As I look at the calendar telling me it’s the 20th of December, I can’t help but want to turn back the clock, oh just a few months. Pretty please? I’m sure many of you all have all the shopping done, the goodies baked, the Christmas menu planned out. Me? oh no, this year I have absolutely nothing done. I made it to a few holiday parties and am working on some handmade hot cocoa mix gifts, but haven’t even managed to get a tree or decorations up. Heck I haven’t even listened to any Christmas music, except unwillingly in all the stores that are blaring the jolly tunes. Yep, you can call me scrooge this year! ha! (more…)
December 20, 2010
August 18, 2010
asian-style pb sauce
Happy Wednesday! This Asian-style peanut butter sauce is very versatile and can be used in all sorts of things. I mostly like it with roasted veggies, noodles and tofu, but it would be a great marinade for chicken or for a satay dipping sauce for a party with chicken skewers. I really just like it I think because it is heavy on my favorite peanut butter flavor. I will also warn you that this is not the lightest sauce in the world, but it is full of healthy fats and sure tastes good! (more…)
January 19, 2010
some good eats + quality time
The best part about the weekend, aside from getting to sleep in till 7am and getting caught up with life, is being able to whip up some tasty meals and really enjoy the company of family. Usually during the week I rush home to get something on the table, talk briefly about the day’s happenings and then spend the rest of the night trying to catch up on school work, research, blogs, blogging, etc, never being seen again till bed time. I don’t like that, although for the next 3 semesters it’s going to have to suffice somehow 🙂
I just wanted to share a couple tasty recipes that I hope you can enjoy with your family and friends or simply in the solace of your own company . . . (more…)
October 13, 2009
race success!
Boy, it was an eventful weekend! Chris had a really good time on his ride and he was really psyched. Thank you so much for all your well wishes! He felt really good for most of the ride which totaled 6 hours 35 minutes riding time with an average speed of 18 mph. It wasn’t really a race or anything, but he’ll find out about his exact time and rankings towards the end of the week. He’s hoping to be in the top 100 for the century.
Chris woke at 4 am and I slept till 4:30, then quickly threw on some clothes to take him to the ride. I don’t really know how he was planning to function that early, but I think the adrenaline was kicking in. I on the other hand just wanted to go back to bed 🙂
We got there in just enough time to get Chris geared up and make it to the start/finish line. It was more like a start/finish mob because there were so many cyclists! I think this is what would scare me the most. Trying to start with all those cyclists so close would make me nervous!
I felt like a proud mama as he started and then hoped that he would be okay on the ride. He made sure to stop at every fuel station and not take any chances with his first century. Even though this slowed his overall time down, it was a good idea to make sure he didn’t fatigue.
So while he was gone riding like a maniac, I decided to get in the kitchen and do some intense baking of my own! I tried another muffin recipe from Pinch My Salt and I think this one is THE best so far. It’s an applesauce spice muffin that uses ww flour, oat bran, wheat germ and flax with 3g of fiber per muffin. Instead of raisins I added chopped dates and I think these really added to the wonderful flavor. Yum!
I also baked another recipe from VeggieGirl called peanut butter banana bread. I added 1/2 cup chocolate chips. The only thing is, my worst fears came to fruition and I over-baked it!! I had to leave it in the pan too long when I went to pick Chris up, and when I was trying to get it out it fell apart! It sure tasted yummy though and super peanut buttery. Anyone know of good vegan binding tricks for breads? It just needed a bit more binding capacity I think.
After my baking, cleaning and washing fest, I made it in time to get some good shots at the finish, so happy!!
After the ride, the participants got a free lunch from Outback. mmm lots of high quality protein and carbs to fuel the 
muscles and replenish all those expended calories.
As far as glycogen replenishment, general guidelines are to have 1-1.5g/kg CHO as soon as possible after the event and every 2 hours after that until 7-10 g/kg is reached. This is especially important for those athletes who will be doing an event pretty soon again. It can take about 20 hours to fully replenish glycogen stores.
I had to buy lunch and was able to grab a couple tacos from Qdoba just as they were closing down shop. Instead of eating the second taco, there was a little kid running around giving away free ice cream. Heck yes!!
I decided to go for the creamsicle which I haven’t had for ages, and it was just as good and creamy as I remember.
After the race Chris was flying on the clouds and felt really good, but as we made our way home I could tell he was getting much more tired. I made him eat a large peanut butter, jelly, banana and honey sandwich with more fluids and then he rested on the couch for most of the night watching football. I also gave him a good leg massage and ice packed his legs. I was kind of worried about him, but the next morning he was chipper as could be and actually wanted to go on another ride! He’s actually been saying how he’s never felt stronger.
