Tag Archives: veggies

Gaga, Green Beans, Grapple, Giveaway*

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*If you could care less what I ate or how pt is going, skip to the bottom for a giveaway!

If you do care, I had my last pt session today!  I have a (long) set of exercises that I should plan on doing indefinitely.  Post-foot surgery in January if I’m having pain when I start running again then I’ll go back for another appointment.  For now, I plan on doing my exercises and enjoying the few weeks in December I have to run.

I warm up on the treadmill for 20minutes during pt so the gym was a logical next stop.  I had a quick snack at home to refuel first.  A tiny sliver of Kerrygold Aged Cheddar with Irish Whiskey.

And something I’ve been eyeing for months and months that finally went on sale – GRAPPLES!

The grape-apple hybrid caught my eye back in Brooklyn and I was so excited to finally try it.  The apples have a slight maroon tinge and smell a lot like grape soda.  The small is more noticable than the taste though, just a slight afterflavor of tang.  Still good though.

Fueled, I hit up the treadmill for a run.  My plan was to do 2minute run/1minute walk intervals.  That was what I did most of the time, but a few times I just couldn’t bear to stop running!  I did a few extended walks too so hopefully it all evened out.  In the end my stats were – 38minutes / 3.2miles / 395calories.  My music made the work out –35minute Playlist

  1. Into the Ocean; Blue October
  2. Every Ship Must Sail Away, Blue Merle
  3. Hot Blooded, Foreigner
  4. No Long Talking, Lady Saw
  5. Fearless, Cyndi Lauper
  6. I Know You Want Me, Pitbull
  7. Paparazzi, Lady Gaga
  8. Bad Romance, Lady Gaga
  9. Platypus (I Hate You), Green Day

It  was the perfect mix.  The husband (ahem) got me obsessed with Lady Gaga recently.  I hate her old stuff, but the two songs on the playlist are pretty damn catchy and you have to like her music videos – I love the styling and contrasts.

After a quick shower it was time for lunch.

Amy’s Fire Roasted Southwestern Vegetable Soup,

and green bean fries.

The “fries” were spritzed with evoo, sprinkled with salt and paprika, and baked at 450* for 20minutes.  They were delicious, but maybe could have used ten more mintues.

Yes, I ate the entire bag.  Yes, I know that is disgusting.  Yes, it was delicious.  The soup was tasty too.

I loved the flavor, but I left most of the broth.  It was a yummy lunch.

Now I’m off to study.  For the rest of the day.  Ugh.

*Now we are talking about the free stuff –

You can have a yummy lunch with Amy’s too!  1 Grand Prize winner will receive a variety pack of three soups.  Three runners up will receive free product coupons for any Amy’s product.

To enter –

  1. For one entry – leave a comment on this post.
  2. For a second chance – go to Amy’s website and sign up for the Amy’s newsletter.  Leave a comment telling me you’ve done so.
  3. For a third/fourth chance – link back to this contest from your blog and/or on Twitter.  Leave a comment(s) telling me you’ve done so.

The contest ends Friday at noon, Good Luck!

Silk Soy Nog and Savory Bread Pudding

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It’s been a full day around here and tomorrow is looking full as well so this will be unabashedly short.

I had pt this morning, it’s going well.  I’m pretty frustrated that legwise I’ve been allowed to run but footwise I can’t.  My pt agrees that since I’m basically taking January off (I’m having my wort surgically removed) it’s a good idea to work as hard as I can the next three weeks.

I left the house before 7:30 which didn’t leave me much time for breakfast.  I got my protein in with this Odwalla.

Super Protein Vitamin Fruit Juice Drink.  I drank about 3/4, it was a good breakfast.

We are going home for Christmas and my big final is on the 21st so I’ve got lots of studying and loose ends to tie up today.  I spent my lunch hour working on stuff and by the time I picked up Adam at 2 I was starving.  We hit up a pizza place he found with zillions of choices and huge slices.

I got broccoli, chicken, brussetta.

Yum, broccoli is my favorite pizza topping.

Even hungry though the slices were way too big though.  I left about 1/3 of mine.

Although that didn’t stop me from devouring Adam’s crust.

