Baked Sweet Potato Chips...and Nachos

Have you heard of "First World Problems?"  It's basically complaining about stuff that shouldn't matter in the long run.  Like, people have much bigger worries in the world.

But, I gotta say...I've had a couple first world complaints this week.

My shower curtain rod keeps falling down, so every morning I have to put it back up.

My free Pandora radio station plays a 30 second commercial every two songs.

Someone tagged me in an unflattering Facebook photo.

And, the worst of all...

I love nachos, but they make me chunky...aaaand I can't stop eating them!

As an alternative to nachos, I baked some sweet potato chips.  So now my nacho toppings are on vegetables.  Can't go wrong with that!

Solving my first world problems, one sweet potato chip at a time!

Baked Sweet Potato Chips 
makes an undetermined amount of chips

A bunch of sweet potatoes.  I think I used 7 small ones...they were really small, though.
Cooking spray oil
Salt

Using a mandolin slicer (or some sort of slicer where you get even cuts), slice the sweet potatoes very thinly. Pile all the slices in a bowl of water for about 15-20 minutes.  Pat them dry.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Spray some baking sheets with oil and spread the slices in one layer on the pan.  Spray them with oil and salt them.  Bake for 7 minutes, then take them out and flip them and bake for another 3 minutes or so.
This is kind of a trial and error practice.  Not every chip will turn out perfectly crispy and some might get overdone. It's cool.  Just breathe...

Keep Calm & Make Nachos.

To make the nachos, raid your fridge and pile stuff on the sweet potato chips.

I used:

• leftover bbq meat
• black beans
• corn
• salsa
• fresh avocado
• shredded white cheese
• crumbled goat cheese
• sour cream
• cilantro

Pile everything on the nachos, except the sour cream and cilantro and microwave for 30 seconds, or until cheese is melty.

Try to just eat one.  I dare you.

Nacho idea from Kadee-Cat.

WIAW: Grilled Philly-ish Chicken

Well, hello and Happy Wednesday!  It's that time again for me to share my food stuff.  I realize I'm severely lacking in creativity lately, but I think it's the weather.
Hot weather makes me want grilled stuff.  So forgive me if my dinners look exactly the same for the next 3-4 months ;)

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Breakfast: Waffles & Fruit

You know how you eat with your eyes and all that jazz?  I think that is particularly true when you have a fruity flower formation on your Nutrigrain low fat waffles.  Eating breakfast was even more joyful than usual ;)  Coffee (with way too much creamer?) X 2 on the side.

 Snack: Cherries

Hello, my name is Renee and I'm addicted to cherries.  It's becoming a problem.  These ranier cherries were 5 bucks this week.  I need to quit spending a chunk of my grocery budget on these little gems of happiness.

Anyways, ate half of this container around 10:30 and forced myself to stop ;)

Right before lunch time I had another snack...

 Another Snack: Protein Bar

I knew lunch was going to be late today, because my guy (and the pups) and I had decided we were going to walk the whole lake (pictured above), which basically takes the whole lunch hour.  I like this new Fiber One bar.  It almost tastes like a Little Debbie Star Crunch, which is like my favorite LD treat!  It's obviously much healthier for you, though.

Lunch: Taco-ish Salad

I got back to the office and assembled my salad.  In the mix, chopped romaine lettuce, shredded cheese, leftover BBQ meat, black beans, corn, salsa, avocado, sour cream and cilantro.
Um, yum.  That's all I gotta say.

Some people pack their salads all together, but I like to assemble it right before eating.  Here's how I pack mine.

Snack: Nectarine

Before heading to my boot camp workout, I noshed on a nectarine.  So tasty!
BTW, I was texting my mom the other day (because I'm cool, alright?) and she said something and I said, "Yay!" or I tried to say it, and my phone changed it to "Tasty!"  Weird, right?

Randomness.

Ok, so boot camp was tough.  Can only move my fingers to type right now because I have obtained what is known in professional circles as the "spaghetti arms."  I'm working through it.

Dinner: Grilled Philly Chicken & Veggies

My boyfriend is off work this week (he works at night) and it was so awesome grilling dinner with him!  He makes a killer grilled chicken.
So, I topped the grilled chicken with sauteed green peppers & onions and a slice of provolone cheese to make it "Philly-ish."  He charred some corn on the grill as well, while I made asparagus in the grill pan (it was too skinny for the grill).  At the last minute, I microwaved some little golden potatoes, then cut them in half and seared them in the pan I had sauteed the peppers/onions in.  Best decision ever.  I realize it looks like alot of potatoes on above pictured plate, but it's probably the size of a small fist, just cut in half.

You know I had some froyo for dessert!

A scoop of my favorite cookies and cream topped with (probably unnecessary?) chocolate sprinkles.

Here's my brand:

Well, have a great week everyone.  Here's a picture of Bizzy the dog with sunglasses on, to bring some sunshine to your day!

Fruity Pebbles Sugar Cookies

Rainy Saturdays are perfect for cookie making.

It's a fact.

Another fact is that just because there is cereal in a cookie, it does not make it breakfast.  I'm talking to you, Mom ;)

Thought I'd share this lovely recipe that my 7 year old nephew and I came up with on Saturday.  So super easy and delicious.  It would be a perfect recipe to keep your little ones occupied on their Summer break!

These cookies are chewy, sweet, and fruity, with a lovely crunch from the cereal.

Make them!!!

Fruity Pebbles Sugar Cookies 
Made about 2 dozen regular sized cookies & one giant cookie (see below)

1 1/2 sticks butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg, 1 egg white
1 tbsp vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup Fruity Pebbles cereal (or you could use any cereal, really)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Cream butter and sugars together, add egg & vanilla. Dump in flour, salt, baking powder & baking soda. Stir until combined. Fold in the Fruity Pebbles.  Scoop out golf ball sized balls using spoon or cookie scoop and put your cookies on greased or lined cookie sheet (I used parchment paper) Bake at 375 degrees for 12-13 minutes.
*the big cookie baked for 18 minutes.

Here's the big cookie.  It was delicious!  We smashed some more fruity pebbles in the top of the dough before baking.

Big cookie lovvvveeeee!!  Can you tell the sun came out for this picture?

Have a Happy Monday, all!  See you for WIAW ;)

WIAW: Currently

Good Morning, World!

Hope everyone is fine on this beautiful Wednesday morning :)

I'm doing good and had a fabulous 3-day weekend.

Before I show you all my food from yesterday, I thought I'd catch everyone on my life up with a "currently" survey (as seen on Carrots N' Cake blog).

Ready?

Let's go!

Current Book

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Ok, so I've been banned from the library.  I got a notice a while back saying I still had this cookbook checked out, but the thing is...I don't have it.  I'm pretty sure I checked it back in.  Buuuut, my procrastination has really bit me in the rear, because months and months have gone by and I haven't followed up on in :(  So, I'm sad about it.

What's funny is that I have always been an avid reader, but over the last year, it's really been tapering off and I've been sloooowwwwlllyy making my way through my Mom's copy of Water for Elephants.  I like it.  I just have not been in a reading mood.  Maybe that will change during lazy summer days by the pool?  We'll see.

Current Music

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Yes, that's Incubus.  Yes, I'm stuck in a time warp where I basically only listen to 90s and early 2000s music on Pandora.  But I truly love my Incubus Pandora station.  It soothes me.

Current Nail Color

I cannot keep polish on my fingernails.  Maybe because I wash my hands alot?  Well, my current toenail color is mint green with glitter.  Flip flop DIY here.

Current Drink

Coffeeeeee!!!  Always coffee.

Well, really that's my morning drink.  I drink mostly water otherwise.  Although I love diet gingerale, as well.

Current Food

Cherries are in season!  So they are in mah belly almost every day.

Also, fun fact for you mommas of fur babies.  Cherry pits are poisonous to dogs.  Not a fun fact at all, really.  But Bizzy got a hold of some cherries that she sneakily stole from my lunch bag last week.  She actually just nibbled the flesh and did NOT eat the seed, so we were very lucky indeed.  But, watch your pups, peeps.

Current Favorite Show

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I think I've seen every aired episode of Chopped.  I cannot get enough!  Love it!  So glad they are still making new episodes!

Speaking of new episodes, I just finished the season finale of Smash and it was awesome....but found out it's been cancelled.  It's so sad!  Any other Smash fans out there?

Current Wish List/Current Needs

I wish I had & currently neeeeeeeddd this ice cream machine!  It has got to happen.

Current Indulgence

I made a s'mores bar this weekend.  Nuff said.

Current Blessing

I don't want to get too sentimental, but this guy makes me so happy and I am very very blessed to know him.  Best boyfriend ever.

Current Outfit

Currently, I'm actually at work, so I'm not wearing cut off shorts, but everyday when I hit the door, it's cut off shorts for this girl!  See, I'm in a time warp.  Cut off shorts & Incubus? Perfection.

Current Excitement

Ducks in the pool!  Always guaranteed to make me smile :)

This is Miles and Maisy Duck and they come around randomly every year.

Those holes in the concrete are for the stairs...guess I forgot to put them out...

Ok, ready for some food stuff?

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Breakfast: PB Toast & Berries

I used to think bananas were the best fruit with peanut butter, but lately it's been strawberries that take the cake.  Mmmm, cake...
Anyways, had a high fiber, whole wheat slice of toast with crunchy natural peanut butter and strawberry slices for breakfast.  Coffee X 2 on the side.
Yum!

Morning Snack: Grapes

For a.m. snack, I squelched my hunger with some big ole grapes.  Such a sensible and delicious snack.

Lunch: Turkey Burger

For Memorial Day we made a million turkey burgers (not really) and have lots of leftovers.  So I had a leftover turkey burger (bun-less) with provolone and avocado.  Hummus and veggies on the side.  I put cherries on my plate, but I was too stuffed to eat them, so I saved them for later.
Somehow my dessert stomach still needed some food:

Afternoon Snack: Wasa, Cherries

I ate my lunch cherries with a Swiss cheese smeared Wasa cracker before heading to p.m. boot camp.

It was a doozy.

Dinner: Grilled Asparagus & Mushroom Omelet

My original plan for dinner was a frittata, but since the oven is out of commission (read: needs to be cleaned), I made a grilled veggie omelet.  I grilled some asparagus and mushrooms in my grill pan, then started cooking 2 eggs mixed with one egg white.  After the egg had cooked for a minute, I added the veggies and some reduced fat feta cheese and carefully folded over the eggs.  Extra asparagus and a slice of wheat toast on the side.
Such a perfectly satisfying meal.
A microwave s'more happened, as well.
Sooo messy.  Sooo worth it.

Wow, this post was long.  Thanks for soldiering on and reading the whole thing.  Here's a picture of Bizzy the Dog to make it all worth your while:

napping in the grass

Have a great rest of the week!!!

WIAW: So Much Health

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Wowwww, Wednesday sure did roll around quickly this week.  Seems like I was just jazzing up chicken..but that was a whole week ago!

Well, Tuesday was a decent day.  I shall chronicle it all here for you right now.

Breakfast: Loaded Cereal Bowl

I went to Aldi this week.  Aldi is amazing.  So many great finds!  I got some off brand cereals as shown above.  One is very similar to Multigrain Cheerios and the other very much like Kashi Go Lean Crunch.  So I added a half cup of each in my bowl and topped it all with strawberries, bananas and frozen blueberries.  Half a cup of almond milk brought it all together.  Such a satisfying breakfast!  Coffee X 2 happened, as well.
Oh, fun/random fact.  I just found out that I am not the only one in the family who mixes cereals.  Apparently my Nana passed that down to my mom, aunts, me and my cousins.  Crazy that I didn't invent it, like I thought in my head!

Snack: Cherries!

Fresh cherries? Be still, my heart!  I found these bad boys at Aldi as well and didn't break the bank buying them ;)  I actually only ate about 2/3 of this bowl of cherries.  They were filling and delicious.

Lunch: Southwestern Chicken Chopped Salad

Lunch was a crazy good salad containing: chopped lettuce, grilled peppers, black beans & corn, pico de gallo, avocado, leftover chopped bbq chicken, sour cream, cilantro.
Here it is all mixed up, so you can see everything:

You know I need something sweet after my lunch, so this Fiber One brownie should come as no surprise to you. 

Another non-surprise--Iced Coffee!!!

It's about that time of year when I need to brew a giant jug of iced coffee and put in the fridge..so I can stop spending money at Starbucks...amIright?

Snack: Wasas & Cheese, Applesauce

Oh, look.  An Aldi copycat of my beloved Laughing Cow Swiss cheese wedge!  It actually is NOT as tasty, but is bigger and 10 less calories...so it's a toss up.  Around 4 p.m. I smeared these light rye Wasa crackers with the cheese to fuel me for my evening boot camp.
I also ate a teeny applesauce for some sweetness.

Dinner: Bunless Burger & Veggies 

It would be entirely accurate for me to tell you that this is what my dinners have looked like for at least 2 weeks now (in fact, this is the 2nd night in a row I had this exact meal).  It's like summer on a plate!
I made some burgers with 90% lean sirloin, topped them with reduced fat cheddar and pickles.  A little microwaved sweet potato and summer veggie mix on the side.  Yum yum!

For dessert, I put a small amount (small, for me, that is) of Ben & Jerry's frozen Greek yogurt in a sugar cone.  Topped with chocolate sprinkles for crunch.

Here's the actual fro yo I used.

I bought it because I was curious, but probably would never buy it again.  It has a real artificial banana taste. Think banana Laffy Taffy.  The peanut butter swirls are good, though.  All in all, if a froyo has been sitting untouched in my freezer for over a week, it was not my favorite ;)

Anyways, that's it for today.  I felt good about my fruit/veggie consumption and less carbs.  Getting ready for summer, y'all!!!

Don't forget to check my May photo-a-day on Instagram.  My heart was heavy yesterday about the OKC tornado devastation, so I skipped the prompt "I really care about this.."  I just didn't know how to take a picture of everything that encompasses: life, relationships, safety, health, etc.  It was overwhelming.  So, I skipped day 21.  

Back on track today!

Have a great week!