Monday, July 5, 2010

Two New Recipes, Book Review, 4 Miles

Thanks you guys! We REALLY did have a blast at the lake - such a good group of peeps and SO much fun! This week hasn't been too rough getting back into work (thank gah!!)

So lately I’ve found myself making the same 10 – 12 breakfast recipes over and over…. and then realized out of those I only LOVED about 5 of them. So it was time to find some new ones! Enter The following:

Sausage & Egg Casserole adapted from Cooking Light
Makes 6 Servings


1 pound reduced fat Jimmy Dean sausage
6 slices Nature’s Own white-wheat bread, ripped into bits
2 cups fat-free milk
6 eggs
1 oz. fat-free cheddar cheese
1 oz. 75% fat-free cabot cheese
1 tsp dry mustard
½ tsp salt
Tony’s Creole seasoning to taste

Preheat the oven to 350. Cook sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until brown, stirring to crumble. Combine sausage and next five ingredients in a 13x9-inch baking dish coated in cooking spray. Stir well. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Nutritional Information: 292 calories, 16 carbs, 16 fat grams and 23 protein grams.

Review: We really liked this one – tasted like a strata and had a great consistency. It didn’t have as much flavor as I would have liked, so above I added the salt and tony’s creole – I think this will make the difference. I will definitely make this again!

Sausage and Potato Bake from Real Mom Kitchen
6 Servings


1 package Jimmy Dean Reduced Fat Sausage
3 ½ cup frozen hash browns, cubed
3 oz. 75% cabot cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup of fat-free milk
6 large beaten eggs
1 teaspoon dried mustard
¼ teaspoon salt

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray rectangular baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Cook sausage over medium heat until browned, about 7 minutes. Stir all ingredients together in a large bowl. Pour into dish. Bake 50 minutes or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes.

Nutritional Information: 299 calories, 17 carbs, 16 fat grams and 22 protein grams.

Review: We LOVED this. We think it has great flavor and love using the potatoes too – a little goes a long way. It was super filling and flavorful – definitely seemed like it was “bad” for you but really had good stats for a filling breakfast. I’ve already made this twice now – it’s going to be a regular!

One more review! Saturday morning at the lake I finished my book club book, Drusilla Campbell’s Wildwood. This book seemed like it was about 3 childhood friends with a deep secret, all reconnecting as adults with the truth coming out. Sounded great! And it was, but to me, it was less about the secret being scandalous and more about how the secret impacted each of the lives, making them each the way they are. So it was very much a character study as opposed to a mystery or shocking story. I’m okay with that – but I really didn’t expect it! For me, I think it was a 3/5. It would have been better if they had explored more about what happened right after the secret/accident occurred, and frankly, if the characters had been more likeable. They just weren’t very likeable and really, for friends especially, weren’t very nice to each other which I found distracting. However, there were a few interesting surprises and I especially enjoyed one of the women’s story of standing up for herself after years of putting her self second. Her story saved the book for me!

On to yesterday! I had a sore throat and congestion so I rested, drank water and stayed in bed. Then I just HAD to get out, so I put on my work out clothes, grabbed an old favorite (Stephenie Meyer's Eclipse) and headed to the gym. I walked 4 miles while reading the book - I forgot how much I enjoyed this book and as i'm reading it again for the first time in a couple of years i'm realizing that they did a pretty good job adapting the movie! Anywho, I got home, did a bit of cooking, listened to my audio book (on the TV/DVD player in the kitchen) and then hung out with Austin and Reuben. I felt SO much better after having worked out. I just hope to keep this sore throat at bay - maybe the emergen-c did its job! I ended up at 1,778 calories, 200 carbs, 55 fat grams and 102 protein grams. Here's what I ate.

Q: Do you ever re-read books?

Q: Do you like breakfast casseroles?

11 comments:

Danielle said...

Hey Kelly, I've been a silent stalker and thought I'd take the plunge and comment :)

I love re-reading books AND I'm def trying the Sausage and Potato Bake. Looks yummy!

Lisa @ I'm an Okie said...

ya know, ive never made a breakfast casserole. I bet I'd love it though since I tend to like everything in it!

Tyler said...

I never re read books. Once I'm done, I'm done. But I do love breakfast casserole! Breakfast is my FAVORITE meal! I'll have to try those ones out! Yum!

Kelsey Ann said...

its been so long since ive had eggs with sausage but id totally love to rehash it with this recipe! <3 YUMM. cooking light has some of the best recipes in it EVER! <3

Kelly Olexa said...

I totally re-read books....now, in big part because of you, I am reading more and more but I still go back to my favorites. Some books are like a favorite sweater you just want to put on again!! ;-)
That casserole looks fabulous!! ;=)

Anonymous said...

I love and adore books so I don't mind a good re-read. I tend to re-read before I see a movie. I cannot wait to re-read the last Harry Potter book before the movie in November!

I love pretty much all things about breakfast. Breakfast/brunch is potentially my favorite meal. I really want to try the sausage and potato casserole soon! (I made banana bread muffins this past weekend -- not as savory but still yummy!)

Kat (bubble gum gym kat) said...

I always read books to get me through my cardio..people look at me like I am a freak, reading on the stepmill. But I go through a book a week. I love James Patterson books, and I read alot about eating. I am currently reading 'Intuitive Eating' and 'Fast Food Nation' so far so good!

Kacy said...

I love breakfast casseroles! Especially Mexican-flavored ones. Yum!

I rarely reread books. Or rewatch movies. I'm not sure why.

Samma said...

oooh, I re-read all the time. I have probably read Beach Music a hundred times. (well, maybe not THAT many). I will definitely try Wildwood!

Anonymous said...

I love breakfast casseroles! They are awesome!! I wish I could reread books, but I can never get back into a book for a second time!

Kat (bubble gum gym kat) said...

I always read books to get me through my cardio..people look at me like I am a freak, reading on the stepmill. But I go through a book a week. I love James Patterson books, and I read alot about eating. I am currently reading 'Intuitive Eating' and 'Fast Food Nation' so far so good!