7 Day Challenge

Would you guys be up for a little challenge?

Over the past week, I have stuffed my face with tacos, Chalupas, peach cobbler, cookies, and who knows whatever else, and it's time to kick it to the curb.

I try to follow the 80/20 plan (when I'm not training). 80% healthy/20% not so much.

It works.

But, lately, I've been doing the 99/1 plan. 99% not healthy/1%... you get the idea.

So... the 7 Day Challenge!

It's a lot more of this...

...and a lot less than this.

This challenge is about getting rid of all the junk. All processed foods, excess sugars, etc. So, let's lay down some ground rules:

1. Strictly fruits and veggies (It doesn't have to be raw, it can be cooked). You can eat anything you want, as long as it is a fruit or vegetable.

2. Tons of water. Ever watch the Biggest Loser? They drink their body weight in ounces daily, so if you weigh 180... drink 180 ounces of water daily.

3. Exercise: we all have different intensity levels, but walking 30 minutes a day is a great way to start.

That's it! Let's do this!

We'll start Monday, June 4, and go through the following Monday, June 11!

We can do this!

An easy way to get your fruits and veggies in is to juice. If you don't have a juicer, or if the idea just simply grosses you out, that's fine. Stick to just eating fruits and veggies.  If you've never heard of juicing, or want more information about it, there is a great documentary by Joe Cross called Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead that is very informative! 

Some people may be worried about protein intake, and if you are... that's fine. Just try to eat lean meat. Or... there's always beans and lentils... and dairy as well.

Guys...we can do this!

Like I said, we'll start Monday, and I'll also be posting a few recipes as well!
Good luck!

**Dudes and dudettes: I'm not a doctor, nor do I claim to be. This is basically just a way to detox my body, and what is healthy and okay for me may not be for you, so as always, contact your physician before starting any diet and exercise regimen.

DC2 Signature Chicken Salad

Here it is! Dudes Cook Too Signature Chicken Salad! I've worked hard on this recipe trying to find my favorite combination of ingredients that would make the BEST Chicken Salad!

Let me tell y'all a story... I used to manage a cleaning service. It's true. After high school, I worked for my uncle who owned a cleaning service, and then moved up to restaurant management before coming back to school. What a decade it was! Remember Nany? Well, I would go help her with certain clients, and whenever we did, she always had a lunch waiting on me. A lunch box filled with a Chicken Salad Sandwich, and a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup! What more could I ask for?? She always fixed me lunch, and whatever bad day I was having before was always turned around because she cared enough to pack me a lunch.

It's the small things in life... Holding doors... my wife fixing coffee before I crawl out of bed... packing Chicken Salad for a long day of work!... These are the things that matter: random acts of kindness! Try them.

Back to the Chicken Salad. This isn't Nany's recipe. Her chicken salad is only best when made by her! My recipe starts with some basic ingredients. Mainly... chicken. Have a food processor handy, and pulse several times.

Then, add your onions, celery, and the juice of 1/2 a lemon.

We're getting somewhere now.

The juice of the lemon isn't just for flavor, it also becomes a binding agent as well in the chicken salad, and brings all of the flavors to life!

Now, for the secret ingredient: SUGAR. Heck yes... Sugar. It isn't an uncommon situation for someone to want to sweeten up their chicken salad a little. Many people use grapes or apples. I'm allergic... go figure, so I use sugar!

The last step in this is the most important. Mayonnaise. I never skimp on my mayonnaise, and I always use Blue Plate mayo for everything. Blue Plate has the best taste of any mayonnaise I've ever tried, and it has become a staple in our kitchen.

The beauty of Chicken Salad is you can make it yours. Don't have a food processor? Just dice everything. Don't want sugar? Use grapes. I LOVE grapes... I just can't have them. Chicken Salad is so versatile, you can add anything! Pecans, walnuts, apples, pineapple... the list goes on forever.

I hope you like it!

DUDES COOK TOO SIGNATURE CHICKEN SALAD

4 large boneless skinless chicken breast (organic, free range if available)
3 green onions
2 stalks celery
2/3 cup Blue Plate Mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon freshly cracked black pepper

Boil your chicken on the stovetop until cooked. If unsure, you can check by inserting a thermometer into the breast of the chicken, and at 165*, it is done.

Place small pieces of chicken into the food processor, and pulse about 5-7 times, until chicken is shredded, but not completely demolished. Place the chicken in a bowl, and set aside.

Next, pulse your onion and celery, and place it in the bowl as well.

Add the juice of the lemon, salt, pepper, and mayonnaise, and combine.

Refrigerate overnight for best flavor.

Homemade Hotdog Buns

Guys... we've had a breakthrough. FORGET about store-bought buns! They are in our past... and I plan on them staying there. These homemade Hotdog buns make you never want to buy buns from the store again. I'm serious! They are light and airy, and gives a defining character to the generic hotdog!

They're really not hard to make...
We can do this together!

Making the dough is easy... throw all the dry ingredients in your stand mixer, and then add your wet, and mix for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.

Next, roll out your dough into 3 equal pieces.

Next, take each piece, and divide that equally into 4 parts. Then, roll each part into an oval, and with your hand, make an indention in the center.

Then, pinch the seems together...

Then, flip them over, and place them on a baking sheet either lined with a silpat or parchment paper.

One more quick rise, and in the oven they go for 18-20 minutes.

Guys... these are the best! Try them!
I hope you like it!

HOMEMADE HOTDOG BUNS

4 Cups Bread Flour (All Purpose can be substituted)
1 Large Egg, beaten
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons instant potato flakes
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 package highly active yeast
1 cup tepid milk
1/4 cup tepid water
6 tablespoons butter

Begin by proofing your yeast. Pour your package of yeast into a bowl with 1/4 cup tepid water, and a tablespoon of salt. Wait five minutes for the yeast to become puffy... this will let you know the yeast has been activated.

Next, add all ingredients into a kitchen aid, and mix for 10 minutes with the dough hook attachment.

After the dough is well-kneaded, smooth, and elastic, place the dough in a buttered bowl, and allow to rise in a warm, draft-free place for one hour.

After the dough has risen, divide the dough into 3 separate parts, then again, divide each separate piece of dough into 4 additional equal parts. Roll each piece of dough into the shape of a hotdog bun, then with your hand, create an indention down the middle of the dough, and then pinch the dough together to seal it.
Place on a baking sheet lined with either parchment paper or a silpat and let rise for an additional 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375*, and cook for 18-20 minutes until golden brown.

The Smoky Mountains

The Smoky Mountains are one of my favorite places on Earth! For whatever reason, when I'm there... I forget about all my worries, and focus on what's really important. It's a retreat for me! Ashlynn and I got to spend "almost" the entire week there last week. We hiked, went "junkin'," and ate... and ate. Needless to say, our detox starts today, it may or may not involve kale, and water... and Amazing Grass.

I've mentioned Nany's cabin before. The only thing that was missing from this trip was HER! She was out of town while we were there, and it just wasn't the same without her there!

We love Nany's Cabin. We slept in. We cooked breakfast... and cookies... and sticky buns! ...that's what we love about vacation. There's nothing wrong with a little indulgence every now and then. It's all about a healthy balance.

Let me tell you a little about Nany's Cabin...

It's got this rustic charm that's hard to describe. She keeps all these tins in her kitchen that she stores grits, coffee filters, oatmeal... just like they did back in the day, and like I've said before, I think our grandparents were on to something that we are soon forgetting!

This is where breakfast was served. My cousin always calls it a Smoky Mountain Breakfast. My definition of a Smoky Mountain Breakfast is biscuits, topped with syrup AND PEANUT BUTTER, eggs, grits, and bacon... and Mayfield Chocolate Milk! It's a tradition. Plain and simple.

Meet Britney (hopefully I spelled that right). She's the guard cat around the cabin, and when she kills something, she wants to make sure she gives evidence she's doing her job! So, she brings it right up to the cabin to show you. Not the best sight at 6:00 am when she wakes you up to be fed... but productive nonetheless.

Another tradition while we're there is to always eat at Pancake Pantry: one of the best pancake houses, if not the best, in the Smoky Mountains. There's a trick to this... You have to get there early. If you don't make it by 9:00, the line to get in will be down the block, and around the corner. Trust me.

We also went on a hike to Andrew's Bald. It was a real easy hike... only about 4 miles. And the views were breathtaking.

If you've never hiked the Smokies... do it! There's something about getting away from all the noise. You can think more clearly.

I mentioned Sticky Buns. That post is coming soon! You take Rhodes Rolls, cover them in sugar and cinnamon, and let them rise over night, and then bake them the next morning. I originally got this recipe from Nany... and tweaked it just a little.

Before I close out this blog post, we have to get something off our chest. We're addicted to these deep fried potato chips. They are out of this world good... and when paired with this buttermilk ranch, it's all we can do not to eat the whole plate. I'm also working on a healthier version of this... the trick is getting the texture right. Stay tuned!

Did I mention we graduated? It was a huge moment in both of our lives. We're very blessed, and we're excited for what's in store over the next few months. God's doing big things in our lives, and we can't wait to share!

The List!

I have a list. A to-do list.

Not a 10 page paper, 5 tests this week, deadline driven list--a fun to do list!

Just like many of my readers, I follow several blogs, and there's several things I have on my list to make!

For starters, there is this!

This is the BEST pizza dough I've EVER made!... and I owe it to Jenna at Eat Live Run! It's her Best Pizza Dough, and I suggest you make it. Forget Pizza Hut, Papa John's, or any other chain. There's no comparison, and definitely no competition!

Next on the top of the list is Jenna's Strawberry Cupcakes. I may leave this up to the wife, since she's an expert at this!

Next are Joy the Baker's Coffee Coffee Cake Muffins. Do you have her cookbook? Get it! It's worth it, and her recipes are some of the best I've ever tasted!

Next... THIS frosting. There's peanut butter in it, therefore, it's awesome.

And last, but definitely not least... the Pioneer Woman's Pasta Carbonara! I had this in New York, and I've been craving it ever since! I'm thinking... date night... with these as dessert!

I also have a summer reading list my higher than this pile of books that I've been saving since December! If you've never read Crazy Love, I highly recommend it! I've read it once before, and am about to do it again. It's one of those books that moves you--points you in a new direction, and honestly, that's what I need right now.

Hope you guys enjoy these recipes!