Posts by admin:
- 1 bag Earthbound Organic Asian Salad Kit
- sunflower seeds included
- crushed wontons included
- 4 Tablespoons Marie’s Sesame Ginger dressing
- 3 ounces buckwheat noodles, dried
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 an Avocado from Mexico, diced
- pinch of sesame seeds and seaweed sheets
- 6-ounces chicken
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons water
- 6 Pero Family Farms mini sweet peppers, cored and sliced
- 1 or 2 small packages Crispy Green Asian Pears
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1 1 /3 cups Stirrings Blood Orange Martini Mix
- 1 Tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
- 3 ounces grapefruit rum
- 3 ounces triple sec
- splash of lime carbonated soda
- crushed ice
- Stirrings Cosmopolitan Rimmer
- Blood Orange,sliced
- Thyme sprigs
- 2 Martini glasses
- I am a real person with struggles and desires to have community and connection.
- I like authentic friendships and sharing real life
- I love homeopathic remedies and natural cures.
- I love trying new products that keep my family healthy.
- I enjoying singing but in the meantime, parenting and raising a home is my priority.
- I love bringing people together and inviting people to our home for dinners.
- Being consistent with eating habits while running a household
- Going to bed early
- Getting up early
- Having a personal relationship with God
- Praying
- Exercising
- Consistency
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 cup cane sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup crushed peppermint candies
- 1/2 cup peppermint mocha creamer (or of your own choosing)
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon milk
- green sprinkles
Clean Eating with Weight Watchers
March 8th, 2017This is not a sponsored post with Weight Watchers, but simply a post to check in with my readers. My recent journey is simply to help others feel more motivated to jumpstart their health. There are affiliate links within the post.
Update
Remember me? I hope you have not forgotten about me. I had to take a step back to really focus on the things that have gone on the back burner. I hope you understand that. While I started this blog as a hobby, the last 2 years it has been more of a part-time job. It has been great but since having three kids, keeping up with everything has been a little more than I expected.
The Mother load
This term definitely takes on a new meaning because I feel like I have been taking on so much since I started having kids in 2011. Every mother out there must know and understand that your own life as a mother completely changes and it is not your own anymore. After having my third daughter in 2015, I started feeling like super woman, juggling more that any person could or should really do.
Everything came to a halt the end of December. Have you ever come to the end of yourself and realized that if you did not make huge changes in your life that everything would become worse? I know I might sound dramatic to some, but I know I had been putting myself last and not eating well. I prayed and asked God what I should do to make these changes so that my life could get back into track.
Weight Watchers
I know I am not the only mother who has sought to get healthy after having kids. It is crazy how many things are out there especially when involved in social media that bombard women what and how our health can get back on track. The problem is that every woman’s situation is different and cannot fit into any certain mold other than one that I have proven to be true.
After I had my first daughter in 2011, I signed up for Weight Watchers for the FIRST time ever. I decided to sign up for meetings because I was away from home and not even close to family to help or to have as accountability. Within 6 months my husband and I were 30 pounds lighter. It was incredible! Little did I know that after getting to my first goal, that I was pregnant again. I said to myself that I would be able to keep track but my stress levels and my appetite changed and my focus was derailed.
The Lifestyle for Every Mom
In between my second and third daughter I just did not care about anything other than keeping life afloat and under control as much as I could. What finally came down was realizing how much I wanted it. Did I really want to bring my eating habits under control? As a food blogger and foodie at heart, there is such thing as self-control, but somehow I had lost it. Apathy and self-loathing set in.
I do not care what people say, but Weight Watchers works. For me, it works even more so when I go to meetings and hear the personal stories of achievement and weight loss. It works in a way that I know I will be going in and weighing in only ONCE a week and see the progress after tracking what I had eaten the week prior to my weigh-in. So far as of January 1st, this mom of three has lost 16 pounds!
Clean Eating is the Way
One thing I definitely have been doing differently than ever is eating as clean as possible. My husband, as always, is as supportive because he also wants to be fit. It is so helpful to have your spouse on board because it makes the cooking so much easier. He cannot complain especially since he is losing weight too!
