Tag Archives: salmon

sunday, sweat, & salmon

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i must start this post out by giving a HUUUUUGE congrats to everyone that participated in the Chevron Houston Half and Full Marathon races this morning!!!! my Facebook feed is blowing the heck up right now with pics of friends i had no idea were even running this year! the weather wasn’t the greatest, but i am so thrilled to see people sticking to their goals, breaking PR’s and just being such HEALTHY examples.  AWESOME job, all runners!

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i had this bad boy a few days ago- my protein filled breakfast sammie.

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 it’s got 2 egg whites and 2 oz of lean grilled chicken breast previously dipped in some calorie-free, carb-free, fat-free, Walden Farms pancake syrup and sandwiched between a Thomas light, multigrain english muffin. who needs a high-priced drive-through breakfast sandwich when you can make these right at home? my family doesn’t.

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before heading out to church this morning, i had another one and added some dijon mustard for some tang.  some cheese will make it even better! stats: 225 cals, 3g fat, 26.6 carbs, 8g fiber, and a WHOPPING 30g of protein! YUP!

so today was the launch of 24 Hour Fitness’s new Total Body Conditioning format (HIIT) and i had so much fun sweating it out with the members!   please, allow me to give just one more shout out to my amazing husband for his support. IMG_20130113_130339

weights? yes. cardio? not a big fan.  nevertheless, he was in my front row doing his thing and making crazy faces at me as usual.

this is my 5th year teaching and i always, and i mean always, get butterflies in my tummy right before class.  i don’t think that feeling will ever leave me.  soon as i put that mic on…

no worries

it’s ON!!

i feel unstoppable when i am in my zone!

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they made breaking a sweat look FANTASTIC.  so inspiring.

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i was on such a natural high which called for rr selfies-  it was a modest turn out and i KNOW the class will only grow to be bigger and better in the coming weeks. i just love family gym dates! heeeey, Chiso ;)

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so salmon is STILL on sale at HEB this week *big cheese*.  the price did go up a dollar, but it’s still a couple dollars lower than regular price. i couldn’t pass it up.  soooo, here are more healthy, fresh salmon meal ideas:

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salmon is amazing when paired with fresh dill, but i didn’t have any.  i used another toasted Thomas english muffin, broke apart some of the baked salmon and put it on one side, and i slathered the other half of the muffin with a homemade no-fat cream cheese & green onion spread.  i smell a salmon, dill, chive,  cream cheese dip coming soon, don’t you!? no pun intended.

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fresh blackberries are on sale too!  i made a spring mix salad for lunch one day last week and threw a few on top for one of my meal 5′s.  grilled squash, roasted new potatoes and a hunk of garlic and herb salmon went right along with it.  i roast or grill my food A LOT- you create so much flavor!  steamed is my least fave…

yesterday, my fam got together at my grandma’s house for a huge pot luck style brunch. what did i volunteer to make? banana pancakes, duuuuuh!

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i quadrupled my original recipe and blended 3/4th of the oats in a powder but i left 1 cup whole for texture.  you already know the ingredients, so i’ll spare ya.

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all griddled up and ready to be devoured.

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if you gone do brunch, do it right!  i brought sliced fresh bananas, chopped pecans, Cary’s sugar-free syrup, and whipped cream along to top them.  we also had:

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a beautiful concoction of fresh, ripe fresh fruit brought by my cousin Anne,

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eggies made with love by my aunts,20130112_134011

french toast (made with organic, low-fat milk, right, Kristy!)

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here’s one end of the table,

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this thing was soooooo sweet and delectable!  i had to know what the crust was and found out it was a big sugar cookie, yum! topped with cool whip, cinnamon, and fresh fruit. awesome idea that i WILL be stealing and tweaking lol.

