A Very Rewarding Saturday

Happy Saturday lovelies! Hope you are all having a great weekend!

I spent pretty much all day indoors since it was storming off and on today annnnnd it only got up to 48 degrees! So long near 80 degree temps…hello redbud winter!

Good news is that I got mucho packing/cleaning done today! So much so that I rewarded myself with a little trip to Sam’s Club! 😉

I have wanted to try the 30 Day Shred since seeing it on Elise’s blog like forever ago! And check out that price tag! $8.88? Can’t beat that with a stick!

Jillian stepped in for J. Dubb for this afternoon’s workout.

Verdict? I liked it, but compared to the Timesaver’s workout, it seemed a little less intense. I started with Level 1 and I did all the moves unmodified (well, except for the pushups because I’m a complete wimp!). My heart rate was up and I got a little schweaty, but I didn’t that I-just-got-my-butt-handed-to-me-and-I-handed-it-right-back feeling…know what I mean?

What do you think? Should I give Level 2 a try tomorrow or stick with Level 1 for a bit?

Oh, and while I was at Sam’s, I was swooned in the produce section!

Now, I know what you’re thinking…isn’t this a little counterintuitive to the Clean Out the Fridge/Pantry Challenge?

I say no…it is a measure of the self control I have not to have bought one of EVERYTHING in the produce section!

I finally broke down and paid the 3 bucks for my ONE pound of spinach after nearly a month and a half without it. I’m all for working this challenge to the best of my ability, but when the only fresh produce you have in your house is some yellowed celery that is on death’s door, a spinach intervention is absolutely necessary!

And the steebies? They were $3.98 for TWO pounds! How could I pass up such a deal? And look at them…they’re HUGE!

Of course I had to “check for poison” upon arrival at la casa!

FYI, they are EXTREMELY deadly…but I happen to have built up an intolerance to the poison! 😉

And of course the spinach HAD to make an appearance…though I will be rationing savoring it over the next four days.

Today’s lunch featured Double Spinach Ravioli purchased many many MANY months ago (found in the back of the freezer) from Whole Paycheck Foods topped with Trader Joe’s vodka sauce, fresh ground black pepper, and parmesan cheese over a bed of my new greens.

Spinach ravioli eaten on top of a bed of spinach…too much? Nahhhhhh! 😉

For dinner tonight, I had another Luscious Bowl, this time using up some of the leftover Vegan Broccoli ‘n Cheese Sauce.

Spinach, wild rice, and cranberry beans topped with broccoli ‘n cheese sauce, nooch, and black pepper.

I busted out the dried beans today guys! I am the world’s worst about meal planning. I have at least 4 different varieties of dried beans in the cupboard as we speak you read, but I NEVER remember to soak them overnight and usually I’m too impatient to wait the hour it takes to cook them. Well, I was reminded with this dish how much I prefer dried beans to canned ones. Fresh taste and zero sodium…love it!

I made a deal with myself today, even after the move, I will not buy any more canned beans until I’ve used up ALL of the dried ones that I have. Beans are so versatile…instead of trying to always plan a meal around the beans, I’m going to start adding them to various meals.

Hmm, maybe I’ll cook up a big batch of chickpeas tomorrow…wait, I WILL cook some because I just got back from the kitchen and now they are taking a little dip in the pool! 😉

Do you cook with dried beans? Do you think it’s worth the extra time?
It’s certainly worth the money! You can get almost 3 times the servings by buying dried beans for a fraction of the cost of canned ones!

What have you rewarded yourself with lately?

Posted in Entree, Shopping | Tagged , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

My First Flashback Friday

What’s up everybody?! Hope you all had a great week! Any big plans for the weekend?

I have plans for this post, but first I HAVE to show you guys the parfait I made for breakfast this morning!

Layered with: 1 cup Kashi Go Lean, 1/2 cup plain yogurt (strained overnight), 2 tablespoons Maple Cinnamon Peanut Butter, Trader Joe’s Cranberry Apple Butter, and peaches…sprinkled with a few chias!

It tasted even better than it looks! I loved the combo of the sweet tart cranberry apple butter with the creamy yogurt, sweet peaches, and mapley pb! I’ll definitely be making this again!

Ok, no onto the main topic for this evening’s postage!

Remember when I mentioned Marietta Diner in Marietta Georgia at the bottom of this post? I’ve wanted to tell you guys more about it since then, but just kept forgetting! Oy…my memory! I really need to start taking some ginko…though I’d probably forget to take it! 😉

I figured today would be the perfect day to finally showcase the BEST road meal I’ve ever eaten, Flashback Friday style, made famous by the one and only Janetha over at Meals & Moves (love that girl!)!

