Mighty Maple Peanut Butter

Speedy post, busy day!

Lunch today was a homemade salad with leftover tomato-basil-mozzarella from last night's dinner. Mixed all together, this lunch hit the spot!


Part 2 of lunch was blueberry-flavored Stonyfield yogurt with 1/2 cup of Kashi Go Lean mixed in. It also hit the spot!


Part 3 of lunch was more like an afternoon snack. I originally brought a piece of whole wheat bread, a banana, and Mighty Maple Peanut Butter as part of my lunch, but after eating the salad and yogurt, I wasn't hungry for anything else.

This maple-flavored peanut butter is superb! It has a strong, sweet maple flavor, and a more "gritty" texture than regular peanut butter. To me, it's more of a dessert spread than peanut butter. It's also very expensive ($6/jar), so it will only be making an appearance on special occasions! :)

Here's a description from the Peanut Butter & Co. website:

People have been telling us that they love to spread peanut butter on pancakes and waffles for years. They love the way the rich and creamy peanut butter blends with sticky, sweet maple syrup to create an unbelievable taste sensation. This new variety of peanut butter is a tasty way to enjoy two great flavors - try it on toast, stirred over oatmeal, or on a sandwich with crispy bacon!

Around 3:15, I ate my lunch/snack of Mighty Maple PB and banana on whole wheat bread... soooo yummy! Very dessert-like!

Fried Oatmeal?

Cooking breakfast this morning was, um, interesting. I tried to create a new oatmeal pancake using oatmeal, egg whites, vanilla hemp milk, vanilla extract, and baking soda. I think it would have come out alright, but the "pancake" stuck horribly to the pan. We recently received an All Clad fry pan, and for some reason, I can't figure it out. Everything seems to stick to it, even when I add lots of cooking spray, use low/medium heat, etc. I read the directions, and there wasn't anything special that we needed to do to it. I don't understand these fancy pans! My Ikea and Target pans worked better! Does anyone have any insight into All Clad pans? Jeez, Louise!

Anyway, so my attempt at a new oatmeal pancake turned into "fried oatmeal." It actually tasted surprisingly delicious, especially with the vanilla hemp milk; it just didn't look pretty!


I topped my "fried oatmeal" with fresh blackberries and a squirt of sugar-free maple syrup.


Beautiful morning in Boston = medium iced coffee, milk and sugar, please! I'm very much savoring this iced coffee at my desk right now! :)


Question of the Day

What keeps you motivated to eat nutritious foods, exercise, and be well?

Mine: Right now, it is definitely our upcoming wedding, which is only 39 days away! (Yay and yikes!) Being the center of attention (which I hate) for an entire day gets me off my butt! Also, eating well and working out gives me energy. If I start slacking off, my energy level drops and my mood becomes depressed and cranky. I'm a different person when I am feeling healthy and fit!

Walking, Talking, and More Walking

Boy, did I walk tonight! Instead of running after work like I had planned, I took a walk with Mal down by the ocean. We walked for 1 hour and 20 minutes! We hadn't planned to do that much walking, but the weather was gorgeous, and we were having such a nice time chatting, we kept walking and talking. 

We worked up quite an appetite after all of that walking! Towards the end of our walk, both of us had the "stomach grumbles," and we spent the last 10 minutes talking about what we should make for dinner when we got home. We decided on turkey meatball subs and tomato slices with fresh basil (from our patio garden) and mozzarella.  

Tomato slices with basil, mozzarella, ground pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil... soooooo delish! Mal and I shared this plate. 

I also had a small side salad with lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, and homemade Classic Dijon Vinaigrette. 

For the turkey meatball sub, we used Trader Joe's frozen turkey meatballs, Nature's Promise whole wheat sub rolls, Walnut Acres Organic Tomato & Basil sauce, and a shredded cheddar cheese on top. My sub was just a half, but with 2 large turkey meatballs, 1/2 a plate of tomatoes and mozzarella, and a salad, I was plenty full! 

From above... a 3-plate dinner! 

About 20 minutes after eating dinner, my sweet tooth kicked in strong! Usually, if I eat a substantial dinner, I don't crave sweets. I ate a decent-sized dinner tonight, and somehow, I ended up with a killer craving for sugar. (I was actually sort of surprised.) I gave in, and made myself a 1/2 Joseph's pita with Fluff  (I found it buried in our cupboard) and a few peanut butter and chocolate chips. It was super sweet, but did the trick! 

Blog Problems?

A reader commented yesterday about having trouble loading my blog. Has anyone else had issues? I tried loading my page a few times yesterday, and it took forever! Our wireless internet can be pretty sketchy at times because our router is a piece of crap, so I wasn't sure if it was just my internet connection or other people were having the same issue. Sorry if it has been an issue! I'll try looking into it some more. 

Snacky Snackerson

Just call me "Snacky Snackerson!" I don't know why I am so hungry today? Maybe I should have eaten a bigger lunch? Although, I was pretty full after eating... maybe I just needed something with a little more substance/fiber? I dunno, my hunger is weird today.

Lunch today was leftover Tomato, Basil, and Cheese Baked Pasta and raw carrots.


Lunch also included 1/2 of a Joseph's pita with a smear of peanut butter and 1 tbsp of peanut butter and chocolate chips.


A peak inside my pita...


Shortly after lunch, I succumbed to the office candy bowl, and grabbed 2 Hershey's kisses, a Starburst, and a Tootsie Roll. I think a piece of fruit would have been a better option because I am hungry again not even 3 hours later.


My afternoon snack is peanut butter and jelly Fage. I haven't dug into it yet-- I'm trying to wait until 3:30 to eat it. I don't know what is up with me today!? Hungry, hungry hippo!


It's such a gorgeous day! I can't wait to leave work and enjoy the sunshine! I'll probably go for a run later this evening. What's everyone up to tonight? How do you enjoy the outdoors?

June is Mango Month!

Did you know that June is Mango Month due to the many varieties available this time of year? Ingrid Hoffmann of the Food Network has created three mango-licious recipes that come together as the perfect summer meal, including Tilapia Ceviche with Mango; Mango, Chicken, and Avocado Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing; and Grilled Mango with Spicy Rum Glaze and Vanilla Ice Cream.

www.mango.org

Tilapia Ceviche with Mango

6 to 8 Servings
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes to 1 hour

4 6-ounce skinless tilapia fillets, cut into small cubes
1 cup orange juice
½ cup lemon juice
½ cup lime juice
¼ cup soy sauce
½ cup rice vinegar
1 red onion, halved and thinly sliced
2 mangos, peeled, pitted and diced
2 to 3 jalapeños (depending on how spicy you like your ceviche), finely chopped, seeds removed
¾ cup fresh cilantro leaves
Tortilla chips for serving

Place the tilapia in a medium bowl and mix with the orange, lemon and lime juices. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes or up to 1 hour. Drain the tilapia, discarding the marinade, and pat it dry with paper towels. Place it in a clean bowl, and if not serving immediately, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve or up to 1 hour. Just before serving, stir in the soy sauce, rice vinegar, onions, mangos, jalapeños and cilantro into the tilapia. Toss to coat and serve immediately.

Mango, Chicken and Avocado Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

6 servings
Prep time: 20 minutes, plus 2 hours to marinade
Cook Time: 10 minutes

½ cup olive oil
¼ cup fresh lime juice
¼ cup honey
2 teaspoons spicy brown mustard
¾ teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more to taste)
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 ½ pounds chicken tenders, rinsed and patted dry with paper towels
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
2 large ripe mangos, peeled, pitted, and cut into ½-inch cubes
2 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted and cut into ½-inch cubes
½ cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
1 cup shelled pistachio nuts, lightly toasted and chopped
1 (12-ounce) bag baby spinach
2 teaspoons grated lime zest

Combine the olive oil, lime juice, honey, mustard, cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper in a medium jar with a tight fitting lid; shake well to combine. Place the chicken and ¼ cup of the dressing in a zip-close plastic bag. Squeeze out the air and seal the bag. Refrigerate, turning the bag occasionally, at least 2 hours. Add the poppy seeds to the remaining dressing in the jar; set aside.

Spray a large nonstick skillet with nonstick spray and set over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper to taste, add to skillet and cook, turning occasionally, until the center is no longer pink, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board; let cool slightly then cut into ½-inch cubes.

Transfer the chicken to a large bowl. Add the mangos, avocados, cilantro and half of the pistachios. Add the reserved dressing, tossing well to coat.

Place the spinach in a large serving bowl; top with the chicken mixture, gently toss to coat. Sprinkle with the lime zest and the remaining pistachios. Serve at once.

Nutrition per serving: 783 calories (63% calories from fat), 54.7 g total fat, 46.5 mg cholesterol, 723 mg sodium, 55 g carbohydrates, 10 g fiber, 24 g protein

Grilled Mango with Spicy Rum Glaze and Vanilla Ice Cream

4 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons unsweetened pineapple juice
1 ½ tablespoons honey
½ teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons dark rum
2 firm mangos, peeled pitted and sliced into strips
1 pint vanilla ice cream
½ cup flaked coconut sweetened, lightly toasted
¼ cup sliced almonds, lightly toasted
4 lime wedges

Heat the butter, pineapple juice, honey, chili powder and cayenne pepper in small saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, over medium heat, until the mixture begins to thicken slightly, about 10 minutes. Stir in the rum; remove the glaze from the heat. Set aside to cool completely.

Brush the slices with some of the glaze and let stand 10 minutes. Spray a nonstick ridged grill pan with nonstick spray and set over medium-high heat. Add the mango slices and grill, turning occasionally, over medium-low heat, until browned and nicely marked, 3 – 5 minutes.

Place two mango slices in each of 4 dessert bowls. Top each serving with 1 scoop ice cream, 2 tablespoons of the toasted coconut, and 1 tablespoon of the almonds; top with additional mango slices. Drizzle each with the remaining glaze. Serve with the lime wedges.

Nutrition per serving: 440 calories (56% calories from fat), 27 g total fat, 66 mg cholesterol, 69 mg sodium, 45 g carbohydrates, 4 g fiber, 4 g protein

Apple-Oat Crisp Oatmeal

Breakfast this morning was leftover Apple-Oat Crisp mixed with 1/4 cup of oatmeal, which made a hardy, dessert-like meal. I was full from eating the whole big bowl, but if there was more Apple-Oat Crisp, I probably would have finished it off! So yummy!


Another busy day ahead! Happy Monday, all!

Best Day Ever

What a day! I'm not gonna lie-- it was probably the best Sunday of 2008 for me! The entire day was excellent! :) 

After doing some errands around the apartment, Mal and I hit the gym for a quick work out. I lifted my shoulders and chest, and ran 4 miles in 33:00, which is fast for me! I was feeling good! After a shower and making lunch, we headed down to the SOWA Open Market, which was super cute and very "girly" (according to Mal). Many of the vendors sold handcrafted purses, bags, jewelry, home furnishings, kitchen accessories, and beauty products (lotions, soaps, etc.), so I guess Mal was right... the market was a tad on the "girly" side. Of course, I had a wonderful time browsing and checking everything out. I didn't end up buying anything at the market, but once I am feeling "rich," I am totally going back to buy one of those handcrafted bags! They were so adorable! 

I prepared a lunch "to go" before heading to the SOWA. I made a smoothie with a banana, wheat germ, milk, and a Brown Cow summer fruits- flavored yogurt. I also had a 1/2 peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat. If ya didn't notice, today's lunch was almost exactly the same as yesterday's. The smoothie-PB&J combination was delicious and filled me up both days! I highly recommend this combo as a quick and easy meal. :)

After the SOWA market, Mal and I wandered around the South End for a couple of hours-- we did a lot of walking today. On our walk, we came across this little "urban" market called, Foodie's. Foodie's mostly sells gourmet foods, but has a few everyday items mixed in. It reminded me a small Whole Foods or Dean & Deluca. I ended up buying some vanilla hemp milk, which is not easy to find where I live. 

After walking and walking and walking, we decided to take a break at an outdoor cafe/bakery called the South End Buttery. The place reminded me of the cafes in Greenwich Village in New York City. I loved it! Mal and I sat outside and enjoyed a chocolate croissant (it was super buttery and amazing!) and 2 raspberry iced teas. It was a such a beautiful day to relax at an outdoor cafe! 

While relaxing at the South End Buttery, Mal received a call from our friend, Aimee (Aim, this is the blog!), who invited us down to Marina Bay for some drinks on the boardwalk. We met Aimee and her friend, Amy (yep, Aimee and Amy) at Skyline in Marina Bay.

For my drink, I originally ordered a margarita on the rocks, but it was horrible!! It was ALL sour mix! I'm usually pretty easy-going when I go to restaurants-- I don't tend to complain about the food and drink... unless it is terrible, like this margarita! Actually, it wasn't even a margarita-- it was basically limeade! Ewwwww! Anyway, I sent it back and ordered a Miller Chill beer, which was much better! The four of us also ordered a fried calamari and jalapeno appetizer to share. The fried jalapenos were awesome-- I definitely ate most of them!

After a few hours at Marina Bay (and a lot of sun!), Mal and I headed home an enjoyed dinner on our porch. We ate leftovers from last night and some wine. I also had a small side salad with the homemade Classic Dijon Dressing that I made last night. 

What a day! It was fun-filled, but I am definitely ready for bed! I'm pooped! Good night!!!

Buffalo Ricotta Spread and SOWA

Happy Sunday! The sun is shining, I'm feeling motivated, and I'm ready for a great day! Wow, that was super peppy! Obviously, I'm in a fabulous mood this morning-- I love spring/summer SO MUCH! 

Breakfast this morning was eggs, again. So, I noticed on the weekends that I tend to eat eggs, but during the week, I crave oatmeal. I wonder why? This morning, I had an egg white scramble with leftover roasted veggies and freshly ground pepper. 

On the side, I had toasted French bread with a buffalo-ricotta spread on top. To make the buffalo-ricotta spread: 

• Add 1 tsp of buffalo sauce to 1 tbsp of ricotta
• Stir well into a paste
• Spread on top of bread, toast, bagel, etc. 

I spread 1 tbsp of ricotta and 1 tsp of buffalo sauce on each half of my French bread. Delish! Mal thinks I am crazy for my "kitchen concoctions," but I think it's exciting to try new combinations. Food is fun! 

Breakfast on our porch with iced coffees...

Mr. Mal had 3 Van's Organic Blueberry waffles with maple syrup. 

Lots to do today! Sunday's agenda includes: finishing our laundry, working out, visiting the SOWA Open Market, and catching up with a ton of wedding stuff-- we have like million thank you cards to write!