Today was such a “Monday” until I headed out for my AWESOME lunchtime run. First, I realized that my fancy new DROID phone could take 3 things and make them in 1. Normally when I run, I have my phone (safety), Garmin (distance/speed) and MP3 player (MP3=better than an IOPD b/c it gets radio too!) Check this out ~ My phone does ALL THREE! It has Slacker or Pandora Radio or you can load your music to shuffle and I have a FREE Cardio Trainer ap that does EXACTLY what my Garmin does, but, more. As your music is playing, it chimes in, tells you your pace, how far you have gone and your time. I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! Oh and since I was “carrying” less I am sure I ran faster too 😉
It was soooo freakin’ cold and windy outside that I honestly felt like I was jogging in place (yes, I sound like my parents having to walk to school barefoot, backwards and in the snow) LOL. But, I persevered through it all and slammed out 3.35 miles – woohoo! It was the perfect break in my day.
My eats were pretty tasty too, but, fast since I was on a deadline. I was craving comfort like dessert this morning when I woke up for breakfast so it’s EXACTLY what I made.
BLUEBERRY COBBLER OATS
1/2 c Quaker Old Fashioned Oats
1 c water
1 Tbsp ground Flax Seed
BIG dashes of freshly ground cinnamon
1 c blueberries
All cooked in the Microwave for 2 minutes, then, topped with 1 Tbsp of sugar and whipped butter.
I let the brown sugar and butter melt together so it tasted like creamy, rich, sweet cobbler with plump blueberries in every bite. a FANTASTIC 6 point bowl of oatmeal if I do say so myself. 🙂
Mid morning I was sorta hungry, sorta not. I thought of passing on my snack but then thought I would be STARVING if I waited to eat until after my run since that would be a 6 hour break in eats. So, I snacked on a little fruity trail mix for 3 pts.
After my run, I had a choice of leftover soup or this Trader Joe’s Spicy Kung Pao Chicken.
The spicy chicken won….great ingredients and stats (8 pts).
I topped this with Sriracha sauce after for extra spice and I warmed right up after my run 🙂
After I finished my project, I realized I had not had any dairy today. I grabbed a 1 point Sargento Low-Fat Colby Cheese square. I always keep these on hand for snacks and sandwiches – LOVE them!
I have been excited all day for the dinner I had planned. I watched Penne for Pennies being made yesterday on The Food Network and knew I HAD to make it. I LOVE the latest Food Network Star ~ she is super cute and her food always looks AMAZING. You can get the recipe HERE and I provided my steps below.
Preheat you oven to 400-425 degrees and quickly “wedge” up your veggies. I went with what I had on hand.
Drizzle with ~ 2 Tbsp Olive oil, Sea Salt and Black Pepper. Then, pop them in the oven to roast.
While your veggies roast, season up your cherry tomatoes with sea salt, pepper and a little olive oil. Flip your veggies above half way through and add tomatoes.
While the veggies are roasting, cook your penne (according to the box) and brown your sausage. I used Trader Joe’s Chicken Apple Sausage ~ YUM!
Once your sausage has been burned browned, deglaze your pan with a little white wine.
Be sure to scrape up all those browned bits as they hold all the flavor.
Roughly chop your roasted veggies and add them to your sausage mix.
Add your cooked pasta plus
a little reserved pasta water.
Tadah! So fast, easy and colorful. Mine definitely made more than 4 servings more like 6-8 servings.
I ALWAYS use my FAVORITE Weight Watcher scoopers when serving up dishes. They are pre-measured in 1/4 c, 1/2 c and 1 cup. LOVE it!
Of course, I STUFFED as much as I can in that cup.
I serve it up on a salad plate to make it look like ALOT more. It really works great for my brain to think I am getting plenty.
I topped mine with a little freshly shaved parmesan cheese (all for 7 points!)
I wanted to use the AVOCADOS that The Husband’s mom gave us. One of her co-workers grows them. They have such great color ~ brighter, greener, creamier and almost nutty – AMAZING how HOME GROWN AVOCADOS just do not compare.
While everything cooked, I prepared some simple salads to go along with our Penne for Pennies.
Dinner was completely light and satisfying. Now, if I only room (and of course someone to make it for me) to eat her fantastic looking Cranberry Orange Parfaits.
