Coconut and Almond Crusted Cod

Many people I know have strong feelings, either positive or negative, about seafood. Some, like my fiance and I absolutely love it, while others seem to loath the "fishy" taste. First and foremost, not all seafood you can purchase in the stores is created equal. Wild caught fresh fish is going to be the best quality, but you're going to pay a bit more for it. On the other hand, farm raised frozen fish is likely to taste more fishy and dirty. We found a happy medium by purchasing wild caught frozen cod filets and Sam's Club. It's reasonably priced but taste fresh and clean. When I buy fish, I want the only ingredients to be fish, not some hunk of meat loaded with minerals and preservatives! Additionally, the type of fish you buy is obviously going to change the flavor and texture a lot too. We all know that salmon, tuna, cod and tilapia are all vastly different flavors and textures. So, the moral of the story, try a few different cooking methods and different types of fish, maybe you'll find something you like!

This recipe is one of my personal favorite ways to cook white fish. The fish is great by itself because it has a hearty texture, and is wonderfully flakey when you cut into it. Putting a tasty crust on the outside creates depth to the textures by adding a sweet crunch. The almond meal and coconut flakes are both high fat content ingredients so I normally use them sparingly. In combination with a really lean white fish, they add variety to your caloric intake and diversify the fuel for your body!

Ingredients:
Three cod filets
One egg
1/2 cup almond meal
1/4 cup coconut flakes (I indulged and used sweetened because that's what I had on hand, but unsweetened would work too!)
1 Tbsp. coconut oil

Directions:
Mix coconut flakes and almond meal together on a plate. Whisk whole egg in a bowl. Warm coconut oil in non-stick skillet on medium heat. Dip each filet in egg wash then roll in dry mix.
When oil sizzles, gently lay the filets in the pan. Cook for about 5-7 per side, but watch for burning!
You'll want to cook on low/medium heat to create a nice crust but low enough to cook fish thoroughly.

*Funny personal trick: I have an electric stove so I have a hard time knowing when my oil is hot enough to create a brown crust. My super fancy and classy way of testing the heat of my pan is to lick my finger and flick toward the pan.  If that little speck sizzles, then you're good to go! You could obviously use a drop of water too, but that would mean I'd have to turn around, turn the sink on, and get to the pan before my finger dried. I promise I only do this when I'm cooking for my own household. I thought I'd share, for the sake of a giggle.

Slow Cooker Lemon Herb Turkey Breast with Veggies

I don’t know about y’all but I LOVE MY CROCK POT! Working a full time job, hitting the gym every day, and generally living a very busy life, I love the fix it and leave it method of a crock pot! More often than not, the things that are concocted in my kitchen are different combinations of lean meats and vegetables. I love to get creative with the ingredients I have on hand. I refuse to waste food, so I make sure to use up most everything that is perishable before I go to the store again! This recipe was definitely a product of that mentality. These are not vegetables or flavors I’ve combined before, but they mingled wonderfully!

Ingredients:

1 pound turkey breast roast
½ cup yellow onion, chopped
4 cups butternut squash, cubed
4 cups eggplant, cubed
2 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
1 Tbsp. garlic, minced
Dash salt & pepper
Juice of one lemon (throw the halves and/or zest in too if you want)
1 cup chicken broth

Directions:

Spread the onions on the bottom of the crock pot then set the turkey on top. Add the squash and eggplant around and on top of the turkey. Cover with seasonings, squeeze in lemon juice and pour on the chicken broth. Put the lid on and let cook on low for 8 hours. Now, go workout, play with your kids, or go on a nature hike, and enjoy your day! Come home to a zesty and flavorful dinner. Makes approximately 4 servings.

Mama Brown's Pulled Pork

This recipe is a delicious example of southern home cooking revamped as modern healthy fuel! Mama Brown is Rachel's soon-to-be mother in law. She is a true southern bell, born and raised in Texas. She understands the need to please those cowboy taste buds while still retaining her classy figure. While on a recent family vacation Mama Brown made this juicy and flavorful pulled pork for the whole family. It was a perfect dinner after a long day of touring a new city! It's so simple to add these four ingredients into the crock pot and go about your day. Then viola! All you have to do is pull the meat with two forks and its time to enjoy.
Our Fuel.FoodforLife concept is to provide you with tantalizing recipes that honor the traditions of the home cooked flavorful dishes we grew up on, while still being conscious of your body's health. We believe you can fuel your body with a plethora of nutrients and simultaneously explore the rainbow of flavor. This pulled pork recipe is great way to eat lean protein, devil in a little tangy spice and feel the down home comfort of BBQ without all the sugary sauce!

Ingredients:
3-4 lbs pork loin roast
1 packet McCormick's pulled pork seasoning
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup water

Add all the ingredients to your crocks pot. Rub the seasoning all over the pork. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours.
When cooking time has elapsed, pull the pork with two forks and mix well.
Serve on your favorite bun with cabbage slaw. Or, for a healthier option skip the bun and eat on top of a salad, or use romaine hearts as "boats".

BBQ pulled pork boats:
Rinse 4 romaine hearts and dry with paper towel. Add 1 Tbsp black beans, a spoonful of the above pulled pork, a few sliced of roasted red bell peppers, diced tomatoes, and sliced olives into each romaine boat. Sprinkle with a little shredded cheddar cheese.
This rendition cuts out the simple carbs that you would normally get from a bun and replaces them with fresh veggies. These complex carbs offer more vitamins and minerals that your body will use as clean energy to fuel your daily activities.