Tuesday, October 6, 2015

EX FIX Chicken - Sweet Potato - Kale Soup


Cold weather causes me to crave soup.  Now that Fall is is full effect and the weather is starting to get a little cooler I want to perfect a few soup recipes to ensure I stay on track when I'm hiding under a few layers..

Right now in Texas, where I live, the cooler temps just means the outdoors are starting to become enjoyable again.  I won't need to start bundling up for at least another month.  But for my mom, who lives is in Colorado where I grew up, the outdoor temperatures are beginning to get down right chilly.  Especially in the morning and evening. People start pulling out their layers to deal with the wide range of temperatures throughout the day.

Regardless of where you live, as temperatures start to drop, nothing warms you better than a delicious bowl of soup!  Sure, nothing warms you like a tasty mug of hot cocoa, but hot cocoa is simply a treat, not a meal.  This tasty nutrient rich soup will warm your soul and keep you on track during the fall and winter months.



EZ FIX Chicken - Sweet Potato - Kale Soup

Ingredients:
  • 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 C Cubed Cooked Chicken breast (I doubled my Green Chile chicken and added the 2nd batch to the soup)
  • 1 Large sweet potato, cubed
  • 3 C Kale chopped
  • 4 C Chicken Broth
  • 4 C Water
  • 1 tsp. Freshly Ground Black Pepper
  • 2 tsp. Cumin
  • 1 tsp. Basil
  • 1 tsp. Oregano
  • 1 tsp. Marjoram
  • 2 tsp. Thyme
  • ½ tsp. Pink Himalayan Sea Salt




    Directions:

    1. Cook onions in olive oil in a large stock pot.. ( I used a crock pot on low overnight for this batch)
    2. Add remaining ingredients
    3. Bring to a boil.
    4. Reduce heat and Cook until potatoes are tender.

    To serve: 


    Pour 2 Cups in your favorite soup bowl or mug and ENJOY!


    FIX proportions: 2 Cups = 1 Red, 2 Green, ½ Yellow, 1 ½ teaspoons

    Tuesday, September 29, 2015

    FIX n' Shred Hatch Green Chile Chicken

    Green Chile Pork Taco w/ Coleslaw
    Here's Round 2 of my Hatch Chile love!  I don't know what it is I love about 'em.  Maybe it's because they're only around once a year that makes them special, but I find all kinds of tasty dishes to make with them.  This one is no different, except it is so easy to make, and so versatile, I anticipate this becoming a staple in your weekly meal prep.
    Pork for team dinner

    I first started out making a couple batches of Hatch Chile Pulled Pork in the Ninja.  The first batch was for my son's high school football team dinner.  It was so tasty and involved nearly zero prep, but I was a little sad that all of it was left with the team.  I really didn't expect the 9 pound pork shoulder to make it back home but I hoped it would.

    Roasting chiles (plus red peppers)
    Truly, it was only 1/8 of the what was necessary to feed the team, so I simply had to make another batch two days later for another football gathering in my home.  It was a hit!  After two rounds of pork, I figured the recipe should work with chicken too.  I bet it will work with a beef shoulder as well, but I have yet to try.  If you try it out, let me know how it turns out, please.  

    As I share this delicious simple recipe with you, heed my warning.  Commit the seasonings to memory as this will become a weekly or bi-weekly staple in your house.  It is that SIMPLE and SO TASTY!

    If you don't have hatch chiles available or want to save more time, grab 2 7 oz. cans of diced green chiles.  Total prep time with already roasted and peeled chiles is less than 10 minutes.


    FIX n' Shred Hatch Green Chile Chicken

    Ingredients:
    • 1 Ninja (recommended) or crock pot
    • 3 pounds Chicken breast (can put in frozen)
    • 1 Onion, sliced thin
    • 3/4 C Pureed Roasted Hatch Green Chiles, peeled and seeded. (~8-9 fresh chiles)
    • 1 tsp. Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
    • 1 tsp. Dried Oregano
    • 1/2 tsp. Freshly Ground Black Pepper
    • 1/2 Cumin
    • 1/2 Cayenne Pepper
    • 1/2 Dried Sage
    • 1 Hand Mixer

    Directions:
    1. Place the onions in the pot
    2. Top with chicken
    3. Top the chicken with green chiles and spices
    4. Cook on low for 8-10 hours
    5. Shred with hand mixer on low setting.

