142.0…Double Trouble

So…the dinners over the last two nights have been…..well…less than healthy. It all started with Father’s Day at Alicia’s house. She picked up Phil’s BBQ.

A plate of heaven basically. I went back for seconds on the ribs, cole slaw and onion rings. I couldn’t help myself.

Breakfast Monday morning was pineapple Chobani yogurt, Special K granola and mixed berries.

I took my daughter to the camp bus stop for her first day of camp. I went to Cardio Muscle class at the gym after.

I took my son with me to run a bunch of errands. He wanted lunch at McDonald’s. I had the grilled chicken Mcwrap and a salad.

The second not-so-healthy dinner were the hot wings that I made for “Wing Night” last night.

Worth every calorie. Oh..and Alicia brought the salad. See…I did eat some veggies! Not all bad!

Breakfast this morning was a toasted English muffin with peanut butter and a grapefruit.

Today was a big day. My son left for his first sleep away camp for TWO weeks. I stayed strong until the bus left. Then I cried like a baby.

I felt better once I hit the gym for spin class. Nothing like a good workout to brighten your spirits!

You know what else makes me happy??

The Wahoo’s fish tacos I had for lunch! And today they had a special: two tacos, chips & salsa (I didn’t eat!) and a drink for $7 something. Score.

Tonight is Bunco. More food.

Onion rings or French fries?

Technorati Tags: Everyday,Phil's BBQ,Chobani,Special K,Granola,McDonald's,Hot Wings,Restaurant Style Hot Wings,Wahoo's

141.4…Lemon-Herb Pasta

As promised, here is the Lemon-Herb Pasta recipe that I served with the Chicken Cacciatore Friday night.

Lemon-Herb Pasta (Serves 4-6)

Recipe Courtesy: Cuisine At Home

Malfada pasta looks like small lasagna noodles. If you can't find it, use farfalle (bow-tie) pasta instead.

Ingredients:

12 oz. dried mafalda or bow-tie pasta

2-3 Tbsp. minced lemon zest

4 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

4 Tbsp. unsalted butter

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh oregano

Directions:

Cook mafalda in boiling salted water according to package directions.

Drain pasta; transfer it to a serving bowl. Toss pasta with lemon zest, lemon juice, and butter. Add oregano.

Printable Recipe

So…last night we went to a “Murder Mystery” party at the El Cortez in downtown San Diego. My husband’s character was a Russian dancer. Mine was a super model.

Notice our serious faces. 

We arrived to a beautiful cheese platter.

We were seated for dinner and the show began. Our meal started with a salad.

My entree was seabass, rice and carrots.

Sorry about the dark photos…I didn’t want to bring attention to myself with a flash.

Dessert rocked. Check out this platter of goodness:

I had a s’mores bar and a carrot cake cupcake. Both were delicious! Oh and by the way….neither my husband and I were the murderers. :)

Breakfast this morning was an egg beaters sandwich in between a toasted English muffin with cheddar cheese. I had some strawberries as well.

Then I got my bake on and made my favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Lunch was tuna salad on top of a bed of greens.

Tonight we are headed over to a friend’s house to celebrate Father’s Day. They are having Phil’s BBQ cater it. Need I say more?

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there!

Have you ever been to a Murder Mystery party?

Technorati Tags: Everyday,Chicken Cacciatore,Lemon-Herb Pasta,El Cortez,Egg Beaters

140.4…Chicken Cacciatore

Last night’s dinner was a winner.

Winner winner, chicken dinner. And to top it off, it was a slow cooker recipe so I was able to throw everything into the crock pot and forget about it (mostly) until dinner time.

Chicken Cacciatore (Serves 6)

Recipe adapted from Cuisine Recipes

Ingredients:

3 lb. bone-in chicken pieces, skin removed, pieces seasoned with salt and pepper

¹⁄₄ cup all-purpose flour

2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

³⁄₄ cup dry red wine

1 can crushed tomatoes (28 oz.)

1 onion, sliced

8 oz. cremini or button mushrooms, quartered

2 Tbsp. minced garlic

1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning

1 tsp. anchovy paste

1 red bell pepper, sliced

Salt and pepper to taste

Fresh oregano

Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Dredge chicken in flour, shaking off any excess.

Brown chicken on both sides in hot oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat, about 8–10 minutes. Transfer chicken to a 4- to 6-qt. slow cooker.

Deglaze sauté pan with wine, cooking until liquid is reduced by half. Transfer wine mixture to the slow cooker.

Add crushed tomatoes, onion, mushrooms, garlic, Italian seasoning, and anchovy paste to the slow cooker.

Cover cacciatore; cook until chicken is tender, on low-heat setting for 3 ¹⁄₂ to 4 ¹⁄₂ hours. Add bell pepper, cover, and cook until pepper is tender, 30 minutes more. Taste for salt and pepper. Garnish with oregano and Parmesan.

Printable Recipe

I served the Chicken Cacciatore with Lemon-Herb Pasta (recipe coming) and a mixed green salad.

We kept saying over and over how good it was! 

This morning was awesome. I cannot remember the last time I got to sleep in on Saturday, in my own bed. Breakfast was scrambled egg beaters, salsa, green onions, shredded cheddar cheese and a bowl of pineapple.

My son is leaving Tuesday for sleep away camp for 2 weeks. (Eeeeek!!!) There’s a long list of stuff that needed to be labeled and packed.

I got it all in one big duffel bag!

Great success!

Lunch was leftover Chicken Cacciatore.

It was just as good the second time.

