While leaving the gym a couple weeks ago, a trainer had set up a table by the front doors and was handing out dixie cups filled with a green 'energy' smoothie she made. I, of course, grabbed one because (a) I just finished a workout and was famished, and (b) I'm always up for trying something new.
Turns out although it looked nasty, it tasted delicious.
She had kindly printed out the recipe and had a stack of 'em for people to take home (with, of course, her personal training coordinates). A few days later I made my own but it didn't turn out green like hers, and I had to improvise a bit because who really keeps almond milk and two kinds of yoghurt in their fridge at the same time? Not this girl.
Healthy Smoothie:
* Frozen banana
* 1 Cup of Milk
* 1/2 Cup of Yoghurt
* 1 Cup of Frozen Berries (I used strawberries)
* Handful of Spinach*
Blend
Drink
Enjoy.
* I know what you're thinking, 'Spinach?! In a smoothie? Really Amanda? Yuck!'
but seriously, you don't even taste it. And it's good for you. So do it. Do it good.
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The other (weekend) morning, in a semi-rush to get out the door, but a desire to not spend money on breakfast, I whipped up these breakfast sandwiches. Easy, healthy, and cheap. I used what was in the fridge, so feel free to improvise with what you've got.
Ingredients:
* Bread for toasting
* 3 eggs
* Ham
* Spinach
* Red onion
Heat a bit of olive oil in a skillet. Saute your chopped onion. Crack your eggs and poke the yokes. Add ham and spinach and let the bottom of your egg mixture cook.
When the top is fairly firm (not very runny), split your egg mixture into two or four (depending how good your flipping skills are) and flip.
Toast your bread.
Remove egg mixture (fully cooked now) from skillet, place on toast, add ketchup/mayo/whatever-your-lil'-heart-desires, and top with other piece of toast.
(Wrap in tin-foil if it's to-go &) enjoy.
Weekend snapshots:
1. Reverse French glitter mani (with OPI's Lincoln Park after Midnight & Sephora by OPI 'It's Bouquet with Me')
2. Dinner @ Wendy's (starting the long weekend off 'right')
3. First wood stove fire of the season
4. Trying oysters for the first time
5. Seafood pizza (lobster, shrimp, scallops & mushrooms)
6. Cottage country
7. Reese's Pieces cookies (and although I didn't eat any, I ate many post-Halloween mini chocolate bars)
8. Mexican omelet (that looks like pizza but isn't)
I made these pumpkin muffins last week and they have been a big hit. They came out kinda wonky looking because they are 'healthy'* and I guess that means they won't be perfect looking, but nonetheless, they're good. The flavour isn't bad, but a regular (fatty) muffin has a ton of sugar to make it sweet and flavourful. You will not get that with this muffin, however, in a rush or pinch, you can down one of these and the guilt doesn't tend to set in like with a normal muffin it would.
Kidding.
Sort of.
* What the heck is 'spelt flour'? No clue, so I used whole wheat (that might explain the deformation?). Also, I couldn't find coconut oil so I used olive (meh).
I made turkey sweet potato chili.
Wow, that was a mouthful.
It was delicious.
I then proceeded to eat it for four days straight.
It was still delicious.
I used ground turkey (duh), for the first time ever, and it was good (but not quite the good stuff kids go for).
Kids would probably go for chocolate and chips...
I've never made cinnamon buns from scratch before this recipe and let. me. tell. you: boy, was it easy. And delicious. And quick (maybe, maybe 25 minutes total). I tweaked it a little and used whole wheat flour (because I'm 'healthy' like that) and then covered them in cream cheese icing (because that's how I roll). Deeelish.
I went raspberry picking in the summer and totally forgot to share these pictures. Ahhh summer, now just a distant memory. Please come back (sooner than later).
Photos taken with my Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS (point & shoot)
Joy the Baker is my favourite food blog. Not only does she whip up amazing desserts, dinners, appetizers, cookies, cakes, breakfasts, soups and more, she's hi-larious. No seriously, she is. And witty, she's so witty she's makin' all the kids want to be just. like. her. I have made several of her concoctions before (my fave ginger cookies are courtesy of her) and this time I took on two recipes at once. At once! Quinoa Cakes (with some stuff in 'em) and a Vegan Broccoli Soup. And hot damn they were good. Seriously, this girl knows what she's talking... er... cookin' about. Don't take my word for it (or my photos, because not only is girl a phenom chef, she takes extraordinary photos too), check her out.
* I modified my recipes a tad just because I didn't have a few ingredients. Here's what I used in lieu:
Sage instead of cumin
Lime juice instead of lemon
No olives
Cilantro instead of parsley
Someone pretty great taught me how to make an omelet... in the microwave! Perfect for a 'gourmet' breakfast at work (beats my bagel); it's quick, it's filling, it's healthy but most important, it's easy.
When my bestie asked me how I was making this omelet, I decided to snap some pictures of the process to share with her, then thought you lovely readers might like to see it too. Will you make this tomorrow morning at work?
1. Grab your ingredients (& be creative). I like broccoli (but substituted spinach & argula this time), grape tomatoes & cheese
2. Crack an egg...
3. ...or four (but only one yolk; keepin' it healthy)
4. Whiskkkk
5. Add your veggies...
6. ...and your chunks of cheese (I just rip the cheese apart) & stir it up
7. Into the microwave for 2 minutes and 22 seconds (just because I like punching only one number, multiple times)
8. And eat.
I love sweet potato. I can't get enough. I bake it, I mash it and now I apparently make it into soup. When I found this recipe, I knew it was love at first sight (hello, did I mention I love sweet potato? It was a no brainer). It was fairly easy to make and enjoyed for many days following the night I made it. Le yum. Get your soup on.
A couple weekends ago my girl friend took me out to Mangia for an awesome birthday dinner. I'd never heard of the place before, let alone been there, and it was a fabulous experience. It wasn't too busy for a Saturday night, but the service, food and decor were awesome. The place is decorated with deep red walls, a dark wood bar area, chic cream chairs and a couple buttery leather booths in cream. The food is Italian and the atmosphere is chic, modern and casual fine dining. We had one of the best seats in the house, right beside the window and had such a great evening. Thanks CB.
Husband and I went on a lil' date the other night to a new place we'd never been to (thanks for the recommendation LM) and loved it. We got dolled up, didn't have a reservation (they don't take 'em between 6pm and 8pm) and were seated pretty quickly despite the restaurant being packed. (I actually think they made a table for us while we waited - how's that for service?). The food was delicious and we had a fantastic time. I pretended it was my 'birthday dinner' since hubs picked up the tab (love that) but still had to be the DD and get us home. Ha.
On the weekend, my good friend took me out for brunch for my birthday. We went to our favourite spot and had an amazing meal (and conversation, of course). She also gifted me with the most fabulous gift (but you'll have to wait and see. Hint). and then we partook in some retail therapy afterward. A truly fantastic birthday celebration. Thanks SS.
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