Holiday Picks!!!

It is really hard to maintain a healthy diet over the holidays. I go home for break and basically consume everything in the fridge - just because I am bored. I really need to exhibit some self-control. I do not want my waist size to resemble Santa's. Anyway, here are some of my food picks for the holidays that taste good and hopefully will help you stay in those skinny jeans.

1. Amy's Gluten and Dairy Free Chocolate Cake

I know what you are thinking, organic+gluten free+ dairy free.... that is probably gross. That was my first thought after years of trying different non-dairy products that left a bad taste in my mouth. However, after one bite of this cake you will be in heaven. I don't know how they do it but this cake tastes even better than a cake with real chocolate! Another plus to this cake is that it comes in the freezer isle. So you can take the cake home and leave it in the freezer (if you can resist) until you want it. It takes about 2 hours to thaw and then bon appetite!! It's sooo good. I just ate a piece before I wrote this! :)

2. Birds Eye Steamfresh Vegetables

I love me some veggies! Especially when they are al dente. With these steamfresh veggies I can guarantee that you will never get mushy icky vegetables again! After just 4 minutes you have a healthy side to any dinner. They have tons of different veggie mixtures (My favorite is the broccoli, cauliflower, carrot mix above) so you can buy a bunch and eat them every day if you wish. They even have an asian mix which is perfect for stir fry's!

Gluten and dairy free pumpkin walnut bread

My Memmy is allergic to gluten and dairy - this makes it extremely hard for her to find new things to eat (especially so, since she refuses to eat anything that is not organic :P). Now, that I am home (and bored) for Christmas break I thought I would try to find some new things for her to eat (see the sweet potato salmon patties below). Lately, I have been addicted to pumpkin bread so I thought I would try and figure out a way to make it for her! This pumpkin bread turned out pretty well, I think, considering the ingredients that I could not include but I think some adjustments with different spices and vanilla extract is needed to really perfect this pumpkin bread.

Gluten and dairy free pumpkin walnut bread

2 cups brown rice flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup maple syrup

2 tsp baking soda

1 15oz can pumpkin

1/4 cup olive oil

2 eggs

1/4 cup water 

2 tsp cinnamon
1tsp nutmeg
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/2 cup walnuts 

Here are some of the ingredients. I forgot to take it before we made the bread so I could not include them all.. oops

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
• Mix together dry ingredients in one bowel and the wet in another
• Take the walnuts and place in a plastic bag. Crush with a heavy object. 
• Combine wet and dry and fold in walnuts.
• Place mixture in a greased loaf pan. I normally use a 9 x 5 pan but here I used two 7 x 3 pans
• Bake for 40-50 minutes or until brown on top and when stab with a toothpick or fork it comes out clean.

Stuffed tomato pesto and cheese chicken

Sooo ever since I started grad school I have been making an effort to eat healthy! Upon searching the web for recipes I came across Kalyn's Kitchen - which really has been a godsend! While I don't strictly follow the south beach diet, I do love to try out all of Kalyn's recipes! Since I normally can't afford all of the ingredients or just don't have them around my apartment I typically modify them.

The inspiration for this recipe came from here and here

Stuffed tomato pesto and cheese chicken!
2 chicken breasts
5 T mozzarella cheese
3 T tomato basil pesto
2 T light skim sour cream

• Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F
• Place thawed chicken breast in freezer bag and pound with something heavy on the kitchen table (you don't want to crack your kitchen counter!) until the chicken is flat. Repeat with other chicken breast
• In a bowel mix together 2 T sour cream, 3 T tomato pesto, and 3 T mozzarella cheese. 
• Coat one side of flat chicken breast with the tomato pesto mixture and then roll the chicken and secure with toothpicks. 
• Place the chicken roll up in a greased baking pan and add remaining cheese on top of the chicken.
• Bake for about 35 mins
• Yum!

Sweet potato salmon patties!

While salmon is hecka expensive. It is totally worth the money. Salmon is good for you and tastes good too! (Arby's got it wrong - Salmon is really the good mood food :P )

I have been looking to try some new salmon recipes when I came across this one: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/.html_15

Since I didn't have most of the ingredients suggested I decided to improvise and try something with sweet potatoes! Who does not like something sweet with their salmon? 

Sweet potato salmon patties

1/2 pound fresh salmon (You could use canned alaska salmon if you are feeling lazy)

1 medium sweet potato

1/2 of 1 red onion 

salt and pepper to taste

garlic powder

2 eggs

• Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees F
• Coat salmon with about 2 Tablespoons of oil and place on a tray covered in aluminum foil (makes clean up easier!). Bake until firm but tender - about 20 mins
• Grate sweet potatoes and onion. Cook in pan with oil until the sweet potatoes start to brown and onions are soft. Add salt and pepper.
• Flake the cooked salmon with a fork in a mixing bowl. Add the sweet potatoes, onions, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and eggs. Mix together.
• Using your hands, form mixture into patties of the desired size and place onto a pre-greased oven pan (normally makes 4 medium sized patties).
• Lower your over temperature to 350 degrees F and bake patties until brown. About 10-15 minutes on each side.
• Enjoy!