Baked Tilapia, Roasted Garlic Cauliflower, and Couscous

Needless to say, I have become obsessed with the Roasted Garlic Cauliflower recipe. 

I recently marinated a tilapia filet in lemon pepper, baked it and paired it with some of the cauliflower and couscous.  Amazing healthy meal, cheap as well.  I made the whole meal for me under $3.

 
This meal took me about 30 minutes from start to finish.  It is all very easy to make, and extremely healthy!

Go For The Goal

I saw this on Meghan's blog, and knew I had to participate. 

Thought this would inspire me to keep on trucking with my New Years resolutions..and other goals in general. 

My New Years Resolutions were pretty practical this year.  Nonetheless, I want to keep them!

1.  Make a cookbook.  I have tried many new recipes this month.  All of them were simply amazing.  My resolution was to cook at least 1 new thing a week. I also signed up for Blurb, to design the book.  I tried a different book last year.  Fail.   The cook book is coming along..I want to make it for me, somewhere I can put my fav recipes and give them to my family.

2. Invite Friends over more often.  Success.  I had some friends over a few times, but the best was having all the folks who live in the barracks over for a home cooked meal.  I know I hated living in the barracks.  I am looking over to more of these get togethers. 

3. Work Out More.  Another success.  I have lost some weight this month, and have loved every minute of my new work out plan.  I do Zumba with the girls every Saturday, and work out after class when I can.  It is still sporadic, but my job is a bit crazy right now.  Next goal is to do Yoga every weekend too!

4. Photography.  I have only gotten out once due to the weather to mess with my new camera.  I have been taking photos of the recipes I have made, and those have turned out amazing. 

Next goal:  Do 30 for 30 again.  I need to get rid of some clothes before my next move.  Yes, moving again.  This way, I can put together outfits I "actually wear", and donate the stuff just taking up room. 

What are your goals?

Stuff Chicagoans Say

Found this gem yesterday. Laughed so hard because I have definitely said many of these things. But...I am from Chicago..not Skokie:)

Crockpot Rosemary Chicken

I made this Rosemary Chicken this past weekend, and it was nothing short of amazing.  First time I have ever made chicken and say "wow, it isn't dry".  That good.  I love chicken, but am always afraid to under cook it and get people sick.  Am I the only one who thinks that way?!

Fresh Rosemary Chicken
1/2 c lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1 tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
1/4 tsp sea or kosher salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper or more
1 1/2 to 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts

In a large ziploc bag (not the zipper type), place lemon juice, oil, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper. Shake mixture and add chicken. Close bag and marinate for at least 4 hours or overnight in the refrigerator, turning bag frequently. Place chicken in the crockpot and pour marinade over. Cover and cook for 6 to 8 hours, or until tender, basting occasionally with the marinade, if possible. Serves 4 to 6 servings.  I cooked it on high for 4 hours.  Worked out for me!  I paired the chicken with some steamed broccoli and cheese, and some white wine.  Perfect Sunday dinner.

Rosemary Chicken

Chicken with Parmesean Risotto and Roasted Cauliflower

One day while perusing the organic section at the grocery store, I stumbled upon this:
Parmesan Risotto.  I made it tonight with baked chicken breasts, and garlic, roasted cauliflower.  Cauliflower is in season, and I used the recipe from here.

Such an amazing winter meal.  Tastes great.  I want to run out and buy some more risotto already!

Low GI Diet

For the past few years, I have been battling a medical condition.  Little did I know, that this condition also messed with my weight, a lot.  I kept going to the doctor, and I finally figured out what was wrong.  My body does not process sugar and carbs properly, thus it stores it as fat.  Sucks right?  The solution was go on a Low GI diet, so my body not only stays fuller, longer, but so I eat the foods that are good for me.  I had no idea that many of the foods I ate were so bad for me.  Again, I say bad for me, because they aren't bad for everyone.  I went to a nutritionist to see if I was on the right track, and I was.  Sigh of relief.  My best results was when I did Seattle Sutton for 2 months.  I lost so much weight, I was not hungry, and I worked out all the time.  It was awesome.  Definitely worked for me.  Now, I am in the North East, with no Seattle Sutton in sight, so back to cooking and trying my hardest with this Low GI Diet.  The best part of the Seattle Sutton diet was that it was pre-packaged, amazing food.  I can't say enough good things about it, and no, they are not paying me for saying this. 

Many of the recipes I post on my blog are good for a Low GI diet.  I do eat a lot of "carbs", but they are good carbs.   You can look at this link to take a look at the foods that you should and shouldn't eat on a low GI diet.  It honestly takes a lot of planning at the grocery store, and in making my meal lists for the week.  I have realized that planning in advance helps me really stick to this.  This way I am not running out for fast food, etc.  I honestly don't even know where to get fast food in Newport, and that is a good thing. 

I hope to post more about the Low GI Diet as I post more recipes, and document more weight loss success. 

Weekend Re-Cap

I definitely needed a 3 day weekend.  I just finished another module of school with a 3 hour essay exam on Friday am.  Yikes.  Let's pray I passed, and if I didn't, pray for another shot at it!

• Lunch with my homies on Friday.  Met some "new" homies (aka folks who are going to Florida with me!)
• Great workout Saturday am
• Errands, groceries, etc Saturday
• Ghost tour of a Castle.  Belcourt Castle was amazing!  The owner was the nicest lady!
• Pizza at Via Via...yummy.  Game night.  Love meet up groups.
• Brunch at a place I won't name, because I have never been treated so poorly by a server in my life.  We felt like the scene out of Pretty Woman.  So sad.
• Lazy day at home with the pup on Sunday.  Sooo cold.  Made an amazing dinner. Promise I'll post the recipe soon.  Watched the Lovely Bones.  Incredibly sad movie.  Good representation of the book by Alice Sebold. 
• Good run on Monday am.  Ran into old shipmates.
• Lunch and shopping with friends in Providence.  Bought an electric blanket.  Definitely feel old.  Priorities go from awesome shoes to electric blankets.  Hmm.

Solid weekend overall.  Who says winter has to be a bummer?  I say bring it on.