I love a good roast! My friend found this recipe and I have to share. While I do love my southern, traditional, gravy roast, this recipe is so much healthier for me and you too! It has great taste and it only takes a few minutes to chop up the veggies and toss everything into a crock pot. If you want to cheat like I do, use baby carrots. It cuts down on chopping time! :) Hope you enjoy!
On the 21 Day Fix meal plan, this is 1 RED, 1/2 GREEN, 1 YELLOW
Ingredients
1 3-4lb boneless beef roast
1 medium onion, sliced
4-6 red potatoes, quartered
4-6 carrots, chopped (or you can use baby carrots)
1 Cup broth (beef or vegetable)
1/2 Cup Balsamic Vinegar
Directions
Combine vegetables in crockpot, onions first.
Place beef roast on top of vegetables
Pour broth and balsamic vinegar over the beef roast
Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4 hours
Feel free to add additional spices such as garlic, salt, pepper, etc.
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Friday, March 13, 2015
Turkey Burgers
Ingredients:
Turkey Burgers
1 tbsp Olive oil
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Salt
Pepper
Tomato slices
Dijon mustard
In large skillet, heat olive oil (medium- low heat) Once
heated, place turkey burgers in oil (try to spread the oil evenly over the pan
so that each burger has a thin coating). Sprinkle (both sides) with onion
powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Cook on each side for approximately 5-7
minutes. Be sure to cut through the middle of the patty with a knife to make
sure they are fully cooked.
Lemon Pepper Talapia
Ingredients:
1 lb raw, talapia fillets
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
Lemon Pepper Seasoning to Taste
Directions:
1 lb raw, talapia fillets
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
Lemon Pepper Seasoning to Taste
Directions:
Place raw Tilapia in baking dish. Drizzle with Olive Oil;
sprinkle with Lemon Pepper seasoning. Bake on 375 for about 25
minutes or until fish is flaky.
Strawberry Pineapple Shakeology
1 Cup Liquid of Choice (water, milk, almond milk, cashew milk)
1 Scoop Strawberry Shakeology
1/4 Cup Frozen Pineapple Chunks
Pour liquid into blender cup first. Then, add all other ingredients. Blend until smooth.
1 Scoop Strawberry Shakeology
1/4 Cup Frozen Pineapple Chunks
Pour liquid into blender cup first. Then, add all other ingredients. Blend until smooth.
Strawberry Mango Shakeology
1 Cup Liquid of Choice
1 Scoop Strawberry Shakeology
1/2 Cup Frozen Mango
1/4 Cup Plain Greek Yogurt
1 oz fresh Lime Juice
Splash of Coconut Extract
Pour liquid into blender cup first. Then, add all other ingredients. Blend until smooth.
1 Scoop Strawberry Shakeology
1/2 Cup Frozen Mango
1/4 Cup Plain Greek Yogurt
1 oz fresh Lime Juice
Splash of Coconut Extract
Pour liquid into blender cup first. Then, add all other ingredients. Blend until smooth.
Caramel Apple Pie Shakeology
1 Cup Liquid of Choice (water, milk, almond milk, cashew milk)
1 Scoop Vanilla Shakeology
1 Chopped Small Apple
1/2 Tsp Caramel Extract
1 Tbsp Cinnamon
Ice Cubes
Pour liquid into blender first. Then, add all other ingredients. Blend until smooth.
**The more ice added, the thicker the shake will be.
1 Scoop Vanilla Shakeology
1 Chopped Small Apple
1/2 Tsp Caramel Extract
1 Tbsp Cinnamon
Ice Cubes
Pour liquid into blender first. Then, add all other ingredients. Blend until smooth.
**The more ice added, the thicker the shake will be.
Samoa Shakeology
1 Cup Liquid of Choice (water, milk, almond milk, cashew milk)
1 Scoop Chocolate Shakeology
1 Tsp Caramel Extract
1 Tsp Shredded Coconut
Pour liquid into blender cup first. Then add all other ingredients. Blend until smooth.
1 Scoop Chocolate Shakeology
1 Tsp Caramel Extract
1 Tsp Shredded Coconut
Pour liquid into blender cup first. Then add all other ingredients. Blend until smooth.
Snickerdoodle Shakeology
1 Cup Liquid of Choice (water, milk, almond milk, cashew milk)
1 Scoop Vanilla Shakeology
2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
1 Tsp Peanut Butter
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Tsp Honey
Ice Cubes
Pour liquid into blender cup first. Then, add all other ingredients. Blend until smooth.
**The more ice added, the thicker the shake will be.
1 Scoop Vanilla Shakeology
2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
1 Tsp Peanut Butter
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Tsp Honey
Ice Cubes
Pour liquid into blender cup first. Then, add all other ingredients. Blend until smooth.