20130112_133955aaaand here’s the other end.

time spent with the people i love and a big table of FOOD. i love my life.                    20130112_134257

aren’t these guys the cutest!? also brought by cousin Anne- they are soy yogurt shots topped with fresh fruit and granola. 20130112_134252

the tasted as amazing as they looked. i know you see that bacon :shock:

welp, it’s that time again.weekend ecard

rest up :lol:

Q: what is your FAVORITE brunch food?

hands down, mine is french toast.

le

take it in stride

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decisions, decisions.  this year has already started out with way more than i ever thought i could handle.  the major issue being my career!  I’ve been in the IT industry since i graduated 8 (WOW :shock: ) years ago.  i’m an IT contractor, but let’s just say i’m on an extended holiday vacation right now lol.  which means…… i get to spend more time in my sanctuary (my kitchen!!!!!) creating new recipes galore, playing, teaching, & showing my little big boy new things, sprucing up my wifely duties big time, and finally, putting maximum effort towards the multiple personal projects God has dropped on my heart. finding balance is hard as crap sometimes! however, i find so much comfort in the fact that He not only tells us what He wants us to do, but He makes a way for it to be done.

standing still

 HELLO!  He won’t leave you hanging and clueless….  but if you don’t move, He can’t work.   remember, ‘ALL things work together for the good of those that love Him!’

fitness inspiration

you’ve only got ONE.  He has given me this precious time, and i’m going to ENJOY and cherish this blessing.

now let’s talk about food.

i finally got that red velvet pancake recipe up, and i made my little guy a mini stack of them yesterday for breakfast.

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i can’t even begin to tell you how gratifying it is to see him stuff his face with VEGGIES!  cause he still hates them.  anything green goes on the floor.  good thing beets are UBER good for us!  they are low-calorie, no fat, high in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and help fight various types of cancer.  i’ll certainly be making some type of spinach cakes next lol.  i’m gonna get them into his diet however i can.

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this photo was pre-walden farms syrup…they look so dry!! but i promise you they are moist and fluffy on the inside. Chiso doesn’t appreciate my fanciness yet as he slid the whipped cream right off the top and pushed the chocolate chips around before making a pile of them in the corner of his high chair table.

Q: how do you roast your beets?

A: in a pan:)

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that’s it! i avoided them for the LONGEST time at the store..i mean they just look so dirty and hard to prepare.  i cut the tops off (someone told me you can save them, cook them, and eat them, but i had already tossed them in the trash) put them in a pan, and shoved them in a 450 degree oven.  in about 45 min, they were soft to the touch, and the peeling came right on off.  beets have officially been conquered!

this morning i made us some cinnamon oatmeal pancrepes.  why crepes? cause i added too much almond milk!  you can compensate by adding more dry ingredients, but i kept it as is and went for it.  i have FUN in my kitchen.  sometimes it’s a great success, sometimes it sucks.  flip a coin!

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since they are thinner than pancakes, my recipe made a ton.  i ate some flat, and i rolled some too. no pics of those yet though, lmbo.  i’d love to stuff them with something the next time, and i will. so sit tight.  i topped the flat ones with sugar-free cool whip, strawberry slices, and cinnamon.

so, salmon went on sale at HEB this past week and i didn’t say a word.  ironically, i got so many PM’s from friends letting me know about it  though LOL!!! thank you guys so much!! i’ll say something next time, i promise!

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red bell peppers were also on sale, so i snagged some of them too.  i made a huuuuge filet of salmon when i was prepping at the beginning of the week, and here are just a few of my meals.

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honey mustard smokehouse salmon with steamed okra and red bell peppers.

the salmon was cooked at 450 degrees for 12 minutes.  i squirted it with some Bragg’s liquid aminos, then seasoned it with Mc Cormick Smokehouse maple seasoning.

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since i have beets at home, i wanted to make one of my fave Cheesecake Factory Salads: the beet, goat cheese, and candied pecan spring mix salad.  what a combo!  i was looking for regular old goat cheese when i came across this gem!  it’s so sweet, creamy, and SOUR. the best part!  i don’t really do candied nuts, so i figured the sweetness will come from the cheese, and i can keep the nuts roasted and unsalted.  i’ll be making that tonight, can’t wait!

