Tonight I made quick and easy turkey, arugula, egg and Gouda cheese cups for dinner. Spray a muffin tin with non stick spray and put the turkey in the tins pushing down the middle. Add arugula and an egg, and sprinkle with Gouda cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bake at 350 for about 10-12 minutes. Yum!
Sorry I’ve been absent lately. Life just gets in the way sometimes and blogging from my phone is a pain. Hope y’all are doing well. Share with me your favorite low carb recipe!
Tonight’s Keto meal was baked crispy chicken coated with egg wash, spicy pork rinds and almond flour. Bake at 425 degrees for about 35-40 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes and serve with your favorite Keto friendly veggie. We had a few spears of asparagus with bacon.
Yum! What’s on your plate?? Comment below!!! Cheers!!!
Sautéed garlic (1 clove) and about two tablespoons of red onion in coconut oil. Add some chopped mushrooms and red pepper flakes if you like a little heat. Cook until soft-3-4 minutes. Add a cup of heavy cream and cook down for a few minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. While this magic is happening, “zoodle” three zucchini’s and brown 1 lb of ground beef in a teaspoon of coconut oil and season with salt and pepper and a little season salt.
Add the zoodles to the sauce, mix well and then add the beef-draining any excess grease before adding. I added a little mozzarella for some creaminess and served!!
Have you ever had zoodles? What’s your favorite low carb meal?
We got rained out today and I was initially pretty bummed to spend a day inside. But when my youngest daughter came home from the mall with a gift for me, I was instantly cheered up.
Once our groceries were delivered via Shipt, I dove in for meal prep and dinner prep. I chopped a bunch of veggies, made some baked chicken and made turkey burgers for dinner. I also made egg, spinach and mushroom “muffins” for quick easy meals this week.
Here’s to week three of our Keto diet! I am shooting for another good eating week and 3 runs this week, weather permitting. I was so pleased I had two good runs last week and a 6 1/2 mile walk at Epcot over the weekend.
What are your week goals? Do anything fun for Labor Day?
We just finished week one of the Keto diet. My husband is completely on board and it’s helping so much to have his support. Our goal this week was to stay under 25 grams of carbs per day and we stayed on track all week. I’m happy to report he’s down almost 10 lbs, and I’m down 3 lbs!! Woot!!
You know you did a great job when your daughter can’t tell the difference between your cauliflower mash between mashed potatoes. Recipe: one head of cauliflower boiled in salt water until soft. Save a couple of tablespoons of the cooking liquid. Transfer to a food processor and add two tablespoons of cream cheese, two pats of unsalted butter, sea salt, pepper, parsley and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese. Add the saved liquid and purée on high until smooth!!
We served with a yummy steak that my hubby cooked in the cast iron skillet. Yum!
Have you tried low carb or Keto with success? How was your weekend?
Winter months have always been tough on me, and with the days getting even shorter this weekend I am soaking up every ray of sunshine I can get. Today it’s 75 degrees out and It’s November 1st, so I will be outside planting some lilies a coworker gave me, and hope to get a couple miles in with my mini before dark.
Pic from Pinterest
Because winter months have been hard for me, I thought I’d make a list of some “winter goals,” so here they are in no particular order:
Take one day at a time. The holidays are going to be hard without my husband, but we WILL get through it.
Drink all things peppermint. Because isn’t that one of the best things about winter?
Wear all the boots. I love boots, leggings/tights with cute tops or dresses.
Continue to run at least 2 days per week on the treadmill and TRY to get outside weather permitting for 1 day.
Yoga, at least once per week…I suck at sticking to this goal so I’ll keep putting it out there to keep me accountable.
Continue to strength train, and ramp up the weight workouts. I love muscles LOL.
Watch my diet and caloric intake. We are having a “Biggest loser” challenge at work for the next six weeks and I’d LOVE to lose a few more lbs before my hubby gets home next year.
Track my food on MyFitnesspal. EVERY day…not just when it’s convenient. Follow my progress if you use MFP, I am chelled73.
Cook more food…I’ve been taking the easy way out for a while, so last week I made this yummy beef stew in my crock pot. 2 cups of red wine, 4 cups of water, 2 lbs. of cubed sirloin steak, 2 sweet potatoes cubed, one onion sliced, 2 carrots cut into ¼ inch disks, 3 cloves of garlic minced, dash of Worcestershire sauce, 1 packet of onion soup mix, salt, pepper and a bay leave—throw it in your crock pot on high for 4 hours. I DID season the steak with salt and pepper generously and set aside while I was chopping the vegetables.
Call/text my parents more. At least twice a week…I miss them very much and we only see each other 2-3 times per year so I need to be better about communicating with them.
Celebrate the good things, every, darn day…be it a good conversation with my teen, or a load of laundry I actually PUT AWAY right away after folding…#celebratethegood
Continue to work towards my goals of moving back south (we moved to the Chicagoland area after I retired from the Air Force in 2011, we previously lived in Texas), and with that, LOOKIE LOOKIE what came in the mail last night?
And ultimately, keep movin’ forward…because isn’t that what life is all about?!
How do you keep busy during winter months? What’s your favorite thing about winter minus the holidays themselves? Tell me something good!
Tonight’s Sunday supper was cooked as more of a therapy session for me than anything. The two things I love to do most when I am feeling stressed are run, and cook. Since I had just gone grocery shopping after work today, I decided cooking a nice Sunday supper would be a good idea since my goal was to cook something new each week!
There’s no real “recipe” for this dish, but here goes. Season your ribs with your favorite BBQ seasoning, salt, pepper and a touch of lime juice. Heat your cast iron skillet with a couple tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to a high heat and sear the ribs on each side. Reduce heat and cook through until done.
For the cucumber salad, use your peeler and make long strips of cucumber (discard the outer green part) that will look almost like a wide fettuccini noodle. Place in a bowl. Season with salt, pepper, 1 tablespoon of yogurt and lime zest. Let chill for 30 minutes.
The asparagus I simply sautéed in extra virgin olive oil in a pan with salt, pepper, and minced garlic. YUM!
Dinner is served!
My sous chef!
The rest of my week was pretty blah. My workouts were minimal besides my daily plank due to work stress, school starting, and my little one catching strep on her second day of school. I’m hoping next week is better! I’m linking up with Holly and Tricia for their weekly wrap. Please run over and give their amazing pages some support!
This morning started out a little rocky. I woke up from a terrible nightmare as my husband reached to kiss me goodbye this morning WAY before the birds (or anyone else for that matter) were awake. I laid in bed, practicing my deep calm breaths as my heart raced a million miles per hour. Would he be ok over this next year? Will the Nanny’s first day go well? How can I help my 16 year old cope with, well, being 16? Ugh…
Several deep breaths later, I was up and getting ready for work. The Nanny arrived promptly on time, and everything went quite well for our discombobulated first morning. She texted me as soon as my little got on the bus, and I sighed a HUGE sigh of relief. I had a busy day at work, but was in awe of how many times I smiled, and was reminded of how far I’ve come in life. It really is true. You control your mood, no one else. #learninglessonseveryday
I drove home from work in a crazy snow storm, picked up my little from after school care, and we headed to Home Depot. See, our front light went out, we were out of sidewalk salt, and my daughter’s bathroom toilet lid broke right off. Guess since it was the original one from 1989, it was time to replace it. These are ALL things my husband normally takes care of. Although he isn’t handy, he does do all the hard things that I haven’t had to do in over a decade usually. Yet it’s time I figure out how to be on my own again, and do all the hard things.
As I lifted the huge bag of salt from my Jeep, I reminded myself that I CAN and WILL do this and be stronger for it.
My mini and I cooked our version of Jambalaya for dinner in preparation for an evening of shoveling out above said snow, and here’s a quick recipe.
Jambalaya Ingredients
4 links of pre-cooked chicken sausage, sliced into coin shapes
1 cup of precooked shrimp, chopped into small pieces
1 large can of crushed red tomatoes (use the spicy ones for added kick) with the juice
1 can of black beans, strained
2 stalks of celery, chopped
2 small white onions (or one large), diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
Creole seasoning to taste, salt, pepper, and chives
Fresh chopped Parsley to garnish
In a deep sauté pan heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, and sauté the garlic, onions and celery until slightly tender. Add in the tomatoes and beans, and simmer for 20 minutes. Add in the chicken sausage and shrimp until heated through, and serve over your favorite rice or quinoa. I used a brown rice quinoa blend that I cooked according to the package instructions. I even had a little help from my mini.
Not sure which sparkles more, her eyes, or this dress? ❤Dinner is served! Healthy AND Delish!
As we cleaned up the table, I got a text from one of my newest neighbors. She told me her husband has a landscaping business, and plows in the winter. Would I like him to plow my driveway? I broke down crying, and thanked God for all he’s blessed me with through this deployment preparation. He came over to plow, and I thanked him profusely as the temps are dropping, and I now only had to shovel my sidewalk and salt.
BRRRRRRR
Next it was time to fix that darn toilet seat. And who took the lead? Yup…my 16 year old. With a little help from Sammy…LOL!
“Mommy can I help? Or can I at least lick your face?”
