Its Smoothie Kind Of Weather!

The weather is becoming warmer and warmer out, what's better then a nice cold tasty beverage? I was watching this weeks Biggest Loser episode and they were promoting Yoplait Smoothies. They look and sound delicious! And it can't hurt that they are very healthy for you. Each packet has 2 serving sizes and each serving size ranges from 110-120 calories. All you need to do is add a little milk of your choice and blend! (Non-Fat preferably)

There are four different kinds on their website: Blueberry Pomegranate, Triple Berry, Strawberry Banana & Strawberry Mango Pineapple, but on the Biggest Loser they also had Chocolate Banana. I will be looking in the grocery store tonight!

What is Spaghetti Squash?

When I talk about spaghetti squash with people, hardly anyone knows what is it.  Last time I made it I took play by play photos of how to cook it.  Here they are...

Heat the squash in the microwave for a minute or so to soften it.  Then cut the squash in half.

 Take all the "guts" out of it. The seeds and most of the stringy parts.  If some are left that is fine, they are edible so don't worry.  Once you do that, place both halves face down into a microwave safe dish that has about an inch of water in it. Microwave for about 10 minutes.

 

Be careful removing the squash from the microwave, it will be very hot.  Let the halves cool a little after taking them out of the dish.  Once cooled, take a fork and start to scrape the squash.  Doing this will make the squash look like it's spaghetti.

  

This is what the squash will look like when it's been scraped enough and the result of what was scraped.

 

 There are many recipes you can use when making spaghetti squash.  A basic is just marinara sauce (homemade or from the jar) and grated cheese just like you would add to actual spaghetti noodles, but with this it's much healthier for you!  Spaghetti noodles and spaghetti squash both don't have a lot of flavor to them, it's all about what you add to them.  Try it out!

Amazing Spaghetti Squash

This is a Bethenny Frankel healthy recipe with a couple changes to what I preferred.

The recipe calls for:

1 spaghetti squash

3 tbs pesto

1 tbs fresh basil

3 tbs parmesan cheese

salt & pepper to taste

Bethenny also added pine nuts, but the pesto I bought had some in it already so extra are not needed.  I used grated cheese because that's what I had, but her recipe called for shredded.  I added salt and pepper before tasting, but I think the pesto has enough taste in it to do without.  The less salt the healthier.  The pesto flavor was a good amount, 1 less tbs I think it would taste just as good if you want to save some calories though.

I didn't prepare it the same way as her.  Here are the easy steps I did...

-- Microwave the squash for a minute, this makes it softer and easier to cut.  Cut the squash in half and remove the seeds.  Then place the squash (the inside faced down) in a microwaveable dish with about an inch of water for 10 minutes.  Optional: Put a little extra virgin olive oil on the inside of the squash.

-- Let the squash sit for a few minutes then scrap the spaghetti squash out.

-- Mix the squash, pesto, cheese and salt/pepper in a large bowl.

-- Add the mixed ingredients to a pan, add basil and heat for a few minutes.

-- Serve! Enjoy!

What's For Dinner Tonight?

Peanut Chicken

If you want the recipe, just ask!

Some Oldies...

Homemade Chili

Between the cold weather and wanting to use the crock pot again I decided to make some homemade chili.  I looked at tons of recipes for the crock pot and none of them were exactly what I wanted so instead I just winged it.  I put everything I liked from the different recipes into this recipe.  No real measurements were used.  Jeff & I both tasted it a few times to see if anything else needed to be added.

All the ingredients added to the crock pot, pre-cooked.

The recipe calls for:

lean ground turkey meat

kidney & black beans

frozen corn

jalapeno peppers

onion

garlic cloves

garlic powder

chili powder

cayenne pepper

salt & pepper 

tomato paste

tomato sauce

mini diced tomatoes

chicken broth

cheddar cheese (optional)

sour cream (optional)

tortilla chips (optional)

Do What You Can

I finally realized New Year Resolutions are just too stressful to worry about and keep up with.  Most people don't even follow through with them.  I DVRed Good Morning America this morning because I knew Bethenny Frankel was going to be on for a segment. She is just very inspiring to me and I figured any new knowledge learned from her is a good thing.  She has always shared health, food and exercise tips in her career, but it's how she incorporates these things in her life in a normal way just like you and I would have to that is the special part.  She has taught me a lot and today showed me why only make changes come the new year, why not make small changes throughout the whole year.  Do what you can when you can, there's always tomorrow.

