Easy & Delicious Now, Easy & Delicious Later

In keeping with my resolution, I have gone to bed much earlier than before! I think it has been lights out before 10:30pm every night since and although I would like that time to be 10pm, it is a start.

I have also fiddled around with the idea of freezer meals. One of the best things about our new house design is we are going to have a full size freezer right next to a full size refrigerator. This will mean SO MUCH MORE space to plan and prepare fresh meals! Here is one below that I love! I just tried it out last week and will definitely be doing it again.

Southwestern Crockpot Chicken Burritos (Fresh & Freezer)

What you need:

1. Boneless skinless chicken of preference. I bought a bag of frozen breasts that were on sale. Simple as that.
2. Cans of whatever you like, I used 1 jar of salsa (medium heat), 2 cans tomatoes with chilies, 1 can mexicorn,  and 2 cans black beans. You can add or subtract from this depending on how much chicken you are using and your preferences.
3. Spices, you can use spice packets, but I just added garlic, chili powder, cayenne pepper, salt, powdered onion, and lots of cumin. Spice to your taste and you can add more at the end of the cooking time if you want/need.
4. Burrito shells (about 15-20)
5. Shredded cheese
6. Sour cream if you like it, which I do.

What you do:

1. Add the chicken to the crockpot (I added mine straight from the bag while frozen) and everything else on top and stir all together, coating chicken. Cook on low and if possible, stir every few hours for about 8 hours total. When done, chicken should shred easily, which is the next step.
2. Shred chicken. See? I wasn't kidding. 
3. Now, fill all burrito shells with the mixture, add cheese, and fold. You can eat some now, but I wrapped most of mine up individually in foil for later.
4. Then place all foil wrapped burritos in large ziplock bags and put them in the freezer. 
5. Grab one in the morning and it should be thawed by lunch ***SEE UPDATE BELOW***. I take the foil off (duh), cut mine up on a plate, pop it in the microwave for a minute, add some sour cream, and voila! You have about 15 lunches ready to go at a moments' notice.

UPDATE: After cooking one from frozen, it tasted MUCH better than thawing it first. I defrosted it in the microwave on the "casserole setting" for about 3 minutes and then heated it on high to my liking, about another minute... the tortillas tasted much better and less soggy than it had before when I let it thaw out in the fridge first. I will be cooking these straight from the freezer from now on!

Gluten Free Fried

I have been trying to be gluten free since October. It really hasn't been too bad, and as time goes on I have found some ways to still eat the foods I like, just modified a bit. Fast forward to last week, my husband got a brand new cast iron skillet and wanted to fry up some catfish as the inaugural meal.

Here is the result, the left is regular flour fried and the right is all gluten free... didn't mind a bit and both were delicious! Thought I would share (the picture, not the fish). :)

Valentine's Day Prep

This year for Valentine's Day, I am spending the night with my girlfriend while our husbands go out of town for a Bachelor party together. I know, I am an awesome wife. haha ;)

It got me thinking about love and how we show our love all too often with food. Over the past 5-6 months, I have been really focusing on healing some chronic problems in my body with whole foods and supplements. Going mostly gluten, dairy, and caffeine free has been very hard for me, and although people have the best of intentions with their gift giving, maybe chocolates isn't the way to go this year?

 

If you are dating someone who is trying to lose weight and/or get healthy and they set a goal for him or herself at the new year, try to be supportive in ways other than taking them to dinner and/or ordering dessert. Valentine's Day isn't that far off from when they began their journey and if you become a help instead of a hindrance for them, this will go above and beyond their expectations.

Here are some ideas for expressing your love in ways other than a dinner date, chocolates, and flowers. All monetary values are included. For simplicity and since Valentine's Day is mostly for the woman (duh), that is how these ideas will be directed:

1. Rent out an old theater to play her favorite love themed movie just for you two. Maybe have a nice dinner brought in with a good bottle of red wine. Don't know her favorite love movie? Princess Bride should do the trick.
2. Take a secluded carriage ride (if available). Buy her a new soft down blanket and bring it along for a snuggle with some homemade low calorie hot chocolate. A quick stop to Starbucks beforehand will work if you can't make the drinks yourself, just make sure the order says "skinny" in front of it!
   
