Stuffed Acorn Squash

Stuffed Acorn Squash 👍👍
Thanks Kim Kessler for sharing!!!!!!!
INGREDIENTS:
🍀 2 acorn squash
🍀 1 pound lean ground turkey or
       Beans for vegetarian
🍀1/2 onion
🍀2 garlic cloves
🍀10 ounces chopped tomatoes
🍀1/4 cup green chilies
🍀1/2 cup tomato sauce
🍀1/2 cup water
🍀3/4 tsp cumin
🍀1/2 tsp chili powder
🍀 1/4 tsp paprika
🍀1 bay leaf
🍀1/2 tsp salt
🍀 TBS grated cheese
🍀cilantro
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400.  Place a little foil on bottom of baking dish.  Spread a little coconut oil on the foil.  Cut squash in half.  Place face down on oil.  Bake for 40 to 45 minutes.
Meanwhile...  sauté the chopped onion a couple minutes.  Add the garlic, sauté a couple more minutes.  Add the turkey OR beans. Cook through.  Add the seasoning, tomatoes, tomato sauce, chillies, water, cover and simmer for 25 minutes.
Flip the squash over, stuff with mixture, top with cheese, bake another 5 minutes for cheese to melt.   Top with cilantro and serve!!
Enjoy🧡

Go To’s For Meal Prep

Go To’s For Meal Prep

During my Meal Prep Week posting I received a very popular question.  What are your Go-To’s?
Well, that is a super easy question to answer.  There are somethings that are basically a staple in our house.  So, I’ll list them below.  If there should be a recipe, I’ll share that this week as well.
Ready?

Boiled Eggs- Eat for breakfast, snacks, put on a salad, stir into tuna salad, make egg salad.
Roasted Veggies- Peppers, onions and carrots- butternut squash is awesome- Brussel sprouts, asparagus and broccoli are wonderful an of course mushrooms as well.
Chicken- grilled, baked, cubed and sautés is wonderful.  Put on salad, sandwich, wraps, etc.
Meatballs- Italian or BBQ
Quinoa
Brown Rice
Steel Cut Oats
Some type of seafood depending on what is on sale.
Keeping these types of simple and quick foods on hands can really keep you on track and ready to go!!!!!!!!

CRAZY FUN Weekend!

Meal Prep Week- Day 3 of 3

Day 3 of 3

TOOLS !

There are TOOLS for Meal Prep and that is what can make or brake you.  You obviously need your cookware and any kinds of tools that will make your Meal Planning that much easier.  As one who has sold Pampered Chef in the past, I am a die-hard one for PC products.  They last FOREVER, it seems!  

The other key TOOLS for Meal Prep is choosing your storage containers.  You can use plastic, Tupperware, glass or Pyrex.  Of course making sure that what you choose is microwave safe.  The other thing is if it is dishwasher safe as well.  That will help with quick cleanup after meals.  There is nothing harder than trying to prepare without the right tools that make your life easier.  

Remembering that you are preparing the “Main Dish” of your dinners and of course making extra for lunches as well.  

I have received several more questions that I would love to answer so STAY TUNED!!!!!!!  

I hope these post will help you in your journey of Meal Prep!!!!!  

Meal Prep Week- Day 2

Meal Prep Week- Day 2 of 3

 "How to Make It Work For You!"

We have discussed "Why Bother With Meal Prepping" so now we need to figure out how to make it work for you.  My GOAL of all GOALS for meal prep is to keep it simple!!!!  I'm a huge fan of Food Network and the Cooking Channel.  I love to watch the dishes that they come up with and the ideas.  Some are so very elaborate and some are really good at keeping it super simple.  That is my goal....SUPER SIMPLE!!!

So this past week we shopped via the Walmart PickUp App (which we love!) and I ended up with a GIANT bag of frozen chicken breast.  We have enough chicken for an entire month.  I knew I would obviously be doing something with that.  I got 2 pounds of ground turkey and a package of chicken/apple sausage.  I think that the easiest way for me to explain how I keep this super simple is to just tell you what I did on Sunday.

Put in 3 chicken breast to bake- salt/pepper only

Put 3 other chicken breast in water with salt/pepper to boil- Chicken N Rice (brown rice) (Recipe to follow)

One pound of Turkey turned into BBQ turkey meatballs- Recipe to follow

One pound of Turkey turned into Mexican Turkey for Taco Salad Tuesday (Recipe to follow)

Apple Sausage- not cooked until Breakfast Night.

Cut up Onions, Pepper and Carrots to Roast (Recipe to follow)

2 bags of steamer mixed veggies

Steel Cut Oats in the Instant Pot

3 Baked Potatoes

7 Layer Salad (Recipe to follow)


So here is what it would look like for us.