    To serve: 


    Night 1 Dinner

    Add to corn tortillas with coleslaw for tacos, mix in soup, serve on top of salad or with veggies.  The first night I enjoyed with faux garlic mashed potatoes and green beans for a super delicious dinner.



    FIX proportions:Red.
    Enjoy!

    Tuesday, June 16, 2015

    Quick FIX Frittata

    This veggie frittata is a delicious and super easy anytime meal portion for the Quick 21 Day Fix.

    Quick FIX Frittata

    Ingredients:
    • 4 teaspoons of olive or avocado oil
    • 8 eggs
    • 8 Cups veggies (5 C chopped spinach, 1 C green onions, 1 C mushroom, 1 Red Bell pepper)
    • 2 Blue containers (1/2 C) grated Parmesan and/or Mozzarella cheese (opt.)
    • Pink Himalayan sea salt, black pepper & oregano to taste.

    Directions:
    1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
    2. Saute veggies in hot oil until spinach is wilted. (About 4 minutes)
    3. Beat 8 eggs.
    4. Add seasonings and cheese.
    5. Pour into pan with veggies. Stir slowly so it's well mixed, leaving the heat on.
    6. Transfer pan to oven and bake 15 minutes.
    Let  set for 5 minutes outside the oven before dividing into 4 equal pieces. 1 serving is 1/4 of the frittata.
    FIX proportions: 1 Red, 2 Green, 1/2 Blue, 1 teaspoon.
    Enjoy!

    Friday, March 6, 2015

    Take Me Back to Jamaica - Jerk Chicken and Shrimp


    Jerk Pork Chop Dinner
    Only a few short months ago, I had the honor of watching two dear friends commit their lives to one another in the beautiful city of Negril, Jamaica.  Everything I went through to ensure I could keep my commitment and witness this once in a lifetime event was out of this world and enough for a completely different blog post that I'll have to share soon, but it made my time there even more special.  I will always remember the inviting hospitality, the welcoming atmosphere, the great company of old and new friends alike, the beautiful beaches and of course the delicious jerk seasoning they had on several of the dishes I tried.


    My crew
    When I first decided to make jerk 'something' I was in search of something I could make that would be tasty enough for me and exciting enough that my teenage son wouldn't get bored with the leftovers.  I remembered a Jerk Catfish recipe from a Cooking Light magazine I did a few years back and luckily I still had the seasoning.  Have you ever found yourself trying out new recipe that calls for a whole bunch of seasonings you don't actually carry in your kitchen?  You go out an buy it and then never really use it again!  I got so fed up with my overflowing non-existent spice cupboard that when I moved out of that house I took a spice purchasing sabbatical.  I was only allowed to buy common spices when I ran out.
    Selfie time!

    I digress, so back to my dilemma with the Jerk Catfish seasoning...When I checked the ingredients of the seasoning blend, I saw the first item listed was SUGAR!  "Nooooo!," I thought.  This would not do for my 21 Day Fix Extreme eating, so I searched online for a sugar free version.  I settled with this recipe:  http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014722-no-fuss-jerk-chicken, and it did not disappoint.  Even though I did not have all the ingredients, I had enough to make it work.  I actually doubled the recipe so I could use it with the shrimp and chicken I had.  I will list a single batch recipe as I made it, but check out the link for the true recipe as I'm sure I will go through the effort to get some of the real stuff next time, if they make sense.


    Jerk Chicken (or Shrimp, or whatever you choose!)


    Ingredients:
    • 1 1/2 Tablespoons ground Allspice
    • 1 Tablespoon dried Thyme
      Mixed seasonings
    • 4 cloves garlic
    • 2 Tablespoons Dried Jalapenos (the spice factor for jalapenos is very low compared to the habanero chiles.  I wanted to be sure my son would eat this first time around)
    • 6 scallions, roughly chopped
    • 1 Tablespoon fresh ground black pepper
    • 1/2 teaspoon pink Himalayan sea salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 2-inch piece of fresh ginger thickly sliced
    • 2 tsp coconut oil
    • Juice of 2 large limes
    • 1 1/2 pounds of boneless chicken tenders, shrimp or whatever you choose
    Marinating...
    Directions:
    Broiled Jerk Shrimp
    1. Combine allspice, thyme, garlic, jalapenos (or chiles), scallions, peppercorns, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and lime juice in a blender or food processor and grind to a rough paste.
    2. Put meat in a baking dish or plastic Ziploc bag.  Add seasoning paste and coat well.
    3. Cover dish or seal bag tightly and marinate, refrigerated, for at least 6 hours, but preferably overnight.
    4. Heat oven to 350 degrees for chicken or turn on broiler for shrimp.
    5. Bring meat to room temperature.
    6. Bake/Broil uncovered until well browned and juices run clear when probed with a paring knife - about 20-25 minutes for chicken tenders and 10 minutes for shrimp, turning halfway.

