Turkey Kale Soup Recipe

Some of you fabulous readers may remember that I have recently eliminated several ingredients from my diet.  Dairy, soy, gluten and eggs are some of the things I have to avoid.  A bistro near me makes an incredible turkey kale soup that I practically lived off of for a week while I was finding recipes and learning to shop for my new diet.  I knew turkey kale soup was one of the first things I needed to make!

I used the bistro's recipe as an inspiration and think I came pretty close!  Here is a list of ingredients:

1 pound of ground turkey
1 14oz can or 2 cups of chicken broth
2 cups of water
2-3 cups of kale, washed and torn
1 can of crushed tomatoes
1 cup of sliced carrots
1 cup of sliced celery
1 teaspoon of minced garlic
1 teaspoon of onion powder
1 table spoon of seasoned salt

*Peas, rice and other vegetables optional

This is super easy to make and doesn't need too long to simmer.  First you'll need to brown the turkey.  While that's browning combine the water, broth and crushed tomatoes together in a large pot on medium heat.  Add the celery, carrots, and seasonings.  Those will need to simmer.  When the turkey is done, drain it and combine it with the rest in the pot.  Let everything simmer together until the vegetables are cooked.  Once everything else is done, add the kale and let it wilt into the soup.  It only needs to cook for 3-4 minutes max.  That's it!

You can also add leftover cooked rice, peas, squash or other vegetables.  I have added spaghetti squash to it when I add the kale and it's delicious!

I know we are into Spring time now so you might be tired of soup, but this one is lean and pairs well with a salad or light sandwich.  I hope you enjoy!

-Michelle

Allergen Friendly Cupcakes

Cupcakes are one of my favorite things in the world.  Cupcakes are yummy, fun and always put me in a happy mood.  Cupcakes might not be the healthiest thing around but for celebrations and treats, they are my go too.  Recently my son, now three months, was dignosed with severe food allergies.  Hopefully he outgrows them but for the time being I had to remove the "Top 8" allergens from my diet while breast feeding.  The Top 8 Allergens are: dairy, soy, shell fish, fish, tree nuts, peanuts, eggs and wheat.  We were already an allergy family, avoiding dairy, soy, shell fish and fish so I wasn't entirely worried about removing gluten and eggs.  Boy was I wrong!  It was a shock at first and now, two weeks later, I am finally getting used to it.

One thing that has made it easier is that I know of a local farmer's market that has a vendor selling allergy friendly cupcakes.  The Mo'Pweeze Bakery offers cupcakes that are vegan and do not have any of the Top 8 Allergens in them.  They are delicious!  I could make my own cupcakes but I am a terrible baker.  Knowing that I can pick up a weekly treat for myself has made this whole experience easier.  Also, if I made my own cupcakes then I would definitely eat more than one a week!

I have been getting Mo'Pweeze cupcakes for my family and I several months now.  They are always fresh and tasty.  I prefer some flavors over others but that would be true of any cupcakes.  I have probably had most of the flavors already.  Two of my favorites are Moo's Choco Choc which is a chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting.  The chocolate flavor is rich without being over bearing.  The chocolate frosting is delicious!  I also like Jamaican me Crazy Blue Velvet.  It's just a fun cupcake!  I actually got one this past weekend at the farmer's market:

I also got a Triple Blond Ale With Orange-Lime infused frosting.  I didn't taste much of the ale flavor.  In fact, it tasted like a delicious vanilla cupcake.  The frosting was great though!  It was very airy and the lime flavor was fragrant and tasty.  My only complaint was that it tasted like it needed to be at a summer barbecue and not served during the winter.  I will skip this flavor until it's block party season and then I will definitely be bringing these to events.

Here's a photo:

I rounded out my trip with two Funfetti flavored cupcakes for my girls.  They loved them.  I didn't get to taste them this time but from memory they taste like vanilla cupcakes with vanilla frosting.  They are very cute with their fun blue frosting.

Check out Mo'Pweeze Bakery if you are in the Northern NJ area or order and have them shipped!  Here is their website: http://www.mopweezebakery.com/.  Right now they do not have a brick and mortar store to visit but I hope they do in their future.  I like supporting them because I am also supporting a local business!  Shop local!