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last night i was browsing Instagram (fitfoodiele) and got inspiration for my final dish of the evening.  i took some scrambled egg whites with spinach, garlic powder & onion powder, incorporated some shredded salmon into it, then stuffed all that into my bell peps.  i topped them with the honey goat cheese and baked them in a 405 degree oven until the peps were tender but still crisp, and the cheese was lightly browned.

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i didn’t think the cheese could get any creamier or tangier…oh but it DID.  steamed okra and corn on the side!

hitting the gym today for my 2nd leg day this week and ready to get my squat ON.

a quick announcement…..

for my Houston readers, i am excited to announce that i will be instructing at 24 Hour Fitness again!!  the Katy Bella Terra Super Sport location is launching a free weekend of Les Mills, Cycle, Zumba, and recently added, Total Body Conditioning classes!  i’m ALWAYS raving about this class and how much it has improved my cardiovascular & muscular strength and endurance.  now, you can come experience it for yo self, with ME!!!!  check out the schedule and join us!

*Total Conditioning @ 11am with Leah on  Sunday, January 13th*

le





runnin the streets

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i went out this past weekend!!! ok not out out, but it was to a private dinner celebrating my dear friend turning 30.  it was held at Perry’s Steakhouse – one of my faaaaaaave places for a magnificent dining experience!  always great service, and the food…well, look:

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i kept it clean and enjoyed the grilled salmon (sauce on the side) and kept the sautéed spinach that accompanied it.  i reeeeeally wanted to sub it for the butternut squash puree, but our waitress quoted me some ungodly price for that small change and i declined.  anyway, i made sure i altered my macros to fit this meal in- it was delectable.  i’m glad i got my sauce on the side cause i put a little on my fork and it tasted like straight flavored butter!!

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my friends were so sweet- they snapped pics of their plates for me :lol:   that was steak topped with crab with steamed asparagus spears on the side.

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here we have pecan crusted red snapper and broccollini florets.

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this is totally what i would normally order!!  surf and turf, YUM.  lobster tail, fillet mignon, and asparagus spears.

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quick pic before we got busy!  the birthday girl is in the upper right corner:) i’m honored to have been apart of her celebration.

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so this is from yesterday’s workout which means this post was supposed to go out yesterday too. 
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i’d love to have my competition abs/core back!  i took this pic immediately after my class- 1 hour of  HIIT and some core work at the end.

Q: what’s the best type of cardio? HIIT or steady state?

A: BOTH.  incorporate both types into your weekly routine.  i do HIIT once or twice a week, and steady state either early in the morning, or after my weights session.  switching up the days you do either one will keep your body from plateauing and constantly  burning fat.

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i sped home to my breakfast- scrambled eggs this time with fat-free feta, dried parsely, and reduced sugar ketchup,

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aaaand a bowl of cinnamon oats made with unsweetened almond milk and topped with bananas, more cinnamon, walden farms syrup, and raw, unsweetened coconut flakes.

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i bought a crap load of kale at HEB so i’ve been incorporating it into my dishes these past few days! we have here:

ground turkey and egg white kale wraps lol

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for another lunch or dinner i had a bowl of torn, raw, kale, roasted sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and lean ground turkey.

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but this recipe right here is my fave so far.  grilled smokehouse maple shrimp and kale tacos!

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with fat-free feta cheese and homemade guacamole.

(1 avocado + half a roma tomato + liquid aminos)

the shrimp was marinated in liquid aminos and smokehouse maple seasoning.

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i’m head over heels in love with sautéed kale. oh and those are La Tortilla Factory white-wheat soft wraps.

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i posted this on IG the other day- Trader Joe’s cranberry apple butter.  i went in looking to replace my fig butter but happily left with this instead after i didn’t see any.

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it tastes just like the traditional canned, jellied, cranberry sauce, but fresher and more tart. i’m cool with it! 20 cals, 4g sugar, 5 carbs for 1 tbsp. i do believe it has the lowest calorie and sugar count of all the butters.  i missed it on Thanksgiving, but i will definitely be eating some with my Christmas dressing this year!

