Babies and Missing Hunger

Posted: February 28, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Mid-Day Yummies | Tags: , , | 32 Comments »

The baby shower was a success!

Before the guests started to arrive, I had a very thick green monster for lunch, and to prevent myself from snacking the afternoon away.

  • ½ avocado
  • ½ mango
  • Baby carrots
  • Spinach
  • cucumber
  • Applesauce
  • Vanilla soy milk
  • Water

It was super filling, and I actually didn’t eat any of the yummy food I prepared (I know it was yummy because I had it later for dinner). I have to thank Jessica for ALL the recipes for the baby shower. I actually started planning the food at 11pm the night before, and I just browsed her recipe page for ideas.

That’s the easy cheeseball there in front: cream cheese, green olives, walnuts

I also made kiwi mango salsa and cinnamon sugar pita ships to go along with it.

2 kiwis, ½ mango, orange bell pepper, red onion, ½ avocado, salt/pepper


4 sliced pitas, sprayed with non-stick spray, sprinkled with cinnamon & sugar and broiled for 4 minutes on each side

Plus White Bean Dip with Bacon

can canellini beans, evoo, paprika (I added so much that it turned orange!), salt/pepper, garlic powder, bacon crumbles

I also had lots of veggies and crackers for dipping

To be honest, I was a little nervous. I’ve never had a baby shower before, and all but one of my guests is already a mother, and so I felt a little under-qualified – but I think it was a hit. I’m not really into silly games (mostly because I’m self conscious and I don’t want to embarrass myself) – but I did have a baby themed word scramble that kept everyone busy for a while. The guests were all teachers, and it was fun to see everyone outside of school. Plus, holding a sweet sleeping baby all afternoon wasn’t a bad gig. All in all, it was a very fun afternoon!

This morning, we ran out the door to church without time for breakfast, and surprisingly I wasn’t that hungry afterwards. I figured I should eat something, so I went with a sweet potato.

I microwaved a sweet ‘tater for about 6 minutes, then sautéed it with cinnamon, sugar and peanut butter for about 2 minutes.

I’m still eating with chop sticks to slow myself down. It’s working beautifully.

Have a great last bit of your weekend! I’m off to do some laundry and relax…

Saturday Joys

Posted: February 27, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Breakfast | Tags: , | 26 Comments »

Oooooweee I’m glad we made it to Saturday!!


I’m celebrating with oats in a jar.


  • 1/3 cup oats
  • 2/3 cup water
  • Handful of pumpkin flax granola (bulk bin buy)
  • Handful of trailmix
  • 1 spoonful plain yogurt

…and coffee


As far as I’m concerned, Saturday mornings were made for two things: long runs and drinking coffee. While I didn’t do the long run this morning, I did yesterday morning and I had to fight the icy streets the whole time. Not that much fun. Summer…please hurry.


I’m throwing a baby shower for a co-worker this afternoon, so that means I need to get my butt off the couch to:

  • Clean my house
  • Make some food
  • Buy/wrap a gift

Have the loveliest day!

Blueberry ‘Stache

Posted: February 25, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Breakfast, Delish Dinners, Mid-Day Yummies | Tags: , , , , | 26 Comments »

I started this morning with the best green monster I’ve ever had.

I just keep adding liquid or fruit until I get the consistency that I like. This was so dang good and it kept me full for FIVE hours. That never happens, folks.

  • Vanilla soy milk
  • Frozen raspberries
  • Frozen banana
  • Vanilla protein powder
  • Lotsa spinach
  • Water
  • Big spoonful of peanut butter

For lunch, the fantastic parents at my school threw us a staff lunch. They do this on the last Thursday of every month, and I am constantly looking forward to it. Here was my plate today:

2 wraps, carrots, celery (x4), lil’ smoky sausages. If nothing else, my diet has variety.

For snack, I had the last of my mix 1 smoothies

I drank half before I worked out, and half after. ‘Twas perfect.

