Kale, Herb & Avocado Couscous Salad!

Hey Everyone!

Looks like St. Patrick's Day food but REALLLLLY good! haha

Happy Meatless Monday! I hope you all stuck with the plan today and are planning on trying something new tomorrow for TRY NEW TUESDAY!!! Joe keeps complaining that I am not filling him up every night so I have been trying to make more fibrous foods to keep him full! I also am working on making kale more tasty and this recipe is delicious and boyfriend approved! I hope you all enjoy it and continue on your week 1 plan! xxxCourt

6 Servings (About 1 Cup) - 218 Calories & 6 WW PointsPlus

Ingredients:
Sauce -

• 1/2 Cup Chopped Kale
• 1/4 Bunch of Chopped Cilantro
• 1/4 Bunch of Chopped Parsley
• 1/4 Medium Chopped Onion
• 1/2 Large Diced Avocado
• 2 Cloves Pressed/Grated Garlic
• 1/4 Chopped Green Bell Pepper
• 1 tsp Mustard
• 1 Lime Juiced & Zested
• 1 Lemon Juiced
• 2 tsp EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
• 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
• 1/2 tsp Seasoning Salt
• 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
• Optional - 1/2 - 1 Jalapeno 

Salad -

• 1 Cup Couscous (Whole Wheat if Possible)
• 1 Cup Low-Sodium Chicken/Veggie Stock
• 8 Cherry Tomatoes 
• 1/4 Cup of Corn
• 1/8 Cup Toasted Plain Slivered Almonds

Steps:

1. Place all of the "Sauce" ingredients in food processor or blender and blend until smooth and VERY green! (it is a little frightening haha)
2. Bring 1 cup of broth to boil and once it starts to boil add couscous to it and stir then cover and take off the heat. Let sit for 10 minutes and fluff with a fork when its done.
3. Cut cherry tomatoes into thirds (or halves but I prefer thirds) and along with the corn mix into the couscous.
4. To toast almonds place in saute pan on med/high heat until golden brown and fragrant and fold into or sprinkle on with some parm. cheese on top of the couscous (optional of course (: ).
5. Mix in the sauce and chill for a minimum of 30 minutes and then serve and enjoy!!

**This sauce would also taste good on other types of pasta!

Happy Creating!

Healthy Sweet Potato & Asparagus Hash

Hey Everyone! 

TO DIE FOR!

I hope you all had an awesome weekend and aren't completely dreading that tomorrow is Monday! I am excited because tomorrow starts our first week of my Healthy Changes Challenge! (Click the link for more info) I have been trying to experiment with foods that I love that are bad for you and re-create them in healthier versions! One of my favorite meals for any meal of the day is some good ole hash! It is yummy but really not that good for you! So I have swapped out regular potatoes for sweet potatoes and the bacon for chicken and I hope you guys enjoy this as much as I did!! You can totally use this recipe for meatless Monday by taking out the chicken and swapping chicken stock for veggie stock. It will still be as delicious and also fit in with our new 4 week plan!! I hope you are ready for the challenge, get ready for some great changes in your health and the way you feel. xxxCourt

Serves 4 (1 cup per person) - 196 Calories & 5 WW PointsPlus per serving

Ingredients: 

• 2 large Sweet Potatoes (washed, dried & cut into 1 inch cubes)
• 1/2 Onion (roughly chopped_
• 6 oz Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (cut into 1/2 inch cubes)
• 2 cloves garlic (pressed or finely chopped)
• 1/2 bell pepper (cut into 1 inch pieces)
• 10 spears asparagus (washed, dried and cut into 2 inch long pieces)
• 1/2 cup low sodium chicken stock
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp seasoning salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/4 tsp dried rosemary
• 1/4 tsp dried thyme
• 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• OPTIONAL: Fresh parsley to garnish

