Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs (...melt in your mouth)

One of my challengers found this recipe on the Team Beachbody Blog and I knew I had to try it! 

Of course, I did a little modifying because we aren't really onion or garlic friendly in this house. Shit, according to my Gastro Doc, I shouldn't eat anything, including the tomato sauce in this recipe! Thanks reflux. 

As usual I doubled the recipe, I am all about making life simple so if that means rolling 36 meatballs instead of 18 so that I can have extra meals that are at my fingertips (or in my freezer), for busy nights then I am going to do it! The 36 meatballs served as 2 meals yesterday (kiddies dinner), 4 lunches for Aaron and I this week plus 2 extra containers in the freezer with enough to feed all 4 of us 2 dinners next week (or whenever). 

Total Time: 6 hrs. 22 min.
Prep Time: 20 min.
Cooking Time: 6 hrs. 2 min.
Yield: 12 servings, 3 meatballs each

Ingredients:
2 lb. raw 93% lean ground turkey
1 tsp. sea salt, divided use
1 tsp. ground black pepper
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup whole grain panko (Japanese-style breadcrumbs or GF breadcrumbs if need be)
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
4 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley
4 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
4 tsp. olive oil, divided use
1/2 medium onion, sliced
2 (28-oz.) can whole tomatoes, crushed
2 tsp. dried oregano leaves

Preparation:

1. Combine turkey, 1/2 tsp. salt, pepper, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic, parsley, and cheese in a large bowl; mix well! (I use food safe gloves bc I am weird like that)
2. Roll mixture into thirty-six 1½-inch meatballs. Set aside.
3. Heat 2 tsp oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
Add half of meatballs; cook, turning occasionally, for 4 to 6 minutes, or until meatballs are browned on each side. Place browned meatballs in a 3-quart slow cooker. (My slow cooker also works on my stove, AWESOME, 1 pot mess)
4. Repeat with the remaining meatballs. Set aside.
5. Add onion to same skillet; cook, over medium-high heat, for 4 to 6 minutes, or until onion is translucent.
6. Top meatballs with cooked onion, tomatoes, oregano, and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt; cook, covered, on low temperature for 5 to 6 hours, stirring once or twice.
7. You can serve over whole grain or quinoa noodles (GF option).  Zoodles or Spaghetti Squash noodles would be yummy too! 

For my Fix Family: 1 Green, 1 Red, 1 tsp

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

So last night, I had "Easy Pizzas" from the Fixate cookbook on the menu but for some reason, I wasn't feeling the toppings I had planned (veggies, natural ham, red sauce...the usual) and I was SOOO close to caving and going out and getting pizza from a new place "near" our house. I put "near" in quotes because no place I like to eat or ever want to try is NEAR our house. 

Anyways, I was looking at menus, drooling, then it dawned on me, I had my amazing crockpot buffalo chicken in the fridge AND I had my pizza crusts that we use for our Easy Pizzas, so why not make my own healthier version of a restaurant worthy pizza?!

 

What you need (1 serving):
4oz of Crockpot Buffalo Chicken, get recipe here
1 Whole Grain Ultra Thin Pizza Crust from Golden Home (I find these at my local grocery store) 
Franks Red Hot
3 tbsp reduced fat shredded cheddar
2 tsp yogurt ranch (I use Bolthouse Farms)  

 


1. Make sure you make the chicken first! It takes 3-4 hours on high or 7-8 on low. 
2. Once the chicken is done & you are ready to start getting your pizza together, preheat your oven or your toaster oven (I use my Breville Smart Oven) to 425°. 
3. While that heats up, cover your pan with foil, non stick spray is not needed. 
4. Lay your pizza crust on the foil. You can also use a whole wheat or sprouted grain tortilla, it just does not crisp up as much.  
5. Drizzle Frank's Red Hot over your crust, now this is totally up to you and your taste buds on how much you use. I like mine hot! 
6. Top the pizza with the 4oz of Buffalo Chicken and 3 tbsp of reduced fat shredded cheddar.
7. Place in Oven or Toaster Oven, bake for 10-12 minutes or until crust is golden and cheese is bubbling. 
8. Take out, drizzle with 2 tsp of yogurt ranch.  
9. Let it cool, slice & serve!

Writing out this recipe seriously makes me want to go make one right now! Typically I would eat closer to 6oz of meat (give or take) on my meal plan so I did a little picking at the meat while my pizza cooked to get my portion in...hey, I was hungry. 

This pizza would be great with a side of celery & carrots! 
 

 

Why being a Coach is different...

I get so many questions from people about what sets us apart, why is Team Beachbody different, what do we have to offer...and of course, the best one is, "is it a pyramid scheme?"  Which I can honestly say, I used to joke about that myself until I actually educated myself on what a pyramid scheme is...

I decided to compile my thoughts and put them into a video for you because I am really just not all that great at writing (yes, I know, my degree is in Communications).   

