WIAW: Sweet 'n Spicy Asian Glazed Grilled Drumsticks

Hello again!!! Well, we made it halfway through the week!  Time for What I Ate Wednesday fun :)

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Breakfast: Egg on Toast & Smoothie

For breakfast you know I had to have an EGG!!  I had an over easy egg on wheat toast with a super thick fruit smoothie.  The smoothie contained 1 frozen banana, about 3/4 cup of frozen fruit mixture (that had strawberries and mandarin oranges), a little honey for sweetness and 1 cup (approx.) of almond milk.  I also had coffee on the drive to work.

Snack: Nectarine

For morning snack, I enjoyed a super ripe nectarine.  It's hard for me to transport this type of fruit in my bag because it always gets torn up, so I cut it at home and brought it in a tupperware.  Loving peaches and nectarines lately!

Lunch: Salmon & Asparagus Salad

My boyfriend and I walked the dogs at lunch (it was very hot and humid outside) and then I made us some refreshing salads with leftovers.  I used leftover salmon (made from this Bobby Flay recipe), spring mix, goat cheese crumbles, radish sticks and leftover sauteed asparagus and peas.  Such a good salad!

Because lunch was so healthy and all...we could justify a vanilla cone from McDs!  I never eat at McDonalds--I think it's gross, but the 59 cent vanilla cones are ON POINT!  And I think they are in the 150 calorie range--SCORE!!!

After lunch, my guy and Bizzy came up to the office (nobody was there, so no big deal) and we booked some stuff for our vacation coming up in August!

I loooove having these two visit me at work! :)

Snack: Cream of Wheat

Around 4 p.m., I made an instant cream of wheat packet (maple & brown sugar flavor) and topped it with a few strawberry slices.  It was a pretty satisfying snack!

Dinner: Sweet 'n Spicy Asian Glazed Grilled Drumstick, Rice & Veg

For dinner, I grilled some chicken.
More specifically, I made Skinnytaste's Sweet 'n Spicy Asian Glazed Grilled Drumsticks(<--click for recipe).
These drumsticks were really tasty.  I love grilling!!
While the chicken was on the grill, I threw some rice in the rice cooker and sauteed some veggies.

Soy and Garlic Veggie Saute
serves 4-6

1/2 head of cabbage, chopped
2 heads of broccoli, chopped
1 cup frozen peas
2-4 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
2 cloves garlic
olive oil, for the pan

Coat a large skillet with olive oil and heat to medium.  Once the pan is hot, put the cabbage in to sear for 3 minutes or so, then slide the broccoli in.  Add soy sauce and garlic and saute for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Throw in the peas and cover for about 5-7 minutes or until all veggies are tender.

I could seriously just eat these veggies for a meal--so yum!

After dinner, I had a glass of homemade sangria (<--click for recipe--it's a winner, although I used amaretto instead of elderflower liqueur because I'm not rich lol) and watched Sons of Anarchy.  I just started watching it on Netflix and it's really good so far!

Have a great week!!

Bonus Bizzy Picture!!  I love her face!

What I Ate Wednesday: Southwestern Loaded Sweet Potatoes & Project Lean and Clean

Well, hello there!  Welcome to me talking about food.  Which is basically all the time, but it is in a blog format here ;)
I am still going strong on #projectleanandclean over on Instagram.  I was just telling my guy that as much as it gets to be a pain in the bum to document food for a month, it's really helping me out.  I think I might be inspiring other people to make healthy food that is beautiful, as well.  At least, I hope so.
Here are my eats from yesterday.  So many colors!!!

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Breakfast: Pumpkin Flourless Pancake {Sort Of}

Don't you hate those mornings when pancakes just don't flip right?  Well, in my case it's more of a "flipped it too early" situation.  I tried out this yummy pancake recipe from Shutterbean, and though I did not execute it to its beautiful potential it was still delicious.  Think, pumpkin pie french toast.  That's what it tasted like to me.  And since it broke into pieces I didn't have to cut it!  Lazy win!
Anywho, I had this choppy pumpkin pancake with strawberries and sugar free syrup.  I also had 2 cups of super strong coffee, so I was metaphorically bouncing off the walls.

A.M. Snack: Apple & Rice Cake

For morning snack, I knew my tiny little apple was not going to do the trick, so I smeared some natural peanut butter on a 50 calorie caramel rice cake.  Perfect to hold me over until lunch.

Lunch: Southwestern Loaded Sweet Potato

This is leftover from Monday night's dinner, which was a very quick one.  We had roasted a chicken on Sunday evening, so I stashed the rest of it in the fridge to pick apart later.  Well, maybe I'll just break this down like a recipe for you....

