How to Stock Your Kitchen

We are off on another road trip starting today as an early celebration of our wedding anniversary……I can’t believe it has been 11 years since we got married and in October, we will be together 20 years!  Where does the time go?

No, this is NOT a picture of our kitchen in our forever home But we do have lots of space.  As a result, I am always on the hunt to find ways to keep things well-stocked and organized.  What about you… do you have an organized kitchen and pantry?  Are you ready with plenty of items on-hand to whip up a healthy meal anytime – without having to leave the comfort of your home?  Keep these tips in mind while you’re shopping and putting groceries away to be a prep pro!

PANTRY PERFECTION

Your pantry may not be this big (not mine BUT ours is about this big!).  Organize your pantry or cupboard in sections:

• Baking ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda.  Mine also includes chips, brown sugar and anything else I may need when baking.

• Oils & vinegar (mine are actually over my stove in a cabinet so they are easy to reach)

• Herb & Spice blends (a totally separate cabinet close to the stove so I don’t have to go to far)

• Canned goods: beans, lentils, fish, tomatoes, vegetables

• Dry goods; pasta, rice, quinoa

TIP: Put veggies like onions and potatoes in bins and store in a cool, well-ventilated place.  Mine are in Tupperware bins in yet another cabinet in the kitchen.  LOL.

STOCK YOUR FREEZER

Is meal prep a thing at your house?  The closest I get to meal prep in the freezer is having lots of frozen vegetables, and meats on had.  Extra portions of meals (aka leftovers) are also frozen for those quick easy lunches or dinners when I’m not feeling well.  For many, meal prep means making big batches and then lay soups, broths, and chili flat in resealable bags for use during the week. Always keep frozen veggies and fruit in your freezer, along with your favorite protein.

TIP: Freeze leftovers in family-or-individual-sized containers for a quick “heat-and-eat meal” for the nights when you’re too busy to cook.

FIND IT FAST IN YOUR FRIDGE

Divide your fridge into sections:

• Dairy/eggs, condiments (in the side door)

• Veggies/fruit, meat/fish/poultry on a tray or plate to avoid leaks or in drawers if you have them.

• Beverages

TIP: Keep prepped veggies and fruit near the front for quick access

SHOP WISELY 

The foods you choose to fuel your body directly impact your health. Whether you’re shopping online or stocking up on groceries to avoid the grocery line, here are some kitchen staples to keep you going:

Greek yogurt | Buy: 2%, plain, non-sweetened | Why: Fat-free can mean added sugar, and flavored yogurts can greatly increase your sugar intake.  Plain greek yogurt adds extra protein and can be “sweetened” with fruit or granola or a little Stevia.

Canned tomatoes | Buy: Low sodium | Why: We want to live well and feel great. For some people, too much sodium can make them retain water.

Olive oil | Buy: Cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil – this is the healthiest because it comes from the first pressing and no chemicals were used in extraction | Why: Light olive oils do not mean light in calories, often, it means light in flavor.

Canned beans | Hack: Rinse your beans before use and reduce sodium by almost 30%

Pasta | Buy: Look for the first words to be “whole grain” on the ingredient list | Why: You want to avoid overly processed refined grains

Nuts & seeds | Buy: Natural, unsalted | Why: Sometimes nuts and seeds are coated with partially hydrogenated oil and added salt

Canned tuna & salmon | Buy: Packed in water, low sodium | Why: It will have less sodium and added fat

Crackers | Buy: Look for “whole grain” to be the first words on the ingredient list. They should have at least 3 g of fibre per serving and be low in sodium Why: Crackers can be overly processed and made with refined grains | Hack: Make your own healthy crackers with Everything Bagel Crackers.

 

 

Finally, remember to keep the following tips in mind:

• Buy real food. Use wholesome ingredients.

• Avoid shopping when you’re hungry (in-store or online).

• Always have a list and stick to it.

For kitchen tips & tricks, recipes and more, check out Hope’s Healthy Kitchen on Facebook or my website at www.HopesHealthyKitchen.com

Have an Epic Day!

Tasty Tuesday: Hearty Chicken Quesadilla Soup

Thank you Patti Watson of Pampered Chef for today’s tasty recipe…. this is a delicious soup for chilly evenings….

INGREDIENTS

• 5 (6-in./15 cm) corn tortillas
• 1   jalapeño pepper
• 2 cans (14.5 oz each)or 796 mL) fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
• 3 cups (750 mL) unsalted chicken stock
• 3 cups (750 mL) diced cooked chicken
• 1 bag (12 oz or 340 g) frozen Southwestern corn blend, thawed (see Cook’s Tips)
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) ground cumin
• 4   garlic cloves
• 1 tsp (5 mL) black pepper
• 1 cup (250 mL) fresh cilantro leaves
• 3 oz (90g) Monterey Jack cheese (3/4 cup/175 mL grated)

