Happy Monday all! I put my foot down today (literally!) and said NO MORE! No more pretending that the treadmill doesn’t exist or that I don’t need to do that whole “working out” thing. The reality is I do NOT LOVE to workout, but, I LOVE the way I feel after. It’s completely empowering to know your body is capable of doing more than you think it can and there is just something about it that makes you feel so good about you AFTER.
So, I laced up my fancy new shoes and hopped on the treadmill after I don’t even know how many days/weeks? off. Despite STILL being sick/congested, I huffed and puffed my way through a 40 minute jog/walk session ~ GO ME!
I can honestly say I have NEVER laced up my shoes, worked out and thought, WOW, I wish I didn’t do that. The HARDEST part is convincing yourself to get out there, but, I guarantee after you do, you will be glad you did!
I was sort of in a rush to this morning, but, I made sure to refuel with a little protein (Morning Star Veggie Sausage ~ 2 points+) and a banana.
I totally earned more “steps” today because Tracey & I POWER shopped at the Napa Outlets. I think I am “almost” officially done shopping for the new job, but, maybe just one more store and one more pair of shoes 
After the outlets, we “refueled” at Oxbow Public Market.
I LOVE Oxbow because you can pick & choose from several AMAZING vendors when you can’t decide what you want. I was pretty much STARVING so I pretty much did, just that!
Stop #1 ~ C-Casa for tasty Pork Tacos.
Mildly spicy shredded pork, topped with cabbage salad, pineapple, avocado & cilantro.
SO FREAKIN’ GOOD! (5 points+)
Next up was my ALL TIME favorite place at Oxbow, Pica Pica! for Venezuelan food. It’s just as fun to say as it is to eat there.
~ First up ~ one of the BEST SALADS I’ve ever had ~ the secret is in that dressing!
Bululu Salad ~ roasted corn, red pepper, jicama, pineapple quinoa, daikon sprouts, mixed greens topped with a passion fruit vinaigrette.
I am pretty sure this is close to 0 points+, but, to be conservative, I am counting it as 3.
LOVE!!! Just seeing this picture makes me want to run back and get another. This is quite possible my FAVORITE thing of all time…..I am totally going to try to make my own CACHAPAS (corn pancakes with fresh corn)!
Pabellon Cachapa ~ shredded salsa beef, queso, sweet roasted plantains all in a 100% Corn pancake.
10 points+ and worth every single one….I didn’t share this time
I snacked on two pair slices in the afternoon when I wanted something sweet.
Dinner tonight was something The Husband has been asking me to make for over a week now. Whenever I buy that delicious Bill Bailey’s Carne Asada, he asks every night if we are having it for dinner until we do….can you tell it’s his favorite?!
I pick it up at Sam’s Club & sometimes Target ~ it takes 15 minutes on the grill and dinner is ready.
This is what my salad looks like while the camera is out…..
I built us HUGE @$$ Salads with tons of crunch, spice & flavor…..
- Organic Romaine & Organic Mixed Greens
- Red Cabbage & Shredded Carrots for crunch, color and taste!
- Organic Cherry Tomatoes from our garden!
- 1 oz LF Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese (2 points+)
- 1/4 cup grilled corn (1 points+)
- 2 oz Grilled Carne Asada (2 points+)
- Cilantro, green onions & 2 Tbsp of colored tortilla chips (1 points+)
- 1 dallop of 0% Greek Yogurt (as our sour cream ~ 0 points+)
- 2 Tbsp Wholly Guacamole (1 points+)
- Salsa at dressing
One crunch, spicy, creamy, smoky Carne Asada Steak Salad for 7 points+!
Then, for fun ~ what happens to my salad (salsa attack!) AFTER I put the camera away
Since this is sort of a FUN WEEK for me before I start work next week, I am not sure what our weekly menu will be….Here are a few things I know I am making
* Summer Pasta Salad with No Cook Tomato Basil Sauce
* Butternut Squash Soup with Rosemary Sea Salted Focaccia
* BBQ Pork Ribs, Grilled Corn, Salad
* I do think that the Clean Eating Kung Pao Chicken & Stuffed Shells look good too!
* Another fun idea I want to try ~ enchilada muffin cups or tiny tacos or taco salad with won ton cups.
* Banana Chocolate Chunk Walnut Bread (points+ friendly!)
So…there you have my kinda, sorta, totally subject to change menu.
Q’s
I have to create a fantastic new recipe for a special guest post I am doing. If you all could have me cook anything or any recipe, what would it be?
Night all!
I would want a Shrimp Alfredo pasta dish, that is what I miss the most. I don’t make it because I can’t just eat a little.
Any of your chocolate recipes. I can’t make them because I can’t eat a single serving.
Bravo for getting back to your treadmill!
I would love to see a fall recipe for a party appetizer. My other favorite meal of the day is breakfast……. anything new for that course is on my radar. I am still addicted to the taco muffins and make them about every other day. So yummy for an afternoon snack and totally cures the afternoon cravings.
Another quick recipe like your “Vegetarian Skillet Enchiladas” which I absolutely love and make frequently.
OH MAN DANICA THAT SALAD LOOKS AMAZING. IT IS MAKING ME DROOL. THIS ONE MY HUBBY WOULD EVEN LIKE.
I would love to see confort food, since fall/winter are knocking on the door
Anything with pumpkin (sweet or savory)! Yum!!