BBQ Meatballs with 1/2 baked potatoe and roasted veggies

Turkey Taco Salad with turkey meat, roasted veggies, jalapeno's, cheese and yogurt dip

Chicken and Rice Soup

7 layer Salad with sliced baked chicken

Chicken/Apple Sausage with eggs and toast or waffles.

Left overs are all for lunches

We always have staples like Greek Yogurt, fruit, cheese and nuts for snacks.

This is what our week looks like.  The awesome part of all of this is that the chicken and the meatballs could cook at the same time in the oven.  The turkey taco meat and the chicken and rice were cooking at the same time.

It was all completed in approx. 2 hours and the kitchen was cleaned and dishwasher running.  Keeping it simple and balanced is the key!!!!!  You can do this!!  It will change your evenings!!!!!

Part 3 is on the way.  We are on a roll.  What are some of your simple recipes that your family loves?

Please share!  I would love to hear from you!!!!

Meal Prep Week- Day 1

Meal Prep Week- DAY 1 of  3

Let's talk Meal Prep.

Let's talk about how to make it work for you.

Let's talk about easy and simple recipes.


So these are 3 VERY broad and VERY specific topics.  My goal is to make this easier for you and help you be successful at meal planning and prepping. I will cover this in 3 different post so we can break it down and it isn't so overwhelming.

Let's get started!!

Why meal prep?

Why bother?


PART 1


I actually started meal prepping about 6 years ago.  When we lived in NC, I had a coworker that had children about the same age as Kaleb.  One is a year younger and one a year older.  We had so much to talk about.  It was amazing!  This was when it was popular to do 30 Day Cooking and Freezer Meals.  While those are awesome, neither one of us had an extra freezer for all the food we would be preparing.  So we did what we could and shortened it to a weeks worth of cooking.  It was perfect!  We figured out all kinds of short cuts and we would discuss what was on the menu for the week and most important was what was on sale at the grocery store. Once we had that figured out the planning would start.  We had no idea that we were on to something that would be such a game changer.


The average dinner will take anywhere from 45-60 minutes or more to prepare when you get home depending how much you have "prepped" ahead of time and how complicated your recipes are.  I don't know about you but after a full 8 hours at work, getting up at 4:45am to get in my workout, running 2 miles at lunch, the last thing I want is an hour in the kitchen waiting on dinner while Kaleb is STARVING and on verge of being HANGRY and Bo is ready to eat and I am tired and overwhelmed because there is dinner, homework, shower, reading and then it's time for bed and do it all over again.  That used to be what it was like.  It's not any fun.  I had actually stopped meal prepping when I was home for a year before coming back to work in 2014 full time.  Once returning, it was a MUST to return to meal prepping on Sunday afternoons (Saturdays if shopping was done on Friday).


Why bother?  Well, instead of spending the average amount of time in the kitchen, I can have dinner done in approximately 15-20 minutes and sometimes less.  The majority of dinner is already cooked and ready.  The hardest part is finding out what the Hubby wants. (HAHAHAHA).  I prepare on Sunday so that by the time we get home, whatever we are having can be heated up fairly quickly and ready to go.  Long enough to change clothes and Kaleb doesn't have enough time to get HANGRY.  We have done this so long that it is just a part of "what we do" each week.  We discuss what we want for the week and what we haven't had in a while and also depends on the weather.  Not to mention the great thing is that we save money.  What I can have prepared at home is a fraction of what we would pay if we went out to eat at a restaurant and I KNOW WHAT IS IN MY FOOD!  It also keeps us out of the drive through because it would be super easy to do that on nights when I'm tired.


Well, I hope this gets your wheels turning and really thinking about Meal Prep.  It is a game changer and a life saver!!!!!!  Please feel free to post your questions, ideas and comments.  I would love to hear from you!!!

Part 2 will follow and we will talk about "How to Make It Work For You!"

MEAL PREP WEEK!!!!!!

I get a ton of questions about Meal Prep.
Anything from........
-I don’t have time.
-I don’t know how to start.
-It’s to complicated.
-It cost to much.
-I don’t think my family will eat it.
-I will waste food.
Ok, so after these types of questions, I can’t help but answer.  So, this week we will cover your questions that I am asked the most often.  It will change everything and especially if you work full time.  Even if you are home full time with little ones, this will make your evenings go so much smoother!!!!!
I hope you will join in and post your questions, comments and ideas.  We will have a blast and get you ready.   YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!!

Midweek Silly

Sheet Pan Sweet Potatoe Hash with Eggs

Sweet Potato Hash with Eggs

This sheet pan sweet potato hash with eggs is an easy, high-protein breakfast!

