I left Charleston at noon yesterday. After being stuck in a couple traffic jams, I made it back by four. It’s such an easy drive and totally worth it. I love seeing my parents and being able to spend some time on the beach.
When I got back, I stopped at the grocery store to pick up some healthy items and ingredients to make tons of meals throughout the week. Summer is right around the corner (especially in the south), it starts getting warm towards the end of February, and I want to be shorts ready! That means eating clean clean clean and stepping up my workouts! I’ve been killing my running goals lately. I think it’s because I took my doctor’s advice and gave up running as much, and starting incorporating more strength training and yoga into my workouts. I started running 1-2 times a week for three months and now I’m working my way back up. Yesterday I ran 4 miles (all under 9 minutes) and today I ran 5 miles (all under 11 minutes).  I was slower today because I had Grumples. (MORE ABOUT THAT LATER)
When I was in France, I fell in love with Chèvre Chaud (goat cheese salads) I had it once in Marseille and once in Amiens. I need to find a recipe for fried goat cheese, but until then, I made my own little version: fried goat cheese crumbles. And boiiiiiii were they delicious! They were so easy to make too. I want to experiment with mozzarella cheese and pepper jack.
All you need is:*olive oil, *italian bread crumbs, & *goat cheese.
The goat cheese is pretty crumbly. If you don’t want it to be crumbled and you’d prefer it sliced, freeze it for a while before slicing into it.
Coat the goat cheese in Italian bread crumbs.
Heat the olive oil on high and add the breaded goat cheese to the pan. Fry the coat cheese for about 2-4 minutes.
Use a spoon to scoop out the fried goat cheese and add them to a cold plate. Let the cheese cool for about 20 minutes.
I made a fresh crisp salad to put the fried goat cheese crumbles on. You could serve the goat cheese over grilled chicken, on a burger, or over a whole wheat cracker. The goat cheese is also a nice meat substitute for meatless Mondays or for vegetarians.
The salad had fresh chopped romaine, Roma tomatoes, red onion (you could argue that they’re purple), croutons, and diced avocado.
You won’t need a lot of dressing on the salad because the leftover olive oil and power of the goat cheese give a salad enough flavor.
My mom made homemade chicken and rice soup on Tuesday night and I brought home the leftovers to eat. Her soup was so good and I’ll post the recipe up today. My mom has really stepped up her cooking game and continues to impress me!
I will probably make the same exact thing for dinner tonight, but who knows! I won’t be home until late.
Salads are so filling and satisfying. I’ve been trying to kick my chocolate tooth at night and last night was day one! I was pretty proud!
Have you ever kicked your chocolate tooth/sweet tooth out the door? If so, what are your secrets! I bought emergency light pudding to put in the fridge!
Kristin C says
Unfortunately, I am terrible at kicking habits. I’m trying to drink less coffee and in the past week, I have INCREASED my coffee intake by a cup. Grrrrr. 😉
All that to say, I have no advice for you, but I hope it goes well!
and those salad look fantabulous (my mom and I’s word, haha).
Taralynn McNitt says
lol so honest! I love it. My coffee intake goes up and down depending on my mood or how cold it is! I never use it for what it’s meant for!
Helena says
I laughed a little when I read your response. The EXACT same thing happened to me. I was trying to cut down on my coffee intake and wound up drinking more. It must be a psychological thing.
That said, what has worked for me in the past is “substitution”. Instead of drinking coffee, try different flavored teas (caffeine free, of course). Or smoothies. Or soups. Basically anything that is in liquid form and is not coffee!
Lauren says
OMG this sounds amazing. Goat cheese is my favorite and I don’t think I’ve ever had it fried. I think my bf will definitely approve if I whip this up for dinner.
Taralynn McNitt says
Let me know what you think of it!!
Amy says
Dark chocolate almond milk helps my chocolate cravings 🙂
Taralynn McNitt says
I love that stuff!!
Linda @ TheFitty says
Is it just me, or is goat cheese an accuired taste? I still don’t like it!
Taralynn McNitt says
maybe just you 😉 haha I think everything in life is an acquired taste!
Sara says
Hi Tara. A while back you asked for topics you would like for your readers to see you talk about. You write a lot about eating healthy, cleaning up your diet, and exercising. I also remember you talking about recovering from anorexia not too long ago. I think a great post would be to talk about the balance between eating healthy and exercising, but not going overboard and falling back in to old habits. There are a lot of readers here (including myself) who fight that battle daily, so it would be interesting to hear how you find that balance. Thanks!
Tanya says
I agree! I would also like to know more about your struggles with anorexia. I think talking and opening up about it would make your blog more interesting.
Mel says
Me too!
Tiffany says
I know how you feel! My sweet tooth is my downfall! I can eat good all day long and then I ruin it at night! I have been trying to cut it out though. I have been using sleepy time vanilla tea with a packet of stevia and sometimes it helps.
Taralynn McNitt says
I have a pretty powerful brain and I just need to learn how to say NO! I was so good last night. Nick brought out the cookies and asked if I wanted one. I ALMOST SAID YES, but I said “NO” and if felt amazing!!
