One week ago today we had the privilege of voting day so I figured a 'patriotic' NOM OF THE WEEK was called for... BERRY BOWLS
It's no longer berry season (sob) but I guess the beautiful fall weather makes up for that! If you're anything like me, you probably have a well stocked freezer of berries from the summer; and if you're not, I guarantee your local grocery store is.
For a quick, yummy snack- Spoon some greek yogurt into a bowl & toss with frozen berries (blueberries & strawberries to stay on theme if desired). Top with delicious granola! Wait 20-30 minutes for the berries to thaw, mix together and enjoy!
Spicy Pineapple
Are you ready to get that little fella/lady out of there??? This week we've got two old wives' tales combined into one tasty treat.Pineapple is high in an enzyme called bromelain, which is thought to soften and ripen the cervix; spicy foods, meanwhile, stimulate the bowels- in face, some mamas swear Mexican food kicked their labor into gear. So, is this sweet snack enough to bring on contractions then?Well.... probably not. But this little snack combines salt, spicy, and sweet flavors, and certainly tastes delicious. Plus, it's a nice "recipe" to have on hand near the end of pregnancy, when cooking elaborate meals and fussing around in the kitchen is no longer high on the list of priorities.INGREDIENTS:1 pineappleCayenne pepper to tasteSea salt to tasteHOW TO:To make, simply core and chop or slice your pineapple, then sprinkle with cayenne pepper and sea salt. Eat with a toothpick for a little extra fun if that floats your boat. Bon appetit!
Tart Cherry Bomb
NOM OF THE WEEK: TART CHERRY BOMB
Ladies & gents... NOM OF THE WEEK is backkkk. Summer is ALMOST over which means you need to get your cherry fix...now. Did you know that tart cherries are one of the richest natural sources of melatonin on the planet? In fact, at least one small study suggests that tart cherry juice can increase sleep time by as much as 90 minutes a night. (You can even use it with your toddler to eke out a few extra hours of shut-eye each morning. Tart cherries also help reduce inflammation, body aches, and swelling; all common pregnancy side effects. To get the most benefits, try it two ways:
In the afternoon: Combine 2 tbsp organic tart cherry juice concentrate, 8 to 12 ounces sparkling water, and a few drops of liquid stevia (if you want sweetness). Serve over ice and enjoy!
Before bed: Mix 2 tbsp tart cherry juice, 8 oz of plain kefit yogurt, and liquid stevia to taste.
Healthy Crustless Meyer Lemon Cheesecake w/ Berry Compote
I've been a little MIA lately, and to make up for my presence that I'm SURE you've all missed... I decided to start myself back up with an amazing NOM OF THE WEEK!!!!! This week, we are dishing up a HEALTHY CRUSTLESS MEYER LEMON CHEESECAKE WITH BERRY "COMPOTE" #omgmymouthiswatering ⠀
INGREDIENTS: ⠀
1/2 cup cottage cheese⠀
2/3 cup plain greek yogurt⠀
Zest of 1 meyer lemon⠀
Juice of 1 meyer lemon⠀
2 tsp vanilla extract⠀
1/2 tsp lemon extract (optional, for extra lemony flavor)⠀
2 whole eggs⠀
1 egg white⠀
3 tbls baking stevia⠀
1 tbls honey⠀
1/4 tsp salt⠀
1/2 cup berries of choice⠀
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HOW TO:⠀
1. Preheat oven to 350⠀
2. In a blender/food professor, pulse the cottage cheese, yogurt, HALF of the lemon zest, the lemon juice, vanilla, lemon extract, eggs, egg white, stevia, honey and salt until as smooth as possible⠀
3. Line the bottom of a lightly greased cake pan (or springform pan) with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Pour the mixture into the pan⠀
4. Bake for 45 min, remove from the oven and cool to room temp on a cooling rack⠀
5. When cake is cool, heat the berries for 20 sec in the microwave and mash them together with the remaining lemon zest with a fork to make a berry "compote"⠀
6. Serve uppppp.⠀
Orange Creamsicle Smoothie
The weather is warming up & if you’re looking for a chilly way to ingest your daily protein, look no further! I got you. ⠀
INGREDIENTS:⠀
1 large banana (cut into chunks & frozen)⠀
1 small navel orange (peeled & separated, then frozen)⠀
