3 tasty nickel free breakfast recipes

Monday night I had a breakdown.  It wasn’t full-blown, but man did I want it to be.  It was one of those days where the little things weren’t going correctly, and when you have the weight of the world already on your shoulders, the little things are a big deal.  Sorry, “don’t sweat the small stuff”.  Sometimes we can only rely on the small stuff in life.

So as I laid in the fetal position on the couch with tear filled eyes, my husband came to the rescue.  I woke up to a rainy day, a dog that splashed in puddles and got me covered in mud (and not my dog – which makes it worse!), a ruined scheduled run, a repair man coming (nothing is more stressful than waiting around for a repair man), and a ruined dinner by stinky chicken.  The husband took over.  He seemed a bit frustrated, which is completely acceptable, but he did the work.  And that made me feel happy, grateful, and bad.  I hate it when I don’t come through for him, so it always stings a bit when he has to pick me up and put our world back together.

I wrote him a note yesterday.  We do that on occasion.  Write a word document and email it to each other.  It’s cheesy, but it works for us.

The gist of what I wrote came down to this:

• I have no sense of control over the big picture in my life.  And I’ve been working for over 2 years to get out of my current job situation, and I’m still stuck in the same place.  So when little things don’t go as planned, my world seems like pure chaos.  Doomsday thinking.
• We do have some happy stuff planned in the future (think a year from now future), but I don’t like to look at that because it depresses me.  And yes, I’m still working to get myself out of my job and into my chosen career, but I’m still not there.  And I don’t look into the future because it makes me that much more disappointed and frustrated with my current state.

He of course knew this.  It was just reaffirming what he suspected.  But it helps to get it out, and to have someone else hear it.  So if you have a hard time putting things into actual vocal words like I do, write letters.  It really helps!

Now on to the nickel free world I’m not trying to create for myself.

I love breakfast.  It’s my favorite meal of the day and I could eat breakfast foods for all 3 meals if it were up to me.  And with my limitations in my diet, it’s easy to go for bagels and muffins every day for breakfast.  And I did that a few mornings when I first started my elimination diet.  But the bloated, icky feeling I was having on a daily basis reminded me I can’t do that.

So now I create healthy low nickel breakfast meals.  Here are a few of my favorites:

• Banana and eggs “pancakes”.  These are thinner than regular pancakes but have a surprising pancake feel to them.  And I love bananas, so the flavor is right up my alley.  Now I’m only suppose to have bananas a few times a week, so when I do, I make these pancakes.
  • Take 2 whole eggs (or 4 egg whites) and a banana – put in a blender and mix well.
  • Pour the batter on to a preheated griddle and cook just like you would a regular pancake (they bubble up and everything!)
  • Flip when the bottom is set and cook an extra few minutes until the whole cake is set.
  • I usually end up pouring all the batter in at once and create one big pancake, cut it into 4 quarters when it’s time to flip, and then flip as best as I can.  I comes out looking a bit messy, but they are tasty and filling!
• Fruit and yogurt
  • This is an easy and tasty breakfast.  Take plain or vanilla flavored Greek or Regular yogurt and mix in your favorite fruits (except for the one’s that are high in nickel – pineapple, dates, raspberries).  I usually go for blueberries and strawberries.  For a little crunch, I add in Corn Puff cereal (or you could also get a white rice based cereal like Rice Krispies).
• Egg white and veggie scramble
  • I use 100% liquid egg whites for this and usually leftover vegetables from the dinner the night before, such as chopped broccoli, asparagus, or sweet peppers.
  • Put the veggies in a pan on medium heat to get them crisp and flavorful again.  Then pour in 1/2 cup of liquid egg whites.  Add any seasoning you like, such as basil, parsley or dill.  Cook until the eggs are set and done.
  • If you want an extra umph, you can add some shredded cheese to this recipe.  Cheese always makes things taste better.  Just don’t go overboard or your breakfast will start to head towards the unhealthy side.

I rotate these three breakfast feasts and have been happy.  Breakfast is still my favorite meal of the day, even at low nickel!

The perfect week

It’s finally Friday!  It’s been a busy week for me and I thought the weekend would never come!  But come 2pm, I’m a free bird – well, as free as I ever really am.

This has been the first full normal week for me in quite a while.  I have a lot to catch everyone up on, and those posts are soon to come.

The last week in April, I was away on vacation to a place I never thought I’d be able to visit.  Paris, France!  It was surreal and I’m still processing it.  I hope to post my Paris recap post sometime next week.

Then after I got back from vacation, my grandfather passed away.  That was a hard time and it too still seems surreal.

Now, I’m finally finished with a normal week and it was exhausting.  I always want to jump all in and do everything perfectly, but that’s not me and that’s not real life.  So it was a bit disappointing, as always, that I didn’t have the “perfect week”.

What is a “perfect week” in my eyes?

• getting in my fully planned exercise schedule and beasting it!
• cooking yummy delicious meals every day
• having energy and being full of joy 24/7
• having quality time with my husband every night (you know, the type you see in romantic comedy’s – lots of giggling and sharing and snuggling)
• keeping my home picture perfect clean

Tall order, right?  I guess it’s possible to have a perfect week, but highly unlikely.

I did exercise every day, but I’m a day behind in my running.  Monday I was exhausted so I did a some weight training instead of running.  Tuesday I had a great run, and so I was going to run again on Thursday.  (I always try to have at least a day of non-running activities in between runs.)  Well Thursday was the storm that never ended.  Seriously.  Within 5 minutes of waking up, around 6:35am, we were under a tornado warning.  The tornado actually touched down in a neighborhood a few miles away from my home.  Scary!  So no running.  I did run today, but that means I’m a day behind in my running.

Cooking happened once this week.  This was mainly due to the fact that our fridge broke over the weekend and I didn’t completely trust it was fixed for a few days.  I didn’t want to buy a bunch of groceries only to throw them out again.  So we ate out a lot.  I did cook last night and it was yummy!  Here’s what I made:

Chicken Stuffed with Pesto
Roasted broccoli with garlic
lemon ice cream (I cut this recipe in half and it was the perfect amount for just the 2 of us!)
White chocolate chip shortbread cookies (I was working on some items for a condo we rent out and forgot to check on these cookies so they were slightly overbaked and crispy around the edges, but still yummy!)

Energy has been scarce this week.  Probably due to schedule changes, more demands and responsibilities, and also I have a heart condition that can cause me to just be drained.  So there have been nights I fell asleep on the couch at 6pm.  Really, yes, 6pm.

Falling asleep and being exhausted doesn’t lead to great quality time with the husband.  We are happy and spend time together, but it’s not that perfect rom-com way.

And the house is clean enough, but not picture perfect.

But again, like my Wednesday post said, I’m working on accepting myself as I am now.  I have an ailment that can drain my energy.  That’s ok.  There is nothing I can do about it and even though I wish it wasn’t so, it is.  So I need to allow myself to have time to relax.

And even though I didn’t beast my exercise plan, I worked out every day.  There were days I could have easily laid on the couch and not done anything.  And man there were days I really wanted to!  But I didn’t.  I always did something and gave it my best effort.

You can’t predict appliance difficulties.  We did the best that we could with the situation we had.  It’s ok not to cook every night.  We were fed and that’s what is important.  Plus I did make an awesome meal last night!

My husband and I are doing great.  Every night doesn’t have to be a tickle-fest.  Having just a great kiss hello (or goodbye) or holding hands while walking the dog is special.  Those movies are really kind of cheesy anyway!

And the house is clean.  Not picture perfect because 2 people and a dog live here.  But it’s lovely, and safe, and a healthy environment for all of us.

So I guess, really, I did have a perfect week.  I did the best that I could.  And really, you can’t ask for anything more than that.

Sunday Sweets and Smiles (Week 2)

I’ve been MIA from the blog world for a while.  Not that I haven’t wanted to write, but life was busy, busy and busy this week!  So unfortunately writing had to wait.  Hopefully this week I can find some time to share with you all!

Even though life was hectic, here’s what made me smile this past week:

Yay for sunshine!!  Though most of the days were covered with clouds, every single day there was at least an hour (sometimes more!!) where the sun made its way into the day.  Seeing the sun shine through the windows in our home always makes me smile!  (I am SO ready for spring!)

Family Time.  Last Sunday my family had a gathering for the Super Bowl and this past Wednesday we had a lovely dinner out with the husband’s family.  Family makes the heart grow stronger, so I’m always happy to be able to spend time with these special people.

And finally, cooking!  I have had a good cooking week, and it’s reminded me how much I enjoy cooking.  Here are some of my favorite recipes I made this week:

Kale & Artichoke Soup – perfect for a cold night! http://www.theroastedroot.net/kale-artichoke-soup/

Ham & Cheese Pretzel Bites – I make these every year for the Super Bowl, but since we were at a party this year, I made them for the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics.  No matter the event – these are so yummy!  http://www.pipandebby.com/pip-ebby/2012/2/27/ham-cheese-pretzel-bites.html

Honey Bourbon Chicken in the Slow Cooker – At least once a week, I make a meal in the slow cooker, and this meal was easy and delicious!  http://onceamonthmeals.com/gluten-free-dairy-free-honey-bourbon-chicken-in-the-slow-cooker/

Chickpea Cookies – I realize these are an acquired taste, but I love them!  I am one of those weird people who can eat a completely plain nut (no salt, no roasting, etc.) and love it though.  For those of you who are willing to try something new, I recommend these.  Healthy!!  http://www.texanerin.com/2012/04/grain-free-peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-bites.html

and a made up a few of my own recipes too which I will share with you later this week.  Creating a successful recipe is so satisfying!

Finally, this song.  It’s cheesy, I know.  But I was having a stressful day, hopped in my car, turned on the radio, and this was playing.  It instantly put me in a good mood as I danced and sang along.  We all have those songs that are guilty pleasures and this is one of mine for sure!!

What made you smile this week?

Meals in Review

With the cold weather, comfort food was still on my mind this week.  And my cooking will definitely show that.

One of my favorite comfort foods is meatloaf.  I love my Mom’s standard meatloaf, but every now and then I like to try different versions.  So when I saw a pan-fried meatloaf with red pepper rings, I was more than intrigued.  I was worried this dish would be difficult to make, but it really wasn’t.  The only “issue” I had was I didn’t have a good skillet to go from range to oven, so I had to make a transfer to a baking dish.  And really, that was no problem at all!

But these Pan Fried Meatloaf in Tri Color Peppers was comforting and exciting all at once.  The peppers were delicious and so was the meatloaf!  Plus we used healthy turkey meat so it wasn’t overly bad for you like some meatloaf recipes!  I did have extra meat since I only purchased two peppers, which I made into a mini loaf and cooked for approximately 40 minutes.  It is now in the freezer for a comforting meal at a later date.

Last Friday I was a crazy day for me, so I made slow cooker chicken tacos.  It was 2 chicken breasts and 1/4 cup of taco seasoning cooked on low for 4-6 hours.  Easy, cheesy.  Serve with taco accoutrement and voila, dinner is served.  I used the leftover chicken and tortillas on Monday night to make these yummy Chicken Taquitos.  I did not have any cilantro so I just left that out, and added some spinach for nutrition.  They were yummy and filling.  I couldn’t finish all mine so I have one in the freezer that will make a great lunch one day!

Finally, Wednesday night was so cold it screamed soup night.  I made this Meatball and Greens Soup and it was yummy!  The meatballs were delicate and tasty, and the broth was not overwhelming but light and tasty.  Eating this soup warmed the body and soul.  Plus, my husband actually came home to eat some leftover soup for lunch today (which he rarely does so it must have been good soup!).

The weather is supposed to warm up for a bit, so maybe I’ll get off my comfort food kick and make something cool and different this coming week.
Happy Eating!

Meal Week in Review

I’m still in my not so pleasant mood, but instead of focusing on the nonstop crazy things that have been happening this week, I’m trying to stay positive.  And instead of boring you with another of my “I need to stay positive” posts, I decided to write about food.  Because food makes me happy!

I feel like I’ve been in a bit of a cooking rut, but that’s probably because I haven’t had as much free time to cook/bake for enjoyment.  I’ve just been cooking out of necessity.  We need to eat.  And that’s just not as fun as the true joy of cooking just to make something yummy and satisfying.  Next week should be lighter for me, so hopefully I can have some fun in the kitchen then.

Where I’ve been in the biggest run is breakfast.  My hubby doesn’t eat breakfast unless he works out in the morning.  And since he’s nursing an ankle injury, no workout and no breakfast.  I usually just make one serving of breakfast a day.  That means I’m looking for quick, easy and using very little dishes.

When I saw this recipe for protein pancakes from Peanut Butter Fingers I thought I’d give it a try.  The first time I made it, I’ll admit I was a huge fan.  But I thought it had potential and kept trying different variations.  Well, somewhere along the line I got hooked on these little pancakes and I’ve made myself one almost every morning this whole week.  I leave out the sugar, add at least a teaspoon of cinnamon, top with light maple syrup, and yum!  Easy, little clean up and perfect for just one person!

I did make some Greek Yogurt pancakes this morning to try and get myself out of my happy rut, but they just weren’t as satisfying as my protein pancakes.  I guess sometimes a rut isn’t a bad thing.

I rarely actually cook lunch but stick to frozen veggies, fruit and sandwiches.  I want to try to cook lunch.  Not a full on 30 minute cook, but a quick cook lunch would be nice.  Anyone have any suggestions on that, please let me know!

For dinner, I did make some yummy recipes this week.   Sunday night was leftover night.  I defrosted some baked spaghetti I had made a while back.  This is my absolute favorite spaghetti recipe to make.  I do substitute ricotta cheese for cottage cheese because I am not a fan of cottage cheese.  It’s still moist and tasty.

I had been craving biscuits for quite a while now, so I knew I needed to make biscuits.  And since a biscuit is not one-serving friendly for breakfast, and I didn’t want to eat biscuits all week, I decided to incorporate them into dinner with this comforting Chicken Pot Pie Crumble recipe.  The biscuit part was amazing!  You can get by in only making half of the biscuit recipe and have enough for the pot pie.  I made the whole thing and my husband and I ended up snacking on biscuit crumbles while the meal was baking, and I ate a bunch the next day too (which is probably why I’m feeling a bit bloated today!).  So they are now in the freezer but they are oh so yummy!  The Pot Pie was great too – I replaced the peas with broccoli and left out the onions due to the husband food preferences.

Every now and then, I make a homemade pizza.  They are rarely as good as what we can get out, so I stay away from pepperoni or anything that we would normally get at our favorite pizza place.

Since I had all the ingredients (except for the pizza dough – which is an easy purchase at Trader Joe’s), I made this Sausage and Red Pepper pizza.  I used precooked sausage from El Fresco – the roasted pepper and Asiago flavor chicken sausage and some roasted red pepper I had on hand.  It was great!  My husband and I devoured the whole pizza.

Happy Cooking everyone!