What's Cooking?~ Week of January 10th

When do you all go grocery shopping? I usually try to meal plan and shop by Saturday afternoons. It's amazing how empty our fridge feels by the time I go shopping again since a lot that we use is fresh produce.

This morning I sat down with my shake and finalized our menu. I am trying our best to stick to healthy meal plan but with a birthday this week we are going to have a little fun. LOL!!

This week goes:
Sunday~ Grilled chicken, sweet potatoes, and salad
Monday~ Chicken picata, brown rice, and roasted broccoli
Tuesday~ Taco Tuesday!!!
Wednesday~ Steak with quinoa salad
Thursday~ Crab legs, mashed potatoes, and roasted broccoli with some birthday cake for Tom!!
Friday~ Jet's pizza fundraiser night...have to support the school right?!?

As the week goes on I will post some of the recipes of what I made (mainly the chicken picata and the quinoa salad).

What's on the menu plan for you??

Mango Black Bean Quinoa Salad

I am loving the mangoes right now at the grocery store!!! They are so ripe and juicy!!! Best part thing of this meal is so much of it can be prepped ahead. And also let's face it..the weather is sooo HOT that it's nice not have the stove on for a long time.

Does this not look delicious?

It was super easy to make.
Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa
2 chicken breast
1 can black beans
3 limes
1 onion (I forgot to grab a red onion at the store..but I used a sweet onion)
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 red pepper, chopped
1 mango
jalepenos (amount depends on your spicy likeness)
2 tsps cumin
1 tsp chili powder
Olive oil

Obviously some steps just depends on how you want to prepare it but this is what I did:
First I put my chicken in the slow cooker in the morning. I added the 1 tsp of chili powder and 1 of the tsps of cumin. I cooked for about 7 hours.
When it got closer to dinner I made my quinoa. I added the 1 cup of quinoa, 2 cups of water, and the last tsp of cumin and cooked for the 15 minutes.
While it was simmering, I shredded my chicken and added to the big bowl. I also rinsed my beans,  cut my red pepper and onion, mango, and jalepeno and added to the bowl. Once the quinoa was done I added it to the bowl. I drizzled olive oil and squeezed the juice from the 3 limes. Toss to coat...and serve. It was soo good :)

Shakeology Cleanse

This past Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I completed the Shaekology cleanse. I felt like I needed to get over a hump I had hit with my goals. It wasn't as bad as I had imagined. the only day that was really rough was day one. The other three day I seemed fine.
Basic run down:
Started my morning with one cup of green tea
Had a shake(ology) for breakfast. This one I would put one purple container of fruit (no bananas though).
Had another cup of tea mid morning with my snack which was usually an orange.
Then at lunch again I'd have another shake...this time though with NO fruit.
Dinner was my favorite part of the day...LOL! I ate a salad (romaine lettuce, onion, and tomato) with chicken.
Then I'd have another shake (again with no fruit).
I felt like I had good results on the shakeology cleanse. I lost about 4 lbs on this and thus far have maintained it. I also noticed more definition in the abs and was really happy when a pair of short I put on fit better (I bought them as a motivation...fit but just fit prior to this...LOL).
I'd recommend this to someone looking to break a time period where you feel like you have lost little to no weight.
I still did insanity max 30 while on the cleanse.
Before the cleanse:

After the cleanse:

My liquid diet :):

Mexican chicken

Yes another Mexican dinner....but this time chicken style. Sorry we love Mexican here. It just tastes so fresh to me and I don't feel bad for eating it!
This is one of my husband's favorite meals. I found it on Pinterest and must be served at a restaurant as it was called Qudoba chicken.

 

Ingredients start off simple: Package of chicken, a can of broth, and a package of taco seasoning.
Take these three ingredients and place into your slow cooker. I cooked mine at low for 8 hours.
Smells so good when you walk in the door after work.

Now you can get creative. I get a circular serving dish and first layer down lettuce. I had a cup of jasmine rice. On top of that I put cheese, onions, black beans, the chicken from the slow cooker, a little bit of tomato, and some spicy guacamole.

Took the pic after I start devouring it. LOL!!
One of our favorites and on our menu at least once a month!!

Mexican: Carne Asade

Seriously I could eat Mexican every night of the week!! There is just something so fresh about Mexican food!!!! Soo good!!

You will need:
1 small onion
6 limes (squeeze juice into the crock pot)
Cumin
Chili powder
Jalapeño (the amount you put in just totally depends on your taste buds. I have a jar of sliced ones in our fridge, I added about 10).
Beef bottom roast

Add all of the above ingredients to your crock pot. I cook mine for 12 hours.
Add whatever toppings you wish: cheese, lettuce, tomato, guacamole, tortilla, etc.

Enjoy!

Garlic Lemon Chicken

This was such a delicious smell in my house (esp. after working with 19 5/6 year olds...and a car ride with three boys..LOL).

Again simple ingredients....simple prep...simple execution to the table!! Win Win.

Ingredients:

~ 4 lemons

~ 1/2 cup of chicken broth

~ 1 envelope of Italian seasoning

~ Garlic to your tasting

~ 1 packet of chicken breasts

Throw it all in the slow cooker. Cook for 8 hours. Shred the chicken breasts.

Serve with whatever sides you like (I just did a salad).



Soy Sauce Beef

Confession....another meal I just make on the whim. The night before I cooked this meal I felt like I wanted an Asian dish the next day. So I looked around the pantry/fridge to see what ingredients I had in the house. Again add the ingredients to your liking. I honestly paid no attention to how much I was really adding.

The night before I cooked I let it marinate in a Ziploc bag.

Place your bottom roast in a bag and add:

~ soy sauce (I used about half a bottle)

~ minced garlic

~ ginger

~ red pepper flakes

The next morning add to the crock pot....set it on low....and cook for about 12 hours.

I served it over a salad with my favorite dressing...makato ginger!!!



Dinner Time: Garlic and Herb Beef

 

I was so excited for this recipe. I'm a sucker for pot roasts in my slow cooker...and garlic!! It's great to find beef recipes that are both clean and healthy for my family.

Obviously since it went in the slow cooker it's super easy to make from the prep time to serving.

Ingredients:

3 lb chuck roast, cut into 2 pieces

8 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme

1 teaspoon salt, 3/4 teaspoon pepper

1 cup beef broth, low sodium preferred

 

Directions:

Place the chuck roast into the slow cooker. Rub with the garlic, parsley, chives, thyme, and  salt & pepper. Add the broth. Cover the slow cooker and let it cook. I set mine for about 10 hours. Yes 10 hours...I like to cook mine nice and slow. When I went to shred it, the beef feel apart like butter.

 

 

I served mine with a little bit of mashed potatoes and a side salad (tomato, cucumber, red onion, and red wine vinegar).

 

It was a delicious meal...and I am happy to report that 2/3 of the boys enjoyed their meal (the other one is too picky and just wanted a waffle!)

 

 

Enjoy!