Adventures with my Crockpot

You had me at crockpot 

Who doesn't love their crockpot? I used to think you could only make recipes in the crockpot with canned Campbell's Soup. Admit it, you thought the same thing too!

Hello sodium!!!! Thank you, Mom!

During our October 7 Day Crockpot Challenge I discovered this gem of a recipe. This is (SERIOUSLY) the best crockpot recipe I've ever made. Hands down!

✔The family loved it
✔It was easy to make
✔You can prep it the night before
✔The Columbian Hot Sauce is a gift from heaven
✔Everyday ingredients

Crock Pot Carne Guisada (Latin Beef Stew)

Ingredients:

2 tsp olive oil
1 cup scallions (green onions), chopped (I used half onion/half scallions because that's what I had in the fridge)
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 small tomatoes, chopped
2 tbsp cilantro, minced
1 1/2 lb choice round beef stew, cut into small chunks
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1/3 cup light beer
1/3 cup water
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp dry adobo seasoning (I used seasoned salt)
1/2 tsp paprika
1 dried bay leaf
kosher salt to taste
10 oz baby red potatoes, halved or quartered
1 cup of brown rice (cook according to package)

For Topping:
Aji Picante (see post recipe below) do not skip this....it's amazing!

Directions:

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon of oil, scallions and garlic and sauté about 2 - 3 minutes; add tomatoes, cilantro and a pinch of salt. Cook another 2 minutes, then place in the slow cooker. Wipe the skillet, add remaining oil and increase the heat to medium high. Add the beef and brown on all side, about 4 minutes. Season with salt to taste and sprinkle flour over the meat, cook 1 minute turning often, then add to the slow cooker.

Add beer, water, cumin, adobo, paprika, bay leaf and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Add potatoes and cover, cook on low heat 6 to 8 hours or until beef is tender and the potatoes are cooked through.

Enjoy over brown rice.

Please share this post! This is a must make recipe!!!

Crockpot + Healthy + Delicious = Happy Day

Now on to the fabulous Aji Picante......

Aji picante is a spicy Colombian hot sauce served with soups, sancocho, stews, rice, beans, empanadas and more. Every Latin country has there own version of a spicy hot sauce, each unique and delicious. A little goes a long way, you only need to add a few teaspoons to whatever you put this on. To save time, I used my mini food processor.

Ingredients:
4 large scallions/green onions (I used red onion, I didn't want to go to the store)
1 tomato
1-2 small habanero pepper (I used 1 jalapeño pepper)
1/2 bunch cilantro
juice of 1 lime
1 tsp vinegar
1 oz water
salt and fresh pepper

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a small food processor and pulse a few times.

Recipe Source: Skinnytaste

I wouldn't recommend this on a tortilla chip but oh my it was amazing on top of the stew, eggs, tacos....the list goes on. I swear it tasted better each day it sat in the fridge.

P.S. Did you know scallions are just green onions? Why do they have 2 names? I've looked and looked for scallions at the grocery store to only recently discover they are actually green onions. Thank you, Google.

P.S.S. If you are not following the Skinnytaste.com blog, you are missing out. Gina has AMAZING recipes that are healthy, simple and family friendly.

P.S.S.S. Follow me at fb.com/HeatherMeyerFitness for a daily glimpse into my adventures with food, exercise and family.

Experimenting in the Kitchen

If you only knew me a few years ago.....

I would breakdown in tears in the kitchen. Seriously. I would cry from the "stress" of baking or cooking. I did not have a clue where to even begin to come up with ideas/recipes. I was lost. My momma wasn't a baker or a cook so either was I. For me the closest thing to baking was a boxed yellow cake and Toll House Chocolate Chip cookies.  Dinner was overcooked red meat and potatoes. Or let's be honest frozen chicken nuggets and boxed macaroni. 

When I would attempt to try a new recipe, I never had the right ingredients on hand nor did I know where to find them in the grocery store.
I did not read the recipe in detail or gather up all my ingredients or prep my ingredients. I would just dive in. I'd be dicing as I was stiring. I'd be stiring as I was blending. As the next step of the recipe came up, I wasn't ready. My kitchen would look like an explosion and I'd be in tears.

Then I discovered Pinterest. Pinterest and my husband saved me from myself in the kitchen. I was also introduced to a new world of clean eating when I joined my first health and fitness accountability group. My support coach and team taught me how to eat healthy and make it EASY.

