Chicken Caesar Pita

Chicken Caesar Pita:

Image Source and Source

Ingredients :

• 1 hand full of Romaine lettuce

• 2 medium sized chicken breasts

• 1 whole wheat pita (cut in 1/2- you can microwave/heat or toast before hand if you want it warm)

• 1/2 Cucumber and Roma Tomato

• 1/2 cup of  low fat/ fat free plain yogurt (Greek/Balkan/Icelandic make for creamier taste). For added protein, use cottage cheese (you can blend the curds out). For a lower calorie version, use Walden Farms Caesar dressing instead!

• 1 tbsp dry mustard or grain mustard

• 1 garlic clove, Ground Pepper, Seasoning of choice, Salt.



• optional: 1 tbsp Parmesan/Romano/Asiago cheese/red onion/

Dressing

Mix yogurt, salt/pepper, seasoning, mustard, garlic and Parmesan and mix well in a small mixing bowl.

Instructions

Grill chicken @350 F, about 3 minutes per side. When finished transfer to a cutting board and slice evenly, width wise. Keep off to the side. If you have time to sprinkle Italian seasoning, oregano, rosemary etc before-hand, then please do! Feel free to drizzle with lemon juice as well. This not only enhances taste, but significantly reduces the carcinogenic effects of grilling. Rosemary/Oregano and other such herbs are potent antioxidants that guard against free radical damage.

Slice cucumber and Tomato. Transfer all the ingredients of the pita to a mixing bowl first, then the dressing, and mix up until well coated. Season to taste.
Together with the shredded romaine lettuce, transfer the chicken and cucumbers into the pita pocket.
Grind fresh pepper on top.

ENJOY!

Makes 2 servings:
Per Serving:

Protein : 32g approximate (depending on yogurt and cheese used)
Calories: 291.5

Click here for my guide on Herbs, pairings and taste.

Mediterranean Chicken With Quinoa

I had a client who was extremely busy and had not much time to cook (except on weekends). In attempts to increase his protein intake, recover and incorporate some whole foods, I made this modified Mediterranean Style Chicken recipe for him and adapted it to suit his needs/time frame etc.

This is amazing if you have time to roast the WHOLE chicken in the oven, with diced tomatoes, zucchinis etc and let it soak in its natural juices. Those of us who don't have much patience- nor the motivation to spend time in the kitchen, this is a short cut to a great meal! Traditionally, this is served with couscous, but since we were trying to increase his protein, I opted to use Quinoa. This is even better if the Quinoa is cooked in broth, or a mixture of broth/salsa, or the left over juice from the canned tomatoes etc. It soaks up the flavor.

Mediterranean Style Chicken with Quinoa

Ingredients:

6 oz Chicken Breast

¾ c Quinoa

1.5 c diced plum tomato

1c diced zucchini

 parsley

salt/pepper

3 TB lemon juice.

Instructions:

Put chicken breast and 2c water in sauce pan.

Cook for 8 minutes and dice.

Add Quinoa to 1.5c water and simmer 15min until liquid absorbs.

Combine

Optional: This is EXCELLENT if made with a bit of white wine and sundried tomatoes/eggplant!!! To increase fat levels, add olives and pine nuts!

Carrot Cake Chocolate Oats, Blueberry Apple Chocolate Protein Oats, Ice Cream for Breakfast and Trip Home

What a difference a large, uncluttered kitchen makes. I had to opportunity to cook for my dad Friday/Saturday and it was so much fun.

Dinner was un-pictured- but amazing. I made Sauteed/grilled Chicken, bell pepper, roasted tomato, ginger/garlic, basil mustard with greens wraps.

I used:

- La Tortilla Factory Low Carb/High Fiber big wraps

- Edmond Fallot Basil Mustard (to DIE FOR)

-Six Star Ginger/Garlic mix

-shredded chicken from a whole chicken my mom had in the fridge (cooked)

-Jumbo mushrooms

-Red peppers

-Roma Tomatoes

-Jok'n'al Sweet Chili Pepper Sauce

-Fresh Express Coleslaw mix

-Chicken Broth

I sauteed the chicken, shrooms, peppers, tomatoes etc in the broth/ginger garlic and pepper sauce. I spread the wraps with the Basil Mustard and the Ginger Garlic (I can eat it out of the jar!), and once the saute mix was finished I put it in the middle and folded it soft taco/enchilada/burrito style. I put my dad's back on the hot pan and let it get crispy on the outside. I filled mine with the coleslaw mix for some crisp. I also had Shirataki noodles, coleslaw with Walden Farms Asian, boiled broccoli, tomatoes, cucumbers and mushrooms as a side. We were STUFFED.

(these are NOT my pictures-mine were grilled)

I took a bike ride around my old neighborhood, and it was so bitter-sweet. So many memories.....

Saturday I had a killer workout. I hit up the local World Health Club and due to the machine not functioning in the manner to which I am accustomed, I did:

80minutes: 8.93miles/620 Cal

8.57 avg pace!

10388 feet climbed.

My other machine says I usually do around 600cal within an hour- so I think it may be A TAD (lol) off. I only care about my distance, and average pace; so I was stoked.


I left my dad a menu of possibility- and of course he didn't bother looking. He mentioned he liked carrots, and so when I re-read the menu he cut me off on the first option: Carrot Cake Oats which cream cheese faux icing.

I stored protein powder etc @ my parent's (for years- I'm NEVER there), so I was assuming that I had vanilla. Also, I constantly give my parent's samples etc to use. THEY HAVEN'T TOUCHED ONE OF THEM in 5 yrs. That hurt, but I digress. Anyways, I had Allmax's Iso-Kool in Green Apple, Tropical Fruit and Precision's Iso-Pro Cooler in Fruit Punch, Bio X Chocolate Power Whey Isolate, Bio X Chocolate Peanut Butter Power Whey Isolate, NxLabs Iso XP Orange Creamsicle, and several shaker cup/containers for an unidentified Chocolate Isolate. Through the process of elimination (smell, taste, lack of chocolate chips etc) I have narrowed it down to 3 possible protein powders.

They had PACKETS (like 50) of Chocolate, Strive Strawberry Banana, Chocolate etc. NO VANILLA!?? I ended up dumping the 'unidentified' chocolate isolate (I think it is either Iso Sensations 93 Chocolate Fudge, Iso XP Chocolate Isolate or one more brand) into the oats.

Carrot Cake Chocolate Oats!
In the Mix:

- Rolled Oats

-Water

- Sugar Free Davinci Almond Syrup (my dad found an unopened bottle in their garage!!!)

- 2 Shredded Organic Large Carrots

-Walden Farms Pancake Syrup and a bit of their Blueberry Syrup

-Splenda and Sweet Leaf Stevia

-Copious amounts of Cinnamon

- Psyllium

-TSP Rice Bran & Germ Powder

-2 scoops Chocolate Protein Whey Isolate

1. Add Water to saucepan and turn up heat. Add Oats. Add Sugar Free Almond Syrup, Walden Farms Pancake Syrup, Cinnamon, Sweeteners etc. When oats start to cook add Carrots.

2. Let simmer and keep adding pancake syrups, psyllium, liquid, MORE cinnamon and allow to simmer/slow cook for about 25+ min (because I kept calling my dad and he wouldn't get off the computer!). Turn to low heat.
3.Dump in Protein Powder (30-40g).
4.Stir. Add more Sugar Free Syrup/water etc because father still isn't coming.
5.Minute 35.... oats still 'slow cooking'....


Anyways, they were AMAZING. Slow cooked, plump and heaven like.
I made 'Faux frosting' (Protein Frosting) for him (again NO Vanilla) with 1% plain yogurt, cinnamon, stevia, and the Chocolate Protein Isolate. You can see it in the little glass ramekin on the side of the oats.

Along with eating 1/2 of the oats out of the pot (I needed to taste test), I made my MASSIVE BREAKFAST ICE CREAM Crunch bowl (note that the silver mixing bowl is Kitchenaid Stand Mixer size-IE HUGE) in their blender. Check out my Caramel Kahlua Chocolate Ice Cream shake recipe.

Maple Blueberry Almond Chocolate Protein Ice Cream Breakfast
- 1 tray of Ice Cubes

-Cinnamon

-PGX Granules (1 scoop)

-1/2 packet of Protilife Chocolate Shake mix (I used the other 1/2 for ice cream # 2 about 1hr later).

-Walden Farms Calorie Free Pancake Syrup

-Walden Farms Blueberry Syrup (about 1 TB)

-Davinci Sugar Free Almond syrup

-4 Sweet and low packets.

BLEND -add more ice, pancake syrup and cinnamon. Blend until it turns milky/creamy white.

Due to being restless, I also decided to make my dad some 'Over night Cookie Dough Blueberry Apple Chocolate Protein' oats. I was using a 30g protein Scoop and added several scoops of oats to the sauce pan, so I have NO idea how much I used.

Blueberry Apple Chocolate Protein Oats

In the mix:
-3+ scoops Large Flake Rolled Oats (or old fashion etc)
-Cinnamon
-Stevia
-Walden Farms Sugar Free Pancake Syrup/Blueberry Syrup
-1 grated apple
-1 cup frozen blueberries
-1 packet of Chocolate Fudge Iso Sensations 93 protein (love it! See my review HERE).
-30g (ish) of the Chocolate Protein Isolate
-Psyllium
-PGX Granules
-Rice Bran and Germ(tsp) it was laying around, so I thought 'why not'.
 (Click here for BENEFITS: Vit E, IP6 and Inositol , 100's of antioxidants etc).


Rice Bran & Germ Powder
Rice Bran & Germ Solubles are naturally packed with protein and are a natural source of B-complex vitamins, minerals and trace minerals; notably high in organic forms of potassium, magnesium, manganese and phosphorus. Rice Bran & Germ Powder contains more than 110 known antioxidants. Rice Bran Solubles work with your body to maintain optimum health. Rice Bran Solubles is also lactose and gluten-free and hypoallergenic.
Additional Info link on Rice Bran:  http://www.livestrong.com/article/82112-rice-bran-benefits/

This seriously simmered for about an hour. It was so creamy and amazing (yes I literally ate 1/2 of the bowl while cooking with the spatula).

 I ended up leaving around 2:30pm and was mentally exhausted for the rest of the day. So many emotions. I did some basic groceries and went home! Have a wonderful weekend!

What are your favorite memories from home?
What do you like to cook for your parent's/family?
Those of you who live on your own: how do you feel being back in your parent's house?