wednesday's love

I have a few recent loves that I thought I would share with you today...

1. Sneakers on pavement, as the sun goes down...

Running. I never thought this would make it to a "what I love" list, but I can honestly say that motherhood has changed the running game for me. Pre baby, the thought of running any distance, especially in the summer was dreadful and exhausting. I used to force myself to do it, but would constantly have to will my feet to keep moving. I would usually end up walking the last leg of the "run".
Now after Hunter is in bed, I hit the pavement and tour around the neighborhood, anywhere from 1-3 miles. It affords me time to clear my head, pray, think or not think...whichever I chose.  I can honestly say I am enjoying the challenge of running, and my feet carry me with vigor I've never experienced before. The rythmic drum of my feet on the asphalt, and my arms swaying back and forth is so calming. I get so lost in thought that a half hour flies by, and I finally understand what runners mean when they say they can't get enough!

 

 

2. 25 cent special occasion cards...
A whole smear of them. These little beauties, originally from Target, were only a quarter at the goodwill today. As an avid note sender, and life celebrator, I knew I had to get my hands on some. Twelve to be exact. They are adorable, and make me grin=)

3. The perfect shade of coral...

You know how it is so hard to pick the right color polish for toes...one is too orange, another too red, and another too pink...and most make your feet look pale and chubby? (please don't tell me I'm the only one!)

Well, I found the solution, via my friend's pretty toes last weekend. The perfect summer shade of orangy/pink/coral polish. They make your little piggies look long, lean, and tan. Am I exaggerating? of course not ;)

Want to know the best part? It is only a buck at five below=) Three cheers for cheap/pretty polish and having my very own bottle so I don't need to keep borrowing hers;)

What is making you smile today? Do you have a new hobby that has captured you lately? Or a favorite polish color for summer?

Sharing with: What I'm loving Wednesdays

35 seconds to breakfast.

Last week I shared a recipe for yummy baked oatmeal that allows for me to eat breakfast before 11am every day. This week I tried another make-ahead recipe that is so good and can be frozen and popped in the micro when needed...
enter Spinach & Cheese Quiche For One.

It's so simple really:

Mix together approximately (I did not break out my measuring cups):
2 cups Frozen spinach (thawed)
16oz EggBeaters
1/2tsp garlic powder (or minced garlic)
1/2tsp italian seasoning (or fresh herbs from garden or grocery store;)
salt/pepper
1/4 cup Bacon Bits or 3oz bag (or more=)
1-2 Real Eggs
2 cups shredded cheese

Spray Muffin Tins with Pam.
Fill cups.
Bake 375.
20-25min.
Let cool.
freezer or fridge.
Pop one in the microwave for 35 seconds.
Enjoy!

*Recipe courtesy of Hunter's wonderful Grammy, my mother-in-law...thanks Grammy!

Sharing with:
Someday Crafts

Savvy Southern Style

Oh so yummy!

Most mornings it is around 11:30 by the time I get around to eating breakfast...between getting Hunter and I ready for our day, and doing laundry, dishes, etc...breakfast gets banished to the bottom to the to-do list:) 

Earlier this week I decided to try a yummy baked oatmeal recipe that a friend had given me...and oh my it turned out yummy!

Now each morning I just cut myself a sliver and voila, breakfast is served!

Here's the magic combination:
1/2 cup cooking oil (I used veggie oil)
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup sugar (I used brown sugar)
3 cups oatmeal
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 cup milk

Mix it all together, spoon it into a pie pan, bake at 350 for 30-35 mins, enjoy!!

I really like mine warmed up with some apple slices or fresh fruit...but if you like it moist, it would be delectable with a little warm milk and almonds on top...or raspberries...or blueberries...or really anything;)

Do you have any favorite recipes that helps to keep breakfast on the schedule in your house?

Pour yourself a glass...

A few nights ago, I made an Asian inspired stir fry for dinner...and in typical me fashion, I made enough rice  to serve at least 10 people...(anyone else ALWAYS overestimate when cooking rice??? I swear the stuff multiplies while cooking...hehe)


So after we ate we had nothing left except a big bag of cooked rice... 


and not wanting it to go to waste, I decided to try my hand at homemade risotto...and it turned out pretty yummy so I thought I would share the recipe...


Sorry, I have no exact amounts, I usually just cook to taste and throw things in as I go...


Creamy Shrimp Risotto:


Cooked rice (mine was brown rice, but whatever works)
Frozen shrimp (de-veined and peeled)
White wine
Shallots
Minced Garlic
Heavy whipping cream
Parmesan cheese (the shaky kind you put on pasta)
Lemon Juice


Instructions: 


Cook your shrimp (I didn't defrost it first and it cooked up nice and juicy) in white wine with your shallots and minced garlic, over medium heat. add more white wine. then pour in some heavy whipping cream and sprinkle some parm. cheese over it all, and stir. add more white wine. add your rice and stir all up...add more cream and parm. cheese until you reach the consistency you like. add more white wine. then add lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste...


