Smoked Salmon Puff Bites

 

 

In Hawaii we had a personal chef come to cook us dinner. She made amazing tuna, shrimp, chicken, dessert, and pretty much anything else you can think of. This had me wanting to try and cook some foods I am not a fan of. Dun, dun. duuun.. SALMON

I try to like it. I really try to like it. I just can’t like it.. but once again, I tried

 

Smoked Salmon Puff Bites

• 3/4 cup flour
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 3/4 stick of butter
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• cream cheese (desired amount)
• smoked salmon (desired amount)
• lettuce (2 leaves per puff)

 

1. Preheat oven 350*
2. pour water and milk in pot on medium heat
3. add butter, sugar, and salt.. bring to a boil
4. remove the pot from heat and add flour
5. stir well, then place pot back on heat for 1 minute while stirring (ball of dough)
6. remove dough and place in a bowl to cool for 10-15 mins
7. add one egg at a time, stirring each egg in the dough mixture
8. place dough in piping bag or zip lock bag with corner cut
9. pipe the dough into small amounts on backing sheet and bake for 10 mins, it may take longer than 10 mins depending on oven. I cut one open after 12 mins and the inside was still “wet” so I cooked longer until inside was not “wet”
10. cut salmon into strips
11. cut open each puff, add cream cheese, salmon, and lettuce
12. ENJOY

This were really good, the puffs were awesome, but I could not make myself like the Salmon. I am going to use the puffs for tilapia or chicken in the future. If you like smoked salmon, you will love these!

 

 

Upside-down Crockpot Chicken Pot-Pie

 

I have never been a fan of chicken pot pie. Maybe it was because I didn’t like/eat many veggies when I was younger or maybe because it just always looked like a bunch of mush. Whatever the reason, boy was I wrong! I probably have had maybe 10 chicken pot pies in my lifetime. Out of the ten, I actually cooked one myself. Oh My GOOOODNESS. and goodness is exactly what it was!

 

 

Upside-down Crockpot Chicken Pot–Pie

 

• 2 Boneless chicken breast cut into chunks
• Red potatoes, as many as you want, cut into chunks (I think I used 4-6)
• Baby carrots cut up (I am not a fan of cooked carrots so I didn’t use a lot
• 2 cans (26 ounce) condensed cream of chicken soup (low sodium)
• 3 cubes chicken bouillon
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt
• parsley to taste
• 1/2 tbls black pepper 
• 1 (16 ounce) bag of frozen veggies of choice
• choice of biscuits or cornbread (I used Grands biscuits)

 

 

1. Put everything except frozen veggies in crockpot on high for 4 hours
2. Add frozen veggies and cook on high for 1 hour or low for 2.5 hours
3. Cook biscuits per directions
4. Biscuit on plate/bowl and pour mixture on top

 

The 1 Month Challenge

 

 

In exactly one month I will be on my way to a Hawaii. WOWZERS time has flown by! I remember saying in exactly 1 year, I will be on my way to Hawaii.. Next thing I know it will be exactly 1 week, then exactly 1 day. I am more than ready to be sitting in the sun with nothing to do but watch my chica boo swim in the private pool, eat fresh pineapple, and go zip lining in the rain forest!

So, that brings me to my 1 month challenge. LITTLE CARBS..

I can not promise myself that I will not have any carbs at all.. We have family functions coming up and the food is always soooo yummy! BUT, my challenge is to not cook with carbs. (or as little carbs as possible) Pretty much what I am saying is.. NO BREAD.. (ahhhhh) NO PASTA.. NO CEREAL.. and NO BEER.. NO BEER?! <------  that is going to be hard since I am in a faze where I crave blue moon with an orange. Actually any beer with an orange sounds amazing to me! Starting today.. RIGHT NOW.. carb cut back/cut out. I want to say I wont cook with carbs at all, but I think there may be carbs in some things I don’t realize has carbs.. Guess we will see. I have a meal plan for the next 2 weeks, my list is made, now I just have to go to Publix. Check back for recipes and updates!!

 

Almond Crusted Chicken Fingers

 

 

I love chicken fingers. Chicken fingers love my waist. This is the both of best worlds. Healthy and satisfying to cravings!

 

Almond Crusted Chicken Fingers

• Boneless Chicken Strips (I say use organic chicken strips) as many as you want to cook, they heat up the next day great!
• 1 Cup Almonds crushed. (I have used pre-crushed but I usually buy chopped almonds I have used whole almonds) and then I crush them in my blender)
• Garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon Dried Parsley
• 1 /2 teaspoon Paprika
• 2 teaspoons Dried Mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon of Nutmeg
• 1/2 Cup Wheat Germ. (I usually do not use wheat germ. I like it just with the almonds (plus it is healthier with just almonds) 
• 2 egg whites, if you run out you can always add more egg whites, I just dislike wasting eggs
• Cooking Spray

 

1. Preheat oven 350*
2. Cover pan with foil and spray with cooking spray
3. In 1 bowl add all ingredients except egg and chicken
4. In 2nd bowl, whisk egg whites.
5. Dip the chicken in egg whites, let the excess drip off.
6. Dip and cover the strips in the 1st bowl of mixture
7. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, until cooked through. It will have a different look compared to fried chicken fingers so make sure not to over cook the chicken

 

 

Pre chopped almonds

Blend the almonds to desired crushed-ness (I usually go ahead and crush all of them and store it in a mason jar in the pantry for easy access later in the week)

Coat chicken and bake!

