Thankful for Breakfast

So we are all aware that the star of Thanksgiving is dinner! Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls, green beans, pumpkin pie...the list goes on! But what about the morning? The parade nibbles and the dog show delights? Ya gotta eat something!  Otherwise you are sitting around smelling great smells all day while your belly howls in agony. Plus ya gotta give your tummy a little stretch so you have room for that big huge dinner.
Now I personally step back from my strict ways on Thanksgiving. It's THANKSGIVING!  No calorie counting, no portion control and no worries about how many pieces of whatever you've had. However, I have discovered a delicious breakfast to be had on Thanksgiving or any day...and it is healthy! It's warm, decadent and feels like a real treat, yet is only 460 calories!
I invite you to try out my Honey Wheat Cranberry Vanilla Pancakes!

1/2 cup dry mix Krusteaz Wheat and Honey Pancake mix mixed 1/3 cup water

add 2 tsp cinnamon and 1 tsp vanilla extract

Add 1tblsp plain fat free greek yogurt

wisk it all together

add 1/4 cup dried low sugar cranberries (Craisins)

Make pancakes as you normally would

top with 1tblsp REAL butter (yes real!)

1/4 cup sugar free maple syrup

I got three larger pancakes and one mini out of this recipe and that was a HUGE breakfast for me!  It was sweet and filling and warm and fantastic!  The aromatics of the cinnamon, the plump sweetness of the cranberries and the nutty wheat made for a fantastic cold weather day starter!  Fall flavors and quick and easy prep and clean up make this an ideal meal to enjoy on your very special Turkey Day!  May you enjoy your holiday and families and be Thankful for all things including this recipe! 

Black Beauty...Bean, that is!

Maybe it's my Tampa/Cuban influence. Maybe it's the filling protein packed flavor. Maybe it's because it's low calorie and super versatile...whatever the reason, I LOVE black beans!  Dry, canned, slow cooked, stove top sauteed, in burger form or even made into a new kind of bean dip...there are few foods that bring me right back to my childhood like black beans. My childhood babysitter Marta made them at least twice a week...with white rice and palomia steak. My Cuban friends growing up always had black beans on the stove with onions and sofrito. My dad learned to make them too and turned canned black beans into magic with yellow rice.  When I went vegetarian, I ate them several times a week to get my dose of protein and flavor.
This week the black bean was a star in my kitchen with 2 incredible, healthy recipes perfect for heating up my belly as the temperatures cool down.

The first is a single serve black bean chicken chili that can easily be made into a whole pot of awesome!  My recipe measurements are for the single serve and total calories for this big comfy bowl is a stunning 420 calories!

*1 link of chicken sausage with cheddar and jalapeno (I squeezed it out of the casing and ground it up in a small pot) 

*1/2 a cup organic canned black beans with some of the juice

*2 tbsp low fat sour cream

*1/4 cup fat-free shredded cheddar cheese

*2 tbsp salsa

*1/2 cup shredded green cabbage

*1 tbsp chili powder

*1 tsp each of adobo powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper (less if ya don't want it super spicy)

Brown the sausage in a pot, once cooked add the black beans, salsa and seasonings. Add cabbage and let simmer on med for 5 minutes. Add half your cheese and half your sour cream. Mix and cook an additional 5 minutes until it gets creamy and gooey. Slop in your bowl and garnish with the rest of your cheese and sour cream and ENJOY!

Next we have a breakfast/ brunch that is LOADED with protein.  I like this for after a hike or after the gym, but lets face it...brunch is good anytime!  I call it Black-n-White Hash and this serving has 395 calories and is  a satisfying, if not generous portion! It's also pretty- which is one of my favorite things since we tend to eat with our eyes first!

* 3/4 cup Ore-Ida frozen potatoes O'Brien (potato cubes with onion and peppers)

*3 large egg whites and 1 large egg

*1/2 cup organic raw spinach 

*1/4 cup canned black beans drained

*2 oz simple-truth black forest ham diced

*2 tbsp salsa

*1/4 fat-free shredded cheddar cheese

*2 tbsp low fat sour cream

*1 tsp garlic salt

*1 tsp black pepper

In large skillet cook potatoes as directed after a quick spray of Pam. Add spinach, beans and ham once the potatoes start to soften and brown. Let all cook down until potatoes are fully cooked and remove from heat. In separate pan, Scramble egg whites and egg and add spinach and salsa with spices. Once eggs are scrambled, fold in hash mix and add half the cheese.  Plate up and garnish with the rest of your cheese and the sour cream. DIG IN!

Please enjoy the beauty that is the black bean!  It really is a lifesaver for someone trying to stay full and watch their waistline.  Stay tuned for an upcoming tribute to my other favorite bean...the Garbanzo! Coming soon! 

Totally Engaged!

Forgive me for being "that girl" but I am still just over the moon about my recent engagement! My mind and heart and thoughts and discussions all seem to come back to this very special time and planning the most special day. If I wasn't me...I'd be totally annoyed with me!
John has always given me reasons to shout from rooftops, mountains or anything else...high. Because he just makes me so incredibly happy!  The last 4 1/2 years have provided me with so much growth, adventure, laughter, love, respect and friendship. I don't think my silly little words can come close to describing the love, joy and passion I have for this man every single day.

courtesy of Lola Bird Photography

As we get closer to our wedding day, and I start thinking about writing vows- I have come to realize how difficult this really is.  I totally thought it would be easy and thoughtful to profess this unimaginable way I feel for my soon to be Husband. But that's just it...it's unimaginable. It's beyond words and feelings.  Something so real and true and deep, yet so hard to express in a way that does it justice. We decided together to make our vows funny, witty and totally us...but it deserves some loving, kind words that for whatever reason I can't pull together to make a sentence that matches how I feel inside. It seems so...not enough.

John is so far from typical. He is unlike anyone...ever...in the history of man...or ape. He is one of a kind. I doubt he has even thought about his vows or what he might say, or what songs might play at our wedding, or which shades of pink will stand out in pictures. He likely hasn't given a thought to cake toppers or gifts for his groomsmen. He keeps saying "Whatever you want"  (what girl wouldn't love THAT??!) But many times it's all in what he doesn't say...the way he put so much thought into the proposal and the ring. The way he knows I love poached eggs on Saturday mornings and has them ready when I wake up. The way he remembers what means most to me and makes it happen, the way he is never at a loss for words, but knows exactly when NOT to use them.  He smiles at me in a way that still gives me the shivers. He laughs at how I turn many conversations into song. He respects and encourages my need for a beef chimichanga once every other week. He made fun of my "old lady hands" for months, now I know it was him inspecting my fingers and trying to figure out my ring size. He pays attention to the little things so he can make moments and big things happen.  He supports my dreams and drives me to make them come true. He is unlike anyone...but he is my everything.

On Saturday, March 15th 2014 I get to marry my Viking. The day is shaping up to be better than my most amazing dreams. It's how my life has turned out. Better than I could have ever hoped for. Surrounded by the people who mean the most to us, we will pledge our love and commitment to one another. I guess it won't matter how my dress looks or how the tables are set up, if Harlow happens to piddle as she walks down the aisle or if it's a cloudy day. It won't matter if someone spills a drink or a toast gets way out of hand with the rowdy bunch of friends we have. I am so excited to have a marriage... more so than a wedding. The wedding is just the stage for our monologue into married life. I can't wait to be John's WIFE. I can't wait to call him my husband. Will we really change? Probably not. We will still be us as different as we are... and I am so excited for that. Don't get me wrong...I am stoked about my pink party garden style super fun-ville day that's approaching...I am just looking forward to the every day after that just as much.

