Pasta bake night

This is a take on a traditional pasta bake. When I first had one, it was in college and it was with Alfredo sauce and cheese so thick on top that after it was baked I needed to cut it with a knife. 

Here's a lighter, less calorie laden version.

You'll need:

-2 cups uncooked pasta of your choice [best choice is anything whole grain]

-1 cup cottage cheese

-cherry tomatoes

-2 cups vodka sauce

-low fat mozzarella cheese

-8x8 or 9x9 baking dish

First cook your pasta, then drain and put in the baking dish. Spread the cottage cheese over the pasta and cut the cherry tomatoes in half and place them over the cottage cheese. Then pour over your vodka sauce. Finally, lightly cover the past dish with the low fat mozzarella cheese so you can still see through to the sauce in most places. Bake at 30-40 mins or until the cheese in golden brown on top. This portion was for 4 people. 

Pair with a big salad and enjoy!

Of course this can be processed free by using whole wheat pasta, which we usually use, and organic tomatoes, and lightly pasteurized dairy. 

What does the fridge look like?

What is in our fridge?

Well as you can see...a lot of healthy food! Keeping your refrigerator stocked with good healthy fruits and veggies makes choosing what to eat less of a battle when all your choices are pointing you in the right direction. It doesn't do you any good to keep tons of junk in your house because all it does is tempt you to make the wrong choices. 

There are so many possibilities that you should feel freed when looking in on all these good choices because there are a million combinations to make. Do the same for your cupboards. If there is something lurking in there, like brownie mix, that might be a cheat meal, put it on the highest shelf where you can barley see it. That way it's not in your face every day tempting you to eat it. Just making small changes like that will help make eating healthy less of a battle and more of an opportunity when you are in the kitchen.

Establishing New Habits is key in eating healthy. Make it a habit that all of your healthy foods are right in front of your face!

Peaches, Plums, and Berries Oh My!

This layered smoothie was super thick! There are so many fruits in this. 

Bottom layer: Blend

-fresh peaches

-frozen strawberries

-fresh raspberries

Top layer: Blend 

-plums

-blackberries

-ice

Use a spoon to layer so that it does not sink down the middle when you pour it in. If you use all fresh fruit add ice to both layers. If you have all frozen fruit then make sure there is ice in both levels so its cold when you drink it. 

Enjoy!

Baked fries

To make these delicious homemade, baked, french fries you will need:

-potatoes of your choice (picking long narrow ones help with chopping)

-french fry seasoning

-olive oil

-ketchup

-hot sauce

Cut your potatoes into long rectangular strips. Most recipes call for you to lay them out and drizzle oil over top but then you don't know how much you are using. Instead take a large bowl and measure of 1-2tbs depending on how big the batch is and dump in on top of the fries and massage and distribute the oil with your hands. This allows for an even coat and you use less than pouring free hand. 

Lay flat on a baking sheet. Lightly dust with french fry seasoning. Go easy with this because it contains salt. These were cooked at 400degrees for 30 minutes. We flipped them at 15 minutes to crisp both sides. 

The dip is just 1/4th hot sauce and 3/4th ketchup. Just for a little zest.

Next time, we will try to bake these to crispy perfection without oil. But these are still a great alternative to eating deep fried, salt drenched fast food ones!

Enjoy!

Southwest Breakfast Hash

Looking for some new options for breakfast? Here's something to try if you like your eggs with a little zest. 

You'll need:

-frozen breakfast potatoes (no seasoning, and if you have more time you can make your own.

-cooked black beans

-red peppers/and or green bell peppers

-frozen corn

-eggs

-salt and pepper to taste

Start your potatoes in a large frying pan. Put about a 1/2 cup of water in the bottom (depending on how much you plan on making) and use a lid to cover the pan. Add in your beans, peppers, corn, and some pepper and salt to taste. When your potatoes are almost done start your eggs and cook them how you like them. These are over medium. 

Load your eggs on your hash and enjoy! 

Cooking these without oil, butter, and using light salt greatly reduces the fat and makes these a healthy choice for breakfast.