3.  If money is tight or you can't do something together on Valentine's this year, for whatever reason, send or give her a list of 25 things you want to do together over the next year with her Valentine's card. They could be as simple as getting some frozen yogurt to taking a trip. Just make sure you follow through with the list!
4. Cook her something healthy, including a healthy dessert like the one below, and spend a romantic night together at home. Build a fire, play some music, and buy her something pretty to put on - maybe a satin robe, massage oils, or other beauty products.
5. Speaking of massage oils, for the woman who has everything, how about a spa day and while she is gone, clean the house and prep for date night #4 above? Go a step further and hire a cleaning service to come back, repeatedly. 
6. How about completely washing the inside and outside of her car? Filling it up with gas and new windshield wiper blades or mats will get you bonus points. There is nothing I like more than a clean car.
7. If she has a dog, what about a cute new collar/harness and leash? Coach makes some really nice ones if you are in the mood to spend, or any pet store will have some too. Check online for cute accessories for their collar/harness as well, think bowtie for boys and flower for girls. Perfect time for a walk afterward to get some exercise!
8. A lady can spend HUNDREDS at the hair salon. It would probably mean the world to her to have you set up an appointment with her favorite stylist for hair (and makeup?!?) before a special night out. Bonus points if your city has uber or another less expensive car rental, taking one out could be a special treat. You can pull up to a play or other event in style. Be sure to take her through the drive through for a laugh!
9. Stay-cations can be a great idea for an extended Valentine's Day or two. Staying in a hotel in your downtown or nearby city can be just as exciting as a real vacation, as long as it is someplace new and out of the ordinary it will have the same affect. In our town you can find a cheap last minute rental on the beach, especially because it is off season. Look for rooms/housing with hot tubs and be sure to order room service for breakfast!
10. Think really hard about something she has always wanted to have or to do. Like REALLY hard. A new jacket (or bathing suit?!?) or touring a local place that she just can't seem to get to? Surprise her with a Pretty Woman-esque shopping spree or tickets. For this one, the thought might just count more than the money... there is always something that we've been "meaning to do."

The list could go on, but the idea is the same, your woman just wants to be thought about. Not getting her chocolates while she is trying to lose weight is step one, planning a date that she would love is just icing on the cake. See? There I go with the food again.

Chocolate-Avocado Mousse

 

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips, such as Ghirardelli
4 very ripe (8 ounce) avocados, peeled and pitted
1/2 cup agave
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup almond milk
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
Fresh raspberries, for garnish

Directions:
Place the chocolate chips in a small bowl. Place over a small saucepan of barely simmering water. Stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth, about 3 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
Place the melted chocolate, avocados, agave, cocoa powder, almond milk, vanilla and salt in a food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Spoon into glasses and refrigerate for at least 3 hours (can be prepared 1 day in advance). Garnish with fresh raspberries and serve.

source

Los Angeles Vacation

I took an impromptu trip over the weekend to visit my husband while he was on business in LA. I have always wanted to visit and I even got to see something on my bucket list - Walt Disney's Concert Hall. The temps were perfect, in the middle to upper 70s, and we had a great time. We tried to do different mini trips each day, and here is what we came up with:

Friday - I had this day to myself since my husby was still working... did downtown LA and saw the concert hall, museums (MOCA) and did a little shopping.

LOVED the building above, but how ugly are these interiors though? Pull it together Gehry! 

Saturday was all about Hollywood and Beverly Hills!

Sunday was beautiful beach weather. We headed to the Santa Monica Pier.

And, of course, we ate. :)

I would say the trip was a success! That plane ride on the way home was a beat down though. LA to Baltimore... longest ride ever. On the way out I connected in Chicago and much preferred that.

