Raising Libby Jo: recipes

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Clean Eating

Since the New Year there has been a revolution in our household. We've made a commitment to eat better and get more exercise. For me, that has meant walking 2-3 miles/day and making some major changes to how I have been eating.

Now I am eating 5-6 minimeals every three hours that includes lean protein, lots of fresh veggies and low glycemic fruits, and high fiber carbs. I have also cut out all caffeine, dairy, added sugar, added salt and added fats. I have increased my water intake from 1.5 liters/day to 3+ liters a day. I have already dropped 19 lbs. from making these changes. And I am never hungry because as soon as I am it's time for another minimeal.

We have also really cut back on eating out...maybe once every two weeks or so. So that means we're cooking more at home, which is great! Here are two newer recipes that I have enjoyed with our new, cleaner eating lifestyle:

Turkey-Quinoa Stuffed Zucchini

INGREDIENTS:

4 medium zucchini, halved and de-seeded (scoop out centers with a spoon, discard center flesh)
1.2 lbs ground turkey breast (1 package)
1 cup of fresh mushrooms, chopped
2 cups of fresh baby spinach, chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup of cooked quinoa prepared with
2 cups of low sodium chicken stock
1 tablespoon Ms. Dash Tomato-Basil-Garlic No-salt seasoning
1 tablespoon Ms. Dash Garlic-Herb No-salt seasoning
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Season turkey with Ms. Dash blends and cayenne pepper.
Brown turkey with onion in a nonstick skillet
Add in chopped mushrooms and spinach until it is all incorporated and veggies are soft
Mix in prepared quinoa and mix well, remove from heat
Spoon turkey-quinoa mix into hollowed out zucchini shells
Bake, covered in a glass or ceramic casserole dish for 25-30 minutes or until zucchini can be pierced easily with a knife

Makes 4 servings.

Italian Wedding Soup

INGREDIENTS:

4 cups of low sodium chicken stock
1.2 lb of ground turkey breast (one package)
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 cloves minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup shredded kale or swiss chard
1/2 cup of canned cannellini beans or northern white beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup diced tomato

PREPARATION:

Mix turkey with basil, oregano, garlic and cayenne pepper in a bowl, using your hands Lightly roll into 1/2-inch diameter meatballs (approx. 1 ounce each...about 16 total) and set aside on a plate.

Over medium-high heat, cook meatballs in a nonstick pan until lightly browned on all sides. Place cooked meatballs on a plate covered with paper towels to absorb excess fat.

In a 3-quart saucepan, bring chicken stock to a boil. Reduce heat and add kale. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until kale is tender. Add in 8 meatballs (reserve the rest for another recipe), beans and tomato and let simmer until heated through.

Makes 4 servings.

Movie Weekend

Well the weather is much improved...it was in the low 70's yesterday! And by evening it was still downright balmy. Nice. Makes me look forward to Spring when the trees are blooming and I can ditch my boots. My allergies? Well, not so much. But I digress...

Seems this weekend has been all about movies for us. J and mom saw Underworld:Rise of the Lycans on Friday night. I wasn't up for a movie that night, so they went without me and saw something I would never get through. Then, yesterday mom and I saw He's Just Not That Into You. It was cute although the overall theme of women talking themselves into bad boyfriends (and husbands) made me sad. I will say, the Aniston-Affleck storyline reminded me somewhat of J and I, so I liked that...especially at the end.

Since I knew I was going to the movies I ate low-carb all day so I could have a small popcorn. I just cannot smell popcorn and not have it. So knowing that I planned ahead and am happy that I did. So far the new way of eating is going well, I was even inspired yesterday to make-up a new recipe. I took some ground turkey breast and browned it with fresh, chopped garlic, diced mushrooms and chopped, fresh, baby spinach. I seasoned it with some Ms. Dash (no salt) and a little cumin. Then, once it was done, I stuffed it into hollowed halves of fresh zucchini and baked it at 325 degrees for 15 minutes.

Of course, it would have been tastier with cheese melted on top, but I am off dairy, so it was good to me. I had a lot of the "turkey hash" left over so I tried some today scrambled into my egg whites and that was tasty too. Ya know? It's amazing what a little effort in the kitchen will yield. Tasty and healthy meals that are quick and easy to make. It feels good to put myself back on the top of my list and making this a priority. By doing so, I am never hungry, eat yummy foods and lose weight. It's a win-win! Today, the sun is shining so we're going to do 4 miles on the Riverside trail...I am sure the dogs will love it!

