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)

low-carb breakfast burrito

Ingredients:

• 1 low-carb tortilla (I used Trader Joe’s Sonoma Carb Cutting Tortillas – only 60 calories)
• 1 egg, scrambled (with a pinch of salt & pepper)
• 1/2 avocado
• Goat cheese
• 2 slices tomato

what 200 calories looks like…

I saw this post on A Cup of Jo, and had to re-post it. As I am a very visual person, this photo slide show is fascinating to me.

This is what 200 calories looks like…

chicken pomegranate guacamole tacos

Interesting Pomegranate Fact: Research has shown that pomegranates have more inflammation-fighting antioxidants than red wine or green tea.

Ingredients:

• 4 (4-ounce) boneless and skinless chicken breast halves
• Olive oil cooking spray
• 1 teaspoon salt-free Mexican seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 avocado, peeled
• 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
• 1 lime
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 8 (6-inch) corn tortillas
• 8 tablespoons sliced red onion
• 1 cup shredded red cabbage
• 8 tablespoons crumbled low-fat queso fresco

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

rainbow quinoa endive boats

My good friend Lindsay made this delicious appetizer. I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for the photo and recipe Lindsay!!

Ingredients:

• Rainbow Quinoa (Trader Joe’s)
• Chopped mushrooms, butternut squash, & zucchini
• Pinch of garlic & onion
• Endive Boats
• Salt and Pepper
• Parmesan cheese (optional)

dinner in big sky

I have been skiing with my family in Big Sky, Montana for the past 5 days. On the second night, Greg and I made everyone dinner.

Our Menu:
Barbecued Chicken Breasts with sage, thyme and rosemary; Baked Sweet Potatoes drizzled with cinnamon and 2 tsps butter; Jicama, Tomato & Avocado salad with croutons and light balsamic dressing

idiot-proof salmon

I saw this post over on The Fit Girl’s Kitchen. I can’t wait to try her “Idiot-Proof Salmon.” Check out the full recipe HERE.

Ingredients:

• 1 (or 2) 6oz portion of FRESH Atlantic Salmon
• Seafood Rub
• Lemon (for seasoning at the end)

Photo: The Fit Girl’s Kitchen

baked fish, spinach, and tomatoes in foil packets

Easy weeknight dinner for 2…

Ingredients:

• 1 pound fish fillets, about 1-inch thick
• 2 large handfuls baby spinach leaves
• 1 quarter red onion, thinly sliced
• 20 or so cherry tomatoes
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1/2 lemon, cut into 2 wedges
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil or butter

mediterranean falafel with quinoa

Tonight I made a big avocado, tomato, yellow pepper and falafel salad.  I used Nature’s Earthly Choice mediterranean falafel and quinoa. I’d never made falafel before, and I must say, it was so easy and good.The best part – these are GLUTEN FREE with 8 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protein per serving.

lemon-garlic shrimp skewers

I made these lemon-garlic shrimp skewers in Kauai over Christmas break. They are very light, a bit spicy, and a great source of protein.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 to 2 1/2 pounds peeled, deveined shrimp (12 to 15 per lb.), rinsed and drained
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
• 2 or 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh-ground pepper
• Lemon wedges

jicama, avocado, cucumber & mango quinoa salad topped with pomegranate

This might be my FAVORITE salad ever.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup peeled and chopped cucumbers
• 2 cups chopped jicama
• 1 cup chopped avocado
• 1 cup pomegranate seeds
• 1 mango, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 cup cilantro
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 2 cups mixed salad greens
• 4 cups cooked quinoa
• Balsamic vinegar (or other preferred dressing)

turkey sausage, peppers, onions & tortellini salad

Last night I made a new version of THIS delicious tortellini salad. I added turkey-apple sausage (Trader Joe’s), cooked peppers, onions, sun dried tomatoes and mixed greens.