Perfect Chicken Breast with Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower

So I am working really hard to be healthy and get in tip top wedding shape.  I am feeling good about my workout routine, but people keep giving me desserts!  I have some serious issues saying no to free desserts...

This weekend I had a wedding shower, and the hostesses gave me the leftover cake to take home.  It was HUGE!  So, I brought the cake into school and my fellow teachers ate it for me.  It was a really tough decision, but I feel like it really shows growth on my part for doing that...

This dinner is another way that I am working at being healthy and awesome.  This dinner is also crazy yummy so that is even better!  I made some perfectly cooked chicken breast and then I roasted some broccoli and cauliflower.  It was an overall great move on my part!  

Pan Seared Chicken - take a chicken breast and sprinkle both sides with some salt and pepper.  Then, place it between two sheets of saran wrap and pound it with a pan so that it flattens.  Then, heat some olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat.  Add the chicken and cook for about 3 minutes.  Flip the chicken, lower the heat to medium-low, cover and cook for 20 minutes.  Test the chicken and continue to cook if it is not done.  It should be 160 degrees on a meat thermometer or have NO pink in the middle.  

Roasted Veggies -  Place veggies on a pan.  Drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  Toss and place in the oven at 400 for 20-30 minutes.  

That's it!  This dinner is simple, good for you, and quick!  Go home and make it!

Enjoy :)

Salmon with Roasted Brussel Sprouts

This is a really weird week for me.  I only teach 3 out of the 5 days because tomorrow there is an ACT for the 11th graders so I am just proctoring and on Friday we have Student Led Conferences where students present about themselves to their parents.  It is a nice change of pace, but it gives a weird momentum to what we are working on in class.  Because of this, on Thursday, we are doing a "fun" activity where students are going to work in teams to investigate a "murder."  The idea is you can figure out the time of death of a body based on its rate of cooling.  I'm pretty excited to 1. see the students act out the murder story and 2. see them work together to solve a real world situation with math! 

Also, we are TEN DAYS away from closing and moving into our condo.  I can't believe it is finally so close! We have boxes EVERYWHERE (which Benny and Nigel are big fans of) and we still have so much more to do.  I am so excited!  

I just adore brussel sprouts.  They are super fantastic.  I was never a fan growing up because my mom didn't like them either! Now, both of us love them!  Go figure!

This dish is super duper easy to make and it has become one of my go-to dinners for a weeknight when I don't have a ton of time or feel tired after school.  All you do is throw everything onto a pan, stick it in the oven, and I make enough for a couple nights so that I have another dinner or lunch for school!  

Salmon with Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Ingredients:

2 pieces of teriyaki glazed salmon (5 oz each)

1/2 lb. brussel sprouts, halved

2 tbsp honey

2 tbsp dijon mustard

2 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp lemon juice

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 and line a pan with tinfoil.  Lightly grease the tin foil

2. Place salmon on the pan and brussel sprouts around the salmon.  Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  Drizzle with honey, mustard, and lemon juice.

3. Cook for about 15-20 minutes or until the salmon is done.  About halfway through, toss the brussel sprouts around so that they flip and don't stick. 

Enjoy :)

4 Cheese Baked Pasta - Lightened Up

Last night, Bri and I met up with some friends for dinner and trivia.  I had never done trivia before and I was pretty pumped.  We were terrible!  However, the restaurant/bar was great and we had a ton of fun.  I will def be trying this out again.  I feel like if I continue to go to trivia, I should learn more and more so that I can be better at trivia...right?  

I wanted to share this recipe today because it just felt like an easy, pasta sort of day.  You know what I mean?  This is the kind of dish that I make ahead of time on a Saturday or Sunday and then eat the leftovers for like the whole week.  It was super yummy and those BBQ chips on top were one of my finer ideas.  You can also vary this dish greatly.  Try out different types of cheese, different toppings, different pasta! 

Four Cheese Baked Pasta
(adapted from How Sweet It Is)

Ingredients:
1 lb. whole wheat pasta
1/2 tsp olive oil
4 tbsp butter
1 shallot, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups skim milk
1/3 cup marscapone
5 oz gruyere, shredded
8 oz light mozzarella, shredded
8 oz sharp white cheddar, shredded
salt and pepper
1/4 tsp nutmeg
BBQ chips

Directions:
1. Make pasta according to directions, but drain 2-3 minutes before al dente.
2. In a large, oven-proof skillet, heat over medium.  Once hot, add in olive oil and butter.  Once butter has melted, add in the shallot and cook for 1 minute.  Then add in garlic and let cook for 1 minute.  Whisk in the flour and continue to whisk constantly for about 2 minutes.  Pour in the milk while continuing to whisk and let cook for an additional 2 minutes.  Stir in the marscapone until well combined and then add in most of the cheese.  Save about 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese.  Stir until melted.  Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
3. Preheat oven to 375.  Pour the drained pasta into the cheese skillet and toss until coated.  Sprinkle remaining cheese over the top.  Crush the BBQ chips over the top of the pasta and let bake for 30 minutes.