Steps:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
2. Line a cookie sheet tray (with lips so the juices will stay in the pan) with foil.
3. Cut, dice and prep all of your ingredients. 
4. Place all spices into a small bowl and mix together.
5. Heat 1 tsp of EVOO in a large skillet on med/high heat on the stove top.
6. Place sweet potatoes in hot oil and caramelize for 10 minutes making sure to constantly stir.
7. Once sweet potatoes are done place on foiled sheet tray.
8. Add onions, garlic and bell pepper to hot skillet the sweet potatoes were

   

   Right before I dove in!

   in and caramelize for 4 minutes.
9. Once those are done add to sheet tray with sweet potatoes.
10. Add last tsp of EVOO to hot skillet and brown the cubed chicken breast for 10 minutes.
11. Once chicken breast is done add to the sheet tray while adding the chopped up asparagus as well. 
12. Evenly distribute spice mixture over the entire sheet tray and mix together to evenly coat all the ingredients and add 1/2 cup of stock to the bottom of the tray (add 1/4 more stock to bottom if stock isn't cover they entire bottom of tray).
13. Pop into your preheated oven for 15 minutes and then broil for 2 more after that.
14. Serve over a bed of greens or top it with a poached or fried egg and ENJOY!

Happy Creating (:

Roasted Asparagus!

YUM!!!!!

Happy Saturday Peeps!!

Today I want to talk about one of my favorite veggies of all time, ASPARAGUS! It is absolutely delicious and extremely healthy for you. It is filled with tons of vitamins and minerals most importantly it contains something called "glutathione that helps break down carcinogens and other harmful compounds like free radicals which can help prevent certain cancers(1)"! Growing up my parents were steamers. That is their preferred way to cook veggies. I however do not like mine as mushy and prefer a more al dente texture! So I pretty much grill or roast ALL of my veggies! It adds so much more flavor and is way healthier because you don't have to dip your broccoli, asparagus  ect. in mayo or butter! I promise this recipe will NOT disappoint and not to mention its so simple and easy to do. I even got Joe eating some veggies and LIKING them that he never would even try before! xxxCourt

P.S. Most people do not store their asparagus correctly, look out below for tips on how to make it last as long as possible in your fridge!

Serves 3 (10 Spears of asparagus per serving) - 68 Calories & 2 WW PointsPlus

Ingredients:

• 30 Spears of asparagus

  

  Step 2 & also how you should store your asparagus!

• 1/2 tbsp EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
• 1/4 tsp Seasoning salt
• 1/8 tsp Black pepper
• OPTIONAL: 1 Clove of pressed garlic (or finely chopped)

Steps:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees (or grill if you are cooking outdoors!)
2. Prep all of your asparagus by snapping them in half (see picture demonstration by the lovely Joseph David)                             *They will snap where they are meant to be snapped and if you are in a rush and have a bunch of asparagus then snap one from each bunch and chop the rest where the one snapped. **To store your asparagus chop off about 1/2 inch of bottom when you get home from the store and place in a cup of water (like flowers) they will even grow a little. Make sure you check the water if they are going to be in there long and refill if necessary! 
3. Place all asparagus on a cookie sheet tray lined with tin foil for an easy clean up! 
4. Drizzle EVOO on top and toss using your fingers to evenly coat all of the asparagus.

   

   Step 6: I should of used foil, oops!

5. Sprinkle salt, pepper and garlic clove on top of the asparagus and toss again with hands to even coat all of the veggies.
6. Make sure all of asparagus are laying flat on the sheet tray (not too over crowded) and place in the oven or on the grill.
7. Cook 15-20 minutes or until desired char color has been achieved (15 minutes makes for more firm asparagus and 20 is a little more cooked).
8. Plate up right away and serve alone or with a wedge or two of fresh lemon!
9. ENJOY!

You can pretty much swap out asparagus with lots of different veggies for this recipe. I have done corn, broccoli, cauliflower, ect. GET CREATIVE! Make veggies more fun and tasty because they should be in almost every meal that you eat!  

Happy Creating!

***Site Sources: (1) - http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/health_blog/5_powerful_health_benefits_of_asparagus_you_probably_didn_t_know

Grocery List - Get Organized !

Hey There Everyone!!

