Broccoli Cheese Soup

If you thought this was a healthy version of broccoli cheese then you were mistaken!  This afternoon I looked at the fridge and found that I had no protein to cook for dinner.  The average women would say its an order a pizza kind of day, but not I.  I saw a 2lb bag of broccoli that needed to be used.  Besides this is perfect for that time of the month when your cramps are getting the best of you :)  Yeah I know tmi!  Anywho, hope you enjoy because it was super good and easy to make. 

Ingredients:

5 Tablespoons of Smart Balance Butter
2 lb bag of Broccoli (chopped)
2 C chicken stock
Season to taste with: salt, pepper, mustard powder, and onion powder
1 can Cambells Cheese soup
Milk (fill can of cheese soup)
1 can Cambells Cream of Chicken soup

Directions:

1. Melt butter in pan and sautee chopped up broccoli until softened
2. Pour chicken stock in pan and season with salt, pepper, mustard powder (1/2 tspn),  and onion powder.
3. Bring to a boil and then add both cans of soup, milk and stir well
4. Bring to a boil once more and then set heat to low and let it simmer for 20 minutes

Man tonight I wished I had a sourdough bread bowl but I had already done enough damage with the cambells soup!  Hope you guys enjoy!!

The Dreaded Before and After Pictures

Seeing the before pictures really put things into perspective for me.  Wow I really looked like that?  All pictures were taken after working out which is probably why I look super traumatized in the before pictures.  P90X was anything but easy but all great things require hard work.  This is not the end for me since I have started another round of P90X.  On this round I lost 20 pounds.  I went from 148 to 128.  I wasn't always perfect.  I hope that this next round I can really Bring It and see more results.  My new goal is not a number but to just continue on the path that I'm on.  I remember being the women in the before picture and I don't ever want to be her.  She was unhappy with herself and felt guilty about it.  I hope my pictures can inspire someone to become a better them.  My husband and I seem to have been transported to the time we first met.  I enjoyed this journey with Eric and he had some great results as well.  He lost a whopping 50 pounds.  So proud of that guy!  So go out there and do your best!

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

I had the other half of my cauliflower and wanted to do something different than just cauliflower mash ( which is pretty awesome too).  Eating bird food blog enlightened me with her great recipe for cauliflower pizza crust.  It was delicious and closer to the real things compared to the almond flour crust I usually make.  She also added that the calories for the whole thing is 400 calories. 

Ingredients:
*1/2 head cauliflower (about 2 cups riced)
*1 clove garlic, minced
*1C part-skim shredded mozzerella cheese
*1 egg, beaten
*1teaspoon basil
*1teaspoon oregano



Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Prep a cookie sheet by greasing it with cooking spray or using parchment paper.
3. Remove the stems and leaves from your cauliflower and chop florets into chunks. Add to food processor or grate the cauliflower with a cheese grater.

4.  Microwave cauliflower in microwave-safe bowl for 8 minutes.
5. In a bowl, combine the cooked cauliflower with all the remaining ingredients.

6. Shape on cookie sheet.  The pizza should be 9-10 inches in diameter.
7. Bake for 20 minutes or until the crust is golden, crispy on the edges and cooked through the middle.

8.  Remove crust from oven.

9. Top with pizza sauce and toppings.  Be careful not to add too many heavy toppings as you don't want to weigh down the crust.

10.  Broil the pizza for 5 minutes, or until the toppings are hot and the cheese is melted.  Allow the pizza to cool for2-3 minutes then cut and serve immediately.



Shrimp, Broccoli, and Cauliflower Cheesy "Rice"

For the Shrimp:  I just boiled water and flavored it with ground cayanne red pepper, ground ginger, onion and garlic powder.  When the water boils drop your shrimp and wait for it to boil again to take them out.

The Cauliflower Cheesy "Rice":  For those of you that have food processors the task of ricing the cauliflower will be easier.  I don't, so I had to do it with a knife, you can also try with a cheese grater (gonna try this next time).  I used half of the cauliflower. Spray a pan with cooking spray and once its warm toss your cauliflower. I flavored mine with onion powder. Cook cauliflower for 4 minutes.  Add 2 teaspoons of fat free sour cream, a few pumps of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray, and 1/4 C of mozerella.

Very tasty and fast!

May the Odds Be Ever In Your Flavor

My Sunday night consisted of Hunger Games and food prepping.  Got our fridge fully stocked of healthy food options.  When you are on-the-go, as most of us are, it is best to have everything ready.  This also cuts down on standing in front of the fridge wondering what you can eat and how much of it.  I try to break down everything into one serving so we don't have portion distortion going on.  Well here are some pictures of my Sunday night.  Always put the odds in your favor ;)

I cook chicken ahead of time so I don't end up burning myself at 7a.m when I make lunch for my love

3oz of carrots and 1 tablespoon of spicy hummus

One tablespoon of peanut butter ready and waiting for an apple :)

 

 

Make healthy choices!  I see how much children learn from watching rather than what you tell them.  You can't give your kids something you don't have.  If you want them to be healthy and fit then you have to be healthy and fit. 

