Zesty Chicken Salad

/
image.jpg

I'm coming in clutch for your lunch game. This chicken salad is zesty, fierce and Barre3 approved. I found the recipe in Barre3 founder, Sadie Lincoln's book, Love Your Lower Body. Not only is my lower body loving this recipe, so are my taste buds. 

It takes the traditional idea of chicken salad, but gives it a little kick in the tush. Pickles? I love. Paprika? Zesty. Apple? Why not. Best part is it only uses a little bit of greek yogurt and dijon mustard. Traditional chicken salad calls for mayonnaise, but mayonnaise gives me the heebie jeebies. I watched a video in 10th grade chemistry on how mayonnaise was made and that was pretty much it for me. 

One of my roommates and I got into a chat about chicken salad after I made this and we love how versatile it is. It can be a salad, a wrap, a sandwich, even a dip. Add some curry powder and you've got an Indian spin on. So many options with this zesty lunch!

Zesty Chicken Salad adapted from
yields 4 servings

Ingredients:
2 cups diced cooked chicken breasts*
1 cup diced dill pickles
1 Tbsp. finely diced onion
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
1/2 Tbsp. dijon mustard
3 Tbsp. plain greek yogurt
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/4 cup dried cranberries or raisins
1/2 granny smith apple, chopped
1/4 tsp. sea salt
Spinach, kale, arugala, or whatever your favorite greens are; for serving

Directions:
In a medium size bowl, mix together all ingredients. Done, that's it. To serve, place about a cup of greens on a plate with equal portions of the chicken salad on top. 

*My favorite way to cook chicken breasts is by placing them in the crock pot with 1/2 cup of water, salt and pepper and let them go on low for 3-5 hours. You can even do this with frozen chicken breasts they will just take a little longer. 

Annie

Barre3 Chicken Tikka Masala

/

We are now halfway through week 2 of the Barre3 challenge. I'm feeling so good so far. Good food flowing inside my body and good vibes outside of it. Easily the best part of the Barre3 challenge is the "nourishment" component. The Barre3 website is full of amazing healthy recipes. I've always coveted this tikka masala recipe, so I knew I would be making it during the challenge. 

I have a soft spot for any kind of food outside American. Thai, Ethiopian, Latin, India etc. Tikka Masala is a traditional indian dish made with chunks of chicken in a creamy spicy sauce with tomatoes and indian spices. The original recipe was developed by Andrea of Dishing up the Dirt. No cream just coconut milk, brown rice instead of basmati and skipping the naan help to keep this version of masala a little more health friendly. 

There is no skimp on flavor and it's incredibly satisfying. The tikka masala was last week's B3 recipe, Kathleen made their pistachio crusted tilapia this week, and next week it's my turn again!  

Barre3 Chicken Tikka Masala
yields 4 servings

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp. coconut oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1-inch piece of whole ginger, peeled and minced
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 1/2 Tbs. garam masala
2 tsp. paprika
2 tsp. salt
2 (14-oz.) cans diced tomatoes
1 cup coconut milk (from the can)
1 Tbsp. corn starch (optional)
1/2 cup cilantro, finely chopped
2 cups brown rice, cooked (1 cup dry)

Directions:
In a medium-size deep saute pan or heavy bottom pan, heat coconut oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until the it is tender and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and ginger. Cook for about 3 more minutes. Add the chicken and cook until the it begins to brown on all sides, about 5-8 minutes.

Stir in the tomato paste, garam masala, paprika, salt, tomatoes, and coconut milk. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook, checking often to make sure the curry doesn't dry out (add water if necessary). Cook until chicken is cooked through and tender and the masala is thickened, about 25 to 30 minutes. I struggled with my masala being really brothy and not thickening up properly so I added a corn starch slurry. Combine 1 Tbsp. corn starch and a 3 Tbsp. water then pour into your sauce. This thickened my dish perfectly!

Serve with cooked brown rice and garnish with cilantro.

