I've been driving myself crazy trying to figure out healthy ways to cook. I find recipes online but they seem too hard and require too many ingredients. I'm not the most patient person when it comes to cooking so I try to find quick and easy recipes.
While reading my favorite body builder's website(www.jamieeason.com) I came across these great recipes and just had to try them. So here is the first of three recipes I'm obsessed with this week(other two coming soon)...and I tweaked this one.
We'll start with the CHICKEN MEATLOAF MUFFINS. Yes, you read correctly, chicken muffins. I thought the same thing when I read that. When I think of muffins the first thing that comes to mind is blueberry muffins but this recipe isn't all that bad.
What you need:
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. dried thyme, crushed
2 tsp. dry yellow mustard
2 tsp. black pepper
2 tsp. McCormick's Chipotle Pepper Spice(spicy, but key to the recipe)-
this spice is expensive. It cost $6.59 at Krogers. I'm not sure if you can find an off brand but I didn't. Just a little heads up if you don't already have this spice at home.
1 tsp. salt
1 cup quick cooking oats
2 cloves garlic, minced(or 2 tbsp of garlic powder) -I used minced garlic.
1 small onion, finely chopped(pre-chopped version or even the frozen-thawed) -
I bought green onions and chopped it myself.(super fine) and I used the entire bundle.
2 stalks celery, finely chopped (you can find this pre-chopped as well)
3 egg whites
1 1/2-2 lbs. ground chicken breast (I used 2 lbs.)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
In a large bowl, add cumin, thyme, yellow mustard, black pepper, Chipotle pepper spice, salt, oats, garlic, onions and celery. Mix until well combined. Next add the ground chicken and egg whites and mix with your hands until evenly distributed. Make racquetball size portions and place in muffin tins, sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake for 40 minutes
Makes over 18 muffins
Nutrition: 1 muffin
78 calories
2 g fat
4 g carbs
11 g protein
And WAH-LAH! Here is the end results. As my sides I added fresh veggies and my other obsession....QUINOA :)
So what did it taste like? Honestly?
Even though it contains so many spices, I found it a little bland. It wasn't that bad though and for 78 calories it's worth making.
Not to mention the amount of protein it contains is AWESOME!!!
I decided to share my chicken meatloaf muffins with my business partner today and she kept asking why the muffins were so pale ..blah blah blah! She thought I was trying to trick her into eating fish(she hates seafood). When she said "FISH" , my hamster started working,the wheel started spinning and making SALMON MEATLOAF MUFFINS sounded like a GREAT IDEA! I know, I know...that sounds even worse than chicken muffins but HOLY SMOKES it was so much better. The flavor was amazing and I added lemon pepper for a little more taste(just incase it turned out bland). I followed the exact recipe but instead of the chicken I bought "chicken of the sea- pink salmon". Make sure it says "wild caught" that's super important. I used about 3 cans and it made 18 muffins.
TIP:Never purchase any fish that is farm
raised.
Now, the problem is I don't know the nutrition facts...lol I'm thinking it can't be much different from the chicken muffins and if anything I would think fish is better than chicken. So I'm going to assume the calorie intake is about the same, if not less/better. Again, I used quinoa (black bean flavor) as my side with carrots, snap peas and new potatoes.(you can find this mix in the frozen section as well to avoid making all these things yourself. It cuts time and the veggies still keep all its nutrients)
I hope you guys enjoy this recipe, if you decide to make it please comment. I want to hear what you thought of this recipe(whether you make the chicken or salmon muffins)
Moving on...
I received some comments on the quinoa recipe I posted on last week. I failed to mention that you can purchase the quinoa pre-washed to avoid doing that yourself. That's super time consuming. It doesn't lose any of its nutrients, it's just pre-washed. You should be able to find the pre-washed quinoa in the same aisle as the regular quinoa. A member asked, "how often do you eat it?" I eat it almost everyday as a side with my lunch or dinner. I don't think it does any harm by eating it everyday since it's better than rice or pasta. If anything it would help based on the nutrition facts I posted on the previous blog. However, I'm no NUTRITIONIST or DOCTOR so.... this is all based on my own opinion. If you tried the recipe from last week, please submit photos of your cooking. If you tweaked the recipe, tell me what you did different and I will post pics and comments of changes other members made.
Let's get involved ladies. I try my best to find ways to help us all out. Please participate by commenting or giving tips on things you've tried as well. We can all learn from one another.
As a bonus, I wanted to share a pic of my favorite body builder. I hope to be like her one day(perhaps just a tad bit less muscular). I guess I would need to start by laying off the desserts :( ..lol It's my weakness. I will take a piece of cake over a steak any day!!! :)
I'm sure Jamie Eason works super hard and probably NEVER cheats. I don't know that I'm ready to give up my cheat days. I'm going to try for the month of June to have only one cheat day. Too many graduations and way too many temptations...lol
Here is Jamie Eason and her fabulous body.....
Then there's your instructor who is so close YET soooooo FAR!!!...LOL
Good night ladies and don't forget,
I LOVE YA'LL LIKE A FAT KID LOVES CAKE (in this case, i'm the fat kid who loves cake)... :)
xoxo
Marysol
