Sunday Prep Day

GUYS.

I did it.

I finally did it.

This is just a week of firsts.

I've always known the best way to prepare for a week of healthy eating would be to do a Sunday Prep Day. Cooking and meal planning, those are the building blocks of weight loss success. But they take time, and effort, and I hate having to put in time, and effort.

BUT TODAY.

Oh, today.

I woke up later than usual, so it's not like I just had ample amounts of extra time or anything. I said bye to the boy, and contemplated the groceries I bought yesterday eve. I thought about having a basic, easy breakfast.

And decided to make me a recipe instead.

This recipe, to be exact.

Meat crust quiche? Oh, hell yeah. The crust. Is meat.

It. Was. BOMB.

And while it was baking, I turned the rest of the dozen eggs I bought into hard boiled ones. And now I am set for snacks, and meals, for the week!

LOOK AT ME GO.

After yoga tonight, I might get really wild and cook up a batch of ground turkey for stuffed sweet potatoes, then I'd even have VARIETY. Who knows?

Soup's On

My crock pot experiment turned out...okay.

It was edible. Not the most delicious thing I've ever eaten, but certainly not the worst. Didn't exactly look like the picture on the website, but my attempts at cooking rarely do. 

But hey! I now have many servings of soup to last me through the weekend, and I successfully used my crock pot. 

Go.

Me. 

Day 4/30: Fuel For My Fire

Today is shaping up to be a fantastic day, food-wise. I was worried when I woke up this morning that cravings would get to me today, as last night I dreamt of dessert, but I am heading them off!

First: Goal #1? Check. I woke up early enough this morning to make a crock pot meal! CHECK ME OUT!

I put together this creamy chicken tomato soup, made with coconut milk. Who would have thought? I'm so very excited to try it. It takes nine hours to cook, so it will be ready to eat tonight right when I get home from work. I hope it's tasty!

After I made dinner in the morning, I went to Jamba Juice and got me a fruits and veggies smoothie. I heart smoothies. My cup was super inspirational.

For lunch I have leftovers from yesterday's Work Wednesday Lunch, healthy salad and deli meat from Bay Cities Deli. Omnomnom.

I am on FIRE today!

Dinner Party For Four

Last night, I had a friend and her boyfriend (who I'd say I could now call a friend on his own) over for a home-cooked meal and some catching up.

But that was really just a pretense. 

First things first. Nicknames. 

This friend was my Facebook wife for five years, so I could call her The Wife, but that seems so unoriginal, and untrue, since she dumped me last summer for this boyfriend of hers. TEARS. Ex-Wife? She did live abroad in Spain for three years, so that's a wealth of inspiration there...Besos. Yes, I shall call her Besos.

As for the boyfriend, he is the one who made us the delicious and authentic Puerto Rican sangria, so the Puerto Rican seems reasonable. PR.

So anyway, I invited Besos and the PR over for dinner, but really, Bentley invited them over. He put on his bow-tie and everything. See, he is quite sick of this whole "celibacy" thing I'm doing and goddamnit HE WANTED A MAN TO SNUGGLE.

And snuggle he did.

Plus, Besos was always his most favorite of my friends in high school in college, in fact there was one inebriated night during which she claims they "exchanged souls", so overall, Tree had just about the best night of his life.

I made my standard guest fare, parmesan crusted chicken with balsamic roasted veggie and feta salad with another batch of the brie and apple crescent rolls. I tried a few with poppyseeds, which were pretty delicious too! I also substituted agave, as my Besos is not a fan of honey. Still tasty but I prefer the honey.

Food, wine, friends, so much cat hair everywhere it was ridiculous---definitely a successful evening.

A Bromantic Date Night

I bought this DVD pack at Target a few weeks ago on sale.

It inspired tonight's night in with my Biff. I definitely knew I wouldn't be in the mood to go out for a third weekend in a row (two is really my max in a one month span, old lady that I am), and of course she was happy to join me for a healthy meal and some puppy snuggles.

Our version of a Bro Date.

I made one of my mama's new best recipes, a strawberry feta salad with poppyseed dressing, added chicken, plus brie and apple crescent rolls!

The rolls were delicious. I'm a pretty remedial cook, as we all know, but I managed not to screw them up. I used low-fat brie, so the cheese wasn't as melty and they weren't as messy, which worked out really well. The salad, of course, was not as tasty as when my mom makes it, but I did alright!

Also, there was wine.

We watched "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "40 Year Old Virgin", watched the pups play, and had our usual gossip sessions and bonding.

Good times. Good bro times.

I'm sure bros eat strawberry salad all the time, right?