First of all, let me say that these pics are from my days BEFORE blogging…that should show you how excited I was!

Found this place while lusting drooling WATCHING an episode of Triple D on Food Network and was soflippinexcited when I discovered it was on the way home from my trip to Florida!

Well, hello there Guy!

Ho-Lee-Cake!

My Trough:
Seafood Jambalaya:
Shrimp, scallops, and chicken breast sautéed in a lightly spiced red sauce with peppers, onions, sausage, and okra over rice

It doesn’t look like it, but that bowl was DEEP!
I was SO full and then realized it was only half gone, so you better believe I
“doggie bagged” it!

My sister’s Buffalo Chicken Wrap

My friend Christine’s BLT loaded with extra tomatoes!

Yum…yum…yum!

Pre-pic teeth check

Cheese!
Pay no attention to our horrible sunburns…
we of the Pasty Pale Tribe tend to burn easy! 😉

I’m not one to usually promote a place, but seriously guys…BEST FOOD EVAH! And the menu is like 40 zillion pages long! Definitely something for everybody!

Annnnnd, it’s open 24 hours!

So who’s up for a road trip? 😉

If you had to name one place to be the absolute BEST place you’ve ever eaten, what would it be?

Posted in Travel | Tagged , , , | 25 Comments

Move Your Butt!

So, you know how you get really REALLY excited about something and your heart is racing and it feels like you have butterflies in your stomach?

How about the feeling you get when you’ve got the biggest belly fully of flutters and then you see a big

?????

Today, I was high as a kite…until I saw my “butt”…

Me: I’m so excited about moving tomorrow! I’m all packed up and ready to go!

Realtor: Um, *clears throat*…BUTT!

Well folks, looks like all of you who signed up to help tomorrow are just going to have to wait until…WEDNESDAY!

At first I was a little upset and obviously frustrated, butt after a little time to think about it, I am seeing the silver lining…the belt to the plumber’s pants if you will! 😉

Although I have another 5 days left in the old house with mere crumbs and lint left to eat in the kitchen, I do have time to:

  • Collect more boxes from work (stock comes in tomorrow)
  • Pack up what’s left of the house without losing my mind
  • Relax a bit so I’m not a total spaz on the NEW Move Day

Now, about that whole crumbs and lint left in the kitchen thing…

I had planned to post a pic loaded post of some of the combos I’ve mixed up this last couple of weeks during the Clean Out the Fridge/Pantry Challenge…butt it looks like now I’m really going to have to push up my sleeves in the creativity department…I am out of EVERYTHING!!

Howabout a little preview?

Obviously, today was all about the butt

Butternut, that is!

Breakfast burrito: One slice melted sharp cheddar, 2 egg whites, salsa, olives, and butternut squash puree to be wrapped up in a Trader Joe’s whole wheat tortilla.

And of course you know I had to sprinkle it with a little CRACK!

The squash taste was mellow, but it was still there and tasted great with the creamy melty cheese and a little kick from the salsa!

After reading a comment on yesterday’s post from the lovely Spabettie, I knew exactly what I was having for dinner tonight!

Aduki Bean Burger topped with Butternut Cheeze and roasted red peppers on a bagel thin (yeah, the only bread I have left at this point)

Aduki Bean Burger: (serves 2)
If you don’t have aduki (adzuki) beans, black-eyed peas would be a great substitution!

  • 1/2 cup cooked aduki (or adzuki) beans
  • 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tablespoon chia seeds mixed with 1 1/2 tablespoons warm water
  • 1 tablespoon whole wheat flour
  • 1/4 cup rolled oats
  • Spices: 1/8 teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika

1. Place beans in a bowl and mash with a fork.
2. Combine all ingredients along with beans and mix together with a spoon or your God-       given master utensil: your hands!
3. Form into two patties and cook over medium-high heat until browned on each side           (about 4-5 minutes per side)

Butternut Cheeze: 2 tablespoons butternut squash puree +
1 tablespoon nooch (nutritional yeast flakes)
S&P to taste

Seriously you guys, this was one of those things that after the first bite, you mutter “Ohmifffguffffness”! So flippin fantastic! Perfect combo of flavors!

What butt has gotten in your way lately and how did you “tighten the belt”?

PS, Thank you guys for all the get well wishes yesterday! I’m hoping all the meds/tea/vitamins will start working their magic soon!

 

Posted in Breakfast, Entree | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments