Grilled Pork Chops with Peach and Jalapeño Salsa

This is a great summer time idea because its a quick cook on the grill and because the fruit and cilantro are a nice fresh balance to the heat. The salsa is also great served atop chicken tacos, paired with fish, or served as a standalone dip.

::Ingredients::

• 2 medium ripe peaches, peeled, chopped

• ¼ medium red onion, chopped

• 1 medium jalapeño pepper, seeds and veins removed, chopped

• ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

• 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice

• ½ tsp. hot pepper sauce (like Tabasco)

• 2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh cilantro

• 4 (4-oz.) center-cut pork chops, lean, boneless

• ¼ tsp. sea salt

• ¼ tsp. ground black pepper

::Directions::

1. Combine peaches, onion, jalapeño, red pepper flakes, lime juice, hot pepper sauce, and cilantro; mix well. Set aside.

2. Preheat grill or broiler on high.

3. Season pork chops with salt and pepper.

4. Grill or broil  chops for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, or until desired doneness.

5. Top pork chops evenly with salsa; serve immediately.

Happy Eating!

Signed,

Tiesha

"Dress" for success - 4 DIY recipes

Store bought dressings often come loaded with unnecessary sugar, salt, and a bunch of preservatives you'd need a PHD to properly pronounce. These can all wreak HAVOC on a nutrition regimen. Try one of the four dressings below for a super yummy way to ditch all the unnecessary drunk and to stay on track!

Lemon Poppyseed

::Ingredients::

• 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp raw honey
• pinch of sea salt

::Directions::

1. Combine all ingredients. Keep refrigerated.

Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

::Ingredients::

• 3 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• 3 1/2 tbsp white wine vinegar

• 2 1/2 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice

• 1/2 tsp raw honey

• 1 tsp dijon mustard

::Directions::

1. Combine all ingredients. Keep refrigerated. If it separates, allow to warm on counter prior to serving and stir.

Avocado Dressing

::Ingredients::

• 1 ripe medium avocado, cut into cubes
• ½ cup nonfat plain yogurt
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1 Tbsp. finely chopped red onion
• 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• 9 fresh parsley sprigs, chopped

::Directions::

1. Place avocado, yogurt, garlic, onion, lemon juice, and parsley in a blender; cover. Blend until smooth.

DIY Ranch

::Ingredients::

• ¾ cup organic sour cream

• ½ cup whole milk, preferably from pasture-raised cows

• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

• ½ teaspoon real sea salt 

• ½ teaspoon organic onion powder 

• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

•  ⅛ teaspoon dried organic dill 

•  ⅛ teaspoon organic garlic powder

::Directions::

1. Stir together milk and lemon juice in a small bowl. Set aside for about 5-10 minutes. (This is the cheater’s version of buttermilk. I don’t use real buttermilk because I like to use lemon juice anyway – it adds a nice zing to this dressing.)
2. Combine milk mixture and sour cream in a medium sized bowl, whisking until smooth.
3. Add dry ingredients and whisk until thoroughly combined.
4. Transfer dressing to a jar with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate.

Shake before each use. Keeps for at least a few weeks in the refrigerator 

Chicken Salad on Apple Rounds

::Ingredients::

• Both diced chicken breasts of 1 rotisserie chicken, or 2 large cooked, and diced chicken breasts
• 1 cup thin sliced celery
• 1 cup seedless red grapes
• 2 Tbsp tiny diced red onion
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, or mashed avocado for dairy-free option
• 1 tsp dijon mustard

Option ingredients:

• 1 splash hot sauce, such as tabasco 
• 2 Tbsp no-added sugar dried cranberries
• Sea salt and pepper to taste 
• Green onions
• sliced almonds

::Instructions:

1. Combine gently, cover, & chill for an hour or two in the refrigerator. (Can serve immediately, but the flavor is better as it develops)
2. Slice 2 red, crisp apples into round disc’s about 1/4 inch thick.
3. Serve Chicken Salad on rounds

Alternate to Apples:

Serve on butter lettuce leaves

Happy Eating!

-Tiesha

Picking the perfect Watermelon

Have you ever seen people walking around knocking on watermelons? Have you ever BEEN that person? 

When my boyfriend and I went to Colorado last year, we went into a Walmart where we saw a gentleman standing and trying to pick out a watermelon. On our way to the register some 15-20 minutes later, we noticed the same man STILL standing there (now with a small child) - I wasn't sure if the child was amused and he kept at it OR if he was hopelessly lost in trying to find the best melon for his family. 

In any case, I thought it would be beneficial to post a guide on buying the best watermelon. 

First, I normally would recommend going to a local farm over your local Walmart. The local farmers carefully select their fruits where a chain buys from a supplier who may or may not truly care about picking these beauties when they are truly ready. This is why there are so many disappointing melons out there as is. 

Once you found a stand or store heres what to look for: 

1. Look for a prominent yellow spot on one side -- this is where it sat on the ground ripening 

2. Look for 'webbing' - it is normally brown, course looking material. This is caused when bees pollinate the flower and scar the membranes that later form the fruit. The more pollen, the more webbing, the sweeter your melon! 

3. Look for black hard gobs - this is actually not insects or rotting it is actually sugar 

Basically, if your melon looks like its been through heck and back --- you may have a good melon on your hands. Do not confuse bruising or massive indents to be good damage though, stick to the tips above 

So why, you may ask do so many people bang on their melon? One common piece of advice passed around is that the more hollow a melon sounds, the more ripe it is. Personally, I'd rather inspect than beat up my fruit. But, whatever floats your boat ;) 

Happy Melon Hunting! 

Signed,

Tiesha