January has been a good month. LONG, but good. I've been trying to get into a semi-healthier pattern of eating. While today's menu wasn't so indicative of that (Eric wanted Krispy Kreme this morning to celebrate being done with IM and we went to a pizza party tonight), I have managed to try a few new healthy things.
As mentioned in my previous post, I am working toward eating a vegetable every day in January. Granted, sometimes I've had to be a little creative get them in. Today I had actually had edamame, which is actually a legume, not a veggie (but it's green, so it counts, right?). I've also been guilty of chopping up a sweet potato a couple of times and tossing it in the oven to make quick sweet potato chips (yum!). Still, I'm getting a veggie a day, which is more than I can say for any month... ever!
I was really encouraged in this endeavor a couple of weeks ago when our Bible Fellowship group started a study on the book of Daniel. The first chapter is all about how Daniel chose to give up the king's hearty meals in favor of a diet of fruits, vegetables and water. After 10 days of following such a diet, he was in far better condition than the rest of the men in training. While there is far more to the story than that, it served for me as a reminder that the best things to put into my body are things that God made, not things that have been processed over and over by man. So I'm trying to do that little by little. It's not easy though!
I think the hardest thing this month has been a succession of new, "fresher" recipes that just have not turned out well. A couple were total disasters, and others just weren't that good. What's the point of cooking if you're not going to enjoy what you eat? So here's a run down on the good and the bad (with a few batches of paella, stir fry, and pigs in a blanket in between).
Spaghetti Squash + Pesto Chicken
There's no real recipe here - it basically speaks for itself. I cut the spaghetti squash in half, baked it for 25 minutes, took the "spaghetti out" and mixed it with grilled chicken tossed in the pesto sauce mix.
Overnight French Toast
1 stick butter
1 cup brown sugar
bread (Texas Toast or I used wheat bread)
4 eggs
1 1/2 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
powdered sugar for sprinkling
Melt butter in microwave and add brown sugar. Pour half of mix in the bottom of a 9x13 pan and spread around. Layer 1/2 of bread over brown sugar mix. Spread the remainder of the brown sugar mix on the bread. In a separate bowl, mix eggs, milk, and vanilla. Pour half of egg mix over bread. Add a second layer of bread and cover with the remainder of the egg mix. Refrigerate overnight. In the morning, bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Spinach Artichoke Pasta
Homemade Granola Bites
No picture for this one, but oh-so-delish, and easy too!
1 c. oatmeal
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/3 c. honey
1/2 c. chocolate chips
1/4 c. crushed almonds/walnuts or flaxseed
1 tsp. vanilla
(You can also add coconut, but I'm not a fan)
Mix all the ingredients together. Roll into small bite-sized balls. Refrigerate and enjoy. :-)
Tomato Frittata
I've tried frittatas before and they didn't turn out so hot. This one, though, turned out great!
The beauty of a frittata is that there is no real recipe. You just throw in what you have.
1) Grease a dutch oven (basically a frying pan that can go in the oven too)
2) Scramble 5-6 eggs with about 1/2 c. milk and pour into the pan. Add in any veggies/meats/spices you want (In my case, tomatoes and some salt and pepper and cheese).
3) Cook the frittata over medium heat until the bottom and sides are set. Meanwhile, preheat the broiler on your oven.
4) Once the bottom and sides of the frittata are set, put the pan in the oven and broil for 3-4 minutes, or until the middle is set as well.
5) Let the frittata cool, then cut like a pizza and enjoy!
Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken
We won't even comment on what a disaster that was... Needless to say there are NO photos of that mess!
Taco Stew
So this is something I actually made right before Christmas, but I froze a bunch and have since been enjoying it for lunch. As my darling husband despises beans and all bean-related dishes, I have gotten to keep this one all for myself. Yay. :-)
1/2 onion, chopped
1 can black beans
1 can red kidney beans
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
1 can Rotel
1 pkg. frozen whole kernel corn
1 packet taco seasoning
1 T cumin
1 T chili powder
Combine all ingredients and cook in the crockpot for 10 hours or on the stove over medium heat for one hour, stirring occasionally. Scrumptious.
Baked Banana Bread Oatmeal
Lucky for you, I saved the best for last. Well, maybe not the BEST, but I just made this for the second time this month, so it's definitely not the worst!
4-5 mashed bananas
1/3 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
2 c. milk
2.5 c. old fashioned oats
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla (or more like 2 T. if you're me...)
nutmeg & cinnamon to taste
nuts, raisins, blueberries... any other additional goodness
Mix bananas and brown sugar thoroughly. Add other ingredients and stir. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until the middle is set.
I have been making batch of this on the weekends and then refrigerating it all week, warming it up on cold mornings and mixing with a bit of milk. SO good!
Oh! And one last baked oatmeal recipe. This one may REALLY be the best, especially if you're a chocolate lover!!
Cookie Dough Baked Oatmeal
1/2 c. oats
1/2 c. milk or water
1 banana or 1/4 c. applesauce (or just 1 T. oil works too)
1 tsp. vanilla
chocolate chips to taste
Mix ingredients together, place in a baking ramekin, and bake 20-25 minutes at 375.
I told you I've been cooking a lot! :-) I've also been eating fresh salsa, roasted red pepper hummus, organic apples and bananas, tomato soup, and Clif bars (my current post-running obsession). It sounds a little healthy at least, right?
On another note, does anyone know where I can get some rutabaga?? I have a recipe I'm wanting to try.
Until next time!!
<3 Christie