 



My Old Man Made Salsa

Warning:  this salsa is super spicy and delicious!  This salsa is great on some egg whites in the morning.  A little does go a long way.  All it takes is 6 roma tomatoes, 1 jalepeno, 1 habenero chile, and the bottom of green onions.  Get some char on all that stuff and smash into salsa goodness.

Shrimp and Salsa

This has got to be the easiest and yummiest meal.   All you have to do is get some water to boil and flavor it with oregano, onion powder and garlic powder.  Once it boils drop your shrimp.  No need to add salt because those shrimpies are pretty salty all by themselves.  A serving of  shrimp was six so I boiled six for me and nine for Eric. Once the water boils again get those little guys out of the water.

For the salsa I just chopped up 2 avocados, 2 tomatoes, onion (but just a little because I dont want stinky breath), have a bushel of cilantro, valentina hot sauce, 2 limes and a little salt for taste.  Yeah all that together is money!  So yummy!
 *Adding cucumbers to this would work too if you need a little more to feel full.

Baby Food Jars

Do you have a bunch of baby food jars?  Well I did last year around Christmas.  I knew I could make something out of them and it would be a great memory that my baby used to be a baby.  Sure enough when I saw these guys my heart melted.  I made eight votives that I put the little plastic lights in.  Those little lights are at the dollar store and they come in packs of two.  The snow man and the snow lady took no time.  All you need is some cheerful ribbon (some with wire), permanent marker and a hot glue gun.

Who's Going On A Cruise?

Me! Me! Me!  Super excited!  Eric came home last night with great news that his family had planned a western carribean cruise for the end of January.  It's going to be so much fun and my mother in law is going which means I have an onboard babysitter, that I can trust.  I have two months to get bikini ready.  I am about to go on beast mode!!!  I'm also trying Stri-Vectin for some stretchies I have on my legs and I'll show you before and after pics of that at the end of January.  I should be at my goal of 125 lbs.  by the end of the year and hopefully by the time its cruise time I'll be 115lbs.  Before Thanksgiving I tried my wedding dress on and  it fit ( I know there's a lot of exclamation marks on this post but I am that excited)!  I really didn't want to but my husband made me.  I guess sometimes I still see myself like
the way I was.  Even when I had to put a lot of clothes away
because they don't fit anymore.  I'm just crazy I guess.  I think it's hilarious and appropriate that my sons slide and his truck are in the picture.  That little guy has taken over my world.  Oh and that my hair is super messy.  I remember when I was a little girl and I used to try my moms dress on all the time.  I hope I have a little girl that can enjoy this roll of tulle.  Can't wait to visit some Mayan ruins and hopefully we'll get to try ziplining.  A helpful tip that works great for me is a white board calender in my kitchen.  It's a great way to keep me accountable for my workouts, pay bills on time, and keep my doctor's visits.  I'm going to do P90x doubles until the cruise.  But I must say the best thing is working out with my best friend.  I love spending time with my husband.  Working out together has kept us both on track.  He has already lost 40lbs.  So proud of my baby!

Albondigas

Claire De Lune is on repeat as I make dinner.  This piano solo is so relaxing.  I had some ground beef in my fridge and I thought hey lets make albondigas (meatball soup).  I didn't have any eggs so I looked up eggless meatballs and some people substitute milk for the egg.  It worked but it was not the same. Anywho, every time I make this I am transported to a time where less responsibility was upon me.  My mom made this all the time and apart from her bomb chile rellenos this is my second favorite. 





Albondigas:

For Meatballs:

1.5lb ground beef
1 tblspn garlic minced
2 tblspn Maseca
1 egg
handful of mint
1/2 tspn salt

For the stew:

2 roma tomatos
1tblspn garlic minced
1/2 C green onions
1/2 C cilantro
2 celery stalks
6oz tomato sauce
6C Organic chicken stock
3 carrots
2 zucchini

*you can add vegetables of choice
*dont have time to peel veggies you can also use frozen

Meatballs
Directions:

*In a bowl, combine all ingredients and shape.  Set aside

 

Stew

Directions:

 

 

*Spray nonstick cooking spray in a pan or 1 tablespoon of canola oil and add (you can also add a hanful of rice here and when lighly browned add the rest of ingredients) garlic, tomatos, green onions, cilantro, and celery.  Cook until tomatos are softened.

*Add tomato sauce and cook until boiling

*Add Chicken stock and salt wait for it to boil and add meatballs.  Cook for 30 minutes on medium.

*Add desired vegetables and enjoy



I Had a Pretty Awesome Day!!