Going back to eating clean is important for me to stress to you guys. Last time I did Weight Watchers, I tried cutting corners and eating fat-free and eating diet foods even though I knew that was not the way. The only way is to eat as real and clean as possible which I believe Weight Watchers is all about. We’ve been loving and enjoying our fruits and veggies coupled with lots of protein with complex carbohydrates on occasional meals.
All the Work Counts
Meal prepping is essential especially as a mother of three toddler girls under the age of 6. It is a lot of work but it has made me FEEL AMAZING, empowered, and energetic. Taking my health under control has been possible only through prayer from God because without his strength I would not have felt inspired to get my health back. I even have more energy to work out. Using my Weight Watchers app and calculator has helped calculate my recipes but there are digital smart point counters that work real well.
I have been sharing all my meals on my Instagram as a source of inspiration. I will be back to posting recipes especially for those interested in the program. It is always great to find a fellow accountability partner that wants to regain control of their health. I am thankful there are tracking programs like Weight Watchers that really DO work and at a pace that is healthy for the body without shocking it.
Do you know of anyone on Weight Watchers? What is the hardest thing about regaining control?
Sharing is Caring!
Asian Chicken Cabbage Salad + Bento Box
January 19th, 2017This is a sponsored post with Produce for Kids for their #PowerYourLunchbox campaign. Choosing a Bento box for your lunches can be fun for both kids AND adults. This Asian Chicken Cabbage Salad is a healthy and quick recipe to feed your family.
January Updates
I have been quite spoiled the last month because I have had my husband at home! Don’t be jealous. I mean, having an extra hand to help with three toddlers truly makes a difference but in general, I love having my husband at home. We were able to put away our Christmas decorations and do a little clean up for the new year. Even with planned organization, it has been challenging to stay healthy.
Is anyone battling with their kids staying healthy this winter? There is only so much cleaning and disinfecting one can do to stay sane, but feeding your family healthy meals is another. Just because the weather is dreary and health might be on hiatus, it is possible to continue cooking and preparing healthy meals for your families.
Produce for Kids – Power Your Lunchbox
I have partnered up with Produce for Kids again this year to stay geared up in their Power Your Lunchbox Pledge As a reminder, the pledge is a back-to-school time initiative that raises funds for Feeding America kids’ programs. From Jan. 4 to Feb. 15, 2017, Produce for Kids is encouraging families nationwide to kick off the new year right by pledging to pack a healthier lunchbox with the Return to School Power Your Lunchbox Pledge campaign. All parents need to do is take the online pledge at PowerYourLunchbox.com to make a $1 donation to Feeding America® children’s programs.
How easy is that? We all like challenges but what the ones that give back to those in need? Just to give you an idea, In 2016, Produce for Kids had 21,674 families and classrooms pledge to eat a healthier lunchbox, helping to raise 238,414 meals for families in need through Feeding America. Need some ideas? After you read the recipe PLEASE sign up and make your pledge at PowerYourLunchbox.com.
Asian Chicken Cabbage Salad + Bento Box
During the winter seasons we do not usually think about salads but it is still very possible to have them with added warmth and comfort. I always love introducing new foods to my girls and I am blessed by their minimal resistance to trying new things. I have learned that one toddler prefers cultured foods than the other, like cabbage salad. Another prefers noodles over potatoes. Either way, I try to add a little of their likes when creating new dishes especially ones with different flavors.
I grilled some chicken breasts in a little sesame oil, soy sauce, and pepper along with a little garlic. After it grilled I sprinkled some sesame seed and seaweed topping for adding crunch. I quickly boiled some buckwheat noodles and drizzled a little sesame oil and soy for added flavor and then added a half an avocado.
I used a new product that Earthbound came out which consists of salad kits. I used their Asian salad kit that includes chopped green and purple cabbage, cilantro, carrots and some mixings as well. I added about 3 small sliced Pero mini peppers for more color and crunch. I loved using Marie’s Sesame Ginger dressing because it was a nice finish to the meal.
