Wednesday, July 31, 2013

10 Minute Meal!

Hello again, to all my fellow friends who read this blog :) I have made a few dishes since I last blogged that were mighty tasty, however, this is the most worthy of sharing with you all because it only takes 10 MINUTES TO MAKE!

That's right, you read correctly. Soooooo, what does this mean?

Answer: You can make a fine, light meal without any hassle!

In a time crunch? Who isn't? Just take a deep breath, relax, and whatever you do....do NOT give into the fast food joint that may or may not reside across the street from your house.


After all, why get a Big Mac for around $4 when you can make this delicious meal for about $1.50-$2.00 per serving. Pierogie Salad: 1. Big Mac: 0.

This past month I got a job at a health food store called, Earth Fare. It is similar to a Whole Foods but it is owned by a much smaller company, which enables us employees to promote healthy foods through fun activities and make deals that are great for the whole family :) Find one near you!!

Anyway, I am bit of a "shopaholic" when it comes to healthy foods and this problem becomes most prominent after every shift I work.....in other words, I want to buy EVERYTHING in the store! MAJOR PROBLEM.



However, I stumbled across this bag of Organic Pierogies and it brought back memories of when my Mom used to prepare some of Mrs.T's Pierogies. Yum! So I was more than excited to discover that they sold one of my childhood favorites, organic style ;) YAY.

For those of you who have not tried pierogies, let me just ask you...where...have...you...been?!
They are FANTASTIC! And not to mention low-cal and very filling! Just 240 calories per 1/2 cup! Almost like a dumpling, the pierogie consists of a pasta-like shell which encloses the magic combo: potatoes, onion, and cheddar.

They are not whole grain, but let me tell you, if you incorporate as much fiber as I do in your daily diet....let's just say your bowels need a break, so this meal is PERFECT for such situations.

After seasoning your perogies with your favorite herbs and a bit of extra virgin olive-oil (great addition of fatty acids), grab a generous handful of any kind of green, such as a Spring Mix:


I added a sprinkle of sunflower seeds just for some extra flavor :)

That is all! 10 Minutes are UP. Now go on and enjoy!
   



Thursday, July 4, 2013

Light, Low-Cal, Fiesta in yo' mouth!

I had a moment of epiphany......I am in love with FAJITA QUESADILLAS. Sadly, I did not make a fajita quesadilla, but trust me I got the next best thing!!! And, not to mention, it is very healthy as well, clocking in at around 260 calories! Wooohoo!

The inspiration for this light meal/pre-workout snack, I dedicate to one of my best friends, Melissa, who introduced a group of us to this amazing local restaurant here in Columbus called, La Fogata. Let me just tell you, that was the most tasty birthday-dinner-place-thing EVER.

This just goes to show that even people who strive to educate others about the importance of health and fitness, can splurge every once and a while to satisfy their cravings :)


So, this does not look like your average quesadilla right? Your probably thinking right now, "Great, Cheyenne is telling me I am only worthy of one tortilla...I am going to starve, fabulous." STOP! I promise that is not my intention! If you feel like that extra tortilla then by all means PLEASE grab one and slap it on your own creation! I am simply trying to mimic the awesome fajita quesadilla I had at el restaraunte de La FogataOLE!

Here, grab as many as you want!!

Shall we start with the ingredients for our masterpiece? :) I think so!!!!!!!!

Okay so the main component, the base, the play maker, the ingredient responsible for holding our piece together....I call it the Tortilla.

Feast upon your eyes ladies and gents, because this is going to be your new best friend during your journey of making this low-cal, veggie filled quesadilla.



As you can see, I am using a different type of tortilla then you maybe used to seeing in the big chain grocery stores like Kroger, Target, Walmart etc. This type of bread is called, Ezekiel 4:9, and unlike the typical tortillas we see in one of the stores above, it does NOT undergo the processing which means that it contains zero preservatives and additives. As a result, it is crucial for these bread products to be kept in the refrigerator or freezer (if you are planning on keeping it for long periods of time) until use to preserve its freshness. Not to mention, it tastes AMAZING!
Melissa, introduced me to this bread through her blog and I was ecstatic to try it!

To defrost this tortilla, I simply placed it on a skillet and after a flip or two, I began adding the rest of my ingredients!
                                                                                  
 


 
Yummy!!!!!!!!!! I added a sprinkle of two killer cheese selections: crumbled feta cheese with tomato basil, and lactose-free cheddar cheese (for those of you who might be sensitive to lactose found in dairy products). Also, you may see that I added a 50/50 spring and spinach mix for extra antioxidants, along with sauteed mushrooms and onions! Fun Fact: Mushrooms and Onions are two known foods that may help prevent women from Ovarian Cancer. So ladies, stalk up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 



And after 5 minutes of melting that wonderful cheese, plop your meal on a plate and add aside of salsa and wala! You have a wonderful light meal that is perfect to eat an hour or two before your evening workout! Hope you try it out for yourself, ENJOY!:)