Enjoy :)

Baked Spinach Pesto Avocado with an Egg

So, I took a little vacation for the 4th because I was so busy! But, I'm back! And I have a great recipe for a baked avocado with an egg.  

Two of my best friends from the school of education at Wisconsin were in town for the 4th and we had a blast.  We visited the Bean in Millennium Park, went to the top of the John Hancock building, walked around Water Tower Place, brought in burgers to the Half Acre Tap Room, relaxed on North Avenue Beach, BBQ'd for the 4th and saw fireworks from North Avenue, and generally, had so much fun! 

After this crazy weekend, I am ready to settle down and relax.  I decided that since my first trip to a bridal salon for dress shopping is about 2 months away, I really want to kick my eating healthy trend into high gear.  This recipe today is totally going to help me with my plan.  It is crazy delicious, super quick to put together, and healthy!  I love avocados and they are full of good nutrients.  Then, the pesto is homemade where I controlled the amount of oil and used a ton of spinach!  Finally, the egg provides some good protein.  It's a great, well-rounded, meal idea.

Baked Spinach Pesto Avocado with an Egg

Ingredients:

1/2 avocado

1 egg

2 tbsp pesto (I used my Homemade Spinach Pesto)

Salt and Pepper, to taste

optional: dash of hot sauce

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425.

2. Cut an avocado in half and scoop out enough of the center so that there is room to hold the egg.  

3. Place the avocado in an oven-safe dish and crack the egg into the center.  Sprinkle some salt and pepper over the top and then bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes.   The time depends on how well done you like your eggs.

4. Spread some pesto over the top of the avocado and egg.  Sprinkle a dash of hot sauce over the creation if you are using it.

Enjoy :)

Skinny Buttermilk Avocado Dressing

So I took a little vacation...but I'm back! School is out and for the past few days I have just been enjoying myself!  I am also getting ready for camp to start next week! So, I have exactly one week of summer vacation :) Today, I wanted to tell you about my latest developments in the wedding planning extravaganza that is my life, but I have to wait a week....be patient.  

I also started marathon training this week! So far, I have gone for two 3 mile runs and this weekend is the first long run, 6 miles.  I am pretty pumped!

Today I decided to make my own salad dressing because I want to start getting ready to have healthy lunches lined up for camp.  I made this Skinny Buttermilk Avocado Dressing after adapting a similar recipe over at Skinny Taste.  It is really creamy, super tasty, just a little spicy, and tastes a little sweet from the buttermilk.  I am excited to tell you all about the salads I come up with! I also think that this dressing would be great over a burrito bowl or some sort of spicy chicken.  It is really great and versatile!

Skinny Buttermilk Avocado Dressing

Skinny Buttermilk Avocado Dressing

Ingredients:

3/4 cup light buttermilk

1 medium avocado, peeled and sliced

1 shallot, chopped

1 jalapeno, without the seeds and chopped

1 tbsp lime juice

pinch of cumin

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Place everything into a food processor and pulse until you have a creamy mixture.  

Enjoy :)

Healthy Brownie Batter Dip

It's finals time again! I can't believe we are at this point in the year.  I have been so busy the past few weeks finishing everything up with school and helping my students prepare for finals.  And now, I just have to grade their tests and summer is here!  Currently, I am sitting in a study hall with my buddy, Ms. Keenan, and we are just waiting for the period to end so that our finals can finally start.

I am pretty pumped about summer and I am already getting ready by meeting with site directors, organizing camp groups, and writing parent letters.  Last night I "had" to go to Portillo's to have a camp dinner/meeting.  The food was delish and it was so fun to get to know the site directors better and hear about their ideas for the summer.  It made me feel so excited!  

I have also been cooking and baking more because of my super-positive attitude.  For example, I made this:

Brownie Batter

This is "healthy" brownie batter.  I have heard that black beans can be a substitute in brownies or other desserts and I must admit, I was pretty skeptical about if it would actually taste good.  I am here to attest that black beans totally work and this brownie batter was just amazing.  I was inspired by Sweet As Sugar Cookie's recipe and I adapted it a little based on what I wanted/had on hand.  This is a great treat to spread on fruit, eat with pretzels, or just dig into with a spoon!