A Meaty Treat

WTH? We received our electric bill with this recipe included. J nearly gagged when he saw it...I guess this must be geared towards kids. Gross!

Holiday Cheer

J came home and found this lovely package on our doorstep! I have no idea how it was left there without the dogs going nuts about someone on our porch! It must have been placed there when we were out in the backyard earlier today.

Inside was a note...

...from my pal Jaime, who lives a neighboring suburb of Tulsa. Jaime and I met online over two years ago...on The Knot's Hawaii Board, which brings together Hawaiian Brides from all over the world in cyberspace. Never in a million years would I have thought we'd ever get a chance to meet. But we did...last August, for lunch. Then, this December, we organized an ornament exchange for Hawaii Knotties (that's what the gals who post on The Knot are called) through Elfster.com and lo and behold, Jaime drew my name and sent us awesome peacock ornaments!

The note says:

"Just a little more holiday cheer. There's something special marked "From Tia". She picked it out just for you saying that if you love Hawaii you had to have it! Hope and and J have a blessed Christmas.

Happy Holidays, Love, Jaime, Matthew, Tia & Hani"

Here's the adorable, handpicked item from Tia (her kindergartner)...

Love his sparkly shell and bright red flippers and cool snorkeling mask!

And, of course, the Golden Gate Bridge! I love it! I definitely feel like I've left my heart in San Francisco this Christmas. My mom called and she's meeting up with my aunt, uncle, cousin and brother in SF to see my other cousin's new apartment in North Beach, go see a move and then attend midnight mass at St. Peter and Paul Church in Washington Square. She also confirmed that she and her two chihuahuas (Dot and Sport) will arrive in Tulsa on Sunday, January 11th. I cannot wait!

And super tasty, world famous Honolulu Cookie Company Hawaiian Shortbread...mixed flavors including chocolate dipped, pineapple and lilikoi (passion fruit)...YUMMY!

The pugs were so excited too! Here they are checking out all of the goodies!

And how cute are these ornaments on our tree? Love them!

Words cannot express how happy this gift made me today. Jaime is an amazing friend who, oddly enough, I have only met face-to-face once. When I came out for my job interview last May, she left an OU Sooners coffee cup and sweet note for me at the hotel. And now this!

She's so thoughtful and I greatly appreciate her taking the time to do this for me, especially today, when I am home alone with the furbabies. Waiting for my sweetheart to come home after having worked a 16 hour day and getting ready for another 8. And talking on the phone with my mom in CA... getting ready to spend the evening with family in the city I love dearly and my dad in Alaska, gathering together my siblings and their children for a traditional Christmas dinner. It's nice to know that even though I am a little lonely on this day, I am not alone. Thanks for spreading the holiday cheer Jaime...you're the best!

Now it's my turn to spread some holiday cheer...I am surprising J by making carmel apples with peanuts....his fav! Wish me luck, I have never made them before butI have good instructions. And since we're in major debt-pay-off and save mode, my gift to him this year is a bunch of "love coupons" I made up for him on the computer, printed and put in a nice card for him in his stocking stuffed with all sorts of chocolates and goodies he enjoys (like Burt's Bee Hand Salve and Alba Shave Cream). The coupons are good for everything from a night on the town to a weekend get-away, movie of his choice and a tech-free evening (no TV, no phone, no internet..just us!). I hope he likes them and uses them too!

UPDATED: Here's how my carmel apples came out...

They were super easy to make!

INGREDIENTS:

- 5 medium Granny Smith apples, washed and dried

- One bag of Kraft Caramel Bits (they come with 5 wooden sticks)

-1/2 cup of chopped pecans and peanuts

Melt the caramel bits with two tablespoons over medium-low heat.

Remove the melted caramel from the heat, roll the apples (with the sticks inserted in the stem part of the apple) and use a spoon to cover as needed.

Dip the caramel covered apples into chopped nuts, using a spoon to press them into the caramel as needed

Place caramel covered apples onto wax paper sprayed with non-stick spray and refrigerate for at least one hour.

Gorgonzola Pasta Revisited

So since J is working a double today our only opportunity to dine together on this Christmas Eve will be his small break from 3:30-4:15 p.m. when he comes home to change into his clothes for the second shift. So I made up some of my tasty gorgonzola penne pasta to fill his belly. Except today I skipped the turkey kielbasa (I am saving it to make some of my spaghetti later this week) and used chicken breast tenders cut into bite size pieces, seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic and browned in a little olive oil.

It's not as colorful as when I use the kielbasa, but it's oh so tasty! I thought about adding in some dried cranberries on top, but wondered if that would be weird. Sort of a variation on one of my favorite salads...
grilled chicken - gorogonzola - spinach - pecan salad with dried cranberries and either apples or pears.

Anyway, I snapped some pics and as soon as I download them from my camera, I'll post them here!

Leisurely Day (100th post!)

J and I both had today off from work so we decided to have a nice, relaxing day. It started with sleeping in and enjoying our morning coffee together. Then we headed to Clary Sage, the local asthetic and spa college, for side-by-side massages. The masseuses are advanced students nearing completion of their training. J got a great guy, I, on the otherhand, was sort-of disappointed with mine. She was okay, but her touch was so light that I felt like I was getting tickled for an hour. The firmest pressure she used is what I would used to put sunscreen on someone's back. Anyway, I am very moisturized now, but my muscles are still tight and knotted. Next time, I will request a guy with lots of manpower! I am a fan of massages that are so good they hurt. Guess I am my mother's daughter!

Speaking of which, we anticipate her relocation to Tulsa in the near future. She will stay with us for a while as she settles here and we're looking forward to the company. It might feel crowded, at times, since we only have one bathroom, but considering I grew up with 5 people in a home with one bath until I was 13, it's not that big of a deal.

Anyway, back to today....after the massage we tried out D'Novo Lean Gourmet restaurant. It opened a couple of months ago, but today was the first chance we had to check it out. It's a bright, chic and modern eatery with a glass tiled fountain, white leather booths and modern crystal chandeliers. The food is ordered euro-cafe style...at a counter and they you get a number and they deliver the food to your table (where your number is posted on a little metal stand/holder). J ordered the seasame seared yellowfin tuna salad and I got the roastbeef and gorgonzola wrap with a side asian salad. All was extremely tasty and we could hardly believe that every meal in the restaurant is 500 calories or less. We will DEFINITELY be back!

After lunch we walked around the KingsPointe shopping center, exploring the wine shop and then making our way down to the florist, KaBloom, where we got a lovely, fresh fall centerpiece to bring to Aunt Rita's tomorrow. It has yellow roses, red hypericum berries, rust colored daisies, yellow mums and orange daylilies. She is hosting Thanksgiving dinner for us and Joseph's parents. She told us not to bring anything, but we never show up anywhere empty handed, so we decided that flowers would be our contribution.

From there we decided to run some errands and on our way, found ourselves stopping at Kupcakz, Tulsa's only cupcake bakery. We've been wanting to sample their made from scratch offerings. J had the My Peanut Buttercup which is a dark chocolate cake with creamy peanut butter frosting chocolate splitters and toasted peanuts (they roast the peanuts themselves to make homemade peanut butter) and I had the Lemon Drop which is zesty lemon cake with lemon curd and lemon cream cheese frosting. Of course we got two Sooner than Later (red velvet cake smothered with mascarpone cream cheese frosting) to go. All was tasty and you can just tell that all of the ingredients are fresh and made from scratch...a lost artform these days. We will definitely be back to sample the Cheeky Monkey (fresh banana cake with caramel cream cheese frosting candied pecans and caramel drizzle) and Boston Dreamer (yellow cake filled with French pastry cream and capped with bittersweet chocolate ganache).

We came home and it was so nice out that we decided to take the furbabies for a stroll. All THREE of them! Yep, the crazy cat likes to follow us on our neighborhood walks. So we leashed up the dogs and she followed along behind us. The dogs had a blast, as they always do on their walks.

Now we're home and gonna make dinner...brown rice penne pasta with turkey kielbasa, apples and spinach with a creamy gorgonzola sauce. Very autumnal and SO good! Here's recipe (made up by me of my favorite things):

INGREDIENTS:

--1 package of polska kielbasa or smoked sausage (I prefer turkey),sliced into "coins"
--Bag of washed baby spinach leaves
--1 large apple, skin on, quartered and sliced medium-thin
--1 tub of crumbled gorgonzola cheese (5 oz.)
--1/8 c. butter
--1/4 c. milk
--pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:
--Prepare pasta as directed. I usually make half the package which yields two heaping portions plus leftovers for lunch the next day.
--While pasta boils, in a skillet brown the kielbasa or sausage slices, remove
--In same skillet (wipe out any grease from the sausage) wilt the spinach leaves and soften the apples over medium heat. Don't overcook, the spinach should still be bright green and the apples should retain their shape.
--Drain pasta and set aside. In the same pot that the pasta was cooked, melt 1/8 c. butter or margarine, add in the the gorgonzola crumbles and the 1/4 c. milk over low heat. Melt all ingredients together. As they start to combine, fold in the drained pasta into the butter-cheese-milk mixture until coated and warmed through. Add in the drained, browned sausage, wilted spinach and softened apples and combine until coated.
--Serve up with a little fresh pepper on top.

Cold, rainy, stormy day

Today started in the black. Literally. It was so cloudy that the sun didn't ever come out and the sky only went through a monochromatic shift of grays. I got to work at 6:50 am. I am trying my best to be an early bird so that as we "fall back" and lose daylight, I can be home with J and the furbabies by 3:30-4:00 pm and have an hour or so of daylight together. So I am trying. Today it worked. It was great getting home by 4:00 pm.

Back to the weather...we had thunder and lightening all day today. The temperature dropped from 62 degrees this morning to 52 degrees this afternoon. Brrr! I was prompted to order some sweaters and long pants on sale from Kohls.com today. I don't really have a winter wardrobe, save for the few items I have collected over the years for the annual NY audition trip. Living in the cold for 5 days is a little different than living in it day-in and day-out for 5 months. So sweaters and tights and long pants and boots it will be. What's odd is that I am getting all of my hot weather clothes together for 10 days in Hawaii next week for work. I depart for Honolulu a week from tomorrow. I can only imagine how cold it will be when we get back on November 9th.

Today I made my first spaghetti of the season. Here's the quick and easy recipe.

Ingredients:
- 1 jar of your favorite marinara sauce (I prefer Newman's Own) or make your own
- 1 lb. of ground turkey
- 1 package of Tukey Polska Kielbasa, sliced into bite size pieces
- fresh garlic, chopped
- salt, pepper and oregano to taste
- your favorite dried pasta (we use brown rice or quinoa pasta, you can also serve this over some steamed broccoli if you're laying off the pasta)

Directions:
- Brown the ground turkey, season as desired, drain and set aside
- In the same pan brown the Polska Kielbasa
- Meanwhile, in a separate stock pot, simmer your sauce...add garlic and spices to taste
- Add drained turkey and Polska Kielbasa to the sauce, simmer until married
- In a separate pot boil water and prepare pasta
- Add mushrooms, chopped onions, etc. to the meat sauce if desired and simmer together for 10-15 minutes.
- Drain pasta, place in bowl, spoon meat sauce over it all and garnish with some grated parmasean. YUMMY! If you skip the pasta, serve the meat sauce over steamed broccoli for a yummy, lower carb option.
-This sauce keeps well and makes enough for 2-3 servings for two or one meal for a family. Especially if you add garlic bread and a green salad. Quick, easy and yummy, especially on a cold, stormy day.

Makin' Chilli...

Today's the day...I am acknowledging that summer is fading and autumn is here. Mind you, it's 77 degrees today, sunny skies with white fluffy clouds are overhead. But there is a slight breeze, which cools the air and rustles the already turning leaves on their branches.

Here's my recipe...I made it up myself and have been making it every October, November, December and January for the past three years.

I try to buy as many organic and low-sodium products as possible for this.

1 large can of crushed tomatoes
1 small can of tomato paste
1 lbs of lean, ground turkey
Fresh, chopped garlic, about 1/4 cup, maybe more
Cumin, about 1/4 cup, maybe more
Chili powder, about 1/4 cup, maybe more
Cayenne pepper, 2 big heaping tablespoons
Black ground pepper, 1 tablespoon
Salt (to taste)
1 can whole black beans
1 can whole pinto beans
1 can whole kidney beans

Directions:
Open all of the cans of beans, drain, and set aside. Open cans of tomato and set aside.

