Ocho Nueve
Posted: August 30, 2010 Filed under: Breakfast, Delish Dinners, Mid-Day Yummies | Tags: almond milk, avocado, BBQ, fruit cereal, garlic, hummus, pesto, rice, sweet potato 31 Comments »Hey pals! How was your Monday? Mine was just about as good as smooth as you could hope for. My kids were CHATTY, but otherwise, not too bad. I started with a walk with Punky, and some push-ups and sit-ups. An easy way to ease into this week.
Then breakfast.
Fruit cereal with a little extra crunch
My first time trying these little nuggets – I liked them!
1 peach, 1 banana, pecans, the above cereal and my favorite almond milk
Mmm, the bowl was so dang good. I felt like I was eating cold pie for breakfast – insanely delicious.
I also wanted to share with you guys the latest addition to my classroom…
I was so tired of being starving all day long – that I made myself a snack drawer. Dried fruit, nuts, bars, and tea. It worked perfectly. When I started getting that gnawing in-between-meal-hunger (which is usually at 10:30 and then again at 4pm) – I just reached into my snack drawer and had a little handful of food. It worked like a dream – I didn’t feel famished all day. I’m kind of sad it took me so long to think of it.
For my real lunch
Sweet potato with hummus +bbq sauce+ avocado
Sweet potatoes for lunch are perfect – they fill me up so well, but don’t ever make me too full.
On the way home, I stopped at the grocery store to pick up some basil for my dinner.
Garlicky Pesto Rice
I combined these ingredients:
- Fresh green beans (cut into 1 inch pieces)
- Canned cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 3.5 cups water
- 1 tbs. Roasted Garlic Seasoning
- 1 cup brown rice
And simmered until the rice was tender. Then I made a basil pesto with:
- 1 cup walnuts
- ¼ cup evoo
- 1 cup packed basil
- Salt
into the food processor. Then combined the two! It was so easy – and it made the creamiest, most flavorful rice. But warning: it was really rich. I couldn’t finish my bowl, but it was darn good.
In the 3rd grade world…
My kiddos had Spanish today – which the teacher comes to our classrooms for. Thus, I get to hear oodles of silly songs in español, and get to listen to them butchering and stumbling through all sorts of Spanish words/phrases. It’s really cute.
Today, when the Spanish teacher was leaving, she told the class: Hasta Luego! (which means “until later” or “see you later”) and one little boy in my class proudly waved his hand and shouted:
Ocho Nueve!! (which means “Eight Nine”) – it was precious.
Tomorrow is Thursday.
Posted: August 25, 2010 Filed under: Breakfast, Delish Dinners, dessert, Mid-Day Yummies | Tags: banana, broccoli slaw, chicken stir fry, chili, ginger, lime, mushrooms, peanut butter, raw dessert, red cabbage, sweet potato 28 Comments »More of the same routine today. I’m not complaining – I like to have a regimented schedule. After my workout, I had a small breakfast.
Well, it looked small, but there were a lot of calories packed into this ½ cup of mush.
1 banana, 1 tbs. peanut butter, 1 date and this on top…
It held me over about the same amount of time as all of my breakfasts. 3 hours. That means that I’ve been starving for an hour by the time lunch rolls around.
Sweet potato with chili – this tasted so good today! I wanted 10 times this amount. I also had a teensy tiny side salad.
Broccoli slaw with hummus + water – I should have packed more, ’twas delish.
When I came home, I snacked on some carrots/hummus while I whipped up a chicken stir fry for dinner.
Red cabbage, mushrooms, chicken, ginger, garlic, salt, and lime juice squeezed on top
And now I’m off to enjoy some of these babies:
I saw Katie post about her new raw snickerdoodle cookies this afternoon, and I thought about them all day long!
* 30 grams unsalted, raw almonds
* 80 grams dates
* pinch of salt
* very scant 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
* 1 tsp. cinnamon
* pinch cream of tarter
Blend in your food processor. Smush into balls and enjoy!
In the 3rd grade world…
I had a little girl pee her pants while sitting in her chair today. The awful part is that she sat in it for almost an hour (!!) before she stood up and I noticed the wet pants. When I asked her about it, and suggested we call her mom to bring her some fresh clothes she just shrugged and said:
Nah, that’s okay.
I then rephrased my suggestion and told her she had to go call her mom for new clothes. My only guess is that she was so riddled with embarrassment that she didn’t want anyone else to know. Poor girl.
#3
Posted: August 18, 2010 Filed under: Breakfast, Delish Dinners, Mid-Day Yummies | Tags: banana, BBQ, canteloupe, cinnamon, green monster, peanut butter, staff lunch, sweet potato 25 Comments »It’s almost Thursday!! I kind of missed counting down the weekdays during the summer. I really do like my job, but weekends are sweet, and I can’t wait.