We ran a lot of errands (doctor’s office, mall, pharmacy) before coming home to do some gift making.  I did a little bit of nibbling on the pretzels, but mostly I enjoyed the ultimate Christmas festivity –

I’m so glad I found Silk Soy Nog again this year!!  I had 1 cup topped with nutmeg.

Dinner came from the October issue of Cooking Light, Butternut Squash and Parmesan Bread Pudding (click the link for the recipe).  I halved the recipe, used skim milk, and skipped the egg whites, but otherwise I followed it.

It was pretty good.  A little sweet though, I think my favorite part of dinner was my side salad.

All together –

We are watching “Waitress” and then heading to bed.  I’m not sure what I think of the movie yet, definitely quirky.

Are you a bread pudding fan?  Any savory kinds you’ve liked?

Mid-Fray Update

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I have time for a post, can you believe it!?!  The food is all prepared and the house is cleaned, all that’s left is getting dressed so I figured I might as well stop in and share some recipes.

I drove Adam to school this morning so we had to be out of the house at 7:30.  My alarm broke and his didn’t go off until 7:20 leading to this outfit –

Yep, I slapped Uggs on my pajamas and called it a go.

During our drive I drank this purple Rockstar for an energy boost.

And that’s all I’ve eaten since then.  All day.  I did some nibbling while I made dessert but other than that I’ve kept my hands out of the food.  All I’ll say is this: thank goodness for Rockstar!

Tonight’s surprise party is going to be tiny, but very well stocked with food and booze 🙂  In addition to the rum, vodka, etc. we have around the house I bought three kinds of Christmas beer.

Appetizers:  buffalo chicken dip with Food Should Taste Good Olive Chips and Sociable crackers; devilled eggs.

Dinner: salad with red and green peppers; garlic bread; vegetable lasagna.

Dessert: ‘smores pie.

This party is about Adam, not me.  I choose things that he liked and made them the way he likes, without healthy substitutions.  I didn’t cut back the cheese (there is LOT of cheese in this menu) or use plain yogurt in place of mayo.  I did buy low fat or fat free versions of most everything.  Also, as usual, nothing has trans fat; Adam doesn’t eat it either.

Buffalo Chicken Dip  I got this recipe from Tina’s blog.

I basically followed it except that I don’t have a slow cooker, so after the stove top I put mine in a small casserole dish and baked for 20minutes, uncovered, at 250*.  Also, I used fat free and 1/3 less fat cream cheeses.

Devilled Eggs

  • 7 large eggs
  • 2 T Miracle Whip Lite
  • 1 t mustard (I used Jack Daniels)
  • ½ t olive juice
  • 7 pimento stuffed olives, cut in half
  • paprika 
  1. Hard boil the eggs.  When they are finished, run them under cold water for 1-2 minutes.
  2. Carefully peel and discard shells.
  3. Cut each egg in half lengthwise, dumping the yolks into a small bowl.
  4. Mash yolk with a fork.  Add mayo, mustard, and olive juice to the bowl; mash to combine.
  5. Spoon a bit of the yolk mixture into each egg half.
  6. Top with an olive half and a sprinkle of paprika (I only put paprika on half).

Salad

For the salad I bought two bags of mixed lettuce and four bell peppers (two red, two green).  I chopped up the peppers and tossed.  I’m setting out the bowl with a variety of dressings.

Garlic Bread

All you need is a loaf of Italian bread, SmartBalance Light, and garlic powder.  Cut the loaf into slices.  Spread each slice with butter and sprinkle with garlic powder.  Reform into a loaf and wrap tightly with tinfoil.  Warm in oven for the last 10minutes of cooking time of whatever you’re serving it with.

Veggie Lasagna  This is Adam’s mom’s recipe, but I’m writing it with the several changes I made.

  • package lasagna noodles (you need 10noodles)
  • 15oz fat free ricotta cheese
  • ¼ lb parmesan cheese, shredded.  Reserve half
  • 16oz part skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • ½ cup fat free cottage cheese
  • 3 eggs, lightly beaten
  • ¼ t salt
  • ¼ t pepper
  • 1 T oregano
  • 1 T garlic powder
  • 16oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and strained
  • ½ cup shredded carrots
  • jar spaghetti sauce (I used garlic flavored) 
  1. Preheat the oven to 400*.
  2. Cook the noodles according to package directions, for half the time instructed.  Add evoo to water before boiling.
  3. Drain noodles and lay flat.
  4. Combine cheese, eggs, and seasonings in a large bowl.
  5. Brush a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of the pan.
  6. Put down a layer of pasta, followed by half the spinach, then all the carrots, then half the cheese mixture, then a thin layer of sauce.  It’s easiest to put the cheese and sauce layers down in small spoonfuls and then spread with your fingers.
  7. Repeat layers again – pasta, spinach, cheese, red sauce.  Top with the reserved parmesan cheese.
  8. Bake uncovered for 25-35minutes, or until set and lightly golden.
  9. Allow to stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.

