Well, I’m still goin’ strong!! I’ve exercised every day this week (although today’s workout was pretty lame) and I’ve been eating really well. I feel great! I’ve decided it really isn’t that hard as long as I plan and stay committed.
I thought I’d share a dinner recipe that I LoVe, lOvE, LOVE!!! Yumm-o! Here it is…
Chicken/Beef Kabobs
Kev and I LOVE this recipe. It is kind of a pain in the bum, but it is so so worth it. I would make these every week if I had the time. Here it is…
Cut up chicken/beef into even chunks
Chicken…this is a kind of gross pic…sorry.
Beef! Uhhhh….yum?!
TIP: We love to buy pot roast on sale, cut it up into chunks and freeze it. It makes the yummiest kabobs and it’s nice to have them already cut up.
I often experiment with different marinades, but here is one of my favs for chicken…
Yummy Chicken Marinade
(This is kind of a BIG recipe….you could probably 1/2 it.)
- 3/4 C. Canola Oil
- 1/2 C. Soy Sauce
- 1/4 C. Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/4 C. Red Wine Vinegar
- 3 T. Lemon Juice
- 1 T. Dry Mustard
- 1/2 tsp. Salt
- 1/2 T. Ground Black Pepper
- 1 tsp. Dried Parsley
Mix all of the ingredients in a large Ziploc bag or bowl.
Add Chicken
Marinade in the refrigerator for 1/2 hour or longer.
The longer you marinate, the more flavor it will have.
Now, for the beef.
This time, I chose to go the easy route.
I just bought a good ‘ol McCormick Grill Mates Montreal Steak marinade pack.
Yummy and easy.
Just follow the directions of the back of the package.
It’s basically the marinade mix, vinegar, oil and water.
Mix it up in a bag or bowl
Add the beef…
Marinate in the fridge for 1/2 hour or longer
Chicken and beef getting ready to go in the fridge…
TIP: I love it when I remember to do all this earlier in the day. It makes the meat so flavorful and yummy AND it saves on prep time later on. Cool.
Moving on…
If you are using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes…
I bought these at Walmart for $1.00 (for 100 of them!)
Chop all veggies
I love peppers, onions, tomatoes, pineapple, zucchini and summer squash
Some people like mushrooms…I do not…bleh…
This time I used peppers, onions and pineapple.
Put everything on the skewers.
I chose to do the meat and the veggies separate.
I’ve mixed them together before and it works out fine. I just like to separate them so I don’t have to worry about raw meat juices and things.
Grill it up!
We love to serve this atop brown rice or quinoa and with a little bit of low sodium soy sauce.
Tonight we chose to do quinoa.
If you haven’t heard of quinoa, here’s the 411…
Quinoa (pronouced, “keen-wah”) is very yummy and very healthy. It is super high in protein (the highest content of any grain) and high in fiber. If you’re interested, read more about the health benefits of quinoa here.
I really love it. You can find it in any grocery store, usually in the health food section. I buy mine at Costco (of course.)
Here’s how you cook it…
Measure out how much quinoa you want and rinse it very well.
If you don’t rinse it well, it will have a bitter taste.
Combine the quinoa and water.
It cooks pretty much just like rice…one part quinoa to two parts water.
I added a boullion cube for more flavor
Bring to a boil…
Boiling…
Simmer 15 minutes or until all water is absorbed.
Remove from heat and cover for 5 minutes.
Fluff with fork and…
Enjoy!
Seriously so so so yummy! A little high maintenance, but very worth it!
Hey Melanie….
I came across your blog, lucky me… and I wanted to ask you if you minded if I put a link to your blog on my blog? I am a personal trainer and I write articles about health and fitness as well as write a weekly column in a local newspaper, and I really like the recipies you use, you have some really great stuff, and its incredibly healthy as well! I always find it very inspiring to read someone like yourself with so much self will and ambition making a healthy lifestyle a priority in their life…..and sharing it with us internet folk, strangers like myself! It is very refreshing 🙂 I really do enjoy the stuff I have read so far and will be back for more…. let me know how you feel about me linking your blog to mine and/or reposting- I willl understand if thats not the kind of thing you want to do but am keeping my fingers crossed! 🙂 Keep working hard and being an inspiration….look forward to reading more of your words soon! -Sara
http://www.nextlevelbodies.com
Sara,
Thank you for your kind words. I’m so glad you like my blog….it’s helping to keep me on the wagon! 😉 You are more than welcome to link/repost my blog on yours. That is great. I would love it if any of my ideas/recipes can help anyone else out there!