Thanksgiving Already?!?!?

Hey NeverEver's,

Can you guys believe that it is already Sunday...and only 3 days away from Thanksgiving? I really can't believe that it is already here. Where has the time gone? Seriously!

I just got my Turkey and since I can have anywhere from 10 to 20 people over this Thursday, I had to go big! Found a 18.50 pound-er which should be enough to feed everyone!

I really had to move things around to be able to fit it. But in the end it was all put in!

So has everyone already figured out all the dishes for Turkey Day? I have most of the ideas already lined up. Here is what I got so far!

For my Turkey - Brined Herb-Crusted Turkey with Apple Cider Gravy

For my Stuffing - No stuffing, I want to have more of fresh herbs instead of bread!

For my Sides - Corn on the Cob - Honey Glazed Roasted Carrots - Snap Peas - Mushrooms - Mashed Potatoes - Toasted Scallions

For my Bread - Philsbury Biscuits (Hey I am not ready to cook bread yet ^_^)

For my Dip - Cranberry Apple Butter

For my Desert - Cranberry Bliss Bars

Yup, that is the game plan! Now to see if I can stick to it. Thanksgiving always seems to have a way of messing with the greatest of game plans!

So I do have some none Holiday things to share with you all as well!

First off:

Yup I have decided to do another challenge! This one is more physical instead of in the kitchen. So it starts on November 22nd (yup Thanksgiving) to December 31st and you do either 50 burpee's or squats that day. Once you are done you post to the Challenge Loop page that you did it! 

Really looking forward to this one because it will help me great ready for the next big news!

Yup, I signed up for the 2013 5k Color Run! It is on 2-2-2013 and I have lots of work to do before that day comes.

I have been seriously thinking about doing a 5k for a few years now, but I...well I was lazy and didn't know which one. Sp after much looking I decided on the Color Run. I mean first of all it looks like SO much fun. Secondly, it doesn't require me to run so its a perfect beginner one! And finally, well some of my Friends are doing it as well.

Yup I really didn't want to run alone.

That is my news! Heading out to do a short walk then come back in and play some Halo 4 with the Hubby!

So NeverEver's, have you run a 5k yet? And if you have which one did you do? Also, have you played around with the ChallengeLoop site yet? It is so much fun you really have to check it out!

Eat At Home Challenge - Day 3 & 4

Hey NeverEver's!

Okay so first I am waayyyy late on these posts! Sorry about that. I think it is because I am on the computer all day at work I have been recently feeling like I don't want to be on the computer at home. Also that I keep forgetting my camera at work so I can't be posting my photos like I want to. 

Oh did I mention I hate LA traffic? Well I do...its horrible. Makes me think of moving to a wooded area or something. Yup that is my goal in life, to live in the woods! 

Anyways, on to the semi good stuff. I still don't have the hook ups for my small camera (where most of the photos are) BUT I do have 3 photos of the main meals. So we can start there!

Day 3 - Wednesday!

Breakfast was a simple banana, cup of fruit (peaches) and a coffee. I have actually been finding myself not so hungry for sweets or even just over eating. 

Lunch was left over Lettuce Taco's. Which I did still feel that I was 'missing' something! But, it was still good!

So on Wednesday night it was a party night...well not really but we did have people come over. It was my Mothers Birthday party and I decided to cook the Pear & Cranberry Pork Chops. 

I have to say I LOVED the colors that was just popping out. It was really simple to make, thank you PB & Peppers!

And everyone loved it. The conversation was flowing so great...that I forgot to take pics of the after the cooking part. Oops!

Desert was also delicious...and I DO have pictures of it. But its stuck on my small camera and I don't have a cable to be able to release it from its dungeon!

On to Day 4 Thursday!

Breakfast was not good. I was rushing and totally forgot my breakfast at home. So I ended up eating a pop-tart. Yup first stumble in the 10 day challenge. Not gonna beat myself up for it though.

Lunch was left overs from last night. The wonder pork chops! It was just as good warmed up and it was fresh!

Now Dinner is what I was most happy about!

It is Ham and Cranberry & Apple Sauce Panini! So good and gooey and just delicious!

