A start to a great meal

I think it's time for a new computer, my sanity is worth the price. It just seems like endless problems with this laptop. I think the problem is it's not made for full time blogging and part time recipe searching. So I guess this weekend I will look and maybe purchase a new computer, it must be done. I'm NOT looking forward to shelling out the money. But I'm done going crazy and there's far better things I could be doing with my time. Liking making more things with oats and chocolate chips.

Dinner

All good meals start with a nice salad in my opinion. I love filling up on a good salad filled with lots of different flavors. It's a good nutritional bang for your buck and is also very satisfying. You can never eat too much leafy greens.

Tonight's included mixed greens, dried cherries, crumbled Parmesan, sliced almonds, hummus, and Annie's red pepper vinaigrette. Along with a few flax seed tortilla chips.

And when you combine it with a nice warm bowl of leftover hummus soup topped with feta, you just can't go wrong in my opinion. I added a little extra fresh squezed lemon juice, pepper, and some sun dried tomatoes which really helped bump the flavor up.

This was a perfect meal on the windiest and rainiest day I have seen in a while. It was cold and nasty today. That's why my evening's going to be spent curled up with Thomas (the cat), a blanket, and hot cup of herbal tea.

Have a great evening.

Comfort food

I didn't accomplish much today. But I did make a trip to the store for some groceries and to pickup the makings for a delicious and comforting meal.

Tonight's dinner was inspired by a recipe I once had that was amazing. I had it at my friend Michelle's and I want to re create it for another friend soon. So I wanted to give it a test run beforehand. I also knew it would be fairly easy to make once I chopped everything up. Then all I would have to do is throw it in a pot and let it simmer for an hour.

The original recipe is by Lidia Italy: Traditional chicken and rice.
My take on it was slightly different.

Creamy chicken and brown rice risotto:

* In a pot I sauteed 1 diced onion, 1 shallot, and 2 cloves in 1 TB. olive oil
* I then added 1 diced carrot
* 2 diced chicken breasts
*Seasoned with salt, pepper, oregano, and chicken seasoning
* Simmer until chicken is browned
* Add 2 cups short grain brown rice
* Add 5 cups chicken stock
* Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer on low for 50 min.
* Remove from burner and let rest 10 min.

Add about 1/4 cup grated Parmesano reggiano cheese. Make sure you use a high quality freshly grated strong hard cheese. Along with 1 TB. butter, yes butter!

I would make a few small changes to this recipe next time. Since I've been sick so I omitted the 1 cup white wine. I would add that in. I think it adds a lot of flavor. I would also add some diced celery and mushrooms to the recipe. Along with a tad bit more cheese and some fresh parsley and chive at the end. But overall it was really good.

Back to life

Yesterday I was so not feeling good. I had a serious case of the flu. But today I'm feeling much better. After not eating much yesterday I was finally feeling ready to eat this morning.


Breakfast always makes me feel better. Most people eat soup when there sick, not me. I want waffles, toast, and pancakes. This morning I made up a batch of Kodiak pancakes mixed with some chia seeds and frozen blueberries.

Topped with simple Justin's honey peanut butter, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and pure maple syrup.

With a side of a mini egg white omelet with a tiny bit of reduced fat cheddar cheese and a sprinkle of dill for seasoning.

I'm planning on taking it easy today, drinking lots of tea, and maybe going for a short walk or a little yoga. Just something to get a little movement. I'm feeling kinda stiff this morning, my muscles are in need of some stretching. But will see how the day goes.

*** I have a new email address if you would like to get in contact with me. It's basically the same email but through hotmail instead of gmail.

staceyhealthylife@hotmail.com

The last piece

This morning was the last of the delicious banana chocolate chip oatmeal bake. I topped it off with a little raspberry all fruit spread and a drizzle of almond butter.

Side note: Red bowls make everything dark and yucky when it's super early in the morning.

This recipe was soooo good. I think you could experiment using the same base ingredients, but different flavors. Like apples, pears, dried cranberries, raisins, cocoa, berries, so many possibilities.

Enjoy your Saturday!!!

Hummus soup

My computer problems came back last night and after hours of trying to work it out I was so frustrated I gave up. And this morning I couldn't even bear the thought of giving it a try. But I found my problem so now that I know the problem I can prevent the problem. On to greatness.


Soup and salad.

I saw this original recipe on Angela's website and then again on Kath's as seen here. When they referred to this soup as hummus in a soup version I was sold.

