Healthy Edamame Sweet Potato Hash

February 2, 2014 by Christine Skari

“Pin me, I’m tasty!”- Hash

Most mornings, I’m lazy when it comes to breakfast. My go-to meal to start my day lately has been microwavable brown sugar banana oatmeal, which takes all of 30 seconds to throw together and another two minutes in the microwave. While it’s delicious, easy, and fast, there are days (especially the day after lifting weights) where I find myself hungry an hour later and know that I need more in the protein department of things.

Enter: Healthy Edamame Sweet Potato Hash!

Not only is it absolutely delicious and bursting with all the good things in life (read: bacon), it packs in a ton of different nutrients, flavors, textures, and, of course, protein!

Let’s break down the cast of characters:

Sweet Potato: the sweet potato brings in that mouthwatering sweet and salty combination, as well as the vitamins B6, C, and D, which help in preventing heart attacks, warding off the cold and flu, and maintaining energy levels, moods, and building healthy bones. Not only that, but they also contain fiber, which helps to keep you full and your poop happy! (Did I really just type that…)

(Source)

Edamame: not only does it have a vibrant coloring (I want my next Kitchenaid Mixer to come in the shade “edamame”), but it’s also rich in protein, vitamin C, manganese, and copper! Manganese helps your metabolism, regulates your blood sugar levels, and helps keep your nervous system alive and kickin’. Hooray, manganese! Copper plays an important role in managing energy, boosting your immune system, and strengthening your bones. You go, Glen Copper!

(Source)

Bacon: well, it’s delicious and makes everything better.

Make a big batch and have a tasty and filling breakfast for the rest of the week!

I’m linking up to WIAW to help share this tasty dish! Thanks, Jenn for hosting!

Honey Orange Chicken Stir Fry

January 14, 2014 by Christine Skari

Some things are meant to be.

I’m talking Romeo and Juliet (minus the ya know, star-crossed lover death part), bacon and maple syrup, and Netflix and Saturday night kinda meant to be. No? Just me?

Well, anyways, here’s another combination to add to that list: sugar and soy sauce. Even better? Three different types of sweeteners: honey, orange juice, and brown sugar. Then you combine them with the salty goodness of the asian motherland. Are you drooling yet?

Well, if you aren’t yet, prepare to release the flood gates because your salivary glands will be letting loose digestive enzymes by the bucket full once you put that sweet and salty sauce on a mountain of crisp veggies and juicy chicken!

This stir fry is insanely delicious and is bursting with a sweet citrus flavor that’s emphasized by the saltiness of the soy sauce. Honestly, the glaze is lick-the-bowl good, and when it soaks into some rice, oh man, you better prepare yourself. Can you tell I’m a fan?

For me, it’s reminiscent of the orange chicken from Panda Express (yum), but minus all the saturated fat and calories that comes with takeout food.

Ready from start to finish in less than 20 minutes and with only 220 calories a serving, it makes the perfect healthy weeknight meal and is great for sneaking in veggies if you aren’t super keen to them or have a picky family to feed. Not to mention it’s extremely versatile and customizable! Round up a bunch of your favorite vegetables, toss them in a wok or pan, and you’re set to dig in! Yee-haw!

I’m linking up with What I Ate Wednesday to share this tasty dinner!

Brown Sugar Asian Glazed Beef

January 9, 2014 by Christine Skari

There are some recipes that are just winners.

You know what I mean, those recipes that fill up your family recipe collection and get ragged and dirty from their years of use. And seriously, this Brown Sugar Asian Glazed Beef is a winner on a freakin’ Olympic level when it comes to flavor and deliciousness. I’m talking fight over the last piece, can’t wait for leftovers at lunch kinda good. It’s salty-sweet perfection at it’s finest, and I’ve never met a single (non-vegetarian) person who hans’t loved it! In fact, it’s probably one of my favorite dishes of all time.

I have such good memories that revolve from this dish. You know those little moments that seem to stand out and make you smile? Well, anyways, when I was younger, my mom used to cook this beauty every few weeks for our family. Now, my sister is a pescatarian, so when it came to the main meat-eaters in the family, it was a tie between me and my dad (remember the potato loving Norwegian viking?). My dad is one of those guys who can go the whole day without eating, then demolish a massive meal for dinner. With this asian meat, he would probably have 8 thick slices, a mountain of rice, and a pile of whatever veggie side dish my mom would make. After, he would lean back in his chair, rub his painfully full stomach, and tell my mom that it was all her fault for stuffing him like that. Then, he would move a solid foot and a half to a nearby couch and take a nap to sleep off the food coma. Every. Single. Time.

Enough of my small moments- I’m sure you came to hear more about the food!

Like I mentioned before, it’s combines the absolutely dreamy match of brown sugar and soy sauce, and when you get the perfect bite of meat to rice ratio, you’re tastebuds get sent to those pearly white gates. Heaven! Not to mention the meat turns out fantastically juicy and basically just melts in your mouth.

Need a perfect side dish? My Garlic Ginger Bok Choy is a delicious healthy addition to round out the meal!

This recipe makes a ton of food, so it’s perfect for a family or if you have a big group of hungry lumberjacks to feed! Not looking to feed a continent? It’s also very easily halved!

Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup

January 3, 2014 by Christine Skari

Hello, hello, hello! Kyle here. A.k.a: Chief of Food Consumption and Secretary of Stealing Sample Bites.

It’s been a while since I posted something for you all to take a look at. I’m really happy that you all seem to have liked my previous guest post on a Guy’s Opinion on Body Dysmorphia and What I Find Attractive in a Girl.

This one isn’t about something similar at all, but vastly important nonetheless! This post is about my hearty chicken noodle soup!

Before I go on, let me just say thank you to my wonderful, beautiful girlfriend, Christine (He’s totally trying to earn brownie points here. I’m on to you.- Christine), for letting me submit another guest post!

I’m still new to blogging, although one blog post more experienced since last time, so keep that in mind as I just go for it.

Now, on to the soup! This is a recipe that I have been making a lot (probably once a week) up at Santa Barbara. It’s tasty, makes 4 big man servings (or 6 normal sized bowls), and it’s easy to make and store! Perfect college food, eh?

The story behind this soup begins with my younger brother’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor, or, more specifically, the dinner at said event. Basically Christine and I were left with several pounds of leftover pulled chicken. This sweet-savory chicken was originally intended for sandwiches, and both Christine and I originally planned to use it for just that. However, eating it in sandwich form for a few weeks straight didn’t seem too appetizing, so the plan quickly changed when Christine suggested that I try to make some chicken noodle soup for dinner one night.

We discovered two things that night: an amazing, easy to make chicken noodle soup recipe and a great use for all of our frozen, pulled chicken! I have been making and tweaking the soup ever since, and now I am going to share the recipe with all of you!

Note: Christine and I quickly learned that putting chicken noodle soup in a bread bowl is NOT the same as a chowder. It was necessary to speed-take pictures/stuff it in our mouths because that malevolent bread kept on soaking up all the liquid. You have been warned.

This hearty chicken noodle soup is wonderfully filling and has a well-blended chicken and vegetable taste, along with great textures and colors! It truly has a great combination of flavors which mesh and work together really well. The onions and celery really help to create the vegetable portion of the flavor, which balances out the stronger chicken flavor. The carrots give each bite the perfect amount of crunch. And if you make it with a saucy chicken, like Christine and I did originally, it is especially tasty.

Additionally, it’s an extremely flexible recipe. I have prepared it with several slight variations in attempt to make it more or less chunky, salty, and sweet and each time it has come out slightly different but delicious nonetheless!

So, without further ado, here’s the recipe!

I hope you all enjoy reading this post and give the soup a try! It’s really delicious, especially with a baguette or on a cold day. Thanks again for putting up with my shenanigans, and hopefully I’ll submit another guest post sometime soon!

-Kyle

Smoked Salmon Pita Sandwiches

December 19, 2013 by Christine Skari

Want your own adorable bento box? Enter my giveaway below for the chance to win one of four lunch boxes!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Sometimes I feel almost embarrassed to share a recipe. I usually love putting together complex recipes and enjoy spending hours in the kitchen, which eventually leads to me making a huge mess and vowing never to cook again. That, of course, lasts all of two hours before I’m back at it. It’s a viciously delicious cycle. Other times, I’m lazy. I don’t feel like cleaning anything up and even the idea of foraging through the cupboards for ingredients makes me cringe. Those days are the ones where I can usually be found absorbed into my couch with a gallon of ice cream, hanging out with my best friend 4eva Netflix. We get along just swell. Anyways, today was one of those days. I did, however, put together a tasty lunch that is, like I mentioned before, embarrassingly easy. These Smoked Salmon Pita Sandwiches are great for when you’re craving a healthy and delicious lunch that can be put together in a flash. The smoked salmon give the pita pockets a great salty flavor and the arugula adds a fantastic peppery bite! And how about these unbelievably cute bento lunch boxes? They’re the perfect size to carry with you and come in a large assortment of colors! The lovely people at Mira Designs are sending four lucky winners their own bento box in either lavender of pink! Enter my giveaway below for your chance to win! f2e067973ab717c0eaba5849a2f4e580 Want to have your own adorable bento box? I’m partnering up with Mira Design to giveaway 4 of their pink and lavender bento boxes! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hope these help fuel your lazy days as well!