Week 21 - remember to breathe

Breathe in, breathe out...I don't know what's going on, but my toddler girl is acting all sorts of ridiculous.  Not just the usual terrible two's, but this unexplainable bigger-than-life-tantrum-over-everything-don't-understand-why kind of terrible two's.  My husband and I are out of tools in our toolbox - we have tried everything!  But as that famous saying goes, you can't rationalize with crazy.  So that's where I am - I'm researching everything I can on toddler behavior and praying in the meantime.

To top off the difficult, energy-sucking behavior, she also twisted her ankle last night in an attempt to jump off of our couch (of course I wasn't in the room to stop it...do you think I LET my kids run wild?  No jumping off the couch allowed!!!  Which is why she waited till I left the room...).  So now she's difficult with a limp.

And that's why I need to remember to breathe in the chaos and confusion of the long days.  Below you will find my weekly meal plan, along with a link from week 21 of 2013.  Enjoy your week!

Happy Cooking!
Sarah

Week 21 - May 25, 2014

Sunday:  cookout with our neighbors (marinated chicken, veggies and dip, mustard dill potato salad, fruit salad)

Monday: italian sausage sandwiches with peppers and onions, lentil and pea salad, grilled veggies

Tuesday: pan fried parmesan chicken breasts, tortellini and sauce, roasted asparagus, green salad

Wednesday:  Teriyaki Salmon, brown rice, roasted broccoli, edamame

Thursday:  grilled steak, grilled potatoes, blue cheese chopped salad

Friday:  pizza night

Saturday:  leftovers or take-out


Week 21 meal plan from Healthy Home Revolution 2013
http://deliciouslydomesticdining.blogspot.com/2013/05/week-21-summer-is-coming.html

Teriyaki Salmon

Oh my goodness guys...I have a GOOD one for you!!!  This one is beyond delicious!  It had everyone in the family, including the kids, asking for more!!!  I stumbled upon a recipe on pinterest and decided to make it my own.  I made it a couple weeks ago and haven't stopped thinking about it...I am actually craving it.  So any healthy recipe that your body is craving and excited to eat is a GREAT recipe.  Right???   It's so insanely yummy that I'm making it again this week!  It's a must try - even if you don't traditionally like salmon, this one might change your mind.  Enjoy!

Happy Cooking!
Sarah

Teriyaki Salmon
my version of the recipe is based on http://damndelicious.net/2012/05/30/teriyaki-salmon-with-sriracha-cream-sauce/
1 lb of wild caught salmon

For the teriyaki sauce:
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup of light brown sugar
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp garlic powder
2 T honey
1 T cornstarch (optional)

For the siracha cream sauce:
1/2 cup 2 % greek yogurt
1/4 cup of olive oil mayonnaise
2 T of siracha sauce (maybe more, maybe less depending on your taste for spicy food)
1/4 cup of thinly sliced green onions
1/4 cup of chopped fresh cilantro

The first thing I did was make my version, (a lower fat, healthier version), of the siracha cream sauce.  In a small bowl, mix together the greek yogurt, mayonnaise, siracha, green onions and cilantro.  Cover in plastic wrap and allow the flavors to meld in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or until you serve dinner.  It will stay good for up to 3 days.

In the meantime, make your teriyaki sauce.  In a medium saucepan, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, ground ginger, garlic powder, and honey.  Bring the sauce/marinade to a boil over medium heat and continue to cook until it thickens slightly.  (I chose not to use cornstarch but you can easily add a cornstarch slurry, 1 T cornstarch dissolved in 1/4 cup of water, to thicken like a traditional teriyaki you would find at an Asian restaurant.  I don't mind a thinner marinade/sauce).

Once thickened to your liking, about 10 minutes or so, remove the pan from the heat and allow the sauce to cool to room temperature.  Once cool, place the salmon in a ziplock bag or bowl and pour the teriyaki marinade/sauce over the fish.  Place in the refrigerator and allow the fish to marinade for 30 minutes up to over night.  I only marinaded mine for 45 minutes and it was chock full of flavor!  And you'll see why...