So since our 31 Day Challenge starts in THREE days I wanted to give you another tool that I use to get organized and prepared for the week. Here is my grocery shopping outline! 

To save this adorable template, right click the picture and save to computer then open it and click print!

It is easy to just print out and post on your fridge and add to it whenever you run out of something or when you sit down and start to plan you meals for the week! Because I go to several stores for my shopping, I usually fill this out then flip it over and write each of the stores names I am going to and organize where I am going to be getting all of those things from! 

Back of my list!

My top tips for saving money and preparing for a shopping trip:

1. ALWAYS make a list. Commit to buying everything plus an extra five things that aren't on the list but NO MORE than FIVE extra.
2. DO NOT GO HUNGRY! I worked at a grocery store and I know from experience that this is the number one way to over spend. 
3. Check out the sales before you make your list and plan your meals. Sometimes this can be time consuming so you can also go and print out a list from online of fruits and veggies and when they are in season and keep it somewhere handy. When you buy whats in season you SAVE.
4. COUPONS COUPONS COUPONS! Get the Sunday paper, they have the best coupons!
5. Buy LOCAL! Farmers markets or stores like Sprouts (my personal favorite) sell local produce at CHEAP prices and you are supporting your local economy which is great too!
6. Learn how to store and prep your food to make it last as long as you can! Pinterest and many other websites have tips like putting onions in pantyhose to last for months!

Don't worry, be happy (:

Top of the morning to ya!

Feeling Gooooood (:

I wanted to talk to you today about the purpose of this blog and my views on being healthy. Being healthy isn't always just about losing weight and becoming physically fit. You could have the most incredible body and eat everything right but without your sanity, your peace of mind and your mental health you have nothing (in my opinion of course). 

I have learned a lot about myself since moving out on my own 6 months ago (WOW, time really flies!!). I guess you could say I went through a tough time mentally and it wasn't until recently that I finally started to feel like Courtney again. I owe a lot of it to my mentor/therapist (she truly is amazing!) and my boyfriend Joe

My love bird, Joseph David

(bless his heart for everything he does) but I also had to work my ass off and start doing new things to change my outlook on life. What I realized that being happy wasn't just a feeling, it's a choice that you have to make every single morning when you wake up. 

God's greatest gift to me, my three beautiful sissys & bestfriends!

So basically what I'm trying to say is that even though this blog is titled "foodCOURTT" (which one of my best friends Ty came up with and I love her forever for her help!) it's much more than just recipes and how to get your physique right, it's about how to feel healthy overall. That's what's important to me. I want to make people more healthy, happy and confident in their own skin! I want you all to love and appreciate who you are from the inside out (: So look out for lots of motivational and positive posts! Hope you all have the most wonderful day! xxxCourt

31 Day Challenge Meal Planner - WEEK 1

Hey Everyone!

Just as I promised here is a print out for you to plan for Week 1 of the 31 Day Challenge! It starts Monday May 20th so make sure to print it out and use it! I also included a print out of the whole challenge again and what it is about! 

To print right click on image and save. Then open the saved document and print! 

Remember "If you fail to plan, then plan to FAIL" xxxCourt

Mini Turkey Meatloafs

Good Evening Everyone!!

Simply Delicious!

Growing up as a kid my dad did a lot of the cooking and one of the recipes he made that I never looked forward to was meatloaf. But as I grew up and my pallet became more refined I grew to love it! Unfortunately most meatloaf today is made with ground beef and that is something I don't allow in my house. So I sat down and created a FULL flavored turkey version that I'm certain won't disappoint! Not to mention they are mini and who doesn't like mini anything?!?