Overall it was a great experience and hopefully I can work up to that someday, or at least the 62 miler 🙂
Sunday we finally got to painting the guest room. I really like the color and hope we can get it ready soon. The color is called Restful by Behr and I want to do a shabby chic theme with some antique feel. I plan to organize it more this weekend hopefully because my mom will be here next Tuesday!
I majorly need to tackle my Google Reader and visit all your bloggies. I’m leaving for the SCAN workshop at the Olympic Training Center on Wednesday! I hope to come back with some cool pictures and useful information 🙂
I hope you all have a great week!
July 7, 2009
hot hot hot
It’s been pretty dang hot here lately and I think we only have another 2 1/2 months of it yet to go? Ugh! I just feel like this heat drains me and steals all the energy I have! Does anyone have any advice on powering through hot desert weather? I make sure to stay hydrated, but I can’t seem to regulate my temperature well, even in the winter. I also get terrible heat headaches since all my veins blow up like little balloons. I just have to get through it!
I call this the blow dryer effect . . .
I’m going to the SNE Conference in New Orleans, so I guess I won’t get any reprieve from the hot weather. I think it’s supposed to rain 3 out of the 5 days I’ll be there, so I’m sure the humidity won’t help things!
I also bought some new running shoes! They were only $30 at DSW and they are quite cushy and comfy. Now you all know that I am not the running type, and I don’t run that often to be honest. I’ve been dancing since I was 8 years old and was on the dance team in HS and college. I can dance all day long or take fitness classes like kickboxing and spin, but running has always been a challenge. I truly admire those of you who can run and run and run! So, I decided that I am going to start training for a sprint triathlon on October 3! I think that I’m not getting any younger and I’d like to do something like this when I have the chance. Because I’m also studying sports nutrition, I’d like to better counsel athletes if I’ve actually experienced it myself. We’ll see how it goes . . . this hot weather isn’t helping at the moment.
My lil sis Sarah’s 4th birthday was this past Sunday (the one on the left, her friend Hannah is on the right). My dad actually has 3 little ones! Isn’t he crazy?! But, he truly loves it and can’t wait till he can retire and spend lots more time with them. There is Kauner who’s 6, Sarah who just turned 4 and Josh who’s 3. Wow, I don’t think I could even imagine having 3 kids right now even at the age of 24. It was also Sarah’s friend Hannah’s birthday, so it was double the fun. Here are some pictures of the party with lots of crazy kids! Ahhh . . . to be a kid again and not have a care in the world.
Don’t drop the egg!
I want candy!
Sweet Josh was tired!
In foodie news, I have a couple great recipes for you that I tried out this past weekend, both involving my favorite thing . . . peanut butter! I swear I think I could eat that stuff all day long. It would definitely be my first choice if I was stuck on a deserted island 🙂 My ultimate favorite brand is Trader Joe’s because it has a wonderful roasty toasty flavor. When I taste a regular brand peanut butter now, it just tastes flavorless to me. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend no matter what you were up to!
Asian BBQ Chicken with Crispy Peanutty Noodles
( I got the ‘crispy’ idea from PF Chang’s dan dan noodles)
Ingredients for the chicken:
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
- dash cayenne
- 1/4 tsp curry powder
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 – 2 pounds chicken tenders
Combine first 6 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic bag; add chicken. Seal and marinate in refrigerator 4 hours (this also freezes well).
Prepare grill.
Remove chicken from bag, reserving marinade. Place marinade in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute. Place chicken on oiled grill; grill about 4-5 minutes each side or until done, turning and basting frequently with the marinade.
Ingredients for the Noodles:
- A bunch of your favorite veggies to sauté. I used 2 baby bok choy, 2 green bell peppers, several julienned carrots, green onions
- 1 bundle of soba noodles, boiled until al dente
- For the peanut sauce to add at the end: 2 tsp grated peeled fresh ginger, 3 garlic cloves, minced, 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce, 3 tbsp rice wine vinegar, 1 tsp chili garlic sauce all warmed up in a small saucepan (you may have sauce left over, depending on how saucy you like your noodles)
Stir fry all the veggies until slightly tender in a large wok, but still crisp; remove from wok. Add some more canola oil, then the cooked noodles and cook until crispy around the edges. Pour the veggies back on top of the noodles along with the peanut sauce and serve with the asian BBQ chicken! Top with more green onions for garnish. Pyramid apricot ale is one of my favorites and went well with this type of dish.
This chicken recipe is very versatile, so I used it in another recipe the next night because I had some leftover . . .