Next time I go to Cali, I think I'll head to wine country. Such a beautiful state.

Maple Bacon Bourbon Turkey

This is the tenderest turkey I have ever made! Granted, my total for turkeys is only 4. I think it has something to do with the bacon shield not only holding in all the juices, but also dripping its own fat down into it... definitely not low fat. :)

Maple Bacon Bourbon Turkey | before

Maple Bacon Bourbon Turkey | after

 Ingredients

• 4 to 6 cups turkey stock or chicken broth; more if needed
• 1/2 cup apple cider
•  2 ripe pears, peeled, cored, and diced
• 4 tbsp. butter cut into 6 pads
• 1 package of good-quality bacon
• 1/2 cup real maple syrup
• 2-3 Tbsp. bourbon; more to taste

Directions

1. Remove the neck and giblets, etc. from the turkey. 
2. Simmer the turkey neck in the stock or broth for half an hour to give it a meatier flavor; strain out before using the stock.
3. Rinse the turkey inside and out and pat it dry.
4. Heat the oven to 350F.
5. Loosely stuff the front and back cavities of the turkey. 
6. Put the remaining stuffing in a buttered casserole dish, and cover with foil. 
7. Add the pads of butter under the skin at the breast, three at each side. 
8. Put the turkey in a heavy roasting pan, tuck the wings under the back of the turkey, and lay the bacon strips over the breast.
9. Add 1 cup of stock and the cider to the pan, as well as the pears and a tbsp. of bourbon.
10. Roast for about 3 hours, basting every 30 minutes and adding more stock if the pan gets dry.
11. During the last hour of roasting, brush the bird with the maple syrup and a tbsp. of bourbon.
12. The turkey is done when the juices run clear and the meat is pricked with a fork and the internal temperature of the thigh is 175F, about 3-1/2 to 4 hours total.
13. Transfer the turkey to a platter; tent it with foil to keep warm while you cook your stuffing, etc.
14. To make carving easier, remove the bacon first.
15. To make gravy, pour the juices from the roasting pan, including the pears into a sauce pan. Cook the liquid down over low heat and add a tablespoon of flour at a time while whisking until gravy thickens, about 3 tbsp. Whisk about 5 minutes.
16.  Season with salt and pepper. Add 1 tbsp. bourbon or more if you like.

Green Juice Recipe

One of my favorite new juice recipes is for this green juice that I modified a bit from the original recipe.

JO'S GREEN JUICE

Ingredients:
3 cucumbers
2 apples
1 c. pineapple
2 tbsp. size ginger pieces
1 lime
1/2 bunch kale (about 4-5 leaves)

Makes three servings.


Add all to juicer (I have a Native Juicer). I have found that if I mix in my kale pieces with my apple and cucumber slices, then it is less likely to get clogged as it has done before when I've added all the kale at once. Just a little tip!

Here are some pics of when I did a beet and carrot combo... It wasn't my favorite, but the pulp is sure all pretty and pink! :)

Clean Eating

There was a time when I thought people who wrote the below were a little crazy. Now I fall into that group of those that believe in clean eating, and I couldn't feel better about it - literally.

I didn't think I had Celiac Disease, and maybe I am still not on board with the "complete" diagnosis. Like, "Hi, my name is Joellen, and I have Celiac Disease." If you would have asked me what my symptoms were in the past, I think I would have just said that I was fine and in perfect health. But... the problem with that is that I do get canker sores, have brittle nails, experience infertility, flaring acne (still - ugh!), mood swings, brain fog and ADD at times and these symptoms are all listed below... Wait, do I have Celiac Disease?

I thought that everyone dealt with a little hardship here and there with their bodies. I thought I was "unlucky" because I had brittle nails and my friend did not. Or that ADHD ran in my family so maybe that was it? And my "stupid" oily skin keeps me broken out... maybe gluten intolerance isn't just a made up notion by rich white people who have nothing better to complain about afterall? Maybe there is some truth to it!

It all started when I read the book Clean by Dr. Alejandro Junger. It is about toxins in our food and environment and how they can affect your body. These ideas along with an elimination diet program described in the book show how following the Clean Program lets your own body heal itself - I highly recommend it.

During my other research, more and more evidence of gluten intolerance and toxins in general has made me increasingly aware that is it not only gluten that I should remove from my diet, but Dairy, Soy, and all things processed as well. Basically, the less it looks like what it originates from, the less you should eat it.

This did NOT come easy at first.

Cheese was my favorite food. I drank about 3 cups of milk every morning. I thought if I saw the word "soy" then that meant it was healthy and I could eat it. I thought red meat was bad and diet soda was OK. I thought that water out of the tap was good enough for me, that deodorant was perfectly safe, never thought about anything relating to my shampoo and soap other than how it smelled... Now I am getting off track... Although toxins are everywhere (deodorant has been linked to breast cancer!), this post is going to concentrate on the consumables.

This.

Not that.

This.

Not that.

This - reverse osmosis water.

Not that.

People seem to be so consumed with low fat, diet, low calorie, low carb, etc. (and I know that you've heard this before), but that is NOT the way to go. I am not a doctor, nor am I a health coach or nutritionist, but I am just choosing things for my body that HAVE to make sense. They just have to. 

As in nothing genetically modified. No hormones. As many organic vegetables as I can get my hands on. Grass fed meat. All things coconut (water, oil, milk). No wheat (gluten) products (which is both easier than you think, yet harder to resist - like pizza!). I've started juicing, and its delicious. I drink smoothies for breakfast, which are delicious. Potatoes are OK! Spaghetti with meatballs is not. Gluten free vodka (Tito's) is OK. Beer is not. [sad face] But cheer up because an occasional Angry Orchard is OK. :)

Bonus is: I feel better. I don't drink coffee anymore, yet I have more energy. My acne is clearing. My brain fog is lifting. My mood is better. I am starting to realize that eating this way is not a sacrifice, it is a blessing. I don't want to feel like a sluggish lump on a log, and I no longer have to... and this is only after a month!

My advice is to look into it. It is not for everyone, but my hope is that it really is for everyone and that we will be able to indicate to the food industry what we want to eat, instead of the other way around.

Pregnant Pepper?

I guess the pepper from my garden was expecting! There may be something wrong when my organic gardening makes the weirdest shaped vegetables...

Balsamic Glace

My husband is obsessed with reducing balsamic vinegar to a glaze for BBQ sauces and today, to brush onto peaches on the grill... there is no worse smell in the world while the vinegar is cooking on the stove. I will admit that this all tastes delicious when finished, but the pungency in my nose right now is hard to get over. Time to light some candles! :)

F'real Milkshakes? For REAL!!!

I was thirsty so I stopped at the gas station on the corner by my house to get some Gatorade. When thirst hits me I've got to satisfy it or else! While inside the gas station, something I almost never do as I am a pay at the pump type of girl, I see this glorius-ness!

A milkshake bar?!? With a touchscreen? How does this work?

Turns out, it is pretty easy. You pick your flavor, set it in the thingy, choose thick, thin, or regular, and about 20 seconds later, voila.

It actually tastes pretty good! I would definitely get another one since it is made from natural ingredients, just maybe not all the time since that sugar comes with a calorie punch!

This particular Sunoco also has a growler station of regional beers, fresh made breakfast, and 22oz. Lime-A-Ritas, 2 for $3.00. I think I am going to start hanging out here more often!

Ocean Isle Here We Come! [plus a dessert recipe]

Headed out to Ocean Isle Beach, NC again this weekend for a bachelorette party! I am very excited for my third trip here in just a few months time. I love this place, small community, laid back, and really fun. I would love to own a house here someday!

This weekend is all about hanging out with my girlfriends though. Can't wait to catch some rays and relax after quite a long week at work! These are the moments we live for...

