Recipe: BBQ Chicken Baked Sweet Potatoes

Happy Summer, Friends! We got off school well over a month ago already. Whattt??! I can't believe how fast this summer is going!

I have a recipe I would love to share with you today! In the summer time my family and I LOVE to BBQ and this happens to be one of my favorite recipes to make! So check it out and let me know what you think....

Makes: 2 servings, 1 sweet potato and about ¾ cup chicken each (Note: I doubled the recipe to make as many in the picture above)

Ingredients

2 small sweet potatoes, washed, pierced several times with a fork

1½ cups shredded cooked chicken breast, boneless, skinless, warm

¼ cup barbecue sauce, reduced-sugar, warm

2 Tbsp. chopped red onions

1 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley (or cilantro) (for garnish; optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400° F.

Place sweet potatoes on a baking sheet. Pierce each sweet potato 3 to 4 times with a fork. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until tender.

While sweet potato is baking, combine chicken and barbecue sauce in a small bowl; mix well. Set aside.

Cut sweet potatoes in half lengthwise.

Top sweet potatoes evenly Red Onions and chicken mixture. Sprinkle evenly with parsley; serve immediately.

Tip:

-Look for barbecue sauce that has an ingredient list that does not contain artificial sweeteners, additives, or preservatives. There are many brands on the market that are sweetened with small amounts of honey, maple syrup, or molasses. I used "Stubbs Original Sauce" its my favorite and high fructose corn syrup free! :)

From my family to you we wish you a wonderful summer full of lots of memories :) 

I will be starting to post here more so stay tuned for all kinds of new stuff! New DIY natural remedies recipes, food recipes, homeschool stuff and more!

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Recipe: Ham, Potato and Veggie Chowder - Instant Pot Edition

Got some left over holiday ham sitting in your fridge and you're wondering what to do with it? I have a soup for that! 

This came out really yummy and I ended up making it twice in one week. I used up our left over ham and it was perfect for the winter weather.

Ingredients:

3-4 Cups of cooked diced ham

2 cups of diced potatoes of your choice (I used organic baby red)

1 yellow onion, diced

1/2 cup celery, chopped

1/2 cup of organic white corn (frozen is fine. I get the bag from costco)

1/2 cup organic carrots, peeled and diced

3 cups of organic chicken broth

1 1/2 cups of organic whole milk

1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

1/2 tsp pepper, ground

1 tsp fresh garlic, pressed

1 tbsp organic butter

1 tbsp organic corn starch or arrowroot powder

Directions:

Turn Instant Pot on "saute mode" and wait tell it says "HOT". Add butter and let it melt (stir so it doesn't burn). Then add ham, garlic and onions. Stir frequently for about 1 min. Then add celery, corn, carrots and potatoes. Stir for 1 minute. Turn Instant Pot "off" then add milk, chicken broth, parsley, and pepper. Mix well. Then put the lid on the instant pot, select "soup" mode and 30 minutes should automatically come up. Leave it at that. Also make sure your pressure release valve is turned to "closed". 

After 30 minutes are up you can do a quick release (turn to warm mode and release pressure valve). Add corn starch or arrow root powder and stir well. Let soup sit for a few minutes to thicken up a little bit. Give it a taste and add a little salt/pepper if needed. 

Then just get that ladle out and serve! 

*Note it's really yummy to shred up some cheddar cheese and sprinkle it on top with a little bit more fresh parsley. YUM! 

I hope you enjoy :)

Want more recipes like this? Want more recipes like this, meal prep tips and/or to get started with a fitness routine? I would LOVE to be your coach! You can reach out to me by going to my Facebook page by clicking the picture below....

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Recipe: Zucchini & Mushroom Risotto - Instant Pot Edition

Hi Friends! Happy November! It's been a few weeks since I blogged an instant pot recipe... And I've been wanting to blog this recipe for awhile now! This is a dish I have been making for about 6 years now in the microwave. Yep I said it, in the microwave. I pulled out my recipe box and was trying to find something we hadn't made in awhile that I could convert to the Instant Pot. 

Then I found my trusty Zucchini and Mushroom Risotto recipe!

Could I make this in the Instant Pot?

Yes! Challenge Accepted! 

Ingredients:

1/2 medium onion (finely chopped)

3 garlic cloves (pressed)

1 cup Arborio Rice (uncooked)

1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

3 1/2 Cups low sodium vegetable (or Chicken) broth

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley (or dried)

1 medium zucchini (used a cheese grater to shred it)

1 cup sliced mushrooms (you can use already cooked or fresh)

Himalayan Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

Turn Instant Pot to saute mode. Dice onion and press garlic, add to pot with olive oil. Mix frequently tell translucent. Add 1 cup of rice, stir frequently for about a minute (don't let it burn). Add 3 1/2 cups of veggie or chicken broth and stir together. Put lid on, seal, set to high pressure/manual for 6 minutes. While this is cooking, go ahead and grated your zucchini and have your mushrooms, salt pepper, parsley and cheese ready to go.

After it's finished cooking do a quick release, hit cancel and remove lid from Instant Pot. Add salt and pepper, zucchini and mushrooms and give it a good stir. Add shredded cheese and parsley and stir again. Put the lid back on for about 5 minutes just to let everything settle together. 