-Michelle

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*Photos are courtesy of the blogger.  This is a non sponsored review.

I love Panera

I've found myself eating out more than normal lately.  I haven't been very inspired to cook and sometimes the pregnancy cravings are for things that my family won't eat so going out makes more sense.  Honestly though, I haven't had a really tasty meal out in a few months.  My daughters and I ended up near a Panera today at lunch time.  We've eaten at Panera before and I wasn't overly impressed but I appreciate how easy their website is for identifying things my youngest daughter, who has food allergies, can eat.  We stopped in for lunch and instead of the panini that I normally get, I got a Lentil Quinoa Broth Bowl with Chicken.  It was delicious!

The broth bowl contained a fragrant broth with lentils, quinoa, a generous portion of antibiotic-free chicken, kale, and tomatoes.  It smelled wonderful, had wonderful flavors and was very filling.  According to the Panera website, there is only 390 calories in the entire dish.  I didn't quite finish it and for how full I was, I would have thought there to be many more calories.  This menu item cost $8.99 and I would have easily ordered it at a more upscale restaurant and paid more for the same exact thing.  It's that good!  

I think I know my new pregnancy craving- hehe.

-Michelle

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*This was an independent, non sponsored review.

Chia Seed Pudding with Protein Powder

About a year and a half ago I started focusing more on fitness and my workouts.  I did a lot of research and started to incorporate protein powder into my diet.  Having enough protein in your diet helps ensure your body is able to create muscle and when you are on a diet it also helps you feel fuller longer.  I like protein powder smoothies and all but I also looked for ways to change it up.  I tried a couple recipes for protein powder pancakes which are pretty good.  I added protein to my morning oatmeal and also froze blended protein powder and coconut milk into popsicles for the summer.  

My youngest daughter is plagued with food allergies.  I often find myself trying to make alternate treats that she can enjoy that still resemble what everyone else was eating.  My older daughter wanted pudding so I searched for an option that accommodated my youngest daughter.  Chia seed pudding came up on Google.  The first recipe that I tried was fantastic!  It is a recipe by a blogger named Aimee and her blog is called Simple Bites.  It can be found here.  Her Simple Chia Seed pudding is delicious, easily adaptable to taste and dietary needs, and has several options for flavors and garnishes.  The recipe is super simple and uses just four ingredients.  The link for her recipe is here and I used it with permission.  Thanks, Aimee!  

Here is the recipe and instructions from The Simple Bites blog:

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup white chia seeds
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

Instructions

1. Combine all the ingredients in a pint jar. Cover the jar with a lid and give it a vigorous shake.
2. Chill for about an hour, then return to the jar and shake it up. Let chill for at least 4 hours and overnight is even better.
3. Chia seeds will expand and turn into pudding the consistency of applesauce (it won't get really thick).
4. Serve cold with sliced fruit or toasted nuts on top.

Now, back to the protein powder.  After I made this a few times I started adding about a half scoop of protein powder to it.  I use a vegan chocolate protein powder which flavors the pudding to a yummy chocolate.  It's delicious, healthy, and kid approved!  You can try adding your favorite protein powder in as well.  If you are looking for ways to add more protein to your diet, cure a sweet tooth, or make a healthier version of traditional pudding, then this recipe is definitely for you!  I eat chia seed protein pudding rather than a protein smoothie sometimes.  It also works as a dip for fruit, to dress up oatmeal, and in a tupperware container as a snack on the run.  

Let me know if you try out this recipe and what you think!  I would love to hear from you!

-Michelle

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*This recipe was used with permission by the blogger, Aimee,  at SimpleBites.net.  The original recipe can be found at http://www.simplebites.net/?s=chia+seed+pudding.  

