Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Proposal Week

It's thesis proposal week, so I went over my partner Elise's house mid morning.

She made me the BEST latte I think I have ever had to sip while working...



We also had made gluten free brioche to have with it ... oh it's so delicious... She even gave me the loaves to bring home! Thanks Elise!


We got a good amount of work done, too- woo hoo!

Then, my friend Jen came over and I made turkey thai noodle soup for dinner- a perfect meal on a cold night!

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Happy Birthday Dave!!

The morning started off with a bitter cold walk with Luna...

I couldn't resist getting this picture of Dave and Luna.



Mid-day while Dave was in birthday video game heaven, I made turkey stock and Thai Turkey Soup. It is the best Thai soup I have ever made.

A couple of my ingredients: ginger, light coconut milk, and panang curry paste



The birthday cards have been piling up use, but I think the best gift all day was the Brewopoly I got him at the Craft Beer Cellar in Belmont. This store has an amazing selection of beer for Dave, as well as a collection of gluten free beer and hard ciders for me.



For dinner Dave wanted to check out a new place in our neighborhood, Foundry on Elm.

I got their squash soup and pear and walnut salad with grilled shrimp on top






Both dishes were excellent. Since I was trying to listen to my body(thank you Me Movement and Savor) I barely got through half. I think the fries I had when we sat down did me in! :)

We came home and I quickly put candles on Dave's favorite birthday cake- Shaw's white cake with white icing. He is marrying a girl who would bake him any cake in the world, and this is the cake he wants. Can't fight with the birthday boy!!! :)

On to Monday...

Saturday, November 27, 2010




I was on my friend Elizabeth's website Don't(White) Sugar-Coat it, and found the Me Movement.

The Me Movement pledge:

For my health and wellness, I want to put myself first this holiday season. This year will be different. I’ve made (and broken) unrealistic New Year’s “resolutions” before and this year I won’t need to repeat the cycle. I am going to take care of myself during this busy (sometimes hectic) time. If that means asking for help, saying “no”, or scheduling “down time,” I will do it. I’m done being overcommitted.

■I pledge to remember how good it feels when I’m taking care of myself. And when I feel good, I am able to take better care of those I love.

■I pledge to keep in mind that social situations are about the companionship, as much as the delicious food and drinks. I want to enjoy foods that look and taste good while respecting my body’s “fullness” and “satisfied” signals. I won’t judge myself if I ate “too much” of the holiday foods that don’t come around that often.

■I pledge to stay in tune with what my body needs, whether that’s food, rest, exercise, or sleep.

My well-being is my priority. The goals below reflect the healthiest ways I know how to meet my own needs.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goal 1: I will take a step back and enjoy the season- the change in the weather, the people smiling, and the time we have together... because it really important

Goal 2: I will get three really good workouts in a week and two decent ones ;)

Goal 3: I will listen to my body and my internal hunger cues.

Will you sign the pledge ?

Post Thankgiving Meals

Two days worth of meals to show you all- phew!


Friday morning I made scrambled egg tacos with peach salsa and baby spinach


Lunch was Trader Joe's edamame hummus(thanks Nys for introducing me) carrots and apples slices.




In between taking Luna on family walks Dave and I did the Biggest Loser Bootcamp! I'm a tiny bit sore today!



For dinner we had the best 'post Thanksgiving' meal EVER!! There was leftover corn pudding, fresh spinach AND GOBBLE sandwiches(turkey with gravy, stuffing, Hain's light safflower mayo, and cranberry sauce). We didn't want our sandwiches to end... we sat their in bliss ...





This morning I read my book Catching Fire while Dave played video games!

Then, I worked on my holiday treats list. I wanted to try out a 'bark' recipe with toasted pecans and dried cranberries(sweetened with pineapple juice). It turned out pretty well!





I then made a turkey salad with celery, toasted pecans, apples, and Hain's light safflower mayo over baby spinach.


It was very filling, and helped power me through our shopping trip to L.L. Bean Outlet. I picked some cute new clothes from their new line L.L. Bean Signature, and this Andover skirt.




After driving home in a snow squall, we decided that turkey was just too much so we got Stone Hearth Pizza for dinner.

We got the Anitpasti which I used as toppers for our dinner greens :)


I ordered the Peperonata(peppers, rosemary, cheese with a kick) and Dave got the pepperoni.


Tomorrow is Dave's birthday... time to go wrap gifts ... ;)

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Gobble Gobble



On my Thanksgiving plate:
- Ina's corn pudding
Note: the recipe made 2 pie dishes full of corn pudding!



- gf stuffing
- mashed cauliflower with garlic
- mashed butternut squash
- local turkey from NH
- Ina's brussel sprouts
- Dave's family cranberry sauce

I was COMPLETELY stuffed...


