Recipes for a Wintry Season

I was going to tattle on someone.  I was going to tell you what I saw in her fridge today.  But then I realized that I would be breaking my own rule.  This blog and my Facebook page are about how I eat, not how I think anyone else should eat.  It's just my way of sharing what has worked for me.  My friend apparently eats a way that is different than mine.  I am not going to tell her she's wrong.  Because, frankly, maybe she isn't!  I am not a doctor, nutritionist, or any other professional that might have any clue about nutrition.  I just know that clean eating has helped me to lose weight and feel better.

So instead, I will tell you what we are eating this week.  As always, leftovers from supper go into lunches, so I don't have anything different to share for lunch.  But I will share some favorite breakfast ideas!  You might notice that there is a fair amount of fat in my daily eating plan.  I am not really tracking fat or calories or anything but I have found that more fat does help me feel fuller and it doesn't seem to impact my ability to keep the weight off.

The weather here, as in many parts of the US, has been so cold.  So very very cold!  Because of that I am throwing in a couple of slow cooker recipes.  Nothing better than coming home to the smell of home cooking!

Cream Cheese Chicken and Black Beans - The important thing to remember with this one is to be sure to use a salsa that doesn't have added sugars or any preservatives or other junk.  It's best if you have made your own, but if you didn't.... well, it's kind of the wrong time of year to worry about that!!!  I will probably serve this over brown rice.

Slow Cooker Stir Fry - This is a very adaptable recipe.  Pretty much you can use any leftover bits of vegetables you might have.  Or you can get some just for this.  Whatever works!  Be sure to omit the sugar and, if you like, you can sub coconut aminos for the soy sauce.

Chili -   You can make this to suit your family.  We just used a 26 ounce can of crushed tomatoes, a drained and rinsed can of black beans, a drained can of pinto beans.  Add that to 1# ground beef which has been browned with a small chopped onion.  Season to taste.  Voila!!!  Supper!

Chicken Caesar Salad - The other day I cooked a couple pounds of chicken tenders.  I used some to make chicken salad but still have some left.  So I will chop that up and throw it in with some Romaine, clean Caesar dressing (Trader Joe's makes a Romano dressing that's clean-ish and tastes wonderful or you can make your own), a little crumbled bacon, and some freshly grated Parmesan.  Another quick and easy meal.  Okay, not a Winter meal... but I have to use up all that chicken I cooked!

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad - I already made the quinoa for this.  It's just sitting in the fridge waiting for me to get back to it.  Remember to rinse your quinoa before you cook it.  Otherwise, your refrigerator will stink stink stink!!!  This probably isn't exactly a Winter time meal, either but I haven't made it in a long time and I really like it.  Plus it's super easy to take in lunches because it doesn't require heating up!

Yogurt - Okay, this isn't for supper, but I do make my own yogurt now (can you imagine?!).  It's easy and tastes so good.  I can't believe how much I have probably spent on buying yogurt over the years when I could just do this.  MR takes this most days for a snack with some frozen fruit or granola.  By the time he has a chance to eat it, the fruit is thawed and mixes right in!  (He takes it in a separate container though and mixes it when he's ready to eat.)   I also make my own granola.  Just throw a batch in on Sunday afternoon, and we are set for the week.

Fluffy eggs - This is a microwave recipe so that might not work for some of you, but I don't mind using the microwave.  This is so easy and my new favorite way to eat eggs.  I can even do this at work because we have a microwave in the break room.  In the microwave, heat 2 ounces of cream cheese for 20 seconds in a large ramekin (or even a big coffee mug if that's what you have).   Take it out and beat in two eggs (I usually pre-beat these a little just to help them mix in a little better).  Then microwave the eggs and cream cheese together in the dish for 45 seconds.  Remove from microwave and beat it all again making it as creamy as you can. It doesn't have to be perfect.  Then microwave for two minutes.  It will puff way up, but I have never had it overflow... don't worry!  Then when it's ready, you can eat it right out of the dish.  You can make this super savory by adding bacon bits or some spices.  Or you can sweeten it up by adding a little sweetener substitute of choice when you add the eggs and then pour a little real maple syrup over it.  I eat them plain but occasionally do the sweet version.

So that's pretty much what we're eating at my house this week.  What about you?  What's for supper?  Whatever it is, Keep it Clean!!

The Best Spice You Aren't Using... Yet!

Have you tried garam masala yet?  If so, you know what I'm talking about!  If not, you really need to check it out.  I couldn't find it in the stores in my town so I mixed up my own.  But then I found a small container and thought I'd go ahead and pick it up.  Mostly because, I am not going to kid you, buying all the ingredients to make my own was kind of expensive.  Unfortunately, the store-bought-already-mixed-version was not nearly as good as my own.  So I have the little container available if I need it for a quick sprinkle, but for the most part I am just going to continue to mix my own.  The wonderful flavor it adds to my now-favorite-meatloaf is out of this world.

Apparently, there are many variations on this recipe but this is the one I recommend (also known as the easiest!) if you want to mix up your own garam masala (and I think you do).

Garam Masala

Garam Masala

2 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
3 tsp ground cumin
3 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground cloves

Measure out ingredients and put in a small clean jar.  Close lid tightly and shake to mix.



Since my favorite recipe for meatloaf in a mug only calls for a teaspoon at a time, this lasts a while.  If you go to the meatloaf link, just scroll down the second recipe.  It's so quick and easy, you just won't believe it.  Basically, pumpkin, ground beef, and garam masala.  Oh and a little sea salt.  I often mix up a few individual ones at a time and then I have them to grab and take to work to cook in the microwave.  Yes!  You cook them in the microwave.  That's the other thing that makes them so awesome.  I can make them at work and have a really yummy hot lunch.  You know my co-workers are jealous on meatloaf day!

What are you waiting for?  Go get you some!

Sunny with a Side of Meatballs, and some other great recipes!

One thing I hear a lot is that it's expensive to eat healthy.  Well, not going to kid you... you're right.  Buying fresh produce, grass fed beef, and all that other good stuff can add up.  I am always looking for ways to economize.  And the best way I know is to not waste anything.  Which requires planning.  Although, today, it just kind of happened!

Meatballs alla Parmigiana ready to finish in the oven

I had planned meatballs alla parmigiana for dinner.  First, I had to make the marinara sauce.  There will be lots of sauce left over and this stuff is great to freeze.  There will likely be leftover meatballs too which can go into lunches or for a MustGo night.  Waste not #1 and #2.

Because the meatballs alla parmigiana only calls for 1-1/2 pounds of ground beef, that means I had a 1/2 pound to not waste. (We buy our beef once a year from a local farmer, and the ground beef comes in 1 pound packages.)  So, I used the left over half pound and made two of the pumpkin marsala meatloaf in a mug from this link. which I can have for my lunches later this week.  Waste not #3.

Then, because I opened pumpkin to make the meatloaf, I had pumpkin left over.  I searched around my Pinterest page and found two minute pumpkin pie.  I have made this before and it is delicious... as are all the recipes posted here today.  I didn't make the crust -- the recipe says you can do it either way.  I also tripled the recipe so I could have a few of these and use up the pumpkin.  I will share if someone wants one, or I will just eat them with lunch or supper later this week.  Waste not #4!

So for the price of some meat, onions, crushed tomatoes, some spices, and a can of pumpkin, I have dinner for the family tonight, and lots leftover for lunches, more suppers, or just to freeze!  I am not going to kid you about this either... It doesn't always work out this way.  But it did today, so thought I'd share these recipes with you too!

What are you eating today?  Whatever it is, Keep it Clean

Mug Cheesecake! What?!

You know all those great mug recipes?  Muffin in a mug, cake in a mug, even meatloaf in a mug!  I love those things.  So easy to make one or two servings.  Well, how about cheesecake in a mug?!  I know!  How awesome  is that?  I couldn't believe it when I saw the recipe at ww.hungrylittlegirl.com!  I mean, who does that?!  This girl, that's who!   (Lots of exclamation points over this one, but so worth it!!!!)

Anyway, I just happened to have the ingredients on hand to make it, because it really isn't complicated.  I like recipes that don't require weird stuff.  Like xantham gum.  Oh my gosh, you need like two granules of that stuff when you use it, but it comes in an 8 ounce bag that costs a LOT!  Anyway, I digress..  Because there is no xanthan gum in this recipe.  Just normal stuff.  Oh, and I lied.  I didn't exactly have all the ingredients as the recipe was written so I improvised.  Plus, I don't use regular confectioners sugar  And the original recipe also called for fat free or low fat things... and I don't do that.  (My body likes the fat I eat.  It really helps me stay on track better when I consume enough fat.)  I also omitted the vanilla wafer (white flour!!! No!)  So the recipe I am posting is adapted from this recipe and you can use that one if you prefer, but mine turned out totally awesome.  Just so you know!

I made my own confectioners sugar because... well, because I can!  And so can you.  I made a whole cup even though I didn't need that much.  I figured there will be another opportunity to use it, and now I have some already made sitting in a jar in my cupboard!

