- Category: Dinner -

Dinner, Holiday Eats, Lunch, Recipe Box, Sides

Roasted Butternut Squash- Two Ways! Sweet & Savory vs. Caramelized Cinnamon

Tomorrow I’m driving down to Charleston, South Carolina to visit my best friends! Minus the 10 hour drive (ughhh) I’m so excited!! To prepare for my long weekend away, I’ve been trying to just use all the produce in my fridge so I don’t come back to rotten food and have to throw everything out! I had a big butternut squash in my fridge so I decided to use that up for lunch today. I couldn’t decide what I was in the mood for, so I decided to do a “Battle of the Squash” and cook it two ways! …Both won… I couldn’t choose a favorite! Both recipes were really easy and so so so yummy. I’ll start with the Caramelized Cinnamon Butternut Squash: You need: *½ of a butternut squash* drizzle of extra…

Dinner, Dressings & Marinades, Lunch, Recipe Box, Sides

Crunchy Baked Coconut Chicken, Zesty Yogurt Sauce, & Roasted Mixed Veggies

I loveee coconut. Whether its on chicken, shrimp, candy, anything- I love it! Pairing coconut with baked chicken is an easy way to add a little sweetness, while getting the crunchy feeling of fried chicken… without actually being fried. :) First, pound out 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cut off any extra fat. For the “breading” you need: *2 ½ cups unsweetened coconut flakes *3 packages of Truvia *1 cup unsweetened almond milk *2 egg whites* In a bowl, mix the almond milk and egg whites. On a plate, add 1/3 of the coconut flakes, and 1 package of Truvia. (For each breast, add more coconut and another pack of sweetener.) Dip each breast in the egg mixture, then coat in the coconut, after placing on a baking sheet. Repeat for the following chicken…

Dinner, Lunch, Recipe Box

Grilled Shrimp, Turkey Sausage, & Fresh Veggie Pasta

Tuesdays are my long days at school. I have class pretty much all day, so dinners on Tuesday nights are typically later and quick. Pasta has a pretty bad rep. However, there are a few things I’ve leaned to keep this comfort food light and healthy! I always try to pack my sauce with fresh veggies and protein. I once heard that you should have about 2/3 veggies & protein and only 1/3 pasta. I try to follow that rule. :) Also, there are so many pasta options! You can find whole wheat pasta for $1 at your local grocery store. There are also glutten-free pastas, which honestly, tastes just like wheat pasta. Last night, I chose to work with whole wheat pasta. First, you want to dice up any veggies you want to…

Dinner, Lunch, Recipe Box, Sides

Endless Summer Salad

Is it just me, or did this summer completely fly by? I love summer time… the warm weather, wind-blown hair, and so much fresh produce! Don’t get me wrong- I also love fall. I am team pumpkin everything! However, these crisp fresh flavors in this salad just bring up sandy sun-kissed memories. :) Endless Summer Salad: - 3 cups of mixed salad greens - ½ of an orange - 1 sliced kiwi - ½ cup sliced fresh strawberries - ¼ cup shredded carrots - 2 tablespoons low-fat goats cheese - 1 ½ oz sliced brie cheese - 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil (for dressing) - 3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar (for dressing) This salad has 2 servings. For each serving: Calories: 269 To add more protein to the meal, adding some grilled…

Dinner, Lunch, Recipe Box

Balsamic Baked Strawberry Caprese Chicken

I love cooking with chicken. It is so versatile and healthy, that you can pair it with new ingredients and never become tired of the same old meal! This recipe is a spin off the typical caprese salad (tomato and mozzarella). My boyfriend strongly dislikes tomatoes, and that is putting it lightly! I love the freshness that caprese salads bring, so I played around a bit with ingredients that I could substitute for tomatoes. Strawberries were the answer to my desperate search. :) They add just a hint of sweetness that pairs so amazing with the balsamic and fresh mozzarella. It was seriously so good. I made more than enough for the two of us, and we finished it all. What you need: - Skinless chicken breasts (For this recipe, I cooked 4 breasts) -…

Dinner, Lunch, Recipe Box

Zesty Fiesta Soup

This recipe is amazing for your taste buds, but also extremely time and budget friendly! My roommate makes a “taco soup”, which I took inspiration from, and packed it full of protein, fiber, and fresh veggies. I can’t express enough how easy and amazing this recipe is. Ah-May-Zing. I am a full time college student and work about 20 hours a week, so during the week it is nice to have a go to pre-made meal that is also good for me that I can just heat up quickly. I chose to cook mine in the crockpot while I relaxed at home and watched football all day. I have made it before in a big pot on the stove, and either work just fine. If you have the time, I would suggest slow cooking…