simple roasted butternut squash soup

Now that I'm living with Husband full-time, I almost never cook. He is the chef in our house and unlike me, he loves making gourmet meals with all the steps and a zillion different ingredients. I on the other hand, like to keep things simple.

This past week I was feeling under the weather. So much so that I even missed clinic and had them cancel all my patients, which I of course felt so horrible about. Though I think it was best not to share my fever. The only thing I was wanting to eat all week was soup, so I whipped up this easy recipe that is a favorite. 

pumpkin cornbread & sweet potato crockpot chili

This is how we celebrate fall in the South...taking classic Southern recipes and adding a taste of Autumn into the mix. 

Easy Dark Chocolate Coconut Granola Bars

Whenever Tom and I go on vacation, I tend to eat a whole lot of “whatever the heck I want”. You can be sure to find us sampling everything from sweet treats to local brews. Thankfully, calories don't count when your on vacation. If only right? In an attempt to keep our eating habits somewhat healthy, I like to pack homemade snacks. And our trip to Canada called for something extra special…

Dark Chocolate and Coconut Oatmeal Bars

Power Boost Breakfast

Well, it's the last day of March and I'm still sticking strong to my New Year's Resolution of creating a healthier lifestyle. In fact, I'm down 6lbs this month! I'd attribute that to the fact that I've upped my workout game from 2-3 times a week to 4-5 times a week. This means a lot more soreness and fatigue, and a need to increase my protein and carb load. So I figured why not start with the most important meal of the day? 

I used to skip breakfast almost everyday. Terrible, I know. I didn't think that I had time for breakfast. And besides, I wasn't even hungry anyway... So no harm done right? But really, my body was so used to being denied food in the morning that it stopped sending hunger signals to my brain. Not good. And as far as the whole not having time excuse, that was just pure crap. There is always time to take care of yourself if you make it a priority. Now that I work out first thing in the morning most days, I need to eat breakfast and a hearty one at that. My new favorite breakfast...scrambled eggs with red onion, avocado, and smoked salmon on toast. 

Smoked Salmon

I love the salty flavor and a little bit goes a long way. Smoked salmon is an excellent source of protein and  omega-3's. It's also a great source of iron, something most women don't get enough of. An iron deficiency means less oxygen circulating in your blood, which leads to fatigue (plus other very bad stuff) and Ain't nobody got time for that!

Eggs 

Ah where do I begin? Vitamin B, Vitamin E, Vitamin A. Lots of different vitamins and nutrients all in one little egg. 

Avocado

There is a reason that avocados are a super food! Packed with fiber and essential nutrients; avocados are a great source of healthy fats. Avocados level out your blood sugar, lower your cholesterol, and help your digestion. Plus, they contain oleic acid, which helps to make your body feel full. 

Red Onion

I honestly just added these for flavor, but it turns out that they function as an antioxidant too! 

Oatmeal Wheat Toast

When people are trying to lose weight (as I am), bread seems to be one of those things that is automatically eliminated. But not all breads are created the same. In fact, whole grain breads can be an excellent source of fiber and minerals. 

This breakfast covers so many different food groups, fills me up, and helps meet many of my daily nutritional requirements. Plus, it tastes amazing so I love it. 

Eat Clean & Stay Well 

Quinoa, Snap Peas, & Feta Cheese

I love love love to bake, which would suggest that I like to cook too. Well I don't, I hate it. So while it seems that I have shared several recipes with you for some of my favorite sweet treats, I haven't shared as many dinner recipes. Lately, I have been trying to spice things up and experiment with more options at home. I've recently fallen in love with quinoa and have been incorporating it wherever I can. Here is my recipe for quinoa salad. And the best part is that you could easily adapt this to include any veggies that you please. 

Pumpkin Turkey Chili

It's getting pretty cold out, but it's still Fall which means that there is plenty of time for yummy recipes featuring squash, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes. Here is a quick chili that I made recently. It's on the healthy side because it uses lean turkey and it also has a fun autumn twist as one of the main ingredients is pumpkin. If I really love something, I just have to share it. I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did.