Healthy Brownie Batter Dip

Ingredients:
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
2-3 tsp vanilla
5 tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter

Directions:
1. Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until mixture becomes completely smooth.  Add in toppings if you want.

Enjoy :)

Quinoa Salad with Corn, Tomatoes and Red Pepper

Let the countdown begin! There are only 9 more days of teaching and 3 days of finals until the end of the school year! I can't believe I am at the end of year 2!  I have gained so much confidence and experience in these past two years and I can't wait to embark on year 3. But first, summer!

This is a great, light summer recipe.  Quinoa recipes are awesome becasue you know they are a little healthier and gluten-free!  I have quite a few friends who can't have gluten and so this is the perfect recipe for a picnic or BBQ with them!  I was inspired by a recipe from Fitness Magazine.  This site comes up with great ideas for lighter recipes and with summer right around the corner I know these kinds of recipes are on my mind.  I am eating healthier because I am going to start wedding dress shopping soon! 

Quinoa Salad with Corn, Tomatoes, and Red Pepper

Quinoa Salad

Ingredients:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp dijion mustard
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 shallot, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup quinoa
1 red pepper, chopped
2 cups corn kernels
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved

Directions:
1. In a small bowl, whisk olive oil, dijion mustard, and vinegar.  Whisk in the salt, pepper, chopped shallot, and minced garlic.
2. Place quinoa and 3 cups water in a medium pot.  Bring to a boil, then lower heat to medium and cover.  Let simmer for 20 minutes and then use a fork to fluff the quinoa.  Place cooked qunioa in a large bowl.
3.  Add the pepper, corn, and grape tomatoes to the quinoa and toss to combine.  Pour in about half of the dressing and toss.  Add more dressing as needed.  Let the mixture chill in the fridge.

Enjoy :)

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

I just submitted my last final and my classes are over! My grad classes that is...My high school classes are done as of June 4th.  I am so excited to be done with these grad classes I can't even explain.  It is a great feeling and now I can officially start the countdown to the end of the school year and the start of camp!  I am going to be working as a camp director again and I am really excited about it.  I can't wait for another summer filled with art projects, playing on playgrounds, and going to waterparks!  

I made this super yummy macaroni and "cheese" recipe recently and it has been on my mind ever since.  I have seen a ton of recipes that sub out cheese for some sort of veggie to make the dish a little lighter and healthier.  This recipe uses mashed butternut squash mixed with some cheese to create a delicious and creamy "cheese" sauce.  You would never know that there are veggies in this!  Bri and I had this for dinner, but then there were enough leftovers for me to have lunch at school the next day too! 

I had a squash lying around so I decided to experiment with a new recipe.  I wanted to make something quick so I went with a stove-top style recipe.  I cooked some pasta, cooked/mashed the squash, and came up with this awesome cheese sauce.  You can use your cheeses of choice, but I went with some sharp cheddar and gorgonzola.  It was awesome!  I can't wait to try other variations of this dish in the future! 

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese 

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:
12 oz whole wheat macaroni noodles
1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup vegetable broth
1 1/2 cups skim milk
8 oz of cheddar and gorgonzola (4 oz each), shredded/cubed
1 tsp hot sauce (or more to taste)
1 tsp mustard (or more to taste)

Directions:1. Make the pasta according to directions to al dente, drain and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil over medium in a pot and place butternut squash in.  Let cook for 5 minutes or so then add the salt, pepper, cinnamon, and vegetable broth.  Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until squash can be easily pierced with a fork.  Using two forks or a potato masher, mash the squash until you have a smooth paste.  Pour in the milk and cheeses and mix until cheese melts.  Stir in the hot sauce and mustard and season with more salt and pepper if desired.  Pour the the pasta and stir to coat.

Enjoy :)

Mini Brown Sugar Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Peanut Butter Frosting

I have some pretty exciting news to share and it is not simply these gorgeous mini cupcakes!

Bri and I adopted a new kitty into our family!! Benny is now a big brother!  We found this amazing five-month old kitten through Hyde Park Cats and per a suggestion from our vet, we adopted him.  Benny has been a little hyperactive and crazy and we think its because he is young and we are not home very often.  So, we got a playmate for him!  Welcome to the family, Nigel!

And now, onto those cupcakes.  Mini cupcakes are pretty amazing plus they are a great way to celebrate our new little guy.  In fact, I have decided to eat healthy by only eating desserts that are mini or homemade.  Not sure this is considered a "diet," but at least it helps me focus on portion control without feeling like I'm really giving anything up.  And lets be honest, I don't think I can totally give up sweets.  I saw this recipe on How Sweet It Is and I simply adapted the cupcakes to include some slightly lighter ingredients and I made them mini which changes the baking time a bit.