Shrimp Nuggets

This week I decided I was going to try the Healthy Baked Chicken Nuggets from Skinny Taste. I am a big fan of the nugget, and when I looked at the recipe I was shocked to find I already had all the ingredients in my kitchen! That has never happened in my whole life! I felt so very domestic and adult.

I moved chicken from my freezer to my fridge on Tuesday to defrost, but when I took it out last night to start cooking, I noticed the date. January 20th.

And I know quite well that I did not buy the chicken this January. Which means that chicken had been languishing in my freezer for over a year. And my parents vetoed me eating it.

Because I am a problem solver, and far too lazy to you know, leave my house and go to the store and buy fresh chicken, I used shrimp instead.

And it was delicious. Plus, a point less per serving!

I'm a winner. Just not of a chicken dinner.

My Valentine's Spirit

So, in case today's onslaught of motherfuckin' LOVE has not made it 100% clear to you, I have decided from this moment on to thoroughly and wholeheartedly embrace the trappings of Valentine's Day without bitterness. It's a holiday designed around my most favorite things. Resistance is futile. I have the spirit.

Thus, when I woke up this morning at 6:30 AM to go to yoga, I dressed head to toe in pink. And post shower, faced with a closet full of options, I again went for the pink. And leopard print heart shaped earrings.

I am nothing if not a cliché.

I blow you sexy, sexy kisses.

Overall, today was full of Valentine's traditions and a lot of self lovin', and it was quite a success.

I picked up chocolate covered strawberries for work as an afternoon treat, of which I devoured three.

After work, I made a romantic dinner for myself, Emily Bites' deep dish pizza casserole with a few modifications. I've made it before so I was comfortable messing with her wisdom, and it was delicious. I used a whole wheat pizza crust and a 6 Italian cheese blend, so it was 10 points per piece instead of 9, but worth the extra for sure.

Entertainment wise, I decided to just go full on cliché. Why not? Thus, after finishing an episode of SVU ('cause what's more romantic than a woman poisoning her adopted daughter with detergent), I'm watching The Notebook.

I'm also giving myself a pedicure. Oooooh yeah.

I really know what  romance is.

Tale of a Kitchen Fail

I couldn't wait until dinner time.

I made dinner for lunch!

But alas, my domestic goddess status is in danger.

Things to note:

*When the recipe calls for raw shrimp, they probably don't mean frozen shrimp.
*And I think I bought the wrong potatoes too.
*So I left it in the oven longer than necessary.
*Possibly too long.

I tried a recipe from The I <3 Trader Joe's Cookbook that I got for Christmas: Roasted Potatoes, Shrimp and Pancetta. The flavors were kind of off, which could be because of all of the things listed above, and maybe the kind of wine I used (cheap, not tasty for drinking...), but I liked the idea.

And it was still pretty good.

Weekend Wrap-Up

I am so sorry for my absence these last few days. I know. You missed me awfully terribly much. I'm sorry. I missed you too. But I was off busy being a person in the world, which just happens so rarely, I had to take advantage of it.

As penance, I have so many words and pictures for you. So many.

I had a fantastic Thanksgiving, of course! Food, family, wine...what is there to complain about? I picked up pies (pecan and rhubarb) from Marie Callender's on my way from LA, and got to Santa Barbara around noon or so. Traffic was surprisingly easy, I think the holiday gods were on my side. My sister greeted me with delicious orange-cranberry mimosas, as any good sister would, then I helped my mom in the kitchen most of the afternoon. If by "helped" you mean "provided moral support and jokes while occasionally fetching something or stirring", though I did contribute by making Emily Bites' goat cheese mashed sweet potatoes. Delicious, as was the rest of our meal! Mostly I stuffed myself with stuffing, as you do. Badumdumchhh...?

We dawdled over our dinners, then decided against a movie---as food comas were certainly imminent. I come from a family of gamers...if by gamers, you mean "people who love to play card and word games and not video ones". We played Pitch and Thirteen after dinner, got a little rowdy, laughed nonstop, and poked fun at my father's frustration over losing. And I quote:

Dad: "If you hadn't played that card, I would have won!"

Sis: "If no one else had been playing, you would have won!"

Maybe you had to be there? I promise you, hilarious.

The sister left on Friday morning to head back to San Francisco, and my day was spent helping my mom decorate the house for Christmas. She goes all out with her decorations, but not in the tacky, overly thematic tradition of most Xmas decorating. There are no inflatable Santas or nativity scenes, I promise you. She has so many gorgeous holiday or winter-y things, and it was fun to find places for them all over the house....though also, a lot more work than expected! We didn't even finish half the house. We had scrumptious leftovers for dinner then decorated our (faux) Christmas tree. One of my favorite parts of the holiday season, I love looking at all the ornaments we've collected over the years and reminiscing over the where and the when and the what.Then my mom and I played Banangrams, which is a thoroughly entertaining, Scrabble-like game. I dominate. Words and I, we are very good friends...clearly.