1 scoop naturally sweetened whey concentrate (or add vanilla/chocolate protein powder for more flavor)⠀
1 tsp turmeric (optional)⠀
1/4 tsp pure orange extract (optional)⠀
4 large ice cubes⠀
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HOW TO:⠀
1. Cut & freeze the banana and orange ahead of time. ⠀
2. Place all ingredients in blender & blend until a smooth thick consistency is reached. ⠀
That’s it!!!⠀
Lime Steamed Curry Cod & Chili Garlic Baked Sweet Potato Fries
I probably shouldn't be writing this recipe while I'm starving and literally can't stop thinking about going home, pulling these leftovers out of the fridge and going ham on all this yumminess... but.. here we are! So here's the recipes so you can make this at home also!!⠀
FRY INGREDIENTS:⠀
3 medium sweet potatoes, scrubbed and cut into thick strips⠀
1 tsp garlic powder⠀
1 tsp chili powder⠀
1 tsp ground cumin⠀
FISH INGREDIENTS:⠀
2 tsp dried oregano⠀
1 tsp chili powder⠀
1 tsp chili flakes⠀
1 tsp black pepper⠀
2 tsp garlic powder⠀
2 tsp yellow curry powder⠀
4 3.5 oz cod fillets⠀
1/3 cup fresh lime juice⠀
Medly of veggies for topping (optional) ⠀
HOW TO:⠀
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the potatoes and lay them evenly on a baking sheet.⠀
2. Mix the spices for the fries in a bowl.⠀
3. Sprinkle the potatoes with the spice mixture and toss until well coated. Bake in the oven for 15 min, flip once and bake for an additional 10 min until crispy.⠀
4. Combine all the spices for the fish in a bowl.⠀
5. Sprinkle the cod with 1/2 the spice mixture and rub gently into the fish. Turn over and repeat for the other side. ⠀
6. Pour the lime juice in he bottom of a large skillet and eat to simmer. ⠀
7. Put the fillets in the skillet and cook on medium heat for 4-5 min, covered.⠀
8. Remove lif and cook for another 1-2 min or until the fish easily flakes.⠀
9.Throw your medly of veggies on top to add a bit more crunch if you like that type of thing!!⠀
10. Go ham on that fish!!!
Asian Chicken & Satsuma Salad
I'm a BIG salad eater... the other day, I was discussing with my boyfriend about how everyone has their "thing". Their weakness, vice, etc. After thinking about it for a while, I decided my "thing" was salad. I have always eaten lettuce and cabbage directly off the head and can just sit there and eat nonstop. ⠀
I know most people aren't as odd as I am... so here is a fancier salad to try that tastes a little less like salad and a bit more like a real meal!⠀
INGREDIENTS: ⠀
1 tsp rice wine vinegar⠀
1 tsp chili garlic sauce⠀
1/2 tblsp low-sodium soy sauce⠀
1 tsp ground ginger⠀
1/2 tblsp raw honey⠀
1 tsp sesame oil⠀
2 cups romain lettuce⠀
3/4 cup shredded cabbage⠀
1/4 cup sugar snap peas (diced)⠀
1/4 cup sliced red bell pepper⠀
1 green onion, sliced⠀
1 satsuma/mandarin orange, peeled and segmented⠀
3 oz plain baked or grilled chicken breast, sliced. ⠀
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HOW TO:⠀
In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients (everything listed above the lettuce)⠀
In a medium bowl, combine the salad ingredients except the chicken⠀
Toss the cooked chicken with half of the dressing and layer it on the salad⠀
Drizzle the remainder of the dressing over the salad⠀
Enjoy!⠀
Peach Cobbler Greek Yogurt
(My face when I saw this recipe was about as wide as this bowl. I was super stoked to say the least. It's crazy easy and crazy delicious. It's also very versatile! Feel free to add in extra fruits (like I did here with strawberries). ⠀
You can make this for a quick breakfast, or pack it up and bring it as a snack to work. Whatever you do, enjoy it :) ⠀
INGREDIENTS:⠀
1 cup plain Greek yogurt⠀
1 packet of stevia (if you need things sweeter, but not necessary)⠀
1 tsp cinnamon⠀
1 tsp natural almond butter⠀
1/3 cup finely diced peaches⠀
2 tbls rolled oats or muesli⠀
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HOW TO:⠀
1. Mix the yogurt, stevia, cinnamon and almond butter in a bowl.⠀
2. Add the peaches and sprinkle with oats.⠀
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THATS IT!⠀