Mini Brown Sugar Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Peanut Butter Frosting

Ingredients:
1 cup light brown sugar
1 egg
1 tbsp vanilla
3/4 cup skim milk
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
Frosting:
4 oz low-fat cream cheese
1/2 cup natural, creamy peanut butter (I love Skippy)
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla
skim milk, if needed

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 and line 24 mini cupcake wells with cupcake liners.
2. In a large bowl, beat the brown sugar with unsalted butter.  Beat in the egg until well combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the flours with the baking soda, baking powder, and salt.  Add 1/3 of this mixture to the wet ingredients and beat until just combined.  Add in about 1/2 of the milk and 1/2 tbsp of vanilla and beat to combine.  Repeat with the flour mixture, then the rest of the milk/vanilla and then end with the rest of the flour mixture.  Divide the batter into your cupcake pan so that each well is about 3/4 of the way full.
4. Bake at 350 for about 10-12 minutes.  Let cool completely.
5. To make the frosting, beat the cream cheese and peanut butter in a bowl until smooth.  Beat in the sugars and vanilla until creamy.  Add in a few tsp of milk if your mixture is too thick.  Frost those cupcakes!

Enjoy :)

Homemade Baked Onion Rings with Spicy Siracha Mayo

It's Saturday night in Chicago!  I love the weekends because Bri and I get to spend time together and try new restaurants/events around this awesome city.  This weekend we went to a new place near us called Gideon Welles.  It was pretty awesome!  They have a HUGE drink selection and their menu has a ton of diverse and yummy options.  We went with our friend Max and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal.  Bri said that he had the "best" mac and cheese of his life! (That is really saying something since he is a vegetarian and typically ends up with mac and cheese or something similar for his dinner option).  I loved my mediterranean wrap and Max had a great brisket sandwich.  We will definitely be heading back soon!

Today, I had to go to Springfield for a class that I am taking and present on a lesson that I will teach.  Springfield is about 3.5 hours away and this class lasted 3 hours.  So, this means I traveled for 7 hours just for a 3 hour class...This is not exactly how I would plan spending my Saturday.  However, Bri was a total trooper.  He decided to go with me because there is a sandwich shop in Springfield that he likes.  Yep, he drove 7 hours for a sandwich!  I had never been to this place, but I figured it must be excellent if he is willing to this out of his way for it.  The place is called Head West Sub Stop and instead of normal bread, they make all their subs on sweet bread.  If you're ever traveling through the great capitol of Illinois, you should def make this a stop! 

Along with all of our fun restaurant traveling, we have been cooking a lot as well.  Between Wisconsin going to the NCAA championship, baseball coming back, and the Blackhawks in the playoffs, we have been watching a lot of sports.  This means, that I have been craving a lot of sport related foods.  And, that is how these Baked Onion Rings with Spicy Siracha Mayo came about.  

Baked Onion Rings with Spicy Siracha Mayo

Ingredients:

1 onion, cut in half to pull the rings apart

2 cups low fat buttermilk

2 egg whites

pinch of cayenne pepper

1/2 cup whole wheat flour (or regular)

1/2 cup cornmeal

1 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp paprika

Siracha Mayo (stir siracha into mayo)

Directions:

1. Place onion rings into a dish with edges.  Pour buttermilk over the rings and sprinkle the cayenne over the top.  Cover with saran wrap and let rest.  I was advised to let this sit for a long time, but I didn't have the time and they came out pretty good.  The longer you let the onions sit the better.  

2. Beat egg whites in a medium bowl.  

3. Mix the flour, cornmeal, and breadcrumbs in a separate bowl with the salt, pepper, and paprika.

4. Heat oven to 425 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  

5. Take the buttermilk soaked onion rings and dip them into the egg whites and then the breadcrumb mixture.  Place on baking sheet.

6. Bake for about 15 minutes before flipping the rings and baking for another 15 minutes.  

7.  Stir siracha into mayo for your dip.  Add more siracha for a spicier dip.

Enjoy :)

Cauliflower Stir Fry

My first day back went pretty much as expected.  Kids didn't want to be there, they complained about having to "do math" and they were annoyed that we had to get ready for finals.  Like any of this is my fault.  I would love to have finals before winter break.

However, in general school has been going really well this year.  I can't believe we are at the end of the semester.  This year seems to be flying by.  With the end of the semester, I am thinking about about my teaching and what to change/keep for next semester.  It's important to always improve and I think that I have already seen great changes from my first year to this one.  Next semester, I am excited to see how I continue to change and improve my teaching practice.

