PB Banana Protein Muffins

So, without going into too much detail,

I'm currently going through some health stuff.

Sometimes I don't feel like eating because of it,

and I am sick of eating carbs.

Thank goodness for peanut butter protein muffins!

Stuck pretty close to the recipe,

except the honey didn't want to come out of the container,

and I am not a big honey fan either.

Probably used 1/8 cup honey, if that.

Also used chocolate chunks instead of mini chocolate chips.

(It was in the pantry)

The muffins did not need any more honey!

They stayed moist until they were gone.

Satisfying, almost indulgent,

but without the guilt.

Did I mention they are flourless? :)

Difficulty Level: 1

Yum Factor: 4 +

Strawberry Poppyseed Chicken Salad

It's almost fall! The most glorious season of the year!

But it's still hot....like in the mid 80 degrees hot.

I wish it was sweaters & cider time,

but alas it is not.

Wanted to change it up for work lunches,

plus I have been eating too much pasta.

Desperately seeking less carbs.

This strawberry poppyseed chicken salad looked amazing!

Pecas, greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar...it had to be a winner.

Bleck.

Couldn't even finish the entire batch.

Bland central.

Did it really make that big of a difference that my pecans were not toasted?

Perhaps with tweaking this can be as delicious as it sounds.

But that's not my job. ;)

Difficulty Level: 1

Yum Factor: 1

Poppy Seed Chicken & Grape Pasta Salad

Alright, now on to better recipes!

Due to health/medical reasons, I currently need to eat bland-ish things for a while.

Chicken and pastas are safe.

Plus pasta salads were made for summer!

A couple weeks ago, I made this poppy seed chicken and grape pasta salad.

It did not disappoint!

So delicious, and it kept for quite some time in the refrigerator.

A great recipe to eat for lunch for a week or so...

I did not get sick of eating it every day at work.

Looking forward to making this again!

Difficulty Level: 1.5

Yum Factor: 4

Garlic Herb Dip

September! How I long to put fall decorations out...but it is not officially fall, right?

In food related news, made this garlic herb dip to accompany veggies as a low carb snack at work.

Hmm, probably will never make it again.

Maybe it was most of the herbs I used were dried instead of fresh.

I bought chives for another recipe, so that was the only fresh herb used.

It grosses me out, frankly.

Need a dip?

Make the buffalo chicken dip I have previously made.

Difficulty Level: 1

Yum Factor: 0

Crockpot Bourbon Chicken

It has been months. Too much life has happened in those short months.

But happy to be posting once again!

We just installed a backsplash we have had since February (seriously)

and it requires a curing time of 24 hours.

So the stove top was out of the questions for dinner...

time to try a new crockpot recipe.

Crockpot Bourbon Chicken! This recipe has been waiting to be made for some time.

Followed the recipe as best as I could.

I substituted:

regular apple juice for TJ's reduced sugar/carb apple juice

regular soy sauce for TJ's low sodium soy sauce

red chili flakes for red pepper flakes

cider vinegar for apple cider vinegar (are they they same?)

We do not have any cornstarch (is that even good for you?)

so I did not thicken the sauce.

I chose the 3 hours on high temperature option,

the chicken was practically falling apart!

On day two the flavors were much more developed,

so this is amazing as leftovers!

We also had this oriental ramen broccoli slaw as a side,

which was better on day two as well.

Difficulty Level: 1 yay easy summer meals!

Yum Factor: 4.5 (that is what E rated it!)

Chicken Fajita Kabobs

There is a list of at least half a dozen recipes on my phone,

just waiting for me to post about...

what am I waiting for?

Taking some initiative, posting a recipe the actual day it is cooked!

Tonight we tried grilled chicken fajita kabobs.

The author calls them grilled chicken fajitas on a stick.

Aesthetically, doesn't seem too appetizing that way...

I am always intrigued by Pinterest recipes that request chicken be marinated,

but warn: not for too long!

(it supposedly becomes gamey?)

This is another one of those recipes, and I marinated for almost 24 hours, no problems.

The chicken was juicy and flavorful.

The recipe calls for sugar, which I omitted.

Who needs sugar when there are all those spices!

Also refrained from making the dipping sauce, only because E hates cilantro.

The results?

Amazing deliciousness!

Did not miss the sugar at all.

Will make the dipping sauce for myself next time,

as I used sour cream and some spices this time. :)

Making this one again for sure!

Difficulty Level: 1

Yum Factor: 4?

One-pan pesto chicken & veggies

Sometimes, you can't crock pot it up.

Cook times do not line up with work schedules,

and the food will fall apart warming until you get home!

This recipe for one-pan pesto chicken and vegetables was suggested to me by my bestie.

Quick, easy, simple...I was in!

Since I HATE TOMATOES, I substituted sun-dried tomatoes,

the only ones I can tolerate.

(Plus I already had them on hand)

:)

Was it quick as easy? Yes!

I have to say, I rarely cook with chicken thighs, but I found them flavorful and tender.

