A Twist on Turkey Burgers! Michelle Style!

Well, It has been a while since I have blogged and needless to say, I'm so behind....or am I?
I'm here today and time does not really matter when blogging unless I make it matter....or, unless someone is waiting anxiously to cook a meal based on my current recipe...then they would starve. Haaa, kidding of course, just amusing myself:)
Anyway, I have decided to take on a new attitude about the "blogging". It really does not matter when I blog the recipes I cook, create, tweak....I just do it when I do and it's all good.
Enough already with thinking "I'm sooooo Behind" I'm actually Right On time...as soon as I log in, start blogging, that is when I am supposed to begin.
I made up this recipe the other day in about 2 seconds and served it for lunch for Brian and I. It was so juicy and delicious and we felt Great because it was so healthy!


1 lb Lean Ground Turkey
salt and pepper to taste
2/3 cups of your Favorite Low calorie/fat Italian dressing
1/4 c shredded cheese of your choice...I used mozzarella
about 1/2 cup chopped spinach

Mix together really well with your hands! Divide into 4 patties and cook until done on skillet!

Serve w/ a side of spinach and a toasted sprouted grain bread! You can add tomatoes and onions and avocado. YUM!

The Pursuit of Happiness is the source of All Unhappiness!

Everyday there is something that we can be happy about..It Is up to Us to Identify what it is...and Ultimately Choose it over Unhappiness. This may not always come easily but, the more we do it the easier it becomes to find Happiness.
I'm finding Happiness lately in my Self-Discipline, Confidence and Motivation...all in which are helping me stick to my goals in life..which are becoming limitless!
Or maybe I'm sub consciously a little freaked out that I'm turning 40 in 4 days! I always say the cliche' "Age is just a number"...I truly believe it is but, being that I was raised during a time when people bought "Over the Hill" balloons for 40th Birthday parties I catch myself sometimes thinking that 40 really is a Big Deal...Although I know it is not. So, I continue to work out (sometimes 2 times a day) getting my body and health, in the best condition to confirm that 40 really IS ONLY A NUMBER! Hey, whatever it takes...life is what I make it. Which makes me want to bring up...be true to yourself and what really makes you happy. If your choosing something that does not make you happy, remember you chose it so, it is up to you to find your happiness in it.
This blog was not intended to be a journal however, it sometimes seems to be exactly that....But, I'm o.k. w/ it and if your reading it...hopefully your o.k. with it to. I think we all need each other and the confirmation that we are not alone or possibly that we are all really very much the same just just experiencing things differently. Anyway, I'm sending Positive Energy for Happiness today:)

Confetti White Chicken Chili...A Gift from Issaquah Wa!

You may remember a long time ago that I posted on FB a recipe that my kids Loved and even said it was restaurant style!
Or...then again, maybe you don't remember...
Well, I'm finally getting around to posting the recipe..TODAY:) This recipe is from my wonderful high school friend, Michele from Issaquah, Wa! This is another crock pot recipe and Very low cost, feeds my family of 6. I'm guessing now that I made this for approx. $ 13.00!

Confetti White Chicken Chili

3 15oz cans Great Northern or cannellini beans
1 1/2 cups chopped red, orange and/or yellow peppers (I use all three)
1 cup coarsley shredded carrot
1/2 cup sliced green onions
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp dried oregano, crushed
1 tsp ground cumin (this really is awesome in this dish)

1/2 tsp salt
2 14oz cans chicken broth (No MSG)

2 1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken

Shredded cheese for garnish

1. Drain and rinse 2 cans of the beans and place in a 3-4 quart slow cooker. Use a potato masher or fork to mash beans. Drain and rinse the third can of beans (do not mash). Add sweet peppers, carrots, green onions, garlic, oregano, cumin and salt to the mashed beans. Stir in chicken broth until combined.
2. Cover, cook on low-heat setting for 6-8 hours, or high-heat setting for 3-4 hours (I think it tastes better on the low setting).

3. Stir in chicken, cover and cook about 15 minutes more until chicken is heated through. Serve with cheese.

For the chicken, I typically use frozen chicken breasts that I poach in water with poultry seasoning, onion, celery and lemon. Then I just shred the chicken. You could easily use a roasted chicken from the grocery store. If it seems a bit thin, after adding the chicken, I typically stir in a paste made of about 2 tbsp softened butter and 2 tbsp dry bread crumbs. It thickens it and gave it some richness too.

***Here's a little ""Michelle Tip"...SAVE the broth from boiling the chicken!! Use it the next time you make a crock pot soup in place of buying chicken broth...tastes better AND you save $$$$$$

Enjoy.

Positive Thought's Create Positive Experiences!

We are Exactly where we are in life because of the thought's we have had. It's true....may not be a thought you had yesterday or last week or last year but, it could have been a thought you had 5 years ago....Think about it.
Our thoughts Are like a blueprint for what we will create, accomplish, overcome, begin....Everything.
We thought it, gave it Energy, and the Universe gradually began to work to bring to life the desires we have. Of course we need to do our part...we need to have specific goals, self motivation, discipline and the ability to take action when we see the opportunity to make decisions or changes towards achieving our goals after all, those opportunities are there because we asked for them.
Why am I sharing this....because lately I am experiencing several years of what were once "thoughts" become what is my living reality. I can look at everything happening in my life right at this very moment and I can link them all to my very own thoughts that I have had over the past 5 to 10 years!
Trust the Universe is working for you. You may not get what you want in life the moment you think it or ask for it but, if you re-visit the thought with positive energy, believe it will become reality then when it is right for you, it will.
Remember to focus on Positive thoughts...Your thoughts Create your life Experiences...so, make them Positive ones:)
Peace.