I have also been spending a lot of time looking for new recipes.  These new recipes are frequently inspired by new restaurants.  For example, I recently ate at Cumin, an Indian restaurant in the Wicker Park area of Chicago.  It was amazing!  I can't even remember what I ordered, but everything was fantastic and the service was great.  Our waiter made great recommendations and we had a delicious experience.  I definitely want to try out some Indian cooking in my future.

Today I am sharing a recipe for Cauliflower Stir Fry.  I found the original recipe over at one of my favorite blogs, The Pioneer Woman.  She is so awesome and her food always looks amazing.  I just took her recipe and lightened it up a little bit.  Plus, I added some flavors that I just love.  So, run out to the store, buy a whole head of cauliflower, and whip up this recipe for your next meal!

Cauliflower Stir Fry

Ingredients:
1 whole head of cauliflower
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 tbsp lime juice
2 green onions, chopped
1 tbsp siracha or other hot sauce

Directions:
1. Break off pieces of the cauliflower so that you don't have any green pieces and then chop it up so that you have small florets.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and add in the garlic and cauliflower.  Stir until your cauliflower begins to brown.  Turn the heat to medium-low and add in the soy sauce, lime juice, green onions and siracha.  Continue to cook until the cauliflower is evenly coated in the sauce.  Feel free to add more hot sauce if you want a spicier flavor.

Enjoy :)



http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2014/05/spicy-cauliflower-stir-fry/

Spinach and Artichoke Quinoa Casserole

A while back, I made an Enchilada Quinoa Casserole and it was so yummy that I went and found other variations on Quinoa casseroles.  I have always been a huge fan of spinach and artichoke so, when I found this recipe over at Two Peas and Their Pod, I was super excited.  Like, more excited than normal people when they see spinach and artichoke.  It was actually a little embarrassing.  But anyways, I ran right out to the grocery store for the supplies and I whipped up a batch of this amazing casserole.  I love that this can be a side dish or your main entree.  Plus, the leftovers taste awesome so I ended up taking this for lunch at school as well!

Now that it is 2015, people are going to go crazy of their new year resolutions.  This recipe can help you out with that as well!  The only ingredient that isn't so healthy is the cheese.  So, use a light cheese and use less if you are looking to lighten this up a bit.  However, cheese is awesome so for all you people out there who have already given up on your resolutions, add all the cheese you want!  I am planning to do a "quick" 9 mile run today, so I am going to put in as much cheese as my little heart desires!  Also, if you are gluten free, sub out the flour for gluten free flour and you have a totally gluten free, vegetarian, healthy meal!

Spinach and Artichoke Quinoa Casserole

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups quinoa
4 1/2 cups water
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 sweet onion, diced
4-5 cloves garlic, minced
9 oz baby spinach
2 cups artichoke hearts, chopped (canned are fine)
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp flour (whole wheat or gluten free is fine)
1 1/2 cups skim milk
3 oz light cream cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded, light mozzarella cheese
red pepper flakes
1/2 cup light feta cheese, crumbled
salt and pepper to taste
optional: parmesan cheese for topping


Directions:
1. Combine the water and quinoa is a medium pot.  Heat over high until the water boils, lower heat to low-medium and let simmer, covered for 20 minutes.  Water should be absorbed.  Fluff with a fork and remove from heat.
2. In a medium sauté pan, heat olive oil over medium and add in garlic and onion.  Cook until onion starts to become translucent.  Add in the spinach and artichokes and cook until the spinach has wilted.  Season with salt and pepper.  Turn off heat and set aside.
3.  In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, whisk the butter with the flour until you have a paste.  Turn heat up and whisk in the milk until it starts to boil.  Whisk in the cream cheese and 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese.  Stir until smooth.
4. Heat oven to 350 and spray a 9 by 13 inch pan with cooking spray.
5. In a large bowl, combine the quinoa, spinach and artichoke mixture, and cheese mixture.  Stir in the rest of the mozzarella and the feta cheese.  Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes.
6. Spread quinoa mixture into your baking dish.  If you are using parmesan, sprinkle it over the top.  Place in oven and cook for about 30 minutes or until mixture is bubbly and parmesan starts to brown.

Enjoy :)

Green Smoothie

I figured I should kick off 2015 with a healthy recipe after all this celebrating over our engagement, the holidays, Cancun, and New Years. This smoothie is great because it has so many healthy ingredients and it can also be a meal supplement when you are looking for a healthy detox sort of smoothie.  I was inspired by the recipe over at Sally's Baking Addiction and made a few changes based on my preferences.  So, grab your blender, get some fresh ingredients, and get ready for a delicious way to be a little more healthy!

