Strange but Good: Cumin & Cayenne Fluff

I am not sure why I have not done this earlier than today. I have made Blueberry Fluff, Strawberry Fluff, even Chili-Mango Fluff…

Why not a SAVORY FLUFF? p.s… I am sure there are more flavors to come. Stay tuned.

For today’s STRANGEbutGOOD, I bring you a spicy blend of cumin and cayenne flavors. The spiciness is calmed by the dairy in the cottage cheese. You are left with a versatile dip or topper for a rice cake (my fave), bread, etc…

Cumin & Cayenne Fluff
-1/2 cup cottage cheese
-drop of milk (if needed)
-1/2t cayenne
-1/2t cumin

*Blend everything on high power until smooth.

Easy peasy–I know.

My favorite way to eat this is as a dip.

I tried it with carrots. Yum. Celery. Yum. Cucumbers. Yum.

You get the idea…

What flavors should I combine next?? I would love your ideas!

xoxo, Haley

Head over to Laura’s site Sprint2theTable to see other STRANGE but GOOD concoctions!

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Spring Break Recap!

It has been WAY too long since I finished Spring Break. However, I went back to work and life just got CRAY-CRAY. I swear, work is nothing but IN THE WAY! Can’t I just stay home with Stanley, cook, watch TV, and create recipes? Is that too much to ask?

Anywho… Here are the goals I set for myself and how I did…

1. Finish the last paper of my first year of my Masters degree–one year left!!! DONE!!! and I passed 🙂

2. 6am CrossFit–call me crazy but I am a morning person 110% DONE!! I kept at my 4-5 times a week as seen HERE and HERE

3. See the lady doc–sorry guys Did it! – Ladies:: did you know we only have to go once every THREE years now? It was news to me!

4. Make an appointment to get acupuncture–I will try anything once Sadly, I didn’t make the appointment. I was on hold one day, lost my patience, and made an appointment for a massage–which turned out to be EXACTLY what I needed.

5. Try recipes that I have marked “to try”
–Paleo Strawberry Shortcake Once word: delicious.

–Microwave Protein Carrot Cake Yummy (subbed pumpkin for apple sauce). I topped mine with a mixture of cottage cheese and SF syrup.

–Brownie Pancakes Still on the to-do list.. I need to buy apple sauce
–Sweet Potato Banana Bites Good– especially topped with peanut flour!

–Paleo Girl Scout Tagalongs To die for. The recipe made 9–The BF ate 7.

6. Take Stanley to Fiesta Island–a huge off-leash dog park on the beach I never made it to Fiesta Island (FAIL)–but we did go to the dog park 3x a week. Does that count?

7. Reach my CrossFit goal–one strict pull-up HECK YES I DID!! 🙂

8. Create 5 new recipes
–Nutty-cocoa-nana Protein Shake
–Ground Chicken Taco Salad
–Apple Chips
– Wasabi Peanut Spread
–Ground Chicken Breast Patties

9. Replace the battery in my watch–it’s been forever! Yup–as evidenced in the pic.

10. Catch up on Grey’s Anatomy–I am behind FIVE episodes.. whoops! I caught up–but then got behind. I just can’t win!!

All I know if I cannot wait for SUMMER BREAK… and I think this little guy agrees with me!

xoxo, Haley

I must say that I am pretty proud of myself for keeping to these goals. I guess making them public held me accountable… hmm.. What to do next??

Question: do you find that telling someone your goals keeps you accountable??

 

WIAW: lazy bones (chicken & veggie soup)

I am going to be honest with ya. I am exhausted. I am tired of work. I am tired of cleaning. I am just plain tired. So tired that my eyes are itching. (No, it’s not pink eye.)

When I am tired, I am lazy. All I want to do it sit on the couch and watch Ellen. She can turn any frown upside down. I just love her and wish I had her confidence and humorous bone.

Speaking of LAZY.. here are my foods recently for this week’s WIAW (thanks to Jenn). I haven’t been putting in any sort of effort.. but there is a yummy soup recipe 🙂

Breakfast:

the ultimate bite…

Lunch:

Dinner:

Snack: a bowl of peanut flour.. just like the one from breakfast.

I told you, I am BORING!

BUT…. this recipe is EASY and delicious. I make it at least twice a week in the winter time…

Homemade Chicken and Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:
-1 onion, diced
-1T garlic
-4 celery sticks
-4 carrots
-2 chicken breasts, diced
-6-10 cups chicken stock
-2 bay leaves
-black pepper (optional)

Directions:
1. In a large stock pot, sautee onion and garlic until onion is translucent.
2. While onion is cooking, chop celery and carrots.
3. Stir in veggies.
4. After veggies are starting to smell yummy (and become warm), stir in chicken.
5. Add in chicken stock. Stir.
6. Throw in bay leaves and sprinkle pepper. Let soup sit until it comes to a boil.
7. Turn heat down to low. Let sit 10 minutes (or until veggies are tender to your liking).

I promise you will like this recipe. Don’t forget to take out the bay leaves!

I hope you have been more active and upbeat than I have been…

Oh well. Tomorrow is another day.

xoxo, Haley

Question: What pulls you out of a rut??

WIAW: give me a shot!

Welcome back for another view of what I ate.. Whether you care or not (most likely the latter), I have a tasty recipe for you!

Head over to Jenn’s blog to see what else is being cooked up today…

My day started, as usual, at 5:15am when I got up and chugged some water. For reason I was parched! I changed outta my PJs, ate a carrot, shared a bit with Stan the Man, and was off to CrossFit!

Got home, showered my sweaty-betty self (shuttle runs got me), and made the protein shake I teased you all with on instagram on Monday.. hehe

Behold.. The Buttery Nipple Protein Shake!!!

I had to turn this alcoholic shot into a shake. It brings back ridiculous memories of my 21st birthday in Las Vegas. It was, after all, my first LEGAL shot!

In the shot comes Butterscotch Schnapps & Irish Cream. Healthy? No. Delicious? HECK YES!

The shake turns out sweet, creamy, and even has a hint of rum. hehe 😉 (recipe at the bottom)

The shake was consumed with a glass of Silk Almond Milk (yes, the sweetened kind-sometimes you just buy what’s on sale!), coffee, and 2 (or 3 or 4) tablespoons of Justin’s Almond Butter. Straight from the jar. Classy.

Lunch was a #strangebutgooddelicious mixture of shredded cabbage, low sodium turkey meat, and YELLOW MUSTARD!! The tangy mustard is like a party in my mouth. I swear, it’s like crack to me.

…with a side of carrots and an orange. Orange you glad I had my fruit and veggies? (I’m so lame.)

Dinner was #UGLYbutGOOD!

Sauteed cabbage with a chicken breast from a juicy & tasty rotisserie chicken from Sam’s Club. I was lazy and didn’t want to bake chicken, so we bought one. Don’t hate.

My last meal/snack of the day was gone in a flash. Kinda like Nicky Flash. (Tell me you have seen that commercial)..

Strawberry Protein Fluff made with cottage cheese. I die.

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Buttery Nipple Protein Shake
-1 cup almond milk
-1 scoop vanilla protein powder
-1/4t butter extract
-1/4t rum extract
-1/4t vanilla extract
-7-10 ice cubes
-1/4t xantham gum

*Blend everything but the ice and xantham gum. Once mixed, add in remaining ingredients & enjoy!
–So yummy but don’t blame the rum-tasting burps you have for a few hours. 😉

I hope you had a fabulous WHAT I ATE WEDNESDAY!

xoxo, Haley

Question: What was the BEST thing you ate today??

 

Sweet Potato Hash

Hash? What’s hash?  I actually had no idea!  I always heard of it as “Corned Beef Hash,” but I was a little late on that boat because I have been all out of corned beef for weeks!

Let me save you the trouble–don’t google “What is hash?” There are some interesting sites that pop up.  (Apologies–this is hash the FOOD I am referring to).

Any who–turns out HASH is a dish consisting of diced meat, potatoes, and spices that are mixed together and then cooked either alone or with other ingredients such as onions. (Source)

I went along with this yet omitted the meat.  It turned out great!

This was paired well with two eggs and sauteed cabbage (my fave).

Sweet Potato Hash

Ingredients:
-1/4 onion, chopped
-half sweet potato, cooked & cubed
-1/2 T coconut oil
-1/4 teaspoon each of onion, garlic, paprika
-sprinkle of salt

How-To:
1. Spray a pan with nonstick spray (or use more coconut oil)
2. Cook up the onion until translucent on medium-high.
3. Add in cubed sweet potato (I left the skin on) and let cubes sit in pan.
4. Leave the potato alone to get a nice sear. Then flip.
5. Stir in coconut oil. Coat potato.
6. Add in spices and stir to coat.
7. Sprinkle salt.
8. Serve up & enjoy.

