Southern Traditions: Paleo Chicken Pot Pie

I had this post scheduled for last week when I was very pleasantly surprised to see my dear friend Lesley share the recipe on her blog! I wanted to wait to publish this recipe after someone else had tried it, and according to Les, it was a hit. Growing up it was admittedly one of my least favorite meals {I was super picky as a child. My poor mother...}, but now this pot pie is on regular rotation in our house. The crust is my favorite part -- crumbly and salty with scallions baked right in! I am overjoyed to share this recipe with anyone who will listen. So take a quick hop over to Lesley's blog {one of my daily reads} and see what she had to say!

Added bonus: this is a great recipe for when battling a winter cold. Full of vegetables, lean protein and fiber -- exactly what your healing body needs.

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Surviving Winter: Sick Day Soup

Unfortunately, winter often brings the promise of a nasty head cold,and sick day cravings for comfort food. While it's very easy to give in and justify those unhealthy choices, I've found that it's best to feed a cold with vitamins, vegetables, and protein over comfort food. [Think about it. Sugar, wheat and dairy make you feel bad when your healthy. How much more will they affect you when you're body's immunity is down?] My strategy for feeding a cold begins with this delicious homemade chicken soup. I followed this recipe and added some of my favorite nutrient-dense veggies.

I used carrots, mushrooms, kale, celery and lots of broccoli and cooked my chicken with the onions and garlic [as opposed to using precooked chicken]. The end result was equally tasty and fulfilling and definitely fed my sick day craving for salty chicken soup. [Added bonus for the broccoli (besides its ability to stimulate your liver to detoxify things)? The salt and spices concentrate in the little trees. So delicious.]

This also makes a savory winter treat even when you're not under the weather.
xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Surviving Winter: Paleo Recipe Roundup

We all know that the post-holiday season is the most common time to try and become healthier. And while I am certainly not opposed to this {remember that cleanse?}, I like to think of the winter months as opportunities for building better habits. For me this comes in the form of trying and perfecting new recipes. It's so easy {especially during winter} to fall into the routine of cooking the same meals, and this often leaves me bored and craving all the things I just cut from my diet. In order to combat the winter we-eat-the-same-three-dishes-every-week blues, I often turn to these paleo recipe sites:

Health-Bent

paleOMG

Nom Nom Paleo {added bonus here ~ she's a pharmacist too!}

eat. live. paleo

Some of my current favorites......

pumpkin coconut maple custard
cowboy breakfast skillet
brussels sprouts chips 
balsamic winter bake
coconut chicken nuggets

Happy {paleo} cooking.
xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Surviving Winter: Little Flowers

Sometimes one of the best ways to combat winter blues is by bringing the outdoors inside. For me, flowers on my desk and on the breakfast table are key. I love seeing life and color in places where I spend some of my most mundane winter hours {read: studying for pharmacy boards}. Dreaming of spring isn't always the best means of coping with dreary days, but when coupled with a mug of hot tea {or cocoa chai} and a good book, a few fresh flowers are an easy yet effective means of lightening one's spirits.

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Surviving Winter: Workin on My Fitness

Over the past few years, I've noticed that for me {like many others} January and February are the most difficult months to push through. The holiday cheer has long since dissipated, the mornings are dark and the days are cold, and all I can think about is cheerful spring colors and sunshine-filled days. So I've decided to start a series of posts about my secrets to surviving winter. While I do love a rainy afternoon movie marathon, I refuse to let the weather dictate my mood, and after a difficult 2011, I have vowed to try and live my life to the absolute fullest {cliché, I know, but sometimes clichés are just so true}.

One thing that I think is essential to surviving winter is staying active. Whether it's yoga in the morning, lifting a few weights or an evening run, I find that a good workout always boots my mood. And while it's hard to believe, exercise actually gives you more energy, especially when you're tired. It's often hard to motivate myself to get outside in the cold, so I turn to bright colors and warm layers to help beat the winter workout blues.

1. Athleta Malibu Hike Half Zip
2. Merrell Barefoot Running Pace Glove
3. Hurley Under Armor ColdGear leggings

4. Athleta Interval Jacket
5. Buff Multipurpose Scarf
6. Athleta lap shorts
7. Timex Triathlon watch
8. The North Face Sports Bra
9. The North Face Reaxion Shirt

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos