Turkey and Italian Sausage Zucchini Boats

To say that I love to eat would be an understatement. Usually the things we love to eat are super unhealthy, so I am always working on ways to make healthy things taste like the super fattening things I love. I like green vegetables, but I would be lying if I told you they got me as excited as a pizza dripping with cheese. sausage and a great marinara sauce. These zucchini boats are delicious and make me feel like I am eating pizza. Even my son loves them!  The first thing he said when he looked at it was: "I don't like it." I have very clear rules that he must taste something before he decides if he likes it or not, so after one bite: "Mom, this is good, what is it? 

Aren't kids hilarious? LOL

What gives these so much great flavor is the Italian sausage. I use Turkey Italian Sausage and mix it with ground turkey.  It is super flavorful and healthy, but you can use any meat you want and this would be just as tasty, but if you are going for healthy, stick with turkey or chicken. I mix ground turkey and turkey Italian sausage, but you can certainly use all sausage or all ground turkey. I like to mix the turkey Italian sausage with the ground turkey so that I can freeze half of it and use it for spaghetti sauce or lasagna at a later date.

Start with fresh zucchini that has been washed and slice in half.

 Hollow out the zucchini by scraping out the inside. Chop the inside that you scooped out and set it aside

Before you go any further. Boil some water and drop the zucchini halves in for in minute and remove

In a large skillet or saucepan, saute your meat until brown remove from skillet and set aside. In same pan, saute your onions, zucchini and garlic until translucent and then add your ground turkey and Italian sausage

Place a half cup of sauce in the bottom of a baking dish and place zucchini halves on top. Fill the hollowed out zucchini with the cooked turkey zucchini mixture

Once you top the zucchini halves with marinara sauce and a generous sprinkle of Mozzarella Cheese...

It will evolve to something so delicious you will think you are eating a great pizza:-) I promise you will love this! It is a filling and delicious low carb meal, but if you aren't concerned with carbs, garlic bread would be amazing with these zucchini boats.

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup Marinara Sauce

4-5 medium zuchinni

1/2 small onion finely chopped

3 cloves garlic minced

1/2 cup diced bell pepper 

1/2 package turkey Italian sausage

1/2 package ground turkey

1 cup shredded low fat mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 400

Slice zucchini in half and scoop out the flesh. Bring a pot of water to a boil and drop the halves in for in minute.  Put the halves aside.

Chop the scooped out zuchinni, onion, garlic  and bell pepper and put aside.

Place sauce in the bottom of a baking pan and place zucchini halves in pan.

In a large skillet or saucepan, brown the meat and remove. In same pan, saute the zucchini, onion, garlic and bell pepper. Add the browned meat to the mixture and cook for another minute or two. Fill each hollowed out zucchini with the turkey zucchini mixture and top with approximately two tablespoons marinara sauce. Top each zucchini with a tablespoon of parmesan cheese and a couple of tablespoons of Mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. 

This is a great way to trick the kids into loving vegetables

Bon Appetit!

Sunshine

 Happy Monday loves! I hope your weekend was as wonderful as mine was:-) I went on a little getaway and I just felt completely refreshed when I came home. Last week I was feeling lethargic and devoid of any energy, but today I feel like the energizer bunny. I am wearing yellow which is a color that always makes me feel happy when I wear it.  Yellow always reminds me of sunny days and how much of a joy it is to bring warmth and light to others, rather than darkness.

Do you have colors that make you feel extra happy?

Polka dots make me happy too:-)

Yellow top: JC Penney, Polka Dot Scarf: F-21, Purse: Love Culture: Boots: Urban OG, Pants: Specialty Boutique

 Inner peace is that feeling that anchors you when 

things are not perfect, but you know that after a storm is a rainbow:-)

 I always daydream when I am in peaceful settings. What about you?

A little pattern mixing. I love dots and stripes. Do you like to mix patterns?

Have an amazing day and an even better week!

Be Good to You

Most of us have people in our lives that love us such as friends family and spouses, but no one can love you like you. Their is only one in the world that can love you better than you love yourself and that's GOD. So often we are so busy loving others that sometimes we forget to be good to ourselves.

Be good to you. Do things that make you smile, go places that make you happy, surround yourself with people that genuinely want the best for you. So what are you doing to be good to yourself?

Just another day...

 Happy Tuesday! How is your week going? Feeling a little tired and out of it today. What do you do when you lack energy?