    Meal packaged for RJ
    Servings: Use your red container to measure your protein, but I found that 1 Red container = 1 1/2 - 2 tenders or 10 shrimp.  This was easy to add with the veggies I roasted during the week or I added them to a spinach salad and sometimes paired with a sweet potato.


    Enjoy Mon!



    Thursday, March 5, 2015

    Fish n' Fries

    Who eats fish and fries a.k.a fish n' chips while they're watching what they eat?

    Me! Me! Me!  Especially if the fish is broiled and the fries are made from carrots.  Not only is this meal much healthier than the fried version, it is also much quicker to prepare and much quicker to clean up.

    So tell me... are you a "Fish n' Fry" person or a "Fish n' Chip" person?  If you're a 'fish n' chipper', you can easily switch out the carrot sticks for carrot coins.

    I hope this recipe saves your dinner by letting it be known that you can have fish n' fries (or fish n' chips) when eating healthy, regardless of what you like to call them.




    Fish n' Fries

    Ingredients:

    • 2 baking sheets lined with foil
    • 1 1/2 pounds catfish nuggets
    • 1 pound carrot sticks (~3 C)
    • 1 teaspoon olive oil
    • 1 Tablespoon chili powder
    • 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
    • 1 Tablespoon cumin
    • 1/2 teaspoon pink Himalayan sea salt


    Directions:

    1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees
    2. Combine chili powder, garlic powder, cumin and salt in a small bowl
    3. Place carrot stick in a bowl and toss with the olive oil and 1/3 (~1 Tablespoon) of the seasoning mix.
    4. Place carrot mixture on 1st baking sheet
    5. Bake at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until carrot stick are tender and start to crisp
    6. While the carrot sticks are baking, toss the catfish nuggets with the remaining seasoning.  Mix well.
    7. Add fish mixture to the 2nd baking sheet.
    8. When carrot sticks are finished, turn on the oven broiler.
    9. Place fish in broiler for 10 minutes, turning at minute 6.


    Servings: 4 - 1 Red & 1 Green  

    Wednesday, March 4, 2015

    Perfectly Tempting Pork Tenderloin

    I just have to say before I share this recipe, that if you love food (OK, who doesn't?), but don't enjoy cooking or cleaning up, you MUST get a Ninja!  Not only can slow cook, bake, roast and more with it.  But it comes with an awesome recipe booklet which was the start of this recipe.  OK, now that I've given the appropriate shout out to my favorite kitchen tool,  I will share my recipe based off their "Herb-Roasted Pork Tenderloins & Potatoes" recipe.

    Perfectly Tempting Pork Tenderloin


    Prep: 10 minutes
    Cook: 45 minutes

    Ingredients:
    • 1 1/2 pounds red potatoes, cut in quarters (or eighths)
    • 1 large onion, cut into wedges
    • 1 1/2 - 2 pounds baby carrots
    • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 teaspoons smoked chili powder
    • 2 teaspoons cumin
    • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
    • 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoons Himalayan sea salt
    • 1 large pork tenderloin (about 3 pounds)
    • 1 1/2 C chicken broth

    Directions:
    1. Combine chili and garlic powders, cumin and salt.
    2. Cut potatoes, onion and carrots and combine in a large bowl.  Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of seasoning mixture.  Toss to coat.  (If you are not using a Ninja, go ahead and toss in a roasting pan.)
    3. Rub the pork with the remaining Tablespoon of olive oil and the remaining seasoning.
    4. Place the tenderloin in your Ninja pot and cook for about 10 minutes on the STOVETOP setting.  (If you do not a Ninja, you can do this in a skillet.)  Cook until it's browned on all sides, then remove from the pot.
    5. Pour the chicken broth into the pot.  Add in the potatoes, carrots and onion mix.
    6. Set the roasting rack on top and add the browned tenderloin onto the rack.
    7. Cover and cook at 375, checking after the first 20 minutes or so.
    8. Make sure pork is cooked through.

