Let's talk potatoes!

Y'all. I came across this recipe the other day as I was blog-stalking on the Internet.* It is seriously amazing. I know I call a lot of recipes amazing, but this is one of those ones that just CAN NOT go without being noticed. I found it on The Pioneer Woman and she has shown the light on potatoes for me.  I like potatoes, but sometimes they can be a bit bland, in my opinion. Try this recipe, and you will be so surprised how they transform! Just as an FYI, my photo does not do these justice. Please look on the above Web site for a better look. So, without further ado..

Crash Hot Potatoes

Ingredients:

6 New potatoes or other small round ones

Olive oil

Salt

Pepper

Herb of choice (I used garlic salt, you can use anything like thyme, rosemary, etc.)

Recipe:

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add in as many potatoes as you wish to make and cook until fork tender. On a sheet pan, generously drizzle olive oil. Place the tender potatoes a few inches apart. With a potato masher, gently press down each potato until it slightly mashes. Brush the tops with more olive oil. Sprinkle the potatoes with salt, pepper and a pinch of your herb of choice. Bake in a 450 degree oven for 20-25 minutes. Serve warm.

I ate these tonight with Sloppy Joe's.** They can pretty much go with any meal, so eat them up now because they are awesome!

Have a great night!

*Blog-stalking is my new favorite hobby. If you have a few minutes check out the blog list I have on the right side of my blog. They are all pretty different, but are really entertaining. Now, if only my friends would start blogs, so I don't have to stalk random people I will never meet, cough.

**Still on the "no red meat diet" and made my Sloppy Joe's with ground turkey! It's easy to find in the grocery store, is more healthy for you than ground beef, and tastes exactly the same. Just don't be alarmed when the meat turns white as you cook it, ha. It is white meat, remember.. :)

Meat-free.. well sort of..

So, let's just go ahead and throw it out there: I don't really go to church alot. I did when I was still living at home, but since college and now moving to a new city.. well, it kind of got lost in the shuffle. Not to say I don't pray to myself sometimes, or the fact that I do enjoy a church service, I just need to find a time when I know it's right that I will dilgently pick back up the church routine. I don't have a time line, but I am hoping it will be sometime soon.

Given that information, I still do partake in the traditions of the Catholic church, one being Lent. I have never once successfully given up something for 40 days. So this year, I am trying it out.. again. I have decided on red meat. I have a family history of "bad pipes" as some may put it, so I guess this is a step in the right direction. I also don't eat alot of red meat, so I'm hoping it won't be too hard. I also started my Lent season on Sunday because I couldn't come up with anything until then, so sue me. Also, since Sunday is a day of rest, I find it conducive to my Lenten fasting to give red meat a chance that day.. if I'm feeling in the mood.*

So let it be said, I will be beef and pork free until Easter Sunday! Wahoo!** Here's to chicken and fish!! Have a great Wednesday!

*OK, so I had to put that in there because I went to an AWESOME dinner party the other night at Bobby Van's Steakhouse in downtown DC and I got a free filet mignon.. come on people, let's be honest.. you can NOT turn that down.

**I don't really know if pork is considered "red," but I'm giving it up because I need less bacon and sausage in my life. Fo' sho'.

Happy thoughts!

Because my work schedule is back to normal, it's almost Spring, I will be in SC in two weeks for St. Patty's Day in Five Points, and because I am making pancakes for dinner. So sue me.. and my diet. :)

Homemade Pasta Sauce!

I am so excited to report that I successfully made and served my very own homemade marinara sauce last night! Only problem is, I forgot to take photos before it was gobbled up by my friends. The dinner party at Christa's new house (my reason for making the sauce in the first place) was a blast. It was filled with food and fun; my two very favorite things.  I am still so excited to have finally taken the leap. I have stuggled with sauces in the past. I can never get just the right consistency for each of them. I am getting better at cream and cheese sauces like the Gorgonzola cream sauce I made a few months ago, but other than that, most of the sauces I use come out of a jar.

I borrowed this recipe from Giada (my go-to for everything Italian) and it turned out so well. Another plus to making your own sauce: it freezes really well. That means you can make alot of it at one time and keep it in the freezer for random times. I have an extra can of crushed San Marzano tomatoes which I plan on using very soon.

Homemade Marinara Sauce

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 28 oz. can San Marzano crushed tomatoes (or any brand, I just like these the best)
1 dried bay leaf
Salt
Pepper

Recipe:

In a large pot, heat the oil over a medium-high flame. Add the onions and garlic and saute until the onions are translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the celery, carrots, and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and bay leaf, and simmer uncovered over low heat until the sauce thickens, about 1 hour. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Season the sauce with more salt and pepper, to taste.

If your sauce starts to thicken and it loses liquid, just gradually add 1/2 cup of water to the sauce over the course of the hour. Make sure to stir it occasionally. You can always double this recipe and have more sauce on hand! It comes out chunky and perfect for all types of pasta, especially my faves: spaghetti, penne and bowtie!

As a side note, although I am sad and disappointed that I will not be able to attend Mardi Gras at Hampden-Sydney this weekend, I will be at the National Governors Association Winter Meeting in DC. I AM excited to finally meet members of the staff in my office in SC and network with many, many people over the weekend. Hooray for that!

I am also excited to see one of my very dear friends, Zach, while he visits DC today and tomorrow for the last time before he leaves the US for South Korea!! He will be teaching English there for a year, and hopefully will return to us after he is done. Knowing Zach though, he will probably fall in love with the country and it's people and never come back!

And lastly, I am super excited about my finalized trip to SOUTH CAROLINA for ST. PATTY'S DAY in March! Wahoo for green beer and seeing all of my great friends!!

Happy eating and have a great day!

Soft Eggs with Toast and Asparagus

So last night, we ate pizza. This darn snow is making me soft. I have been working out, though. So I guess that compensates for my slip-ups. Any who, today was the last of the snow days, and I can honestly say I am EXCITED to get back to work! Too much of being inside can do that to you, I guess. So for dinner, I made Soft Eggs with Toast and Asparagus. And it was yum. Almost like a dressed-up slimmed-down version of Eggs Benedict, which is one of my FAVORITE brunch menus. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

2 eggs

2 pieces of wheat toast, toasted

1/2 bunch asparagus, woody stems cut off

Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon white vinegar

Olive oil

Salt 

Pepper

Recipe:

Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Cover a cookie sheet with tin foil and lay out the asparagus evenly. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. Roast in the oven, tossing occasionally for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, add 1 1/2 inches water to a flat-bottomed saucepan and heat on medium-high heat. When the water starts to boil, drop it down to a simmer. Add a tablespoon of white vinegar. Crack an egg in a bowl and carefully slide it into the simmering water. Do the same with the second egg, making sure they don't touch in the pan. Let cook for three minutes. Use a slotted spoon or spatula and transfer the eggs to a paper towel. Let them sit and drain. Plate the toast and place a few spears of asparagus on each piece. Transfer a poached egg to each slice of bread and top with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Serve. 

Tonight is Thursday, which means my favorite shows are on! Grey's Anatomy is on at 9 p.m. followed by Project Runway at 10 p.m. I also have started watching a new show, The Deep End, at 8 p.m. and it is actually quite interesting. It's about new lawyers just out of law school at a swanky law firm. 

Have a great night! As everyone knows, Valentine's Day is Sunday. Adam and I have decided forgo dinner out to stay in, save some money and eat Surf N' Turf: Filet Mignon and Crab Cakes! Can't wait! I'll be sure to take pics and let you know how they turn out!

Cod with Sauteed Asparagus

So after the "Snowmageddon" that occurred this weekend, and all the fun that came along with it, I am back on track with the plan. I have to admit, homemade pizza, spaghetti and meatballs and Chinese food were all very yummy, so I know that it's going to take perseverance to adjust my eating. So, yesterday I ventured out into the snowy mess and stocked up on groceries for the week. I started Monday with Cod with Sauteed Asparagus.

Ingredients:

1 cod fillet

Salt 

Pepper

1/2 bunch asparagus

Olive Oil

Recipe:

Spray a pan with Pam and heat on medium heat. Sprinkle the cod on both sides with salt and pepper. Saute the cod for 4-5 minutes on both sides. When the fish is flaky, remove it from the pan. Meanwhile, heat another pan on medium heat and drizzle a few swirls of olive oil until heated. Add the asparagus to the pan and toss with salt and pepper. Saute until soft or tender to the bite. Serve with the cod.