Confectioners Sugar (makes 1 cup)

1 cup coconut sugar (or other preferred sugar/sugar substitute)
1 tsp corn starch

Whiz together in a small grinder until powdery soft.  It won't take long.  I used a clean coffee grinder.  (The quantity is too small to use most food processors.)
Using coconut sugar makes it darker, but it has the right texture and sweetness so it works.

Cheesecake in a Mug (makes two servings)

1/4 cup confectioners sugar (see above)
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
6 TBSP cream cheese
1/4 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg, beaten

Mix together all ingredients in a bowl until smooth.  Divide among two coffee mugs.  Microwaving one mug at a time, microwave on high 1 minute.  Let it sit for about 30 seconds.  Then microwave again for 1 minute.  Remove from microwave, and then do the second mug.  When they are both done, allow to rest for about 10 minutes.  Refrigerate for at least two hours.  Enjoy!

I am so serious when I tell you this is awesome cheesecake!  I haven't experimented with mixing in fruit or anything yet.  What is your favorite cheesecake flavor?

I couldn't get a great picture because it didn't pop out of the mug very pretty.  Plus it was so yummy I had eaten half of it before I realized I better take one so I can share it with you!  Sorry about that!  ;-)

Not Magic. Not Rocket Science. (plus a link to a giveaway and a giveback!)

Baby, it's cold outside!  I am not a big fan of the cold weather but since we moved slightly south of my home in the great white North of Ohio, I can deal with it.  Most of the time. One thing that makes it easier, though, is something in the slow cooker when I walk through the door in the evening.  And right now I have a brisket in ye olde slow cooker!  This is such an easy recipe that it doesn't require a recipe at all!  It's just brisket and a big jar of pepperoncini.  Put the meat in the slow cooker, and pour the pepperoncini, juice and all, over the brisket.  Cook it low and slow.  Definitely looking forward to that tonight.

I saw a sponsored post on Facebook recently for one of those weight loss programs that requires you to purchase their food. I noticed there were a lot of comments.  Curious, I clicked on the comments to see what people had to say.  Some people were trashing it and some people were talking about how awesome it was, even if the food didn't really taste that great. (Hmm...okay.)  But one in particular jumped out at me.  A woman posted that she loved [WeightLossProgram] "and I miss it so much.  I went off of it, gained all my weight plus 10 back..."  She also stated that she can't afford it is the reason she is not still doing it.  I really just want to tell her....  Wouldn't you rather have a weight loss lifestyle that doesn't require you to buy groceries for your family and their program for you?  A "program" (if you will) that you don't go off of because you can't afford it and then gain back all your weight.

I know that clean eating is not magic. Nope, no magic tricks here.  It takes some time and effort.  I know people have different degrees of success.  But I also know that when I keep my meals and snacks clean, I feel great and the weight stays off.  Not rocket science.  It's coming up on three years now that I have been doing this, and I am still down to a much healthier weight.  My weight fluctuates a few pounds... everyone's does.  But I haven't gained back all I lost, plus ten pounds. It's not a program for us.  It's just the way we eat.

I'm not here to bash any other way of eating or any program.  I'm not a doctor or a nutritionist or anything.  I just know what works for me, and that's what this blog has always been about.  Sharing my journey, hopeful that it might help someone else.  And I truly hope it has.

Okay!  So, here's what you really came here for.... What are we going to eat this week?!

Oh, but before we get to that, I Breathe I'm Hungry is having a great giveaway!  You should go check it out.  It's a pretty epic bundle of essential tools!  Oh, haha!  That's why she calls it essential bundle giveaway.

So that's the giveaway (but wait, there's more.... keep reading).  And now a way for you to give back, and it costs you nothing but a mouse click.  If you're on Facebook, you just go to this link and vote once per day for Chesapeake Cares Food Pantry to win a $20,000 grant from Wal Mart.  Voting ends December 12.  Please go out and vote for my friends!  Thanks so so much!  You can learn more about the awesome work CCFP does in the community here.  A special secret giveaway for my loyal readers... if you vote for Chesapeake Cares, share it on your Facebook page, and then comment below, I will send one lucky winner three bars of Trader Joe's dark chocolate with almonds.  This contest ends December 12, 2014.  Winner will be chosen December 15, 2014.

I have also started pinning my weekly recipes on a Pinterest board dedicated solely to that.  It changes every week, but is another handy way to keep everything together.

First up is Tortilla Soup.  We have a potluck just about once a month and this time the theme is soup and salad.  This is an incredibly tasty soup that it so easy and it's versatile!  You can add ingredients as you like.  We sometimes add chicken, sometimes add quinoa, usually add black beans.