After school, some teachers and I did a turbo jam DVD in the school gym – it was fun and I felt adequately exercised and very energetic afterwards. So much so, that I came home and took Punky for a walk in the freshly falling snow. Can I just say that I am so beyond ready for summertime?? I miss my sweaty mid-morning runs so much that it hurts. However, the chilly walk was kind of fun – I like big snowflakes, and I usually like my dog.

Dinner…

Thinned out pancakes (crepes) with plain yogurt, cinnamon, coconut and a sprinkling of trail mix. I had this plate x3 – heck yeah. I made this for two reasons:

  1. They sounded insanely delicious and I love breakfast for dinner
  2. I really want to win some Artisana goodies

In the 3rd grade world…

Some parent sent their little angel to school with a brand new set of smelly markers. They were such a hit; the kiddos were trying to trade and finagle for them all day. One smart boy quickly snatched a marker and drew a blue blob right under his nose so that he could smell blueberries all day. Not a bad idea if you are eight and have no pride. But little did the “marker snatcher” (or any of the kids) know that he resembled a blueberry version of Adolf Hitler.

You’ll have to go to Jubilee

Posted: February 24, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Breakfast, Delish Dinners, Mid-Day Yummies | Tags: , , , , , , | 32 Comments »

My morning was rushed because I was creating breakfast and dinner at the same time – I hardly ever crave things for breakfast, but this morning, my tummy was begging for oatmeal.

½ cup oats (cooked in water), 1 cumbled oatie, pumpkin flax granola, almond butter, 2-3 tbs. vanilla soy milk

So dang good. Exactly what my belly wanted.

Mid morning, I was surprised with a latte from a wonderful mom

It was a good day for a latte. Every day is a good day for a latte, really. Especially when it’s free – thanks Tona!

When lunchtime rolled around, I was ready for my big fat salad.

Look at that vibrant color! I love all things red – it’s such a warm color.

  • Broccoli slaw
  • Red bell pepper
  • Carrots
  • Salsa
  • Tiny little chicken tender way in the blurry background

Then around 4:30pm – I had the most fantastic snack while grading. I started with coconut yogurt…

Then added granola and walnut butter

Oh.my.word this was delicious. That walnut butter is the best thing around.

Dinner might look familiar…

This is exactly what my lunch was – but with the subtraction of chicken, and the addition of ground turkey. Cooked in the crock pot all the live-long day. This morning, I browned the turkey, then added it to all the yummy veggies and cooked on low while I was at work. I just love coming home to a hot meal. Thank the Lord for crock pots.

In the 3rd grade world…

Today was a pretty somber day because there was a school shooting in our area yesterday. However, I have a student who always manages to lighten the mood – no matter what the situation.

It started when a boy was telling the class that he was going to kill his brother for stealing his after-school snack (kind of funny in its own right…). A classmate who was listening to this exclaimed…

“You can’t kill your brother…you’ll have to go to jubilee!“

“Uh, jubilee…?” I asked questioningly

“Yeah, you know the place that kids under 18 go to jail”

“Oh..you mean ‘juvie’ – juvenile detention. “

I will be calling it jubilee from this point forward.

What was I thinking?

Posted: February 23, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Delish Dinners, Mid-Day Yummies | Tags: , , , , , , , | 34 Comments »

Love that morning sunlight!

My breakfast was disgusting – so I’m not even dignifying it with a picture. For some reason, my sleepy tastebuds thought it would be a good idea to put eggs and salsa on top of a pancake. Yeah, what was I thinking? It was gross – as I’m sure anyone of you could have told me it would be. I had to eat a square of dark chocolate afterwards just to erase the taste.

However, I had breakfast redemption when I got to school and remembered a mom had sent in some walnut banana bread yesterday. So glad I saved it for this morning.

Absolutely delicious. Thank you Tona!