Options for Salad Recipe
Even though I share a bento box recipe, I also prepared myself a bowl which is great for any stay-at-home parent. It is a little warm and cold salad that has healthy carbohydrates and the necessary protein and vegetables. The great thing about Bentology’s bento boxes is that they have compartments that can be heated up separately! Thank you to all the sponsors for this amazing campaign that gives to others. See them below and see how I used them in my recipe.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients (2 bento boxes or 1 bento box a)
Cabbage Salad
Pasta
Grilled Chicken
additional ingredients
Instructions
Cabbage Salad
Add the cabbage salad to a large salad bowl and add the seeds and wontons. Add dressing and mix well. If dividing between 2 lunch salads, divide between 2 bowls.
Pasta
Prepare pasta according to packaged directions. When finished cooking, drain water and quickly drizzle oil and add seeds and seaweed. Add chopped avocado and mix well.
Grilled Chicken
Heat sesame oil in a small skillet on medium heat. In a small bowl season chicken with soy sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper. Add chicken to the skillet and cook for 3 minutes on each side adding water to cook. Remove when internal temperature for chicken reaches 165 F. Let chicken rest for 5 minutes. Slice chicken.
Assembly for Bentology Bento Box
1 large compartment for Buckwheat Noodles
1 large compartment for Cabagge Salad and 3 ounces of chicken
1 small compartment for 3 sliced mini peppers
1 small compartment for Crispy Green Freeze-Dried Asian Pear and raisins
Assembly for Lunch Salad
Add the cabbage salad to a large salad bowl and add the seeds and wontons. Add dressing and mix well. If dividing between 2 lunch salads, divide between 2 bowls.
Slice the grilled chicken and divide in half between bowls. Add half the buckwheat noodles to the bowl and half the mini peppers.
Enjoy the freeze-dried pears and raisins as a treat.
Sharing is Caring!
Blood Orange and Thyme Cocktails for Valentine’s Day
January 13th, 2017
Holiday Decorating
Just when you think you are done with one holiday, another one, like Valentine’s Day, is just around the corner. I am not one to decorate my home for every holiday but somehow after cleaning, arranging and purging, I want things to look different in certain areas of our home. I am definitely someone who loves to make special and seasonal recipes for holidays.
My husband repurposed some organ pipes he bought at an antique shop and made shelves for our living room. I have use it to place a nice verse of the month with a nice plant along with some mantel-like décor. I admit that I do not have a talent for decorating but I have been making an effort.
Planning for Valentine’s Day
I feel like our weeks are going by so fast that I have to prepare in advance for the holidays especially since the girls are in school. They have so many different special programs and activities during the special holidays that I have to make sure I do not forget details. It is important to plan ahead and well, I have to make a better effort. I know the girls will want to bake and decorate.
When it comes to a date night, I believe I will want to stay in and celebrate with my husband so planning on a fun meal with be on my to-do list. Make sure to follow my Valentine’s Day Pinterest Board for ideas.
Blood Orange and Thyme Cocktails
One fruit I really have not experienced and tasted are blood oranges. They are in-season now until May and are the most fascinating fruit! My girls were truly fascinated with the blood part of the orange and loved its name. We cut one for all of us to taste test and loved it! When I try a new food I love learning a little more about its benefits. Blood Oranges have the same antioxidant as blueberries and are high in Vitamin C, which we need during cold season.
Stirrings recently sent me some products to create my own cocktail and I chose their blood orange martini mix. All their ingredients in their mix are natural so it was fun to come up with a nice cocktail. The color of the mix is deep red and perfect for Valentine’s Day. I used some thyme with the mixer and added some nice spirits for a refreshing cocktail. Hope you like it!
Where can you get these cocktail mixers? Store Locations: Key Food , Leg Up Farmers Market, Hennings Market or online. Check their social channels for more ideas.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stirrings
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StirringsMixer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stirrings/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/stirringsmixers/
Contest: #StirringsMixologyContest
Blood Orange and Thyme Cocktail
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Keywords: beverage blood orange Valentine’s Day winter spring
Ingredients (serves 2)
Cocktail
Cocktail Décor
Instructions
Cocktail
Nicely chop the thyme and place in a glass with the blood orange mix to steep for a few hours.
