Undoing My Workout, 40 Meals in 3 1/2 Hours

That's what I was up to last night!! So glad I remembered to let Austin take a pic, even though I look rough. Stupid allergies that render it impossible to even bother wearing make up. OY. K -more on last night later, let's talk about our weight gain culprits. You know I hate to hear about your culprits yesss! I'm not the only one! but it's, selfishly, nice to know I'm not the only one struggling with their weight right now. I will say I felt better after I wrote the post. It was nice to get it out there, on paper, in my face. 'Kelly - these are the things you need to work on. You know it's true.' I feel more focused and closer to my goal than before I wrote it so YAY! Thanks to all of you for sharing your 'weight gain culprits.'

Anne Marie's and Melissa's recent comments really got to me - rewarding yourself for the great job you did working out and eating right - OY. I so do that and the counter productivity of it kills me! 'GREAT job on getting up at the crack of dawn to spin for 45 minutes and run a mile - here's 10 cookies, i.e., the same amount you burned today! Congratulations on undoing your workout!'

Q: What's the most common way you undo your workouts? Yes, i'm assuming you all have because you're all human, right? Right? hehe The main way I undo is through too many treats or too much alcohol.

K - stepping off the weight soapbox for a bit. I'll do an update every week or so on where i'm at, what's working and what's (obviously) not working. LOL Let's just call those "areas of opportunity." Allrighty.

So Monday was a busy one, starting with my 6 a.m. workout! HRM said: 40 minutes spin + 1-mile running (6.3 mph; 7 mph) + 1/4 mile walking. HRM said: 55 minutes, 437 calories; 4 fat-burning minutes and 51 fitness minutes; Average HR: 150; Max HR: 180. WOO! Then it was just work, lunch at Uncle Julio's with Stacy, more work, and then straight home to my family and a nice, chill night. My allergies are driving me CRAZY so it was good to get home and rest and drink TONS of water.

Tuesday was pretty busy too, with work, a 3.5-mile walk during lunch with Stacy, more work, and then home to test out a new meal plan. So meal planning. I love to do it but figured out something that was missing. Typically I include the recipes, photos, ingredients/grocery list and a chart that has the dates/dishes and nutritional information. As I was talking to my sis and bro-in-law/new parents, I was telling them how I cook the meat 2 pounds at a time, or how I dice all of the veggies the day before, etc. and it hit me: I should really share the exact steps, a how-to-do the meal plan. Exactly how to get this:

Last night I made the detailed meal plan with step-by-step instructions and wanted to test it. So I did - it took exactly 3.5 hours for 40 meals (7 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 6 dinners for 2 adults) including clean up, a 30-minute break, etc. I'm making a few tweaks now but will share it soon - love it and can't wait to make more plans like this!

Q: Do you think you'd be more likely to pre-cook if you had step-by-step instructions?

Q: Do you like to batch cook, or do you prefer cooking each day/evening?

Abs, My First Ramekin Experience, New Recipe

Thanks you guys! I love my little puppers. And yes, their weight didn't even kind of break the ice (which makes sense seeing that they're a combined 10 pounds! Little babies!). And I hear you - hopefully the airport psycho was just having a rough day - I dunno - I was just like nope, just stop talking, I can't deal with you! On another note, HAPPY FRIDAY! It feels like it's been Friday for a while... i'm actually ready to get back into the swing of things at work but it's not happening - we're even off on Monday - crazy! Backing up... Thursday was still a bit zombiesque. I slept in a bit, and got online at 8:30 to get to work. So nice to work from home again and to have the puppers with me. I got a lot done, worked through lunch then signed off at 5 p.m. That's when I hit the floor to do abs. I did the same workout as last week:

Then it was time to cook! I made the following:

• 6 servings of brunch pizza squares
• 6 servings of chili noodle bake
• 6 servings of baked Italian sausage pasta
• 4 servings of baked mini quiches new!
• I also prepped chicken for two recipes I plan to make tonight - woo!

So what are those things in the front?! Those are the result of my first time using my new ramekins! So exciting. Here is a close up:

I'll post the recipe tomorrow -I'm SO excited! In the meantime, here is a recipe I made last week:

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
Recipe adapted from Erica's Kitchen Adventures
Makes 6 Servings

Nutritional Information: 394 calories, 43 carbs, 8 fat grams and 31 protein grams.

Check out the recipe on Healthified Kitchen!

Q: It's Friday - what are your weekend plans? I plan to do nothing tonight. Tomorrow I have my sister's first baby shower in Decatur and then a wedding in Greenville, S.C. Sunday I plan to do some work around the house - perhaps tackling those guest room closets as that is a January 2011 to-do!

Q: Do you do ab workouts? If so, how many days per week do you do them? Right now i'm doing 2 days/week; 4 exercises/day. I'm going to do this workout for a month, and then do another in February.

Relaxingly Chill Weekend + New Booties (thank you, Rachel Bilson!), New Dress & New Rug!

Thanks for the memoir recommendations! And for your comments on breakfast nachos - I want some NOW... and like every day. I think I spoiled myself. Eek! As far as the foot, my appointment is later today - wish me luck! And with that, back to Saturday! Glorious day, really. I slept in and then I cooked this:

• 4 Servings of Buffalo Chicken Chili
• 4 Servings of Chicken Scallopini
• 4 Servings of Sweet and Sour Chicken (new recipe!) - Austin had one for lunch before pic!
• 4 Servings of Chicken Schwarma (new recipe!) - I had one for lunch before pic!
• 4 Servings of Taco Casserole
• 4 bacon/egg packs for muffins

Afterwards I bummed around the house, went to the gym and walked 4.5 miles and then got ready for my sister’s birthday dinner! On the way there, we stopped at Perimeter mall and I picked up the booties I’ve been looking for and finally found thanks to Rachel Bilson. Yes, I had searched everywhere – DSW, Nordstrom, Piper Lime - you name it - for oxford, lace-up, wedge booties. Originally I wanted peep-toe, too. I found tons, but the color was wrong. Or they weren’t solid down the side (i.e. different texture or color on heel than shoe). Or they were 2 million dollars. I had given up. But, I was looking at one of my mom’s In Touch magazines and there is Rachel Bilson wearing my shoe (minus the peep toe). Of course she’s wearing them, she’s rich, DUH. However, the article was basically talking about how she was slumming it with $100 booties from Zara. I had never heard of Zara. But, thank you Atlanta, I looked it up and there was one not even a mile from my office. SO, off to Zara where I acquired these boots in the beige/grayish color she has (they look brown with brown and gray with black – they’re like hazel shoes – love).

Rachel wearing the color I got!

Love that they look good with black too!

Presh!

Not the right color, but a close-up nonetheless

I was so excited! We also hit up Urban Outfitters for some fun on-sale shirts like this one for Austin. I think he got 6 – all for $10 a pop – nice!

And I got this easy-to-winterize Staring at Stars dress for $20! Plan to wear with a longsleeved shirt under it, my brown/creamish tights and the new boots!



I could have shopped in there forever but had to get to my sister's! We met at her place then walked over to Spoon. I had the coconut chicken soup – AWESOME. Austin had the red curry and loved it. The prices were very reasonable, the décor was nice and modern and the portions weren’t out of control by any means. I’d say it’s a winner! Afterwards we had a beer and some birthday cake at their place then headed home. Sadly I took no pictures! I know – BOO – but I had a great time regardless!

Sunday I woke up early to hit the outlets. It was time, finally, to replace the Pottery Barn rug that Reuben had ruined (he thought it was a big, chenille pee pad apparently). Stacy had found the exact same one so we raced up to get it. Unfortunately, it didn’t lie flat and I got nervous as I’d seen what a puddle of pee did to that type of rug. So I opted instead of a wool one (like the one in the seating area) and found a great ivory/brown pattern in an 8x10 on sale from $600 to $230 (and I had a 20% off coupon AND a $100 gift card from my co-workers). WOO! I’ll take pics of it tonight but VERY exciting. Then we picked up some ties for Austin at Brooks Brothers, some kitchen fun at Williams Sonoma (another apron, a cutting board, a pot holder and wine stoppers), some lightbulbs at Home Depot and a few grocery items at Publix. Then it was nap time and I pretty much laid around the remainder of the day. LOVELY. It was SO gross and cold outside with snow flurries so a day in with the family was just what I needed. I'll post a pic of the rug tomorrow - so glad it worked out!

Q: Found any good sales lately? I've found lots but some are gifts so I can't post about it. :) Happy to find the great Urban Outfitters stuff though, and the rug!

Q: What was the highlight of your weekend? Mine was celebrating my sister's birthday and really just RELAXING - so nice to wake up feeling 100% both mornings and having the whole day ahead of me do whatever I felt like!!

