Blogger Envy

Reading numerous blogs each day can cause one to be envious of others. I’m sure it happens to many of us.  Kailey over at Snack-Face wrote a post regarding this same topic just the other day.  I am not going to go into great depth as to whose lives I find to be close to perfect  because I know their “perfect worlds” are a mere fallacy  made up in my mind and the grass is not always greener on the other side.  However, I will tell you that I do envy the foods and the activities that other bloggers eat and do in their day to day lives.

Some of those include, but are not limited to:

~Adding chia seeds to my yogurt or oatmeal.  I have yet to do that because I can’t find those things anywhere.  Maybe I should just go buy a ch-ch-chia (pet).

~Taking an exercise class like zumba or yoga or body pump.  I am just too darn intimidated and I’ve never been a dancer or coordinated in that manner.  Any advice for a novice who is interested in adding some variety to her workout routine?

On the other hand, there are some things I have mimicked  or tried after seeing it on other blogs like…

this morning I made my breakfast smile. 

I’m telling you I literally smiled back at my plate.  I felt like Tom Hanks with Wilson, the volleyball, there for a minute.

And I had some hot Nutcracker Sweet Tea Holiday Edition with a splash of milk.

For lunch I added some broccoli slaw to my wrap for some crunch; it was such a nice addition.

So yeah, I saw the slaw and the muenster cheese on a blog and had to have them.  I added them to my whole wheat wrap along with turkey, mustard, spinach, and sliced roma.  I added a wacked looking nectarine for some sweetness.

And dinner included another item I saw on a blog, Vodka sauce.  I browned some lean ground beef and added the sauce to heat through.  Spaghetti and fresh baby spinach was topped with the meat sauce.

Tonight was a first time having Vodka sauce and it was a nice twist on the usual tomato basil sauce.

Finally, I ended the night with another blogger-induced craving–apple crisp.  The crisp was made from sliced apples and granola along with some flavorings and sweeteners, but I didn’t love it so won’t be sharing a recipe.

 

Do you find yourself envious of other bloggers?

Not-Your-Ordinary Shrimp and Grits

I am super excited to share this recipe because my husband said it was my most creative, best recipe yet.  As I was sitting at work today thinking about what to cook for dinner, I knew it had to involve shrimp and butternut squash because that is what I had, but I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to put it together.  I also wanted to incorporate that sample coconut butter packet since I wasn’t very fond of the crumbled bit on my peanut butter and banana sammie the other day.  I think it was more the texture that bothered me.  Anyway, I found a way to bring all the ingredients together by putting a spin on the usual Shrimp ‘N Grits.  If you give the recipes a try, let me know what you think.   

Enter Cashew Coconut Shrimp and Butternut Grits with Parmesan and Rosemary.

Cashew Coconut Shrimp

Ingredients:

1 lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 tbsp. olive oil

1 tbsp. coconut butter, softened

1/3 c. cornmeal

1/3 c. cashews

3 tbsp. flour

salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Process cashews in food processor until a crumb-like consistency forms.

2. Pour cashews in medium bowl. Add cornmeal, flour, and salt and pepper to taste and mix thoroughly.

3. In separate bowl combine olive oil and coconut butter.  Mix until evenly distributed.

4. Season shrimp with salt and pepper.  Toss shrimp in oil mixture to coat.  Then pour shrimp into the cashew mixture and toss to coat evenly.

5. Spray broil pan with nonstick spray.  Put coated shrimp on pan.  Spray top of shrimp lightly with nonstick spray. 

6. Broil shrimp for 5 minutes on high watching carefully to not burn coating.  Rotate pan after five minutes.  Switch broiler to low and cook 2 minutes more with oven door open to be sure coating does not burn or until shrimp are cooked through. 

Butternut Grits with Parmesan and Rosemary

Ingredients:

1/2 butternut squash, peeled and cubed

1/2 c. quick cooking grits

1/4 c. parmesan cheese, grated

1 tsp. fresh rosemary, minced (more for garnish if desired)

salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Fill medium saucepan with water to cover squash.  Bring to a boil and cook until fork tender about 15 minutes.  Drain.

