What're you having Christmas morning?

Ahh Christmas morning.  Less than a day away.

Opening gifts while in pajamas.

Sipping holiday tea and eating a leisurely breakfast.

Having a nice relaxed morning listening to the "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo" CD.

Have I mentioned I grew up with brothers?  

Here's what I'll be making tomorrow morning:

Banana Bread French Toast
Ingredients
-Your favorite loaf of banana bread (or use mine)
-4 eggs
-1/4 cup milk
-2 Tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
-1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
-2 bananas, sliced
-Maple syrup (optional)

Bananas Bread
-1 cup whole wheat flour
-1 cup all purpose flour
-1 teaspoon baking soda
-1/4 teaspoon salt
-1/2 cup butter (softened)
-3/4 cup brown sugar
-2 eggs, lightly beatened
-2 1/3 cup mashed overripe bananas (about 3 large)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

Make banana bread and let completely cool.  Even better- make it the day before.  Preheat a griddle to 350 degrees.  Spray with nonstick butter-flavor cooking spray.  Slice bread into 1" thick pieces.  In a medium shallow bowl, whisk together eggs, milks, and vanilla.  Dip each slice in mixture, flipping to coat.  Grill until golden brown.  Serve with sliced bananas and syrup. 

Christmas Eve mass tonight then family time tomorrow.  With Mr. Hankey.  Merry Christmas!

Christmas detox

A bowl of caramels.

Boxes of chocolates.

A giant tin of popcorn.

Plates upon plates upon plates of Christmas cookies.

This what my workplace break room has been like for well over a week now.  Sure I love sweets as much as anyone, but there gets to be a point where you've...just...had...enough.

This recipe is for such an occasion- when you *don't* want a spike-then-crash from sugar.

Honey Cashew Chicken adapted from Cooking Light, May 2012
Ingredients
2 cups instant brown rice
1 pound boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 1" strips
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons sesame oil (or canola oil)
2 cups chopped fresh broccoli (frozen would work in a pinch)
1 cup frozen shelled edamame
1/4 teaspoon jarred garlic
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup dry-roasted unsalted cashews
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1.5 tablespoons sriracha hot sauce


1. Cook rice according to package directions.

2. Combine cornstarch, salt, and pepper in a large resealable bag.  Add chicken and shake to coat.

3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil. Add chicken mixture, and sauté for 4 minutes or until lightly browned. Increase heat to high, and add broccoli and the next 4 ingredients (through red bell pepper). Cook 5 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender and chicken is done, stirring frequently. Stir in cashews.

4. Combine vinegar and remaining ingredients in a small bowl; stir with a whisk. Add vinegar mixture to chicken mixture; toss to coat. Serve with rice.  Makes 5 servings.

Per serving: 330 calories, 32 g carbs, 10 g fat, 28 g protein, 9 g fiber

Mmm...veggies and protein and fiber...

Bright copper kettles vs warm woolen mittens

I prefer doorbells and sleighbells and schnitzel with noodles.

Wait, what is schnitzel?

I do have my favorite things.  Oh sure there are also my favorite people, favorite songs, favorite colors.

(Victoria Beckham, "A whole new world" from The Little Mermaid, and indigo, in case you're wondering)

Taking a break from food, I thought I'd post my current favorites, a la Oprah, though unlike Oprah, I will not actually be giving out these things.

Benefit boi-ing concealer.  I call it my spackle.  Covers up anything and it lasts for hours without getting dried or peely.

Nature Wick candles- $10 at Target.  A friend gave me one of these and I liked it so much I bought a second scent (this one is "fireplace" or something).  They have a wooden wick and make a crackly sound when burning.  Mmm...homey.

Trader Joe's cinnamon holiday tea.  It smells like Christmas in a cup.  Or Hanukkah in a cup.  Your pick.

Trader Joe's lavender salt scrub.  Who knew TJ's made bath products?  This jar costs only $5.99 and it is awesome for wintertime.  Smells amazing and it's super moisturizing.

Lancome face moisturizer.  Expensive, but worth it.  This little jar has lasted me 11 months now.  It's got SPF 30 but doesn't smell sunscreen-y like other creams.

