Saturday, May 22, 2010

Two Book Reviews, New Recipe, Breakfast Bake Pic, 7 Miles

Happy Saturday!! Hope you're all having lovely weekends!! And thank you for your comments on Zach's photos - I"m absolutely love them! I was just talking to my manager/friend Melissa and Zach is taking her baby's 6-month photos tomorrow - so exciting! Before I back up, here is a pic of the Breakfast Bake from earlier this week. I had it FOUR times this week –loved it! Love that it makes 6 servings, too. Fab!

Intense close up of 1 of 6 pieces...

Yes, found the camera cord – sweet! So Thursday ended up being a great night – had two vodka drinks over at Katie and Chris’s – so good to see them and catch up! Reuben also hung out with their friend Ryan’s adorable pup Ryan! Good times. We also tried a new recipe – Green Chile Chicken Casserole adapted from Recipes for Moms! Here is the recipe for four servings.

2/3 cup chicken broth
1 4-oz. can diced green chilies
½ cup onion, finely diced
½ cup fat-free sour cream
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp cumin
¼ tsp pepper
1 can fat-free cream of chicken soup
1 tsp minced garlic
16 oz. chicken, cooked and shredded
9 6-inch corn tortillas
¼ cup fat-free cheddar cheese
¼ cup 75% reduced fat cabot cheese


Combine first 10 ingredients in a large bowl. Stir well. In a greased 8” square pan, add 3 tortillas and spread 1/3 of the soup mixture over them. Repeat tortilla layer, soup layer, tortilla layer, soup layer then top with cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

My serving


Nutritional Information: 357 calories, 39 carbs, 6 fat grams and 35 protein grams.

Review: I really liked all of the flavors together, my only slight issue is that it was less like an enchilada bake in that it was more soupy. I think next time I make it I’ll reduce the soup to a ½ can – or add more chicken/tortillas and increase the serving. And you should know – I REALLY adapted it – I think I removed too much chicken/tortillas. Still AWESOME, but I’m going to mess with it and make it 6 servings next time!

I ended Thursday up at 1,860 calories, 208 carbs, 45 fat grams and 107 protein grams. Here’s what I ate and drank.

Friday was busy! I woke up to rain aka crap commute, worked a lot, walked 4 miles during lunch, worked more, and then since the office was DEAD I was told I could leave 20 minute earlier. Woop woo! I headed home, but instead of going straight home I hit up the gym by myself for 3 miles (C25k). I walked 5, ran 11, walked 4, ran 8, and then walked until I hit 3 miles at 34.02 minutes. Definitely not my best run. At all. But I did it and i'll just have to keep trying to get back to where I was! After the gym I showered and had family night - pizza and a movie - Sherlock Holmes! Awesome night! I ended up at 1,641 calories, 181 carbs, 62 fat grams and 95 protein grams. Here's what I ate.

Book review time!! Joanne Fluke’s Fudge Cupcake Murder is a series featuring Hannah, a baker/sleuth who solves small-town mysteries with her meddling mother and hyper sister, all while trying out new recipes and juggling two guys. VERY cute. Each chapter features a new recipe and her notes about them – love it. This murder focused on the town’s sheriff being found dead, right before an election. I definitely didn’t see the end coming, and enjoyed following her as she chased leads, narrowed down the suspect list and fought with her cat throughout it all. I’ll definitely read another one of these mysteries, and give it a 4/5. It would have been a 5 if it had been a bit more succinct (the book didn’t need to be as long as it was – a bit too much detail for me about her cat, day-to-day, etc.).

Nora Roberts’ Naked in Death is the first in a series of books about Lt. Eve Dallas, a member of the police force in NY during the year 2058. I enjoyed hearing about what “the future” was like and which weapons are now outlawed (i.e. “20th century weapons”), how prostitution became legal, politics, etc. The mystery focused on a politician’s granddaughter found murdered in her apartment. It opens up into a series of suspects, murders and the unraveling of Eve’s past - good stuff! There’s also a love interest- love it! I thought the book was awesome and I definitely want to read more of this series, too! I give it a 5/5 – lots of suspense, surprise and interest – especially with the futuristic setting.

Is there any food you only eat at restaurants that you wish you could cook? Sometimes I get great ideas for recipes from menu/menu descriptions.

Do you read any book series? I'm trying to get into series - love it when you get into characters and can just keep reading about them!

16 comments:

Gabriela said...

I always get inspiration from restaurant menus, though I have to say that my recreations are never as good! I love it when restaurants come out with their own cookbooks, it makes my life much easier!

Diane Fit to the Finish said...

I have a recipe very similiar to your chicken casserole one and my family loves it!!

I've read a lot of Nora Roberts' books and am so glad to see this new review!

Kelly Olexa said...

I haven't read any "series" necessarily but I tend to read everything from an author that I love.....and I'm loving finding new ones from YOU!! ;-)

Kelly @ Healthy Living With Kelly said...

I love book series because I feel like I can be with the characters longer than just one book! (Yes, I realie how dorky that sounds but I am totally okay with it...haha) I loved Harry Potter and I just recently finished the Twilight Series. It was really good!

Marisa @Loser for Life said...

Your breakfast bake looks fantastic! Love me some cheesy casseroles!

I know this sounds weird, but I love to order salads when I go to restaurants because I hate making them at home. How boring/stupid is that?!

homecookedem said...

I love breakfast casseroles!! The picture of your breakfast bake has me absolutely drooling!! :) And that chicken casserole looks pretty tasty as well!!

Confession: I really like mexican food better at a restaurant than at home. I do like homecooked mexican food and it's so much healthier, but if I'm being honest, there's something comforting about greasy unhealthy mexican food at a restaurant!! Oh and their salsa is always waaaaay better than anything I've ever tried making at home!!

Andrea@WellnessNotes said...

The breakfast bake looks amazing!

The Fudge Cupcake Murder sounds very cute. I love that the books come with recipes. They are on my "list."

Have a great week!

Thinspired said...

SO funny, I just tried to recreate a restaurant favorite last night, and just posted about it! I tried to make pizookies from BJ's. They were a pretty good fake-out!

Your casserole looks delicious as usual!

Anonymous said...

I read Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. I love it!

Teresa Carden said...

The JD Robb series is so good. I have read almost of them. So don't buy to many of the books. I can give you some of mine next time I see ya.

Anonymous said...

I always love good, creamy garlic mashed potatoes like you get at high end steak houses - I probably don't use enough butter!

Glad you had a great weekend!

Pam said...

I wish I was better at cooking Asain food.

I think the chicken casserole looks really tasty.

Erica said...

You are making me wish I was more of a reader! The casserole looks like it came out great.

hmmm in terms of food I only eat at restaurants-regular french fries (vs. the baked alternative ;)

Regan Jones RD said...

These look so good. We can't wait to try them. Thanks for recommending Cabot's 75% Cheddar... we're proud of how great it tastes and how good it is for you, too!

Regan Jones RD said...

These look so good. We can't wait to try them. Thanks for recommending Cabot's 75% Cheddar... we're proud of how great it tastes and how good it is for you, too!

Erica said...

You are making me wish I was more of a reader! The casserole looks like it came out great.

hmmm in terms of food I only eat at restaurants-regular french fries (vs. the baked alternative ;)