Month: August 2015

Overnight Oats, Chia, and Then Some

Overnight Oats, Chia, and Then Some

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Recipes for overnight oats are all over the net. Oats are pretty bland, for the most part, so I like to spice it up. The more I put in the better it tastes!  There are so many goodies you can include in your overnight oats including seeds, nuts, and/or fresh and dried fruits. Don’t stop there! You can use any kind of milk and a bit of your favorite sweetener too (just stay away from anything artificial). My point is, don’t limit yourself to just one recipe. Switch it up, put some variety into it and add some flavor!

This is just a side note but I like making these on a work night so I can grab my breakfast and walk out the door in the morning. Plus they’re a healthy way to start the day!

Make your own favorite combination out of these ingredient ideas. I would suggest only using one type of oats at a time and one type of milk with or with out yogurt. Put as many fruits, seeds, nuts and sweeteners in as you’d like. Take it easy on the sweeteners too, you don’t want a sugar high. 

Types of Oats:

    1. Organic rolled quick oats
    2. Steel cut
    3. Regular rolled oats
    4. Scottish oats

    Types of Seeds:

      1. Chia
      2. Sunflower
      3. Pumpkin
      4. Hemp
      5. Flax
      6. Sesame

      Types of nuts:

      1. Almonds 
      2. Cashews
      3. Peanuts 
      4. Pecans
      5. Pistachios 
      6. Walnuts

      Types of Fruits (fresh or dried):

      1. Blueberries
      2. Raspberries
      3. Strawberries 
      4. Cherries
      5. Currants
      6. Pomegranate 
      7. Acai berries
      8. Bananas
      9. Blackberries
      10. Dragon fruit (so pretty to look at and packed with nutrients but not much flavor)

      Types of Sweeteners:

      1. Agave
      2. Raw sugar
      3. Brown sugar
      4. Honey
      5. Maple Syrup

      Types of Milk:

      1. Traditional cows – whole, 2%, or skim (try to stick with organic)
      2. Plain Greek Yogurt in addition to your choice of milk (again organic)
      3. Almond
      4. Coconut
      5. Soy
      6. Rice

      I’ll share my personal favorite combo to give you a better idea. I put 2 Tbls of oats and chia and 1 Tbls of the other ingredients in a mason jar. At the end, I fill it up with milk. 

      • Quick oats
      • chia seeds
      • sunflower seeds
      • pumpkin seeds
      • flax seeds
      • almonds 
      • fresh blueberries
      • dried cherries
      • agave
      • organic milk
      • Greek yogurt

      P.S. All of my ingredients are organic even though I don’t always say it and highly suggest you do the same.

      Enjoy!

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          Dark Chocolate Detox Bites

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          One of the reasons I love Pinterest so much is because you find amazing food ideas. That’s where I found these and made them my own of course. 

          Dark Chocolate Detox Bites
          Dark Chocolate Detox Bites with fruit and nuts

          What you’ll need:

          • 2lbs dark chocolate
          • pistachios 
          • almonds 
          • coconut
          • pumpkin seeds
          • sunflower seeds
          • flax seeds
          • dried figs
          • dried cherries
          • dried currants
          • raisins 
          1. Prepare the nuts, seeds, and dried fruits by coarsley chopping the bigger ingredients. Mix all together in a bowl.
          2. Melt the chocolate in the microwave, stirring every 30-60 seconds. 
          3. Cover a sheet tray with parchment paper.  
          4. Pour the melted chocolate onto the paper in cookie size. Sprinkle the fruit and nut mixture over the chocolate. Work with one at a time so it adheres to the chocolate. 
          5. Place in the refrigerator to harden and serve!

          Enjoy!

          Dark Chocolate Detox Bites

          Dallas, TX

          Image WhyILoveFoodLeave a comment

          Well Dallas, it’s been real but it’s time for me to go home. You have amazing food, nightlife and history. I will miss the crowded Deep Ellum streets, endless steakhouse and BBQ choices, great local Texas brews and the historic JFK sites and memorials. One thing I won’t miss is the freaking HEAT! If it […]

          Buffalo Chicken Meatballs with Sriracha Honey Garlic Sauce

          WhyILoveFood2 Comments

          Warning: These are not healthy by any means, however, they are SOOOOOOO delicious. I made them for a food day and brought them into the office for my team. They were a big hit! They would also be good as an app for any kind of party or get together. Eh hem….Super Bowl party 🙂

          What you’ll need:


          Meatballs…

          • 3 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
          • 2 eggs (I forgot to add them in the pic)
          • 3/4 cup Panko bread crumbs
          • 3 carrots
          • 3 stalks of celery
          • 1/2 medium onion
          • Handful of parsley
          • Fresh cracked pepper
          • All season salt
          • Blue Cheese dressing, I like Kens

          Sauce…

          • 1 cup Franks hot sauce
          • 1/2 cup Sriracha
          • 1 cup honey
          • 4 cloves garlic, minced
          • 2 sticks butter
          • 1 Tbls whole grain Mustard
          • Fresh cracked pepper
          • All season salt

          Back to the meatballs…

          1. You’ll need a meat grinder. I used my Kitchen Aid attachment. If you don’t have one, just buy ground chicken.
          2. Preheat the over to 375.
          3. Trim some of the fat from the thighs. Put all the chicken through the meat grinder. Also, put the carrots, celery, onion and parsley through the grinder. If you’re not using a grinder, mince it in a food processor.
          4. Add the Panko, eggs, salt, and pepper to the mixture.
          5. Mix everything together and use a teaspoon to make mini meatballs.
          6. Bake for 15 minutes

          And now back to the sauce…

          1. Melt the butter in a medium sauce pan on medium low heat.
          2. Add the garlic and simmer for 2 minutes continuously stirring to make sure the garlic doesn’t burn
          3. Add the remaining ingredients
          4. Simmer for about 15-20 minutes. Taste to make sure it’s not too spicy for you. If it is, add more butter. Just remember that it will always taste spicier on its own.
          5. Poor the sauce over the meatballs in a crock pot and place on warm.
          6. Serve with the blue cheese dressing and some fresh celery and/or carrots

          Enjoy!