I'm gonna start giving people that lusty look when I do my stretches. BAHA! NOT. Well...maybe I will. I have been known to "set a man down and set him on fire" with my eyes (yea, this was a real pick up line from an old man I received once. I've never lived it down with my friends.) Here's my own sultry look. See, I got skillz. LOL!





























This blog is gonna be short and sweet. I forgot, AGAIN, to photograph my entire day's meals. UGH. Dummy me. Tomorrow, ladies, I promise! :)

I did have a wonderful workout and am officially out of my slump from last week. Before today I hadn't hit the gym in a week and 3 days. Eek. Way too long. I don't know why I never go when I'm in a slump. I KNOW it makes me feel better, but for some reason my brain tells me that it's much more fun to sit on the couch, drink wine and eat chocolate.

Biggest Loser and American Idol tonight...AND Housewives of Orange County and Nip/Tuck. What the Hell man. Tuesday is jam packed. They need to help a girl out and change the day for some of these shoes to Thursday nights.

Hump Day Tomorrow. I know everyone's excited. I AM! Take care y'all!

On my day off, I've been cooking up a storm in the kitchen, whipping together Yogurt Dijon Chicken, more Cashew Butter Chicken Stew (loved that recipe), a couple salmon fillets and a couple Tilapia fillets. This is all this weeks lunches, snacks and dinners. I find that if I make everything in advance, it's less overwhelming and I can stop and breathe, watch my TV shows, etc. :-)
ALSO, I made a dessert/breakfast. Peanut Butter Apple Muffins. I've been meaning to make them for awhile,and they did NOT disappoint. Check them out! Look at those chunks of apple! And the peanut butter in the center....YUM-O! ha! Now, I feel as though I didn't get to relax at all today, so that's where I'm headed now--to the couch! Watch a little Netflix. See you guys!

Meghann has a fantastic giveaway on her blog this morning! As I was reading her blog, I was making a note (literally) to buy this bra, but then I saw she's giving away one...Well, Gracie's Gear is! Please go check it out! Here's a photo of her sports bra with the pocket in the front, good for stashing your ipod, keys, etc! That's the magic of this sports bra! I need one...

Hey guys!! So, overall--fun weekend. Onward to recipe goodness! As I write, I'm chowing down on Cashew Butter Chicken Stew courtesy of my Oxygen magazine. So good and a definite "comfort food", but PACKED with protein and not bad on carbs/sodium. Check it out:

2 cups chopped red onion
1 red pepper, sliced into strips
1/2 tsp. black pepper, divided 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1# chicken breast, cubed
1/4 c. fresh curly parsley, chopped 1 medium Granny Smith apple, cored and cubed
1 c. frozen lima beans 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 c. cashew butter, unsalted

1. In a large non-stick pan, saute onions, pepper and 1/4 tsp. black pepper for 4 minutes. Add broth, chicken breast and parsley. Cover and bring to a boil. Simmer until chicken is cooked through and remove from pan.

2. Add apple, lima beans, salt, cayeene pepper and remaining black pepper to the broth. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Uncover and whisk in cashew butter until well blended. Return chicken to pot.

Very easy to make. I didn't take the chicken out for step 2, I just added the apple, lima beans, etc and cooked it altogether. It seems fine and the chicken isn't overcooked.

Makes 8 3/4 c. servings.
188 calories per serving
11 g. fat
14 g. carbs
3 g. sugars
11 g. protein
2 g. iron
2 g. fiber

Judging from the magazine photo, it looks like it's supposed to. LOL. I'm so upset when it turns out looking NOT at all similar. And yes, I'm having wine tonight. Today SUCKED. Period. It was a last minute decision as I perused the grocery store. I even got a white wine you guys. I am a Pinot Noir (red) gal, but craved something light, airy and free. Pinot Grigio it was. :-)

Hey guys! if any of you have eaten at PF Changs, then I'm sure you've tried their chicken lettuce wrap appetizers--SO good, low in carbs and now made at home! HA! Not hard at all, and it was so delicious and light. Perfect! Here's the recipe:






ASIAN CHICKEN LETTUCE WRAPS

Ingredients

Directions

In a lightly oiled skillet over medium-high heat, stir-fry chicken and carrots until chicken is just cooked through and carrots are slightly softened. Reduce heat to low and add 1/3 cup dressing and stir well to combine, cooking for 1 minute. Transfer the chicken to a serving bowl, adding dressing, if necssary, to moisten. Sprinkle with nuts. Spoon a couple of tablespoons of chicken inside a lettuce leaf and wrap like a taco.

I added some spices to it, because I just have to have TASTE in my food and I felt it was semi-bland. But, guys, that dressing is FANTASTIC!! I love Asian style meals that are healthy as well. Best of both worlds!

Had an OK day today--was stressful coming back from a small "vaca". Pilates was the class of the day at the gym, so I decided to join. That was just OK as well. I've decided since my dog is still with my parents, and I don't have to come home for lunch to let him out (yes, I'm a good mommy!), I'm going to work it out at lunch AND after work. Gotta double time it! :-)

I feel like I should clarify a few things--a few people have asked me why I can't eat some things and why i say..."That looks so good and healthy...too bad I can't eat it." Simply put: Carbs. I'm definitely not against them. We all know you need carbs to function, folks! My trainer is to blame :-) She has me on a high protein diet so that I can build more lean muscle and burn that fat right off--it does come off quicker than a high carb diet....for ME. Every body is different, but I've always seen GREAT results eating this way. Once I get to the weight I want to be (around 150-165), I can maintain and eat "normal". Got a ways though. Besides that--I do cheat at times. :-P

Alright...Bachelor and Heroes tonight! I must be off. Hope you all have a great evening!

Tofu and Noodles with Peanut Sauce


Yeah.....so, decided to document the cooking of this recipe. I have to say I put WAY too much vinegar in the peanut sauce, so I had to compensate and add more of everything else. In my defense---the recipe wasn't EXACT measurements (equal parts BS. haha!) and *I* cannot work without exact measurements...at least I tried :-) And actually, this turned out pretty good!

Had to make a special trip to Target to get Unsalted Cashew Butter for another *NEW* recipe I'll be making soon (never seen the stuff before. Call me sheltered.), and I spotted these babies in a cooler! I'm not really supposed to partake in cheese because of the sodium or something, but I couldn't resist and THEY are so GOOD. I'm such the CHEESE-A-HOLIC. Perfect snack!
















Anyway, here are a few pictures from the Tofu/Noodle Peanut Sauce recipe making process! I've never had Tofu! Not too bad--kinda just tastes like.....well....nothing to me! LOL















Probably the BEST part were the stir fried veggies. OH, so good.















I'm thinking this will be my lunch for tomorrow. It's too heavy for my dinner I think--at least I'm pretty sure my trainer would scold me. LOL

Guys--I'm a MESSY cook. Are you? I mean I have sauce and tofu, etc. all over the place. I'm such the neat freak that I do clean up WHILE cooking, not at the end. Can't take it!! haha

I'm gonna let you guys know now--I plan on being bad here shortly. Well, hell, why not? I've been "bad" all week. So, I plan to watch the Superbowl with wings and beer. yes. That's right. Beer and wings. The worst combo ever for your health, but tastes so good. HA!!

Monday is a new day!

So, I look at all of these food blogs online and get jealous because of the things they make--So creative and looks so fresh and yummy! Most of these recipes, however, I can't eat, so I guess I shouldn't be too jealous :-) But it's always those with the waffles or granola and bananas concoctions. Mine never look like THAT!

I need to re-take my measurements and post them here online for easy access, but guess what? I don't want to. I don't think I'm ready for the world to know those numbers. I definitely have come to realize, writing this blog, that I have body issues I need to work on.

How about Miss America 2009, Katie Stam's ROCKING bod? Now THAT is a healthy, fit body! Love it!