Crabalicious

First let me start off by saying this is not the most amazing food pic I’ve ever taken and doesn’t do these delicious morsels justice.  That being said, I just found out the benefits of crab, and let me tell you something, they are AWESOME. Way more awesome then what your “friend” got in college - ahem. Not only are crabs a great source of lean protein but they are also full of B vitamins which help change food to energy. Plus, it’s exercise while you eat i.e. cracking the crab legs.  Ok, that may be pushing it a little but it’s still fun!

First, you have to learn the right technique for crab crackin’. Check out the video below for the perfect crack:

Second, You are NOT allowed to dip in the warm butter sauce (not so healthy) but feel free to load up on the lemon.  My estimate is that the little cup is about 4 tablespoons of butter = 400 calories. SO not worth it. I asked for a few lemons and the little cup you put the butter in and just squeeze a shit-ton of lemons and then you have your sauce! Word.

For all of you Atlantan’s, get your crack to Fontaine’s on Wednesday nights.  They do ½ off snow crab legs and they are delish.  It's the perfect meal for a hot summer night.

Xo,

zo

Fixin' for some Chicken (n' Biscuits)

Move over Paula Dean, there's a new chef in town. Ok, that may be a little dramatic. The only thing I think Paula and I have in common is our love for all things cheese.  I think I remember her one time saying, "Nothing ever tastes bad with a little extra cheese on top, it has never hurt a thing in it's life."  True story Paula, true story.  But besides from that I think our eating habits are a little different (and by a little I mean a lot).

So I was watching a southern cooking show and realized I've never really made or eaten Chicken n' Biscuits. Blasphemy in the south right? I think the reason is because it's such a heavy, carb loaded, cream-filled dish that I can't stomach (literally) eating it.  So challenge accepted, South! Here's my take on a semi-healthy version of Chicken n' Biscuits.

My healthy version is a modified version of this recipe.

Ingredients:
- 1 Can of Whole Wheat Biscuits (in the Crescent Roll section of the supermarket)
- 1lb of Chicken Breast (Cubed)
- 2 bags of frozen mixed veggies
- 1 can of fat free cream of celery
- 1 can of fat free cream of chicken
- 1 cup of unsweetened almond or flax milk
- 4 cups of frozen veggies (I used broccoli carrot cauliflower mix with a bag of peas)
- 1/4 teaspoon of the following - thyme, celery seeds, paprika, pepper, mrs. dash original

Directions
Pre-heat oven to 400. Cook and cube chicken breast. Feel free to season a little with salt and pepper. Mix both soups in a big ass pan. Add all of the spices, chicken and veggies and cook till thawed. Throw everything into a baking dish and cook for 15 minutes. Take it out and stir it up (lil' darling). Put the biscuits on top and cook for about another 20 or more minutes.  The first time I did this I didn't cook the biscuits for long enough (whoopsie) and they were quazi gross and super mushy, so make sure to do that. 

Xo,
Zo

Hot Diggity Dog

I’ve been meaning to go to HD1 (Richard Blaiss’s gourmet hot dog joint) for a while but always forget about it because who realllllyy wants a hot dog for dinner? So thanks to Scoutmob we decided to make a night of it and walk around the Highlands for, well, ten minutes after before we went home. So before I get into the food, my one rant about this place is that it’s at a great spot (old San Fran Coffee location on N. Highland and Ponce) and there’s maybe 3 outdoor seats.  It was a perfect night to sit outside but we didn’t – who wants to look at a parking lot?

Ok, so the food.  It’s tough to order healthy when all you want is a gooey chili cheese hot dog and fries but alas, it’s doable. 

My Order:

• Garden Chili Dog: Veggie dog with veggie chili (hold on the walnut mayo and fried shallots). The chili was good but a little spicy. They don’t give you a choice of a bun so you get it on this huge piece of white bread toast which is truly delicious but not so healthy. Clearly I ate the whole thing.
• Spinach Salad: Spinach (obvi), raspberries and gorgonzola. They went a little overboard with the cheese but it was good, you can't really mess this salad up.
• Optional Drink: Bluegrass sunset – bourbon, ginger ale, basil and orange.  This drink was gross but I liked the idea of basil and orange. Can't win 'em all I guess.  Instead of this opt for a light beer or glass of vino.

