for the love of food

hello friends.  after an intense winter, it's finally starting to feel like spring (kinda sorta) in central pennsylvania.  and i couldn't be happier.  sunshine is just what this girl needs to break out of her funk.  in the weight loss department, i'm just... stumped.  i feel like i've been making reasonable nutrition choices, but my efforts haven't reflected on the scale.  i'm discouraged but also determined to break through the plateau.

while i have a strong desire to be healthy and active and responsible with the body God gave me, i believe i also have a God-given passion for food.  it's just how i'm wired.  i love exploring new recipes and creating weekly menus and experimenting with flavors.  i enjoy eating and seeing my family and friends enjoy the foods i have prepared.  i don't think there is anything wrong with that.  i keep seeing motivational blogs and posts from fitness gurus who say, "eat to live, don't live to eat."  and geesh, that's super sad to me.  i totally understand the point, but to a foodie like myself, it takes the wind right out of my sails.  there's nothing inherently wrong with enjoying food, but i know i need to be smarter about it.  so how do i marry these two vastly different worlds?

i have no idea.  i'll get back to you when i figure it out.  in the meantime, here are a few new recipes to pass along.  enjoy!

low carb taco pie

unfortunately, i didn't get a great picture of this low carb taco pie.  but it was a big hit with me and steve!  i'd actually classify it more as a taco quiche -- although that sounds kinda gross.  it's made with 6 eggs, so it has a quiche-like vibe, but it's loaded with taco flavor.  i'll likely try this again with ground turkey instead of beef to save a few calories.  one slice was around 300 calories, plus a little extra for toppings (small dollop of sour cream, avocado, salsa, whatever).  we ate ours with a side salad, and it was filling and delicious!  it's even better the next day!

sweet potato and kale hash

this sweet potato and kale hash is definitely one of my favorites.  sorry, me iphone picture does it absolutely no justice....  (i can only make this on days when steve is away, since he will absolutely not ever in a million years consume sweet potatoes.  whatevs, dude.)  ;-)  i think this recipe is a perfect blend of sweet and spicy.  i added a bit of chipotle chili pepper this time, and mmmm.  yes.  so good.  i enjoyed my hash with a fried egg, but it's also great with sausage or chicken.

rosemary and ravioli chicken soup

this rosemary and ravioli chicken soup is probably my favorite of the lot, primarily because steve found the recipe in a better homes and gardens magazine and asked if we could try it.  (i can probably count on one hand the number of recipes steve has ever asked me to try.  he's not quite as passionate about new recipes as i am.) :-)  i honestly wasn't too sure about it...  seemed like a weird combination -- chicken, ravioli, potatoes, and green beans?  but it was stellar!  loved it!  i used asiago and spinach ravioli from my local Giant grocery store.  so much flavor!  and just 362 calories per serving.

paleo banana pancakes

and finally, something a little different -- paleo banana pancakes!  i know you're skeptical.  but if you love pancakes, these are worth a try.   i've tried banana pancakes in the past and was not impressed.  but these were great!  made primarily with eggs, bananas, and coconut flour, these are surprisingly fluffy and not overly "banana-y" in flavor...  i topped mine with a few blueberries, pecans, and maple syrup.  the best part is that two large pancakes clocked in at just 250 calories (plus toppings) and tons of protein!  i will absolutely make these again.  a few notes: (1) i used baking powder instead of baking soda as the recipe states.  and (2) the batter is weird.  you'll wonder "how the heck is this gonna make a pancake?!"  but i promise it will!  just be super careful when flipping them.

hope you see something new and exciting to try!  stay tuned for next time -- i have a few recipes on this week's menu that i'm super excited about!

here comes the sun...

this winter.  it's been killer.  i've felt sick and tired and unmotivated for weeks now, and ugh.  i'm so done.  spring is coming.  i'm ready to kick this funk and get moving.  who's with me?

but despite the funk, i've found a few good recipes that i'd love to pass along.  so here we go...

morning baked oatmeal with berries and coconut

i'm not even exaggerating when i say that this was the BEST baked oatmeal i've ever made.  and get this -- no refined sugar!  this amazing baked oatmeal with berries and coconut is sweetened only with pure maple syrup.  (well, and the berries.)  i used frozen blueberries, but you could use anything.  strawberries?  raspberries?  maybe even peaches?  so many possibilities!  isla enjoyed making this with me and even ate it, which is huge since she typically won't eat anything that looks like it's mixed together with something else.  woohoo, oatmeal for the win!  for the record, i enjoyed mine fresh out of the oven with a bit of milk poured over top.

lasagna soup

alright, this lasagna soup isn't going to rank super duper high on the healthy scale, but mercy.  it is tasty.  a bowl of this goodness will cost you about 580 calories, but as an entire dinner, i find that to be perfectly acceptable.  (you could save some calories, too, by adding a smaller dollop of ricotta, but where's the fun in that?) ;-)  since spring is finally rolling in, i imagine i won't make this again for a while, but this cozy soup was filling and delicious, and the leftovers made for some delightful lunches throughout the week!

pesto turkey meatloaf

i love meatloaf (weird?  perhaps...) and i love pesto, so i knew this recipe would be a win for me.  takes a while to bake (as most meatloaf does), so i can only make this on the weekend.  but mmmm, very good.  this recipe comes in a close second to my favorite turkey meatloaf recipe -- honey barbecue turkey meatloaf.

lazy sunday casserole

i saved my favorite entree for last.  lazy sunday casserole is an incredible pan full of chopped potatoes, carrots, peppers, onions, fennel bulb, garlic, and sausage (i used spicy turkey sausage) roasted together with chicken broth, italian herbs, and a hearty dose of balsamic vinegar.  it was aaaaaaamazing!  so simple, and yet that flavor.  i can't say enough about it!  (in the interest of full disclosure, my husband would only eat the potatoes and sausage... and my daughter would only eat the sausage.  sigh...)  but truly, i loved this dish and would make it again in a heartbeat!

paleo coconut flour brownies

since we are in the season of lent, i am doing my best to steer clear of refined sugar.  but sometimes, a girl just needs some chocolate.  (am i right?)  ;-)  so i have discovered the most amazing gem of a recipe -- paleo coconut flour brownies.  sweetened with pure maple syrup (or honey, if you prefer).  and oooooohmygoodness.  surprisingly good.  i have to discipline myself to go easy on these (because the point of lent is not to replace one vice with another).  but i'm ok with indulging here and there.  mmmmm, happiness.  :-)  and for the record, about 110 calories per serving.


so there you go!  hope you see something new and yummy to try!  now that it's getting warmer, i'm looking forward to eating some salads and fresher food again...  happy almost springtime, friends! :-)