Flavorful & Fast: Your Guide to Cajun Shrimp and Cauliflower Rice Stir Fry (Low Carb & High Protein!)

Looking for a quick, healthy, and incredibly flavorful meal that’s perfect for one, or easily scaled for more? This Cajun Shrimp and Cauliflower Rice Stir Fry is your answer! It’s a low-carb, high-protein powerhouse packed with vibrant flavors and wholesome ingredients. Get ready to transform your weeknight dinners!

Embarking on a personal wellness journey since February, I’ve been diligently working to transform my body through consistent gym workouts and mindful nutrition. While the term “transformation” might sound intense, my focus has been less about drastic weight loss and more about sustainable changes: building muscle, shedding unwanted fat, and genuinely feeling better in my own skin. It’s a journey measured not just by the numbers on a scale, but by how my clothes fit and how I feel day-to-day.

A significant milestone occurred just last weekend, catching me delightfully off guard. I reluctantly pulled on a pair of jeans – a garment I typically avoid because they can feel restrictive and uncomfortable. To my utter surprise, they fit incredibly well! This was a powerful moment for me. Despite losing about eight pounds since the start of the year (with the usual fluctuations that come with living a balanced life, especially on weekends!), I hadn’t truly noticed the physical changes. Most days, I live in workout clothes or leggings, so seeing the tangible difference in my jeans was a huge validation of my progress. Comfortably wearing jeans has long been a personal goal, and achieving it felt like a major win on this slow and steady path to better health.

Beyond the physical workouts, nutrition plays an equally, if not more, critical role in this journey. For the past 50 days, I’ve committed to using MyFitnessPal daily to meticulously track my food intake. This practice has been profoundly insightful, effectively training me to pause and think before mindlessly snacking or making food choices I know I’ll later regret. It’s not about strict deprivation, but about informed moderation. For instance, I still enjoy pizza nights with my family on Saturdays, but I eat a smaller, more sensible portion. Sundays often involve tacos and a beer with my husband at lunch. I savor one beer (and, admittedly, sometimes a few too many tacos!), but I consciously try to incorporate an extra walk later to see those “exercise calories burned” on my Fitbit, which offers a little reassurance. Or, I simply acknowledge it and work a bit harder at the gym the following day. This mindful approach allows me to live a good, balanced life, seeing noticeable changes in my body and my relationship with food. It’s not an extreme diet or rapid body transformation; it’s a sustainable, habit-forming process, and that makes all the difference.

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Cozy Winter Comfort: Hearty Pasta Shells and Beans Soup Recipe & Bush’s Beans Recipe Exchange + Le Creuset Giveaway

Welcome to a post brimming with warmth, flavor, and an exciting opportunity! For several years now, I’ve had the pleasure of partnering with Bush’s Beans, a brand I genuinely trust and adore. Beans aren’t just an occasional ingredient in my kitchen; they are a cornerstone of my diet, offering incredible versatility, nutrition, and a satisfying heartiness to countless dishes. They are particularly indispensable when crafting soul-soothing, comforting soups, like the delicious Pasta Shells and Beans soup I recently whipped up. My recent “soup kick” has been a delightful culinary journey, focusing on preparing a large pot over the weekend to enjoy effortless, nourishing lunches and quick dinners throughout the busy week. This particular bean and pasta soup stands out for its elegant simplicity, yet delivers an exceptionally good taste. Packed with wholesome vegetables, protein-rich beans, and fiber-filled whole grain pasta, it truly hits the spot, especially on crisp, cold winter days when you crave something deeply satisfying and warming.

What makes this soup truly special is the subtle, natural creaminess lent by the beans. This isn’t just about texture; it infuses the soup with an extra layer of depth and comfort, transforming a simple meal into something truly extraordinary. And here’s a little secret: like many great soups, this one only improves with time, developing richer flavors as it rests in the refrigerator for a day or two. My inspiration for this delightful creation stems from a cherished childhood memory – a beloved soup my mom frequently prepared for us, known to many as Pasta e Fagioli, or simply Pasta Fazul. I’ve encountered numerous variations of this classic Italian-American dish over the years, but my family’s version bore a striking resemblance to this recipe, albeit traditionally made with ditalini pasta. For this iteration, I opted for whole wheat shell pasta, appreciating the added nutritional benefits and the satisfying bite it provides. The wholesome goodness of whole grain pasta elevates this comfort food to a healthier, more fulfilling level, and I’m already looking forward to making another batch soon.

I am thrilled to share this incredibly wholesome and utterly delicious soup recipe as the launchpad for a special **Winter Comfort Food Recipe Exchange**. This heartwarming event is proudly hosted by Bush’s Beans, Real Mom Kitchen, and myself. Our shared vision is to cultivate a vibrant collection of your most cherished, comforting winter recipes that prominently feature the goodness of beans. By contributing your favorite winter comfort food bean recipes through our link-up, you’re not just sharing culinary inspiration; you’re also entering for an incredible chance to win a highly coveted **Le Creuset Cast Iron French Oven, complete with valuable coupons for Bush’s Beans and a generous $100 Visa gift card**! This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your culinary creativity and potentially upgrade your kitchen essentials. Please review the detailed instructions below the recipe to learn how you can participate and stand a chance to win these amazing prizes.

 

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Mastering Weekly Salad Prep: A Guide to Fresh Greens and Effortless Healthy Eating All Week

Revolutionize Your Routine: Enjoy Fresh Salads Every Day with Minimal Effort

For those ready to invest in lasting freshness, the OXO Soft Works Salad Spinner is my trusted recommendation – a decade-long staple in my kitchen!