    Final Meals Prepped for the week!
    Servings: Depending on the time of day, grab 1 Yellow of potatoes with 1 Green of carrots (about 8-10 depending on the size) and 1 Red of tenderloin (about 2 slices depending on the thickness).  I had about 8 servings if eating this way, but I like to use the tenderloin for sandwiches and wraps too!


    Alternatives: Use any of the 21 Day Fix Seasonings to season this recipe.

    Tuesday, March 3, 2015

    Ninja-Slow Cooker Pumpkin Coconut Chicken Curry - Fix Approved

    It's funny sometimes how I come up with recipe ideas.  This one was actually quite simple.  I had some canned coconut milk from another recipe that I wanted to use up.  I also had some canned pumpkin from a completely separate recipe that I wanted to use up. I figured coconut and pumpkin would go well together and BAM!  I searched online, found a recipe and made it work for the 21 Day Fix.

    The base for this recipe came from: http://www.tablefortwoblog.com/slow-cooker-pumpkin-coconut-curry/.  I used my Ninja, so I could only clean one dish because I do not enjoy dishes one bit!  Plus, for some reason, I do not prefer meat cooked in a slow cooker.  It must be cooked ahead of time and added to it.  Don't ask how I can tell, but I guess my taste buds are pretty picky.

    This recipe was actually quite easy, but finding some of the spices were a bit tricky.  I ended up finding everything at Sprouts Farmer's Market.  I'm sure Whole Foods will carry them too, especially if there is not an Indian grocery in your area. 


    Fix Approved Ninja-Slow Cooker Pumpkin Coconut Chicken Curry


    Ingredients:

    • 2 blue containers of coconut milk (you can opt to do 4, but I never like to use up all of my blue unless I'm making pizza)
    • 1 C pumpkin puree
    • 1 1/2 C chicken stock/broth
    • 1/2 Tablespoon curry powder
    • 1/4 teaspoon tumeric powder
    • 2 teaspoons garam masala
    • 1/4 teaspoon pink himalayan sea salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1/2 large onion, diced
    • 1 garlic clove, minced
    • 4 carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
    • 1 C 1-inch cubed sweet potatoes
    • 2 chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
    • Juice of 1 lime

    Directions:

    1. Cook chicken over medium heat until lightly browned.  (Transfer to slow cooker, if not using a Ninja)  
    2. Add coconut milk, pumpkin puree, chicken stock, curry powder, tumeric powder, garam masala, salt, and pepper.  Whisk together to make sure its all combined and spices are evenly distibuted.
    3. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, sweet potatoes and lime juice to the mixture and stir.
    4. Cook on low for 6 hours.
    5. Serve over rice, quinoa (or cauliflower rice as I have shown, to add another green, over another yellow)
    Servings: About 1 1/4 C is 1 Red, 1 Yellow, 1 Green and 1/2 Blue.  When served with cauliflower rice you add 1 more Green.



    Enjoy!

    Monday, March 2, 2015

    Mustard-Glazed Cod

    Mustard Glazed Cod Dinner
    Eating healthy doesn't mean boring!  Eating is an experience to be enjoyed.  This quick and easy cod dish is a great start to experiencing a healthy dinner.

    I got this recipe from the TeamBeachbody Meal Planner that is available at the Club Membership level.  I then modified it to fit the 21 Day Fix portions.  This recipe was so easy and delicious that it will make it back in my meal prep rotation soon.






    Mustard Glazed Cod

    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 3
    Raw cod fillets

    Ingredients:
    • 1 lbs cod, raw
    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
    • 1 teaspoon basil, dried



    Directions:

    Glazed cod before cooking

    1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
    2. Rinse fish and pat it dry with a paper towel.
    3. Lightly coat a shallow baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
    4. Place fish in prepared pan, tucking under any thin edges.
    5. Combine olive oil with lemon juice, mustard and basil.
    6. Pour sauce over fish, and bake for 4 to 6 minutes per 1/2 inch thickness of fish or until fish flakes easily with fork.
    7. Cooked, flaky cod
    8. When ready to serve, place fish on serving plate and spoon sauce over top.
    Servings: 1/3 fish is 1 Red and 1 teaspoon.

    I enjoyed this dish with 1 Green of sauteed asparagus and 1 Green of Zoodles (zucchinni noodles).  Total meal was 1 Red, 2 Green and 2 teaspoons.