So I had to have my pumpkin oat bar at home ;)



Tomorrow;s plan:
- exercise
- school work
- cooking a 1/2 turkey for sandwiches ALL weekend long ;)

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

A Cooking Day



Today's to do list:

- post homework on class website
- work on thesis with RB(Research Buddy)
- make my first gluten free stuffing(see the above picture)
- make pumpkin oat bars
- dinner(Black Beans and Sausage over quinoa)
- walk Luna
- do laundry
- go to Target to shop for Dave's birthday(this Sunday)

The stuffing idea came together last night actually. We were having Jen and her friend Teresa over for dinner and I decided corn muffins would go great with the Butternut squash bake and greens.


So I quickly went online and found this recipe on Cook It Allergy Free. As always, I adapted it to what I had in the house ;)

Corn Muffins
1 cup Bob's gf corn polenta I pulsed mine in the food processor for 30 seconds.
1/4 cup of brown rice flour
1/2 cup Bob's gf all-purpose flour
1/4 cup tapioca flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 Tbsp brown sugar sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup plain yogurt(I used lactose free vanilla- it's all I had)
¼ cup 1% milk milk
4 Tbsp butter, melted

Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 375F. Fill muffins tin with 12 cups. 3. In large bowl, whisk together cornmeal, rice flour, sorghum flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and sugar. In a separate large mixing bowl, combine the eggs with the melted butter ( and beat for 1 minute. Add in yogurt and milk. Add in the dry ingredients a little at a time and gently mix, just until well incorporated, about one
minute. It should be relatively thick. Pour batter into the muffin cups. Bake for about 20 minutes for the muffins. Cool slightly before serving.

But the fun didn't stop with the muffins- oh no that was only part of the stuffing experience. Again, I adapted a recipe from Cook It Allergy Free to work with what I had.

Corn & Raisin Bread Stuffing with Pumpkin, Sausage and Apples

- 5x pieces of Rudi's cinnamon raisin bread, cut into cubes
- 8 corn muffins, cut into cubes
- 1 1/2 cups of diced celery
- 1/2 cup of diced carrots
- 1 large Cortland apple( skinned and then diced)
- 1 1/2 cups of onion
- 2 tbsp. of unsalted butter
- 1 tsp. of thyme
- 1 tsp. of rosemary(fresh, if you can get it)
- 2 cups of low sodium chicken stock
- 1 cup of pumpkin puree
- 1 egg
- 1/2 pound of chicken or pork sausage(I used cherry/apple sausage from Whole Foods)
- salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Place cubed cornbread and bread cubes on large baking sheet. Place in pre-heated oven for about 15-20 minutes until bread begins to feel slightly stale, and set aside.

Increase the oven temperature to 375F. In large skillet, cook the sausage until it begins to lose it's pink color. Add the diced celery, carrots, and onions and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the diced apples, thyme, and rosemary and cook for 2 minutes more.

The sausage mixture



Next add the sausage mixture to the bread mixture in a big bowl. Whisk together the melted butter, chicken broth, pumpkin puree, egg, until it's smooth and well-blended. Add the wet mixture over the bread mixture. Then place the stuffing into large baking dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes covered with aluminum foil, then uncover and bake for another 15 minutes. Delicious!


Dave came home early today, so we got to spend some quality time in the kitchen together. We made the pumpkin oat bars and our dinner- Black Beans & Sausage.



Gobble Gobble

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Anniversary Contest



As a present to all of you, my wonderful readers, I am having a ANNIVERSARY contest!!!

Kindly, FoodShouldTasteGood has offered to send along to the winner a entire BOX!

Your box will look like this...
so many delicious flavors including: sweet potato, blue corn, mulitgrain, etc. They are gluten free and FILLED with flavor!!!



My absolute favorite is the sweet potato!!! They are sweet, salty, and filled with fiber! What else could you want in a chip!



The Anniversary Contest: THE SNACK CHALLENGE

I am looking for your favorite snacks that are easy and healthy during this holiday/end of the semester season.

Rules:
- explanation of the snack
- picture
- recipe, if needed

Email me at schade.m@gmail.com by December 5th 2010, and I will post the winner and their snack!

Happy snacking!!

A Monday worth of food...

Yesterday was filled with trips to the grocery store and TONS of school work.

I did quickly make some white bean dip for lunch with some carrots, a Cortland apple and FoodShouldTasteGood olive chips. It was a perfect lunch to keep me fueled for my studies.



For dinner last night, I made tilapia tacos, Dave's favorite, with peach and fresh salsa, Cabot cheddar and greens. They really hit the spot!




Then this morning, after training and finishing my grocery shopping for the holidays at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods I made a tuna sandwich.



We are heading to D's grandmother's house for the holiday.

I'm making:
- roasted brussel sprouts
- pumpkin oat bars
- corn pudding
- gluten free stuffing

I'll start the stuffing tomorrow ;)

Sunday, November 21, 2010

A weekend in C'ville cont'd

We all went out to lunch at Rise yesterday. They have delicious gluten free pizza crusts made with millet and flax seeds. It was a much thicker crust than I am use to, but it was a delicious change!

Our pizza had artichoke hearts, red peppers, chicken, spinach and feta.


