Simple Chick

After gorging on gingerbread and all the other gluttonous holiday fare, I am ready to embrace my new year’s resolution. I pondered more than usual this time. Last year it was to sweat every day and I enjoyed all the little aspects it brought to my life. I wanted to make sure that this year’s was up to par, and I believe I chose wisely.

Live Simply.

The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life. 
~Robert Louis Stevenson

 

I often get bogged down by daily duties and responsibilities and forget to step back and appreciate that life CAN be simple. Even with all the many expectations and roles we play. I plan to enter each day with this mindset and apply in every area possible. Eating simply, thinking simply, you get the idea.

 

That said here is a simple and healthy recipe to start your new year off right. I saw this on pinterest and have been dying to try it. You can make one serving or fill your whole muffin tin! I like to make ahead meals so the recipe below fills the whole kit and caboodle. Enjoy!

Chick in a Cup

I can’t tell you how simple and delicious this recipe is to make. It seems silly to post something so easy but it was too delightful not to share. The egg was fluffy and poached perfectly in the turkey cup. Two filled me up after a strenous work out, and one made a great afternoon snack! The following makes 9 servings.

Ingredients

·         9 organic free range eggs
·         9 slices organic deli turkey
·         PAM organic olive oil spray
·         Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.

Lightly spray a muffin tin with olive oil. Line the cups with one slice of deli meat. Crack one egg carefully into the turkey cup, and dust with salt and pepper. I sprinkled a little Cajun seasoning on mine because I enjoy a little kick in the morning!

Bake for 20 minutes, remove, and let cool for about 5 minutes.

Pop out and enjoy! Happy New Year!

Morning Breakfast Memo

As a food blogger who is writing and snapping away photos on a daily basis in hopes to capture the next perfect post, I often forget to share the everyday go-to meals. The quick, unfancy shmancy meals that don’t necessarily photograph beautifully but taste dare I say close to go-to gourmet? Maybe I can toot my own horn a bit when my breakfast takes 5 minutes to prepare the night before and magically materializes into scrumptious homemade bliss during the night. I love getting home from my early work out knowing that I won’t be frantically fumbling through the cabinets to produce a filling meal. (I can be quite ravenous after a good run, you are warned!) I have enough on my plate during the mornings before the kiddo is whisked off to school as it is, so my own hunger pains most often take a back seat. And, let’s be honest, sometimes cereal just ain’t cuttin’ it.

I make overnight oats every week. Well, okay I will admit it, practically everyday. When my mind jumbles into goo after a long day and I forget to make them the night before, I throw it together quickly before I leave for work, let them soak for an hour or two, and enjoy a bowl before nine.

I usually dig in to the oats cold, delectably dipping into their dough-like texture but today it is rainy. And cold. And icky. So I popped them into the ‘wave for a minute and poof! Warm comfort before me. I can tackle the day now.

I buy oats in bulk because I use them for breakfasts, grind them into oat flour, and of course can’t resist making cookies with them! I am the crazy lady with the 3 pound plastic bagged giant in my shopping cart and proud of it! Oh and if you want to know exactly, I buy gluten free old fashioned oats.

Please excuse my to-go bowl and spoon...

As a constant snacker I can vouch that these tykes keep me satisfied until lunch! It is a low calorie breakfast that brags oodles of nutritional value. This staple of mine stabilizes my blood sugar, and gives me a substantial dose of fiber, vitamin B, fiber and protein. Studies report that oats help keep your heart healthy and boost your immune system too!

So let me make your already bopping about to solve world peace and still get out of the house with your thinking cap and knickers on morning easier by making these yummy to your gluten free tummy oats!

Staple Overnight Oats
serves one

Ingredients

• ½ cup gluten free old fashioned oats
• ½ cup almond milk (or milk of choice-I use soy milk too)
• 1 tbs chia seeds
• 1 tbs flax seeds
• 1-2 tbs ground cinnamon ( I love the stuff!)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tbs agave nectar (or honey if you prefer)

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and place in the refrigerator overnight. If you forget to make them the night before (guilty) you can make them the morning of and let them seat for at least an hour. To enjoy warm, place in the microwave for 1 minute.

I top mine with almond butter usually or whatever fruit is in season.