Three “S” Thursday

Posted on January 26, 2012 by kissmybroccoli

Hey guys!

Saw this on Pinterest a couple of weeks ago and couldn’t help but laugh!

So, I hope you are all having a great week. I’m so so glad to finally say that my week is over. I’ve been working my late shift this week (9:00-7:30pm) and I swear not one single day has seemed to go by fast.

Example from today:
Please note this is AFTER I have explained everything about the scan the patient is about to receive.

Me: Ok, so…do you have any questions before we get started?

Patient: Nope!

Me: Ok then, here we go…*goes to step out of room*

Patient: Well, actually…

Me: I told you that already…remember?

Patient: Oh yeah, I remember.

Me: Alright, let’s begin the exam!

Patient: Now is this the kind of test that…?

Me: Well, like I said BEFORE…

Patient: Ok, now I’m ready!

Me: Ok!

Patient: Wait, one more thing…

Me: *starts thumping head into side of doorframe*

Proof that sometimes you just have to laugh!

Anywho…howabout that post title, hmm?

You guys should know by know that I kinda have a thing for alliteration…rhyming…and well,  all the other things that fascinate school age children. So I thought what better day than to do a “three something” post than on a THURSDAY??

It took a little thought, but I finally found a connection to make this post possible..and yes, I’m a little proud of myself for that! 😉

NUMBER 1:

Spaghetti Squash!

I will have you guys know that I, with the help of BB, some safety goggles, and a pickaxe (kidding…sort of), cracked open this behemoth spaghetti squash TWELVE days ago and it has fed me many a day since then!

Top dishes: faux-sketti with chunky meat sauce and nooch, topped with a vegan burger and crushed tomatoes, and finally tonight’s masterpiece!

Sauteed with portobellos, red onion, and asparagus and topped with nutritional yeast, a perfectly fried egg, and a good drizzle of ketchup!

There were so many amazing flavors in this bowl! The savory egg yolk, the cheesy nooch, the sweet red onion…I was in Heaven for oh about 10 minutes…before it was devoured!

Looks like it’s time to pick up another squash! 😉

Number 2:

(Chocolate Covered) Sunflower Seeds!

I picked up a container of chocolate covered sunflower seeds on one of my last visits to Trader Joe’s. I just happened to “rediscover” them last week (aka found them in the back of the pantry) and since then I swear these little guys are finding their way into just about anything…a bowl of oatmeal, a pint of ice cream, the palm of my hand…

And every time I eat them, I can’t help but think of Sixlets…remember those?

Ahh, childhood memories! 🙂

Number 3:

Sweat!

Like I said the other day, I’ve been doing great about getting up early and getting my workouts in before work each day.

I’ve been mixing it up a bit with my circuits…combining moves using dumbbells, resistance tubes, and my own body weight in order to keep myself from getting bored.

Known fact:
Boredom KILLS motivation any day…no paper covers rock bull…I mean straight up,
homicide…cut into tiny bits, Dexter-style.

I can definitely tell a difference in my level of motivation from last week…and a few of my workouts have left me sore…which I actually love!

C’mon, don’t tell me you all don’t have some bit of masochism in you. We all hate the actual soreness…but we LOVE to complain about it! 😉

What are three things in you life you’re excited about right now? 
(alliteration & rhyming optional, but encouraged)

Posted in Entree, Running, Workouts | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

WIAW: Quick, Easy, & Delicious

Posted on January 25, 2012 by kissmybroccoli

Hey guys!

Well, it’s that time of week again…yep, time for the latest edition of
What I Ate Wednesday!

As always, a big THANK YOU to the lovely Jenn of Peas & Crayons for putting this party together for all us foodies each and every week!

This week, I’ve been doing things a little differently.

I’ve actually gotten up each day this week and been at the gym by 6:00am! The only drawback? Less time for snoozing and being lazy before I have to leave for work by 8:30 am…

A cup of coffee pre-workout is not usually my thing, but 5:30am on a Monday morning sometimes requires routines to be changed up a little.

Once I got home, it was a mad dash for the shower, into the kitchen for cup of Joe numero dos and one of the best yogurt bowls I’ve made in while!

The NEW star players…

And the final masterpiece…before it was all stirred up and eaten in the car on the way to work!

What? You guys know I’m no stranger to seemingly non-portable breakfasts in the car…oh yeah, my knee driving skills are top notch! 😉

Lunch was leftover Greek Lamb Burgers with Tzatziki and a side of steamed asparagus and oven roasted potato chips.

Just as delicious the next day!

Latest snack obsession: pistachios and citrus

I actually picked up a HUGE bag of pistachios at Sam’s Club for the first time the last week and now they are my go-to snack. I never thought they’d be worth the work to break open each.and.every.one, but boy was I wrong!

Citrus for the day was a Honey Tangerine!

Anyone tried these babies? They are amazing…so sweet! 🙂

After a very LONG day (10 hour shift full of pure craziness), some leftover spaghetti squash came to my rescue for dinner.

Remember those vegan burgers from that amazing cookbook review I did back in the summer?

Since they freeze outstandingly well, I had something quick on-hand to toss on top of my faux-ghetti! Topped with a little bit of crushed tomatoes (from a can) mixed with Italian spices, garlic, salt & pepper and I had a wonderful filling meal in all of about 10 minutes!

And get this! I am ROCKING the water consumption lately!

I filled this 500mL (16oz) bottle up EIGHT times!!
…and I peed about EIGHT THOUSAND times! 😉

What’s the best thing you’ve eaten today?

What’s the last thing you ate in the car?

Posted in What I Ate Wednesday | Tagged , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Lamb Burgers with Greek Yogurt Tzatziki Sauce

Posted on January 23, 2012 by kissmybroccoli

Hey guys!

I hope you all survived the weekend…seriously…have you seen all the storms happening around the country? I’m not one for snow, but c’mon Mother Nature! Tornados in the middle of January?! You’re sense of humor sucks!

We had some pretty high winds resulting in fallen trees and down power lines, but I’m happy to report all in Casa de Broccoli are alive and counted for…though if Tiger does NOT stop trying to eat my newest house plant, we might be down a family member 😉

So Friday night, I decided to whip up a little something different for BB and I for dinner. While thinking of what to make, I spied in the freezer the pound of frozen ground lamb I picked up waaaaaaaay back when the farmer’s market was still going on. Remember when I said I was going to make some Greek-style burgers? Don’t worry…I don’t blame you if you don’t…I can’t even find the post! But anyways…

I FINALLY did it!

BAM!

Greek Lamb Burgers with Tzatziki: (serves 4)

  • 1 pound ground lamb
  • 1 egg
  • 2 handfuls chopped fresh spinach
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • salt & pepper
  • 3/4 cup whole wheat bread crumbs

1. Preheat your indoor or outdoor grill to medium heat (I used a grill pan skillet).
2. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and (now’s not the time to get girly) roll up your sleeves, and dig your fingers in.
3. Work ingredients together until well combined and then pat out evenly into 4 large patties.
4. Rub grill down with a napkin soaked in olive oil to prevent the burgers from sticking.
5. Cook approximately 6-7 minutes per side or until browned and grill marks appear.
6. Serve on a whole wheat bun with homemade tzatziki sauce (recipe follows) and red onion slices.

Greek Yogurt Tzatziki Sauce: (serves 4)

  • 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 medium-sized cucumber, peeled and finely diced
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • salt & pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Serve atop Greek Lamb Burgers.

I could not help but be impressed with the way these burgers turned out! The combination of the spinach, feta, and lean ground lamb was already a winner, but the homemade tzatziki sent it over the top!

Warm grilled lamb with tangy feta, cool drippy sauce, and the nice crispness of sliced red onion…better known as heaven on a plate!

I had the last one for lunch today and it was just as good as the night I first made them! I seriously cannot wait to do more experimenting with ground lamb in the future…such a great flavor!

Have you ever eaten lamb or what is your favorite Greek dish?

Any of you get any crazy storms over the weekend?

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