15 Min and Dinner is Served!

Step 1: Make some qunioa (1 1/2 cup water: 1 cup quinoa.  Boil on stove for 15 min)
Step 2: Bake some chicken nuggets in oven at 425.
Step 3: Microwave some frozen veggies.
Step 4: Mix all ingredients in a bowl with some BBQ sauce and serve :)

Protein Shake

Ingredients:
1/8 cup oats
1 cup almond milk
1 scoop protein powder
2 T. Peanut Butter Co. PB
2 Ice Cubes

Directions:
Blend oats in blender.  Add remaining ingredients and blend again.  Enjoy :)

Buckle Up!

Buckle up for a healthy day tomorrow... 

Breakfast: Green Smoothie

Snack: Lara Bar with a banana

Lunch: Chinese!

Snack: Veggies, hummus, and naan bread

Dinner: Green Smoothie

Happy Wednesday Everyone :)

Veggie BBQ Salad!!!

This salad was AMAZING!!!  I made it veggie style though b/c I'm weird about chicken.

Get the recipe HERE!

Perfect Sunday!

What a Sunday!  I finally finished the grad class that I had been putting off FOREVER and decided to celebrate by spending the rest of my Sunday eating an awesome dinner and watching a movie.

THE DINNER
Arabian Lentil and Rice Soup with Cheesy Bread

Ingredients:
2 T. EVOO
1 medium onion
6 cloves garlic
black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 T. cumin
1 teaspoon coriander
1 1/2 cups diced carrots
1 cup dried lentils
1/2 cup brown rice
6 cups of veggie brother (I used 4 c. broth and 2 c. water)
1/4 cup lemon juice

Directions:
Preheat pot on the stove.  Pour in 2 T. EVOO and 1 medium chopped onion.
When the onion is translucent, add in garlic, pepper, and salt.  Then add the rest of the spices.
Add carrots, lentils, rice, and broth.  Cover the pot and bring to a boil.  Once it starts to boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer for 40 min or so.  Add 1/4 cup lemon juice and serve :)  This was pretty lemony so if you don't like that then add less lemon juice.

The bread was to die for but I'd make a 1/2 batch next time for 1 loaf of bread.  You also have to make sure you serve it with a VERY healthy dinner b/c it is not so much healthy itself!

THE MOVIE

Back to work tomorrow... this has been an awesome winter break :)

Quinoa with Black Beans and Cilantro

Quinoa with Black Beans and Cilantro ~Amanda Skrip

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 yellow onion, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 cup quinoa, rinsed, drained

2 teaspoons chili powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups water

1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed, drained

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, divided

Juice of ½ lime

Procedure:

Heat oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and red pepper; sauté until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes.

Add chili powder and cumin, stir to toast.  Then stir in quinoa. Add water and salt; bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until quinoa is almost tender, about 14 minutes.

 Add beans and 1/4 cup cilantro; cook uncovered until heated through and liquid is fully absorbed, about 3 minutes. Transfer to bowl; sprinkle with remaining cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

Easy Pasta

Sometimes you just don't have all the ingredients :(  I wanted to try a new recipe from Pinterest and thought I had all the ingredients on hand, which is why I picked it, but I guess not!  So... I ended up making another amazing and crazy easy pasta.

Boil some noodles.
Roast some asparagus at 400 with evoo and salt.
Mix noodles with asparagus, light Italian dressing, and Parmesan cheese.  YUMM!

Super Sunday :)

12pm Breakfast
I had a late breakfast today!  I  woke up, did some blog reading, and ran some errands.  Because I waited so late to eat, I figured it would be acceptable to have a big breakfast.  Thus, 11 point + pancakes are what I enjoyed!  The fiber one pancakes are 5 points per giant pancake plus 1 for syrup.

3pm Snack
Sweet treat mid-day.  Can you tell I'm craving sugar?!  Holiday grapes and some pudding. 2+.  I still have 14 points left for dinner.

5pm Workout
I did the 30 Day Shred Level One and Earned 2+.  According to the changes to the plan, I only use these points if I run out of my other 49 extra points.  With 45 bonus points left AND 4 activity points now, I can't see myself going over my goal this week.


6pm Dinner
For dinner I tried a new recipe... Cilantro-Lime Chicken Tacos cooked in the crockpot and served with a bean salad.  I thought I would cut WAY back on the seasoning if I made them again and ended up only eating one taco.  The bean salad was amazing though with chips and Greek yogurt.  I used up 10 points for dinner and topped things off with a popsicle for one point <3 

3 points left today, but don't want to eat if I'm not hungry :)  Have a great start to your week!

This Woman is on Weight Watchers!

8:30am Breakfast
Started off the day with 27 points.
Peanut Butter and Banana Toast with Lemon Water to drink 4+

11:00 Gym
10 minutes speed walking on the treadmill, lifted heavy upper and lower body, and did 10 minutes speed walking on the treadmill.  I earned 2 activity points to add to my weekly cushion of 45 points :)


1:00pm Lunch
Black Bean Burrito with Popcorn and Green Tea 9+

5:30 Dinner
Out to dinner and an awesome concert with my boyfriend!  3 slices of toast with spinach artichoke dip, 2 slices of Giordanos Super Veggie Pizza (minus olives) with a glass of water with lemon 18+ (If that.  The pizza slices were small and loaded with veggies!).  I used 4 points from my weekly allowance too since I went a bit over.  I have 45 left to use up between now and Friday if I want extra treats :)

Roasted Red Pepper Soup

Yesterday was a perfect day for movie watching and soup making!  Below is the recipe for an amazing soup I made from Appetite for Reduction.  The image of the soup was borrowed though...

http://lewdfood.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/roasted-red-pepper-soup.jpg?w=640&h=392&crop=1

Ingredients:

2 large red bell peppers

1 medium onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons dried rosemary

½ teaspoon salt

3 tomatoes

1 teaspoon ground coriander

3 cups vegetable broth

1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375.  Cut the stems off the red peppers and scoop out the seeds.  Stand the peppers in a backing dish.  Bake for 35 minutes until they are soft.  Chop them up.

