Oven “Fried” Pickles

Summer bar-b-que season is finally here, and I am loving it! Here’s a tasty little number that you can add to the menu of any outdoor picnic or summer celebration. Like all of my recipes, my oven “fried” pickles are lacking in calories and bursting with flavor. You’ll love them!

Ingredients

Makes six servings.

• 1 jar pickle chips
• 2 eggs (cut calories with Egg Beaters!)
• 1/3 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp hot sauce
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp garlic salt
• 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
• 1 tsp seasoning salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs

Step-By-Step Instructions

Preheat oven to highest broiler setting.

In a medium sized bowl, whisk together eggs (or egg beaters) and flour. To the mixture, add Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, garlic powder, garlic salt, Cajun seasoning, seasoning salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly.

Place the panko bread crumbs in a shallow dish. Coat each pickle slice with your egg mixture, then smother the pickle chip in the panko bread crumbs.

Coat a baking rack with non-stick cooking spray, and place it on top of a baking sheet. Place coated pickles on top of the rack, and position on the middle rack of your oven. Broil these delicious little pickles for about three minutes on each side.

Serving Suggestions

Want a little something extra? Serve these with ultra-healthy homemade Greek Yogurt ranch dip, and watch as they disappear, and you become everyone’s favorite party host :-)

Enjoy!

Dressing For Your Body Type

After losing losing 100 pounds, I’ve found that my biggest struggle is no longer deciding what to eat… it’s deciding what to wear. Now that I have a brand new body, I am totally clueless. Before losing all of the weight, my daily wardrobe consisted of baggy pants and hoodies; total hottie, I know. After some careful research, I’ve come up with some great tips to help women of every shape and size find their perfect look. Check it out!

Slender/Petite

If you’re a slender or petite woman, this means that you have a very proportioned body, and measure at 5’4” or less.

What to Wear: You should wear smaller shapes that aren’t overwhelming to your delicate frame, and focus on pieces that elevate your look. Try pairing a small, bold print with an all-over color for a look that’s chic and classic.

Stock Your Closet With: V-Necks, ½ sleeve blouses, hip-length tops, fitted shirts, hemlines that hit above the knee, low rise pants, empire waist dresses and long fitted silhouettes like maxi dresses.

 Pear Shaped

If you’re a pear shaped woman, you’ve got a smaller bust, waist, and shoulders, but a more curvaceous booty with hips and thighs to match.

What to Wear: With a pear shape, your main goal is to slim out your curvy bottom half, while playing up your top half. To do this, you should balance your looks perfectly with complementing colors, silhouettes, and shapes.

Stock Your Closet With: Highly detailed or colorful tops, boat-neck tees and blouses, horizontally striped shirts, hip-length tops, A-line skirts, empire waist dresses, and boot-cut bottoms with larger pockets.

Curvy

If you’re a curvy woman, you’ve got a full bust, hips, and curves in all the right places. Typically, curvy women wear a dress size of 14 or larger.

What to Wear: When dressing a curvy frame, you should try to minimize your curves slightly, but never deny that they are there. This slimming look can be achieved with A-line shapes that hug your body closely.

Stock Your Closet With: Open necklines, hip or waist length tops, tailored jackets, draped fabrics, fitted scoop or V-neck tees, boot cut pants, and wrap dresses.

Boy Shaped

If you’re a boy shaped woman, you have narrow hips, a smaller bust, and a curve-free waist, giving you a perfectly straight silhouette. 

 

What to Wear: To create a more feminine figure, choose outfits that add visual details and adornments to your everyday look.

Stock Your Closet With: Ruffled tops, detailed blouses with nipped waist lines, lower necklines, full sleeves, floating fabrics, tailored jackets, skirts and dresses with a little swing, bottoms with detailing at the waist.

Busty

If you’re a busty woman, you know how to turn heads with your more-than-generous bust line.

What to Wear: To downplay your overzealous bust, try pieces that are free of bulk and aren't overly voluminous. Your perfect look is a classic dark colored blouse with a lighter colored bottom.

