Oh hey.
it’s a perfect day for a run. A little muggy so I’m the only one on the lake. Kinda fantastic. But I just ran the fastest 3 miles I have in…well since I can remember. Just wanted to share with people who’d understand that. :)
![First job interview was last week! For, like, a big kid job working in cancer research. Big deal guys big deal. And freaking out! But I know they loved me because I got a second interview! Second interview is this week and kind of freaking out. Keep your fingers crossed =]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/42c80ff50cb96dc938515a0c8638854c/tumblr_mhs2jlBmJE1qc0n8wo1_500.jpg)
First job interview was last week! For, like, a big kid job working in cancer research. Big deal guys big deal. And freaking out! But I know they loved me because I got a second interview! Second interview is this week and kind of freaking out. Keep your fingers crossed =]
QUINOA SPINACH “MAC ‘N CHEESE”
This was too good not to share. I saw this originally at Twopeasandtheirpod.com here
I’m not sure what the nutrition facts but I lightened it up by using fat free (and all around less) cheese, skim milk, whole wheat flower, and less quinoa (only had about 2 1/2 cups on hand anyways).
This was DELICIOUS although I would probably add less butter next time. Could even take out some more of the cheese (I used about 7 oz of low fat cheddar cheese instead of the called for 8.) I wouldn’t even have minded it without the bread crumbs!
Such a great alternative to Mac ‘N Cheese!
Find the original recipe with instructions/pictures here
FOR THE CASSEROLE:
3 Tablespoons Butter
3 Tablespoons Flour (I used whole wheat)
1-½ cup Whole Milk (I used skim milk)
2 dashes Freshly Grated Nutmeg
¼ teaspoons Salt
8 ounces, weight Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese (I used 7oz of low fat cheddar cheese)
3 cups Cooked Quinoa (cooked According To Package Instructions) (I used about 2 1/2 cups)
2 bunches Fresh Baby Spinach (I used about 3/4 of a bag of spinach)
FOR THE TOPPING:
½ cups Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
4 Tablespoons Butter, Melted
¾ cups Panko Bread Crumbs
Preheat oven to 350 F.
In a medium saucepan add 3 tablespoons of butter and flour and heat over medium heat. Whisk continuously until a paste forms. Whisk in milk. Increase heat to medium/high and bring to a boil whisking the whole time. Stir in the nutmeg, salt and cheddar cheese. When cheese sauce is smooth remove from heat.
In a large bowl mix together the cooked quinoa, cheese sauce and spinach.
Transfer the mixture into a casserole dish (I used an 8 inch cast iron skillet). Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
In a small bowl mix together the butter and bread crumbs. Sprinkle over the top of the casserole.
Bake on 350 F until bubbly, about 20 minutes.
Remove from oven and enjoy! Serves 6
*All recipes were taken from twopeasandtheirpod.com and tastykitchen.com
Changing my surroundings
One thing I’ve learned in the last 5 months is that it really does matter who you surround yourself with. I always thought i could do it on my own, that my will power was all that mattered. But sometimes your willpower is not enough and you really have to surround yourself with positive, supportive people.
The past 2 years I have lived with three girls, 2 of which (are/were) my best friends in the entire world. All three of them are thin/normal and don’t really have to look after what they eat. Not only that but they eat HORRIBLY. One of them (the thinnest one no doubt) ate out for EVERY meal. So every day it was Bojangles, Chick fil a, and McDonalds. How hard is it to eat salad and vegetables when you smell french fries? One of my other roommates ate prepackaged meals all the time and the other worked at a mexican restaurant and ate take out from there or pizza most of the time. I can’t tell you how frustrating it is to eat well all day, plan to eat well for dinner, getting home and having your friends order pizza. I was a college kid, I want to be included but it made it difficult. While it’s not my roommates problems that I can’t say no to pizza, it doesn’t make losing weight and leading a healthy lifestyle easier.
In August I moved in with two different girls i knew from my sophomore year of school. Everything just…changed. These girls are so positive and want to eat dinner with me. They have a passion for cooking and eating healthy. They don’t pressure me to eat pizza or bread if I don’t want to and one of them has basically taught me how to cook and take chances with my food. It has been so much fun learning about food and getting excited about healthy foods.
You always hear people say that who you surround yourself with matters, and I knew that was true but I always told myself that my old roommates were supportive. And they were! They loved me and wanted what was best for me but it has made a world of a difference to have positive, healthy roommates to cook and eat beside.
In the last few months I have definitely changed the people I surround myself with, really without knowing it. It’s the changes that come with being a college graduate (holla!) and really starting your life as an adult, and while I wasn’t really consciously doing it, I really do think it has helped me more than i know.
I still meet some of my old roommates for dinner now and then and eat pizza or wings (obviously with portion control!) that is the exception and only once in a while instead of every day or every week.
I’ve definitely become more aware of my surroundings and am actually really enjoying living healthy. It’s surprising that it’s not a battle every day when you surround yourself with the right people it really helps. Hopefully this will show on the scale =]
Made this today!
Used this recipe. Was delicious!
Baked Oatmeal:
2 medium ripe bananas, (the riper the better) sliced into 1/2” pieces
1 1/2 cup blueberries
1/4 cup honey (or agave)
1 cup uncooked quick oats
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt
1 cup fat free milk (or any milk you desire)
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375° F. Lightly spray a 8 x 8” or 9 x 9” ceramic baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.
Arrange the banana slices in a single layer on the bottom of the ceramic dish. Sprinkle half of the blueberries over the bananas, 1/4 tsp of the cinnamon, 1 tbsp of the honey and cover with foil. Bake 15 minutes, until the bananas get soft.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the oats, half of nuts, baking powder, remaining cinnamon, and salt; stir together. In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining honey, milk, egg, and vanilla extract.
Remove the bananas from the oven, then pour the oat mixture over the bananas and blueberries.
Pour the milk mixture over the oats, making sure to distribute the mixture as evenly as possible over the oats. Sprinkle the remaining blueberries and walnuts over the the top.
Bake the oatmeal for about 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the oatmeal has set. Serve warm from the oven.
- All of this was taken from Skinnytaste.com - by far my favorite recipe site!
