Things I Love Lately

Friends! I'm the worst. blogger. ever. But I'm okay with that because I stare intently at 2 computer screens for at least 8 hours, 5 days a week, and only have the mental capacity to mindlessly scroll through Pinterest when I am home. That's my life right now.

Something I haven't done in a while, apart from blogging in general, is blog about my favorite things lately! Hey now, contain your excitement.

1. "Pizza"

Flat Out wraps (or Light Tortillas, anything around 90-100 calories), 1/2 Cup Pizza Sauce, a serving of Turkey Pepperoni, 1/4 Cup Mozzarella Cheese, Bake at 325 on a foil-covered/greased baking sheet until desired crust crispiness/cheese meltiness is reached:

Awesome.

And you can feel like a pizza genius because you're assembling the masterpiece yourself.

Seriously. Do this.

2. Adonia Greek Yogurt Bars

75 Calories, 15g Carbs, 5g Protein - Awesome Dessert

3. Balance Bar Gold - S'Mores and Chocolate Mint Cookie

I eat these for breakfast every single day and never get sick of them. They are delightful and have 14g of Protein. The Brownie and Cookie Dough flavors are also amazing.

4. HBO's 'Girls'

I kind of hate myself because I find a show I like that is available in Comcast's ON DEMAND, then I proceed to watch the entire season in 2 weeks. I can't ever contain myself with these things.

Anyways, this show is kind of raunchy and really awkward, but I like it a lot for some reason. I think the characters seem real to me. Plus, there's a lot of dry humor and I dig that.

5. Absolut Wild Tea Vodka

You need this.

Just trust me. BUT, I haven't ever seen it in a store. For any Chico folk, you can test it out at The Pour House or The Banshee. I drink it with soda and lemon, but it's also good as a press with a splash of sprite. It would be amazing in lemonade or Iced tea. I need to find a bottle of this stuff so I can try it with Crystal Light. I know it will be a dream.

6. Walks

If you work in an office, you need to take walk breaks twice/day. As someone with back tension who gets frequent headaches, I know that taking some time away from my desk not only is mentally beneficial, but also allows my muscles some time to relax. Plus, I burn 60-70 calories on a brisk 10 minute walk. An extra 140 calories burned each workday is okay in my book!


7. Target Tanks 

$8.00, flattering shape, doesn't stretch out. Love. Buy yourself some online or in stores!


8. EPOC (Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption) or Afterburn Workouts


EPOC is like HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) in the sense that your body continues to burn calories long after your workout is complete.


I use this workout frequently after a 20 minute cardio warm-up. I found it on Pinterest and emailed it to myself but I don't have the source. Hopefully no one will sue me :(

Exercise #1: Weighted jump squat

How to: Hold dumbbells at your sides, lower into a squat, then jump into the air.

Reps/time: 15–20 reps

Exercise #2: Mountain climber

How to: Get into a push-up position and rapidly alternate bringing your knees in towards your chest.

Reps/time: 30 seconds

Exercise #3: Glutes bridge with alternating chest press

How to: Lie on your back with feet flat on the floor and a weight in each hand. Lift your hips from the ground, and alternate pressing the weights up.

Reps/time: 15 reps (each arm)

Exercise #4: Weighted burpee

How to: Hold a weight in each hand. Squat down, place the weights on the ground (still holding them), then jump your feet behind you to come into a push-up position. Reverse the move to stand.

Reps/time: 12–15 reps

Exercise #5: Extended-arm plank with row

How to: Get into a push-up position with your feet wide and each hand grasping a weight on the floor. Alternate rowing each arm up.

Reps/time: 12 reps (each arm)

Exercise #6: Invisible jump rope

How to: Jump quickly on the balls of your feet, turning your arms as though skipping, keeping your elbows tight to your sides.

Reps/time: 30 seconds

*Move right from one exercise to the next. When you reach the end, rest for 90 seconds, then repeat twice from the top.

That's all I have for today. Hopefully some of my favorites will become yours as well! Have a great weekend!

Pumpkin Protein Pancakes

Happy Weekend!

This morning, I decided I'd take one of the 500 pumpkin recipes I've saved over the past 6 months and actually bring it to fruition. There's just something about pumpkin!

This particular recipe is from my favorite blog ever - carrotsncake.com
I follow this blog daily and feel like Tina is my friend in some weird, internet kind of way. Don't judge.

Pumpkin Protein Pancakes
Adapted from Carrots 'n Cake

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Canned Pumpkin
• 1/2 Medium Banana
• 1 Egg
• 1/2 Scoop Pro5 Vanilla Protein Powder
• 3/4 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor until smooth

2. Heat pan or griddle over medium heat and coat with Pam (or another non-stick cooking spray)

3. Pour batter into pan (as either 2 or 3 pancakes)

4. Cook each pancake for about 2-3 minutes, then flip. Cook on the alternate side for about one minute

5. Serve with your toppings of choice

Basic Nutritional Information (without toppings):

Calories 211, Fat 5g, Carbs 19.5g, Protein 23g

The CNC original version called for ground flax, so I was going to use Chia seeds (1/2 tbsp) BUT I forgot :( I'm pretty bummed since I'm trying to incorporate Chia wherever I can, but I left them out of this recipe since I knew I'd be living a lie! Not really, but I want to make sure they absorb the liquid/add a nice texture, so I'll give them a try next time.

I added 1 teaspoon of light butter spread and about 1/8 cup sugar free maple syrup to my pancakes and I liked the flavor a lot. I think the banana shines through a bit more than I'd like - I'm all about the pumpkin after all, so I may add some more pumpkin and 1/4 of a banana in the future.

All in all, this is a healthy, delightful breakfast for a weekend day (or if you're a superhuman who gets up to make breakfast on weekdays).

Have a lovely weekend!!

Pistachio Protein Shake

I do realize that I have posted 3 blended drink recipes in the last week, but 1. I bought a new blender at Costco and it actually blends ice, so my world is changed and 2. I made this shake tonight and I decided that it's probably going to be my dessert every night for the rest of my life. It would be a travesty if I didn't share it with you.


I love Pistachio ice cream with every fiber of my being. It was my go-to as a child. I don't even know if they make it anymore, but I do know that this tastes EXACTLY like it and it's healthy!


Without further build-up, I present to you the...


Pistachio Protein Shake

• 1/4 cup Low Fat Cottage Cheese (I used Fiber One)
• 1/4 Scoop Pro5 Vanilla Protein Powder (one scoop has 145 calories and 32g Protein, so 1/4 was plenty for me. Use more if you have a lower cal/protein powder)
• 1 packet Stevia
• 1 cup Ice
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Pistachio Pudding Mix

Directions

1. Add cottage cheese, protein powder, ice, water and pudding mix to your blender

(You can alter the ice/water amounts depending on your desired thickness)

2. Use the pulse function on your blender to break up the ice cubes

3. Use the blend function for about a minute until the shake is free of ice clumps

4. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

General Nutrition Information:

Calories 106, Fat 1.25g, Carbs 10.5g, Protein 13g

Holy amazingness. I am stoked to try this same recipe with every other Sugar Free pudding flavor ever created. I already purchased the Cheesecake flavor which I will probably add frozen strawberries to... Wake me up if I'm dreaming!

If you think the cottage cheese part is weird, don't. It adds a lot of protein/calcium and it blends up with the drink so you don't even realize it's there. Plus, it acts as a thickener for a real shake-like texture. Trust me on this one.

In general, I love this blended bev eternally. I might add more ice/water to it next time since it was pretty sweet/rich, but I highly recommend this as a dessert or snack.

Broccoli Salad - Lightened Up

My mom makes the best salads ever. Well, she makes the best everything, really, but when it comes to family functions, I'm always scooping up 3 helpings of whatever immaculate side dish she decides to make. One of my all-time favorites is her Broccoli Salad. I'm pretty sure a lot of moms make this as a side dish, but I assure you, my mom makes it better. Just sayin'.


As much as I yearn for this salad, I know it's not the healthiest in the world. I was really craving it earlier this week, so I set forth on a mission to make it as a lighter version. Don't get me wrong, I will be eating my 3 helpings the next time Mom makes it the classic way.


Broccoli Salad - Lightened Up
Adapted from Mom

4 cups Cleaned/Chopped Broccoli

2 tbsp Light Mayo

1 tbsp Aged Balsamic (I used Lucero's classic balsamic - anything thick/sweet will do)

2 tbsp Bacon Bits

1/4 cup Red Onion

1 tbsp Almond Accents

1/2 Box Raisins

Directions

1. Rinse broccoli and chop into bite sized pieces

2. Cut two large slices of red onion, mince into small pieces

3. Mix light mayo and aged balsamic until they form a dressing

4. Microwave bacon bits for 15 seconds in microwave

5. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl

Makes 4, 1 cup servings

Basic Nutritional Information

Calories 96, Fat 4.13g, Carbs 11g, Protein 5g

It turned out to be pretty tasty. I could have added some additional mayo and balsamic dressing to coat the broccoli a bit more (that stuff absorbs, I tell you!). All in all, it satisfied my craving and was a nice side dish for a week-night dinner. It was also boyfriend approved.

Post-Workout Raspberry Chip Protein Smoothie

Whilst on the elliptical this afternoon, I found myself dreaming of some kind of protein dream creation... I knew it had to involve chocolate but that I also had to justify the chocolate with other, more healthy ingredients. I set forth on a mission to my local Raley's to acquire any ingredients not already in my fridge/pantry to concoct said dream creation. In my mind, I NEEDED frozen cherries to make this work. Raley's had no such cherries, so I cried a little bit inside and decided to settle for raspberries since they're also pretty good friends with chocolate. I  had almost everything else on hand, but I picked up cacao chips since I see them frequently used in "healthy" recipes and they are a pure form of chocolate. 

