My Night As A Single Gal

My night without the husband and kids last night did not involve any tight dresses or any bars, but I definitely got a taste of what my life would be like today if I was single. My parents have my boys overnight for 2 nights, so I wanted to take advantage of my "me" time by scheduling a badly needed massage after work. Aaah. Since Chip was working, I came home to a dark, quiet and empty house. I flipped on the lights, turned on the TV and started the DVR. It was late but after the light amount of food I had eaten that day, I needed dinner. And fast.

Fortunately I had frozen stir fry vegetables. I needed a protein source, so I went with this extra firm tofu I picked up today:

I put a little less than a tablespoon of oil in a pan, with two cups of frozen stir fry veggies on medium high dashed with salt and pepper:

Meanwhile, I cut off a small slab of tofu about 1/2 inch thick and cut into squares. I wanted it to be as meat-like as possible, and this firm tofu came through. In a separate small pan, I put a small amount of oil (approx 1 tsp) on medium high heat and cooked the tofu on both sides to make it crispy. I periodically shook the veggies in the pan to make sure they cooked evenly, and doused with low sodium soy sauce for flavor:

When the veggies were done according to my preference (still firm, slightly softened and heated through - nothing worse than soggy stir-fry), I combined the tofu with the veggies and served this very easy, single serving meal to me, myself and I while I watched TV.

Dinner for One!

At about 10pm, I was a little hungry, but I was NOT going to snack that late. I turned on my iPad, got into bed and read The Hunger Games until I couldn't keep my eyes open.

And how did I like this night alone? Honestly, I probably needed it. But I MISS MY BOYS. It's always good to have a little break, it makes me a better Mom. And Monkey and Buddha are on vacation, so its good for them to get outta dodge! Since I was sick for a whole week, the poor little guys had been at home pretty much since they got out of school. While I can't wait for them to come home, I will relish in this time where I can eat however I want with no one else to please. No competition for time to make my lunch this morning, and no  interference with my morning work out. How often do I get to be selfish? Rarely. And I'm getting a pedicure after work tonight. YES.

Have you had a whole night to yourself lately? How did you spend it? If you could have a night alone and could do whatever you wanted, what would you do?

Adventures in Purple Cauliflower

Isn't this beautiful? I saw this purple cauliflower at the Farmer's Market and had to buy it. I couldn't resist the deep, gorgeous color. According to the Livestrong website, cauliflower has all the nutritional benefits of regular cauliflower but is also packed with antioxidants. Who knew this pretty flowery vegetable is a healthy source of vitamin C, phosphorus, potassium and folate to add to your diet? I usually only eat white cauliflower in crudite platters at parties, dipped in some variation of ranch dressing. I wanted to really taste this vegetable, not dressing, since it was my first time. I prepared it very simply, and must say, really enjoyed it. It's so nice to have variety at the dinner table!

Super easy: Cut cauliflower into florets. Drizzle with olive oil, season with sea salt and pepper. Roast about 20 minutes at 425*. Great to let this cook (even in a countertop-style oven) while you are working on the rest of your dinner.

Enjoy!

Have you ever eaten or even seen purple cauliflower before? This was my first time, I had to try it!

Feeling Fancy: Nutty Kale Surprise - Smoothie

My breakfast in a stemless martini glass!

It wasn't so bad adjusting back to being home after my glorious weekend in Seattle with my oldest and dearest friends. Sure, I miss the spa, the great meals, the company of course, and not having to wipe anyone else's butt. I did come home to a spotless house because like a smart woman I scheduled house cleaners to come in and do a DEEP (and I do mean DEEP) clean right before I left. I was not overwhelmed when I returned. I did all my household laundry before my trip so when I returned I mostly had only my vacay laundry to do. I was right on schedule.

I drool over this type of selection, am I crazy?

While I got to enjoy visiting Pikes Place Market last weekend, I did miss out shopping at our local Farmer's Market. I got to go yesterday with both of my sons before baseball practice and stocked up on kale! It's been over a week since my last green smoothie and I was having a craving!! Apparently Monkey was too, as he asked for one also. I love it!!!