Hope you enjoy these as much as Joe and I!! xxxCourt

Recipe makes 12 - Serving Size 2 Muffins (1/2 Cup Each) - 170 Calories & 4 WW PointsPlus

Ingredients:

• 1 pound Lean ground turkey
• 1/2 Onion (yellow or white)
• 3 Cloves garlic (finely chopped or use garlic press)
• 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
• 1 tsp Hot sauce
• 1/2 tsp Balsamic vinegar
• 1 Egg
• 1 tsp Dried oregano
• 1 tsp Dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp Black pepper
• 1 (8 oz) can Tomato sauce (no salt added preferred)
• 1 tsp Mustard
• 3 tsp Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) for muffin pan to prevent sticking

Steps:

Step 4

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place all ingredients except EVOO into bowl and mix together until evenly mixed (hands are the best kitchen too ever (: )
3. Oil each of the 12 muffin slots using a paper towel dipped in your EVOO, a misto sprayer like mine (see last post for more info) or a kitchen basting brush.
4. Scoop approximately 1/2 cup of meat picture into each slot and light pack it in. 
5. Cook in oven for 25 minutes and then for 3 minutes on broil after that to brown the tops. (internal temp. should be about 160 degrees)
6. Pull out of the oven after broiling and let sit for 5 minutes before pulling out of tins and serving (unless you want to make a mess haha, I learned this the hard way).
7. Enjoy!

Joe gave this meal 5 stars!

** I topped my two with 1 tsp of mustard and 1 tsp low sodium BBQ sauce mixed together and fresh parsley! 

Second Dinner Tip: Once completely cooled place in tupperware or plastic baggies separating the layers with parchment paper and freeze for future dinners. To cook just pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and place frozen muffins on cooking sheet and cook about 15 minutes to warm up!!

Make sure to use the hash tag #foodCOURTT when you make one of my recipes I love to see them!!

Happy Cooking (:

Veggie-Kale Egg Fluffs!

Hey there everyone!

Did you know there is a nutritional scale for all fruits and vegetables called

Delicious AND Nutritious! 

"ANDI"?  Aggregate Nutrient Density Index is what it stands for and it basically rates foods from 1-1000 (1 being the worst and 1000 being the best) and the goal is to help people like you and me pick the foods that have the most benefits by eating them rather than ones that don't.

Basically what I am trying to get at is that Kale is 1000! Now if you ever have tried kale its honestly not the most delicious thing in the world. I was talking with my neighbor Andy and I think she said it best "it is an acquired taste". I didn't want the fact that I don't like it to keep me from eating it so I have been on a mission to find ways to consume it without having to actually taste it! Juicing it is a

SO PRETTY, HUH?!

great way to sneak it in but you only get a tiny bit. So I thought I will put it in our smoothies and blend it in, well that didn't work because the kale beat up my magic bullet :( (I am getting a new blender soon though!). So I when I learned you could make eggs in the oven in muffin tins I figured I would try adding kale, and guess what its DELICIOUS!!!! I couldn't believe the taste of these bad boys!! Not to mention its great for a quick breakfast or snack. I hope you guys try to include kale in your weekly diet and let me know if you have found some sneaky ways to make it taste better! xxxCourt

I ate them with 1/4 of an avocado and hot sauce! YUM!

Recipe makes 11-12 total - Serving size 1 Fluff - 70 Calories & 2 WW PointsPlus (if you have a non-stick muffin tin then you can take out the EVOO and it drops to 41 Calories & 1 WW PointsPlus)

Ingredients:

• 10 Cherry tomatoes (cut them into thirds)
• 1/2 Green bell pepper (diced)
• 1/2 Orange bell pepper (diced)
• 1/4 Zucchini (diced)
• 2 tbsp Onion (diced & any color you have is fine)
• 1 Clove Garlic (chopped fine or I use my garlic press)
• 2 Eggs
• 7 Egg Whites 
• 2 tbsp Low Fat Milk (I used 1%)
• 1 oz Mozzarella cheese (I used one string cheese cut up into small pieces)
• 2 cups COOKED Kale (instructions below)
• 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
• 3 tsp EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)

Steps:

Did you know store bought sprays contain SILICON?! Eww.

