Homemade Guacamole

Guacamole is at the top of my list of favorites! I think it might be possible I have too many favorites....hmmm....problems!  Homemade guacamole is so easy to make and it is better for you than buying it premade or buying the package of seasoning since those things can have added naughtiness you don't need!

In the last couple years I have really come to love having guacamole as a burger topping, especially when we are eating strict and not having a bun for our burgers. Usually we stick to turkey or veggie burgers but I picked up some of these chicken burgers at Trader Joe's when we were there last weekend.

The ingredient list is not too shabby for these chicken burgers. Ground chicken, onions, bell peppers, garlic, cilantro, natural flavor, salt, lime juice concentrate, and red pepper flakes. I just heated them up in a skillet and they tasted great. You can also broil them or grill them. One burger is only 150 calories!

So let's get down to business. You need to ripe avocados.

Scoop out the avocado into a bowl.

Mash that yummy goodness up with a fork. I like my guacamole a bit on the chunky side but if you prefer it really smooth then go ahead and break out a small food processor.

 To help with not only the flavor but to keep it from browning to quickly.

 Okay so I have played around with the seasoning a lot people! I have added a little of this and that, made it spicier sometimes with cayenne pepper or Franks, tried adding onion powder, pepper, salsa, regular salt, tomatoes, etc. and these are my final four. We all have preferences of course so choose what you like best but I even measured this out last time, which is painful for me you know, so I could give exact quantities for those of you who really need that. Do you feel the love????

 So add your seasonings to the bowl and give it a good mix. 

 Add a couple big spoonfuls to your burger and enjoy! I promise you will not miss the bun! We had fresh veggies and hummus on the side this week since we are eating to lose weight right now but we also love to serve this kind of thing with sweet potato fries! 

Just a little tip. I am sure you have all heard to place the pit of your avocado in with your guacamole to keep it from browning. I have tried this many times and I don't think it really works that well. The lime juice definitely helps. Not having too ripe of avocados certainly helps. But I think the easiest thing is to just smooth out your guacamole nice and flat as best as you can in whatever dish you are using. Then when you are ready to use it just scrap that very thin layer off the top and you will have nice green guac underneath.

Homemade Guacamole

2 ripe avocados

juice of one lime

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. garlic salt

1/2 tsp. chili powder

Directions: Mash avocado in a small bowl with a fork. Add lime juice and seasonings. Mix well. Serve immediately or let sit in fridge for 30 minutes for flavors to blend.

It's Januay. Reality Bites.

Well hello everyone. It is January and I am tired of seeing the Thanksgiving menu on my blog. It is about time I get back at this. I have taken some unintentional time off from blogging. The busyness of the holidays stole some of my blogging time. Swimming lessons for Faith every Tuesday and Thursday evening for that month stole much of my cooking time and my husband had the nerve to upgrade his computer which meant I got his old Mac stealing just precious time trying to figure it all out! One would think I would be happy about having a new and great computer. I am sometimes. The problem is that Mac doesn't have Irfanview, which is the program I have used to resize and fix my photos for the blog, and my husband still needs to give me a tutorial on iphoto. I am resistant to change when it comes to technology. So what's a girl to do???? Break out the old computer that's what!

I discovered something while not blogging. It isn't good for me. Actually having the need to cook, search for healthy recipes, take pictures, and post about it is great accountability. We have been very much slacking around here and it is time to knock that off and get serious. Christmas fudge is such a weakness for me along with molasses cookies. Yikes! So the reality is I have about 5 pounds to lose and Miles a little more than that so it means phase one kind of eating.

When we eat strict I have found it difficult to blog about it in the past because it seems a little boring and too simple to share on the blog. But isn't January the time when we all tend to think about our diet and focus on eating healthier? So I thought our honesty about needing to lose weight and showing you what that looks like for us might be helpful for some of you who also ate a little too much Christmas fudge.


