Living La Vida Holoka


Grilled Garlic and Citrus Chicken

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This Grilled Garlic and Citrus Chicken is marinaded in fresh citrus juices, garlic, and herbs making it a light and flavorful dish that’s perfect for summer grilling! Memorial Day weekend is almost here! Although celebrations might be a little different this year, it’s still the unofficial start of summer and the official start of grilling season! It’s the perfect time to whip up a new marinade! If you love bright, citrus flavors, you’ll love the marinade I made for this Grilled Garlic and Citrus Chicken recipe! It’s made with lemon, lime, orange, garlic, fresh herbs, and Mazola® Corn Oil. A clinical study showed Mazola Corn Oil reduces cholesterol 2x more than extra virgin olive oil. To learn more about this claim, visit Mazola.com.


Mazola Corn Oil is a heart-healthy* cooking oil and creates marinades that make great-tasting food because it has a neutral taste that lets the natural flavor of your food stand out. So all of that beautiful garlic and citrus flavor can really shine! Not only does this marinade add great flavor to chicken, it keeps it nice and juicy, too! 

Grilled Garlic and Citrus Chicken

 
I like to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but any cut of chicken would work for this dish. To make the marinade, you can use fresh orange juice or bottled OJ. Either would work! Then, mix it with some fresh lemon juice, lime juice, minced garlic, Mazola Corn Oil, and fresh herbs. Our herb garden is thriving right now, so I love being able to go outside and pick what I need for my recipes!



I would marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes, but longer is always better so it can really soak up all of that flavor. Then, fire up the grill and cook the chicken for about five minutes on each side. The chicken should be cooked through and have some nice grill marks.

Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing into it.  That way all of those great flavors from the marinade and juices get sealed in.  You want your chicken to have a good char on the outside, but stay juicy inside.

How to Make Grilled Veggie Skewers

 
I also had some fresh veggies to use up, so I made some quick veggie skewers with baby bella mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and peppers. Before tossing them on the grill, I brushed them with Mazola Corn Oil. You may want to start the veggies earlier on the grill. They should take about 7-10 minutes to get charred around the edges.

Mazola Corn Oil has a high smoke point (450˚ F), so it’s great to add to marinades or to brush onto meats and veggies for grilling! Because it’s an all-purpose, cholesterol-free oil, you can use it beyond the grill. I’ve used it in everything from baking, sauteing, and sauces! 

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Grilled Garlic and Citrus Chicken

Grilled Garlic and Citrus Chicken

Ingredients

    For the marinade:
  • 1 small lemon, juiced
  • 1 small lime, juiced
  • 1/3 cup orange juice
  • 1/4 cup Mazola Corn Oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Small handful of fresh basil and oregano, chopped
    • For the chicken:
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Optional: Orange, lemon, and lime slices for serving

Instructions

    For the marinade:
  1. Mix the lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice, Mazola Corn Oil, minced garlic, and herbs in a bowl.
  2. Place the chicken in a resealable bag or plastic container. Carefully pour the marinade over the chicken.
  3. Seal the bag, or replace the lid on the container, and give it a good shake.
  4. Marinade for at least 30 minutes.
    5. For the chicken:
  5. Preheat the gas grill over medium heat.
  6. Remove the chicken from the marinade and season with salt and pepper.
  7. Grill the chicken for 5 minutes on each side, or until completely cooked through.
  8. Serve with orange and lemon slices, if desired.
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This recipe has just the right amount of citrus and garlic flavor. It’s so good for summer because it’s a light dish that’s still super satisfying to eat! Especially when you’re avoiding turning on the oven. The best part is that after marinading, this entire dish – veggie skewers included – takes under 20 minutes to make on the grill!

Did you make this Grilled Garlic and Citrus Chicken recipe? Share it on social media using the hashtag #livinglavidaeats. Don’t forget to tag me @lavidaholoka!

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*see Mazola.com for more information on the relationship between corn oil and heart health.

10 Summer Salads for Your Labor Day BBQ

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Celebrate Labor Day and the end of summer with one of these delicious and crowd pleasing summer salads including pasta salads, quinoa salads, Caprese salads, and more!


Well, that’s a wrap! Summer is unofficially O-V-E-R in a couple of weeks!  Don’t worry – I said, unofficially! You’ve still got time to hit the beach, hang by the pool, or head to the park!  But it’s also time to start planning one last summer bash before it’s back-to-school, back-to-work, and back-to-busy routines. 

If you’re getting ready to throw, or attend, a fabulous Labor Day BBQ to say good-bye to summer, I’m sure you’ve got the hot dogs and burgers covered.  So let’s talk about what to serve with them!  I’m all about a good side salad during a barbecue.  Especially when it’s quick, easy, loaded with delicious and fresh ingredients, and can feed a crowd!  If you’re looking for a new salad to make, or take, to your Labor Day BBQ, there are plenty of ideas with these 10 simple salad recipes.

I’m sharing everything from pasta salads, quinoa salads, green salads, and even a fruit salad or two for something a little sweeter. So many of these salads have been on repeat in our house.  They’re perfect for summer and Labor Day gatherings, but they go way beyond the season as great side dishes or meal prep ideas! 

10 Summer Salads for Your Labor Day BBQ

  1. So Fresh and So Green Quinoa Salad
  2. Chicken Sausage Brown Rice Pasta Salad
  3. Mixed Berry Salad with Grilled Chicken
  4. Kale Caesar Pasta Salad
  5. Caprese Style Quinoa Salad
  6. Greek Orzo Pasta Salad
  7. Grilled Peach Caprese Salad
  8. Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
  9. My Famous Italian Pasta Salad
  10. Star Spangled Fruit Salad

If you make one of these salads for your Labor Day BBQ, share pics of your recipe creation on social media using the hashtag #livinglavidaeats.  Don’t forget to tag me @lavidaholoka!

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What salad has been your favorite to make this summer?

BLT Style Bunless Hot Dogs

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Ditch the bun with these BLT Style Bunless Hot Dogs! This fun hot dog idea will keep your Labor Day barbecue fresh, delicious, and low carb!


When your healthy lifestyle changes include a low carb diet, it can make barbecues seem a little tricky to maneuver. Labor Day is coming up and there’s guaranteed to be at least one backyard barbecue happening.  So how do you enjoy all of your favorite barbecue dishes without the guilt? 

Hands off those buns! 

I’ve been using lettuce wraps in place of buns lately.  And I’ve got to tell you – I think I’m enjoying all of that crunch and freshness way more than bread! A head of Romaine lettuce can go a long way in place of burger and hot dog buns.  It’s way cheaper than a package of buns, too.  Remember that for your next cookout!


The fun part of living a low carb lifestyle is getting creative with fresh produce and protein.  Hot dogs are a summer staple, but they aren’t necessarily the best food for a diet (or, really, in general).  But when you’ve got a package of them on hand, you might as well try to make them healthier.  

Since there’s only two of us, one package of hot dogs lasts us a while. So I decided to make us hot dogs for dinner the other night.  In place of a bun, I used lettuce leaves.  Then, in place of mustard or ketchup, I decided to make them BLT style and top them with chopped tomatoes and onions, and a strip of bacon. 


If you like a little pinch of heat with your dinner, top off these hot dogs with some sliced jalapenos and spread on some of Trader Joe’s Jalapeno Sauce.  Trust me – it’ll take your BLT game up another level! 

If you’re planning on making these dogs for your Labor Day barbecue, they’re easy to prep ahead of time!  Precook the bacon, wash and dry the lettuce, and chop the tomatoes, onions, and jalapenos (if you like them).  Then, keep the lettuce, bacon, and tomato and onion mixture in separate plates and containers for easy assembly.

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BLT Style Bunless Hot Dogs

BLT Style Bunless Hot Dogs

Ingredients

  • Low sodium bacon, precooked
  • Hot dogs
  • Romaine lettuce leaves, separated, washed, and dried
  • 1 small red onion, chopped
  • 1 pint grape tomatoes, chopped
  • Optional toppings: sliced jalapeño peppers, jalapeño sauce, mayonnaise

Instructions

  1. Mix the chopped red onion and tomato in a bowl and set aside.
  2. Preheat grill to medium heat. Cook hot dogs for 7-10 minutes, turning until grill marks are noticeable and they start to expand.
  3. Place one hot dog in each lettuce leaf.
  4. Add a bacon strip alongside each hot dog.
  5. Top the hot dogs with the onion and tomato mixture. If desired, drizzle on a splash of jalapeno sauce or mayonnaise and add a few jalapeno slices to each hot dog.
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If you really want to put a healthier spin on this recipe, use veggie dogs (a nice way to include your vegan and vegetarian friends) or chicken sausage in place of regular hot dogs. You could even swap turkey bacon in for regular bacon!  

Share your pics of this BLT Style Bunless Hot Dogs recipe on social media using the hashtag #livinglavidaeats. Don’t forget to tag me @lavidaholoka!

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If you like this low carb recipe, you might enjoy these as well:

Turkey Taco Stuffed Tomatoes

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These low-carb Turkey Taco Stuffed Tomatoes are a healthier way to celebrate Taco Tuesday by ditching the tortilla and keeping traditional taco flavors!


Here’s the thing – when you go on any sort of special diet, you tend to get bored and discouraged after a while. Well, as a foodie, I’m not going to let that happen to you or to me! It’s only been a couple of weeks, but I’ve been doing pretty well on my version of the Fast Metabolism Diet (with a few weekend slip-ups, but I’m only human). I’m not only feeling a hell of a lot better, but I’ve lost a few pounds just by tweaking my meals and snacks.

I’m viewing this more as a lifestyle change than a diet. After all, “diet” is a word that can trigger negative feelings. And there’s already enough negativity in the world! So while I’ve added a lot more whole grains, fruits, veggies, and lean proteins to my meal plan, I also refuse to ditch pizza night and give up some of the other foods I love.

Turkey Taco Stuffed Tomatoes – a low carb way to enjoy Taco Tuesday!

 
For instance, today is Taco Tuesday and it’s just as much of a celebration in our house as pizza night.  But on the FMD, I can’t have taco shells or tortillas (unless they’re sprouted grain tortillas).  I also shouldn’t have dairy.  So there goes like half of a taco right there!

As the crafty gal that I am, I figured out a way to still get my Taco Tuesday fix!  So I’m stuffing taco seasoned ground turkey into a tomato and topping it with green onions, lettuce, olives, and hot sauce.  And maybe sneaking in a dollop of plain Greek yogurt, in place of sour cream, and a little, teeny-tiny sprinkle of shredded cheddar.


You could also flip this recipe by stuffing peppers and adding chopped tomatoes on top.  But it’s summer in NJ, so we’ve got plenty of fresh Jersey tomatoes growing in our backyard garden!  Our tomatoes are the perfect size to stuff – not too big and not too small. 

If your tomatoes are on the smaller size, two should be a sufficient serving.  However, if you’re using a larger tomato, like a big ol’ beefsteak, consider that a full serving.

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Turkey Taco Stuffed Tomatoes

Turkey Taco Stuffed Tomatoes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound ground turkey
  • 2 tbsp. taco seasoning
  • 6 tbsp. water
  • 1/2 small jalapeño pepper, chopped
  • 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
  • 4 medium tomatoes, tops removed
  • Optional taco toppings: sliced green onions, shredded cheddar, sliced black olives, lite sour cream or plain Greek yogurt, hot sauce

Instructions

  1. Cook the turkey meat in a skillet over medium heat, breaking apart the meat as it cooks.
  2. When the turkey has browned, add in the taco seasoning and water.
  3. Once the taco seasoning has been fully incorporated into the meat, add in the jalapeño and red onion. Lower the heat.
  4. With the tops removed off of the tomatoes, scoop the insides and chop. Add the chopped tomato to the skillet and stir to combine.
  5. Remove the turkey taco mixture from heat and spoon into each tomato.
  6. Serve with your favorite taco toppings and enjoy!
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Double this recipe to meal prep it!  Keep your scooped out tomatoes separate and spoon in the taco meat before enjoying.  You could even prep the taco toppings ahead of time by keeping small containers of chopped ingredients handy.  It’s easy meal prep and a great way to enjoy tacos when you’re on a low-carb diet!

Share your pics of this low-carb, keto-friendly, taco recipe on social media using the hashtag #livinglavidaeats.  Don’t forget to tag me @lavidaholoka!

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