Stock Your Closet With: Slight V-neck tops, scoop neck blouses, slightly fitted sweaters, flared pants and denim, and A-line tops and dresses that hug the torso. 

Oh-So-Slim Potato Casserole

Just because you're watching your figure doesn't mean you have to give up your favorite comfort foods. If you're longing for a dish that tastes like something mom used to make, you'll love my Oh-So-Slim Potato Casserole. Like all of my recipes, this one is so very, very simple, and so incredibly tasty. So, go ahead, try it for breakfast, as a side dish, or wow everyone you know at your next pot luck!

Here's What You'll Need

• 1 32 oz. Bag of frozen hash browns
• 1/2 can of Low sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup Skim milk
• 1 1/2 - 2 Cups Plain Greek Yogurt (depending on your desired texture)
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Garlic Salt
• 1 tsp Onion Powder
• 1 tsp Black Pepper
• 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
• 1/2 tsp Seasoning Salt
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• 2 Scallions, thinly sliced
• 1 cup Reduced Fat Shredded Cheddar Cheese 
• 1 1/2 Cups of Corn Flakes
• Spray Butter



Doesn't look "slim" at all, does it? Well, it is!

Baking Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

In a large bowl, combine everything other than the corn flakes and spray butter, until mixed thoroughly.  Coat a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray, and spoon potato mixture into the baking pan; be sure to evenly distribute. 

Once everything is added to the pan, top with Corn Flakes and spray a thin coat of spray butter across the top of the dish (this prevents the cereal from burning). Then, all you have to do is place it in the oven for about 35 minutes, or until  bubbly. Allow it to cool for a few minutes before you dig in :-)

Cheeseburger Mac Attack

No, you're not dreaming. This really is a healthy dish.

If you’re sitting around wondering what to cook for dinner tonight, you’ve come to the right place! I’ve got an amazingly delicious recipe that will knock your socks right off. What’s even better is that it’s super easy to make; even the culinary challenged can pull this one off! The best part? It’s healthy! Yes, that’s right, going to town on this mouthwatering meal will not give you thunder thighs or a muffin top!  So, go ahead; dig in!

Here’s What You’ll Need
For four servings:

• 5 oz. (about 1 1/3 cups) uncooked reduced-calorie, high-fiber elbow macaroni
• 10 oz. raw lean ground turkey
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 2 Tbsp. ketchup
• 1 Tbsp. seasoning salt
• 1 Tsp. garlic salt
• 3 cups frozen cauliflower florets
• 2 Tbsp. light sour cream
• 2 slices 2% American cheese
• 5 wedges light creamy Swiss cheese
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced
• Optional Seasonings: Salt & Pepper

Let’s Get Cookin’

In a large pot, prepare the pasta very al dente. To make sure it’s cooked just right, go ahead and cook it for about half of the time indicated on the package. Then, drain all excess water and set aside.

While your pasta is boiling, combine the turkey, onion, seasoning salt, garlic salt, and ketchup and mix thoroughly. Once you’ve mixed it all up, stir in the cauliflower and cooked pasta, then transfer the mixture into the crock pot.

Cover with lid, and cook on high for about 3 hours. Or, if you’ve got time to kill, you can cook it on low for 7 hours. Whichever way you choose, just be sure the turkey is fully cooked.

Once the turkey is fully cooked and ready to go, break the cheese wedges and cheese slices up into little pieces and throw them into your crock pot, along with the other remaining ingredients. Be sure to stir everything thoroughly so that the cheese is mixed throughout and evenly distributed.

Then, you’ll cover once more, and cook for an additional 15 minutes to get everything melty and delicious. Your next step is simple: dig in! 

Nutrition Facts
Per Serving
300 Calories
9.5g Fat
38g Carbohydrates
13.5g Fiber
8.5g Sugar
24.5g Protein

More to Love
Like this recipe? Well, there's more where that came from! Check out all of my favorite recipes listed under the my favorite recipes tab above; I promise, you won't be let down! Or, if you're a Pintrest addict like myself, check out my Nutrish & Delish board for a ton of healthy tasty treats. 

