Lynbrook | New Hyde Park | NY

vegetables

Recipe of the Week: Creamy Chicken One-Pot Pasta

Ingredients:

  • 8 ounces whole-wheat linguine or spaghetti
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 4 cups sliced mushrooms
  • 2 cups sliced Brussels sprouts
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons Boursin cheese
  • 1¼ teaspoons dried thyme
  • ¾ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

Directions:
Prep: 35 m
Ready In: 40 m

  1. Combine pasta, chicken, mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, onion, garlic, Boursin cheese, thyme, rosemary and salt in a large pot. Stir in water. Bring to a boil over high heat.
  2. Boil, stirring frequently, until the pasta is cooked and the water has almost evaporated, 10 to 12 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat and let stand, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Serve sprinkled with chives.

 

Nutrition:
Serving size: about 1½ cups each
Per serving: 353 calories; 10 g fat, 42 g carbohydrates, 27 g protein

 

Original recipe can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: AUTUMN BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

Makes: 12 servings
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 50 min
Total Time: 70 min

INGREDIENTS

  • 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, quartered
  • 1.5 pounds potatoes, diced into 1/2-inch cubes (try half sweet potatoes, half Yukon gold)
  • 1 large red bell pepper, cored and diced
  • 1 medium white or yellow onion, peeled and diced
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper
  • 1 pound ground Italian sausage (or breakfast sausage)
  • 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
  • 2 handfuls roughly-chopped fresh kale, tough stems discarded
  • 15 eggs, whisked
  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning, to taste

 INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Heat oven to 400°F.  Line a large baking sheet (or two medium baking sheets) with parchment paper; set aside.  Lightly mist a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray; set aside.
  2. Drizzle evenly with the oil, and season with a few generous pinches of salt and pepper.  Toss the veggies until they are evenly coated with the oil and arranged in an even layer.  Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.  Remove baking sheet(s) from the oven, and carefully transfer the veggies into the prepared baking dish; set aside.
  3. Meanwhile, as the veggies are roasting, cook the sausage in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat until browned.  Once the sausage is browned, add in the garlic and kale and sauté for an extra 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant. Remove pan from heat, and transfer the sausage into the prepared baking dish; set aside.
  4. In a separate large bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the eggs, milk, Old Bay seasoning, plus an extra 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
  5. Once the veggies and sausage have been cooked and added to the baking dish, use a spoon to give them a brief toss.  Then spread the mixture out in an even layer in the baking dish.  Carefully pour the whisked egg mixture evenly on top of the veggies and sausage.
  6. Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out completely clean. Remove from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack to cool for 10 minutes.
  7. Serve warm. Then slice, serve, and enjoy!  Or cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

 

Original recipe can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Pumpkin Spice Superhero Muffins

“Superhero Muffins” are a staple from the cookbook Run Fast, Eat Slow written by elite runner, Shalane Flanagan, and chef & nutrition coach, Elyse Kopecky. This week, Shalane announced her retirement from professional running; so to celebrate her career, we are sharing this fall ready version of their famous muffins. (Learn more about Shalane here!)

Since it is Turkey Trot Training season here at Peak Performance, this week’s recipe is ready to fuel your body for a long training run on a Saturday morning (or Sunday if that’s your preference).

Makes 1 dozen

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups almond meal
  • 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
  • 6 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup raisins, walnuts or chocolate chips (optional)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup standard muffin tin with paper muffin cups.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the almond meal, oats, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt.
  3. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the eggs, pumpkin puree, butter, maple syrup and vanilla.
  4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until completely combined. If using raisins or chocolate chips, fold them in.
  5. Scoop the batter evenly into the muffin cups, filling them to the top.
  6. Bake for 32-35 minutes, until cooked through in the center and browned on top.

 

 

Recipe adapted from “Run Fast. Cook Fast. Eat Slow.” by Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky.

Recipe of the Week: Zucchini Linguine in JETS Sauce

Shout out to Peak Performance Fitness member, Wendie, for sharing her family’s recipe this week! Serve up this zucchini linguine with shrimp for Sunday night dinner. It’s prepared in homemade sauce, appropriately named for some Sunday football – JETS Sauce!

Ingredients:

  • 2 cans crushed tomatoes
  • 5 cloves of garlic (whole)
  • 5 cloves of garlic (minced)
  • ½ minced onion
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 10 basil leaves (fresh)
  • 24 large shrimp (peeled & deveined)
  • 2 large zucchinis (spiralized or shredded)

Directions:

  1. In a large pasta pot, pour in 2 Tbsp of olive oil on low heat. Once the oil is hot, toss in the whole garlic cloves. Cook until lightly browns. Toss in the minced garlic and onions and cook for 5 minutes.
  2. Toss in the crushed tomatoes. Add in 10 basil leaves and cook uncovered for 45 minutes on medium heat mixing occasionally so that the sauce doesn’t burn.
  3. Add in the zucchini and mix together so the sauce covers it all. Place a lid on the pot and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Add in the shrimp, mix together and keep covered for 5 minutes or until pink.
  5. Serve it hot & enjoy!

 

 

Recipe of the Week: Cabbage Soup

Peak’s gym is full of healthy chefs!!

