Magical Turkey Orzo Soup

Happiness is when you walk in the door and it smells like what your grandmother's house smelled like ...

This morning I posted about last night's dinner ... sorry it was a late night!  I had a nice piece of leftover turkey breast that I knew was going into a soup.  Didn't know what else was going in, but it was the basic chicken noodle standard with some added new flavors.

I don't know if it's because we have actually been using the dining room (bc the kitchen is so full of stuff lateley), or the mood everyone was in, but I felt like my day synced up nicely over a simple bowl of soup and warm bread.

If you or anyone in your family has been fighting an illness (as there are many with flu-like symptoms and coughs going around), there's nothing like a good bowl of chicken soup.  It's a nutrient dense easy to digest food and liquid that can help your immune system.  Try to use the best ingredients like organic celery (as it's one of the worst offenders of pesticides), organic free-range chicken or turkey (most chickens from the grocery store are grown at lightning speed to fatten them up and fed corn and antibiotics which of course get into our systems that make it difficult to fight infection on our own).

Not too much work goes into making soup ... the waiting for all the flavors to come together isn't terribly long, but the longer it cooks, the better it tastes. 

Magical Turkey Orzo Soup

Ingredients:
2 (32 ounce) boxes of chicken stock
1 cup of chopped onion (or more to taste)
1 cup of chopped celery
1 cup of diced carrots
olive oil to coat pot
2 cups or so of cooked turkey (or chicken), chopped into bite sized pieces
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
grated fresh ginger
juice from 1 lemon
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
a pinch of Old Bay seasoning
1 cup frozen organic corn
1 tablespoon flavored vinegar (I used an orange champagne variety but red wine is good too)
cooked orzo (cook separately and add to pot when ready to eat)
fresh sprig of rosemary chopped
fresh sprigs of parsley torn up

Directions:

1. Heat olive oil in a soup pot.  Add onions, carrots, and celery.  Cook until tender.
2. Add chicken stock/broth.  Combine well and heat through.
3. Add turkey
4. Season with the following:  salt, pepper, ginger (I don't measure, I just use a grater and count till at least 20!), lemon juice, thyme, parsley, Old Bay.  Simmer on low for about 20 minutes.
5. Add frozen corn.  Cook until tender.
6. Add vinegar along with orzo, fresh rosemary and parsely.  Heat thoroughly and let flavors blend.

That's it!  I generally don't measure so use your judgement in the seasonings.  You can always add spices, you cannot take away!  I absolutely love the vinegar at the end of cooking process.  It gives it a fantastic pop of flavor with less salt needed to finish.

Hope your next dinner is magical!
Enjoy,
Krista

Throwback Thursday with Santa from Pequannock Co 1 Firehouse

So miss these visits!!!

Roasted Lemon Broccoli

"More Broccoli Please!"

Have you ever heard that one?  Not too often here either!

I am not a huge lover of broccoli unless it's stir-fried but I needed to get some other veggie on the table the other night, so I threw some ingredients together, fired up the oven and threw them in.

I'm not kidding when I tell you I OFTEN burn meals.

I forget I have food in the oven because I forget to set a timer.  Distracted multi-tasker.  But this time it worked out.  Although the broccoli wasn't burnt, it was awesome as a crunchy roasted lemony side.

So set the oven to 425 degrees.  Get out a cookie sheet or roasting pan.

Roasted Lemon Broccoli

1 head of broccoli flowerets
1-2 lemons
olive oil
salt
pepper
dusting of Parmesan cheese (optional)

1. Chop up the broccoli into bite sized pieces.
2. Juice the lemons into a small bowl.  Add enough olive oil to match the amount of lemon juice (or more olive oil depending on your tastes).   Add a good sprinkling of salt and pepper.
3. Place broccoli on roasting pan.  Pour mixture over it.  Mix well making sure broccoli is coated.
4. Place in oven.  Check at 10 minutes.  Turn.  Check again in 10 minutes.  Let it crisp up and take out.
5. Toss with Parmesan cheese (optional).

I actually served this the other night with the raspberry chicken.  I didn't post last night because I had no recipe to share! I had a turkey breast that I seasoned with salt and pepper, brushed olive oil over it, covered with foil and hoped for the best when I put it in the oven at 425 degrees.  The oven was that hot because I had to throw in a frozen pizza for an early pre-swim snack.  It's hard to have dinner ready at 4:00!  They get on the bus at 4:10 and don't get home till 8:30!  The turkey was great and now I have leftovers for soup today.  All is well!

My other green obsession!  

Enjoy!

Krista

Chicken Chili

Chasing the cold chill away with a hot bowl of chili works for me!

This is not my usual full of veggie style chili.  I just needed to get this done fast and I was curious to see if my kids ate more as I left out the peppers and beans.  All the rest of it stayed the same so I was surprised they didn't cheer when I told them no beans, no peppers.  Maybe they do like those!!

I used a ground chicken for this one ... have never used that before but when I find organic meat that is not the usual chicken breast, whole chicken, or beef, I grab it.  It worked out great, but of course, you can use beef or turkey to make this chili.

Chicken Chili

8 servings (1 1/3 cups each)

Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 lb ground chicken
1 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves
1 Tablespoon chili powder (or more to taste)
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Tablespoon ground cumin
3 Tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 bay leaves
1 1/4 cups of Merlot or other red wine
2 28 oz cans of whole tomatoes (I blended up one can to smooth it out)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

*Feel free to add more garlic, a jalapeno pepper, kidney beans and 1 cup of chopped green pepper.

Directions:

1. Heat a large soup pot over medium high heat.  Add onions.  Cook until tender.  Add ground chicken and cook until browned, stirring to crumble.  
2. Add chili powder and the next 7 ingredients, and cook for one minute, stirring constantly.  Stir in wine, tomatoes, and kidney beans; bring to a boil.  Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally.  Uncover and cook for 30 minutes or until desired consistency.  Discard the bay leaves.
3. Sprinkle with cheese and add a dollop of sour cream if desired.

Serve with a nice green salad!

