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!

Quinoa Chicken Salad... With mint!

Quinoa is one of the most versitile grains out there. It can be mixed and matched with any and all food, making it extremely easy to use when cooking.

For this dish, I wanted to play around with fresh mint. I've never used it before so I wanted to keep all the ingredients simple so as to not have too many different flavors going on. The ending result was delicious, fresh, filling, oh yeah- and healthy!

I made it at night so that I wouldn't have to worry about making lunch before heading to work. With that being the case, I ate it cold. It was good cold, and I'm sure it will taste just as good hot, it's up to you!

Ingredients:
-1/2 cup quinoa cooked (directions on cooking are on the box)
- Chicken (I used precooked chicken from Trader Joes)
- 1/2 cup arugula
- 1/4 sweet onion
- 5 mini tomatoes
- 1/4 cup finely chopped mint
- 1 garlic clove
- Garlic powder to taste
- Cooking spray

Directions:
- Finely chop the garlic clove and place on a pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray (this saves calories instead of using olive oil)
- Chop the onion and place in the foil as well and let brown with the cloves for about 5 minutes
- Add the tomatoes and chicken to the pan, as well as the mint
- Sprinkle garlic powder on top and cook all the ingredients together until you see fit
- Have the quinoa cooking at the same time
- Mix the arugula in after both are done cooking
- When both are done you can either enjoy it then or save it for lunch the next day at work like I did :)

Cheers!

Mean Green Smoothie

Ever had that feeling that you've been eating too much junk food and are feeling rather sluggish? That's been me ever since coming to Chicago... Therefore, now that I have two weeks left before going back to school for my SENIOR year, I've decided that I need to buckle down- NO MORE DEEP DISH PIZZA! 

All day at work today I was craving something cold and light to eat for dinner, and after searching through Pinterest, I adapted a way to make my own "mean green smoothie!"

The ingredients may come off a little crazy and odd, but they all worked well together, and kept me full and satisfied, as well as gave me a lot of energy for my workout.

Ingredients:

- Cup of green tea at room temp (this is the liquid I chose to use because of it's health benefits, however water or skim/soy milk would also work)

- Handful of kale

- Cup of yogurt (Greek or Iclandic are your best bets)

- Cinnamon 

- Large scoop of peanut or almond butter

- Banana

- Ice

Directions: 

- Blend all ingredients together! It's as simple as that

Cheers!

Quinoa Salad in a Jar

I've been bringing my lunch and or dinner to work lately in order to save money and also so that I am not tempted to eat the food at work (which is mostly fried and greasy food). However, the usual sadal with veggies and a protein is getting a little too mundane for me. It wasn't until I was in Peoria, IL that I discovered a little something called a quinoa salad in a jar! It was tasty, healthy, easy to transport, and oh so filling. I've been coming up with my own variations since, and enjoy the extra protein kick that quinoa offers!

Listed below is one of MANY different variations that are possible. Basically, I suggest sticking to the good carbs/protein from the quinoa, veggies, healthy fat either from avocado and or olive oil as a dressing, and a little more protein either from beans and or meats like chicken!

Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup cooked quinoa
- spinach
- beets (I used red and yellow)
- 1/2 cup garbonzo beans
- 1/2 cut cucumber
- shaved carrott
- side of dressing (I used balsamic and olive oil)

Directions:
- Layer each ingredient in a large, tall glass jar and that's it
- When you're ready to eat it, pour the dressing on top, close the lid, shake, and enjoy!

Some Other Combination Ideas:
- "Greek Salad" with quinoa, feta, garbonzo beans, spinach, red pepper and olives with a balsamic and olive oil dressing
- "Protein Salad" with qunioa, kidney beans, red beans, garbonzo beans, peas, corn, cucumber, and any dressing (can also add a meat or egg)
- "Southwest Salad" with quinoa, black beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado, onion

Cheers!