Not to mention it was super SUPER easy to make. Put the sauce on the bread, put the sandwich meat, and add provolone cheese. Simple yet so damn good!

Yummy Yummy Yummy!

Okay so I know I don't have the pics to back it up. But I will have them tonight and will be randomly posting them on facebook tonight!

So, I am actually feeling pretty good about this challenge. It has been a pleasure (I know shocked) to actually cook for my family and plan things out ahead. Like I said I am actually not wanting sweets as much...as long as I have snacks from home ready to go!

Okay NeverEver's, sorry for being late on the updates! Will check back in with you all tonight for Day 5!

#EatAtHomeChallenge - Day 2

Hey NeverEver's!

Hope you have all had a GREAT Tuesday! Mine was busy, busy, busy!

A small political issue...if you are here in the USA I do hope that you got your voice heard in the polls. Really, I am not saying who to vote for but I do believe that it is extremely important to go out there and vote.

Okay I am done!

Now on to the good stuff!

Also, finally tried the 'Perrier' finally. Never really had it before...wasn't sure what to expect but I liked it. It was bubbly water. It took my 'soda' want from me which is always a good thing!

Ranch Burgers hit again! It was a great re-warm up for lunch w/ some low fat cottage cheese and strawberries! I was completely full no need or WANT to hit up the pantry at work! Success!

So the plan was to make Chicken Lettuce Tacos. They were to have mushrooms, chicken, onions, lettuce and low fat cheese.

Now I am not saying it wasn't good...it was just missing something. I am not sure what...but it was missing something.Have any ideas what it could be? Cause I don't!

Also, I have no idea how the chef's get their lettuce so round...it is extremely hard! So more power to all of you!

My little lettuce taco. More like lettuce wraps but it was eaten all up. I barely have enough for lunch tomorrow. Which of course makes me feel great! Even though it was missing that 'something'!

I might be working Over Time tomorrow so I decided to get a head start on some of the things I needed for tomorrows dinner!

So far the White Chocolate Vanilla Marshmallow Cake Bars are finished and are currently cooling on the kitchen table.

Also the Cranberry Apple Butter is also finished and cooling in the fridge. It was smelling so good! I wish I could let you all smell how wonderful it is! Alas...the computer geniuses out there hasn't invented it (that I know of) so make it yourself okay! It is totally worth it!

Sad news...at least for me, I didn't get to the gym today. Wasn't home until after 7 pm, over time to help co-workers) and then I went straight to work in the kitchen. Have to say that the last part of that sentence is super weird for me to say.
Never been much of a cooker so this is all unique to me. Good thing I like unique!

Okay NeverEver's, I am super tired. Combined with Over Time, a little left over stomach issues, and playing with my new stove I am ready to hit the sack!

Eat at Home Challenge - Day 1

Hey NeverEver's,

So today has been an interesting day...and some of it in not a good way. I wanna do the good things first of course so here they are!

 My stove came in!!! I am so happy with this baby...and the first meal I made on it was the Delicious Ranch Burgers! Yes I would have loved to use the oven...but I wasn't sure if I would have time when it came in to make something there.

But the stove came in and that is ALL that matters right here ^_^!

Okay on to my Challenge and the not good part of my day...

The not good part was that I was at home sick the whole day. Not cool at all, and I think I had a stomach virus. Happily I am feeling TONS better but I still don't like not being able to go to work.

So besides being under the weather I did follow my meal plan for Monday! Well except for Breakfast. I decided to try a half bagel w/ peanut butter and banana!

I actually think this is what helped with my upset stomach. I used a multi grain bagel which tasted very good!

On to lunch I once again turned to breads with a little meat. I had made this the night before so I would take it to work...but I ate it at home instead!

A yummy sandwich which (not sure if that is a pun or not ^_^) is simple but filling. I did cut my tomato pieces a little large but I am trying to make sure I eat them so why not getting all the good stuff in one bigger serving!

Dinner was just as yummy as the first time with the Ranch Burgers. This time however, I used normal buns, mainly cause I couldn't find the english muffin ones to save my life...but that is a different story!

Cooking the patties on my new stove. Yes I am still gushing! I do have to say I like making smaller patties then the large ones. I feel like they are just juicer. Maybe its just me though.