If you're in the Northeast this week, you will get wet!  It's either raining or snowing and that can make some people cranky!  Lucky for me, my animals keep me laughing and busy as I'm often referee in the morning between the three of them ;)

Sleeping off his tough day 

Stay warm and happy!

Krista

Raspberry Chicken

Happy Monday night!

Made this last night as one of those repeat meals!  Because it's easy and I had the ingredients ... simple.  I've listed this before but it's worth another post.  The sauce is really nice and I think it would match up nicely with a white fish if you're able to swing that with your family!

Carmelized Onion Chicken

(serves 4)

1 lb of chicken tenders
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. freshly ground pepper
1 t. olive oil
1/2 cup sliced onion
1/2 cup raspberry jam
1 T. red wine vinegar
1 T. low sodium soy sauce
1 t. minced ginger  (I use a micro-plane to grate it when frozen)
1/2 t. dried rosemary
fresh rosemary to garnish

Directions:
1.  Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper.  Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add onion, and saute for 2 minutes.  Add chicken to the pan, saute 8 minutes or until chicken is done.  Remove onion and chicken from pan.
2.  Add jam and remaining ingredients to pan; cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly with a whisk.  Return chicken to pan; cook 4 minutes stirring occasionally.

Yield:  each serving size is 3 ounces of chicken and 1 T. sauce.  I usually double it and it all goes with just enough for my lunch the next day. Today I put the chicken in a wrap with scooped out sweet potato left over from dinner and topped it off with some cranberry sauce for lunch.  So good!

Have to mention the upcoming holiday frenzy ... I'm so far behind.

No tree, no presents, just started a list today.

Not the happiest feeling when you feel so slow compared to the friends who have already sent their cards, have their tree lit, house done, and even cookies baked!  But I have to say, this weekend I was in Virginia visiting my alma mater with Hannah for a soccer camp.  We somehow managed to time it so that we stumbled upon the town's Christmas parade.  It was exactly what we needed to feel the Christmas spirit.  To hear little voices sing out "Merry Christmas" as they went by on their floats was so sweet.  It was simple.  Happy.  Made my heart melt as I remembered when my kids were that little.  I wish we could turn back the hands of time, but it made me appreciate the holiday for what it is today.

Harrisonburg, Virginia

Stay sane everyone!  Don't let your list of to-do's make you forget about the simple joys!

Krista

Green Season

Easy Greens

People look at green drinks with bewilderment.  They just look strange if you're not used to them.  I love getting in 2 big handfuls of spinach in the morning! Keeps me on track for the rest of the day.  

My usual green drink is easy to make and doesn't taste as it looks.  However, yesterday morning I added two drops of an orange essential oil that made me really happy!  It was like a summer creamsicle in my blender! 

Here you go:

Green Creamsicle

1 cup coconut water
2 handfuls of baby spinach
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 banana
5 icecubes
1-2 drops of orange essential oil

Put into blender.
Blend until smooth.
Enjoy!

If you need any vanilla or chocolate protein powder, I have some extra as I over-ordered!  Message me if you're interested.  Also, if you need some essential orange oil, let me know.  It is not an expensive investment to make this drink for yourself in this stressful month.  Keeps you running without caffeine!  Don't get me wrong, my coffee is part of my routine too!

 Protein packed Green Creamsicle

Enjoy,

Krista

Penne with Vodka Sauce

Pasta Night

I know a lot of you already have a recipe for this, so if you want to pass yours along to the rest of us, please do!  I never make this but thought we needed something quick and easy tonight as the Cowboys are playing at 8:25 pm.  That means my dear husband, who unfortunately is a Cowboys fan (lol!), will be bringing out his winter beers and setting up in the family room.  I'd like to be out of the kitchen/family room to escape his loud clapping!!! 

Ok, I digress but since starting this week's recipe blog, I have felt a bit more organized, but the December schedule is really busy on all fronts.  Everyone is being pulled in all directions so at least if we have a meal to eat together, it helps us connect.  Most of the time the humor is sarcastic from the kids, but we have a good laugh and all is well.

Penne with Vodka Sauce

16 ounces uncooked penne pasta
2 tablespoons of butter
1 1/3 cups finely chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
8 teaspoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons water
1 1/2 cups half and half
1 cup reduced fat milk
2/3 cup vodka
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 cup (4 ounces) grated fresh parmesan cheese
4 tablespoons finely chopped basil

1. Cook pasta according to directions, omitting salt and butter.  Drain.
2. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Add onion and garlic, cover and cook 3 minutes or until tender. Add tomato sauce, simmer, partially covered, 8 minutes or until thick.  Combine flour and water, stirring with a whisk until smooth.  Add flour mixture to the pan, cook 1 minute.  Add half-and-half, milk, vodka, salt, and pepper, bring to a boil.  Stir in cheese.  Reduce heat to low, cook 3 minutes or until cheese melts, stirring frequently.  Add pasta, toss to coat.  Sprinkle with basil.  

Makes 8 servings that are 1 1/3  cups each.

This was really good in my opinion ... not as much butter as some recipes I've seen.  Of course there's half and half, milk and parm cheese!  All I can say is eat a great salad with this to keep your belly happy.  Use the best quality products you can find.  And enjoy it.  Once in awhile you can have a nice vodka sauce!  Especially if you make it!  The best part of my dinner tonight was my daughter helped me.  She cranked her 1D music and we measured, stirred and tasted.  She handled the kitchen while I ran out to get my daughter from practice.  Yay!  Help!

Have a fantastic weekend everyone!
Krista

 Our Giants/Cowboys rivalry last year! 

Chicken and Apples in the Crock

'Tis the season for easy recipes!

Because I picked up a whole chicken yesterday and actually had apple cider in my fridge, this was a no-brainer.  Love my crock pot, especially right now.  The rainy day made it even better.

This recipe calls for 6 boneless chicken breasts so I wasn't sure if the whole chicken thing would work.  But I knew I had to use it otherwise I had to freeze it and it's no fun when you have to defrost.  So I gave it a go, adding some cinnamon and brown sugar to the original recipe.