I decided to mix it up a bit this time. Of course, I used some of my favorite ingredients that I typically use in my kale smoothies with a little addition!

Nutty Kale Surprise
2 large kale leaves, hard stems removed and chopped
1 cup blueberries
1 ripe banana
2 tablespoons crunchy almond butter
1 cup crushed ice
1/2 cup water
1 cup non-dairy "milk" of your choice

Whirrrrrrrrr it up and you're done! Voila!

I loved the crunch of the almond butter! It also made crunching the bits of kale, which I really don't mind at all, less noticeable. I find banana makes my smoothies sweet enough, but some of you may want additional sweetener in the form of a non-sugar such as Stevia or even a maple syrup. Enjoy!!!

Have you tried almond butter? I bought it for myself and thought I could sub it out sometimes in my son's sandwiches but he's not having it. He didn't even mention it in his smoothie this morning, so I guess the Deceptively Delicious concept worked in my favor here!

Stay smart and delicous!

FTW! Kale Smoothie - Trial and Error

Now THIS concoction is something I will look forward to!

Ok, I think I've got it now. Last time I made a juice-based smoothie with my kale. As you may have read, I liked it a lot better than I thought I would but still wanted to experiment with flavor as it was just a little bitter. This time, I used less kale (approximately 2 cups instead of 3). I also used almond milk instead of orange juice. I found that this counteracted the bitterness in the kale much more than juice. This one was really good. We had a leftover fruit salad from Costco that someone brought over on the 4th, and it was perfect for throwing into the 'Bullet.

Beautiful , healthy kale

I used a whole banana, a couple days too ripe for eating plain.

The banana had the perfect sweetness for this smoothie

 I chose some mango, blueberries, a couple strawberries and melon from the fruit salad. (My kids don't like melon or mango. Perfect).

I chose fruit from this leftover salad that I knew my kids wouldn't eat

 I used a cup of my favorite almond milk.  And a cup of crushed ice.

I buy 2 of these when I go to Trader Joe's now!

I did not stuff my MB full of kale this time

 No extra spices or sweeteners were necessary for this delicious  - and I mean DELICIOUS - smoothie. I could really taste the banana, and I like banana. Whirrrr...and voila! Enough for 2 of us!

Not as green as the other smoothies I made. Sort of Shamrock-ish

 I can't wait to buy more kale at the Farmer's Market this weekend. Consider me hooked!!!

I know not everyone will have a fruit salad handy like I did but what's great about smoothies is the recipe doesn't have to be exact.

Recipe for Hungrigyrl Kale-Banana Delite:
2 cups kale, rinsed and lightly chopped (discard tough stems at the end)
1/2 cup blueberries
1/4 cup mango
1 ripe banana
1/4 cup honeydew or cantaloupe (I used both)
2 strawberries (optional)
1/2 cup crushed ice (optional)

I really want all you green smoothie skeptics to give this a try. Unless you hate bananas, you will love this smoothie!

The Quinoa Bomb-Diggity Breakfast

And it all started with this

Does your current breakfast leave you unsatisfied? Are you consuming a sugary carb load that only leaves you hungry 30 minutes later? I suggest you change up your game a bit. Healthy breakfasts with more protein do not have to be all eggs or nut butters. Quinoa is a grain that contains more proteins than other grains. It is wheat and gluten free. I have fallen in love with it mainly because you can eat it at all times of the day, and as a main dish or a side. You can even have quinoa for breakfast. You must try my Quinoa Bomb-Diggity!

You will need:

1 cup quinoa (I used organic from Trader Joe's)
1 cup almond milk - can also substitute with cow's milk or soy milk
1 cup water
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup walnuts, toasted (please don't skip the toasting, the flavor is amazing)
Honey to taste

Strainer for rinsing quinoa

Begin by rinsing the quinoa. You must use a fine strainer or else all your grain will go down the drain. Put the quinoa, water, and milk in a medium sauce pan on high.