A rosemary tree.  This cost me $10.  Anytime I need fresh rosemary I can just snip off a sprig.  I can't say I've *ever* needed fresh rosemary in my kind of cooking, but hey, at least it's a nice looking plant. And no, that's not an actual picture of my actual tree in my actual kitchen.  I wish.

Fresh sugar rose lip balm- at Sephora for $20.  Twenty bucks for chap stick?  Yes.  Worth it.  One tube lasts forever, plus it actually smells like roses.  I've had the same tube for over a year 'cause this stuff lasts for hours. 

And my most favoritest thing of all?  Dresses and shirts and leiderhosen made out of ugly bedroom curtains! 

Easy Mediterranean

One of the best meals we ate in NYC was at a Mediterranean restaurant.  Hummus was their specialty.  If you're  like me, you're thinking "mushy beans?  I could take it or leave it."  But their hummus was awesome- chunky with chickpeas and filled with garlic and spices.  I ordered that along with a chopped salad. 

Wanting to sort of re-create that meal at home, I came up with this:

Mediterranean Pitas
-4 whole wheat pita pockets (2 whole pitas)
-1 can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), rinsed and drained
-1 container pre-made hummus of your choice
-1 large cucumber, finely diced
-2 medium tomatoes, finely diced (I removed most of the mushy guts & seeds)
-1/2 teaspoon chili powder
-1/4 teaspoon pepper
-1/2 tablespoon lime or lemon juice
-1/2 tablespoon olive oil

In a medium bowl, combine garbanzos with hummus.  In another medium  bowl, combine chopped cucumber, tomatoes, seasonings, citrus juice, and olive oil.  Stir to coat.

Fill a pita with a spoonful of hummus dip and add veggies.  Serve immediately.  Simple!  Easy!  Delicious!

Per pita: 400 calories, 52 g carbs, 17 g fat (heart-healthy fats), 16 g protein, 17 g fiber (!)

Now my husband wants me to re-create the big greasy pepperoni and sausage pizza we ate on our last night.  Better that than the pig stomach I suppose.

It's Christmas time in the city

Last night my husband and I returned from a long weekend in New York City.  It's always been on my bucket list to go to NYC during the Christmas season.  Ok, well not always- more since I was 8 years old and saw "Home Alone 2" for the first time.  Seriously what is it with me and the Home Alone movies?

We had a great time- beautiful decorations and lights, lots of sightseeing, some shopping, and lots of eating.

No soup for you!

Pastrami is the breakfast of champions.

After I mangled this cupcake in excitement, I realized I'd forgotten to take a picture.  Peanutbutterchocolatecupcake!

My husband ordered an entree of pig stomach in Chinatown.  Rubbery...

Went to the Today Show and saw Matt Lauer & crew.

I AM EXCITED TO BE HERE.

Went to a taping of the Late Show.  Heyyyy Anne Hathaway.

1-lb Reese's cups @ FAO Schwartz.  Mmmm...obesity epidemic.

And then to cap off our trip, a huge dose of Minnesota reality.  

I'll be posting a NY-inspired recipe later on today.

Christmas Comforts

Have you noticed yet that ABC Family's "25 Days of Christmas" started like the day after Thanksgiving?

I'm not complaining though.  I swear I will never grow tired of Buddy the Elf, Rudolph & Yukon Cornelius, the Whos in Whoville, Melissa Joan Hart in "Holiday in Handcuffs" and...

Kevin McCallister.  This is my house- I have to defend it!

Don't think my little 8-year old self didn't pay full attention to his anti Wet Bandit strategies.

The Micro-Machines-on-the-floor.  Classic.

The more inventive hot-iron-on-the-doorknob.

And my favorite: the sticky-tar-on-the-stairs.

Actually I lie.  My favorite is the glue-on-the-face-then-a-fan-blows-feathers-all-over.  I just don't have a picture of that scene. 

To me, "Home Alone" is the Christmas equivalent of chicken noodle soup.  Or mac & cheese.  Or spaghetti.

Spaghetti with upgrades
-1 large jar marinara sauce
-1 pound lean ground turkey
-2 large tomatoes, diced
-4 fresh basil leaves, torn up into smallish pieces
-1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
-1 package frozen chopped spinach (thawed)
-2/3 box whole wheat spaghetti noodles

1. Saute turkey until no longer pink.  Turn down heat to medium-low.  Add marinara sauce, tomatoes, garlic powder, basil, and spinash.  Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
2. Bring a large pot of water to boil.  Add noodles and boil until tender.  Drain.  Serve immediately.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if you want.