Chicken and Apples in the Crock

Ingredients:
1 cup apple cider
2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 Tablespoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 Tablespoons butter
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 whole chicken or 6 boneless chicken breasts
salt and pepper to taste
3 Granny Smith apples, cored and thickly sliced
2 Tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 Tablespoon cornstarch

1. In a small bowl, combine apple cider, vinegar, nutmeg, cinnamon and curry powder.
2. In a small microwave safe bowl, combine butter, onions and garlic.  Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes until onion is softened.  Place mixture in bottom of slow cooker.
3. Place chicken into slow cooker, basting with the juice to coat all sides of it.  Pour remaining mixture over the chicken and season with salt and pepper.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours until chicken is tender.  
5. Remove about a cup of the liquid from the cooker to a small bowl.  Add the 2 Tablespoons of brown sugar and mix until dissolved.  
6. Add apples along with the brown sugar mixture and cook 40-50 minutes longer or until apples are tender.
7. Mix together 1/3 cup juices from the crock and 1 T cornstarch in a small bowl.  Stir back into the crockpot.  Cover and cook on high, until sauce is thickened and bubbly, about 10-15 minutes.  

**Note on the whole chicken:  if you want to save even more time, use the boneless chicken breasts.  Although the chicken was amazingly tender, you do have to deal with the bones and separating the meat.  I do love having leftovers from the whole chicken to make soup with the next day.

 Found brussel sprouts at the store that were already sliced and ready to throw in a pan with some olive oil, garlic and parmesan cheese.  Was so easy and really good. 

Sometimes just walking in your house and smelling this awesome meal makes everyone happy.  The investment in a few minutes of prep and planning is huge!!!  Not just for the fam ... but for you. Once it's started, it is off that nagging list in your head.

Done!

Back to Christmas shopping!

Happy Eating,
Krista

Taco Salad Tuesday!!!

I know it sounds like I'm way too excited for taco salad as I used three exclamation points in the title. 

If you didn't see my post from yesterday, I'll sum it up for you in a few words:  I don't like to cook. 

Some days I despise cooking, however when it's done and the family is pumped to hear "Raspberry Chicken" night, I cannot surrender to take out.  It makes it worth it!

The other reason I cook is of course because garbage in equals garbage out.  I haven't been making too many salads lately and my daughter came home from school and made her own salad ... that's huge for her!  So I realize they do crave some good stuff after all.

Ok, so I started last night with my famous raspberry chicken.  I will post that another night (although it is up a few times on the blog from other posts).  But tonight I took out an old Cooking Light cookbook and tweaked a recipe that was so easy and reminded me of a burrito bowl at Chipotle.  It's versatile enough for my picky family and can easily use leftover chicken instead of beef.

Taco Salad

Best to assemble ingredients ahead of time and then just throw all together.  Add or delete what ingredients your family might like.  I put some guacamole on the side, didn't have tomatoes, and put the beans in a separate bowl so my kids didn't complain.  Next time I think I'll add some shredded carrots just for some added color or add some sweet bell peppers to the mix.

1 pound of ground sirloin (grass fed if possible)
1 taco seasoning package
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup salsa
8 cups shredded lettuce (I chose organic prewashed romaine)
4 cups of broken tortilla chips
2 cups fresh tomatoes, drained
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
1 (15 oz) can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup sliced ripe olives

1. Cook beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat until browned, stirring to crumble.  Stir in taco seasoning and water.  Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Combine sour cream and salsa in a small bowl.
3. Combine beef mixture, lettuce, tortilla chips, tomatoes, 1/2 cup cheese, and beans in a large bowl.  Drizzle sour cream mixture over the salad and toss gently.  Sprinkle the rest of the cheese and top with olives.  Serve immediately.

Makes about 8 servings that are 2 cups each.

 Tossed Taco Salad ... minus beans and tomatoes!

Oh, and those 3 exclamation points up there in the title?  When I was in college, the dining hall at James Madison University had taco salad on Thursdays.  It was the best day of the week in our opinion!

Hope this inspires some of you to make dinner tomorrow night ... so easy and everyone was happy. Just make up your mind for dinner to be an investment in your family :)

Happy Eating,
Krista

New Season ... New Thinking

Happy December Everyone!

I have been away from writing for a few months and I really do miss it!

Here's the thing ... I almost always write about food.  Whether it be menu planning, healthy ideas, easy meals, time saving strategies, it's always about food.

I have to be honest here ...  I really do not like to cook.  There ... I said it.

I hate cooking.  Even better.

I hate shopping, prepping, cooking (which often results in me burning the meal), and cleaning up.  I've kinda slipped back to winging it many nights.  And it's been ok, we've somehow managed to eat every night.

I have so many other things I LOVE to do.  I'm in love with looking through the lens of my camera to see things in a simple, efficient, creative way.  I get lost in time just shooting a sunset - which is usually why I burn dinner.

Cooking is a chore to me that I know needs top priority as my active family needs to refuel after all those practices and games.  It's just not my favorite thing to do.  But I feel the difference when I don't eat well.  I can't imagine putting out all the energy they do almost every single day and not eating well.

So what I thought I would do, is for the month of December, I will be posting a recipe 4 nights each week to keep me on track.  If anyone wants to join along they can just jump in.

I also have a new website that I'd love to post these recipes on.  Click here to check it out:  Refuel Your Game.  I'll continue to post the blogs on fb as well ... tomorrow night will be the first recipe.  I guess I need to dust off the binder of good meals. 

One last thought ... we had a great Thanksgiving weekend!  A big thank you to my sister and her husband for hosting, my mom for making a fantastic turkey and my nephews for entertaining us at the dinner table.  So much to be grateful for!  Then there's the soccer tournament weekend.  It's been a really busy fall that just keeps going.  After another weekend away, my husband says to me ... "Remember when our biggest decision was what poem we would read to the girls at night before bedtime?  There was no worry over what college to consider, the logistics of being away for tournaments, if we could schedule any hours for Hannah to drive with her instructor, how to get to the chiropractor when there's no time?  I'm going to get that book "A Pizza the Size of the Sun" and read it to them tonight!"

And he did.  The giggles and cozying up were priceless.  They were so happy.  And that is how we ended our 4 day weekend.  I'm terribly blessed and ready to take December in stride.

Much Joy,
Krista

Thanksgiving!

Oh and if you love photography and want to see what I've been up to (no soccer shots I swear!) follow me on Instagram at kdn3. 

Wondering What I "Should" Be Doing Right Now ...

Ok, so my lack of blogs and information sharing is starting to get to me lately.   Why can’t I sit myself down and just get all those easy recipes out there or maybe some new tool I found to make your life easier?

Simple I guess ... seasonal summer brain.
I love lazy and carefree days.

And I am seriously off schedule.  As much as I try to get up and follow the routine that is in my head, I just love to wander off and explore other stuff.  Like what flowers are blooming today in my garden, or what flower wants to be photographed, or maybe if the hummingbird found that feeder yet?  I am probably attention deficit as I'm getting older.  So hard for me to finish the task put in front of me. 

I wonder if it’s my aging brain (trying to keep it active with those memory games on my ipad), my lack of set schedule, the weather,  or maybe the kids being home.  I mean I write about the importance of keeping a set menu and shopping with a list!  How is it that my refrigerator is empty and we are ordering out *gasp* more than ever?  I am actually hungry as I write this at my daughter’s speed school! 

I never want to wish for Fall because that means Summer will be over. 

But I am hurting for some semblance of a schedule. 

I guess I don’t hate schedules like I thought I did. 

Deep breath ... two teenage girls in the house ... money being spent like crazy ... not much time for my husband and I to do date nights ... vet bills, dental bills, soccer teams, and the list goes on.  But you know what?  It’s all going to be ok ... I am grateful for the craziness.  Maybe not at this moment, but I am very thankful to have a family who makes me happy and proud most of the time.  I am in love with my furry best friend who is showing signs of aging lately, I am grateful we have two cars to shuttle around our busy kids, and I am grateful we get to spend a lot of time in our cars catching up with each other as we go to the events.   That’s what I’ll remember when they’re gone.  Not my lack of cooking meals this summer or keeping the house presentable.

I know so many people going through the never-ending challenges of raising a family and are strapped financially, emotionally (did I mention I am the mother of two teenage girls?) and just plain tapped out.

My only thoughts right now are be grateful for what you have right now, at this moment.  Look around you.  Where are you right now?  What makes you happy right now? 

 There are always things we would like to be better.  It’s how you deal with them that give you the strength to pull ahead and not fall behind and feel lost.  Gratitude journals make it simple to ground yourself and put it out there that you’re happy, even if this day is not the easiest.

Ok, thank you for listening.  I will go home and make a shopping list and get some food back in the house.  Sometimes a good meal does wonders for everyone.  And maybe a glass of wine ;)

At least that’s what I am expecting.

Be Well,
Krista

**Keep an eye out for my newly designed website in the near future.  I do have my program for 30 days of meal planning and shopping lists available at your convenience!  I did the planning for you - you just have to test them out with your family!

Balsamic Watermelon Feta Salad

Balsamic Watermelon Feta Salad

Easiest salad on earth for a sweet boost of energy!

My family loves watermelon.  This simple summer fruit has so many benefits besides tasting good!

For the athletes in your house, the easy to digest watermelon is the greatest recovery snack after workouts.  Rich in amino acids these chunks of sweetness help with sore muscles and recovery time.  L-citruline is rich in nitric oxide oxide, a gas that widens blood vessels which help in removing lactic acid build up. 

Balsamic Watermelon Feta Salad                    

Ingredients:
fresh watermelon cut into chunks
balsamic glaze (or similar dressing) *
fresh mint finely chopped
crumbled feta cheese

Directions:
Combine the watermelon, mint and feta cheese.
Sprinkle a few drops of the balsamic glaze over the top.
Toss gently.
Enjoy!


A huge thank you goes out to the CVS Physicians Assistant who told me about this salad!  We were exchanging foodie ideas and she brought this up.  I went home and threw it together.  Just a nice side to make when you have so much watermelon you don’t know what to do with it! 

*I use the balsamic glaze available at Trader Joe’s.  A few drops are full of flavor!

Enjoy!

Krista

Nutrition in the News!

World Cup Brings Nutrition into the News

 

Refueling Athletes Getting Attention!

I am always THRILLED when the basics of how athletes should eat gets some attention!

If athletes (and their parents) invest so much, just to play the game - the equipment, the training, the traveling, the sacrificing of many other things - why not consider what is being put in the "fuel tank?"

US Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann talked about "The 10 Nutrition Rules to Follow" in an article in January 2012 on US Soccer.  Basic common sense rules, but sometimes when the rules come from someone other than the parent, kids will heed the advice!

As our kids play their summer tournaments, keep in mind these rules and remember it's not just game day that matters.  Keep eating the rainbow in your house, keep well hydrated, rested, eating lean protein, healthy fats, eat smaller meals more frequently, post and pre-workout meals matter, breakfast everyday, limit processed foods, and if needed, supplement wisely.

If the U.S. head coach gets his team to eat well, maybe we can convince our kids that burgers and fries before games are just not going to do it for them!

Here are his rules for you to share with your kids ...

The 10 Nutrition Rules To Live By

1. COME BACK TO EARTH: Choose the least processed forms of food such as fruits, veggies, whole grains and high fiber carbohydrates.

2. EAT A RAINBOW OFTEN: Eat fruits or vegetables with each meal. Choose a wide variety of colors for the biggest benefit.

3. THE LESS LEGS THE BETTER: Include a LEAN protein source with each meal.

4. EAT HEALTHY FATS: Include healthy fats in your diet like olive oil, nuts, natural nut butters, seeds, avocado, fish, flaxseed and flaxseed oil.

5. EAT BREAKFAST EVERY DAY: When you eat within 30 minutes of waking up, you jump start your metabolism. This gives you more energy to get your day going.

6. THREE FOR THREE: Eat smaller portions more often, spread evenly across the day. No excuses – you should be eating 4-6 meals/day! Aim for all three macronutrients (carbs, protein, and fat) every three hours for optimal fueling.

7. STAY HYDRATED: Dehydration = Decreased Performance. Drink at least three liters of non-caloric beverages (water/green tea) every day.

8. DON’T WASTE YOUR WORKOUT: Have a post-workout recovery meal or shake that combines both carbs and protein immediately after your training.

9. SUPPLEMENT WISELY: Fuel first and supplement second. If you are not getting what you need through food, add a multivitamin supplement into your daily routine. Create a smart supplementation program that improves your performance without compromising your health or draining your wallet. Before you take any type of supplement, make sure to check in with your doctor or registered dietitian.

10. SLEEP: Aim for eight hours of sleep. If you can’t get eight hours daily, consider power naps when you can. The body recovers and repairs best when it is sleeping.

And to finish off …

The 80/20 Rule: Each meal and snack is an opportunity to fuel your body optimally. Choose the foods that are best for you 80% of the time and incorporate some of those foods that may not be the best, but are your favorites, 20% of the time!

Have a fantastic night!  Happy Watching!
Krista

Spinach Strawberry Salad!

Spinach Strawberry Salad

To make this salad in a jar,  put each ingredient into jar in this order:

Ingredients:

Strawberry-Lime Vinaigrette (see below)
Cooked Quinoa
Sliced Strawberries
Unsalted Sunflower Seeds
Crumbled Feta Cheese
Baby Spinach

Dressing:
2 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tsp strawberry preserves
1 T freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tsp mustard
1 T white wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Layer the above ingredients into a mason jar using the amount that would fit your needs. 

• Keep chilled until ready to eat.

• Give the jar a shake before emptying onto a plate.

This salad is packed with fiber, protein, phytonutrients, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, and flavonoids which protect from free radicals.  These act as anti-oxidants which makes it heart healthy. 

Enjoy!

Krista

Steak with Raspberries, Dates and Blue Cheese

This was a big hit in our family!  An early Father's Day dinner gave me a good opportunity to test it out!  Give it a try this weekend and I'm sure you will be the rockstar of your family!

I suggest finding the best cuts of natural meat you can ... try to find as close to organic, grass-fed beef.  Besides being much healthier for you, the difference in taste is substantial.  Totally worth the money.

Enjoy!

Steak with Raspberries, Dates, and Blue Cheese

Serves 8

Ingredients:

1 cup red raspberries
3 tablespoons of sugar
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, thinly sliced
8 dried dates, chopped
2 ounces ham, chopped
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
3/4 teaspoon garam masala
freshly ground black pepper
8 boneless beef tenderloin or rib-eye steaks (about 2 1/2 pounds total)
Salt
6 ounces blue cheese, crumbled

Directions:

1. Preheat your grill on high or preheat your broiler.  Lightly oil the rack or pan.
2. Combine raspberries, sugar, and vinegar in a small saucepan.  Simmer for 10 minutes or until reduced by half.  Set aside.
3. Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.  Add the onion and cook until soft.  Add the dates, ham, rosemary, garam masala, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper.  Cook for 5 minutes, or until the dates are very soft.  Set aside and keep warm.
4. Generously season the steaks with salt and pepper.
5. Grill or broil the steaks for about 12 minutes, turning once or until a thermometer reaches 145 degrees if you would like your steak medium rare.
6. Place each steak on a plate.  Top with equal amounts of cheese and cover with some of the date mixture.  Drizzle a few tablespoons of the raspberry sauce over everything.  Serve remaining fig mixture as a side.

Happy Father's Day to all of you amazing dads!  Have a fantastic day!

My Daddy and Me!

 

Brain Tumor Awareness Month

 Yes, it's brain tumor awareness month.

As much as I'd like to forget that life event, I feel like there are so many people struggling with the fears of that diagnosis that it's worth mentioning here on my blog.

Meningiomas are a poorly understudied and under researched brain tumor.  Click here to read about the research that is happening and some projects that are underway to help understand some more about why certain individuals may develop them.

If you'd like to read more about my journey, this is my post from last May.  Click here to read it (fyi there are some scary photos)  I don't like to draw attention to myself,  but most of you have no idea the number of people who are diagnosed with this.  Please, please, please if you know anyone who is going through this, let them know I am here to vent to, support or lend a hand to anyone in need.  Most people think that this kind of brain tumor is easy to deal with as most of them are benign.  However, many patients have other things to heal from after diagnosis.  Many have lost senses such as smell, sight (mom calls me eagle eye),  are paralyzed with nerve damage, deafness, paralysis, cognitive changes, severe mood changes, depression, seizures and more.  Too many lives have been claimed.  It needs to be studied!  Personally, I just don't know what to tell my kids or their doctors.  Could it be radiation from dental x-rays?  Is it hormonal?  Don't talk on your cell phones!  We just don't know.

If you'd like to contribute to the ongoing research, the ever expanding support group of "Meningioma Mommas" has a fund set up to donate to research. 

Click here for the link that you can donate to ... it is tax deductible and is appreciated greatly!

I've also posted some possible risks factors at the bottom of this page ... clearly we don't know enough about why we get them.  I just wish we could stop these tumors!

This is a photo I found on Meningioma Mommas facebook page ... Thank you to the inspiring photographer ... whoever you are!   Many hands needed in conquering this disease!

In Grace,
Krista

Meningioma Risk Factors

Meningiomas are most common in people between the ages of 40 and 70. They are more common in women than in men (74% meningioma patients are female). Among middle-aged patients, there is a marked female bias, with a female to male ratio of almost 3:1 in the brain and 6:1 in the spinal cord. Meningiomas are very rare in children, with pediatric cases accounting for only 2.5% of the total cases.

Currently, the two predisposing factors associated with meningiomas for which the strongest evidence exists are exposure to ionizing radiation and hormones. However, these factors remain largely unexplored and a large-scale examination on a population-based data set is needed to help clarify the roles of these risk factors in the development of meningioma tumors.