Oven Fajitas Recipe

Hi Everyone! Happy Friday!  Now that it's the middle of winter I am getting tired of our usual winter dinners.  Chicken noodle soup, chili, stew, and my other crock pot favorites are tasty but I've made them all and needed to switch it up this week.  I love oven made meals in the winter when the additional warmth in the winter is welcome.  I also like meals where my kids, ages 4 and 2, have control out of some aspect of it because then they tend to eat more and complain less.  So I decided to make fajitas in the oven.  I have done them before but not for awhile.  I am not a huge recipe person but I will share with you how I made them and you can personalize from there.  This recipe easily feeds the four of us with leftovers for another two helpings.

This recipe is based off a recipe I found on Pinterest.  The original recipe is here.

I wanted to have leftovers from this batch of fajitas so I made a little more than I normally would.  I used the following ingredients:
-Approximately 2lbs of chicken. You can use chicken breasts, thighs or a mix of both.  I used two breasts and 4 thighs
-3 bell peppers.  I used two red and one yellow but you can choose any combination of colors you like.
-1 onion.  I used white because that's what I had on hand but any would be fine.  Purple is a fun choice!
-Approximately 3tbsp of olive oil
-1-2tbsp of taco seasoning.  Pick your favorite or make your own.
-8 tortillas of your choice.

Other garnishes of your choice such as avocado, cilantro, cheese, sour cream, salsa, and guacamole.

To make fajitas in the oven you'll need to preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  While its heating you can slice the bell peppers and onions into strips.  You don't want them to be too thick or too thin.  Generally 1/2 inch wide and 3 inches long or so is a good size.  Next slice your onion.  Do not dice it or the pieces will burn.

After you have diced the onion and peppers then it's time to slice the chicken.  Of course, you could slice the chicken first.  I just prefer not to have raw meat sitting out any longer than absolutely necessary.  You want to slice it into bite size or slightly larger pieces.  I prefer to use a mix of light and dark meat.  Chicken thighs are more forgiving in the oven and if I get busy I know that an extra couple minutes past the timer in the oven won't make them super dry.

If you are pressed for time then a frozen mix of peppers and onion is a great option.  Sometimes it's even less expensive to buy the frozen stuff than it is to buy fresh anyway.  So keep that in mind!

Once the peppers, onion, and chicken are sliced then it's time to combine them together in a baking pan.  I use a 10x13 pan but a similar size would be fine too.  Add 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle taco seasoning over the top.  Mix thoroughly and add a bit more olive oil and seasoning if you don't feel the chicken/peppers/onions aren't evenly coated.  This is something you may have to play around with.  I don't season very much because my kids prefer their foods to be more bland.  A little more than a table spoon works for us but don't be surprised if you prefer more.  I use a taco seasoning mix by Ortega but there are many brand choices available and even single serving envelopes.  

Make sure it's mixed well and put it in the oven for 40 minutes.

I'm sure you are all staring at the broken baking dish.  It was my mother's and even though it's badly chipped, I can't bear to part with it now that she is gone.  I can remember her making enchilladas, lasagna, and tuna casserole (yuck!) in it.  I remember her every time I use it.

You'll want to stir this once about half way through.  If you forget it'll probably still turn out ok.  I have forgotten and it wasn't a big deal.  After 40 minutes check the meat for doneness.  You can use a meat thermometer but I prefer to slice a piece open and check for pink.

Yum!

After the fajita mix is done then it's ready to be spooned into tortillas and garnished to your liking.  I usually buy whole grain tortillas but I shopped at a new store this week and couldn't find them.  I tried Goya flour tortillas and they were delicious!  

We ate our fajitas with sour cream and fresh salsa.  You can add cheese, guacamole, fresh squeezed lime juice, cilantro, or whatever else you like.  You can add canned corn or black beans to the mix halfway through the cook time too.  What's great about this dish is that it is easy to reheat in the oven.  I have made it ahead of time and taken it to a pot luck and everyone liked it.  I kind of feel that fajitas are the more sophisticated version of tacos, don't you? You can also serve the leftovers with rice or rice and beans, on salad, or make them into tostadas.  Leftovers that can easily be reinvented are always welcome around here.  Both my daughter and I have food allergies and this recipe is great because it is allergen friendly! I haven't had a dinner party in a awhile but I would definitely consider serving this fajitas dish.  Try it and let me know how you like it!