Do you wear bold colors in the fall? A lot of us tend to settle into wearing blacks and grays, but bold color is beautiful in all seasons,  A little color can brighten any day:-)

top: F-21, Scarf: Fashion District, Purse: Handbag Heaven, Jeans: Macys

Make today amazing!

Cinnamelt Sticky Bun Pancakes

I love a good cinnamon roll and man oh man do I love pecan sticky buns. These pancakes are the best of both worlds, a blanket of cinnamon and brown sugar, caramelized pecans and vanilla cream cheese syrup to top it off. Sounds like cinnamon roll sticky bun heaven. And it is! These are Saturday or Sunday Morning pancakes because they need to be savored and enjoyed.

They are as ridiculously good as they look

Go on the front porch and tease your neighbors. "na na na na na, I got some pancakes"

There is just something about cinnamon, and brown sugar .
This makes me feel like I am eating one of those scrumptious cinnabon cinnamon rolls and a big caramelly sticky bun:-) Is Caramelly a word? LOL

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder 
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 Tablespoon canola oil
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten 

Cinnamon Filling Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon 
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg  

Caramelized Pecans

1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup pecans
1 Tablespoon brown sugar

Cream Cheese Syrup
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
2-ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Prepare pancake batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk in milk, oil and egg, just until batter is moistened (a few small lumps are fine).
2. In a medium bowl, mix butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. Pour filling into a pastry bag, or use a squeeze bottle with a small tip. Set the mixture aside. (make sure it s not too runny)
3. In a medium, microwave-safe bowl- heat butter and cream cheese until melted. Whisk together until smooth; whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla extract; set aside. Make sure you add sugar a little add a time to avoid lumps
4. Heat large skillet over medium-low heat. Spray with nonstick spray.
5. Scoop about 3/4 cup batter onto the skillet. When pancake has started to cook a little, swirl in the cinnamon filling. When bubbles begin to appear on the surface, flip carefully with a thin spatula, and cook until browned on the underside, 1 to 2 minutes more.
6. Transfer to a baking sheet or platter and keep in a warm oven until ready to serve.
7. When ready to serve, spoon warmed glaze onto the top of each pancake and top with caramelized pecans.

 Bon Appetit!

Climb

Sometimes a dream is the only thing that can keep you going. You can make your dream a reality if you choose to make it bigger than your problem. Easier said than done, but try your best to focus on it because a dream usually has a vision and a great vision gives birth to amazing things. What you see in your mind, you will eventually hold in your hand. It takes strength and stamina to pursue a dream because at times you will have to be your own cheerleader. 

You will get tired, but that is when the real workout starts, after you get tired. Make sure you do not share your dreams with the wrong people because some are great at being dream killers, naysayers, or secret haters. Avoid those types like the plague and if you must be around them, keep your dreams to yourself.  

What are you doing to follow your dreams? Are you still pursuing them? Or have you given up?

Three words for you:  "Don't Give Up"

Hello October

Happy Wednesday! I cannot believe it is October already. My week is off to a great start and I can't wait for the season premiere of Scandal. Do you watch it? I love a show with great writing and acting. With so much garbage reality television, it is refreshing to watch something that stimulates my mind. What are some of your favorite shows?

Now that the weather is starting to get much cooler, I have been wearing more darker colors and layering more since summer is officially gone. I have always loved the simplicity of a nicely cut blazer and a cute pair of jeans. I paired a black blazer with a soft salmon colored scarf and ankle strap pumps.

 I really love a classic pump because it never goes out of style and I have always found ankle straps to be very sexy. The shoe I am wearing is a great fusion of the two and the heel is not excessively high. I have this shoe in a lower height in a few other colors because it is a very versatile shoe that can be worn with a beautiful dress or your favorite slacks or jeans. What is your favorite stylish and unfussy look?

Blazer: F-21, T-Shirt: H&M, Purse: Big Buddha, Scarf: Fashion District, Shoes: Make Me Chic

 I am between shoe sizes, so these are just a touch too big, but they are comfortable. I love this soft color

One of the reasons I love watching Scandal is that it reminds me of what public relations professionals deal with in managing the images and reputation of other people. I have been in the public relations profession since graduating from college. Managing reputations is hard work.

Another thing I love about Scandal is the plot twists, complexity of characters and Olivia's killer classic wardrobe:-) What do you love about the show?

So, do you have some great wine and tasty nibbles to munch on during the Scandal premiere? I love popcorn with a little truffle oil and butter. Have a great day!