Southwestern Loaded Sweet Potatoes
serves 4

4 medium sweet potatoes

garlic powder, salt & pepper to taste

2 cups of diced cooked chicken (or leftover rotisserie chicken)

1 cup of black beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup of corn, cooked

2-3 cups of fresh spinach

2 tbsp adobo sauce (from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo)

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 cup fat free sour cream

cheese for topping, optional

Microwave your sweet potatoes until fork tender.  I put all 4 of my washed sweet potatoes (with a fork prick in each) in a gallon Ziploc that is open about an inch and microwaved it for maybe 11 minutes.  I just see if I can squeeze the potatoes to see if they're done.

Lay the potatoes out (and smash them open) in 4 bowls (I used 2 tupperware containers for lunch the next day) and sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder.

Make your topping by sauteing the spinach in a skillet until wilted.  Remove the spinach and add the diced chicken in there  Add all seasonings and adobo sauce and cook until warm.  Toss the chicken in a bowl with the other topping ingredients and mix.

Top each potato with about 3/4 cup or so of the mixture and serve with cheese on top, if you desire.

Such a perfect, filling and healthy meal!

For dessert, I had made brownies over the weekend using a brownie mix and pumpkin.  That's it.  No eggs or oil.  It makes for a very fudgelike brownie (just mix brownie mix and pumpkin, spread in an 8x8 pan and bake per the directions on the box).  Just the ticket to quelch any chocolate cravings you might be having.  Also, I topped each piece with a pecan half, also.

Yum!

So, I usually have an afternoon snack, but I didn't feel like peeling the orange I brought.  Seriously lazy!

After work, I took Bizzy the Dog on a quick neighborhood walk until it started sprinkling rain on us.  Then I went and did my boot camp workout thing.  Definitely a tough one!

Dinner: Salmon & Grilled Veggie Couscous

I first tried a grilled veggie couscous after seeing it on Bobby Flay's BBQ Addiction and I much prefer his recipe to this one.  This was still good, don't get me wrong, but the Israli couscous and the Japanese eggplant in the other one are just better.  Click on that one to see the recipe.

I made my couscous with

• grilled zucchini
• grilled yellow squash
• quartered and grilled grape tomatoes
• grilled eggplant
• whole wheat couscous (1 cup)
• salt, garlic powder to taste
• drizzle olive oil
• some dried basil

I also grilled up some salmon that I had marinated in teriyaki sauce and garlic.  It was a pretty good dinner.

Well, that's it for me!

In case you missed it: On Friday I made a pretty yummy veggie enchilada stack thingy!  Check it out!

Have a great day and enjoy the sunshine!

WIAW: Maple Dijon Salmon & Photo Challenges

Good Morning, Friends!  This week is just zooming by...it's already time to do What I Ate Wednesday...can you believe it?!

Well, there's not much going on with me this week.  We are still in the midst of a kitchen remodel (on a budget).  Some day in the near future, I will have some pictures to share with you on that.

Now, get ready for some yummy food stuff!

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Breakfast: Egg Sandwich

I had the best, most filling breakfast of a whole wheat english muffin, 2 egg whites, 1 slice of muenster cheese and strawberry preserves.  It really hit the spot!  Plus 2 cups of coffee!

It's been at least a week since I've made eggs.   I missed them!  I love eggs...from my head down to my legs!

A.M. Snack: Nuts & Berries 

I packed a little mason jar of strawberries & blueberries for snack..accompanied by a handful of salted, roasted almonds.  Yum!

Lunch: Buffalo Chicken Wrap

I've come to the conclusion that I am now totally and forever addicted to buffalo sauce.  I never cared much for it until about 3 months ago.  Now I cannot get enough of that flavor!  The great thing about buffalo sauce is...no calories (some brands have 5-10 calories--check the label)!  It adds lots of flavor with no calories!  Hooray :)
For lunch, I made some Flat-Out wraps with leftover chicken, some mozzarella cheese, buffalo sauce & romaine lettuce.  On the side, leftover roasted veggies (sweet potato, brussels, green beans, asparagus) and veggie straws.

Here's the wrap before it got...wrapped:

I didn't really feel like eating an afternoon snack....so I had a Starbucks refresher drink.  These are pretty tasty & it put some pep in my step.

Speaking of peppy steps, due to a hamstring injury from last week (ouch!!), I decided to sit out of boot camp on this particular day.  My body is just not ready for that impact after pulling a muscle last Thursday.  I went for a long walk with Bizzy and my Mom instead.  It's my Mom's birthday, today, also!!!  I am looking forward to celebrating with her and family tonight.

afternoon shadows

Dinner: Maple Dijon Salmon with Bacon, Rice & Broccoli

For dinner, I knew I was making salmon, but came across this recipe from How Sweet It Is blog & decided to make it. I cooked the salmon in a pan instead of grilling it, but it was super easy & flavorful.
I served the salmon with some steamed, fresh broccoli (sprinkled in Parmesan) and this rice mixture (found in the frozen veggie section of Walmart):

I've been loving frozen rice lately!  Cooks perfectly and is nicely portioned for two people.

Dessert happened, of course.

Froyo in a waffle cone=one happy Renee!

Here's my frozen yogurt of choice at the moment:

That does it for my eats!

In other news:

I posted a healthy & hearty Beefy Taco Veggie Quinoa Bake on Endless Simmer last week.  Here's a picture to entice you to go check out the recipe.  Give me a "like" or a comment over there, if you wanna:

Speaking of pictures, I am now participating in not one, but two photo challenges on Instagram.  Why do I do this to myself? ;) I kid.  I really enjoy taking pictures and feel like doing several pictures a day is going to make that skill stronger and make me more creative.

If you want to join me on the challenges, here's some info:

1) Fat Mum Slim's July Photo-A-Day: You get different photo prompts for each day.  Today is Day 17, but it's never too late to pick up this challenge.

2) A Beautiful Mess's 30 Day Self Portrait Challenge: This one might be more of a challenge, because it's just a picture of me everyday.  Some days I don't necessarily like the look of me-LOL!  But, the point of this challenge is to find alternate ways to think about a "selfie" by exploring composition and angles.  I think it will be a fun way to grow with my pictures.  

Feel free to join me & to follow my Instagram, of course ;)  Chances are, I'll follow you back!

Ok, have a fantastic week, all!

I'll leave you with a picture of Bizzy smooching me...and me smooching the air in front of me apparently!

WIAW: Healthy Mushroom Orzo Risotto

Good Morning!!!
Guys, I'm pretty bummed about losing Google Reader next week.  There's gotta be people out there as dependent on it as I am.  I use it to read over 100 blogs every day.  I have a couple other dashboards in mind, but meh.  Still sad.

***Update--just read this post from Peanut Butter Fingers & imported all my blogs to Bloglovin'!  Eeee!

Ok, onto happier things--It's that time again.  Time to share my food consumption from yesterday.
Try to contain your enthusiasm.
The above picture is my art for this week.  Almost too pretty to eat.  Ha!  Who are we kidding.  Totally didn't even hesitate when eating it.  It tasted as pretty as it looked!
Let's get to it.

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Breakfast: Waffles & Berries

For breakfast I enjoyed 2 Eggo Nutrigrain low fat waffles topped with a smear of peanut butter (Skippy natural super chunk), sliced strawberries and sugar free syrup.

I also had two mugs of coffee in my cute new mug!

A.M. Snack: Pear & Graham 

For snack I had some (more) peanut butter on a half graham cracker and a lovely pear.  Such a great snack!

Lunch: Big Salad 

It was hot as the dickens outside, so we did not walk the dogs like we usually do.  Instead I chopped up some ingredients for a big ole salad.  It was so satisfying and refreshingly light.
In the mix: chopped romaine lettuce, ham and turkey deli slices, leftover broccoli, reduced fat feta cheese, avocado & a dressing of plain Greek yogurt mixed with ranch dressing seasoning.
How pretty is that bowl?  I love it!  It's not mine-just a borrowed bowl that I love.

P.M. Snack: Orange & Tea

Gosh, you know it's a slow, boring day at the office when I take the time to peel an orange.  This was the best orange I've had in a while.  So juicy and delicious.  I had also gotten a tea on the way back from work from the place that takes all my money from me.  Trenta unsweetened black tea wtih 3 Splendas, FTW!

Headed home to change for boot camp.  I made my first Instagram video of Bizzy doing her tricks (sit, lay down, spin).  She was very confused because when she sees the treat she automatically sits, but I wanted to start with her standing up, so I could tell her to sit.  So, she's a little frantic in the vid.  Also, she's full of puppy energy, which can be an overwhelming thing.

Dinner: Bacon Wrapped Salmon, Mushroom Orzo Risotto & Veggies 

Sometimes when I get home from exercise and I have a crazy puppy demanding my attention, I do not feel like cooking.  Such was the case tonight.
Luckily, I was able to throw something together in about 20 minutes.

First I seasoned my salmon & wrapped it in bacon.  My thought process behind this was that it will keep the salmon moist while adding a smoky, bacon-y (it's a word.) flavor.  It worked!

Before I cooked the salmon, I had to get my risotto going.  Here's how I made it:

Healthy Mushroom Orzo Risotto
serves 3-4 (as a side dish)

1-2 tbsp Olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
1 1/2 cups orzo
2 cups chicken broth (approximately)
salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste
2 tbsp goat cheese
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 cup diced & sauteed baby bella mushrooms (or button mushrooms)

Heat enough olive oil to coat a sauce pan. Add onion and cook until onion becomes translucent (about 5 minutes). 

