Crock Pots are AWESOME -Recipes

CROCK POT - The Most Amazing Invention

I love the crock pot. I throw some protein in there and it's magic.

Chicken salsa
5 chicken breasts
1 can of tomatoes with green chilis
1 jar of salsa
(chopped green pepper or onions if you want)
 To taste:
Cayenne powder
chili powder
cumin
7 hours on low. 4-5 on high
Take out excess liquid
Shred the chicken

Under 200 cal for 4 oz serving

This chicken is great because you can eat it plain, throw it in corn tortillas with some avocado for a healthy taco, put it on salad, throw it in an omelet. THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS!

I ate this chicken for about 6 days - lunch and dinner. You can freeze part of it and use it later. That's what my mom does.

Pork Chili
2-3lbs of Pork Tenderloin (the big thing, not sliced)
3 cans of tomoatoes
3 cans of beans
1 onion
Chili powder to taste
Cumin to taste
Jalepenos for heat (if you want heat)
(any other veggies you want to throw in)
Turn the pork on with the tomatoes for about 4-5 hours on high. 7 hours on low
When the pork pulls apart, add the beans and leave it on low for another hour.

This serves about 8 people at under 400 cal/serving.

Setting Goals

I know some of you were writing about setting goals with running and what not. I love setting goals. It's just accomplishing them is where I struggle.

This past fall I set a goal to join a softball team with people I didn't know. It was an attempt to make friends, get some activity in, and leave my stress aside and get mentally healthy. Triple threat!

I got on a softball team and had a blast. I now play on a basketball team on Mondays. When I joined the leagues, I guaranteed myself at least one night a week of activity. One night a week not sitting on the couch. One night a week socializing but also working out.

So, if you're if you're looking for something that will guarantee a workout, but also be a socializing stress reliever, check out your local sport clubs.

Lent

 

Well, my motivation to stay in shape has truly been put to the test. I have been under the weather and work could not be more stressful right now. And with everything going on, running has fallen on the list of priorities. Isn't this how it always ends up? After the initial motivation is gone, sticking to a life style change is so difficult!

After accepting my failure to get out and run, I realized what a great Lenten promise. I will RUN (no other workout can replace running) at minimum of 3 days a week, but I am going to shoot for 4.  It will probably be one of the more demanding Lent sacrifices I have had in a while.

I always give up unnecessary shopping or going to restaurants/fast foods (unless it is a work function, I am out of town without access to a kitchen, or a family/friend birthday party), to help me better evaluate my needs verse wants, and then increase my daily prayer.  The “no purchasing unnecessary things” is extremely hard to do.  Just to name a few implications this sacrifice has, it includes no starbucks (AH!), shopping for clothes/other dumb things I want, restaurant dinners, or running out and grabbing lunch, etc.  But I have had this same Lenten promise every year since college.  So, I typically try to add something unique each year so I present myself with a new, additional challenge.  Last year, it was to knock off the swearing (I can be a potty mouth at times).  After I realized I wasn’t going to motivate myself to run, I knew a promise with God will.   So, it is decided, running is new Lenten promise, which I hope will morph into a lifestyle change.  Hey, my body is a Temple, and it could use a renovation!

The more I think about it though; it is a perfect Lenten promise.  I will be sacrificing time I usually use watching mindless TV at night or hitting the snooze button in the morning.  Instead, I will be using my time to better myself, physically but also mentally and emotionally.  When I am running, I have time to think, clear my head and say a few Hail Mary’s.  And when I am finished running, I feel calmer and de-stressed.  So what a better way to prepare for Easter!  

But you better believe I am going to celebrate Fat Tuesday with a run (not a literal run) to my favorite clothing store, eating dinner at a restaurant, and not going on a run.  J  It will literally be a “Fat Tuesday” day for me!

 

 

Oh, Hey There! An Introduction and a Recipe!

First time poster, long time blogger. Thanks for the invite!

