21 Day Fix Approved - Baked Ziti (PLUS hubby and kid approved)

Are you looking for that perfect comfort food dish - but without all the calories and fat?  Aren't we ALL?  What about something that you can prep before and stick in the oven on a busy week night?  Also, have left overs for cheap healthy lunches for days to come?  YES! PLEASE!

The best perk of ALL about this dish - my family LOVED it!  My hubby was skeptical - when he asked what was in it - I said meat, cheese, and sauce.  Of course, he's a major beef person so he asked, "What kind of meat?"  UGH, so I mumbled "turrrrrkey" under my breath.  He proceeded to eat it and actually said - he could eat that every NIGHT!  YES!  That's a WIN in my book!

I found this recipe on the internet and modified it to my tastes and the quantity I was looking for.  I wanted an entire 9" x 13" pan so we could have dinner and I could eat on it for a few days for an easy lunch at work - that left me satisfied.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 box Whole Grain Pasta
  
• 2 red containers - Part-Skin Ricotta Cheese
  
• 2 cans Organic Tomato Sauce - Compare for sodium content
  
• 1 lb Lean Ground Turkey
  
• 1 cup Italian Cheese - Shredded
  
• 1 tsp Balsamic Vinegar
  
• 2 tsp Honey
  
• 2 tbsp each: Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Oregano, Basil, Parsley, and black Pepper

Directions:

If intended to eat right away, preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook the noodles until al-dente, drain when cooked.  While pasta is cooking, brown the ground turkey.  Drain the excess fat from turkey after cooking.  In a large bowl, combine ricotta, tomato sauce, honey, vinegar, seasonings, cooked ground turkey, and the drained noodles.  Stir until well combined.

Pour mixture into a 13" x 9" pan.  Sprinkle Italian cheese on top.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and bubbly.

If you are saving it for a dinner in the near future - cover in foil and place in the refrigerator.  When ready to cook - preheat over to 350 - cook for 1 hour (or until bubbly) remove foil and bake for 10 more minutes to brown the cheese on top a little.

To apply to your 21 Day Fix meal plan - use your green container to measure the serving size.  Each serving will count as 1 yellow, 1 red, 1 green, 1 blue.  This recipe should make 12 servings.

Enjoy!

My Secrets for Getting Up for a Morning Workout

As we head into the winter months - throwing off those warm covers and jumping out of bed to get a workout can be even more torturous than in other seasons.  However, getting your exercise on before the sun is out - is definitely worth every last effort.  Research suggests that early morning hours are the best time to get your sweat on - it's boosts your metabolism for the day, your energy level is lifted, and sets your mood to be fantastic for the day!  

I personally workout in the morning because I know how much better I feel starting my day this way as well as I know I won't do it after work.  I have less motivation as the day drags on.  Therefore, morning workouts are perfect for me.  Here are my PERSONAL tips to getting up early and getting your workout in.

1)  Be PREPARED - If it's setting out your workout clothes the night before - or you literally sleep in your workout garb (like I do), being prepared when your feet hit the floor is essential.  All I have to do to get ready for my workout - throw up my hair and my shoes!  Super easy - and little effort needed.  The night before I also know EXACTLY what I'm going to do for my workout.  I normally follow a program - but getting up and then figuring out your plan wastes a LOT of time.

2)  Turn on the LIGHT - I get up and turn on my kitchen lights and do some work in the kitchen.  I make my hubby's lunch first before my workout - it gives me enough time to let the bright fluorescents start waking up my brain.  If for some reason the sun is out - natural light is best.  However at 5 am - generally there will not be any natural light available.  

3)  FLUID - I believe drinking ice cold water first thing - helps wake me up.  I also drink a pre-workout by Beachbody called - Energize.  It has a great taste and powers me through my workout.  So while I'm doing my kitchen work - making hubby's lunch - I drink my pre-workout.  By the time I'm done making his lunch and putting on my shoes - I am powered and ready to ROCK!  

4)  Go to bed EARLY - This seems like a very great idea.  However I know for those night owls how hard it is to fall asleep anywhere before mid-night.  If you intend to get up early - plan to get between 7-8 hours of sleep!  This is so important.  Your body needs that rest especially if you are going at it hard with your workouts.  I personally go to bed at 9 pm and get up at 4:30.  

5) Set MULTIPLE alarms - Everyone knows that snooze button is going to be hit or you'll just turn off your alarm.  I set multiple alarms knowing I have plenty of time to prepare to get out of my nice cozy bed.  My husband isn't a fan, but it works for me. :)

Those are my top 5 tips for getting up early and getting the workout in before starting your day.  There may be more tips out there that may be perfect for other people.  If you have any personal tips - I'd love for you to comment with them below!