20121202_174444which means after 30 years of this stuff, i have no more use for it.  those stats are outta line for only 1/4 cup serving…i can eat the whole can by myself with my plate.  too high in sugar and has high fructose corn syrup at that. no thank you.

got great news and events coming up for 2013 that  i’ll be sharing very soon!

which apple butter is your favorite?

le

light & lean black bean pumpkin chicken chili

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this morning started out with an invigorating weight workout.  every time i drive to the gym early in the AM feeling crappy from not enough sleep or just plain tired, i always, and i do mean always, end up feeling the complete opposite immediately afterwards.

then my day REALLY got started with some pancakes.

banana -oat surprise! pancakes.

surprise.  i promise i’ll use a different fruit sooner than later.

i drizzled them with my precious Walden Farms syrup.  i now have  a small inventory of bottles in my pantry.  ever hit the store and the one (or few ) item you need is completely gone!? that’s been happening to me lately.  Hunt’s reduced sugar ketchup….GONE. every other freakin kind of  hunts ketchup is just sitting there collecting dust, untouched.  rows perfectly straight.  Mc Cormick smokehouse maple seasoning… nowhere to be found.  the entire row! coincidence?!?  vegan whipped topping… :roll:  do all my readers live in this area or what LOL

well HEB did have fresh salmon on sale and plenty of it.  i always keep my eye on it and 3.97 is the lowest i’ve ever seen it go.  so, i got a few pounds.  large shrimp were also going for that same price, so that went in my cart too.  i seasoned a hunk of salmon with garlic and herb seasoning and roasted it in the oven along with some zucchini for lunch today.   healthy,  fresh, and light.  clean eating makes you FEEL that way too.  i also had two slices of sprouted grain sesame Ezekiel bread along with it.

i also bought some 99% lean ground turkey and cooked it up with cilantro, onions, shallots, curry, chili powder, pepper, and liquid aminos  last night for dinner.  i had just come in from the gym and had a craving for some cheesy enchiladas!!!

so i used that turkey mix and combined it with fresh spinach, La Tortilla Factory white-wheat soft wraps, Trader Joe’s organic pizza sauce, plenty of shredded rice cheese, and fresh avocado.  healthy, low-fat, low-carb, delish, and GUILT-FREE.

so as i was checking out of HEB, the best grocery store ever in life, this caught my eye.  look at all those special options!!

did i mention i was still inside HEB?

who puts a mini self-serve fro-yo shop complete with not only low/no fat options but gluten and dairy-free as well inside a grocery store!?


it doesn’t matter. *sheds a tear or four* two of my fave things under one roof.

did you know that a red bell pepper is green first?  it doesn’t grow red. did you know that? i didn’t.  i believe my co-worker told me that a while ago.  now, it’s happening on my kitchen island. cool.

nugget of info about red bell peps:

‘These are more mature than green, orange or yellow bell peppers. They are rich in carotenoid phytonutrients and contain almost eleven times more beta-carotene than green bell peppers as well as one and a half times more vitamin C. Red Bell Peppers have a sweet, almost fruity taste. Pimento and paprika are both prepared from red bell peppers.’

must be why they are so expensive :shock:

almost done, last thing!

light & lean black bean pumpkin chicken chili

the stuff:

  • 1/2 cup sweet corn
  • 2 medium chopped tomatoes
  • 4oz lean ground chicken breast
  • 2 tbsp Bragg’s liquid aminos
  • 1 can pure pumpkin
  • 1/2 tsp pumpkin spice
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp smoked papripka
  • 1 4 oz can no salt added tomato sauce
  • 1 cup low sodium chicken broth (or water)
  • 1/2 cup no salt added black beans (drained and rinsed)
  •  1 medium shallot, chopped
  • 1 medium-large yellow onion, chopped
  • 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
  • couple sprigs fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1-2 tsp sea salt (to taste)
  • 1 cup mushrooms (optional)

i split the entire pot into 5 bowls of chili.