I am extremely passionate about what I do and I am so glad this opportunity came into my life when it did.

You have probably heard me say it before, but I wouldn't send you to a restaurant if the food was shitty and I am surely not going to tell you about a product or business opportunity if it didn't work, I didn't love it and didn't believe in it.  

I was hesitant at first, so I would understand if you are too but that is why I am here, to answer your questions, just like my coach and sponsor did for me.  Do not be afraid to reach out to me with more questions, if you know me, you know I love to talk. :) 

You can go here to apply to be on my team! 

Oh TWO-dles, Maren's Party

 Meltdown proof! 

 Meltdown proof! 

Someone explain to me how this little munchkin is already TWO?! I can't even handle it.  I mean, as a kid, time seemed to move SO SLOW and then you grow up and have your own kids, you blink and two years go by.  

And would you believe me If I told you that this little TWOnager did not nap on the day of her party and she threw a fit 15 minutes before it started? Yep. She was a hot ass mess.  But that is ok, once she found the M&M's, life was good. 

The party theme this year, if you didn't guess already was all about Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! This girl LOVES her Mickey Mouse.  I seriously can't wait to take her back to Disney (hint, hint, Aaron) so she can see her best friends! 

I went ALL out on her party last year, stressed myself for months. Planned every little detail, practiced smash cakes and cupcakes until I could do them in my sleep...not this year. This mama got smart.  I realized I am not competing with anyone and just because I saw it on Pinterest doesn't mean I have to do it. 

I had a friend from college who had the same theme for her daughter so I purchased some of her leftover items then came up with a few ideas and details of my own and I definitely let someone else make the cupcakes this year! Totally worth my $30. And my sanity. 

I did a photo booth, an idea I got from the room mom in Mason's class, she does it for each of their holiday parties at school and I love it. I think I had more fun using it than the kids!

I also kept it really simple with appetizers, beers & wine, plus like I said, someone else did the baking! Ahhhh. 

The cupcake toppers and food tents came from Etsy, Kerrie, who owns the shop I used was really great to work with! She also did our invites. 

I would say that even with the meltdown before the party, it was a success and she loved every minute of it (after she got M&Ms to calm her down).  She enjoyed having her family here and getting presents, some of her facial expressions were so cute! She is so dramatic...already! Must be a girl thing. 

 

And of course I have to share some of the fun photo booth pictures! I have no idea what faces Aaron was making...and for the record, he thought headbands go in front of the ears, which cracks me up! 

Thanks to all of our friends and family who came and made the day special for our little princess! 

Valentine's Reality

Given that it was just Valentine’s Day and I did not even get a verbal "Happy Valentine’s Day" from my husband (I can hear you all GASP as you read that...don’t worry, I have come to expect it after almost 9 years of marriage..or is it 10), I figured what better time than now to drop some reality bombs. 

I get comments ALL the time about “you and Aaron are so cute,” “you guys are the perfect couple,” “I wish my husband and I were more like you two….” and I just laugh and say, we are FAR (and I mean FAR) from perfect.

Let’s be honest here folks, we have had our (and still have) our ups and downs. We have been through couples therapy and there are still days I ask myself “What the hell was I thinking when I said yes?” Don’t worry, I know he has those days too, I am sure we all do at some point, we are human, however some of us just don't like to admit it. There are days where I want nothing to do with him because he spoke to me in the wrong tone or I feel like he is being mean for no reason so I want to punch him in the nuts (yep, you read that right)…but do I post it all over social media? No. Most people don’t because no one needs to read about your dirty laundry all over their newsfeed. No one wants to know that you and your spouse just screamed at each other for 30 minutes because your kid had a meltdown over homework that stressed you both out or someone left dishes in the sink when the dishwasher was clearly dirty and waiting to be filled or they parented in a way that you don’t agree with...

But there are also times I remember why we got married like when he makes me laugh so hard I can’t get through a workout, when he is being goofy with the kids or when I listen to him singing in the car on the way home from one of our random date nights (one of the main reasons we even started talking at Harpo’s Karaoke for those who don’t know). Or when he leaves an appointment to bring our son clean clothes 30 minutes from our house after he vomited all over himself in my car on the way to the Dr and he also is smart enough to bring all of the stuff to clean my car up in the parking lot of St Luke’s.

We have to work HARD to make things work sometimes. Marriage is not easy. Raising kids is not easy. Adulting is not easy. 

So to all of you who are scrolling Facebook thinking, “Gosh, I wish my husband got me that for Valentine's” or “I wish my marriage/relationship was more like theirs…” STOP. Stop right now. The grass is going to be greener where YOU water it.

So here is to all of the couples on this Valentine’s Day that aren’t perfect. The ones that know the struggle of marriage is real but still choose to find the positive when there can be so much negative in our world. The ones that know that while you may not always be happy with each other (or speaking to one another), you are still there and that, in and of itself speaks volumes.