On the Menu

I am going to do something that has been done before.
But, not by me.

                                                 ***

I am excited to start a new 'series' that encompasses two of my favorite things.
Food.
food. 
food. 
food.

Oh, and fashion, I guess.
I got sidetracked.



I will be creating posts that pair a new recipe I have tried with an outfit specifically assembled to compliment the dish.




Now, I do plan on posting recipes that worked out for the better...but I cannot promise that I won't pass on my own personal {kitchen disaster} here and there. Laughing is healthy.




Stay tuned!

Here's a taste into what the first post will entail...

And, I used to think the 80s were fashion-less. 

Refrigerator Meal

I have been eating this dish for weeks now, and I am loving how easy and delicious it is! Jake has gotten on board as well...like, I didn't even have to talk it up, he just ate it and liked it. One of the best parts (aside from the good food noises you will make while eating this) is you can throw so many different things into it.


Caution: I love cabbage. I grew up eating it often and love the smell of it cooking. I know many people who are not as keen to it, and even if I don't understand it, I can live with it.



For this meal you will need:

1-2 bags of plain coleslaw
Lean ground turkey (chicken or sausage would be good too)
1 tablespoon olive oil (2 if you are making this two meals and adding more ingredients)
2 cloves of garlic
Salt and Pepper to taste
++Extras++
Shredded carrots

Maybe not the prettiest meal, but one of the tastiest. 

Broccoli-chopped
Onion-chopped
Zucchini-diced
Sweet potato-diced
Rice
Quinoa

I brown the meat first over medium heat, set aside and then saute the cabbage and vegetables in the oil. I love love the way it tastes the longer it all cooks together, but I am in a rush sometimes too. Therefore, cooking times will vary to your personal preference. Once the cabbage has 'wilted' and the veggies are softened, add the meat back in and let simmer a bit longer. 
At this point, if I am adding another starch, like potatoes, I add it now (after already being precooked). Now, literally just throw it all into a big bowl and enjoy.


{{Jake has, a couple times, put this all onto some tortillas for a twist on tacos. I usually eat mine like a cave woman from a bowl...it is that good}}


Total cook time: about 30 minutes (including prep)
Calories: about 390 cals (for one large serving)



This meal is chocked full of healthy veggies, fats, and protein!





XoXo

Breakfast Cupcakes: Part II

I hate throwing food away. My mom always taught me to finish my plate. Now that I am spending "my" own money it hurts to toss food that has spoiled, expired, etc. Especially produce; or things that are expensive (i.e. nuts of any kind).

So, on my day off I decided to create something delicious from some elderly bananas in our fridge ;) 
Viola! 

I also had some pecans and raisins in the pantry that needed some overdue TLC.


Add a few shakes of cinnamon and you have:



Stout Banana Muffins
Makes 12-15 muffins

2-3 overly ripe bananas mashed
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup Stevia brown sugar
1/2 cup Fage Total 0% Greek yogurt
1 egg
1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups whole wheat or oat flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp EACH of baking powder and soda
A couple shakes of salt
A couple handfuls of whole or chopped raw pecans.
Handful of raisins. 

Prepare your muffin pan for the deliciousness that is to come.

Preheat oven to 375. 

Mix above listed ingredients, use your muscles. Flex a little whole lot.

Drop batter into muffin pan and bake for 15-17 minutes.

I kept the recipe pretty simple so that you can have fun with toppings (but they are great alone too). For example: chocolate chips, peanut butter, almond butter, Nutella, Biscoff, or just plain butter- which was my husband's weapon of choice.



Enjoy! I have averaged 2.5 daily. Really, Allison?.. should have doubled the recipe.

Breakfast Cupcakes: Part 1

Muffins. Cute word. But, does it get your family and friends willing to do your dishes for one? Maybe. BUT, say the word "cupcake" and you are bound to have an infestation of hungry bellies.

Today I am going to share my latest "breakfast cupcake" venture: Banana Fudge.

I had sweet little bananas that had seen better days, so I scoured for recipes to turn them into something amazing. I found a few I liked, then changed some details to turn them into what I devoured after dinner last night...and breakfast, this morning.