Unfortunately it just didn't live up to my expectations, sorry ladies. I loved the texture but the flavor needs a little tweaking.

I paired it with a nice salad of mixed greens, dried cranberries, and Annie's red pepper vinaigrette. With some whole wheat naan bread wedges for soup dipping.

Breakfast creation

Woot woot. Not sure what I did but all the computer issues are once again worked out. So lets move on to this spectacular creation.

Banana chocolate chip oatmeal bake.

I was craving something baked and with lots of oats for breakfast this morning. So with a little recipe searching I came across the perfect one. I adapted this recipe from one of Angela's creations. This is a cross between banana bread and oatmeal, need I say more.

Adapted from Oh She Glow's rustic banana chocolate chip oat cake

Banana chocolate chip oatmeal bake:

• 2 cups regular oats
• 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
  
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed firmly
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 2 tbsp olive oil
  
• 2 medium peeled and mashed banana's
  
• 1/3 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup organic non fat milk
• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

Mix together dry ingredients in one bowl.
In another bowl mix together wet ingredients.
Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients and add chocolate chips.
Bake in a non stick baking dish at 350 degrees for 36 min.
Let rest for 10 min. before serving.

Serve and enjoy!!!!!

Breakfast bake

I seem to be having some technical problems with downloading pictures today. I shall have it figured out soon. But I had to give you a sneak peak into what I made for breakfast this morning. Banana chocolate chip oatmeal bake, AMAZING is all I can say. This one's going in the recipe archive.

Gourmet all the way

Workout
I went to the gym yet again today. The cold rainy weather has kinda made my workouts this week a little boring. Today I focused on my abs and legs and finished with 30 min. of cardio on the stairs.
Dinner

Nothing like a toasty gourmet open faced sandwich. This sandwich started with a base of whole wheat naan bread. Topped with some basil and white bean hummus, roasted red pepper and artichoke tapanade, and smoked turkey.

Toasted under the broiler for just a few minutes.

Finished with a bed of mixed greens, fresh shaved Parmesano reggiano, sea salt, and pepper.

Along with a little bowl of red pepper chickpea minestrone soup.

Kid toppings

Peanut butter and jelly pancake.

I made another batch of my famous whole grain protein pancakes.

In the batter: Oat bran, oats, Bob's spice n nice hot cereal, egg whites, organic non fat milk, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda.

On one side of the pancake I added unsweetened coconut. I thought it would get all toasty but it kinda just disappeared.

Topped with: all natural pb, raspberry all fruit spread, warmed up applesauce, cinnamon, and raisins.

This topping combo would be perfect for kids. It has all there favorite flavors. It's like a pbj pancake.

Baked toppings

Workout
I hit up the gym today for an upper body workout and 30 min. on the stairs. It was a quick and sweaty workout.
Dinner

Nothing like a nice salad with roasted sweet potatoes for dinner.

The main ingredients for this salad were mixed greens topped with roasted and seasoned sweet potatoes. Along with wedges of a Tj's chili lime chicken burger. Also in the mix a little reduced fat cheddar cheese, basil white bean dip, and lots of salsa.

Paired with some crispy and crunchy baked blue corn chips.

Perfect oats

World class oats!!!!

How do you make the perfect bowl of oatmeal? It takes just a couple important steps.
1: Use a pot and cook them on the stove.
2: Use really good oatmeal. I use Bob's red mill.
3: Have a ratio of milk (any type) and hot water.
4: Stir and stir some more.

And that's how you get fluffy perfect oatmeal every time.

Today's mix: 1/4 cup oats, 2 TB. Bob's apple cinnamon hot cereal, organic non fat milk, hot water, 2 TB. pumpkin puree, cinnamon, sea salt, and 1/4 tsp. chia seeds.

Topped with: pure maple syrup, almond butter, and unsweetened coconut.

Lots of veggies

Workout
After work today I came home for one of my bootcamp workouts. I did it in three rounds starting with 15 min. on the spinning bike. Followed by chest, back, abs, and legs. Another 10 min. back on the bike and then more abs, legs, shoulders, biceps, and triceps. I finished up with 15 min. back on the bike.

It's a good workout to keep your body guessing and a great way to keep some variety in your workouts.
Dinner

For dinner I was craving a BIG AMAZING salad, and that's what I got. This salad was better then any restaurant salad that I've had lately. It included romaine lettuce, mixed greens, mushrooms, carrots, cucumber, dried cranberries, feta, and two different types of hummus.

