new year, new gadgets, new ways to recreate old ideas!

as we set into the new year its the same old thing..same old resolutions drop 20 lbs, work out more, eat less carbs but after a few weeks we get tired of living on celery and lettuce and working out becomes monotonous and before we know it we have given up and decide that "hey our jeans still fit okay enough, and if we wear a shirt that is a little more flowy it'll camouflage and #WINNING the flowy shirt is in style this season anyway" but just shy of 2 weeks into the new year, i am not going to give up. i am going to share some idea's of mine that are helping me finally stick to my resolutions and make it part of my life style and not just some unattainable goal.

1. new way to re-create an old idea:  i love quiche, so much so that i have already blogged about it.  but as the new year settles in and i wanna get into better shape i realized 2 things- 1. the crust is delicious but not necessary when i am trying to drop some pounds and 2. the 10 in pie crust allows me to "create" my own portion size and i am pretty sure i should be getting more than 4 servings out of a 10 in quiche.  so here is what i did to make individual portions that i can just grab and nom on.  it all starts with the "crust" -- i got heat proof rubber cupcake liners as a gift.  you can find them at a kitchen store, TJ Maxx, Bed Bath and Beyond and they are really affordable and come in cool shapes (mine look like little flowers).  spray with a touch of non stick cooking spray and begin to fill. i used onion, peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, and cheese.  feel free to add what ever you have, heck quiche is the perfect way to clean out the fridge!  *siden ote, i like to saute a larger batch of onions and peppers so that what i do not use i can pop in the fridge and find other uses, like topping a store bought pizza with yummy veggies or mixing it in with whole wheat pasta and tossing in garlic and olive oil*  i used 3 eggs and 3 small splashes of half and half for a little extra flavor and then poured the egg mix over the filled liners. below you will see a before and after picture.  bake for about 20-25 minutes at 350, or until the eggs look cooked but still have a little jiggle.

2. switch up the work out routine:  i like to run, i like to dance, but if i am doing the same thing every day i think i would just give up on shear boredom alone.  i am alternating running with cardio and by cardio i mean i blast my ipod and do some crazy dance routine in my living room that i get for free from On Demand.  it's a seriously genius idea. i mean i have tons of options to choose from and i can pick one that ranges from 10 minutes for 45. its FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC

3. now i cant take full credit for this on my own, because i have probably heard this tid-bit of advice from every food network star but it seriously is such a good idea!  pre-chop and pre-saute and pre-grill food.  i find myself thawing out 10 chicken tenders seasoning them all, cooking them all and then its enough food for me to create dishes with throughout the week.  i have options, i can make pasta's or sandwiches or just eat them as chicken tenders, i used some in my sexy chicken chili.  the same goes for all my veggies, i find that if i saute a bunch and put it in my fridge when it comes time to heat up my  frozen pre-made pizza i now have the opportunity to add veggies to it which will fill me up and make my pizza a little bit healthier.

thats all the tips i have now, but when i think of more i wont hesitate to blog them! until then, eat laugh love & enjoy!

sexy chicken chili

now for the average joe food may not be sexy, or passionate.. but for a culinary (wanna be) master like myself i see all the emotions that food can portray or invoke. it can be nostalgic and warm like re-creating mom's meatloaf.  it can be innovative and clever like a creation we may see born from a food network star.  food can turn tears into a smile like eating a spoonful of your favorite ice cream or a bite of raw homemade cookie dough after a bad breakup.  food can be happy, sad, but most importantly food can be passionate and sexy. 

the sexiness of food comes from the reaction we feel from all of our senses.  first with our eyes, then with our nose and our mouths.  now that the winter is fully settled in it's time to bring a little warmth and a little heat into our kitchens and our stomachs.  i have whipped up a sexy chicken chili that will surely put some heat in your night.


first i take about 4 boneless chicken tenders and sprinkle them with a little salt pepper and olive oil, i grilled them and when they cooled enough to touch i shredded the chicken.  in the meantime i sweated 1 large onion with garlic and olive oil,  once my onions become translucent i added in smoked paprika for some smokey sweetness and some chili powder for heat, and then in a moment of pure genius (luck) i added in a small palmfull of cinnamon.  the cinnamon is what gives this chili the warmth and with each bite makes you wonder what that lingering flavor is on the back of your palate.  i give the spices a few moments to heat up and coat the onions.  these ingredients need a chance to dance and get to know each other because after all this chili is sexy.. and for your ingredients to bring sexy to the pot they need time to meet and greet! after about 2-3 minutes when the spices really give off a great earthy rich aroma add in a 12 oz can of diced tomato, 1 can of beans (i use black beans because they are my favorite, but pinto or kidney beans would work as well) i threw in some deeply carmelized onions that i had in my fridge from something else i had made.  the caramelized onions* add a little sweetness and a different layer of flavor in contrast to the diced onions and last but not least 1/4 cup of salsa. the salsa gives your chili a little extra heat and some tang from the vinegar.  once your chili has come up to a boil add in your shredded chicken and then to give your chili a little extra body add in 2 corn tortilla's that have been cut into thin strips.  these will slowly dissolve giving the soup body and additional texture.  when your chili achieves a rolling boil, drop the temp to a simmer and cover. after 30-45 minutes your chili is ready to go, dress how you like with sour cream, cheese, chives, chips, jalapenos

so next time you get the chills, whip up this hearty and earthy chicken chili that will surely bring some heat and passion into your meal. until next time eat, laugh, love & enjoy

*to caramelize onions, put in a saute pan with olive oil on medium heat, add in a little salt and just continue to stir and check on them, the onions will slowly go from raw to translucent to brown to this dark brown color, this process does take about 30 minutes