Hi and happy Wednesday. So I just posted a “Throwback Thursday” photo on Instagram…and then someone pointed out that it’s actually Wednesday. Delete. I blame it on 5:30 a.m. clients three days in a row.
Thank god for Starbucks reward drinks. Yesterday I treated myself to a venti soy latte. The barista asked me if I wanted an extra shot added in since it was free and I declined for the sake of everyone who had to be around me for the rest of the day. I may need another one of these today! So I’m still working with the client who hired me to prepare meals for him weekly. We’re starting to get into a groove. I’m going in once a week and leaving 2-3 dinners, 2-3 lunches and some breakfast and snack options.
Here are last week’s meals…green smoothie freezer packs, chicken and broccoli stir fry over brown rice, salads topped with chicken and chicken marsala over mashed potatoes with green beans.
And this week’s meals…he’s traveling so it’s a lighter week. One lunch salad with hardboiled egg, turkey bacon, deli turkey, tomatoes, cucumbers and cheese, “lighter” chicken parmesan over wheat pasta with roasted asparagus and chicken pad tha with green beans. I enjoy the days that I prepare food for him but I don’t think this is something I could do full-time. Many people have commented that I should consider a business but food is one of my passions that I’d rather not turn into work, work, work! 🙂 I’ll just keep cooking and sharing recipes and what I make with y’all for now. Now for a look at what I’ve been cooking in my own kitchen. I’ve been focusing on clean, simple and flavorful foods lately.
Breakfast
Can you believe your eyes? No green smoothie here! I’ve been on a yogurt and granola kick this week since I picked up fresh berries and some Kind Maple Quinoa Cluster granola.
And again this morning. There is a big spoonful of peanut butter in there but it’s buried beneath the berries. I gave this bowl and extra sprinkle of chia seeds. Love berry season!
Lunch
Salad bar salad that I picked up while shopping for my client’s meals.
I feel like I say this every week (because I’m pretty sure I do!) but this new salad combo is killer! Mixed greens, arugula, avocado, tomatoes, cucumbers, goat cheese, chili lime cashews, Sriracha lime salmon and a cilantro lime vinaigrette. I got the idea for it from the leftover Sriracha lime salmon and themed the whole salad around it. Really, really delicious.
Dinner
If you live in Charlotte I highly recommend that you check out Reid’s for their great selection of meats and seafood. They do these marinated chicken breasts that are perfect for an easy on-the-go dinner. They offer 5-6 different marinade flavors. I love the way they run the chicken lightly through a cuber to thin it a little and create texture for the marinade. They are so flavorful and cook in just about 5-10 minutes in a pan or on the grill. Side note…roasted cauliflower. SO GOOD!
Sriracha lime salmon with roasted butternut squash and broccolini. I have made variations of this recipe 4-5 times now and I’m super close to having one that’s just right to share with you!
And another Reid’s chicken dinner. This was their dijon chicken breast and I sauteed some squash and zucchini with sweet onion to go on the side along with tri-color quinoa. This meal was simple but full of flavor. I “mmm’d” all the way through it. Clean eating can be very easy and taste delicious!
That’s all I’ve got for you! In the meantime, please let me know if you have any specific food-prep/cooking related questions/topics that you would like for me to blog about or types of recipes you’d like to see here.
Have a great day!
Green smoothie freezer packs?? Do tell!
Everything looks delicious and so “summery”. I love my winter squash, but am so ready for the light and crisp dishes of summer 🙂
Ditto! The squash and zucchini tasted a million times better to me than the butternut squash!
Hey Jen,
Since you are on a granola kick, you should check out Millchap Sweet Potato Company’s Sweet Potato Granola. I like the cranberry & almond flavor. But they also have Blueberry & Pecan and Vanilla & Honey. Michelle Miller is one of my friends here in Charlotte – they used to own the Polka Dot Bake Shop. Their products are in Earthfare, Whole Foods & Publix. 1/4 cup has 3g protein, 2g fiber and only 7g sugar!
hi christy – thanks for the recommendation. i remember when polka dot used to sell granola at the farmers market. i’ll have to give it a try! feel free to connect me with Michelle if she’s interested in doing a review or giveaway to get the word out! would be happy to support!
Cool – I’ll let her know. I just saw her at the Friends 5K on Sunday!
haha, everyone has mornings like that I guess! Just make it a “Way back Wednesday.” 😉
I loooooove summer squash and kind of want to live on calabacitas all summer!
Eating healthfully is easy when everything looks as good as all the food you make!
I’ve been having some version of your glowing green smoothie every day this week, since I FINALLY found some frozen pineapple on sale and it’s FINALLY feeling like summer here. Love it so much.
I’ve love to know how you avoid wasting produce – it seems to be my biggest food planning issue. Produce seems to go bad so fast in the fridge that if I stock up on Sunday, some of it isn’t good by the end of the week. Or we get too much and it goes bad before we can eat it.
I know you didn’t ask me but if I start to see some produce start to turn and I know I won’t get to it I chop and freeze it for smoothies or stir fries!
jenny – thanks so much for chiming in. this is an excellent suggestion!
hey amanda –
first, i’m really happy to hear that you like the glowing green smoothie!
regarding the produce…while i do a big stock on the weekends, i do some supplement shopping during the week as well for things that do go bad quickly. i usually need to restock on my greens for salads and smoothies midweek as well as my bananas. i try to be careful not to overbuy…especially when i go to the farmers market. i really think about what i’m buying and how it will fit into my weekly meals. when i have excess i’ll do a veggie-heavy dinner to use it up or use the produce in things like egg scrambles.
There are few things better in life than hitting the dirty dozen at Starbucks. I always go venti and I never regret it. Ha.
the only time i go venti and yes…so worth it!
This isn’t really a question so much as an observation/idea. I’m thinking I could make my own freezer version of Reid’s by buying chicken when it’s on sale, flattening it and adding marinade, then sticking it in the freezer in individual bags. Hmmmm!
Does anyone know if marinades work well in the freezer? Would you have to marinade for a day in the fridge, then transfer to the freezer?
I do exactly that – I put it directly into the freezer. A day (or so) before I plan on making something I take the chicken out of the freezer and it will marinade as it thaws in the fridge.
i have never tried this but it’s a good idea!
Do you prepare your sides like quinoa, rice, lentils in chicken/veggie stock or do you go with water?
most of the time stock or a mix of stock and water.
All your food always looks so amazing!
Are you still going to convert you Bakin’ and Eggs food blog over to PBR? Or is that idea scrapped?
yeah, the ones that are worth sharing…but the issue is i need to rephotograph the recipes…which means i need to make them again! 🙂
Hey Jen,
Do you have a post that focuses on getting into running? I have relatively good cardiovascular endurance but have SUCH a mental block when it comes to running. I can go hard on the elliptical for a while, I like the stationary bike, I dance, etc, so I’m pretty fit, but I JUST. CAN. NOT. RUN. haha
That said, I really want to challenge myself to run more. I have no intention or real desire to attempt a long race, but I’d love to push myself to do a 5 or 10k at some point. It seems like it could be a great stress reliever and it doesn’t require a class or fancy equipment, which is really nice on days when I’m short on time. I know about the C to 5k app but wondered if you had any tips 🙂
i do not have a post that specifically addresses that but i do usually recommend C25K for those looking to get into running. another tip, recruit a friend or family member to do it with you and hold each other accountable. another tip, if you try it and still hate running…don’t do it! there are so many other ways to get a great workout! 🙂