I made an amazing dessert dip to share for the weekend! Last time we came here I made a dessert dip and it went over very well. Everyone thinks to bring vegetables and hummus and crackers and cheese, but this is a bachelorette party and we need some chocolate! :)

I made it last night and tried it before chilling it all the way in the fridge and I think I could have eaten half of it before throwing up from the richness of it all. Here is the original recipe and how I modified it below:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dessert Dip

I doubled the below because there are 10 of us...

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, room temp (do not use no or reduced fat)
1/2 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan, melt the butter with the brown sugar over medium heat. Stir continuously, until the brown sugar dissolves.
2. Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla and set aside to cool.
3. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and confectioner's sugar until smooth.
4. Slowly beat in the cooled butter mixture and beat again for another minute. It is OK if the butter mixture is not thoroughly "cool" just don't have it piping hot.
5. Stir in the chocolate chips.
6. Pour into a serving bowl, garnish with chips, and refrigerate.
7. Serve with Nilla Wafers.

Cinco de Mayo

This is what I did for the 5th of May... the chips came with amazing homemade guacamole and conversation from a great friend.

Yes, that is EXTRA tequila in the inverted lime in my margarita. I called it a "front loader" for my drink since a little bit tips into each of your first sips. It was a strong delicious margarita full of fresh squeezed limes and oranges, none of that store bought sugary yuck.

I would give you the recipe but I can't recall it... I think there was Grand Marnier in it as well...

I love celebrating a Mexican holiday where a small group of Mexicans defeated the French a really long time ago that they don't even celebrate in Mexico as much as Americans do... I would say it was worth it to have a reason to day drink in 2013. :)

Moscow Mule

I was first introduced to a Moscow Mule at Tristan restaurant in Charleston, SC about 7 years ago. It was SO good, but I thought it was just a thing that they made only, because it was on their menu of other specialty cocktails. The base of the cocktail, and any good mixed drink in my opinion, is vodka served with other flavors.

Recently, I was re-introduced to the Mosow Mule again at a new restaurant in town called The Rarebit and they served it in a copper mug! After this, I had to look up the drink and found that it is a staple all over Russia.

Recipe:
2 oz. vodka
1/2 oz. simple syrup
4 oz. ginger beer
1/2 lime - juiced
Find more recipes here.


All served over ice in a copper mug. Now that I've had it in the copper mug, I can't help but want a few of my own! They are kind of expensive, so imagine my surprise when I see them on a website I love on clearance!

But then my sadness when I see this:

Sold out. For now. I will own you some day, copper mugs!

Love this Stuff!

I gave up drinking caffeinated beverages in the new year. That doesn't mean I can't eat my caffeine! I love the dark chocolate covered espresso beans and almonds with the cranberries, perfect for a mid morning snack. Delish! :)

Ninja Time!

I would like to think that I am not easily fooled and you cannot "pull the wool over my eyes," so to speak. I am pretty down to earth, level-headed, and every other word that you can use to say that I am not an idiot, and I hope that this is the case with my latest impulse purchase! I watched an infomercial this past weekend for literally 15 minutes and ended up spending an exorbitant amount of money on this Ninja Cooking System.

We had just visited with some friends who admitted that their crock pot I had complimented (from Williams Sonoma) was about $250, so I think I had that number in my head... I didn't spend that much (I found a coupon online), but it was still quite pricey. Our crock pot also broke down about a month ago, so I've been in the market for one...

Well, I haven't gotten it yet, but this is the most excited I have been about a kitchen appliance in a long time! I am always looking for fast ways to make healthy food with little clean-up. Sound too good to be true? I am hoping not! You get a free in-home trial, so it is still returnable but I am praying that this thing actually lives up to the infomercial. Those salesmen are amazing.

Supposedly, with the steam cooking, you can bake in it using half the butter and oil required because it will be moist because of the steam. It will also decrease your cooking times (because it cooks from all sides) and require less cleanup (one recipe was to put water, spaghetti sauce, uncooked spaghetti noodles, and frozen meatballs all together in the system, turn it on, and 20 minutes later it is done - with one pan).

