiled grill grates over high heat for 3-4 minutes each side.  Before turning, baste with sriracha glaze.
4. When the chicken reaches 160F, remove from grill and allow to rest for about 5 minutes.
5. When ready to serve, top with salsa and drizzle any remaining glaze over the top.

Container Equivalence: 1 red, 1/2 purple, 1 blue

Bacon Cheeseburger Skillet

This meal was AH- MAZING! Tasted like a burger and reminded me of a Hamburger Helper meal.  The best part- all made in one pot!  

Ingredients

1. 1 lb lean ground beef
2. 4 slices turkey bacon, coarsely chopped
3. 2 tsp Dijon mustard
4. 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
5. 1 tsp garlic powder
6. 1/2-3/4 cup red onion, finely diced
7. 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
8. 3/4-1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
9. Sea salt & pepper, to taste

Directions

1.  In a 12″ skillet, cook turkey bacon until done to your liking. Remove and dice the bacon into small pieces.
2.  Brown beef, breaking it up as it browns.
3.  When beef is brown, add all of the ingredients and mix well.

4. Cover and let simmer on low for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally
5. Sprinkle cheese over meat, recover until melted.

6. Serve over fresh lettuce, in a whole grain pita pocket, or over whole wheat pasta.  YUM!

21 Day Fix container counts:

1. 1 1/4 Red, 1/2 Green (plus any green you serve it with!), 1 Blue

Lasagna Roll Ups

These tasted AMAZING! Just like lasagna with half the prep work and healthier. Plus, love when dishes from prepping it are washed before meal is all done. A quick and easy meal to prep for whole family to enjoy.

Ingredients:

9 Cooked Lasagna Noodles
1.5 Cups Fresh Baby Spinach
2 Cups Ricotta Cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
1 egg
1/2 Teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 pound Ground Turkey Cooked
Jar of Spaghetti Sauce
1 Cup Mozzarella Shredded

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Cook Lasagna Noodles according to package instructions. Put ground turkey on skillet and add salt and pepper to taste. Crumble and cook until all pink has cooked out. Set aside.
2. Mix Ricotta Cheese, spinach, parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, pepper, salt in bowl. Add in ground turkey. Set aside.

3. In a baking dish, place 1 cup of pasta sauce around the bottom of the dish. Spread evenly.
4. Lay a piece of wax paper on your counter, place lasagna noodles on paper and dab with paper towel to make sure all moisture is gone.
5. Spread cheese mixture evenly over each piece of lasagna. Begin rolling one strip of lasagna at one end and roll all the way up. Place in baking dish seam side down. Continue process with all lasagna pieces.

6. Top lasagna rolls with sauce and mozzarella cheese. Place aluminum foil over dish tightly and place in preheated oven. Bake for 40 minutes. Serve immediately.

If you're on the 21 day fix 2 of these rolls equals out 1 Red, 1 Purple, 1 Yellow, 1 Blue, 1 Green

Chicken Salad

INGREDIENTS:

1. 1 cooked rotisserie chicken, skin removed
2. Plain greek 1% yogurt (or plain 2% yogurt), to taste
3. Poultry seasoning, to taste
4. Black pepper, to taste
5. 3 celery stalks, diced into small cubes
6. 1 cup of red grapes, halved
7. Lemon juice (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Pull all of the cooked chicken off of the bones and place into a large mixing bowl.
2. Add in plain greek yogurt until you get a consistency you like. Add enough poultry seasoning and black pepper for your personal taste.
3. Mix in the diced celery and grapes. Add a squirt of lemon juice (optional) for a little flavor boost.

NOTES

1. 21 Day Fix Container Equivalents for a 1 cup serving of chicken salad: 0.5 green, 1.5 red, 0.5 purple

Jambalaya- 21 Day Fix Approved

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp. olive oil
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 white onion, diced
1 small red bell pepper, cored and diced
1 small yellow bell pepper, cored and diced
1 small green bell pepper, cored and diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 lb. turkey sausage, thinly sliced into rounds
3 cups chicken stock
1 (14 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
1 1/2 cups uncooked white or brown rice
2 Tbsp. Cajun or Creole seasoning (more/less to taste)
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. thyme, crushed
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 lb. raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Heat 2 tablespoons. olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. 