    To get your own copy of the 21 Day Fix and join an upcoming group, go to: 21 Day FIx Deal

    Monday, February 23, 2015

    Taking Extreme Measures

    As a recovering approval whore, I had to make a long term commitment to myself to do something for me, regardless of others actions or perceived thoughts.  Anyone who struggles with the dreadful "Disease to Please" might understand my desperate need to put a stake in the ground and stand firm on something I wanted for myself.  It is exhausting living the life you think other people want you to live instead of living your life as you desire.  Even if you don't think you suffer from this disease, be wary, as its symptoms are so subtle that you may not really recognize it. However, if you often feel guilty saying "No," constantly feel the need to explain to others the reason for your decisions or feel resentment towards others for not accomplishing the goals you have set for yourself, you may want to give consideration to this disease and find out more.   



    So, I chose to do an extreme workout (not a problem for this workout junkie) AND a disciplined nutrition regimen for 21 days (HUGE personal challenge).  I know 21 days may not seem like a lot to some, but you'd be surprised what can come up in 21 days.  Disciplined nutrition over a longer period of time than 3-4 days has always been my downfall.  Part of it was not knowing what to do, but a lot of it is related to my lack of self-discipline spurred by the erratic people-pleasing syndrome from which I suffer.

    My progression into this People-Pleasing syndrome, although rather interesting when I look back on it, is actually quite common.  Although my story may not fit exactly with yours or someone else you know who suffers from this affliction, I would think you could relate.  My original desire to look a certain way spurred by what I thought would make people like me.  Like most, this ugly disease started when I was a child.  I grew up as the Black girl in a predominantly Caucasian suburban area.  I couldn't change the fact that I was Black, but I could change my size.  I'd rather be just the Black girl and not the Big Black girl.


    What's so thought-provoking to me is that the same disease that drives me to look a certain way also prevents me from it.  Somehow, I can't find it in me to stay committed to what it is I said I wanted to do.  My noncompliance is so subtle, and my pleasing affliction so strong, that I don't even recognize it happening.  On any given week I'll receive dozens of invitations to get thrown off track.  Whether it be an impromptu team lunch, chocolates, cake or other treats offered in the workplace, requests to attend parties, celebrations, drinks with friends or an 'off-site' meeting disguising all the above.  It's easy to decline most impromptu work offerings with the statement, "Oh, I brought my lunch today," or "Sorry, I have errands to run," but difficulty arrises when I have set a time for my commitment and it happens to interfere with someone else's planned event.

    Realistically, these invites are truly great because in all cases, except the passing off of sugar treats around the office, these invites mean people enjoy me enough to want me to be around.   It's not the invites that are a detrimental deterrent to my rigorous plans, but rather the urge to say "yes" to the invite for all the wrong reasons.  This compulsion is pushed by the fear that if I turn someone down too many times, I will no longer be invited.  I will no longer be included.  I may no longer be liked!  Say what?!  It's such a vicious cycle!

    Like any disease involving the psyche, there is a denial or an involuntary cover up.  I would mask my issues and create valid reasons in my mind as to why it was OK to back off my original plan.  The simple phrase was, "Well I'm X so I should have a little Y."  You can add your most common X and Y. My common X would be "a single mom",  or "I work hard" and Y could be anything from a "piece of cake" to a "glass of wine" to a "fun night out!"  The Y's would come up, simply because people asked and I somehow felt obligated to say "yes", regardless of what it was I had originally planned for myself.

    "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?  Or am I trying to please man?  If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."  Galations 1:10 (ESV)

    With my current plan for 21 Days, I thought I could handle the events that were currently on my calendar by either skipping or following through with proven techniques to keep me on track.  These techniques were as simple as bringing my own food to a party or bringing the healthy dish.  I was fine with doing that, but I was surprised by all of the unplanned temptations that nearly persuaded me back into "whore"-dom -- random party invites, dinner invites, charity events with amazing chefs who paired dishes with wine, an open box of fresh Belguim chocolates offered in my office by a manager straight from a business trip in Brussels!  The list goes on and on.

    "The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe" Proverbs 29:25 (NKJV)

    I thank God for a friend who brought me back to reality, in the most unexpected way.  He had purchased 2 tickets to a charity event being offered by the Austin Food and Wine Alliance and asked if I was free.  "Aaargh!" I thought because technically, I was free.  I responded as such, thanked him for the invite and courageously told him how I wanted to curse him at the same time because of what I was doing.  My diseased brain was starting to waver, especially after viewing the link he sent and seeing what delicious food would be prepared at the event; none of which was on my plan.  However, his support for what I was doing for me set me straight.  Not only did it spark a renewed commitment to myself and gave me the courage to handle the 15 other traps I would be lured into during the next week, including the chocolates which I kindly accepted, but haven't touched.  My exchange with him really helped me to reconsider why I was doing this and what it would mean for my ability to reach my goals by wavering.  I finally could be confident enough to say "YES" to me!