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  Place the salmon and all the marinade/sauce in a greased baking dish (I used cooking spray).  Bake at 400 for about 20 minutes, or until it flakes easily with a fork.  

Serve immediately with your favorite sides and a hefty serving of the siracha cream sauce, should you desire.  I served ours with brown rice and roasted broccoli.  So yummy!!!

My husband prefers his siracha cream sauce on the side, and some extra teriyaki on the top!  Next time I'm going to double the recipe in hopes of some leftovers.  Making it again tomorrow and I can't wait!  I hope you guys like it as much as we do.

Memorial Day BBQ Ideas

The holiday weekend has almost begun.  Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to summer and that means the beginning of the BBQ season.  Are you looking for a new appetizer, side dish or entree to share at your next cookout?  I've put together a list of my favorites from the last 18 months of the Healthy Home Revolution.  I hope this list inspires you to get in the kitchen and try something new this weekend!  Enjoy the holiday and stay safe!

Happy Cooking!
Sarah

My Favorite Healthy Appetizers

7 Layer Mediterranean Dip  
http://deliciouslydomesticdining.blogspot.com/2013/09/mediterranean-7-layer-dip.html

Lightened up Buffalo Chicken Dip
http://deliciouslydomesticdining.blogspot.com/2011/10/football-watch-party-ideas.html

Roasted Eggplant and Garlic Dip
http://deliciouslydomesticdining.blogspot.com/2013/07/roasted-eggplant-and-garlic-dip.html

My Favorite Healthy Side Dishes

Wheat Berry Salad
http://deliciouslydomesticdining.blogspot.com/2013/09/wheat-berry-salad.html

Lentil Salad
http://deliciouslydomesticdining.blogspot.com/2013/07/lentil-salad-with-fresh-peas-mint-and.html

Blue Cheese Coleslaw
http://deliciouslydomesticdining.blogspot.com/2013/07/blue-cheese-coleslaw.html

Mediterranean Pasta Salad
http://deliciouslydomesticdining.blogspot.com/2013/07/mediterranean-pasta.html

Mustard and Dill Potato Salad
http://deliciouslydomesticdining.blogspot.com/2013/04/low-fat-mustard-dill-potato-salad.html

My Favorite Healthy Entrees or Main Dishes

Crockpot BBQ Beer Shredded Chicken
http://deliciouslydomesticdining.blogspot.com/2013/09/crockpot-beer-bbq-shredded-chicken.html

Grilled Yogurt Marinated Chicken
http://deliciouslydomesticdining.blogspot.com/2013/06/grilled-yogurt-marinated-chicken-with.html

Marinated and Grilled London Broil
http://deliciouslydomesticdining.blogspot.com/2013/09/marinated-grilled-london-broil.html

Crockpot BBQ Ribs
http://deliciouslydomesticdining.blogspot.com/2013/04/crockpot-bbq-babyback-ribs.html

The BEST EVER Turkey Burgers
http://deliciouslydomesticdining.blogspot.com/2012/02/best-ever-turkey-burgers.html

Grilled Salmon with Mango Salsa
http://deliciouslydomesticdining.blogspot.com/2011/06/simple-light-summer-dinner.html

Week 19 & 20 - juggling life

Juggling life - I know many of you are masters at this.  I believe this is a craft that we are constantly perfecting, and just as we think we have it down, life throws a curve ball and we are thrown for a loop. These times can be stressful, but its how we handle the extra stress that determines how it all shakes out.

I'll be totally honest:  sometimes I deal with things much better than other times and I'm not really sure what the contributing factor is.   I do know that staying positive, eating healthy, and exercising daily helps me out significantly.  When I'm stressed out, all I want to do is eat greasy, salty foods but this ultimately makes me feel worse and hinders my energy levels.  I know that my body needs proper fuel to run at the level I need it too during busy times.  And the exercise helps me get the extra anxiety out. What do you do during stressful times?  How do you cope?  Do you have constructive outlets?