1 serving = 1 bowl

do this:

chop up the onions, shallots, and  half of the cilantro, and cook it in a medium heated pot until translucent.  throw in your ground chicken along with your spices and liquid aminos and cook it until there is no more pink. dump all your vegetables, canned pumpkin, tomato sauce, beans and chicken stock in…everything except the cilantro and salt.  bring to a boil, then let simmer for 10-15 minutes on low heat. add more chopped cilantro and stir.  now, taste it, and add the appropriate amount of salt to your liking.  this will taste EVER better the next day!

i made a bowl for myself and topped it with fresh avocado, goat cheese, and corn thins on the side.

Sonny had a nice big helping of it too.

i’m so excited- i had a cooking date tonight with one of my dear friends!! can’t wait to share what we created- good times and good food.

nite!

le

tidbits

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saturday morning started out with bananas and Justin’s almond butter. Chiso killed these things one by one and so did i! what a yummy combo. 

 i sprinkled some coconut flakes on a couple of them too.

we’ll be having these more often.

it was leg day @ the gym-

i didn’t even get to finish though which makes me so upset!!! i had to get to my hair appointment (time to chunk the deuce to this  weave)  and i was scolding myself for setting it so early in the day.  rushing through my gym time is the worst.  this is what i did get done though using moderate to heavy weight:

barbel squats 5 x 12

calve raises 5 x 12

machine  leg press 4 x 12

barbel dead lift 4 x 12

then i went into the empty workout room and did three full circuits of this holding 15 lb. dumbbells:

walking lunges forward/backwards (used length of room)

stationary reverse lunges (12 each leg)

stationary side lunges (12 each leg)

15 jumping squats (put the weights down 1st)

rest then repeat.

i ended it with 20 minutes of fat burning cardio on my second fav machine, the stairmaster. i have grown to love this thing.

700+ cals later, crotch-sweat status was achieved and we were outta there!


on our agenda for saturday was a trip to see the Rat.  { happy very 1st birthday, Levi!!!! } we hit up Chuck E. Cheese, aka, CEC, for a family birthday party.  i ate a quick meal in the car on the way of canned salmon (chicken of the sea), avocado chunks, and some asian stir fried veggies.  i think it’s some rice cheese up under there somewhere too.  i sprinkled Mc Cormick’s BBQ seasoning on it and it came out waaaaaaay too fast. whoops.

yeeeeah Chiso pretty much stayed cooped up under one of us for the most part.

he is not a fan of Chuck yet.   couple more trips and he’ll be kicking CEC in the shins like the rest of the kids.   and yes, the weave was still present in my head at that point, lol.  i ended up having to push my appt. to the following day.  sooooo i rushed through my workout for nothin :roll:


but i’m glad i got somethin in cause WE enjoyed the ‘peeza’ and cupcakes.

 back on track this monday morning though, right.
i hope you started your day with some GOOD stuff- i had a spinach and tomato egg white omelette, my oats made with vanilla almond milk, bananas, cinnamon, and vanilla creme stevia, and a cup of green tea.

more healthy recipes and are en route-   pumpkin chili, cauliflower crust pizza, salmon cakes, and pumpkin brownies.  it’s also time for an updated oatmeal post as i make it a liiiittle different now, huh.

le

competition eve

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i’m getting used to not doing morning cardio already lol!!! my last cardio workout was wednesday, so thursday i went and got a pedi for the first time since this past April.

i have always been uncomfortable with falling asleep in public places, especially when i’m travelling alone. i don’t see how people do it. i just feel so vulnerable and i’m sure people have been taken advantage of in those types of situations.  however, when i tell you that this is the first time i have ever dozed off during a pedicure and plain did not care, you better believe it.  i got the works- massage, wax wrap thing, salt scrub, yeah all that. it felt that darn good and was well worth the wait.

