Saturday, April 29, 2017

Zoodles and Noodles Galore!

I impressed Matt with my skills making dinner in a flash this week. From start to finish, including getting out and prepping ingredients, two of these recipes took me less than 30 minutes. Meals that can be made in the time it takes a child to be occupied that long- like watch a show (I know, I'm a bad mommy lol)... that's a win! The other was done in a slow cooker which also is easy since beyond putting stuff in it and turning it on, it all you have to do. Get it going, do all the things, come back, dinner. Boom.



I also had leftover noodles and zucchini from the prep so I made spaghetti for dinner. Every time I make spaghetti I make my sauce from scratch, and I also make zucchini noodles. It adds a veggie to the dish and cuts back on the amount of pasta I am eating. I cook the noodles and add the zoodles to the noodles while they are in their boiling water in the last few minutes, drain everything together and you're all set! 

Chicken Zoodle and Noodle Alfredo


I made this with chicken I had grilled and had leftover from my meal prep. It was seasoned with garlic salt and pepper and was perfect and easy in this since all I had to do was grab it out of the fridge.

Serves 4 Normal People or 2-3 Big Eaters

- 2 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and diced
- 3 Tbsp Kerrygold Butter, divided
- 2 Medium Zucchini, spiralized
- 1/2 lb Dried Spaghetti (I used a gluten free brand)
- 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 2 Tbsp All-purpose Flour
- 1 3/4 Cups Milk (I used 2% and a splash more to thin it out at the end)
- 1/2 tsp Dried Thyme
- 1/2 tsp Dried Oregano
- 1/4 Cup+ Freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
- Lots of Freshly ground pepper and salt

1. Get the water boiling and cook the pasta until al dente according to the directions on the box. While that is happening, melt 1 Tbsp of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the zucchini and saute 3 minutes. Toss the cooked zoodles in the pot with the drained pasta and set aside.



2. Heat the remaining 2 Tbsp of butter in the zoodle skillet along with the garlic. Cook 2 minutes. Add the 2 Tbsp Flour, cook 1 min whisking until the flour and butter make almost a "paste"
3. Add the thyme and oregano. Slowly add the milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Heat until boiling, whisking constantly, until the sauce thickens. Add the sauce to the pasta/zoodles and toss. Add the chicken, salt and pepper to taste and toss once again. Top with more cheese and enjoy!


Nutrition Facts
Servings 4.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 405
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 14 g21 %
Saturated Fat 8 g39 %
Monounsaturated Fat 1 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 58 mg19 %
Sodium 254 mg11 %
Potassium 407 mg12 %
Total Carbohydrate 51 g17 %
Dietary Fiber 6 g24 %
Sugars 8 g
Protein 22 g43 %
Vitamin A15 %
Vitamin C17 %
Calcium21 %
Iron13 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.

Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken

Super fast to put together... I cooked some broccoli to eat with mine!

- 2-3 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (you are looking for 2+ lbs), cut into 1" pieces
- 1/2 Cup Coconut Aminos (or low sodium soy sauce)
- 1/4 Cup Ketchup (or tomato paste and balsamic in equal amounts for Paleo)
- 1/4 Cup Rice Vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 2 Tbsp Raw Honey
- 5 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 2 Tbsp Grated Ginger
- Pinch Red Pepper Flakes
- 5 Green Onions, sliced, divided
- 1 1/2 Cups Raw Cashews
- Fresh Pepper

1. Whisk the coconut aminos, ketchup, vinegar, honey, ginger, garlic, red pepper and half the onion. 
2. Place the chicken in the slow cooker, top with the sauce and toss to coat. Cook on low 2-3 hours (any more will dry out the chicken) Stir in the cashews and cook another 30 minutes. Top with remaining green onions and enjoy! 


Nutrition Facts
Servings 4.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 396
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 19 g29 %
Saturated Fat 3 g16 %
Monounsaturated Fat 11 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 27 mg9 %
Sodium 2314 mg96 %
Potassium 168 mg5 %
Total Carbohydrate 33 g11 %
Dietary Fiber 2 g7 %
Sugars 21 g
Protein 21 g43 %
Vitamin A1 %
Vitamin C1 %
Calcium16 %
Iron43 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.

Beef and Broccoli Noodle Stir-Fry

(Serves 4 big eaters or 6 normal eaters)
Inspired by one of my former students and the food blog Damn Delicious's Beef and Broccoli Ramen Stir Fry. This was even better the next day!
-12-oz Udon Noodles
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1.5-2lbs Flank Steak, thinly sliced across the grain
- 1 Bell Pepper, sliced in thin strips
- 2 Carrots, peeled and diced
- 1/2lb Fresh Snow Peas, cut in half
- 1-2 Heads Broccoli, cut into florets
- 3 Green Onions, sliced
- 3/4 Cup Coconut Aminos, or soy sauce
- 3/4 Cup Beef Broth
- 1/4 Cup Raw Honey
- 1/4 Cup Rice Wine Vinegar
- 3 Tbsp Brown Sugar
- 4 Garlic cloves, minced
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 Tbsp Grated Fresh Ginger
- 1 Tbsp Arrowroot Powder (or corn starch)
- 1+ tsp Siracha depending on your heat preference

*I always start by having my veggies cut and ready, waiting, in a large bowl. Then move to the meat so I can use just one cutting board*
1. Boil water and cook the noodles according to package directions. While they are cooking, whisk in a bowl the coconut aminos, beef broth, honey, vinegar, sugar, garlic, ginger, arrowroot, sesame oil, siracha, and 1/2 cup water. Set aside. 

2. Heat a large wok or skillet over medium high heat. Add the steak and cook until browned- 3-5 minutes. Add the veggies, cook another 3-5 minutes until tender, but not mushy. 

Add the noodles and sauce. Toss. Cook until sauce thickens. Garnish with sesame seeds if you have them. :) 
Nutrition Facts
Servings 5.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 568
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 19 g29 %
Saturated Fat 6 g32 %
Monounsaturated Fat 3 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 107 mg36 %
Sodium 1298 mg54 %
Potassium 309 mg9 %
Total Carbohydrate 57 g19 %
Dietary Fiber 4 g14 %
Sugars 31 g
Protein 39 g78 %
Vitamin A87 %
Vitamin C89 %
Calcium26 %
Iron61 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.

Saturday, April 15, 2017

The Final Storm to My Rainbow- Baby Boy's Due Date

Today is the day he was due to be born. To say I have been dreading this day is an understatement. This day will most likely be harder than the first anniversary of his death because first of all, I am pregnant and hormones/emotions run high, and secondly, I will *hopefully* be holding my rainbow baby that same month- easing the pain of the situation. Fittingly it is supposed to rain today and I really hope there is a rainbow. As I explain what happened to people I can usually refer to this date with a shrug and a smile and say something positive and refer to a cliche phrase and a joke so I don't cry, but I know that is just a cover-up.

This is a day that used to be such an exciting date for Matt and me to wait for and is now a date I will always wonder about. Would he have come on this day? Statistically not. But here I sit, crying and holding on to the only day I would think he would be born because that is the only day I have now aside from the day I lost him which goes down as single worst day of my life. The day I can remember like yesterday- knowing as we drove back to the hospital there wouldn't be a heartbeat because I hadn't felt him that night... deciding to forgo pain medication during the induction as physical pain seemed fitting to go with my broken heart... screaming for someone to help me as I had him 19 hours later in the bathroom of Beaumont Hospital (To this day I am forever grateful that Matt had stepped out of the room for the first time in days during these moments) ... and finally, holding him and thinking how he looked exactly like the last ultrasound picture I had of him- little button nose and all...spending the night crying with Matt afterwards as reality set in that he was gone. Days have gotten easier, but even though I am pregnant again, not a day goes by that I do not think about him. It's hard to let go that it was me that was the problem, he was perfect. I held him and he was so frail, but perfect, and it is my fault his heart stopped, it was my body that couldn't give him what he needed. I still wonder why I couldn't fight that infection, why my body couldn't hold onto him. I have tried to stop questioning my own actions and "what if-ing" that pregnancy, but I am honestly still plagued with pain and guilt, forever changed, and with a new perspective.


 The first and last pictures I have of Baby Boy

As I look back through my box, the box they give you of mementoes of the child you lost so you don't leave the hospital with nothing, I am overwhelmed with emotions. It contains forget-me-nots, a knitted blanket, and a necklace from strangers who put together gifts for people in my situation so it doesn't hurt so badly. It contains a measuring tape marked with how long he was (7.5"), the blanket I held him in, still stained with blood, his ultrasound photos, and his tiny footprints the nurse did for me. It also contains letters from people I know well and those I don't know at all, expressing empathy, condolences and love. I also have necklace and bracelet that I wear, one stating "Brave" and the other of the April birthstone to remember him that are not in the box that have meant so much to me.

Most importantly this box contains his ashes, thoughtfully done for free, that Matt and I plan to spread today at the site where we got married. Letting go of his ashes is not me letting go of him, it just seems fitting to officially say good-bye to the physical pieces of him as I have the memories and mementoes in my tiny box.