    I could sum things up with those last two sentences, but it's really more than just a simple reconsideration of my goals.  My friend and his temptation was providentially placed at the right place at the right time.  The reality is, I've been intentionally working on conquering my "disease to please" for quite some time and only recently have I connected the dots.

    I've been asked numerous times in various forms, "How is it that I know what to do, but just can't seem to do it?"  I always boiled this question down to a person's "why."  I would ask them, "Why are you doing it?  How will it make you feel to accomplish your goal?"  The last 2 statements in the last paragraph about saying yes to me really boiled down to my why.  The reality is that this commitment to doing what I say I will do goes far beyond a "why". You can have a compelling why, but if you don't have the confidence to go for it, you will not succeed.


    I am able to stand stronger because I have been intentionally working on my self-confidence.  People-pleasing erodes your self-confidence.  Understanding what God's purpose is for your life and boldly going forward with it, regardless of the obstacles not only highlights your trust in His plan and your belief in His journey,  but builds your self-confidence.  I plan to share more about what I'm doing to build my confidence.  Seeing this journey that I've decided to take for me through is just one thing.  Stay tuned...



    While Googling "The Disease to Please," I came across a great article from a Christian author who has provided me with so much value through one her books, Made to Crave.  Lysa TerKeurst provides such pragmatic insight into handling some of our daily hangups through scripture. Check out http://proverbs31.org/devotions/devo/overcoming-the-need-to-please-disease/.  If you would like to join me in my free online accountability group where we go through Made to Crave or any other accountability group, please go to https://getyourlife.techifiness.com and fill out the form. 

    Wednesday, February 18, 2015

    Mini Veggie Egg Cups


    I've been inspired by a new round of the 21 Day Fix and viewing posts and videos from the program's creator, Autumn Calabrese to create more recipes for my "Fixers."  This recipe is simple and easy and came straight from the 21 Day Fix Extreme Eating Plan booklet.  I whisked up 2 batches and put one in the freezer.



    I have included the recipe below and some pictures from when I made it.  At the very bottom I have added a link to a video Autumn created while making these egg cups.  I consider cooking an art and just like any form of art, the interpretation of the recipe is truly in the eye of the chef.  You will  see that we took slightly different paths, so do what works and is easiest for you.

    Ingredients:


    • Non-stick cooking spray
    • Reynolds Aluminum Foil Jumbo Muffin cups (optional, you don't even have to use Reynolds, but just make sure the paper liner can be removed.) 
    • 12 large eggs
    • sea salt of Himalayan salt (Mineralize) and ground black pepper to taste
    • Oregano, Basil and/or Marjoram to taste (this isn't in the recipe but I love any one or all of these spices in my eggs!)
    • 1 10-oz. bag raw baby spinach finely chopped (I made a double recipe and had a hard time utilizing 2.5 5-oz. bags, so do your best)  
    • 1 medium red bell pepper, finely chopped
    • 2 green onions finely sliced



    Directions:

    1. Heat oven to 375 degrees
    2. Lightly coat a 12 cup muffin tin with spray.  (I prefer to use the Reynolds Aluminum Foil Jumbo muffin cups with this inner paper removed because I strongly dislike washing more dishes than necessary and I really don't want to get inside 12 or 24 muffin tins to catch what got stuck.  Spray the baking cups just like you would the pan and don't forget to remove it when reheating in the microwave.)
    3. Place eggs in a bowl and whisk to blend.  Add in seasonings, if desired and stir.
    4. Chop veggies and add them to the whisked eggs.  Mix completely.
    5. Spoon egg mixture into tins evenly.
    6. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out cleanly from the center.









    Servings:
    2 muffin cups is 1 GREEN and 1 RED.

    These will last ~1 week in your refrigerator.  They can also be frozen.  Check out Hatch Green Chile Extravaganza for more muffin cup ideas. 


    Check out Autumn's video too! http://www.teambeachbody.com/teambeachbodyblog/nutrition/recipes/mini-vegetable-egg-cups