Saturday, May 29, 2010

New Salad, New Curry Recipe, 3 New Products

Happy Long weekend! Hope you're having good ones! We're enjoying ours so far, aside from my upset tummy. Grrrr. So yesterday’s post-workout nap resulted in me NOT going back to the gym – I just wasn’t in the mood to go back but WAS in the mood to cook! First, I put together a salad using some of my new products from Trader Joe’s. Here’s the new products: Blue cheese crumbles; Dried Cranberries; Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing.

And here’s the Cranberry & Blue Cheese Salad for ONE:

½ cup romaine lettuce
1 cup arugula
14 grams TJ’s Blue Cheese Crumbles
2 tbsp TJ’s Raspberry Vinaigrette
15 grams TJ’s Dried Fruit Cranberries
24 grams avocado, diced

Before mixing it up (Austin's had almond slivers, too!)


Ready to eat!!


It had 184 calories, 26 carbs, 11 fat grams and 4 protein grams. It was great and filling – I love the mix of these flavors! To make it lower calorie, I would just omit avocado – it was a nice-to-have but not a must-have. I was REALLY happy with the crumbles, dressing and cranberries though – I’m going to eat this salad A LOT.

Later for dinner, instead of my usual Thai Curry, I decided to make my first Indian-inspired curry thanks to The Fitnesssista! Here’s what we made, I call it Indian Chicken Curry for FOUR:

16 oz. chicken, diced
½ cup Trader Joe’s Curry Simmer Sauce
½ tsp cumin
½ tsp coriander
½ tsp cayenne pepper
½ tsp sea salt
1 tsp curry powder
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
1 cup basmati rice*

Simmering down


my Serving - YUM!


Heat chicken on medium heat for about three minutes, then add all spices. Stir until chicken is almost cooked, about 3-4 minutes, then add the tomatoes and simmer sauce. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes, then add to rice. *to cook rice – I added 1 cup rice and 2 cups water to a shallow sauce pan. Once boiling, I reduced to simmer, covered it, and cooked for 20 minutes.

Nutritional Information: 335 calories, 46 carbs, 3 fat grams and 31 protein grams.

Review: We really liked it! I loved the flavors and thought it was so filling, especially for how low the calories are (relative to some of my other dishes). I’m definitely going to make it again, and want to add carrots or cauliflower – a veggie!

After dinner we showered, got ready and headed over to Stacy & Shane's to catch up with them! It was raining - blah - but we still had a great time talking, playing "TV Theme Song Name thatTune" and having a few drinkies. Reuben and their dogs, Bo & Brother, did butter than the time before! Although they're not ready to be best friends yet! Good times - I'm so excited that their wedding is just around the corner!! I ended the night at 2,104 calories, 204 carbs, 60 fat grams and 105 protein grams. Here's what I ate and drank.

Do you like Indian food? Have you ever cooked it? I love it! I'm going to try to find some Indian recipes today!

Tried any new products lately?! I'm really glad I picked these up. I had been seeing that salad on menus and it just sounds SO dang good! I love making my own.... I really think I'm going to eat that a lot!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those products all look awesome! I love TJS salad dressing, I'll have to pick up that vinegarette next time I'm in the US. I LOVE Indian food, one of my fav ethnic foods that I recently discovered. So many veg dishes makes it even better!

Girl on Raw said...

I wish we had Trader Joe's here in Saudi Arabia (or at least Wholefoods!) I love Indian food, and I am lucky that I am so close to it here, with plenty of authentic Indian places, especially South Indian which is mainly vegetarian. I really love roti and dahl :)

Erica said...

Gotta love TJs products- they so rock! The salad looks incredible. I would never omit the avocado- too tasty ;) I've only had indian once and just think I picked the wrong dish...I did not like it. I need to give it another go. I tried Dr. Krackers today and they are AWESOME. I also tried a new TJs salsa that Josh's mom brought me that I'm in love with.

homecookedem said...

That looks like my kind of salad, yum!! I love indian food. Andrew's made us some really good indian dishes before. That chicken curry looks so tasty!!

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!! :)

Andrea@WellnessNotes said...

Great salad & great curry! I love curry but haven't made any lately; wouldn't even know where to look for the recipe I used last time... I'm "borrowing" the salad idea from you! :) Sounds delicious, and I could use a change...

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Mehnaz said...

Hi Kelly! I'm a long time reader and I just love your blog. I love love love Indian food and it's been a big goal of mine to cook the entire menu at one of my fave vegetarian Indian restaurant in Chicago. I've a got a few under my belt but I'm really hoping to step it up like you and try a bunch more soon!
Have a great weekend!
Mehnaz

Diane Fit to the Finish said...

I used to think I didn't like curry, but then had it at a friend's house and it was amazing! Thanks for sharing the recipe.

We have no Trader Joe's here - it makes me sad.

Mica said...

I love Indian food, though I never think what I try to make at home is as good as the "real" stuff.

Kelly Olexa said...

So funny that you posted about Indian food. This week, I am supposed to be having dinner with a friend and he is taking me for my first Indian food/Curry experience....I'm excited. Kind of like sushi, the first time you go there, you want someone who knows it and loves it to guide you!! Can't wait! ;-)

Tina said...

I love love love blue cheese in salads. That looks like a great combo.

haute.teapot said...

I'm such a fan of Indian food and there's an awesome place here that has a lunch buffet that I take my mom to often. The best $8.99 I can spend on lunch! Naan, basmati rice, chicken tikka masala, channa masala, samosas, rice pudding...drool! Also, it's probably the most guilt-free buffet experience ever.

Diane Fit to the Finish said...

I used to think I didn't like curry, but then had it at a friend's house and it was amazing! Thanks for sharing the recipe.

We have no Trader Joe's here - it makes me sad.

Andrea@WellnessNotes said...

Great salad & great curry! I love curry but haven't made any lately; wouldn't even know where to look for the recipe I used last time... I'm "borrowing" the salad idea from you! :) Sounds delicious, and I could use a change...

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

runsarah said...

Those products all look awesome! I love TJS salad dressing, I'll have to pick up that vinegarette next time I'm in the US. I LOVE Indian food, one of my fav ethnic foods that I recently discovered. So many veg dishes makes it even better!