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)!

Things I LOVE Lately

Here's a quick list of some things I adore these days!

1. Polyvore

OMG. So, I thought I was obsessed with Pinterest, and then because of Pinterest, I became obsessed with this site! Basically, you create your own looks using tops, jeans, dresses, shoes, accessories etc. It's incredibly inspiring and fun! I wish I was like Alicia Silverstone in Clueless and had my closet in this system. Getting dressed would be WAY more fun and easy if I could plan my outfits like this! Here are some of the looks I've created:

So Fun!

2. Starbucks has Sugar-Free Peppermint Syrup!

As a sugar-free syrup devotee, I love when any company broadens their offering. I was so excited to see that Starbucks added this new flavor to their Holiday menu. I've tried adding it to my non-fat lattes, to a Mocha Frappuccino Light & to a Coffee Frappuccino Light... All of which were amazing!

3. Tasty Protein Bars

Well, I am a serious bar-lover when it comes to breakfast and snacks, so I'm always looking for new ways to spice up my fare. Lately, I've been loving Balance Bar's Cookie Dough bar for breakfast. It's pretty tasty and has a great texture (not chalky like a lot of other bars).

I've also been loving Snackwells' Protein Snack bars for an afternoon pick-me-up. They have 8 grams of protein and 140 calories. I particularly like the Peanut Butter Flavor, but all 3 varieties are great!

4. Nike Training App

So, I've had this app on my iPhone for a while, but I've just started using it recently and it ROCKS. My body has been consistently sore from it, but that's a good thing! I love that you can choose a workout based on your goals and level of ability. Each workout is 30 minutes, and a lot of the programs incorporate cardio into the interval training. It's seriously like boot-camp! The best part of all is that it is FREE. I seriously can't believe it. I'd highly recommend this one.

Hopefully some of my favorites can become yours as well. Let me know if you have anything that's tickling your fancy lately :)

Skinny Caramel Apple Cider

I love the Holiday Season and I love all of the food/drinks that come along with the cooler months! When I used to work at Starbucks, I fell victim to many Caramel Apple Ciders (SO good), so in a bout of nostalgia, I decided to make a healthier version tonight!

Skinny Caramel Apple Cider

Serves 1

Ingredients

1 Packet Sugar Free Apple Cider Mix

1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Caramel Syrup

8-10 Ounces Hot Water

2 Tablespoons Fat Free Redi-Whip

1/2 Tablespoon Caramel Sauce

Directions

Add the Apple Cider Packet & Caramel Syrup to a mug. Swirl to incorporate and add hot water. I used my Keurig Brewer to pour my hot water (the largest cup setting) and stirred as the water dispensed into my mug.

After the hot water is fully poured to the level of your liking, stir well. Add 2 Tablespoons of the Fat Free Redi-Whip & Drizzle with 1/3 Tablespoon of Caramel Sauce. There is a sugar-free version of the caramel sauce, but it had 90 calories per 2 Tablespoon Serving, so I went with the real deal at 100 Calories per 2 Tablespoon serving.

Ohhhh yes.

Nutritional Information

45 Calories

0g Fat

11g Carbohydrates

5g Sugar

Enjoy!

Holiday Inspiration

Why, hello! It's been a long blogging hiatus, but I'm back for a post due to some Merry creativity :)

I can thank Michael's, general Holiday excitement & Pinterest for the sudden urge to craft (mostly Pinterest). I had no idea how motivated I could get just by looking at pictures of other people's DIY talents! If you don't have Pinterest and feel like being inspired (and spending a LOT of time browsing the site), you should sign up! You should also follow me so we can share our Pins:

http://pinterest.com/lindseyhoag/

I have all kinds of plans for upcoming crafts. Some of them are a little bit to intense for my time/skill-level, but I can still hope for one day! The craft I'm going to try tonight is yarn trees. I'll definitely post later if they turn out.

In the meantime, I have a few simple Christmas ideas:

1. Large Vase + Branch elements + Ornaments

It's always great to have a staple vase to match your decor. I bought the vase below on Sale at Pier One about a month ago (I think it was $30), and I plan to trade out the contents of the vase per season.

When I went to Michael's tonight to pick out some Holiday craft supplies, I found some snowy/crystalline branches that I thought would be the perfect height for my vase, but I was wrong. I had to get a bit creative to give the branches some height. I just took an empty wrapping paper roll (pretty abundant around most houses this time of year) and stapled 3 times horizontally down the middle to create two small openings:

Once I inserted the branches, they had a stopping point around the crystal portion, so I was able to give them about a foot of extra height.