2. Add celery, onion, bell peppers, and garlic. Saute for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft and mostly cooked. 

3.Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, chicken and sausage, and stir to combine. Continue sauteing for an additional 5 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink and mostly cooked.

6. Add the chicken stock, tomatoes, rice, Cajun spice, bay leaf, thyme, and cayenne, and stir to combine. 

7. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for about 25-30 minutes, or until the rice is cooked, stirring occasionally. (Don't forget to stir, or the rice may burn on the bottom of the pan.)

8. Once the rice is tender, add in the shrimp and stir to combine. Let the mixture continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp are cooked and pink. 

9. Remove bay leaf and season the jambalaya with salt and pepper and hot sauce and additional Cajun/Creole. Dish in a bowl and enjoy!

For 21 Day Fix containers, serve up as 1 purple.  

21 Day Fix Containers: 1 Red, 1 Yellow and 1 Green.

Are you kidding me?! Size 4???

Size 4?!?!? I CANNOT believe it.  Never in my WILDEST dreams did I ever believe I would fit into a size 4 pants.

2 years ago, I was in this exact dressing room CRINGING while trying on jeans.  Olivia was just born a few weeks ago and I needed some post-pregnancy clothes.  And as I pulled on size 12 pants that were too tight, I would tear up, get frustrated & mad with myself, and throw them aside and walk out with nothing. This went on every time I went to try on pants throughout that summer.  

Fast Forward 2 years and now I am in the best shape in YEARS!  I cannot believe my transformation my body feels or how healthy I am.

How did I do it? It took daily steps and actions to get here:

*Completing a 30 minute workout 

*Drinking Shakeology

*Eating proper portion sizes

Yes - I am busy as a wife, mother, teacher, friend but I had to carve out 30 minutes for ME so that the next time I went into the dressing room to try on jeans, I wouldn’t cringe & cry.  I would walk away proud and happy of my progress!

If I can do it- YOU CAN DO IT!  Let me be there to help support and guide you.  I want you to feel the way I felt while trying on those size 4 jeans!!

Believe

You are worth it.  You are amazing.  You can achieve anything.  Believe in yourself.

Tell yourself these affirmations because you ARE capable of what you BELIEVE.  

3 Day Refresh Results

Results are in and the magic # is 2 - 2 lbs lost and 2 inches down!

I am happy with my results and proud that I stuck to the program.  There were times I wanted to cave and give into those treats, but knew flavor would only last a minute & the regret would last longer. It was tough (I was hangry at times), but worth the results.

Now, I feel like my body is back to being healthy and helped me kick some bad habits.  Definitely need to do this every couple months to restart my body.

Tips for next time’s 3 Day Refresh:

*Liked doing it during the work week - wasn’t tempted to cave into temptation

*Don’t do the Refresh when home project going on - the stress of the bathroom trying to get done alone was tricky to not stress eat

*Have the hubby prepare meals- I had to prepare all the meals and it was hard making others food that I couldn’t eat.  

*Do more research for meal ideas - I kind of prepped the same thing and it got boring.

I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to:

*lose those ‘pesky pounds’ that won’t go away

*kickstart healthy eating habits

*have a vacation coming up

*need to fit into the dress for a wedding or reunion

*want to get back on track with eating.

If you want more deets on the 3 Day Refresh, just send me a message! Summer is just around the corner and this is a great way to kick start your fitness journey to get you swimsuit ready!

Mini Egg Sandwiches

These are a great quick option for breakfast!!

Ingredients:

eggs
turkey bacon
shredded cheese
Optional: tomatoes, peppers, spinach

Directions:  

1.  Spray muffin tin.
2.  Wrap each cup with a slice of turkey bacon.
3.  Crack an egg inside each.
4.  Sprinkle sea salt and pepper (bacon can be salty, salt is optional) 
5.  Add a pinch of cheese. 

6. Bake at 425 for 25 min.

7. Enjoy!

*For crisper bacon, I put the pieces in the microwave for 50 seconds. Then placed them in the tins. This made the BACON CRISPY!! 

