Thursday, October 7, 2010

New Pasta Recipe (again!), 7.5 Miles, Reasons Why I love My Mom

Happy Thursday! Today has been SO much better than the last three days - thank GAH! I slept great last night, was able to sleep in later than usual and just woke up feeling so much more optimistic and energy-filled - FABULOUS. I had a light breakfast, got to work, and then had a new recipe for lunch - i'm on a roll!

Linguine Alfredo with Chicken and Bacon
Makes 4 Servings - one serving pictured below!
Recipe adapted from Cooking Light

8 oz. linguine, reserve ¼ cup cooking water
3 slices turkey bacon, cooked in microwave and diced
12 oz. chicken, diced
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 cup fat-free milk
2/3 cup Kraft parmesan cheese
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
1/8 tsp nutmeg
2 tbsp fresh parsley or 1 tsp dried parsley

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and reserve ¼ cup cooking water. While pasta cooks, set a large pan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Add flour over garlic; cook for 30 seconds stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low. Slowly add milk; stirring constantly; cook 1-2 minutes, or until slightly thick. Gradually add cheese, and stir in salt, nutmeg and cooking liquid. DON’T let it get too thick, keep stirring. Add hot pasta to pan and toss well to combine. Add bacon, chicken and parsley.

Nutritional Information: 420 calories, 47 carbs, 9 fat grams and 39 protein grams.

Review: LOVE. Alfredo was one of those things I figured i'd just never eat again - just SO fatty with all of the cream and butter. BUT this recipe is a good replication, just be VERY careful to not let it get too thick (I did - this is why I added notes above about stirring, turning down to low, etc. ) You may want to reserve a bit more cooking liquid just in case. I know this wouldn't happen with fresh cheese, but I like the jarred kind! Anywho, great filling recipe, and the addition of bacon was a fun surprise.

I took my lunch break to walk 4 miles. Then I worked more, and after work headed back to the gym for a run - i'm really trying to get this 10K training going! I've done 5 3.5-mile straight runs in a row, so today was a 3-mile run (with a 1/4 mile walk on front and back)... then Saturday I try my longest run every: 4 miles. I'm loving this one step back/two steps forward approach - it's really going well!

One thing i've been wanting to do more of is reflect on the positive. I feel like sometimes I can get so bogged down with what I need to do, where I need to be, what I need to buy, that I worry I'm not focused enough on all of the good things in my life! So, I want to recognize and remind myself of this with "Three Reasons Why I Love _____." Today, I'm going with Three Reasons why I love... my mom. (this will be part 1 of many i'm sure as there's tons of reasons I love my madre!)

1. She posts stuff like this on her blog.



2. She has a blog.


3. She's pretty. hehe (come on, it's fun to be shallow sometimes)
THE END :)

Q: Who or what would be in your "3 Reasons Why I Love" today? Now that i'm in the mood I can think of so many things, people, places to give shout outs too - very exciting!!

Q: Do you like alfredo sauce? If so, do you have a low-cal one you love, do you roll with the fantabulous full-fat variation or do you just abstain as I had done?!

25 comments:

Jenn@slim-shoppin said...

I love the pictures your Mom posted! So cute. I didn't know she had a blog too!!!

That's so awesome. Yeah, it get hard sometimes when you are feeling down to turn it around, but looks like you are headed in the right direction!

Big Pissy said...

Awwwww!!! Thanks, little Kel!!!

You're so sweet! :)

I feel like a celeb now!!!! ;-)

xoxo
Mom

Unknown said...

your mom is hilarious! no wonder you love her so much.

fittingbackin said...

Thanks, Jenn! She's hilarious! she started a blog WAY before me and lets it evolve as her life does - tres cool.

Pissy/Mom: hehe You crack me up pretty lady. Love you!

Lindsay & James Cotter: She IS - we crack up together - love her!

Andrea@WellnessNotes said...

The pasta dish sounds great. Alfredo & bacon in the same dish - it has to be good! ;)

I'll have to check out your mom's blog now!

lee said...

That's awesome that your mom has a blog! I'm not sure if my mom knows what a blog is.

Not an alfredo fan.

Marisa @ Loser for Life said...

I love your 3 things! You're right, it is easy to get caught in the negative. I used to have a little blurb at the end of each post called One Good Thing. It was food/diet related but,forced me to focus on the positive choices I made instead of something I may have overate.

And YUM to that Alfredo pasta!

Biz said...

I can't wait to check out your mommas blog - just the name alone kills me! :D

When I go alfredo sauce - go big or go home! The low fat versions are just not worth it! :D

Erica said...

Glad to hear your day was so much better! Sleep, exercise, good food, what could be better? And your Mama is totally adorable. I'm not a big Alfredo fan because it feels so heavy in my tummy, but maybe I would like this lighter version? I am appreciating my health tonight. Some lady rear ended me at a traffic light (I'm totally fine) - but just makes you realize how quickly things can happen

Tyler said...

Don't you love moms!? I'm so glad that I've learned that mine is actually pretty cool and not lame like I thought in 6th grade. I love alfredo! SO yummy! I will have to try this recipe!

Pam said...

I love alfredo but never eat it - it's just too fattening.

I am loving your recipe - it may be an alfredo I CAN eat.

Diane Fit to the Finish said...

Ah - to your mom - love that so much! She sounds like such a great person and I see where you get your sense of humor! And your great looks!

Melinda said...

Your Mom is gorgeous! You guys definitely favor :)

Christina said...

your mom is gorgeous! just like you! :)

Joanne said...

Aww your mom is super adorable! Such a sweet tribute!

You're rocking your 10K training and I KNOW you will be able to do 4 miles! And once you do a 10K you'll be almost halfway to a half marathon. Think about it :P

This alfredo sauce sounds amazing! I usually make one with almond milk instead of cream. Almond make has a really creamy flavor and so often, I can't even tell that it's lower fat!

Kacy said...

Aw, your mom is pretty! I'm about to go check out her blog!

Unknown said...

I too love your madre!! :)

Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun said...

I love this post and the whole "I love ___" series. And how awesome your mom has a blog!

Gabriela said...

Your mom is gorgeous!! She looks so young too- and I love that she has her own blog!!

Tami@NutmegNotebook said...

Three things I love about today.

It is a beautiful Fall day.

I got out some Fall decorations and they make me happy.

My hubby is back home from an out of town trip.

Alfredo sauce - a lighter version - less fat but lots of yummy flavor.

Lisa @ I'm an Okie said...

very cool that she has a blog! and she IS pretty. dang momma :)

Big Pissy said...

Thanks, girls, for all the sweet comments. :)

I REALLY appreciate them!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! :)

chris mcpeake said...

awesome pasta dish.
your mums cute and has a blog .. wow

Anonymous said...

You & your mom could be sisters! Love the fact that she blogs too lol. I haven't had Alfredo for years although I prefer chunky marinara. I'm not sure if I would even like it since I'm not use to heavy & rich stuff. Great idea on how to focus on the positive! :)

Kelly Olexa said...

Love your mom- love that she has a blog, looks fabulous too, and has a fab sense of humor!! Another reason why I have mad love for you girl!!
Alfredo I LOVE> Have never tried to make it lo-cal. Frankly, when I want Alfredo, I'm heading to Olive Garden and ordering a side BOAT of it and dipping like 6 breadsticks in it.
CARB / FAT HEAVEN.