**The more ice added, the thicker the shake will be.
Snickers Shakeology
1 Cup liquid of choice (water, milk, almond milk, cashew milk)
1 Scoop Chocolate Shakeology
1 Tbsp Slivered Almonds
1 Tsp Carmel Extract
Ice cubes
Pour liquid into blender cup first. Then add all other ingredients. Blend until smooth.
**The more ice added, the thicker the shake will be.
1 Scoop Chocolate Shakeology
1 Tbsp Slivered Almonds
1 Tsp Carmel Extract
Ice cubes
Pour liquid into blender cup first. Then add all other ingredients. Blend until smooth.
**The more ice added, the thicker the shake will be.
Chunky Monkey Shakeology
1 Cup liquid of choice (water, milk, almond milk, cashew milk)
1 Scoop Chocolate Shakeology
1 Tbsp peanut butter
1 Banana
1 Tbsp Honey
1 Cup Ice
Pour liquid into blender cup first, then all all other ingredients. Blend until smooth.
*The more ice that is used the thicker the shake will be.
1 Scoop Chocolate Shakeology
1 Tbsp peanut butter
1 Banana
1 Tbsp Honey
1 Cup Ice
Pour liquid into blender cup first, then all all other ingredients. Blend until smooth.
*The more ice that is used the thicker the shake will be.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Free Downloadable Meal Plan
Is your nutrition on track? I can tell you that for several months - mainly when I was trying to lose my baby weight, my nutrition was not where it needed to be. I have always been an athlete; therefore, I have always eaten with the mindset to "fuel your body for performance" but I also could eat whatever I wanted. That all changed after I had my sweet little crumb snatcher. I had never had to lose weight before - I didn't expect it to just fall off, but I thought with little effort it would just go away.
HA! Funny me! I had my little buddy, and then sat on my couch and waited for it to "naturally fall off", while in the meantime I was eating Big Mac meals my mom would pick up for me on the way to come see me and my sweet baby. Well, time passed, some weight left me, but a lot remained. What's a girl to do? I decided to do Insanity. Long story short - first time around with Insanity I didn't have awesome results. I couldn't understand it. Insanity is nuts and there was no way that I could work THAT hard and the weight not go away. *Side Note: I was still eating my Big Mac Meals*
When I finished Insanity I was completely bummed. I can remember sitting in my bedroom putting on my makeup thinking, "Everyone was right! You really can't get rid of the baby pooch that forms. It's never going away. I'll just be content and come to the realization that I am now a mom so I am going to look like one."
What a super sad thought! I had given up hope - almost :) I hadn't given up yet. I had one more plan up my sleeve. I was going to do Insanity again, but this time I was going to eat healthy. I started eating well, found new recipes, and tried new foods - even ones I didn't like. I am more than happy to say that this time around - doing it the RIGHT way made all the difference. Nutrition plays a huge role in fueling your body and getting results. YOUR BODY WILL DO WHAT YOU TRAIN IT TO DO and if you train it to look like yuck by eating yuck foods then don't expect to look shredded - it ain't happening.
I have completely lost my baby pooch and am well on my way to nicely toned abs! (Check out my Insanity Max:30 Results.) I have continued my success by staying plugged into accountability groups. The awesome ladies in my groups help me keep my nutrition in check, hold me to my workouts, and encourage me along the way.
I learned from my small issue and now I enjoy helping others get nutritionally and physically on the right track. If you need help getting started on the right track, PLEASE UTILIZE MY FREE MEAL PLAN found on the top right sidebar of my blog! I will update it weekly to help you stay on track. It is here simply to help! Nutrition makes all the difference. Don't take if for granted.
HA! Funny me! I had my little buddy, and then sat on my couch and waited for it to "naturally fall off", while in the meantime I was eating Big Mac meals my mom would pick up for me on the way to come see me and my sweet baby. Well, time passed, some weight left me, but a lot remained. What's a girl to do? I decided to do Insanity. Long story short - first time around with Insanity I didn't have awesome results. I couldn't understand it. Insanity is nuts and there was no way that I could work THAT hard and the weight not go away. *Side Note: I was still eating my Big Mac Meals*
When I finished Insanity I was completely bummed. I can remember sitting in my bedroom putting on my makeup thinking, "Everyone was right! You really can't get rid of the baby pooch that forms. It's never going away. I'll just be content and come to the realization that I am now a mom so I am going to look like one."
What a super sad thought! I had given up hope - almost :) I hadn't given up yet. I had one more plan up my sleeve. I was going to do Insanity again, but this time I was going to eat healthy. I started eating well, found new recipes, and tried new foods - even ones I didn't like. I am more than happy to say that this time around - doing it the RIGHT way made all the difference. Nutrition plays a huge role in fueling your body and getting results. YOUR BODY WILL DO WHAT YOU TRAIN IT TO DO and if you train it to look like yuck by eating yuck foods then don't expect to look shredded - it ain't happening.