golden toes! they will match my show suit perfectly, you’ll see!  i would have gone for the french tip (or whatever it’s called) but ummmmmm, i can’t get that done on my toes for the very same reason i didn’t include my left foot in the shot. HAHAHAHA

this morning’s breakfast: 1 egg + 2 whites, banana pancakes, and a bowl of oatmeal that isn’t pictured.

this is prolly THE saddest breakfast shot i’ll ever take but i don’t regret posting it.  every meal isn’t a pretty presentation although most times that is what i strive for, even if i don’t take a pic.  i remember trying to WOW Sonny when we first got married with my food creations and presentations.  i really do enjoy them. it’s all apart of my cooking/kitchen experience lol. ok ANYWAY,   i burned my omelette at that.  i cut it up, added some fresh cilantro and dijon mustard and enjoyed every bite.  i used to put one egg white into my pancakes, but one morning i tried leaving the eggs out entirely to see if it would still cook and hold together ok.  and it did.  i added water to the mix instead.  i just wanted a bigger omelette, that’s all.  that way, it seems like im eating more food.  get it? and besides,  after putting ‘i can’t believe it’s not butter’  and Walden Farms pancake syrup over them, the consistency doesn’t even matter anymore.   still the yummiest, cleanest pancakes ever!  but if you’d like them to look prettier, add the egg.

  i really thought it would be hard for me to just sit down and do absolutely nothing today, but that feeling passed rather swiftly  :lol:

i also woke up with something extra-

lots of HAIR!!! and a headache as my scalp is super sore:(.  i normally don’t get my hair done, done unless there’s a huge event happening. aaaand well, this one calls for it.  i’m ready to whip it all across the stage tomorrow!

i picked up a slab of salmon yesterday in prep for Sonny’s last meals before our show.

i used some Walden Farms (calorie-free, sugar-free, gluten-free, cholesterol-free, etc) pancake syrup, Mc Cormick smokehouse maple seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried parsley.

12 min in a 450 deg oven. cooking salmon could not be any easier.

or any tastier.

i paired it with lime brown rice and steamed asparagus just before Sonny drowned everything in sriracha (hot sauce). sweet, salty, and spicy.

only thing left to do for the show is tan. that will be done tonight and again tomorrow (touch ups). oh and my makeup as well- bright and early!

le

pasta lover? this kind loves you back

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my air popper has finally arrived!!!

it took so long to get here i forgot i ordered it.

i put it to the test immediately.  the instructions say no oil is needed (which is what sold me on it) but i love the flavor coconut oil adds, so i put juuuust a lil bit in with my unpopped kernels anyway.

 4 minutes to perfection! i doused it with some ’i can’t believe it’s not butter’ spray and killed the entire bowl. 100 cals and plenty of fiber.  i bought this thing on amazon- so worth the 9 dollar investment.

salmon was on sale last week at HEB for the absolute lowest i’ve ever seen @ 3.97 per lb.  i know right?! i honestly thought it was a typo. that’s last night’s dinner with sautéed creamed spinach and cherry tomatoes,

  and this is today’s lunch with some butternut squash.  i’ll be making soup with the rest of that squash later.

i made a healthy dinner the other night i’d like to share with you guys- chicken parmesan spinach pasta.  but not just any pasta- Fiber Gourmet pasta. i’m pretty sure i found them through hungry-girl; i really can’t remember.  their stats are pretty impressive, and the pasta tastes just like the real thing! cause it is the real thing.

it has loads of fiber and lower cals than regular pasta- im a stan.  i usually order a trio (6 boxes) 2 boxes each of the penne, rotini, and mac n cheese.  but they also have spaghetti, lasagna, fettuccini, etc.- the ‘regular’ stuff.  i created this for dinner using what i had in the fridge… i.e. the measurements are approximate:)

chicken parm spinach pasta

the stuff:

  • 2 cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts (seasoned however you’d like)
  • 1 8oz. box cooked rotini pasta
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup mushrooms, chopped
  • 1 shallot, chopped
  • 1 bunch fresh spinach
  • cilantro, chopped
  • salt/pepper/tony c’s to taste

lite sauce: 175 cals

  • 1/2 cup no-fat half and half  (80 cals)
  • 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth (7 cals)
  • 1/2 cup real crumbled/grated parmesan cheese (the real stuff, not the canned, powdered kind!) (88 cals)

do this:

cook your pasta and bake the chicken (50 min in a 350 deg oven) as normal.  in a big pan on med. heat,  add the shallots and stir until they are translucent (2-3 min).  pour in the half n half and chicken broth. *if you need more flavor here (butter, chicken bouillon cube, full fat cream, etc.) you have a little room to play, but dont get crazy!* i kept mine super light.  once it starts to simmer, throw everybody into the pool! the chopped chicken breast chunks, fresh spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, the cooked pasta, and the cheese.

 toss everything until it is coated evenly, and continue to do so for about 7-10 minutes or until the spinach is cooked.

plate it up and sprinkle with more cheese if ya like.

fiber, protein, fresh veggies, and low carb pasta. try it!

le

winner winner chicken dinner

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who loves instagram?! *raises hand* i mean just look at what i have concocted in a matter of minutes:

my husband traded my EVO in for an iPhone4s- just one of my many birthday gifts from him:) but i’ll get to that post next, can’t wait to share.  anyway, this was dinner tonight- grilled ranch chicken breasts, brown rice and black-eyed peas topped with homemade mango salsa.

if you don’t have a grill pan, listen to me- it is SO worth the investment.  i got mine from wally world (walmart) for 17 bucks.

when grilling with this thing, you gotta make sure the fire is high and the pan is HOT.   i turned it on and let it warm up a bit before throwing my marinated chicken breasts in.

you know it- hidden valley ranch dry dressing mix..i love this stuff.

throw them in and listen to that sizzle!

i did about 8-10 min on each side.  look @ those grill marks. i like grill marks.

if you are unsure whether it’s cooked through, take a knife and just make a small incision in the center. no pink allowed.

 Sonny’s plate.. he eats his sides separately.

i grabbed my plate/bowl  and threw everything together. i like a big bite of everything at once.

this will be our lunch for tomorrow, naturally.

i never told you guys about my Easter brunch! this was our menu: salmon fritatta

ranch new potatoes, mini maple-pecan monkey bread, and fresh fruit.

my guys and i then traveled over to my aunt Annette’s house for my little one’s first Easter egg hunt! she always makes GREAT food, so i made sure to bring my camera. if only i had used it more though-   i was too busy eating and making my to-go plates to take pictures!!  i will so be making some of these appetizers for sure. this was only a super small portion of everything she had.

this one was full of flavor- tart and sweet.  gorgonzola bites with candied walnuts:

i believe i ate like 7, no kidding.  crostini bread, slice of pear, slice of gorgonzola, then topped with a candied walnut and broiled in the oven for a few minutes. you must eat each element in one bite to get the full effect! next (and unfortunately last- booooo, i know), salmon crostini.  will have to get the recipe from her, but they tasted fab. fitfoodiele approved!

what special/traditional dishes did you make for Easter? 

le

date nite

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it’s friday night and i’m not cooking, nope.  Sonny suggested sushi, so we headed to one of our fav spots- Sushihaha!

Sonny slurping his miso soup.

i don’t know what in the world is in that miso salad dressing but it is the BOMB! they serve their salads chilled- it makes a big difference in the fresh factor of the veggies. i got double salad instead of soup and salad this time. it’s sooooo good. and plus, the sodium in the miso soup bloats me to oblivion!

first thing out- a gigantic volcano of combo fried rice.  these serving sizes are somethin else, aren’t they!? it’s best to scoop out a few portions, and pack the rest up.  if food is sitting out in front of me (e.g. that darn bread basket) then i’m more likely to pick off of it til it’s all gone.  sometimes it’s as simple as outta sight outta mind.