Sauté onion in oil on a skillet.  Add garlic, rosemary, and salt.  Add in the tomatoes.  Add the coriander, vegetable broth, and chickpeas. Stir and cover for about 15 minutes.  Add the roasted peppers.  Use a blender to blend the soup

Enjoy!

Stuffed Sweet Potato Skins

So delicious, fast, easy, and tons of vitamins!!!

Recipe

Day 1... Again!

Deja Vu lunch today... this time with roasted carrots!!!

I LOVE to run however, when I tried to run this summer, I ended up with an injury in my hip.  After many months off, I am attempting to run again but starting off very slow to avoid injury.  Thus, it's Day 1... again!

Day 1 = 30 minute walk

Off I go

Lucky for me not only is this incredibly easy, but it's also a beautiful fall day AND I live in a beautiful neighborhood!  Finished my run off with yoga and now am ready to tackle some chores :)

Happy Sunday!

Veggie Filled Saturday Lunch

I LOVE my weekends!  Sleep in, play outside, eat amazing food, hang out with friends... what else is better?!

Today I watched Forks Over Knives and decided that I need to get more veggies!!!  I've always known this but it helps to be reminded :)  So... I made an AMAZING lunch!  I made veggie sandwiches with hummus, goat cheese, tomatoes, and cucumbers served on toast.  As sides, I also had caramelized cauliflower and raw carrots with hummus.   I was blown away with the cauliflower.  It was my first time making it and it is definitely something I could have with every meal and not get sick of it!

And to top it off... a red velvet cupcake :)

Have a wonderful Saturday :)

Reeses Peanut Butter Pie

Making some pie for the boyfriend and our weeknight date tomorrow :) 

Reeses Peanut Butter Pie-adapted from Une Vie Saine

Ingredients:
Crust~

• 1 Package of Graham Crackers
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 6 T. butter
• Sprinkle of cinnamon

Pie~

• 8 ounce package frozen whipped topping (such as Cool Whip)
• 8 ounce package cream cheese
• 18 ounce jar crunchy peanut butter
• 1 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup roasted salted peanuts, for garnish
• Reeses Peanut Butter Cups

Procedure:
1. Make the crust and let cool.  Crust Recipe- This crust is SO tasty and smells amazing when it comes out of the oven!

2. In a large bowl, mix whipped topping, cream cheese and peanut butter with a hand mixer until all chunks of cream cheese and whipped topping are gone.
3. Slowly mix in confectioner’s sugar 1/2 cup at a time, scraping sides to ensure everything is well combined.
4. Add milk and beat until well incorporated.
5. Crush Reeses peanut butter cups and mix into recipe.
6. Pour peanut butter mixture into graham cracker crust and even out with a spatula. Garnish with peanuts or Reeses if desired.
7. Set in freezer for at least 45 minutes or up to several hours. Remove right before serving.

Super Fast Goat Cheese Pasta

Today while doing my Saturday morning blog reading, I saw a recipe for Goat Cheese Pasta that look delicious, easy, and inexpensive.  It turned out to be all of these things and I'm in love!  This is the perfect dish for a date night at home or dinner party and would be great paired with some bread dipped in olive oil, a salad, and some wine.  Thank you Gabriela!

Photo taken by Gabriela from Une Vie Saine

My boyfriend, the baker!

I just need to take a moment to brag about my boyfriend's mad baking skills!!!

Funfetti cupcakes with salted caramel frosting!

Okay, I'm done!  Enjoy your day!

Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sandwiches

I made sandwiches from the following blog:  http://www.macheesmo.com/2010/03/breakfast-sandwiches/

They are only 240 calories each and will be my breakfast for the next week.  I added some ham too.  So tasty :)

Curried Quinoa

1 Cup Quinoa
1 Can Chicken Broth
1/2 Red Onion
4 Cloves Garlic
1 tsp. Curry Powder
1 tsp. Cumin
1 T. Mustard Seed
1 can Diced Tomatoes
2 cups Frozen Peas

1) In small saucepan combine qunioa and broth.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or so.
2) Saute onion, spices, and veggies.
3) Mix and ENJOY!!!

Veggie Lentil Soup

Happy Sunday everyone!  Today I made an amazing veggie lentil soup from Appetite for Reduction .  The recipe is below and I tweaked it a bit.

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 medium onion
3 garlic cloves
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
pepper
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 ribs celery
3 carrots
1 sweet potato
1 zucchini
1 cup lentils
6 cups broth
6 oz tomato sauce
two handfuls of spinach chopped


Directions:
Put olive oil in soup pot and heat it up.  Then add onions and garlic.  Saute until they are translucent.  Add the spices and cook another minute.

Add veggies, broth, and lentils.  Bring to a boil with lid on, then reduce to low and cook for 45 minutes.

Add spinach and tomato sauce.  Serve :)

The soup with some bread made my a certain guy I know :)

Pizza Bowl

This is a quick, easy, and delicious lunch!  In a bowl mix cooked rice with spaghetti sauce, veggies, and cheese.  Warm up in the microwave for a minute or two and you're good to go!  Today I had brown rice with spinach and mozzarella.  It was SO good!

 

PS- Also AMAZING with lentils instead of brown rice.  More fiber and fewer calories :)