Hellooooooo Bella Diva

Well, March 2020 isn’t really starting off the way we planned, but as I always say we must flow with what is happening and not fight the situation. In fact this blog actually started way different because I try to get them started ahead of time and thought, gosh, I better rewrite this. Hopefully you are doing your best to stay proactive on keeping your self safe, healthy and staying positive. I know here in SWFL, the town has gone nuts!!!  As a fitness owner, I make SURE that myself and team are 100% well and all of my clients 100% to respect each other. So please do the same wherever you go.

Time to Cook

Okaaayyyy, so most of you are probably wanting to stay in and actually cook during the next few weeks. Or I would at least hope so! Even if you don’t cook, maybe it is time to try something new!  One thing I love about teaching my Divalicious Cooking classes, I give 3-4 ingredient meal and snack ideas. So if you are not the Diva chef, you can still pretend you are!  One idea and way to cook meals and of course healthy and diva-lish is using the Air Fryer.  A few years ago, this magical little kitchen appliance was born.  A way to “fry” food healthy!!!!  SURE, I will try it!

I am not a big fan of fried food, but who doesn’t love a crispy, juicy chicken tender or coconut shrimp from time to time? In fact I have made over a dozen foods in mine.

How does the air fryer work?

An air fryer is a kitchen appliance that cooks by circulating hot air around the food using the convection mechanism. It is a smaller version of the convection oven. A mechanical fan circulates the hot air around the food at high speed, cooking the food and producing a crispy layer.

What are other benefits of the air fryer?

1. Foods are cooked much faster
2. You get to try new ways to make healthy food taste amazing
3. The whole family tends to like something “fried”
4. Easy to use and clean up
5. Inexpensive

Air fryer foods I have made

When the air fryer first came out, it was the shape of an oversized egg and had one basket that only allowed you to layer one layer of food per frying. Which is fine and dandy, however if you are needing to make a meal for several people or make extra you would have to make 2-3 batches. Now, they come in all shapes and sizes.  I have one that is a mini oven. 2 shelves and a rotating rotisserie basket. WHAT???  AND, is not to heavy and stores right in my cabinet. I did some research on good ol Amazon and a brand called Innsky looked fantastic. I have used mine MANY times and for a recent Divalicious Cooking and it was been Amazing.

Brand: Innsky found on Amazon

My first original air fryer

Foods I have tried so far:

• The famous panko and egg white coated fried chicken (Seriously crispy and juicy).
• Sweet potato, regular cooking potato & Butternut Squash Fries
•  Coconut Shrimp
•  Salmon
• Pineapple…yes! Pineapple
• Extra lean bacon (turned out so crisp and full of flavor like the bad stuff, lol)
•  Brussels with honey and balsamic (which I even got the kids and hubby to actually enjoy) RECIPE BELOW
•  Apple Chips RECIPE BELOW

panko crisped chicken breast

Divalicious Recipe

Air Fried Salmon & Brussels 

INGREDIENTS 

4 servings

• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 teaspoonchopped fresh thyme leaves
• 1medium lemon
• 2 tablespoonsolive oil, divided
• 2 teaspoonskosher salt, divided
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
• 4(7 to 8-ounce) salmon fillets
• Cooking spray
• 1 pound Brussels sprouts
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey

DIRECTIONS

• Mince 4 garlic cloves. Place half in a large bowl and reserve for the Brussels sprouts. Place the remaining garlic in a small bowl. Chop 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, and juice 1 lemon, and add to the small bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, 1 teaspoon of the kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of the black pepper, and whisk to combine. Brush all over the salmon fillets.

• Preheat your Air Fryer Oven to 400ºF and set for 10 minutes. Grease the air fryer racks with cooking spray. Place the salmon fillets skin-side down in the bottom rack of the air fryer, leaving space between the fillets.

• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper to the large bowl with garlic, and stir to combine. Trim and halve 1 pound Brussels sprouts, add to the bowl, and toss to combine. Place in the top rack of the air fryer above the salmon. Air fry until the salmon is cooked to desired doneness, 6 to 8 minutes.

Remove the tray of salmon. Continue air frying the Brussels sprouts until golden brown and crispy, 3-4 minutes more. Meanwhile, whisk 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar and 1 tablespoon honey together until combined.

When Brussels are fully cooked, remove and place on a serving dish or plate and drizzle the honey and balsamic mix.

Serve immediately

Divalicious Recipe

Air Fryer Apple Chips

Apple chips are a delicious healthy snack that can be made right at home in your air fryer! They’re simple to make, perfect for kids and adults, and have no added sugar. Here’s How to Make Apple Chips in an Air Fryer!

INGREDIENTS: 

• 1 apple (pink lady, Fuji)
• ¼ tsp spray
• Olive oil spray

Before Air fryer

DIRECTIONS: 

•  Prepping the apples: Slice an apple using a mandoline slicer (preferred method) or a knife, making slices about 1/8 of an inch thick. Remove seeds and stems from middle slices. Toss apple slices in a bowl with cinnamon and oil. I prefer to add the cinnamon in small dashes to get some on every apple slice, instead of dumping it all on one apple. In the same way, I prefer to spray the oil lightly over the top, stir, and then give another light spray to try and disperse the oil evenly. Preheat your air fryer for about 2 minutes at 300F 
•  Drying the chips: Place all the apple slices into the air fryer basket. Cook at 300F for 20-25 minutes, flipping and rotating apples every 5 minutes. Make sure slices in the middle of the pile are rotated out and all slices are exposed to the hot air at some point. Continue cooking at this temperature until the apples appear completely dried out, with no more shiny or “wet” spots remaining. The edges of the chips will begin to shrivel. If your chips are burning at all during this drying phase, lower the temperature of the air fryer by 25 degrees F.

After Air fryer Chips

Either enjoy a handful by them selves or serve a few over Siggi’s vanilla 2% greek yogurt with a handful of of granola.  Here is one of my favorite gluten free, low sugar granola. Found at Trader Joes and Whole Foods.

Hope this sparks some new ideas and as always, if you need more ideas or advice, just ask

For weekly ideas & inspiration, check out and follow me at:

IG: BELLADIVAFITNESS

FB: Bella Diva Fitness (Laura D Wu)

Be Safe, Be Kind and Be Respectful

xoxo

Ciao,