Because It’s Good For You….

I’m not at all a big fan of eating something just because it’s good for me. I’ve got to like it, and it’s got to taste good for it to be good for me, otherwise it’s not happening.

Yogurt for example. I use plain greek yogurt as a substitute for sour cream all the time. But, to just dig into a cup of yogurt and eat it isn’t happening. I want to like to eat yogurt, but I just don’t. I think it’s a texture thing.

The Zman likes the cookie jar filled with granola or trail mix, so he can grab a handful from time to time in passing. Honestly, he doesn’t eat unless I say EAT! Actually, I keep the cookie jar full to prevent me from finding him sprawled out on the floor from starvation. I swear the man can go all day without a bite to eat. I don’t get it. I literally wake up thinking about food and what I’m going to make today. I guess that’s one of those Mars and Venus things. Whatever…

Anyway…. here is a picture of our cookie jar with my latest wonderful granola recipe in it.

I found a recipe for olive oil granola on the Dinner A Love Story website (one of my favorite sites) and adapted it to what I had on hand. It was a snow day, I wanted to cook so I used what I had and it turned out great!

I know what you’re thinking…. Olive oil granola??? What???

Well let me tell you it’s awesome.

And if you’re not using predominantly olive oil or coconut oil in your recipes, you are missing out. That is just about all I ever use. Sure, if I’m frying something (which is a rare occasion) then I will use canola oil. Otherwise it’s olive or coconut oil.

Another confession, I am an olive oil snob. Actually, I am an olive oil and balsamic vinegar snob. Here is a few bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar that I use. But, only in recipes that have a few ingredients where you want the flavors to shine through.

Yes, they are a bit pricy…. but a little goes a long way because the flavors are so prominent.

Oh, a drizzle of each over roasted veggies, salad, fresh fruit, or to dip fresh-baked bread in…. OMG, it’s just bliss.

You’ll need to try it. Trust me. The flavor that you get from good olive oil and balsamic vinegar is not something you should miss.

When I run out I get the bottles refilled, so there is nothing going into the garbage as waste. Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle.

I’ve used the big box store, big bottles of olive oil for years, and I still have it on hand when I need an oil to “cook” with. But honestly, those big bottle oils do not have much flavor. Well, not enough flavor to use in this recipe.

I mean if you’re going to make olive oil granola, then you need to use the good stuff.

Olive & Coconut Oil Granola

4 cups of oats (not quick cook)
1 1/2 cup of raisins
1 cup of walnuts
1 Tbsp of cinnamon
1/2 tsp of salt
1/3 cup of brown sugar
3/4 cup of good honey
3/4 cup of good olive oil
1/2 cup of coconut oil (that has been warmed to a liquid form)

Mix the first 6 ingredients together then add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Spread out on two large baking sheet (with sides) and bake at 300 for 45 minutes. Half way through the baking time, you’ll want to flip and mix the granola so it bakes evenly. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.

Store in airtight container, or cookie jar just ’cause it’s pretty, and I like pretty things.

You can substitute any dried fruits and any nuts you prefer.

Guess what….. it’s absolutely AWESOME on a cup of greek yogurt. And now I can feel good about eating something just “because it’s good for me” (I also save my empty yogurt container to start my garden seeds / plants in) Always trying to think…… Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle.

Y’all take care!

Lori

Wednesday Waste and a Food Likes

I tried my hand at egg drop soup. I failed!!!

The taste wasn’t bad, but the consistency was not good. It had a very odd texture to it, that I didn’t enjoy. So, like the good minimalist that I am, I put it in a container and put it in the fridge so I could repurpose it into another recipe. But, that didn’t happen. It got pushed to the back of the fridge and forgotten about. When in doubt, throw it out!

I’ll share one of my “food likes” with you. This is especially good now that the weather is warming up a bit…

Let me just say that Pita Pockets Rock!!!!

Now, I must confess… I honestly believe it doesn’t matter what you stuff in a pita pocket, it automatically turns into a meal, even a dinner. Try it on, you’ll see what I mean. Pita pockets ROCK!

