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!)

E: Butternut Squash with Black Beans and Walnuts Filed under ( Beans, Healthy, protein, side dish, Vegan, Vegetables, vegetarian )

Happy Friday! What are your weekend plans? Outside the usual stuff, Josh and I are going up to my parents house for some brunch action. Other than that? Pretty open :)

Yesterday, I shared with you the dessert I will be making for Thanksgiving dinner and today, I am sharing the side dish. Since I am a vegetarian, I decided to make a side dish that packed some protein. When I found this recipe for butternut squash with black beans and walnuts, I knew this would be the one.  I did a test run, to make sure it would turn out as I had hoped. I made a few modifications, but nothing major.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Butternut Squash/Pumpkin peeled and cubed ( I cheated and purchased pre-peeled/cubed and just cut them down a bit)
• 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
• 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1.5 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 hot green pepper, diced
• 1.5  cups cooked black beans ( I used canned)
• 1 Teaspoon chili powder
• 2 cups spinach (I added this in for the test run only but don’t plan to use it on Thanksgiving)
• 3 Tablespoons lightly toasted walnuts
• Fresh lemon juice
• Fresh cilantro for garnish (I did not use this in my test run)

Directions:

Heat oil, caraway seeds and hot pepper in a thick bottomed pan or skillet; when the seeds sizzle, add the ginger, butternut squash/pumpkin cubes. Increase the heat to high and cook the squash/pumpkins tossing them frequently till they are light brown on the sides.

Now add the beans, red chili powder and 1/4 cup of water to the pan with the squash/pumpkin and cover and cook till the squash/pumpkin cubes are fork tender but firm.

Uncover and check to see if done. If there are any remaining water, increase the heat and let the water dry off. This is a dry dish. Add spinach and allow it to wilt. If done, add the walnuts; toss to combine well.

Finish it off with some fresh lemon juice and fresh chopped cilantro/coriander.

Finished product (pre-walnuts, I made this dish ahead and wanted to add the walnuts at the last minute):

 

And now, for the winners of the Jessica Seinfeld cookbook giveaway:

Erica from Fashion Meets Food

and

Lauren from Say What You Need to Say

Send me an email at itzyskitchen at gmail dot com with your address and I will get your cookbooks sent out to you! Congrats!!

Don’t forget to join in the December Blogger Baked Goods Exchange!!!

A Few of My Favorites & Protein Report Filed under ( product review, protein )

How has your week been so far? I hope its coming along nicely! Mine has been very good but busy! First off, I have seen a few bloggers sharing lists of their favorite products and I decided to hop on the bandwagon. Note: I purchased all of these products on my own with the exception of the Flax. I try to stay away from a lot of processed foods, but do have a few new favorites including, Stevia in the Raw (yummy in coffee):

Unsweetened Almond Breeze - both chocolate and vanilla (I use this in my protein shakes and drink on its own, heated with cinnamon!)

Bumble bars (the nutty pack rocks!):

Pizzey's Premium Golden Flax. I won this through a contest on Emily's Blog. I am loving this flax (I use it in my granola, oatmeal, yogurt, etc!):

Last but not least! Josh had a dinner meeting tonight, so I decided to treat myself to Carrabba's Insalata Fiorucci. According to Carrabba's website, this salad contains "Artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers and grilled eggplant in vinaigrette, topped with a hazelnut goat cheese medallion." I got it without the roasted red peppers and added my own raw green pepper. I'm not a big chain restaurant fan, but I love this salad! I also ran into a reader when picking it up- Hi Carrie!! (hope I spelled your name right).

Totally delicious! So there ya have it! What is on your favorites list lately? Any new favorites?

One more quick item, as I noted in previous posts, I'm working on increasing my protein (at least 75 grams per day). My totals for last week:

• Sunday (7th): 76 g
• Monday: 93 g
• Tuesday: 81 g
• Wednesday: 76 g
• Thursday:86 g
• Friday: 79 g
• Saturday: 83 g
• Sunday: 75 g

Wahoo! How are you doing on your goals? Workouts going well this week? I have a pretty heavy teaching schedule again so the extra protein is defintely helping me kick my way through it :) Have a fabulous night

Healthier Superbowl Spread & Raw Protein Bars Filed under ( appetizer, Healthy, protein, Turkey )

Is today a super sleepy Monday or what? I was shocked that I had a full class this morning when I taught my usual 5:45 AM Body Pump! Did you all enjoy your weekends and the super bowl (if you watched)?

Our weekend was great! We had a work dinner for Josh on Friday, taught step Saturday and ran errands, saw Avatar in 3D Saturday night (movie itself was very cool, but didn't like/agree with half of the movies message), taught Body Pump Sunday and then had a few friends over for the super bowl Sunday night.

I also made a batch of Averie's Raw Protein Bars on Sunday. They are amazing!!!!


I tried to make my Super Bowl Spread a little healthier, but still delicious.



I made up this AMAZING sweet and spicy turkey chili (it has pineapple in it and my friends/family gave it rave reviews (I obviously skipped out due to the meat;)):



I served some optional toppings along side the chili, including jalapenos, light sour cream, and 2% milk shredded cheese.

I also made up some fruit and fruit dip (whipped topping + 1 single serving fruit yogurt). It was the hit of the party:


I also laid out some pita chips, tortilla chips and veggies with salsa and Broccoli Hut's awesome artichoke hummus:

and Rhodey Girl's Zaatar Bread with marinara sauce (also a huge hit):


For dessert, big oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, dark chocolate pieces, and black bean brownies (which were just ok):
Our wonderful friends Bryan and Mandi also brought over some sausage balls that everyone loved.

How is your week looking? Any fun workouts planned? I have another busy teaching schedule this week (since a few of our instructors are out of commission):

• Monday: Ran to warm up and taught Body Pump
• Tuesday: Teach Body Attack
• Wednesday: Quick run to warm up, Teach Body Pump
• Thursday: Teach 45 minute Body Step, 45 minute Body Pump
• Friday: Teach Body Pump
• Saturday: Teach Body Step & Pump

Phew! I will be increasing my protein and eats to make sure I'm energized! Speaking of protein, as I mentioned last week, I am working on increasing my protein intake. My goal is to hit 75 grams per day. Here is how I did last week (these are approximations):

• Monday: 67 grams
• Tuesday: 86 grams
• Wednesday: 70 grams
• Thursday: 86 grams
• Friday: 66 grams
• Saturday: 72 grams
• Sunday:76 grams

I'm getting there!! Hope you have a fabulous week!! I will be posting my Blogger Secret Valentine's day package later this week.