Pages

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Baked Eggplant Parmesan, Say What?

I made this recipe awhile ago, and meant to share it but forgot. Whoops! So today I am going to go through it, that way you can make it ASAP because I mean your going to. Right?!

I love those comfort meals that you can lighten up and have them still taste heavenly. Believe me, this is one of them...

Baked Eggplant Parmesan

2 large eggplants (peeled & sliced into 1/2 in. slices)

2 eggs or 3 egg whites

1 1/2 c. whole wheat panko bread crumbs

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. oregano

1/4 tsp. onion powder

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

EVOO spray

1 jar pasta sauce (whatever kind you want)

1 c. part skim mozzarella cheese 

1 box whole wheat penne pasta

Directions: Preheat the oven for 415 degrees. Peel your eggplants ensuring all the skin is off.



Next, cut your peeled eggplants into about a 1/2 inch slices.

 

Now, make the bread crumb mixture by combining: bread crumbs, garlic powder, oregano, onion powder, and crushed red pepper in a medium sized bowl.


 
In another bowl whisk the eggs together. Next, prepare a large baking sheet by lining it with foil and spray with EVOO. It is  now time for your assembly line. First, dredge the eggplant in the egg, then into the bread crumb mixture. Make sure you coat both sides completely! Place onto baking sheet in a single layer. 


Into the oven they go and bake for about 10 minutes. Flip the eggplant and bake on the other side for about 10 minutes. Take out of the oven and place a spoonful of pasta sauce on the tops of the eggplant slices. Add a sprinkle of cheese on the top of that and place back into the oven for 3-5 minutes until melted.



It is now time for the good part! Place a layer of your cooked penne pasta onto a plate, top with a bit of sauce and then top that with a few eggplant slices (and more cheese if you want). ENJOY :)

 

Saturday, February 23, 2013

The Perfect Pancake (Wheat free!)

 Oh pancakes, I have a love-hate relationship with you...

I love eating pancakes.  I hate making batches upon batches of them and then only eat half. Therefore, when I want one I just make a single serving version. I am pretty sure I have perfected the wheat free version...you should try it.



The Perfect Pancake
{Single serving & wheat free}

2 egg whites

2-3 Tb. coconut milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 Tb. coconut flour

1 1/2 Tb. almond flour 

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 Tb. chia seeds 

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Optional toppings/additions:  blueberries, cinnamon apples, coconut, bananas, strawberries, almond butter, maple syrup, chia seeds, etc.

Combine all ingredients into a small mixing bowl and stir until combined. Heat a small skillet on medium heat and spray pan with EVOO. Pour batter into pan and cook on one side until bubbles start to form. Flip pancake and finish cooking.  Top with whatever your heart desires.

ENJOY :)

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

What's Your Motivation?

I get the question all the time..."Why do you think working out is fun?!" To me what they are really asking is... What is your motivation

Everyone needs some kind of motivation for everything they do!

**This may get a little wordy but whatever, you decide if you want to read it! 

 My fitness motivation started the day I began to swim in elementary school. Being a competitive person, the sport was perfect for me since we basically got to race people every single day. Swimming kept me going through high school and eventually to college.

College swimming is a whole different atmosphere. I found myself in a different state, with a different team, a new coach,   a new way of training, and a new group of wonderful girl friends. None of this was easy, but I knew without the support of my team I would have never been able to get up for those 5 AM practices.

I will also say that no one is perfect, we all make mistakes. Through my college years and swimming I found myself making some not so great decisions with my studies and training. But isn't that how we all learn??!

While injured my junior year in college, I began to research nutrition, training, and basically how the body works. I also began to ask more questions to my strength coach about our workouts and the reasoning behind the exercises we did. This opened up a whole new world for me. From that moment in my junior/senior year I knew that the body was a special and a wonderful thing we are all blessed with. 




Looking good with the snorkel! HA

This led to graduation and then graduate school where I studied kinesiology. Although at times I got frustrated with classes (I get stressed easily so what else is new?) I knew this was the field I wanted to be in. 

From then to now and being in the BIG WORLD, I have learned so much about myself and the fitness world. I have learned A LOT about people and their mentality towards working out. It's crazy to hear the excuses and I find myself asking WHY? Why are you coming in here everyday making these excuses? What is it you want to achieve? What is holding you back? I constantly come back to my own goals and need to ask myself the same questions, even if I am not training for anything. 




Basically what I am trying to say is FIND YOUR MOTIVATION! Once you find it, you can achieve so many things! I promise :)


Get after it!

Friday, February 1, 2013

Buffalo Feta-Stuffed Meatballs

Happy Friday! Today I have an AWESOMELY delicious recipe. Okay, so it was finally a Pinterest recipe I followed! I ate them for dinner last night even though they are really an appetizer, obviously I do not care. These would be great to bring to a Super Bowl party...so here it is.



Buffalo Feta-Stuffed Meatballs

1 lb. ground chicken

1 egg white

1/4 of a small yellow onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1/2 c. panko or regular plain breadcrumbs

1 Tb. Ranch dip mix

4 oz. feta block, cut into 16 cubes

2 Tb. butter

1 c. Frank's Hot Wing Sauce


Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine the egg white, onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, and dip mix until mixed together. Add in the ground chicken until it is evenly combined. Split the mixture into 16 portions. Add a cube of feta to each portion and roll into a meatball form. Place on a non-stick baking sheet. *I use foil because I like easy clean up.


Place in the oven and bake for about 18 minutes, or until browned.



On the stove top, melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the hot wing sauce. Once the meatballs are done, transfer them into the sauce mixture and coat completely. Keep covered and heat on low. ENJOY!

They are oh so YUMMY, you need to try this recipe NOW! I promise you will not regret it :) 

Have a superb football filled weekend!