Day 315: New Product, New Recipe, 6.5 miles and Make it or Break It?

Yesterday was like really… I have to go back to work? Blah. I drove in with a bajillion other people in awful traffic. Grrr. It did give me time to eat yogurt, shazam three songs, update my facebook status, check my email (and write a couple back) and locate my work badge. Sigh. I worked until lunch, then headed out for 3.5 miles with Stacy/Sue. We chatted, and I got an exciting phone call from my buddy Mary – she got a job!!! (she was laid off a few months ago – sad) I’m so happy for her! Then it was back to work… then back to the gym for another 3 miles (read Karin Slaughter’s Blindsighted – SO good). After 6.5 miles it was time to head home to whip up a new recipe, a variation of Cooking Light’s Pizza Pasta Salad for 2!

2 oz. uncooked rotini pasta

3 oz. artichoke hearts (from jar), drained

1.5 oz. turkey pepperoni

1 oz. fat-free feta cheese

1 oz. fat-free mozzarella cheese

10 grape tomatoes, quartered

4 oz. roasted red peppers (from jar), drained

¼ cup Light Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing (I used newman’s)

2 basil leaves, minced

1/8 tsp pepper

Optional: ½ cup mushrooms; ¼ cup green pepper; ¼ onion diced

Cook pasta; drain, rinse with cold water and place in bowl #1. In bowl #2, combine artichoke hearts, pepperoni, cheese and tomatoes. Stir in salad dressing, basil and pepper. Place roasted red pepper in blender; process until smooth. Add pepper mixture to pasta/bowl #1. Stir. Add pasta mixture to artichoke mixture and toss well. In bowl #3, combine lettuce, mushrooms, onions and green peppers. Toss. Add artichoke/pasta mixture to bowl #3. Toss well! Serve with pita (1 pita smeared with 1 tsp olive oil and sprinkled with rosemary and kosher salt baked for 5 minutes at 450 degrees). Nutritional Information: 450 calories, 61 carbs, 13 fat grams and 26 protein grams (with pita). For You Low-Carbers: Without pita: 370 calories, 49 carbs, 11 fat grams and 26 protein grams. Without noodles AND pita: 270 calories, 28 carbs, 10 far grams and 22 protein grams.

Yes, I’m the only person on earth who can make a salad with almost as many carbs as my fried rice recipe!! Haha I knew the noodles would push it over but didn’t realize how all of those veggies would add up – who knew??! Anyway – we loved it! Super filling and fabulous, definitely hit the spot. Can’t wait to make another salad and try more salad dressings. Speaking of – the dressing was GREAT – I’m a fan – I want more ASAP.

This is my first attempt at buying a salad dressing that’s not fat-free- wow – the fat is TRES worth it! After dinner me and Austin watched Veronica Mars, got in bed and caught up on Weeds. CRAZY. I love Nancy & crew but wowza – the writers are so ballsy.

Anywho, I leave you with a vitally important life or death question: are any of you watching ‘Make it or Break it’? I am (I know, shocker) – and I absolutely love it!
It’s like The Hills but with talent in the mountains (takes place in Colo.!)! Tell me I’m not the only one sucked in to this tumbling melodrama. After the best show on earth Make it or Break It, I finished Blindsighted – WHOA…crazy. I ended the day at 1,825 calories, 250 carbs, 54 fat grams and 86 protein grams. Blast! I had way too much chocolate. But, at least I burned approximately 335 calories with my 6.5 mile walk – sweet! Here’s what I ate.

Tomorrow I’ll review Blindsighted and post (yes, again, shocker) another new recipe: Pulled Chicken Sandwiches! Off to celebrate Mary's job, her boyfriend's promotion and their upcoming move this Saturday (therefore a send off to their beloved 1414 - the house they've been at!).