Healthy Healthy Healthy!

Lately, I have been trying out quick, healthy snacks. I find it can get really hard to eat healthy when you're in a rush. It's easier to grab a bag of chips and run when you've got somewhere to be. I have been searching for some quick, healthy snacks and I've picked out a few good ones to share. 

First, I found a great recipe for granola. The granola will be used in some of the other recipes and it is quite simple to make. 

to make the granola you will need:

     3 cups oats (not instant)

     3 tablespoons light brown sugar

     1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

     1/4 teaspoon salt (preferably kosher)

     1/3 cup honey

     1/4 cup vegetable oil

     1 teaspoon vanilla extract

     1/2 cup small chopped dried fruit (optional)

     1/2 cup chopped roasted buts, raw or roasted (optional)

Cooking instructions:

     First, pre-heat the oven to 300 degrees F, make sure your cooking rack is in the middle 

     

     In a large bowl, mix together oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. MAke sure the mixture is fully combined, then set aside. 

     In a small bowl, combine the honey, oil, and vanilla. Mix together. 

     Pour mixture over the oat mixture and mix (I use my hands) until the oats are fully coated 

     In a rimmed baking sheet, spread the mixture in a thin, even layer. Bake for about 10-15 minutes then stir the granola around. Continue baking the granola for another 10-15 minutes, or until the granola is a golden brown. 

     Once the granola is a golden brown, take the baking sheet out of the oven and let cool. Be sure to stir the granola occasionally. 

     If you chose to add the fruit and nuts, mix them in to the cooled granola mixture. Store in an air tight container. 

The next recipe is a frozen yogurt granola and blueberry bar. This recipe takes a little longer to prepare, but once it is made it is very quick to grab and go. 

To make this recipe you will need: 

     2 cup Greek yogurt (I used vanilla)

     3/2 cup blueberries 

     1 cup granola 

Follow these steps:

     In a large bowl, stir all of the ingredients together (make sure they are well mixed). 

     Line a long, tall pan with aluminum foil. 

     Spread the yogurt mixture evenly inside the pan. 

     Freeze the yogurt mixture until it is solid. Remove mixture and cut into bars.

     Wrap each piece individually in foil, then return to freezer. 

     Enjoy(: 

The last recipe is a Kale, Apple, and Banana smoothie. I know most Kale smoothies are so gross, but this one actually does not taste bad! I for one love this recipe. Kale is supposed to be so healthy for you but it tastes to bad. This recipe tastes way better than a regular kale shake. 

For this recipe you will need:

     1/2 large apple (chopped)

     1/2 frozen banana (chopped) 

     5 large leaves of kale (remove the ribs and stems)

     1/2 cup orange juice 

     1/2 cup ice (optional) 

Steps: 

     Add all the ingredients into a blender. Blend until mixture i smooth. 

     You can add more ice or juice to get the perfect shake. 

Another healthier option for people on the go is Starbucks. Yes, I said Starbucks. Starbucks actually has some good, hearty food options for people on the go. I have recently tried the sausage and cheddar breakfast sandwich and it was so good! It was $3.45 and it was absolutely delicious! They also have many other options like oatmeal, bacon and Gouda breakfast sandwich, and much more. I highly suggest going to your nearby Starbucks and checking it out. 

Thanks for reading(: 

The Perfect Swimwear Shop

SOUTH BEACH WEBSITE

Ladies, I have found the perfect website for your summer swim suits, South Beach Swimsuits! South Beach is a family run business that has been around since 2004! Fun fact about South Beach, they started as a tanning salon! They have since grown to be one of the largest online retailers for swimwear, WOW! I love the fact that a little family business has turned into something so big.

South Beach has everything you will need this summer. They have amazing brands such as: L Space, Vitamin A, and much more. Not only do they have tons of brands, they have a large variety of swim suit styles to chose from. One thing that I really loved about their website is they actually have a tab called shop by body type.

I love that you can shop for swim suits that fits your specific body type. Each brand has a sizing guide to help you determine which is the best size for you. If that doesn't help, they have live chatting for you to ask any questions and their swim suit experts will help you find your best match. 

South Beach has swim suits to fit all different body types, which is hard to come by. I, being Italian, am a bit fuller in the chest than most women and it is usually impossible for me to find swim suits that will fit me. I have has no problem finding tons of swim suits that will fit me and properly support me. 