I enjoy light flavoring on fish, so if you find it a bit bland, feel free to add any type of seasoning to the fillet before adding to the pan. Some that come to mind are lemon pepper or Cajun seasoning that you can find pre-made at the grocery store. 

It starting snowing a while ago, so hopefully it won't get too bad overnight. I've been off work since Friday, and while it was a nice vacation, I am itching to get out of the apartment. Also, just a little late happy birthday to my lovely sister, Jessica and to my wonderful boyfriend Adam and friend Casey! Love you all!

Hope y'all have a nice night!! Pray we can dig out tomorrow!! 

Chicken with Mushrooms and Spinach

Oh my goodness, y'all! This is my FAVORITE meal so far!! Chicken with Mushrooms and Spinach. The picture does not do it justice AT ALL. I need to start taking pictures with my camera that has a flash, but it has been dead for quite some time now, so my iPhone camera has been doing all the work. Any who, it was so good, and it was one of the lighter meals that I have had so far. I was able to workout really hard after only one hour of letting my meal settle. Yay for good food and a good workout! Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I used tenderloins that were frozen, they are smaller and you have don't have leftovers)
1/2 container of sliced mushrooms
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 cup wine (I used chicken stock; trying to cut down on cals and it's the same effect as wine)
1/4 container of frozen spinach (Just defrost it in the micro for a few minutes and cut 1/4 of the spinach off. Stick it in a pot with 2 tablespoons of water and boil it for a few minutes until softened. Add some salt and pepper to taste.)

Recipe:

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan on medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and add to the pan. Cook for about 6-8 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate when no longer pink in the middle. Cooking times may vary. Meanwhile, cook spinach according to above instructions.

Return the skillet to the stove and carefully pour the chicken stock into the pan. It will steam alot. As it comes down, scrap the bottom of the pan to get all the bits of chicken and flavor off the bottom of the pan. Add the mushrooms to the pan with chicken stock.  Cook for a few minutes until they start to brown and soften, maybe 2-3 minutes. Then add the garlic and cook for another 2-3 miuntes, making sure the garlic does not burn. Once the chicken stock is mostly evaporated, add the cooked spinach to the pan, stirring carefully. Once combined, add the chicken back to the pan and heat up for just a few seconds. After chicken is re-warmed, serve.  This dish is 295 calories per serving.

I must remind y'all that I have changed these recipes to suit my cooking style and I am using ingredients that I have readily available. I have also cut them down in size, because I am the only one eating the meals. :) If you would like to see the originals, please go to Real Simple magazine's Web site and check them out.

Happy eating!

PS: On a side note, DC is supposed to get 2 feet of snow this weekend. Needless to say, I will not be driving through the blizzard of January '10 like I did during the blizzard of December '09. Which means, rather than spending the weekend in Hampden-Sydney with Adam for his birthday, I will be stuck in DC. Oh well, guess I'll have to hunker down and enjoy a few (or five) glasses of wine, all while watching the snow fall.

(You can always click on the comic to read it larger in a new window.)

Roasted Shrimp with Peppers and Lemon

Yummm! This is dinner from Day Two of the February workout and diet plan. I guess I should come up with a name for it, since it has literally taken over my life for the past few days. Maybe something like.. February Diet Extravaganza.. FDE? Hmm.. no. I'll think of something, and get back to that later.

For now, here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup white rice (I used half a package of Uncle Ben's Ready Rice.. stick it in the micro for 90 seconds and it's done. Way easier.)
1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/2 lemon, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 green onions, sliced
Pinch of red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt
Pepper
6-8 frozen shrimp
Pinch of paprika

Recipe:

Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Cook the rice according to package instructions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss bell pepper, lemon, thyme, green onions, red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon of oil, and some salt and pepper. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet covered with tin foil.

Add the shrimp to the same bowl as before and toss with paprika, another tablespoon of oil and some salt and pepper. Nestle the shrimp in the bell peppers on the baking sheet. Roast until the shrimp are cooked through and the bell peppers are tender, about 10-12 minutes. Serve over the rice. This dish is 392 calories per serving.

