Quinoa Eeech

This recipe is a quick, tasty, and healthy summer dish to have on hand. My family has made eeech as far back as I remember (probably not how it's spelled, but that's how I like to spell it!) Eeech is traditionally made with bulgar, which is a healthy whole grain, but it is also cracked wheat and contains gluten. Since I have been trying to lay of the big G, I usually make this dish with quinoa! It tastes the same, is gluten free, and is a complete protein! I made a quick batch last night, so I thought I would share the recipe!

And here is the finished product! Lovely fluffed quinoa in a yummy tomato sauce!! This is the perfect light dinner and is usually served chilled, which is perfect on a summer night! It can also be paired with some hard boiled eggs for some added protein!! Here are the nutrition facts if anyone is interested: 

Makes 4 servings: 1 serving contains 250 calories, 9g fat, 36g carbs, 4g fiber, 7.5g protein! 

Enjoy this recipe and this beautiful Tuesday everyone!

Cheesy Cauliflower Bars

I have been craving some garlic cheesy bread lately. I don't know what it is, but that gooey warm flavor has been missing from my life. I decided to create a healthy version using a cauliflower crust! Usually, my cauliflower crusts have always fallen apart, but I was so excited when this recipe was not only delicious, but could actually be HELD UP! It was definitely one of the highlights of my day! This recipe is easy, quick, and delicious, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is craving some cheesy garlic bread!

How amazing does that look?! I let it cool for 15 mins before cutting it and hoping it was sturdy enough to hold up. It was a complete success!!

Sweet Potato Butter Fries

I have really been into grass fed butter lately. I absolutely love it! It has such a rich yet light flavor and tastes good with pretty much everything! It is also a healthy fat choice, which makes it even better! I decided to make some sweet potato fries the other day, but instead of using olive oil, I used some Kerrygold grass fed butter. Oh man, it was amazing!! I will definitely be using this method for my sweet potato fries from now on! I also added some Parmesan cheese to the fries for some added kick, and they turned out delicious! Here is my recipe for sweet potato butter fries!

Such an easy and yummy recipe! And a great supplement to any meal. Have a great day everyone!

Spicy Garlic Green Beans

Hello world!! Today I am sharing a recipe that even the most veggie-hating person will enjoy! I made these yummy green beans last weekend, and they were such a hit! So I thought I'd share!

A word on fat: most people are afraid of using fats and oils because of the calories and tend to steam or use spray oil when cooking veggies. DON'T DO IT! Okay do it once in a while, but please don't be scared of healthy fats. Our bodies need them! The vitamins in veggies, mostly vitamins A and C, are actually fat soluble and need fat to be absorbed properly!! So make sure to use a high quality fat, even coconut oil or grass fed butter, to cook your veggies! And add olive oil and yummy avocado to your salad; I promise you will be fine!! :)

Spicy Sausage & Taters

I love potatoes aka taters. If you follow me on Instagram (@tveen_rd), you probably notice that I eat sweet potatoes almost daily! I absolutely adore them. I made this super easy meal last week with spicy jalapeño chicken sausage from trader joes and some taters. The spicy theme has been strong this week on this blog! ;) This dish came out tasting great and I looked forward to it every day I had it! I thought I would share the recipe so you all could enjoy it as well! 

Peanut Butter Energy Balls

Every time I see or hear the word peanut butter, I am immediately interested in what is being talked about. I love peanut butter and pretty much eat it every day. I just feel the same about any nut butter! Almond, cashew, sunflower seed butter...it's all good! On Sunday, I decided to make some quick energy balls that I could have as my pre-workout meals all week. This may seem silly, but I always try to bake or make something yummy to eat before I workout as extra motivation to actually wake up early and workout before my day begins! I love the habit I have gotten into and it really helps me stay accountable to my morning workouts. These energy balls are high in protein and healthy fat and will keep you going for a while! They were very easy to whip up and so delicious! My fiancé pretty much wanted to eat the entire batch! :) here is my recipe!

Here are the nutrition facts in case anyone is interested: 

1 energy ball: 95 calories, 5g fat, 7g carb, 2g fiber, 6g protein 

Have a great week everyone!

Pumpkin Blueberry Protein Pancakes

I've decided to make Wednesdays a waffle/pancake day. I am a huge waffle and pancake lover. I also love me some eggs, but once in a while, you need a break and a nice treat to start of your day. I start work later on Wednesdays which gives me the perfect opportunity to make a nice big breakfast. Good thing I make my pancakes/waffles gluten free, high in protein, and healthy! This morning, I wanted to combine pumpkin with blueberry and came out with this amazing breakfast which was super filling and delicious! Here is my recipe for Pumpkin Blueberry Protein Pancakes! 

Hope you all enjoy!

Gingerbread Bars

Gingerbread is one of my all time favorite Christmas treats. Last year, I developed a recipe using a blend of gluten free flours, including almond flour. This year, I am planning on taking gingerbread to my work Christmas party. I found out my supervisor has an almond allergy, as well as one of my best friends who just figured out she has an almond allergy too! I wanted to make an almond-free version of the recipe to make sure it still tastes good. And it does! It tastes even better. Here is my new and improved gluten free Gingerbread recipe!

I checked mine with a fork (as you can see) but toothpicks work best! I am so excited to make another batch next week for our work Christmas party! I hope you all get to try this new and improved recipe this weekend!

Parmesan Garlic Chicken

Sometimes, you can get sick of healthy food. It happens, and it's normal. Chicken is one of those dishes that can get boring fast. Grilled chicken and salad is a meal one of my best friends and I joke about, because we ALWAYS have it. However, there are many ways to make even the blandest food a little more exciting. This week, I made a chicken dish that was so different and SO delicious. The parmesan and garlic combination was amazing, and kale was a great supplement to the meal! This meal was also super easy to whip up! Here is my easy and tasty chicken recipe!

I let these cool in two small containers so they would be ready for my lunches! This chicken was such a treat and a meal I looked forward to instead of dreaded! I highly recommend you all trying this dish if you feel yourself getting bored of your usual chicken meals!

Banana Oatmeal Nut Muffins

Good morning all and happy Tuesday! How was everyone's Monday? Mine was a busy, stressful, but great one all at the same time! It started with a wonderful run and leg day workout, busy day at work, yummy dinner, yoga, and hanging out with the fiancé! All in all, I'd say a pretty successful start to the week. And I got home to beautiful red roses my fiancé had left for me earlier in the evening...it doesn't get much better than that! This morning, I thought I'd share my banana muffin recipe. This recipe turned out pretty amazing and makes the perfect quick morning snack before hitting the gym. It's healthy and delicious and I know you all will love it. Here is the recipe!