Green Chili Chicken Stew (Crock Pot)

Hello!

Oh how I love the magnificent crock pot, coming home to nice meal with minimum effort….sign me up!  I will admit I am not a big fan of using it in the SUMMER months, only because the meals tend to be on the heartier side…more fitting for FALL however, we had a bumper crop of Hatch Mexican chili peppers so far this Summer, so the occasion called.

Ingredients:

5 boneless/skinless chicken breasts

1 large sweet onion – diced

5 cloves of garlic – chopped

3 dried bay leaves

3 Tablespoons of finely chopped fresh oregano

2 Tablespoons of dried oregano

2 can of diced green chili – small can

5 large fresh Hatch chili peppers or Anaheim peppers – diced into bite size pieces

Salt and Pepper – you can adjust seasoning at the end when cooked

2.5 - 3 cups of water - just enough to cover chicken

Cornstarch or flour for thickening

******I added cooked quinoa, sliced black olives and finely chopped cilantro at the end to make it a complete meal.  Topped with fresh avocado!

How to:

In your crock pot, add all ingredients above and cook on low for 8 hours.  Remove chicken breast and shred.  Add shredded chicken along with the veggies (cooked chili and onion) as well as some of the liquid to a sauce pan and simmer on the stove until it starts to lightly boil.  In a cup, mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch or flour along with water to make a roux.  Pour roux into stew and allow to thicken a bit.  Add cooked quinoa, sliced black olives & chopped cilantro.  Adjust season with salt and pepper!  

I have taken pictures to describe the process…Trust me, it sounds more complicated than it is!  This meal is amazing and worth it!  Leftovers freeze really well.   

You can also make burritos, tacos or nachos using this chili. Just have fun and get creative!

Everything in crock pot.

Shredding Chicken - after 8 hours of cooking, it falls apart.

Shredded chicken along with veggies & juice-ready for a slow boil.

Mixing roux (use flour or cornstarch)

Roux added and starting to thicken.

Finished Product w/ black olives and chopped cilantro

Hatch Chili Peppers! 

Enjoy!

Success & Nourish

Preparing to Succeed :

I have always considered myself to be pretty organized and effective in time management but recently I started preparing for the week and what a difference that has made in my world.  I find I have more of a successful week with a few hours of prep on Sunday.  Meal planning, grocery shopping and food prepping is truly what keeps me on track and keeps me making great choices.  

A typical meal prep session looks something like this at Café5400 :

Chopped fresh fruit & veggies: (great for munching and a better option vs. chips or wheat thins)

Cooking a large batch of quinoa and storing it in the fridge in an airtight container.

Quinoa Ideas: replace rice in a stir fry, great side dish to protein, fry an egg in the morning and place on top of quinoa, mix in oatmeal for more protein, mix in plain Greek yogurt with fresh fruit for a quick breakfast.

Grilled Meats:  I usually grill a tri tip, batch of chicken or large piece of fish to eat with salads during the week.  The only prep after getting off work is making the salad.  Quick & Easy!

Sweet Potatoes:  I bake 3 or 4 large whole sweet potatoes and store in a large zip lock bag in the fridge.  Ideas: Cut one half, drizzle with olive oil, season with S&P and place on the BBQ until heated through.  Great for breakfast with your favorite nut butter & topped with fresh berries.  Dice and add to salads or mix with scrambled eggs for a healthy breakfast.

3 Additional things you can do tonight to prepare for a successful tomorrow:

• If you work out in the morning, lay out your clothes and essentials (heart rate monitor, full water bottle, Ipod & earphones) this motivates me to get up and get going without hesitation.  It’s a commitment I feel I have to keep once I have prepped.

• Just like food prep, plan your weekly workout schedule and don’t let excuses get in the way!  Schedule that sweat session just like an important doctor’s appointment and stick to it!

• Rely on your buddies….ask for a wake up text or phone call…accountability is huge for me….half the time seeing my awesome friends doing amazing workouts, is just the push I need to get out the door!

Nourishing the Soul:

“To be beautiful means to be yourself.  You don’t need to be accepted by others.  You need to accept yourself” – Buddist teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh

Wishing you all a great weekend! 

Protein Power Pancakes:

I have to share this pretty amazing recipe with you.  The first time I made them, I added too much almond milk and tried to compensate by mixing in coconut flour – the texture in the final product was bad…they tasted great but something was way off.  I made them again, using the right amount of almond milk and leaving out the coconut flour.  They turned out PERFECT.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
• 1 scoop of your favorite protein powder (I used vanilla)
• 1 Egg - Use the whole egg
• 1/3 cup low-fat cottage cheese - Splash of vanilla extract
• Splash of unsweetened almond milk – mix until you get desired consistency

Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth.  Heat coconut oil in a non-stick pan and start cooking the pancakes.  You will know they are ready to be flipped when you see bubbles in the middle of the pancakes.  Serving ideas: fresh berries, almond butter, sliced banana or pure maple syrup.  Enjoy!

PS.  I made extra to have on hand and stored in the freezer.  Place a piece of wax paper between each pancake prior to freezing.  Remove from freezer and heat in toaster oven.  This makes for a quick breakfast or snack on the go!

Overnight Oats

Hello & T.G.I.F.

This breakfast is quick, amazing and a total powerhouse in terms of nutrition and sustaining ability.  I love making this for mornings I have to be out of the house bright & early (basically everyday).  This recipe is totally versatile which is great for keeping boredom at bay.  Use the first ingredients as your base and add whatever you like for flavor.  No rules…just get creative, have FUN and Mix and Match!

I will usually add a few raw walnuts before serving for crunch….the final product has a custard texture (a bit thick) but never the less…..DELISH!  

1 cup quick cooking oats

1 cup low fat Greek yogurt

1 cup unsweetened almond milk or milk of choice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ cup chia seeds

***If you prefer a bit of sweetness, you can stevia, agave nectar or pure maple syrup

I have made these oats numerous ways.  So far these are my flavor combinations:

• Banana, almond butter, blueberries and sliced almonds
• Chocolate Protein Powder, almond butter and banana
• Fresh chopped strawberries, blueberries, vanilla protein powder and sliced almonds
• Organic canned pumpkin, almond butter, cinnamon and nutmeg

Simply mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container overnight in the fridge!

Enjoy!

Served with Raw Walnuts and Agave

Have an awesome weekend! 

Summer

Summer Lovin’

Summer is my favorite time of year for many reasons. It seems the city comes alive and there are countless things to do & see.  Everyone is out and about super early and the energy is so motivating! I listed my reasons for lovin’ this time of year.

• Soakin’ up the sun – I hope I don’t regret this one later in life (I am sure I might) but who doesn’t love a great tan?
• Walking bare feet in the sand…
• Bountiful options of fresh fruit & wonderful salads – lighter & healthy choices!
• Dining alfresco
• Bummer crop of home grown tomatoes with fresh basil = AMAZING!
• Shorts, tank top & flip flops = HEAVEN!
• Longer days – more time to enjoy life!
• Sun is up bright & early – especially great for an early riser like ME!
• Vacations – road trips, weekend getaways & visits with friends & family!
• Gettin’ crazy on the grill – truthfully I could BBQ 365 days a year! Summer makes it that much more fun!
• Cruisin’ the bike path on my beach cruiser…never a bad time to ride.
• Easy morning runs without having to bundle up before stepping out….swimming without freezing.
• Carefree hairstyles & makes up...baseball caps are never out of style!
• Beautiful Sunsets

My 2014 Summer Theme Song : Brad Paisley - River Bank….what a fun song & great video :)

Cheers to an awesome SUMMER!