Howdy-ho! We have had some really nice spring weather that has turned my world upside-down right-side up!! As we all knew would happen, moods are lifted, salads and smoothies are on the menu and children are playing outside!
You see that? That’s a cold smoothie! Now that I have these single serve cups with the Ninja I’m looking forward to more smoothies this summer.
Enjoyed on the porch with some Irish Soda toast. The smoothie was a mix of milk, yogurt, banana, chia seeds and cantaloupe <—yum!
The next day I had more ISB (I’ll be sad when it’s gone but Matt says it’s ridiculously easy to make) with scrambled eggs and a little fruit salad. That is no light box – that’s the sun shining in!
Breakfast #3 was Toast, banana with sunbutter and oranges. Served on the porch on my new Target stool I found 50% off! Light breakfast was likely because we had a later breakfast and a workout looming.
Thursday – hot AB&J oats! Technically BB&J – Barney Butter and jam. I just love this combo. And that makes me crave a PB&J sandwich right now…
And finally…more oatmeal with bananas, chia seeds and Barney Butter on top. This was actually an oatmeal- oat bran mix with cranberries and sliced almonds. Mazen loves oatmeal and ate 3 baby-sized bowls!
S: Sadly my soccer game on Sunday was canceled so Matt and I went to the gym with Mazen for some cardio and weights. Just your typical gym workout in under and hour.
M: On Monday our weather was gorg, so I went running outside. I covered 4 miles with an interlude at the park halfway through. It was SO great to be out running again even if that stroller really is about 55 pounds now!
T: On Tuesday I went to a small group workout put on by Erin. I also convinced several of my friends to join me. We did a 30 minute circuit and left feeling great! I also walked to and from the gym, so I got in extra cardio that way.
W: Athletic conditioning day! The class is usually a good mix of cardio and weights, but today we did so much running! I was bright red in the face by the end. Our workout even took us outside to run up and down the sidewalk hill. I was huffin and puffin!
TH: I had mother’s morning out at our gym, so I decided to run there and back and go home to work in between. Each leg to the gym is about 0.8 miles, so I covered about 3.6 miles of running in the process. Later that day I walked downtown and back again for a meeting and then that night I walked again for ladies night, so I covered about 6 miles total!
F: Training with Erin {lower body} plus walking to the gym and back. Erin has really pushed me lately and I can see the difference in my arms!
A bunch of leftovers over a salad is my favorite kind of lunch. Here I had salmon and miso carrots, pizza slice, chips and blue cheese over greens. Clean out the fridge.
This was leftover Mexican scramble with parmesan broccoli on a tortilla. Yogurt on top!
A No Bull Burger salad with Irish Soda Bread and blue cheese. I’ve been making simple dressings in the bottom of my bowls – olive oil, mustard, sherry vinegar, salt and honey. Just a squirt of each and fork-mix it all together.
This was a boxed split pea soup that I amped up with frozen peas, shredded frozen chicken, and leftover potatoes. So good for how easy it was to throw together. Yogurt on top is the theme of the week.
On the side: a cookie Julie brought us during her visit. Pecan + butterscotch – so good!
And finally, leftover gumbo. Y.O.T.
With a side of corn chips and Mazen’s rejected apple slices
Since we’re doing Cook Smarts during the week, we have the weekends to be creative in the kitchen. This Sunday we made a slow-cooked beef shank in a tomato-y sauce with carrots, sweet potatoes, celery and other veggies. It was served over rice with some yogurt. Mazen LOVED it and asked for more “meat!” Ha!
Cook Smarts was super delicious this week. I especially loved the first night – miso salmon. I think it’s going to be our Easter dinner entrée!
M: Miso-Butter Salmon with carrots and quinoa. The miso sauce was just so, so good!! Quinoa and I are still not very close friends.
T: Roasted Broccoli with Tofu Tacos. Loved this style of eating tofu! Note more yogurt : )
W: Andouille Gumbo over rice. Not as good as Jeff’s but great for a 20-minute meal! Our Andouille came from JM Stock butcher shop.
TH: We had leftover gumbo and pushed the fried rice to the weekend!
Have a good one!!
Maryea {happy healthy mama} says
Yay to spring weather! I love your tulips on the table. 🙂 Fresh flowers are so pretty. Looks like you’ve had some tasty food lately.
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
That gumbo looks amazing! Seriously, I need to get some okra soon!
Elizabeth {Positively Healthy} says
Looks delicious as always! You give me so much inspiration for the weeks meals with breakfast and lunch!
KathEats says
So glad to hear that 🙂
Juli says
Any chance you can share the ridiculously easy Irish Soda Bread recipe? I love it! but the recipes I’ve tried never come out as good as the bakery.
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
Ooh is that one mosaic background an outdoor table? That’s so pretty!
