TX Style Chili! -- NO beans!

It's been a bit 'chili' here in So Cal for the past couple days; Rainy, a little hail, and temperature's in the low 60s. Us Californian's 'pay for the weather' and today was not in the payment plan.   ------  If the mood calls for Chili you'll absolutely love this recipe.  Classic, easy, quick, sirloin chili that will warm you up and get you out of the kitchen and on to doing better things.

Recipe: (makes 4 bowls)

1 lb - 90% Lean 10% Fat Ground Sirloin  (Can also be used with Turkey 99/1 or 97/3)

1 Can Petite Diced Tomatoes (no salt added)

1/4 Cup Oatmeal  (always use instead of flour)

4 Cheese Mexican Style Cheese (you should try Veggie Cheese!)

Spices:

Black Pepper

Cumin

Season Salt

Garlic Powder

2 Tbsp Chili Powder

Begin by cooking meat in a skillet over medium heat before meat is completely brown season meat with spices above to taste.  

Take 1/4 cup Oatmeal and put in blender or food processor.  Grind it to a flour like substance.  Take 'oat flour' and sprinkle over meat while adding a little water.  Stir together until thickened.

Lastly, once the desired thickness is achieved add can of tomatoes and let sit for 15-30 minutes.

Macro Breakdown:

**1 Bowl (4 oz meat)

Calories:   310

Fat:        16

Carbs:     8

Protein:   31

Ladies and Guys:  As a post-workout meal add 1/4 cup brown rice!  Use lean Turkey for less Fat.

♥FF42 Advice:  Chili night should also include TV Shows/Movie/ and just plain 'couple' time!

Asian Flank Salad!

"Our Favorite....or one of them!"

If you're looking for an amazing meal that's simple, to-the-point, perfect nutrients, and most of all impressive - this is the dinner for you!  It also for us takes care of two meals, in one.

Recipe: *(makes 2 salads with steak left over)

1 lb+ Flank Steak

4 cups Spring Mix Salad

1/2 Avocado

1/2 Cucumber

Grape Tomatoes

Cilantro

Sea Salt & Pepper

Dressing

1/2 Tbsp Soy Sauce

2 tsp honey (preferable from your area: helps with allergies)

1 tsp Lime Juice

1 Drop Sriracha Sauce ( more if you really like it spicy)

1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Begin by trimming Flank Steak of all excess fat. Tenderize with a mallet and then salt and pepper to taste.  Preheat grill to Medium-High - cook Steak to Medium Rare which comes to about 3-4 minutes per side.  After removing from heat let steak rest while you make the dressing.

Combine Soy Sauce, Honey, Lime Juice, and Sriracha in a small bowl while slowly mixing in the Extra Virgin Olive Oil to make the dressing.  Break out the Salad, dice the avocado, slice the cucumber, half the tomatoes, and add in Cilantro.   

Finish off by tossing the salad with the dressing and add the steak!  BOOM!

Macro Breakdown:

**Each Salad: 4 oz Steak**

Calories = 400

Fat       = 24

Carbs    = 12

Protein  = 30

Ladies & Guys:  Remember 4 oz. is about the size of a deck of cards or the palm of your hand!

**You can also use the extra fajita meat for fajita night the next night**

♥FF42 Advice: On the weekend pick 2 things to do in particular: 1) She wants to do. 2) He wants to do.     Our Weekend Plans:  Manicure and Grammy Museum coupled with a Mountain Biking adventure!

Sizzling Salmon

First, we want to say that we are thrilled at the response we have received on our blog! Healthy food and a healthy lifestyle is something we are passionate about and want to share it with all of you!

Tonight's meal takes a tad more preparation but really packs a nutritious punch.

Recipe:

1 lb. Alaskan Salmon (Wild preferably)

1 pkg. Garden Vegetable (or any mixed veggie package)

Lemon Pepper Seasoning

Cavanders Seasoning

Olive oil cooking spray

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Foil

First tear a large piece of foil and fold it in half, raise all edges to make two separate foil boats, one for your salmon and one for veggies.(see photo) Put salmon in the foil boat, skin side down and brush top with 1 Tbsp. olive oil then season it with the Lemon Pepper seasoning and flip salmon over so the skin is facing up. Brush the skin side with a small amount of olive oil as well. In your second foil boat add vegetables, spray lightly with cooking spray (preferably olive oil cooking spray) and add Cavanders seasoning and mix so all veggies are covered. Add about 3 cubes of ice. Tear off another piece of foil and make a sealed lid over vegetable boat. Your product thus far should look like the picture below:

Now it's grill time! Turn your grill to high. Place both boats on grill, cook salmon for about 5 minutes then flip it so the skin is directly on the grill and remove the foil. Cook on this side for 5 more minutes. Remove both boats from grill, use a spatula to take off skin, it should come off extremely easy. (see photo)

...and VOILA! Time to eat!

Macro Breakdown

**5 oz Salmon, 1 cup Veggies

Calories = 280

Fat = 11

Carbs = 6

Protein = 35

Ladies: Remember to never mix 'fattier' foods with carbs!

Guys: Try adding a sweet potato post workout

♥FF42 Advice: Guys take this one on yourself - takes less than 15! And cooking goes a long way!

Eazzzy Cobb Salad

     Here's a perfect dinner for 2 when you want something easy like a salad but packed full of flavor and an assortment of choices!  Robert typically grills the chicken while I chop, cook, and boil!

Recipe:

1 lb - Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast

Salad Spring Mix

1 - Large Egg

Deli Turkey

Tomato

Bleu Cheese Crumbles

Turkey Bacon

Cavendars Seasoning

ZERO Fat - Italian Dressing

Season the chicken breasts with Cavendars seasoning (a 0 calorie, low sodium, all around seasoning) and grill around 5 minutes.  (We use a George Foreman grill in order to drip off any extra fat)


'Best Way to Boil the Perfect Egg' = Place desired amount of eggs in pot, fill with water to 1" over the top of the eggs and bring to a boil.  Turn off burner as soon as it begins to boil.  Let sit for 10 Minutes.  At the end of 10 minutes, drain out water, immediately fill with cold water and place ice cubes in pot in order to cool fast.


Chop Tomatoes - Chop turkey meat - heat turkey bacon - and slice boiled egg.  Place all on the plate and use a zero- fat dressing to taste.  **Dressing** Remember to stay within the serving size typically 2 tbsp.


Macro Breakdown:
**(Each salad - 1 egg,  4 oz chicken, 2 tblsp cheese, 1 slice turkey bacon)
Calories=  435
Fat=        18
Carbs=     10
Protein=   55


Ladies:  For a lower fat option drop the bleu cheese and replace with a low/no mozzarella
Guys:  Pack on the chicken breasts for a Protein packed dinner.


♥FF42 Advice:  "Happy Wife = Happy Life."  or in my case, "Happy Lady = no bit*chin"   ---  Men grill the chicken and clean up!

Savory Turkey Tacos - Low Carb

Meal #1 - Perfect for a Monday Night!

   This weekend was spent enjoying family as Magan's Mom flew into Orange County!  Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, and plenty of shopping was the agenda for most of the past couple days.    With a Monday of work the last thing on our mind is cooking so this is a 'staple' meal for us as it takes about 15 minutes to throw together!


Recipe:


1 lb - Ground Turkey (preferably 99/1)
1 (8 oz) Can - Hunts Tomato Sauce (no salt added)
1 Can - Whole Kernel Corn (low sodium)
1 Can - Black Beans (low sodium)
Cilantro
Lime Juice
Avocado
Low-Fat Mozzarella Cheese
'Smart & Delicious' Low-Carb/High Fiber tortillas
Cumin
Season Salt
Garlic Powder


Make the salsa by draining first, then combining the corn and black beans in a mixing bowl.  Add cilantro and lime juice to your liking. (It takes a good amount of lime juice.) Put in Refrigerator.


Brown Ground Turkey in skillet over medium heat.  Season meat with Cumin, Season Salt, and Garlic Powder.  Once browned add can of Tomato sauce, mix thoroughly, and turn down heat to low.


Warm tortillas right before serving - Combine meat, salsa, sprinkle with cheese, and add 2-3 slices of avocado.   Enjoy!


Macro Breakdown:
**Each Taco ( 4 oz Meat, 1/8 cup cheese)
Calories = 300
Fat       = 14
Carbs    = 7
Protein  = 31


Ladies:  If you'd like to avoid carbs altogether this makes a perfect taco salad!
Guys:    For a Post-Workout meal add 1 cup Brown rice to each taco - burrito style!


♥FF42 Advice:    For a happy couple the one who cooks, the other does the dishes!

Enjoy!!

The Why?!

"We are indeed much more than what we eat, but what we eat can nevertheless help us to be much more than what we are."

- Adelle Davis , Nutritionist

You may think living a truly healthy lifestyle, is a challenging and daunting task. It seems as if it takes time, money, and resources that aren't readily available - our aim of this blog is to prove otherwise!

Magan and I have cooking for 2 down to an art form.  Other cookbooks/blogs claim to be healthy yet butter or flour (to name a few) always seem end up in the mix. Our meals typically take less than 30 minutes to prepare.  They are all easy, cheap, and require no prior cooking experience.  And most of all - They are ALL very healthy. We compliment each other extremely well:  She's the creative one with an eye for cooking great meals and demands flavor!  I'm the health advocate who pushes for meals centered around the activity for the day yet, needs help with adding 'deliciousness.'  Together we make the perfect team!

Stay tuned for meal ideas, recipes, caloric breakdown and much, much more!!!