Honey Dijon Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

2 cooked chicken breast chopped (I braise mine to keep them moist, but grilled would be good too)
1/2 of a sweet onion, chopped
2 stalks of celery, chopped
1 cup of red grapes sliced in half
1/3 cup of walnuts, broken in pieces (don’t chop them it makes them to grainy, IMHO)
1 heaping Tbsp of mayo
2 heaping Tbsp of grain mustard (pick a good one, it matters!)
2 tsp of good honey
1/4 tsp of thyme leaves
1 Tbsp lemon juice (this is where the juice really is worth the squeeze) 😉
S&P to taste
Pita Pockets

Mix the first 5 ingredients in a large bowl. In a second (smaller) bowl mix mayo, mustard, honey, thyme, and lemon juice together to make a dressing. Depending on the size of your chicken breast you may need more dressing. Add to taste what you need, just go shy on the mayo. Lean toward what you think might be on the dry side in appearance, because it will loosen up with the juice from the grapes as it sits in the fridge. Let sit in the fridge at least 1 hour before serving.

(Yes, you could use a honey mustard dressing instead of the grain mustard and honey separate)

Fill a pita pocket with your chicken salad, add some chips and a glass of wine and you have a meal.

You’re Welcome!

ENJOY!

Y’all take care!

Lori

A Positive Attitude…

Is a choice.

I read that off of a reader board church sign the other day and really liked it.

I figured it was GOD wanting me to get the message, so I turned around and stole the letters off the sign. Just kidding. But wouldn’t that be funny.

“Uh, you see officer, I felt like GOD wanted me to get that message so I took it. LOL!!!! ” 🙂

I do think a positive attitude is a choice. And, to be honest it’s a choice I haven’t been doing very well with lately. I seem to be a bit more sensitive and short fused. I know, I know…. it’s the stopping smoking. But, how long should I let that be an excuse?

Right here right now, I say stop using it as an excuse and focus on the positives. Focus on the feel good parts and the happy parts and be thankful for the challenges because the challenge is what makes it worth it. Right? Right!

Here is a pictures of our Mardi Gras dinner last week. Shrimp and grits. YUM!!!

Blog Food Pics 015

So, are you with me? From here on out my choice is a positive attitude. Not to worry about the things I can’t change, but change the things I can and to enjoy all the things that make me happy and not take them for granted. Especially shrimp and grits 🙂

Y’all Take Care!

Lori

Wednesday Waste

Before we get into Wednesday Waste, first I would like to talk about yesterday’s post.

I know there are a lot of Women and Men out there that struggle with body image, including myself. I’m not going to lie and act like that picture didn’t make me very anxious. Actually, I tossed and turned all night in my sleep wondering if I should include it in my post.

This is how Psychology Today defines body image…

Body image is the mental representation we create of what we think we look like; it may or may not bear a close relation to how others actually see us. That is, it is subject to all kinds of distortion from internal elements like our emotions, moods, early experiences, attitudes of our parents, and much more. Nevertheless, it strongly influences behavior. Preoccupation with and distortions of body image are widespread among American women (and, to a lesser extent, among males), but they are driving forces in eating disorders, feeding severe anxiety that can be assuaged only by dieting.

I ultimately left the picture in. As much as I didn’t want to because of my own fears, it just felt like the right thing to do. The extra 15 – 20 lbs I’m carrying right now does not define who I am.

Maybe someone out there needed to see and hear that too.

I’ll tell you that when the Zman saw the picture, he said “that doesn’t even look like you” (I do love that Man). There is your proof. He sees me for me. He doesn’t see the extra weight, he sees me. I am the luckiest woman in the world!

Body image… well lets all just try to let it go. We can strive for healthy and happy. Eat good food, do some fun exercise and forget about the number on the scale or the size of our clothes.

Let’s make that our goal. Cool?

OK, now on to Wednesday Waste….

I read that the average household waste comes to about $1,500.00 every year. Can you imagine it??? $1,500.00 That’s a chunk of change! I despise waste. There is no worse expense than buying something and then throwing it in the trash. But, sometimes it does happen. So, I’m going to put myself out on a limb (just for you) and share with you what I have wasted, what I’m throwing away. Hopefully it will be little if nothing at all. HOPEFULLY!

Take a look in the back of your fridge, and in the veggie drawer. What do you have in there that needs to be used before it goes bad. Do you have veggies that look like they need viagra? Turn them into soup. Do you have a loaf of bread that’s on the edge? Cut it into cubes, sprinkle with olive oil and any seasoning you like and toast them in a low temp oven until they are crisp. There you go… you just made croutons. Croutons that are better than any store brand, and you didn’t waste food.

This is what I had to toss this week

I had to toss out about a cup of yogurt because the expiration date slipped by me. I also tossed about 2 cups of chicken chili that got pushed to the back of the fridge and forgotten about.

I would love to know how you did this week too?

Y’all take care!

Lori