So for starters eating strict and losing the weight for us means giving up all carbs for two weeks, even the healthy complex ones like these favorites we usually enjoy on a regular basis. It is difficult at first, especially if you are still a white bread eater, but it is only two weeks of your life after all and losing 8-20 pounds in that time will be worth it! (Don't misunderstand- you will add these things back in slowly to your diet but never go back to simple carbs like white bread. This is a lifestyle change not a diet!)
 

 

And sadly it also means giving up all fruit for two weeks. You might find this odd since fruit is absolutely healthy for you, but the reason is that it contains too much natural sugar for you to get over your sugar addiction. Trust me when I say that after two weeks of eating like this an apple never tasted so good! Your taste buds will be fixed and able to really sense how sweet a piece of fruit is.

And of course it means giving up all sugar! Even in its healthier forms like sucanat, agave, honey, or molasses. You can have all natural zero calorie sweeteners like Stevia however which is very helpful!

Let me give you a fair warning that sugar hides in all kinds of things!!!!! It is in ketchup and salad dressings, tomato sauces, marinades, coffee creamer, yogurt even Greek yogurt and today's average consumer isn't necessarily label savvy. If you are trying to lose weight you need to be very careful about label reading! During strict phase for us we try our best to not consume any sugar but when it comes to certain things like salad dressing it can be very difficult. Stick to 2 grams or less per serving if you can or just make it yourself!

These things are not difficult at all for Miles and I to give up anymore because we are giving up way less than the average bear the second time around. We don't love giving them up but it isn't so bad for the short term to get back on track and to stop having those cravings and the reward of weight gone and feeling good makes it worth it!

So what do we eat during strict phase....................COLORFUL FOOD!

We eat tons of greens in all different varieties like spinach, kale, romaine, mixed greens, collar greens. You name it we probably eat it and usually for lunch during our strict two weeks.

We also eat lots of raw veggies and hummus at lunch time or as our second veggie at dinner time.

 Since we eat so much salad every day for lunch we like to change it up. We are definite Greek salad lovers but having a little salsa and black beans with avocado, reduced fat pepper jack and light sour cream sure is delicious as well. We go with an Asian salad occasionally as well.

 We love peppers cooked with some olive oil and diced up chicken sausage as well or we make chicken fajitas without the tortillas and it feels like a good indulgence.

Peppers stuffed with ground turkey cooked in a no sugar added tomato sauce is excellent for phase one eating and doesn't make me feel deprived at all!

I like to dress up the veggies since we eat so many during this phase. My favorite is green beans cooked in a little balsamic with red onion and sliced almonds.

Grilled veggies are my favorite but we live in Minnesota and this time of year I am asking a SUPER big favor of my hubby if I want them grilled so a little olive oil, balsamic, and some salt free garlic and herb seasoning taste delicious cooked in a skillet on the stove.

 We eat all those veggies along with lean meats like turkey and chicken and we like to have chicken sausage quite often. These chicken sausage only have 100-110 calories per serving and they are great on salad or with peppers and onions.

This was a grilled summer time meal but we like to eat turkey  or veggie burgers without the bun often for a good lunch or dinner during phase one. Those are veggie chips on my plate but they too are a no no during strict phase! They hail from Trader Joe's and are my favorite chips!

 I also love to make a big pot of soup during phase one loaded with veggies, lots of tomatoes, and sometimes beans or chick peas.

For breakfast we eat eggs, egg beaters, or egg whites every morning for two weeks. It gets old so we change those up too. Egg cups one morning, a Greek fritatta another morning, diced ham and mozzarella another or just an omelet with onions and peppers another morning. Day 15 when you can have steel cut oats with some fruit is really something to look forward to after all those eggs! I do like eggs though!

 You will get hungry at first when you are eating less and eating better because your body will actually use all that food up since it is filled with nutrition! So we have a few snacks to eat during this phase. Nuts are my favorite. I love soy nuts, pecans, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, etc. I love them all. You do have to be careful to not consume too many since they are so high in calories though.