• Ionizing Radiation
• Hormones
• Other Predisposing Conditions

Ionizing radiation is the radiation used in medicine that creates ions by knocking electrons out of atoms. Ions penetrate and interfere with living tissue, causing tumor cells to die as they attempt to reproduce. Exposure to ionizing radiation has been found to be associated with a higher incidence of intracranial tumors and particularly meningiomas. Data from atomic bomb survivors exposed to high doses show a greatly increased risk for meningioma. There is also evidence indicating an association with meningioma from lower dose levels. A well-known example of ionizing radiation and meningioma comes from children in Israel who were given radiation for scale ringworm between 1948 and 1960. These children were observed to have a relative risk for meningioma of almost 10. The dose given to these children was approximately the amount used in dental radiographs prior to 1948. Within the Unites States, this is the most common form of exposure to ionizing radiation. A number of studies have linked the number of full mouth dental radiographs to risk of meningioma.
Radiation therapy for intracranial tumors has also been linked to meningioma risk, and animal studies support the notion that ionizing radiation can induce intracranial tumors, including meningiomas, by damaging DNA. No recent large-scale studies of meningioma risk relative to ionizing radiation have been conducted since the time that new radiographic procedures for delivering radiation have been developed. These methods use focus beams to help limit unnecessary exposure to areas outside of the target. A population-based study with a large sample size will help to provide a better estimate of the current association. Patients who have undergone broad radiation treatments in the past should take care to watch for symptoms (see Symptoms section) and monitor themselves for meningiomas. Evidence for meningiomas caused by radiation exposure may be multiple and are generally more aggressive.

One Grande Caramel Frappucino = 6 Krispy Kreme Donuts

Cool Drinks ...

Got your attention?

Ok, I love, love, love iced coffee right around this time of year!  Apparently it is the trend of the season with all ages, especially highschoolers (is that a word?)  who carry around their Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts cups as an accessory lately!

I remember that age well.  You didn't have to worry about too much as far as what you were eating until you realized you were starting to stay poofy ... not a skinny little kid like you used to be.  Right?  Fast forward to the nineties and everything went to fat free.  Remember Snack Well cookies?  OMG.  Loved them.  Thought I could eat them and not get fat because, you know, they're fat free right?  Lol!  Anyway, I digress.  I do have a point to this post ... hang on.

So these blended drinks are big sellers now.   Just wanted to share a secret they're not telling you unless you look up the nutritional info (which is available if you look).  If you buy a Grande Caramel Frappucino (that's only 16 oz) topped with whipped cream and caramel sauce you would be taking in the equivalent of 6 Krispy Kreme donuts!  Six donuts in one 16 oz drink!

That is actually 64 grams of sugar!  Click here for details!

That is equivalent to 16 teaspoons of sugar!

Dunkin' Donuts also has info available on all their drinks.  Click here for  the 16 oz Vanilla Bean Coolatta.  Unfortunately it has 87 grams of sugar! 

Which is over the daily recommended amount of sugar we should be taking in by 40 - 50 grams!
 Again, don't hate me.  I say have your treat every once in awhile.  Just remember you could easily cut the sugar by going plain jane ... get a plain iced coffee and add your own sugar.  One teaspoon is equal to 4 grams.  The syrups they are using to flavor these blended drinks are filled with ingredients you cannot even pronounce.  My rule is:  if you cannot pronounce it, don't eat it.  
*See list at bottom

If you had one of those fancy drinks every day for a week, you would be consuming 448 grams of sugar over 7 days.  That is 112 teaspoons of sugar in a week or 1792 calories just in sugar alone!

If you're trying to stay healthy, trying to keep yourself from being a slave to sugar, do your body a favor and make your own.  It's easy, much more affordable.  I'm not getting into the "light" versions available but you can check out the list below.  That scares me.  Eat and drink real food that you can pronounce.  Simple. 

Light Coffee Frappuccino Syrup (US version): Water, sugar, Erythritol (E968), Natural Flavors, Salt, Carageenan (E407), Xanthan Gum (E415), Maltodextrin, Preservative: Potassium Sorbate (E202), Citric Acid (E330), Reb A, Color: Caramel (E150d, E150b) Contains Milk & Gluten!

We all know how we are eating too much sugar ... and how type 2 diabetes is growing at about 8% partially due to obesity.  Let's do ourselves a favor and get the added sugar out of our diets now before it ends up costing more than that $4.00 a cup. 

Off to take advantage of the sunlight and get some of the vitamin D out there!
Have a beautiful day!
Krista

Pain Relief Please

Sore Muscles?  Joint Pain?  Bruising?

Got some kids in the house with sports injuries? 

How about your overdone back from getting the yard cleaned up?

I'm always on the look out for good pain relief gels, ointments, creams!  Yes, for me as my previous life as a gymnast has given me frequent lower back pain,  but my kids get hurt on the field and although the ibuprofen bottle is easily accessible in the kitchen cabinet, I try to use alternative treatments too.

I write this as my daughter is being adjusted at the chiropractor (a once a week ritual now).

Her sports medicine doctor recommended this cream that I think is worth sharing:

Belle had to get her face in the blog this time.

Traumeel is a homeopathic ointment available in health food stores and online.  All kinds of good stuff like echinacea, chamomilla, calendula, belladonna, and arnica.

Have a great weekend everyone!!
Hope you have lots of good games to watch and good food to share!
Krista

When she started playing as a lil toddler I really had no clue we'd be watching this years later. 

Clean Eating!

Do You Know What You're Feeding Your Family?

Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen 2014 Guide

So, if you're like me you know you're supposed to stay away from pesticides right?  You wouldn't want to give any kind of poison to your family if you could help it.  Sometimes you have to pick your battles.  I am always questioning EVERYTHING I buy for my family as I just have a tough time accepting what big companies put out there.  I just want to know what we're eating!

Here is a great list to keep with you if you are interested in keeping your tribe free from pesticides.   The Environmental Working Group has released its 2014 edition of the "Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen" guides to pesticides on produce.

Unfortunately apples still top the list of pesticide heavy produce.  They've been at the top since 2011.  Find a place to get your apples organic.  My favorite place is BJ's as the cost is low and they actually are in great condition.  The cleanest produce on the list is avocados with the least pesticide residue.  Yay!  Love avocados!!

EWG tests conventional produce to let consumers know what we aren't being told by the Environmental Protection Agency ... pesticides are a risky thing to eat!