Spices added…

Before I demolished the plate!

*I found that the coconut oil adds a whole new flavor dimension.  It really added to the dish.

xoxo, Haley

Question: Ever had a hash before?  I hadn’t! haha.. and liked it  🙂

Top That Pop!

Popcorn is delicious.  When watching a movie on a Saturday night, what do you do?  Pop some popcorn in the microwave.

Unfortunately, those bags of popcorn are full of fat, calories, and chemicals. Blech.

I have a solution though!  Pop your own and top it with what YOU want.

Today’s #strangebutgood focuses on POPCORN.

Thanks to Laura for the crazy good link-up!

Just because the popcorn that comes pre-seasoned is not healthy, it doesn’t mean POPCORN isn’t healthy.

Popcorn actually is full of fiber (1g per cup) and only has 30 calories a cup (popped).  It is also whole grain and good for your heart.

So, how do we solve this popcorn problem?

An air popper!  (if ya don’t have one, there is another helpful link at the bottom)

This kitchen gadget was a random Christmas present a few years  back, and I LOVE it!

I use Bob’s Red Mill White Popcorn (ordered from iherb.com –use the code: MLS308 to save $)

Just put in 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels..

and WA-LA!

Look at all of that popcorn!  The 1/2 cup of kernels is only 360 calories when it is all popped! (that is what a regular bag of popcorn is..and you don’t get nearly as much)

***Now for the fun and #strangebutgood part…***

—————————————————————————

THE TOPPINGS!

I have two versions today: a sweet and a savory

sweet: 1/2t cinnamon

savory: 1/2t cumin, dashes of cayenne

All ya need is: 2 cups of popped popcorn, couple sprays of olive oil, and your choice of spices!

How-To::

-Scoop up 2 cups of popcorn

-Spritz olive oil on top

-Sprinkle on toppings

-Shake!

Look how portable they are!  The two sandwich bags have 2 cups of popcorn in each.  The gallon bag is holding the rest for another day.

No air popper?  No problem.  Head over to Lindsay’s site for directions on Healthy Microwave Popcorn!

Now just don’t go blaming me if you get kicked out of the movie theater for bringing your own 😉

xoxo, Haley

Question:  fave popcorn topping? cheese? caramel? kettle corn?

I have been known to throw back a bag of Kettle Corn at The Padres’ games 🙂

Sun Dried Tomato & Wedge Stuffed Chicken

Happy Friday EVE!

FUN FACT: I am very superstitious and FOUR is my lucky number.  Today is 4/4 (April 4). Therefore, today is my luckiest day all year–hehe 🙂

Another easy chicken dinner comin’ at ya!

Now, I know that last Friday I shared with you my hatred for touching raw meat. I am still not sure how I survived this recipe, but let me tell ya, it was worth it!

I swear these little Laughing Cow wedges are my new best friend.  So versatile!  (as if you couldn’t tell in yesterday’s post)

 Sun-Dried Tomato & Wedge Stuffed Chicken

Ingredients:
-2 chicken breasts
-sun-dried tomatoes, julienned
-2 Laughing Cow Light Creamy Swiss wedges
-can of tomato sauce
-dried basil
-salt & pepper
-red pepper flakes

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Cut a slit in each chicken breast. (make a pocket)
3. Using a knife (or your fingers like me), spread one wedge into each pocket.
4. Stuff 1-2 T of sun-dried tomatoes into each chicken.
5. Place in non-stick sprayed dish and sprinkle basil, salt, and pepper on top.
6. Pour can of tomato sauce on top of chicken breasts. (I did not use the entire can.)
7. Spice it up! (red pepper flakes)
8. Bake, uncovered, for 40 minutes.
9. ENJOY!

**This recipe was delicious and easy to make.

Tip: If you cannot get your sun-dried tomatoes already julienned, just slice them up yourself.

*I served mine with a frozen veggie mix of broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and yellow carrots.

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Now for some visuals…..

chicken pocket–looks nasty (i’m so mature)

cheese and tomatoes in the chicken pocket

basil, salt, and pepper sprinkled on the chicken

all set for the oven! (with extra spiciness!!)

dinner is served!

delicious down to the last bite.. chicken, cheese, sauce, and tomato 🙂

xoxo, Haley

Question: Sun-dried tomatoes::like ’em or no?

The BF isn’t a fan of sun-dried tomatoes!! (crazy, huh?)