"Everyday is a fresh start." - Bethenny Frankel

One small thing I am going to try my best to add to my everyday is keeping hydrated. Besides coffee, water is what I mainly drink with an occasional soda here and there.  I have noticed that I don't drink very often though.  Usually I have a 16.9 oz water bottle at work and one later one at night with dinner, but I am changing that to three bottles at work and one bottle at night which completes the 8 glasses of 8oz of water a day that "they" say to have.  I must say, after the first day doing this I was down a pound. I'm sure it's just water weight, but I'll take it.  Are you drinking enough?




- - Don't waste food by throwing out the holiday leftovers, just have some control and watch your portions.
- - A little exercise is better then none! I took Zumba today after months of doing nothing.
- - Try not to sweat the small stuff. This is what I struggle with.
- - Put yourself first sometimes even if you're someone who puts everyone else first.
-- Check out: www.bethenny.com/

Jeff & Jenn's Famous Meatballs

Trying Out Recipes

Before adding the panko bread
crumbs & coconut.

The crab cakes were soooo good! They have scallions, red pepper, mayo & obviously crab meat. There are some panko bread crumbs & shredded coconut inside the cakes then they are dredged in the mixture also. When serving the two suggestions were with lime wedges & sweet red chili sauce. I didn't use either, but Jeff loved the chili sauce on them. I read that panko bread crumbs don't soak up the grease in the pan like regular bread crumbs do so that will save some calories. Also, they are lower in sodium. We had some of the panko/coconut mixture left even with following the recipe, but I think it could be used to coat chicken, shrimp or any white fish too.

The salad would've been much better with a different dressing. We used a pear balsamic which wasn't a good choice. But hey, nothing wrong with experimenting. The cucumbers & feta cheese were a good combination though. I'd make it again using some other dressing. With a different dressing it would look more appetizing as well.

Favorite San Fran Photos

 

Random Food Pics

BAKING

      

PASTA

           


DESSERT

OTHER

     

           

For My Mom

Red Velvet Cake

Fish Tacos

The taco shell is stuffed with some chopped up tilapia seasoned with a little salt/pepper/garlic powder & the homemade salsa. The other piece of fish is seasoned/topped with the same things & instead of it being in a taco shell I broke up some pieces for the top. Accompanied by some asparagus & light sour cream.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

I don't usually cook anything for this holiday, but I figured it would be fun. I made my own version of salsa. Not all the ingredients I added are normal for salsa, but they were things I really enjoy & I thought went well with all the flavors together. I just eye balled the measurements.

The recipe calls for:

tomatoes

yellow onion

green onion (chives)

green pepper

cilantro

a little salt & pepper

I'm going to make fish tacos tonight for dinner, two different versions of it with tilapia. The hard taco shells I use are so good, only 55 calories & high in fiber. They are so tasty you can just break them up & eat them as chips, put in a salad or something else to add some crunch/texture.

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Whole Grain Corn Taco Shells - Brand: Ortega

Coffee Happy Hour!

Starbucks is having their Happy Hour for Frappuccino's again!!! Half price any flavor you want, customized to how you like it & there are light options to make them healthier.

May 6th - May 15th

3-5pm

Also, after 9 long years the Mocha Coconut Frappuccino is back! My taste buds have never been lucky enough to have had this drink before because 9 years ago I was only 16 years old. My love or should I say obsession for coffee was not found just yet. I saw Starbucks post about this drink over a month ago on Facebook & have been anxiously awaiting it's arrival.

So I went to Starbucks today, I was asked what I wanted before I made it to the counter. I replied with my normal "mocha frappucinno light please." After making it the register the woman asked me if I would like to try the new drink they have & it was the one I've been waiting for! After looking down at the samples, seeing the sign above me advertising it, I frantically changed my order before even trying the sample. Fortunately these people know me there & my crazy coffee feening self was nothing new to them.

I knew I would like it, there was no doubt in my mind. Chocolate, coffee & coconut in one...what's not to like? It's like a perfect caffeinated dessert! For me it was breakfast & lunch. I didn't get a chance to eat with my running around today. Yes I know not healthy, but it happens. The moment I tasted it I was in coffee heaven. I got the light version of course, so no whipped cream, no toppings & the light base for the drink. Here is a picture of the non-light version...

For me Happy Hour at Starbucks is the best kind of Happy Hour. If you usually don't go to Starbucks because of the higher prices, here it the perfect chance to get some of their yumminess since they are half the normal price. It's a steal. Enjoy fellow coffee lovers! :) And for those who don't drink coffee, there are some options for you as well.

Click here for the nutritional facts information for ALL frappucinno's.