Strain and leave in fridge until ready to use.
Cocktail Décor
Use a slice of blood orange line the rim of cocktail glass with juice. Place glass upside down in the cosmopolitan rimmer and rim glass with sugar. Decorate a glass with a slice of blood orange.
Cocktail prep continues
In a cocktail shaker, add mix, rum, and triple sec with 2/3 cup ice and shake.
Strain cocktail into two martini glasses.
Splash some carbonated lime-flavored soda in each glass.
Sharing is Caring!
Happy New Year 2017 and Ditching Resolutions
January 12th, 2017
Happy New Year – 2017
First things first. Let me say a hearty HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you. I am sorry I have been a little MIA but we all know that life happens and we all have our moments where it has to be our focus. I have missed sharing and writing up my recipes so I am going to get back on the bandwagon and share some fresh new recipes soon. Some of them I have been able to share on Instagram, but even so, I think you all deserve those too right?
New Year, New You
I once was someone who thought of New Year’s resolutions, but when I realized I never kept them and they seemed a recipe for failure, I stopped doing them. At what point do we have to be in our lives to actually make a real change in our lives for good? I think it can happen any time! I will be the first person to say that I require accountability and community. Without these things I am at a loss and I am a failure, or so I tell myself, but lately I realize that if I do not have a purpose for the things I do I AM going to fail, no matter what.
We all want to have a sense of purpose in our lives and to feel like we are needed. As I get back on the bandwagon this new year, I realize that changes must happen. What I feel mentally is how it will affect me emotionally, physically and spiritually. Ok so where is this recipe I tantalized you in the beginning. YOU HAVE NOT BEEN BAMBOOZLED.
Controlling What We Eat
Raise your hand if you are a foodie? I think I was raised as a foodie, learning everything about spices, ethic cuisines and more. When I hang around friends that are not as excited about food as I am, I feel like there is something wrong with me. Well, perhaps there is too much focus and emphasis on food, which is really something that is not lasting. Even so, it is okay to enjoy and to have an experience of the senses. For me, it has to be reigned in and not controlling my life.
I enjoy what I do on my spare time and when I am in the kitchen. My creativity blossoms when I cook and I love experimenting but I am not food. It is not who I am but something I enjoy and enjoy sharing with others. It cannot consume or control me. Have I lost anyone yet? I hope I am not the only one that goes through thought processes like this but bear with me.
Self-Love
I want to be able to enjoy foods in moderation and in the right times. There are ALWAYS special occasions and holidays will always be around the corner. Here we finished Christmas and New Years and now we have Valentine’s Day around the corner! This is why I share so many different things with you as my readers.
Opera Singer in the Kitchen is not only a singer or a cook. I am not just about food. My person and identity is not my brand!
What are my struggles?
What to Expect
I only share this with you because I am a real person. I started my blog back in 2009 as a journey into veganism because I had made many compromises when I got married and gained a lot of weight. I thought veganism was a way to lose my weight and that it would solve everything for me. It did not. After 2 years of blogging as a vegan, I lost all my readership (which was big) because I went back to eating meat and felt lost.
My journal turned into a recipe index and a place to play with food while sharing with others. Since then I feel like it has grown to something I enjoy doing, but in the middle of all that I am trying to find a way to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I do not play into trends and I refuse to label myself as anything but I know I have to find something that is the best for myself and that perhaps in the long run could be of use to someone.
What I blog about this new year will be focused on what I experience and what I think would be instructive and beneficial for others. While my blog is a side business, I will not be sharing things I do not support in my every day life just because I need money. I do not work that way and hope you have seen my platform as an authentic one.
What would you like to see?
I would like to know what has been a source of inspiration for you? I do not want to stop doing something all together if it has been helpful. Thank you for reading this! I know it is a lot to read but I want to be as authentic as possible with my readers.
Sharing is Caring!
Christmas Scones and Holiday Food Gifts + Giveaway
December 20th, 2016Christmas scones and Holiday food gifts are the perfect way to celebrate this season. Your whole family will love this fancy but festive scone and they will also love the edible gifts. Your neighbors will thank you too! This is a sponsored post with Giant Food Stores.