South Beach has other merchandise besides just swim suits. They sell a large variety of accessories from beach bags to luggage tags. They also sell the cutest swim suit covers I have ever seen! Along with these cover ups, they have some regular apparel as well. 

I am excited to say that I am anout to complete my first purchase from South beach. It took me a while to finally decide what to buy because there were so many to chose from (I had about $500 worth of bikinis in my cart). I have finally narrowed it down to the Vitamin A 2014 Neutra Bralette or the the L Space 2014 Sweet and Chic Pistachio Chloe Wrap. They're both so cute, how can you chose? Vitamin A bikini I purchased  L Space bikini I purchased

Their prices are good considering the brands and the quality of the swim suits; However, if price is a problem for you, don't worry. South Beach always has little sales here and there. Speaking of sales, you get a 10% discount just for signing up for the newsletter! Once you are signed up, you will get emails informing you of their sales. In fact, today through Monday South Beach is having a MEMORIAL DAY SALE! That's right, A sale!!! I don't know about you but I love nothing more than sales! 

I am proud to say South Beach Swimsuits will be one of Deliciously Dressed and Fashionably Fed's sponsors, yay! I can't wait to blog more about it, but this is all for now! Thank you for reading a be sure to subscribe for a 10% OFF CODE for South Beach! 

Come back soon(: 

Pretzel Crusted Chicken Breasts

For my first recipe post I decided to chose Pretzel crusted chicken breasts with a honey mustard Sauce. This recipe is so good and it's not terribly time consuming. I found this recipe on Pinterest and I decided to cook it for my family one night and it was delicious!
 

First you will need:
        2 cups panko crumbs 
        2 cups pretzel crumbs   -(put pretzels in food processor or blender) 
        1/2 cup olive oil            -(none with a strong taste)
        1/2 cup Dijon mustard 
        1/3 cup honey 
        1/4 cup bottled water
        3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
        salt and pepper   - (fresh ground if possible)
        1 + 1/2 boneless chicken breasts 
        1/2 cup flour       - ( might need more ) 


Now for the instructions:
      First make sure to preheat your over too 400 degrees F. You will need to use a large, non-stick baking sheet (or roasting pan). If you don't have a non-stick pan, use a regular pan and line it with parchment paper. Lightly grease the pan or the parchment paper with oil. 
     
     Toast the panko crumbs in a large skillet(your heat should be on about medium). Toast the panko until crumbs are starting to lightly golden. Make sure to stir constantly. Once crumbs are lightly golden, take them out of the pan and let them cool. 

     Put your pretzels in a food processor and blend until there are mostly small crumbs (a few small pretzel pieces is good to have). Get a medium sized bowl and mix together the pretzel crumbs and the panko. 

**make sure to wipe all of the crumbs out of the food processor for the next part**

     Put oil, mustard, honey, water, and vinegar in the food processor. Mix until you get a smooth mixture. 

     Add salt and pepper to your mixture to taste. You can add more of any of the ingredients to make the mixture how you like it. 

     Thin the chicken breasts out and cut into slices. *Make sure they are even thicknesses. Season chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper. 

     Next pour half of the honey & mustard mixture into a wide bowl (make sure bowl is shallow). put flour in a large bowl or on a plate. Add half of the pretzel mixture to a wide bowl (also make sure bowl is shallow). Once those pretzel crumbs start to run out, you will add the rest to the bowl.

     Use tongs (or you can use your fingers) to coat the chicken in the flour. Once it is coated, dip the chicken into the honey mustard mixture. Hold the chicken over the mixture to let the excess drip off. Then stick chicken breast into the pretzel crumbs (if they won't stick, pat them on). Then place pretzel covered chicken breast on your greased baking sheet. 

     Bake chicken breasts for about 15-25 minutes or until they are cooked through. 

     Once chicken is cooked, let cool for about 10 minutes. Then serve with the remaining honey mustard mixture. 


Serves about 5 people 

Hope you enjoy(: 

Introduction

Hi everyone, I am a food fanatic new to the blogging world. I will be blogging about food, clothes, and some fitness. I have recently taken up a new diet, kind of similar to ideal protein, but not as extreme. I will be posting a lot of healthy recipes for my fellow healthy eaters. Don't worry, I will still be posting some regular recipes and desserts for all of you who have a sweet tooth. I have recently started a small cooking business in the Baton Rouge area. I'll explain to you how it works. I send a menu to anyone who is interested, it has a nice variety of appetizers, meals, sides, and desserts. You pick what you want and I take care of the rest. Once you pick your meal, I will go and get any groceries that I don't already have. The price for the groceries will be included in your total. After I cook your delicious meal, you have two options. I can deliver it to you (10$ fee), or you can come and pick it up from me. This is any easy way for those parents who are swamped with work to provide a home cooked meal for their families. I have cooked many things for some busy families such as: spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, and craw fish pie (all homemade, pictures below).