Dish it out...sprinkle on some cayenne pepper (if you like a little kick to your food), pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy!

P.S. Sorry the picture is so lame, my hubby was literally hoovering over me with his fork while I took this shot...hehe...

Banana Oatmeal Muffins...

For the last few weeks I have really been trying to cut back on how much sugar and white flour I eat, since I have always been a sugar-a-holic and mommyhood is inspiring me to take better care of myself (plus I would love to lose those last few lingering prego-pounds;)

So I made muffins yesterday, using a recipe I found here. 

In an effort to save time, I copied and pasted the original instructions below:

• 3 mashed bananas (the more ripe the better!)
• 1 cup vanilla Almond milk (you could use skim but you may want to add a little sweetener)
• 2 eggs
• 1 tbsp Baking powder
• 3 cups (240g) Old Fashion or Rolled Oats
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 tbsp (42g) mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Mix all ingredients except the chocolate chips together, and let sit while you prepare the muffin pans.
Spray a muffin pan and/or liners with with non-stick spray.
Stir the chocolate chips into the oatmeal batter.
Divide batter into 15 muffin cups. They should be just about filled.
Bake 20-30 minutes, you’ll see the edges just starting to brown and they will be firm to the touch.


I wasn't sure if the recipe called for sweetened or non-sweetened almond milk, since there are both versions of vanilla almond milk...
so I used unsweetened, but added 2 packets of truvia to the batter, just for a little sweetness=)


I was very skeptical of the results until a few of my girlfriends tried them last night and reassured me that they taste just like a healthy muffin should...key work here being healthy, hehe...
and this morning I nuked one and smeared a little butter on it and it was deeeelish=)

Cucumber Feta Salad!

We are so blessed.

We have a wonderful marriage, a home, a baby on the way...

and wonderful neighbors...

The kind of neighbors who come over when we aren't home and leave bags full of fresh produce from their garden at our back door...

See what I mean?

Blessed.

and the best part is that the cucumbers and lettuce above are 100% all natural, organically grown, right over the fence =)

Last night, we were headed to our friends house for a cookout, so I thought it would be a good time to use the yummy cucumbers to make Cucumber Feta Salad, a perfect accompaniment to a summer meal.

I started by rinsing off the cucumbers, and roughly peeling them, leaving a little skin for some texture:)

 

Then I chopped them all up into quarters like this:

Next I added the yumminess...feta cheese with garlic and herbs...mmmm!

At that point Mike came home from the grocery store with my cherry tomatoes (and, yes, my hubby loves to grocery shop...did I mention how blessed I am;)

We were in such a hurry to get out the door, that I barely took any pics of this step, but its pretty easy...

I just rinsed and cut the toms in half and added them to the bowl. Then for additional flavor, because you can never have too much, I added some minced garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper to the mix...

and voilà, fresh Cucumber Feta Salad!

It was delicious! but not nearly as good as the time spent eating it with our dear friends:)

Sorry if the picture is a little blurry;( we really were in a hurry to get out the door and on our way!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

 Last night, my hubby was feeling pretty sick with an upset stomach an achy joints and muscles. So while he was taking a nap before dinner, I got a few items at the grocery store to make him a get-better-quick meal...

Here are my purchases:

Chicken broth, lemon juice, orzo, a rotisserie chicken, carrots, lemon pepper, strawberries, and Emetrol for nausea...

I decided to make one of our favorites: Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup!! It was a surefire way to get Mike smiling again=)

Since I was not in an overly ambitious mood last night, I went with as many pre-prepared ingredients that I could...like an already cooked rotisserie chicken...mmmm.

First, I pulled all the meat off the chicken and shredded it so it looked like this:

Then, I diced up an onion that I had on hand (using my new favorite kitchen tool: my Santoku Knife from Ikea)

Then I dumped the whole container of chicken broth into the pot...

And mixed in the onions, chicken, and pre-slivered carrots (another thing that I cheated on by using the already prepped version)...

Then, I absentmindedly forgot to take pic of the next step...cooking my orzo (about half of the box) in the broth with the chicken, carrots and onions, which added so much flavor...mmm

Next I took three eggs that were in my fridge, and mixed about 1/3 cup of lemon juice to the eggs and whisked it all together really well...

Then, with the broth boiling, I dumped in the egg/lemon mix, and stirred it really well so the eggs would not cook together, but would blend in nicely.

My favorite part was what came next, the addition of fresh herbs from my garden:) I used parsley, thyme, and basil, but you could add whatever you like, you can't go wrong!

In addition to the herbs, I seasoned the soup with LOTS of lemon pepper, and some onion powder, salt, and pepper to taste. Again, any seasoning that you love will work in this soup!

MMMM... it smelled so good! I added some cornbread to give us a little something sweet to contrast the lemony tartness.

Mike work up hungry and joined me in the kitchen for a steamy bowl of soup, and sure enough his smile returned instantly=) mission accomplished=)