Basil chicken with sundried tomato - Oh my gosh, I love this!  I mean, it has prosciutto on it, so that right there makes it awesome. I am definitely looking forward to this later in the week.

Mexican Chori Pollo - I was pretty excited when I found this recipe because this is my go to dish at my local Mexican restaurant.  And now I can make it at home!

Spaghetti squash burrito bowls - I am going to use delicata squash in this, I think (I actually forgot to buy squash so it depends what's available when I go back).  This is another one that you can dress up or down to suit your taste.

Pumpkin cheddar soup - The last pumpkin soup turned out so well that I am definitely willing to try another!

Cabernet beef stew - The picture for this just looks so good I can't hardly stand it!


Did you know I have started to make my own yogurt?  I used to buy the expensive plain Greek yogurt.  More than $7 for a container.  Now, I buy a gallon of milk for about $3.50 and make almost twice the amount of yogurt.  Let me be clear, I am lazy, and I don't take risks.  But making yogurt is not hard.  It takes a long time but most of that time the milk is just resting and turning into yogurt.  While I do nothing.  And knock on wood... I haven't made a bad batch yet!  We like to scoop out a serving and mix in some berries, or granola, drizzle a little honey over it.  A great way to start the day!  Go get you some!

What Would You Do With $20K?!

I am a big supporter of my local food pantry, Chesapeake Cares.  They are actually the largest food pantry in Southern Maryland.  In the last year they have seen an increase of 79% with over 6,500 individuals depending on their support annually.  Children are their highest percentage served at 40%.  And seniors are a growing segment at 14%.  The fastest growing demographic is the 40-59 year old, married population seeking services for the first time.  Hunger is a real need in our country.  Chesapeake Cares is doing something about it locally.  Already this year, the volunteers have distributed over 700,000 pounds of food.  Can you even imagine?

In addition to groceries, Chesapeake Cares acts as a centralized referral helping families connect with additional support through SNAP, reduced or free school lunches, WIC, and utility assistance.  They also offer life-skill classes on budgeting, earned income credit, healthy eating, and shopping on a budget.  Families are also offered free tax assistance, including learning to prepare their own returns and avoiding predatory financial practices.

All that to tell you that my favorite food pantry, Chesapeake Cares, is a finalist for a $20,000 grant from Wal-Mart!  Isn't that just the coolest thing?!  And you can help ensure they... and their clients... win.  All you have to do is click on this link.  Scroll down to the "search" bar and type in MD.  Hit enter.  Then vote for Chesapeake Cares Food Pantry.

That's all there is to it!  So simple for you but it will mean so much to the families that rely on Chesapeake Cares.  Please take a moment.  You can vote once per day through December 12!

Thanks a bunch!!

And to say thanks I want to share this recipe with you.  I hope you enjoy it!!!!  I sure did!

Egg Crepes with Chia Berry Jam - These were so delicious.  I just love the chia berry jam.  You can use it to fill these super easy crepes or to fill in thumbprint cookies.  Or even on a whole wheat English muffin if you like!  Go get you some!

Holiday Treats, Cheats, and Good Eats!

 As you know, my focus is on clean eating -- all year long.  It's a lot harder this time of year, that's for sure, but I do try really hard to stay as clean as possible.  I allow myself more leeway this time of year but not too much!  But Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without lots of special treats, would it?  I am guessing, based on my limited knowledge that the same may be true of Hanukkah.  These two holidays run right up into each other this year.  But alas I don't know much about kosher Hanukkah recipes. So, if you keep kosher, I hope you can use some of these too!

MR and I have a little holiday thing we started a few years ago.  We weigh ourselves the day before Thanksgiving and then again on January 2.  (You can weigh yourself in between to track progress.)  The goal is to not have gained any weight over the holiday period.  That's quite a goal, isn't it?  Last year I went over by about 4 pounds.  I wasn't happy about it, but I recognized that it could have been a lot worse.  This year, I have some new tricks up my sleeve.  

As you may know, if you read my post about low carb tracking with MyFitnessPal, I have recently started paying more attention to not just eating clean, whole foods, but also specific counts.  For me, it isn't just the carb count, or the calorie count (I really still don't pay a lot of attention to the calories even though it's part of the app), it is a mix of carbs, fats, and proteins.  I am having more success lately by making sure I am getting enough good fat.  So all that just to say, I am hopeful that this year will be different.  I will use the MyFitnessPal app to keep an eye on what's going on.  But I'm sure I will indulge occasionally too.  The app helps me factor that in so it isn't a complete debacle.