Saturday, there was more decorating, and Mama and I went to lunch at our very favorite Mexican restaurant in Santa Barbara, Los Agaves. I love that place for two reasons: 1) Amazing food. 2) The owner is hot as hell and I like to objectify him. Then the parents and I went to see "Silver Linings Playbook" starring my girl crush/future BFF Jennifer Lawrence. It was a really wonderful movie, and I highly recommend it. Every element was stellar---writing, directing, acting. Yeah, who knew Bradley Cooper could act? I certainly didn't. It was bittersweet and sad but hilarious and heartwarming, and I want to see it again. After the movie my mom had an errand to run, and I got distracted by a shiny new store at Paseo Nuevo downtown. And everything was on sale. So I bought shit. We then went to dinner at The Brewhouse, another one of my favorite Santa Barbara spots. My mom and I did some late night decorating when we got home, then I went over to my BFF's (not Jennifer Lawrence, the real one) for a brief gossip sesh and puppy snuggle. She has a new man, so of course I wanted to hear all about that, and I had some vents to get out. Lucky me, she lives about a 3 minute drive from my parents' place! It would be extraordinarily convenient if I were to move back to SB. Food for thought.

Today began with Sunday pancakes, in the long-standing tradition of my family. Apple-pumpkin ones, made by my mama and absolutely nomtastic. (Yes, food was a big theme this weekend.) Then I had a daddy-daughter date to see "Skyfall", which was full of explosions and sexy Daniel Craig musclature and good times espionage. Enjoyable popcorn flick. And yes, I ate some popcorn, and it was GOOD. Then I just had to return to the store I discovered last night, to try on a dress I'd eyed in the window. Didn't end up buying that one, but did find a few more things...funny, just last week I was saying I wasn't going to buy myself anything until Christmas. Clearly I have problems.

Anyways, today is my parents' 34th anniversary, and I told them I wanted to make dinner for them. I tried my first recipe from Skinny Taste, chicken rollatini with prociutto and cheese, which was absolutely amazing and a big hit with all of us. I also modified one of her salad recipes, substituting baby greens for arugula and gorgonzola for bleu. Awesome! I was really happy with how dinner turned out, and I have the itch to do a little more experimental cooking. We'll see how long that lasts. I convinced the happy couple to watch "Liz & Dick" with me on Lifetime, sure it would be the most amazingly horrifying catastrophe in the history of cinema. It absolutely was, but my parents couldn't appreciate the tragic comedy, and gave up twenty minutes in. Sadness. It really was a wonderfully cheesetastic explosion of bad. You should watch it, as long as you can find the fun in it and not allow yourself to become enraged at the bastardization of Elizabeth Taylor's legacy.

I really should have driven back to LA tonight, but I would rather drink some more wine and lounge about, so that's what I shall do. I hope the sheer quantity of words I've offered you here makes up for my cruel, cruel abandonment of you. Or, you know, not?

G'night, world. 

Sausage and Pumpkin Pasta

I have raved on this blog before about the culinary delights on Emily Bites. Basically, anything you attempt to make from her site will be an amazing joy explosion in your mouth, and she is a beautiful, kind-hearted creature whose brain I would not mind stealing. Or borrowing. Permanently.

Anywho.

Now that fall is finally upon us, it's time to start eating everything and anything pumpkin flavored. Last night I whipped a batch of her sausage and pumpkin pasta, which has been touted as one of her very best concoctions.

I do declare, it was pretty damn tasty.

Only took one terrible picture before it all went IN MY MOUTH.

I did expect it to taste more pumpkiny, but it was definitely delicious and flavorful. Also VERY filling. I used the recommended brand of turkey sausage and it was super tasty...and by the way, removing sausage from a casing feels a bit like playing with a condom. Or a flaccid penis. Not that I've ever done that...

And now you're ravenous, aren't you?

Magical Couscous Delight

I have not been cooking much.

Cooking is hard. And it makes a mess of my kitchen.

A few weeks ago, I made Emily Bites' Cheesy Chicken Cups, which were pretty tasty but not a repeat. Totally forgot to take pictures. And I made her Taco Wrap Deluxes again. Yummmm. Then there was my Dark Period of not eating good at all...let's forget about that. Since then, I've been subsisting on salads and Lean Cuisines, needing the structure and regularity of easy meals.

But today, I decided to branch out.

And I made a recipe.

And it was FUCKING DELICIOUS.

Emily Bites, of course. We love her. Couscous with prosciutto, asparagus and mushrooms...aka, three of my very favorite things. I definitely recommend this recipe. Flavorful, decadent, and good for you!

