Pumpkin French Toast with Warm Fruit "Compote" and Yogurt * Updated*

The "compote" is in quotes because technically a fruit compote begins with a simple syrup of water and sugar, cooked with vanilla or liquor then fruit is added etc etc. The efficient B-Healthy (that's me f.y.i) is all "Why add sugar to something that is sweet already?" so I just heat up frozen unsweetened fruits most of the time. Their juices release and it essentially is a less sugar, more natural version of fruit compote.

I didn't know what I wanted for breakfast but started to make the base for pumpkin pie for one with 1/4 c pumpkin and 1/2 c egg whites. I mixed it really well and saw the loaf of bread that I'd like to finish by Wednesday so it does not go to waste during our holiday travels. A light bulb went off in my head when I saw the bread, I thought, "I will just dip toast into this and make Pumpkin French Toast!"

My pumpkin "batter" was already in my "single pie dish" so I had to slice up the bread for it to fit in there. I like slicing it up before cooking it because the pieces get coated with more batter and it's easier to eat at the end- no need to cut! If you had kids you could use cookie cutters and make shapes like Dinosaurs or Trees! I put Oikos Greek Nonfat Organic Yogurt on top, and I heated up frozen peaches, strawberries, pineapple and cherries for the Fruit Compote.

Here is the plan for today ( and usually when I say that, I actually stick to it hence why I say it!)

Body:

Run. I told my knee and toes to not bother me today but it didn't quite work. I ran 5 miles total, but my knees and toes were bugging me after mile 3. I walked a little (.5 mile total) and finished up the 5 miles.

Mind:

I am still going to go out and look for a job. I'm not sure if I will get crazy looks or find something but I guess I can't give up right?
Cookie Recipe Reading
Eat Pray Love Reading

Soul:
more cookie baking.. upcoming: Chocolate Bourbon Balls and Toffee Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

running

cleaning

pre-packing
I like to be prepared for sleeping away from home 5 nights+ and at 4 different places! So this includes writing out on a piece of paper the activities I need clothing for.. i.e run, beach, shopping, dinner, sleeping, fishing etc. and the days I need them. That way I can formulate the outfit on paper and pack accordingly. I never ever did this until Jeff suggested something like it. I have so much clothing for so many different purposes...i.e my dry fit Nike turtleneck for wicking sweat in 38 * , or my warm up pants for fishing... etc. Its hard to just throw something in a bag when you know you are going to do completely different things at 4 different places! I highly suggest this if you have a hard time packing the right things. I know it seems silly to write down " Wednesday: fishing, lunch out, run, dinner, sleep. Thursday: run, shopping..." you get the idea.

With airlines charging for bags and trying to fit everything in your suitcase, I don't think those convertible wraps that were on The Today Show this past week that turn into yoga outfits and turn into a dress and then into a top - work well for anyone going away for more than 2 days in cold weather! Writing out what you really will be doing while away helps you write down what you really need to wear-- and thus bring with you-- instead of throwing in your favorite outfit ( that isn't suitable for say a run or the beach or shopping!).


That is my monday! Hope all of you have a wonderful happy monday, it's a short work week for most so that is great starting thought!! Is anyone travelling all over for the whole week ?

Another Chicken Salad

Cranberry Carrot Celery Chicken Salad.. lots of C's!
So I wanted to use up the celery I had gotten and some other veggies and the Stoneyfield Oikos ( like that would be a problem! I use this for a gazillion things!)

I made another chicken salad for lunch today but since I didn't have grapes anymore, I used... Cranberries! I thought, cranberries go well with turkey, why not chicken? So I thawed frozen organic cranberries in the microwave, chopped celery hearts, chopped a heart of palm, grated organic carrots, added three big tablespoons of Oikos Plain Greek Nonfat Yogurt.

And then added the last of some goat cheese I had for extra creaminess and fat ( since I knew this would be an essentially fat free chicken salad anyway).

While I was doing all of this I boiled 4 small chicken breasts in a pot of water . I brought them to a boil , then reduced to a slow bubbling for about 15 minutes.
When they were done, I let them cool then shredded 3 of them into the bowl. ( I saved the other one just because it wouldn't fit).

There is the whole bowl, I threw in purple cabbage just because I have it.

Here is mine with sprouts, lettuce, newman's own double fiber bread, carrots and a pickle.

It was a really TALL sandwhich.

Jeff really liked this... but we both liked the version the other day with grapes. I may get an apple to chop up and put in this for some sweet crisp/crunch. It is always better the next day because the flavors meld and set in the fridge. I might try to use it for an appetizer of some sort for Andrea and Nate's party-

Pumpkin Pie For One and Closed on Sunday

Breakfast :
Pumpkin Pie For One

I had used up the last of my canned organic pumpkin puree from Trader Joes, so I bought Libby's. Its so much brighter orange than the organic- I wonder if its fake like how brown sugar is really refined white sugar with coloring & molasses added back to it??

The texture was also very different than my previous recipes.
For the crust I just microwaved steel cut oats with water and spread it out aroudn the bottom of the bowl.

For the filling, I took 1/4 cup Libby's Pumpkin, 1/4 plus 1/8 cup of egg whites, sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice, sprinkle of sugar and mixed it all very well. Microwaved that for 2 minutes ( my microwave kinda stinks so it took me another 2 minutes ).

I put the filling onto the crust and topped with a little unsweetened coconut and nonfat Oikos Greek Yogurt (plain).

The filling texture was much more like pie than my previous versions, I used too much pie spice but I ate every bite. Jeff tried it but he said after "I hate pumpkin stuff" so I don't know if he is a fair judge.

