Chick pea!!

So on my train travels through Newark Penn Station I stopped by a place called Chickpea.. It was awesome sauce--  Primarily Mediterranean cuisine that has a co-op with Red Mango frozen yogurt.  They have this bowl called the ... ugh, I just went searching so I didn't mess you up-- but I can't find it.  Anyhowzers its falafel with hummus and sharma chicken and you can add toppings like sautéed veggies, quinoa, mixed raw greens, etc.    So since I haven't been through Penn Station in the last few weeks I attempted a different way of creating this Mediterranean (not so Mediterranean) dish at home.  

This is a cool recipe to consider for fasting--   just eliminate the chicken and incorporate the chapatti instead of a pita roll... 


Mixed Veggies
sautéed in pan lightly seasoned with garlic, salt and pepper -- McCormack sells the fresh ground shaker mix:  Once sautéed and cook down  set aside

Capellini Zucchini (zucchini that is cut in the shape of spaghetti)
mushrooms
onions
yellow squash
green peppers
kale
spinach

Hummus
I bought the Shop Rite brand which was good...  It wasn't chickpea but it was good... 

Chicken Breast
I took 1 thick cut chicken breast and marinated in pesto basil parmesan dressing and cooked on low 225 for about 1.5hour (could have been more, I was working and cooking -- point is cook it low and slow -- just make sure its cooked through.) 

On a plate spread the hummus with the vegetables on top and lay the chicken over it and your done.  So its a meal that can be prepped and cooked with minimal work and supervision.  You can cook the night before to take for lunch or you can even stay one step ahead and cook the next nights meal. 

Protein! Packed and Energized...

PROTEIN PACKED AND ENERGIZED Remember all of the fad diets; the South Beach Diet, the Watermelon Diet, Atkins Diet-- and the list goes on.  Well, any eating plan that is  balanced and in corporates the major food groups is not really a diet but a lifestyle change, one that I am ADJUSTING too, as I snuck mini chips ahoy cookies from my daughters snack pack...   ooops, they were minis.....  Well a protein packed diet not only keeps you fuller longer but supports lean muscle and gives you energy throughout the day.  Men are recommended to have about 56 grams of protein per day and women 46 grams of protein per day.   If you are on the run throughout the day and really only have time for breakfast I found an awesome pancake mix that is protein packed and keeps you satisfied until late afternoon snack time, you know that 2pm feeling.  Its Kodiak whole grain pancakes with protein.  The serving size 4 pancakes (its not a lot because they are thin) have 14 grams of protein but if you add milk you get 18 grams of protein and if you add milk and 1 egg you get 21 grams of protein.  They are so good even my kids love them.  I add a few shakes of cinnamon and touch of brown sugar and when I say a touch I mean a touch, like 2 table spoons or less or you can replace with honey.  Mix well.  You don't need syrup.  ENJOY!

Hair Milk

                                       HAIR MILK

There are many different reasons why hair doesn't grow, why there is shedding or loss or even dullness.  It really traces back to your diet and what is lacking.  Different hair textures have different needs.  Well, lets talk about.  As your body needs protein and certain vitamins to be viable so does your hair.   Hormones, age, diet, genetics and health can overall change your hair text, limit growth, and all of the things that negatively impact your hair.  Its best to take a multivitamin with Biotin but you can use some household products to make a "bomba"  a hair treatment. 

Blend all products and spread throughout the hair from the root to the tip. 

Cap your hair with shower/plastic caps let sit or hair dryer for 20 minutes.  Wash out and repeat weekly

Olive Oil

Coconut Oil

Wheat germ

Honey

Cinnamon

Eggs

Mayo

Some conditioner for good smells

For Best Results:  Add Avocado

Chicken Parm Spaghetti Squash

Chicken Parm Spaghetti Squash

Preheat the oven to 425

I like pasta--  so anyone who tells you that Spaghetti squash replaces it really doesn't love pasta.  Someone who tells you to replace pasta with spaghetti squash is only looking out for you and happens to be right on the money because it is amazzzzzing!!  Its awesome, you can make so many different things with spaghetti squash and forget that you are eating a vegetable.  Its like a no brainer.  Its so amazing that my 3 year old, at the time 2 year old climbed up on the counter was eating it by the spoonful calling it poo geddy.   Things that make you say mmmmm...  This is one of them.  

Season your ground chicken --  You can take a little olive oil, slice garlic and onions brown it and then add the ground chicken.  I also use Italian seasoning.  Brown in a sauté pan and set aside.

