Tropical Chia Chai Smoothie

I have been experimenting with smoothies since doing a Clean 15 Diet that my gym put together.   One smoothie I became addicted too after Clean 15 was this Chai Almond smoothie.  I wanted to mix it up a bit so I put this together today.  I wasn't sure how I would like the Chai flavor combined with pineapple but it is surprisingly good!

Make this Chai Spice First and store in a airtight container.

• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground cloves
• 2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 3/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 tsp ground allspice

Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla coconut milk
1/2 frozen banana (if you don't have one frozen, just add a little ice)
1/2 cup pineapple
2 tsp Chai Spice
1/2 tsp ginger 
1 tbsp raw honey
1 large handful of greens (I use spinach/baby kale mix)
1 tbsp chia seeds

Combine all ingredients in blender, blend until smooth.  Enjoy!  And with all smoothies, you can make homemade popsicles with any extra. 

Stuffed Bell Pepper and Fried Okra

Made this spur of the moment tonight after picking the okra and bell pepper from the garden and it came out delicious!  No measurements on this because I was originally making dirty rice and decided to steal some of the meat from that before adding the rice and did this last minute.
I made 3 small stuffed peppers.

Stuffed Bell Pepper:
Whole Bell Peppers (stems cut off and cleaned)
Ground Turkey
Diced Onion
Diced Bell Pepper
Minced Garlic
Salt, Pepper, Italian Seasoning
Bread Crumbs
Parmesan Cheese
Feta Cheese


 Preheat oven to 400.  Brown the turkey, add onion, diced bell pepper, garlic, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.  Cook down until veggies are soft.  Mix in bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese.   Put mixture in bell peppers then top with feta cheese.  Bake until bell peppers are soft (took mine about 25 minutes but they were small).

Fried Okra:
8 fresh okra, diced.  Mine were cut in about 1/4" pieces
Egg wash (1 egg with about 1/4 cup milk)
Corn Meal seasoned with a little salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder
Coconut Oil (you can use any oil you want)

Pour enough oil in a pot to cover bottom about 1/4"
Coat okra in egg wash then corn meal.  Drop in oil.  Cook about 5" then turn and cook another 5".  Take out with slotted spoon and put on paper towel.  Sprinkle right away with a little salt and black pepper. 

Baked Chicken with Potatoes and Asparagus

(Picture is before cooking, I forget to get one before we dug into it)

This was so easy and good! Even my 2 year old loved it.

Enough chicken breast for your family - I used 2 thick ones but cut each in half so ended up with 4
Bag of frozen asparagus spears
3 potatoes diced (fairly small so they cook in the right time)
EVOO
Salt, Pepper
Garlic Powder
Basil

Preheat oven to 400
Put chicken single layer in baking dish
Place asparagus around chicken on all 4 sides of baking dish
Place potatoes around chicken/on top of asparagus
Drizzle a little EVOO over everything
Sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and basil
Cover with foil and bake covered for 45 minutes
Uncover and bake another 25 minutes

This dish was a combo of a few recipes. It was Chicken Capri, Roasted Broccoli, and a quick rice/pea combo I threw together. This went over well!

Chicken:
4-Boneless/Skinless chicken breast
1 tub ricotta cheese
A few slices provolone cheese
Garlic Powder
Salt
Black Pepper
Oregano
EVOO

Preheat oven to 425. Heat EVOO in a pan. Season chicken with garlic powder, salt, and pepper then cook each side about 5 mins in the EVOO. While cooking chicken, mix together ricotta cheese with some garlic powder, salt, pepper, and oregano. Put chicken in baking dish (I spray mine with EVOO no stick spray) then top each breast with equal parts of the ricotta mixture. Put a slice of cheese on top of ricotta. Bake 20 minutes or until chicken is done.

Broccoli:
1 bunch broccoli (I ate whole bunch myself so do more if you think you'll need it)
Minced Garlic
EVOO
Salt
Black Pepper
Parm Cheese

I didn't rince my broccoli because if damp, it won't crisp up in oven. Cut or break broccoli into nice size pieces. Put in gallon freezer bag with EVOO, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Shake. Pour onto baking pan. Bake at 425 about 20 minutes. Top with parm cheese straight out oven. Serve right away.