Oh I was finally able to blur one of the hamburgers and show the other one! I am so happy that my camera pictures are getting better...or maybe I just think they are. What do you guys think?

Anyways, the burgers were just as good as before. It has really become a staple in this family. A healthy staple at that!

So I didn't get around to weighing myself today. It appears that a stomach flu really gets you stuck in one place.

I do plan to hit the gym tomorrow. I am thinking some light cardio and a weigh in is in order.

My reasoning for wanting the gym...besides the obvious reasons? Well I want to see what this challenge does for me.

How it is effecting my Bank Account, My Waist Line and how I Feel during these 10 days.

I can at least tell you how much I spent for 6 days worth of food. Total Spending: $80

To me that isn't bad. I had most of the spices and other staples in my fridge, which is always a plus, and I am baking a simi cake for Wednesday. So that won't always be on my list of things to 'purchase' but I do believe all in all it wasn't a bad price for everything.

Thank you Fresh and Easy!

@AroundthePlate has created its home page for this Challenge. Make sure you all visit the site as it has good ideas, new topics and others doing the challenge with us!

Don't forget you can join the challenge here as well @ChallengeLoop - EatAtHomeChallenge

I hope you have all day a great Day 1 and I will see you all tomorrow ^_^!

Eat at home Challenge Meal Plan - Day 1 - 6

Hey NeverEver's!

I hope you have all had a relaxing weekend! I know for me it has been a little of a 'lazy' weekend. Really didn't want to get outta bed yesterday.

But finally I got up and we took my in-laws to see the stove Hubby and I was looking at to get their opinion, since I am not the only one who will be cooking on it ^_^.

Yup its a Double Oven, 5 Burner Beauty! I am so happy with this purchase it really made the rest of my year.

I should be getting it installed sometime on Monday and it is being broken in Monday night.

Which brings me to the main part of this post!

I have really looked into the recipes that I wanted to try out. Nothing to difficult or time consuming as I do work and have an hour in traffic before being home.

So here is my Meal Plan!

Monday Breakfast:

• Home Made Fruit Smoothie with Protein Powder

Monday Lunch: 

• (As I didn't cook this weekend) Turkey Sandwich 

Monday Dinner: 

• Ranch Burger a PB & Peppers creation! 

Tuesday Breakfast:

• English Muffin Bread w/ PB, Banana's & Chia Seeds - a SweetToothSweetLife's breakfast stable that I have been meaning to try!

Tuesday Lunch:

• I am hoping for some left over 'Ranch Burger' then that if no left overs a Ham Sandwich!

Tuesday Dinner:

• Taco Lettuce Wraps a Fitnessista creation! However, for my family I am using chicken instead of Tempeh. I don't want to umm scare my family to much ^_^.

Wednesday Breakfast:

• English Muffin Bread w/ PB, Banana's & Chia Seeds!

Wednesday Lunch:

• Left over Taco Lettuce Wraps! 

Wednesday Dinner: Okay so this day is gonna be different! My Family is in town and I am also giving a small B-day party ^_~

• Pork Chops w/ Pears & Cranberries a PB & Peppers Creation
• Cranberry Apple Butter also a PB & Peppers Creation
• White Chocolate Vanilla Marshmallow Cake Bars an Averie Cooks Creation! (correction done on 11/6)

Thursday Breakfast:

• Home Fruit Smoothie w/ Protein Powder

Thursday Lunch:

• Seriously hoping for left overs w/ Pork Chops! However, if not possible Ham Sandwich w/ some White Choco Cake Bars ^_^

Thursday Dinner:

• Turkey Cranberry & Pear Panini a PB & Pepper Creation
• Cranberry Apple Butter (not remaking just using the left overs) a PB & Pepper Creation

Friday Breakfast:

• English Muffin Bread w/ PB, Banana's & Chia Seeds

Friday Lunch:

• Left over's for te Turkey Cranberry & Pear Panini! 