21 Day Fix Containers: 1/2 red, 1/4 blue, 1/4 green (depending on veggies you added)

Turkey Lettuce Wraps

This meal is quick, easy, & gives you a good crunch! Tasted just like the lettuce wraps from a local restaurant. 

Ingredients:

1 tsp. olive oil
1 lb. raw 93% lean ground turkey breast
½ medium red onion, chopped
½ medium red or green bell pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 green onion, chopped
⅔ cup chopped water chestnuts
1 Tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 Tbsp. seasoned rice vinegar
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
1 large head of lettuce (I used romaine), separated into leaves

Preparation:

1. Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Add turkey, onion, and bell pepper; cook, stirring frequently, for 4 to 6 minutes, or until turkey is cooked through and onion is translucent.

3. Add garlic, green onion, water chestnuts, soy sauce, and vinegar; cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until most of the liquid has evaporated.
4. Add cilantro; mix well. Remove from heat.
5. Evenly spoon mixture onto lettuce leaves; wrap the leaves around mixture, and eat!

21 Day Fix Containers: 1 Green, 1/2 Red

21 Day Fix transformation- inside & out

This is my fellow coach, teammate, and dear friend Kimberly Bell transformation.  Look at this girl - she is AMAZING!

Kim and I use to work together a few years ago at a charter school.  She is the most caring person I know and has just the most AMAZING energy a person could have.  

Kim’s transformation began a year ago.  She’s a single mom to a wonderful son, works full time, and is devoted to her son and his love for basketball.  A year ago, she decided it was her time to make a change for herself.  Kim was sick and tired of who she was becoming (dealing with the loss of her mother to breast cancer in unhealthy ways) and decided it was time for her to make a change! 

So she bought the 21 Day Fix and Shakeology and fell in LOVE with the program (she calls it her soulmate workout program), shakes, and support that comes along with the Beachbody community.  Kim had tried other fitness programs at home, but fell bored of them or just lost motivation because no one was there to keep her accountable.  With just 30 minutes a day, joining a free challenge group, and drinking her shakeology, she was able to lose 63 lbs.  Not only did she lose this weight, and looks FABULOUS, but she was able to gain clarity to become healthier financially, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

   

Now Kim is paying it forward by inspiring others and showing them that YOU CAN DO THIS!  I am so PROUD of this girls transformation - inside and out.  And BLESSED  that our friendship is stronger now than ever before.

Ranch Chicken Skillet

Boy- this dish was PACKED with bold flavors that will not disappoint the taste buds.

It is a one dish meal that was quick and easy to make! All you do is chop, mix, cook, & eat!! Definitely a WINNER at this house.




Ingredients:

(Not pictured: cheese, olive oil, pepper)

2 tsp olive oil
1 lb thin sliced chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces
1/2 red onion, chopped
2 bell peppers, chopped (I used orange & red)
1 large zucchini, chopped
1/2 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup instant brown rice (uncooked)
1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
fresh cilantro, for garnish

Ranch seasoning:
1 tsp dill
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp dried minced onions
1 T parsley
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp sea salt

Instructions:

1. In a 12 inch skillet, heat oil on medium high.  Add chicken, onions, and ranch seasoning blend.  Saute and stir often for 2 minutes. 

2.  Stir in bell peppers, zucchini, beans, tomatoes, rice and chicken broth.  Bring to a boil, then cover.  Simmer on low for 5 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in the center and rice is tender.

3.  Sprinkle cheese evenly over skillet, cover, and let stand for 5 minutes, until liquid is absorbed.

4. Top with cilantro and serve!

21 Day Fix containers: 1 serving = 1/4 of the skillet.  1 red, 1 blue, 1 yellow, 1 1/2 green

Dream it!

Dream it. Wish it. Do it.

The last part is always the hardest. We all have dreams & goals we want. But it's hard to put the work into it.

Success does not come over night. It takes time & working towards your dream EVERY. DAY. 

Start TODAY to make your dreams come a REALITY.

22 Minute Hard Corps

I am SERIOUS about the newest program - 22 Minute Hard Corps.

This program is a challenging military inspired workout program designed to burn fat, BUILD lean muscle, and get you “Boot Camp Fit” in just 22 minutes a day!

Let's do this Tony Horton 👊👊.

Diamond Coach Means to Me

YAY - Finally got my Beachbody Diamond shirt today. I have been a Diamond Coach now for 6 months and I finally finished the email to receive my shirt.

To me, this is more than a T-shirt.  It represents:

Helping others feel CONFIDENT and HEALTHY

Working on ME - physically and mentally

Hard Work

Dedication

Support

A year ago, I was searching for something MORE in my life.  I was dabbling in different hobbies but none of them ever stuck (I even bought some crochet needles, opened the box, and then hid it in the closet because felt too overwhelming & haven’t taken them out since).

Than this Beachbody Coach opportunity came into my life and it filled that ‘void’ I was missing.  It has given me a HOPE for my family to pay off our debts, an AMAZING group of other coaches on the team who I consider my family, CONFIDENCE, and positivity in my life.

This shirt represents ALL of what Beachbody has done for me.  It has given me more meaning to my life & I thank God for bringing this new light into my life to fill that ‘void’.  

Pork Carnitas

This dinner was AMAZING!  My husband, father in law, and I were surprised how flavorful and tender the pork was. Makes wonderful leftovers as well too.

Ingredients:

3 lb Pork Loin
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 cup water

Rub for pork
2 tbsp of chili powder
2 tsp of cumin
1 tsp of ground coriander
1/2 tsp cloves
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp oregano

Cilantro Lime Topping
1 cup Greek Yogurt
1/4 cup Fresh Lime Juice
1/4 cup Fresh Cilantro, chopped

For Carnitas
Corn tortillas
Black or Pinto Beans in a can
Romaine Lettuce
Diced Tomatoes
Diced Avocado
Shredded cheddar cheese

Directions
1.  Mix spices for rub together in separate bowl.
2.  Rub and massage the rub onto entire pork loin.
3.  Place pork loin in crock pot.  Pour water into crockpot and add bay leaf.

4.  Cook on low for 6-8 hours.  Make sure the pork doesn't absorb all the water during cooking.  Add more water if it does.
5.  Once cooked, shred the pork loin and mix with the juices in crockpot to soak in more flavor.
6.  Make Cilantro Lime Topping by mixing all ingredients in a bowl.  Set aside.
7.  Now it's time to start prepping for Carnitas! In a preheated oven of 350 degrees, place corn tortilla sprayed lightly with cooking spray on a foil lined baking sheet.  Crisp in the oven for 8-10 minutes.
8.  For the beans, drain them and add to a pot on the stove with 1/2 cup of water and cook over medium heat until heated through.  Gently mash with a fork until the beans reach your desired consistency.
9.  Time to Assemble your Carnita! Spread beans on carnita, top with pork.  Add a dollup of cilantro lime topping, sprinkle with cheese, tomatoes, and lettuce.
10.  Enjoy!

21 Day Fix Container Equivalents:  Beans and tortilla are 1 yellow, cheese is 1 blue, tomatoes and lettuce are 1 green, and pork is 1 red container.

Healthy Chicken Fried Rice

This meal was AMAZING! Very flavorful and delicious. My hubby and I both went back for seconds. But be careful- this one makes a ton of food. It can be halved if needed.

Ingredients:

Olive Oil
3 cups of mixed chopped celery, carrots, onions (I did a cup of each veggie).
1 lb shredded chicken breasts
4 eggs
4 tsp onion powder
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp mustard powder
3/4 tsp dried thyme
3/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp sea salt
Brown Rice
Soy Sauce

Directions:

1.  Cook brown rice according to directions - set aside.
2. In a large pan, warm up dash of olive oil.  Once warm, add veggies and cook until tender about 10 minutes.
3.  Once veggies are tender, add seasonings to veggies. I also added little water to help veggies absorb the seasonings.
4.  In different pan heat the eggs until they become scrambled eggs.
5.  When eggs are cooked, mix the veggies and eggs together.
6.  Add in rice and shredded chicken.  Stir.
7. Serve onto plate and top with a small serving of soy sauce.
8.  Enjoy!