Self Worth and Chicken Alfredo!!!

Hello everybody!

Welcome back to the blog and thank you for reading and visiting. Today I'm going to share my recipe for Chicken Zucchini Alfredo, and I want to discuss self worth.

 Let me begin by saying that we are NOT created equal. Everybody has different talents, gifts, strengths and weaknesses; and none of them define our self worth. The only person that can define your self worth is YOU! Not me, not your parents, not your significant other, not your boss, nor your peers; only you!

 Some people let their body image define their self worth, and that should not be the case. This may be a little vain or conceited, but I believed in and loved who I was at my heaviest. The only difference between then and now is that, that love and belief has grown. I'm more confident now, but that is because I proved to myself what I can accomplish. I didn't doubt myself, I made a goal, set my mind to it, and accomplished it!

Self worth is how we value ourselves, not how anybody else does. Other people's opinions should have no bearing over how much we value ourselves. I often hear people talk about not going to the gym, or going out to exercise, or this, or that; because it's too intimidating or too daunting. You know what? Who cares! The only person's opinion that should matter to you, is yours! Don't let the opinions of others keep you from reaching your full potential! Tywin Lannister of Game of Thrones put it best when he said, "A lion doesn't concern himself with the opinions of sheep." As long as you believe in yourself, then that is all the approval you need to do and pursue anything!

Me after my first training session.

My first 5k, the Birmingham Impact 5k

Looking back 8 months ago, I would have never dreamed that I could have run a half-marathon. I had never ran anything in my life! But having somebody come up to me and invite me to this challenge was all I needed. I love a good challenge. Challenges are what helps us grow. So never having run, I did some research and plotted out a course of action. I started slowly, by signing up for a local 5k. Then I started training. The first day, I walked the length of a 5k and tracked my time, no running at all. Once I finished I had my starting point, my slowest time. From that point on, I started slowly increasing my pace. After a couple 5k's, I started increasing my distance. Then I worked in my pacing. When I actually did my half-marathon (13.1 miles), that was the first time I had ever done over 10 miles!

My second 5k, the Harper's Heart Run 5k

My third 5k, the Lakeside Hospice Drumstick Dart 5k
I even got a medal for finishing 2nd in my age group!

So believe me when I say, that if you believe in yourself and set your mind to it, you can accomplish it. It's when you have self doubt and and lose control over yourself that you begin to fail. Therefore, remember to always believe in yourself, because if you don't, then why should others?

My half-marathon, the St.Jude's Half-Marathon, in Memphis

Okay so now on to the yummy part! Last night I made another Pinterest inspired dish. I created Chicken Zucchini Alfredo! I came up for this idea, by meal planning for the week with my husband. I asked him what food he would like, and I let him know before hand that whatever he said, I was going to attempt to make a healthier version. 

With that said, he decided on Chicken Alfredo. Now, normally I would prepare some chicken, some fettuccine noodles and store bought Alfredo sauce, but not this time. To make this dish healthier, I omitted the fettuccine noodles and store bought sauce. Instead I used zucchini noodles and made some Alfredo sauce from scratch! The dish turned out splendid and tasted amazing! I can't wait to make it again!

Chicken Zucchini Alfredo

Ingredients

• Meat
• 2-2.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 3 Tbs poultry seasoning
• 1 Tbs garlic pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 Tbs EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
• Noodles
• 6 zucchini (cut into noodles)
• 1/2 cup water
• Sauce
• 1 stick butter
• 8 oz cream cheese (I used reduced fat)
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1.5-2 cups milk (start low and add more for a thinner sauce)
• 6 oz grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/8 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Dice Chicken. Place in bowl and season with poultry seasoning, garlic pepper, and salt.
2. Put oil in 4 quart pot or stock pot, over medium heat.
3. While the oil is heating cut zucchini noodles.
4. Once oil is heated, add chicken. Stir occasionally till chicken is cooked through, and no longer pink in the center.
5. While chicken is cooking, melt butter is a medium sauce pot.
6. Once butter is melted, add cream cheese and garlic powder. Stir with whisk until smooth.
7. Slowly add milk to pot and stir in Parmesan cheese and black pepper.
8. After sauce has reach desired consistency remove from heat, add more milk for a thinner sauce.
9. Once chicken is cooked through remove from stock pot and set aside.
10. Add zucchini noodles and water to pot. Let the water steam cook the noodles until they are tender, then drain.
11. Add chicken back into the pot with the noodles.
12. Pour Alfredo sauce over chicken and noodles and toss to coat.
13. Serve warm and enjoy!

I hope that this dish is as delicious for you as it was for me! I took the original Alfredo Sauce recipe from StockPilingMoms.com, and modified it some. 

I hope my thoughts and words have intrigued, inspired, and influenced you in some form or fashion. If you have any comments or questions, please post away. If you liked the recipe, let me know how it turns out or if you made your own modifications. 

Thank you for stopping by!

Until next time,

-Lesli