Baby it's Ch-Ch-Chili Outside

Spring is in no hurry this year... Here's a recipe to get you through the chili weather !!! See what I did there.... ? 

Ingredients:

1 Can of Pinto Beans

2 Cans of Dark Red Kidney Beans

1 Can of Diced Tomatoes

½ Can of Vegetarian Refried Beans

1 pound of organic Ground Beef (Ground Turkey or Bison which ever you prefer)

1 Large Onion

3 Cloves of Garlic

½ tsp. of Salt

A few shakes of Pepper

3 tablespoons of Olive Oil

3 tablespoons of Chili powder (More or less to taste)

◇ Coarsely Chop Onions and Garlic.

◇ Sauté them in olive oil over medium heat in a heavy kettle.

◇ Add salt, pepper & chili powder.

◇ Mix in ground meat and continue to sauté, stirring often.

◇ Once the meat is cooked, add in the beans and tomatoes.

◇ Cook over low heat (simmer) for approximately 1 hour.

◇ Serve with optional sour cream (or plain yogurt), chopped green onions, grated cheese, and chopped avocados.

Rice Rice Baby! (Rice Pudding)

I happened to have some left over rice from dinner the other night and decided to put this recipe together for a super yum desert! Enjoy :)

 Ingredients: 

1/8 Cup of Vegetable Oil

1/4 Flour

1/8 Cup Sugar

A couple drops of Vanilla Extract (or 1/2 Vanilla Bean)

3 Cups Cooked White Rice

1/4 tsp Cinnamon

3/4 Cup of either Whole Milk or Almond Milk

In a small sauce pan over medium heat stir oil, sugar and flour 'til completely melted & smooth. 

Add milk + stir constantly and raise the heat to high. Once thickened, remove heat and stir in cooked rice. Sprinkle cinnamon on top of servings. VOILA!

Optional** 

> Add a few cooked raisins. (Wash and drain, place in a glass bowl with water and microwave for 3 minutes and drain again)

> Add chopped fruit of choice 

Buh'Nana Bread (Your Old & Sweet Grandmother's Recipe)

This is just one of those staple recipes everybody needs in their repertoire of baking… AND this is one of the best versions you will ever taste that comes to you from several branches up the family tree!

Ingredients

1/3 Cup of Flour

2 tsp. Baking Powder

¼ tsp. Baking Soda

½ tsp. Salt

2/3 Cup of Sugar

 1/3 Cup of Shortening (Margarine)

1 Cup of Mashed Bananas (3)

3 Eggs

*Optional ½ Cup of Chopped Nuts of Choice*

► Pre Heat Oven to 350 degrees

► In a small bowl mix your dry ingredients

► In a larger bowl beat margarine + sugar, followed by well-beaten eggs

►Alternate between adding dry ingredients and bananas into large bowl

►Add chopped nuts (optional)

Pour mixture evenly into a well-greased loaf pan and bake for approximately 1 hour+ minutes. Test with a toothpick in the center, when no dough sticks it’s ready!

Let it cool, and if you’re like me you’ll smother it in butter before your taste buds demolish it….

My Morning Routine (ViSalus Shakes)

ViSalus Shake Recipe

I hopped on the Visalus bandwagon back in October and since then I've noticed a difference in my portion sizes and my energy levels. I'm the last girl to keep up a restrictive diet... I love food, what more can I say? So for me, ViSalus is the best way to get cut unnecessary calories and products out of your diet while maintain a fit physique. **Noticed I said fit, not skinny! It's all about eating healthy not eating less. :)

Here is my morning routine... Note I do change up my fruits (mixed berries, apple, banana, orange etc). I switch up my greens between kale and spinach. Also liquids alternate between half OJ and water, half Pineapple and water and half almond milk and water. This one is one of my favourites for its tropical taste. I feel like I'm on vacation when I drink this stuff!! Aloha!

