Healthy Chicks

Last night I wanted to say “Thanks for Being You” to The Boy, without the usual “thank you” card or email I usually send. After all, he puts up with his (sometimes) crazy girlfriend day after day and deserved a lil thanks.

Indeed, I had to think outside the box. Well, what better way to thank someone than to cook for them?

This sweet ‘n’ spicy baked salmon I crafted says thanks in so many ways, in fact you won’t even have to say it yourself. When that someone “mmms” the entire time, licks their lips, and then clears their plate, that should be just the “You’re Welcome” you need. And then when they end up thanking you, telling you how fantastic it was and that they could get used to this kinda thing, well that’s just fabulous.

Here’s the Recipe:

*makes two servings

-8 to 10 oz. salmon, fresh

-2 TB low sodium soy sauce

-1 TB balsamic vinegar

-1/2 TB agave syrup

-1 TB cajun seasoning for spice

-1 clove garlic, diced

-salt & pepper (as much as you’d like)

1. Preheat oven to 350, and then lay the salmon on a sheet of tin foil. Spread the … Read More!

If you’ve  been keeping up with my blog, you know that I’m off to Florida with The Boy, then road-tripping back up the East Coast to drive his grandparent’s car back to NY. I’ll be gone a week straight (and felt like disconnecting from technology for a while) but also didn’t want to leave you all blog-less. Hence my idea to do a Blast From the Past series. Here is post # 6 on making the most delicious healthy baked salmon…

Oh, and this is the very last Blast From the Past post in the series as I’ll be back ‘n’ bloggin’ tomorrow! If you’ve enjoyed reading about me, or want to learn more, this post on all of my favorite things pretty much sums me up in a nut shell.

[this post was originally published on August 17th 2010 as “Beauteous Baked Salmon with Lemon Dill Sauce & Asparagus“]

I was craving salmon all day long but didn’t want the usual boring grilled I usually go for in the summer. Hence I made up my own recipe using some ingredients in the fridge plus a few other additions I picked up at the grocery store. When my … Read More!

Good afternoon ladies! Hope you all made it through the Monday blues, and now that it’s Tuesday have a smile on your face. Lately, I’ve been one smiley girl as I realize I have lots to be happy about: my relationship, my super sweet North End apartment (come September), my amazing friends whom I keep in touch with even when far away, my (sometimes crazy) family, the fact that I can buy coffee out again now that Lent is over (helllooo venti iced coffee from Starbucks) and the bag of Munson’s Chocolate The Easter Bunny i.e. my mom got me for Easter.

If you’re looking for another reason to smile, I suggest you try this super easy pasta dish I made the other night – perfect for a nice spring evening when you’re looking for something light, simple and delicious. I know how much we all HATE being bloated after an overwhelming amount of spaghetti, but this dish left me feeling satisfied, rather than uncomfortably full.

Easy Broccoli, Tomato & Pesto Pasta for One

-1/2 c. whole wheat pasta* (*Use brown rice pasta if you have a sensitivity to gluten/wheat like me)

-1/2 c. frozen broccoli (I bought mine … Read More!

As I mentioned on Friday, things are looking up for this here Healthy Chick. I’m making it a point this week to give myself a break, be a little easier on myself, and have a little more faith in all things in life: my relationships, my job outlook, my future writing career, myself. Yesterday’s 75 minute yoga class definitely helped me get to a place of calm…a place of belief. I’ve decided I’m going to make practicing yoga a regular part of my life again…I’ve missed the way it makes me feel. It’s an indescribable feeling of being on top of the world, like the entire world is at your finger tips for you to control.

Anyway, when things got a little sour last week, I decided to make the best of the situation and make lemonade for the boy and I. Yes, homemade lemonade (I actually squeezed all the lemons myself…what a workout!) Then I created a delicious Mango & Black Bean salsa to pair with our lemonade for a little outdoor picnic of sorts. It was much needed, and we both agreed I nailed the two recipes:

When Life Gives You Lemons Lemonade

–3/4 c. organic sugar … Read More!

