Spicy Turkey Chili - Mrs. Dash w/Avocado

I recently started this new beach body program called 21 Day Fix. I feel really proud that I have been keeping up with the program. The program is basically portion control combined with an every day 30 minute work out. For most days, I have eating healthy and well portioned meals. I must say that it feels amazing to feel content after a meal instead of stuffed. I feel that eating clean is something that is difficult for everyone since we are so used to all the fried foods, carbs, and fast food. I feel that we have too much good food around us and most times we don't know when to stop. It is especially difficult when the portion sizes at restaurants are way more than you can even eat. All we want to do is keep eating our meals until we finish though.

Since I started the 21 Day Fix Challenge, I also joined a support group on Facebook. We basically motivate one another as well as update our progress. In that motivational group, we also share the foods we eat and what workout we did that day. We talk about our lows and our highs. I feel that I have tried more at keeping up with the workouts and healthier eating habits since I participated more in the group on Facebook. Anyways, someone in that support group posted a chili recipe. So I went online and searched for a Mrs. Dash seasoning packets for chili. Lucky for me, that seasoning packet actually existed. The hard part was looking for the seasoning packets. I went to a couple different places but only one store had it, Smiths. I don't normally shop there but I will take what I can get!

Recipe adapted from Mrs. Dash seasoning packets

Ingredients:
~1lb ground turkey
1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
1 can (15 oz) black beans, undrained
1 green bell pepper
Red onions - amount desired
Tabasco sauce (amount desired/optional)
Crushed red peppers (amount desired/optional)

Directions:
Chop the green bell peppers and onions. Cook the turkey until it is browned (I used a pot so that I don't have to transfer the meat after). When the turkey is finished cooking, add tomatoes, tomato sauce, black beans, bell peppers, onions, Tabasco sauce and crushed red peppers. Bring to boil then cover and let simmer for 10 minutes.

Serve with extra Tabasco sauce if desired (I love the heat it gives). You can also serve with brown rice and avocados or add a couple pieces of blue corn tortilla chips. Yumm!

21 Day Fix containers:
Turkey Chili - 1 Red, 1 Yellow
Turkey Chili, Brown Rice, Avocados - 1 Red, 2 Yellow, 1 Blue
Turkey Chili, Tortilla Chips - 1 Red, 1 Yellow

Brown Fried Rice with Turkey Meatballs and Spinach

I made some brown fried rice a couple days after New Year's Eve since I had leftover meatballs and brown rice sitting around in the fridge. I didn't feel like eating them separately so I decided to combined them together to make some fried rice. I was always so curious about how brown rice would taste fried rice style. After making some brown fried rice, I thought the taste was amazing. I didn't add too much soy sauce so the fried rice still tasted relatively healthy :)

I believe this was actually my second time making fried rice. The first time I ever made fried rice when when I started college. I was completely clueless on how to cook anything so my fried rice turned out being mushy. I didn't know fried rice called for leftover rice. Haha.. silly me! Well, at least I know now so it is never too late. I would say that my second time making fried rice was a successful!!

Ingredients:
Olive oil
2-3 eggs
4-5 garlic cloves - minced
~ 3.5 cups brown fried rice
2 leftover turkey meatballs - diced
2 handfuls spinach

Directions:
1. Minced garlic cloves and dice the leftover meatballs. Set aside.
2. Heat pan on medium-high. While you are waiting for the skillet to heat up, whisk your eggs together. Drizzle oil into the skillet, then pour the egg mixture in. Be sure not to over-cook your eggs or it will be too dry. When the edge of the eggs start to pop up a little, start to scramble your eggs. Set aside the scramble eggs.
3. Drizzle oil into a pan then add garlic. Saute the garlic then add brown rice. Stir-fry the brown rice for a couple of minutes until rice is heated up thoroughly.
4. Stir in desired amount of soy sauce.
5. Add leftover meatballs and spinach. Continue to stir-fry until spinach is fully cooked and meatballs are heated up (add green onions if desired).

**Note: For best results, use rice that has been previously cooked - about 2-3 days. This prevents fried rice from becoming mushy. You may also use overnight rice.

Turkey Meatballs - New Year's Eve Dinner

Happy New Year's Everyone! 

As always, I'm a little late. A little late is better than never though they say. I feel that every year is the same. Everyone starts by writing a list of resolutions.. I guess deciding what they want to accomplish by the end of the next year. This year I didn't think about it much I guess because every year I have the same goals. I feel that New Year's isn't the only time to make a new goal but you can do that any time throughout the year. Every day is another day to better your life, your health and of course helping those around you better themselves as well. I understand that a new year signifies a new start and I agree that some people may need that. I remember two years ago, I didn't know who I was at all. I felt lost and negative. All I did before the year 2012 was go clubbing then sleep. I would also go to work of course. I had a job at school but sometimes I could barely even make it to work with my heavy drinking. I would say that my biggest influence would be my boyfriend though. Since I meant him, I feel that all I want to do is become a better me. I never met anyone who would go to the gym everyday except my mom. I guess seeing it from someone else made a difference especially if it was someone I could possibly be with almost every waking moment. I have to admit that I am still not working out as much as I want to or eating as healthy as I want but I am better than I was two years ago before I meant him. I am more positive, more healthy, more happy with life. Most importantly, I am trying to improve myself even though I was better than two years ago when I was depressed, drinking and partying all the time. This year I didn't get to celebrate New Year's Eve with my boyfriend who I felt has made me a better person. I didn't go to any huge parties or count down with people dancing around me but yet I still felt happy. I was with one of my lovely sisters and my adoring nephew but yet it was so exciting. I spent my night tickling my nephew until he laughed like there was no tomorrow. I listened to my little sister yell and scream with exciting/anger as she was playing Settlers of Catan online but I still felt so content. I also of course cooked us New Year's Eve dinner. I could never leave the food out! I wanted to try something new from the usual food I cook. New Year, new recipe right?! Hahaha. I decided to make turkey meatballs so I went on a hunt once again for another recipe! :)

I would have to say that my turkey meat balls were pretty successful. I was a little worried that the meatballs weren't cooked fully so I put them in the oven for another 5 minutes. I would say that was a bad idea on my part. The turkey meatball turned out to be a bit dry. Luckily, I had some left over marinara in the fridge so I put some on my meatballs for a moist taste! Perfect idea and delicious!

Recipe adapted by Shannons's Knits .
Yields: 12 meatballs

Ingredients:
1 lb ground turkey breast
3/4 cup chopped cilantro
3-4 cloves of garlic - minced
1/2 small yellow onion - diced
2 eggs
2 tbsp cumin
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp oregano
1 cup instant oatmeal

 Directions:
1. Preheat oven at 450 degrees F.
2. While waiting for the oven to preheat, chop cilantro. Mince garlic, and dice the onions.
3. Place all ingredients into a large mixing bowl and mix using your hands. Add egg whites if the ingredients do not bind together (I used a little over 1 lb of turkey so I added a little egg whites so all my ingredients would stick together).
4. Shape the ingredients into 12 balls and place into the baking dish evenly.

5. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil to keep meat moist while cooking.

6. Place the baking dish in the oven and cook for 30 minutes or until meat is fully cooked.
7. Serve meatballs with marinara sauce or salsa and enjoy.

I ate my meatballs with marinara and a side of brown rice and asparagus.