Week 19 was definitely a week for juggling things.  Before I go into detail on the power of positivity, I'm going to take a moment to vent (aka complain) about my first-world problems.  It's all relative, right?

Venting...I'm always spoiled when my parents are visiting - we have many date nights, lots of extra help with the children, and wonderful conversations about life.  We are always sad to see them go, and the week that follows usual requires an adjustment, mostly on my part.  This time was a HUGE adjustment for all of us.  My toddler girl is finally old enough (2 years, 3 months) to notice they aren't here anymore...she even wakes up asking for them and verbalizes her feelings.  Mid - May also means college graduation and year-end celebrations for my husband...this means long hours for him at work, most nights we are all asleep before he's home.  We missed our daddy/husband this last week and that always makes the days super long.  To add to our usual day to day, I decided to volunteer for a few things at my son's preschool...what was I thinking?  I am now actively involved in the search process for new teachers, observing lessons and interviewing potential candidates as a parent representative on the search committee.  These last few weeks of May will be crammed with these interviews.  I am LOVING IT, but the time it takes to do this means less time to do all the other things.  And lastly, allergies anyone???  I mean HOLY allergies!!!  This season has been awful!  Not just for me, but for my 4 1/2 year old son too.  I mean I feel horrible and he seems to have it worse than me.  It's so hard to watch him suffer!  And to top it all off, I came down with a butt kicking cold that is now making it's way around the family.  Awesomeness...what's that expression?  When it rains it pours???  Yes, well enough about that.

The power of positivity...I may need to take a moment to vent about things in my life that may make it harder to juggle things and maintain a base level of sanity, (my base level of sanity), but I never stop being grateful for everything our life has blessed us with.  We are busy and stressed because of blessings.  But most importantly, we are all healthy (mostly), strong, happy, and balanced individuals.  When the day ends, I might be exhausted, but I feel surrounded by love and I am grateful for the things that keep me on my toes.  As I mentioned earlier, it's all about perspective.  Take a moment for yourself, a moment to figure out how to maintain your sanity.  It's easy to put your needs aside, but you can't do that forever without going crazy.  What do you need?  What does your relationship with your kids need?  How about your marriage?   Life it crazy - no doubt.  It's a roller-coaster of ups and downs so figure out what you need to come out on top on the other side.  It looks different for each of us - what works for me and mine may not for you.  Prioritize your life, stay positive, be grateful, and take the time to vent every now and then.

Due to my own sanity, there is no weekly meal plan for this coming week, week 20.  I will include links to weeks 19 and 20 from last year to give you some ideas should you need some.

So here's to a week of positivity and making it out on the other side relatively sane.  I gotta go blow my nose.

Enjoy!
Sarah

From the first year of the Healthy Home Revolution:
week 19  http://deliciouslydomesticdining.blogspot.com/2013/05/week-19.html

week 20  http://deliciouslydomesticdining.blogspot.com/2013/05/week-20.html

Week 18 - it's party time!

It's party time!  That's right folks, my parents are here this week visiting.  Yay!!!  Not only do we love to spend time with them, but they also volunteer to watch the kids so that my time can be spent doing other things I don't normally get to do.  Double win!  And the icing on the cake?  Date nights with free childcare!!!  Woo-hoo!

Below you will find a link to week 18 from last year, but I will not be posting a weekly meal plan for myself for this week.  I'm planning to have as many date nights as I can fit into my husbands schedule.  The rest of the time I will be busy having fun with my family, enjoying this beautiful spring weather, and amazing city of Boston.  Enjoy your week!

