Lemon Basil Cocktail

Looking for a refreshing cocktail to serve at your next get together or for a post work happy hour at home?  Try making this Lemon Basil Cocktail.  It's easy to make, refreshing, packed with flavor but also low in sugar.  This skinny cocktail is great for keeping to those healthy New Years Resolutions, but also shines during the spring and summer months (it is really refreshing).  Cheers to the New Year! 

Ingredients (Serves 4)

Instructions:

  1. Stir together Citroen Vodka, Sparkling Water and  Meyer Lemon Juice
  2. Place 1-2 flavor infused ice cubes in each glass
  3. Pour Vodka mixture evenly into 4 glasses
  4. Garnish with Sliced Lemon and fresh basil

Flavor Infused Ice Cubes

One thing that I have recently started doing is infusing my ice cubes and water with different natural flavors.  I try to stay hydrated throughout the day, but lets be honest, the taste of plain water can get a little boring at times.  Adding fresh fruits and herbs to my water has made it significantly more exciting to get those "8 Glasses" in each day. I have also started expanding to flavor infusing my ice cubes using this fantastic silicone ice cube tray, which has been great not only for water consumption and adding an extra delicious splash of flavor to my cocktails, but its also a great way to use up that extra produce before it spoils.  Below is a "How To" for lemon-basil ice cubes, but I also have a list of different fruits, veggies and herbs that would work great for ice cubes, water or both!

Lemon Basil Ice Cubes

  • Zest of 1 Lemon divided into 4 piles
  • 8-10+ Fresh Basil Leaves Julienned 
  • Filtered Water

Directions:

  1. Zest 1 lemon using a microplane (or equivalent zesting tool) and divide into 4 piles
  2. Thinly slice or julienne 8-10+ fresh basil leaves and divide into 4 piles
  3. Add a pile of lemon zest and a pile of julienned basil leaves to each cube well
  4. Once zest and basil have been added to each well, fill the wells with filtered water and place tray in the freezer.

Flavored Ice Cube Inspiration:

  • Fresh Currants, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Strawberries
  • Sliced Meyer Lemons, Clementines, Key Limes, Limes
  • Grapefruit Zest and Juice
  • Herbs- Rosemary, Sage, Basil, Mint (be sure to cut herb before placing in cube tray so that the natural oils from the herb can be released) 
  • Lemons and Thyme
  • Pomegranate Seeds

Flavored Water Inspiration:

  • Pomegranate Seeds and Sliced Clementines (Pictured Above)
  • Sliced Cucumbers
  • Lemons, Oranges, Grapefruit, Limes, Key Limes
  • Sliced Pineapple
  • Watermelon
  • Currants
  • Raspberries, Blackberries, Blueberries, Strawberries (combine all, some or just one)

Crowd-pleasing Baked Chicken

This chicken dish has been a favorite in my family since as long as I can remember.  My siblings and I used to call this dish "Moisty Chicken" simply because it is just that!  As I got older and more into cooking I amended the recipe to kick up the flavor and make it slightly healthier.  This was one of the first dishes I made for my now husband when we first started dating.   It's easy to make and takes less than an hour to cook including prep!  This recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner or in my case, first home-cooked date night dinner!  

Ingredients

  • 1/2c Light Mayo
  • ½ c Plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 Tbs Dijon Mustard
  • 1Tbs Horseradish
  • 3 shakes Tabasco
  • 1c Panko
  • 1c Italian Breadcrumbs
  • ¼ c Parmesan Cheese
  • 4 Chicken Breasts rinsed and patted dry
Sliced on the diagonal and served with whole wheat cous cous and steamed haricot verts. 

Sliced on the diagonal and served with whole wheat cous cous and steamed haricot verts. 

