Almond crusted Chicken Fingers with honey, chipotle yogurt dip

Work has been extremely stressful lately. Every day I've worked this week, it has felt like I've walked into a shit storm of passion fruit mousse and Saskatoon berry compote over and over again. I am really hungry too, because I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off the whole time trying to escape the sweet storm I feel trapped in.

I am often finding myself dreaming of the days when I had no worries. Those were the days of my childhood. My worries consisted of choosing which cabbage patch kid doll I was going to play with, or who I was going to "call on" to play with outside. I miss playing in my treehouse that my dad built me. Oh and making snow forts all day long, going to dance classes, and making jazzy jewellery.

If only living life this way was acceptable at my age. It's ironic how when you're a kid you want to grow up so fast, and once you grow up you wish you were a kid again...My reality just set in...I really can't go back in time. I guess this calls for one of my comforting childhood favourites that takes me way back to my worry free days! CHICKEN FINGERS!  Of course I had to make it healthy, so I swapped the flour and bread crumbs for almond flour, which is higher in nutrients such as fibre,vitamin E, and monounsaturated fats. (Healthy fats our bodies need)

I also put together two dipping sauces for these babies, because I love sauce with anything. Who doesn't?

Almond Crusted Chicken Fingers

Ingredients

1lb Tenders or Chicken Breasts
3/4 cup ground almonds
1tbsp sprouted chia & flax seed powder ( I use organic traditions brand)
4 egg whites
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp salt
pinch of pepper

You can add your own spices to the mix and get creative!

Method

1. Preheat oven to 450F
2. Prepare and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil
3. If you are using whole chicken breasts, cut the chicken into strips
4. Set up your breading station. Place egg whites in a shallow dish, place ground almonds and spices in another shallow dish
5. Place chicken tenders into egg whites, coating them all around
6.  Transfer each chicken tender into the ground almond mixture coating them evenly
7. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown, turning the chicken tenders half way through cooking to ensure even browning

Pommery Honey Mustard

Ingredients

2tbsp Honey
2tbp Pommery or grainy mustard

Method

1. mix together

Honey, Lime and Chipotle Yogurt

Ingredients

1/2 cup plain unflavoured yogurt
2 tsp chipotles in adobo sauce
1 tsp Lime juice
1 tsp Honey

Method

1. Finely chop chipotles
2. Mix all ingredients together

Enjoy!

Alexandra

Carrot Fries & Black Bean Avocado Salad

Last night's dinner was inspired by the fact that I'm going to Miami in exactly two weeks. I have to look and feel my best, being a pastry chef is really hard in times like these. Everything speaks to me, and I want to shovel every little delicious looking thing in my mouth! I know, I know it's a hard life, but really what am I going to eat for dinner? I was at work with very little time and a lot of work for me to do, I was having creme brûlée, and dark chocolate mousse nightmares while I was awake! I was walking around aimlessly trying to figure out what to make in a snap.

I really love french fries, they're one of my favourite foods ever! They're so simple and can be dipped in anything my heart desires, but unfortunately lack in nutrition and are high in fat.

I decided to make myself and one of my friends some spiced carrot fries! But wait there's no protein in that!? I like my meals nutritionally balanced! So I also ended up making a light and colourful Black bean, avocado, and veggie salad. This salad is perfect if you are pressed for time. It is high in protein and chocked full of vitamins from the other veggies in the salad. The fries have great flavour and are great for dipping in your favourite healthy dips, hummus, guacamole, or even a yogurt dip!




Carrot Fries

2 Servings

Ingredients

4 medium carrots
2 tbsp olive oil
1tbsp paprika
1tsp cumin
salt and pepper to taste

Method

1. Wash, peel, and cut carrots in to sticks.
2. Toss carrots in the remaining ingredients
3. Spread carrot sticks out on baking sheet
4. Bake in the oven @350F for 20-30 minutes depending on your oven

FYI: Carrot fries don't crisp up like a regular deep fried french fries, but they're still delicious and full of nutrients!


Black Bean & Avocado salad

2 servings

Ingredients

1 can of black beans
1 Ripe avocado
10 cherry tomatoes
1 yellow bell pepper
1/2 small red onion
2 tbsp pepitas
2 Limes
1 tsp Chilli powder
salt and pepper to taste

Method
1. Rinse black beans and place in a bowl
2. Wash + slice veggies
3. Zest Limes and juice
4. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste. I really encourage tasting everything while you make it to you ensure that your food is delish!
6. Sprinkle salad with pepitas

Enjoy


Alexandra