Well, not really but I’m employing the method of positive thinking to eventually get to the point of liking hills đ Â Our minds are very powerful creatures and it’s amazing how our thoughts can really empower us to do the impossible! Â I’m trying to train my mind as well as my body to make it up those dang (lovely) hills. Â (more…)
February 24, 2010
January 23, 2010
just a quick hello
Hello! I hope you all had a nice week! I think Vegas has gotten more rain in these past 4 days than we have in all last year! Crazy. I canât believe how much rain California is getting too. Overall this week has been nice, work wasnât too crazy, I got my committee together for my thesis (finally) and I may be doing a couple cooking classes for Whole Foods! The site is sooo close, but there are a few things that I need help with still, so I just wonât say a date anymore đ ugh. (more…)
December 31, 2009
out of this world banana puddinâ
I couldnât really figure out what the heck to title this post since itâs pretty random, but after much contemplation I figured it should be titled after the epitome of all banana puddings Iâve ever had. . .
After breakfast most of my morning was spent doing laundry and catching up on bloggies, so we ended up not getting out of the house till later. My mom wanted to find a new laptop computer so we ventured out to Best Buy and found a pretty good deal on a Dell. My mom is not savvy with computers, so Chris helped her out đ
Breakfast was one of my simple staples . . . this one included Natureâs Pride pumpkin granola, TJâs honey Oâs, TJâs shredded wheat and cinnamon Puffins. I topped it with 1/2 a sliced naner, frozen blueberries (I love how they turn the milk blue!) and 3 walnut halves.
I had a pretty simple lunch too . . . An Orowheat sandwich thin (I think I like these!), spread with some cooked sweet tater, sliced TJâs tofu, avocado and muenster cheese. Then I pressed it in the foreman grill with some carrots and hummus alongside. It was yummy and just the right size! I love adding cooked sweet taters to pretty much anything because it lends a subtle sweetness đ
Among the many food stops that we wanted to try to make on our trip here, one was Garyâs BBQ which is known for their homemade banana puddinâ.
Everything is very reasonably priced and the waitress always calls you âhunâ. I just think this is too cute because we donât get that Southern hospitality in Vegas! We first found out about Garyâs when it was featured in Southern Living magazine. Chris had a few bites of their pulled pork sammie just to try it and really liked it.
Their pudding is rich, ultra thick and to die for! Itâs definitely worth the drive. I wish my mom and I would have shared one because I forgot how mondo they are. I could only finish about 1/3 of it and then I was spent. I ate too much, but this stuff is better than ice cream and just as deadly lol
Itâs so mondo, stuff was falling off the sides of the bowl!
After a successful stop at Best Buy, we wanted to look at a few other nearby boutique shops for fun, but Chris slammed his finger in the door as we were getting out and we had to head back home. Ouch! But he is doing fine now đ
For dinner I whipped up some hearty meatloaf, roasted squash, parsnips and spaghetti squash.
It was my first time making spaghetti squash and I think Iâm in love!! It is so simple to make and is so delish. This will definitely be a staple in our house from now on, especially because it makes a ton and this one squash was only about $3. In one cup of plain, cooked spaghetti squash there is only 42 kcals and a fairly good amount of vitamin C and fiber. Yum!
For this I cut it in 1/2 and roasted it cut side down at 375 F with a bit of water in the sheet pan for about 30 minutes. Then I turned it over, topped it with about 1/2 tbsp of butter in each half along with some salt, pepper, and garlic powder and continued to bake it until soft. I also added some parmesan cheese once it was done. Yum!
Alongside we tried a new Malbec that we found at a local wine store called Total Wine. It was nice and full with rich, chocolate-y undertones, but it wasnât out of this world. I much prefer the Layer Cake Malbec.
Iâm looking forward to New Yearâs! We made reservations at a local wine lounge/restaurant thatâs going to have some live entertainment which should be fun. Hope you all have a safe and happy New Yearâs!!
Do you have any New Yearâs plans yet?
January 17, 2009
yogurt + cereal = yum
I love yogurt and could have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner! It is rich, creamy and full of calcium, protein and probiotics. And because I donât like soggy cereal, adding it to yogurt helps it keep that âcrunchâ a little bit longer and is a great way to add some whole grains and fruit to a healthy menu.
I usually have plain yogurt and really enjoy the Wallaby brand because it isnât as âtangyâ as most plain yogurts out there. Plain yogurt usually has much more calcium than flavored yogurts (40% or 400mg). Plus if you add fruit, youâre adding a bit of natural sweetness and your palate can adjust over time. Another yogurt that I love is Trader Joeâs thick non-fat greek yogurt. It is so rich and creamy, almost like having dessert! Greek style is much thicker and has a higher protein content than regular yogurt. I use non-fat greek yogurt in many different recipes in place of sour cream, mayonnaise and salad dressing to cut down on fat and add some calcium.
Today for lunch I decided to have a nice bowl of yogurt with cereal and fruit. I am a cereal addict! I usually have about 5 or 6 different types of cereal in my pantry, and like to mix them all up. I also like frozen wild blueberries in the winter because they are so darn expensive if you buy them fresh. Once they melt a little, their sweet blue juice flavors the yogurt. Feel free to add any kind of fruit you enjoy. I also had a 1/2 of a pear. Another great addition to yogurt which adds flavor without calories or fat is cinnamon. Cinnamon adds such a rich and warm flavor to the creamy, milky yogurt and is a natural combination. I also had a small peanut butter sandwich with pumpkin butter and a sprinkling of cinnamon. This is also a great combination, and I usually add banana slices, but didnât have any on hand. You should try it!
Here are some of my cereals in my pantry now . . . It always changes
Here is a nice picture of the melting blueberries, so yummy!
And here is my peanut butter, pumpkin butter sandwich sprinkled with cinnamon of course! Couldnât resist that drip of goodness . . .
Hope you are having a great weekend!