We were going to head to some dealerships to test drive Toyota Tacoma's and Dodge Dakota's...but just realized they are CLOSED ON SUNDAYS! Bah humbug! So not sure what we will do, some errands, maybe a trip to the trail for a run ( but he plays hockey tonight so we'll see!)

Cage Free Day! Chicken Cordon Bleu

Post Run- Pre-Class Snacks
Coffee in my santa mug a student's mom gave me!
Low Fat Cheddar from TJ
Z-Bar- The only kind around me are the brownie ( ick) and the chocolate chip ( yum!) - I WISH i could try the spooky smores or graham varieties but no stores here have them? whats up with that?

When I got home from class I found THIS!!!!



How amazing are the people at Stoneyfield - Sarah B sent me tons of coupons for free yogurts! Tons more for $1 off ones, AND a Hat! Woohoo! I am totally wearing the hat for my research presentation on the history of yogurt on 11-11!
I LOVE that Oikos is organic * unlike Chobani and Fage and TJ.... I think I enjoy all greek nonfat yogurts in their own ways - all very similar- but I have to say I would get Oikos over all because it is organic- if only it were as cheap as TJ and Chobani...

Dinner!
I made a healthy from scratch version of chicken cordon bleu- which I have to give myself props- it was AMAZING!!!!

My Ingredients:
Breading ( 1 slice toasted and dried out Arnold Whole Wheat Bread, 1.4 cup Cornmeal, Salt and Pepper)
TJ Cage Free Organic Chicken Breasts ( these were individually sealed, $7 for four big breasts)
TJ Canadian Ham slices

Creamy Cheese Filling
about 1/3 cup Plain Nonfat Greek Yogurt
about 1/3 cup nonfat sour cream ( because I had some)
Parmesean Cheese ( also from TJ)

1 tsp Goat Cheese ( from the state farmer's market - its unbeatable for quality) and I wish I had more left than 1 tsp

Here is what I did:

I put the breading ingredients on a plate- Put a big square of tin foil right next to it. Cut a whole in the chicken package- pounded it inside a bit to make it thinner and flatter. Took chicken breast out of the package, laid one side on the breading on the plate ( pushed it in a little), laid it (bread side down) on the tinfoil. Repeated with other breast. (washed hands- ew no Salmonella on this gal!)

Mixed the creamy cheese ingredients together in a cup. Spooned on the creamy filling on the un-breaded side of the chicken . Laid two canadian ham slices on top of the creaminess. Then spread on goat cheese.

Rolled up the tinfoil so it folded the breasts in half over themselves.
Baked in the oven at 350 for 40 minutes
*** by the way- it was 210 calories, 3 g fat and 35 g protein and about 11g carbs for one breast with the filling and the ham....**

On the side: Acorn Squash ( microwaved for about 10 minutes total). This was my first ever eating/cooking of acorn squash- anyone have any ideas of what to do with it???


YUMMMMMM SO satisfied!
on to finish up my paper due in the morning

Update on Soul:
Free oikos and stoneyfield farm stuff!! How AWESOME!!! AND... I got two issues of Women's Health in the mail... so

Update on Mind:
Finish paper and read new magazines!

Update on Body:
So hard to walk!!!... Well, I shouldn't say that.. only walking from class to my car ( about 3/4 mile) was not fun at 7 pm for my knees. I think with another dose of some anti-inflammatories and a rest day tomorrow ( sitting through training tomorrow 10-3 and no class)... I should be fine by wednesday!

*updated- Lunchtime

Hello Blog-land from Campus!

So.. Ortho ordered an MRI, he was not happy that my knee is still giving me problems . What is odd is that the last two weeks on the meds, I could run again with no problems- I posted about my Supersonic Racer Speed last week ( 7 mile run in 50 minutes and a 6.4 miler in around that too).

Yesterday, I went to "jog" to my car after biking and jabbed with pain on the first step from nowhere! So dissappointing.

Health insurance won't cover the MRI- it goes toward my deductible which is 2500 and it costs $600 out of pocket.

So the assistant is checking into other options on what to do and what will be figured out by the MRI- in most likely case- I need a surgical operation to either clear out cartiledge, or fix my knee cap. I doubt I can afford surgery, but at least 1/4 of my deductible would be paid for so ....??

After the appointment I went to the gym. I know, how ironic/hypocritical? But I felt like getting out my stress/frustration and the best way I can do that is by exercise- so

Body: Biked 11 miles, 23 minutes ( resistance level 4-11, random hill program). Elliptical 22 minutes (resistance level 3-5).. no strength training today, just some stress relieving cardio!

Mind: In the waiting area, got through several pages of Slow Food Nation...its been a Slow Read Too! I also am on campus early to do more research and read in the library, which should be rather productive.
** I got so much reading done in 30 minutes!!! Wow... super productive . Class was rather mundane- we got out early though so I could do more researching for the presentation for it! **

Soul: Dinner is already made and nail appointments for tomorrow evening. I have to pack but have a good base of what I need/want to take with me this weekend.
I also wanted to yoga everyday this week, so I plan on doing that this evening or going for a walk with Jeff. The grass needs cut too so I may do some yardwork with Jeff, the outdoor time relaxes me as well. ** yoga today- 20 minutes- Yardwork tomorrow afternoon with Jeff**


Lunch was delicious after the gym....I will have to post the pic later with dinner

I had:
TJ Steel Cut Oats, added tsp organic peanut butter, dried cranberries and pineapple ( and wished I had coconut!)... THANKS MOM FOR THE ORGANIC PEANUT BUTTER! ( its less salty but still yummy!)
Oikos Blueberry Organic Greek ( HT had $0.75 off coupons- i took a bunch which made the cost less than other greek yogurts!)
Thawed Steamed Veggies and Fresh Raw Veggies with a tsp of Garlic Hummus

Delicious! Off to coursework, see you around dinner