Cauliflower Tots

I have heard about all the different things to do with Cauliflower but never ever had the guts to try it myself. So I am not taking the credit for these as I found them on a different site.

These make a great appies or a side. 

Cauliflower Tots (from LittleThings.com)
2 Cups Cauliflower, steamed and crumbled 
8 Tbsp Shredded Parm
1 Tbsp Butter
1 Large Egg
1/4 Onion Powder (I used 3 Onion Dip from Epicure)
Salt and Pepper to taste

                                               
What To Do:

1.Preheat Oven to 425F
2. Steam Cauliflower and mince I throw mine into the food processor. Once done be sure to drain out using either a tea towel or Cheesecloth
3. Melt the Butter, and beat the egg mix in with the cauliflower and spices.
4. You can add any other spices you want as well. 
5. Use a Teaspoon and form the mixture into a ball place on a cookie sheet layered with parchment paper
6. Refrigerate tots for 10 mins so that they firm up, they will be pretty mushy before you refrigerate them.
7. Bake for 18 mins or until golden brown.

Serve warm. I enjoyed dipping mine in siracha yogurt sauce! 

Tbsp Greek Yogurt and siracha sauce to your liking mix and use as a dip!  

Meal Planning Tips That Will Make It Less Stressful!

I was never a planner. I used to fly by the seat of my pants in every area of my life! 

I was the person who waited until the last possible day of the deadline to get assignments done. What can I say I strive under pressure.

When it came time to figure out portion control and healthy meals, I was totally lost. I thought I could just roll through my days without a plan and just magically eat according to plan. This, my friends, was not the case! 

This is the one thing that I could not just wing. I would catch myself craving food that wasn't on my food list or just end up reaching for boxed easy food for supper which is filled with chemicals and crap. 

SO I had to LEARN how to plan and prep. It took me awhile but I figured out what works for me and I want to share some ways to make it painless for you too! 

Meal planning is one of the easiest things you can do to set yourself up for success. There are no rules so really, YOU CAN'T MESS UP!  The key is just to start, and to set aside a little bit of time each week to do it. There are so many ways to approach meal planning that, once you do it once or twice and schedule it into your week you will be golden!

First thing first decide how you want to plan it. Spreadsheets, paper and pen, whatever you choose. I am a HUGE paper and pen gal so that is what I go with! ( see picture below to the right) It is nothing fancy and there is a bit of scribbling but hey it's good for me and gets the job done!

Next, make sure you have a set time during the week to plan, scope out flyers and deals (if you are looking to budget as well) I meal plan on a friday as Saturday or Sunday is usually a city day. 

Step 3- figure out your eating situation. What meetings do you have, extra curricular activities, meals with friends, etc. Mark those on the meal plan sheet and take those into consideration so you can plan or be on the lookout for dump, crockpot, or easy meals.

*Tip*- create a pinterest board or master recipe binder of all the recipes you try or would like to try and your family loves. You can make sections or label fam favourites, breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner, fast etc. 

Step 4- Plan your meals with overlapping ingredients. Ex. Greek Chicken Kabobs w/wild rice. Make enough chicken that you can make Chicken salad the next day for lunch and enough rice that you can make something with rice for supper then next night. OR you can just mix the rice and chicken together the next day for a yummy chicken fried rice! This will save you money and time but that will also come with meal prep! 

Once you get everything planned out then make your grocery list! I like to look for deals and I price check lots but it is up to you!

Click here for my CLEAN EATING GROCERY LIST. 

Now you are ready to roll! 

Greek Chicken Dinner

Greek Chicken Dinner

I love love love this delicious recipe! Something about greek food makes me excited. This is a quick, easy and healthy recipe!
For anyone following Ultimate Portion Fix (portion control containers) it would be considered 1P, 1G, 1Y, 1R

Greek Chicken Kabobs

Cube 4 Chicken Breasts 

2T Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1T Red Wine Vinegar

3 Garlic cloves minced

2tsp oregano

1/2tsp basil
dash mint or dried mint
dash chili flakes

Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all together in a bag or bowl and marinate for no longer than 2 hours.

2 large red peppers ( or whatever colours you have)

3 small zucchini ( I just realized I forgot this 😩)

1large red onion

Cup all into chunks to your liking

*While doing all this soak skewers if using wood ones

*When ready skew chicken and veg alternating

And throw on the barby!

While those are cooking make your Tzatziki

Tzatziki Sauce

1 med cuke( dice and sprinkle some salt on let sit while mixing up everything else. If you miss this step you will end up with killer watery sauce

In a bowl mix together:

1 cup Greek yogurt ( plain 2%)

1tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1T lemon juice ( fresh is best)

Salt and pepper to taste

1 clove garlic

1T fresh parsley and fresh dill

Directions:

*Once cukes are done you can either drain them using a tea towel or cheesecloth then chop small by hand or use a food processor same with garlic then add into the sauce.

*Chill and drizzle over kabobs and serve with Rice. I use Brown and Wild Rice!

*I ended up hand blending everything together then adding another 1/4 cup yogurt and it was runny but still good!! Your call!

Optional Greek Salad:
Mix together whatever veggies you like.
I typically like cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, olives *Optional and you can add feta if you like.
Then I use 1/2 orange of this dressing
Greek Dressing:
2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 teaspoon finely chopped, fresh oregano
1/4 teaspoon Pink Himalayan Salt
Shake of garlic powder
Squeeze of fresh lemon juice

Container counts would go for 2 of your tsps or 1 orange if you use the whole container. If you have olives be sure to divide it up and track. And 1G container for the veggies.

Notes:

I started making mine either in kabob form or chicken breasts. Grilling is the best but some people don't have that option so baking is also an option. For nice juicy chicken I make mine in parchment paper packets. Roll up the edges all the way around to make a sealed pack and bake at 400F for 20-25mins. Let rest before you open but it will most likely be juicy everytime. Great way to make prepped chicken breast for the week as well! 

I also like adding Naan Bread to our dinners but then I just will eat half the amount of rice and a couple pieces of naan. 

To make our naan bread we spray with a little spray olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, oregano, parsley and garlic powder and grill until soft or toss straight into the rack in the over and bake 325 for 5-8 mins or until it is soft. You can also find whole wheat naan bread but sometimes I live on the edge and enjoy the normal kind. 

I will serve with Brown Jasmine Rice as well and that would be counted as a yellow container. 

Zucchini Boats!

It is that time of year when those who grew Zucchini have it coming out of EVERYWHERE! I, myself, LOVE Zucchini as it keeps super well but also freezes well! I have many many recipes but this is one I just tried today. 

Zucchini Boats

Serves 4 

1 Medium Zucchini

3/4 Extra Lean Ground beef or Turkey

1 Cup Marinara sauce ( I make my own)

1/2 Cup Shredded Cheese 

Cut the zucchini in half lengthwise

Hollow each side out using a spoon or a melon baller

Brown meat and mix in the sauce

Add whatever spices you like (I used Taco Seasoning) 

Split mixture into the two halves of zucchini

Sprinkle cheese over top 

Bake at 400F for 10 mins - should be able to stick a fork easily into the end

Broil on high until browned

Serve as a side or main dish with a side of rice :)