Breakfast
Green Monster: 1 cup frozen spinach (don’t forget the frozen spinach key!), ½ cup frozen blueberries, ½ cup soy milk, ½ frozen banana, 2 cups water – blended for about 2 minutes.
Froth.
Lunch was extraordinary! Once a month, the parents at my school cook lunch for the teachers. This month’s theme was Farwell Summer BBQ.
fruit (x5), cucumbers, broccoli, pulled pork, bbq beef, and a chicken leg (which I didn’t eat because I was fullll). I also had some bean/avocado/cilantro mess that was fantastic. Parents, you are the best.
I didn’t even need a snack this afternoon because I was so dang full for the rest of the day. When I came home I had one thing on my mind (Kristen, when you mentioned sweet potatoes at lunch, this stuck in my mind!)
Sweet potato (wrapped in plastic and microwaved for 7 minutes) with peanut butter, banana slices and cinnamon
It hit the spot, but left me wanting something juicy.
Summery cantaloupe.
In the 3rd grade world…
One of my students came up to me today and said:
Mrs. Unger, I just went #3 in the bathroom.
I wish I could have seen what my face looked like. I was perplexed. I mean…I have a couple guesses as to what #3 is, but I’ve NEVER heard that before. Anyone else?!
Food Processor Love
Posted: June 14, 2010 Filed under: Delish Dinners, Mid-Day Yummies | Tags: barefoot running, falafel, peanut butter, salad, sweet potato, veggies, watermelon 25 Comments »I just love my bright green baby cutting board!
Also, I used my food processor for EVERY meal today.
The veggies are self-explanatory, but the orange blob is:
- 1 sweet potato, cooked
- 1 tbs. peanut butter
- Salt
- Cinnamon
All into the food processor until smooth. Voila! The best dip/baby food ever. After this, I finally followed Cait’s instruction and had some nuggets…
Morningstar Chik’N Nuggets and BBQ sauce. I felt like a 3rd grader…and I loved it.
I ran errands and went to the grocery store after lunch, and then came home and spooned into this…
Dig in.
When dinner rolled around, I looked at my dinner calendar (which I make a week in advance) and got excited to see that I had planned to make falafel tonight! I used Adrien’s Falafel Recipe, with a couple substitutions:
1 Can of Chickpeas
2 Cloves of garlic
1 Egg
1/4C Tahini
1/2 tsp Cumin (ground)
1/2tsp chili powder
3 T cilantro, chopped
2T green onions, chopped
Salt (to taste)
All into the food processor until smooth. Then balled them up and baked them at 375* for 15 minutes.
Eaten with a lettuce + carrots + corn + cucumbers. Perfection.
I dressed the salad with a mix of spicy mustard + red wine vinegar + stevia + olive oil
On an exercise note, I went for a barefoot run today! I couldn’t sleep the other night, and so I got out of bed, and started reading articles about the benefits of barefoot running. After watching this video – I knew I wanted to at least try it out. To summarize, humans survived perfectly well without shoes, and some evidence shows that shoes are ruining our running stride/posture. You can check out the pros/cons on the above link if you are interested – but I have to say I loved it! Sure, there are the obvious drawbacks: stepping on a pebble (I actually cut my foot today, ouch), strange looks from onlookers, hot pavement, etc. However, I felt really FREE! Like a little kid running through the park. I’m sure it was mental, but it just felt easier and lighter.
What are your thoughts on the barefoot running movement??
Smoothies, Exercise, Friends and Hail
Posted: June 10, 2010 Filed under: Breakfast, cake, Delish Dinners, Mid-Day Yummies | Tags: cake, green monster, hummus, salad, stir-fry, sweet potato 19 Comments »Yesssssss for Thursday. It started out with an insanely good smoothie.
Closer…
I used Janetha’s favorite recipe – and it is worthy of the “favorite status” – It was so good that I will have the same thing again tomorrow for breakfast. No question.
After breakfast I walked Punky, then I walked to a Bible study with a few fellow teachers (it was only about 1 mile away) and enjoyed the sunshine and the good friends. I came just in time for lunch.
Lettuce, peppers, sweet potatoes, leftover brown rice, hummus + water dressing
I desserted with some raw chocolate cake. The last piece…waaaaah.
I let this settle and then headed to the gym to see my husband workout. I did the stepmill and some weights. I like exercise so much. I came home feeling energized, and snacked on the last of the roasted sweet potatoes and some peanut butter.
While eating this and watching/listening to the hailstorm of a lifetime, I got a surprise call from a friend who moved to Florida last year. She said she was on her way to my house!! She arrived about 1 minute after the call, and we sat at the kitchen table catching up and watching the hail together. Yay summer.
After she left I showered and started on dinner – I gave shrimp another shot.
I got this recipe out of a favorite cookbook and…I liked it! The shrimp were not my favorite part, but they were tolerable. I only dished myself a few, and was glad that I had all the veggies to fill up on.
Today was a really nice day…yummy food, exercise, friends. This weekend is sure to bring more fun because my brother’s 3 kids are staying with us! I’ll be sure to document the action, so stay tuned for pool trips, homemade pizza and lots of giggles.
Have a fabulous Thursday night.
Highlights
Posted: June 9, 2010 Filed under: Breakfast, Delish Dinners, Mid-Day Yummies | Tags: inta juice, nuts, prunes, spin class, stuff peppers, sweet potato 18 Comments »Thank you all so much for the fantastic book recommendations! I have more than enough to last me through the summer…so excited. If you are looking for something good to read, hit up the comments section of this post. You all are awesome.
Here are some highlights from the past 24 hours…first, the FIL’s birthday dinner last night.
Bison burger topped with ketchup, mustard, avocado, baby bell peppers (Janetha, I think of you every time I eat these!) and a massive amount of salad.
This morning I went to a sweaty spin class…good exercise is always a highlight.
I followed it with some nuts and prunes.
Yup, I love prunes. I’m eighty. I also had a cranberry sparkling water (in the background).
Pineapple Paradise: mango, coconut, pineapple, honey
The laziest cats on the planet:
Stuffed Peppers:
Green bell peppers, brown rice, canned tomatoes, spinach, onions, garlic, buffalo sausage – 2 topped with melty cheese, 2 plain
Roasted Sweet Potatoes:
Dinner:
What was a highlight from your day?
Broccoli and Chocolate
Posted: June 1, 2010 Filed under: Breakfast, cake, Delish Dinners, dessert, Mid-Day Yummies | Tags: broccoli, coffee, green beans, hummus, jicama, POM, salad, smoothie, spinach, sweet potato, tofu, trail mix 37 Comments »Another lovely summer day. I don’t mean to shove it in your faces that I’m on vacation for two months, but really…life is good. I wish you all had summer vacations.
I started the good life this morning with a super smoothie.
1 cup frozen spinach, ½ cup frozen blackberries, ¼ cup POM juice, ½ banana, water
Bellatrix was curiously investigating the mix…
I was a good housewife after breakfast and I walked the dog, did the laundry, cleaned the kitchen, and then had a snack and some coffee before heading to the gym.
I did a sweaty spin class this morning, and left feeling fantastic. When I got home, it was time for lunch.
I can’t stop with the salads lately. Let’s see if I can remember everything in this baby…
- lettuce
- broccoli slaw
- jicama
- ½ sweet potato
- red pepper hummus
- balsamic vinegar
- salt and pepper
I was sad when this was over, so I had another smaller salad with the exact same ingredients. Spin classes make me hungry.
I also had some of my favorite summer fruit (by the way, a lot of you are with me on the wonderfulness of watermelon, but peaches ranked pretty high up there too…I say they’re tied)
Eaten with a single chopstick.
I went to Target after lunch (got a cute dress and some new workout clothes!) then came home to start on dinner.
Baked tofu (at 450* for 30 minutes, flip halfway between), grilled broccoli and green beans, all dipped in a mix of ketchup + spicy mustard + worcestershire sauce
Yummy, edible shrubbery.
For dessert?
Chocolate cake balls. Much like fudge babies, this was a food processor product of walnuts, Medjool dates, cocoa powder, vanilla and a pinch of salt.
If you had to eat just TWO things for the rest of your life, what would they be? After today, I say broccoli and chocolate. The answer will probably change tomorrow.
Sunshine Sunday
Posted: May 30, 2010 Filed under: Delish Dinners, Mid-Day Yummies | Tags: coconut, garden, nutrional yeast, salad, spaghetti squash, sweet potato 17 Comments »I just love sunshine. Love, love, love. In order to be outside for as much time as possible today, I decided to plant a flower garden.
I’ll show it to you, but you have to promise not to laugh…
Promise?
I know, it’s kind of sad looking, but geeez…flowers are expensive! I spent a lot of money and all afternoon toiling in the dirt. I really hope it will fill out and expand in time. The flowers really were pretty…just small.
After laboring in the garden, I had a hankering for something fresh.
Lettuce, broccoli slaw, jicama, cucumber, salsa, hummus
To accompany this delicious salad, some trail mix and a big cracker.
When dinnertime rolled around, I was still longing for veggies.