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Chop up and prep all your veggies.
3. Clean and chop kale then place in microwavable bowl and cook on high for 2 minutes (it should shrink down to about half its size).
4. In separate bowl crack 2 eggs and 7 egg whites. 
5. Add black pepper, milk, onion and garlic to the eggs and light beat them together.
6. Lightly coat the muffin tins with EVOO to prevent your fluffs from sticking. (I use my Misto Oil Sprayer you can fill it with ANY type of oil you choose and there are no additives unlike like store bought sprays!)
7. Pour about 1/4 cup of the egg mixture into the 11-12 lightly oiled muffin slots.
8. Evenly add the veggies and cheese to each muffin slot with the egg mixture in them.
9. Place the tins filled with the veggies and eggs in the oven for 16 minutes and serve immediately or let completely cool before putting in the fridge. 

   

   Best way to store!

***To store I recommend placing fluffs in layers inside some Tupperware with paper towels in-between each layer because the egg whites can release a lot of water. 

To eat after cooled pop in the microwave for 45 seconds and enjoy!!

Happy Creating!

Auntie Noni's Crockpot Tortilla Soup

Bailey Lynn & Auntie Noni. Man time flies!

Afternoon all! 

So I personally think that the crock pot is the greatest invention known to man! I love cooking and spend hours in my kitchen doing it (I did 7 hours yesterday haha, oops) it can be really therapeutic to listen to music and get to creating, BUT sometimes after a long day at work the LAST thing I want to do is stand on my feet for another hour making dinner! It is also particularly nice because I can just text Joe when I am at work what to throw in there and turn it on and its easy enough for him and way less work for me (; 

Kaiden now & baby Kaiden! Awwww (:

Kaiden with Uncle Joe & Baby Wyatt! Our newest edition, March 2013

For all of you who know me, you know that I am Auntie Noni to my two adorable and wild nephews Kaiden & Wyatt and my sassy and beautiful niece Bailey Lynn! Moving to San Diego was really hard on me because I used to see Bailey everyday. I remember crying just at the sight of her pictures I had hanging EVERYWHERE in the apartment and I would say to Joe I hope she doesn't forget me :( It is truly amazing how much love you can hold in your heart for one (or three) little person(s). She definitely has me in the palm of her hands. The best part about moving here though was being closer to My sister, brother-in-law, Kaiden and Wyatt so I try to focus on the fact that I get to build a relationship with my nephews now like I have with Bailey and I still see her once a week on FaceTime (thank goodness for modern technology!). If I ever opened a restaurant (which is a dream I have along with many, MANY others) I would base my menu on family recipes like my Grandpa's DELICIOUS garlic bread (maybe one day I will post that for all of you!), so that is how this recipe got its name because it is an Auntie Noni Specialty! Hope you enjoy it and if you have any little people in your life, give them an extra "hug squeeze", as Bailey would say, because they grow up way to fast! xxxCourt 

Serves 7-8 (Great for dinner parties!) - Serving size 1 Cup - 268 Calories & 6

His & Hers! Can you guess which one is mine?!

WW PointsPlus

Ingredients:

• 2 (4 oz) Boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 1/2 cup Black beans (I soak mine over night but drained and rinsed canned black beans with no added salt is perfectly okay!)
• 3 Coves garlic
• 1/2 Large onion (or two small any color is fine!)
• 1 cup Corn (I use frozen organic its cheap and easy)
• 1 can of Crushed tomatoes (no added salt)
• 1 Lime juiced
• 1 cup Low sodium chicken stock
• 1 1/2 cup Water
• 1 tsp seasoning salt (I use Low-Sodium Morton's)
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 - 1 whole seeded jalapeno (optional, keep seeds in if you like it really spicy!) 

Instructions:

For Crockpot: 

You guessed it! Joe's!

1. Throw everything in EXCEPT the corn and jalapeno give it a stir and turn it on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-6 hours. 
2. Add remaining ingredients 30 minutes before serving.
3. Top with 1/4 an avocado and a few corn tortilla chips or even some low-fat cheese and shredded lettuce! The possibilities are endless! I always shake some tapatio on mine to spice it up even more! 
4. Enjoy!

For Stove Top: 

Trying to watch my figure, no cheese or chips! Go me!

