Orange Zested BBQ Halibut

Here is yet another delicious meal utilizing the summer fruits. I whipped this up in no time at all, and it left the apartment smelling delicious.

With fresh and simple ingredients, anyone can pull this together and leave others believing they have just become the next Top Chef.

Ingredients (serves 1):
- Filet of halibut (or any type of fish or poultry)
- 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce - I used plain organic sauce
- 1/2 fresh orange
- 1/8 tsp crushed red pepper
- Fresh cilantro (to taste)
- Spoonful of honey

Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- In a small mixing bowl, add the 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce
- Juice the 1/2 piece of fresh orange into the mixing bowl, and you can even cut up and add actual pieces of the orange (it's good, I promise)
- Next, add the crushed red pepper and cilantro
- Mix well
- In a small cooking dish, line with foil and spray
- Lay the halibut filet in and cover with the sauce
- Cook for 35 minutes
- Once it cooked for 35 minutes, I put it on a pan on the stove on HIGH for a few minutes to crisp it up
- Lastly, I topped it off with diced avocado

I also paired it with chilled pureed black beans. I simply emptied the canned beans into a bowl, and used the hand blender to puree them. I then put them in the fridge while the fish cooked.

Enjoy!

Balsamic Mango Chicken

Summer times means great fresh, fruit! Being a fruit lover, I try to utilize every one of them before their season is over.

Tonights menu consisted of mangos because while grocery shopping, my roommate was ooing and ahhing over how cute the little containers are that they come in. So, therefore, I HAD to get it so that she could keep the container.

Once I got home, I threw the glaze together in no time at all, and was eating in less than an hour. There are only a few single ingredients, thus making it an easy meal to put together.

Ingredients (serves 1):

- Skinless, boneless chicken (I use the frozen ones from Trader Joes)

- 1/4 piece of a mango

- 1 garlic clove

- 1/8 cup of balsamic vinegar 

- 1 spoonful of honey

- Lemon juice

- Fresh cilantro

Directions:

- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

- Use a small mixing bowl

- Chop the mango into small pieces and place in bowl

- Add the 1/8 cup balsamic vinegar to the bowl

- Finely chop the garlic clove and also add to bowl

- Also, finely chop the cilantro (as much or as little as you want) and add to the mixing bowl

- Squirt in the lemon juice to the bowl

- FINALLY mix everything together 

-Next, in a small glass dish, layer with foil and spray with cooking spray

- Place the piece of chicken in the dish, and cover with the glaze

- Lastyl, drizzle the honey over the chicken

- Place in the oven for 40 minutes

Enjoy!

Raw and Real: Fully Loaded Kale Salad

When eating healthy, eating to the truest form of the food is the best way to go- meaning raw. This is because when food is cooked, it looses some of its nutrients.

Thus, to keep things "real," I threw together this raw, yet oh so delicious salad. It is packed with nutrients, protein, and most importantly, flavor. With just a few ingredients, and ten minutes max, this salad can be put together and enjoyed.

Ingredients:
- 1 cup kale
- 1/4 cup white kidney beans
- 1.4 cup quinoa
- Cucumber
- Tomatoes (cherry tomatoes are easiest)
- Red and yellow pepper
- Orange
- Avocado
- Carrot
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- Lemon

Directions:
- Cook quinoa as directed on package and in the meantime...
- Rinse and finely chop the kale. Place in a large mixing bowl
- Rinse and dry kidney beans and add to bowl
- Finely chop the cucumber, tomatoes, peppers, orange, avocado, and carrots, and add into bowl when done
- Once the quinoa is finished cooking, add to bowl
- Mix everything, and add the tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and squeeze lemon juice
- Mix again and, voila!

I paired mine with the salmon burgers found at Trader Joes.

Enjoy!

Asian 'Slaw

If you know me well, then you know that I insist on having sides along with every meal.

This light and citrusy slaw pairs well with most dishes, especially fish. Also, because it requires few ingredients, it's also simple and easy to make.

