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Recipe: Creamy Chicken and Mushrooms

creamy chicken and mushrooms on a red plate on a wood table with cutlery and garlic

Sometimes you just CRAVE a hearty comfort food meal. The problem is, they often take a long time to prep or aren’t the healthiest choices!

That’s why I’ve got a delicious recipe for you today that:

1) is actually healthy 

2) tastes like you simmered it for hours but takes less than 30 minutes!

(Bonus: it will be a huge hit with anyone who loves mushrooms.)

You can serve this one with a green salad or rice, or switch it up each time you make it!

Serves 4.

Ingredients:

  • 4 x 4 oz (115 g) chicken cutlets

  • Sea salt & pepper

  • 2 Tbsp olive oil, divided

  • 4 cups (280 g) mixed mushrooms, cleaned (sliced if large)

  • ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth

  • ¼ cup (55 g) plain Greek yogurt

  • ¼ cup (60 ml) unsweetened milk (your choice) 

  • (optional) 2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

  1. Sprinkle the chicken with a small amount of sea salt and pepper. Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

  2. Place the chicken in the skillet and cook, turning once, until browned and cooked through, about 7-10 minutes (depending on how thick the chicken is). Remove from the pan and place on a plate.

  3. Add 1 Tbsp of olive oil and the mushrooms to the pan and cook for about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally until any liquid is reduced. 

  4. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the broth, continuing to cook for another 4 minutes, until the liquid has mostly evaporated.

  5. In a small bowl mix together the yogurt and milk. Lower the heat to medium and stir in the yogurt mixture along with ¼ tsp each of salt and pepper.

  6. Add the chicken back to the pan and stir to coat it with the sauce. 

  7. Remove from the pan and serve the chicken topped with the sauce and sprinkled with optional parsley.

Let me know if you try this recipe!


Recipe by: Dr. Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by qssm from Getty Images

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Workout: Beach Ready Belly!

woman in black doing crunches on a blue yoga mat

Time: 45 - 60 minutes

Equipment Needed: Stopwatch

Warm Up: 5 - 10 minutes

Timed Circuits:

Perform as many rounds as possible of the following exercises with limited rest until the 5 minutes is over. Rest 2 - 3 minutes and then move to the next 5 minute timed circuit. After you complete the two circuits one time each, repeat the two circuits again.

Circuit #1: (5 minutes)

  • 8 Frog Jumps

  • 8 Snow Angels

  • 8 Suicide Tap Downs

  • 8 Butt Kicks

Rest 2 - 3 minutes.

Circuit #2: (5 minutes)

  • 8 Suicide Push-Ups

  • 8 Side Plank Tap Downs - left side

  • 8 Side Plank Tap Downs - right side

  • 8 Standing Tuck Jumps

Rest 2 - 3 minutes and then repeat the 2 circuits again. 

Sprints:

Set up 2 cones about 50 feet apart. Sprint down to and back. Rest 5-10 seconds. And then sprint again. Repeat for 2 - 4 minutes total time.

Sit Ups:

Complete 50 sit ups in any number of sets until you have completed 50.

Core Finisher:

Complete 2 - 4 sets of the following exercises.

  • 30 seconds Plank

  • 10 seconds Recovery 

  • 30 Bicycle Crunches

  • 10 seconds Recovery

Cool Down & Stretch: 5 - 10 minutes


Workout by: Dr. Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by gradyreese from Getty Images Signature 

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Recipe: Popcorn Crunch Mix

popcorn in a small blue bowl

Looking for a simple recipe to jazz up your snacks for entertaining?

Give this one a try!

It’s sweet, salty, crunchy, and has just enough spice to make it crave-worthy.

Makes about 6 servings.

Ingredients:

  • 10 cups (80 g) air-popped popcorn

  • Olive oil cooking spray

  • 1 Tbsp taco seasoning mix

  • 1 cup (120 g) pecans

  • 1 cup (160 g) golden raisins

  • ½ cup (60 g) toasted pumpkin seeds

Directions:

  1. Place the popped corn in a very large bowl and lightly coat with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the popcorn and stir lightly to coat. Stir in the remaining ingredients.

  2. Serve!


Recipe by: Dr. Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by Mo Abrahim from Pexels 

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Workout: Body Weight Circuit & Game

Time: 45 - 60 minutes

Equipment Needed: Cones / Markers and a Stopwatch

Warm Up: 5 - 10 minutes

Circuit #1:

Complete 2 - 3 sets of the following exercises. Allow 2 minutes rest between each set.

  • 30 - 45 seconds Alternating Reverse Lunges

  • 30 - 45 seconds Push-Ups

  • 30 - 45 seconds Knees-to-Elbows

  • 30 - 45 seconds Prisoner Squats

  • 30 - 45 seconds V-Jumps

Circuit #2:

Use 2 cones / markers to mark off a start and end point about 50 feet apart. Allow 2 - 5 minutes rest after the last sprints have been completed and then REPEAT ONE MORE TIME.

  • Walking Lunges to Cone and Sprint Back

  • Bear Crawl to Cone and Sprint Back

  • Grouchos Forward to Cone and Grouchos Backwards Back

  • Side Shuffle Left Side to Cone and Right Side Back 

  • Grapevine Karaoke Face the Left Going Down and Right Going Back

  • Sprint Down and Back

Rest 2 - 5 minutes

Circuit #2:

Use 2 cones / markers to mark off a start and end point about 40 - 50 feet apart. Complete each exercise down and back for 1 round total.

  • Bear Crawl

  • Bounding (skip with high knees)

  • Grapevine / Karaoke

  • Back Pedal Sprint

Rest 2 - 4 minutes.

Finisher:

Complete 1 - 2 sets of the following exercises. Allow 1 - 2 minutes rest between sets if performing 2 sets.

  • 30 seconds Body Saw Plank

  • 30 seconds Straight Arm Plank

  • 30 seconds Side Plank - left

  • 30 seconds Side Plank - right

  • 30 seconds Plank

Cool Down & Stretch: 5 - 10 minutes


Workout by: Dr. Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by fizkes from Getty Images Pro

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Recipe: Cranberry Apple Crisp

cranberry apple crisp in a skillet

Who doesn’t love a delicious fruit crisp for dessert? 

This holiday-inspired cranberry-apple crisp takes just a few minutes to make… and it’s sure to be a hit.

Serves 8.

Filling Ingredients:

  • 3 large apples, peeled, cored and chopped

  • 2 cups (220 g) cranberries fresh or frozen

  • Juice of ½ orange

  • ½ cup (95 g) coconut sugar

  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Crisp Topping Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (120 g) chopped pecans

  • 1 cup (80 g) rolled oats (gluten-free, optional)

  • ¼ cup (54 g) grass-fed butter, cut into small cubes

  • 2 Tbsp maple syrup or honey

  • ¼ tsp sea salt

Directions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F / 190°C and grease the inside of a 9x9 inch (23x23 cm) baking dish with coconut oil or butter.

  2. In a medium bowl, combine the apples, cranberries, orange juice, sugar, and cinnamon. Toss until the apples and cranberries are well coated and pour the contents into the baking dish.

  3. In another bowl, combine the pecans, oats, butter, maple syrup and sea salt and work together until it forms a crumbly topping. Sprinkle over the apples and cranberries, and place the baking dish into the oven. Bake for 45 - 50 minutes, until the mixture is bubbling and the top is brown.

  4. Remove from the oven and let sit for at least 10 - 15 minutes before serving.


Recipe by: Dr. Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by rudisilll from Getty Images Signature

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