DIRECTIONS

1. Stack tortillas and cut into quarters with Santoku Knife; set 12 quarters aside. Tear remaining 8 quarters into pieces. Remove stem from jalapeño and cut in half lengthwise. Using Core & More, carefully remove seeds and veins. Cut into chunks. Finely chop jalapeño and torn tortillas with Food Chopper.
2. Place chopped tortillas and jalapeño, tomatoes, chicken stock, chicken, corn blend, cumin, garlic pressed with Garlic Press and black pepper in Rockcrok® (4-qt./3.8-L) Dutch Oven. Stir with Small Mix ‘N Scraper®. Cover; bring to a boil over HIGH heat. Reduce heat and simmer 15-17 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, preheat broiler. In (2-cup/500-mL) Prep Bowl, snip cilantro with Professional Shears. Using Microplane® Adjustable Coarse Grater, grate cheese.
4. Using Silicone Oven Mitts, remove soup from heat. Stir in cilantro. Carefully arrange remaining tortilla quarters in a circular pattern over hot soup, slightly overlapping, with points toward the center. (You may see some small gaps.) Sprinkle evenly with cheese.
5. Place Dutch Oven 2-4 in. (5-10 cm) from heating element. Broil 2-3 minutes or until cheese is light golden brown.

Makes: 8  servings of 1 1/4 cups/300 mL 

Nutrients per serving:   (1¼ cups/300 mL): Calories 220, Total Fat 6 g, Saturated Fat 2.5g, Cholesterol 40 mg, Sodium 500 mg, Carbohydrate 21 g, Fiber 3 g, Protein 19 gm

Cook’s Tips:

1. To quickly thaw frozen corn blend, place bag under warm running water for about 1 minute or until thawed, shaking occasionally.
2. The chopped tortillas help thicken the soup, making it a hearty meal.

Want more recipes to help you change up boring dinners?  Check out Patti’s website where there is over250 recipes to spice up your dinner menu.  If your wish list is bigger than your wallet, host a party to earn freeand discounted products.  Just like to shop, check out the monthly customer specials. 

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Tasty Tuesday: Restaurant Style Salsa

I don’t know about you but I LOVE salsa…. all kinds.  Thick and chunky, black bean, peach, mango, pineapple – yes, I could go on forever since there are so many different kinds.  I use it on everything – dressing on my salad, on my burgers, and with my eggs.  You get the picture, right?  Salsa is delish! And there’s nothing better than restaurant salsa – hot and spicy.

I am always looking for a healthy, fresh, easy recipe for salsa.  I like salsa with fresh veggies when I am putting it on a salad or a burger BUT when it comes to dipping chips, I want it to taste like the yummy kind I find in my favorite Mexican restaurant.

This is a great recipe because you use ingredients you can keep in your pantry.  So, when friends drop by for a visit or you need a quick snack for family, you can whip this up. You can mix it up in a food processor, a blender or I have even used my Magic Bullet.

Thank you to Creating My Happiness for sharing this recipe with us:

Ingredients

1 28 oz can whole peeled tomatoes, drained
2 10 oz can Rotel Original
1 jalepeno pepper
1/4 cup lime juice
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cumin
1 tbsp cilantro

Directions:

• Slice jalepeno, set aside (keep as many seeds as you like)
• Strain the tomatoes, and the Rotel.  Dump in a colander and let the excess juice drain.  DO NOT rinse them
• Place all ingredients in Ninja (or processor, blender).  Pour the lime juice over the top, then add cilantro.
• Blend for 20 seconds.
• Chill 1-2 hours before serving.   It tastes better cold!

Now you have amazing salsa, let’s serve it on Thirty One’s Close to Home Tray.  Place a small bowl with salsa on it along with some chips and let the fun begin.  Add a dash of style to your home with this beautiful mango wood tray. It’s perfect for serving small snacks and makes a great decoration when not in use! Personalize it with a Simply Etched design to create a special keepsake. Dimensions: Approx. 7.25″H x 20″L x .75″D

What is your favorite salsa recipe?  Or better yet, what is your favorite recipe?  Share it with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

 

 

 

Tasty Tuesday – Vegetarian Mediterranean Farro Salad

 

I have been on the hunt for recipes that are high in veggies plus are quick and easy to prepare.  I found this recipe in my “in box” the other day and it sounded YUMMY!  Now, I am not a feta cheese kind of girl PLUS I can’t have dairy now so the fact that it was optional was HUGE!  I liked that this made enough to divide over a few days to have for lunch or a salad with dinner.

Ingredients:

1 cup farro
1 large cucumber
1/2 red onion
1/4 cup parsley
2 Roma tomatoes
1/2 lemon
salt and pepper to taste
Optional: 1/4 cup feta cheese

Directions

Boil the farro for 10-12 minutes in large pot. (I like the pre-cooked farro from Trader Joe’s.) As the farro boils, chop the cucumber, onion, tomatoes and parsley. (If desired, chop the feta cheese as well.)

When the farro is finished, strain the grain and rinse with cold water for about 30-45 seconds.

Scoop the farro into a large bowl and add the chopped veggies.

Squeeze the fresh lemon on top of the salad and add salt and pepper to taste. (I prefer just lemon and pepper.)

Mix all together and enjoy!

If you haven’t tried farro, it is a GREAT grain to use instead of rice.  Hubby prefers it when it is used with stir-fry or chili, something that has some “juice” or gravy or sauce.  I, on the other hand, love to eat it as a side with just a few veggies.

Share your favorite recipes with us.  I would love to highlight YOUR favorites (and your business).

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!