Cut your spaghetti squash in half and scoop out the seeds and guts.  Make sure is nice and clean.  Spray it with olive oil or you can you a capful (the small one) and just spread it on the squash.  Season it with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, and some romano pecorino cheese.  Place it face down so the shell side is facing upward in a glass baking pan with a little water on the bottom.  Cook for 45 minutes -- when you take it out fluff the squash, it will come apart and make a spaghetti formation (hence the name)  add your sauce.  I like Victoria ..  homemade is better...  now here is the game changer, there is a place called Bella Gina's in Linden, NJ...   You can get homemade (the store makes it.. warning a little on the expensive side. ) mozzarella cheese which you know is wet so you have to take the spaghetti squash out of the shell and place in dry glass pan.  Add your sauce, pecorino / romano cheese, fresh mozz, chicken and bake for additional 25-30 minutes on 325.  If you don't like fresh mozzarella (not to mention its expensive so we go with the next best thing..  store brand) you can repeat the above steps .. inside of the squash add your sauce, chicken and cheese (**remember people we're keeping it healthy so not too much**) and bake for 25-30 minutes on 325.. 

 Obviously you know what time it is since I used shredded cheese....     Gotta do, what you gotta do...  Its obvious I love Bella Gina's ...

 

Snack time sweet or salty -- How about both

Snack Time- Sweet and Salty

A very unpopular conversation among the men but women what do you do when you can't decide, sweet, salty, noooo sweet-- nooo salty, wait is there ever a healthy mix of both.. Well yes there is..  And I chose, salted cashews and raisin nets mixed in a bag..   Unfortunately, salted cashews and raisin nets can not be an everyday (more like once a month) thing.  So here is a good alternative in moderation of course.   Its 2pm snack time and you can have kale chips with your smoothie.

You can make kale chips, I have yet to do that and maybe will venture this week (again, if it turns out bad I'm definitely not outing myself and posting it) but I bought these at Baazar foods, I'm sure Whole Foods, Wegmans, Shop Rite-- pick your fancy will have them too. 

Smoothie ingredients:   Can be frozen for a thicker smoothie.  I like it frozen..  I can forget the fact that I'm drinking spinach..  Let's just call it something like a green mamba --  bougie....   Spinach, mango, apple, *you can add water or apple juice-- use less apple juice, au natural preferred) and pineapple.  Awesome sauce!!  You can purchase the smoothie packs too they come premeasured and frozen.  It might be cheaper to substitute some of the fresh fruit with the frozen fruit.  Place in blender --- 

Stuffed Chicken Breast with Kale / Spinach

STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST

Preheat oven to 300

Bake time will vary based on thickness of breast

30-35 minutes

One thick cut chicken breast cut in the center to create a pocket or you can make two cutlets and lay one down in the pan as the base (like a sandwich).  Season the breast with garlic, sea salt, black pepper ( you can get creative if you want- I like McCormick Bacon Chive seasoning) Then take your spinach, kale, sliced mushrooms and onions and place on top of the breast.  Add Asiago cheese (remember if you want to keep it healthy not too much cheese) Place the other breast on top creating a sandwich and marinate with balsamic vinaigrette. (I like the Shop rite brand and its cheaper- Next, I'm going to try this with Olive Oil Pesto Parmesan Dressing--  I'll let you know how it is, if you don't see it posted its because it wasn't good).

Now since the veggies are already in the chicken you can choose to serve with additional veggies or avocado tomato salad...

RISE S.T.R.O.N.G

Strength To Reach Our New Goals

Committed to complete transformation, RISE Ministry is starting up RISE S.T.R.O.N.G which stands for strength to reach our new goals.  The Lord is our strength and our portion and we are His temple, our body is His temple and in order for His work to be completed through us we have to treat our bodies right in order to be successful in all aspects.  This blog will update once a week with small tips for a healthier lifestyle.   I will also post some recipes that you can choose to you use for a fasting or even to incorporate on a daily basis to promote a healthy well balanced diet. 

For all that don't know me personally, I struggled with my weight and eating for many years.  It was like that yo yo--  I love food, good food that is.  It doesn't necessarily have to be good for you, as long as its good.  Seriously, who doesn't love a pretzel bun, dulce de leche and coffee ice cream with wet nuts or cheese platter or guava and cheese pastry puff, or ahh reminiscing...  Well, I noticed that when my weight was up, I was tired, physical fatigue (body aches), couldn't walk as long or fast. I still wouldn't change my eating habits which meant, I would eat and be too tired to work out, or go and do what it is I needed to do, so I would lay down and go to sleep. You know how that goes.  I still have my struggles especially with cooking meals for two little ones who are picky (but fortunately love broccoli) buying snacks for them, baking cupcakes and in between picking on little things here and there, the list goes on.   So I decided to create this blog not only as a motivator for you but personal accountability to commit to a healthy lifestyle. 

It will include not only food recipes but I have some awesome all natural treatments for your hair too!