Chicken Thighs & Summer Salad

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How was everyone's 4th of July weekend!? Mine was fantastic - sooo relaxing and fun. Exactly what I wanted. The rain didn't bother me one bit. Plus, I've been nursing this dang neck injury and have been fighting a mild cold so keeping it mellow was perfect! We did everything from go out here in Boston to beach to pool. Lots of variety and fun!

Moving on to tonight's meal.... I often find myself getting sick of chicken... pretty sure I've mentioned this before.  Boring white chicken breast. I can't remember the last time I cooked any other part of the chicken so today at Whole Foods, I picked up some chicken thighs. Dark meat got a bad rap back when 'fat free' food came into style so I'm making a decision to add it back into my diet since its fat is what makes it healthy. It has more nutrients than its white counterpart - it is higher in iron, zinc and selenium, as well as vitamins A, K and the B's — B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin) B6, B9 (folate) and B12 (cobalamin). You might think it has a lot more calories than white meat, but, in actuality, it only has a few more. There are about 46 calories for an average sized breast and about 50 calories for an average thigh. Not too shabby. Plus, as you add it back into your diet - you'll remember what you've been missing all these years - FLAVOR!

For the marinade I mixed the following ingredients:

-4 organic chicken thighs
-quarter cup of extra virgin o/o
-couple tablespoons of rice vinegar
-tablespoon of organic low sodium soy sauce
-a few pieces of chopped Italian flat leaf parsley from my garden
-tablespoon or so of whole grain mustard
-1 clove of garlic
-tsp or so of salt

Put the chicken on a grill pan (or grill) over medium heat and flip them when they are cooked halfway through. Don't play with them or press them or move them (that goes for all meat grilling ok?!)

While the chicken is grilling, chop the following:

-organic heirloom tomato
-avocado
-smoosh up a couple pieces of buffalo mozzarella
-a few basil leaves
- and throw some zucchini on the grill then take it off and add it to the salad
- drizzle w/ extra virgin and salt

Once the chicken is cooked through and has rested for a few minutes - plate it all and serve! Easy peasy!

A nice, light, summer meal idea for these hot days when the oven is too hot to put on! I really enjoyed this tonight. Chicken thighs have soooo much more flavor than the breast so I didn't even make a dipping sauce - didn't need it! Enjoy and have an awesome week! xo

Bits & Bites_7.1.14

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Happy July! One of my favorite months of the year! The epicenter of summer... I love it! We had a pretty great June, weather-wise, so I hope mama nature keeps her sunny mood through October (yes, October).

So, last week, I managed to tweak my neck doing some pull-ups (I neglected form for a couple to try to get a few more in). Big mistake. I took a couple days off from boxing, re-injured it in my sleep and then went to boxing two days in a row where I really did myself in. Holy Smokes does it hurt - I'm moving like a robot! Let this just serve as a reminder to all that when you're in pain, take a break. That's my soap box for you tonight! I did get a massage today to try and work it out considering I wasn't able to look down at my shoes. It REALLY helped. There's a massage/yoga studio in Legacy Place and the massage therapist knew exactly what to do (I think because she's an athlete). Luckily, I can see my shoes again. Thank goodness.

Moving on... here are some "bits" worth reading tonight...

This article talks about how obesity is now turning into a Global epidemic. Not just in the US.

I've been taking turmeric in capsule form since 2007 after I read a book on brain health. This article reveals so many other reasons it's a fabulous herb.

I like this article because it's always good to get a refresher with spelling... especially with all the emails we write on a daily basis.

And here are my weekly "bites".

Cento tuna on an organic brown rice cake, grapes, kombucha (I felt a cold coming on), skinny pop (for the record - I hate the name "skinny pop" because it makes it sound like it's fat free or low fat or something stupid like that, but, in actuality, it's GMO and sugar free. I don't care that there's only 100 calories, I care that it's GMO free because GMO free popcorn is hard to find! They need to consult with me on a name change. I prefer "pure pop".)

Some not-super-healthy maki that I shared with Rob for an impromptu Wednesday night dinner last week. It was mighty tasty though!

