I’m So Exciiited, I’m So Exciiited (+ Giveaway)

Is it any shocker that today’s lunch included carrot slices?

Carrot + Cuc + Tomato

Since I had a carrot the size of a toddler chillin’ in my fridge, I knew I better start eating that bad boy since it will likely take me five years to get through the whole thing.

I enjoyed the sliced carrot with cucumber and grape tomatoes alongside a fakie-bacon and cheese sandwich, made with two Morningstar Farms veggie bacon strips.

Fakie Bacon

For a lil’ sweetness, I also included a cup o’ Motts natural apple sauce which brought me back to childhood.

Mott's Natural Apple Sauce

The Full Spread

Speaking of childhood, I was am a huge fan of Saved by the Bell and read in a magazine this morning that today is Jessie Spano‘s birthday and she is now 38 years old.

Jessie Spano

This clearly must be false. She is only 28. Time does not fly that fast!

Anyway, happy birthday Jessie! I’m so excited, I’m so excited, I’m so… scared for you. 😉 (Seriously, who gets that loony on caffeine pills?)

Chocolate Indulgence Giveaway Winner

The winner of the Chocolate Indulgence Giveaway is…

Fallon: “I love putting chocolate chips on top of my self-serve yogurt, like Yogurtland!”

Congrats, Fallon. Please email me (pbfingers@gmail.com) with your mailing address so I may pass it along to the folks at Stonyfield!

Gourmet Nutrition Book Giveaway

A giveaway two days in a row? What is this?

When Jessica, the wonderful woman behind the new blog Give Away One Thing A Day, contacted me about hosting a giveaway on my blog I was immediately intrigued by the unique concept behind her blog. Jessica started her blog in an effort to bring more positivity into her life and focus on doing something good for others.

When someone wins a giveaway offered through Jessica, they are asked to “pay it forward” by giving away an item of their own and sharing their story with Jessica. (Just FYI, you do not have to have a blog to enter this giveaway. If you win, you may giveaway something to someone you know and simply tell Jessica about it.)

Jessica is offering one reader a copy of Gourmet Nutrition, a cookbook for “the Fit Food Lover.”

Gourmet Nutrition Cookbook

According to the book’s website, “We’ve taken the healthiest ingredients and whipped them into nearly 300 pages of delicious culinary creations that you can serve with confidence to the most discerning foodie – or the most nitpicky nutritionist.  We’ve included detailed cooking instructions and ideas for improvisation.  And we’ve even photographed every recipe in beautiful color to show you just how appetizing healthy food can be.”

To enter this giveaway, simply comment on this post below.

Jessica will randomly select a winner tomorrow, so be sure to check her blog to see if you won! I will also post a link to Jessica’s announcement of the winner once Jessica has randomly selected someone.

Good luck you foodie lovers, you!

Returned in Full-Force

My mom used to make fish for dinner several times a week when I was growing up.

I went through a phase when I was so sick of fish in high school. Of course I made what my mom prepared, but I would cringe when I found out fish was on the dinner menu.

Fast forward to college and when I would come home to visit, all I wanted was a homecooked meal that included fish.

Maybe my craving stremmed from the fact that I didn’t eat fish away from home since I had a meal plan in college and didn’t really trust the fish prepared on campus. Or maybe I now wanted fish because we moved to Florida and the fish we ate was super fresh and often caught earlier that day during one of my dad’s spearfishing trips. Either way, my love for fish retured in full-force.

These days I don’t make fish all that often because it can be pricey, but when I saw beautiful filets of trout on sale at the grocery store yesterday, I had to pick some up.

Trout

Fish is not only delicious and nutritious, but it’s also easy to prepare, which may be what I like most about it!

I prepped the trout by sprinkling a seasoning of Nature’s Place lemon, basil and thyme that Ryan’s mom gave to me after I complimented a dish she made that used the yummy spices.

Spice Things Up

This flavor combo is perfect for poultry, red meat or fish. Gotta love the versitility!

To cook the fish, I placed it on a baking sheet lined with foil and sprayed with cooking spray and broiled it for approximately 10 minutes, until it flaked with a fork.

Fishy Fishy

Ready for Eatin'

Along with the fish, I enjoyed a mixture of lentils with sauted onions and carrots.

Lentils, Carrots, Onions

Dinner!

I went back for another small piece of fish because it was so delicious!

I really need to start integrating fish into my diet more regularly. It’s too good to continue to ignore.

• Do you like fish?
• How often do you eat fish?

Question About the Coating

Shout out to the cheese booth at the downtown Orlando farmer’s market!

I usually do not buy certain types of cheese because they can be so darn expensive, but when I saw a decent-sized block of Brie on Sunday for only $4, I immediately whipped out my wallet.

I paired the fresh, flavorful cheese with a sliced pear in a cheesy, fruity sandwich.

Behold Brie

Are you supposed to eat the outside coating of Brie cheese?

I dunno, but I like it!

Cheese 'n' Fruit Sandwich + Carrots

On the side of my sandwich, I enjoyed a big chopped-up carrot (No, not the crazy carrot).

Carrot

Brie + Pear

I also nibbled on the remaining pear slices.

Pear Slices

(Side note: I bought five pears at the farmer’s market in case you were wondering why the fruit is popping up all over this blog. I think I have one more left…)

This lunch was great. I’ve found that I really, really enjoy meatless sandwiches. Throw some cheese on that bad boy and I’m a happy girl! 😀

What’s your favorite way to add some protein to your sandwiches?

Mine is cheese… no doubt about it!

Of Possible Interest

In honor of Cinco de Mayo tomorrow, here are three articles I found interesting, all framed around five different ideas!

• 5 Ways to Lighten Up Your Cooking (FitSugar.com)
• 5 Healthy Cinco de Mayo Recipes (Health.com)
• 5 Elements of a Well-Rounded Fitness Routine (MayoClinic.com)

Salmon Burger Bonanza

My lunch today was quite fishy… Fishy Friday! 😀

I had a SeaPak salmon burger on a whole wheat sandwich thin with dill dijonaise and portobello mushrooms.

Fishy Lunch

I made the dijonaise with light Miracle Whip, dijon mustard and dill. It added a nice touch of creaminess to my  sandwich.

Dill Dijonaise

I also enjoyed carrot sticks and pickles on the side.

Yum, Yum

Because my sweet tooth just wouldn’t be satisfied after a savory lunch, I also packed a cup of Chobani Greek yogurt that I topped with thawed frozen raspberries to have for dessert.

Raspberries + Yogurt

Oh-So-Colorful

I love the vibrant color the raspberries add to a simple yogurt cup. Tasty, tasty.

Weekend Plans

This weekend is going to be full o’ fun!

Friday:

• Going to see Valentine’s Day (movie) with girls from work
• Dinner (pizza!) with Ryan
• Sort through clothes to give to Goodwill

Saturday:

• 10k Race
• Bowl-a-Thon for Junior Achievement with Ryan’s work
• Date night

Sunday:

• Church
• Ryan’s soccer game
• Mall
• Drive to Winter Haven to look at scuba gear

Should be a fun and busy weekend!

What are you most looking forward to this weekend?

Easy Crock Pot Beef

Tonight’s dinner was easy… just the way I like it!

Before I left for work I placed chunks of beef (sold pre-sliced for beef stew) in the crock pot with one can of cream of mushroom soup and a half of a can of water.

Cream of Mushroom soup

I let the meat cook on low for approximately eight hours (though I’m sure six would be plenty).

By the time we were hungry for dinner, the beef was moist and delicious. After steaming broccoli, cauliflower and carrots and sauteing spinach we were ready to eat.

My Plate

Aren’t effortless dinners the best?

What’s your favorite crock pot recipe?

Two of my favorites include the easiest pulled pork ever and slow cooker chicken tacos.

I think I’d love just about any crock pot meal. 😀