Homemade Nachos

Who doesn't love Nachos?  Skip that processed crap you buy at places.  Instead make your own at home with this delicious and super simple recipe

Ingredients

• 2 - 6" tortillas
• Prepared Taco Seasoned Ground Turkey
• Black Beans
• Chopped Onions
• Chopped Peppers
• Chedder Cheese

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Cut the torillas into six sections.  Place on cookie sheet and cook in the oven for 10 or so minutes.  Take them out when they are crispy!  Place the tortilla chips in an oven safe bowl and top with hot Taco meat, Black Beans and Cheese (and onions and peppers if you like although I like adding them after).  Place the covered chips in the oven until cheese is melted.  Top with the rest of the ingredients and enjoy!

Cranberry Sauce

While it may not be thanksgiving time this recipe is delicious!  Especially for my family when we have a thanksgiving type meal for Easter.   A healthy and freaking delicious cranberry sauce that blows the canned stuff away.  This recipe comes from the Beachbody website.

Ingredients

• ½ cup 100% orange juice
• ½ cup unsweetened apple juice
• 1 tsp. finely chopped orange peel
• ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp. ground ginger
• 1 (12 oz) bag fresh cranberries, rinsed
• 1 cup chopped raw pecans
• ½ cup raisins
• ⅔ cup canned crushed pineapples, packed in juice
• 2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup

Instructions

1. Bring orange juice, apple juice, orange peel, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger to a boil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Add cranberries. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, uncovered, for about 10 to 12 minutes.
3. Add pecans, raisins, and pineapple; cook for 2 minutes, or until heated through. Remove from heat.
4. Add maple syrup; mix well.
5. Cool before serving.

Chicken Pot Pie

Perfect for a cool day this recipe is packed with veggies and protein.  Don't miss out on this recipe and please share your meal with us on social media!

Ingredients

-2 1/2 cups of Chicken (or Shredded Turkey, Ground Turkey, Ground Beef, Shredded Beef)

- 1 Cup Frozen Peas

-3 Cups of Broccoli (cut into smaller pieces)

-1 Large Carrot (cut into bite size pieces)

-1 Medium Onion(chopped)

-1 Clove Garlic

-1 1/2 Cups Milk

-1 Cup Chicken Stock (If you are using beef, use beef broth)

-2 TBSP Whole Wheat Flour

-1 TBSP Coconut Oil

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Turn on the burner on medium high.  Add the oil.  After it melts add the Garlic, Onion, and Carrots.  When the onions turn translucent add the Milk, Broth, and Flour.  Turn the burner on high and let it boil for a bit, letting it reduce slightly.  Then add the rest of the ingredients. (Chicken, Broccoli and Peas)  Let them heat up and wait until right before the liquid turns into a thick gravy.  

Make a crust, using the recipe from the Pecan pie below.  Feel free to make one whole recipe if you want a bottom and top crust or cut the recipe in half for just a top crust. When it turns into a gravy texture pour it into the crust.  Then add the top crust.  Fold the edges in.  Place in the oven for 30 minutes or when the top starts to brown.  Let it cool for 5 minutes and enjoy!  

Quinoa Stuffing

This stuffing is not just for the holidays but is delicious for anytime of the year.  Simple and easy to make theres no excuse not to try it!  This recipe comes from Autumn & Bobby Calabrese off the beachbody website.  You can find it here:  https://www.beachbody.com/beachbodyblog/recipes/quinoa-stuffing

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 8 medium celery stalks, chopped (about 4 cups)
• 2 medium green apples, with peel (about 2 cups)
• 4 cups low-sodium organic vegetable broth
• 2 cups dry quinoa, rinsed
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• ½ tsp. ground black pepper
• ½ cup dried cranberries
• ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
• ½ cup pine nuts

Instructions

1. Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes, or until fragrant.
3. Add celery and apple; cook, stirring frequently, for 8 to 10 minutes, or until tender.
4. Add broth, quinoa, salt, cumin, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, covered, for 15 minutes, or until most of liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat.
5. Add cranberries. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes.
6. Add cilantro and pine nuts; fluff with fork and serve.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Get your vegetables in without being bland.  This broccoli cheese soup is bound to pack a flavor punch.  I didn't create this recipe but found it from Stephanie on  http://thefoodieandthefix.com/21-day-fix-broccoli-cheese-soup/

Ingredients

- 2 tsp Butter

- 1 medium onion, chopped

- 1 cup chopped carrots (about 2 medium)

- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

- 4 cups broccoli, roughly chopped

- 2 cups cauliflower, roughly chopped

- 1/2 tsp salt & pepper, to taste

- 2 cups broccoli, chopped into small pieces

-1 1/3 cups shredded sharp or extra sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

1) In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat, then add the onions and carrots.  Cook, stirring occasionally until they start to soften 

2) Add roughly chopped broccoli (not the finally chopped broccoli), cauliflower, salt, and broth

3) Cover and let boil (stirring frequently) until all veggies are soft

3.5) As veggies are boiling, steam the finely chopped broccoli in a pan or in a microwave

4) Once veggies are soft, puree the mixture in the blender

5) Put blended mixture in pot on low heat.  Add shredded cheese and soft finally chopped broccoli.  Add pepper to taste and enjoy!

Container Equivalents: 1 1/2 Green, 1 Blue, 1/3 Red, 1/2 Tsp

Pumpkin Custard Bars

While it may not be the holiday season but I love desserts and couldn't pass up these pumpkin custard bars.  Who says eating healthy means eating bland food.  I found this recipe from Stephanie on http://thefoodieandthefix.com/flourless-pumpkin-custard-bars/

Ingredients

    -1 1/2 cups pumkin puree (1 can)

    -3 Tbs Almond Butter

    -1 tsp vanilla

    -1 Tbs Pumpkin pie Spice

    -3 Tbs Maple Syrup

    -3/4 tsp baking soda

    -2 eggs

    -Dash of Salt

    -Optional: Pecans

Instructions

    1) Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.  Spray an 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray.

    2) Whisk all ingredients together until well combined and spread into the baking dish. Bake for about 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center. Let cool, then cut into 9 bars.

    3) Refigerate any leftovers

Notes

Container Equivalents: 1/6th PURPLE, 1/9 RED, 1 TSP, 1 TSP Maple Syrup

Almond Energy Bars

Almonds, yes.  Energy bars, definitely.  Dessert, HECK YEAH!!!!!  This recipe comes from my coworker Sam Woods.  A delicious and perfect treat for anyone who loves to workout and stay fit. 

Recipe:

Base:

2 cups ground raw almonds

1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

1 cup flaxseed meal

3 scoops whey protein

½ cup of almond butter

1 cup of melted coconut oil

3 tbs. of coconut sugar (the recipe calls for stevia, but I don’t like the weird aftertaste in my mouth.)

Frosting:

1 full slab of cooking chocolate, 100% cacao

½ cup of coconut oil

½ stick of butter

2 tbs. of cinnamon( more or less according to taste)

Sweeten to taste, more coconut sugar, like ¼ cup maybe…

Mix all base dry ingredients in a bowl first. Then add the melted coconut oil and almond butter. Sometimes I melt the almond butter with the coconut oil so it mixes with the dry ingredients better. Make sure the oil is mixed throughout and press into a 13x9 pan. Should be about ¾ inch thick, maybe more. Not exact science happening in a guy’s kitchen!  HA!  Refrigerate for about an hour.

While the base is cooling, put the frosting ingredients in a pan and on LOW heat slowly  melt the chocolate. Once it is melted turn off the heat and let it set until the hour is up for the base to cool. Pour the chocolate stuff over the base until all is coated and refrigerate for another hour or so. Then you can serve up and power up!!

Because of the coconut oil, these bars need constant refrigeration. If you set them out, they’ll last a little while, then they get crumbly. Still good, but messy. Let me know what you think.