Spaghetti squash with tomato sauce, nutritional yeast and green olives
I ended up picking off the olives because they tasted off, but after that, it was deliciously perfect. For “dessert” I had half of a sweet potato with cinnamon and some flaked coconut.
I ate all the colors of the rainbow today! Yummy colors.
Now I’m going to skedaddle out the door to take Punky on a walk before the wonderful sunshine disappears for the day. Hope your Sundays were sunny!
A Cruel Joke
Posted: May 21, 2010 Filed under: Breakfast, leftover lunches | Tags: chicken, overnight oats, sweet potato 22 Comments »Today was interesting. I stared out with a walk in the cool air with my dog, then returned home for a pilates DVD and some tasty overnight oats.
Last night I combined: 1/3 cup oats, 1/3 cup milk, 1/3 cup mashed sweet potato, ½ cup greek yogurt
This morning I added: almonds, cinnamon, Kashi Autumn Wheat
I walked to school, then had my coffee and a banana at my desk.
Lunch was leftovers.
Grilled chicken breast and flax-encrusted sweet potato balls
Snack was something Meeker brought home from work…a new protein bar!
Taste wise: I’m a big fan. Stats wise: 240 calories, 13 g protein, 28g carbs, 8g fat – not bad at all.
I also had an apple sometime today and some craisins after school.
Dinner is still undetermined because I’m still at school – at my after school job of answering the phone. After my walk home, honestly all I want to do is lay on the couch and crash. Why?? Glad you asked…
In the 3rd grade world…
Today was field day. So much fun for the kids and teachers (at least I think so!). However it absolutely wears the kids out. Mine were practically asleep when they came inside after lunch. I tried to fill the afternoon with quiet(ish) activities that didn’t require too much critical thinking. However, 2:15pm struck, and it was like someone decided to play a cruel joke on us…
We had a power surge.
The electricity in the building went out.
No lights. No phones. No computers. No intercom system. Just a dark building with more than 500 tired (cranky) kiddos.
My students thought it was a zombie attack. I heard that second grade thought the school was being robbed. Many thought that a tornado had struck nearby.
An added bonus was that I have a student who has seizures. Blinking lights are bad for this student, and when the power surge was ensuing, it was like a disco club in the school. Literally every overhead light in our hallway/classrooms turned into a strobe. I was desperately trying to find my seizure student and cover his eyes and calm him down – and he was not having it. So, I ended up taking my class outside for an enormous game of duck, duck, goose.
When we returned to the building, the children were instructed to pack up their belongings (in the dark?!) and go to the gym (which had light). So…we attempted to individually dismiss the kids for carpool as over 500 of them sat on the floor of a gym. Our only tools were shushing teachers, and a single bullhorn.
The hilarity/difficulty of keeping over 500 kids SILENT (on a Friday afternoon, after field day, when there are two school days left) is inexplicable.
On the upside. I have TWO days of school left. One. Two.
Heart Warming
Posted: May 12, 2010 Filed under: Breakfast, Delish Dinners, dessert, Mid-Day Yummies | Tags: almonds, banana, cinnamon, clif, greek yogurt, hummus, milk, panini, sweet potato, tomato 24 Comments »Today was a day. In an effort to stay positive, I’ll not go into too many details. I feel so blessed to have a break coming up! I went to the gym early this morning. I would have run outside, but it was snowing. I can run in the snow October- February, but when it’s snowy in May, I’m no longer up for freezing runs. Post-workout in the way to school I had a banana and my favorite Clif.
I stopped at a gas station for coffee, and enjoyed it with some M&Ms that a student brought me.
Thank you for being such a wonderful teacher! – I am so grateful to have appreciative families.
Lunch was divine.
Sweet potato, Greek yogurt, almonds and chocolate chips.
After school I had a 100 calorie pack of popcorn.
A fellow teacher brought in some yummy tomatoes and I was quick to snag one to incorporate into my dinner. (Thanks Kristin!!)
I sliced up the tomato, and added ham, broccoli slaw, hummus, and mustard and threw it all between two slices of bread.
Then it all went in the panini press. Hallelujah, this was the best dang sandwich I’ve ever made. No joke. All ooey, gooey and full of flavor. For dessert, I steamed some milk, added cinnamon, and made a little trail mix.
Steamed milk with cinnamon + almonds, coconut, chocolate chips
In the 3rd grade world…
I whined about the snow all day. I am always cold. Always, always, always. My kids know this about me, and are quick to point out my ever-present goose bumps, and never fail to let me know that my hands are freezing. One of my sweet girls knew I was upset about the snowy weather, and thoughtfully left this on my desk.
The sun is always with you now. Warm.
