The Eve of the New Year

Yesterday was a long day but a fun day. After work I headed to the gym where I did a ton of ab and leg exercises, boy am I feeling that today. I also did 30 min. on the stairs.

After showering and getting all dolled up I picked up the finishing touches to my New Years Eve outfit and then I had a dinner date with a friend.
Breakfast

This morning I broke out some new loose leaf tea that I picked up last weekend. It's one of Teavana's new tea's and it's probably the best tea I have ever had. I have already had two cups of it this morning. It's called Shanghai Orchid and it's a white tea, you should really give this one a try.

I broke out a new jar of Tj's peanut butter. I haven't tried this before but it's so cheap at $1.79 a jar I wanted to try it out. It's just peanuts and salt, and it has a nice creamy but crunchy texture.

I made mini Kodiak pancakes with banana slices and dark chocolate chips. Perfect way to start a fun day. I topped them with the pb, drizzle of raw white honey, unsweetened coconut, and peach all fruit.

They were soft and delicious.

Here's a little sneak peak into part of my New Years Eve outfit. New Years Eve is the one night a year that I really get all dolled up and have a whole lotta fun, I can't wait. I love this top, the color is awesome and the fact that I got it on clearance is even better.

Happy New Years!
Be safe and especially never drink and drive.

Christmas granola

For Christmas presents I made some cranberry orange granola. Cranberry orange is one of my favorites because it has the most flavor. I reserved one little bag for myself to enjoy. But then I forgot about it until I stumbled upon it in the cupboard last night. But this morning I got to enjoy it.

I made a quick and easy bowl of quick cook oats and topped it with sliced banana, drizzle of raw honey, and some of the cranberry orange granola. A perfect pairing if you ask me.

I just need to get through the work day today. Then it's a three day holiday weekend and I have some fun plans for tonight, can't wait.

The best salad

Workout
I went to the gym and kicked some butt in an upper body workout. I really worked my muscles to there max and got a good fatigue. I finished with 40 min. on the stairs and an episode of Days of our lives.
Dinner

This is how leftovers should be. I used last nights vegetarian black bean Mexican casserole as tonight's centerpiece.

On top of a huge pile of romaine lettuce I topped it with the Mexican casserole and some baked tortilla chips. The chips were simple to make. I baked in the oven some wedges of whole wheat flat bread for 10 min. on each side at 350 degrees.

It's the tastiest salad that I've had in a while.

Toppings make the meal

This bowl of oat bran this morning is simple but has some pretty delicious toppings on it.
In the pot:
1/4 cup oat bran
2 TB. Bob's apple cinnamon hot cereal
1 cup hot water
splash soymilk
Topped with
warmed up pear sauce
crumbled up pieces of a Great Harvest pumpkin muffin
vanilla coconut crunchy granola (from the bulk bin at the health food store)

All while sipping on a cup of Mighty Leaf tea, the organic Chinese one.

Taco salad Tuesday

It's a Fiesta.
I love Mexican flavors and I can create 500 meals that all vary. There's just so many choices and flavors to pair together. Tonight I made a layered vegetarian black bean dip casserole.

I mixed one can of refried beans with a jar of Tj's spicy black bean dip. I'm in love with this dip and it is good in so many dishes. The bottom layer was the beans followed by some crushed up baked blue corn chips, salsa, more beans, more salsa, and topped with cheddar cheese, canned tomatoes, diced red bell pepper, and green onions.

I baked it in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 min. It came out cheesy and spicy, yum.

I topped mine with a heavy handful of romaine lettuce to make a taco salad.

Now my mouths on fire, a little spicy.

For the love of pancakes

I just love pancakes in any form.
Whether it's a Kodiak pancake, nine grain pancake, sweet potato pancake, or an oatmeal pancake like today.

Pancakes are just soft, fluffy, and usually easy to prepare.

