*Release of deep breath. It’s Friday! Feels like another whirlwind of a week again. I’m happy to be cruising into the weekend today! I am excited to share with you some of my favorites this week.
Favorite #1
This chicken marinade. This favorite is fresh on my mind because I literally just threw it together for our chicken for tonight and for the weekend. This chicken is absolutely AMAZING. In my family we kind of all have a love-hate relationship with white meat chicken. Overall I prefer the texture to darker meat. However, I (we) CANNOT stand it when it is chewy, tough, dry, etc.
Enter this marinade combo. The result will be tender, juicy, perfectly caramelized chicken. Marinating chicken in yogurt tenderizes the chicken. Also, a little fat added, such as EVOO or full fat yogurt, helps break down the potential toughness of white meat chicken as well.
Then, to make this marinade SUPER simple, the ranch dressing packets are awesome. This ranch seasoning is the perfect marriage to the yogurt dressing. I am typically biased to Hidden Valley, but my grocery shopper at Kroger subbed me the Kroger brand. It will be just fine.
When I am using chicken tenders, I cut out the “tender” part. I can’t stand that chewy vein of fat that runs through tenders, so I cut it out which makes the tenders into SUPER tiny pieces. I like to cook these in the air fryer. I line the tray with foil (pro tip), spray the foil with nonstick spray, line the chicken tenders on the foil, and then air fry for 15 minutes. I flip the chicken only for the last few minutes. Letting them cook on the one side for a longer time allows the chicken to caramelize. With larger pieces of chicken I will grill.
So in conclusion – marry white meat chicken with greek yogurt (and EVOO for some healthy fat), and your chicken will be juicy, tender, and so so good.
Favorite #2
It is no secret, if you follow me on Instagram, that I love Built Bar products. Every morning upon waking, I take a Built Boost (a BCAA, vitamin supplement) with my probiotic. It is caffeine free, but my energy is boosted by all the vitamins in this supplement. I like to drink coffee during my quiet time, so with the caffeine-free boost, I don’t feel guilty about consuming too much caffeine.
Then, after my quiet time, I do my workout before the kids awake. I typically don’t allow a whole lot of time between my probiotic and my workout, so I don’t like to eat much. However, I have found that I do so much better if I have some carbs and protein to work with. The Built Go is perfect! It’s a gel, so being a distance runner, I am very used to (and fine with) consuming. This has a perfect 1:1 ratio of carbs and protein with a little caffeine and no fat. It’s great, fast-hitting, workout fuel for me.
Then, everyday I consume at least one Built bar. Often, if I have to rush out the door after my workout to take the kids to school or start my day, I will grab a bar for quick protein and carbs. I find if I can get some fuel in me soon after my workout, my recovery is so much better. I can workout 5-6 days a week easily if I’m fueling well because I am recovering well. My mind and energy levels are so much more efficient when I workout, so I like to be able to get my body moving as often as I can.
**Pro-tip: Store the bars in the refrigerator and/or freezer. They are delicious out of the refrigerator, but also, it will help them last. They are not filled with a ton of preservatives, so they will go bad after some time (like a year, but still).
***The bars are delicious both cold out of the refrigerator and room temperature. However, for a delectable dessert/treat, warm them in the microwave for 15-18 seconds and eat with a spoon/fork. 😍
****Also, I truly share these products because I love them. I love the way they taste, make me feel, fuel me, etc. I do however have a coupon code you can use (fitfoodie10) to save you money. You can always use my code in conjunction with with their sales as well, so you can save yourself quite a bit of money if you time it right. Right now they are offering 12% off for Breast Cancer awareness, and then you can get an additional 10% off with my code.
Favorite #3:
I love some podcasts to listen to while driving, running errands, working around the house, walking, and working outside. I listen to a wide variety of podcasts – some inspirational, some motivational, some true crime, and some are just pure fun.
Lately, I have been thoroughly enjoying the Office Ladies podcast. I don’t know if you have noticed but the year 2020 has been a heavy-hitting year. 😳 Obviously I’m joking – it’s definitely no secret that 2020 has been a heavy year. Therefore, are times when I just need to laugh! I can handle the serious for so long, and then I just want something light and humorous to focus on.
This podcast has been just that (light and humorous) for several reasons.
- They are funny ladies – chatty – so you have to be ok with that, but when I need some lightheartedness in my ear, they are the perfect medicine.
- I love The Office. So a deep dive into each and every episode is simply a delight to me.
- It’s an excuse to go back and watch each episode!
- It makes me laugh, and I love to laugh. 😁 ❤️
Favorite #4
If you follow my stories on Instagram you will see my frequent posts of crunch wraps. This brand of wraps is so good. They are light, which helps them crunch up so well. Also, they don’t have that odd “low carb” flavor or texture like other lower carb wraps can have.
Something that I have added this week to set my wraps apart is some strawberry jam to my chicken and turkey crunch wraps. Along with cheese, onion, peppers, and lettuce, the strawberry jam adds the perfect compliment, complexity, and sweetness that makes me want to keep eating these over and over without getting bored.
My good friend, Kristi at Preserving Goodness, makes the best and most creative jams!
Favorite #5
Although I’m not sure how I feel about pulling out the boots yet, I was excited to see these Toms’ boots on sale at Amazon.
Toms’ boots and shoes are so comfortable to me! My feet are so happy in this brand! I have had several pairs with all sizes and shapes of heels, and in all of them, I can (and do) shop all day in comfort. So when I saw these on sale, I was super excited to grab them. This color is a great compliment to my wardrobe and existing shoe selection.
Final Favorite
This Oasis tea from Advocare. This tea is simply herbs and vitamins, but it is a sweet, soothing treat to me. I love to sip this in the afternoon, after school (when things can be CRAZY in my house), or in the evening after dinner. It’s a warm, sweet filler that is enjoyable as well as comforting. I can tell we are changing seasons here because all of a sudden I go from craving smoothies and ice cream, to wanting hot drinks, teas, and coffees. You can use this link to get 10% off if you want to order some for yourself. It has 0 calories and 0 macros.
Hope some of these tips and products will inspire your Friday to be a fabulous start to your weekend!
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