December 2014 – KJ Taggett

Light Cocktails

December 21, 2014January 25, 2015 kjtaggett

During the holidays were are gathering around with our friends and family to enjoy each other and make new memories!!

When we are with our friends and families and especially during the holidays we tend have more treats and cocktails then we normally do. It just happens and that’s completely ok! What if there was an alternative way to drink our favorite cocktails but without all those calories??

You are in luck!! There are so many different brands and flavors and now light versions without all those extra calories!! Here are some ways you can cut calories but still have those cocktails with everyone!!

Here are different flavors of vodka, sangria, and wines that you can choose from. There are different margarita flavors as well 🙂

This is white cherry vodka that you could add with a diet soda or any other kind of mixer!!

Be creative in making your favorite cocktails!! Enjoy! 🙂

**For more recipes go to http://www.skinnygirlcocktails.com**

Quinoa and Black Beans

December 15, 2014January 25, 2015 kjtaggett

I LOVE black beans! Any time I can add black beans I’m a happy camper! They are great way to get a yellow container (21 Day Fix) and very healthy for you!

What you’ll need:

1 teaspoon vegetable oil (Can use canola or extra virgin olive oil)
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
¾ cup quinoa
1 ½ cups vegetable broth (use low sodium)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup frozen corn kernels
2 (15 ounce cans black beans, rinsed and drained (use low sodium)
½ cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste (Use Pink Himalayan Sea Salt as a salt alternative)

**Again to make this organic and healthy you can use organic canned, fresh, or frozen items**

Directions:

Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir onion and garlic until lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
Mix quinoa into onion mixture and cover with vegetable broth; season with cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until quinoa is tender and broth is absorbed, about 20 minutes.
Stir frozen corn into the saucepan, and continue to simmer until heated through, about 5 minutes; mix in the black beans and cilantro.

**Recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com**

Celebration Dip!!

December 14, 2014December 14, 2014 kjtaggett

This dip, side dish, or whatever you want to call it….is TO DIE FOR!!!! It is seriously SO yummy!! I first fell in love with this dip when my sister-in-law, Angeline made this for a family gathering! Just typing this is making my mouth water!

This is a great dish for a special occasion, holiday party, or just to have something special at home!! 🙂

What I love about this dip is it is fresh. Its all veggies and healthy fats but you wouldn’t really think so. It has a creaminess texture but also a nice crisp and crunch. The other great thing about this dip is you can make it as healthy as you want or leave as is. It’s up to you!!

Dip/Salad

2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans Green Giant Mexicorn or Del Monte Fiesta Corn, drained
3-4 tomatoes, diced
4 avocados, diced
6 green onions, diced
red onion, diced

Dressing

2 packages Good Seasonings Italian Dressing (Dry Mix)
½ cup vinegar, white or red
¾ cup olive oil
tortilla chips, optional

Directions:

Mix dip/salad together in a bowl. Mix dressing ingredients together and pour over bowl of veggies. Stir to coat.
Serve with tortilla as a dip or as is as a side dish.
*Best if prepared in advance so flavors can mingle.

***To make it healthy***
To make this dip healthy you could use organic, fresh ingredients, or organic canned ingredients. When serving you can eat just as is, add pita bread/chips, or eat with other veggies such as celery or cucumbers. It is a very versatile dip!!

***Make Italian dressing healthy***
Healthy Italian Dry Mix ..here is my recipe on a healthier alternative to the Italian dressing if you want to make this instead of using the pre-made packages.

Try it out and let me know what you think!!!

❤ KJ

**Recipe courtesy of Angeline Greene and pictures courtesy of Rachel Gurk**

Healthy Italian Seasoning Dry Mix!

December 14, 2014 kjtaggett

Italian dry mix can be used in almost anything!! It makes any food taste delicious and add that special something to make it flavorful instead of bland.

You can use Italian dry mix in spaghetti, roast, lasagna, casseroles, other crock-pot or slow cooker recipes, make the actual dressing, and more!

This is what you will need:

1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
2 tablespoons oregano, ground or 2 tablespoons oregano leaves
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 tablespoon granulated sugar (Substitute Truvia or Sweetleaf instead to make it healthy)
2 tablespoons salt or salt substitute (Substitute Himalayan Pink Salt or Sea Salt to make it healthy)
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon ground basil or 1 teaspoon basil leaves
1/4 teaspoon ground thyme or 1/4 teaspoon thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried celery leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried celery flakes
**To make zesty**
2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
1-2 tablespoons crushed red pepper (depends on how spicy you want so more or less to your preference)

Directions:

Mix all dry ingredients together and then store in an air tight container!

Enjoy!

❤ KJ

Grinch Kid Snack Kabobs

December 14, 2014 kjtaggett

Grinch Kid Snack Kabobs

Let’s face it! Our kids are reaching for any kind of junk they can, if available to them! Plus we are always looking for fun ideas to do with the kids or different food/snacks to take to the school for their holiday parties.

Here is a great idea that is easy and fun for the kiddos to do!!

What you will need:

-Strawberries
-Green Grapes
-Bananas
-Mini Marshmallows
-Toothpicks

Then construct them! Below is what the process will look like 🙂

Here is the final product!!

Enjoy!! Yummy and healthy!!

❤ KJ

Gallbladder Surgery!

December 14, 2014 kjtaggett

Hey Everyone!!

Last week, 12/6/14 I had surgery to remove my gallbladder! Talk about ouch! That was not my idea of a good time. Slowly but surely this week I have been getting better and recovering faster then I thought I would!

Sometimes we don’t realize those little things we do make a difference. I can tell you that they DEFINITELY DO!

We make all these efforts, do the compound effect of doing little things and overtime they will add up. Sometimes we don’t see immediate results and it can discourage us. I was so scared when I had my surgery and I know it was due to my unhealthy days. BUT…this past year I have been making strides to become healthier and stronger. I quit smoking and have been working out. I have also been watching what I eat by eating more clean and watching my portions. (21 Day Fix is a great program for that)

The recovery time would have been a lot longer if 1. I smoked 2. I wasn’t working out or working on getting healthy through exercise and 3. Eating better. I thank a lot of that to my challenge support groups to help keep me accountable.

You can do it! It takes time and effort but you can do it! Believe me, you want to make strides to be a better and healthier you, especially to avoid this crazy/painful almost $40,000 surgery!