It’s no doubt carbs make you happy. That’s probably why my two years spent on the South Beach Diet led to many mood swings and blah days. No carbs = less smiles. The scientific reasoning behind it is that carbohydrates raise our serotonin levels (something women are lacking anyway) and in turn makes us feel good, less irritable and of course less moody.

So when I woke up this morning feeling a little poopy, I knew it was going to be a carby breakfast. Not just any carby breakfast though. No. It had to be my ALL TIME favorite carby breakfast, and that my friends is good ol’ fashioned pancakes.

I made gluten free pancakes due to my wheat sensitivity from Cherrybrook Kitchen boxed mix. The first time I whipped up these babies, I was a bit hesitant. Can gluten free pancakes really be that good? Well, I must say that they were just as good if not better, and my family couldn’t agree more! I then changed up the recipe a tad…

For 7 pancakes (3 for now, 4 for later):

-1 c. pancake mix

-about 2 tsp. canola oil or equivalent in applesauce

-3/4 c. vanilla almond … Read More!

mmm…what’s poppin’?

Why hello all. How’s it going? Or shall I say what’s poppin’? This year I’m happy to be competing in Popchips Munch Madness 2011, a Boston blogger recipe challenge. As all you sports fans know, March Madness is coming up before we know it! And since I grew up in a household with a sports fanatic father, I have accepted my role as the family chef. Hey, at least when I cook mouthwatering, delicious snacks I’m allowed in the room without being shouted at, “Down in front woman!”

Well, this recipe has a little catch: it must include popchips as a key ingredient. Easy, I thought. I love popchips (and they are gluten free!), so that shouldn’t be a problem. I put my thinking cap on and came up with the perfect game day recipe. Make this on Game Day ladies, and you’ll surely be a crowd favorite in no time.

Poppin’ Game Day Chicken Fingers with Hot & Sweet Dill Sauce

Serves 4 to 6 sports fanatics

For the Chicken:

-1 package all natural boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders

-2 small bags original potato popchips

-1 TB parmesan cheese

-2 TB rosemary, dried

-1 … Read More!

This was my dinner last night:

It was heaven.

What ya need:

*This recipe serves 2

-1 large package pre-cut butternut squash (seriously, these babies are a pain in the butt to cut yourself)*

-handful fresh parsley, chopped

-2 cloves garlic, crushed

-1 c. baby spinach

-1/2 c. baby portobello mushrooms

-1 orange pepper, diced

-salt & pepper to taste

-olive oil

1. Preheat the oven to 350. Coat butternut squash in olive oil, parsley, salt and pepper. Bake for about 30 minutes.

2. In the meantime, chop your veggies and sauté in olive oil on medium-low heat, careful not to overcook. Reduce heat to low, add in the garlic and let simmer.

3. Remove squash from the oven, and assemble on a large plate with veggies. Serve with a sliced whole wheat baguette and butter. YUM.… Read More!

[all photos courtesy of Boston Sports Woman]

Spring is most definitely in the air. Yes, I know, I know, even though it felt like negative 10 degrees in Boston yesterday, I can still feel it. That’s why I’ve been whipping out some of my favorite spring-esque recipes this week, like my pasta primavera and I even bought strawberries for dessert. Chocolate covered strawberries, anyone? Nothing screams WARM WEATHER like that.

Anyway, as much as I want spring to come now, it’s technically still winter and while I dislike that for numerous reasons, I’m super pumped that it also means the Somerville Winter Farmer’s Market is still open for another three weekends (phew). Every Saturday from January 8th until March 26th, folks gather over to the Armory on 191 Highland Ave in Somerville for a festival to remember.

This weekend, March 12th we – we as in me (The Healthy Chick) and Boston Sports Woman – will be attending the market as a guest, and couldn’t be more excited! I’ll be there spreading the word and taking orders for my cookbook “Healthy Chicks in the Kitchen,” and will even be raffling off one as a prize! Be … Read More!