Ingredients: (Just a heads up, I bought all of these bagged vegetables from Trader Joes which made it easier because I didn't have to chop, peel, or slice)
- Bag of shredded carrots
- Bag of shredded cabbage
- Bag of shredded cucumber
- Bag of edamame
- Tablespoon of honey
- Grated ginger
- 1 lime, juiced
- Teaspoon of crushed red pepper

Directions:
- In a large bowl add all of the ingredients together and mix well
- Taste before serving and add either honey, lime juice, or crushed red pepper to your desire

Cheers!

S'mores Pudding Parfait

S'mores are by far one of my top favorite desserts (along with cheesecake, frozen yogurt, fudgey brownies... etc.) 

This specific s'mores recipe is easy to throw together, and will help maintain a healthy lifestyle while also satisfy that oh so consistent sweet tooth.

Ingredients: (serves 4)

- 3 cups skim milk

- 1 box chocolate instant pudding 

- 10 graham crackers

- 2 cups mini marshmallows

Tools:

- Kitchen torch

Directions:

- Place milk in the freezer for about 20 minutes before mixing it into the pudding mix

- In a medium sized bowl, mix together the pudding mix and chilled milk until slightly thick and let sit for about 5 minutes

- Seal the graham crackers in a plastic bag and smash into pieces of any size you desire (I didn't do them too small because I like the "crunch")

- Now you can begin layering the ingredients into a medium sized glass!

- First, spoon about 1/4 cup of so of the pudding onto the bottom of the glass

- Next, sprinkle a layer of the graham crackers 

- Lastly, add the marshmallows

- Repeat the order of the layers one more time

- Carefully, using the kitchen torch, lightly brown the top layer of the marshmallows to your desire

Cheers!

Mama McGill's Famous Tomato Sauce

Mama McGill makes a mean homemade tomato sauce that everyone should try at least once in their lifetime. It is simple to throw together, yet taste like it was slaved over for hours. The few ingredients also make it easy to throw together, and making tomato sauce from scratch allows you to control how much sugar etc. goes into it.

Ingredients:
- 1 28oz can of tomatoes (diced is okay but whole is preferred)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 medium garlic cloves (minced or put through a garlic presser)
- 3 tablespoons chopped basil (fresh is best but dried is okay as well)
- 1 tablespoon basil (optional)

Other Tools:
- Garlic mincer or presser
- Hand blender

Directions: (Makes 1 batch)
- In a medium sized pot, heat the oil to a simmer on medium or high heat. Be careful the oil has a simmering heat to it but not smoking
- Add the pressed garlic to the pot and cook without letting the garlic brown (about 1-2 minutes)
- Pour in the can of tomatoes and stir
- Using a hand blender, puree the tomatoes until they are smooth and be sure to check to make sure there are no clumps (some are able to hide easily and aren't discovered until you take a bite)
- Simmer, meaning put the sauce at a heat where there are small bubbles, for about 10-15 minutes or until the sauce reaches a desired thickness
- Add basil and or pesto sauce

Cheers! And a big shout out to Mrs. McGill for letting me make this and share it on the blog/pinterest world for all to enjoy :)

Grilled Pineapple Ginger Snap Dessert

Grilling fruit is a fresh and easy, not to mention quick way, to whip up a delicious dessert that would satisfy anyones sweet tooth. Paired with a light Greek frozen yogurt (which can be found at Trader Joes of course) sweet spices, and topped with ginger snaps, this dessert is quite the treat!

Ingredients:

- Pineapple

- Fat Free Vanilla Greek Forzen Yogurt (or any time of vanilla ice cream)

- Ginger Snap Cookies

- Cinnamon to taste

- Coconut Flakes

- Agave Nectar 

Directions:

- Fire up the grill or place a grill pan on the stove and spray with cooking spray

- Cut the pineapple into rings

- Lay the rings on the grill or grill pan and sprinkle with cinnamon and coconut flakes. 

- Drizzle agave nectar on last and let grill

- Flip onto the other side and sprinkle cinnamon and coconut flakes on the other side as well

- Cooking time depends on how well you want the pineapple grilled

- When finished cooking, layer the pineapple on the bottom of the bowl, then add the ice cream/frozen yogurt and finish with crumbled ginger cookies on top

Cheers!