Lunch time goodness!!

You ever have those days where nothing in the house sounds good? I am having that day today. I make my meal plans, and try my hardest to stick to them every week. Sometimes wrenches are thrown in to our plans though and makes it almost impossible to stick to it. Well in the middle of the night last night I was awoken by those dreaded words no parent wants to hear, "Mommy I think I'm going to throw up." Followed by the sound of said action. So my night was spent cleaning up and caring for a sick boy. So needless to say it was not a good night, and a giant wrench was thrown into my plans.

My husband stayed up with our daughter, and let me get a little more sleep in. So the morning was not too terrible. When I woke up the last thing I wanted to do was cook breakfast so I had a quickie breakfast, but when it came to lunch today I wanted something a little more filling and well quite frankly delicious. Looking over my meal plan nothing looked good, and browsing through the cabinets again nothing looked good. Until I stumbled up a bag of noodles I had purchased last week that I had forgotten about. So I quickly put together a yummy lunch. It was very easy and quick to make, and to be honest more delicious than what was on my original meal plan. So I think this will be going into future meal plans. I'm calling it quick noodle yumminess!! Ok I may need to come up with another name :)

Quick Noodle Yumminess (I am currently accepting new names for the recipe :) )

8oz package of organic brown rice udon noodles
1lb organic chicken breast
1tsp organic unrefined coconut oil
1tsp organic garlic powder
1tsp organic cumin
1tsp organic sesame oil
1 organic red bell pepper chopped
1 cup organic kale (ribs and stems removed)
2 organic Portobello mushroom tops
1 organic zucchini 
Organic tamari

Cook your udon noodles as the package states. Coat your chicken in coconut oil, garlic powder and cumin. Grill your chicken (I just cooked mine on my George Foreman). After it has cooked for a little put 1tsp of tamari over the chicken. When the chicken is done cut it into chunks.

Warm up a pan with the sesame oil. Add your zucchini and kale first. After they cook for about 5 minutes add the peppers and mushrooms. Cook for another 5 minutes.

Mix everything together in a bowl and add a little tamari to each bowl. This should serve 4-6 people.

Quick and delicious. I think it took me about 15-20 minutes for everything. You could add different veggies if you would like, but these were the ones I had on hand. You get your protein, veggie, good fats and complex carbohydrate in one yummy bowl. Let me know how you like it, and if you added any other veggies to it.

Time for chili

I love everything about the fall and winter. It really is the best time of year to me. I love the clothes, cooler weather, sights, sounds, smells and definitely the food. One of my favorite things to do is curl up in my yoga pants (because I pretty much have a pair on everyday) and eat a warm bowl of chili. I mean that just sounds awesome right? 

Ok so since becoming healthier I am trying to make over all my old favorite recipes into healthy ones. That's what we all want right healthy comfort food. I play around with my recipes until I think they are yummy. So feel free to change anything in this recipe to make it yummy for you. We are all different so we don't all like the same things. Although it would be so much easier if you all just went ahead and liked everything I do (kidding...maybe :))

So here is my healthier version of chili. This is turkey quinoa chili

1 pound organic ground turkey breast

1 cup organic quinoa

30 oz organic black beans (2 cans if you're using cans, but I like the organic ones in the bag)

16 oz organic chickpeas (1 can if using cans)

16 oz kidney beans (1 can if using cans)

2 cups water

6 oz organic tomato paste (I do use a can for this)

16 oz organic tomato sauce (homemade is even better)

1/2 cup organic purple onion

4 organic sweet peppers (I used red, orange and yellow)

3 organic sweet potatoes

3 stalks organic celery

1tbsp cumin

1tbsp black pepper

1 tbsp garlic

1 tbsp chili powder

1 lime juiced

I just dump all the ingredients in the crockpot really in no particular order. Chop your peppers and onions and celery and peel and cube your sweet potatoes. Add your spices (I use organic in those too by the way). If using canned beans look for a low sodium one and rinse them before adding. Cook it in the crockpot on low for 6 hours.

This is the way I like the chili. You can leave out the turkey to do a vegan friendly version or add chicken or beef if you prefer. You can use different beans or just one or two of the ones I used. Whatever kind if beans you like. I don't like my chili really hot (I'm already spicy enough ;) ), but you could add poblanos or jalapeños if you like. You could also leave out the celery or add carrots of you want. Basically adapt it to how you like it. I like my chili topped with avocado, black olives and a little plain Greek yogurt. How do you like yours topped?