Bibimbap

Well, Happy New Year! I can't believe 2014 is here.  2013 was always such an important year in my mind because of my graduation, job search, and move to a new apartment.  Growing up, I always thought of myself as a member of the "Class of 2013."  I never really thought about 2014, but here it is!

In the spirit of New Years Resolutions, I am trying to be healthy and happy in this new year.  While I'm not sure that I believe in hard-core dieting to lose weight, I do want to focus on maintaining my health and keeping up my workout routine.  I downloaded a cool app yesterday that encourages a healthy lifestyle.  It is called Lose It! and it is about weight loss.  You log what you eat and how you exercise.  What I like about the app is that it creates a calorie budget for you based on your age, height, and weight.  Then, you get to set your personal goals, join communities, and record your progress.  I like that this app is personalized and allows me to create a totally manageable goal.  I don't want to do anything extreme, just stay healthy and this app is great for that purpose.  Plus, this app is available for iPhone and Droid as well as a website if you don't want to get the app!

In the spirit of healthy choices, today's recipe is super healthy and easily adapted for any diet.  Bri and I made this to use up a ton of veggies that we had on hand and it ended up being a fantastic meal!

Bibimbap
(adapted from Snapfood)

Ingredients:
2 cups brown rice, cooked according to directions
sesame oil
light soy sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
assorted fresh vegetables, your favorites!
(I used mushrooms, green onions, shredded carrots, zucchini, spinach and sweet onion)
2 eggs

Directions:
1. All you have to do is sauté the veggies in the sesame and soy sauce.  Use as much oil as you like, less if you want to be healthier!
2. Serve mixed vegetables on top of the cooked brown rice in a bowl.  Top with a fried egg, more soy sauce, and siracha (to taste).

Enjoy :)

Crock Pot Honey Sesame Chicken

My first day back at school from my little trip through Illinois on interviews was a good one! I was so nervous, it felt like the first day all over again.  Well, maybe I wasn't THAT nervous.  However, it was pretty darn unsure of myself.  I felt so out of the loop and like I hadn't been in class for a long time.  I jumped right back in and I've gotta say I'm so thankful for my students.  They are just fantastic.  They clearly had missed me and were excited for me to be back.  Many of them asked me how my interviews went and they were really sweet! I am excited to be back and I can't wait to just get back into the swing of things.

While I was home, I made this awesome Crock Pot Honey Sesame Chicken.  It is super tasty and it was super easy to make.  This is what I'm bringing for lunch today! While I was home, I made little sandwiches for myself.  Then, I left a bunch at home for my mom and dad and took some leftovers back with me to Madison!  The chicken is juicy, tasty, and sweet! It is perfect as a sandwich or for dinner served with some sort of side!

Crock Pot Sesame Chicken (adapted from The Way to His Heart)

Ingredients:
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 medium white onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, smashed
3 tbsp canola oil
3/4 cup honey
3 tbsp tomato paste
3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
pinch of red pepper flakes, to taste
salt and pepper
sesame seeds

Directions:
1. Mix the onion, garlic, canola oil, honey, tomato paste, vinegar, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes together in a bowl.  Place chicken in the crock pot, season with salt and pepper, and pour sauce over the chicken.  Cook on low for 4-5 hours.
2. Using two forks, shred the cooked chicken and while stil hot, pour sesame seeds (however many you want) over the shredded chicken and stir to combine.

Enjoy :)