Green Smoothie

Ingredients:
1/2 cup pineapple coconut water
1 cup fresh pineapple, chopped
1 cup fresh mango, chopped
2 cups baby spinach, packed
1/2 avocado, cubed

Directions:
1. Throw everything into a blender and blend until smooth.

Enjoy :)

Spinach Lasagna Roll Ups

I'm writing a blog post at school! Well, sort of...

Today is a testing day for the students, so I am sitting here, bored out of my mind, watching students take a practice ACT.  I decided that a great use of my time (after I did everything I needed to do for school) would be to write a blog post about some amazing Spinach Lasagna Roll Ups I made.  My only fear is that this post is going to make me drool or that the students will hear my stomach rumbling! I hope you all enjoy this random, mid-week post about one amazing dinner idea!

Spinach Lasagna Roll Ups

Ingredients:
1 box lasagna noodles (the kind you have to boil)
your favorite tomato sauce
16 oz frozen spinach, thawed and drained completely
16 oz light ricotta cheese
8 oz, plus a few tbsp light mozzarella cheese
1 egg
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp nutmeg
salt and pepper
parmesan cheese, shredded

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Cook the lasagna noodles according to directions until al dente.  Drain and lay each noodle on a damp paper towel.  Cover the noodles with another damp paper towel.
3. In a bowl, mix the spinach into the ricotta cheese.  Mix in the egg using a fork and then mix in half the mozzarella, red pepper flakes, and nutmeg.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Spread a layer of tomato sauce in the bottom of a 9 by 13 inch pan.  Uncover the noodles and, using a spoon, spread a layer of the spinach-ricotta mixture over each noodle.  Then, tightly roll up each noodle and place seam down in the pan. When all noodles are done, spread more tomato sauce over the tops of the rolls and sprinkle with some mozzarella and parmesan.  Place in oven to bake for about 30 minutes.

Enjoy :)

Homemade Baked Cheese Fries

Alright, so I know that I am usually all about being healthy and running and all that jazz.  However, when I let my true colors show, I am a person constantly craves either cheese fries or cinnamon rolls.  Since neither of these really fit into my "eating healthy" plan, I try my very best to avoid both.

Until, I found this recipe for Cheese Sauce from Serious Eats:

Cheese Sauce

Ingredients:
8 oz cheddar cheese, shredded
12 oz can evaporated milk
1 tsp cornstarch
2-3 tsp hot sauce

Directions:
1. Toss shredded cheese with the cornstarch and then add to a medium saucepan.
2.  Add evaporated milk to saucepan and heat over medium until melted and thickened.
3. Add in hot sauce to taste.

Game over! This is too easy! Plus, I can totally use "light" cheddar and "light" evaporated milk.  So that totally makes it healthy...right?

Then, I found a recipe for baked french fries and I was set.

So, go make that cheese sauce and then make these baked fries and you have yourself some "healthy" cheese fries!

Baked French Fries
(adapted from Purple Foodie)

Ingredients:
8-9 garlic cloves, minced
5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1.5 lbs of potatoes, cut into 1 inch wedges
3 tbsp cornstarch
1 1/2 tsp sea salt
1 1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450.
2. In a bowl, combine the oil with the garlic.  Heat in microwave on 30 second intervals until garlic is fragrant.
3. Take about 4 tbsp of oil from the bowl and spread on the baking pan.
4. Place potato wedges in bowl with garlic and toss.  Cover in plastic wrap and microwave for 4-6 minutes or until potatoes start to look translucent.
5. In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch, salt, pepper, garlic, and cayenne.  Sprinkle over the warm potatoes and toss to coat.
6.  Lay potatotes out separately on the oiled pan.  Bake in oven for 30-40 minutes, flipping halfway through baking.  Potatoes should be golden and crisp.

Veggie Burger with Cheese Fries

Enjoy :)

Healthy Falafel with Feta Dip

I started school! I can't believe that summer is truly over now that it is after Labor Day and school is back in session.  Truly, I started last week, but it was only a 3 day week and it was followed by a 3 day weekend.  Now, I am really back to the grind.  I am still teaching Geometry and Algebra Advanced and its great because I have all my stuff from last year.  Being a second year teacher instead of a first year teacher definitely has its perks.  Not only do I know what I'm doing, but I also have past students saying hi to me in the hallways.  I'm still exhausted, but I am having fun.

