lately in my kitchen

As mentioned in my new year's resolution list....I would be cooking new recipes at least once a week.  As little as I have posted online, I have done really well!  I think my man has noticed too. :)

What's been happening with your resolutions?

((Note:  not all that you are about to see would I recommend eating weekly.  notably the poptarts, yet highly tasty and addictive, they are very calorically dense and very rude to your butt.))

Since my last post on Stacy's yummo kale chips....

 Giada's turkey and spinach taquitos & avocado hummus  

(photo courtesy of her website - link above)

(photo courtesy of her website - link above)

I didn't serve crispy pita chips.  I actually bought low carb flat pita bread, cut them into wedges and lightly brushed them with OO and sea salt and others with chili powder, toasted them in the oven at 350 until warm.  They were delish!  Try pairing the hummus with any of your favourite sliced veggies.

Chicken Enchiladas 

excuse the poor picture and lighting...

Their story: I made them the Friday evening before our church women's retreat.  We were all supposed to meet up at 7 or so at the hotel downtown.   I knew I hadn't prepared anything new for the week, so I gave these puppies a try.  Turns out they were a hit by my hubby.  Hint:  I had two and there were none left on Sat when I got home....  Regarding their recipe, I made it up.
1 pkg corn tortillas
olive oil
1 bottle Trader Joes enchilada sauce
1 package split, boneless chicken breasts (2-3) (Tip: you could def use rotisserie or leftover chicken that you've made during the week.  I, of course, chose to squeeze in cooking raw chicken on a night I had to be somewhere.)
seasonings I used on my chicken: cumin, garlic powder, sea salt, pepper
1 package shredded cheddar or monterrey jack cheese (1-2 cups)
1/2 stick of low fat cream cheese (4 oz) (unless you can't do dairy...and then, well this isn't your recipe)

Preheat oven to 350.
Assemble fillers:  shred cooked chicken and mix with 1 cup shredded cheese, cream cheese and little bit of the enchilada sauce to make it sticky.
Drizzle 1/2 cup or so of enchilada sauce into the bottom of an 8.5 x 11" baking dish or whatever you have that's long enough for the 6" tortillas to fit.
Warm 2 tortillas in microwave inside a damp paper towel for 10-15 sec.
Remove tortillas (you may need to add olive oil in your fingers to keep the tortillas from flaking apart)  and gently add your chicken/cheese fillers and roll up.
Gently place in baking dish.
After you get your dish full, add the remaining enchilada sauce and sprinkle with 1/2-1/3 cup cheese.
Bake until bubbly....20 minutes or so.
Serve with salsa, tabasco or other hot sauce and sprinkle with cilantro, if you have it.

Pop-tarts for Village

{miniatures for my co-workers kiddos}

{full-sized; cinnamon sugar on left-blackberry on right}

{Shanda, I love my silpat! here's a little up close shot before
adding the vanilla bean sugar glaze}

These were so much fun to assemble, bake and share with our friends.   Recipe here.  They are definitely worth baking and modifying with inner ingredients that you and your family enjoy (nutella, nuts, peanut butter, other flavor preserves, or as my hubby requested, cheese or pizza sauce).  We'll see if that happens.  I used regular unbleached flour, but I plan on trying whole wheat pastry or gluten free flours next time.  I also read around on the web for awhile before planning on these.  I didn't want them to be a puff pastry.  Some of the others I found online looked delicious, but they didn't look like Kelloggs.  

Breathe. I know, pastries, Hannah?  You're a dietitian.  Ok, so here's where we're at this week.

fresh squeezed juice

{these make my mouth water}

 
We received a juicer for our wedding.  Thankfully, I researched recipes for awhile before delving into juicing at the akin abode.  It can be highly expensive and time consuming for those not prepared.  I had great dreams of juicing daily and drinking it 2-3 times/day, however, when you get into it, it's not practical.

