Roasted Garlic & Onion Brussel Sprouts with Quinoa

I freaking love brussel sprouts. Like a little too much. I would happily eat it everyday however, my husband was not a fan for a while.  They are kinda a weird food--they're basically little cabbages.  Anyways, I've made brussel sprouts like this many times before and my husband has grown to actually like them (yay!).  So here's a really easy, healthy and delicious recipe that you can whip up after a long work day and enjoy with a glass of wine...or two.  Also, because I was trying to make this a healthy recipe I didn't add bacon but if you decide to go the naughty route I suggest tossing some crispy bacon at the end along with bits of feta cheese. #DIVINE

Ingredient List (serves 2)

- A bag of organic brussel sprouts (around 12 oz) 

- organic coconut oil 

- Half an onion (you could use a full one too but I only had half)

- 2 cloves of organic garlic - finely minced 

- 1 cup of quinoa 

- 1 3/4 cup organic chicken stock

- salt & pepper

- smoked paprika

- turmeric

- cayenne pepper (just a sprinkle of it to add some kick) 

- balsamic glaze (optional)

Chop up your brussel sprouts and onions and mince your garlic 

For the quinoa I first sauté the onions in 1 tbsp of coconut oil and sprinkle a dash of turmeric--enough to turn the onions yellow. Add a dash of smoked paprika and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper for a little heat.  Let the onions sauté for about 3-5 minutes over medium heat before adding the quinoa.

I add in the cup of quinoa (don't forget to rinse your quinoa thoroughly--use a sieve). Toast the quinoa for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently.  Then add in the chicken stock.  Turn up the heat and let it come to a boil.  Then place a lid over it and simmer for about 15-20 minutes on low heat. 

Steam the brussel sprouts first, either by microwaving them in a steamer for about 3-4 min or use a pot with a steamer insert. Then heat up about 3 tbsp of coconut oil over medium heat before adding in the onions and brussel sprouts.  Sauté the onions and brussels sprouts, stirring frequently for about 10 min. You want some of the brussel sprouts to get a little burnt because this gives them a lot of flavor.  Add in the garlic towards the end so it becomes soft not burnt. Sprinkle with salt and pepper (you can be a little generous) and a few dashes more of the paprika, turmeric and cayenne pepper. 

Fluff your quinoa and make a little "bed" for the brussel sprouts.  Drizzle with a bit of balsamic glaze and dig in!!  This is a meal you can feel absolutely good about.  Brussel sprouts are loaded with the following vitamins:  vitamin k, folate, vitamin c, vitamins B6, and manganese--to name a few.  Turmeric and garlic are some of the most powerful spices and two of nature's most efficient healers.  And we all know the benefits of quinoa.  So all in all this is a very balanced and satisfying meal that you can adjust to your taste and preferences. 

xoxo,
Grace

College Advice

In honor of school starting, and in honor of the fact that exactly 7 years ago (dang, I'm old!) I was headed to my college campus ready to begin this grand new adventure, I am dedicating today's post to some bits of advice that I wish someone had told me about college.

1. Don't be shy! I know that this is really hard to do especially if you're like me and tend to be more of an introvert but I promise you everyone is feeling the same way as you are and everyone wants to make friends.  So don't be afraid to be the one that sparks up a conversation--be friendly! You'll be surprised at how quickly "cliques" can form and if you don't put yourself out there in the beginning it is harder to make friends later--especially if you live in a dorm.  I was waay too shy at first and had to really force myself to come out of my bubble but it was WORTH it.

2. Don't Skip Class  I know this isn't what you want to hear, but trust me on this one.  Unless you're sick in bed or reek of alcohol from your previous night of partying, really really try not to skip class.  I speak from experience in saying that getting up and going to all your classes really does make a difference.  At the minimum, it will get you up on your feet and you'll be most likely to have a productive day if you go to class--otherwise you might be tempted to eat cereal & doritos all day in your fuzzy robe and matching slippers.

3. Get a Part Time Job & Manage your Money Well   These two here are so important.  Although it might feel like college is this little oasis/bubble from the real world (and it kinda is) sooner or later you'll have to join the masses and trust me when I say having a bit of savings really does help.  No matter how little you can save each month it will add up through the course of 4 years.

4. Study Abroad   I have always regretted not doing this.  It was my plan to study abroad in Brazil or Spain (I even learned Portuguese in preparation) but things just didn't work out.  I had friends who did it though and they had the time of their lives.  I truly believe that there is no substitution for traveling. Studying abroad teaches you things you could never really learn in the classroom.  It teaches you to be self-reliant, it teaches confidence and you learn about other cultures and people different from you.