Annie

Bites of My Life

/

January - I was fairly optimistic of you at the beginning of the week. A fresh new start, a new week, a new year, the whole shebang. Then I realized you stunk. I'm going to be pessimistic for a second. January is cold and gray. It effects our moods. Everyone is depressed coming off the holidays and a whole bunch of other things just make it not so great. I had one of those real world-I have no money-I want to do more with my life-stress pimples are all over my face-kind of break downs this week. 

The thing I've realized after, said number of these kind of meltdowns, is that I can feel them coming, and I know everything is going to be 100% fine if I just get it out of my system.

So January you suck, sorry you do. But now that I got it out of my system, we are turning you around. I'm trying really hard to kick my stress out the door and focus on what I want, what I need and how I'm going to make it happen. Friday was said "breakdown," then Saturday I woke up to a blanket of snow, so there ya go, things are already looking up!

-Monday got turned around real quick with an unexpected half day at work and my favorite falafel salad.
-The Bachelor is back and boy am I ready.
-Made this Crockpot Quinoa Chicken Primavera last week and I'm still noshing on it.
-A warm and toasty lunch during these freezing cold days.
-Week 1 down of the Barre3 challenge with my Barre3 buddy.
-India came to Oklahoma for the night with this tikka masala, recipe this week!
-Breakfast doubled as a snow day celebration and a cure from the night before.
-Still chocolate chip cookie testing, still haven't found "the one." 
-The Golden Globes and a barre3 challenge approved meal.

Annie

Barre3 Challenge

/
image via @barre3

image via @barre3

This year I am striving to challenge myself more. Challenge myself in the kitchen, challenge myself at work and challenge myself in everyday life. Working out is a part of my everyday life. It's something I do almost everyday and honestly really enjoy. I didn't always like to work out until I discovered Barre3. Barre3 changed the way I look at working out. I crave it instead of dread it. Barre3 is often described as a combination of ballet, pilates and yoga. It is built on the three pillars of exercise, connection and nourishment.

Yesterday marked the first day of the Barre3 January challenge. In efforts to challenge myself more in 2016, I jumped on the bandwagon. The challenge is to commit to four in-studio classes, one 10-minute online workout and try out a new Barre3 recipe each week for the whole month of January.

Challenge accepted! My sister/instructor/barre3 buddy and I are living out the challenge by cooking our Barre3 recipes together each week. Up first is b3's Chicken Tikka Masala! Stay tuned.

We would all be lying if we didn't tell ourselves we were going to eat better and work out more in 2016. The foundation of a healthy lifestyle is what you feed yourself. Since this is a food blog I have rounded up a list of my most nourishing and b3 approved recipes! You can find more on the Barre3 website if you are a member and by purchasing the app. 

Anyone other Barre3ers out there doing the challenge? Never heard of Barre3? I challenge you to read into and try it out. The mind body connection is something you don't get anywhere else. If you are in the Oklahoma City area, grab me and we can take a class together!

Annie

Bites of My Life

/
Tuesday bites? This can be a thing I suppose. After a handful of conversations with GoDaddy and pulling a few hairs out, they got me back up and running, and now here we are a day late on bites. Just rolling with the punches over here! 

Last week consisted of fantabulous almond butter that you are missing out on if you didn't read the post, sharing my summer to-do list, taking my favorite workout outside, trying to be grown up and learning how to budget (I highly recommend this website), celebrating yet another fabulous weekend, and as always, some delicious bites. This weekend though I will be reunited with my closest friends as we say welcome home and farewell! Everyone has been scattered this summer and we are about to be scattered even farther apart. It will be bites worthy next Monday (well let's hope I can actually get it posted on it's correct day).
-Homemade AB. This recipe is a keeper for sure.
-This is me putting everything in the fridge on a grilled tortilla and pretending its pizza.
-Summer TDL. Time to get crackin'
-Sneak peek at what's coming in a post this week!
-My new favorite granola all packaged up for a freebie snack from Whole Foods after Barre3 on the Lawn!
-Weekends well spent with old and new friends! 
-Pumped to finally try Pump Bar brunch. That is maple blueberry sausage.
-Dad and I whipping up a homemade version of our favorite snack!
-Cliche #Nationalicecreamday at Roxy's.
Annie