Natalie says
That’s the best feeling Taralynn!
It’s hard to stop at just one cookie too!
Taralynn McNitt says
oh i know girl!
Ellesse says
Hey girl,
So, basically my doctor told me i couldn’t eat sugar or anything that turns into sugar in december. this obviously means sweets! growing up on costco sized candy and ordering apple pie a la mode for my entree it has been ingrained in me. i think the easiest/hardest way is go cold turkey. the first 3 days are going to be awful. and then after that you really could just care less. you will pass candy bowls and not grab one, you will pass a cookie tray and not grab one. & this feels amazing!! i do sometimes have 90% dark chocolate if i can’t kick the thought, etc. will power is a muscle, you have to work it. also, will power decreases throughout the day. that’s why so many of us start out the day with great intentions about eating healthy and then by the time dinner/8pm rolls around we have dessert when we swore we wouldn’t. if you have any more questions or want to bounce off ideas email me! good luck – just go cold turkey!
Ellesse
Taralynn McNitt says
Cold turkey seems to be working! But I have my emergency healthy stash too! just in case I feel like diving into my baking cabinet for some m & m’s or chocolate chips! Thanks for the advice! xo
Mindy says
This is very interesting to me. I have never responded on here but, can really relate to what you said .I eat perfect all day & at night I desperately start craving sugar. I try gum,hard candy but,sometimes I OD on those. I couldn’t for the life of me understand why this happens.
All day long NO cravings. Post dinner hits & I start craving it. I really think that it has played a huge part in me holding on to those last 5-7 lbs.
Livi @ Eat, Pray, Work It Out says
This looks awesome!
Taralynn McNitt says
Thanks Livi!
Cami says
Firstly, I am jumping for joy about this salad!! I am 100% making it for dinner tomorrow. Your salads are always appealinf but this one is especially delicious looking! Second, I used to have the biggest sweet tooth on the planet. I still have it but have dramatically reduced it after cutting down sugar and “sneaky sugars” (added sugars to yogurt, deli meat, etc.). It seems impossible but it’s true-the less you eat, the less your body wants. It’s all about keeping blood sugar stable and I am positive with your health knowledge and all of your great recipes you will kick it in no time!
Cami
Camellda Lynn
Taralynn McNitt says
Let me know what you think of the goat cheese!!
& you are right about breaking the habit! I just have to get over this hump!
Melissa @ The Green Palate Life says
Holy yummmm. Goat cheese is my FAVORITE. At our local farmers market, they have homemade flavor-infused goat cheeses and (the best one ever) is peach habanero. That stuff is crack!
I’m also trying to cut down on my chocolate intake (unsuccessfully so far). Sometimes what works for me is hot chocolate. That way at least its less calories & you’re getting calcium! My friends mom says what works for her is keeping those little Hershey’s kisses around so when she craves something sweet, she just eats 1. I don’t have that kind of willpower though, haha
Taralynn McNitt says
Peach goat cheese!?! What! That sounds amazing. It wouldn’t be too hard to flavor it yourself either! Great idea 🙂
Hot chocolate helps me too or a little piece of dark chocolate !
Kate says
medjool dates filled with cashew butter and topped with cacao shavings!
Ariel says
Medjool dates with peanut butter are delicious/so sweet! I love them in greek yogurt with honey! Also sliced bananas with honey and cinnamon is my “look I had dessert but I don’t feel bad… dessert” lol
a fun one for when it gets warmer out is greek yogurt pops in the freezer with your favorite jam mixed in/with honey 🙂
Taralynn McNitt says
Yum!! & I love love love dates!! With peanut butter though? hmmmmmm I’ll have to try it out!
Natasza says
Not sure if this would help curb eating chocolate (trust me I think I’ve tried everything possible under the moon) but I love taking silken tofu and blending it with some hot chocolate mix/unsweetened cocoa powder. It takes a bit of playing with but if you get the texture right then it tastes/feels just like mousse! I’ve also gotten hooked on beltsander brownies (search the hashtag on Instagram..there are tons of recipes) but it’s basically a mugcake made with milk and whey protein
Taralynn McNitt says
yum! great ideas!
katelyn says
on the context of your chocolate habit I seen they had chocolate yogurt covered raisins only 140 cal for 1/4 a cup.. not too bad in terms..just a thought
Florence says
Hi Taralyn!
I’m so so happy you enjoyed this salad in Marseille as I am French myself and born in Marseille! I make this salad a lot but in France we do it very simply: just cut some goat cheese log into slice and place it on half a piece of toast. Drizzle with olive oil and put a bit of dried thyme and rosemary on the goat cheese. Place the whole thing under the grill in the oven for a few minutes and voila! French food is so easy 🙂
Hope you find it useful! A bientot!
Florence
Livi @ Eat, Pray, Work It Out says
Goat cheese is the best! Good on anything!! 🙂
Linda @ The Fitty says
I’ve fried cheese before but never goat cheese!
Anna says
YUM!
Tania says
I would have never thought of frying cheese that way! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Pickle says
We eat this at our house a lot now!