curried chicken tea sandwiches

I am making this recipe for a 1920′s themed book club…

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup flaked coconut
• 1/2 cup chopped almonds
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons orange marmalade
• 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2 cups diced cooked chicken
• 12 (1/2-inch-thick) pumpernickel, or wheat bread slices
• 3 tablespoons diced green onions

simple spaghetti with kale, lemon & garlic

Ingredients:

• Spaghetti for one (a bundle about the diameter of a dime)
• 2 tablespoons good extra virgin olive oil
• 5 sprigs lacinato kale (droopy kale is fine), very finely chopped
• Pinch red pepper flakes
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
• Juice of 1 lemon wedge
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

carolina pulled pork

I made this on Tuesday night, after having it at a friend’s house. This pork recipe is AMAZING. I highly recommend it for any gathering or party food.

Ingredients:

• 3 lb pork shoulder (good for about 8 servings)
• For the Meat Rub: Black pepper, Onion powder, Garlic powder
• 1 Tbs Flour (to coat the pork)
• Thyme and rosemary sprigs
• Teaspoon of brown sugar
• Sea salt
• Cayenne pepper
• Cumin and coriander
•  Cinnamon applesauce (or thin apple slices)
• At least a half cup of apple cider vinegar
• 1 Tsp butter
• Water
•  Olive oil

** For the recipe, you will need frying pan and a CROCK POT

artichoke flatbread

Ingredients:

• whole wheat flat bread – or for low carb – use Trader Joe’s low-carb tortillas
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 cups fresh spinach leaves
• 6 ounces garlic and herb flavored goat cheese, crumbled
• 2 6 ounce jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

hummus “cheesesteak” hoagies

This recipe is for my fiancé Greg, a Philadelphia native.

Ingredients:

• 4 (3-ounce) hoagie rolls, split
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup vertically sliced yellow onion
• 1 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper
• 1 cup thinly sliced poblano chile
• 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 (8-ounce) container plain hummus
• 4 (1/2-ounce) slices provolone cheese
• Napa Cabbage Slaw

quinoa, corn & black bean tacos

I saw this photo and recipe on Food Gawker and it looks amazing.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 1/4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
• 2 small tomatoes, diced
• 1 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/4 – 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/4 tsp ground coriander
• 1 1/2 cups frozen corn
• 2 (15 oz) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
• juice of 1 lime
• 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
• 2 sliced avocados
• Tortillas (I suggest Trader Joe’s low-carb tortillas)

DIY nutty granola

Instead of spending $8 or more on a bag of store-bought granola, you can head to your kitchen and bake up your own unique recipe. Here’s a recipe from FitSugar for nutty granola made with buckwheat groats and almond butter.

Ingredients:

Dry

• 1 c rolled oats
• 1/2 c raw buckwheat groats
• 1/4 c almonds, roughly chopped
• 2 tbsp whole flax seeds
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Wet

• 2 tbsp raw almond butter
• 2-3 tbsp agave syrup (sub maple syrup or honey if you prefer)

banana split…for breakfast?

I saw this photo on the Pinterest board for Tone it Up! Looks delicious…

Ingredients:

• 1 banana, peeled
• 1 cup strawberries
• 1 small container of non-fat Greek yogurt
• Handful of carob chips

Photo Source: Pinterest

light spinach & feta frittata

Frittatas are great for dinner but make a great breakfast or brunch too.  Also perfect to make on a Sunday, and have for a low-carb breakfast or lunch during the work week.

Ingredients:

• 2 whole eggs
• 8 large egg whites
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
• 3 scallions, chopped
• 10 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed
• 2 oz crumbled feta
• 2 tbsp Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated
• salt and freshly ground pepper
• other options: add red/green pepper, asparagus, zucchini

chickpea salad with apples & pecans

Ingredients:

• 1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added garbanzos beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 apple, cored and chopped
• 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 2 tablespoons dill relish
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon kelp granules
• Ground black pepper to taste

celery & grapefruit salad with parmesan

Ingredients:

• 6 stalks celery, chilled
• 1 grapefruit, chilled
• Pinch sugar
• Extra-virgin olive oil, of finishing quality
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Parmesan cheese

mini ham & cheese quinoa cups

I saw this recipe on The Kitchn via the food blog Iowa Girl Eats. I am going to make these next weekend! They have less than 50 calories each.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked quinoa
• 2 eggs
• 2 egg whites
• 1 cup zucchini, shredded
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup diced ham
• 1/4 cup parsley, chopped
• 2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese
• 2 green onions, sliced
• salt & pepper

sweet potato veggie burgers

Last night Greg made sweet potato veggie burgers. This is one of my favorite recipes. Instead of eating as a burger, I ate cut my sweet potato veggie patty up and added to an arugula salad with chopped pear and goat cheese.

Full recipe HERE.

big fat greek salad

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 large red tomatoes (1 pound), cut into chunks
• 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 2 cups hothouse cucumber chunks
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 8 kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
• 4 cups torn mixed dark-hued greens, such as escarole and romaine lettuce, or use all romaine
• 4 ounces feta cheese, chopped

quinoa with grilled chicken sausage & veggies

AMAZING Sunday Night Dinner:

• 1 cup cooked quinoa with goat cheese
• Grilled chicken sausage (from Trader Joe’s)
• Grilled onions and green peppers
• Half an avocado