Being healthy and Chile con Queso?!

My New Year's resolution was to get healthy.  This meant working out and eating better! I'm proud to say that I am still going strong! I just read an article that said 45 % of people give up on their resolution by the end of January! YIKES! I honestly wasn't sure I would last but Kyle & I got a gym membership at Anytime Fitness, which we LOVE, so that helped.  Also, we are going to Florida with my mom, sister, and brother-in-law in April so that definitely motivates us.  :) 

Ya know when you first start dating someone and no matter how poor you are, you go out to eat all the time which, of course, includes appetizers, drinks, and plenty of food?! Well, that's what happened to us.  Not only did we spend too much money but we both gained a bit of extra weight... almost 10 pounds! (Hopefully Kyle doesn't mind me telling you this!) We knew we needed to make some changes!

The beginning of January was a bit of a joke when it came to working out because we weren't really going very often but we have been pretty dedicated since then.  We work out almost everyday! We usually try to workout around the same time but lately I've been going after work to get it done! It's nice because it has become pretty routine for us.  I've heard it takes about 65 days for something to become a routine and I'm happy to say that I think we are there! 

Unfortunately, working out doesn't work as well if you don't eat better. Wouldn't that be great though? As long as I put in 60 minutes a day at the gym I could eat whatever I wanted to?!? I'm jealous if that works for some people...

Anyways, I've been trying to find recipes that are a bit healthier but still tasty so I don't feel deprived.  I came across a delicious Chile con Queso recipe that is only 60 calories per serving (about 1/4 cup)! Of course the chips add some calories but I think it's worth it! It's also a really simple and quick recipe.  I don't have pictures to share yet but I'll be making it tomorrow for Survivor Night at Jess & Brad's so I'll post a couple then. Hope you try it for your next get together!

Chile con Queso

Prep Time: 10 minutes                    Cook Time: 10 minutes

Yields: 3 1/2 cups (serving size: 1/4 cup)

Ingredients

1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained

1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/2 cup onion, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 (8 oz) block fat- free cream cheese, softened

6 oz light processed cheese, cubed (such as Velveeta light) 

1 teaspoon chili powder

cilantro (optional) 

Directions

1. Drain tomatoes and tomatoes with green chiles in a colander over a bowl, reserving 1/3 cup liquid; set tomatoes and reserved liquid aside. 
2. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic; saute for 4 minutes. Add cream cheese; cook until cheese melts, stirring occasionally.  Add tomatoes, reserved liquid, and chili powder.  Bring to a boil.  Add processed cheese; reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes or until cheese melts, stirring constantly. 
3. Garnish with cilantro, if desired.  Served with tortilla chips.

This recipe is delicious.  It doesn't taste low-fat at all!

Also, if anyone has any recipe requests, let me know.  I have a lot more recipes to share with you and I'd love to hear some suggestions on what I should make next!

~Missy

Chicken Pot Pie

Thank you to those of you still reading my blog! I know I've been slacking but I promise I will now update regularly! Recently, we gave Kyle's mom a cookbook of our favorite recipes for her birthday which makes my life much easier because all the recipes are on my computer! :) 

I wanted to share with you my favorite meal! CHICKEN POT PIE! Who doesn't love chicken with vegetables (and potatoes if you want!) all inside a yummy warm crust?! Please try it. It is totally worth the long list of ingredients (which you probably already have at home) and somewhat lengthy prep work. It is seriously delicious! PLUS, it took me three times to get this post done because of computer problems so I want someone to try it! 

Chicken Pot Pie

Prep Time: 35 minutes            Cook Time: 50 minutes

Yields:1- 9 inch pie, about 8 servings

Ingredients
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup frozen green peas
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup chopped onion
2 cloves of garlic
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
2½ cups chicken broth
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1¼ cups milk
2 (9 inch) unbaked pie crusts
2 potatoes (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. 

   In a saucepan, combine chicken, carrots, peas, and celery. If you want to add potatoes, you should also add them! Add water to cover with two chicken bouillon cubes. Boil for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, drain and set aside.
3. In the saucepan over medium heat, cook onions and garlic in butter until onions are soft and translucent. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and celery seed. Slowly stir in chicken broth and milk. Simmer over medium-low heat until thick. Remove from heat and set aside.
4. Put one pie crust in pie pan and brush with whisked egg whites. Bake for 5 minutes.
5. 

   Place the chicken mixture in bottom pie crust. Pour hot liquid mixture over. Cover with top crust, seal edges, and cut away excess dough. Make several small slits in the top to allow steam to escape.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! Please let me know if you try it! :) 

Have a great weekend <3  

Have I lost you??

Anyone still out there reading my blog? Ugh! I don't blame you if you gave up on me! I have been the worst blogger ever! My reason??? I don't think I have one. But, I officially have a reason to start blogging again......  


Due to a project Kyle and I just completed, all of my favorite recipes are all typed up and on my computer (I will definitely tell you about this project soon!!).  It is going to make my life much easier! Before this, I would have to do a random google search of the recipe I used, try to remember all the changes I made, and then put it on here.  I should've bookmarked them or put them on a recipe card but I guess that didn't really cross my mind...


So, PLEASE stick with me for a bit longer.  I'm out of town this weekend, visiting the Faber family <3 , so I won't be able to put up anything new tonight but I promise I will add AT LEAST one recipe this week! :) I have about 40 that I want to share with you!  


Also, Kyle is going to build a website for my cooking and baking! :) Great boyfriend right?! I hope you know, he owns, with his business partner Andrew, a Milwaukee website design company. You should check them out.  They do pretty amazing work.  He is a busy busy guy so I definitely appreciate it and hope I can be more on top of it than I have been this blog! It probably won't come for awhile but when it does, it'll be much more informative and easy to work with. I'm excited! 


Thanks for reading,


Missy :)