Ja cię kocham…

Photo Courtesy of Recipe.com

Yesterday was the first time in my life that I have ever had a snowless snow day.  Starting at about 2am, I kept peeking out the window in hopes of seeing snow-covered streets.   Seriously, I was like a kid waiting for Santa to arrive because I kept getting up to see the snow that ended up being a no-show.   All of this excitement mixed with a tinge of anxiety caused me to be wide awake at 4:45am.  The call came at 5:30 that school was closed, and I looked out the window to find nothing.  Not an ounce of snow.  Confusion immediately set in because school was closed and there was absolutely no snow on the ground.

How did this happen you ask?   It’s simple.

The meteorologists were wrong.

Because our area has endured tremendous amounts of snow in the month of February, it’s very easy for all of us to assume the worst.  How could we not?  I mean I still have snow piles more than 2 feet high in my front yard!

I have to say the coolest snow days are the ones with no snow.  As much as it’s a hard pill to swallow that I’m exchanging this day off for June 18th when it’s warm and beautiful, at least I was able to get out and about.   I’m so used to being literally snowed in for days that this was a nice treat.

Above, you can see that we were actually snowed in.  2 more feet of snow came after this picture.

This was 6am yesterday after finding out there was no school.  You can see why I was so confused!

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Since the sidewalks were obviously clear, I went for a nice, long run.  It felt really good especially since I haven’t gone out for that long in a while.  I decided to keep up with the health mode that I was in and make a very healthy and oh-so-delicious pulled chicken sandwich.  This recipe came from my awesome sister’s food blog so I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed.  I cannot believe how easy it was!  When I think of pulled chicken or pork, I think of the crockpot and the hours it takes to make it.  This sandwich was ready in 10 minutes.  Flippin’ awesome.

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Clean BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwich

Source: Cleanliness is Next to Godliness and Clean Eating Club
Serves 6

Ingredients

1 TBS olive oil

1 medium onion, cut into 1/4 inch thick slices

1/2 cup chopped green or red sweet pepper

3/4 cup barbecue sauce

1 package of chicken tenders

6 whole grain buns or whole wheat sandwich thins

—–

Directions

Fill a skillet with water and bring it to a boil, then put the chicken tenders in to poach. Poach for about 5 minutes and remove the chicken from the water. Then with a fork, ‘pull’ the chicken apart.

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and peppers and cook until soft (5 minutes). Add chicken and barbecue sauce and gently mix together. Simmer until heated through. Spoon mixture onto buns and serve!

The New Year is quickly approaching, which means many of us are racking our brains with ways to make our 2010 better than our 2009.  Some of us want to volunteer more and spend more quality time with family, and others want to lose weight and/or live a more healthy lifestyle…or you want to do all the aforementioned, plus more!

Let me start by stating what is the obvious to me – my dad is my hero.  Everything he does, aspires to be, and accomplishes is so motivating and so awesome.   His New Year’s Resolutions are a little different than your typical lose weight and save more money resolutions.  Not that those aren’t great… every year I vow to lose the same weight and it never happens.  I tend to lose some weight, rejoice, and then overindulge.  Oops.  Some day love handles… I will defeat you!

Anyway, about my dad…sure he’s running 5 miles a day now (GO PAPS!)…

It must be disclosed that we are loyal Temple Owls fans despite the Nittany head gear

…but what makes his resolutions so intriguing are how personal they are.  And the fact that he sticks to them:

• Don’t sweat the small stuff or even the large stuff
• Let others finish what they are saying before he speaks
• Read one book a week

These are all great ideas!  I am sure that many of you out there in cyber-world also have very cool resolutions that set themselves apart from the traditional ones.

For those of you that are like me and can’t help but want to live a healthier lifestyle each January, this recipe is for you.

The holiday seasons are coming to an end, and I have allowed myself to overindulge a little (okay… a LOT) without guilt.  Seriously what’s the point of eating the food if you’re going to feel guilty about it?  You don’t enjoy it.  So I say if you are eating the savories and sweets this week, please take time to enjoy them.  If you’re going to fret about it, you might as well not do it.

That being said, I am noticing that I am feeling a little more sluggish and run down than usual.  And it’s simply because I haven’t been eating and exercising the way I should be.  It’s amazing how food alters your mood and more importantly your health.  You are what you eat.  This week, I am sweet, fat, and delicious because that is what I am eating.

Well not today!

I had my biweekly bout of insomnia and starting researching new recipes that are easy and healthy.  Just the way I like it.

I came across Oatmeal Pancakes from the Clean Eating Magazine.  These were very good although the texture was initially off-putting.  Pancakes don’t normally feel like oatmeal.  BUT oatmeal is so good for you (Oprah starts her day off with a bowl of it every morning) and it is incredibly filling.  Often I get so excited to eat my oatmeal and then taste it and wonder what I was thinking.  This recipe is a new way to consume that healthy bowl of oatmeal.  I added a little turbinado sugar to the batter so it wasn’t as blah as unloved oatmeal can be.  I’m glad that I did.  Next time I will add vanilla extract, too.

I couldn’t finish the meal!  I am a piggy, and I could not finish one serving.  LOVE that!  And it’s a different type of being full.  When I eat junk and need to unbutton my pants, I feel sleepy and overloaded.  These pancakes fill you but unbuttoning is not necessary!  I still feel light and healthy even though I am quite full.

Try these out!  They are a little different in texture, but they are a great start to a healthy and satisfying day!

Oatmeal Pancakes

Source: Clean Eating Magazine Online -  Nutritional information on website.

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

3/4 cup quick cook oatmeal
3/4 cup egg whites (from 5 or 6 large eggs)
1 Tbs. low-fat cottage cheese
1-2 Tbs. turbinado sugar (not reflected in nutritional value)
1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
1 Tbs. agave nectar, honey, or pure maple syrup (Grade B)
1/4 cup berries (strawberries, blueberries) – (I used bananas and added a little almond butter to each pancake, also not reflected in nutritional value)

Directions:

Mist small pan with cooking spray and set over medium heat.

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients except agave and fruit (and almond butter if you’re using that as well).

Pour into pan in pancake form. When sides start to brown, flip, cooking for about 3 minutes per side. Serve with agave and berries.

That one banana slice decided to be different.  I was just haphazardly slicing them onto the pancakes.  Ha.

Here’s to a healthy and fun-filled New Year!