Perfect Fall Side Dish ~ Chili Lime Yams!

I had these chili lime yams at Nature's Fare in Kelowna not too long ago, and I couldn't resist making some of my own. They make a fabulous side dish and last in the refrigerator a few days. They pair nicely with grilled chicken or salmon, and can even be sliced up cold over a salad for your healthy complex carbohydrate!

Recipe:

1 peeled medium yam, cubed

1 cup low sodium chicken stock

1 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp cumin

1 handful fresh cilantro

1/2 lime 

In a pot, bring to simmer 1 cup low-sodium chicken stock. Add yams, 1 tsp chili powder and 1/2 tsp cumin. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until fork tender - approximately 12 minutes. The liquid will almost be all absorbed into the potato. 

Immediately squeeze the juice of 1/2 a lime, and sprinkle with a handful of chopped cilantro. For more kick, sprinkle an additional 1/2 tsp chili powder after cooking.

Enjoy!

Healthy Protein Eatmore Bars

I have an Eatmore Bar memory. Indulge me:

When I was 10 years old, my mother took us girls to stay at her friends house in Vancouver for the weekend. Before heading to Stanley Park to walk the trails, we had stopped at a near by convenience store and been allowed to choose a bagful of candy! During our playtime at the park, I greedily shoved all that sugar down my gullet, except for my prized Eatmore Bar. I was saving that one for the finale! Once we got back into our car, my mom had said no more sugar, and that anything we had left was going to have to wait until tomorrow. Gutted! 

The next day came and we were set to leave. I don't recall how exactly I had forgotten that precious candy bar, tucked safely beside the bed I had been sleeping in, but somehow I did! I begged my mom to turn around for that lone bar...the bar that I had saved especially for that grueling ride home. Alas, she never did turn back, and thoughts of the forgotten bar still haunt me.....

Right! Well, until now anyway. Check out the following recipe and re-create a little taste of your childhood, only healthier :)

 Recipe:

(adapted from damyhealth)

1 cup dates (soak to soften)

3 tbsp nut butter

1/4 cup hemp hearts

2 cups salted peanuts (unsalted for lower sodium option)

3 scoops vanilla protein powder

2 tbsp cocoa powder

1/4 cup water

1/2 tsp vanilla

In a food processor chop peanuts and set aside. Add nut butter, vanilla, cocoa powder and dates, process until smooth. Add wet mixture to chopped peanuts. Stir in protein powder and hemp hearts, adding water if mixture appears too dry. Mix with hands to form a large ball. Press ball between two pieces of plastic wrap and shape into a rectangle.  Slice into 16 bars, wrap in plastic wrap and store in the freezer

Once you sink your teeth into these little gems, you will realize that they are just like Eatmore Bars, only healthier with no added sugar and added protein!

Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Let me begin by saying that this is a fabulous recipe! The dressing that you pour over the lettuce wraps is so good I could DRINK the stuff! I'm not even kidding. I adapted the sauce from Whitewater Cooks...keeping it a bit cleaner by leaving out a few ingredients but it was still divine. This is a great week night meal, and makes convenient leftovers for lunch the next day.

Chicken Filling Recipe:

1 tsp coconut oil

2 pound ground chicken (could use ground turkey) 

2 crushed garlic cloves

2 tbsp fresh grated ginger

1/2 bag broccoli slaw

1 pepper sliced thinly

1 bag of bean sprouts

2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce

1/2 cup chicken stock

In a pan, melt 1 tsp coconut oil and brown chicken  with the garlic and ginger. Once it is cooked, add the remaining ingredients, cook 3-4 minutes and remove from heat.

Now for the piece de resistance! The dressing!

Dressing

In a blender or bullet combine the following:

1/2 cup all-natural peanut butter

1 lime juiced

2 tsp sesame oil

3 tbsp sweet chili sauce

4 tbsp rice vinegar

4 tbsp soy sauce

 2 garlic cloves

2 tbsp fresh grated ginger

1/2 bunch cilantro

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp Sriracha (optional)

Now, who really buys iceburg lettuce anymore when there are so many other varietals (grapes only??)? I for one, do not. However, I did make an exception this time, for the sake of the pictures and you know what...it was quite nice.  The leaves are large enough that the filling doesn't spill out. I did try some filling in a romaine leaf the next day, and it was still delicious...just messier. 

Toppings can be whatever you like, but here I had green onions, peanuts and more fresh cilantro.

 And then, just fill that lettuce leaf up with the chicken mixture, sprinkle on cilantro, green onions and peanuts, and drizzle a good amount of the peanut sauce and BAM...you have  a clean and healthy dinner :)

Let me know what you think of this recipe in the comments below!

Mango Chicken Cabbage Salad!

Mango Chicken Cabbage Salad

It was 4:30pm and I was in a panic because I didn't have a plan for dinner tonight! Looking in the fridge, I saw cabbage, mango, and defrosted chicken. I googled those three ingredients and a few good looking dishes popped up. I took the base for one, the dressing for another, added my own tweaks...and we had dinner!

Ingredients:

2 cubed and cooked chicken breasts - salt/pepper

1 small cabbage shredded

1 pepper diced

1 mango diced

1/2 English cucumber diced

2 green onions finely chopped

1 handful cilantro chopped

8 mint leaves chopped

Place all of the vegetables in a large bowl

Dressing:

1 tbsp Sriracha

1 tsp maple syrup or honey

1 tbsp grated ginger

2 tbsp soya sauce

1 clove garlic

1/2 tsp sesame oil

3 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp red wine vinegar

Blend in bullet until blended.

Toss dressing with vegetables and top with cooked chicken.

Enjoy!

Coconut Raspberry Lime Popscicles

I like a nice cold treat just as much as the next gal ;) Here is a frozen delight that you can sink your teeth into, guilt free!

This recipe couldn't be easier!

Recipe: (yields 3 bars)

Blend together for coconut layer:

1/2 banana

1/2 can reduced fat coconut milk (for a creamier bar, use full fat)

1 tbsp unsweetened coconut

*****

Raspberry Layer:

1/2 cup raspberries

1 tsp honey (or sweetener of choice)

1/4 cup apple juice

Juice of 1/2 a lime

fresh berries

Blend together for raspberry layer.

*****

Pour coconut layer in first, let freeze. We have a Zoku popscicle maker and it froze in 3 minutes. Next add a few fresh berries and top with your blended raspberry mix.

**Tip - use any leftover mix in your smoothie the next day!

Enjoy!