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Author: Meredith Mitchell

Mason Jar Breakfast Casserole

Mason Jar Breakfast Casserole

http://www.plaidandpaleo.com/2014/09/mason-jar-breakfast-casserole.html

Serves 2

 Ingredients
  • 1 tsp bacon fat or ghee
  • 2 sweet italian sausage links
  • 1 small sweet potato, peeled and shredded
  • 1 candy onion, shredded
  • 6 eggs, beaten
  • 1/4 cup coconut milk
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 2 16-oz mason jars with bacon fat.
  2. Melt bacon fat in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Break apart and brown sausage in skillet.
  3. Beat eggs with coconut milk, nutmeg, salt and pepper.
  4. Stir in shredded sweet potato, onion and browned sausage.
  5. Set up a water bath for your mason jars in a 9×9 baking dish. You want the water to sit about 1/2 inch high on your mason jars.
  6. Bake for 40-50 minutes until inside of your casserole is set. Remove from oven and let rest for 2 minutes.

Notes

*For a quicker cooking time, you can use 4 8-oz mason jars. Cook for 20-25 minutes.  *Tip: You can cook these in the oven for 30 minutes then finish in the microwave for a minute. I know not ideal but works if you are in a pinch for time!

Oven Baked Egg and Vegetable Cups

Oven Baked Egg and Vegetable Cups

baked egg cups

http://foodinjars.com/2011/05/breakfast-baked-eggs-in-half-pint-jars/

Yield: Makes 6-7, depending on the size of your baking vessels
 Ingredients
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1/2 large onion
  • 1 bundle of asparagus
  • 10 eggs, beaten
  • 3/4 cup grated cheese (I often use this opportunity to finish off any odds and ends)
  • salt and pepper.

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Cut onion into thin half moons. Wash asparagus well (I’ve found that it’s been really gritty lately), trim the ends and cut into chunks of about 1/2 to 3/4 an inch.
  3. Heat oil in a large skillet and add onions. Cook until brown. Add asparagus and cook until tender crisp (about five minutes). Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
  4. Grease cups/jars. Using tongs, portion out the sauteed vegetables. The cups/jars should be mostly filled with vegetables.
  5. Beat eggs and evenly divide between the baking cups/jars. Top with approximately 1 tablespoon of cheese per serving. Using a fork or spoon, carefully stir the contents of each cup/jar so that the cheese isn’t just resting on top.
  6. Place the cups/jars on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes. When tops are browned, they are done.
  7. Remove from oven and let cool. If you used jars, you can put the lids on once they are cool enough to touch (the tops will be puffy and high just after baking, but like a souffle, they will fall). Store egg cups in the refrigerator until ready to eat. They will keep up to five days.

Notes

IMPORTANT: This is not a canning recipe. I use jars simply as a convenient baking/transportation vessel. They must be refrigerated once cool. Please do not think that if you put the lids on when the jars are hot that the resulting seal will mean they are shelf stable. Seriously.

Final note: If you want to simplify things, you can actually bake egg items like this right in the pan where you sauteed the vegetables (provided that it is oven safe). I use a stainless steel or cast iron skillet and make crustless quiche/frittata as easy brunch/potluck dishes quite frequently.

 

Breakfast Parfait Jar

Breakfast Parfait Jar

 
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 2 big cups
Ingredients
  • Over Night Oatmeal:
  • ¼ cup of Old fashion Oats
  • ¼ cup Non Fat Milk
  • ¼ tsp of Vanilla Extract
  • Dash of Ground Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. chia seeds
  • **The Add In’s**
  • ½ Cup of Plain Non Fat Greek Yogurt
  • ½ cup of diced Strawberries
  • ½ Blueberries
  • ½ Tbsp of Peanut Butter
Instructions
  1. The night before make your over night Oatmeal
  2. Place oatmeal, milk, vanilla, chia seeds and cinnamon in a bowl, stir, cover and leave in the fridge over night.
  3. In the morning, layer in this order:
  4. ¼ cup of yogurt
  5. ¼ cup of strawberries
  6. ¼ cup of blueberries
  7. Oatmeal
  8. Peanut Butter
  9. ¼ cup of yogurt
  10. ¼ cup of strawberries
  11. ¼ cup of blueberries
  12. Sprinkle with granola!
Notes
Calories: 282, Fat: 6.1, Sodium: 84, Carbs: 39, Fiber: 8, Sugar: 15, Protein: 19
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1
Salted Turtle Overnight Oats