Then... Serve!! 

My kids LOVE this recipe! Sometimes we'll add ground turkey or beef to it is GOOD! 

I hope you enjoy :)

Want more recipes like this? Want more recipes like this, meal prep tips and/or to get started with a fitness routine? I would LOVE to be your coach! You can reach out to me by going to my Facebook page by clicking the picture below....

Have a blessed day!

New Mixed Martial Arts Workouts - What is this Core de Force I keep hearing about?

You may or may not be wondering... "What the heck is this Core de Force Jenny keeps talking about?!"

Yes? No? Ok well I'm going to tell you anyway. (insert tongue out emoji here)

To say I am excited about the brand new Beachbody home fitness program that is launching October 31st is an under statement. When I first heard news of this while at Coach Summit in Nashville in July I knew, I had to do this program. I'd never seen anything like it.

Core de Force is a 30 day total body transformation program that will not only get you fit, but help you do it with simple nutrition. One of my favorite parts of this program? ZERO equipment needed and you don't need a whole lot of space to do it!

This MMA inspired program includes 3 minute "rounds" where you go at your own pace and kick. Muay Thai, kickboxing, boxing, knee-elbow combinations and body weight training topped off by cardio spikes that will rev up your metabolism and help you destroy the fat! Can you give it all you got for 3 minutes at a time? If so that workout will be over before you know it and you'll be that much closer to getting the results you want. 

I had the opportunity to try out MMA Speed twice this month and let me tell you. It was amazing! I'll let you kno on a secret... I REALLY don't like crunches/floor ab work. Yep I said it. So to finish a 30 minute workout with my abs on fire without a single crunch? Sign me up, and when can I start? lol

Want some inspire details on the Nutrition Plan and the program? Check out my behind the scenes video here:

So you checked out all the details and your interested in a fresh start, something different that will help you break your plateau or even just get started on your journey? Ready for accountability over the holiday season that will help you go into 2017 feeling better than the same time last year?

I am going to be hosting a private test group for people who are ready to commit to 30 days program. I would LOVE to see you in it joining me side by side as we go through the first 30 days of this program together!

Get Access to Core de Force first with an Email Reminder

Want to see some results? They are pretty amazing!

Amazing right? 30 days with simplified nutrition eating REAL food, getting your daily Shakeology in with gives you optimal nutrition on the go with minimal prep work and your daily workout. #BOOM let's do this friends.

If this sounds like something you are interested in or you skipped the interested phase and are just 100% excited and 10/31 can't come soon enough reach me HERE and I will get you added to our private test group and help you get started!

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Recipe: Sweet and Sour Meatballs and Zoodles: Instant Pot Clean Eating Edition

When making healthy lifestyle changes what is one of the first things we cut out? Soda? The junk food aisle? Eating out? 

Ah yes eating out was a big one for me. I love take out Chinese food. Sweet and Sour anything makes my taste buds jump for joy.

Not only does cutting eating out several times a week help your waist line, it also will help your wallet! 

This recipe I came up with last week in the instant pot sure hit the spot for my Chinese food craving.  Pair it with my Healthy Combination Fried Rice and you'll (hopefully) be a happy camper!

Ingredients:

Sweet and Sour Sauce:

3/4 cup organic coconut sugar OR sucanat

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar 

1/4 cup organic ketchup

1 tsp garlic salt

1 tbsp braggs liquid aminos

2 tbsp cornstarch

1 tbsp water

Meatballs:

1/3 cup whole wheat bread crumbs

1/4 cup 2 % milk or unsweetened almond milk

2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 lbs organic grass fed beef or organic lean ground turkey (note: we prefer this recipe with beef)

2 large eggs

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley

2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

1 tsp dried oregano leaves

1/2 tsp sea salt or Himalayan Salt

1/2 tsp ground pepper

Zoodles: 

1 Zucchini

a little sliced onion optional

1 tsp extra virgin olive oil

Zoodler/veggie spiralizer

Directions:

Step #1: Make meatball mixture, cover and let chill in fridge for 30-60 minutes. Get your Instant Pot ready to go. Have the stainless steel pot clean/inside and place the rack inside as well. Add 1 cup of organic beef broth. Roll out meatballs and fill place them inside the pot. I start out by lining them up on the outside rim of the rack circle and make my way in. Cover the lid and set it to manual, high pressure for 5 minutes. Make sure the pressure valve is sealed. Once the pot has pressurized and cooked for 5 minutes put it in "natural release mode" ( set to warm for 10 minutes, then release the valve and remove the lid). 

*Note: I tend to prep my zucchini at this time as well.

Step #2: While the meatballs are cooking let's start making the sauce! Take a bowl and add all the dry ingredients BUT the cornstarch. Mix well then add water. Mix well again. Once the meatballs are done remove lid, take the rack out with meatballs on them. They make be a little stuck to the rack. If so, turn the rack upside down and dump the meatballs on to a plate. Drain any extra liquid left in the IP and then place pot back inside IP. Set IP to keep warm and add sauce mixture. Let warm up for a few minutes while stirring occasionally. Add cornstarch, stir well/frequently for about 2 mins. Once sauce begins to thicken add meatballs back into pot. Let meatballs sit for a minute, then turn them over and repeat the process another minute. By now you should have nice, flavorful sweet and sour meatballs! Turn pot off.