I might link some stuff I've written on another health and fitness blog on here or copy and paste. I've actually been writing about my health and fitness for over a year. I will also send some links to some blogs that post some great at home workouts and recipes.

Onto that recipe!

I know that when I'm trying to eat right and get my shit together I need a plan. I also need to start every day off right. So on Sundays I make an egg bake. The egg bake is great because it stays good all week, it has protein to keep me full, and you can throw in all the veggies you need to get rid of.

I use an 8x8 pan and my recipe changes weekly depending on the proteins and veg I have in the house.

I typically put in a small zucchini, mushrooms, 2 cups of spinach - chopped, 1/2 green pepper, 6 eggs, 1/2 and egg white carton (the small one). *I also use that carton to cover the veg after I put it in the pan. I tend to use up all the veggies from the week that need to be used. Not tomatoes!  There isn't any flour or carb to soak up the liquid from the tomatoes, so it's too watery. Don't use them. If you want them, top your egg bake with salsa. For protein, I either use turkey sausage crumbles, bake up some turkey bacon, or if I have leftover chicken or pork, I'll season it with taco seasoning and throw it in for a south of the border kick.

I mix it all in a big bowl, and throw that into a greased pan and cook on 400 for 20-40 minutes (depending on your veg to egg ratio). You'll just have to check it. It's not an exact science because the recipe changes weekly. When it's finished, cut it into 6 slices and you are set for the week. You can also put them into muffin tins and make egg cupcakes. 2 cupcakes equals a serving.

It normally runs between 165-185 calories/serving. It's also cheap and it uses up stuff that needs to be eaten. Less waste!

My Secret Weapon: Spaghetti Squash

Yesterday my husband and I signed up for a hot yoga class in the evening (a blog post on that, coming soon). I was told when I signed up, since this was my first time, that I shouldn't eat a meal for at least three hours leading up to the class. The class was at 7:00 PM, so to the slow cooker it was! I scavenged the kitchen for ingredients, for inspiration, as to what to make for dinner. Protein? Chicken - Check, Vegi? Spaghetti Squash - Check. Now to bring it all together into a meal worth eating.

Ingredients:

2 Chicken Breast
1 Large Spaghetti Squash
1 Jar Marinara Sauce of your choice
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Powder
Italian Seasoning
Tabasco Sauce
Shredded cheese of your choice

First take the Chicken breast and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Next place the chicken in the slow cooker and lightly coat with the Tabasco sauce. Pour enough marinara sauce to submerge the two breasts. Cover the cooker, turn to high for 4 hours.

After 4 hours, open the slow cooker, smell the goodness, then shred the chicken finely with two forks. Cover the chicken again, and let the shredded chicken soak up the juices on the warm setting. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Take the spaghetti squash and cut in half length wise. This will take some muscle. Scoop out the "guts" and seeds. Season with salt and pepper and place face down in a casserole dish. Poke a few holes in the skin of each half and put about a half inch of water in the casserole dish. Place in the oven for 40 minutes.

Once the squash is cooked, use some forks and shred the inside into "spaghetti". Once both halves are completely shredded, take the contents and put in a fresh casserole dish and spread out. Next take the shredded chicken and completely cover the spread out spaghetti squash. Add more marinara as needed. Lastly sprinkle the cheese of your choice over the sauce. If you are ready to eat, simply place the casserole back in the over for 10 minutes so that all the ingredients can cook together. If you are eating later, simply cover with tin foil and refrigerate. When ready to eat, just put back in a 350 degree over for 20 minutes.

Whats so great about this? No oil, almost no fat (unless you use fat free cheese) and you can customize it. You can eat a huge serving and eat very few calories while doing so! I only wish I thought to take a picture of it before we ate it all!

This meal can server 3-6 people. Last night it fed 3, but we are big eaters and we had enough for one person to have left overs for lunch. We all were obsessed with this meal and I have designed another one coming soon!

Let me know how you like it!

Thanks my Skinny for the day,
C- Pizzle