In a large stock pot, over medium heat brown the ground turkey with about two tablespoons of fresh chopped garlic, two tablespoons cumin, and two table spoons of chili powder. Add 1 teaspoon of cayenne paper.

Once the meat is browned and fragrant, drain off the fat (I use a turkey baster to remove the liquids). Add in large can of crushed tomatoes and mix. Let simmer. Add tomato paste. If the liquid it too thick, add about a 1/2 cup of water and mix thoroughly.

Now add in all three types of the drained, canned beans and mix well. Taste. Add salt and/or pepper if needed. Cover and let simmer over low
heat.

Every 1 hour or so, taste and add more seasoning, as needed until the flavor you prefer is achieved. I end up using all the cumin, chili powder, garlic and cayenne paper after about 3-4 hours of slow cooking. You might like to add freshly chopped onion or peppers, I don't care for either, so I leave them out. But I use LOTS of garlic and cumin! YUM! Season yours however you please, you really cannot mess it up. If it gets too thick, add a little water. For added kick I will add Vietnamese chili paste or Tabasco sauce.

This makes enough for two to enjoy and then have some to freeze for later in the month. Or it will comfortably feed 4-6, depending upon the appetites. Double the recipe and you have fun, cheap and yummy potluck food.

Garnish with fresh chopped onion (green or white), a dollop of sour cream or fresh Greek yogurt and shredded cheese (we use a cheddar/jack combo). Add some cornbread, tortillas or corn chips and you have a relatively healthy, low fat, high protein, soul satisfying meal. I tried mine over some leftover cheesy polenta and it was super!

Chicken Parmesean and Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes

Last night I improvised this recipe. It was so yummy and relatively healthy. The chicken is really juicy and flavorful and the pasta is creamy and feels like comfort food. It's made the keeper list in our household and I wanted to share it with you...let me know if you end up making it and what you think.

CHICKEN PARMESEAN:
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 tablespoons of dijon mustard

1 tablespoon of rice vinegar (you could use apple cider or white wine too)

salt and pepper to taste

two slices of whole grain, high fiber bread, toasted

1.5 cups of fresh, shredded parmesean cheese (I actually used a parmesean and mozzarella mix, prepackaged)

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1 tablespoon of butter, melted

spray olive oil

PASTA FLORENTINE:
1 cup of brown rice pasta (or whole wheat) penne or shape of your choice (bowties would work great!)

0.5 cup of halved grape or cherry tomatoes

1 cup of fresh baby spinach leaves, sliced into thin ribbons

3-4 wedges of Laughing Cow spreadable Light Garlic and Herb

0.25 cup of 1% milk

salt and pepper to taste

PREPARATION:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees

Coat non-stick baking pan with a thin layer of olive oil to prevent sticking (I used the spray kind)

Mix mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper in a small bowl and marinate the boneless chicken breasts in the mixture (can be done in the refrigerator for up to 2 hours in advance, if desired)

Set a medium sized pot of water to boil (this is for the pasta)

Toast bread slices and then pulse into fine crumbs in the blender or food processor

Add dried pasta to the boiling water

In a shallow dish, combine bread crumbs, shredded cheese, salt and pepper, and dried parsley. Add melted butter to bind.

Take mustard-vinegar marinated chicken breast and dredge into the bread crumb-parmesean cheese mix until full coated.

Arrange coated chicken in the pre-greased baking pan and place in the oven at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes (until cooked through and golden brown)

Check pasta for doneness. When done, drain and set aside. In the same pot that the pasta was cooked in (and now empty, but still warm) add the Laughing Cow cheese wedges to melt.

Add drained, cooked pasta back to pot and stir with melting cheese.

Add in milk and turn the heat to low to combine all ingredients until pasta is fully coated in the milk and cheese sauce.

Once coated, add in cut tomatoes and spinach, tossing until spinach is slightly wilted and tomatoes are warmed through.

Check chicken for doneness and remove from oven. Let cool for 2-3 minutes.

Portion out the pasta on each plate, served on the side of each chicken breast. Add a small green salad with italian or balsamic vinegar dressing.