Ingredients
Half a Banana
4 or 5 frozen strawberries
Handful of spinach (frozen or fresh)
Tbsp. of Flax Seed
2 mini cups (ounces) of ViSalus Mix (Sweet Cream Flavour)
2-4 Ice Cubes
1/2 Cup Pineapple Juice
1/2 Water

Blend ingredients in a blender. I use Nutri Bullet... Otherwise Vitamix, Magic Bullet etc.

This serves as a complete and balanced meal replacement. So it doesn't leave you craving a snack half way to lunch. The mix features a Tri-Sorb protein blend, a balanced source of vitamins and such.
Check out their website for info on how you can join the challenge and live a healthy, balanced and nutritious lifestyle (NOT DIET) :)

http://visalus.com/ 

Homemade Apple Sauce

Homemade Apple Sauce

This is one of my go-to desserts because it's relatively easy, extremely yummy and light.

Ingredients:

6-8 Large Apples (McIntosh or Granny Smith)

½ tsp. Cinnamon

¾ cup of water

½ of sugar (or sugar substitute like Agave)

Garnish with Cinnamon Sticks

First you gotta peel and core them apples. Dice the apples into small chunks and toss them into a medium saucepan. Bring all the ingredients to a boil at medium heat in the saucepan, stirring occasionally ‘til cooked (10-15 minutes and they should have the desired soft consistency).

See that’s it! So easy!

I like to add half n’ half and extra cinnamon sugar if I’m serving it warm, but you can definitely serve it chilled too!

Baked Apple DeLITE*

*note this is one of my favorite desserts that is relatively healthy… get it??* DeLITE !! It’s ultimately a fall dessert but tastes good all year ‘round. If there was a dessert named after topless Ryan Gosling this would be it cause its’ that good. 

Ingredients

➾1 Large Apple per person (or 2 small)

➾Brown Sugar

➾Raisins (optional)

➾Cream (Half ‘n Half or Whipping)

➾Cinnamon

1. First you gotta wash & core them apples. Get all the yucky stuff out of the middle.

2. Fill the apples with brown sugar (and raisins if you like em’) and place them in a pie plate or baking pan in the oven at 350 degrees fahrenheit for approximately 1 hour or until the apples are soft.

3. Take them out of the oven. It’s probably a good idea if you put some baking mittens on so you don’t burn your hands off and suffer. Let them cool for a few minutes.

4. Once they are touchable… (again don’t burn your hands) Serve them in a dessert bowl and top with cream, more brown sugar and a dash of cinnamon.

Bon Appetite!

Pasghetti Squash (Italy Gone Vegan)

Yes… I’ve combined the words spaghetti + pasta to create PASGHETTI !!Today’s recipe is one of my allllll time favorites. Not only is it scrumptiously delicious but it is also one of the healthiest pastas you will ever eat! (debatably so) 

1 Large Spaghetti Squash 

Cut the squash in half (length wise) and remove all its’ guts with a large spoon like a pumpkin! Next spread the inside with butter, salt and pepper. Place face down on a pan and cook in the oven for at least 1 hour or until the pasghetti lifts easily from its’ shell, at 350 degrees.

Sauce Ingredients

▷ 1 Medium Sized Onion

▷ 1 Small Zucchini 

▷ Mushrooms (As many as you like…I like LOTSSS)

▷ 1/4 tsp of Oregano

▷ Several Leaves of Basil

▷ Salt & Pepper (to taste)

▷ 1 Medium Can of preferred Spaghetti Sauce

▷ 2 Cans of Petite Diced Tomatoes 

▷ 1 or 2 Cloves  Garlic

1. Chop up your onion, zucchini, mushrooms and garlic into desired sizes. I like my onion chopped small, zucchini and mushrooms chopped chunky!

2. Sautée the chopped onions, zucchini, garlic and mushrooms in a large pot drizzled with olive oil on medium heat.

3. Once the veggies are cooked (but not brown), add the sauce and diced tomatoes over low heat for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

4. Scoop out your cooked pasghetti into a large serving bowl. Dish up your plate with some pasghetti, sauce and fresh grated parmesan for additional perfection.

ENJOY :)