To give a bit more holiday flair, I decided to add some small ornaments that I also purchased at Michael's. I didn't use ornament hooks; I just took the loop at the top of each ornament and pulled the branches through:

2. Ornament Stuffing!

My mom always used ornaments as a decorative element in her garland, and I am definitely following in her footsteps! Ornaments add a great dimension to garland. You simply remove the top of the bulb and stuff the garland branch into the opening:

This also works really well with wreaths. Michael's is a great place to find glittery decorations for a custom-wreath. It's much cheaper to make your own, and it's nice to be able to say you did it yourself:

3. Roasted Pecans

Nothing is better than roasted pecans still warm from the oven, especially in the cooler months. I was given some raw pecan halves recently, and I decided to roast them in the oven with the following additions:

Light Butter Spread distributed over all of the pecans (I left a tiny dollop on each half). You could absolutely use regular butter instead. I used the light spread because I had it on hand. If you do use something more solid, it would probably be best to melt and mix the nuts into the melted butter before pouring onto the baking sheet.

Garlic Salt distributed generously

Bake the pecans at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, stirring twice while cooking

It's important to watch the pecans as they can burn easily. Just take a look at them every 5 minutes or so to see how they are browning. Once they are toasted, remove from the oven.

So good! 

I'm off to attempt some crafts. Let me know if you have any fun Holiday ideas!

Taste of Chico Review

As promised, I am offering my opinion about The Taste of Chico since it was my first time attending the event!

So, my review may not be the best depiction since I started off my day with Champagne Brunch at Bellas unexpectedly thanks to the boyfriend (side-note, you pay $5 over your meal price for champagne, and they are not stingy in ANY way with their bottles, so that was an awesome deal)!

After the champagne, I headed to the event with my friend and her boyfriend. For anyone who has never attended, you pay for different types of tickets. I, of course, bought the ticket that included the most alcohol and food tastings for a prime experience! My ticket included 8 food tastings, 9 alcohol tastings & I think 6 non-alcohol tastings, not like it mattered because I did not use the non-alcohol punches :) My ticket price was $34.

I had initially planned on being VERY choosy with my food punches, but I let go of that mindset once I hit the beer garden. I started off with Aca Taco, which was delightful as always and I got to say hi to my old friend Maritzi who is always a joy to see. We then stopped randomly at some casino stand (Feather Falls I think) and were given a really tasty Chicken Salad, which I proceeded to drop on the ground (NOOOOOOOOO!) fumbling for my camera.

After the salad fiasco, I grabbed a sandwich sample at Broadway Heights which made me feel a lot better. They were sampling their Pesto Chicken sandwich, which is awesome. With three punches down on my card, I decided to stop to grab a bite at Priya which was SO good. I really enjoy Indian food, but wasn't impressed when my bf and I dined there last, so I should definitely give it another go.

After the great food sampling, we decided it was time to head to the Beer/Wine Garden. We got a cute little commemorative cup to place our samples into and take home as a souvenir. 

I stopped to get some Stella Artois (my fave) first, and then tried some different brews that were new to my taste-buds (most of them were not to my liking). We soon found that many of the vendors were not remembering to take the alcohol tickets, so I had about 5 samples of Great White :) I think we were in the Beer Garden for at least an hour or more, which was plenty of time for us to get a good (major) buzz on. I ended up giving away a lot of my tickets in the end, so I definitely got my value out of that portion.

Once we left the Beer Garden, it was probably time to go home (reiterating Champagne consumption), but we had plenty of food punches remaining. I then had the chance to try what ended up being my favorite stop of the day: Upper Crust! 

I used two of my punches at Upper Crust and tried out their salad trio, which was fantastic, and a light berry dessert. After trying the salads, I have decided I must go there for lunch ASAP. I've heard they have an amazing lunch offering, but I've never been, so it is time to check it out!

After Upper Crust, it was time to retreat home for a nap. I neglected my lonely little punches, but I had a great time, a $34 well spent, and will definitely attend next year!