"Every sample of imported nectarines and 99 percent of apple samples tested positive for at least one pesticide residue,"  EWG notes in their report.  And potatoes contained more pesticides by weight than any other food tested.  "A single grape sample contained 15 pesticides.  Simple sample of celery, cherry tomatoes, imported snap peas and strawberries showed 13 different pesticides apiece."

Dirty Dozen                                               

1.  Apples
2.  Strawberries
3.  Grapes
4.  Celery
5.  Peaches
6.  Spinach
7.  Sweet Bell Peppers
8.  Nectarines (imported)
9.  Cucumbers
10.  Cherry Tomatoes
11.  Snap Peas (imported)
12.  Potatoes
(Kale and Collards and Hot Peppers are included on this list as well although they aren't official as they don't meet traditional EWG list criteria, they are frequently high risk for contamination)

Clean Fifteen

1.   Asparagus
2.  Avocados
3.  Cabbage
4.  Cantaloupe
5.  Cauliflower
6.  Eggplant
7.  Grapefruit
8.  Kiwi
9.  Mangoes
10.  Onions
11.  Papayas
12.  Pineapples
13.  Sweet Corn
14.  Sweet Peas
15.  Sweet Potatoes

A general rule to keep in mind when figuring out what is higher risk for contamination is to look at the outside of the produce.  If it has a tough covering, it's usually safer (mango, pineapple, eggplant).  If you eat the skin it usually has a good chance of having more pesticides (strawberries, apples, blueberries, leafy greens).

Hope this helps you next time you are wondering if it's worth buying organic!

Krista

Cookie Dough Part II

So, this is what's trending in my house these days ... no bake cookie dough.

I know, not what you expect from a serious veggie fan but everyone needs their dose of the sweet stuff, especially good when you make it yourself and you know what's in it!  Even better when you feel like the sweet tooth is satisfied but you haven't over-indulged!

I have a rough time with those gourmet jelly beans this time of year!  It seriously brings me back to my days as a sugar junkie ... but this time I enjoyed just a few and put them away.  And I haven't gone back.  They're in my line of vision ... and I am ok with that :)  Bring on the Peeps!  I could care less about them but my family ... they would inhale them if I kept them around! 

Ok, so this recipe is super easy and will keep you happy without too much in the empty calorie department.  I swear no one in my house even thought there were garbanzo beans in these!

No-Bake Chickpea Cookie Dough

prep time:  10 mins
servings:  20

Ingredients:
 1 cup of canned garbanzo beans/chick peas
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
2 Tablespoons agave nectar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions:
Blend chickpeas, peanut butter, agave nectar and vanilla in a blender.  Empty into a bowl and fold in chocolate chips.  Roll into desired size.  Keep covered in refrigerator or freezer to keep fresh.

note:  if you are using natural peanut butter ... you may want to thin the dough with about a tablespoon of warm water.  It will be much drier than if you use a conventional peanut butter with added oil.  If you use a peanut butter such as Skippy Natural it will be easier to combine.

*recipe from allrecipes.com


Enjoy!
Krista

Nutrition Facts
Servings 20.0
Amount Per Serving
Calories 88
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 5 g	7 %
Saturated Fat 2 g	8 %
Monounsaturated Fat 0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 g	0 %
Sodium 29 mg	1 %
Potassium 24 mg	1 %
Total Carbohydrate 9 g	3 %
Dietary Fiber 1 g	4 %
Sugars 6 g
Protein 3 g	5 %
Vitamin A	0 %
Vitamin C	0 %
Calcium	0 %
Iron	7 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.

Old Grain for the New Season

 Seasonal Salad 

This is a grain most people know nothing about ... farro!  I love it because of it's health benefits (see bottom*), but also because it holds flavor well and there are so many things you can do with it.  I happened to have broccoli and pineapple in the fridge and love that combo but needed to dress it up with some flavor so I added lots of ginger, soy and sesame oil - the crushed pepper is just enough to kick it up and throw in some beans or even some almonds, pumpkin seeds and you have a well balanced carb/protein salad.  Great for athletes and moms of athletes!!

Have fun!  Let me hear back if you make some different combinations that work for you!

 

Pineapple Broccoli Farro Salad

• 0.5 cup, uncooked farro
• 1.0 cup, Vegetable Broth
• 1.0 cup, Pineapple - Raw, all varieties
• 1.0 cup, Broccoli - Raw
• 0.5 cup, Garbanzo Beans (Drained and Rinsed)
• 1.0 tbsp, fresh grated ginger 
• 2.0 Tbsp, Tamari Premium Soy Sauce - Reduced Sodium
• 1.0 tbsp, Toasted Sesame Oil
• 1.0 tbsp, Organic Raw Blue Agave Sweetener
• 0.25 tsp, Crushed Red Peppers

Directions:

1. Combine 1/2 cup farro and 1 cup of vegetable broth in a sauce pan with a lid.  Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to low, cover and simmer for about 10 minutes. 
2. Remove from heat and let stand for a few minutes.  Fluff with fork.
3. Combine ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, agave and crushed red pepper flakes in a small bowl.
4. Add broccoli, garbanzo beans and pineapple to cooked farro.
5. Mix dressing over the mixture.  Combine well.

 

*Health Notes on Farro:

Fiber Fix
A cup of faro has about 8 grams of cholesterol-lowering fiber. That's four times as much as white rice; brown rice weighs in at around 5 grams.
Chill Pill
Whole grains like farro are full of minerals, including magnesium, which may relieve tension and menstrual cramps.
Smart Carb
Farro's complex carbs break down slowly, keeping your energy level stable. The grain also has cyanogenic glucosides, a type of carb that may boost the immune system.


Have a fun filled, beautiful weekend!
Krista

 

Nutrition Facts
Servings 6.0
Amount Per Serving
Calories 116
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 1 g	1 %
Saturated Fat 0 g	0 %
Monounsaturated Fat 0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 g	0 %
Sodium 418 mg	17 %
Potassium 118 mg	3 %
Total Carbohydrate 28 g	9 %
Dietary Fiber 4 g	16 %
Sugars 6 g
Protein 5 g	9 %
Vitamin A	0 %
Vitamin C	62 %
Calcium	0 %
Iron	20 %

* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.