If you have never cooked with them, give it a try!

Don't think I am a big pesto fan though...

Perhaps another sauce can be used?

Difficulty Level: 1.5

Yum Factor: 3

Parmesan Spinach Bacon Spaghetti Squash with Pine Nuts

How many people actually make and take their lunch nowadays?

I still do, working under an assumption that this is more cost effective.

We all have our go-to recipes, so the time came to try something new,

while utilizing all the spaghetti squash I've been hoarding. :)

This recipe for parmesan spaghetti squash, spinach, bacon, and pine nuts seemed like a good idea.

Thrown already grilled chicken strips in, and you have a meal!

There was some leftover bacon from making morning breakfast tacos,

(I think I posted that recipe....)

so when current ingredients can be used, it makes me happy.

I admit, I did not add enough parmesan cheese,

simply because I assumed I had enough at home,

and didn't purchase more on my Trader Joe's run.

So how was the parmesan, spinach, bacon spaghetti squash with pine nuts & chicken?

Incredibly bland.

Would try it again, but something was missing.

Garlic powder?

I'm not sure.

If you try it, please let me know how you spice it up!

Difficulty Level: 2 only because cooking the squash is time consuming.

Yum Factor: 2 meh 

Roasted Sesame Asparagus

Such a slacker I have been lately.

It seems that the things I love and enjoy I do not do anymore...wish that weren't the case.

But when you are in survival mode, what can you do?

Anyways, back to food.

Who hasn't made asparagus with olive oil, salt, and pepper?

It's delicious, easy...but done too much sometimes.

This recipe is exactly the same, just add sesame seeds!

It is amazing how adding the seeds makes the traditional preparation for asparagus

so different, so refreshing!

Give it a go!

Difficulty Level: 1

Yum Factor: 4

Sweet & Smokey BBQ Chicken Chili

Chili is so wonderful in winter; hearty, easy to make...

But I get sick of always rotating whatever group protein the recipe calls for.

You can only eat ground turkey so much!

This chili recipe is different. So flavorful!

Oh, and it can be made in a crockpot? Score!

Lasts for more than a week's worth of lunches!

Of course, I tweaked the ingredients.

I love chili, but hate most beans in chilis...

except for cannellini beans and great white Northern beans.

This chili calls for 3 types of beans:

cannellini, kidney, pinto.

I kept the cannelloni and added the Northern beans,

dropping the kidney and pinto beans. (bleck!)

Also added 1 less Tb of brown sugar, and it was perfection!

Omitted the liquid smoke...where do you find that?

Also omitted adding hot sauce as suggested.

Discovered smoked paprika...and I am in love!

This Sweet & Smokey BBW Chicken Chili is difficult to get sick of.

So many flavors intermingling...enjoy!

Difficulty Level: 2 #shreddingchickenprobs

Yum Factor: 4 mmm!

Spaghetti Squash Bake/Casserole

I intend to post every weekend, but life gets in the way sadly.

So, spaghetti squash is pretty much the best thing ever.

Low carb, so versatile, and I prefer it to regular spaghetti.

If you looked in my pantry, you would see me hoarding spaghetti squash!

(I may have a problem...)

This spaghetti squash casserole recipe (though I prefer to call it a bake)

is great to take to lunch throughout the week or if you have a few people to feed at dinnertime.

Trader Joe's had an Autumn Harvest pasta sauce that was magical!

But it is seasonal, and I caught it on the tail end,

so I did not hoard it after trying it and falling in love.

Whole Foods as recently as a week ago had a Pumpkin pasta sauce

that also was lovely in this bake.

Just use your favorite pasta sauce. :)

I enjoy adding some shredded parmesan to the top of this.

Who doesn't like melted cheese?!

So easy, so yummy.

Bake and you are set for the week for lunch!

Difficulty Level: 1

Yum Factor: 3.5

Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes

Happy New Year! Hope yours is off to a wonderful start!

In between the holidays, an interview, and finally going on our honeymoon,

posting fell by the way side sadly.

So many recipes to update you all on!

A few days ago, I made this buffalo chicken sloppy joe recipe.

After an hour drive home from a crappy job,

who wants to spend a lot of time cooking?

We did not try the Blue Cheese Ranch sauce,

as E hates both blue cheese and ranch.

If you make it, please let me know how it turns out!

Good old Trader Joe's to the rescue for the ingredients!

Who wants to chop up celery, onions, AND carrots...

when you can just purchase Mirepoix!

I must admit, the TJ's portion of Mirepoix is probably half what is needed for the recipe.

We were out of apple cider vinegar,

so red wine vinegar was substituted (not recommended!).

These sloppy joes have the potential to be amazingly delicious!

Sadly, either the red wine vinegar was a poor choice,

or the whole wheat buns were old,

because something was slightly off about the flavors.

I thought they might also taste good on nachos or as a lettuce wrap!

I look forward to trying the buffalo sloppy joe recipe again,

this time with the correct ingredients!

Difficulty Level: 1.5

Yum Factor: 3.5