 Course Breakfast

 Prep Time 20 mins

 Cook Time 30 mins

 Total Time 50 mins

 Servings 4 servings

 Calories 353 kcal

 Author Beachbody

Ingredients

• Parchment paper
• 2 medium sweet potatoes cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
• 1 medium red bell pepper chopped
• 1 cup black beans drained, rinsed
• 1 cup corn kernels
• 1 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. olive oil
• 1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
• 1/4 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp. ground smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp. sea salt or Himalayan salt divided use
• 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper divided use
• 8 large eggs
• 2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400º F.
2. Line large sheet pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
3. Combine sweet potatoes, onion, garlic, bell pepper, beans, corn, oil, chili powder, cumin, paprika, ¼ tsp. salt, and ¼ tsp. pepper in a large bowl; toss gently to blend.
4. Place sweet potato mixture on pan. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes. 
5. Create eight wells in sweet potato mixture. Gently crack an egg into each well. Season eggs with remaining ¼ tsp. salt and remaining ¼ tsp. pepper. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until eggs are set.
6. Garnish with cilantro; serve immediately. 

Nutrition Facts

Sweet Potato Hash with Eggs

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 353Calories from Fat 135

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 15g23%

Saturated Fat 4g20%

Cholesterol 366mg122%

Sodium 723mg30%

Total Carbohydrates 36g12%

Dietary Fiber 8g32%

Sugars 8g

Protein 19g38%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Sweaty Selfie

Selfie 🤳 

Sweaty Selfie 🤳 

So What!!!🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ 

Yeah I posted an entire collage of Sweaty Selfies 🤳 

What’s the point?

Yeah, we know you workout!🏋🏻‍♀️🏋🏼‍♂️🎽🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️

Yeah, we know you get up early! ⏰⏰⏰

Yeah, we know you run 🏃🏻‍♀️ 

Yeah, we know you eat clean 90% 🍎🍏🥦🥒🥕🌽🍋🍇🍉🍌🍑🌶🥚🥗🥄🍽🌰🥜

What’s the point??🤔🤔

Well it’s accountability!  It’s accountability for me to share my journey!   I was talking with someone the other day and she asked me “Why bother?”  “Why do all of that?” “Who are you trying to impress?”

I thought I would answer those questions!!!!

1-Why bother?  Because it’s a part of who I am.  It’s the part of that has passion about what I do and to be the best version of me possible!  Taking care of me means I am a better wife, mother, sister, daughter, employee, friend!  

2- Why do all of that?  I have genetics!  I have tendencies!  I have cardiovascular disease, diabetes, heart disease, breast cancer, obesity in my family. I have an amazing husband and I also have 3 children and 2 grandchildren that need their Mama and their Mimi!! 

3- Who am I trying to impress?   NO ONE!!!!!  I’m not doing this to be a certain number on the scale or wear a certain size or to compete with other women.   I want to impress my husband but his love is unconditional!!!  I want to feel good about me and know that what I’m doing is making a difference.

Bottom Line- if someone- just one- person makes the choice to get off the couch today or drink water instead of a soda or eat grilled chicken instead of fried- then I have done my job!!!!!!!   I’ll post my pictures and share my journey in hopes of taking others on their journey with me!!!!!!   

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

These surprisingly healthy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies are made with all natural peanut butter and decadent dark chocolate morsels.

 Course Dessert

 Prep Time 20 mins

 Cook Time 22 mins

 Total Time 47 mins

 Servings 24 cookies, 1 cookie per serving

 Calories 95 kcal

 Author Beachbody

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 2 cups cooked quinoa
• ½ cup all-natural peanut butter
• 5 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
• 1 dash sea salt (or Himalayan Salt)
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• ⅔ cup dark chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Lightly coat two large baking sheets with spray. Set aside.
3. Combine quinoa, peanut butter, maple syrup, salt, extract, and egg in a large bowl; mix well.
4. Fold in chocolate chips; gently mix until blended.
5. Drop by rounded Tbsp. onto prepared baking sheets.
6. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until set.
7. Allow to cool for 5 minutes on baking sheets; remove from sheets and cool completely on a wire rack (or on parchment paper).

Recipe Notes

The Nutrition Facts box below provides estimated nutritional information for this recipe.

Nutrition Facts

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Amount Per Serving (1 cookie)

Calories 95Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 5g8%

Saturated Fat 2g10%

Cholesterol 8mg3%

Sodium 17mg1%

Total Carbohydrates 11g4%

Dietary Fiber 1g4%

Sugars 7g

Protein 2g4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

**Courtesy of Beachbodyblog.com