Tonight my husband and I are going to a Murder Mystery event in downtown San Diego. We have to wear costumes. It’s going to be interesting. :)

Did you ever go to sleep away camp? 

Technorati Tags: Everyday,Chicken Cacciatore,Lemon-Herb Pasta,Egg Beaters

140.0…School’s Out For Summer!

Wednesday night was all about the leftovers.

15-Minute Chicken & Rice Dinner. The rice reheated a bit dry so I added hot sauce to it. Fixes most issues.

Thursday morning’s breakfast was scrambled egg beaters with salsa, shredded cheddar, Cholula hot sauce and a side of pineapple.

After I dropped my son off at school, I took my daughter to the dentist. After I dropped her off at school, I came back home to meet my mom. She came down for the day to go shopping with me. She used to come down all the time before my dad got sick. I was glad to spend some quality time with her.

We ended up having lunch at Bloomingdales. I started with a cup of cream of jalapeno soup.

It needed lots of salt and pepper. Bland. You wouldn’t think cream of jalapeno soup would be bland, but it was.

My entree was the Salmon Caprese.

Bland too. Ugh! The salmon was overcooked and dry and the tomatoes had no taste.

We picked up the kids from school and came home. We all went to dinner at our club. We shared their homemade chips and onion dip.

This stuff is like crack. I couldn’t stop eating it.

Another thing I’m obsessed with is the wedge salad. If there’s one on the menu, it’s hard for me not to order it.

My entree was grilled fish tacos.

Amazing!

Today’s breakfast was a toasted English muffin with peanut butter and a grapefruit.

I took the kids to school and stayed for a few “end of the school year” events. Today was the last day of school. I can’t believe it. How does the year go by so quickly!?!

Today was a half day at school. The kids and I do the same thing every half day. We go to McDonald’s for lunch. This time we brought it home.

I know I’ve complained about their grilled chicken sandwich many times before (that’s what I usually order) but I’ve discovered a new thing to order: their Premium Grilled Chicken & Ranch McWrap. I actually like this.  I did also eat some fries and chicken nuggets that my kids didn’t eat. :)

So now dinner is in the slow cooker and laundry is getting done. I am NOT traveling this weekend and it feels beyond incredible.

What was your favorite thing to do during summer vacation?

Technorati Tags: Everyday,15-Minute Chicken & Rice Dinner,Egg Beaters,Cholula,Peanut Butter,McDonald's,Bloomingdales

141.0…15-Minute Chicken & Rice Dinner

Recently I was sifting through recipes trying to figure out what to make for dinner this week. I came across a Campbell’s Kitchen recipe that my dad had sent me awhile ago with a note on it that said “This one looks good!” It’s made with a can of Campbell’s cream of chicken soup, but so what.

15-Minute Chicken & Rice Dinner (Serves 4)

Recipe courtesy: Campbell’s Kitchen 

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 1/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
1 1/2 cups water
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups uncooked instant white rice
2 cups fresh or frozen broccoli florets

Directions:

1. Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the chicken and cook for 10 minutes or until well browned on both sides.  Remove the chicken from the skillet.

2. Stir the soup, water, paprika and black pepper in the skillet and heat to a boil.  Stir in the rice and broccoli.  Reduce the heat to low.  Return the chicken to the skillet.  Sprinkle the chicken with additional paprika and black pepper.  Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

Printable Recipe

Make sure you use INSTANT rice. I bought the wrong kind of rice and had to cook everything separately. Regardless, it all worked out. It wasn’t a super exciting meal but it was quick to make and we did enjoy it. I also added some cayenne pepper for a kick plus salt and pepper. Thanks Dad! :)

Breakfast this morning was pineapple Chobani yogurt, Special K granola and mixed berries.

After taking the kids to school, I dropped my husband’s car off for service then hit the gym for some weights and treadmill action.

Lunch was with Annette at Wahoo’s. Fish tacos rule!

I headed over to the school and did some volunteering before heading home. It’s going to be a leftovers kind of night tonight. :)

What was your favorite meal growing up?

Technorati Tags: Everyday,15-Minute Chicken & Rice Dinner,Chobani,Special K,Granola,Wahoo's

141.6…Spicy Asian Noodles with Chicken

I cooked dinner last night. It felt good. And I enjoyed what I made. Bonus!

Spicy Asian Noodles with Chicken (Serves 4)

Recipe courtesy Oxmoor House 2011

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp dark sesame oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons grated peeled fresh ginger
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups stir fry vegetables
• 2 cups chopped cooked skinless, boneless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup chopped green onions
• 3 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 2 teaspoons chile paste with garlic (such as sambal oelek)
• 1/2 package spaghetti
• 1/4  cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 tablespoons chopped dry-roasted peanuts

Directions:

1. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add ginger and garlic to pan; cook 45 seconds, stirring constantly. Stir in vegetables and next 6 ingredients. Add chicken in.
2. Cook noodles according to package directions. Add noodles to chicken and vegetable mixture; toss well to coat. Sprinkle with cilantro and peanuts.

Printable Recipe

Delicious dinner!

Breakfast this morning was a toasted English muffin with peanut butter and a grapefruit.

After taking the kids to school, I went to spin class. It’s a good thing I got a workout in.  Cathi had a party at her house with loads of delicious food. It was a “party before the kids get out of school for the summer” party.

Egg Casserole:

Muffins:

 Guacamole that I brought:

Quinoa salad:

 

Good times were had by all!!!

What’s on the menu for dinner tonight?

Technorati Tags: Everyday,Spicy Asian Noodles with Chicken,Peanut Butter,My Favorite Guacamole