Shout out to Peak’s gym member, Vinny S., for sharing this week’s recipe!

Ingredients:

  • 1 large head cabbage
  • 6 large onion or scallions
  • 1 or 2 cans (16-28 oz) tomatoes
  • 2 green peppers
  • 1 stalk to 1 bunch celery
  • 6 carrots (optional)
  • 2 cups green beans (optional)
  • 1 package soup mix (onion or vegetable)
  • Small can V-8 juice (optional)
  • Salt, pepper, curry, parsley, bouillon and/or hot sauce, to taste

Directions:

  1. Slice vegetables and cover with water in a large pot. Add soup mix.
  2. Boil gently for 10 minutes, cover.
  3. Lower heat and simmer until vegetables are soft.
  4. Season to taste & enjoy!

Nutrition:
Serving Size: 1 cup
34 calories
Protein: 1 gram
Carbs: 8 grams
Sodium: 64 mg

Recipe of the Week: Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Big thanks to Peak Performance Fitness member, Anne F., for sharing her recipe!

A great way to enjoy the taste of a Chinese restaurant in your own home- these copy cat lettuce wraps are just like the real thing!

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. ground chicken
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 finely minced cloves of garlic
  • 1 small onion, minced
  • ¼ cup hoisin sauce
  • 2 tbsp. soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp. rice wine vinegar
  • 1  tbsp freshly grated ginger  (I use less; the flavor can overpower)
  • 1 can diced water chestnuts
  • 2 sliced scallions
  • ¼ red pepper finely chopped
  • 1 head of lettuce

Directions:

  1. Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium high heat. Add ground chicken and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the chicken as it cooks; drain excess fat.
  2. Stir in garlic, onion, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ginger until onions have become translucent, about 1-2 minutes.
  3. Stir in chestnuts and green onions until tender, about 1-2 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste. At the last moment, stir in the red pepper.
  4. To serve, spoon several tablespoons of the chicken mixture into the center of a soft lettuce leaf, (like Boston lettuce) taco-style.

 

Recipe of the Week: Italian Sausage Bean Soup

Peak Performance has some excellent chefs!

Thank you to our gym member, Helen, for sharing her recipe this week.

Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 1-1/2 hours
Serves 8

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. bulk Italian chicken or pork sausage
  • 1 medium onion finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves sliced
  • 4 cans chicken broth, 14-1/2 oz reduced sodium
  • 2- 15 oz cans pinto beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 can diced tomatoes, undrained (14-1/2 oz)
  • 1/2 cup medium pearl barley
  • 1 large carrot sliced
  • 2 celery ribs sliced
  • 1 tsp. minced fresh sage
  • 1/2 tsp. minced fresh rosemary or 1/8 tsp. dried rosemary crushed
  • 6 cups chopped fresh kale or spinach
  • Salt and pepper, if desired

Directions:

  1. In a pot, cook sausage and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink.  Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain.
  2. Stir in the broth, beans, tomatoes, barley, carrot, celery, sage and rosemary. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
  3. Stir in the kale or spinach; return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes or until all the vegetables are tender and the kale or spinach is wilted.
  4. Small pasta may be substituted for the barley and added during the last 10 minutes of simmering or pasta can be cooked separately and then added before serving.
  5. Enjoy!

 

Planning Healthy Meals for the Week

We asked Peak Performance’s own Exercise Physiologists about how they have created routine in their lives. From working out, to meal prepping to staying hydrated, read on for their best tips!

 

  1. Create a menu for the week by working around your schedule.

Which meals are going to be eaten at work/school? Are there any events where you may be home too late to cook? Any mornings where breakfast will be on-the-go? I try to pick one recipe for breakfast, maybe two for snacks, and three or four to cycle through for lunch and dinner. This helps create variety in my menu so I’m not bored of salads by Tuesday at dinnertime.

  1. Make a shopping list (and stick to it).

Once you have a menu of meals to prepare, it’s time to hit the grocery store. Do your food shopping from a specific list based on the recipe you are cooking and stick to that list – this will help avoid ice cream from ‘magically jumping’ in your cart. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the average American ends up wasting 25% of the food and beverages they purchase. By making that shopping list specific, you purchase just what you need to cook for the week based on your meal plan.

  1. Prepare your meals ahead of time to save time.

Ever hear of ‘Meal Prep Sunday’? Give yourself an hour or two over the weekend to cook in bulk so you have food prepared for a few days. Start by prepping all of the ingredients together, i.e. if two recipes call for chopped onion, chop it all at once; this will save time instead of going back to chop another 1/2 cup of something. When it’s time to get cooking, look at the recipes and stagger how they are going to be cooked in order to multitask. See what’s going to take the longest in the oven and get that going while work on another dish.

  1. Pack snacks (just in case).

I am a big fan of the second breakfast and always make sure I have something for the ‘witching hours’ between lunch and dinner. When packing your lunch box, add a healthy snack just in case that late morning or afternoon hunger strikes. If you have meals prepared, you will be less likely to reach for treats in the break room at work or head straight for the kitchen when you get home.

 

By Louise Mills-Strasser, MS