Turkey Meatloaf Muffins

Whoever came up with this invention is genius! These turkey meatloaf muffins were delicious and the best part is the entire outside gets crispy because you bake them in muffins pans. If you ask me the best part of meatloaf is the crispy edges!

I found this recipe on bodybuilding.com and it is super easy and healthy to make.

Turkey Meatloaf Muffins.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs ground turkey (or chicken)
• 3 egg whites
• 1 cup quick cooking oats
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 2 tsp dry yellow mustard
• 2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp chipotle pepper spice  (I used Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle)
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp garlic powder (2 cloves minced)
• 1 small onion (finely chopped)
• 2 celery stalks (finely chopped)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Spray muffin pan with canola or olive oil.
Mix all your ingredients together in one large bowl.

 

Roll the mixture into balls and place in muffin pan. Muffins should be about the size of a racquetball.

Bake for 40 minutes.

Makes 12 muffins.

Serving Size:
Women: 2 muffins
Men: 4 muffins

Calories: 80
Fats: 2 grams
Carbs: 4 grams
Protein: 11 grams

I paired my two muffins with some Green Giant Broccoli and Cheese an it was such a delicious and filling.

The next day I two leftover muffins for lunch over spinach with a little spicy mustard. I froze the last four and now have an easy dinner for another night.

Question: What none baking recipes have you made in a muffin pan? 

Top This Pizza

I ventured to Whole Foods again this weekend and found some great finds but my best find is the whole wheat Top This Pizza Crust. I love this crust because it is super thin and is great for a quick and easy dinner.  I made two pizzas so that Joe could have leftovers for lunch for the week.


One pizza was made with caramelized onions topped with fresh spinach and the other had turkey pepperoni. My favorite was the onion and spinach one I just love greens on top of my pizza, if you haven't tried this yet it is a must! My favorite green topping on a pizza is fresh arugula but unfortunately I didn't have any at home when I made these.

The key to making the caramelized onions is to use a non stick pan and keep the heat up medium high and stir the onions frequently and they come out delicious, I didn't even need to use butter or oil.

Cook the pizzas at 450 degrees until the cheese is melted. I add the spinach or greens right at the end and let them cook for just a minute or two. Let cook then slice and serve and enjoy some delicious pizza!

 

 

Question: What is your favorite type of pizza dough?

**Be sure to check out my new page that I added of my upcoming races and PR's**

Chocolate Banana Protein Shake

I experimented making some different flavor protein shakes over the weekend and found one combination I absolutely loved!

I mixed together in the blender one scoop of Food Science of Vermont vanilla protein powder (of any vanilla protein powder you have), a couple of handfuls of ice cubes, 1 whole banana, 1 tbl all natural peanut butter and 1/2 tbl cocoa powder.

Place all items into the blender at the same time and blend until smooth. Serve in a nice big glass and enjoy! The best thing about this protein shake is there is lots of protein in it so it is great for a post workout shake which is usually what I am looking for in the morning before work, something quick and easy for breakfast that is packed with protein. I think I finally found something I won't get sick of.

Question: What is your favorite flavor combination for a protein shake?

Pinspiration Recipe

As I mentioned before I have a slight obsession with Pinterest, if you are not currently on it you need to join today!

The other day I saw a salad on Pinterest that was a chicken and avocado salad but included mayo which I despise. I liked the idea of the recipe though so i adapted my own ingredients and made my own version of Chicken Avocado Salad.

Ingredients:
Shredded rotisserie chicken
Chopped celery
1 avocado mashed up
1 tbl spicy brown mustard

Directions:
Mash up the avocado until smooth then shred up as much rotisserie chicken as you like and mix together. Chop a few celery stalk and 1 tbl spicy brown mustard and mix together thoroughly with the chicken and you have a delicious lunch.

 

 

I know it may not look that appealing but it tastes so delicious. I brought a whole wheat sandwich thin to put it on but didn't even need it I ate it right out of the both and it is very filling.

Question: What are your thoughts on mayo?

