Sunday, September 21, 2014

Southwestern Slowcooker Chicken Cups




This recipe was a hit when I posted our dinner one night to my social media, so I thought I would share it here :) it is pretty fantastic (if I do say so myself!) haha

Prickly Pear Limeade

I made this limeade to accompany the southwestern chicken cups. I had some prickly pear fruit in my Bountiful Basket (produce co-op) that I needed to use. I made it with the juice of 7 prickly pears, 3 limes then filled the pitcher up to the top. I added stevia to taste. It was a hit!

Out on the roads there is fitness and self-discovery and the persons we were destined to be.Dr. George Sheehan

My sister-in-law and I have been upping our runs on the weekends. I have a half marathon in December with Jenny- Saint Jude's in Memphis! Cannot wait. Erin has one in Houston in January. So we have been running Saturdays and sometimes on Sunday. This hilly path called the Old Soncy Trail just outside of town is a great workout and 6 miles down & back.

Baby Gus
        I all got my baby needs met this past weekend. One of my dearest friends from school days came back into town with her super adorable son. Ain't he darlin?




Southwestern Chicken Cups

Serves 4

* 1 lbs chicken breasts (2-3) frozen
*1 can diced tomatoes (I like the ones with green chilis added)
*1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
*1 can corn, drained and rinsed

*Lettuce leaves

Put the chicken and tomatoes (not drained) in low in crockpot for 5-8 hours. Drain most of the liquid then shred. Add beans and corn. Serve in lettuce cups. I like to top mine with a little plain greek yogurt. My fam like avocado and cheese on theirs too!



Nutritional Stats

per serving
  • 300 cals
  • 5 f fat
  • 311 mg sodium
  • 23g carbs
  • 41g protein
  • 4g sugars
7.5 weight watchers plus points per serving


Sunday, September 14, 2014

Bacon Broccoli Salad

 
My Grandmommie is a fantastic cook. So is my mother. It is in our blood! So it is only natural I blog about cooking food, right?

Here is my Grandmommie featured in a cooking article in a local magazine this month, along with a handful of her recipes. So proud of her!





When I was pregnant with my youngest, she brought over this fabulous broccoli salad. Sounds boring, but this dish is FANTASTIC. I ate it all the time. It was ridiculous, I was making a dish of it every few days for a while.


It is slightly sweet, but tangy and savory. It is creamy but it has crunch.  It just crosses the T in every flavor and texture category. This is one of those dishes that I can take to any get together and people want the recipe.

So summer just ended and we were having a back to school block pool party.



Kidlets and back to school swimming block party
 

First day back to school
 
 
I decided that I would take this salad and some strawberry angelfood cake trifle. Guess which recipe they wanted? Yup. Haha! So here it is.


Bacon Broccoli Salad

Adapted from my Grandmommie Finney

Serves 8
*3 heads broccoli crowns, cut into florest (or you can do 1 lbs broccoli florets in pkg)
*1/2 cup craisins (or raisins)
*2 slices bacon, crispy and chopped (or 1/3 cup bacon bits)
*1/2 red onion, finely diced
*1/4 cup slivered almonds (or sunflower kernals)
Toss that with coleslaw dressing (8 oz) but I use the healthified and lower cal recipe below. Keeps overnight if you want to make ahead.
 
 

Coleslaw dressing

*1/2 cup plain nonfat greek yogurt
*1/2 cup mayo (you can do all mayo as well)
*2 tbsp vinegar (I prefer apple cider but any will do)
*2 tbsp sweetener of choice (I used splenda this time but sugar or stevia is fine)

 




 
 

 

 

Nutritional Stats


1 serving prepared, 1/8th of recipe

  • Cals 160
  • Carbs 8
  • Fat 13   
  • Protein 5             
  • Sodium 142        
  • Sugars 4
  • 4 weight watchers plus points
 

 4

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Keeping Your Motivation Up

Coach Jenny knows what it takes to win a Venus Contest.
 
 
As we start out this latest Venus Contest- VT12, expectation and motivation run high. It is so exciting to think of the possible change you can drive in 12 short weeks with consistency and hard work!
For some the newness will wear down after a few weeks; challenges will inevitably present themselves and motivation will wane. What you will be left with is a choice to continue on with the commitment you made or to throw in the towel. Many will choose the latter. Do not be one of them.  You can do this!
Here are some practical tips to keep up your motivation-

1) Refocus and reflect

I like to look over how I did the day before and plan out the day ahead for both calories and workouts. I then take my daily goals and turn them into weekly goals. Those become a weekly journal where I can reflect on what went good or bad.  It is from this weekly feedback that we learn what works.
 

On scene at my last shoot, photographers and timelines are motivating for me.
 

2) Try a new tool

There are many to choose from, and how well they work for you will change with the seasons. Being open to trying new things and to changing something