5. Discover your Passion   This is a big one.  I wish someone would have sat me down and told me how important it is to find what you're most passionate about early on in college. So many of us get caught up in doing what other people are doing or studying what you think your parents want you to study in.  I know you're only 18 when you first start college and you may feel way too young to really know what it is you want to do with your life or, you may think you have years to figure that out, but think of it like this: you have 4 years to discover your interests, what you don't like and what you could see yourself doing.  It doesn't mean you have to have everything figured out (no one does) but  you should  take advantage of this time, really think about what you want to do and the person you want to be, because guess what?  After you graduate and you're introduced to the 40 hour work week, you will find that you have many more responsibilities than you did in college and you may not have time or the opportunity to really think about your future goals and how to accomplish them.

And one last piece of advice, HAVE FUN! There will never be another time in your life where you get to focus on YOU and what you want and who you spend your time with.  College is liberating. There will be tears, sweat, A LOT of laughs, inside jokes and embarrassing pictures. Embrace it all because it goes by fast.

xoxo,
Grace

Delicious Chicken & Lime Soup

I wanted to switch things up a bit and bring you my newest obsession: sopa de pollo con limon-- aka chicken lime soup.  It is delicious, healthy, affordable and oh-so-comforting. I heard about the recipe from a friend and she got it from this website called budgetbytes they have a ton of great recipes. I'm not a domestic person by any means--I mean I can whip up some tasty dishes but I generally need a recipe to follow or I have a mini panic attack. I love when I find recipes that are yummy but also easy to make because honestly, after a full work day, who has time/energy to be in the kitchen all night.  Anyways, my point is, if I can make it, you can make it.  So lets dunk in, shall we?

A little spicy, salty, with some fresh lime juice and the creamy avocado chunks...divine-ness. Is that a word?

Here's what you'll need:

- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil 

- 1 Medium yellow onion

- 2 Stalks organic celery (I added less because I'm not a fan of celery)

- 1 Medium jalapeno 

- 5 Cloves garlic

- 3/4 lb. organic chicken breast (about 1 chicken breast depending on size) 

- 6 Cups organic chicken stock

- 1 (14.5 oz) can of diced tomatoes with green chiles 

- 1 Tsp oregano

- 1/2 Tbsp cumin

- 1/2 Bunch of organic cilantro (roughly 1 cup)

- 1 Medium avocado

*side note: you don't have to use organic ingredients but I do my best to buy organic whenever/wherever I can :)

Total Prep Time: 10 Min
Total Cook Time : 1 hour and 15 min.
 

1.  Dice up the onion, celery, jalapeno (scrape out the seeds), and mince the garlic. Then, saute everything in the olive oil for about 5 minutes over medium heat. 

2. Add in the chicken breast (just dump it in, no need to cut it)

3. Along with the chicken breast, you'll add the 6 cups of chicken stock, the can of diced tomatoes with chiles, the oregano and cumin. You'll end up with this:

4. At this point, bring the pot to a boil (uncovered) at high heat. 

5. Once your pot is boiling, turn the heat to low and cover the pot. Let it simmer for 1 hour.

6. After its been simmering for an hour, take the chicken out and shred it using a knife or two forks.  The chicken will be tender and moist. 

7. Put the shredded chicken back in the pot, add the juice of 1 lime (I used 2 but it depends on how juicy your lime is)  

8. Wash your cilantro thoroughly. Chop it roughly and add to the soup. 

9. Optional: Dice up some avocado and add to the soup right before serving. 

10. And voila! Go plop your butt on the couch, and ENJOY.

Delicious & Easy Green Smoothie

Today I'm sharing one of my favorite green smoothies because I think we should all start our mornings with a healthy dose of green :).  I know some people are put off by the thought of adding spinach, kale or any greens to a smoothie but this one is a good introductory green smoothie...if that makes sense. Basically even if you hate spinach, you will LOVE this because you can't taste the spinach at all.  It is deliciously sweet and creamy! So I'll stop rambling and get on with the recipe--if I can even call it that since it is so ridiculously easy. 

Ingredients:
- 2 Handfuls of Organic Baby Spinach
- 1 Cup of Frozen Mango Chunks
- 1/3 Cup of Low Fat Strawberry Kefir
- 1 Banana (frozen if you like your smoothie really cold)
- 1 Tsp. of Flax seed (optional)
- 1/2 Cup of water 

Add in the spinach, mango, banana, kefir and water into your blender. I'm using my Nutri Bullet, which I highly recommend! When all ingredients are in, I give it a shake, put the blades on and blast away!

See how creamy it is? Enjoy!

Benefits of Spinach
*Heart healthy vegetable due to its high concentration of Vitamins C & A which help reduce free radical amounts in our bodies
*Rich in mineral iron which is an essential nutrient especially for young children who are still developing
*Helps maintain your brain's health (as do many leafy, green veggies)

Benefits of Mango
*Fights Cancer (high in antioxidants)
* Can aid in lowering your cholesterol
*Alkalises your body