MLK day!

What's this... a day off without snow?! I'll take it- and hopefully get some shopping done too!  Before the shopping and heading to the gym can happen, I've got to get this place straight!  With 2 big puppies that love to run through the woods in our back yard, and wrestle on the snow soaked ground, our hard wood floors are in constant need of mopping!  The quicker I knock out cleaning the house, the quicker I can get into what I want to do today...being an adult is so much fun!



obviously they are up to no good....


I was SUPER stoked this am when I was reading my morning blogs while drinking my coffee, to see Skinny Runner had posted me on her Cat Lady Blogs section. I went back and forth on the decision to email her, but am so glad I did!! Thank you!!!!

I hope everyone has a fantastic Monday, and checks back in this evening for a recap on Sunday's Tapas Adventure in the Kitchen (with a special appearance by the Hubby)!

Wonky Wednesday!

 This morning's 2 hour delay was a blessing in disguise.  Attempting to squeeze in a whole day's worth of work into 5 productive hours can be quite stressful.  So what's a girl to do after a super long, er short day, fix something that's homey and comfort all in one tastey bowl.
Hubby  was home today and pulled out some chicken from the freezer for us to have tonight. Ideas and cravings swirled all day from asian chicken with noodles and veggies, stuffed chicken, enchiladas, ... choices, decisions...
When I got home I went to the fridge and pulled out some veggies and set out to make dinner- something that had nothing to do with any of my cravings- Chicken and Biscuits (made without butter, or cream and whole wheat biscuits).
To make this healthy version of a southern classic is easy and quick.
You need:
1 medium carrot
1/2 white onion
1 box- 4 cups- of chicken broth
1 cup milk
3 cloves garlic
1/4 leek
2 chicken breasts- boneless, skinless
3 Tbsp flour- I use white wheat

For the biscuits- I used this recipe (but only made 1/2 of what it calls for and had plenty!)
In a Dutch oven sautee 3 cloves of garlic, 1/2 chopped white onion, 1 shredded carrot, and 1/4 chopped  leek. After 3-5 minutes add chicken (that's been cut into small pieces) and cook for another 5 or so minutes.   After the chicken has been cooked, remove it and the veggies from the dutch oven. Add 2 Tbsp tothe dutch oven- on medium to medium low heat add 3 Tbsp flour to the oil.  Stir constantly for 4-5 minutes.  While flour is cooking the raw flavor out, heat roughly 2 cups of chicken stock.  Add the hot stock slowly to the flour  and keep stiring until smooth- it will thicken! Add 2 more cups of stock, chicken, and veggies back to the D.O.  Keep on medium low heat and add  1 cup of 1% milk. Put into a casserole dish and cover with small biscuits- I shaped mine by hand making them roughly 1 1/2 inches wide, and 3/4 inch thick.  Lay over the chicken stew and pop in the oven for 30 minutes.
Eat it up!

There was no workout today- GASP! It wasn't that kind of day!  But hopefully sometime tomorrow between work, and then working some more tomorrow night there will be a little me time- after all carving out solo time is one of my goals for 2011!

Pumpkin Flax Smoothie Recipe

This was enough for 2- perfect for me and hubs to each enjoy!
2 frozen bananas
1/3 cup 1 % milk
1 container Greek Yogurt
1/2 cup Pumpkin Puree
2 Tbsp Agave Nectar
4 Tbsp Coconut Oil
4 Tbsp Ground Flax seed- which can absolutely be left out! It makes it super grainy
2 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp ground Ginger

It definitely needed some water to get it going in the blender... perhaps a new blender is in my future?!

Between the flax, pumpkin, bananas, and coconut oil I stayed full until lunch (which is around 11:15)!

Smooth-ie Criminal

What's this?!  A morning post!!  I've got a couple of extra hours this morning, thanks to a 2 hour delay!
Normally I'm running around  like a mad woman in the morning making sure the dogs are taken care of, lunches are made for hubs and myself, and dinner is pulled out ready to go when I get home. Having dinner pre planned saves so much time when I get home from work- 1 less decision to make after 8 hours on your feet is fine by me!
For myself, breakfast has to be easy, quick and nutritionally jam packed- it's easier to make healthy choices through out the day, if you start it off on a good foot!

Smoothies don't keep me full until lunch- enter 1/2 cup of oatmeal + 1 Tbsp of  nut butter around 9:30- but by the time I get to eat I'm clear headed and not famished.

Enjoy in a wine glass- for lazy mornings at home- or while on your way to work in a travel mug!

Here's to being 1/2 way through the work week!!

See you this evening with dinner eats!

'Licious Fish-ous

workout- Abs video
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Virginia has been hit with a snowy- ice mix that has put a kink into any sort of schedule that was supposed to happen this week!  Work was canceled today, and they already calling for at least a 2 hour delay tomorrow. It means I can spend more time with "the patient" who's feeling better each day- and currently looking up 2011 trail races!!!