Spinach, Mushroom and Sausage Quiche

Y'all, I cooked.

Spinach, Mushroom and Sausage Quiche

From Trader Joe's Recipes

Modifications: 

• Sweet Basil and Pesto Sausage
• 5 whole eggs

WW Point Total: 4pts for one piece, 7pts for two.

Notes:

I took it out too early, despite calling and getting advice from my ever-so-wise mother about what to do when it started to brown on top. I should have just put a little foil over it so the crust could finish cooking, but it smelled amazing and I was hungry. And I am not known for patience. Aside from the slightly soft crust, it was totally delicious, and easy to make. The polenta was really flavorful and filling. I'm going to try it again next week with a different kind of sausage, and a full 45-50 minutes in the oven. 

Blue Moon Cupcakes

 My attempt at beer cupcakes wasn't exactly a failure, as they were delicious, but they didn't taste very beer-y. Perhaps I will try a stronger flavored beer next time. Or more of it.

But look! So pretty.

I took the remainders into work, and they were a hit! Yay me and my sexy domestic skills.

May Challenge Update

I've been slacking on my May challenges.

I'm just about right on track with my calorie burn, 5585/8000 with plenty of classes on my calendar for the rest of the month. I plan to go either tonight or tomorrow, or both if I'm fancy, and I plan to kick it into high gear starting Wednesday. Four weeks until Spaaaaain! I don't think I'll be bikini ready, but I'll at least look great in a one-piece.

I haven't been taking my computer home every night, good for me, but I have not been able to resist the pull of my Roku box and endless episodes of the wonderfully terrible "Make It Or Break It". I haven't even cracked a book.

I am NOT using my time at work constructively. I am KIND OF sticking to my budget. And as far as cooking, I've been so lazy. I didn't buy any groceries whatsoever the first half of the month, which means I've already blown through my eating out monies...sigh. Luckily I've still been totally on plan as far as my food choices, but I definitely need to get back into the kitchen.

You know, once I clean it.

I've made a few meals at home, though, and have discovered my absolute new favorite meal.

SHRIMP TACOS.

La Tortilla Factory low carb/high fiber wraps, shrimp,
salsa con queso, greek yogurt, lettuce. 7 pts.

I have also been super fancy and have been making my college diet staple --- known to me as "toad in the hole" but apparently goes by numerous names.

TJ's High Fiber Bread, eggs, cheddar cheese, ketchup. 9 pts.

You're so jealous, I know. I plan to drag my butt to the store later this week and get the ingredients for some Emily Bites cupcake meals. Then I might branch out and even try a recipe from SkinnyTaste. That's some big game I'm talking. We'll see how it goes.

Rehab for the Domestically Disinclined

Y'all, I'm turning into one hell of a kitchen queen. No lie.

I've never been much of a cook. You give me a box of brownie mix with three step instructions and I will inevitably miss a step, spill all over myself, and forget to pre-heat the oven. When I do finally slide my delicious treats into it, I'm so goshdarn proud, I pour myself a glass of wine in celebration and forget about them until they end up a charred brick of broken chocolate dreams.

It's a little pathetic.

Since I started living alone, I've mostly subsisted on Trader Joe's delights, scrambled eggs, frozen dinners and take-out---not exactly the diet of champions. Overall, cooking has always been annoying, stressful, and time consuming. Why make something myself if I can go out and BUY it? My quest to eat healthier started in January, and I upped my game (Oooh stir-frys! Oooh salads!), but I was starting to get really bored.

So, I tried a recipe. Emily Bites Lasagna "Cupcakes", to be exact. And they were amaaazing. And tasted like real grown-up food, who woulda thought? Then I tried her Cheesy Taco Pasta. Indulgent and incredible. Then, for a week straight, I ate a Taco Wrap Deluxe every single day. Hello, guilt-free Taco Bell? I AM ALL OVER IT.

I had a little baby epiphany---if I follow recipes and you know, pay attention, I can make delicious healthy things for CHEAP?! Simple math that has eluded me for years.

Today, I feasted on her Banana Pancake Bites, which were so damn good I ate every single one over the course of the day. (Yeah, I still have moderation issues.) This week I also tried her Zucchini Squares, which, zomg, soooo good for breakfast or dinner!

(Clearly, this post should just be titled "An Ode To Emily Bites".)

I'm actually starting to enjoy cooking, believe it or not. It can still be a little tedious to me, but I just turn on a dinner-themed playlist and get my cook on, often awkwardly dancing around the kitchen with food in my hair. I have a whole Pinterest board full of things I'm stoked to try, and I have fashioned a new fantasy future myself:

Domestic Goddess. High heels, sexy apron, plate full of joy.

I am going to bake the shit out of life, and you will all fall in love with me via your bellies.