Meal Prep

So my meal prepping is probably the most basic in the whole world.  I am not a serious hard core muscle builder, so I'm not taking time measuring any nutrients out or anything like that.  This is the most simple way that I know how to do it, and it helps a lot when I'm running around and have seconds to pack a whole days worth of meals in the morning.
If you read my last post you saw everything I got on my grocery list, so I will just hop right in to what I prepare!

• Cucumbers and celery- I was and cut these up so that they're in ready to eat pieces.  They make a great addition to a lunch, or they're great for snacking in the middle of the day! If they're ready to eat I will be more likely to eat them and they will be less likely to sit in the back of my fridge and rot!
• Brown rice- I find that 2 cups of rice normally lasts me the longest without going bad or anything, so I boil that and put it in one big Tupperware.  I'll spoon it out and warm it up as I need it.  I think it saves more space rather than putting it out in separate containers. 
• Chicken- I normally do 4 chicken breasts at once.  This time I did two of them with my famous seasoning and the other two I just used low sodium teriyaki sauce. I cut the cooked pieces into littler pieces and put them into containers.  This way it's easier to just throw them over rice or over a salad or however I want to eat them. 

And that's basically all I do.  If I need to make a batch of granola for the week I usually would do that too, but I had plenty to last me for the week.  There are things that I eat throughout the week that don't get prepared on meal prep days.  Since the chicken sausage I buy is already pre cooked I will just cut that up the day I want to have it and warm it up with my rice.  I also use the steam fresh veggies, just because it's easier to me, so I will steam those on a daily basis too.  I make sweet potato fries basically almost every day (I'm beyond obsessed with them) but I have found that they taste better when they're cut fresh, so I cut those up on the day that I cook them as well. 

I hoped this helped some of you who are looking to start meal prepping! Like I said in the beginning this is totally just a basic routine, and just what I normally do on a weekly basis. 

xoxo, 

Summer

My Favorite Chicken Dish

This post should probably be titled 'One of my Favorite Chicken Dishes' because I am basically obsessed with chicken. But this is one of the top ones, and boyfriend and I have been eating it a lot lately, so I decided to share!

Ingredients:

• sweet peppers (red, orange, yellow)
• 2 chicken breasts (or 4 chicken tenders)
• taco seasoning
• brown rice
• queso

Obviously from the ingredients you can tell that this recipe has a LOT of room to make it your own, and that's one of the reasons I love it so much. I tweek it a little each time and it always comes out different. By the way I got this idea from the dish that my boyfriend always gets at our favorite local Mexican restaurant. (a true hidden Memphis gem...seriously, someone's even been shot there!) But anyway, I highly encourage you to make it your own and add new stuff each time! Let me know if you try it and hash tag your pics with #perfectbelleblog. I'd love to try new ideas! 

How To Make! 

• First you want to start your rice, because cooking rice literally takes FOREVER. Brown rice is my all time favorite, but we have had it with Spanish rice as well, and it's just as good. 
• Next, cut up your peppers. I use the sweet mini peppers you can buy at the store in a big bag.  I'm obsessed with these because they cut into the perfect little pepper rings, and I love to snack on them. I find that the perfect balance is about 4 red ones, 3 orange, and 2 yellow. 
• Add the peppers to a preheated pan (medium heat) with a little water and put the lid on.  Only let it sit like this for about 2 minutes before adding the chicken because it WILL BURN. 
• Add the chicken.  You can cut it up or leave it whole.  I like to cut it up while it's cooking, cause that's the easiest way for me to tell if the chicken is done or not. (I have a horrible fear of eating raw or under-cooked anything). 
• Once the chicken has browned up a little sprinkle in your taco seasoning.  I use probably less than a table spoon, but really I just eyeball it until it looks like enough. 

• Let your chicken finish cooking and sample the peppers to make sure they're not crunchy anymore.  Turn the heat off and add in your queso.  You can honestly pour as much as your little heart desires.  I mean...it's queso, so go all out.  Let the cheese warm up a little bit and then serve the mixture over rice! 

I hope y'all get a chance to try this out, because it seriously is so yummy!! 

In other totally unrelated news, IT'S CHRISTMAS BREAK! Although I still have to work, I have a TON more free time, so expect more blog posts! yay! I'm so excited, and I have some good idea!! 

Stay Sweet!

xoxo, 

Summer