ever  had a fried chicken roll? well we hadn’t either til we found this place (thanks CC & Tristen!!!).  Sonny also chose the shaggy dog roll (shrimp tempura).

i got the salmon teryaki bento box.  all this food for only 14 bucks! it used to come with one roll, but they dropped it for some reason:( anyway, it’s still filling with the soup, salad and all.  got the sauce on the side, you already know.  i normally order brown rice, but i didn’t want any since i ate some of Sonny’s rolls.  the veggies usually come fried, but i ask for steamed.  always customize your meal to your liking- never hurts to ask for other options. after all, you’re paying for it.

instead of my usual green tea ice cream for dessert, i wanted fro-yo.  an Orange Leaf was just built not to far from our house, yesssssssss!

i love this place and their cool, retro decor!

this camera makes my portion size look seriously small!! crazy! i totally had more than what it looks like. heck i think i sampled more than i put in my bowl anyway.  i sampled their banana fro-yo, but it tasted like laffy taffy.  brownie batter was great, but i ended up with a little bit of their birthday cake flavor + some vanilla, sprinkled it with chocolate chips, sprinkles, and whipped cream.

the only pic i took that night came out blurry. you’re the best, hubby!

killed it.  there are three bowls here because my big brother came to join us. good times.

what night of the week is your ‘date night’ usually on?

p2 pancakes – pumpkin & protein

by

guess what i’m up doing? editing exercise VIDEOS!!!! i like step by step pictorials for exercises in magazines etc, but that PLUS a video of someone actually doing the move is even better.  don’t you think? i do!  so, that’s the plan.  i saw today just how much work goes into doing these vids, whew.  all worth it though.  Sonny is my camera man for the moment and is also in charge of alerting me if i say something wack or correcting me if my form is slipping. yall bear with me/us- i hope to post my first vid (glute work!!!) any day now.

i taught an hour long strength class this morning and i left feeling so energized.  as bad as i wanted my oatmeal, i sped home to make a new, clean breakfast: pumpkin protein pancakes.

1 serving (the entire recipe):

175 cals

30 g protein

11 carbs

6.5 g fiber

i gave Sonny two and topped my two with PB2.

you don’t have to use protein powder if you don’t want- you can use whole wheat flour instead.  that will, however, change up your nutritional stats.

p2 pancakes

the stuff:

  • 1 scoop protein powder OR 2 tbsp of whole wheat flour
  • 4 tbsp pure canned pumpkin
  • 2 egg whites or 1/4th cup liquid egg whites
  • 2 tbsp almond milk, soy milk, or even skim
  • 1 packet truvia (or any other 0 cal sweetener you’d like)
  • 1/8 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon (or more..dash away)

do this:

mix everything together,  spray your no-stick cooking spray into your pan, and cook.  once bubbles start to form, go ahead and flip them. they cook quickly on med. heat, so keep your eyes on them.

tonight’s dinner was TOO EASY.  here’s my salmon slab from earlier this week.  i put it in a pan, sprinkled my dry ranch dressing mix on top, and put it right back in the fridge.  after about 2o min or so, the seasoning had completely soaked into the fish, so i popped it in the oven.

450 deg for just 10 min.

 that is IT.

i made some red beans in my slow cooker the night before, so i paired the salmon with them as well as some ‘coleslaw’.  i turned the package around and could not figure out for the life of me why the stats were so dang high for some dry cabbage.  then i found that little packet of fat dressing hiding in there and proceeded to toss it OUT.

9 grams of fat and 10g sugar for just a two tbsp serving? no thank you.  i liked the coleslaw dry better anyway because it added crunch.

i like bowls. a lot.  as a kid, i HAD to eat my food portions one at a time and they could not be touching. so weird.  but now, i like a little bit of everything in one bite.  this is one of my fav, beat up bowls.  i think it’s older than me.

this was just a quick snack as we’re headed out the door to another, yep, you guessed it- 1st birthday par-tay! it’s gonna be a positive, productive monday tomorrow.  claim it; it’s yours.

le