New Gameday Recipes, Chill Weekend, New Recipes - coming soon!

Hi Friends! I have had the. most. chill. weekend. ever. Glorious! Yesterday me and Austin didn't leave the house - we just chilled with the pups, watched movies and hung out. It was awesome. We didn't do laundry or cook or anything - just hung out, ate pre-made recipes and enjoyed not being out in the cold weather. eek! We had every intention of going to Athens for the UGA vs. Tech game, but it was just too cold and we were worried about bringing the pups - it all worked out in the end although we missed spending more time with Austin's fam. :( Today was super chill too, slept in, did some laundry and cooked a TON, I've got the bug and am just dying to taste some of these recipes! So we went to Petco for pupper food and hit up the grocery store for a few things - then I came up and cooked up a storm while watching Mean Girls. hehe

Speaking of cooking, here are two of the new recipes I made on Friday for the Iron Bowl. I would make both again, and even think you could do the sliders as a meal rather than appetizer! They're posted below....

Fiesta Sliders
Makes 12 mini burgers
Recipe adapted from Lauren’s Kitchen

1 pound 96/4 ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning
½ cup salsa, plus 24 tsp
¼ cup breadcrumbs, plain
¼ cup onion
12 tbsp fat-free sour cream
12 slider rolls

inside

Preheat grill pan; spray with cooking spray. Combine meat, taco seasoning, salsa and onions. Mix with a fork. Add breadcrumbs. Form into 12 mini burger patties and cook for about 4 or 5 minutes on each side, or until done. Meanwhile, smear a little sour cream on the inside of each bun. Add the patty and top each with 2 tsp salsa. Then top with bun. Option: serve with toppings like diced tomatoes and lettuce.

Nutritional Information (per slider): 173 calories, 23 carbs, 2 fat grams and 12 protein grams.
Nutritional Information (for 2 sliders as a meal): 345 calories, 46 carbs, 5 fat grams and 25 protein grams.

Review: I thought these were excellent! The boys (Austin & his bros) gobbled them up! They definitely weren't traditional sliders as they had the mexican flavors, but they were yummy - loved sour cream as the spread instead of mayo on a traditional burger - I thought it was neat! Austin did note that they were more like sloppy joes than burgers, I don't think there was enough bread crumbs to hold them together so I upped it above. Great appetizer, and I think it would be a great meal if you had two and maybe a side of some chips!

Black and White Bean Dip
My Kitchen Café recipe
Makes 20 Servings

1 can of black beans, drained
1 can of white beans, drained
1 can of shoepeg corn, drained
½ cup Herdez salsa verde
2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, divided
15 grape tomatoes, quartered (squeeze liquid out of tomatoes after chopping)
garlic salt to taste (I used about 1/2 teaspoon)

Preheat oven to 400. Rinse and drain both cans of beans. Also drain the can of shoepeg corn. Make sure to squeeze liquid out of tomatoes before chopping so the dip doesn’t turn runny. Put 1.5 cups of cheese and everything else in a bowl and mix together. Spray a baking dish with nonstick spray before spooning in the bean mixture. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and pop into the oven. Bake for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and it is all warm and bubbly. Remove from oven and sprinkle with diced avocado and serve with tortilla chips.

Nutritional Information (without chips): 80 calories, 10 carbs, 3 fat grams and 5 protein grams.

Review: I thought this was excellent! Very different with all of the beans but super flavorful in the green salsa. The garlic salt definitely added a little something extra, and it bubbled up quick. This tasted good after it got cold, too, and it was good the next day. It makes LOTS of food –next time I may use a more shallow pan or pie dish so it’s not as deep.

Q: Do you like sliders? I kid you not - this was the first slider I have ever had! I'm a fan!

Q: Do you have any go-to gameday/tailgating recipes? Please share names of dishes or recipes!!

Last but not least, I've been cooking a bunch of new dishes! Here are some new Recipes coming soon (most this week!)!

• Bruschetta Chicken made for dinner tonight - loved!
• Ranchero Macroni Bake made for lunch today - loved - but the brushchetta was better!
• Chicken and Mushroom Risotto
• Rotel Slowcooker Chicken Burritos
• Cheesy Chicken Lasagna
• Sweet & Sour Chicken new mix!
• Cowboy Spaghetti
• Classic red chili new mix!