2. Put 2 cups water in saucepan and bring to a boil.  Pour in grits and stir, lower heat, cover, and simmer 5 minutes.

3. Add squash to cooked grits along with remaining ingredients.  Use a wire whisk to mash squash and incorporate into grits mixture.

Enjoy!  To plate, spoon grits onto plate or bowl.  Top with shrimp and sprinkle additional rosemary if desired.

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My other meals certainly do not top the meal above, but here they are.

I enjoyed a half of a toasted WW bagel topped with Maranatha peanut butter, sliced banana, spoonful of greek yogurt, and some Seedless Black Raspberry Preserves. And some mango green tea.

Lunch involved some of last night’s maple and brown sugar pork tenderloin.

I did heat the pork at work, but for picture purposes while packing it this a.m. here it is.  I served it on whole wheat bread with honey mustard, lettuce, and tomato.  The sandwich was pretty darn tasty; I am glad I stopped the husband from feeding the leftovers to the dogs.  Dessert included a sliced nectarine.  I also had a granola bar during after school tutoring, but no pic was snapped.

Well, I am off to fold laundry and finish up Idol.  Good Night!

I Haven’t Told You Lately

First let’s look at today’s eating habits.

Half Bagel with Peanut Butter, Banana, and some specs of coconut butter from a sample pack.

Lunch was a leftover salad from Whole Foods with additional spring mix and Gorgonzola and an apple.  The salad had a couple different bean salads underneath the lettuce and veggie mixture.

I had a Cashew Cookie Larabar for my after-school tutoring snack, but no picture was taken.

For dinner, I attempted to defrost red beans from the freezer, but upon opening the container I realized, well Chris realized it was gumbo.  I was in the mood for some traditional Monday Red Beans so I ordered take-out from Come Back Inn instead.

I gave Chris one of the sausage links and ate most of the beans and rice plus one piece of bread and a small serving of potato salad.  These hit the spot after a liberal dash or two or three of Crystal hot sauce was added.

Lately, I’ve been uninspired. I am uninspired to do my day job—teach with just one nine weeks left, but I’m doing it. I am uninspired to cook—lots more eating out has been happening with SOME cooking. I am uninspired to work out—I gained a few pounds and have been working out only 3 days a week. I am uninspired with blog writing—posts have been few and far between.

I am not quite sure where this lull has come from, but I am trying to get back on track. So, I figured I’d start by sharing a few things I haven’t told you lately.

1. Remember when I stopped biting my nails back in September, well I started biting them again. 

 

I am trying to cut the habit again and may need to go get that gel polish put back on since it lasted for about three weeks.  Please pardon the dry skin shown above. 😉

2. I eat my apples like my dad eats his rib bones.  Oh wait, I eat my ribs like that too when I eat ‘em!

I really gnaw on it ‘til all the flesh is gone. Now I don’t do that at work, but in the privacy of my own home that’s how I roll.

3. I have a serious addiction to chips (pita or tortilla) and hummus.

This container is just after two days.  Whoops!  Maybe the husband helped a tad, but not by much.  I have always had a much larger love affair with salty foods than the sweet stuff.  Give me fries; give me chips.  Well, you can have the fries just don’t eat my chips!  Seriously, I need to work on self control with the chips and dips. 

4. I bought this book back in January and began to read it.  But…

I have yet to get past Chapter 1.  I have picked it up about 5 times and just can’t get into it.  It references many German words and places and it just doesn’t capture my attention—so far.  I may still try to read it, but I picked up Water for Elephants at Target on Sunday and it looks a little more my speed.

5. The past several Fridays I have attempted to eat “Meat-Free on Friday.”  I do well with breakfast and lunch, but then dinner time comes and I eat meat.  Since I am Catholic and the Lenten season has arrived, I will be sure to make that sacrifice on Fridays up until Easter Sunday.  So, here is my eats of the first “Meat-Free Friday” in Lent.

 

That’s a Morningstar Farms Black Bean Burger in case you were questioning my Meat-Free Friday.

Gotta get going now because The Bachelor Finale is on.  My guess is for Chantell, but ya never know.