thanksgiving 2014

thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, just like everyone else. but, i don't love it for the food. i love it for the preparation that goes into getting everything ready for everyone and most of all, i love it for what it reminds me to be thankful for: those who gather around our table. yesterday was filled with too much food (currently mourning my waistline) and much family and friends who are now family. 

i love to help cook for thanksgiving. this year, my contributions were dashing dish's clean eating pecan pie and a paleo cranberry sauce. those were me trying to be a bit healthier since i gorged on mashed potatoes and my mawsie's cornbread dressing. i thought both were delicious, and even though i don't usually eat leftovers, thanksgiving is when i make an exception!

yesterday's outfit was one i had been looking forward to wearing! i got the LEONA jess jacket for my birthday (after lusting after it all summer and fall) and knew it would be just perfect for thanksgiving! i paired it with a j. crew black silk top and black draped drawstring waist pants to be comfortable but still on-trend. for jewels, i added stella and dot's helena necklace and it was the perfect finishing piece, along with my vintage chanel button ring, LEONA arm candy and silver tory burch flats! 

LEONA jess jacket, j. crew silk top and drawstring pants, tory burch silver flats, stella & dot helena necklace, stella & dot double clutch

my stella & dot trunk show is still going strong! i have some pieces here with me and they are to-die-for. do your black friday shopping with me and stella & dot, in your PJs with a cup of coffee! you can shop online through december 18th (perfect for christmas presents!). RSVP and shop now!

have a happy holiday weekend and stay safe in those crazy black friday crowds! 

xoxo,

clp  

white chicken enchilada bake, take 2 recipe

i love enchiladas, but i don't love the calories, fat and manual labor that comes with them. i know, that sounds really lazy, but sometimes i just want some enchiladas that are good for me and don't require pretentious rolling.

this past weekend, i found the solution to my problem (can you say #firstworldprobs much?!). after seeing many "enchilada bake" that turned out to be just as unhealthy as traditional enchiladas, i went back to search on one of my favorite healthy-eating blogs, dashing dish. after a few minor tweaks to her recipe, i made the most delicious, not-horrible-for-you chicken enchiladas that the whole family loved! we made them as part of my birthday fiesta celebration and there wasn't one bite left!

white chicken enchilada bake, take 2

2.5 cups chicken breast, cooked and shredded

1 can diced tomatoes, drained

1.5 cups plain non-fat greek yogurt

1 4 oz. can chopped green chiles

1 tsp homemade taco seasoning

1 can white hominy, drained (could also use corn)

6 high fiber, whole wheat, low carb tortillas, cut into quarters (i use La Tortilla)

1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese (or cheese of choice) 

1. preheat oven to 375. spray a large baking dish with non-stick spray.
2. to make filling, combine chicken, tomatoes, yogurt, green chiles, taco seasoning and hominy in a large mixing bowl. mix until combined. 
3. start the layering with a layer of tortillas (it is okay if they don't fully cover bottom of dish). then follow with a thick layer of filling. repeat until filling is gone and end with a layer of tortillas on top.
4. sprinkle cheese on top tortillas. bake for 30-35 minutes or until cheese is melted and center is heated through. 

(slightly adapted from dashing dish)

be on the lookout tomorrow for a post about my stella & dot trunk show i am hosting! santa claus will be asking for a christmas list soon and some new gems fit perfectly in a stocking! 

xoxo,

clp

on the menu + OOTD

i have such a good looking meal plan this week that i just had to share it! i am altering some of the recipes a little bit to make them healthier or to use what i have in my pantry and fridge!

• monday: crispy gnocchi with basil, zucchini and yellow squash (from iowa girl eats), side artichoke salad (instead of corn in the original recipe, subbed yellow squash we got at the farmer's market saturday - delicious!), coconut rice krispie treats (just dump some shredded coconut in with the regular rice krispie treat ingredients!)
• tuesday: crockpot salsa chicken tacos with black beans and guacamole with veggie chips (sliced jicama and bell peppers) - this time around, i added some black beans to the crockpot as well and cut back on the chicken! 
• wednesday: dinner out with a friend at epice nashville - it is a lebanese restaurant on 12th that i drive past twice a day and have really been wanting to try! the menu items that are really looking good to me right now are the mujadara, fatayer, and the hummos!
• thursday: slow cooked peach pork from dashing dish over brown rice with stir fried veggies (right now i am thinking about trying out soy and chile-glazed brussel sprouts) - instead of doing chicken in the main dish, i am going to cut up a pork chop for another kind of lean protein! also, i am going to use frozen peaches with the skins on
• friday: stuffed chicken breast from tag'z (you haven't lived until you've eaten one of these) with baked zucchini and squash, salad 

my mouth is watering just thinking about the tasty meals ahead of me! on the hand, today's OOTD was full-on LEONA again! my collection of LEONA is growing and growing and i love it (i may or may not have bought at least one thing a week since i started - oops)! i did buy a top today that is just perfect for UT football games! even though the designer went to alabama, this top just screams go big orange! for all you UT fans, snatch this top up (picture and linked below) so you will be ready when kickoff rolls around! 

clara tunic in tangerine

LEONA top, LEONA sylvia shorts, j. crew mid-heel sandals, kate spade bangles

that's all for today, folks! mondays wear me out (5:45 AM spin always gets to me once the better half of the day is gone) so i am signing off to go fix my lunch for tomorrow and lay out my clothes (makes for such an easier morning)! 

xoxo,

clp

daddy daughter friday & a recipe

today was daddy-daughter good friday! since we were both off from school, we decided to have a day spent in nashville just the two of us! of course, we went to the puffy muffin in brentwood (best. pimento. cheese. ever.) and a stop by iveycake was essential. we had some errands and shopping to do at green hills and then we picked up a key to my sublease for the summer! less than a month and i will be there working! i picked up some cute spring and summer pieces to add to my closet today and i can't wait to share them in future OOTDs! today's OOTD is one that i have been saving for the perfect occasion! a day spent with my daddy was just what the outfit called for and i got more compliments on my junebug sweater!

tory burch cardigan, j. crew gingham printed jeans, tory burch sandals

tonight for supper we tried a new recipe from dashing dish! it was an enchilada bake that layers tortillas instead of rolling actual enchiladas. dad made it before we left for nashville and set it in the fridge so it was ready to put in the oven when we got home! we all thought it was really good and quite filling! 

white chicken enchilada bake

1 can reduced-sodium white beans 

2.5 cups cooked and shredded chicken breasts

1 can rotel, drained

1 4 oz can chopped green chiles

1 1/4 cup plain non-fat greek yogurt

1 tsp taco seasoning (we used homemade)

1 small can white corn, drained

4 high fiber, low carb tortillas, cut into 4 quarters (we use La Tortilla)

1/2 cup mexican or pepper jack cheese

1. preheat oven to 375. spray large baking dish with non-stick spray.
2. make the filling by putting the white beans in a mixing bowl. mash until they are creamy and broken up. add chicken, tomatoes, yogurt, green chiles, taco seasoning and corn. mix until combined.
3. put together by layering two of the cut tortillas on the bottom of the baking dish, followed by the filling. top with remaining tortilla layer. top with shredded cheese.
4. bake for 35-40 minutes or until cheese is melted and dish is heated throughout. 

(slightly adapted from Dashing Dish)

top this with salsa, make some guacamole and you have an easy and healthy mexican dish! it makes enough for four people with some leftover! the recipe also freezes well, either before or after baking. 

i am so happy to be home with my family but am quite tired! it seems i am always more tired the day after i get home. tomorrow mom and i are preparing for easter sunday by dying eggs, making sugar cookies and maybe sitting out in the sun some! we are planning on grilling for supper since the weather is supposed to be fabulous tomorrow! have a wonderful easter weekend y'all!

xoxo,

clp