Happy Wednesday all! I missed chatting with you all too much to just put up another recipe or giveaway post…..As fun as it was sharing the “Whole Pumpkin” recipes, I needed to share my daily today because everything was just so incredibly tasty.
The first thing I did this morning was hop on the treadmill to get my run on. I had originally planned my 28 minutes of straight jogging. However, as I was running, I was like “What’s 2 minutes? I can do anything for 2 minutes!” And I did just that ~ I pushed to jog 30 minutes without stopping for any walking breaks & throwing in a few sprints reaching the first goal in my running series.
My reward…..this Trader Joe’s Pumpkin 0% Greek Yogurt I’ve had in the fridge for a few weeks now.
I love that there is real pumpkin in the cup.
If you eat only half the container, it’s only 2 points+ (SF + 1 WPA).
One of the reasons I love Trader Joe’s Greek Yogurts is because they are always thick and super creamy passing the “spoon” test every single time.
Since I was feeling fall like, I decided to top my pumpkin yogurt with a little Nature’s Box Cherry Berry Granola.
1/3 cup = 3 points+ or better yet, 2 Tbsp = 1 points+
The verdict ~ I am completely IN LOVE with TJ’s Pumpkin Greek Yogurt. It has the perfect balance of pumpkin and spice without being overpowered by spice. My favorite part was finding little pieces of the coconutty, almond granola. This mix is awesome because it has great texture from the dried cherries and you get huge whole nuts with each coconut flavored piece of granola.
SF + 2 WPA, 3 points+
As I snacked on my yogurt, I dove into our Farm Fresh To You Box for this week.
The organic veggies in this week’s box ~ Leek, Fennel, Avocado, Carrots, Greens, Broccoli and Kabocha Squash.
The Fruit ~ Oranges, Apples and the best grapes I’ve had all year. I have a feeling between The Husband and I these grapes will not last more than a day.
Quite possibly the hugest fennel I’ve ever seen….now, if I only liked it 
I might try making more homemade turkey sausage using it.
I am not sure how I will use everything else just yet other than the Greens are going to be sautéed with onions & garlic and I plan on pouring the Navy Bean & Ham soup over them.
Lunch involved my last Delicata Squash ~ I must find more of it. For those wondering, the flavor is like a cross between a sweet potato & butternut squash.
I sautéed it in a little olive oil with garlic, onion, red bell pepper, kale and my last Turkey Apple Sausage from the freezer.
Buttery, sweet, spicy, salty….my entire plate is 100% Simply Filling or 4 points+ and delicious.
My afternoon snack never quite made it in front of the camera. I had a bunch of our new grapes with a Sargento Low-Fat Sharp Cheddar cheese stick. (SF) – 2 points+.
My November K-Cup Ambassador Promotion arrived in the mail today and it is all about “Escaping” for the holidays and finding time for yourself.
All Café Escape Flavors are 70 calories or less and 2 points+ each.
That’s a pretty good way to escape the hustle & bustle of the holidays while saving on dessert calories by having a 2 points+ Milk or Dark Chocolate, Chai Latte, Café Caramel, Vanilla or Mocha instead.
All Café Escape Products are currently on sale, but, this month’s promotional code gives you all an additional 15% off all Café Escape Products. Just enter “ESCAPE8128” when you check out. This code is good from November 8th until December 4th.
Dinner tonight involved this 15 bean mixture I picked up at Trader Joe’s.
After soaking the beans overnight, I added a smoke ham shank with fresh thyme & bay leaves before covering the mixture with water & boiling for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
I added onion, celery & carrots during the last 30 minutes.
Then, finished the soup by adding in the ham, a little brown sugar, hot sauce and a little fresh parsley.
Totally worth the wait ~ sweet, smoky, spicy comfort in a bowl. This soup is packed with smoky ham, beans and vegetables that will satisfy any appetite on a cold winter day.
I plan serving my Smoky Ham & Beans over Sweet Collard Greens tomorrow. Recipe coming up later this week.
100% Simply Filling or 4 points+ per heaping 1 cup serving.
I am snacking on a 1/4 cup of Nature’s Box Anti-Oxidant Boost for dessert. I am totally in love with those little dark chocolate stars I used to get as a little kid. This mix is salty, crunchy, sweet, tangy and chewy. (SF+4 WPA) – 4 points+
I finally exceeded my Active Link Challenge on Week 9! I definitely think that one of the reasons for my successful weight loss was due to my increase in activity and making sure I moved more every single day. I walked everywhere I could instead of driving even if it was just to grab a latte or drop something off at the post office.
Of course, AL always has to give you something else to think about to work on…baby steps!
STATS (12am – pm)
- 2,368 calories burned
- 8,973 steps taken
- 6 WPA used, 23 WPA remaining, (17 daily points+)
- AL – 106%, 6 Activity Points Earned
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
What would you do with the ingredients I received in my Farm Box? Any great recipes to share?
Night all!
Wasn’t that Kale in your Veggie Box?
Hi Nancy,
We had Kale two weeks ago and Collard Greens this week.
Danica
Sometimes those extra 2 minutes seem like a mountain in front of us and then we power our way through them! You did it, congrats.
I just saw a recipe with split peas and lentils using a smoked ham hock. I have to admit I’m all about soups as it gets colder.
The veggies box made me think of potato leek soup.
Hi Suzi,
Thanks!!! I totally used your idea to make my first ever potato leek soup…..as in Sweet Potato Leek Soup with Bacon and it’s Simply Filling. 🙂
Danica
I just discovered the Trader Joe’s pumpkin yogurt and love it. Also have fun making my own with plain Greek yogurt, pumpkin pie spice and a little maple syrup.
Leeks always make a better base for soup to me then onions. Love to just add a jalapeno, vegetables, maybe one potato and some white beans and then your collard greens at the end. Also cumin and maybe a handful of corn….
Love your blog!!!.
Hi Danica..I love you blog…I’ve peeked at it for a while and love seeing all your recipes. I’m currently struggling to get off my last 20-30 lbs. I lost 50…and thought it was pretty easy..now it feels like a mountain. So…your blog is helping to inspire me. My problem is I am a teacher and work 10-12 hour days…so I get in my walk every night..but cooking is hard because once I finish it’s so late…I usually end up eating crap at night….I did want to ask you. I bought the Active link Monitor and used it all last week…then on Sunday hubby and I went on a long bike ride and I lost it…so bummed. Is it helping you stay active??? Im thinking I’ll order another one…sounds like it was the key to keeping you loosing this time..just curious! Thanks 🙂
Hi Melva,
First ~ congrats on the weight loss ~ you are amazing!!!
Second ~ When I have crazy weeks, I use Sunday’s to prep for the week and will make up a few meals so it shortens the amount of time I have to cook. I have also been know to freeze everything so you have a good easy to cook meal when you do not feel like cooking at all. It also helps having a few easy to make meals on hand like BLTA’s, Breakfast, Veggie Burgers, etc. If i make sure I have easy go to options for meals and snacks, then, it makes the long days easier.
Third ~ I am so sad over your loss of AL. I LOVE my AL and it definitely motivates me to move more each day. There is something about seeing all those green lights light up and singing, “do a little dance” as they do LOL. I would recommend it to anyone as it encourages you to be active throughout your day, not just to workout. I do wish the design was a little better since it is easy to lose. I’ve pondered just wearing it as a necklace but I like having it on my hip.
Good luck and stay persistent. You will lose the last few lbs you want to in no time at all.
Danica
Just wondering if you could tell me if the Cafe Escapes are gluten free? I was recently diagnosed w/ Celiac Disease and just prior to that, stocked up on the Chai Latte flavor (my fave!) and was wondering if it was safe to drink them? Thanks!
Hi Lindsey,
Yes, they are gluten free. I looked up the Chai since that is the one you said you bought. You can see that notation at the following link when you click on more.
http://www.greenmountaincoffee.com/Coffee/cafe-escapes-chai-latte-kcup
Take care,
Danica
Thank you so much, I appreciate it! 🙂
I’ve found that sauteeing fennel up helps lessen the fennel ‘flavor’ and it gets a bit sweeter. I use this in stuffed mushrooms (made with Italian sausage and cream cheese, which could totally be made more PP friendly by using a turkey sausage and ff or light cream cheese).
Your squash with sausage looks SUPER YUMMY!!! I will have to try that!
hmmmm….’rewarding’ oneself with FOOD??
a big no no.
Can you elaborate on that?
Danica
Where can I find the Nature’s Box? I enjoy your website very much.
Joani
Hi Joan,
I have not seen Nature’s Box in stores, but, you can find them online at the following link.
http://naturebox.com/
My next giveaway is giving one of their boxes away 🙂 I absolutely love their products and the concept of how they are made/distributed.
Danica
I am so happy for you with your running. You are awesome. I bet you feel great! Thank you for the Trader Joe Pumpkin Greek Yogurt tip! I am so all over that! See you Sunday!
Hi Danica,
I received my Yoplait yogurt today! Very cool. Thanks again!
The TJ’s pumpkin yogurt is going on my TJ’s list that is gradually forming as I read your blog… 🙂
I just made a salad with fennel and apples and it was good. My husband even liked it.
I cut the fennel in strips and cut an apple in thin slices. Put the juice of a lemon in and about a T. of olive oil. Mixed and let it set for a short time.