20 Days in November

After almost a month of vacation I am back in the kitchen!!

Out time away was amazing, enjoying warm weather and even warmer hearts. I love that we are blessed enough to enjoy the time away for ourselves and with family.

I'm not gonna lie there were some challenging times too, especially for me...not having my own kitchen!

Since June 27 I changed my lifestyle having grown accustomed to cooking nearly everything I eat in my own kitchen...and during 20 days in November... I had to rely on someone else to prepare my meals for me.Although I had a few moments where I burst my way into the kitchen and whipped up some eggs...I was at the mercy of those I was with.

In Jamaica I did pretty well...yes I indulged, but I stayed as close to my plan as possible, except for the Jerk Chicken and the never ending sugar drinks...Every meal was incredible.

Then we traveled to Florida and we ate out most every day because there are so many options and the food was amazing by the way..I did pretty well the first few days but slowly...I began to eat outside of my boundaries...a nibble here, a bite there until Thanksgiving weekend when the walls of my willpower came crashing down and I engaged fully in the decadence of starchy and sugar laden, corn filled amaziness.

It started with Dunkin Donuts...I had watched my family indulge for the first week and I held out -- but this day I said yes and enjoyed every single bite of that soft doughy creme filled chocolate goodness.

Then the prep for the meal came and as we cooked we munched on a variety of dips and cheeses... it was incredible. For the main meal Deep Fried Turkey, Cheesy Potatoes, Sweet Yams, Corn Bake and so much more...every bite was perfectly cooked to perfection. It was my one day to indulge without restrictions and I DID!!

Followed by an all night shopping spree for Black Friday with gut wrenching - doubled over - torment...

My intestines were inflamed, my colon seemed immovable and I was in misery. I had planned to indulge all weekend...but decided a day of apples was better suited for me...it took three days for my body to realign from the indulgence I took part in. Lesson learned.

I scaled back and ate a lot more fruit, but still indulged in Gelati and chocolate...but hey...I was on vacation!

Upon returning home I have struggled with focus... I seem to give in for a few bites of this or that. Each day I am redefining my decision to stay healthy. Thankfully I have lost all the weight In had gained while away and the scale is back on the downward swing.

I am back and in the kitchen creating and thankful for EGGS.

They are the perfect food, full of protein and Omega 3, and go with just about everything from savory to sweet...

Melody’s Fresh Chicken Gazpacho

 Melody’s Fresh Gazpacho

CHOP (finely)

6 large tomatoes

1 yellow sweet pepper

½ cup chopped onion

2 stalks organic celery

2 zucchini

2 yellow squash

1 jalapeno

Small bunch basil

2 cloves garlic

2 TBS Olive Oil

Sauté ingredients until tender

STIR

2 cups chicken broth (add slowly as liquid reduces)

Continue cooking over medium heat until liquid is reduced, cool slightly.

Strain ingredients  (save liquid)

Return liquid to pan – bring to boil

Put remaining ingredients into blender – blend until smooth

Pour blended mixture into pan -stirring constantly until liquid is reduced and cooked through.

Chill overnight

CREATE

Serve Chilled with your choice of additions:

Chopped cooked chicken

Tomatoes

Zucchini

Cucumber

Celery

Onion

Sweet peppers

Jalapenos

Makes 4 servings

New Creations?

I am working on some new creations and would love your input!


What is a favorite meal you enjoy, but no longer eat it because you know its not the best choice...?


Leave a comment and I will pick one meal and create a clean recipe for the Chop Stir Create audience.

Tilapia FajiTas

CHOP
Red& Yellow Peppers
Purple Onion

STIR
Lime Juice
Garlic Salt

CREATE
Marinade Tilapia in lime juice & garlic salt, stir fry with veggies serve on bibb lettuce.
                                                                         

Kick it Up!

Want to add a zip to any dish? kick it up with Cilantro Creme

Cilantro Creme

CHOP
Fresh Cilantro leaves & 1 Jalapeno

STIR
1 Cup Greek Yogurt
1 Lime (juice)

CREATE
 I love using my Magic Bullet to blend -- buzzzzzzzz!!


My favorite is to add 2 teaspoons to 3 egg whites and scramble.
I have also used it as a topping over fish tacos, fajitas, or as a dipping sauce for veggies.

I use this sauce for a variety of meals... be creative tell me how you use it!!
approx 10 calories per teaspoon 0 fat

Fry it up!

Steak & Stir Fried Veggie Salsa

I decided to throw the salsa into the frying pan and talk about delish -- oh ya -- give it a try!!

Beef...its what's for dinner

-CHOP- 1Tomato & 1 Cucumber and toss with a handful of Arugula

-STIR-up the flavor of a sirloin steak by marinading it in a mixture of Olive Oil Spray, Balsalmic Vinegar Spray and your favorite seasonings! Sear or grill to perfection.


-CREATE-
a perfect blend by topping it off with 2 TBSP of BraggsVinegrette Dressing.


Beef -- its what's for dinner

GREEN APPLE SALAD

 

GREEN APPLE SALAD

-CHOP-

2 Green Apples

5 Green Onions

5 Celery Stalks

-STIR-

Juice 1 Lemon

1/2 tsp Sea Salt

-CREATE-

Mix all ingredients together

Serve chilled

1 Cup approx 50 calories 0 fat

Spiced up Breakfast

                                                 Spiced up Breakfast

-CHOP-

Green Apple Salad

(recipe on blog)

-STIR-

3 Egg Whites

Cilantro Creme
(recipe on blog)

-CREATE-

Spice it up

add cilantro jalapeno to egg mixture

spray pan with coconut oil spray

cook on low eat 3 minutes

                                                   serve with Green Apple Salad 

                                                     Ole!

Lemon Pepper Fish Tacos

                                            Lemon Pepper Fish Tacos

-CHOP-

Veggie Salsa

(recipe in post below)

-STIR-

Olive Oil Spray

Lemon Juice (1 lemon)

Penzeys Lemon Pepper

http://www.penzeys.com/

-CREATE-

Pour lemon juice.olive oil & spices over favorite fish

I used Tilapia

Sear in hot saute pan

                                               Place fish & salsa on lettuce leave 

                                                 (iceberg or romaine work best)

                                                            approx 200 calories - 3 tacos - 0 fat

Veggie Salsa

God created the world in color and this salsa is full of vibrant,
nutrient rich veggies to satisfy all your senses!

Veggie Salsa

-CHOP-

1 Cup:

zuccini

yellow squash

purple onion

orange pepper 

tomato

-STIR-

juice of one LIME

dash of garlic salt

-CREATE-

mix together 

add preferred level

jalapeno

cilatro

1 cup approx 50 calories, 0 fat.

Pan Seared Tilapia w/ Veggie Salsa

Tilapia is a pretty basic fish that takes on flavor and spice fairly well, without the fishy taste.

 Making it a perfect fish for the first timer.

Personally I love it!

Pan Seared Tilapia w/ Veggie Salsa

-CHOP-

2 tsp Dill Weed

-STIR-

Juice (1) Lime

Olive Oil Spray

-CREATE-

Soak fish in lime juice and Olive Oil 3 minutes
Cover generously with dill weed

Place in hot saute pan

Sear both sides until golden brown

turn down heat and cook 2- 4  more minutes

*Serve with Veggie Salsa

approx 200 calories w/ 1 cup veggie salsa

 0 fat