Craving freshness

I want fresh veggies so bad. Nate has been a machine in the backyard, extending and tilling the garden and filling the flower beds with bushes and other great landscaping elements that are making our house look awesome. But, we can't plan until May and even then there is the horrible waiting time until the veggies start budding and popping up.Tonight, I made a dish that reminds me of the taste of last summer. I had to use store-bought cucumbers at 99 cents a pop and tomatoes that were $2.99 a pound, but it was yummy. I chopped up those two ingredients, added some chopped fresh mushrooms, a sprinkle of feta cheese (which makes everything better) and drizzled it with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It is such a healthy, fresh treat to get in several servings of vegetables and there is no turning on the stove.I did buy a basil plant today at Wal-mart. I love basil and my soil seems to do really well with it. I love to saute it into pasta and mushrooms or serve it on a sandwich. Now, I just have to get to planting!

A quick and convenient gift

I love to bake. But, I am watching what I eat, and Nate can't consume an entire 6-dozen batch of my chocolate chip cookies (not sure why, cause I could if it didn't go right to my hips.)
So, I found a few co-workers who love my cookies, and I am more than happy to take them a treat. My mom gave me a cool stamp set, so I put it to use. I stamped "A little yummy for your tummy" on sticker labels and smacked them onto some plastic baggies. I think my little treat brought a smile to their faces and mine, as well.

Travelin' trail mix

Trail mix is good for you in small doses, but who can eat it in small doses? Especially when it contains chocolate.
I have a cupboard of random nuts, seeds and other fruity-type odds and ends. Every now and then, I get sick of it piling up and make a batch of trail mix. It really takes not effort at all, just a little dumping. It's great for a mid-day snack or a little salty/sweet combo for lunch packing. And, it doesn't spoil!

This beauty contains:

Leftover Hershey's Mini Kisses from cookies
Peanut Butter Chips (also leftover)
Pumpkin seeds in shell
Craisins
Raisins
Cashews
Granola
Salted pumpkin seeds (no shell)
Sunflower seeds (no shell)

My solo candlelight dinner

I love sharing dinner with my husband, but I look forward to the times he is on night work and I can cook what I want. It usually involves a lot of vegetables and feta cheese. He is a real trooper, trying new stuff here and there, but overall, he is pretty good at taking a few bites, giving me a sideways look as if to say, "I am sure YOU this is good, but I don't like it."
So, he worked the other night and after a long day of cleaning the house, going for a jog and playing with the dog at the park, I needed a serious cache of calories. I put on a pot of boiling water and threw in some shredded red cabbage. In a frying pan, I dumped 2 tablespoons of olive oil and let it warm. I sauted 1/2 cup mushrooms, 1/4 cup onion and 1/4 cup red pepper. When those veggies started to get tender, I added one cup of fresh spinach and watched it wilt. Soon, the cabbage was tender, so I drained it and added it to the fry pan. I boiled 1 cup of whole wheat pasta noodles. In the meantime, I added 1/2 cup of imitation crab meat to frying pan. In a few minutes, I dumped the noodles and the veggies into one gigantic bowl. I sprinkled it with 2 tablespoons of feta cheese and had myself a colorful pasta dish that reminded me of summer. So, I lit some candles and put on soft music. It was a relaxing way to end my weekend!

My baby is growing up

Moose is 10 months old. I can't believe it.

Forget what he looked like as a puppy...check him out here.

And now, we estimate he is at least 85 pounds. He walks like a champ and is listening like a good dog. So happy with him!

Oh for the love of chocolate and peanut butter!

Happy Easter...well not yet...but if you have some time before the Holy day...make homemade chocolate peanut butter eggs. They are to die for!


1/4 cup margarine
1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 cups 10X sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 ounces semi sweet chocolate chips

Mash margarine in a bowl with a fork. Add peanut butter and milk and vanilla and stir until creamy. Add sugar. Shape into egg shapes and refrigerate on waxed paper. Melt chocolate in a double boiler and coat eggs. Keep in refrigerator at all times.

Enjoy.

Asian inspiration

I love soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ginger and noodles. But, since I am trying to eat very healthy, I try to stay away from take out. A lovely friend from work shares her Real Simple magazine with me (a great frugal tip).And I tinkered with a recipe in there for dinner the other night.

Here you go:

8 ounces soba* noodles
1 pound boneless chicken breast
2 cups shredded red cabbage
5 tablespoons canola oil, divided
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon ginger

In a saucepan, cook chicken with 2 tablespoons canola oil over medium high heat. Cook 8 ounces soba* noodles, cool, and toss with chicken, cabbage, 3 tablespoons canola oil, rice vinegar and soy sauce. Sprinkle with ginger and toss.

*Soba noodles are Japanese Noodles made from buckwheat and wheat flour, which gives it a dark-brownish gray color.