 We love to snack on cheeses and these laughing cow spreadable cheeses are great in a stick of celery or spread on a large piece of lettuce with some all natural lunch meat for a lettuce wrap.

I hate the commercial for mini Babybel but I love the cheese. You can take these with you too since they come in a wax protector. Make sure you get the lighter version though.

So those are the basics of our lose weight mode. There are definitely more details to it but I am already reminded of why I needed that new computer and I can't go into any more detail without breaking something in frustration!

I am no doctor of course and so you should remember that you should consult with a doctor about your specific needs. Let me also just say that I know there are a ton of differing opinions about the healthiest way to eat. I honestly believe that a vegan diet is probably the best thing you can do for your body but I can't handle living without cheese!!!! Meat I could probably live without but Greek yogurt and feta cheese are at the very top of my favorite food list. However, I have had some success in the managing your weight department and for the most part have kept my weight off for nearly three years! If my brain wasn't so science illiterate I would go back to school and get a degree in nutrition because I do so enjoy talking about this and helping others and I love to cook!

So for what it's worth I hope this post might help you out a little or inspire you to get on board the New Year's Resolution train and clean up your diet and get healthy. I would love to help you out or take you to the grocery store and make you hate me when I tell you all the things you can't buy anymore! Or meet you at the gym for a little exercise accountability!

P.S. I discovered the hole in time at the gym. It is January you know so the gym is super crowded. But if you get there about 7:45 the first crowd has cleared and you've beat all the moms who have to wait to take their kids to school. When I walked upstairs today every machine was empty. I almost took a picture!

Thanksgiving Menu

Okay so I am doing a little better than last year to give you our Healthy Thanksgiving Menu ideas two days before instead of one day. You still have time to go to the store today or tomorrow if you dare. That was quite an accomplishment yesterday to come out alive and sane.

 

So here goes!

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We will of course be having a turkey since it is so traditional. It just wouldn't feel right to me to not have turkey. What is with those crazy fish eaters on Thanksgiving?? Even my vegan friends eat a Tofurkey! Plus turkey is a lean white meat with lots of protein and no carbs (since the rest of the meal is carb heavy.) It also has plenty of vitamins and minerals and is particularly high in selenium. There aren't a ton of dietary sources of selenium so turkey is a great way to get you some.

I am not a gravy lover but others in my family are so I won't ruin their Thanksgiving. Here is a link to the recipe (and source of the above picture) I am probably using.

Fool Proof Gravy

I am a cranberry lover though and this is what I will be eating on my Turkey. I actually just finished making this so it has two days for the flavors to blend and get even yummier. It is very simple. Just add one bag of cranberries and the zest and juice of one orange to the food processor and pulse into very fine pieces. Then simmer on the stove for about 10 minutes adding two heaping spoonfuls of honey, a little water and a little Stevia if you need it sweeter. You can sweeten it to your own taste.

On the Side

We skip the green bean casserole in favor of these much better for you green beans. No one ever ate that green bean casserole anyway. I would end up throwing it away every year. Just blanch some fresh green beans and then saute them with a little red onion, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and slivered almonds. I make these last because they cool off pretty quickly.

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I could also live without the potatoes but others really need them to feel like it's Thanksgiving and since I understand the turkey thing and not the fish thing I will make these too. I will clean them up however! Instead of cream and butter I will use chicken broth and light sour cream or Greek yogurt and possibly a little chive and garlic for flavor. Buttermilk is also a better alternative to heavy cream. Save that for dessert.

We will also have a fresh fruit salad. When I was a little girl my mom always made fruit salad with fruit cocktail and whipped cream all mixed together. It was one of my favorite things then, but of course I like to just let the fruit shine in all it's natural glory and not come from a can now! Even though all the fruit isn't at its peak right now the flavors all help each other out. Especially the oranges and pineapple. Hopefully my kids will have a different story to tell about their Thanksgiving meals!