Step #3: Heat up a cast iron or skillet, add evoo and garlic/onion is optional. Then add zucchini and toss around for a few minutes. Take off heat.

Serve! 

Make these comfort food recipes into healthier versions at home as really helped me stick to my clean eating. Especially while I've been doing this round of Country Heat!

Want more recipes like this? Want more recipes like this, meal prep tips and/or to get started with a fitness routine? I would LOVE to be your coach! You can reach out to me by going to my Facebook page by clicking the picture below....

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Join a Challenge

So if you've seen my posts or talked to me in person you've probably heard about this "Challenge Group" thing I talk about, and you're wondering what it is? I'm going to share with you 4 things that will help you not only make a healthy lifestyle change but KEEP one. 

Fitness: One of the things that drew me to starting my fitness regimen with Beachbody was the ability to workout in my own home in 30 minutes a day. That's it. No commute to and from the gym, waiting for machines or having to find a sitter. I literally could just pop the DVD in and get to work. 

Nutrition: Each program Beachbody offers comes with an amazing nutrition guide. The portion fix containers and easy to follow nutrition guide teaches you the proper amount of each food group you really need on your plate, and gives you delicious recipes to do so with. One of my favorite parts of my 21 Day Fix journey is I have never had to et something separate from my family. We all eat the same delicious healthy foods. I just simple measure out my portions using the containers before putting it on my plate. In my challenge groups I will help teach you new recipes to incorporate, answer questions and teach you tips and tricks to make this lifestyle change as smooth as possible. 

Support: Being in one of my groups means you get to have me as your Coach. I've lost 40+ pounds on this lifestyle change and have been blessed with the opportunity to be able to encourage and support others on their own. In my challenge groups not only will you have me there cheering you on, but you will have a group of others who are on their fit journey as well. People that will become part of your #FitFam who you will share your highs, lows, and challenges with a long the way. We are in this together and together we are stronger.

PRIZES!I love giving stuff away in our challenge groups. Sweat selfie prizes, encourager of the week prizes.. so much fun! My favorite are the surprise prizes I like to through in when you least expect it ;)

By joining one of my challenge groups you can be assured you will always have a place to share your accomplishments, ask questions, be fueled with inspiration, recipes and fellowship. 

How do I join? You can join one of two ways! Fill out the quick form below or send me an email at CoachJennyM@gmail.com. I'd love to hear about your goals, a little about you and together we'll pick the right program for you.

How long do these groups last? Typically about 3 weeks, which is the perfect amount of time to do a round of 21 Day Fix. Sometimes I'll do shorter or longer ones. If you want to stay in touch via Facebook you will be the first to hear of upcoming groups!

What is expected of me? To give this your best effort for the duration of the challenge. It won't always be easy, it won't always be comfortable. But the results you get and the new healthy lifestyle habits you will gain will be worth it.

Ready to begin? 

Fill out my online form.

Let's do this together!

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Recipe: "Half and Half Bomb.com Spaghetti" - 21 day Fix approved!

When I first started 21 Day Fix I was hesitant because I LOVE me some carbs. I was under the impression that that "tiny" yellow container wouldn't be enough for a serving of pasta. 

Guess what? I was wrong! Today I'm going to share with you my recipe for my new way of eating a delicious hearty bowl of spaghetti!

 Mmm I'm getting hungry just typing this!

Step #1: Take 1 whole zucchini and make zoodles with your spiral maker. I use the "veggetti" and it works great! Next drizzle 1 orange container of the oil of your choice on it. I used Grapeseed Garlic oil I also added 4 fresh basil leaves chopped and tossed lightly in the bowl. Set aside.

Step #2: Start cooking that pasta and ground beef! After my ground beef has finished cooking I push it to the side and turn the burner on low. Then I add my zoodles and toss them frequently for just a few moments. You don't want them to get mushy! 

The smell of ground beef, garlic, basil and zucchini together is AMAZING. My house always smells delicious after I cook this :)

Step #3 (not pictured) take whatever marinara sauce you are using (I used the homemade marinara recipe from the Fixate Cookbook) and heat in a pot. Then it's time to mix your hearty bowl of pasta together! 

1 Yellow of Organic Whole Wheat Pasta

1 Green of the Zoodles 

1 purple of the Marinara Sauce (container not shown here)

1 Red of the ground beef

1 blue of shredded cheese

Step #4: Mix together (I use a larger bowl for this then pour into the bowl I'm eating with) and BAM, a big hearty delicious bowl of Spaghetti!

Step#5: Devour this delicious bowl of spaghetti with knowing you are eating a healthy, portioned, balanced dinner and it tastes like a treat meal!

This recipe is family approved! My kids LOVE it and I love that they are getting a big serving of veggies mixed in to their pasta without any fuss :) As you can see here Lily is a happy camper! 

Want more recipes like this? You can find them by clicking on the image below!

Have a blessed day!