141.8…All Aboard!

Greetings from aboard the train! I’m on my way to Los Angeles to visit my mom. Love the free wifi on the train.

Thursday night we took the kids to PF Changs for dinner. I had the Shanghai Shrimp with Garlic Sauce and brown rice.

We took the kids to an event at the school afterwards.

Yesterday’s breakfast was pineapple Chobani, Special K granola and strawberries.

I took the kids to school, went to a meeting and then volunteered at the school all day. I did stop for lunch at Chipotle.

Chicken bowl with brown rice, fresh salsa, hot sauce, guacamole, black beans, lettuce and tons of hot sauce. Basically a party in a bowl.

I brought the kids home from school. Later that evening, my husband and I went out for “date night.” We saw “Hangover 3” before having dinner at Mia Francesca. The movie was funny but not as good as I had hoped. Oh well…most sequels aren’t.

At Mia Francesca, my husband and I split a Caesar salad.

For my entree, I chose the Salmon alla Fresca:

Salmon with avocado, tomatoes, red onion and balsamic glaze over grilled asparagus. Delicious! I’ve never had a bad meal at this restaurant.

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

I got packed up and headed to the train station. I’m going to spend the day with my mom and then my husband and kids will join us tomorrow. My brother is throwing a Memorial Day party tomorrow which should be a blast!

Any Memorial Day weekend plans?

Technorati Tags: Everyday,PF Changs,Chobani,Special K,Granola,Chipotle,Mia Francesca,Peanut Butter

142.2…Lemon Bars

I have bags and bags of lemon juice in my freezer. People always are giving me lemons…I think they want me to bake something for them or make lemonade or something.

All of a sudden the other day, my lemon tree had tons of lemons on it, ready to be picked.  I couldn’t bear to put anymore lemon juice in my freezer so I decided to do something with them. Lemon Bars!

Lemon Bars

Adapted from allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened

• 1/2 cup white sugar

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1-2 Tbsp. lemon zest

• 4 eggs

• 1 1/2 cups white sugar

• 1/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour

• 2/3 cup lemon juice

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. In a medium bowl, blend together softened butter, 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup sugar, salt and lemon zest. Press into the bottom of an ungreased 8x11 inch pan.
3. Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and golden. In another bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp flour. Whisk in the eggs and lemon juice. Pour over the baked crust.
4. Bake for an additional 25 minutes in the preheated oven. The bars will firm up as they cool.

Printable Recipe

This mess was my dinner last night:

Sorry you had to see that.

These are leftover from the Beef Enchiladas I made the other night. They weren’t as good as fresh and looked terrible when reheated but it was an easy, quick dinner so I can’t complain too much.

To add some green to my dinner, I made a salad to go with it:

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

After taking the kids to school, I grabbed a latte at Starbucks and then went on my son’s school field trip.

I met my husband at Harry’s Bar & American Grill for lunch. I had the seafood cobb:

Delish!

What are you favorite things to do with lemon juice?

Technorati Tags: Everyday,Lemon Bars,Beef Enchiladas,Peanut Butter,Harry's Bar & American Grill

141.8…Great Eats of the Past

While spending time in Los Angeles last week, I did get to enjoy some great eats. Here are the highlights:

Paco’s Tacos (this is the Mexican restaurant in the movie “Jerry McGuire”:

Buffalo Wild Wings:

Good wings, but not as good as mine. :)

Philippe’s (Home of the French Dip Sandwich):

 Elena’s for some Armenian Food:

Season’s 52:

Yesterday’s terrible Subway sandwich left me hungry so I had an apple and peanut butter for a snack.

For dinner I pulled a container of “Mom’s Goulash” out of the freezer, defrosted it, added some more marinara sauce and heated it up.

It reheated really well! I thoroughly enjoyed it. I made a Caesar salad to go along with it. Great dinner!

Breakfast today was Trader Joe’s vanilla Greek yogurt, Cascadian Farms Peanut Butter Granola and strawberries.

After I dropped the kiddos off at school, I went to the gym for some treadmill time.

Lunch was fish tacos at Wahoo’s with my friends. I hadn’t been in so long…I miss my tacos!

The rest of the afternoon had been spent catching up on things at home. Enjoy the rest of your day!

If someone asked you what the best meal of your life was…what would you say?