Every day I also think about my parents. They are hosting this shin-dig at my family home in the backyard where my beloved and ever so missed Grumpa used to walk and "water the bushes" aka smoke his Winston Lights. Where Raggs... the meanest dog ever aka the love of my life would chase squirrels and run up and down the side of the fence barking with all 13 pounds of ferocious glory. Where he now rests under where my ficus tree used to grow that my favorite Aunt gave me when I was 5. The place is as important as the people we chose to share this day with. Rooted deep in my heart and my memories- this day is all about the love. My parents have given me so much to be thankful for and taught me the true meaning of appreciation. I am honored to have my Daddy walk me down the aisle and I plan to be prepared for the river of tears my Ma is bound to create. Everything about this day is about journeys, love and being thankful. Handpicking the most important people, places, words, songs, foods, moments, memories and more...I can't wait for this day.

https://www.facebook.com/Lolabirdphotography

http://lolabirdphotography.com

Thankful

Every November I take part in a Facebook tradition of listing daily what I am Thankful for. I suppose it's good to be reminded around Thanksgiving of all our blessings and what we have...but I like to check in to all that I have to be thankful for all of the time. We all get so caught up in things in life and sometimes the stresses of every day life make us forget about all the good things we have.  I like to take a moment every single day to relish in what this day brought me...every day I wake up is a new opportunity to live this amazing life of mine. Today, I have put a little extra thought into what I am most thankful for every day.
I am thankful for my health. There was a time not so long ago that I didn't think I'd ever be okay and healthy. I was scared daily about my heart exploding or my blood pressure bottoming out and going through another surgery or worse, not going through anything ever again. I am so thankful to be better, to be healthy and to be active. I am thankful for my doctors and modern medicine and to my dad and John for quite literally forcing me to stay in the hospital and take care of myself.
This brings me to my Dad. My best friend. He has always been there for me and has always been a voice of reason for me. Even if I didn't want to hear it, he always guided me with truth and honesty. My entire family is something to be thankful for. My mom and I have seen our share of bumps and turmoil but she has never given up on trying to make things better. My niece Alexis is the silver lining to every cloud in the sky. She is so smart and driven, funny and witty, and pretty as a picture...just ask her. Her confidence and strength is admirable and I am so proud of her every day. My sister and I have also gone down a rocky road, but sometimes we find these smooth patches and I am thankful for them.
Despite 2000 miles of space between us...I am so thankful that my best friend Dana and I still talk every single day. We are there for one another even from so far away. She and I have "been to hell and back again, but through it all, you're always my best friend..." (a line from one of our Bon Jovi favorites)  She really is my soul mate and I swear I'd be lost in this life without her.  She is raising 2 beautiful little ladies to be kind, compassionate and loving women just like she is. She really is a hero.
I am thankful for my doggie daughter Harlow. I can't even believe how much I could love someone like I love this dog.  I know it seems ridiculous to some, but that's only cause you have never experienced it. She is my baby and I tend to her as such.  She can communicate, she feels sympathy and she is loyal. There has never been a greater dog. She might be a little human...or I might be a little dog...puzzling...
Finally I am beyond words thankful for love. Real love. True love. Love I never knew existed until John came into my life. The kind of love that changes you. Makes you better. Makes you put someone else before yourself even though you never really have to because you are partners and he is doing the same for you. He really brought life, reality, drive and hope into my heart and every day is a dream come true. I am so excited to spend the rest of my life with the person who made me whole and helps me find the missing pieces of the puzzle of me. I am thankful for his laugh, the way he makes me breakfast on Saturday mornings, his amazing cheeseburgers and how he can go up 5 octaves during a Dave Matthews song. I love his bushy beard, the way he makes animals out of hair after he shaves, even the way he leaves his clothes everywhere but the hamper and carves faces into bars of soap while in the shower and uses all the hot water. I love the way he looks at me and the way he tickles me every time he hugs me.
I am thankful for the simple things...sun showers, mountain views, the smell of Fall, the sunshine on my face, glittery snow falling on a cold starry night, cheese, hot baths, wine, the burn in my legs during a long hike, the way John's beard feels on my cheeks when he kisses me hello, the taste of a cold beer, the sound of water, the way ya feel when ya finally fit in a dress you love, the greatest songs coming on the radio, and the list goes on.  Every day presents you with a gift...a reason to be thankful.  May the spirit of Thanks find you this November and every day!

Calorie Careful Comfort Food

As the temperatures drop, my need for warm delicious cozy food skyrockets! While I am total sucker for classics like baked potato soup, mac and cheese and creamy tomato soup with ooey gooey grilled cheese- I am also still craving to be healthy and keep off the cold weather insulation aka weight gain.
Many times I get asked for recipes...the truth is I never really keep track.  For me, cooking is like painting...I just make it up as I go along and see what inspires me.  I keep track of calories, fat and nutritional value, but never really designed a recipe...until now. 
This week I paid attention! Kept track of ingredients and decided to share with you 3 of my most delectable, most healthy dishes of the week!  Not only are they healthy, low cal and insanely delicious...they are pretty too!  (Since we eat with our eyes first!)

Let's start with my Creamy Curried Chicken Tomato Soup

 

*This starts by baking some boneless skinless chicken breasts in the oven at 350 for 30 minutes. Before baking, dust with garlic salt, pepper, paprika and curry powder.

*Next prepare some Campbell's Classic Tomato Soup with water- I use the healthy choice option with lower sodium

*To the soup, add a minced garlic clove, 2 cups of organic fresh spinach, 1tsp crushed red pepper, salt and pepper

*Once soup is heated and combined, lower temp to simmer and add 2tbls whipped low fat cream cheese and stir until well blended (Kroger offers a Greek yogurt cream cheese that I love!)

*When the chicken is done, shred or chunk and add to soup

*Let simmer for 5 minutes before serving with a dried basil sprinkle on top and a dash of hot sauce for a kick if you like!

TOTAL CALORIES FOR 1 1/2 CUPS SOUP W/4OZ OF CHICKEN: 279 CALORIES

 

 

 

Next- Chickpea Cheese Burger

 

 

This is a totally simple lunch or dinner idea with tons of flavor and protein!

*Toast a Thomas's English Muffin (Multi-Grain Triple Health)

*Heat a Morning Star Mediterranean Chick Pea Veggie Burger in the microwave

*Add 1/4 cup of crumbled goat cheese to the burger in the last 30 seconds of heating

*When English muffin is finished toasting, take one wedge of Laughing Cow Garlic and Herb spread and spread over top and bottom

*Place burger on bottom and top with fresh organic spinach and arugula blend and sliced cucumbers

*Dash of Lawrys Garlic Salt

*1 tsp spicy mustard

*Top it, eat it, Love it!

TOTAL CALORIES WITH A 8OZ GLASS OF SPICY V8 ON THE SIDE : 345

 

Finally, the soup I have been eating on ALL week because it's just too good!! Spanish Bean Soup

 

This beauty takes some time and prep, but it's so worth it!  And there is enough to feed ya all week and make recreations!

While canned beans are faster and ok, I use dry beans and let them soak over night in a water bath.

*2 cups beans 1/2 garbanzo 1/2 black

*1 box of chicken stock (16oz)

*Combine in crock pot or slow cooker

*add 3 minced garlic cloves

*Add 1/4 cup sofrito (I used the Goya jar)

*2 tbls adobo powder

*3 cups spinach

*1 diced tomato

*3 red potatoes diced

*1tsp paprika

*salt and pepper to taste

*pinch of saffron

*1tsp cumin

Let her sit and simmer on low for at least 8 hours, stirring occasionally. Make sure beans are well cooked before serving.  The first night I ate it, I chopped some chicken sausage into it, the next day was as is after staying on warm in the crock pot overnight again and half the day. Today I am adding some yellow rice.  This can be altered and revamped every day and be just as delicious!

TOTAL CALORIES FOR 1 CUP ORIGINAL: 130

 

 

I promise to keep track of my cooking adventures if you promise to try them and let me know what you think! My goal is to prove that healthy and tasty came be one in the same.