Pesto Quinoa and Chicken with Roasted Veggies

I know that is the least creative title for this recipe.  My brain can't do creative right now.  It wants to sleep.  But I have to share this recipe with you.  A friend made it for me the other day and I have been craving it ever since.  It took me forever to get to the store to get all the ingredients so I just barely got it put together for dinner tonight.  

There are a few steps to putting it all together but none of them are hard.

Veggies- 

2 peppers diced ( I used a red one and a yellow one)

2 large Carrots diced

1 onion diced

Really you could use whatever veggies sound good to you.

Coat with a small amount of EVOO and balsamic vinegar and season with lots of Italian Seasoning.  Roast for 25-30 minutes at 375 degrees.

Quinoa-

Just cook quinoa according to package directions.  You need about 1 cup uncooked quinoa.

Kale or Spinach-

Saute bunch of Kale or use spinach.  Just cook it til it is soft.

Chicken-

I used the Garlic, Wine and Herb McCormick Marinade for my chicken.  I cut it into smaller pieces and marinated it for a couple hours then grilled it and cut it into little slices.  I probably used about 2 lbs of chicken and had lots leftover.

Pesto- 

Use your favorite pesto sauce.  

Once everything is cooked you will put everything in a bowl except the chicken and combine.  You cold also wait to add the pesto if you prefer to serve it fresh.  

I served this over a fresh bed of spinach, topped with the chicken.  It is the perfect summer salad in my mind:)

Paleo Pumpkin Pancakes Two Ways

A few days ago I attempted to make Paleo Pumpking pancakes.  I love anything pumpkin even if it isn't really the season for it.  I only attempted one recipe even though there are a million of them out there.  I really liked them and so did my girls but I think I will try other variations so I have something to compare it too. The pancakes did have a little more of an egg-y taste than I really wanted so I started throwing in a little this and a little that.  The batter ended up being too thick and wouldn't set up...they tasted delicious but looked like a big sloppy mess.  I wondered if the batter would microwave well in a little glass bowl..lets just say that the result was rather HEAVENLY.  Kind of like pumpkin pie...but healthy.  Pretty awesome in my mind.  So here you have it Paleo Pumpkin Pancakes two different ways. 

(pic courtesy of foodgawker...i don't try to take food pics.  Not my forte.   

The pancakes did look just like these ones)

Original Recipe-

I apologize I didn't write down where I got this recipe from:(

4 eggs

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

2 TBSP butter (melted)

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp cinnamon

Mix it all up and cook on a griddle.  Serve with nut butter of choice or a small amount of real maple syrup...yum.

For the variation-

Add another 1/2 cup pumpkin puree and 1/2 to a whole banana.  Throw in some more spices.  I think I added cloves  and more cinnamon and nutmeg.  Microwave in a small glass bowl for a minute.  If it isn't set up yet microwave for another minute.   Time to enjoy a totally healthy and delicious dessert. 

Sumo Squat Variation...

 (For some reason the videos I post often don't work on smartphones.  But they usually work on computers.  Let me know if this one doesn't work for you)

I have another fantastic leg exercise for you.  I am in love with this one.  It targets your inner thighs like nothing I have ever done.  The elevation of the steps provides a larger range of motion that makes all the difference.  I used a 45 lb dumbbell when doing this but I was trying to keep my reps low so you could do it with a lighter weight and just do more reps.  

The girl in this video drops her chest just a little too much.  Keep your body moving on a straight vertical line by keeping your shoulders back and your chest proud.  The dumbbell should touch the floor if you have the flexibility to do so. 

If you are wanting to do this at home and don't have steps to use for the elevation just find something around the house like big books or your kids' step stool.  

You will love this one!

Happy Friday...I am off to the gym now to kill my legs:) And then it is date night tongiht!!!!!!!  Love a night with just me and the hubs.  

I will be posting a lot of new leg exercises next week plus the most delicious quinoa salad I have ever had.  I have a few thoughts on clean eating too.  Lots going on in this little brain of mine that I want to share:)  

Sliding Reverse Lunge

This is one of my new favorite exercises for my legs.  I used 20 lb dumbbells in each hand and could barely do 10 reps per leg each set.  I ended up doing 3 sets.  BURN baby BURN!!!! 