Pour in the orzo and stir to coat. Toast orzo for 2-3 min. Add 1 cup of chicken broth into the sauce pan. Stir occasionally until liquid is absorbed. Add another half cup of broth and repeat. Repeat one more time.  Taste the orzo throughout this process and when it is no longer crunchy, it's about done.

Add in goat cheese, seasoning & Parmesan.  Fold in mushrooms.

About halfway through the risotto, I started the salmon in an oiled grill pan.  Also, I microwaved some fresh broccoli & cauliflower.

My other risotto recipes: butternut squash risotto & healthy brown rice risotto.

For dessert, I ate a serving of these stupid jerks.  You know a serving is only 9 little cookies!  Ludicrous!  But delicious....

Then Bizzy and I watched Chopped.

Sometimes she finds it boring.

Happy Wednesday, all!

WIAW: A Bizzy Day

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Well, hey there, party people.

Hope everyone is having a great week full of sunshine and happiness.

As you can tell, I'm in a peppy mood.  We got a puppy!!!

Nothing more peppy than a puppy.  That's what I always say.

Well, I just now said it for the first time, but I'm going to try and say it more often ;)

Ok, so I'm going to get on to the eats from yesterday, then I'll tell you all about Bizzy the pup!

Breakfast, Part I: Half a Zone Bar

I noshed on the other half of a chocolate Zone bar that I had opened the day before.  Ate this before heading out the door to boot camp, which we did all outside.  It is so refreshing to workout outside, sometimes.  It wouldn't be today, though, because the pollen is off the hook around these parts.

Breakfast, Part II: Salmon Omelet & Bagel

For protein's sake and just for pure yumminess, I made a smoked salmon and mozzarella omelet using a whole egg plus liquid egg whites.  I also enjoyed a product of our latest attempt to make homemade bagels.  We're almost there with the recipe..  Also, I drank 2 giant cups of coffee, because that's how I roll.

A.M. Snack: Shake

I made a shake to take to work on this day.  It contained 1 frozen banana, 3 strawberries, 1/4 cup of cinnamon cereal, 1 tbsp peanut butter, 1 scoop protein powder, 1 cup almond milk.  Delish!

Lunch: Hamburger & Veggies

I had some leftovers for lunch today.  A hamburger patty, some little tomatoes and broccoli.

Then, the afternoon was super busy.  I ate a piece of peanut butter toast at some point and did not snap a pic.  Use your imagination on that one ;)

Dinner: Jason's Deli

Even though I had plenty of groceries to whip something up, we all decided to grab some quick food instead.  I had a salmon sandwich on foccacia and a cup of chicken tortilla soup.  Huh.  That's salmon twice in one day.  Yay for Omega 3's, right?

Ok, on to my news.  Meet Bizzy the Dog.

My boyfriend and I went to the humane society looking for a giant lab mix to call our own.  But this little munchkin stole our hearts.
So, we met her and played with her for like an hour.  Then we said, "We'll take her."  Apparently it does not work that way, though and there is a 24 hour waiting period for adopting dogs, so you can sleep on it.
A good policy, I suppose.  But, some of you might know that I am the world's most impatient person sometimes (not with babies or animals, but just with waiting on stuff).  So, we couldn't pick her up til the following Tuesday, because they were closed Sunday and Monday.  Agh!
We went shopping and got all the dog stuff we could possibly need.  It was like Christmas morning for dogs.

Buuuutt, then I called to confirm we could pick her up and it turned out that she had tested positive for giardia, which is a parasitic thing-a-ma-bob.  So she was on antibiotics for another 7 days.  Finally a week later, we could take her home.
We were excited!!!!

 And there was puppy love!

 And lots of fun times.

Then we went to the vet just to make sure all was well, and she barked her face off at all the other dogs there.  It was not cool :(

Everybody has their flaws, right?

Plus she's probably just freaked about the big life change and all.  We have plans to socialize her to become more comfortable with other dogs.

Plus these stinkers...who are less than thrilled.

But so far, life is good for Bizzy.

 I think she's excited about her new home.

Oh, just a few more pics.

She loves her Uncle DJ!

 And grass.

(her arm was shaved for her spaying surgery bloodwork, but it's already growing back)

*update--I didn't mention any details about Bizzy when I first wrote this post.  She's a 6 month old Daschund/Beagle mix (that is just a guess) who enjoys exploring, all sorts of peoples and naps.

Ok, thanks for indulging me on the puppy pictures!

Hope everyone has a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious day!