Busy Holiday Month
December has proven to be the busiest month this year! Every year I expect it to be busy because of my husband’s concerts but this year our whole family was involved in musical activities for the holiday season. In addition to several musical concerts and performances, we have been busy bees in the kitchen, making holiday gifts for our friends and family.
Thanks to Giant Food Stores, I have been able to stock up on pantry items to make my holiday food gifts. During this season I tend to be concentrating on baking and not preparing meals, so it has been helpful also capitalizing on some delicious prepared meals and options for easier meal prepping in my home so that I could become baking queen of the month.
Holiday Food Gifts
As a mother of three toddlers it seems very overwhelming to even bake but I scheduled ways to go about making the baking possible. Sometimes I included the girls in the baking after they came from school and other times I would do some while they were napping. Many times I just waited to bake after they went to bed for the evening but with all those things in mind I knew I had to bake.
Since I grew up baking and sharing goodies with friends and family, the tradition is important for me to give to my family. I have a few go-to recipes that I like using but each year I choose a few ones to add to the round-up. I love stocking up on Christmas tins and bags after the holidays so that I am stocked up for the next year. When I bake I like baking a variety of cookies and savory treats over the week so that I am able to fill the bags and then hand them out a week or two before Christmas.
It is fun to see people receive edible gifts because it is in busy times like now that many do not enjoy homemade treats. What a great way to say Merry Christmas to those around you.
Savory Magazine
One of the things I have enjoyed flipping through is Giant’s Savory Magazine especially this month’s issue. There are so many ideas for quick meals and even several pages of cookie recipes and holiday decorating that was very inspiring.
If you get to Giant Food Stores, grab a copy or read it online. I was able to try a few recipes and have tagged a few for my holiday cooking. The magazine also has great coupons to try new products or to even purchase products for holiday cooking.
Special Limited Time Holiday Products
One of the things I enjoy seeing when I go to Giant is the display of special limited time seasonal products offered. They are not only food products but also range from paper and bath products. I love this month’s offerings because it is so festive! Do you like all things PEPPERMINT? Well, you have a chance to try a variety of products like Peppermint-Flavored Seltzer water, Peppermint Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, Peppermint Mocha Coffee Creamer and more.
There are also other offerings like Holiday Spice Orange Cranberry Baked Brie and Holiday Spice Sweet Potato Soup with Sweet Cranberries. On a busy evening, my husband and I had a lovely evening with the baked brie and a great big salad along with some red wine for a quick meal. It was so pleasant having something so simple yet delicious as an option.
Christmas Scones
I was inspired with their products to make a scone recipe that we could enjoy as dessert or as a Christmas morning treat with breakfast. I used the peppermint crushed candies that Giant Food Stores was selling and substituted half and half with the Peppermint Mocha creamer and then added green sprinkles as a topping. After I baked the scone dough in a baking sheet I used a Christmas tree cutter to make tree shaped scones. It was so much fun! Your kids can help that morning as well.
Christmas Scones
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
Keywords: bake breakfast brunch dessert chocolate Christmas winter
Ingredients (a dozen)
Scones
Topping
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Sift the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt into a large bowl. Cut in butter using a pastry blender or by placing items in a food processor, process until it resembles wet sand. Stir in the chocolate chips and peppermint candies. Mix together 1/2 cup creamer and sour cream in a separate small bowl. Pour all at once into the dry ingredients, and stir gently until well blended.
With floured hands, pat scone dough into 1/4 inch thick square on a greased baking sheet. Whisk together the egg and 1 tablespoon of milk. Brush the top of the scone dough with the egg wash. Sprinkle with green sprinkles.
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until the top is golden brown, not deep brown. Remove from oven and let the scone cool. Using a Christmas tree cookie cutter, cut out scones and place on a plate to eat.
Giveaway
Want to jumpstart your holiday cooking with a giveaway? Enter below and tell me what’s your favorite cookie. Have a Merry Christmas and a great Happy New Year!