I live for unsweetened almond milk

No sugar. Most people don't realize how much sugar is in regular milk

 

Bring to a boil. Once boiling turn down to medium low and simmer for 15 minutes or until most of the water/milk has been absorbed. Remove from heat and cover for about 5 minutes.

If you haven't already, toast your walnuts. The best way to do this is in a toaster oven for about 3-1/2 minutes. Toasting the walnuts adds an incredible flavor that really makes this dish.

I put my walnuts on a piece of foil and hit toast!

Stir in the cinnamon. I'll be honest, I used more cinnamon than I put in this recipe because I really like cinnamon but I know its not for everyone. I used 1/2 a tablespoon. Also stir in the blueberries and cranberries to get them warm and softened.

Spoon out into individual bowls. Sprinkle with toasted walnuts. Drizzle with honey. Enjoy.

Cooking notes: I highly recommend using unsweetened almond milk if you are trying to watch your diet. Even the 1% organic milk I feed my kids has 14 grams of sugar per serving. Make sure to also go easy on the honey. If you are really trying to restrict your sweets you can use stevia extract instead, but make sure you have tried it before as the taste isn't for everyone. Stevia extract is natural, and sugar and calorie free. You can't go wrong with blueberries, so you can always add more and skip the cranberries for less sugar as well.

Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy!

Need to add a little twist to dinner tonight? As an alternative to green salad, I think salads with fruit are great companions for chicken, pork chops, and fish at dinner time.  Here is a very simple recipe to feed a family of four. I think it pretty well adheres to the guidelines of everyone's New Year's resolution..to eat healthier. Bon Appetit!

2 red apples

1 green apple (you can experiment but almost any kind works well)

1 Bartlett pear

1 1/2 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons orange juice

1/3 cup chopped walnuts

1/4 cup dried cranberries

salt to taste

Whisk together the vinegar and orange juice in a large bowl.

Remove the apple and pear cores and chop fruit into bite-sized cubes. Leave the peeling on. Add the fruit and the walnuts to the bowl with the vinegar and orange juice. Add the dried cranberries. Toss well, drizzle with olive oil and then toss again.

Salt to taste. Ready to enjoy, but I like it better a little refrigerated.

Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy!

I started off my day with a gorgeous hike after breakfast. One of my lifelong friends and I trudged up a local mountain which is incredibly steep. Not only are our buns and thighs burning on our way up, but our cardiovascular limits are put to the test. I love this hike. Its not very long, but it is close to home, so we make up for it by doing it twice. It was a great way to start the day! I'm glad the weather held up for us because a storm is brewing, according to the news. I am proud to say I exercised 6 out of the last 7 days. I am determined to keep it up!

I had a big appetite at lunch time today, so indulged in a Trader Joe's Parmesan Pesto Turkey Burger. I love Trader Joe's! This turkey burger was pretty tasty. My hiking partner had told me that when she tried one she thought it was good but was surprised it was a little greasy, since turkey burgers are usually on the dry side. I read the package and they are 260 calories and have 18 grams of fat per serving. I wasn't sure how I felt about the 18 grams of fat but felt I had earned them on the hike so I went for it. Sometimes you just can't beat convenience.

Need to add a little twist to dinner tonight? As an alternative to green salad, I think salads with fruit are great companions for chicken, pork chops, and fish at dinner time. During the summer it is great to pack for picnic lunches. Here is a very simple recipe to feed a family of four. Bon Appetit!

2 red apples
1 green apple (you can experiment but almost any kind works well)
1 Bartlett pear
1 1/2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons orange juice
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup dried cranberries
salt to taste

Whisk together the vinegar and orange juice in a large bowl.

Remove the apple and pear cores and chop fruit into bite-sized cubes. Leave the peeling on. Add the fruit and the walnuts to the bowl with the vinegar and orange juice. Add the dried cranberries. Toss well, drizzle with olive oil and then toss again.

Salt to taste. Ready to enjoy, but I like it better a little refrigerated.

Happy Saturday!