I have completely lost my baby pooch and am well on my way to nicely toned abs! (Check out my Insanity Max:30 Results.) I have continued my success by staying plugged into accountability groups. The awesome ladies in my groups help me keep my nutrition in check, hold me to my workouts, and encourage me along the way.
I learned from my small issue and now I enjoy helping others get nutritionally and physically on the right track. If you need help getting started on the right track, PLEASE UTILIZE MY FREE MEAL PLAN found on the top right sidebar of my blog! I will update it weekly to help you stay on track. It is here simply to help! Nutrition makes all the difference. Don't take if for granted.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Mexican Quinoa
Lately, I have been looking for recipes that use quinoa. Let's face it; quinoa may offer healthy benefits but it is VERY bland. I have a very hard time eating bland foods. I found this awesome recipe that incorporates quinoa!! Great for Mexican night!
Ingredients
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeño, minced
1 cup quinoa
1 cup vegetable broth
1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (14.5 oz) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
1 cup corn kernels
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
salt and pepper to taste
1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled, and diced
juice of 1 lime
1Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Directions
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add garlic and jalapeño - cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Stir in quinoa, vegetable broth, beans, tomatoes, corn, chili powder, and cumin; season with salt and pepper to take. Bring to boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer until quinoa is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Stir in avocado, lime juice and cilantro.
Ingredients
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeño, minced
1 cup quinoa
1 cup vegetable broth
1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (14.5 oz) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
1 cup corn kernels
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
salt and pepper to taste
1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled, and diced
juice of 1 lime
1Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Directions
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add garlic and jalapeño - cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Stir in quinoa, vegetable broth, beans, tomatoes, corn, chili powder, and cumin; season with salt and pepper to take. Bring to boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer until quinoa is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Stir in avocado, lime juice and cilantro.
Chicken, Quinoa (or Brown Rice), and Broccoli Casserole
I found this recipe the other day on Pinterest for chicken, quinoa/rice, and broccoli. I like casseroles because you can combine proteins and veggies. Typically they make a good amount and it saves time because it all cooks together. Plus it is all in one dish so the clean up isn't as bad!! It saves time all around! Give this recipe a try!
Ingredients
- 2 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup milk (I used 2%)
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- ½ cup flour
- 2 cups water, divided
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed (I actually used brown rice)
- ¼ cup cooked, crumbled bacon (optional)
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 teaspoons seasoning (like Emeril's Essence or any basic blend you like)
- ¼ cup shredded Gruyere cheese (any kind will work)
- 3 cups fresh broccoli florets
- Sauce: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and generously grease a 9x13 baking dish (seriously, be generous because it really really sticks to the sides). Bring the chicken broth and ½ cup milk to a low boil in a saucepan. Whisk the other ½ cup milk with the poultry seasoning and flour; add the mixture to the boiling liquid and whisk until a smooth creamy sauce forms.
- Assembly: In a large bowl, mix the sauce from step one, one cup water, quinoa, and bacon and stir to combine. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Slice the chicken breasts into thin strips and lay the chicken breasts strips over the top of the quinoa mixture. Sprinkle with the seasoning. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
- Broccoli: While the casserole is in the oven, place the broccoli in boiling water for 1 minute until it turns bright green and then run under cold water. Set aside.
- Bake: Remove the casserole from the oven, check the mixture by stirring it around in the pan, and if needed, bake for an additional 10-15 minutes to get the right consistency. When the quinoa and chicken are cooked and the sauce is thickened, add the broccoli and a little bit of water (up to one cup) until the consistency is creamy and smooth and you can stir it up easily in the pan. Top with the cheese and bake for 5 minutes, or just long enough to melt the cheese.
Roast Basil Chicken and Veggies
From all the cooking I have been doing lately, I found I am drawn to recipes that call for a good amount of Basil. This recipe is no different. I love Basil. It adds great flavor. This dish is super easy to make and the best part is it is very healthy. You can substitute a different vegetable for the asparagus if you like, I used halved bussell sprouts because my grocery store was out of asparagus. It turned out well!
Do be sure to "toss" the contents every now and then while it is cooking. This will help the vegetables to get a nice coat of the olive oil, which will add flavor.
Do be sure to "toss" the contents every now and then while it is cooking. This will help the vegetables to get a nice coat of the olive oil, which will add flavor.
Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 3 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, chopped into 2 inch cubes
- 2 lb red potatoes, chopped into 2 inch cubes
- 1 1/2 cups chopped Roma tomatoes
- 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
- 3/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
- Ground pepper to taste
Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F and spray a baking dish with cooking spray. Add chicken, potatoes, tomatoes, asparagus, basil, garlic and olive oil. Sprinkle with rosemary. Add pepper if desired. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, turning occasionally until tender. Serve.