My recipes have included:
apple-ginger-juice
carrot-apple-ginger-juice
carrot-spinach-apple-ginger-juice
grapefruit juice
grapefruit-ginger juice
blueberry-spinach-mint juice

Side note: We have a Jack LaLanne's juicer - centrifugal, meaning it extracts juice and leaves the pith, skins and pulp.  I have been reserving this for other things: breads, soups, stews and used right back in any drink to make it thicker.  Make sure you don't throw out all of that $$ nutrition!!

Positive note:  I juiced twice this week!   Plan people.  You can do it!

Remember your green, in-season produce.

Here are a few sites that have inspired me.
Lunch Box Bunch
Camille Styles
Healthy Girls Kitchen
Oh Joy!

Have a wonderful FRIDAY and weekend (insert song of choice here)!

New Recipe: Stacy-Style Kale Chips

Have you ever eaten kale chips?

Me either.

...until last night.  They are delish!  Made well, I promise you'll enjoy them.

I really wanted to title this post Gangnam Style Kale Chips, but thought I should refer to the real creator, Stacy soon-to-be-Aguilar.

However, the flavors do dance in your mouth.

Here's how to make these amazing little chippies:
You'll need: Kale (organic if possible), Olive Oil, S&P, Red pepper flakes (if you like spice!)
Also: Preheat oven to 400 degrees
One bunch of kale yields about 4 cups of chips

Start by cleaning your kale with cold water

Next cut kale into "chip" sized pieces

Make sure to remove stems

Lay kale onto baking sheet (I lined mine with parchment)

Lightly drizzle with olive oil (I use my Misto), sea salt,
cracked black pepper or red pepper flakes (Stacy-Style)

Place in preheated oven 

Bake for 10-15 minutes (watch them, or they will burn)

Enjoy!  These are great by themselves as a snack or pair with your fav healthy soup or sandwich.

Honestly, eating them feels a little like you are eating leaves, however, the crisp texture and pepper flavor will leave you a little bit addicted. :)

Per serving (2 cups): 110 calories; 5 g fat ( 1 g sat , 3 g mono ); 0 mg cholesterol; 16 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 5 g protein; 6 g fiber; 210 mg sodium; 642 mg potassium.

as mentioned before

the list:

read the Bible. all of it.  following the plan here.

get rid of excess.

be healthy. 

not obsess.

get a hobby.

write more.

care less about things.  care more about other things. 

live free,

best wishes to you in the year 2011.

learn to fly

monday = thinking day

i've called it.  monday.  it's my thinking day.  just like standing on the brink of a new endeavor.  my mondays seem to always make me think.  laundry's done. apartment's clean.  now how can i really be productive?  this topic seems to align with the many resolutions that my friends and family are and aren't making this year.  for me, i've never made them because i've never been truly passionate about my options, but as i get older and seem to appreciate more life lessons.



goals for 2011 - modish vintage



i feel this is a good year to make a few. 

 joythebaker inspired me with a few of hers. 

here are a few from my closest:

chase-to get a hobby: tutoring, teaching, giving things away (we've discouraged the game playing for money and expensive hobbies like golf and hunting)
sarah-haven't talked to her yet...my hope is to spend more time with me! :) love you, sar bear!
mom-a new talent/skill (mom's probably the only person i know to ever complete her resolutions....cooking school, weight loss, saving for vacation, remodeling the kitchen....what a record!)
dad- ?? finally clean out the garage?? (trust me, it'll take him the whole year- he's my mom's perfect match)
ana-perfect her gym routine, including squats with a bar (haha)
fern-get through and pass police academy with flying colors so he can wear one of those cool blue uniforms and carry a gun, visibly. lol
kate-her art; may it continue to grow and reflect Christ
lola, wendy, rach, maddie, morgan, and alma...haven't talked to these special ladies yet...but i know that they are all planning for a wonderful 2011.

fireworks from the unreliable girl

i am thinking of my list...it will be posted soon.  what are yours?