Happy Cooking!
Sarah

Week 18 - Healthy Home Revolution 2013
http://deliciouslydomesticdining.blogspot.com/2013/05/week-18-maintenance.html

Taco Bake

If you love Tex-Mex, tacos, and enchiladas then you MUST try this recipe!  It's a lower calorie, lower fat version of your favorites!!!  You get all those delicious tex-mex flavors in a healthier package.  Plus it's really easy to make - way easier than the typical assembly of enchiladas with the added fiber and nutrition of the corn and beans.  This recipe reminds me of eating enchiladas without doing all the work.  It was delicious!  All the fresh toppings add that special touch.  My hubby went back for seconds which means it was a success!  I am definitely making this again and may even add some spinach or kale to the filling.  Perfect way to hide veggies!

Happy Cooking!
Sarah

Taco Bake
recipe based on http://www.food.com/recipe/mexican-casserole-6-5-weight-watcher-points-135814

1 small onion, diced
1 lb of 96% lean ground beef
1 pkg of taco seasoning, or 1 recipe of your own taco seasoning
1 (15 oz) can of black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14.5 oz) can of diced tomatoes and their juices
1 cup of frozen corn
1/4 cup of diced canned green chilies
8 corn tortillas
1/2 cup light sour cream
1/2 cup shredded reduced fat mexican blend cheese
fresh cilantro, chopped
taco sauce or salsa, diced cherry tomatoes, diced fresh avocado, and extra light sour cream, for topping (all optional)


Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 12 by 8 pan with non-stick cooking spray.  Cut the tortillas in half and place 8 halves along the bottom of the pan, overlapping one another (4 tortillas total).

Next, brown the ground beef in a large pan over medium heat.  Be sure to break it up as it cooks.  Drain the beef and return it to the pan.

As you are cooking the beef, prepare the other ingredients.

Once you've cooked and drained the beef, add the chopped onion and continue to cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the corn, tomatoes, beans, and taco seasoning.  Stir until well combined.  Continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes or until heated through.

Spoon half of the beef mixture over the layer of tortillas and spread it evenly.

Then spread the sour cream over the beef.  I know it looks like a very thin layer, but it does add some much needed moisture without all the fat ad calories as cheese.

Add another layer of tortillas and the remaining beef mixture evenly over the tortillas.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  At this point, remove the foil, sprinkle with the cheese, and bake an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted.

Here's a side view so you can see all of the delicious layers...it really does taste like enchiladas!

Cut into 6 servings and serve immediately with all your favorite toppings.  I topped mine with diced cherry tomatoes, avocado, cilantro and taco sauce.  So delicious!!!  Enjoy!

Arugula Fennel Salad

If you've been following my blog for a while, then you know that I LOVE salad.  I could eat it everyday, twice a day.  This is my new FAVORITE salad!!!  You guys are gonna love it!  It combines all the best flavors of a salad I had at my favorite local Italian restaurant.  It's such a simple salad of fresh, bold flavors.  You are going to love it!  So next time you are going grocery shopping, add this to your list and give it a try!

Happy Cooking!
Sarah

Arugula Fennel Salad
1 pkg (6 oz) of baby arugula
1 small fennel bulb, core cut out and thinly sliced
1/2 lemon, juiced
2 T olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
shaved parmesan cheese, to taste

In a large bowl, whisk together the fresh lemon juice and olive oil.  Add the arugula, fennel and salt & pepper to taste.  Toss to combine and top with parmesan cheese.  Serve immediately - So simple and soooooo delicious!
Enjoy!

Homemade Baked Mac n Cheese

Is this a low-fat mac n cheese?  No - but it's a great recipe for a special occasion or cheat day when you want to make the real thing.  It just screams comfort food and it is much healthier than any store-bought version.  If you are looking for an easy recipe to try, please give this one a go!  You can add some protein and veggies to make it a complete meal, either mixed in with the mac n cheese or on the side.  Some examples might be mac n cheese with chicken and broccoli, ham and asparagus, or hotdogs and peas.  My kids LOVED it and we ate the leftovers for days.  I hope that you like it as much as we do!!!