1. Bake or grill chicken all the way through (350 degrees for 30 minutes covered or grilling for 30 minutes!) remove from juices and shred.
2. Bring all other ingredients (EXCEPT jalapeno and corn) in a large pot to a boil 
3. Add shredded chicken and then simmer for 1-3 hours partially covered
4. Add jalapeno and corn 30 minutes before serving.
5. If soup gets too reduced (thick) add water to loosen up (only add 1/4 cup at a time to not OVER add).
6. Enjoy!

Happy Cooking!

31 Day Healthy Changes Challenge!

Good evening everyone! 

So I decided that I want to make some changes in the way I eat and with the things I choose fuel my body with. I do good 60% of the time but I really want to push myself towards 80-90%. I have put together this challenge with hopes to inspire others to explore the different types of healthy foods that are out there and to be aware of what you actually put into your body! Summer is practically here and everyone wants to looking FEEL their best so why not kick start it with a challenge?

 All I'm asking is for your commitment for 31 days. That's it! There's no menu (I will be posting my meals for inspiration) this gives you the freedom to pick and choose what YOU like, there are no fees or charges involved BUT there is a requirement to CHALLENGE YOURSELF EACH AND EVERY DAY THROUGHOUT THE 31 DAYS! Each week there is a new challenge to add into your routine and the goal is that as the weeks continue you keep doing what you learned in week 1 in week 2 and in week 3 what you learned in weeks 1 AND 2, ect. 

I am not looking to just lose weight, I'm looking to get HEALTHY and feel great from the inside out. Being healthy is much more than what the scale tells you! It's your energy level, strengthening your immune system, mental health and much much more! Along the way I will be providing plenty of print outs and tips to keep you motivated through the course of the month! So please join me in the foodCOURTT Challenge! I will be starting my challenge this Monday May 20, 2013. Print out the challenge put it in your car, your wallet, on your fridge, on your pillow LOL just put it in the places to remind yourself of what the challenge is! Make sure to use the hashtag #foodCOURTTchallenge throughout you journey and get ready because this Monday it's ON! xxxCourt

Veggie Chicken Roll-Up with Balsamic Glaze!

Hey There!

Have you ever wanted to impress a dinner guest or even your man with a fancy looking meal? Honey look no more! This DELICIOUS meal is to die for and it really isn't all that hard to put together! By a long shot this is my FAVORITE meal I make right now! It is that good. Not to mention its hearty and healthy. I really hope you love this as much as I do (that's probably impossible haha). Don't forget to use the hashtag #foodCOURTT when you get cookin' with my recipes! Cheers!! xxxCourt

Serves 4 - 182 Calories/Roll-Up (by itself) & 4 WW PointsPlus (by itself)

Balsamic Glaze - 4 Servings - 57 Calories/Tbsp of Glaze & 2 WW PointsPlus

GRAND TOTAL: 239 Calories & 6 WW PointsPlus for Chicken Roll-Up WITH Glaze!!!

Ingredients:

Veggie Chicken Roll-Up

• 2 (5 ounce) Boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 Bell pepper (you pick the color!)
• 4 Cloves of garlic
• 1/2 Medium onion (you guessed it, you pick the color again!)
• 8 Asparagus sprigs (2 per chicken roll up)
• 1 Zucchini
• 2 tsp EVOO
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• 12-16 toothpicks

Balsamic Glaze

• 1 tsp Butter
• 1 tsp EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
• 1/3 cup Onion/Shallot finely chopped (haha pick again!)
• 1/4 cup GOOD balsamic vinegar
• 2 tbsp Organic light agave nectar
• 1/4 cup Chicken stock (low-sodium preferred)
• A splash of good red wine (& a glass to drink while you cook yum!)