My friend Eleanor and I then tried to make peanut flour cookies. They turned out pretty well, but I think I'm going to have to play with the gf flour to peanut flour ratio. The dough was really bland but the cookies were sweet- o what a chemical reaction it was!



We then all went to the Dave Matthews Band concert at the John Paul Jones Arena.
Eleanor and I had to get a good picture together 'pre-dancing' at the concert.



It was literally the BEST Dave Matthews concert I have ever been too and I've been to many. He played for over three and half hours...





They played Satellite, I taped the begining for you all ;)




and finished the encore with my favorite- Ants Marching. Here's a little piece of the performance...











It was wonderful to have time with family and my friend, Eleanor! I can't wait to be back in January...

Saturday, November 20, 2010

I love Charlottesville!

What a whirlwind. Dave drove me to the airport at 6am yesterday and I was in VA by 9. I do love Jetblue!

I got off the plane in Richmond yesterday and my cousin Aubrey and I went to Nordstrom's grab a quick bite, at the Short Pump mall.

I had their turkey and egg sandwich without the bread- it was HUGE. I could only eat about half.


Then a quick trip to Trader Joe's to look for peanut flour. I keep hearing about this stuff on different blogs, and I wanted to see if the TJ's in Richmond had it


When we walked in we saw these glorious brussel sprout stalks... how cool are these... I wonder if I could fit this in my carry on...



We found the PEANUT FLOUR!! I wonder what I use it for... baking perhaps...







For dinner Carly & Liza(my peanuts) and I made a stiry fry! It was perfect!



Then we were off to the 8th grade play! Go Jack GO!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Packing it Up

I started my morning off right with two poached eggs on toast with parsley! Delicious!



Then, I took Luna for a walk. She found a stick that just HAD to walk home with...


After a long day at the hospital, a positive meeting with a professor, and class I came home to pack.

Dave had NOT made dinner so I quickly whipped up something. Lundberg brown rice couscous with spinach and chickpea with Bell & Evans GF tenders.


Back to packing and getting ready for my trip to VA ... I have a 7am flight!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Pizza Dinner

I haven't been hungry all week... I think it's stress...

But, my go to snack this week in the afternoon has been a pear(on sale at Whole Foods) and Glutino pretzels. I think it's the sweet and salty.




For dinner tonight I made a salad with Gerb's pumpkin seeds and Olivia's Organic mixed salad greens



AND Pizza It's been so long since I made it. Tonight's toppings: garlic spinach and bacon! Deliciouso!


My delicious plate... ok I had one and half more slices...


Back to finishing a paper ...

Busy Busy

The end of the semester and some trials with school this week have left me tired and ready for my trip to VA.

I prepped last night's dinner in about 20 minutes, and then cooked every off off in a about an hour in a half. It takes a long time to cook this dish, but didn't take a long time to make ;) which is perfect because this week there isn't enough time in the day.

Dinner last night: Butternut Squash and Sausage Bake. A weekly staple at this point...



During meals we now bring one of the dog beds in the kitchen so she will not give us 'sad' starving puppy eyes. Oh Luna...



For dessert I made a Flourless Honey Almond cake. I added 1/3 cup of melted semi-sweet chocolate though. Yum!

Right out of the oven...


My delicious piece ;)

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Another weekend...

I can't believe it is already Sunday evening- YIKES!


This weekend we registered at Williams-Sonoma. I do love that store! So many cooking supplies... so little time ;)


But that was on Saturday...

Back to day...

For my spin class today, I made homemade granola bars using a new recipe.

Peanut Butter/Chocolate Chip Granola Bars



Ingredients

- 1/2 stick of unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup of canola oil
- 3 cups of GF Oats
- 1/2 cup of chunky peanut butter
- 1/4 cup of honey
- 1/3 cup of silvered almonds, toasted
- 1/3 cup of chocolate chips
- 1 egg white
- 1/3 cup of brown sugar
- parchment paper
- 9 x 13 pan


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x13 pan with baking pan with cooking spray. Line the pan with parchment paper.
In a bowl, beat the egg white until frothy(use an electric mixer). Then, stir in the peanut butter, brown sugar and honey. Add the butter, oil, oats, and almonds- stir. Then, add the chocolate chips, and mix.

Spread the mixture into the prepared baking pan, pressing lightly to form an even layer. Bake until the edge of the mixture begins to brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool at least 1 hour. Cut into squares. Servings: 18





After spinning today, since the girls munched through ALL the bars- I ate a bowl of Panda Puffs and GF Multi-grain Puffins. It's a great combination since the Panda Puffs are so sweet, and the puffins are pretty plain tasting. I'm not a big cereal fan, but this combination is pretty fantastic!



For dinner, all day crockpot chili made with 96% lean meat, sweet potatoes, corn, tomatoes, white kidney beans, black beans, and onions with a little bit of Cabot cheddar on top.




Some Luna pictures from this weekend...

Luna and her new pal 'Kitty'... who's now headless


Her fox decided to hitch a ride on our walk...


Night all!