Spinach Banana Pancakes
Posted: May 24, 2013 Filed under: breakfast, dinners, paleo, recipes | Tags: breakfast, paleo, recipes 7 Comments »Holy cow.
Have you ever heard easy, delicious, and healthy in the same sentence as pancakes as much as you do on this blog? Well, get ready because today you’re going to hear it again.
Before I started experimenting with healthier foods, the pancakes I ate were usually out of a box, loaded with artificial ingredients, and covered in chocolate chips. And while I obviously still love going to restaurants and getting a big stack of old fashioned ‘cakes, it’s not exactly the kind of thing I want to be eating on a regular basis.
At this point, I’ve made banana pancakes and pumpkin pancakes and even strawberry banana protein pancakes – all of which are totally delicious and pretty healthy – but now I’ve taken it a step further…
by adding spinach.
Now before you get all upset and grossed out, please listen when I say: you cannot taste the spinach. I mean it – not at all! If you’ve been reading for a while, you’ve probably seen me load up my smoothies with spinach and maybe you thought I was crazy then too, but I swear it’s true. And if you can’t taste it, why wouldn’t you load up your pancakes with the healthy green veggie?
Spinach is a great source of vitamins and minerals, as well as dietary fiber. Can you say that about the short stack at your local diner?
I didn’t think so.
And that’s what makes these bad boys a totally acceptable weekday indulgence.
All I did was put one ripe banana, two eggs, and a crap-ton of spinach in my food processor, blending until it was was pretty much a puree.
The batter seems pretty thin, but like with the regular banana pancakes, the trick is to pour slowly.
Keep the heat on the griddle low, and don’t get overanxious about the flip. Give them time, and when they are full of bubbles, they are actually very easy to move.
(Don’t mind that little missing piece there. I always mess up the first one.)
They sort of look like someone is playing a St. Patty’s day prank on me, but hey – they’re delicious! They’re not as dry as regular pancakes can be, but I’m not opposed to that. The pumpkin and banana pancakes are the same way, so if you’re into those, I’m sure you’ll be all for these as well.
You really can’t go wrong loading them up with the usual berries, but if that’s not your thing, there are plenty of other options. Melted nut butters, crushed nuts, seeds, dried fruits, or even just the moist pancakes all by themselves would be great options as well.
Give them a try and let me know what you think. I think you’ll be a believer too!
Focused On Work
Posted: May 15, 2013 Filed under: cardio, circuits, crossfit, daily, nutrition, paleo, strength, workouts | Tags: cardio, circuits, crossfit, daily, nutrition, paleo, strength, workouts Leave a comment »Other than starting my new job (which has been going really well!), not a whole lot of new stuff has been going on around here over the past couple of days. I’ve been doing the usual eat-sleep-work-workout-repeat routine, and things have been going pretty smoothly, all things considered. I’m still trying to adjust to my new schedule (I have to be at work a little earlier), and figuring out when the best times to do things are, but I’m sure I’ll get into a groove shortly.
There are times when I’m more focused on fitness, or on relaxing and enjoying myself, or whatever else the case may be, but right now, I’ve definitely been focused on work the most. (Nerd Alert: I even ordered this book to brush up on my Excel skills.) Honestly, I’m liking that fact a lot, and I’m really enjoying learning about my new role and all that I’ll be doing. I think that this change is exactly what I needed!
There have been a couple new things around here lately, in food form, of course:
I tried jicama for the first time… but I didn’t like it. Jicama is a type of Mexican yam/turnip that I’ve heard a lot about, so I used my julienne peeler to shred it up in an attempt to make jicama hash browns.
I cooked it in a pan with black pepper, but apparently that wasn’t the right choice because it was definitely not very good. (That’s me sugar coating things.) I know some of my cookbooks have jicama recipes in them though, so next time I’ll go for more of a structured approach, and hopefully it will taste a lot better.
I also tried yams for the first time (I’m behind the curve, I know), with much more positive results. I cubed up a yam and baked them in the oven, and even reheated in the microwave, I thought they were very good. (You know something’s good when it’s tolerable right out of the microwave.)