Friday Dinner:

• Golden Goddess Pasta a Eat Live Run Creation

Saturday Breakfast:

• Fresh & Easy Pumpkin Pancake

Saturday Lunch:

• Tuna Lettuce Wraps a SkinnyTaste Creation

Saturday Dinner:

• Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup a SkinnyTaste Creation 

Okay made it all the way to Saturday. Sunday will probably be filled with Left Overs but we shall see! 

So I am ready...or at least as ready as I will ever be. Not to go purchase the supplies needed. 

Dinner is Ready Plus Daily Stats

Hey NeverEver's!

I hope you all had an amazing Halloween! We don't have much kids in our neighborhood so there isn't much trick o' treating going on which is fine...less candy for me!

So I wanted to share with you all what I made for dinner tonight! Yes I am extremely happy with this one...I was planning it the whole week!

Let me introduce you all to the Ranch Burgers as created by the amazing & talented Jennifer from Peanut Butter & Peppers!

Jennifer has WAY better pictures then this one...but it was just as delicious, at least I think so!

Best thing is that it is only 275 calories. Plus, you get to make your own ranch dressing which is a great little twist!

Plus I already have my dinner ready to go for tomorrow...YUP I am a day ahead!

But that is because I am using a crock pot to cook it. Since I don't get home in time to cook it I am preparing it tonight as it wont be enough time to cook tomorrow.

I am cooking my garlic ribs! Can't wait to share with you how these will be for tomorrow!

Okay on to the Daily Stats!

Daily Stats Day 95:

Daily Stats Day 96:

Daily Stats Day 97:

I can't believe that I am already on day 98. It doesn't seem like that long ago that I started this blog. It has been such a journey.

So thank you all for sharing that with me!

Okay that is enough sappy-ness for me today or tonight as the case may be!

See you all tomorrow NeverEver's!

Cooking for the Whole Family Type of Monday

Hey NeverEver's!

First off I have GREAT news! I got the job at the Property Management Company! I start tomorrow at 8:30am and I am SO ready for this thing to start!

I have my outfit all ready in my head, straightened my hair and of course did my nails! I always feel better and more professional!

So thank you Essie and Wrapped in Rubies! I think its a perfect fall color with just enough 'red' to make it fierce!

Since it was my last 'non working day' I thought that I might cook for the WHOLE family. I seriously wanted something easy and that wasn't to expensive, hey those paychecks aren't coming just yet, and I found the perfect thing!

Three Cheese Tortellini and Mushroom Soup from SkinnyTaste and since I was making things for the family I decided on dessert from PeanutButter and Peppers which was the Apple Frozen Yogurt! You guys both have AMAZING recipes and it always taste delicious when I try them!

 

Me being all House Wifey and saute-ing the veggies for the soup! To tell the truth about a year ago I would have never stepped inside the kitchen, and here I am now actually cooking whole meals, planning ahead and people LIKING my cooking!

 There are those veggies I was talking about! Carrots, Celery, Onions and a little bit of garlic! Now I am not an onion fan but really by the time the soup was done...I didn't even taste them! I did forget to picture the mushrooms... oops! 

Here is the final product! Three Cheese Tortellini and Mushroom! The whole family gave me their thumbs up. Including my Father in Law that rarely ever eats anything that doesn't have meat in it even liked it! 

I shall call this a resounding success! 

Then of course there was dessert! I couldn't leave that out. Now to tell you the truth if I was freaking out about dinner...I was a nervous wreck for dessert, but it turned out really well! That is what I get for following directions ^_^

Seriously, I am not sure how Jen, PB and Peppers, made this taste so fall-ish! It was perfect greek yogurt tartness with the sweet cinnamon and apple that just takes you to leaves falling! 

Talking about the 'Fall' I finally got my table center piece just as I wanted it! You think with the Hubby being a Visual Manager that it would have been easier...

Also, I think this might have been the best photo I have EVER taken to date! But now the house is officially ready for Fall! 

On to the Daily Stats!

Daily Stats Day 74:

For a day at a Korean BBQ I am happy that I only went over 606. That is better then that last time I went there. 

So NeverEver's have you ever made a dessert? How did it turn out? What makes you feel ready for that 'First day of work/school'?

Okay NeverEver's, wish me luck for tomorrow! I shall post to show exactly how it went!