They are roughly 100 calories, no added sugar (option), fibertastic, and most importantly, delicious!


Banana Bread Double Fudge Muffins: 

1 egg
1/3 cup Fage Total 0% or 2% Greek yogurt
1/4 cup Truvia Brown Sugar Blend or regular brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2-3 medium or large mashed bananas
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (or regular WW flour, oat flour, or spelt flour)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cocoa powder (I used regular the first time, but Hershey's Special Dark make them extra yummy)

Optional:

Chocolate chips
Peanut butter

{Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix wet ingredients, then gradually add dry ingredients. Grease muffin pan and bake for 20-25 minutes. Will make 6-8 large to medium sized muffins or double mini-muffins.}


I admit, I topped mine with some peanut butter; Nutella would be awesome too. 

Enjoy!

A Rainy Fitness Friday

A plus of running in the rain? You usually can't tell what's sweat and what's rain ;)

This week I felt like a failure. My eating wasn't the best and I didn't work out that much.

Even though it felt like a disaster in the moment, when I look back I realize some positives.

The eating has no excuses. But, why beat yourself up over it? It's already in my body, I need to move on.

The lack of exercise was because of a stomach bug I was dealing with. I had a couple of good days, but I rested because I should not have been jumping around, running, etc. When your body tells you it needs rest, listen.

Fitness Friday!

What have you done this week that you want to share? Or better yet, give the rest of us some ideas! :)

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday!

This week I have stuck to my running schedule and even completed an 8k at 9:10 p.m. on 11-12-13...cold, but super fun and everyone was full of energy! It was also my friend's first race, so that is DEFINITELY something big to celebrate : )

Share your tips, tricks, guilty pleasures, goals, or accomplishments...

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday!

This week has been up and down with my healthy eating habits...but I am on week 2 of my new workout routine (lifting 4X per week with 5 days of running and other cross training). 

Today, when I couldn't run as scheduled I still walked [briskly] for 30 minutes and then walked to work. 

What are some things are are doing/have done this past week to improve your healthy lifestyle?! :)

Fitness Friday: Horror Edition

If you have discipline
If you can say no
If you choose fruits and veggies over chocolate and sugar
If you abstain from cookies and brownies at parties
If you can stop at one mini-size candy bar

Well, then, I admire you. I know it should be as easy as "Allison, no"...but most of the time I make it much more difficult and painful than that.

This time of year there is more chocolate in mini form than ever, making us feel like we are only being 1/2 as bad as eating a normal size candy bar; never mind that it usually doesn't stop at 2 or 3 or 8.

So, this Fitness Friday post is a special one. 

What are you going to do to help with temptation. 
Make your own sweets? Just say no? Say yes and work out later? Shout YES and say screw it? Steal little kids' candy? Whoa  no. 

But, please! Share your tips and tricks or guilty pleasures during this beautiful and delicious time of year :)

Cookie Monster

Pumpkin is in EVERYTHING right now...so here is something else to add to your list!

Iced Pumpkin Cookies
adapted via AllRecipes.com

 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour or spelt flour
 1 teaspoon baking powder
 1 teaspoon baking soda
 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
 1/4 teaspoon salt
 1/2 cup butter, softened
 1 to 1 1/2 cups white sugar
 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
 1 egg
 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

*Wait for it...1 can cream cheese frosting. I know, I know. But, I tried making my own cream cheese frosting and I have to say, I really like how the canned stuff tastes with these. 


Preheat oven to 350. Mix dry and wet ingredients separately. Combine both mixtures, stir vigorously. Bake for 10-14 minutes (I under-bake them a little so that they are more of a soft and gooey cookie). 


Let the cookies cool completely and top generously with cream cheese frosting. Feed your hungry family and friends...they will bug you for more, I guarantee it ;)

allrecipes.com


Enjoy!

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday!

What am I proud of this week? Getting back into my running after a break the week following my half marathon in Cleveland. Yesterday I got out in the fall air and had an amazing 6 mile run that was very uplifting :)

What's going on in your corner? Please share! Even if it is a delicious story...like how I ate too much raw pumpkin cookie dough last night ;)

What's to Come

*Rock 'n' Roll Cleveland Half Marathon race report

*Iced Pumpkin Cookies recipe

*"Fall into Fashion" Mosaic ed.

                             *Training changes for my half marathon on November 30th

*Homemade turkey noodle and veggie soup recipe

                                                             *Fitness Friday!

Check back later today :)

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday!

Where free encouragement, bragging, advice, recipes, complaining, and shiny pictures come to meet.

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday!

Please share any fitness news, goal, training, advice, recipes, or any other exciting lifestyle changes you have made :)

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday Show&Tell and share and brag and ask and...you know.

It's herrrrre..again. Let's get to it!

My "show and tell" is that my long run of 9 miles went really well and yesterday I actually committed to a tempo run and ran at a sub-8:30 minute mile, which for me is speedy ;)

Fit Friday

Fitness Friday!

As a reminder: share an accomplishment, goal, upcoming event, training, advice, Personal Record, recipe, or anything else you can think of!

Free encouragement, butt kicking, and praise are included.

Psssst!

Here is a sneak peek of two new posts to come...
1- A Dee-Double-Licious pasta recipe with a homemade yogurt ranch & four cheese tomato sauce
AND

2- How to dress vintage with today's current brands, I hope you are excited, I am!

 

 

 

 

Shew- Another round of volleyball tonight...I really think I could play everyday, just if I didn't dive so much and end up with those ugly bruises ;)

 

xoxo

Typical

One of my favorite blogs, runsforcookies, recently did a post on her typical meals for "healthier eating." I loved the post and found that I ate many of the same snacks and meals. I thought I would do a simple post (in between my normal ideas rambles) about some of my favorite things to eat!

Breakfast:

• I eat cereal everyday, sometimes twice. I know it may not be the best choice, but I try and eat cereals that at least have some benefit to them. My favorites include: Kashi cereals (Honey Sunshine, Original Go Lean...), Cheerios (all kinds), Fiber One for mixing, Total Raisin Bran, Cascadian Farms (I like their cinnamon one!), and some others. Some of these brands can be expensive so I track their sales and also shop at stores like Big Lots sometimes- they offer many of these "organic" or "natural" brands for much less.
• Whole Grain Waffles with mashed berries and smart balance light
• oatmeal...I will get to this later ;)
• 1 cup whole grain cereal with 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt (Fage 2%)

Lunch:

• Yogurt parfait (as a side)...1/2-1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt, handful of frozen berries (unless they are in season) and 1/4 of granola (Bob's Red Mill is my favorite right now) or cereal
• Tuna salad with triscuits (1 package light tuna, 2 tbsp unsweetened vanilla Greek yogurt, cucumber chopped, dill, and black pepper)
• Open faced sandwiches (usually turkey and provolone or Muenster with lettuce as the "top" piece of bread, and I load mine with onion and tomato), serve with popped chips
• LOVE oatmeal with PB and banana (1/2 cup oatmeal, 1 1/2 tbsp PB and sliced banana), usually have with an egg beaters omelet (50 cal worth of egg beaters, 1 slice cheese, chopped onion, spinach if on hand)
• Lots of grapes and apples with lunches
• Carrots and cucumbers are delicious together- with or without dip
• Angie's Naked Pita Chips with Sabre Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Snacks:

• Fruit: bananas, apples, grapes, berries, oranges, and whatever else might be in season
• cucumbers, carrots, green peppers with or without light dip/ranch
• Kashi bars (really like the dark chocolate coconut and dark chocolate cherry)
• Luna Protein bars
• Mozzarella cheese stick
• Kind Bars (delicious!)
• Fruit or Protein smoothies/shakes (just getting into the protein shake thing- runsforcookies blog has tons of yummy recipes)
• Serving of pretzels with 1/2 cup LF cottage cheese
• Apple slices with 1-2 tbsp PB or PB2
• Handful of peanuts or cashews
• Walnuts mixed with raisins
• Cereal :)

Dinner:

This is harder because we eat all sorts of things for dinner, but these are just ideas to get started maybe...(I have also done and will do some posts on recipes I have used and liked!)

• Quinoa and brown rice...I do a lot of Mexican flare with these using veggies like corn and green and red pepper with black beans, pico de gallo and chicken
• Tuna melts...whole wheat pitas and the above recipe for tuna salad and add cheese!
• Smart Taste Pasta with veggies and chicken or steak (did a post on this one earlier)
• Homemade Pita chips or gyros (did a post on this one earlier)
• Homemade chicken or veggie fried rice with spring rolls
• Soup and bread or grilled cheese :) simple, but comforting
• Enchilada casserole (did a post on this one earlier)
• Pita Pizzas
• Cowboy Beans (will do a post on this)
• Veggie burger or Turkey burgers (for me)
• Breakfast! We love breakfast, so often times we will have omelets and Bob's Red Mill pancakes or waffles, yum.
• Chipotle, Subway, or Mexican food

Dessert:

Elephant Ear Cookies with Cream Cheese or
Cinnamon Sugar Topping- post to come!

• ICE CREAM (I really like the serve yourself fro-yo places and also during the week I try and stick to 1/2 the fat, no sugar added Breyers' or Edy's flavors like vanilla or Neapolitan)
• Protein Brownies (recipe to come!)
• Chunky Cookies (still a dessert, but have walnuts, raisins, and whole wheat flour for an extra boost)
• Frozen Light Cool Whip
• Fruit...when I am being good
• Applesauce with cinnamon
• FiberOne Cookies 90 calories or Flax Seed Choco Chip Raisin Cookies (wal*mart)
• Trail Mixes (like- pretzels, peanuts, choco chips, and raisins)
• CEREAL...yes, again
• Okay, fine...I like sugar. But, I try and keep it special- I usually have a treat everyday and try to mix it up here and there to keep my body guessing. I am not great at not having dessert, so I at least attempt to tone it down here and there. Sometimes you gotta go full fat and do DQ though ;)

These are just some ideas of what gets my tummy rumbling. I hope it might spark some of your own creations. We are not perfect, we like to go out when we can and I do buy "fun" things too for our kitchen. But, I try to keep it balanced and we reserve weekends for a little extra fun. Most importantly, we do not fully restrict ourselves. We like to be active, but we also like to be lazy. I love fruit and cucumbers, but I also like ice cream...so, moderation and keeping these special foods special is an easier way to feel good. I like to experiment and look up new recipes...look for many more to come!

xoxo

Preheat Your Ovens!

Today's post is going to be gluttonous. It's all about food, okay only lunch and dessert. I am going to share with you what I had for dessert last night and what I ate for lunch today.

On The Menu:

• Spinach and Tomato "Fancy" Grilled Cheese
• Yogurt Parfait
• Popped Chips-Parmesan Garlic
• Homemade Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

The lunch portion of this is pretty simple, I know. But, it is also pretty delicious. My ingredients included: Aunt Millie's Light Whole Grain Bread (2 slices), Flax seed Oil Butter Spread (1/2 tablespoon worked for me), a couple slices of deli turkey, 1 slice low fat provolone cheese, 1 thinly sliced piece of muenster cheese, good handful of fresh baby spinach, 1 or 2 slices large tomato, basil.
I buttered the slices of bread lightly, placed the provolone down first, then the spinach, tomato, turkey, and muenster cheese. I topped it off with the other slice of bread and sprinkled with a fair amount of basil. Toasted each side until lightly browned- I don't like my grilled cheese very dark :)

Now, for the parfait I used: Dannon Greek Yogurt 0% Vanilla, 1/2 cup of frozen berries and banana slices, and 1/4 cup of natural granola (I used Black Lab Naturals Peanut Crunch Granola that I bought while in Amish Country. It is lower in calories because of the few ingredients used, but is still the most delicious granola I have ever eaten). I seriously have a yogurt parfait everyday, it is out of control! I am just addicted, but I think there could be worse addictions...ice cream? Shoot.

On to dessert! I made this on Saturday, and it was a hit. As I mentioned in an earlier post I started with a recipe from allrecipes.com called "Black Magic Cake" and then made it my own concoction. (I also cut the original measurements in half in order to make a smaller, single layer cake). Here's what you'll need:

3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup sugar (I have thought about only adding 3/4 cup, but have not tested this yet)
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
small 1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1/2 cup strong black coffee (just adds moisture, is not overpowering in the flavor)
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt (I did not have buttermilk so I used a container of vanilla Greek yogurt and it was wonderful!)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease square or loaf baking pan. Combine all dry ingredients, mix and then make a well. Add wet ingredients into bowl and mix thoroughly until smooth. The batter is going to be on the thin side, but do not be alarmed, it bakes up great. Pour batter into pan(s) and bake for 35-40 minutes. Take the toothpick test, and if it comes out clean then let cool completely before adding frosting. It is very moist and delicious without any topping, but cream cheese frosting was our favorite (we also added chopped dark chocolate on top). Enjoy!

And, if you are curious...Lunch came in at around 500 calories, while the cake (without toppings) is less than 150 calories for a very decent sized slice.
I know, I should probably go run after this, but it is so gross outside. A cold front came back through and it is windy and wet. Stop whining Allison. I will do something I just don't know what that something will be yet ;)

xoxo.

Preview

rubypr.com

So what is a girl to do when she has no scheduled run and doesn't have to be into work till 10am? YES, bake a chocolate cake is the only right answer! I played with a recipe I found on allrecipes.com called "Black Magic Cake" submitted by Smuckers. I changed a couple ingredients around and messed with some amounts and voila! I of course had to try some before I left today, and I cannot wait to have more with Neapolitan ice cream tonight as my treat.
So, the next post will have a delicious recipe, a brand new outfit from the shop, and hopefully a good report from my long run due tomorrow morning. I was able to reach my 20 mile goal again, but I have yet to hit that 25 mile mark for the week. I'll keep you updated :)
Have a fabulous day!
xoxo.



Mindful Rambles

Good Morning! I understand yesterday was quite a day. I always am very excited on election day and I hope you took advantage of the time to go through with what you thought would be best. There are quite a few comments from both directions buzzing around, so I am going to leave that be and touch on a few lighter topics.

I was looking through my phone and saw I had some random photos of outfits I had done. I figured it wouldn't hurt to post them and hopefully they might spring some creative ideas for you! These were all done via Mosaic and if a piece stands out then I will definitely be sure to give you its stats :)

 

(All of these looks are put together for under $50!)

 

 

 

 

 Look #1: This outfit comes mostly from H&M (the blouse and the vest) and the skirt is an older, pleated, Anne Klein. I paired it with some dress booties and later a small gold charm necklace, very understated.

Look #2: Dress is H&M (jumper style underneath) and cropped blazer comes from Macy's. I just liked this one because of the complementing patterns.

Look #3: I know there isn't much going on here, just a neat biker jacket that came in and one of my favorite scarves paired with a Moda International shift dress.

Look #4 (Middle Photo): Vest and blouse are both from J. Crew, scarf is via Mosaic, and the denim are express. Paired with caramel riding boots.

Look #5: 80s Lycra long sleeve dress with an Express frayed cardigan and a retro braided pink belt (sorry for the poor quality in photo). Paired with some loafers and a few silver chains.

Look #6: I was just playing one day with our jewelry. We get so many pretty, long stranded necklaces that I thought this was a neat way to change up how you wear them.

Look #7: Beautiful burnt orange handmade skirt paired with a simple beaded slate top from AT Loft and a J. Crew cardigan. Paired with a large bauble beaded necklace and vintage neck scarf. Paired with some Maryjane's.
 
I understand that the quality in picture taking is not spot on here. Also, these looks were just bits and pieces that I hoped might spark some ideas. I apologize if they aren't up to the shiniest standards, but I hope you still enjoyed peeking!

Look out for a running update asap and a new cookie recipe, yum!

xoxo