I LOVE The Food Network ~ I honestly think it’s the one TV station I can watch ALL day the way The Husband can watch sports all day. Hmmm, maybe cooking IS a sport –whatcha think? 😀 LOL
The other COOL realization I had ~ MY BIRTHDAY IS ONE WEEK FROM TODAY ~ Yahoo!!! Yes, I am old, but, I STILL get excited for it 😀
Off to watch The “scandalous” Bachelor! The Husband is intrigued too 😀 I wonder if I can get him hooked too 😉 Can’t wait….
Nite all!!
are you sure that was breakfast and not dessert?! WOW, YUMMO! and i love pandora on my phone! xoxo
I absolutely LOVE Trader Joe’s chicken sausages…all kinds! Your dinner looks delicious and I can’t wait to try it! 🙂
Yumm! I can watch the Food Network all day too!!
I miss Pandora on my phone. Had to give up my blackberry because of my move! =(
xoxo
Kris
Sounds like a yummy Monday to me!! That Penne looked awesome! Thanks for the idea, Im on WW too so that was a great suggestion! I think its something my husband would love as well! I love the food network too…it eats up my days at home lol. Anyways…yesss truly scandalious Batchelor!! I like Ali & Elizabeth…how about you???…oh and i totally saw that rozlyn thing comming.
ohhh i also had a ?….is there anything you could use instead of white wine? would water work or maybe a vinegar?
I know my Iphone has all that stuff but I get worried about it being all sweaty so I haven’t carried it yet.
seriously that pasta looks delicious. I love all the colors
I could watch The Food Network over and over and over.
And homegrown avocadoes sound remarkable!
Hi Lauryn,
Yeah for being on WW too – I LOVE It! My husband LOVED this dish and had 3 servings LOL. I LOVE recipes like this that are super easy and delicious. You could easily use chicken/veggie broth, balsamic vinegar or water to degalze the pan with instead of wine. I am totally looking forward to leftovers for sure 🙂
I really like the girl in the yellow dress that had the one on one date (forgot her name) and then the girl who was married for 4 years who just seems super nice and genuine. You know, I was cracking up over the scandal and totally think it’s funny how she didn’t deny it on the show but it denying it all now. I would LOVE to hear the crew members side 🙂
I can’t wait to hear what you think of the recipe.
Have a great day,
Danica
Too bad the 3 in 1 run fun doesn’t work on my iphone. I bet there has to be something I could use to make that all happen too. I’ll be searching but I would love a Garmin however if I don’t have to buy one saving the $ would be a bonus.
All your food looks so good. Love the chicken sausages from TJ too.
Oh the scandalous Bachelor was funny. I really can’t believe I watch this ha ha Some of those girls have got to go. So far I like Ali (yellow dress), Ella (single mom), Jessie (haven’t really heard or seen much of her though) and Tenley. Michelle and Vienna need to go LOL
TONS of colorful veggies in there!
I had to stop watching the Food Network all day! It was making me too hungry 😉
Your food always looks so delicious, Danica! YOU should be the next FN star!
MMMMM everything looked so good yesterday!
LOL about food network! I find I don’t watch it as much since I started weight watchers. Makes me hungry! I love TYler Florence’s show. I think a lot of his recipes can be lightened up. I’ve never actually made them but the food looks so good!
Blueberry cobbler oats look bomb!
I love TJS rice bowls. I like the teryayki shrimp!
Wow that pasta looks sooo good!
Jenna
Those avocados are beautiful. And such thin skin too. I think you got them at perfect ripeness.
Since you are using homegrown ingredients in your salad, would you like to enter this post into our Grow Your Own roundup this month? Full details at
http://chezannies.blogspot.com/2010/01/rambutans-plus-grow-your-own.html
HI Angie,
Hmmm….maybe you can do a search on your aps to see if there are other trainers out there? I know my phone has a ton of different trainers. I picked Cardio Trainer because it has the best ratings, although, I did download a few others as well to test them out.
I totally agree with you on The Bachelor 🙂
Danica
HI Alison,
I totally know what you mean – I LOVE watching The Food Network, but, it ALWAYS makes me want to eat what they are making. I do that with alot of recipes from different people on there – they can easily be made healthier.
They should totally have a Weight Watcher chef on there – that would be AWESOME!
Danica
Had the Penne for dinner this evening………. yum! I substituted as you did with what I had on hand and it was wonderful. An easy quick dinner. Thanks.
yum on the oats!! 🙂