If you don't have access to heavier weights than just do more reps than 10.

I also just used a towel to do this exercise.  I love this because you can totally do it at home or the gym.

I have learned some awesome new leg exercises and will be sharing them here through the rest of the week. 

I posted this picture on fb the other day but I just love it so I am posting it here too...

Like I said, I am totally on a muscle kick right now.  I have been lifting heavy and I LOVE the way I feel.  I can tell that my body is starting to make changes.

We shall keep chatting muscles later.  

For now I need to get to bed before my poor eyeballs start burning.  Actually I think I am going to go make a new protein bar recipe and then hit the sack.  Miss Ashely from Farr Cleaner Life has another awesome recipe I want to try...Orange Almond Chocolate Chip Bars.

 Yum right?!

On My Mind...

Lately all I can think about is MUSCLE...awesome, beautiful, toned muscle.  I want to look like this...

Lately I have been a little Jamie Eason obsessed.  

She has a 12 week program called LiveFit that I am following with the hopes that I can look more like her:).  It is laid out in a way that is simple to understand.  Even if you aren't very familiar with weights. I can't follow it exactly because of my classes that I teach at the gym but I am able to incorporate most of it. 

Here is to hoping in about 10 more weeks I will be rocking those arms!!!!!  Or at least on my way:)

Today I am working legs.  I found me a lifting buddy that keeps me motivated.  Her legs are much stronger than mine so she pushes me to my limits.  I LOVE IT!  

I have always been into weight training but I have never been as dedicated as I am right now.  I am on a mission to get my body back after baby #3...I want to prove to myself that even though I love my mom gig, I don't have to have a "mom body".  Nothing drives me more crazy than being told, "You look good, for just having a baby."  I want to get rid of the second part of that sentence!!!!!!

I will take some pictures of the exercises we do today and share them tomorrow.  

Time to get some laundry folded before the kiddos wake up!

Clean Cupcakes!

I discovered a yummy and clean 

treat today!  

My good friend Ashley over at A Farr Cleaner Life challenged her readers to not consume sugar for three weeks.  I am pretty much trying to avoid sugar anyway so I figured I might as well take the challenge and really commit myself.  I am sugar free since Monday and feeling great.  But that doesn't mean that I can't enjoy a delicious treat right?!

This recipe was adapted from one I found on a new IG account I just started following. 

Are you ready?

1 Ripe Banana (original called for 2 bananas)

1/2 cup Strawberries  (original called for blueberries)

1 egg 

(original called for 1/2 cup egg whites but I was in a hurry and just used one whole egg)

1/4 cup greek yogurt

2 scoops Vi Protein Mix

1/2 cup oat flour 

(just oatmeal blended in the food processor)

Cinnamon if you so desire (I so desired)

All you do is mix the wet ingredients in a blender or food processor than add the dry ones. 

I cooked 1/2 of it in the microwave to see if it worked...totally works!  Cooked in about 2 minutes.  I cooked for one minute than checked it before cooking it for the second minute.  I made this batch for the hubby so I added some dark chocolate chips and drizzled with a little peanut butter.  He was a big fan. 

The other half of the batter I cooked in cupcake tins in the oven.  Oven was set to 350 degrees and it took about 10ish minutes.  Sorry to be so vague:)  

Drizzle with some peanut butter for a delicious treat!  Or use PB2 if you want to cut calories without losing the taste. 

And there you have it! A wonderfully delicious and healthy dessert you can enjoy guilt free:)!

Cottage Cheese and Salsa

I will be the first to admit that this picture is not appetizing.  But don't judge a book by its cover my friends.  This little snack is delicious and filling and packs some hefty grams of protein (around 26 grams) in only 220 calories. 

 

1/2 cup cottage cheese

1 egg + 2 egg whites scrambled

2 tbsp Salsa

That's it...simple but yummy.  

And be sure to check out the Sweet Potato Muffin recipe I posted yesterday.

I have been blogging about food a lot lately.  I think it is time for another treadmill workout.  Friday I will get working on that.