Cooking With Greek Yogurt

Hey everyone! I’m so sorry that it has been so long since my last post; I’ve been all over the place lately! But, now that I am back in the swing of things, I am super excited to share a healthy little secret with you: Greek yogurt.

Well, as you all know, I’m a huge fan of healthy food that tastes unhealthy. In fact, it’s the only kind of healthy food I’ll eat. So, when I heard about the art of cooking with Greek yogurt, I was skeptical to say the least.

Simple Substitutions

Okay, I know you’re probably thinking that you know all about using it in place of traditional yogurt, and you’re totally right, but did you know that Greek yogurt can be used to create a mouthwatering cheesy pasta dish?! Didn’t think so… But, you heard me right! Simply swap in Greek yogurt with your favorite seasonings in place of a calorie packed cream or Alfredo sauce, and you’ve got yourself a delicious substitution that nobody will even notice. 
 
Conversion Chart
If you're worried about getting the recipe just right, don't be! Keep this conversion chart handy in the kitchen, and you'll be up to professional status in no time!

How unhealthy does this healthy Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo look? ;-)

To try out this healthy cooking phenomenon for myself, I gave it the ultimate test: I made Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo for Daniel and I to have for dinner. As he was approaching the stove top for seconds, I decided to let him in on my Greek yogurt secret. He had no idea!

 
The Best of the Best

Blueberry Banana Bread

Here’s a list of a few of my favorite Greek yogurt recipes that taste like the real deal:

• Creamy Tortellini With Mint & Smoked Paprika Oil
• Melt-In-Your-Mouth Chicken Breast
• Mashed Potatoes
• Greek Yogurt Biscuits
• GreekYogurt Ranch Dressing & Dip



Melt-In-Your-Mouth Chicken Breast

• Savory Lemon Chicken

• Cheesecake with Peaches & Honey 
• Whole Wheat Greek Yogurt Pancakes 
• Blueberry Banana Bread

Think those sound good? That’s just the tip of the iceberg! On my Nutrish and Delish board on Pintrest, I feature a TON of amazing Greek yogurt recipes that are simply divine. Also, all of my favorite recipes are listed under the My Favorite Recipes tab above. Who would have thought that cooking healthy could be so simple and tasty?

New Fitness & Exercise Programs By Beachbody

For my readers who have already completed the P90X or Insanity workout programs, I’d love to hear your personal success stories! Also, if you liked the program, I’ve got some super exciting news for you: Beachbody has a few new programs and fitness plans in the works.

That’s right, your body sculpting days are only beginning! The fitness geniuses at Beachbody are currently cooking up a few new surprises for you to enjoy: The Body Beast Workout, Ultimate Reset, and a P90X Certification Course.

The Body Beast Workout

While The Body Beast Workout is still in the works, I can’t wait to get my hands on it after I complete P90X and the Insanity workout programs. The Body Beast Workout is an intense workout plan that is specifically designed to build muscle and burn fat, so I can’t wait to try it out!

Sure, I don't want to look as bulk and intimidating as that ripped man in the advertisement, but I think having him as a motivator will definietly get me to where I want to be! 

I can only imagine what I will look and feel like after I complete P90X and Insanity, but picturing myself after also completing The Body Beast Workout just seems unreal. But, that’s the beauty of fitness inspiration: what once was deemed impossible is easily achievable with hard work, dedication, and motivation.

Ultimate Reset Program

If toning isn’t what you’re after, and you’re simply looking for a less intense way to improve your overall health, you’re going to love Beachbody’s Ultimate Reset program. This three week, exercise-free, program is designed to enhance the overall functioning of your body’s system, while helping you to shed a few unwanted pounds.

If you’re thinking this is like those other “diet programs” you’ve seen on unrealistic infomercials, or heard those annoying actresses talk about on the radio, think again. The Ultimate Reset program has nothing to do with a diet or quick weight loss; it does, however, have everything to do with putting yourself on the fast path to a healthy lifestyle. The Ultimate Reset program works with your body, rather than against it.