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven 350 degrees and line baking dish with aluminum foil (Non-stick and easy clean-up)
  2. Trim any fat, bone, tendons, etc. from chicken breasts. Then rinse chicken breast under cold water and thoroughly pat dry with paper towels.
  3. In a small to medium oblong dish - Mix the mayonnaise, greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, horseradish and Tobasco and set aside
  4. In a separate small to medium sized dish – mix together panko, Italian breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese.
  5. Dip and coat your chicken in the wet mixture and then transfer to your dry mixture and generously coat.  Once coated in dry mixture, transfer to your aluminum foil lined baking dish. 
  6. Repeat Process for remaining breasts and then cook in 350 degree oven for about 35min
  7. Once your chicken has reached an internal temperature of 170 degrees (meat should be opaque in the center and feel firm throughout), remove from the oven and allow chicken to rest for 10 minutes.
  8. Slice on the diagonal, garnish with fresh chopped Italian parsley and serve over a bed of wild rice pilaf.

Healthy Berry Smoothie

I am a huge fan of working out in the morning.  I like to get up, have coffee and a small bite to eat and then go straight to the gym for a good run and my Good Morning America fix (I am a huge Robin Roberts fan).  Post gym, I am always in need of a refuel before heading to work.  One of my go-to breakfast options has become this berry smoothie recipe.  It’s very filling and full of protein, calcium and vitamins, but not too calorie dense.  For me, this smoothie hits the spot and gives me boost I need to start my day. 

Ingredients

  •  1c Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
  • ½ c 0% Plain Greek Yogurt
  • ½ Scoop Vanilla Whey Protein Powder (I like the 365 Brand sold at Whole Foods but any brand is great)
  • ¾ c Frozen Mixed Berries

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until mixture is smooth.  Serves 2.

 **Note- This is not a very sweet recipe (which I like), however, if you prefer a sweeter smoothie Blue Agave Syrup, Honey, Turbinado Sugar, Truvia, Splenda, etc.. all work great. 

Weeknight Meat Sauce

During the week its always tough to think of meals that are fresh, delicious and healthy for my husband. I don't cook for him all the time during the week, but on occasion I do like to surprise him with a homemade meal.  In addition to the difficulty associated with selecting an entree to cook, there's also the fact that after a long day of work its hard to come home and want to want to keep working (in the Kitchen).   All I really want to do is just veg on the couch (possibly with a glass of wine).  

IMG_4828.JPG

This Weeknight Meatsauce Recipe is great because not only is it quick, simple, flavorful and healthy, but the whole recipe can be accomplished in less than 30 minutes! If you are looking for a practical weeknight recipe this is definitely it!

Ingredients

  • 1lb Ground Sirloin 85% Lean 15%Fat
  • 1 Jar of Good Tomato Sauce
  • 4 Cloves of Fresh Garlic (Minced)
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper
  • 1/2 Yellow Onion Diced (fine)
  • 1/4c Parmesan Cheese
  • 1/2 tsp Dried Oregano
  • 1/2 tsp Fresh Thyme
  • 2-3Tbs Olive Oil
  • Rotini (See Tips for Cooking Flavor-packed pasta)

Instructions

  1. In a large 12" skillet heat 3 Tbs of Olive Oil on medium-high heat
  2. When the pan is hot, add the minced garlic for about a minute or two and then add the diced onion
  3. Cook down the onion (also know as "sweating" the onion) down until the color appears slightly translucent
  4. Add the Ground Sirloin, Salt and Pepper to the pan
  5. Cook the meat until brown (almost cooked through) mixing frequently with a wooden spoon or spatula so that the meat breaks down into small pieces
  6. Once the meat is almost completely cooked, turn the burner down to low and add the jar of tomato sauce and stir to combine. *Caution the heat may cause the sauce to splatter so I suggest wearing an apron or some form of protective wear for your clothes.*
  7. Add the Oregano, Fresh Thyme leaves and Parmesan Cheese and stir well
  8. Allow sauce to simmer on low for approximately 2-3minutes
  9. Top your favorite pasta with this sauce and garnish with more parmesan cheese and fresh basil