Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice

Hi Guys,

Since the weather here is so cold and dreary I felt like sharing a couple nice warm recipes with you. I have been doing a little more cooking in the kitchen recently and forgot how much I enjoy it :). I haven't been able to exercise as much because I've been sick, plus warm food just sounds so much better than pushups if you're ill! 

I got a flu about two weeks ago and tried to continue on with my normal exercise routines for the first week, but I think it actually lengthened my recovery time because last Sunday I relapsed and have been fighting the sniffles and a flu ever since. If you've caught the dreaded flu this season too, I encourage you not to push yourself too hard. Get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, try not to have any mental stress, and eat lots of veggies. Veggies have lots of antioxidants and vitamins that'll do wonders to speed up your recovery.... eat your spinach! Or if you're like my uncle Joe, eat lots of garlic.  

I found that even thought I was sick and couldn't exercise, which was tortuous for me, if I watched my diet really closely, meaning I only ate real food and lots of veggies (things like: chicken breasts, egg white omelettes, sweet potato, brocolli, carrots, broth soups, yogurt, nuts) I was able to maintain all my hard work from working out, even while i was sick.

Here's a couple of recipes I whipped up this week. I had them at breakfast the first time, but you really could eat them at lunch too (which is what I just did today, yum yum!). They're both very simple and don't take very long to make, and are very satisfying.

Disclaimer: If you make these recipes for you're friends they're swear you've secretly been taking chef classes online!

Dish #1: Salmon Spinach Omelette

Ingredients:

• 2 cooked salmon fillets -I had some leftovers from the previous dinner, which was salmon with sauteed mushrooms and onions. But you can start from scratch and cook them now.
• 1/4 cup baby onions (chopped) - You can use any type of onion you like, I used those little ones with long stalks... scallions?
• 1/4 cup mushrooms
• 1 cup of spinach 
• 2 cups of Egg Beaters, or any egg substitute

To Make:

1. If you don't have any leftovers, like salmon or chicken, combine steps one and two and cook the onions and mushrooms at the same time as the salmon. Use a non-stick (very important for later!) pan sprayed with Pam, and cook untill the mushrooms become fragrant and the onions are transparent.
2. If you're working with leftovers like me, sweat the onions and mushrooms in the pan, about 5 min.
3. Use a fork to break the salmon fillets up into small pieces on a plate, then add it back to the pan and warm it through.
4. Rip the spinach up and toss it in the pan untill it whilts.
5. Pour the Egg Beaters in. Mix it enough to make sure the eggs get to the bottom of the pan. If you don't the mushrooms and onions will burn as it continues to cook.
6. Cover and turn down the heat, check it in a minute. Lift up the edge of the omelette and tilt the pan, to allow any liqiud egg to get to the bottom of the pan if necessary. Do this as many times as needed.
7. Re-cover the pan. It is done when the eggs are all puffed up when you remove the lid :)
8. The fun part! Set out a cookie sheet, turn off the heat and flip the pan over upside down onto the cookie sheet. Here's where it's imprtant to use a non-stick pan: Lift the pan off, and you'll be left with a perfect egg pie! Waalaah!

This makes four servings, cut into pie-like slices. Here's my portion. I enjoyed mine with a little spinach artichoke hummus.

I hope you saved room... because the second recipe is like the desert to cap off this delicious breakfast. But it's so healthy you could have it every single day (I sure could). Today I ate the last piece of my omelette, and made another apple mug bake. I took pictures so I could walk you through the recipe :)

Dish #2: Apple Berry Mug Bake- A La Mode

Ingredients for each serving:

• I small apple
• Cinnamon
• Vanilla extract
• about 3/4 cup of plain nonfat greek yogurt
• Stevia- a natural sweetener, and chia seeds- known for their omega 3's, fiber, and vitamin content (both are optional)
• 1 cup of mixed berries - I used frozen
• about ten almonds - for topping, or any nuts

To make:

1. Chop the apple into bite size chunks and place in a coffee mug with a splash or water, about a tsp. of vanilla, and probably about a tablespoon of cinnamon. I just approximated the spices. It will seem like alot of cinammon, but in the final dish it's really just perfect.
2. Microwave the mug for 2 minutes
3. In a separate bowl, get a cup of mixed berries ready. When the apples are done, microwave the berries for two minutes too, or until hot.   

   

   It should look like this

   
4. Add the plain yogurt to the mug with apples until the cup is about 3/4 full. If using the stevia and chia seeds, add about a tablespoon of each to the yogurt and mix lightly (only mix the top, keep the apple and yogurt layers separate.)



Add the yogurt right on top of the apples



   5.  Fill the remainder of the mug with the berries.

   6.  Microwave the mug for a final time, about 1 minute.

   7. In the meanwhile chop the almonds coarsely. I used my Slap Chop to do the job.

   8. Sprinkle the almonds on top. 

Dig in with a big spoon and enjoy your warm apple pouridge!

If you're so inclined, brew up a pot of coffee to drink with this breakfast. Really take your time to savor your food and all the delicious flavors. the whole meal only took me about 20 minutes to make, and I was coming up with the recipes as I was cooking so I'm sure you can beat my time. Which will leave you plently of time to eat slowly.

Let me know if you liked it, and if you have any ideas to improve or change the recipes. Please leave me a comment on my blog, I'd love to hear from you!

Here's a few other Fall Recipes you might like.

In other news, I think we all need to be aware of what our government is up to.. So here's a video addressing the New Immigration Legislation that's on it's way to becoming law. Just click the link above, it should open up Windows Media Player if you have it.

Let's all be sure we know who we're voting from this year, as it's becoming increasingly important to keep good leadership at our country's helm.