Instructions:

I like to make the sauce first and then just nuke it in the microwave for 30 seconds before serving it but you can most certainly make it 20 minutes before your chicken is done. I would just rather relax and drink my red wine (;

Step 2: Caramelizing Onions/Shallots

Balsamic Glaze:

1. Heat up butter and EVOO in a saute pan over medium heat let heat up (not too hot, be careful not to burn your butter!).
2. Once the butter and oil is heated up add onions/shallots to pan and caramelize on med/high heat for 5-6 minutes until they are a pretty caramel color.
3. De-glaze the pan by adding in balsamic vinegar (make sure your nose is not right over the pan, this can be a little powerful haha)
4. After de-glazing the pan for 1 minute or so add the agave, chicken broth and red wine. Turn up the pan and bring mixture to a boil.
5. Once the glaze begins to boil turn back down the heat to medium (my stove is 1-10 and I put it on 5) and let simmer and reduce to half its volume for 8-10 minutes.



Step 4: Boiling Glaze!

6. It will be a syrup like consistency when it is done. Turn off the heat and move into a separate bowl if making glaze before the chicken, otherwise spoon onto your cooked chicken!

Veggie Chicken Roll-ups:

1. Begin by chopping all veggies (think of McDonald's fries for the size)
2. Heat up 2 tsp EVOO in saute pan and cook veggies for NO MORE than 3 minutes. You just want to get them started not fully cooked. 

   

   Step 1: Chopped Veggies

3. After 3 minutes is up transfer out of pan to a plate to stop the cooking and give them a chance to cool down so you can handle them with your hands.
4. While the veggies are cooling take chicken breasts and very carefully using your knife slice each of them in half horizontally (think hamburger style).
5. Then using parchment/wax paper or plastic wrap cover each breast so they won't splatter and pound them out into about a half inch thickness. You can use a meat mallet with a flat side if you have one, I just use a drinking glass from my cupboard.

   

   Step 4: Slicing Breasts

6. You now should have FOUR chicken cutlets, season both sides with salt & pepper.
7. Now your veggies should be cool enough to touch. Evenly distribute them into the center of each piece of meet and add 1 peeled clove of garlic to each as well. 
8. Carefully grab the two ends of each cutlet and over lap them and close shut by using 3-4 toothpicks to keep veggies inside. Continue this process with all 4 pieces. 

   

   Step 8: Veggie Roll-Ups PRE-Cooking

9. If you are ready to cook them place on the grill for 30 minutes and flipping about half way in-between. You could also cook them in the oven at 350° F for 30 minutes flipping once as well if you do not have a grill. 
10. After the 30 minutes or the internal temperature has reached 165° F make sure to REMOVE TOOTHPICKS & top with 1 tbsp of Balsamic Glaze per breast and ENJOY!!!

**I have made these up to 24 hours before cooking and covered with plastic

Final Step: EAT UP! NOM NOM NOM!!

wrap in the fridge if you would like to prep the night before I would say go for it but make sure you cover them and NO MORE than 24 hours!

These truly are so yummy! 

Happy Creating!!

Limeberrymelon-Pops!

Hello there!!

Living in San Diego, or even just California, it gets pretty hot around this time of year! I have been craving cold sweets like crazy so I have been in my kitchen creating ways to enjoy these treats without feeling super guilty about what I am putting into my body. So yesterday the Limeberrymelon-Pop was born!! I do have to say these are very tasty! I named them these because it sounds a bajillion times cooler then Strawberry Lime Watermelon Popsicles, haha (: I hope you will love these on a hot day, or any day as a matter of fact because they are THAT good! xxxCourt 

Serves 4 - 52 calories & 1 WW PointsPlus

Ingredients:

-1 1/2 cups strawberries
-1 1/2 cups watermelon
-1/2 lime juiced
-1 tbsp organic light agave nectar

Steps:

1. Place all ingredients into blender or food processor (I have a magic bullet) and blend until smooth. 
2. Pour into Popsicle molds and freeze minimum of 8 hours (I did mine overnight).
3. You can also put a few chunks on strawberry or watermelon into the molds to have fruit chunks in your Popsicle!
4. Enjoy!!

Happy Creating! 

P.S. I got my Popsicle molds at Walmart for $1!!!! Cheap, healthy and delicious?! Hells ya!!

P.P.S. if you recreate any of my recipes hash tag me on Instagram #foodCOURTT so I can see them all!! 

Waistline Friendly Strawberry Vanilla Parfait!

So Yummy & Healthy!!

