Moscato Sauteed Chicken and Baked Balsamic Vinegar Eggplant

Do you ever get in the mood to try something new food wise? I was in one of these moods while staring at a bright purple eggplant that I just bought this weekend. I didn't want to make the usual eggplant parmesan, or just sautee it with other veggies. I wanted the eggplant to be the staple flavor.

I finally decided on a simple yet rich and flavorful dish to make, and it only took a total of 30 minutes! Just enough time for me to sautee the chicken and make the cauliflower "rice."

Ingredients for the Eggplant:
- 1 Large Eggplant
- 1 Tomato
- Fresh Basil
- Feta
- Balsamic Vinegar

Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
- Thinly slice the eggplant into as many pieces as you wish to make
- Thinly slice the tomato into the same about of slices at the eggplant
- Finely chop the fresh basil
- Layer the basil on top of the eggplant pieces, then the tomato on top of that
- Lightly drizzle balsamic vinegar over each piece
- Place in the oven on a cookie sheet lined with foil and sprayed with nonstick cooking spray
- Cook for 20 minutes, then add the crumbled feta onto the pieces and place back in the oven for the last 10 minutes

Ingredients for the Moscato Chicken:
- Boneless chicken breast
- 1/4 cup of pink Moscato wine
- 2 Garlic Cloves
- Garlic powder and pepper to taste

Directions:
- Cube the defrosted chicken breast into a size of your liking
- Place a large pan on the stove and spray with cooking spray, put on low to medium heat
- Chop the garlic cloves and layer the bottom of the pan with them
- Place the chicken pieces in the pan and sprinkle with as much garlic powder and pepper as you want
- Gently pour the wine over the chicken and let cook, making sure to turn and flip periodically
*Note: You don't have to use all of the wine, I ended up using less than the 1/4 cup

I also added roasted asparagus and cauliflower "rice" to this dish!

Cheers!

Cauliflower Rice

Lately I've been hearing lots of people talking about the Paleo diet and how it's an effective, easy, and healthy way to eat. After looking into it more, I learned that it is based off of what the cavemen ate, so fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood, and nuts- nothing processed and no dairy. 

This cauliflower rice is a staple recipe that falls under the Paleo diet because it can be paired with many meat and seafood dishes. It is also filling, delicious, and easy to make.

Ingredients: (serves 1)

- 3 large chunks of cauliflower

- 1 Garlic clove

- 1 tsp Rosemary

- Pepper to taste

- Cooking spray

- Cheese grater

Directions:

- Using the cheese grater, grate the cauliflower onto a plate or cutting board.

- Chop the garlic clove

- Once you're done grating the cauliflower and chopping the garlic clove, put a medium sized skillet on the stove on low to medium heat. Spray with cooking spray.

- Put the cauliflower in the skillet and add the garlic, rosemary, and pepper

- Cook until almost golden brown

I paired the "rice" with chicken and a sweet potato!

Cheers!

The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you have a super sweet tooth like I do, then you know how important it is to have sweets handy at all times. These cookies are the perfect treat to have around the house because they will satisfy any sweet tooth without any added guilt. That is because the ingredients are all healthy!

Ingredients:
- 2 cups oats
- 1/3 cup applesauce
- 3 mashed ripe bananas
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional) and or you can use dried fruit like cranberries or raisins
- 1/4 cup almond milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Cinnamon to taste

Directions:
- Heat the oven to 350
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients together
- Scoop mix into the size you want the cookies to be and place on a cookie sheet
- Bake for 15-20 minutes

Cheers!

Flaxseed Crusted Tuna

If you love fish, then this is the recipe for you. It's quick, filling, and so good! All you need is 30 minutes and you will have a meal that tastes like it was slaved over for hours.

Ingredients (makes 4):
- 4 tuna filets (6 oz each)
- 1 lb frozen peas
- 2 1/2 cup arugula
- 3/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken brother or water
- 4 Tbsp fresh lemon juice (will probably need to add more while cooking)
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan
- 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 egg white, beaten
- 1/4 cup whole flaxseed

Directions:
- Combine peas, arugula, broth, lemon juice, parmesan, and olive oil in a blender. Puree until smooth, and then add pepper to taste. Transfer to saucepan and warm throughly over a medium-low heat
- Put egg white and flaxseed in 2 different small bowls. Dip tuna filets in the egg whites and then flaxseed.
- Heat on a nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray over medium-high heat.
- Be sure to flip the filets, and cook for about 5-7 minutes
- Spoon puree onto plates and top with fish.

Cheers!