Around six weeks ago I introduced my little Levi to the potty.  It was hit and miss for a few days and it seemed I was only stressing both of us out so I backed off.  Recently, he had started sitting on the potty chair with his clothes on.  I thought hey lets give this potty thing anothe try.  Last night, he sat on his potty before bed and did his business.  I was pretty  proud of my little guy.  He is going to be 20 months on December 4th and he is such a smart little guy.  I must say I tried the bottomless method that I read about on a mom blog and it didn't work for me.  He thought it was his free pass to pee all over the place.  Then I tried with little tighty whities and this worked better.  He realized that the underwear was not soaking up his business.  The moral of the story is that your baby has to be ready.  They are the ones that have to be intrested. Especially, since he is at that age where he is establishing his little attitude.  When I pushed potty training on him it didn't work.  This is still a work in progress but I'm super stoked to be closer to my goal of getting rid of those diapers.  Good luck with your little ones and I know I'll need it with mine.  If you have any tips for me please post them on my comments :)

**I also bought the potty chair he wanted.  He is pretty obsessed with cars so Lightning McQueen it was!!

Be Prepared

As a mom, it seems you have to function regardless of wether you are sick, bleeding, dying, or puking.  Meal prep is one of those things I do to keep my sanity.  It also helps me keep my snacking on track.  It's just as easy to grab crackers or carrot sticks but when you're hungry the crackers seem like the more appealing choice.  I always have baby carrots portions out to 3 oz a bag and hummus.  I just bought Supremely Spicy Hummus from Sabra and it was awesome.  I also back tablespoons of peanut butter.  Peanut butter is one of those foods that can bring you back from the dead when you're starving.  What do you do with the left over container that has peanut butter smeared all over?  Throw it away? NO WAY!  Overnight Oats :P 

Overnight Oats

Ingredients:

 

1 Chai tea bag

1tsp cinammon

1tsp vanilla extract

1/3 c 1minute oats

1/4 c low fat vanilla yogurt

 

Directions:

 

*Boil tea bag as directed

*Mix cinammon, vanilla extract and dry oats

*Pour tea over oats and nuke in microwave for 1 minute

*Let oats cool

*Add yogurt to cooled oats and pour into peanut butter jar and let it sit overnight

*Enjoy a hassle free breakfast!

 



Rudolph and Co (Nail Tutorial)

 You are going to need:
*white nail polish
*gold or brownish color nail polish
*black fine tip paint marker
*red nail polish



First, Apply white nail polish.

Second, make a face shape with the brownish color.









Third, carefully make eyes with the white nail polish.
(This is where the right and usually suffers :P)

Fourth, with the black paint marker outline the reindeer faces and dot the white to make black eyes


*Notes:  Choose your favorite nail to be rudolph and make the nose red instead of black!

**Also be sure to allow time for the nail polish to dry in between colors so you wont end up with a gloppy mess :)

Pick Up Where I Left Off

Stepping on the scale after Thanksgiving is like saying sorry to someone after you shot them in the face: POINTLESS.  So I didn't waste my time with that.  You just have to pick up where you left off.  This morning I took my vitamins.  These vitamins are awesome!  They give me lots of energy for my busy day.  Mind you there are seven pills in the vitapaks but I dont take them all at once.  I split them up with my breakfast and lunch.  Started my morning today with four egg whites, 2 pieces of turkey bacon, and a cup of chai tea with fat free milk.  This tea is so delicious.  It killed my craving to have a huge bowl of cereal.   Today I have some Kenpo X scheduled when Levi takes a nap and I'm going to blast that stuffing and mashed potatoes I ate and pumpkin cheesecake and pumpkin pie and turkey and green bean casserole and well you get them picture :) 

Happy Birthday Momma!

The most special woman in my life is celebrating her birthday today.  Happy Birthday Mom!!!  I want to thank you for being so dang awesome.  You know I didn't understand my mom until I became one.  I always wondered why she repeated herself so much.  It turns out my son is teaching me why.  He also pretends like he can't hear me.  I am always repeating myself.  Thanks for saying no.  Where would I be without you?  Who knows.  I am really glad I don't have to find out.  I want to thank you mom for being you.  My mom is funny, sweet, smart, generous, and creative.  Yet more than a mom she became my best friend.  I was able to tell her anything.  Even when I messed up and was embaressed I still told her the truth.  I love you mom for always being there for me and shaping me into the woman I am today. 

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!  In honor of the pilgrims we are whitening our teeth  and putting up our Christmas tree.  Today was an Applebees lunch, dress shopping and trying to get out of Costco alive kinda day.   Since I am writing tonight you can be glad that I made it out in one piece.  I am extremely thankful tonight.  I am healthy, happy and loved.  That little guy with the sock monkey hat is seriously the love of my life.  Mom happens to be his favorite word.  Yeah you bet that I'm okay with that.  I'm thankful for my husband that loves me.  I am especially thankful that my hips are 30 pounds lighter than last year.  I hope that tommorow you guys enjoy yourself.  I am going to be in the ultimate food coma.  Remember that its not about the bird but about all of those beautiful faces that make up our family.