Flashforward a few years....I love to bake. Seriously....love to bake. I can still get a little stressed while cooking dinner type recipes but I've made great strides. I love to try new recipes and I never breakdown in tears. I've learned so much about cooking and baking. Honestly I find it to be a destressing activity to spend a few hours in the kitchen. I look forward to it. I love to put together a healthy meal or a healthy treat for my family.

Today's success was:

⬇Chocolate Chip Yellow Squash Banana Muffins⬇

I've been focusing on finding (or adjusting) new recipes utilizing the ingredients I have in my fridge/pantry. I will definitely be making these again.

Ingredients:
cooking spray
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup brown sugar (not packed)
1-1/8 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 large egg, beaten
2 tbsp melted butter
1 cup mashed banana
1-1/2 cups shredded yellow squash (not packed)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray a mini muffin pan with coconut oil cooking spray.

Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Mix well.
Add chocolate chips and gently mix to combine.
In a medium bowl, mix egg, vanilla, melted butter, banana and yellow squash. Add to the flour mixture and stir until just blended.

Bake for about 15 minutes.

P.S. You can substitute the banana for Apple Sauce and the yellow squash for zucchini. You can also use a large muffin pan or loaf pan.

Recipe Inspired by Skinnytaste

I hope you enjoy these as much as my family did. I'd love to hear your feedback or any substitutions you made.

I'm off to blanch some tomatoes! Yes, you read that right. Me...blanching tomatoes! 

Enjoy!
XO,
Heather

Say Yes to Change

2 years ago I was asked to take a chance.

2 years ago I was gifted an opportunity to not only change my life but change the lives of others.
2 years ago I was introduced to other like minded people who would become my cheerleaders, my encouragers, my partners and my friends.
2 years ago I gained a community of support, motivation and guidance.

2 years I made a choice to say yes.

What if I had given in to my fears and said no?
What if I had listened to the voices in my head that were telling me that I wasn't ready?
What if?

Where would my life be now?

I'd be right where I was 2 years ago.
I'd still be the sad, tired, cranky, unhealthy woman who did not have the energy to keep up with her kids. I would be facing 40 and think it was all down hill from there. I would still hate my body. I would hide behind unflattering clothes. I would lack confidence. I would envy other women. I would not believe in myself. I would not believe in the possibility of becoming strong and fit.

The change began to happen when I said yes to me. I took a leap of faith and trusted god would lead me in the right direction. I began to believe in the possibility that life could change.

Just take one step. One step will lead to a 2nd step and a 3rd and so on. Then one day you'll look back and see how far you have come.

But first you need to take that first step.

I am offering to help you to take the first step. I will be your cheerleader. I will introduce you to the community of supporters and encouragers. I am holding out my hand just as my friend did to me.

All you need to do is reach out and grab it.

9 weeks I set a goal...

9 weeks ago I set a goal.....

Run 3 times a week.

Nothing major. 2 miles.

Then a few weeks ago I hit a wall. I struggled through each run. I started to dread running. I hated setting that 5am alarm. I began to think "Why am I doing this? I am not a runner. You knew this, Heather. Why did you trick yourself into thinking you could become one?"

Once those negative thoughts invaded my brain it was downhill from there. I swear each run was worse than the one before.

My runner friends have told me that to be a "runner" you just have to RUN. Time and distance do not matter.

So I took a break....well I guess you could call it avoidance or excuses. I gave in to the excuses. I even bailed on my running partner on Tuesday. I texted her at 5:30am and said I wasn't coming.

My partner texted me last night. "Are we running in the morning?" Every bone in my body wanted to say NO! But my guilt set in. I'd had made a commitment. I cannot leave her high and dry. I decided to set my alarm. Maybe I would just walk (remember my brain was telling that I'm not a runner).

My alarm went off and the dread set in. Another run to struggle with....through....

Then I had a thought. I wanted today to be different. I wanted to run. Even if only for 1 mile, I wanted to run.

I usually do not run with music when I meet up with my friend. Today I put on my 80s Cardio Pandora Station and I ran. I stopped thinking and I just ran.

I hit one mile. This is the point where I usually would stop and walk. Today I continued to run.

I'll admit at about the 1.5 mile mark, my head started thinking again but I didn't let it stop me.

Today I AM A RUNNER.
Tomorrow I AM A RUNNER.

I am a runner because I run.