THM Recipe: Chicken Jalapeno Popper Casserole {THM - S}

I am currently in love with all things jalapeño!  So, I took a recipe I found from Pinterest and turned it into a THM-friendly meal!

Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole (S)
(Print this Recipe!)
Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

2 jalapenos, diced small (seeds out)
4-5 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
2 cups Monterrey jack cheese, shredded
1 box Dreamfields rotini pasta, cooked.
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 cups water
1 pkg. 1/3 fat cream cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook chicken and pasta.  Dice chicken. Dice peppers.  Put chicken, diced jalapenos, & pasta in a casserole dish (I used an 11x15 pan).  Shred both cheeses.  Bring cream, cream cheese, & water to a boil in a medium sauce pan.  Slowly add in shredded cheeses, stirring until cheese is melted.  Pour over chicken, jalapenos, & pasta.  Mix together, put into the oven for 20 minutes covered.  Uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes.  ENJOY!

5 Quick and Easy THM-approved Lunches

I've been thinking and planning out some quick, easy THM lunches that I can make for myself lately.  I usually make my kids sandwiches, mac n cheese, or pizza rolls for their lunches.  Those are not on plan.  I don't want to have to use a ton of dishes and take 30 minutes to make my lunch on top of theirs, so here are 5 Quick and Easy THM Lunch ideas I came up with.

1.  Turkey Roll-ups ~ (S)

Take an on-plan tortilla (Mission Carb Smart,  1/2 Joseph's Lavish), spread mayonnaise all over it.  Cover with pepperoni.  Cover with cheese.  Cover with lettuce/spinach.  Add sliced deli turkey (or meat of your choice).  Roll up, and slice into 1in. thick rolls. 
It is seriously SO easy, and delicious!!  I split one tortilla into 2 lunches with 2 hard boiled eggs.

2. Honey Mustard Chicken Salad (S)

Rip up a head of lettuce (you can stretch this into 2 lunches by using only a half.).  Chop up an already baked chicken (or turkey) breast, and put it over lettuce.  Add chopped tomatoes (or whatever other veggies you'd like.). You could add hard boiled egg slices, too.  Drizzle Honey Mustard Dressing (from the cookbook) on top.  ENJOY!

3.  Turkey Spinach Sandwich ~ (E)

Take 2 slices on plan sprouted bread.  Spread mayonnaise and mustard on one slice.  Add turkey.  Add spinach.  (I add jalapenos, too.) Add tomato slice if you want. Put together and EAT!!

4. Cinnamon & "Sugar" Toast ~ (XO)

Toast 2 slices on-plan, sprouted bread.  Spread butter while still hot. Sprinkle cinnamon and sweetener on top (I use Truvia).  ENJOY!

5.  Chips & Salsa (E)

If you can find on-plan corn chips, YAY!!  You can eat them with on-plan salsa for a yummy, quick lunch.  I love spicy food, so this is one of my favorites.

Do you have any quick, easy lunch ideas? Please share in the comments below!

Thoughts on Husbands

Everyone talks about how women need compliments about their appearance so their confidence, self esteem, whatever, is boosted.  I personally love it when my husband says something nice about me.  But do you ever, as a wife, say nice things about your husband's body to him?  I'm not talking sexual things...I'm talking compliments. 

The other day, my husband and I were getting ready for bed, and he was trying to see his back muscles in the mirror.  He said, "Back muscles are kind of annoying.  You can't look at them and enjoy what they look like."  I replied, "Well I certainly enjoy them.  You look great."  The look on his face was just so eye opening for me.  He looked so pleased and happy that I would say that.  He was like, "Really?  Ok, well that's good, I suppose,"  and smiled wide.

We as wives need to be encouraging our husbands by telling them things like this.  We aren't the only ones who appreciate a compliment on our bodies.  They need to know that we love and admire their bodies, just like they do to ours.  It encourages them, and makes them feel good. 

Especially if your husband is into working out and fitness.  He needs to hear that he is making progress, or that you appreciate what he's doing.  Even if you already thing he looks amazing, he may be insecure. 

Now for a little husband bragging on my part...

I never noticed my husband had gotten quite large after our wedding.  He decided he wanted to try a Tough Mudder obstacle course in 2014.  I thought he was crazy, but he was determined.  He started working out to prepare, and he lost about 33lbs.  Looking at old pictures one day, I was astounded that he was so big at one time!  I had never noticed, and I thought he was always my Hot Guy.  In all, he has lost 55lbs. and even so, he steps on the scale and sighs because he isn't losing the weight he wants to.  I always tell him to stop obsessing...he looks great, and it will come off with all of the hard work he puts into his fitness. I love my man, and appreciate all he does! 

Why it's Good to Shake up Your Exercise Routine

I have found that I love numerous different exercise modes.  I like Zumba, PiYo, RIPPED, Kickboxing, Jogging, & Yoga.  Those exercises are all so different, which is good!  Mixing up your routine makes your body work harder.  If you do the same thing every day, your body gets used to it, and it doesn't work as hard as it once did.

I did Zumba and PiYo last night and I can attest to the fact that it was HARD.  Not because I don't exercise...because I do. (I try to get in at least 3 days per week.)  It was because I was so used to running or doing RIPPED class, that my muscles got a bit used to that.  Zumba is aerobic, and PiYo does a lot of stretching and holding positions.  I have been doing PiYo at home, but doing a live class is actually quite different.  My instructors mix up the pattern every week, so you're not doing the same routine every single time.  My RIPPED class also mixes up the routine weekly. Some days are alot harder than others.

 And that is the point.

You want your muscles, your body, to have to work hard every time you exercise.  The harder it is to catch your breath, the harder your body is working.  When you're sore after a workout, it means you did as much as you could, and then some.  It's good to push yourself.  It's good to try new things as well!  I've been able to do things I thought I would never be able to do! 

When you first start out exercising, everything is hard.  But as you slowly work your way up to do harder and harder things, it proves that you are making progress.  Workouts don't get easier...YOU get better.  So, if you've fallen into an exercise rut, try something new, or shake up the routine. 

What exercises have you found enjoyable?  Please share in the comments below!