After his manly meat-extravaganza hamburger feast Friday, I sqeezed in two nights of fish in a row! We had Cedar Plank Salmon over Israeli CousCous with roasted tomatoes and brussel sprouts. We picked up cous cous at Trader Joes. If you've never grilled fish on a wood plank do it... this week! It takes about twice as long to cook, so plan accordingly. Here's how it went:
2 salmon filets

2 ish Tbsp olive oil

2 Tbsp lemon juice

pepper

dill

sea salt

white wine- splashes, not much

garlic- 1 clove

Marinate the fish for about 30 minutes, meanwhile soak the wood plank in water.  Heat your grill up mega hot... around 500.  Lay the Salmon on the plank and grill. Try not to drool over the smokey goodness coming out of the grill- keep an eye on the plank it should be smoldering not flaming. After roughly 20ish minutes remove the salmon from the grill and start picking at it  serve over a grain with veggies.

We did the Israeli cous cous- which is like a tiny pasta- jazzed up up with garlic, oven roasted tomatoes, olive oil, and brussel sprouts (roasted with the 'maters).

While dinner is extra exciting when I have more time to cook- like a weekend or snow day- I'm really pumped for breakfast foods lately. With the addition of sunflower seed butter to the nut butter collection-that's growing- Oatmeal and apple slices have a completely different twist! I'm lovin' it.... Did anyone else catch the McDonald's oatmeal commericals?! I'm a skeptic- not sure what the Golden Arches would do to my beloved favorite breakfast, but it can't be good!

Tomorrow I'm pumped for Smoothies with coconut oil in them... We've had it in our pantry for a few weeks, and aside from stir fry really haven't used it. With a nutritional reputation like this, I'm stoked to start adding it to smoothies- for a daily dose of all that coconut deliciousness!

taking care of the hobbling hubs

Hubby- now deemed the Patient- had his ankle surgery this week. All went well and he is on the mend.  He's been a really nice patient to deal with- only minor threats to tie him down. He was most enjoyable right out of surgery, where he proceeded to tell me the nurses had beat his ankle with mallets... you know after they refused to give him his much requested unicorn horn.  During his surgery I slipped over to Target- after all I'm still a girl- but made it back before he was finished.  He knew ahead of time, but  before he really came to, he let everyone know I had abandoned him in his 'hour of need'- he was laughing the entire time! 

Since he's been such an easy patient, I decided to fix him a much requested dinner. He's been asking for a grilled hamburger, pretty much since he woke up from the surgery. I obliged and threw in some grilled 'fries.'

I've been craving veggies like crazy- so before dinner I threw together stuffed portabellas. 

Remove the stems and chop. Put mushroom caps in the oven- 425 for 15 minutes.

Mix in crushed garlic, chopped onion ( I used red onion), basil, goat cheese, bread crumbs, olive oil, and white wine.
stuff the mushrooms.
bake for 10 ish... maybe 15 minutes.
top with roasted red pepper!

So during last nights snow storm the pups ran off their energy, and I enjoyed some vino on the deck- with snow drifting to the ground.   It was a typical Friday night- minus the fact I have a 1 legged hubby!

Clean up your act!

After a two week break from work it is time to get ready for tomorrow’s grind… Christmas Break was an excellent one this year, as hubs took off work to spend it with me!  We enjoyed a rainy day at home- with decent temps!

This was the first time, since adopting the dogs, we have had such a significant amount time with both dogs, and really enjoyed seeing their growing personalities. Is it lame I will miss them so much tomorrow?!  Many people go into the new year with certain broad goals- get healthy, lose weight, etc…. My unofficial goal no.1 is to clean up my eating. I’ve indulged in fantastic wines, beers galore, and had a chance to eat sweets at will- we never really keep sweets here so it was dangerous!  Tonight’s dinner was approached from a “clean eating” perspective. Minimum processed stuff, whole grains, veggies, lean protein, and good fats!  We started by making Soba noodles- these are made from buckwheat and give a great nutty flavor!  Tossed in with the noodles are bean sprouts (rinsed to get rid of the excess sodium.)
We cooked brussel sprouts (cut in half), red pepper strips, and broccoli in boiling water- then shocked them in icy bath to stop the cooking- and prevent mush!
Sauteed Chicken in a bit of coconut oil, with ginger and garlic.
When everything was cooked we sauteed the veggies in coconut oil, seasame oil, a bit of soy sauce, sriracha, lime juice, and extra garlic.
Was tasty, wholesome, and clean! 


My  wine glass was full to the rim of white wine  water, as we have to get a good night’s sleep before the alarm goes off at 5:15 AM, and I’m cleaning up my act .   
I’m definitely excited to be headed back- I love a routine, the thought of Spring being so close… yet so far at the same time. 
So the lunches are packed- kale and mixed greens salad with toasted chick peas and 32 oz. of decaf green tea- and clothes are ready. I guess it’s really time to start a work week!
Hubs is getting his ankle surgery Wednesday, and though it won’t be fun initially it opens us up to some awesome backpacking adventures when he’s healed- which were unfortunately weren’t taken as much as we had hoped last year.
Hope everyone’s New Year is off to a great start!