Then at lunchtime, I realized that I really hadn’t been thinking this morning. Here is what I packed for lunch:

Carrots (x5) +salsa

ww pita with peanut butter, cinnamon and cayenne pepper

Really? I thought this was going to keep me full for the 11 hours I’m at work??

It didn’t even keep me full until noon. So, when my kids went to music at 1:30, I went to the grocery store and picked up some goodies for my rumbly tummy.

Fantastic trail mix – cashews, almonds walnuts, raisins, pistachios – on sale at Sprouts! Plus, a kombucha – also on sale!

I had only tried this drink before – and I actually really liked it – very vinegar-like and tangy. This plus the trial mix kept me full right through dinnertime.

Dinner was anti-climatic, but yummy nonetheless. I was so stinkin’ tired when I got home, all I could muster up was a yogurt mess.

  • Plain yogurt
  • 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
  • Cinnamon squares
  • More sprouts trial mix from earlier
  • Walnut butter

The walnut butter was from a very exciting package I got when I came home from work…

I bought the big walnut butter, and got some free samples (more walnut butter, tahini, cashew butter) for free with my purchase! Walnuts are my favorite, so I’m super excited about it. Be prepared to see this lot in the near future.

In the 3rd grade world…


This made me laugh.

The student was writing a report about Teddy Roosevelt. Not only did the spelling mistake make me chuckle, but this student wrote a whole paper about how Theodore Roosevelt (or Rosabelt) was a famous American solely because he invented teddy bears.

Switch it Up

Posted: February 22, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Breakfast, Delish Dinners, leftover lunches | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments »

Hello and Happy Monday!

I tried something new this morning and didn’t work out before school. Gasp!
This really is a big deal for me, as I’ve been compulsively exercising before school/work for 8 years – it’s just how I wake up. But this morning, I was exhausted, and instead of pushing myself to do a less than stellar workout – I pushed the snooze button. I actually just finished my workout and it’s 8:01pm. It wasn’t as bad as I always imagined, but I still love the morning sweat sessions.

As a result of my less invigorating breakfast – I had a smaller-than-normal breakfast.


½ cup applesauce, a few tablespoons plain yogurt, a few walnuts, cinnamon

I also had a little oatmeal later in the morning – sorry no picture.

When lunchtime rolled around – I had leftover dinner from last night – acorn squash and chicken tenders

Last night I put an acorn squash in the oven at 350* for about 40 minutes. Today I microwave about half, sprinkled with parmesan cheese and garlic salt – and topped with two baked chicken tenders.

My snack revolved around chocolate.

A cup of coffee and a square of chocolate @ 5pm

Plus a z bar –

I was actually a little chocolated out after this – but it fueled me well through my PM workout. After 45 minutes of Your Best Butt – which I surprisingly liked.

I wasn’t too hungry for dinner, so I had a HEAB inspired Green Monster.


  • 1 avocado
  • 4 stalks celery
  • A lot of spinach
  • 3 cups water
  • Drizzle of agave
  • Shredded coconut – for topping

This was exactly what I wanted – not to sweet, tasted like veggies, and filling!

I may or may not eat something else for dinner, but for now I’m full, happy, and watching crazy girls on The Bachelor.

The Air Smells Like Cows

Posted: February 18, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Delish Dinners, Mid-Day Yummies | Tags: , , , , , | 44 Comments »

Whenever the air smells like cows in Colorado, a storm is brewing. The air blows from Greely, CO – where the cattle are kept, and it permeates the whole state. It’s like our own weather warning system. While we get ready for snow, you get ready for a veggie fest…

I loved everything about my lunch


+


(Thanks Tona!!!)



Love.

I also snacked throughout the afternoon (I have to eat lunch early – like 11:20) on an apple, a Z Bar, and a bouquet of carrots and hummus (I loved that description Deane!)


Then I came home early to prepare a magnificent veggiful dinner.