Technorati Tags: Everyday,Paco's Tacos,Philippe's,Seasons 52,Mom's Goulash,Cascadian Farms,Peanut Butter,Granola,Wahoo's,Buffalo Wild Wings

141.6…Beef Enchiladas

Part of getting back on track to a “normal” life for me is cooking! Last night I did just that: Beef Enchiladas! They were easy to throw together and everyone enjoyed them.

Beef Enchiladas (Serves 6-8)

Adapted from allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds lean ground beef

• 1 large chopped onion

• 1/8 teaspoon garlic salt

• 1 packet taco seasoning

• 12 (8 inch) flour tortillas

• 8 ounces shredded Colby cheese

• 2 (19 ounce) cans enchilada sauce

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a heavy saucepan or skillet, brown the ground beef and onions. Season the ground beef mixture with garlic salt & the taco seasoning and set aside.
3. Dip both sides of each tortilla in some of the enchilada sauce. Spoon some meat mixture and cheese into the center of each tortilla, roll them up and arrange them in a 9x13 inch baking dish or oblong pan. Pour the enchilada sauce over the rolled enchiladas and top with any remaining meat or cheese.
4. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes.

Printable Recipe

I made a simple salad with ranch dressing to go with it. It was a great meal!

Breakfast this morning was an egg beater omelet with shredded cheddar cheese and lots of Cholula hot sauce.

I also had a dried up, disappointing grapefruit. :(

After I dropped the kids off from school, I went to spin class. Two days working out in a row! I’m on a roll!

Lunch was (or used to be) an old favorite: Subway.

This may have been the worst Subway sandwich I have ever had. I ordered my normal roasted chicken with all the veggies and tons of buffalo hot sauce. I had it toasted….mistake. It was a roasted chicken sandwich between two bricks. After one bite, just about everything fell out. Boo. Sorry I cheated on my Wahoo’s fish tacos. I learned my lesson.

What was the last disappointing meal you had?

Technorati Tags: Everyday,Beef Enchiladas,Egg Beaters,Subway

141.4…Trying To Move On

First and foremost, I want to thank everybody for prayers and well wishes after the passing of my father. It’s been a rough week but with the love and support of friends and family, I have been able to take each day as it comes, knowing my dad is in a better place and is no longer suffering.

I spent several days at my mom’s house with her helping her get things done, attending the funeral and spending time with family. Yesterday was my last day there. For breakfast, I had toast with peanut butter and pineapple.

After a teary goodbye, I drove back to San Diego. I didn’t have a ton of time for lunch, so I picked up Taco Bell on the way home.

Bean burrito and chicken soft taco. 

I hopped in the shower and got ready for a “Progressive Dinner” with some other couples from our children’s school.

We stopped at the first house for appetizers. Check out these yummy dishes!

It was hard not to eat it all….but I knew I had to save room for dinner. And I’m glad I did! Check out this gorgeous display!

I enjoyed salmon in pastry with burre blanc, mixed vegetables and an onion & goat cheese gratin:

Not only was everything elegant but delicious too! Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you drive to the next house for dessert. Prepare to be amazed.

Have you ever seen such an amazing display of desserts!?! I could have stared at it all night! I made an ice cream sundae in the waffle bowl and topped it with chocolate and caramel sauces.  Then I went home and fell asleep in a sugar coma. :)

Monday morning always comes too quick. After last night’s giant meal, I wasn’t super hungry for breakfast…and since I knew I was going out to lunch, I decided to have a small breakfast of Peanut Butter Cheerios and almond milk.

After I took the kids to school, I went to Cardio Muscle class.

Lunch today was our 4th installment in our “Burger Crawl” around San Diego. Our first stop was The Habit, second was Smashburger with the third stop being The Counter. Today’s burger joint was Burger Lounge!

Burger Lounge featured single-source grass fed beef, uses local produce and the burgers are made fresh to order.

I choose the Lounge Burger (organic white cheddar cheese, onion, lettuce, tomato and house-made 1000 island dressing).

Best burger yet of any of our “Burger Crawl” stops. The burger was grilled medium and was extremely flavorful. There was nothing about this burger that I didn’t like.

You know what else rocked?

Their fries and onion rings. I split these with Alicia…glad I did…big serving!

I definitely give Burger Lounge two thumbs up!

Favorite burger joint where you live?

Technorati Tags: Everyday,Peanut Butter,Taco Bell,Progressive Dinner,Peanut Butter Cheerios,Almond Milk,Burger Lounge