No Bake Cookie Dough Bites

Cookie Dough!!!

Oh yeah!  There is a guilty pleasure even writing the words ... it's hard to find anyone who doesn't know the joy of a spoon and a bowl.  Magical.

Of course if I did that now, my stomach would revolt and I'd pay for it later.  I love these easy recipes that give you a bit of the cookie dough treat along with some good ingredients (cashews and oats in this recipe)  to hold you steady instead of flying high on sugar and then crashing!  I get my fix and without the guilt and don't worry about the after thoughts of, "OMG that means I have to do a million miles on the treadmill!"

Yes, for the gluten free crowd, this is very doable!  Of course you can experiment with different grains, nut butters, fruit, chocolate bits ...

Wrap these up and put in your freezer for a quick fix or a pre-workout/post-workout snack for you or your young athletes!  Maybe even throw them in their lunches and they will become the rock stars of their lunch tables!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites

1 cup raw cashews
1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup chocolate chips

• Combine cashews, oats, salt and cinnamon in a blender or food processor.  Pulse until a fine powder forms but be careful not to overprocess to cashew butter.
• Add the maple syrup and vanilla extract to the mixture.  Pulse again until it forms a ball of dough.
• Remove from blender/processor.  Use a butter knife to remove all of the dough.  Place into a small bowl and add the chocolate chips.  Mix chips gently to distribute.
• Use 2 spoons to portion into whatever size dough balls you would like.  Place into a container to store in the freezer or fridge or take with you on the go. 

Have fun with your own creations!  I'd love to hear your combinations!
Krista

Frozen Coffee Protein Shake

It's that time of the day when you are hoping for a nap or someone bringing you a cuppa joe.  I love my freshly ground coffee in the morning and if the sun isn't shining at about pick up time from school, I feel really sloth-like.  However, the coffee belly is not for me in the afternoon so I came up with this super quick smoothie/snack/booster.  I love it and don't get the upset stomach and of course just 4 ounces of coffee thrown in along with some raw cacao powder, raw hemp powder and a scoop of chocolate protein powder ... you are set and ready to get those kids to their practices!

FYI ... people always ask me where they can buy the raw cacao powder and raw hemp powder.  I bought mine at the local health food store, however I now see them at grocery stores and of course you can always find it online.

Frozen Coffee Protein Shake

8 oz. unsweetened almond milk
4 oz. brewed coffee
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
1 Tablespoon raw cacao powder
1 teaspoon raw hemp powder
handful of ice cubes

Blend away!

note:  you can add peanut butter, almond butter, hazelnut butter, etc if you wish.  I try to keep it as simple as possible as I don't need any extra sugar at this time of the day!  Also, contact me if you're in need of a great protein powder.  I am a distributor of Juice Plus Complete.  It comes in both french vanilla and dutch chocolate.

Antigua ...

Got a great big dose of vitamin D and happiness last week!

Antigua flowers

 At breakfast one day last week, I found my way to the smoothie bar!  Just checking to see what they had ... melons of all kinds, bananas, coconut, raw oats, local honey, peanut butter, yogurt, milk, soy milk, skim milk.  I of course had to share my love of greens to them.  I thought they rolled their eyes when I left, but lo and behold, I went back the next day and they had it for me!  Granted it was frozen spinach as I didn't see a single fresh spinach leaf there all week, but they asked me how to make one.  So cool!  Hopefully they are spreading the green happiness to new guests this week!

ps ... I found another favorite green drink there ... frozen mojitos!  Serious mint muddling going on in these drinks!

Be Well!

Have Fun!
Krista

Pulled Chicken

For the busy mommaletes out there ... 

Here you go ... yes another slow cooker!  But it's still cold here and for some reason that makes me stay with the warm meals that cook themselves.  Sorry, that's how I roll these days.  Easy makes me happy!

Spent the weekend with my family in Virginia because that's where my daughter's tournament was ... the nicest kind of tournament is when you get to be in someone's home ... and thank you Ellen and Chris ... you are so destined to host us again next year!  So thankful!

For the picky eaters in your house ...

 

Shredded Chicken

2 pounds of chicken breasts
1/2 onion
salt and pepper to taste
1 lemon
1 cup chicken broth

This pulled chicken can be made ahead for a few days of meals ... read through to the bottom of the page.  Use boneless breasts or on the bone.  Feel free to make more than 2 pounds!  You can start them from the freezer ... no defrosting necessary.  Yay!

Directions:

1. Slice 1/2 onion and put into microwave safe bowl with about 1/2 cup water.
2. Microwave for 30 seconds to release flavors.
3. Add onion to slow cooker along with the water.
4. Add 1 cup of chicken broth to onions and stir.
5. Lay the chicken breasts over the onion mixture.  
6. Salt and pepper to taste.  Turn over and season again.
7. Squeeze lemon juice over chicken.
8. Turn on low for 6-8 hours or high for the same time if you started with frozen chicken.
9. Remove lid and shred chicken using two forks.

Options:
You can use pulled chicken in many ways.  If you'd like to try bbq pulled sandwiches, here is a simple sauce you can combine and cook about 30 minutes before serving on the stove and add to the slow cooker.  Use the amount you feel is best.  I like to "under-do" rather than "over-do" as you can always add more sauce.

BBQ Sauce:
12 oz bbq sauce
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup basalmic dressing
2 Tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce

Other Uses for Shredded Chicken:

There are so many uses but here is a quick go to list:

• quesadillas
• soups
• tacos
• pasta salads
• stir fry
• sandwiches
• paninis 

Are your athletes getting enough protein?  If they seem to be carb loaders and you'd like to add some protein, have a plate of chicken at the ready in your fridge ... you'll be surprised how it comes in handy.  

My favorite kind of planning is to make more than we need and just reinvent it the next night.  Got my extra chicken ready for tomorrow ... so easy!

Back to the field we go ...

 Enjoy your brighter days!  3 more days to Spring!

In Wellness,
Krista