Makes six servings.  Per serving: 206 calories, 35 g carbs, 3 g fat, 12 g protein, 6 g fiber

Oh yeah- keep the leftovers, ya filthy animal!

The fine line becomes blurred

I hold a few things sacred in my life.


Chip-free painted nails.

 My belief in "the higher the heel, the closer to God."

Preventing my unibrow from taking over my forehead, a la Bert. 
 
And my opinion that one should never- ever- go out in public with wet hair and/or pajama pants.


*thanks Google for the random image

So given that I'm a little too into keeping up appearances, it was a surprise to even me when I found myself buying this at Target:

A leopard print adult onesie, complete with footies.  One part Snooki, one part "I-give-up."

I took a gamble, having to weigh out extreme comfort vs risking my husband leaving me out of repulsion. 

He actually took it fairly well, but maybe that's only because I distracted him with a tasty dinner. 

Vegetable Chickpea Curry from CookingLight.com
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2cups chopped yellow onion
1 cup (1/4-inch thick) slices carrots
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon grated ginger (I bought jarred)
1 teaspoon chopped garlic (again- just buy garlic in a jar)
2 cans chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups cubed peeled potato
1 cup diced green bell pepper
1 1/2 cups (1 inch) green beans
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (14 oz) can low sodium vegetable brown
1 bag fresh spinach, rinsed
1 can light coconut milk

1. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.  Add onion and carrot; cover and cook 5 minutes or until tender.  Add curry powder, sugar, ginger, garlic, and chile; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly so that spices don't burn.

2. Place onion/carrot mix in the bottom of a slow cooker.  Stir in chickpeas and next ingredients (through broth).  Cover and cook on high for 6 hours or low for 8 hours.  Add spinach and coconut milk; stir until spinach wilts.  You can serve over rice or with whole wheat naan if you'd like.

Makes six servings.  Per serving: 275 calories, 44 g carbs, 7 g fat, 11 g protein, 10 g fiber.

 

At least I don't have wet hair. 

       




           

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Thanksgiving holiday (alternate title: Why I haven't been blogging)

Now that the Thanksgiving holiday is 100% behind me, I can throw my full-fledged focus on Christmas.  Before T-giving, I had to hide my Christmas tunes and downplay how many decorations I had already purchased.  29 days left, baby.

My holiday in pictures:

Doggy socks.  What else would you expect her to wear under her new doggy booties?

Yes, that is bacon-flavored soda.  I couldn't take a small enough sip of this stuff.

Wal Mart- Thursday at 8 pm.  Really people?  Did...not...do...this.

Woke up to this on Friday morning.  I think all of the backyard pics I've ever posted have had at least one piece of plastic lawn furniture in them. 

Here's your Where's Waldo challenge.  I raided my mom's Christmas decor stash.  Turns out stocking holders are expensive.  $45 for stupid metal hooks?  Growing up we had "PEACE"- one stocking for each family member.  So what was I to do now with only 3 family members?

Now it's back to reality with a full work week.  I promise to post some upcoming new recipes.  Get your slow cooker ready...

One is the loneliest number

Ever since we got married, I've been packing my husband a lunch every day.  Some people find that sweet and endearing.  Others find it control freak-esque.  Fortunately my husband is in the former...at least that's what he tells me.

I usually pack the same lunch for both of us, only his portions are larger.  I try to make it balanced- good proteins, healthy fats, and of course healthy carbs- often in the form of an apple.

But now- for THIRTY DAYS straight- this apple has gone uneaten.

After the first few days of being ignored, I figured that my husband just wasn't hungry for it.  So I started packing a little bit less food in accordance.

Nope.  Didn't work.  How dare he ignore my healthy apple!

The passive-agressive continuous re-packing gave rise to this more creative approach.  But of course he's not going to eat an apple with Sharpie all over it...I hope.  So I packed a smaller apple too.  One for humor, one for eats.

As soon as he got home I opened up his lunch tote to see if my ploy worked...

Success! 

Practical applications on the topic of cholesterol

This past weekend was spent in my hometown for a family friend's wedding.  My husband proved himself to be the Best Sport Ever by willingly going on my nostalgia tour all around town.