Delicious!!!!

I baked in the oven a lasagna from Trader Joe's. This one was their multi grain veggie lasagna.


Put together to make a yummy and easy dinner chocked full of veggies.

And then there's this guy, he's such a bum. He is not allowed on the furniture and for whatever reason I found him in this chair tonight getting cozy with a blanket and pillow. And he looks so comfortable.

Sunday morning

This is one of my favorite pancakes. It's SUPER SOFT and so delicious. But it's a little hard to make. There's two varieties, one with an egg white and one without. The one with egg is easier to flip and holds together better. But the one without is so soft and delicious.

You have to either have a really big pancake flipper or you have to use the, slide to a plate and flip into the pan method to cook both sides.

Today's was made without an egg and I had to have a plate for assistance with the flipping. But it was well worth it.

In the batter: 1/4 cup oats, 1TB. oat bran, 1TB. Bob's apple cinnamon hot cereal, dash salt/cinnamon/ and baking soda, along with 3 TB. pumpkin puree, and a few raisins.

Topped with: all natural pb, unsweetened coconut, pure maple syrup, and a few dark chocolate chips.

It was soft and a delightful Sunday breakfast.

It's so nice here today with a clear blue sky and the sun shining bright. I think I'm going to walk and get some coffee this morning, spend the day working in the yard, and then bike across town later to the store for a few things. I have yet to bike in my very bike friendly neighborhood. For whatever reason I seem to have a fear of venturing out for the first time on bike.

So sunny I had to wear shades

It was so sunny here today. Such a nice unexpected change in the weather from the usual rain. So I definitely had to get outside. I went for a run cruising through all the neighborhoods and taking in all the views of the beautiful older homes.

It was so sunny I had to break out the shades. Now I just can't wait until it's a little warmer also.

Saturday

Happy Saturday morning.
I hope everyone got to sleep in today. Unfortunately I'm up and heading to work. But not before enjoying a hot bowl of oats.

In the mix: Oat bran , Bob's spice n nice hot cereal, water, and almond milk.

Topped with: Strawberries, coconut, and a smidge of almond butter.

I will see you later today. Please do something fun for me. I'm heading to the gym after work and then I have a get together with a friend later tonight.

Breakfast or dinner???

No it's not breakfast time, it's dinner time. Breakfast is my #1 favorite meal, so sometimes it's the perfect thing for dinner also.


I made a trip to Trader Joe's and Limbo's (a produce store) to pick up some supplies.

For dinner I whipped up an egg white omelet stuffed with mushrooms, spinach, and laughing cow herb cheese (adds a nice creaminess) and topped with a sprinkle of cheddar.

On the side a few strawberries and a little itty bitty bowl of cereal with a smidge of organic non fat milk. I don't like my cereal swimming in milk, yuck.

Whole grain pancake

It's been a while since I have had one of my high protein whole grain pancakes. They are so simple to whip up and so good for you.

In the batter: 1/4 cup Bob's apple cinnamon hot cereal, 1/4 cup oat bran, 1/4 of a mashed banana, 3 egg whites, dash organic non fat milk, dash cinnamon and baking soda, and a few dark chocolate chips.

Topped with: drippy almond butter, raspberry all fruit spread, and unsweetened coconut crumbles.

Oat cookies

Workout
I was planning on taking a rest day today. But when life becomes stressful the best thing to do is work it out. So after work I did a bootcamp workout targeting every muscle. Once I was done I felt so much better.

Healthy cookies

Sometimes I just start making something and make it up as I go. That's what I did with these cookies. I had originally planned on making some no bake dough ball cookies.

I started mixing the ingredients including finely chopped dates and coconut. I added some regular oats, quick cook oats, evaporated cane juice, salt, cinnamon, applesauce, dark chocolate chips, and olive oil.

Once it started coming together I realized that based on the consistency they would be better baked.

They need a little tweaking, but overall they were pretty tasty. Once I get them just right I will share the recipe. But I'm on the right track.

Baked donuts

One of the other kitchen purchases I made the other day was a pan to make baked donuts. I had seen these on other blogs before and really wanted to try them.

Besides donuts not being healthy at all, I feel like all you taste is that gross oil.

I followed the recipe on the back of the pan substituting half of the
flour for whole wheat pastry flour and adding 1/4 cup of pumpkin puree.

For my first try they weren't too bad. I think I need to try out a few other recipes.

These would be really good for a brunch or maybe a party. I wonder if they make minis?