 

SOO YUMMY

 

Results:

I cook these at least 2 times a week. They are one of the easiest meals and I could do it with my eyes closed. I usually bake extra for lunch the next day!

Baked Veggies

 

Like I have said before, I am not a fan of cooked veggies. With this said, I may have just found a dish that changes my mind on that. I was so excited to eat this after I cooked it that I {once again} forgot the after picture.. but try it out anyways.. trust me.. YUMMY!

 

BAKED VEGGIES

Zucchini
Squash
Sweet Potato
Garlic powder
Minced Onion or chopped onion
EVOO
Cheese
*EXTRA TOUCH* I also added laughing cow wedge cheese because it is wonderful to cook with

1. Preheat 350*
2. Slice your veggies in thin slices {I also peeled my veggies because I enjoy using the peeler I have.. but it is not a must}
3. Mix garlic, onion, and dab of EVOO in the bottom of your baking dish
4. Place veggies in pan
5. Add your laughing cow wedge cut in to chunks at this point if you are using the laughing cow cheese
6. Sprinkle spices (I sprinkled garlic on top and mined onion, then added some parsley)
7. Cover and bake for 15 mins
8. Take out, add cheese and recover
9. Let stand (while covered) so cheese melts
10. Serve or Eat our of the pot if you cant wait.. like me
    

Results:

AMAZING. AMAZING AMAZING.. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! I will be making this weekly, if not daily.. I ate it with my almond crusted chicken fingers.

Feta Stuffed Zucchini

 

Recently I have found a love for Zucchini. I mean I love it. RAW. Not cooked. Although I have been working on acquiring a taste for it half raw/half cooked. Meaning, I don’t cook it long enough to get mushy but it is cooked enough to taste different and be hot.

 

Feta Stuffed Zucchini Cups

Zucchini
Feta
Parsley
Garlic powder
Wine Vinegar
EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
Any other add-ons: bacon, tomato, carrots, etc.

 

1. Preheat oven 350*
2. Cup Zucchini into large slices
3. Scoop out center with melon scooper or small spoon
4. Cover pan with foil and spray with cooking spray
5. Mix together ingredients
6. I did not measure each ingredient, I did it to taste
7. Stuff cups with the feta
8. Bake for 15 mins, or until desired texture

 

Review..

I was not a fan of these. It was the feta that didn’t set in my mouth right. I am sure this would be good with some other type of cheese or stuffing (tonight I am using meat to stuff them with) but as for this dish, I will not be cooking it again with feta cheese. {I did make myself eat half of it though}

Pizza stuffed mushrooms

I am (and have been) back in the kitchen. Cooking up new recipes and creating some of my own.

With this wasting healthy stuff I have come to realize a few of my unhealthy cravings. Such as pizza. I am not a fan of pizza hut or papa johns. But take me to mellow mushroom or lupis and I am all about that greasy cheesy Alice of pizza...ok. Maybe more than just a slice. My favorite pizza is homemade pizza straight from my oven. There is nothing better than making it and eating it in the comfort of my home. Pizza is not an option though. And goodness when I crave it. I crraavvee it! Some I have found a way to settle the craving (as best as possible) without loading up {or down} on those carbs.

Pizza Stuffed Mushrooms

Mushroom caps
Tomato sauce (no salt added)
Cheese
Garlic powder
And any topping

1. Preheat oven 400
2. Wash mushrooms with damp cloth (don't run under water because they will absorb the water and stay wet)
3. Cut stems and scoop out inside of mushrooms
4. Sprinkle garlic over mushrooms
5. Place mushrooms in oven for 5 to 7 mins depending on desired cook
6. Take mushrooms out and stuff with sauce and other toppings
7. Place in oven on broil until toppings are melted
   
   
   I am posting from my phone so sorry of the pictures are out of order.
   
   

 

 

 

Results:

LOVE LOVE LOVE.. The mushroom was a little overpowering but I know this can be fixed with a little tweeking of some spices on the mushroom. I ate it as a side dish with  chicken and spinach leaves.

Sushi Maker

 

Today marks a very exciting moment for me! I made homemade sushi!! 

I love sushi!

 

I had no idea out much of each ingredient to put into the sushi, so that could use some tweeking but I have to say.. I’d give myself a 7.. it also needs some spicy mayo or something..

 

I used Seaweed, sushi rice, shrimp, and avocado (pretty simple and blandish.. like I said, it needs sauce)

 

 

Thank you sister for the bamboo roll, rice spoon, and sushi tray!

Spread the rice on the seaweed.. make sure you wet your fingers so the rice doesn’t stick

 

Add the veggies and protein in a vertical line.
(I need way more avocado and shrimp.. if it looks like to much, add more.. it isn’t too much)

and roll

sharp knife, wet the blade, slice, SERVE

I am proud!

10 – 1 point (not enough stuffing) – 1 point (needs spicy mayo) –1 point (I want the rice on the outside) = 7 points!!

Kale Chips

 

 

We all need that perfect crunch! Kale chips are exactly the (healthy) crunch you are I was looking for.

I honestly could eat it by the handfuls! MmMMMMmmmMm!

 

• Simply buy Kale (it is a lettuce)
• spray with a cooking spray or evoo
• sprinkle with salt, garlic, parmesan cheese or any other spice you want
• bake at 350 around 15 mins. The do burn easy so make sure you watch them
• half way done, flip for even crunch