I would like to amend my September goals. The new addition: wash all the dishes every night. I have this tendency to leave them for a couple days. Then the massive but manageable mountain of dishes turns into a soul-crushing impossible task (yes, I'm feeling a bit over-dramatic today).
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| Tonight's Dinner. Delicious! |
So, here was tonight's dinner. I think it was even good enough that it made up for all the dishes I now have to wash. I was famished after playing tennis tonight, and it definitely hit the spot: honey glazed salmon, honey balsamic green beans, and mini stuffed bell peppers. Here are the recipes if you feel like giving them a try. This large meal was about 300 calories- 1/2 of salmon filet, 1/5 of green bean recipe, and 4 stuffed bell pepper halves. This left me enough calories to enjoy some dark chocolate guilt free.
Honey Glazed Salmon
This is a super quick and easy recipe for making sweet baked salmon. If it's too sweet for you add a bit of lemon juice to the glaze. This is my go-to recipe for quick salmon.
Ingredients
2- 5 oz salmon fillets
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 tablespoon honey
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
cooking spray
Directions
- Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Spray baking sheet with cooking spray, and place salmon fillets on it.
- To make glaze mix olive oil, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Spread glaze over salmon.
- Bake for about about 20 minutes (until the fish flakes with a fork).
- Enjoy!
Honey Balsamic Green Beans
This recipe is from Hungry Meets Healthy. It's quite simple and so good. I'll definitely be making this again.
Ingredients
1 lb fresh green beans
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
salt and pepper (to taste)
Directions
- Boil a large pot of water. Add green beans. Blanch for 2 minutes.
- Remove the beans from water, and immediately cool in ice bath (to stop cooking process). Or, do it my lazy way. Dump off boiling water, and run cold tap water over the beans until cool.
- In a large saucepan heat olive oil on medium heat. Add garlic and onions. Cook until onions are translucent (~5 min).
- Add green beans, cover, and cook for 10 minutes (stirring occasionally).
- Stir in honey, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Cook uncovered for several minutes until green beans are cooked as desired.
- Enjoy! These are surprisingly delicious. I couldn't get enough green beans.
Mini Cream Cheese Stuffed Bell Peppers
I whipped these up quickly yesterday when I remembered I had to bring an appetizer to a barbecue. I just mixed them up with stuff I had on hand. I was so excited to see these mini peppers on sale last week that I picked up a bag with no idea what I was going to do with it. I'm so glad I did, because these were fabulous and easy.
Ingredients
~19 mini bell peppers
6oz light whipped cream cheese
1/2 cup plain nonfat greek yogurt
1- 15oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
4 green onions, chopped
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 teaspoons cilantro, dried
salt and pepper to taste
paprika (as garnish)
Directions
- Slice mini peppers in half. Remove stem and seeds.
- Place pepper halves on baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray.
- In a small bowl combine cream cheese, yogurt, green onion, black beans, cilantro, lime juice, salt and pepper.
- Spoon cream cheese mixture into bell pepper halves.
- Sprinkle with paprika.
- Broil for 5-10 minutes.
- Enjoy!
Do you hate washing dishes as much as I do? Any tricks for making this chore less onerous? Do you cook more when trying to lose weight and eat healthy?
Did you say under 250 calories? (picking jaw up off the floor)
ReplyDeleteThat looks amazing!
You could always buy one of those portable dishwashers. One of those ones that roll around so you can shove it in the corner or laundry room when your not using it. If I were going to buy one I would look on craigslist to try and get a real good deal on it.
I said that, but was having a bit of difficulty with arithmetic yesterday. It's actually just about 300 calories (I corrected my post now). Still a lot of food for not many calories. Like they always say, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. ;-) I should look into getting one of those portable dishwashers. I'm not sure where I'd put it, but it sure would be nice.
DeleteHi Krissy - It looks delicious! Maybe you could eat a meal or two on paper plates. That would cut down on the dishes to be washed. Or live really frugal. Get rid of all the dishes except for 1 plate, 1 bowl, 1 glass and 1 set of silverware. That way you would have to wash the dishes after every meal in order to eat off clean dishes the next meal:)
ReplyDeleteGood plan. I can't bring myself to actually get rid of all the dishes, but I should just convince myself to only use one of everything. Then I'll only have a few things to wash.
DeleteOMG YES. It's like Mt. Everest in my sink every night, and we don't have a dishwasher, so hand washed they must be. I don't particularly mind it though, truthfully. It gives me time to think and something to do if I feel a craving coming on-- you know, keeping busy blah blah blah. My problem is more that we only have one drying rack, so sometimes there are leftover dishes from the night (or my roommate washed his first, so I have to wait to wash mine) and it drives me nuts! Cleanliness and order, I need it. I suppose I could hand dry the dishes, but that would certainly be asking too much.
ReplyDeleteYour meal looks amazing, btw. I will have to try that, especially the stuffed peppers. I am wary of getting salmon here though-- I am a snob when it comes to finding fish in groceries. Hazards of growing up in a seafood restaurant, I guess. ;)
Imagine if you cooked healthy and had nine people to cook for! That's me!! I wash as I go along as I cook which helps immensely. It's a good problem to have though. . .
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine. If I ever have to cook for that many it will definitely be time to buy a dishwasher. Wash as you go...that's a good strategy. I should do that more often.
DeleteLooks delicious! I am constantly running the dishwasher... I never thought that cooking healthy might be the reason. Now it makes sense!
ReplyDeleteLooks amazing!
ReplyDeleteHaha! I totally know what you mean with the dishes!
I love the look of this meal Krissy. I've shared it with my 23,000 followers on my Tumblr Blog beautifulpicturesofhealthyfood.tumblr.com. I'm sure they will love it too. Thank you for dropping by my blog. Looking forward to seeing more of your posts :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! And, I'm glad you like the picture. My food usually tastes good, but I struggle to get good pictures that make it look edible. Apparently this one was a success!
DeleteI'd happily trade not having to cook for doing dishes. We have a dishwasher but still neither of us wants to do dishes. We do use more dishes now that we are cooking more and I find that annoying, but it's all part of setting a better example for my girls.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of eating fish. I've never really liked it, but I really need to try those other recipes! Thanks! Perhaps I'll even get brave and fix salmon for my family...who knows.
Oh my goodness, I HATE doing the dishes. I have the same problem you do, too. Now that I am trying to eat healthier, the dishes tend to pile up. One thing that has helped me a ton is to prep my vegetables right when I get home from the store. I peel, slice, and chop and then store everything in tupperware or ziploc bags. The reason I do this is mainly because it's easier for me to want to make a salad if the ingredients are ready, but it also makes clean up a lot easier. Your salmon looks amazing!! I'll definitely be trying this soon.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great suggestion! Thanks!
DeleteI go through dishes like crazy too.
ReplyDeleteI have found I use my toaster over more often because then I don't have to clean pots or pans.
HA. I'm so lazy.