Don’t Forget To Take It Easy!

While I’d love to pretend that I am a fitness machine made of steel, I have to be honest: I am nothing more than an average woman with a lack of superhero powers. So, thinking that I can simply jump from one intense workout plan to the next is not at all realistic, and will only cause me to feel burnt out and grumpy.

I plan to avoid those feelings by implementing a smooth transition process as I graduate from the Insanity and P90X workout programs and move onto The Body Beast Workout. Even though I love the feeling that I get after a great workout, I know my limits, and you should too. It is so important to never push yourself and to always listen to your body when it is telling you that it has had enough.

Eat up!

For some reason, we get this wacky idea in our heads that working out and eating do not go together. Although I’ve been guilty of this in the past, I can’t stress enough just how terribly wrong and dangerous this is. Of course, I’m not saying you should hit the gym, and then cruise through the Taco Bell drive-thru, but it is essential to replenish your body with healthy foods, snacks, and water.

You're probably thinking this is totally unhealthy, right? Wrong!

Plus, healthy food doesn’t have to taste boring or flavorless; with a few simple modifications, you can re-create all of your unhealthy comfort food favorites while sparing your body of the additional calories, fat, and sodium. I’ve yet to find an unhealthy dish that I can’t re-create, so I know that you can do it too. But, if you need a little help, just let me know!

Bye-Bye Flab, Hello Fab!

As most of my readers know, I have lost 100 pounds as the result of a complete lifestyle change, and I’m feeling great, healthy, and happy! However, this past weekend I slipped my new body into a swim suit (a bikini even, yikes!) for the first time in a very, very long time, and I must say, I wasn’t nearly as comfortable as I hoped I would be.

Sure, I am exactly where I want to be size and weight wise, but my body is in definite need of some toning. I don’t know about you guys, but I have some serious arm and thigh flab to address. Maybe I’m totally nuts, but something tells me that arm fat shouldn’t flap in the breeze. Am I right?! 

I'd Really like to go from This....

To This. Think I can do it?!

Well, to send my arm flab packing, I’ve decided that instead of placing my main focus only on weight loss and healthy eating, I’m going to extend my focus to include something totally new: toning exercises.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I am a complete weakling; thank goodness I have a strong boyfriend to carry heavy things for me, or I would be in a world of trouble. I’ve done some researching, and I think I’ve found the perfect resource to get my flabby butt into a tightly toned physique: Beachbody Workouts.

If you’re thinking to yourself, “Whoa, Kate! Take it easy! Beachbody is the makers of those super hardcore P90X2 and Insanity workout programs.” Well, you’re exactly right! If I’m going to get toned up, I’m not going to mess around; which is precisely why I am opting for Beachbody workouts; I only want the best. 

Allow Me To Introduce You To My New Best Friend, Beachbody!

I’ve never tried Beachbody's ever so popular P90X2 or Insanity workout programs, but I have always wanted to. And not just because everyone I talk to who completes these programs undergo a total body transformation, but because these programs actually make sense! 

Unlike other fitness plans, they don't make false promises; they tell you straight up that these programs are not the work of magic, and that they take nothing less than everything you’ve got. Since I am the type of person who gets a personal high out of challenging myself, I am confident that these programs will work wonders for my body.

Yes, I know how scary they look...Bring it on!

The best part? Beachbody has tapped into my iPhone addiction and created a P90X iPhone app that will allow me to track my reps and weight usage, view my very own customized progress reports, keep a detailed log of my nutrition, and share my results with others!

My plan is to combine P90X2 workouts with the Insanity workouts so that I’ll get maximum results. I’ll keep you informed as I begin the program, and I’ll post weekly pictures and measurements as I go through the process.

I am absolutely thrilled to start this journey, but I’m even more excited to share it with my readers. Once I complete the Insanity and P90X2 workout programs, who knows what kind of fitness goals I’ll be able to achieve? But, I can’t wait to find out!