In the mix:
1/2 cup oats
1 tsp. Bob's apple cinnamon hot cereal
2 egg whites
1 TB. homemade applesauce
mix together and microwave for 30 sec.
cook in a non stick pan
Topped with
almond flax nut butter
warmed up homemade applesauce
raisins
coconut (the sweet stuff, a little goes a long ways)

In a little while I'm planning on working out. Maybe doing a bootcamp workout to give my whole body a good workout. I have lots to do today so I want to get my workout done first thing, before running all my errands.

So little time

Some nights your just pressed for time and haven't put any thought into dinner. Well tonight was one of those nights. I am in need of groceries in a serious way. So tonight I had to pull it all together in order to make something for dinner.

Dinner was a toasted slice of whole wheat bread with an egg white patty on top. Topped with some arugula, cheese, barbecue sauce, a Chez Gourmet veggie burger, and more barbecue sauce.

It may look strange but it was actually really good and served it's purpose.

After dinner I enjoyed a cup of Celestial Seasonings berry zinger herbal tea.

Now it's time to go catch up on some chores and find a little time for some rest and relaxing.

Back to normal

Breakfast is served.
Back to work I go after a three day weekend. Good thing it's another short work week.

This morning I had leftover Christmas turkey sausage breakfast casserole. It was still tasty and easy to throw together.

I also had a little bowl of cereal with homemade applesauce on top with some soymilk and unsweetened coconut. I warmed the whole thing up in the microwave for 30 sec.

I'm taking today as a rest day from working out. I hit the gym early yesterday morning and did a really intense workout. It felt good to get my body moving after the holiday weekend.

Christmas comes to a close

The last Christmas event was tonight. I joined my friends and there family for Christmas dinner. It was an evening filled with lots of good food and good friends.

Thank you Troy and Kevin for always being such amazing friends.

Dinner started with appetizers.

And then it was time for everyone to sit down for a fabulous meal.

And dinner is served

The first course was the worlds most delicious pumpkin soup. It was thick, garlicky, and had lots of delicious spices. I loved it so much I ate it before I could even think of snapping a picture.

We then moved on to the second course which was an apple raspberry and candied walnut salad.

Dinner included braised julienned carrots, sausage cornbread stuffing, whipped potatoes, cornmeal in crusted acorn squash slices, and prime rib. I par tacked in everything except the meat and the stuffing.

The Christmas dinner was amazing as usual. My friend Kevin is one of the best cooks I know and I always love joining them.

Merry Christmas to all

Merry Christmas to all my family and friends.
I hope everyone has enjoyed lots of good food, good times, and good presents.

I was put in charge of making the Christmas morning breakfast. I whipped up an amazing potato turkey sausage breakfast casserole. It was simple, delicious, healthy, and everyone enjoyed it.

You must check out this recipe, it's so good. I made a few changes doubling the milk, eggs, and hash browns. I also left out the onions and used organic non fat milk.

We also had some Great Harvest walnut cinnamon raisin bread and some Panettone bread. Both were perfect for a Christmas morning with lots of raisins and dried fruits.

And after two days of good food and good times everyone felt like the poor dog, ready for a nap.

I'm heading to round two of festivities tonight at my friend/neighbor Troys house. It's a 5 course meal starting with pumpkin soup and a raspberry mixed green salad. I can't wait for the pumpkin soup, it's to die for. I'm heading over early for a glass of wine before the festivities begin.

Have a great evening and happy holiday's to all.

On the eve

Merry Christmas Eve to everyone!

Last night was such a great night. I got to visit with my best friend Michelle, her husband John, and the new baby Henry. It was the first time I had met Henry since he was born two months ago. I'm not a baby person but this little guy I love. I'm going to be the best little aunt.

Last night we also did a little gift exchange. Michelle got me some super comfy flannel pajama pants from Victoria Secret, I'm saving them for Christmas morning. I also received a jar of this homemade applesauce.