Pre-roasting, drizzled with evoo and seasoned with salt/pepper


Beets, carrots, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and a sweet potato into the oven for about 40 minutes @ 425*



My portion – with a sautéed chicken tender in the background. All eaten with chopsticks (I’m trying to not be in such a rush all the time – chopsticks help)


This meal was so good I feel like screaming it from the rooftop – but I guess typing it into cyberspace will have to do. Beets are so fantastic. So are Brussels, carrots and cauliflower. Oh yeah, and sweet potatoes have my heart. Roast them all together…too good for words.

Now I’m munching on flax cookies for dessert


Such a tasty day.

Here’s to Thursday!

Posted: February 18, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | 10 Comments »

Sorry for the grump fest last night. It was just one of those days. I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to kick off a new day. After level 3 of the 30 day shred, and a bowl of dessert for breakfast (oats, cocoa powder, cinnamon squares, walnuts, a crumbled oatie, almond butter), I’m ready to head out to face my favorite day of the week.

Flush the Ice

Posted: February 17, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Breakfast, Delish Dinners, leftover lunches | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments »

Breakfast(s)



Egg whites, spinach, salsa


Hot water and banana bread

Lunch(s)



Baby Carrots and hummus


Leftover pasta


Cabbage/broccoli slaw

Snack(s)



Dinner (just one, so far)


Yogurt Mess – plain yogurt, applesauce, walnuts, an Oatie, cinnamon squares, almond butter

I woke up with no patience today – and my students pushed me beyond my limits. Teaching 8 year olds to be kind and compassionate to each other is a tough job – especially when one goes to work feeling neither kind nor compassionate. I’m a good faker – but I came home drained. After a long phone conversation with my Daddy and a prayerful 30 minutes in a hot bath, I flushed 4 lbs. of ice down the toilet in hopes of a snow day tomorrow.

I ate too many sweets today

Posted: February 16, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | 23 Comments »

I started the day with a walk, some pilates and coffee in an old Starbucks cup, Cait style.


The rate at which we go through jars of peanut butter in this house is kind of astounding. Meeker and I both eat a couple of tablespoons a day – which leads to a lot of empty jars. Which leads to a lot of Oats In a Jar (OIAJ).


This guy had pretty much been scraped clean, but it was still a good vessel for an unbelievable mix of oats and goodies.


In the Jar:

  • ½ cup oats – cooked in 1 cup water
  • 1 Oatie, crumbled
  • 3 walnut halves
  • A few white chocolate chips
  • Drizzle of agave

Lunch was an easy salad, and a ww tortilla with almond butter and cinnamon


Romaine, ¼ cup black beans, cucumber, ½ green bell pepper – dressed with hummus

I also snacked on some sweets throughout the day


A flax cookie (I actually had two – one was eaten mid phonics lesson) and two Oaties.

Later in the day, a co-worker returned this cookbook I lent him last week so he could make something chocolate for his wife on Valentine’s Day. He returned the favor by bringing me a sample of the insanely rich and delicious pudding cake with whip cream.


Oh my word. Pure decadence.

Then I came home to make another indulgent dish. It has been a while since I’ve made a Meeker Meal, and I was starting to feel sorry for him. This resulted in a cheesy pasta frittata.


To make this cheesy carb-laden dish:

  • 3 cups whole wheat shell pasta
  • ½ cup part skim ricotta
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese, divided
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 palmful garlic powder
  • 1 palmful Italian seasoning

Boil the pasta for about 5 minutes and set aside. In a separate bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients (leaving 2-3 tbs. parmesan cheese). Then add pasta.

Heavily spray an oven-proof skillet with non-stick spray, and set on high heat. Add the pasta mix and cook until the bottom layer is set (about 5 minutes). Meanwhile, preheat the broiler. Sprinkle the pasta with the reserved parmesan and put into the oven under the broiler for about 6 minutes, or until cheese is brown and bubbly.

Either invert onto a plate to serve (this was a big FAIL when I tried it) or just scoop out onto a plate…that’s how I rolled.


Enjoy!

***

Edited to add: I reaalllyy want to win Maranatha,

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