The very necessary post-Billy Joel breakfast consisting of Whole Foods organic pancake mix with blueberries and organic grass-fed butter, nitrate free bacon, and organic scrambled eggs.

A quick salad from last week consisting of my favorite fish sticks (the ones in the middle - Ians - obsessed) I don't know the other brand but that's ok because they aren't as good. Salad consisted or arugla, figs, feta, castevetrano olives, extra virgin o/o.

The guacamole I made for an appetizer before dinner on Saturday night with Rob, Jimmy & Sarah. Ingredients: 3 soft avocados, juice of 2 limes, 5 or 6 jalepenos diced, half a tomato diced, tbs or so of diced red onion, salt, and crushed red pepper to taste.

Monday's salad from Whole Foods: spinach and a dash of the following; chickpeas, edamame, green olives, feta, extra virgin o/o, lemon juice, roasted sweet potato, mushrooms, quinoa, and slivered almonds. Plus, organic raspberries and raw coconut water. (um yeah detox after a weekend of fun in the sun)

Today's lunch: salad with local lettuce, tomatoes, feta, extra virgin and balsamic vinegar. Some pure pop and raspberries.

This morning's smoothie: 2 cups mango, 1 tbs ground flax, 1 tbs chia seeds, 1 tbs almond butter, couple shakes of cinnamon and water to blend!

Time to chat... is anyone making any healthy desserts for the fourth? I'm interested. 

Have a great rest of the week! xo


Bits and Bites_6.23.14

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Monday already, huh? Yikes. I swear I blink and another month is almost over. I wish I could press pause. But alas! Summer is here and the weather has been perrrrfect. I'm trying to soak up every moment! This past weekend, I worked both days, but, was able to squeeze is some fun out in Seaport on Friday night. On Saturday after work, Rob and I walked down to Castle Island to dive into the best it has to offer... ie) the best comfort/fried food in Southie. Gotta indulge, my friends. (I quickly passed out on the couch less than 3 hours later)

Anyway, as promised here's a few more articles that I thought you might enjoy for this week's "BITS":

This article does a nice job of explaining what "cage free" "natural" "gmo free" and other labels mean.

This is one of the best articles I've found on eating healthy/organic/gmo free on a tight budget. Great tips!

This article provides you the 8 foods that the experts will NOT eat. I agree.

And here are my weekly "BITES":

Breakfast with a buckwheat berry waffle from whole foods, smoothie (frozen organic berries, ground flax, chia seeds, 1.5 tbs raw almond butter, cinnamon, and water to blend), and strawberries.

Another typical lunch: organic hard boiled eggs, these snap pea crisps I found at whole foods (gmo free!), real sugar snap peas, organic raspberries, organic cheese stick.

Easy, delish salad I made last week for dinner: local lettuce, grilled chicken that I tossed in my fav buffalo sauce, organic tomatoes, feta, castelvetrano olives (legit best olives ever - I've made non-olive-lovers starting liking olives after feeding them these), and yogurt blue cheese dressing.

I've been making this little guy to satisfy my sweet cravings: two little pieces of 80% cocoa dark chocolate with raw pb in the middle.

Just one look at the ingredient list on Ezekiel raisin English muffins and you'll know why I've been eating them for years. First of all they are so healthy, secondly - so filling, third - so tasty! Here I put almond butter on one half and organic grass-fed butter on the other.

Another self-explanatory lunch. Organic eggs, kiwi, cheese, snap pea crisps.

A Whole Foods salad bar lunch: curry chicken salad, spinach and a few wheat noodles.

My delish Saturday evening dinner with Rob. (like I said, gotta indulge). I had the lobster roll and some of the fried clams. Rob had the double cheeseburger (I had a bite -OMG) and the hot dog.

Anddd, this morning's strawberry-mango smoothie: Almost two cups of frozen mangos and strawberries, 1.5 tbs almond butter, tsp ground flax, tsp coconut flake, water, and cinnamon.

Hope you are all enjoying this weather as much as I am - have a great week! xo

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