I can't wait to try it out! I will be sure to let you know how it goes...

Oh, Poppycock.

Here is my new craving... I have tried and tried to crave carrots but it just ain't happenin.'

And apparently, while re-reading my text from above, I have also become a lot slightly more southern. I do love that name though. Poppycock.

Holiday Host(ess) Gift

Last year I made these delicious little treats called Rolo Nuggets. It is a roasted buttered pecan squished over a melted Rolo chocolate carmel candy topped on a pretzle... what's not to love?

People enjoyed them so much that this year I thought that they would make a good host/hostess gift when we attend a holiday party? We usually bring wine and I think we've played that one out, but these would go great WITH a nice glass of red so it takes two for the ultimate holiday deliciousness. :)

My husband and I eat a lot of salad and thus a lot of Marzetti's Ranch (in our opinion, it is the best store bought Ranch dressing out there). So, I started saving the jars and over the past year have collected close to 10. You can also buy Ball Jars at almost any grocery, craft, or even hardware store, but I decided to upcycle mine.

The jar, completed Rolo Nuggets plus the other supplies you see here; scissors, decorative felt, and coordinating ribbon, and you've got yourself a great host/hostess gift!

One regular jar will fit about 24 of the nuggets. I think I ate one so that would be 23 - haha!

One pack of Rolos has eight in it, so three packs to a jar, you can do the other math. Enjoy!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Besides being an important ingredient in a couple of my favorite dishes, blue cheese coleslaw and chicken apple sausage pasta, apple cider vinegar has sooo many more uses and I am only now starting to realize what a miracle liquid it really is!

I started using it for more than cooking when we got our pup Minnie. We got a handout (1997 article by Wendy Volhard) from a swanky dog boutique about all the benefits of ACV for your dog and gave it a shot. We started giving her about a tablespoon twice a day (in her food in the morning and at night) since she was a puppy for a number of preventative measures it listed. This supposedly helps with tear stains, joints, skin, ear infections, etc.

We didn't know how much it actually helped her tear stains (because she never got them, go figure) until we told my friend Rachel about it for her dog. Within three days she emailed and said that her dog's stains were almost completely gone.

Minnie also started to get small bumps, similar to acne, on her back. After two weeks of antibiotics from the vet with little change I pulled out my little handout and read that you could spray ACV on a dog's skin and coat to treat small sores and bumps. Within 1 day they were already drying out and I could see signs of healing.

The important thing to remember is to get raw/ unfiltered ACV that you would get from a health food store. I get mine at Trader Joe's. It is a simple and inexpensive thing to do for the health of your dog (and wallet)! It makes me curious what would happen if I added it to my diet. I might have to do a little research on this...

Cookie Exchange!

We had our annual Alpha Chi Alumni cookie exchange here in Charleston yesterday and look what I made! It is a Land O' Lakes recipe for Peppermint Meltaways. They turned out very similar to the picture and were soooo yummy and perfect for a holiday cookie treat!

I even made this little recipe card to go with them, complete with nutrition information. Not bad for a cookie, huh?

You must try these as they were so easy and such a simple recipe for a more "difficult" looking result. The remainder of my batch are being enjoyed by my coworkers as we speak!

Happy Birthday Husby!

My gorgeous husband turned 35 this month! YIKES! :)  We enjoyed a very nice dinner and drinks out with some great friends and can't wait to see what this next year brings us... now it is my turn to get older at the end of the month!

Our amazing dinner was at the fairly new restaurant "Macintosh" in downtown Charleston. The service was phenomenal and the deckle (yes, deckle) was delicious! Second only to the bone marrow bread pudding. Sounds gross but tastes like grilled cheese. Cray good.

We paired our meal with a Spanish Crianza red wine. Nope, we've had no wine to drink at all in this picture. Not a drop. :)

Funny side note: When I asked Siri to take me to Macintosh... she brought up the Apple Store on the map. Silly Siri!