‘Smores Pie.

Click the link above.

Everything is prepped, but the lasagna, dip, and bread still need to go into the oven as it gets closer to party time.  I’m a little bit nervous, this is literally the first time I’ve ever made most of these recipes!  I hope that Adam likes everything and that he’s surprised.  I’ll be back tonight with a recap.

What dish do you take to parties?  Do you have a special one for the holidays?

Last Lab

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It’s official – I’m finished with Chem 101 Lab!  Yesterday, when I wore my pajamas to class, I got called up to the front for a demonstration, so I made sure to look cute today, albeit a bit crazy eyed.

I didn’t get many of my errands done, but we did at least make it to the post office in time to pick up a birthday gift from Adam’s brother.

He sent a variety of foodstuffs, all of which inspired my graze like a hippo gazelle dinner.  I like to work in reverse, so I started with dessert.  A macadamia cluster,

followed by two small petti  fores.

I have to say, I’m a bit of a candy snob, I could tell the chocolate was cheap and it wasn’t really worth it.

Dinner was more of a success.  I made a tasting plate!

Turkey pepperoni,

cheese log,

Sabra Jalopeno Hummus,

saltines,

and chopped pregnant red pepper, see the little green pepper baby we found inside!?

Everything was delicious.

I loved the combination of flavors, smokey, savory, sweet and spicy all together.  My fullness took a while to kick in though, I definitely snacked on 5-8 more unphotographed saltines post-dinner.

Adam and I watched all the newest Scrubs episodes while we ate, pretty good so far!  We were o.b.s.e.s.s.e.d with the old show – I talked about it in my wedding vows!!!! – and agree that while this isn’t quite as good the bar is set pretty high.

Post dinner I cleaned the entire freaking house!  Everything looks much neater and I feel a gazillion times better.  I do not function well in mess.  Now I’ve got to hit the sack, it’s Adam’s 24 birthday tomorrow!

Where do you set the bar when it comes to chocolate?  90% coco from the French only or whatever you can find?  I can occasionally enjoy a bite of the husband’s Snickers, etc. but in generally I’m pretty snobby.  My favorite as of late is the Lindt Sea Salt bar, yum!

Jam Flavored Stuffing

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The title is what I imagined when I put these two phrases together:  1.”Running around like a chicken with its head cut off;” 2.”Jam-packed.”  I guess you could pack the chicken with the jam?  Consequently, those phrases also both describe my day today.  It’s been go-go-go!

First, I went to my pt appointment.  Good news, I can run again!!!!  Only a few days a week and I have to start slow, but it’s great news.  I ran a mile during my appointment and it felt glorious!

I had some time between that appointment and my doctor’s appointment so I ended up killing an hour in McDonalds.  I bought some apple dippers to tide me over.

Yums.  And I loved most of the nutrition information on this packaged for kids item.

The only downpoint in my opinion is the zero grams of fiber – the apples had fiber to begin with if they’d just leave the darn skins on!  I guess I shouldn’t have nutrition outrage when I’m guzzling a diet coke at 9am.

I also started a new book – Under the Table, by Katherine Darling.

I’m loving it!  Darling is a good writer and culinary school is my ultimate dream.  I had to wait for more than an hour at the doctor’s office and normally I’d have been seething but today I was just glad to have an excuse to read!

I also got some news from this doctor.  2 out of 4 plantars warts are gone (for good hopefully!).  The other two I’m going to continue with the home-acid for, and I now have a prescription for an oral medicine that boosts your immune system – part of the reason I’m having such a problem is because mine isn’t responding properly.  I’ll take the medicine over break and I’m scheduled to have the wart cut out on January 4th.  This will most likely keep me immobile for a week or so, and could possibly keep me from running for up to a month.  It’s pretty devastating that training (which has barely begun) might break 2 months before my half, but it’s better than running the half with my foot hurting.

After that appointment I went to two separate pharmacies and then drove home for the quickest stop in ever.  I didn’t even take a shower, just washed my face!  However, I got two blocks from my house before I realized the reason I was in the car wasn’t in the car with me!  I left the giant bag of stuff that needed to be dropped off at Goodwill at home!

FYI – we designate a spot in our hall closet for things that can be donated.  Old clothes, free products, gifts that aren’t our style, etc.  Once we’ve got a sufficient pile we drop it off at Goodwill rather than throwing those things in the trash.  It’s better for the enviroment and our society.

When I went home to pick up the bag I realized I was clearly a bit distracted by hunger so I grabbed the can of soursop juice I bought the other day.

YUM!  Handsdown, sour sop is one of my very favorite things.  It is one of my favorite childhood taste memories and I was so excited to see some form of it sold here in Buffalo.

[I told you I didn’t shower!]

After Goodwill I went to Target for some Christmas-ing, and then finally the grocery store.  On my way out I hit up the salad bar.

I filled the small top halfs with yummy things – pesto pasta and mac and cheese.

And the larger bottom half with healthy things – baked tofu and brussels sprouts.

I didn’t say healthy isn’t yummy though, the brussels and tofu ended up being my favorite part!  The tofu was unbelievably chewy, I’m dying to know how they cooked it that way!

I gave myself some time at home to relax while I ate (and typed this post and watched some tv), but now it’s time to get back to jamming the headless chicken – lordy that sounded dirty!

Hopeful list of to-do’s from tonight

  1. put away laundry
  2. clean up the kitchen
  3. Chemistry reading
  4. e-mail regarding class scheduling trauma
  5. dinner?
  6. pt exercises
  7. go back to pharmacy
  8. shower – this one isn’t optional!

How do you say you’re busy?????  I usually go with busy beaver, but I’m also partial to “busy, busy, busy, busy*.”  *Said in the magician voice from Frosty  the Snowman.

*****Update – I managed not to do a single to-do.  I did, however, finish my entire 400+ page book!  And yesterday?  I watched Rose Red; a 4.5hour Steven King mini-series 😉

Kicking Off the Season

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Let’s see – my house is decorated, I’ve had lots of good tidings and cheer, I’m super busy and stressed – yep, it feels like the holidays!  Due both to some good news and a few mishaps today was jam-packed.

I am one of those people who gets really (really really really) into holidays.  I manage to keep my purchasing under control, but I’ve had my red and green outfits outlined for weeks!  Part of my excitement involves keeping each holiday carefully guarded and away from the other holidays.  I do NOT wear red with green outside of December, I won’t drink eggnog ’till there’s snow on the ground, and I do my damnedest to stay away from Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving.

Today was not only December 1st, it was also the day of our first snowfall in Buffalo, a near perfect time for holiday decorating.  So after I got a few to dos of lesser importance out of the way (registering for classes, calling for pt) decorate I did.

[Thanks for the package mommy!]  Bring on the Jingle Bells!  I even – accidentally – included some snazz in today’s outfit.

Don’t worry, the overall effect was less than elvish.

Why the yoga pants in the snow you ask?  Because I managed to book my first physical therapy appointment!  Fortunately I called right after a cancellation and they were able to squeeze me right in.  I was a bit rushed so I made breakfast to go –

1cup frozen blackberries, Dannon Lite and Fit Blackberry Yogurt, 1/2 scoop Chocolate Amazing Grass, and about a 1/2 cup of water to ease the blending along.

Physical therapy (pt from now on) was everything I could have ever dreamed of!  My doctor was knowledgeable and understanding, and more importantly he says my half in March shouldn’t be a problem!  He watched me walk and twisted my ankles and it took about two seconds for him to see the problem.  I have tendonitis in my right shin.  Most likely from a bad sprain I got in high school, but also because I walk and stand like a duck. 

The doctor gave me pt moves to start doing at home and I have the green light to elliptisize and start doing cardio again.  I’m getting on the treadmill at his office on Thursday and will figure out the running situation from there.  For now the assumption is that I will go twice a week for pt for the next month or so.  My fingers are double crossed that I can start running again this Friday!

The excitement was majorly lessened on the drive home.  What should have been a 30minute trip to meet Katie for coffee took 2+ hours.  Ugh.  I did get to stop at the post office on the way – and picked up some fun – and I did finally make it for coffee.

Another seasonal must, my first red cup!

A tall nonfat eggnog latte.  I snacked on a Coconut Acai Prana Bar alongside my coffee.

And Katie and I had lots of good chatting.  🙂

Afterwards I picked up Adam and we drove to Wegmans for some kitchen restocking.  Did you miss my Thanksgiving Challenge Recap?  I had big plans to cook a fancy dinner tonight, but my 2hours of fun on the highway ate up that time.  Adam ended up going to a study session until 10:30 anyways so it was for the best.  Instead we got salad bar.

Oh how I’ve missed Wegman’s salad bar!  My excitement was bigger than my stomach, I left several bites of everything on my plate.  And it was pretty clear from my choices that I’m not over the brussels sprouts I was planning on making with dinner!

Curried chicken salad,

barley with brussels and pumpkin seeds,

roasted brussels sprouts and blanched broccoli,

small mac and cheese square.

Normally I would demolish the mac and leave veggies but I was proud of myself for leaving an even amount of everything today.

Adam had to rush out as soon as we got home with the groceries so fridge duty fell entirely to me.  Once I put everything away and cleaned up the kitchen I actually worked up another appetite!  I broke into two purchases that I dreamed about all November –

My onion bagel with reduced fat onion chive cream cheese was everything I’d been thinking of!

While I ate I worked on my Chemistry homework.  And then I kept working long after.  Class is getting hard!  I have a quiz this Thursday that I am in no way ready for and I’m getting a little nervous.

It’s after 11 and I stil have my pt exercises and a shower so I’ve got to scadaddle.  Visions of sugar plums kids!

What’s your holiday celebration mo?  Have you started on Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza yet this year?  We don’t have any Hanukkah decorations per se, but I usually don’t but the menorah out until it’s time to light it.

Extreme Makeover

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I ate several undocumented bites of green bean casserole throughout the afternoon but it didn’t stop me from being ready for dinner!  We used my so-so PF Chang’s leftovers to make something amazing.

The original dish wasn’t so bad, it just needed a little seasoning.

We also upped the veggies by added 2/3 cup steamed broccoli and 1/2 cup shredded carrot.  We pan cooked the whole thing, adding two eggs at the end.  Delicious.

It’s crazy that my leftovers made (large) meals for two of us.  How much were they expecting me to eat?!

I feel pretty sick so I’m going to try to shower and get to bed soon.  I probably have another cookie somewhere in there too 🙂  I hope everyone’s long weekend went off without a hitch!

Do you take leftovers from restaurants?  Why not?

Cooking Beans and Baking Cookies

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It’s been a kitchen day here at the Bear-Mouse household.  We emptied the dish washer this morning and it’s pretty much full again with casseroles and mixing bowls.  Good times 🙂

We got up late late this morning, since I stayed up late late last night feeling sick.  Our first mission was a walk to Walgreens for Junior Caramels and cream of chicken soup (you’ll see in a minute).  $3.32, Challenge Balance – $98.86.

First up on the cooking agenda was green bean casserole.

I followed the recipe on the back of the onion can, but I subbed in cream of chicken for cream of mushroom and skim for whole because it’s all I could find.

Then came the baking of cookies.  I kept changing my recipe plan (Adam just might have eaten ALL of our oatmeal without my knowing) as I discovered ingredients we were out of.  In the end I made a half batch of the toll house recipe.

I used 1t skim milk instead of vanilla extract, and used half a cup of Jr Caramels with half a cup of chips.  Not my best substitutions, they might have been a little stuck.

Lunch was rather reminiscent of Turkey Day meals.

A small serving of Annie’s Shells.

A large serving of casserole.

Pretty tasty.

Once the cooking was tasted, I had to try the baking for dessert.  Adam and I split this crumbly plate.

My homework due date got pushed back so I doubt I will be motivated to do much today and dinner is going to be PF Chang’s leftovers so it’s looking like a lazy day.  I think there is a stack of magazines in my future!

Do you make substitutions in cooking/baking?  How do they usually turn out?