Healthy Comfort Foods

 

Tonight my goal was to make mac n' cheese with a healthy twist. I need to start by saying that I had never heard of QUINOA until a few weeks ago. Many of my friends who are in this weight loss journey with me started using it and until then I had no idea it even existed. So, today I bought some and tried a new recipe. Someone asked me to find a healthy alternative to mac n' cheese so that's exactly what I did. To top it off, I made a crock pot honey chicken. The smell of my kitchen tonight was awesome! Everyone came in wondering what I was up to which makes this journey a lot more fun! I was getting tired of cooking the same old foods. I always say I don't have time to do much else, but I am finding that to be wrong. I'm enjoying this new found adventure and I hope you are too!

 

So here it is.... tonight's recipes....

 

Broccoli and Cheese Quinoa

 

1 1/2 cups dry quinoa, cooked (see directions below)

1 cup milk

2 T minced garlic

2 eggs beaten

1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese

1t salt

1 t pepper

1/2 t crushed red pepper (I only had pepper flakes and worked fine)

2 cups lightly steamed broccoli (I used a steamer bag)

 

To cook quinoa: add 3 cups of water (always double the quinoa) to a sauce pan and pour in the 1 1/2 cups quinoa. Bring to a boil. Cover and turn down to med-low for 15-20 min. After, take off heat and leave another 5 minutes.

 

While that sits, in another bowl mix milk, eggs, garlic, red pepper, salt, and pepper. Stir well. Mix cheese and broccoli in with quinoa folding lightly. Add wet ingredients a little at a time until all mixed together. Put into greased 13x9 pyrex and bake on 350 degrees for 30 min.

 

Crock Pot Honey Chicken

 

 

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 small onion diced

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup ketchup

2 T minced garlic

3T soy sauce

2T olive oil or coconut oil

 

cut chicken and combine all ingredients in crock pot. Stir and cook all day on low.

 

I hope you all enjoy this meal! The kids gave it an overall average score of "A". I asked them to rate A-F so I could tell you how they liked it. I don't think they mind being the guinea pigs. One entire dish of quinoa was gone and we have leftovers for tomorrow. Since breakfast and lunch are always so easy for me, I can devote more time to planning healthy dinners for the fam. Let me know how you and your family likes this! Until tomorrow! :)