New Year, New Things

It's 11 days into 2013 and it finally hit me what this year is about to bring me- which is a whole lot more than all the past years. In 2013, I will become a college graduate, move to the other side of the country (alone) , and enter into the working world. Sounds pretty scary!

However, this year has also been life changing so far as it is. First starters, I have fallen in love. Not just a silly crush that will fizzle as soon as the "honeymoon stage" is over, but true passionate love for the type of man every woman should experience dating (but please, find your own, not mine!) I've also learned the true meaning of what is important/not important in life after seeing a close family friend get diagnosed with cancer. Spending time with him, even if it's just watching the UofA football and basketball games, teaches me to truly appreciate my time here and the fact that I DID make it another year.

It wasn't until I read an article from one of my favorite websites "Thought Catalog" that I came to the realization that this year is a crossroads for a lot of people out there as well. It is comforting to know that I am not alone in trying to piece my life together one day and one decision at a time (like if moving to the East coast IS the best thing for me). I guess misery truly does love company! With that said, instead of trying to find all the answers right away, I decided I will simply set goals and ideas for this year, and parallel my decisions to meet and make these.

I'm looking forward to the next 11 days of 2013, and then a few more after that. I may not know what exactly they will bring, but I do know that I've come so far as it is and have done just fine!

Baked Balsamic Vinegar Chicken

Well it sure has been awhile since my last post! Don't worry, that doesn't mean I haven't been cooking and creating new good eats- I have just been distracted with school, especially with finals coming up.

This recipe is a great quick and easy meal without sacrificing taste or nutrition. I was able to throw it together in between studying, and it was a nice study break as well.

With that said, here are the few ingredients it takes to put it together. This recipe also just makes 1, so if you're planning on feeding more than that, I would suggest doubling, tripling, or whatever-ing your ingredient amounts.

Ingredients:
- 1 boneless, skinless, chicken breast
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 scallion stalk
- 1/8 sweet onion
- Garlic powder
- Rosemary
- Lemon pepper
- Balsamic Vinegar

Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
- Place the defrosted chicken breast in a medium mixing bowl
- Lightly cover both sides of the chicken with garlic powder, rosemary, and lemon pepper all to your own taste
- Once the chicken breast is coated, place on a baking sheet (place foil down first and lightly spray with cooking spray)
- Chop the garlic clove and scallion and sprinkle over the chicken
- Thinly slice the sweet onion and also sprinkle over the chicken
- Lastly, drizzle balsamic vinegar over the chicken
- Place in the oven for 30 minutes, or until fully cooked

I paired the chicken with a baked sweet potato (with cinnamon sprinkled on top) and steamed vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, and brussel sprouts)

Chicken breast in a medium mixing bowl coated with garlic powder, lemon pepper, and rosemary

Chicken placed a baking sheet with chopped garlic, scallions, thinly sliced onion, and balsamic vinegar drizzled on top

Final product!

Cheers!

Blueberry Peach Pizza

I finally have a kitchen at school! My best friend and I got an apartment together and the most exciting part about it is that I finally have a kitchen of my own to use every. single. day. I have been trying to find time however to actually experiment with new recipe ideas, which is hard to do between school, working, and also having a social life.

Tonight, however, I finally had time to make a nice meal for my Little (I'm in the sorority Pi Beta Phi, and we have "little sisters") and I. I haven't had time to see her since school started again, so we had much to catch up on! Plus I thought it would be the perfect time to attempt a recipe I've been holding onto for awhile.

My Little is like me in that she loves to eat good, healthy food. Therefore, I thought this was the perfect meal! It was filling, and had the perfect amount of sweetness that we also both love. Another great thing about it is that it was easy to put together and cooked quickly.

Ingredients: (this makes two)
- Whole wheat pita bread
- Grilled chicken
- Mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- Fresh basil leaves (about 10)
- Half of a sweet onion
- 2 garlic chives
- About 10 blueberries
- Half a peach
- Olive oil (enough to brush each pita bread)
- Cinnamon

Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
- Thinly slice the onion and heat over a skillet sprayed with cooking spray so as to caramelize them
- Sprinkle cinnamon on top of the onions (instead of using brown sugar)
- Thinly slice the chicken and add to the onion pan
- At the same time, brush each pita bread with olive oil and sprinkle cheese on top
- Once the onions and chicken are done, evenly add on top of the cheese
- Each pita pizza gets about 5 blackberries, so cut each blackberry in half and evenly spread on top
- Thinly slice the peach half and add the peach slices next
- Chop the fresh basil and evenly sprinkle on top next
- Lastyly, add more cheese and place in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until it is as cooked as you desire

Cheers!