Salted Turtle Overnight Oats

Author: Organize Yourself Skinny
Serves: 1
Ingredients
  • ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 medjool date, pitted and chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ½ tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ cup rolled oats
  • 1-2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons chopped pecans
  • sprinkle of sea salt
Instructions
  1. In a pint size mason jar stir together almond milk, date, vanilla, and unsweetened cocoa powder until all combined.
  2. Stir in rolled oats.
  3. Place lid on and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
  4. Stir in a little extra almond milk to loosen oats up and to get the consistency you like.
  5. Stir in maple syrup. Start with 1 teaspoon then give it a taste. If you need more sweetness then add in the rest.
  6. Sprinkle with pecans and salt. Enjoy.
Notes
These oats can be made up to 3 days ahead of time.
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 recipe Calories: 313 Fat: 6 Carbohydrates: 57 WW Points +: 8 Fiber: 8 Protein: 8
Blueberry and Grilled Peach Quinoa Parfaits

Blueberry and Grilled Peach Quinoa Parfaits

http://everydaydishes.com/blog/blueberry-and-grilled-peach-quinoa-parfaits/

Blueberry and Grilled Peach Quinoa Parfaits (Makes 4)

Ingredients:
• 2 peaches, halved and remove from the pit
• 1 cup cooked and cooled quinoa (prepared as per package instructions)
• 1 cup blueberries
• Two containers or about 1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt (or plain or your flavor of choice)
• 4 teaspoons maple syrup (or honey or agave)
• 4 teaspoons chopped pecans

Instructions:
1. Preheat your grill to medium high heat. Place each peach half on the grill, cut side down, for 4-5 minutes. Flip over and grill for another 4-5 minutes, or until caramelized and juicy. Remove from the grill and chill in the refrigerator. Alternatively, you can roast them cut side up on a baking sheet for 20-25 minutes at 425°F, or until tender.
2. Remove the peels, if desired, and chop the peaches into about 1/2 inch pieces.
3. Place about two tablespoons of quinoa in the bottom of each of the four jars, glasses or bowls. Top each with about two tablespoons of blueberries, about an eighth of the peaches, two tablespoons of yogurt, half a teaspoon of maple syrup, and half a teaspoon of pecans.
4. Repeat the layers, then top with a reserved peach slice or a couple of blueberries for garnish, if desired.

2015 Challenges

2015 Challenges

Good Morning Everyone!

A new year brings new challenges!!  Here are the challenges for 2015!

  • Individual Quarterly Cardio Challenges – The 3 Disciplines
  • 4 Team Challenges
  • Weekly Sprints and Daily Sprints

Individual Quarterly Cardio Challenges – The 3 Disciplines:

  • The 3 Disciplines are running (you can choose to walk, jog or run), cycling and swimming.  Every quarter, the first 25 people who complete the mileage goal will receive a $50 gift card.  You can choose to do 1, 2 or all 3 of the disciplines.  The mileage requirements are below for each single discipline or combination.  If you choose to do 1 discipline, your goal will be the mileage listed beside #1 for that discipline.  If you choose to do 2 disciplines, your goal will be 2 of the 3 mileages listed beside #2 for each discipline.  If you choose to do all 3 disciplines, your goal will be all 3 mileages listed beside #3 for each discipline. The first quarterly challenge starts TODAY and will end on Saturday April, 4th 2015.  If you would like to participate in this challenge please email me by the end of this week with your choice of discipline/s.

Walk/Jog/Run:

  1.  200 Miles
  2.  100 Miles
  3.  67 Miles

Cycling:

  1.  500 Miles
  2.  250 Miles
  3.  167 Miles

Swimming:

  1.  60,000 Meters
  2.  30,000 Meters
  3.  20,000 Meters

Team Challenge #1 – The Protein Activity Challenge:

To enter the challenge you must form teams of 4, no more and no less.  Everyone has to work together to earn points!!

Points:

  • All 4 participants must participate in 30min of activity (strength training, cardio, pilates, yoga, boxing, Zumba…) 5 days weekly to receive 1 point for the week.
  • All 4 participants must consume at least 50g of protein 6 days weekly to receive 1 point for the week.
  • All 4 participants must drink at least 64oz of water 5 days weekly to receive 1 point for the week.

The max number of points you can earn for the week is 3.  For example, if one person on the team only completes 4 days of activity and the rest of the team has completed 5, your team DOES NOT earn a point for that category.

The Protein Activity Challenge will be a 6 week challenge starting on Monday, January 12th and ending on Monday, February 23rd.  Please email me with your team name and the names of the 4 participants on your team by this Friday, January 9th.  The team with the most points at the end of the 6 weeks will win a $100 gift card of their choice!!

Tie Breaker:

  • Keep track of your teams total activity minutes for the duration of the challenge.  If there is a tie, the team with the most activity minutes at the end of the challenge will WIN!!

I will send an email out this week with different options for protein…vegan and vegetarian options too!

Get a strong start in 2015 – get involved TODAY!!  Email me with any questions :-).