Simple Shrimpy Dinner Filed under ( Healthy, Seafood, Vegetables )

Thank you all for your sweet comments on the wedding pictures I posted yesterday! You are all wayyy too wonderful :)

Today was one heck of a busy day. Work was out of control! When the day was over, I coudln't wait to get into the gym. I ran two miles and then took a great 45 minute spin class. I came home to get some more work done and do some laundry/ironing. For dinner, I wanted something simple and delicious. Here is the view via Josh's plate.

Shrimp cooked with a hint of olive oil, lemon juice, and old bay:


TJ's grains:

Pineapple:

Roasted butternut squash:


All together now:

And now its back to work! Hopefully this will mean a shorter day Wednesday ;)

Any exciting events this upcoming week? I have a fancy pancy dinner with Josh's work tomorrow, a cooking glass (gnocchi and risotto) on Wednesday, and my 10k Saturday!

Grilling & Lighter Pasta Filed under ( chicken, grill, Healthy, Italian )

The whirlwind of a week continues! Here are a few pictures from our BBQ din din last night- My plate with tempeh (I enjoyed the taste of the tempeh, but the texture got a little funky when I was getting near the end), grilled squash, peaches, peppers and tomatoes:

Josh’s plate with bbq chicken, grilled peaches and squash:

He also tried the butternut squash bread and gave it a thumbs up! He said it is SUPER dense and moist (again, I think it will be better with applesauce vs. oil).

Work today was busy and I finally got my laptop back (hooray for the IT guys!!). After work, I did the usual dinner prep. I made a pasta mixture loosely based on this recipe with whole wheat spaghetti, asparagus, white beans, walnuts, parmesan cheese, fresh lemon juice and olive oil:

Now, I’m finishing up some house work and then heading out to teach step. We have another wedding (last one this season!!) this weekend but I am hoping to fit in posts between activities. I do apologize if I go a little MIA again. What are your weekend plans?

Vegan Creamy Butternut Squash Soup Filed under ( Healthy, Restaurant Review, Soup, Vegan, Vegetables, vegetarian )

TGIF for sure! Work was a little crazy this week and I am READY for the weekend. How about you? One thing that did make my week a little better? I met my friend Mandi for a working breakfast at my favorite place (Charleston’s Cafe!!) on Thursday. We both enjoyed their fantastic parfaits. I got the blueberry & banana (I know, I’m such a creature of habit):

And Mandi got the apple & craisin parfait:

If you’re ever in the Charleston area and need a brunch friend…I’m always available ;)

The second thing that made my week better? A vegan creamy butternut squash soup! I saw Krista make this soup this week and knew I must have it! Luckily, I had a small butternut squash in the fridge just screaming to be used up. I made a few minor, minor adjustments to her recipe, so feel free to prepare it as below or use Krista’s original version:

Vegan (or not) Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• ¼ cup onion, chopped finely
• 1 clove garlic, chopped finely
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• 1/8 tsp ground red pepper (optional, I like a little heat with my sweets)
• 14 oz cooked butternut squash ( cut in half, remove seeds, bake at 400 until VERY soft~1.5 hours) or you can use a 15-oz can of butternut squash puree

Before:

After:

 

Just the “meat”:

• 1.5 cups vegetable broth
• ½ cup milk, cream or half and half (I used original almond breeze)

  Directions:

• Heat olive oil in a medium size pot. Add onion & garlic and cook until onion is translucent.
• Add spices, butternut squash and broth. Bring to a boil.
• Lower heat to medium low, add milk and let simmer 10-15 minutes.
• Puree with immersion or regular blender.
• Serves 2

 

Fantastic! Thank you Krista! If you don’t read Krista’s blog, you should totally check it out. She is the ultimate super mama!

Weekend plans?? I’m teaching (Step Friday AM, Step & Pump launch Saturday) and Josh’s parents are coming to visit! I cannot wait!!

If you haven’t done so yet, enter my cookie giveaway!!!

Pumpkin, Bean & Veggie Soup Filed under ( Healthy, Vegetables )

I woke up this morning with my usual sleepy Monday morning eyes and knew today would be heavy on the coffee ;). After work, I decided to do a quick run 4 mile run. Since I have to fit in running when I’m not teaching, these last few days have been very running intensive. To ease my aching muscles, I decided to do Polly’s Yoga for Runners again. It was fantastic! Afterwards, I took Franky for a walk and scrubbed up the kitchen floor.

For dinner tonight, I went with a pumpkin soup based on this Libby’s recipe.

Pumpkin, Bean & Veggie Soup (makes 1 big bowl)

Ingredients:
1 tsp olive oil
Desired amount of garlic
½ bell pepper, chopped
¼ teaspoon cumin
1/8 teaspoon thyme
¼ cup of corn
1 tomato, chopped
¼ cup of beans
½ cup pumpkin puree
½ cup vegetable broth
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Greek Yogurt (optional)

Directions:
Heat oil. Add garlic & peppers and cook until soft. Stir in cumin, thyme, corn, tomato, beans, pumpkin, and broth. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and let simmer for 10 minutes. Top with cayenne pepper and a little Greek yogurt, if desired.

This was seriously AMAZING. I can't wait to make it again. I topped it with tons of cayenne pepper for a nice kick. On the side I had an apple to complete my fall themed meal:

Tonight I plan to work on my play lists/tracks for Body Step and Attack and then REST.

Do you have a favorite fall meal?

Easy Dinner Ideas & Vegetarian Brinner Bowl Part II Filed under ( Breakfast, Healthy, Vegetables, vegetarian )

Thank you all for the feedback on your favorite easy & delicious meals.  Some of your brilliant ideas:

• Kelly’s garlic quinoa & basil chicken
• Stir fry (a popular one and I must agree!!)
• Angharad’s spicy turkey chili
• Kylie’s mega veggie dinner salad
• Stephanie’s sweet potato and black bean chili

Last time, I posted about one of my favorite quick & easy vegetarian bowls and here is another:

Ingredients:

• Chopped veggies (tonight I used parsnips, onions and green peppers)
• Eggs (any combination of eggs, egg whites or egg beaters)
• Chili powder
• Shredded cheese (I usually use a part skim Mexican blend)
• Salsa

Directions:

• Spray frying pan with non-stick spray (or alternatively spread with a little butter or oil)
• Add chopped veggies and chili powder and cook until veggies are starting to brown or are almost cooked through
• Add eggs, cook through
• Top with shredded cheese & salsa ( I like to add avocado too but I had none on hand)

Easy breakfast for dinner! I always serve this with a side of fruit and toasted bread, pita or tortilla.

What are your plans for the weekend?  I am teaching Body Step Saturday morning, going to dinner with friends & walking the bridge/going to brunch with Lindsay.  Josh and I also have plans for yard & house work. Enjoy every minute of your weekend!!

Chicken Parm, Marinutta, Dress Help! Filed under ( chicken, Healthy, Italian, Vegetables )

Thank you all for the wonderful feedback and support regarding my goals that I posted yesterday. You are fabulous! After the usual work business, I came home and did a few things around the house and then prepped up our dinners. For Josh, I made my healthier chicken parm and made it into a sammy. On the side he had steamed veggies and an orange (note: since it was going into the fridge, I didn’t put the chicken on the bun to prevent sogginess):





For myself, I was inspired by Heather and Meghann and finally tried Heather’s Marinutta sauce. I cut up some eggplant and roasted it in the oven. I mixed the roasted egg plant with some additional steamed & fresh veggies:



And then I topped the bowl with a combination of marinara sauce, nut butter, and flax. The result…

But before I could enjoy my dinner, I had to run out and teach Body Attack. Class was good, but my participants seemed like they were dragging!! Everyone must have had a busy weekend. When I got back, I finally got to dive into my bowl of veggies. Seriously guys, even YUMMIER than it looks. Heather- you are a genius!!



OK- I need your help. We’re going to wedding number 819023456 this summer and I’m having trouble with what I should wear! Here are three of my choices? Any preference? Thank you in advanced!

Gray:

Brown:

Multi:

Or Option 4- new dress time ;)

poll by twiigs.com

Quick & Easy Vegetarian Bowl Filed under ( Beans, clean eating, group fitness, Healthy, protein, Vegan, Vegetables, vegetarian )

Last nights dinner was a tasty and easy one! I saw Jessie post about her go to Vegan Protein Bowl and it made me crave my own favorite quick & easy vegetarian (or vegan) bowl. I usually make this dish by roasting my vegetables, but I went a slightly different route last night so I could use my new steamer insert that my friend Mandi gave me for my birthday.

 

I chopped up a parsnip and sweet potato…

 

and steamed them up…

 

I mixed the steamed veggies with Bush’s reduced sodium pinto beans…

 

and Success Brown rice. The mixture was topped with salsa. For a little extra yum factor, I usually place shredded cheese on top.

 

Delicious & healthy.

And for workout Wednesday, here is my plan for the week:

• Monday: Ran to warm up, Taught Body Pump
• Tuesday:  Taught Body Attack
• Wednesday:  Ran outside
• Thursday:  Teach 45 minute Step, 45 minute Pump
• Friday: Off
• Saturday:  Teach Body Step
• Sunday:  Walk with Lindsay

What is your favorite healthy meal? Any workout plans for the week?

Happy Birthday to my sister, Kim!!!! (Her birthday was yesterday but I didn’t post!)

(Almost) Wordless Weekend Filed under ( Healthy, product review )

It has been a very relaxing and wonderful weekend :)

Pool time:

Frank time:

 

Mellow Mushroom for the Penn State vs. Alabama game (Penn State did NOT do well but we still had fun):

Piece of a soft pretzel with marinara:

 

Massive Greek salad:

 

Julie’s peanut butter pancakes using Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter Flour:

I saw Janetha eating this hummus and knew I must have it. Deliciousness (thanks Janetha!):

And now its Patriots time ;)

 

Are you having/did you have a nice weekend?

GRILLING!!! Filed under ( Frank, fruit, grill, Healthy, Seafood, Vegetables )

Hope you all had a nice Wednesday. My Wednesday started out as it usually does- a mile and a half run and body pump! A busy work day was followed by taking my car into the shop and a few other errands. When I got back, Josh and I turned on our new Weber for the first time. Frank was super excited...he couldn't even stand still:

For dinner, we cooked up shrimp (marinated in olive oil, garlic, fresh lemon juice and shallots), artichokes tossed in a bit of olive oil and chili powder, my veggie mix (peppers, green beans, onion, white beans tossed in a little olive oil and chili powder), and pineapple:

Love our new baby!

Josh's dinner plate (including a grilled lemon):

And mine (I had another equal sized serving of cantaloupe after this):

FABULOUS dinner! And now we're off to take the Frankster for a walk :)

Do you guys have weekend plans already? I am going to a sort of exercise convention for the Les Mills programs. I am very excited :)

Baseball and Cuban Style Pineapple, Rice & Beans Filed under ( Beans, Healthy, Mexican, Restaurant Review, Turkey, Vegan, vegetarian )

You have to love the shortened work week that follows a three day weekend! My week has been off to a great start (and I hope yours has as well!). Monday started with a six miler outside:

Followed by lots of errands and housework. The day ended with dinner at Taco Boy and a Charleston River Dogs baseball game with Lindsay & Patrick. Taco boy is a funky restaurant with two locations, one in Charleston and one in Folly. We hit up the Charleston location. Check out the cool decor inside:

We shared some chips and salsa (their chips were great- not greasy at all!) and I got the taco salad for dinner. My taco salad was missing a few of the ingredients mentioned on the menu and came with one tiny sliver of avocado. I was a little disappointed. On the flip side, the roasted corn in the salad was delicious:

 

After dinner, we headed out to the baseball game. The weather was perfect and the stadium is beautiful:

  Josh & I:

Me, Lindsay & Patrick (hahaha)

The game was ….slow? I have no idea who even won! We left in the 9th and the score was still 0,0.

 

Today was back to the grind! After the usual work, I did a bit of cleaning and taught Body Attack.

For dinner, I made up Cuban Style Pineapple Rice & Beans (with Turkey for Josh):

Ingredients:

• 1/2 or 1 full 15 oz can Cuban style black beans (or you can use regular black beans and add in some additional spices (cumin & chili powder), onion & garlic)

 

• 8 oz can pineapple (either tidbits or chunks), drained or fresh cut pineapple
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 1 jalapeno, chopped
• 1/2 lb turkey (if using)
• 2 cups cooked brown rice (I used Success)
• 1 tablespoon oil (utilize 1/2 tablespoon if cooking beans only)

Directions:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add turkey and cook through (until no longer pink)
• Lower heat to medium and add black beans, pineapple, salsa and jalapenos. Heat through (~5 minutes)
• Place cooked mixture on top of brown rice
• Enjoy!

Easy dinner! And can be made for vegetarians and meat eaters alike! You can also play around and add some more veggies (peppers and onions would be fantastic!). Serves 2 or 3.

  

Also, on a side note, look at this adorable apron Lindsay gave me for my birthday (love it- thank you girl!):

 

What is your week looking like? Anything exciting to look forward to?