Next time, I’m going to cook them just as I need them so that I don’t have to reheat them… I bet they’ll be even better!
I’ve also done a couple of fun new workouts this week, just in case anyone’s following along!
Monday:
- Warm-up: 5-10 minute walk on treadmill
- Back squats:
- 15 @ 45#
- 12 @ 95#
- 10 @ 135#
- 8 @ 175#
- 5×5 185#
- Workout (21-15-9):
- Shoulder presses @ 35#
- Box jumps
- 50 HR push-ups
- 100 crunches
- Cable circuit (4x @ 35#):
- 12 Curls
- 12 Upright rows
- 12 Push downs
- 12 High rows
- 12 Hanging knee lifts
- Core circuit (4x):
- 20 Swiss ball crunches
- 15 Back extensions
- 10 OH side bends (each side)
- 5 Hanging knee lifts
- Cool down: 5-10 minute walk
Tuesday:
- Warm-up: 5-10 minute walk on treadmill
- Strength: Push presses and Back squats
- 15 @ 35lbs
- 12 @ 55lbs
- 9 @ 65lbs
- {5 @ 75lbs} x5
- Workout (Repeat 5x, running one less lap each time):
- Run 5 laps
- 10 snatches
- 10 Bent over rows
- 10 crunches
- 100 Box jumps
- Cool-down: 10 minute walk
And now, I would like to leave you with this awesome picture I found on Instagram:
I knew I was onto something with my love of near-death bananas!
Questions:
What are you focused on right now? Work… Family… Fitness… Food… Fun?
What’s new in your life right now?
How do you like your bananas?
Workout Buddies
Posted: May 8, 2013 Filed under: paleo, strength, workouts | Tags: cardio, crossfit, daily, fitness, paleo, strength, workouts Leave a comment »I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before or not, but I used to not like working out with other people – at all. I worked out in my spare room or at the gym totally by myself, and I liked it that way. I think it’s partially because I like to do what I want and not be dragged down by other people, but it’s also partly because I was never very confident and didn’t want to be too slow/weak/uncoordinated to keep up with other people.
Lately though, I’ve been doing more and more workouts with other people, and I have to admit, I’m actually liking it. I still get a little self-conscious about looking silly or not being good enough, but not only has it been showing me that I’m stronger than I think, it also pushes me harder.
Yesterday morning, I did my workout with two other people, and trying to keep up with them motivated me to work a lot harder than I may have on my own. Granted, their legs were longer than mine, but even the running parts didn’t seem so bad as we chatted and got through it together. With that said, if you don’t have a workout buddy, I would encourage you to find one. I definitely see the appeal of working out alone, but having someone to work out with certainly helps the both of you!
Here’s what my workout looked like:
- Warm-up: 5-10 minute walk
- Push presses:
- 15 @ 35lbs
- 10 @ 55lbs
- 8 @ 65lbs
- {5 @ 75lbs} x5
- Workout (4x):
- 3 DB swings @ 35lbs
- 10 push-ups
- Run 3 laps
- 50 Box jumps
- 5×5 Snatches @ 35lbs
- 5×5 Cleans @ 45lbs
- 100 Swiss ball crunches
- 200 Weighted side bends
- Cool-down: 5-10 minute walk
When I got home from the gym, I did something I don’t think I’ve ever done since moving here: had breakfast before my shower. Usually, I go to the gym, take a shower, get ready, make breakfast, eat it if I have time/take it to work to eat it if I don’t. I know you’re really supposed to eat right after a workout in order to help your body recover, but that’s just been my routine, and when I get myself in a routine, I generally stick with it.
Yesterday morning though, my breakfast was already made, and I was starving when I got home, so instead of going with my normal order of things, I jumped right into having breakfast first. It seems like such a small thing, but I sat on the couch in the sunshine, watching Good Morning America (arguably my favorite TV show), and actually enjoyed my breakfast, and I really liked the change. It didn’t take any more time than usual, but it certainly set the tone for the entire day!
For my breakfast (or maybe “meal one” is more appropriate), I had chicken with green peppers and tomatoes, lightly seasoned and cooked on the stovetop (the night before).
Since I ate breakfast earlier than normal, I was hungry around 10am and dug into some carrots and cucumber slices at my desk.
For lunch, I had another serving of chicken, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts…
Plus this yummy chocolate cookie my wonderful Peruvian friend gave me.
A little later, I snacked on my usual fuji apple + TJ’s trail mix (with some added cashews).
After work, it was over 80* outside, so I figured it was the perfect excuse to try to get another run in. I covered about three miles, and although I definitely walked more than I ran, it still felt better than Monday’s try. I think all the heavy lifting I’ve been doing combined with the fact that I never stretch (bad!!) and haven’t run much at all lately is really catching up with me. My legs felt so stiff and heavy, and even though I wasn’t winded at all, it was so hard to get them to move. It’s easy to drop the ball on certain areas of fitness when you start focusing on other things, but trying to get back into running has definitely shown me that I need to pick it back up!
Once I got back from my run and settled in, I did not feel like cooking. The nice weather gave me the idea for a cool, crisp salad, so I chopped up some lettuce, spinach, green peppers, and carrots and grilled a piece of chicken on the stovetop with olive oil and red wine vinegar.
I made my own dressing using olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and Italian seasonings, and it was quite delicious. No unnecessary (unhealthy) ingredients, tasty, and wicked easy to make? That’s my kind of dressing.
I went to the co-op yesterday at lunch in search of dates (the fruit kind, not the man kind; they’re cheaper there than at the grocery store), but when they didn’t have any, I somehow left with a whole bunch of other stuff instead. One of the things that made it in my cart was these super cookies that my aunt gave me once before.
I’d been looking at buying them online, since that’s the only place I could find them, but now that I know that they carry them at the co-op, I’ll definitely be buying more of them. I already knew the original and chocolate flavors were great, but the ginger snaps are delicious too! Needless to say, they made up my dessert last night.
Questions:
Do you prefer working out with people or alone?
Are there any specialty foods you like that you can only find in certain stores?
Do you have any tips for making running easier?
Better Than Spaghetti
Posted: May 3, 2013 Filed under: cardio, crossfit, daily, fitness, paleo, strength, workouts | Tags: cardio, crossfit, daily, fitness, paleo, strength, workouts Leave a comment »Hello and Happy Friday, everyone!
Not to rub it in, but I’m writing this from the comfort of my couch right now and it is seriously awesome! I got to the gym early this morning, took a little nap, did some cleaning, and had a great breakfast in the sunshine. I think every weekend should be three days long so that we can all get our chores done on Friday and then enjoy the rest of the weekend… what do you think?!
After a few days off from any kind of serious workouts, it felt really great to get back into the gym yesterday. I kept my workout short and simple, but it was good to break a sweat again.
Here’s what it looked like:
- Warm-up: 10 min walking + back squats
- Deadlifts:
- 15 @ 55lbs
- 12 @ 85lbs
- 10 @ 105lbs
- 8 @ 135lbs
- 6 @ 155lbs
- 4 @ 165lbs
- 1 @ 175lbs
- 4 @ 165lbs
- 10 @ 135lbs
- 15 @ 85lbs
- Workout (3x):
- Run 1 lap
- 10 Snatches @ 45lbs
- Run 1 lap
- 15 Push-ups
- Run 1 lap
- 15 Crunches
- Run 1 lap
- 15 Air squats
For breakfast, I brought an egg scramble with two duck eggs, a plum tomato, spinach, and bacon, plus a whole bunch of fresh berries – black, blue, and… straw. Fresh berries are one of the things I love about summer!
For lunch, I brought another helping of chicken with roasted broccoli and Brussels sprouts. I’m getting pretty used to eating lunch outside, so I hope this weather doesn’t decide to go away anytime soon!
Cucumbers + carrots…
Plus an apple, raisins, and some fruity nut crunch for snacks.