Happy Cooking!
Sarah

Baked Mac n Cheese
1/2 package (8 oz) of your favorite pasta, I used large elbows
3 T of butter
3 T all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups of 2% or whole milk
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp mustard powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
2 cups of shredded cheese, such as a mixture of mild and sharp cheddars, gouda, and parmesan  (I used a pre-packaged shredded cheese from my grocery store called "Macaroni and Cheese Blend")
1/3 cup of panko bread crumbs

First begin by cooking the pasta according to package directions until it is al dente, a couple minutes before tender.  This step is VERY important-  the pasta continues to cook in the oven so this prevents the macaroni and cheese from being too mushy.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter.  Stir in the flour and cook for a minute or two until the color deepens, constantly stirring.  Gradually add the milk while whisking over medium heat.  Add the additional seasonings (onion and garlic powders, salt and pepper, mustard powder).  Continue to whisk until the sauce thickens to your liking (it should be able to coat the back of a spoon).  Turn the heat off, add the cheese, and stir until it melts.  Stir the pasta into the cheese sauce and spoon into a greased 2-quart baking dish.

Top with breadcrumbs and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.  Serve immediately. 

I made this recipe on Easter Sunday with our ham, mustard sauce, and roasted asparagus.  So yummy!!!  A meal I would want to eat at any Sunday dinner.  Enjoy!!!

Cleansing Cabbage Lentil Soup

Everyone has heard of the cabbage soup diet...eating soup all day to loose weight.   I do NOT endorse this method of weight loss - I believe its unhealthy and unsustainable.  However, I do believe that there are many healing and cleansing qualities of a vegetable based soup.  So based on some ideas from the 7-ingedient cleanse (a 3 day cleanse I've done in the past http://deliciouslydomesticdining.blogspot.com/2014/01/7-ingredient-cleanse.html ), I've created a cabbage and lentil soup designed to fill you up with healthful ingredients while tasting great.  I was honestly surprised at how yummy this soup was...yummy enough for me to look forward to the next time I could eat more!

Happy Cooking!
Sarah

Cleansing Cabbage and Lentil Soup
1 T of olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
4 tsp bullion base (pictured below)
8 cups of water (you may substitute 8 cups of stock instead of bullion base and water)
1 small head of cabbage, thinly sliced and cut into 1 inch pieces (easier to eat once cooking down)
14 oz can of diced tomatoes with juice
1 cup of split red lentils
salt and pepper to taste

Begin by sauteing the onion in 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat until translucent.   Add the garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds.

Add one cup of water (of the 8 cups) and dissolve the bullion base.  The water should heat up quickly which will help the bullion to dissolve faster.  Once completely dissolved, continue to add the rest of the water (7 more cups).  As mentioned in the ingredient list, you may use 8 cups of stock or broth instead of the bullion base and water.  I prefer this bullion base not only because it's cheaper, but because its all natural ingredients with no preservatives.

Once the liquid comes to a slow boil, as pictured below, add the cabbage, lentils, and tomatoes.

Continue to cook over medium heat for 30-40 minutes or until lentils are tender and cabbage has wilted.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Serve immediately and enjoy!!!  So yummy!  A perfect one pot meal!

Easter Feast and Marathon Monday

Happy Easter to all those who celebrate! And Happy Patriots Day to my fellow New Englanders!

Today is marathon Monday in Boston. It's an emotional day, not just because its the anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombing, but for all the runners and their families doing the unthinkable: running 26.2 miles!!! Congrats to them all! I love watching them run and I love hearing their stories.

I wish I could say I am posting my meal plan for the week, but I am not. This week is vacation week for my son and my husband is going out of town. So needless to say, I'll be flying by the seat of my pants and ordering a lot of takeout. Lol. I do have some pictures of our Easter dinner to share (roasted leg of lamb, ham with mustard sauce, homemade Mac n cheese, asparagus).

I wish you all a wonderful week! Enjoy the beautiful springtime weather!
oh and one more thing: Boston Strong!!!

Happy Cooking!
Sarah