One of the hardest parts about today is that I am 16 weeks. The number of weeks I was when I lost him. You could say life is funny that way, but I don't think it's funny at all. Ironic? Yes. Funny? No. It is my nature not to assume any hidden meaning or higher power's influence in this coincidence, it's just another cruel part of this that makes me want to get through today. Everyday I make it beyond today is one step closer to holding my rainbow baby and I am very grateful for that. Baby Boy you have forever changed me and I will try and focus on the positive of what you taught me about myself and my own strength, and thank you for this baby I am carrying that wouldn't exist without the misfortune of events ending October 31, 2016. We will remember and miss you always. 

Monday, April 3, 2017

Chicken Pineapple Fried Rice and Thai Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry

I have started to pack more food in my lunches so I am not starving at the end of the day and can make it to the gym... so here is my typical day, I am a creature of habit so I don't mind eating the same thing and everything is prepped and ready at least the night before.

Breakfast-
At home at 5am I eat one whole grain english muffin, two egg whites and one whole egg
Breakfast II-
At work I pack myself some sweet potatoes I roast on the weekend and two more egg whites and one whole egg. I make the eggs the same time I make my other morning eggs and add half to my tupperware and eat the other half then. 
Lunch- 
Completely prepped on the weekend. 1/2 breast chicken, one cup raw broccoli (it cooks in the microwave when I heat it up at work,) 1 tablespoon peanut butter, soy sauce, siracha (this combo makes a yummy peanutty sauce when melted), 1/2 cup rice... and two clementines for dessert
Snack- 
Triple zero vanilla yogurt with protein cheerios. 
I'm not sure the macros on all of this, but I don't care. :) I feel good and that's what matters. 

This week we also made homemade chicken stock, primarily because Matt wanted to use his prized All-Clad stock pot. The chicken worked well in lunches and the stocked helped make an even bigger version of a chicken pot pie that's become a family favorite!

Homemade Pizza Night is always a success, I have to say that Charlie and I are getting really good. I know it's not the healthiest, but it's good bonding time, healthier than ordering pizza out, cheaper and fun! 

For other dinners this week, aside from the pot pie again...Charlie and I preferred the rice while Matt preferred the beef... both were tasty and better the next day- enjoy!

Chicken Pineapple Fried Rice

(Serves 4 Easily)

This could easily be done with shrimp, pork or beef, I just like chicken. :)

- 1 Cup Jasmine Rice
- 1 20oz Can Pineapple Tidbits, drained
- 4 Green Onions, chopped- more for garnish
- 1 Serrano Pepper, finely chopped (seeded and de-veined for less heat)
- 2 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (about 1-1.5lbs), cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 Egg, whisked
- 3 Tbsp Sesame Oil, divided
- 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 2 tsp Fresh Grated Ginger
- 2 Tbsp Fish Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Coconut Aminos (or soy sauce)
- 1 tsp Honey (optional)

1. Prepare the rice according to directions and set aside. This actually works better with older rice that's been in the fridge!
2. In a bowl, mix the pineapple, green onion, and serrano and set aside.
3. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add a tablespoon of sesame oil. Saute the chicken until cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining oil, garlic and ginger. Cook briefly until fragrant and the garlic starts to turn golden. Add the cooked rice, stir. Add the fish sauce, coconut aminos and honey. Stir and heat thoroughly. Add the chicken and pineapple mixture. Stir again. Sprinkle with more green onion. Enjoy!

Thai Beef and Cabbage Stirfry

(Serves 4- about 1 3/4-2 Cups Each)

We had extra cabbage because I had intentions of making corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick's Day and I totally forgot the whole cabbage part...oops... so what to do with a head of cabbage? Turn it into a genre of food I much prefer (Asian) of course! This is also super budget friendly because cabbage is cheap and ground beef is much cheaper than steak.

- 1/4 Cup Coconut Aminos (or soy sauce)
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 Tbsp Siracha (more or less depending on heat preference)
- 1/2 Tbsp Honey
- 1/2 Head Green Cabbage, shredded
- 2 Carrots, finely chopped or shredded
- 3 Green Onions, chopped
- 1-1.5 lbs Lean Ground Beef
- 2 Cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp Fresh Grated Ginger

1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the beef, garlic and ginger. Saute until the beef is cooked through, breaking it apart as much as possible. Drain if there is too much fat.
2. Add the vegetables and continue to cook until the cabbage has wilted slightly. Add the coconut aminos, soy sauce, siracha and honey. Toss. Turn off the heat. Drizzle with more siracha if you prefer and enjoy!