This recipe is really tasty, however, I got a little pour happy with the red pepper flakes. I do love heat in my food, and I usually load them up on my pizza, but WHOA! I was literally ON FIRE while eating this dish. So I adjusted the recipe above to say "a pinch." You can always add more at the end, if you wish to.

I finished out the day with another Wii Fit workout. I did some more aerobics and a TON of pilates and yoga to stretch out my sore muscles.

So, any who, happy eating and thanks for reading!

Steak with Golden Zucchini

Well, here it is!! Tonight's dinner was sooooooo good! It looks a bit strange in the picture, but it was delish! If you're interested, here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

Olive oil

1 ribeye steak

1 zucchini

1 small clove of garlic

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

1 tablespoon Italian-style breadcrumbs

Salt

Pepper

Recipe:

Heat one turn of olive oil in a pan on medium high heat. Season steak with salt and pepper. Cook until desired doneness, I did about 4-5 minutes per side (only flipping once) for about medium. Transfer to a plate and tent with tin foil. Cut zucchini lengthwise, season with salt and pepper and add to same pan. Cover with a lid and cook for about 6 minutes until soft. Transfer to plate and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. In a small bowl, combine lemon zest, garlic, and bread crumbs. Sprinkle the mixture over the zucchini and serve with the steak. This dish is 321 calories per serving.

I worked out for about an hour alternating between several aerobic exercises on Wii Fit and about 30 minutes on the elliptical. My abs will be paying for it in the morning, but it was worth it! One day down, 27 to go! 

Now on to The Bachelor.. nothing better than a good dinner, exercise and trashy, reality TV :).

The Beginning..

So, it's here folks! The first day of February! I have officially started my new diet and exercise plan. I have also decided, that since I will (hopefully) be posting everyday, this will be my last post that I make as a Facebook or Twitter status. I think it will get old not only on my own wall, but also on people's mini and news feeds. So, if you wanna read my blog, you have to put in the teeny bit of extra clicking to get to it. It's located on my FB under Web site, if you are interested. Which I hope you will be!

This morning, I had my usual coffee with Splenda and half and half. I am trying to limit caffeine intake as well, so I will try to drink water for most of the day rather than soda. I enjoyed a Nutrigrain bar as well. Nutrigrain bars are my favorite breakfast bar. Since I moved out of my parent's house and went to college, I didn't have a lot of time to eat breakfast,* so breakfast bars became a regular thing. They are only 130 calories and they come in lots of different flavors as opposed to other breakfast bars that only come in a variety of about three or four. My favorites are raspberry, apple cinnamon and strawberry.

For lunch, I ate a salad (that I prepared at home last night, yay!) loaded with cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and red onion. The best part about this salad: the dressing. Red wine vinegar. I kid you not. It is amazing. It is straight out of the bottle and I am obsessed.** It also has ZERO CALORIES. That, my friends, is awesome too. Because that means you can use as much as you want, and IT DOESN'T MATTER!*** Wahoo!!  Around 2:30 p.m., I'll eat a banana as an afternoon snack.

Later tonight, I am working out in the gym for about an hour. I hope to do about 30 minutes on the elliptical and about 30 minutes back in my apartment on the Wii Fit doing some strength training and some yoga.

The part I am most excited about though is dinner. Every night this month, I have a dinner planned that is under 400 calories. Tonight, I am making Steak with Golden Zucchini. Hooray! I will post pictures and recipes tomorrow.

Have a great day! Again, if anyone is interested in hearing about the plan, I have some more info that I made for myself outlining the plan that I can share. Just e-mail me at sugarandspicedc@gmail.com.


*Clearly, this is because I never woke up more than 10 minutes before class started back when I lived on campus at USC and before jobs and internships set in. And when they did, I only woke up in exactly enough time to get ready, grab a Nutrigrain bar on the run out the door and get there on time. Isn't that what everyone else did? Mmm, hmm.

**Shoutout to Katie M. for introducing me to the wonderful world of RWV!

***Well, unless you use too much, in which case you may get heartburn from the acidity.