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Insanity Max: 30 Review
Where to begin!?! Let’s just start before I even ordered the
program.
I knew I wanted to complete Insanity Max 30. When I first
started losing my baby weight, I completed the original Insanity. If you know
nothing about Insanity, know that it is intense! But, I loved every minute of
it and it got me to my initial goal weight. I like to alternate my workout
programs so I do not get burned out – I moved on to other programs (21 Day Fix
for 3 rounds and PiYo – then I just mixed them up for some change). Well, here
comes December 2014 – the release of Insanity Max:30. I had already decided
that I was going to complete the program, but I wanted to wait for the start of
the year because I wanted to change a few things up and I thought that would
give me a nice, fresh start date.
Even though I had completed Insanity, I was really nervous
about Max 30. Even though I had been working out, my workouts had not been as
intense. I felt like I was not in cardio shape. I honestly felt like I was
going to die during every workout and I battled with myself whether or not to
do it because I didn’t want to start and not be able to finish. How foolish I
was to let my mind play tricks on me!!! I almost let fear get in the way –
thankfully I had several friends pushing me each day, but I will get to that in
a minute. There are 3 factors that get credit for my Max 30 results: 1) Personal Will
2) Nutrition 3) Awesome Accountability Partners
DESPITE MY FEAR of failure I jumped in feet first. Yep, I
maxed out really early the first couple of workouts. But, I noticed that I kept
getting a little better each time. Anytime I would get tired and my form wasn’t
right I simply followed the modifier. I still kept moving and even though I was
following the modifier I was still getting a great workout. I honestly think
that if one was to complete Max 30 using only the modification you would still
finish with awesome results. That is a bold statement, but I know how much I
used the modified exercises, and let me tell you, it was a lot. But I love my
results and I wouldn’t change anything I did throughout the program.
This is a program that I highly recommend. It is sure to
whip you in shape in 60 days. Plus, there are no excuses because it is only 30
minutes. There were days I didn't want to get out of bed...there were days that I didn’t wake up on time to do my workout. On
those days I ran home on my lunch break and did my workout – did you read
that?? I DID MY Max 30 WORKOUT ON MY LUNCH BREAK. If you really what to make a
change and you want to see a difference, then you HAVE to make it a priority –
you have to want it. You can’t purchase the program, slide it into your DVD
player, sit on the couch and just expect everything to change. YOU HAVE TO MOVE
AND YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT ALL YOU’VE GOT!
I really focused on my nutrition during the program. I
incorporated the 21 Day Fix portion containers so that I could keep track of
what I was eating. If there is one thing I have learned in the past year, it is
that IF YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL OF YOUR NUTRITION YOUR WORKOUTS ARE IN VAIN.
Food cannot be in control. You have to be aware of what you are consuming and
how much of each nutrient group you are consuming. Color-coded portion
containers make tracking so much easier. Now, as far as how many of each
container I ate per day…I pretty much followed the requirements from the 21Day
Fix meal plan, but I did add a carb (or 2 some days) and a protein (yellow and
red, respectively). I did this because I felt it was what my body needed for
such an intense program, and I feel like it worked beautifully. Understand that
I did have snacks and treats. I DO NOT DEPRIVE MYSELF OF TREATS. Everyone is
different, and props to the people who can go weeks without chocolate. I am not
that person. But I do closely monitor what treats I have and when enough is
enough I stop. I mean, I don’t want to mess up my results, right?! J
The bulk of the credit for my success in the program goes to
my AWESOME accountability group. That group of ladies was with me every step of
the way. Not all of us were doing the same program, but that doesn’t matter. I
knew they were getting up each day and doing workout, I knew they were eating
well, and I knew they were holding me to what I said I was going to do. HEAR ME
when I say AN ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP IS THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOURSELF.
Accountability is applicable to anything – if you want to do well in college,
tell someone you want to make all A’s; if you want to make a goal to read your
Bible everyday, tell a friend that will hold you to it and ask you if you have
done what you said you were going to do!! I am telling you, if you want to see
change, LET SOMEONE HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE. But, that person has to be someone
that will not take it easy on you.
Anyone – that’s right ANYONE – can successfully complete a
program and have great results. Whether you want to get back in shape, want to
better your nutrition and overall health, or you just want to spend several
months with some awesome ladies in an accountability group, I challenge you to
commit to one of my groups. It is tons of fun and there is a load of encouragement
and motivation waiting to be poured over you by all the members of the group!!
Don’t miss out. This is something that everyone should try.
If you would like to be considered for one of my upcoming
groups, please contact me by email (candaceleelong@gmail.com)
or you can message me on Facebook at facebook.com/candaclongtakecontrol.
My results are below!! Before pictures are on the left, after pictures are on the right!
My results are below!! Before pictures are on the left, after pictures are on the right!
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