To make this shake you will need:

Frozen Raspberries (or cherries!), Cacao Chips (dark chocolate chips would work too), Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk (or any kind of milk... chocolate would be better but I didn't have it on hand), Vanilla Protein powder (again with the chocolate would be better comment and same reasoning for not using it), Plain non-fat Greek Yogurt & Ice

Directions:

1. Add the following ingredients into a blender -

1/2 cup Frozen Raspberries
1 Tablespoon Cacao Chips
1/2 cup Unsweetened Almond Breeze (Almond Milk)
1/2 scoop Pro5 Protein Powder (a whole scoop is fine depending on the powder you choose)
1/4 cup Non-fat Plain Greek Yogurt
1 cup Ice

2. Use the ice crushing or pulse setting on your blender to break down the ice cubes

3. Once the ice is well crushed, use the smoothie or regular blend setting, letting the mixture incorporate for about a minute

4. Pour and enjoy!

Stats (with the exact ingredients/amounts I used) -
Calories: 192.5, Fat: 4.5g, Carbs: 14.5g, Protein: 23g

Hot Pink Bendy straw: REQUIRED.

Pretending it's Summer

I'll avoid the usual introductory paragraph where I say I haven't blogged for a reeeeally long time and that I'm going to start writing regularly again... Because, I am a liar :)

Today is a rainy, windy day and it's pretty depressing. I know it's April and I keep thinking about the saying "April showers bring May flowers"... I hate that saying. I hope it's wrong this year. Flowers also need sun, and they need to grow without being pummeled to the ground by 60 MPH wind gusts - okay Mother Nature?? Enough of my bitterness.

This afternoon I found myself hungry at an awkward time and I'd already had an afternoon snack, so I decided I'd food gawk at the 'Food & Drink' board on Pinterest with hopes that I'd eat in a virtual/vicarious kind of way, but no luck there. I did, however, find a post with a slushy made out of frozen berries and Crystal Light! I was naturally intrigued and I had similar ingredients on hand (like strawberries that have been in my fridge since last summer...freezer burn will add to the slush, right?), so I decided I'd go for it despite the fact that the weather isn't really supportive of frozen beverages.

Here are the ingredients (adapted from justusgirlsblog.com)-

1 cup frozen Strawberries
2 cups ice
1 packet prepared Crystal Light of any flavor (I had Target brand "Margarita Lime" mix)

It turned out like this:

My first thought was - this would taste way better with vodka or tequila, but my second thought was that it tasted pretty darn good for packing only 60 calories. I think I'll make this as a cocktail during Summer with a shot (or two) of the good stuff. For now, it will hold me over until dinner and gave me a good serving of fruit this afternoon. I'm anxious to try it in different combinations and possibly with fresh berries/more ice.

Stay dry, folks! 

Happy New Year! (Plus an Appetizer Recipe)

Happy New Year, friends!

I hope everyone had a great Holiday. I am particularly enjoying another 3-day weekend to the max. 

First, I have to show you the miserable picture below from Friday @ work. My co-worker and I decided to take a walk despite the chance of rain, and about half-way into our 10 minute walk, we were hit with a sudden torrential downpour! Lucky for her, she had a scarf to protect her, but I only had my hands! I sent this photo to my boyfriend so he could feel sorry for me and tell me that I didn't look like a street bum (even though I did).

Anyways, back to NYE... We decided to go to a friend's house this year rather than braving the crowds and I think we made a great choice! I wore a silver 20's inspired dress from Forever 21, but you can't really see it in any of my pictures, especially since I wore a sweater most of the night. Guess I was more concerned with champagne than capturing any moments!

Now for the best part! I pulled a recipe for Hot & Cheesy Roasted Red Bell Pepper dip from my FAVORITE blog ever, How Sweet It Is

I basically stuck to the recipe, but I wanted to make a double batch, so I doubled almost everything except for the Asiago & Parmesan because the containers I bought were 5 ounces (I would have used 8 ounces if I doubled the recipe exactly). I used a can of roasted red peppers and cooked the dip in 4 smaller ramekins I had on hand.

I think it helped that everyone was intoxicated, but the dip was devoured by the end of the night. It's hard to go wrong with melted cheese. Sorry I failed to take any photos with my real camera, so the iPhone version will have to suffice! You can see some amazing pictures from the source of the recipe above.

You should probably make this on a random Friday night and drink champagne just because you can. My boyfriend says I can only make it for him because it's too good to share with anyone else :) Oh, the flattery!

Here's to a healthy & prosperous 2012 (free from any correct Nostradamus/Mayan/whoever else thinks the world will end predictions)!