Girl power! We did it!
My oldest asked if she could talk to me. I froze. What’s wrong? She confided in me that she’s been struggling with feeling happy, and I was catapulted back to 10th grade. I told her WE would get through this, and I would help her in any way I can to learn to find happiness even in the toughest of times. And I was just so darn touched and honored that SHE CAME TO ME. #allthetears
My hubby just got home from a very long day of training, so I think it’s time to wrap this post up. But here’s your reminder, that we can ALL do the hard things, if WE believe we can.
Do you have a handy spouse? What’s the hardest thing you’ve done lately?
It’s gotten too cold outside for me to run the last couple days, so I decided to warm up with some cooking! Especially after having to shovel snow when it’s a real feel of 5 degrees outside. Yup. FIVE. I will say, though, that I am in awe of my 16 year old who offered out of the blue to help me shovel? WHAT? I am still picking my jaw up off the groud. LOL!!
First, we’ll start with meatballs and spinach fettuccini (you can use whatever noodle you prefer). While I don’t make the pasta myself, I do buy fresh made from my local grocery store. I also take a little help with the marinara sauce by letting it simmer and adding some fresh herbs, crushed red pepper flakes, and garlic to give it a little more depth.
Meatballs
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
1 lb. of ground pork and 1 lb. of lean ground beef
1 cup of Italian bread crumbs
1 cup of grated parmesan cheese (use fresh if possible)
1/4 cup of fresh chopped Italian parsley
pinch of salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and Italian herb mix (Approximately 1 tablespoon each, to taste)
3 eggs
1/8 cup of extra virgin olive oil
Combine all ingredients and roll in to small golf ball size balls and place on a sheet tray that has been lined with parchment paper.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.
Take a jar of GOOD marinara sauce (you know, the good stuff small markets make that don’t have all the added preservatives to it) and put into a wide, deep sauté pan. Turn on LOW, and let simmer. Add in fresh herbs, garlic, and red pepper flakes and cook on low for 20 minutes. Once the meatballs are done, add them to the sauce and let simmer for an additional 20 minutes. Cook your pasta according to package directions, and toss in your marinara sauce before serving!
Enjoy!!!!
What’s your favorite pasta dish? Today I am linking up with Holly and Tricia for the weekly wrap up!!!
I hope everyone has a great week! Things are getting REAL around here, with my hubby’s deployment training starting full speed tomorrow lasting the next 21 days. Our Nanny starts tomorrow, and I pray it will be a smooth transition for us all!
This past weekend was a whirlwind of food, and family, plain and simple. We holed up in our little family nest and made memories to hang on to over this next year of separation. I’ll write this wrap up, mostly in photos, because I really want to go snuggle on the couch with my tribe. I also have a recipe to share, but we will get to that a bit later. ❤
First day of Winter run with my friends!These ladies continue to love me, even when it’s not easy to do
Running friends can always make me smileMany of my running friendsMy girls baked Christmas cookies since I had to work Christmas EveFirst course of Christmas Eve dinner was a baby arugula salad with shrimp dressed with a blood orange vinaigrettePan seared scallops with tri-colored potatoesChecking to see where Santa was locatedLetter to SantaPriceless smile from my mini while opening giftsHubby got her a necklace to wear while he’s away…#allthetearsPrepping Christmas DinnerBacon wrapped dates with goat cheese!I think he approves…Dinner is served!Check out my pup, praying Daddy drops that bone on the floor!! LOLBowling with our new Xbox!Someone takes her bowling very seriously, LOLHubby’s awesome form!Smoothies to start my week out right tomorrow!Homemade beef stock with the bones from our prime rib. It is currently simmering on my stove, and it smells AMAZING in here.My first attempt at Dim SumBamboo steamer that I got for ChristmasI used my new mortar and pestle to add ginger, garlic and pink peppercorns to my dipping sauce. YUM!!I lined my steamer with bok choy leaves vs. using oilDinner is served!
I adapted my recipe from HERE, omitting the jicama, and using 1/2 lb. of ground pork and 1/2 lb. of beef along with 1 cup of finely chopped cooked shrimp. I served with my yummy Asian dipping sauce but you can serve with the suggested plain soy sauce or chili paste. Serve with your favorite rice/rice noodle and veggie for a complete meal! Enjoy!!
This weekend I am linking up with Holly and Tricia again for the Weekly wrap up!
How was your week? Get anything exciting for Christmas?
Loispiration in a nut-shell is an embodiment of inspiration here to give you an almost daily dose of critical thinking, hope and enlightenment. To change your perception on societal issues and help you point the mental development torch directly on yourself.
Movin' it with Michelle 