This woman just had a baby two months ago and some how she has found the time to do all kinds of holiday baking along with making applesauce. Michelle said it took 22 apples to make two jars of applesauce, and that I'm the only other person to receive a jar. After tasting it I can see why she only got two jars, wow is it good. It is chunky and has just the right amount of sweet and spicy. I will savor this for sure and enjoy all 12 apples that went into this jar.

I just had to incorporate that applesauce into today's breakfast. We are having an early dinner around 3pm today so I wanted a really good breakfast to start the day. That way I can just have a snack later to tide me over.

I whipped up some Kodiak pancakes and added some dark chocolate chips (it's Christmas eve, might as well), and topped it with warmed up applesauce and a smidge of coconut. On the side I made cheesy egg whites with one stick of Tj's reduced fat cheddar cheese stick diced up. It's just the right amount of cheesy goodness.

I've been a very productive lady this morning getting all organized for my 1.5 hr road trip to my brothers for Christmas.

Countdown

It's almost that time. Rest, relaxation, good food, family, friends, presents, and fun, can't wait. Just 8 hrs. until I get there.

In the mix:
1/4 cup Bob's hot cereal varieties
2 Tb. quick cook oats
1/4 tsp. chia seeds
1 cup hot water
splash soymilk
1/4 of a diced banana stirred in at the end

Topped with
raw carrot honey
unsweetened coconut

Sipping on some peppermint green tea. I have such fun plans for tonight, I can't wait to get the work day over with and start my three day weekend.

It's a production

I am in full baking mode. The production line has been started and as soon as these mini loafs are completely cool I can finish my last Christmas project.

I like cooling my baked goods on paper sacks because it wicks away any moisture. I always use clean bags and the inside not the outside.

After the loafs were done in the oven I popped dinner in. I chopped up some sweet potato and added a chicken breast stuffed with feta and sun dried tomato. I saved half of the chicken breast for lunch tomorrow.

I must get back to finishing up my gift wrapping.

Orange cereal

Breakfast is served.
I can't wait for the holiday's and a 3 day weekend to sleep in.

I kept it simple since I'm a busy lady these days. I mixed some cereals together, topped it with one cutie clementine, soymilk, and unsweetened coconut. I warmed it all in the microwave for 30 sec.

I'm also really enjoying this new tea from my Mighty Leaf variety pack. It's called organic hojicha green tea, it tastes like a Chinese green tea similar to Chinese black tea, it's really good.

Enjoying the season

Who cares about dinner this week, it's all about holiday treats. Although one should still consume a balanced meal during these times of holiday cheer. Moving on to the good stuff. My next cookie that I made last Sunday was a Seven layer bar. I picked the recipe up from a local health food store, except these aren't exactly healthy. But they are lighter then the original seven layer bar recipes out there.

You can click on the recipe for details.

Before baking it was all gooey, sticky, and delicious.

And after baking it was a chocolate chip coconut heaven in a pan.

I sliced it into bars and popped it into the freezer for Christmas. I can't wait to try these one's, okay I already tried it. But I will take more, they are amazing.

Tips for staying healthy and stress free this week.
Just the usual tips, eat a balanced healthy meal. Eat a healthy snack before going to a party so you are not starving. Pace yourself, you don't have to stuff your face and feel uncomfortable. A little bite of this and that is probably enough, especially if you have a bite of everything. Make sure you continue your workouts, I myself have been to the gym everyday this week. Also take some time for yourself and make sure you get plenty of sleep.

Just relax and enjoy the season.

Aromatic

It's a pancake morning. I can't wait for Christmas and especially for sleeping in.
In the batter:
1/4 cup Bob's hot cereal variety
2 TB. Kodiak pancake mix
3 egg whites
splash pear sauce

The pancake came out kinda dry, which was a sad thing. But the pear sauce on top helped to soften it up.

Topped with
almond flax nut butter
warmed up pear sauce
Yogi walnut spice granola
real sweetened coconut left over from baking, just a pinch

Today's tea is organic spring jasmine green tea from Mighty Leaf. It's not my favorite, I'm not a big fan of jasmine tea's, too aromatic.