For dinner, I wanted to try out my new julienne peeler, so I decided to make some zucchini “spaghetti.” The peeler is pretty easy to use, so I just dragged it along a couple of zucchinis until I had a big pile of thin strips.
While I peeled, I cooked some chicken on the stovetop, and then I threw in sliced roma tomatoes, sliced red, orange, and yellow peppers, and all of the zucchini.
I added garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, crushed red pepper, and olive oil, stirred it all up, and let it simmer for a few minutes with the cover on the pan. The steam cooked the veggies, and the chicken soaked in all the flavors.
I won’t lie and say it tasted exactly like a big ol’ bowl of spaghetti, but honestly I’m not that big of a pasta fan in the first place, so I think I enjoyed this even more. The veggies had so much flavor, and the chicken gave it a lot of heft. The texture of the julienned zucchini was so different than having it sliced regularly, and it gave the dish a whole new feel. There are so many ways this dish could be done, and I’m sure I’ll end up trying it a million different ways before I’m done. I think I will be julienning some carrots next!
I’ve got all kinds of plans today… including getting some sun, doing some groceries, going to my friend’s lacrosse game, and bowling for my work’s Big Brothers Big Sisters fundraiser tonight.
Like I said, I wish we all had every Friday off! 
Duck Eggs
Posted: May 2, 2013 Filed under: daily, paleo | Tags: daily, paleo Leave a comment »One of my coworkers raises ducks, and she is always bringing in eggs for people in our office. She says her six ducks lay about an egg each per day, so you can imagine why she’s always trying to get rid of the extras. I eat a lot of eggs myself, but several dozen per week is a whole lot to get through!
I’d never had a duck egg before, but knowing that they came straight from the source made them really appealing to me. You’d think that store-bought eggs were pretty “clean,” but you would be surprised what they have to get through to make it from the chicken to your plate.
The other night, I pulled out the duck eggs to give them a try. The first thing I noticed was that they are larger than most store-bought chicken eggs. They also have a slightly different shape and are much harder to crack.
I used to cook all my lunches beforehand and then make my breakfasts in the morning, but I’ve recently decided to start cooking my breakfasts beforehand too. I generally have eggs for breakfast, which don’t taste any different when they’re reheated, and I’ve enjoyed having a little bit of extra time in the morning.
For yesterday’s breakfast, I cooked up some bacon in a pan and when it was done, I threw in a sliced plum tomato (seasoned with garlic and basil) and two duck eggs. The yolks seemed bigger than chicken eggs, and there also seems to be comparatively less egg white in there, but they cooked up great.
Once the eggs and tomatoes were done, I layered the eggs on top of spinach over the tomatoes in a tupperware container, with the bacon on the side. Not only was it perfectly reheatable in the morning, but it was seriously delicious! I got the idea for the eggs-over-roasted-tomatoes deal in Make it Paleo, and it’s a definite winner.
The eggs did have a slightly different (more potent?) taste and smell than regular chicken eggs, but I didn’t mind it. (I also have to wonder if that doesn’t have more to do with their freshness than with the chicken-vs-duck thing.)
Later in the day yesterday, I snacked on some carrots and cucumbers.
And when it was time for lunch, my friend and I headed out to the picnic tables again. We have had absolutely gorgeous weather this week, and around here, you have to take advantage of it whenever you can!
I brought another helping of steak and peppers, and it was equally as delicious this time.
Figs for dessert in the sunshine? I’ll take it!
Later on, I had some of my fruit and nut mix, with a sliced pear.
And for dinner, I had this exact same meal of meatloaf, mashed cauliflower, and green beans, so I didn’t even bother taking a picture. I’m pretty sure you know what it looks like, and at this point, I certainly know what it tastes like. Luckily, I don’t get bored with food that easily, but after eating meatloaf three nights in a row, I’ve certainly had enough! The perils of cooking for one, my friends…
For dessert: two of these little guys. And if you have somehow still resisted making them… go now and do it. Because they are awesome.
And with that said… I am off to enjoy my weekend! With tomorrow off, today is my Friday, and I plan to enjoy all three of my weekend days to the fullest.
Have a good one!