7 Days....Gone so Fast.

It's been 7 days since I have blogged! It seems like yesterday. The days are flying by so fast. Possibly because I'm filling them with so much more! I'm not wasting a single moment...although, I still don't seem caught up. I guess if I were caught up I would wish I had something to do. So, I'm thankful for what I accomplish and thankful I still have something to do.
I am consciously challenging myself lately with new things. We really Can do whatever we want...we just have to try, get over the fear and have a Positive Attitude. Truly, the only limits I have ever had are the ones I set for myself based on fear or lack of confidence or a bad attitude...when that is overcome...a new life begins...Try it! After All...Nothing can Happen unless we choose to let it and make it happen...The mind is so powerful, all you have to do is tell it what you want and everything will fall into place. Believe it.
Promise...recipes tomorrow, I have been cooking like crazy and so much to share.

Smile:)

Low Carb Flax Bread!

This was another low glycemic Index inspired,healthy bread I wanted to try for breakfast or a snack. It only has 5 ingredients and is super easy to make....be warned...it has a very strong flax flavor and is best with some agave or honey warmed up...Mmm good!

Knowing this is filled w/ lots of Omega 3 and fiber and protein makes it even better!

2 Cups Flax seed meal
1 T baking powder
1 tsp salt
1-2 T honey (depending how sweet you want it)
2 whole eggs/5 egg whites
1/2 C water
1/3 C Olive Oil

pre-heat oven on 350prepare a 10 X 15 baking sheet with sides w/ Pam spray and wipe off excess
mix dry ingredients
mix wet ingredients
mix wet and dry ingredients together
spread onto baking sheet, let sit for a few minutes

bake for 20 minutes,cool cut into any size you want...drizzle w/ Agave or honey or a berry flavored syrup and Enjoy!

Quinoa Chicken Cranberry Soup

I have been into eating foods with a lower glycemic index lately. So, that is why I tried Quinoa! It is about 35 on the GI chart!! Meaning, this carbohydrate stays in the fat burning range instead of turning into sugar and storing into fat!!
This had a sort of ethnic taste that I cant really describe....the cinnamon, almonds and cranberries made this dish pretty exotic....It was originally supposed to be a casserole but, I changed it because I was too lazy to go to the store to buy the ingredients I was missing for the casserole...So, a soup was made! I would definitely try the casserole next time because I liked the Quinoa so much.

I bought the Quinoa,Almonds,Cranberries in the bulk bins for pretty cheap and the Chicken on sale of course...so this is another easy, inexpensive meal! I'd say around $10.00 at the Most!

1 1/2 cups Quinoa
1 lb chicken-any kind you like or have on hand
4 to 5 cups broth (depending how thick you like your soup-I used Chicken)
1 T Olive Oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 c sliced almonds
1/3 c dried cranberries

Rinse Quinoa Very Well!! add everything in the crock pot on low for about 6 hours or high for about 4 hours! Half way through, shred the chicken and put back in the pot!

Eat what you Love, Love what you Eat! Thanks for reading.Peace

February 2010...Really, It's Over??

If your like me, your wondering where the days went in February....Seriously, I cannot believe it is March 3rd!! Not only does this mean I'm going to be 40 in a few weeks but, I'm really behind in ordinary, daily, life stuff!
It seemed like January was so easy...my focus was on all these "New Years Resolutions" and "Life Changing Goals" I was blogging regularly, cutting costs, cooking, tweaking recipes, etc...etc...and everything that was important, was front in line and getting all the necessary attention.
Then as things start looking up and the necessary life changes have been made and were working, it got easier to slack off a day or two. You know what I mean...if there's nothing to fix, why fix it type of attitude. Well, True, I have made some pretty amazing changes that started in January and they Have stuck but, when I took a break from them....I got crazy and added a few other projects!! And, now my plate is overflowing! I'm trying to find the time to manage it ALL w/o failing at any of them.
In addition to the time consuming project of cutting costs by smart shopping with coupons, daily specials, etc...cooking, meal planning, daily running, blogging, I have added, gardening....front yard AND backyard! So, needless to say Feb. has been BUSY! I'm trying to stay afloat. March will be even more challenging as I have added a local retailer challenge to incorporate a new workout each day or week...this week I will add pilates to my schedule.
So, the lesson learned....dont bite off more than you can chew!
Today I will attempt to get caught up on blogging, paying bills, And, OMG... cleaning my disaster of a house, blah, blah, blah! Hope your having an amazing 2010! I really Am! And, what keeps me sane is that I AM grateful each day for all this Stuff that keeps me so busy....it is after all everything I have chosen and like to do:)

BTW......in Feb. I still kept the grocery bill WAY down!! $ 732.00! Not as good as Jan. but, I tried A lot of New recipes and needed more:)
Also, I lost one more lb and almost 3" and I feel GREAT! I'm getting close to liking the idea of "bikini season"!!
Dinners at the dining table are more consistent and we are All liking the time together!

Thanks for reading! Make today Special, the choice is yours and Nothing can Happen without YOU! Peace xo