Live Fit Challenge Update, Easy Summer Recipes

I want to first give a little update on the Live Fit Challenge... So, my little tricep injury was a major set-back the first week that I started the program. I got to the point where I could not bend my left arm at all. That sucked. I had to majorly modify the plan and only do the ab and leg workouts. As far as cardio, I just stuck to the elliptical with my hands at my sides. Needless to say, I was ecstatic to regain my mobility and get back in the groove of things toward the end of last week!

On Saturday, I did a full upper body workout and did not have issues with pain. I now make sure I stretch majorly before and during my routine. I'm really enjoying incorporating weight training into my workout plan and I have noticed some small changes, which is nice.

As far as weight loss goes, I think most of the weight I thought I had gained was water weight. Word to the wise: Don't weigh yourself the morning after a weekend long vacation laden with wine and tasty (but unhealthy) food choices! Although I was pretty let down the first morning of this program when I weighed in, it was also kind of nice to lose 5 pounds in 4 days! Geeze. You know it's too awesome to be true. Good 'ole water retention. I'll have a more realistic weigh in tomorrow, so we'll see how that goes. I don't expect a lot of change since I'm likely building muscle mass. I'm more interested in toning than anything else, so I'm okay with that.

Lately I've been trying to get more creative in the kitchen, and I've gotten into a Roasted Red Bell Pepper kick. I don't like roasted peppers out of a jar (they're gross and taste too burnt half of the time). You can easily roast your own peppers by setting your oven to 400 degrees, cutting a bell pepper in half and de-seeding, spraying a cookie sheet with Pam, and letting the peppers cook for about 8-10 minutes (keep an eye on them!). Once you take the peppers out of the oven and let them cool off a bit, make sure to peel off the skin that has hardened and lifted.

Roasted Red Bell Peppers are great on their own in salads and sandwiches, but I've been food processing them up with other pre-prepared items to add some freshness.

I have been loving adding peppers to store-bought jarred marinara (with extra garlic of course). For dinner the other night, I made some whole wheat pasta with chicken meatballs and doctored up marinara sauce:

Last week I made a plain hummus into something homemade (deceivingly) for guests. I took a store-bought Red Pepper Tapenade and food processed with the roasted peppers. The consistency came out like this:

You'll have quite a bit to save for later, but you can place a generous dollop on some store-bought hummus. It was tasty!

On this particular night, I had my best friend over and we were set on making Blackberry Mojitos! On a summer night, there's nothing better, really!

For our Mojitos we used:

1 Shot Premium Silver Rum

4 Mint Leaves

3 Lime Wedges

4-5 Blackberries

Sugar Free Sierra Mist

Crushed Ice

Basically you throw all of the fresh ingredients into the bottom of the glass and mull them together. I don't have any fancy bar tools, so I just used the back of a wooden spoon. The drinks were super refreshing and also really healthy (Approx. 100 Calories each, 115 if you were to eat the berries).

You can substitute blueberries or strawberries and the drink would be just as tasty. It was nice to change things up a bit. 

Lastly, I made a batch of tasty salsa! I love homemade salsa during August-September when the tomatoes are in top condition. My salsa this time consisted of:

1 Garden Tomato

10 Grape Tomatoes

Handful Cilantro

4 Cloves Garlic

1 Garden Bell Pepper

1 Jalapeno

1 Anaheim Pepper

1/2 Medium Red Onion

Juice of 2 Limes

1 Ripe Medium Plum

I processed all of the above ingredients in the food processor until everything was chopped finely. I then coarsely chopped about 7 more Grape tomatoes for extra texture and added salt and pepper to taste.

Pardon the dorky Instagram picture, I guess that's the only one I took. The plum balanced out the spiciness really well and the salsa was very tasty!

For a quick/healthy dinner to go with the salsa, I made quick Enchiladas for dinner:

2 Servings

Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees

2 Frozen Burritos (I used Amy's Organic)

3/4 Small Can Enchilada Sauce

1/2 Cup Fat Free Shredded Cheddar (1/4 cup per burrito)

Add all ingredients in a baking dish and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Bake for 55-60 Minutes or as instructed on Frozen Burrito packaging.

The finished product looks kind of like a blob, but trust me, it's very tasty!

I rambled on sufficiently for tonight, but it is seldom these days that I get the chance to sit down to blog, so I may as well make it count!

This Sunday I am going to The Taste of Chico event and I am SO excited since it's the first time I've been able to go. I'll try to post a review about the value of the event for the cost of the ticket I purchased next week :)