Rice:
Ben's 10 minute brown rice
Frozen Peas
Chicken Broth
Garlic Powder
Oregano

Follow directions on box for rice but use chicken broth instead of water, put desired amout of peas in water as well as the garlic powder, oregano, salt (if desired) and black pepper. Cook per directions on rice.

Ravioli Primavera and Meatballs

I started with the Tortellini Primavera recipe on Eating Well but changed it up a bit.

Step 1:
Turkey Meatballs:
1/2 lb lean ground turkey
Italian Bread Crumbs
1 egg
1/2 cup parm cheese
Italian seasoning

Preheat oven to 400
Mix everything together and form little meatballs and place on baking pan. You don't want them to be too big, I think I got about 24. Bake for about 30 mins or until done.

Step 2:
14-ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 cup Parmesan cheese (I used the one that has the Asiago mixed in)
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
16-ounce bag frozen mixed vegetables
2 bags frozen Ravioli

While meatballs are baking, bring a large pot of water to a boil. When boiling, add Ravioli and veggies. Boil 10 minutes then drain.

Meanwhile, whisk broth and flour together in a bowl. Pour EVOO in pan and let garlic simmer about 2 minutes. Add broth/flour mix and bring to boil. Let simmer until it thickens up a bit, stirring occasionally. Mix in cheese and tarragon, stirring until cheese is melted.

Drain Ravioli and put back in pot, add cheese mixture and meatballs. Mix together and serve.

Smothered Green Beans with Ham and Potatoes

I have always loved this dish and finally decided to make it. For full nutrition information, I entered it at Spark People. Second picture in pot is before cooking down.

1 tbp EVOO
Approx 50 fresh green beans, cleaned (I'll use more next time)
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
8 oz mini cubed ham (you can use bacon or sausage too)
2 white potatoes, peeled and diced
1 tsp salt (use less if using bacon or sausage)
.5 tsp black pepper
2 cups water

Heat up EVOO in a pot and add garlic, onion, and ham. Let sautee until onion is translucent.
Add potatoes, green beans, salt, and pepper.
Pour in 2 cups of water. Stir, turn heat to low. Cover pot and let cook at least 45 minutes stirring every so often.

You could cook all day in crock pot on a low setting.

Cajun Smoked Sausage and Veggies

This is one serving, at least for me it is.

1/4 cup EVOO
1 tsp minced garlic
5 oz smoked sausage (one link)
1/2 red bell pepper
1/2 summer squash
2 slices eqqplant (about 1/2" thick)

(you could use any veggies you have on hand)

Heat olive oil and garlic in saute pan on medium heat. While heating chop up all veggies and sausage. Add and let cook down about 15 minutes. Serve.

EVOO Chicken and Veggie Stir Fry

Pictures were taken when I made this dish again and didn't have the fresh egg noodles so I used regular. This actually could become a very healthy dish and eat without the pasta. The chicken and veggies themselves are very filling!!!

This is very different for me but it was really yummy!!!

I was in the produce section at Winn Dixie and saw fresh egg noodles (but they were long and wavy not fat like regular egg noodles) and decided to try them. Then I was passing the stir fry mixes and that sounded good I just didn't want the soy sauce so I created my own stir fry.

3 cleaned and cubed chicken breast
1 bag fresh egg noodles (will need a little over half)
1 bag baby carrots
1 green bell pepper (or whatever color you like)
1 head broccoli
1 medium onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
EVOO
Salt, Black Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder

Heat EVOO (enough to cover bottom) in large pan. Put in 1 tablespoon garlic and carrots, cover and let sizzle about 10 minutes to get carrots soft.

Bring large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta.

Slice onions into circles and bell pepper into strips. Break up broccoli.

Season cubed chicken with salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic and onion powder. Add to pan. Let cook about 10 minutes (or until chicken is cooked through) then add rest of chopped veggies. Cook down about 6 minutes.

Drain pasta (only needs to cook about 5 minutes) and add to pot. Mix all together and let cook over high heat about 3 minutes. Mix the whole time. Serve.