Let's see...first we went on a tour of a historic mansion.  This was in the parking lot:

What the what?

Then it was to the mall!  Times have changed.  Pretend I'm saying this in a creaky old lady voice: Now back when I was a kid, there was no Coach store at the mall.  We had to buy our handbags at Sears! 

The morning after the wedding we went for a jog around the lake in town.  In the rain.  In 30-degree weather. 

To wrap up the nostalgia tour, we went and hiked through some caves that I hadn't been to since I was 8 years old.  In the rain.  In 30-degree weather.

Hence the Best Sport Ever award. 

He didn't exactly suffer the whole weekend though.  The wedding was fun, and between rainy events, we went out for burgers. 

The "Fatty Melt."  Two grilled cheese sandwiches with a beef patty, onion rings, and bacon in between.  And a heap of fries.  I estimate this meal to be around 1600 calories, with 93 grams of fat, and 210 mg cholesterol.

The daily recommended maximum intake of fat is about 60 grams (for an adult male) and 300 mg cholesterol.

Practical translation?  You'd think that eating cholesterol makes your blood cholesterol increase.  Yeah, it does a bit.  But actually saturated fat has a huge influence on your blood cholesterol.  LDL, "bad cholesterol" is the one that clogs up your arteries and puts you at risk for heart disease.  HDL, "good cholesterol" acts as a scooper to pick up the LDL and bring it back to the liver.  Saturated fat will increase the bad cholesterol.  Trans fats both increase bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol- that's why you've seen the health push to limit trans fats.

Not the end of the world to have something like this on a rare occasion.  Just keep in mind that it'd take 8 laps around the lake, 10-1/2 cave hikes, or 25 mansion tours to burn it off.  

In the spirit

I got pretty excited for Halloween as a kid.  I wasn't necessarily all that into the costumes- I had a princess dress and a light-up tiara, and that was the standard for a few years.  No, the decorations were far more exciting.  You know what's a fun project?  Taking all the tissues in the house, wadding them up, using a marker to draw eyes and a mouth to make tiny "ghosts" to leave all around the house.  Hilarious.  Also fun?  Listening to the Ghostbusters theme song over and over on your Fisher Price cassette player.  

Those were the days.

Now that I'm an adult, I'm much more sophisticated with Halloween.  Goodbye Princess costume.  Hellooooo Honey Boo Boo.

You might think that as a dietitian, I'm the one in the neighborhood handing out apples and bananas.  Not so much.  You think I want kids coming back late at night to egg my house out of revenge?  Heck no.  M&M's packs for everyone!

Here's a list of the 5 worst fun size candies, according to Mens' Health.
5. Butterfinger
 
   100 calories, 2 g saturated fat, 10 g sugar

Better choice?  A fun size 3 Musketeers- only 63 calories

4. Airheads
 
 In a 3-piece serving, you get 140 calories, 1 g saturated fat, and 19 grams of sugar.  These use partially hydrogenated oils to keep them soft and chewy, which are filled with scary trans fats.  Instead try a Dum-Dum sucker for 25 calories.

3. Twix
 
Twix has the worst saturated fat profile of any Halloween.  Each serving (2 fun size bars) of these bite-sized candies carries 20 percent of the saturated fat you should consume in an entire day.  Swapping out 3 Tootsie Rolls cuts the fat by 79%.

2. Caramels


90% of the fat in these caramels is artery-clogging saturated fat, plus packs 160 calories.  Choosing 4 Now & Later chewy candies saves you over a hundred calories and eliminates the fat.

1. Reese's Pumpkin
 
So this may or may not be my favorite candy.  And I may or may not have eaten 3 Reese's peanut butter stacked together after trick-or-treating.  They were always the first candy in my stash to be depleted (the last?  Bit-O-Honey.  Whenever someone was handing out those chewy logs of awfulness I would make a mental note to egg their house later skip this shack next year).  Sadly one of these babies packs170 calories,10 g fat (3 g saturated), and 16 g sugars.  A better suggestion?  Eleven pieces of candy corn is only 70 calories, fat-free, and 14 g sugar.



So now that we all have preemptive guilt about the leftover candy we will inevitably have and inevitably eat, Happy Halloween!

I mean, a dolla makes me holla!  Happy Halloween, y'all!