Vegan Chickpea Scramble

The other day a lady I work with had heated up a chickpea scramble for breakfast that she bought through an online vegan website. It looked so delicious and she indicated it was very filling. I was then on a search to find a recipe for this delicious breakfast dish. I found one online and altered it slightly and added my own twist to it:

Ingredients:
1/2 yellow onion
1 tbl garlic
1 tbl vegan butter (I used Earth Balance whipped)
1 15oz can chickpeas
2 tbl nutritional yeast
1 tsp tabasco sauce
2 tbl reduced sodium tamari
1 pepper, chopped (color of your choice)
2 tomatoes, chopped

Directions:
Place the butter, onions and garlic in a pan and saute until golden brown.

Place the chickpeas in a bowl and mash them up until mostly smooth. Then add the tamari, nutritional yeast, tabasco and mix together. Add your chopped peppers and chickpea mixture to the pan with the onions and garlic mixture and cook for several minutes.

Add chopped tomatoes and cook for another few minutes until all ingredients are hot. 

The best part about this dish is that it is perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner and is super filling and good for you!

Question: What is your favorite vegan recipe?

Chicken Sausage Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes

I have been loving the hot italian chicken sausage from Whole Foods lately and they were all sale this week so I picked up a few of them. I decided to put a spin on my usual chicken sausage with broccoli rabe and pasta. I removed the casing from the sausage like I have in the past and cooked it in a pan with a little chicken stock and garlic. Once the sausage started to cook I crumbled it up, while that was cooking I boiled a pot of pasta for my whole wheat pasta shells and chopped up two vine ripe tomatoes. I added the tomatoes, cooked pasta and a little water from the pasta to the sausage mixture and let cook a few minutes. Right before I was able to take it off the stove I added a few cups of spinach and let it wilt in. This was a quick and easy dinner that was delicious!

 

Enjoying dinner with my bride mug from my wonderful niece

Question: What is your favorite recipe to make with chicken sausage?

Heavy Lifting

For the last few months I have been dedicating one day of my stregnth training to strictly lift heavy.  My trainer has me do the same plan for a month trying to increase the weight as the month goes on. Last night I started my new plan and it was hard!

Squats with the Smith Machine
120 lbs 5 reps for 5 sets
paired with
DB Flat Bench
27.5 lbs 5 reps for 5 sets

Single Leg Hip Lift with Ball
12 reps each leg for 3 sets
paired withDouble Arm Standing Row on the Kesier Machine
30lbs 12 reps for 3 sets

Curl to Press
15lbs 12 reps for 2 sets
paired withLateral / Front Shoulder Raise
(alternate one lateral with one front raise for a total os 16 for one set)
7.5lbs. 8 reps for 2 sets

I finished off my workout with 5 sprints on the treadmill at 4% incline and 9.5 speed. I did 45 seconds on with a 30 second rest for 5 rounds. These sprints were no joke but I felt so good once I finished.

Question: What is your favorite sprint workout?

Clean Green Cleanse

The other day I was given a recipe for a green cleanse drink to have for breakfast in the morning. I decided to make it on Monday night and it was my breakfast all week. I love recipes that I can make at the beginning of the week that will last me all week.

The recipe is super easy and I just left it in my blender and just blended it for a quick minute before serving it up in a glass for breakfast.

Ingredients:
1 head romaine
1/2 bag baby spinach
1 pear
1 banana
1 apple
1 celery stalk
1 juice of a lemon
3 cups water

Combine all ingredients into the blender and mix. Note that you may have to blend items as you go if you have a smaller blender.

This was a great breakfast to take with me as I walked out the door to work and it actually filled me up.

Question: Have you ever tried a cleanse drink? If so what ingredients were in yours?

Happy 2012

Sorry I have been missing the last few weeks, the holidays were super busy and I am just trying to get back into the groove. I have a few new great recipes to share with you but those will have to wait until after I post my 2012 goals.

1. Complete 10 unassisted chin ups (currently I am at 5) by my wedding 8/11/12

Source

2. Complete 5 unassistes pull ups (currently I can only do them assisted)

Source

3. Eat out only once a week

4. Lose 10lbs (a few pounds snuck up on me over the holidays) and keep it off

Source

5. Attend one yoga class a week and work on my flexibility (I want to try to be able to touch my toes by 2013)

Source

6. Eat vegetarian at least one day a week

Source

Question: What are your goals for 2012?