Barbecuing...in Seattle...in the snow

Need something to do the next time it snows in Seattle? Obviously barbecuing is the best cooking method for freezing cold temperatures, screw the oven!  I tried for about .5 seconds to get the barbecue lit before getting completely frustrated and The Kid took over - look at that skill!

We marinated some chicken using a recipe loosely based on this one from Mark Sisson.

Orange Garlic Chicken Marinade

Ingredients:

• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 teaspoons cumin

Directions: Combine all ingredients with chicken in a ziploc bag and let marinate for 3 - 4 hours. Enjoy!

Mediterranean Breakfast Casserole

Does anyone cook a ton of food during the weekend so that they won't have to spend time cooking on weekdays? Maybe its just me.  We free-styled this recipe, pretty much any veggies would taste great!



Ingredients:

• 8 eggs
• 4 slices bacon
• 1 zucchini, chopped
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1/2 can black olives
• 1 small red pepper, chopped
• 1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes
• 1/2 package frozen spinach, thawed
• lots of spices - black pepper, sea salt, garlic, basil, oregano

Direction:  Preheat over to 350 degrees. Cook the bacon, zucchini and onions using your desired cooking method (we baked them for about 30 minutes in the oven, pan frying would also work).  Crack the eggs into a small bowl and mix with a fork until blended. Combine all ingredients into a greased 9 x 13 inch baking pan and bake for 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown.  Try to refrain yourself from eating half of the pan straight from the oven. Store leftovers in the fridge to eat for the rest of the week. Enjoy!

Biggest Loser

 

Cara via NBC

Cara ❤s Fiber One!



Fiber One via Glamour



Biggest Loser is one of my favorite TV shows but the product placements have really been getting on my nerves.  I cringe every time one of the coaches tells a contestant that "I have something for you that I really think you'll like!" Gag me.  Case if point - I just finished watching the latest episode off of the DVR and the product they were pushing was 90 Calorie Fiber One Bars. Really?! Do you have any idea what's in those?! Maltodextrin - Soy Lecitchin - BHT and Mixed Tocopherols? You shouldn't have to Google the ingredients in your food. The bars have 5 grams of fiber.  You know what also has 5 grams of fiber? An apple. Try eating one.

Sweet Potatoes (Again)

Sweet potatoes are a PERFECT food to eat right after a workout, that plus a little protein and you're pretty much good to go. Today I threw some sweet potoates into the crockpot right before I ran out the door to crossfit. Thes wrkout totally killed me, it was amazing to come home and have dinner ready.  Almost like having a person chef. Almost.

Almost done cooking!

Ingredients:

• 1-2 pounds of sweet potoates
• Lots of spices - I used thyme, garlic and black pepper
• A smidge of olive oil

Directions: Cut sweet pototates into desired shape and dump into the crockpot.  Add spices and a little olive oil.  Cook on high setting for an hour on until sweet potatoes are throughly cooked. Enjoy!

Meatballs on Monday

Hayden Panettiere with the director {via Lifetime}

Last night we got together with friends to watch Lifetime's Amanda Knox movie.  I should have known better considering the movie was on Lifetime but Hayden Panettiere attempting to act was downright comical.  That and the plethora of mustaches was just to much to handle - just watch it, you'll know what I'm talking about.  I did however enjoy the Italian inspired dinner that we all put together to eat while watching the movie.  We loosely followed Everyday Paleo's Marvelous Meatballs recipe but changed quite a few of the ingredients and the cooking method.

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds ground beef  (we used organic beef from Costco)
• 3 eggs
• 2/3 cup ground flax seed
• 1 onion, diced
• Lots of dried oregano, basil, garlic powder and black pepper
• Small drizzle of honey

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl mix ingredients together with your hands.   Form meatball into desired shape and place in rimmed baking dish.  Bake for 30 minutes or until meatballs are no longer pink the center.  Drain the extra oil and add tomato sauce to finish. Enjoy!

Baked Sweet Potatoes With Lime and Cilantro

Sweet potatoes are one of my hands-down favorite foods, I make them anytime I get the chance.  I actually made these on Friday night and loved them so much I decided to make them again on Sunday for Katie's potluck.  Inspired by Bobby Flay.

Friday Night!

 

Sunday Night!

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds sweet potatoes, unpeeled
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tablespoon garlic salt (or garlic power mixed with sea salt)
• 2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest
• 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut sweet potatoes into your desired shape. In a large large baking dish toss the sweet potatoes with olive oil.  Bake for 40 minutes or until tender and lightly browned. Season with black pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic salt, lime zest and cilantro. 

Pineapple Chicken Salad With Warm Garlic Dressing

On Thursday I took a break from work to meet the girls for a quick lunch at Purple Cafe.  I tried their amazing cranberry chicken salad and decided that I had to make it at home.  Sadly dried cranberries have extra added sugar so I substituted them for dried unsweetened pineapple.  Yum!

 
Ingredients:

For the Salad

• 2 chicken breasts
• 3 slices of cooked bacon, crumbled
• 1/2 cup dried pineapple bits
• 1 apple, cut in bit sized pieces
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1 cup of chopped celery
• 8 cups of lettuce or spinach

For the Dressing

• 1/3 cup of olive oil
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Directions: Cook the chicken using your preferring cooking method.  We cut it up into bite-sized pieces and pan fried it with olive oil and little bit of garlic and black pepper. Combine all of the salad ingredients other than the lettuce in bowl and mix thoroughly.  In a small sauce pan heat the olive oil on low and saute the garlic until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.  Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon juice and mustard.  Plate the lettuce and add the salad toppings and salad dressing.  Serves 4 (or 2 with leftovers). Enjoy!