They also have an option of a carrot dog.  I figured it was just another version of a veggie frank but no, it’s literally a big sauteed carrot for six bucks.  No thanks. I can make that at home.  Stick with the veggie or even turkey dog.

All-in-all, am I dying to go back? eh. But it was a nice experience, our waitress was adorable and super attentive and the food was good.

XO,

zo

Ring My Bell

Get it? Ring my bell el el, ring my bell! Anyone? Ok I tried.  Disco may be over but how full I am from this amazing stuffed pepper recipe is not.  Before I go into any detail, let me just say, when buying the peppers for this recipe, buy small peppers, for the love buy small peppers. I obviously went for the biggest most dramatic peppers in the store and I could barely freakin' eat one (although the BF had no problem demolishing the entire thing, I'm not sure if that's a salute to my tremendous cooking or that he was just famished. I'll take it either way).

So here's the deal. I'm trying to make less trips to Whole Foods so I can pay off some of my credit card (my organic, free range, cage free, grass fed, local food issue has gotten quite out of hand). I can get ALMOST as good produce at a regular grocery store even if I don't feel as cool.  That being said, I'm trying to make healthy recipes on a budget and found a cheap, very delicious Stuffed Bell Pepper recipe. I clearly made some skinny modifications but I think it came out pretty damn awesome. Here's the Betty Crocker original recipe.

SP Stuffed Bell Peppers:
- 4 Green Bell Peppers
- 1 lb of the most lean ground beef you can get (prolly could use turkey too)
- 1 cup Homemade Brown Spanish Rice (See this first step in this recipe for the recipe - ha)
- 2 finely grated carrots
- 1 onion
- 1 can of tomato sauce (NOT pasta sauce)
- some sprinkles of your favorite cheese

Directions:

- Pre-heat oven to 350.
- Cut the tops off of each bell pepper (a thin cut) and gut and rinse them.

What's up Action Shot!?!?!?

- boil water in a big ass pot and make sure the water is JUST above the peppers. boil those bad boys for two minutes. (make sure the water is boiled first before you put the pepps in).

- Brown beef with onions. Once cooked add all the other ingredients and 1/2 the can of tomato sauce.

- Stuff peppers with the goodies. Pour the rest of the tomato sauce on them. Cover with some foil and cook for 8 minutes. Take the foil off, sprinkle some cheese then cook for another 15-18.

These bitches are hot so be careful taking them out and eating them.

xo,
zo

Date Night In

It's summer. It's hot. I take 2 hours to get ready for a date and the second I walk outside my hair frizzes up, my makeup starts to melt, it's not pretty and it's not even June! WTF! So I had an idea (get pumped), what if I created a date night dinner in.  Sounds genius right? We could cook a healthy and delicious meal together, no rush, no one has to drive home so you can drink as much as you want and you don't have to tip (unless the cook is really good, ahem). Get your mind out of the gutter, I meant tip with a yummy desert!

So, if you can get your boyfriend/friend/husband/wife/partner/lover to actually cook with you, it makes the night less stressful and not like every other night of cooking.  If they're not going to participate you'll end up busy and stressed out and it kinda defeats the purpose of a relaxing night in and interferes with you getting bizzay (if you know what I mean - I'm cracking myself up over here).

Besides from the company, my favorite part about this is that I get to control what I eat (plus we sat outside which was nice minus the killer ninja Atlanta mosquitos that were attacking my legs and ankles - little fuckers).

The menu:
- Fish Taco's with ColeSlaw on Whole Wheat Tortillas
- Super Healthy Brown Spanish Rice
- Sauteed Green Beans
- Zoe's "Homemade" Guacamole
- Skinny Peaches!

RICE:
- Start with the rice cause it takes the longest.
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup long grain brown rice (the kinda you actually have to cook for a while)
1 chopped onion
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 cup tomato paste
1 tbs diced garlic
- chop up online and pepper and saute until soft in olive oil add the garlic for a second.  Then add the rice and brown it for a little (4 -5 minutes).  Add everything else - cover and simmer for 40 - 50 minutes. If after 40 minutes it's still a little watery, simmer without the cover on.

FISH TACOS:
- Salt, Pepper, Dash of Low-Sodium Taco Seasoning and olive oil on fish - grill.
- For the coleslaw I boiled some corn. Cut it off into a bowl of cabbage mix. Added a little 0% fat Fage Yogurt and a splash of lime juice and called it a day.

ZOE'S "HOMEMADE" GUACAMOLE
- SOME people may laugh at this "recipe" (you know who you are) :) but really it's just delicious. Mash up some ripe avocado and mix in some Jack's Special Mild Salsa and TA DA!

And that's it! Happy date night! P.s. No kissing on the first date...unless the food is REALLY good.

XO,
zo

I Heart Nike

It started at a young age, when my parents made me sign up for summer soccer camp at William & Mary college.  Defying all current 1989 fashion trends I went with Nike soccer shorts vs umbros (always an individual).  A true fan was born.  I have been a Nike supporter ever since.  The thing was, up until recently, I only was buying clothes & shoes (p.s. they have the best workout pants I know of, take a look!) and so I was hesitant to try out their Nike Training Club workout mobile App.  Needless to say, they succeeded again (gawd they’re good)!  I figured I’d test it out and see if it could combat my gym boredom - the answer: YES!  This is the best workout app on the market right now if I do say so myself, and it's FREE!  You pay zero dollars to be sore for at least 2 days (if you do the advanced workouts for 45 minutes). That’s at least $50 bucks in savings that you WONT have to use on a trainer. You are welcome, that means more money into your Whole Foods budget :)

Check it out…download the app, select your workout and then select the music you want to hear from your VERY OWN ipod! Plus, you get healthy recipe and celebrity workout rewards the more minutes you log…GENUIS!

I’m a big fan of the “Get Toned” option for Advanced called: True Condition.  I also take a look at all of the workout sections before so I know what I’m doing, oh yeah, they have VIDEO to help you along with this really nice lady that tells you when to switch workouts and that you should, “Keep up the good work!”

Here are a few screenshots of the workout and the reward!

Xo,

zo

Chicken Parm, Chicken Shmarm

A new take on a old fatty fave.  I wont lie, I love a good cheesy, carby Chicken Parmesan dish (otherwise known as cutlets and gravy to all of my Italian friends) but alas, the recipe is not so health conscious.  So, I've created a new much more healthy spin on this old world favorite.  I found that you can re-create the Italian flavors by using some standard seasonings and a little marinara.  Welcome to the world, healthy Chicken Parmesan Stir-Fry!

Also - a few of you had commented on my horrible photography skills so I've hired a professional photographer to help me with my food shots moving forward (ok so maybe I just asked nicely). But check out how good these new pics are!

Chicken Parmesan Stir-Fry
- 1lb Chicken Breast - cubed
- 1 Green Pepper
- 1 Red Pepper
- 1 Crown of Broccoli
- 1/2 an Onion
- 5 Kale Leaves
- 1/2 Jar of Light Ragu
- 1 Cup of Trader Joe's Almond Meal (this stuff is the shit.  It's the same thing as breadcrumbs but AWESOMELY healthy and not bread - obviously, but you knew that).

Directions:
1) Season the almond meal with pepper, oregano and basil.
2) Salt and Pepper the chicken and then shake it around in the Almond meal
3) Put a little olive oil in a pan and saute the chicken until it's done. Put it in a bowl and then set aside.
4) Spray a pan with a little cooking spray and saute all veggies for about 5 minutes, then pour in marinara sauce and let it simma' for a litta' (ha). Ok like 3 minutes.
5) Plate and serve! Bravo! Ole?! Ummm, Vino! Yes, that sounds right.  Serve with wine.


I added a few shaves of parm on top.

Xo,

zo