Being a teacher is exhausting, but being a teacher who is in the peak of marathon training is ridiculous.  Yesterday, after teaching all day, I came home, laced up my running shoes, and went for a "short" 9 mile run.  The worst part, was when I came home I was too tired to make dinner, but I was starving.  So, here is a recipe that I found, loved, and had a ton of leftovers for those nights where you just don't feel like doing anything besides sleeping.

Baked Falafel with Spicy Feta Dip

Check out this blog because it is one of my favorites and this recipe is fantastic!  I made a couple adaptions so here they are:

I used whole wheat flour, light feta cheese, and non-fat, plain Chobani greek yogurt.  I also ended up using 5 garlic cloves because I just love garlic.  Otherwise, I followed the recipe and it came out amazing.  If you want to make this recipe gluten free, just use gluten free flour!  I had this for dinner with a pita and for lunch on its own.  Either way, the falafel is super tasty and that spicy feta dip just sends it over the top!

Enjoy :)

Light Cauliflower Cheese Soup

A while ago. while running, some cab driver who was pulled over on the side of the road clapped for me and told me he was proud of me as I ran by.  It was so strange, but also pretty nice to hear.  I guess if you are a cab driver at 5 a.m. you have to entertain yourself somehow!

I think its pretty cool how many people will say "hi" or "looking good" or "keep it up" while running with my group on Saturdays.  It's nice to hear and it motivates me to keep going.  This Saturday, I really needed that.  I completed the 15 mile run (the longest I've ever gone), but it was tough.  The support of my group and the other runners was much needed and it made me grateful to have met such amazing people who are also embarking on this quest of completing a marathon.  Next week, it is a 16 mile run, and while I am nervous, I know that I can do it.  I just gotta keep putting one foot in front of another...right?

Today I wanted to share a yummy soup recipe.  I became pretty into soup this past year because it is so simple to make and its a great way to have a healthy lunch or dinner.  This soup was inspired by Mel's Kitchen Cafe.  I just added some stuff to make it my own and incorporate some flavors that love.

Light Cauliflower Cheese Soup

Ingredients:1 head of cauliflower, cut away the stem and break up into 1 inch pieces
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 sweet onion, diced
2 tsp fresh thyme, chopped
2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped
4 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup skim milk
6 oz sharp white cheddar, shredded
salt and pepper to taste
dash of paprika (optional)
dash of hot sauce (optional)

Directions:
1. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat.  Add in the onion and garlic and cook until onion starts to become translucent.  Add in the cauliflower and toss to coat in the oil.  Cook until cauliflower starts to brown.  Pour in the vegetable broth, thyme, and rosemary.  Season with salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil and then lower to a simmer.  Cover and let simmer for 15 minutes.
2. Pour the mixture into a blender and blend until smooth.  Pour the blended mixture back into the pot and heat over medium.  Stir in the shredded cheese and milk until melted and combined.  Season again with salt and pepper.  Add in the paprika and hot sauce if you are using.

Enjoy :)

Salmon Roll and Birthday Celebrations!

I saw this recipe on Food and Wine and I just had to give it a try! It was so easy to throw together and I would totally eat this Salmon Salad on its own! My cat was a big fan too!  Every time I took out the container of Salmon Salad, he went crazy trying to get some!  I finally caved and threw him a little piece of salmon just because he was so stinkin' cute!

But first! I promised to re-cap my birthday shenanigans at some point, so here it goes.  My birthday was on a Monday.  Of course the festivities had to start on the Friday before.  Friday, I went to Ravinia with my parents and a couple friends to see West Side Story with the CSO playing the music.  We got tons of snacks, brought in dinner from City Park Grill, and my mommy got me a red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting!

Saturday, Bri and I went downtown, had dinner at Balana, saw This Is Our Youth at the Steppenwolf, and stayed at Sofitel for the night.  It was really nice and so much fun!

Sunday, I got to see some of Bri's family when we met for dinner at the one and only: Portillos.  I just love that place!

Finally, the big day arrived: Monday.  Monday was a normal camp day for me, but all my campers sang happy birthday and it was really cute.  Then, my mom and I took the train downtown to meet up with Bri, my dad, and my bestie Caryn! We all went to dinner at Kuma's Too and had AMAZING burgers (well, except Bri who got their make-your-own mac n' cheese).  And then, we ended the night with dessert from Margies.  Everything was delicious and I could not have asked for a nicer weekend to celebrate my birthday!