If you’ve followed my culinary adventures for any length of time, whether through this blog, social media, or even in real life, you’re likely aware of my profound affection for salads. A truly exceptional salad, whether crafted at home or discovered at a restaurant (a rare and delightful find!), brings me immense joy. However, I’m probably not alone in admitting that the enthusiasm for *making* salads at home doesn’t always match the desire to *eat* them. This sentiment has been particularly strong lately (the unique combination of pregnancy and salad preparation often equals ‘eh’ for me!).

Yet, whether pregnant or not, I’ve navigated my fair share of “salad ruts” over the years. The good news? I’ve developed a foolproof method to pull myself out of them every single time, ensuring a continuous supply of vibrant, fresh salads throughout the week. This isn’t just about eating healthy; it’s about simplifying your life and making nutritious choices readily available.

Whenever I find myself stuck in any culinary rut, I instinctively know it’s time to break free from my usual grocery shopping routine. Sometimes, this means venturing to a store I don’t frequently visit, like a specialty market or an upscale gourmet grocer, just to seek out new ingredients and culinary inspiration. However, when it’s specifically a salad rut, my compass points directly to my favorite local produce market – a place where inspiration strikes the moment I walk through the door.

This market is a true gem: a family-owned establishment that operates much like an indoor farmer’s market, open daily except Sundays. It’s run by incredibly kind and diligent people, and every visit is an adventure. I never know what unexpected treasures I’ll discover. They boast an unparalleled variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, all at fantastic prices. It’s the kind of authentic place where you can almost smell the robust flavor of the tomatoes, and where you might even find a speck of earth still clinging to a zucchini – a testament to its freshness, far removed from any waxy, supermarket sheen.

My love for this place runs deep, and it’s the foundation of my successful weekly salad prep.

(Just look at all this gorgeous green goodness!)

Their expansive selection of fresh greens instantly ignites my salad-making creativity. On my last visit, I returned home with a vibrant head of red leaf lettuce, a crisp head of green leaf lettuce, and a small, intriguing head of radicchio – picked up purely for the joy of trying something new. Once home, I wasted no time. I immediately began the process of cutting up my lettuces, preparing them for the essential next step: cleaning and drying them in my trusty salad spinner. (Full disclosure: This is an affiliate link, and I can wholeheartedly recommend the large OXO SoftWorks salad spinner, which has been a reliable companion in my kitchen for over a decade!).

(Immediate action + salad spinner = the first step to weekly salad success!)

The Salad Spinner Advantage: Do They Really Keep Greens Fresher?

Absolutely, salad spinners are instrumental in prolonging the freshness of your greens. Their effectiveness lies in their design: by rapidly spinning the basket, almost all excess moisture is efficiently removed from the surface of the lettuce leaves. This crucial step is directly correlated with how long your salad greens will remain crisp and vibrant. Simply put, the drier your greens, the longer they stay fresh, preventing premature wilting and sogginess. This also allows dressings to cling beautifully to each leaf, enhancing flavor and texture rather than diluting it.

When you’re preparing your greens with your salad spinner, it’s important to avoid overcrowding the basket. Overstuffing can hinder the spinner’s ability to thoroughly dry all the leaves, leaving some still damp. My preferred method is to place the freshly cut greens into the spinner’s basket, then set the basket into its outer plastic bowl. I then fill the entire assembly with cold water in the sink, allowing the greens to soak for a minute or two. This helps loosen any dirt and revitalizes the leaves. After soaking, I lift the basket, letting all the water drain completely from the bowl before I begin spinning.

For optimal dryness, especially with larger quantities of greens, it’s best to process them in smaller batches. Spin each batch several times until you can see and feel that the greens are exceptionally dry and crisp. This meticulous drying process is what truly extends their shelf life and ensures that every salad you make throughout the week is a pleasure to eat.

Whenever someone asks me, “Is a salad spinner really worth the investment?” my answer is an unequivocal yes. For me, it has proven its value countless times over. Having owned the same OXO SoftWorks salad spinner for more than a decade and using it multiple times a month, I can attest to its durability and effectiveness. Beyond just salad greens, it’s also fantastic for drying fresh herbs from the garden, preparing berries, or even draining small pasta shapes.

(A slight confession: this batch was a tad overstuffed! Remember, less is more for truly dry, crisp greens.)

The Secret to Week-Long Freshness: How to Store Your Prepped Salad Greens

Once your salad greens are perfectly dry from the spinner, the next crucial step is proper storage to maximize their freshness and ensure they are ready for effortless meal prep throughout the week. My go-to method for keeping greens crisp and accessible involves using large Ziplock bags. I typically prepare enough greens to fill about two large bags, making sure not to pack them too tightly.

Inside each bag, I add a folded paper towel. This seemingly simple addition plays a vital role by absorbing any minuscule traces of residual moisture that might still be present on the greens, or any condensation that forms over time. It’s a good practice to check and change out the paper towel every couple of days if you notice it has become significantly damp. This actively combats the enemies of freshness: excess moisture and trapped air.

The final, and perhaps most critical, step in this storage method is sealing the bag. To ensure maximum freshness, I make it a habit to meticulously squeeze out every last bit of air before completely sealing the bag. This creates a near-vacuum environment, significantly slowing down the oxidation process that causes greens to wilt and spoil. This habit should be repeated every time you open the bag to retrieve some greens – it will quickly become second nature. This simple act of removing air is incredibly important and is the key to keeping your salad greens wonderfully fresh and crisp for an entire week!

By following these steps, you’re not just storing greens; you’re creating a ready-to-eat foundation for healthy meals that will last you days, making spontaneous salad creation incredibly easy.

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