Here are some home made meatballs I made. They are made using an old family recipe. They are probably the best meatballs I have ever tasted, not to brag or anything. I grew up making these with my mom and gran. Although, they will never be as good as my grandma's (nothing ever is, ugh!), they are still really good. The process for making meatballs is not as long a process as you'd think. I will share the recipe in one of my future posts, so you might want to stick around(:

To your right you will see a picture of the spaghetti sauce, meatballs included, and pasta I made for a family. The mother of the house requested gluten free pasta because she is gluten intolerant. I can alter most recipes to fit any special health concerns or special requests. Now, back to the spaghetti sauce. I have also been making the spaghetti sauce since I was a little girl. The sauce is also a family recipe that has been passed down for years. My grandma makes the best spaghetti sauce I have ever tasted. I don't think mine could ever be as good as hers, but mine is still pretty good!

Here is another Italian family recipe. There is nothing better than a hot pan of home made lasagna. My mom makes it all the time and it is to die for. My mom is also an amazing cook, just like my grandmas. I guess that's where I get it from, lol. I made this lasagna also using gluten free pasta because the family had a gluten intolerance. You might be thinking to yourself, does she only cook Italian food? The answer is no, I can cook a variety of different foods. I cook a lot of Italian food because I have a huge Italian family, that is just what I'm used to.






This is a non-Italian dish I made. Craw fish pie is a delicious, Cajun recipe. Down in the south, Cajun food is a specialty. People in the north try to recreate Cajun food, but they can never get it just right. I love to cook all kinds of foods from Italian to Cajun.

Enough about the cooking business, here's a little bit about me. I have grown up in a huge Italian family. My mom is the youngest of 4 and my dad is also the youngest of 4. My mom's side of the family is extremely Italian. My dad's side of the family is a mix of different things. I have the best grandparents anyone could ever have. My mom's parents are that cute little couple you see walking around holding hands and just being cute. They have been together since high school and they still love each other as much as they did when they were first married. my dad's parents have been together for a very long time as well, they are the sweetest people you've ever met. my mom and dad have been dating since the 6th grade, that's 32 years! Both sides of my family love to cook, that's where I get it from. My mom encouraged me to start this blog since i love to cook so much. I will be sharing recipes, cooking tips, brands I like to use, and everything else. I might even add in a few giveaways(: 

Now into the fashion part. I am obsessed with fashion. I love clothes, swim suits, shoes, all of it. You could almost call me a shopaholic. I love keeping up with the latest celebrity styles and seasonal colors and such. I thought this blog would be a perfect way to share my love of fashion with others. I will be sharing my favorite brands, outfit pieces, style, and colors. 

The fitness part ties into the recipes. As I post recipes that aren't the best thing you could eat, I will also post good workouts for slimming down and toning your body.I will also post stuff about exercise equipment, work out clothes, and stuff like that. I have recently started working out regularly and joined a gym. I have also converted my dad's old office into an at home gym. I hope you enjoy my workout tips as much as I do. 

You will probably see me post a lot about Snazzy & Chic Boutique, LLC. The reason for this is because I am a part of this Snazzy fam. That's right, I along with many other beautiful girls model for Snazzy & Chic. Snazzy & Chic is run by Melissa Mitrik, one of the sweetest people you will ever meet. Snazzy & Chic was an online boutique, but as of May 1st Snazzy & Chic Boutique opened in Slidell. I suggest this store to all women. Snazzy & Chic has some of the cutest clothes ever! (I want to buy the whole store!) The excitement doesn't stop there, Snazzy & Chic also has fabulous shoes, purses, and jewelry that is to die for. A soon as you enter the store you are treated like a queen. You are greeted by Melissa, who you will instantly love, and other staff members. They will help you with whatever you need and even help you pick out outfits. I would appreciate if you would all like the facebook page, Snazzy & Chic Boutique, LLC. Check out the website too! Snazzy & Chic Website

For any questions or inquiries please contact me through email. Thank you for reading and come back soon(: