my most used kitchen appliance + healthy, quick, flavorful, FRESH brussels sprouts

pancaaaaaakes! this recipe is older than Chiso but it's a quick, healthy, goodie. dump the following into your blender. everythang!

• 1/2 cup oat bran or oatmeal
• 1 banana
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cashew milk
• dash sea salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon

 Chiso (4 yrs) usually asks for homemade pancakes, waffles, or oatmeal for breakfast.  i have been throwing everything on my griddle usual! it's my staple appliance cause it's just so easy and convenient.  plus the price tag was SO worth it. our previous griddle seriously lasted like 10 + years, no lie.  that's using it at least 5 times per week too!  get you one.  30 bucks!

last week was Red Ribbon Week and the kids got to wear different things on different days to preschool.  this guy could not WAIT for thursday cause it was pajama day!! he was the only one with pajama shorts as we walked up to school, lol. we sent this pic straight to Granny.

immediately after school, it's lunch time. kids are just like adults; if they go a few hours without eating, attitudes and tantrums pop right on up. so once home, you guessed it, i whipped my grill right back out and threw some Applegate organic uncured turkey hotdogs on there with some Nature's Own whole wheat buns.   i add some shredded colby jack to Chiso's and he is good to go.

i got in a workout while Chi was at school and i stopped by Sprouts Farmers Market before heading to pick him up.  fresh brussels sprouts are on sale this week so that prompted me to finally put some in my cart. i have never cooked fresh sprouts before yall, only frozen! i have definitely been missing out.....

do you see that beautiful green!? gorgeous!  i washed the sprouts, halved them first, then chopped up one yellow onion and diced a handful of turkey pepperoni. next, i coated my pan in olive oil spray,  then threw everything into my cast iron skillet on medium high heat and let it sauté for about 12-15 minutes. didn't have turkey bacon but the pepperoni was the next best thing IMO. i added a squirt of coconut aminos, cracked black pepper, and BOOM. quick, healthy, and flavorful.

 i'm stickin' with fresh from now on. #sold

apparently balsamic vinaigrette is the key ingredient to tasty brussels sprouts!  i got several facebook and IG comments about adding a bit to my  sauté next time. duly noted! can't wait to try!  also a bit of honey is an option as well.

the sprouts paired perfectly with our wild chipotle paprika salmon, also on sale at Sprouts this week. i baked a 2 lb fillet for 14 minutes on 450 degrees, fyi.don't be all talk and no action!  get on your grind and handle your business. actions will always speak louder than words, fit friends.

Q: how do you cook your sprouts?  what else can i throw in my skillet with them that you've tried (and love)?

this post contains affiliate links. you will not pay more when buying a product through my link. however, ordering via my link helps me to continue to offer you lots of free stuff!!! thank you in advance for your support.

pump up your oatmeal volume (vid inside!) + Pink and Treat Halloween 5k

top of the morning!  i have thoroughly enjoyed letting moderation back into my diet since we returned from Maui last month but i'm still holding tight to 16-17% body fat.   i absolutely do not weigh myself daily and i don't plan on ever doing that again.  they say 'never say never' but that is definitely one thing i can say 'never' about.

i love it here and that's what matters.  let it GO, ladies.

once home, i made my usual 'expanding oatbran' and i took my periscope viewers along for the ride this time! check out the vid i was able to shoot interruption-free since my boys were still snoring away once i arrived.  adding volume to your food keeps you full longer between meals and ya get to eat MORE for relatively the same nutritional stats, hello! love sharing little tips like these and i hope my oatmeal loving peeps appreciate this one too.

Chiso still may hate veggies...but that boy LOVES oatmeal. he specifically requested oatmeal with raisins this morning for breakfast before school. made me smile seriously big as i made it for him. sometimes we eat out of real bowls... sometimes most of the time  we do tupperware.  bikini prep life changed me apparently, haha.

[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="http://fitfoodiele.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/finna-get-loose1.mp4"][/video]

then we got silly! this week is Red Ribbon Week  at preschool so every day the students get to wear something fun and non-traditional.  Chiso couldn't wait to wear his workout gear today and he is ecstatic about wearing jammies (pajamas) on thursday!  we got a quick workout in after breakfast since he was already dressed for the part.  somebody tell me WHY Dego has more muscles than Chiso and i combined though!?

we are doing all this work but all he does is sleep, eat, & poop. hmph.

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k, last thang!

i'm runnin' in the Susan G. Koman Pink and Treat 5k this coming saturday, yall!!

 i am also raising funds for breast cancer research and awareness and i'm on a mission to reach my goal.   i would love your support in helping me get there; any and everything is APPRECIATED!!! i want to give a special shout out to my friends and family who have already donated and definitely those who still plan to do so!  we have just 4 days left til' race day. again, i am forever grateful for your support and thank you in advance.

to donate or even register yourself for the race (please run so we can meet up!) is riiiight here. the price is still currently 25 bucks but it shoots up to 40 on race day so get up on that!

peaaaaace!

Q: do you 'celebrate' Halloween? why or why not?

twosday

what? two posts in one day!? don't thank me, thank Chiso :lol:

he actually stays put when i put his Elmo movies on these days, so that gives me a little mo time to post some stuff.

how was your workout today?  i loved this the second i saw it:

you're the boss, Applesauce!

you make the schedule and determine workload.  if you keep working away on that ginormous stack of papers on your desk, it will start to dwindle, eventually.  equate that to living a healthier lifestyle (or weightloss/gain/maintenance) - the results WILL come with a little consistency!  some days you'll do more work, some days you won't do nearly as much.  and that's ok.

 first early AM class of February has been taught, BOO-YAAAAAAH!  afterwards, i stayed behind and did a few weight circuits, solo.

there's #crotchsweat, and then there's good ol' #bootysweat!

after that,  i came home and made these babies...........

Peach Branberry Coconut Cakes.

this is another 'cardio creation'! i thought of this on the elliptical last night and almost made them when i got home cause i didn't wanna wait!

i hope the new flavor combo is appreciated cause yall know i could eat banana pancakes EVERYDAY :shock:

i've been using organic oat bran instead of oatmeal these days!  why? more fiber, more protein, and it's cheaper by the pound at my store.  i've seen it used in other recipes and decided to give it a try myself.  it can be found in the bulk bins at HEB and/or Whole Foods for sure, but if your grocery store doesn't have a 'bulk' area, i'm pretty sure it's sold in the box on the shelf too.

i haven't had blueberry pancakes in a good while.  #satisfied

here's another recreated Central Market salad fave from last night:

dill, cucumber, tomato & feta salad

the stuff:

• 2 sliced cucumbers
• 3 chopped roma tomatoes
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar OR juice of a fresh lemon if ya don't have any
• 2-3 tbsp fresh chopped dill
• fresh cracked black pepper
• 1 tbsp liquid aminos
• 2 tbsp garlic and herb goat cheese
• 1 heaping tbsp 0% greek yogurt

do this:

chop up/slice the cucumber, tomatoes, dill and add this to a large bowl.   add everything else and MIX! you can break up the goat cheese over the ingredients.  let it sit in the fridge overnight and it'll taste eeeeeven better the next day. no red onion in this recipe.

been eating this all day today!

gnite- i know someone needed to see that as bad as i do/did. you ARE good enough!!!  believe in YOURSELF.

hollaaaaa

le