-Michelle

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*This recipe was not endorsed by any product or company.  The original recipe that inspired this post can be found here and the blogger does own rights to the recipe.  All photos are courtesy of the blogger.

Nu-go Protein Bars

Nine times out of ten, you will find a Quest bar in my car's center console and in my purse! I'm a Quest bar fan, and they were my go to snack in a time crunch, or when out and about and trying to avoid a less healthy choice!  Then my youtube friend Chelsea Garay mentioned Nu-go bars!  I like variety, and heard the words caramel pretzel, and had to try them!  I have only tried one flavor, and am anxious to try more!  It's high in calories for my liking, but for guaranteed protein intake, and a gluten free, non-gmo, rBGH-free snack, I will definitely be repurchasing these delicious bars!  The taste has the perfect saltiness and reminds me of my other favorite treats, Starbuck's Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate and Talenti's Salted Caramel gelato.  It's a good alternative to packing countless Quest bars when I travel, so I welcome this delicious snack!  What are your favorite protein bars?

Shout out to follow blogger and youtuber Chelsea for recommending them!

http://chelseagaray.com/

Purchased at www.vitacost.com

Check out my previous Vitacost blog here:
http://2stronggirlscoutureandmore.blogspot.com/2014/12/vitacost-take-cost-out-of-healthy-living.html

I also enjoy Nugo Free Gluten Free bars!

-Erin

* Products mentioned were bought with my own money, and were not sponsored.

SHAKEOLOGY: Shake, shake, shake, shake your booty

Have you heard about Shakeology?  What's all the rage about anyway?

So I heard about it early last year, but I didn't find it necessary because I was making fruit smoothies in my blender anyway.  I was so wrong!  I'd do strawberry, banana, greek yogurt, and maybe spinach or kale.  I pretty much ate about 2 servings of vegetables a day.  I definitely was not getting the nutrients my body needed to keep my metabolism going, and keep my organs running optimally!  I thought I would try the Shakeology variety pack, and bought the 24 serving variety pack which had chocolate, vanilla, & strawberry packets, so I could see which one I liked!  I ordered the Home Direct package, which ships you a new bag (or packets) monthly so you don't run out.  I only did this to get the lower price, & since ordering guarantees you a 30 day money back guarantee even with an empty bag, I figured I'd give it about 2 good months and cancel before the next month's could be shipped.  I was told to try it for 3-4 weeks to really feel the difference.

I felt fine, so I sorta rolled my eyes.

This isn't a shake with water type of shake.   I blended almond milk, fruit and ice.

I made them really thick with a lot of ice, so it was like a milk shake!

I made chocolate peanut butter cup, chocolate banana, chocolate strawberry, then I tried vanilla blueberry, vanilla mocha, orange creamsicle, snickerdoodle, pineapple coconut, then strawberry banana, strawberry blueberry, and before I knew it I only had a handful of packets left.

That's when it happened!  I felt the change!  I felt the extra energy it gave me!

I didn't  have anymore afternoon crashes when I was sitting at my desk around 2 or 3pm.  I didn't NEED a snack between breakfast and lunch when I had my Shakeology for breakfast, and my stomach didn't growl out of hunger.  Shakeology held me over until noon even!  Some days, I drank it at 3pm, or post workout in the evening.  I have a sweet tooth so whenever I really craved ice cream, I'd make a chocolate peanut butter banana Shakeology instead.

Shakeology is more than just a meal replacement,

and here's a breakdown of what makes it so Ultra Premium:

*increases energy

*reduces junk food cravings

*improves digestion and regularity

*helps with weight loss

Shakeology is not just a protein shake.  It is more than a meal replacement!  It contains antioxidants, and probiotics!  It is not like those other ones out there.  It's the smartest calories you can put into your body! A lot of shakes are just made for protein, and other meal replacements have artificial flavorings and chemicals.   The fact that I pack Shakeology and a mini blender in my suitcase every time I travel, even when that means I have room for 1 less pair of shoes, proves how much I love it!

packing list:  snorkel....check!  Shakeology....check!