I made this Spaghetti Squash Gratin not very long ago for dinner one night and knew right away that it would be a side dish on my Thanksgiving table. Last year I made something similar from Kalyn's Kitchen called Spaghetti Squash and Chard Gratin. I will make it Wednesday so I just have to heat it up Thursday. You can find the full recipe in the October Archives on my blog but you just need some onions, reduced fat cheese, Greek yogurt or sour cream, a tiny bit of butter or butter alternative, and a little seasoning like parsley or thyme. I will be adding some kale to it for Thursday to green it up and give it a little more nutrition.

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I am planning on making some homemade stuffing. Again this is something I could totally live without because I would rather eat two portions of spaghetti squash gratin, but it's traditional. I really don't have a recipe I am following but it will involve dried whole wheat bread I have already laid out, celery, onion, leeks, chicken broth, nuts, maybe cranberries and pears, parsley, sage, and rosemary.

Thanks to Pinterest my family will get some rolls too. I would normally just make my homemade oatmeal bread but the recipe for these seemed simple and fairly healthy so I am going to give it a try. You can find the recipe here.

Whole Foods Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

Appetizers

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Also thanks to Pinterest I am going to make something similar to this delightful turkey for the kids and the grownups to enjoy!

These apple chips are a Pinterest thing as well. I want to make them but time will be my issue so they are last on the list. You can make them though if you like!

Apple Chips

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Black olives may seem strange to you but there hasn't been a single Thanksgiving in my life without them. Even in college while home with a friend her family happily obliged and included my black olives on their table! Thanks Karon! We will not be eating them on a spoon though. The tradition is for the kids to put them on their fingers of course!

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The other thing I can't remember a Thanksgiving without are deviled eggs. There are a few creatures in my house who devour these in one bite. You have to take one while you can because when you turn around they will be gone.

I also got a few fun cheeses and some whole grain crackers. I love a good aged cheddar so that came home with me and a smoked cheddar and Swiss blend. I will also put out a reduced fat Colby jack blend the kids like.

Dessert

Pumpkin Pie with Sweet and Salty Spiced Pecan Crust

We all love pumpkin pie around here but especially Evan. It isn't really the crust we love it is just the flavor. So I decided to make this crust from Oh She Glows. It sounded much better to me and it is a bit healthier. Pumpkin is another one of those Thanksgiving traditions that gets good grades for its healthiness! It is rich in vital antioxidants and dietary fiber, low in calories, and is often recommended by dietitians in weight loss and cholesterol reducing programs. So no guilt people!

Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes

This was also a Pinterest find. I told you that darn site would be a time kill for me. But who could say no to mini pumpkin cheesecakes made with a gingersnap for the crust? Pumpkin pie and cheesecake are Evan's two favorite desserts so maybe he will forgive me for not making Pumpkin Yummy his other favorite. Plus they are small so they are just a mini indulgence.

Pumpkin Pie Latte

Finally something to drink. I found this recipe reading one of my favorite blogs, Peas and Thank You. Pumpkin Pie Latte in the crock pot that I can drink all day long if my little heart desires. Ummmm........YES!!!!!!! You just need some strongly brewed pumpkin spice coffee. Dunkin' Donuts makes a great one but so does Trader Joe's I hear. You add the coffee to the crock pot along with some unsweetened vanilla almond milk, canned pumpkin, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and some Stevia to taste. I might froth a little milk for the top of my cup(s)! Click on the link to get all the correct measurements. You know me. I will just dump.

So there you have it! This will be our healthier Thanksgiving Meal. I realize I should have typed up those appetizers first but I didn't and I need to get working on this huge meal now so I am not about to try to move things around. I also realize this is a ton of food but I don't want to cook for about 3 days after this so I will need lots of leftovers.

Good thing I am running the Turkey Leg 5K first thing in the morning Thursday so I can burn some calories and make room for this meal! The exciting part is that I get to run it with Evan. I am sure he will beat me but he promises not too bad!

