Cajun Shrimp and Quinoa Casserole

Some Like It Hot

Clean Eating is easier than ever. It just takes reprograming of what is "normal".  One tip to make your busy life easier.  When cooking quinoa and brown rice, make more than you need.  Make enough that you can eat off of it for a week.  You can always freeze it as well.

If you like shrimp and spicy, you will love this easy dish.  Now I have 3 daughters who do NOT like it hot.  So I simply skipped the jalapenos and cut down on the cajun seasoning.

Ingredients:
¾ lb large wild caught shrimp, peeled and deveined
4 medium organic tomatoes, cut into chunks
1 organic jalapeno, seeded and chopped
½ C chopped sweet onion
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tbsp tomato paste
3 tbsp olive oil
2½ tsp cajun seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
2½ C cooked quinoa
Fresh cilantro for garnish

Directions:
- Toss the shrimp and 1 tsp Cajun seasoning together, set aside.
- Toss the tomatoes with 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tsp Cajun seasoning, set aside.
- Heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat in a cast iron skillet.
- Cook the shrimp until opaque, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Add the remaining 1 tbsp of olive oil to the pan along with the onion, jalapeno and garlic.
- Cook until the onion and jalapeno are tender, stirring often.
- Mix in the quinoa, tomato paste, ½ tsp Cajun seasoning and tomato chunks.
- * If eating dairy - Top with the shrimp and then sprinkle with the fontina cheese.
- Place in the oven and bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
-- Garnish with fresh cilantro.

Vanilla Mint Arbonne Protein Shake

I wanted to try something different light and refreshing.

8-10 ounces of Original unsweetened Almond Milk
2 Scoops Vanilla Arbonne Protein Powder
1 handful of spinach leaves
10 mint leaves (could use more)
1/2-1C chopped ice
1 Scoop Arbonne Fiber Powder
1 Packet of Arbonne Digestion Plus

Mix in a good blender.

I ended up adding 1/2 of a peeled lime and reblending. So glad I did.

Do you know that green is my favorite color?

Commitment Day is June 29th for the July 7th Challenge

It's I want to Win, It's up to Him!

I was got a call from a good friend yesterday.  We have known each other at least 25 years.  Our conversations are always full and deep about doing life.  She shared something with me her therapist shared with her.  He said "you can either humble yourself before God, or her will humble you."  YIKES.  

What does it mean to be humble?  Humble is defined as having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance.  not proud or arrogant; modest

I am a classic Type A personality and more often than not, think I am in charge and can do all things on my own will and sheer determination (some say stubbornness). If it's to be, it's up to me. So hearing those words were a sharp reminder that I must turn over all and humble myself before HIM.  

The good news is, that when we do put God in the driver seat, we benefit more than if we try to command our lives by ourselves.  James 4:10 reads "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."  By letting go, we are lifted up.  Peter said it this way in chapter 5, verse 6, "Humble yourselves therefore beneath the mighty hand of God, so that at the right time He may set you on high".  If it's to be, it's up to him.  But that doesn't rhyme.  How about "If I want to WIN, It's up to HIM!".  

Quinoa "May Save Your Life" Salad

Try this delish quinoa dish at your next potluck, or just make a big batch of it to munch on during the week. I first had this at a friends house who was having a birthday tea party.  It was so yummy, I have been eating it ever since.

Quinoa, pronounced (Keen Wah), is a seed from a grain with many nutritional benefits.

Researchers have looked at certain antioxidant phytonutrients in quinoa, and two flavonoid - quercetin and kaempferol - are now know to be provided by quinoa in concentrated amounts. Some find their concentration can be greater than in other superfoods like berries.

I have been looking into what quercetin is since it is an ingredient in a new product, Thermobooster, I started taking. According to WebMD, Quercetin is used for treating conditions of the heart and blood vessels including, "hardening of the arteries", high cholesterol, heart disease and circulation problems.  It is also used for diabetes, cataracts, hay fever, peptic ulcer, schizophreina, inflammation, asthma, gout, viral infections, chronic fatigue syndrome, preventing CANCER, and for treating chronic infections of the prostate.  Quercetin is also used to increase endurance and improve athletic performance.

Who knew a simple salad could save your life.

Ingredients:2 Cups of Cooked Quinoa, cooled 2 Cups Raw Kale chopped1T oil (coconut, olive, avocado, etc)1 C Grape Tomatoes cut in half1 Avocado diced1/4 C Sliced Red Onion1 LemonSalt and PepperSaute kale in oilToss kale with quinoa, tomatoes, avocado, red onion. Squeeze lemon juice on topSalt and Pepper to tasteMix - eat.