It contains 70+ vitamins and super foods!  It is my Daily Dose of Dense Nutrition!

Who doesn't love to feel energetic, fit, and fabulous?  

I have had Shakeology every day for 8 months!

Needless to say, I never cancelled, and now get the 30 day bag supply.

It also comes in Vegan Chocolate & Vegan Tropical Strawberry.

It costs $3-4 a day, which is a small price to pay to feel energetic enough to do the things I used to be too tired to do, and know I'm keeping my body healthy!

Shakeology actually saves me money because it saves on snacks and has replaced my multi-vitamin too.  It's still just part of my grocery budget, since I took out all those boxes of 6 granola bars and crackers here, and multivitamins and Vitamin C there, because I don't need those things anymore with the 70+vitamins and exotic super foods that my body needs that are already in my daily Shakeology.  Shakeology is priceless to me because I know I just don't have the time or money to cook plate after plate of vegetables!  I blend and I'm out the door!

I would only suggest something I truly love!

Even my family switched from morning chocolate and powdered donuts to Shakeology for breakfast and don't miss a day!

The value it brought to me is not something I ever expected!

With a 30 day money back guarantee, ya got nothing to lose, except maybe a few pounds!

Here's a 1 minute video about Shaekology:

http://beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/ErinRoe?bctid=16664447001

Save more when buying through me.  Find it here:

http://www.myshakeology.com/erinroe

Me on the way to a promo gig this past summer to keep me full!

(greenberry flavor)

  

Saturday morning                                    a day at the office

With a 30 day money back guarantee, ya got nothing to lose,

except maybe a few pounds!

-Erin

 *All products mentioned were purchased with my own money.

(Ryan Gosling may or may not like Shakeology.)

Vitacost: take the cost out of healthy living

Eating healthy can be costly, but not eating healthy can come at a high cost, so I have made eating cleaner a priority.  I have tried my best to find affordable healthy foods, and my favorite place to online shop is Vitacost!  I found that the items I get often are a few dollars less on the website vs my local food stores, like the coconut oil I cook with, and raw honey I use daily.  Since I don't shop on a particular day each week, I can buy in advance, with no worry of running out of my staple items, like oatmeal for instance!  It appears on my doorstep super fast after placing my order too!  I have continuously purchased my plant based protein powder, and protein bars here as well!  Ordering food may be new to you, but there are a ton of natural beauty products available on the site too!  So far I have tried a pumpkin mask, and just received organic lavender lotion as well, which smells oh-so-delightful!  I cringe at shipping costs, but so far I have always gotten a free shipping deal, since the site is constantly having different promotional offers, all year long!  I actually received a skincare item in yesterday's delivery in error, and the customer service rep told me it was their mistake and to keep it as a gift!  Now that is great customer service!  Also, upon delivery, everything is separated by cardboard dividers, to keep chips from breaking, and in separate bags in case of spills, to ensure perfect arrival! The items I get won't go to waste, since they aren't perishable.
I highly recommend Vitacost!  Give it a try!
Use my link for $10 off your first Vitacost order!

-Erin

*All items from Vitacost mentioned above were personally purchased and not sponsored by the company.

*Updated Jan. 20, 2015: 3rd pic added

Buff Butter

Peanut butter is one of my loves!  

I eat a lot of it, and blame it on the fact that I do so because I lift weights haha!  High protein and high fat yields a bittersweet debate in my head, but I just can't help it.  Once the spoon hits the jar, there's no stopping me at 2 tablespoons!  To change up my intake, I ordered Buff Butter!  The variety pack arrived, I couldn't just open one, so that day, and every day following, my routine included taking out 4 teaspoons, and unscrewing all 4 lids of all 4 flavors.  I had to sample them all to decide which I liked best!  Chocolate chip was my favorite, then Cranberry Coconut, Cinnamon Raisin, and then Snickerdoodle.  Protein packed treats are always welcome in my cupboard! 

www.buffbake.com

-Erin

*All Buff Bake items mentioned above were personally purchased and not sponsored by the company.