Chicken Satay Wraps
(adapted from CookingLight)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup diced carrots
- 1/3 cup chopped green onions
- 2/3 cup light coconut milk
- 1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 3 tbsp creamy peanut butter
- 1 tsp curry powder
- dash cayenne
- 2 cups chopped asian BBQ chicken (see above)
- 4 (8-inch) flour tortillas (I used whole wheat)
- romaine and bok choy for stuffing and greenage
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add a little bit of olive oil. Add carrots and onions; sauté 1 minute. Stir in coconut milk and next 5 ingredients (through cayenne); stirring constantly. Add the chicken; cook 1 minute, stirring to coat. Remove from heat; cool. Warm tortillas and spoon about 1/2 cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla, and top each with greenage. Roll up and enjoy!
I also topped mine with some creamy goat cheese.
mmmm . . . mid bite
One recipe, two versatile dishes that are a whole lotta yum 🙂
Speaking of glorious nut butters . . . Angie is giving away some great stuff from Trader Joe’s (my favorite, um I mean it’s terrible!) Darn it, I forgot she is on east coast time and I missed it! But you should still check out her blog 🙂
What’s your favorite way to use nut butters?
February 13, 2009
peanut butter party
Peanut butter has always been a love of mine, and I’ve probably eaten gallons and gallons already in my lifetime! It is just creamy, nutty, roasty toasty and just plain lip-smacking delicious. I get excited when I get to the last of the jar because then I can have what I call a ‘peanut butter party.’ This is my way of scooping out the very last of the peanut butter without digging right out of the jar (which I would happily do if I didn’t restrict myself). I call it a party because I like to ‘finish off’ things, and who doesn’t like scraping right out of the peanut butter jar?! It’s just plain fun trying to get in all the nooks and crannies, and then when I’m done with just that little bit left, I’m done. You should try it, it’s highly satisfying!
As far as brands go, I would stick with the natural varieties, or those that don’t have any hydrogenated oils (trans fats) in them. My favorite would have to be Trader Joe’s brand. It has such a pronounced roasted peanut flavor that is delicious! I have yet to try that Barney Butter that every one raves about, but I haven’t looked for it here. Anyone want to swap brands? I will send a jar of Trader Joe’s for a jar of Barney Butter!
Another thing I love about peanut butter, aside from its great nutritional value (in moderation of course), is that it is so versatile. I swear I could eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert! I recently made a recipe called peanutty noodles that I adapted from CookingLight, which plays on the savory side of peanut butter. I also have a cookbook called The Ultimate Peanut Butter Book, which features a ton of savory and sweet recipes, all of which highlight peanut butter . . . of course!
Peanutty Noodles
Serving Size: 1 cup
Ingredients
- 1 tsp dark sesame oil
- 1.5 tsp grated peeled fresh ginger (about a 1” cube)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
- 1/3 – 1/2 cup natural-style peanut butter (I used 1/2 cup because I like mine peanut buttery!)
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 3 Tbs rice or white wine vinegar
- 1 tsp chili garlic sauce (such as Lee Kum Kee)
- Cooking spray
- 2 tsp canola oil
- 1 block marinated tofu (I like TJ’s teriyaki flavor), cut into strips
- 2 carrots, peeled and shaved into thin strips with a veggie peeler
- 2 cups red bell pepper strips (about 2), thinly sliced
- 2 baby bok choy, sliced, separate white and green parts
- about 2 bunches soba noodles (you can also use udon)
Preparation
Heat 1 teaspoon dark sesame oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the ginger and minced garlic; sauté 30 seconds. Add chicken broth and the next 4 ingredients (broth through chili garlic sauce); stir until well-blended. Reduce heat, and simmer just until thickened, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, and keep warm.
Cook Soba noodles according to package instructions. This usually is pretty quick and can be done just before tossing everything together.
Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add tofu, bell peppers and white parts of the bok choy; sauté 5-10 minutes or until tender and golden. Add carrot slices and green tops of bok choy; sauté just until wilted. Add warm peanut butter sauce, and cooked soba noodles; toss well. Serve Immediately and enjoy!
Nutritional Information
- (based on CL recipe)
- Calories: 296 (27% from fat)
- Fat: 8.8g (sat 1.7g,mono 3.8g,poly 2.7g)
- Protein: 11.7g
- Carbohydrate: 43.1g
- Fiber: 3.4g
- Cholesterol: 1mg
- Iron: 3.6mg
- Sodium: 400mg
- Calcium: 44mg
What’s your favorite way to use Peanut Butter?
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 don’t like soggy cereal, adding it to yogurt helps it keep 
that “crunch” 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 isn’t as “tangy” as most plain yogurts out there. Plain yogurt usually has much more calcium than flavored yogurts (40% or 400mg). Plus if you add fruit, you’re adding a bit of natural sweetness and your palate can adjust over time. Another yogurt that I love is Trader Joe’s 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 didn’t 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! Couldn’t resist that drip of goodness . . .
Hope you are having a great weekend!