After all that, I needed something fresh and light like this Salmon Roll! I adapted it a bit, so here it how my version went:

Salmon Roll

Ingredients:

1.5 lb salmon filet

salt and pepper

1/2 cup non-fat, plain greek yogurt (I used Chobani)

2 celery stalks, chopped

2 tbsp chopped chives

2 tbsp chopped parsley

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

8-10 whole wheat hot dog buns

Directions:

1. Cook salmon: sprinkle salt and pepper over the salmon filets and let bake in the oven.  I did mine for 15 minutes at 450 degrees.  Once the salmon is cooked, allow to cool.  And then flake the salmon into small chunks.

2. To make the salmon salad, in a bowl, combine the greek yogurt with the chopped chives, parsley, and lemon juice.  Stir in the salmon chunks.  

3.  To serve: scoop some salmon salad into a whole wheat hot dog bun.  It will look just like a lobster roll, but so much healthier!!!

Enjoy :) 

Healthy Vegetarian Soup

Oh my! It has been a while! I became super wrapped up with camp and running!

Today is the last day of camp! I could not have asked for a nicer summer.  Everyone I work with has been great and camp has run super smoothly.  All the kids are so much fun! Just yesterday, I played dodgeball so much that now my arm hurts! Today I am brining in Inception Cookies for all the staff members to thank them for one awesome summer!

My marathon training is also off to a great start.  This weekend I am running 13 miles (a half marathon) and I am officially entering week 9 of my 18 week program.  I have been running my long runs on weekends with a group called CARA.  This group has really helped me to have fun and run better because of it.  I am running with the 10:00 minute mile pace group.  Every Saturday, we meet at 6 a.m. and run as a pack.  It's great because we get to chat about our lives/running/whatever and it makes the runs go so much faster.  Plus, since we start early, we beat the heat and get home with our whole Saturday still in front of us.  I can't believe I'm already halfway through the training and I know it is going to get pretty intense here on out.  I will keep you posted!

Today I am sharing a really great healthy, vegetarian recipe.  I have been trying to shed a few pounds this summer and get in shape and this soup helped me to do that! Plus, it is great to make a huge batch of because the leftovers are awesome and I like having something planned out to take in for lunch.

Healthy Vegetarian Soup
(adapted from Favorite Family Recipes)

Ingredients:
2 containers of vegetable stock
3 cups low-sodium V-8 juice
2 cans Italian diced tomatoes
1 onion, copped
3 cloves garlic, minced
12 oz mushrooms, sliced
3 carrots, peeled and diced
1 zucchini, diced
1 yellow squash, diced
2 cups fresh green beans, chopped
1 15 oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
3-4 cups shredded cabbage (I used red)
1 tsp Italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. In a large frying pan, sprayed with olive oil spray, sauté the chopped onion with the garlic over medium heat.  After about 5 minutes, add in the carrots and mushrooms.  Continue cooking over medium heat until vegetables soften (about 5 minutes).
2. In a large crock-pot, pour in the vegetable stock and V-8 juice.  Add in the sautéed vegetables and the rest of the ingredients.  Cook on high for 3-4 hours or until the cabbage has softened.

Enjoy :)

Gluten Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Muffins

Yay Passover! I just love not being about to eat bread for a week...

Okay, I am very excited to eat bread again! In fact, every year, I take a break from Passover to enjoy Easter! My mom's side of the family has an Easter party every year and it is a lot of fun.  I love doing the colored eggs and sharing a big family meal.  She even brings a Lamb Cake! It's really cute and then we fight over who gets the butt (typical).  So, today I am off to my cousin's to celebrate Easter and I am very excited to enjoy the food and take a little vacation from Passover.

If you didn't see yesterday, I fell while running, and today I am still feeling very sore and beaten up.  My knee has developed a small bump this morning and I am not sure if I am going to make it through my Sunday morning Jillian Michaels work-out.  Wish me luck because I am going to try!

After my work out, I have homework to do for an online class that I am taking and then I am going to attempt to cook a few meals so that we are all ready for the week.  This is all before we drive to my cousins (about an hour away) for Easter.  So, I am up bright and early to share this with you all and then get to work!

Keeping with the Passover theme, today I am telling you about some amazing Gluten Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Muffins.  They are crazy simply and crazy yummy.  I have made these multiple times and I even brought them in to school to share with my fellow teachers.  Everyone loved them!

Gluten Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Muffins
(adapted from Averie Cooks)

Ingredients: 
1 medium ripe banana
1 egg
1/2 cup creamy, natural peanut butter
3 tbsp honey
1/2 tbsp vanilla
1/4 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (mini or regular)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Place everything except the chocolate chips into a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.  Stir in the chocolate chips.
3. Spoon into a greased mini-muffin pan until about 3/4 full, or regular muffin pan.  Bake for 7-8 minutes if a regular muffin pan and 8-10 minutes for a mini muffin pan.

Enjoy!