Good Evening All! 

Tonight I was having a craving after I saw a picture on Pinterest (am I the only one who pronounces it Pin-ER-est? haha, I spend way to much time on there) any who I was inspired to create a waistline friendly version of a parfait! There are many different combinations that can be put together but this is what we had and I do have to say its pretty damn delicious and now I am going to snuggle up with my honey on the couch and watch Hawaii Five-O! Hope you all enjoy this as much as I do and head to my "PinERest" and follow me if you have one! haha (; (C_Sjoberg) xxxCourt P.S. I just discovered Agave Nectar - one word HEAVENLY!! 

2 Servings: 124 Calories & 3 WW PointsPlus!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup 0% plain fat free Greek yogurt
• 2 tsp Light Organic Agave Nectar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup strawberries
• 1.5 tbsp All Natural Slivered Almonds

Instructions:

1. In small bowl mix together Greek yogurt, agave & vanilla extract.
2. Layer into 2 bows or cups (I used stemless wine glasses to feel fancy haha) starting with yogurt, then strawberries, then more yogurt & then the almonds.
3. Repeat until both glasses are evenly filled and all ingredients have been used.
4. Eat & Enjoy!

Happy Cooking!

Veggie Burgers

The are much more yummy then store bought veggie burgers and cheaper too, I promise!

Hey All! Tomorrow starts Meatless Monday so I thought I would share with you my home made 195 cal/burger and only 5WW PointsPlus, Enjoy! xxxCourt
veggie burgers! These are to die for!! Not to mention

Black & Kidney Bean Burgers:

Ingredients:

• 15oz Can Black Beans (no added salt/low sodium/or soak regular beans overnight to soften)
• 15oz Can Kidney Beans (no added salt/low sodium/or soak regular beans overnight to soften)
• 1 Bell Pepper (Any Color)
• 1 Onion (Any Color)
• 5 Cloves Garlic
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Tsp Paprika
• 1/2 Tsp Seasoning Salt (I use Morton's)
• 1 Tsp Oregano
• 1 Tsp Hot Sauce
• 3/4 Cup Bread Crumbs (I use Panko)

Steps:

1. Drain & RINSE beans.
2. Using a fork or potato masher, mash beans in medium sized bowl until mostly mashed.
3. Very finely chop (or pulse in food processor) bell pepper, onion & garlic and add to beans.
4. In small separate bowl mix together eggs, and all of the seasonings except the bread crumbs.
5. Add eggs and seasonings to beans and fold in together.
6. Add bread crumbs and mix together until well mixed (I like to use my hands (: ).
7. Create 8 even sized patties (I used 1/4 cup scooper) and place on parchment paper on cookie sheet.
8. Freeze for 30 minutes individually on sheet tray before stacking together in ziploc baggie.

To Cook:

• In pan on stove top heat up 1 tbsp of oil (I use EVOO) on medium heat and cook 5-6 minutes per side and enjoy! 

I like to serve these on whole wheat "skinny" buns with a slice of pepper jack and avocado! So Yummy!

Happy Cooking.

About Courtney!

Me, Joe (My Handsome Boyfriend) & My Favorite Meal!

Hello Everyone! My name is Courtney! I am 22 years young and decided to start this blog to share my creations (recipes) with my family and friends. I have had a love for cooking since I was about 8 years-old. I recently picked up and moved 500 miles from the Bay Area to Sunny San Diego with the love of my life, Joe. Although it has been challenging, every second has been worth it! My style of cooking is more focused on making comfort meals and "not so good for you" food into healthier versions. Like many people I struggle with my waistline and have hopes that by starting this journey I can change some of my habits and start living a healthier life!

A little bit about me!

I am addicted to the San Francisco Giants, the 49ers & Instagram (LadySjoberg). Cupcakes are my weakness. Purple and Orange are my favorite colors. Food Network and ESPN are always on our television. I want a lab puppy (and probably will have one soon). I crank my music really loud when I drive and clean the house. I am a nanny and work in retail. I go to school for business and hope to graduate from SDSU one day.