How Slim is Your Kitchen?

It's been proven that certain paint colors can make you hungrier, happier, more relaxed etc. 
So it would make sense to think that the layout of your kitchen can have a positive or negative effect on your health goals.

If you can check off seven of the ten questions below, you're doing great! If not, what can you change?

Tortellini-less della Nonna

So creamy & yummy!

I’m over winter.  Considering this winter has been mild in comparison to most, I feel a like a brat saying that. Alas it is true, the last few weeks of cold and being sick more than once has me lingering closer to my couch. I long for sunshine and flowers.

When my body wants rest, rest it gets. I have a hard time sitting still when I’m home, so if I have a strong desire to curl up on my cushiony love interest, I will.  This also goes hand in hand with a longing for comfort food.  Who doesn’t love a lazy day with your favorite meal that transports you to your childhood.

For me, that is tortellini della Nonna.  Cheese filled tortellini with sautéed prosciutto & peas, covered in a creamy, buttery sauce. It instantly takes me back to my Nonna’s kitchen table.
 

So when a wave of tortellini nostalgia hit me, I had to take action. Since I’d been couch surfing for the better part of the weekend, I knew I couldn’t add butter, cream & cheese to resting metabolism.

Instead, I took a look into my refrigerator and came up with something that was a little healthier and totally hit the spot.  It would have been healthier if I didn’t eat it ALL, but you do what you can.

Tortellini-less della Nonna

• Serving of Explore Asian ‘”fettucine”. I eyeballed, so I’d say it was about a cups worth.  Or a hearty handful.
  
• 2 Laughing Cow cheese wedges
• ½ of a white onion
• 2 Slices of low –sodium deli ham
• ¼ Cup of parmesan cheese
• ¼ Cup of organic half & half
• 2 Tbs of Extra Virgin olive oil

I started by boiling the fettuccine in lightly salted water and chopping up the ham into small pieces.
While the pasta cooked, I sautéed my onions in a tablespoon of the olive oil until they were translucent.

I then added the chopped ham & peas to the pan, continuing to sauté on low heat.  I let the combination cook for about 10 min before I lowered the heat even more and slowly added the half & half.  Milk would probably also work, but I used what I had.
Once the peas, ham & onions were coated in the liquid, I let it cook up for another 2 minutes before adding in the cheese wedges.  The wedges don’t melt easily, so you need to stir them sufficiently until they melt down.

Once the pasta was at the texture I like, I strained it and added it to the mixture with the remaining oil & parmesan cheese.  I tossed the pasta in the pan until it was completely coated by the cheese sauce.

I then put some on a plate and marveled at how good my concoction tasted without butter, cream or prosciutto. I marveled so much, I helped myself to another plate :) Enjoy!

Healthy Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Just in time for Santa's arrival! It's never too late to adopt a healthier lifestyle, right?
Let's make something the jolly guy will enjoy, without upping his cholesterol count, shall we?

These cookies are made without flour, oil or butter. The secret ingredient? Avocado!
You don't taste the avocado once all is said and done.  Sneaky! As sneaky as climbing down a chimney with a bag of toys undetected.

These were the easiest cookies ever! I whipped these up in less than twenty minutes.
The texture is more cake like than cookie like but I'm not complaining.

• large avocado
• large egg
• 3/4 C coconut sugar
• 3/4 C cocoa powder
• heaping spoon of peanut butter (b/c why not?)
• a handful or more of enjoy life chocolate chunks (sweetened)

I used my kitchen aid mixer to blend it all together to ensure the avocado was smooth.

Once I was happy with my batter, I spooned scoops of batter onto a non-stick pan and put them into my oven set for 350 degrees, for about 10 minutes.

They actually taste better cold, if you can wait that long!  Just remember to save some for Ole Saint Nick.

Savory breakfast Egg "Crepe"

While I don't discriminate against any one meal, breakfast is actually my least favorite. I think it's because I make my breakfast to go and eat at my desk at work.

It kind of takes the joy out of a meal that's best eaten in pajamas.

Yogurt and oatmeal are easy go-to's, but I've been trying to evenly distribute my carb intake lately so I turned to eggs.

I'm not a huge fan of eggs and I like them less and less as I get older. Trying to get creative with them has NOT been easy. However, my latest concoction  has me actually looking forward to breakfast.

One whole egg
One egg white
Salt and pepper to taste
Cheese of choice (I like feta)
Favorite egg toppings. Ex; Onions, peppers, salsa, beans, ham etc.

Use a large frying pan, one you'd typically use for larger meals. Get the pan hot before adding the eggs. I turn my range on high for 2 minutes to get the pan hot, then knock the temp down before I pour in the eggs.

In a bowl, scramble the eggs and seasonings.  Spray with a non-stick spray, pour eggs into pan and evenly coat the entire surface with the scrambled eggs.

Let the edges get solid before attempting to flip what will now look like a large egg crepe.
Take your time! Once flipped, turn down the heat to low and add your favorite mix-ins.

I chose feta cheese, some lettuce and a few sliced Greek olives, then rolled it up. You can roll it or fold it, whichever you prefer.
I topped this off with a slice of toast (Gluten Free) and some coconut oil. 
It makes waking up before the sun almost worth it :)