The other tricks I have up my sleeve are some really amazing recipes that I will take to events to share whenever possible.  We have a potluck at work every year.  Plus this year we have a big retirement party.  My office provides the protein (ham and turkey) for the pot luck and everyone brings sides and desserts.  I will be very involved in providing snacks for the retirement.  My boss (who also eats clean) and I will stack the deck in our favor and make sure we bring some amazing clean eats so we can feel like we are indulging, even when we really aren't!

The Grandparents will come to our house this year for Christmas.  This blog is as much for that purpose as anything.  I want to be well prepared for this gathering!  The Grandparents are wise to my clean eating tricks, but have learned to at least try what I offer... usually.  And I think they have often been pleasantly surprised!  If you have been at this very long you have likely learned that most favorites can be replicated in a clean eating way.  I haven't been stumped yet, although my friend Jaime keeps trying!!!

So, what's on the menu this year?  Let's take a look!  And, oh by the way, these and many other great holiday ideas are over on my Pinterest page for low carb clean eating holiday recipes.

One more quick thing... I mention it at various places below but want to point out that you can substitute your preferred sweetener in most cases.  I would stick with granulated sweetener if that's the type called for (or liquid if that is the case, etc.) but other than that, you should be able to sub easily.  I do it all the time using coconut sugar, honey, or blackstrap molasses.

Cranberry Salsa - I bought cranberries every time I went to the store in November.  Some I just wash and then freeze fresh.  Others I dry.  I don't add any sweetener because I love the tart flavor.  But I put a ton of cranberries in the freezer and this is one of the reasons why!  You can serve this with crackers as is, or you can pour it over a soft cheese like goat cheese.  It makes a fabulous snack before or after the big dinner!

Gingerbread Cookies - What would Christmas be without gingerbread men?  This particular recipe calls for Swerve sweetener.  I use coconut sugar, though.  It works the same!  It will give you a slightly higher carb count, if you are tracking that. 

Candied Yams with Marshmallows - I don't actually  make this recipe.   In our house, we eat fried yellow Jersey sweet potatoes for Main Event dinners.  But I wanted to throw it in because I know a lot of folks have this tradition.  And it isn't it nice you can have a clean version?  I have made clean marshmallow though and it isn't as hard as you might think.  The Kitchen-Aid did most of the work!   (They are one of the very few foods I will eat fried, but they are AWE-Some!)  

Gingerbread Scones - I love scones!  And what a great treat on Christmas morning with your favorite coffee!

Cranberry Scones -  Did I mention I love scones?  Oh yea!  And this one is amazing.  I mean, you know, it's CRANBERRIES!

Chocolate Glazed Pecans - Here's a great snack to toss back!  Nuts are always a holiday favorite in our house, and this gives the Grandpa one of his favorites but in a healthier version!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Dirt Cake - This isn't very Christmas traditional but MR specifically mentioned dirt cake recently, and then lo and behold I ran across this recipe.  I will take it to a potluck to help us avoid all the other decadent desserts that I anticipate will be there.  It has gotten to the point that one group I regularly pot luck with always has great interest in what we will bring.  They have learned from us that clean eating does not have to be about giving up favorites!

Slow Cooker Gingerbread Cake - HA!  Talk about a win-win!  Slow cooker AND cake?!  Love this idea!  And the smell of gingerbread just says CHRISTMAS to me!  (I linked this through the original blogger's site so you will have to scroll down and click one more time but it will be worth it.  I have never made anything from www.alldayidreamaboutfood.com that wasn't wonderful!)

Cookie Cut Outs - Another Christmas-wouldn't-be-Christmas-without kind of recipe!  Although cut outs can be tedious, this is the time of year that I don't mind doing it.  They are so lovely to look at and these are even lovelier to eat!!!

Sticky Buns!

Sticky Buns - Something extra special for the morning!  These are so delightful!!!  You know you want them!

And last but nowhere near least, cranberry fat flush drink drink to help clean it away!!  I have tons of fresh cranberries in the freezer and I am going to make homemade cranberry juice (this recipe calls for agave or white sugar; I prefer coconut sugar or Stevia but I think you could even sweeten with a little apple juice).

Okay, wait a minute! Wait a minute!  This is all about treats and sweets.  Why, yes it is!  Because, frankly, I think the easiest part about clean eating is meat and vegetables.  It's when I want a snack or a treat that I get in trouble.  But having all these great treat recipes really helps me.  So cook up your turkey, your ham, whatever you prefer.  Make a side of green beans, sweet potatoes, and even those candied yams (above!).  And then allow yourself a wonderful treat.  Just whatever you do, Keep it Clean!