I hope your Thanksgiving is a blessed one and that you can find a moment to reflect on all that we have to be thankful for. I know my Portions of Goodness are many and I am very grateful.

Crockpot Chicken and Lentil Stew

Okay Crock Pot fans, this is a recipe for you!

I am getting ready to leave for the weekend for my annual Scrap Booking Retreat with my girlfriends. That meant we needed our annual trip to Craft's Direct to get all of our supplies last Monday. That place is craft heaven!

Normally on days like this when I will be gone I tell the husband he is on his own and I don't feel one bit bad about it! That man is spoiled! I would love to have had 3 meals a day all thought out, planned, shopped for, and cooked nearly everyday of my life for the past 16 years! But this time I was feeling nice and decided to throw some things in the crock pot quick for him before I left.

I looked in the fridge and cupboards quick and started tossing.

The usual suspects. A few carrots, couple stalks of celery, and one onion.

I had about 3/4 of a container of chicken broth in the fridge that I poured in but vegetable broth would work to make it vegan/vegetarian.

Yum! I love lentils. I forget about them and don't eat them nearly enough. I used 3/4 cup of each color just for some variety.

I ended up adding a second can of tomatoes and a can of tomato paste but one can of chick peas was plenty. Don't forget the tomato paste just because I didn't give you a picture of it now!

I L-O-V-E all the spices Pepper Creek Farms makes. Surprisingly enough I usually find them at TJ Maxx or HomeGoods stores but you can order directly from them online. I used a couple teaspoons of the sweet paprika but smoked would be excellent as well. If you can't find either than just use the regular stuff.

A dash of salt, teaspoon of pepper, and some garlic powder. Next time I will just use fresh garlic but I had forgotten and I was in a big hurry! I think I even ended up adding some parsley and oregano too but that hurry up mode is to blame for lack of pictures.

I never make a soup/stew without this magic ingredient. Usually 2 big spoonfuls go into the pot. It adds such tremendous flavor. I am happy to report that I have seen a vegetable based one now too for you vegetarians out there. I haven't tried it yet but I am sure it will be just as good!

I gave that all a stir and then I added about 3 chicken breasts to the pot quick before putting the lid on, turning it to low, and hoping for the best!

Now here is the dilemma.

I was not home.

This was made to make life easy on the hubster.

He is a man.

He said thanks. That was very thoughtful of you.

He took no pictures!

He is fired as a food blogger.

I don't know how to explain that. My kids even wait to start eating their dinner usually because I am taking a picture before we pray and eat. My apologies for no pictures of the finished product. I can however report that it was in fact delicious! I had leftovers for lunch the next day. It tastes very much like a stew without the fatty meat and I think next time I will make it vegetarian just because.

Just a few notes:

*Cook this on low for 5-6 hours. Lentils don't really take that long to get soft but the chicken needs that time. So if you leave the chicken out you could reduce the time.

*When the cooking is nearly finished take the chicken out and shred it. It will fall apart easily. Then return it to the stew and stir.

* Make a big batch. Eat the leftovers and freeze the rest. Heat that frozen stew back up in the crock pot another day.
* You can also use plain brown lentils if you can't find the pretty colors.

Crock Pot Chicken and Lentil Stew

2-3 large carrots, diced

2-3 stalks of celery, diced

1 medium onion, diced

3-4 garlic cloves, minced

1 24-32oz. container of chicken or vegetable broth
3/4 cup black lentils
3/4 cup red lentils

2 cans diced tomatoes (undrained)

1 can chick peas

1 small can tomato paste

2 tbsp. chicken base

1 tsp. pepper

2 tsp. sweet or smoked paprika

1 tsp. parsley

1 tsp. oregano

3-4 chicken breasts

Directions: Add all ingredients to the crock pot and cook on low for 5-6 hours. Remove chicken and shred near the end of cooking time. Return chicken to the pot and stir. Allow chicken time to warm back up before serving.