KathEats says
yes it’s falling apart a little bit after many years of use but I still love the tiles
Kaila @healthyhelperblog! says
That miso salmon sounds and looks incredible! Love those two ingredients together!
Ali says
This post is so springy! I love the tulips on your table!!
Lucy says
Irish Soda Bread is SUPER easy to make, and is pretty fool-proof, I’ve found. I love Barefoot Contessa’s recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/irish-soda-bread-recipe.html. I buy bread at our local bakery, but this is one bread that I’d never purchase because it’s so easy and amazing right out of the oven!
Also, I love how pretty and varied your Cook Smarts meals are, and I definitely get good ideas from them, but I really miss the simple, easy dinner recipes you used to share!!
Emily @ Life on Food says
Doesn’t the warm weather make everything better!!!
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
Why aren’t you friends with quinoa? Is it because they make a mess? Because I get that. 😉
KathEats says
Haha I just don’t find it to be that delicious
Lori says
I hear ya. I have to have it mixed up with other stuff into a quinoa salad. My favorite way has black beans, tomatoes, green onions, etc… whatever you like. And then add a dressing , like a vinaigrette. So many variations.
ciely says
I give up on quinoa too. No matter what I do, it ends up tasting bitter. AND
the supply has dwindled for third world countries due to demand overpricing..
Micki says
Rinse the quinoa to cut the bitter flavor. Fill a bowl with the dry quinoa, fill with water, swish, then drain in a mesh sieve. Do this 4 or 5 times. Trust me. It will taste much better.
Shel@PeachyPalate says
Miso sauce with salmon sounds awesome! Barney butter…Bare or straight up crunchy/smooth? I’ve been trying to make my own nut butters in order to avoid the added sugar but it’s just so drippy! You have me craving it now! Lots of running this week! Legs feeling it?
KathEats says
Straight up! Didn’t like the bare enough
Laura says
The tofu tacos look great! Can you share the recipe?
KathEats says
They were Cook Smarts so unfortunately I can’t
Julie Rosene says
Love your fresh flowers! Are they expensive where you are? Here I can’t get a small bouquet of tulips for less than $10.
KathEats says
These are Va grown and $7 at whole foods. A steal!
Jackie says
As always, your meals look delicious!
Paulette Clark says
I was not a friend of quinoa until I discovered that it’s the black gains that I don’t care for. Now I buy a big bag of prewashed organic white quinoa at Sam’s and we love it. We live in a rural area and quinoa is hard to find until we go to the city. I am also on a limited income so finding it at Sam’s was a wonderful thing.
Sarah says
Always love your “Lately” posts!! Question — do these photos cover everything you eat, or are there some snacks thrown in there that you don’t capture? Currently trying to revise my own eating habits 🙂
KathEats says
They definitely don’t include snacks! I should do a week of just snacks : )
Mandi says
This may be a weird question – do you go grocery shopping every week? I’m impressed at the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables you always seem to have around! I never seem to get to all the veggies/fruit I buy before it goes bad!
KathEats says
I do go once a week. Meal planning has really helped us reduce our produce waste, and I buy the minimum that we need for the wee so that we run out just in time.
Mandi says
aahhhhhh, interesting! Thanks 🙂
jeannie says
I’m really confused by your Thursday…were you at the gym > 1 time? you are so good with your dedication to exercise
KathEats says
Mother’s morning out was at our gym, so I dropped Mazen and picked him up, so yes I was there twice but not working out! I ran there and back twice. Does that make sense? A bit confusing I know!
Bonnie says
Haha yeah, a bit confusing- I still don’t get it, but it’s ok 🙂 Also, wouldn’t 4 x 0.8 miles = 3.2? Or are you just being thorough and accounting for the distance between the gym entrance and the room where Mazen was? Every exercise counts!
KathEats says
Haha your math is right, but the route I took was actually 0.9 (different streets) which is where i got 3.6. Totally wrote the wrong route though!
Dana @ Conscious Kitchen Blog says
I love Irish soda bread too! Lately I’ve been eating Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin bread with breakfast and it seems to cure the craving… until next March that is!
Mardi says
Random, but your scrambled eggs always look perfect. How do you cook them? What heat, how long, etc. I can never get them just right.
KathEats says
I crack the eggs in a jar and add a pinch of salt and a splash of milk. I put the pan on medium and add a pat of butter. Then I add the eggs and gently stir with a spatula. I take them off the heat juuuust before everything is cooked since they cook for another minute while I get plates. Good luck!
Carly says
I also love these posts 🙂
Random question – when you put chia seeds in your smoothie, do you find it makes it “jelly” (think chia pudding)? I used them last week in a smoothie, but did not drink it for probably 45 minutes until I got to work. It was really thick!
KathEats says
If I let it sit, then yes. But if you drink it right away it’s more liquidy
Tracy says
I know you can’t give the Cook Smarts recipe, but what else was in the miso sauce?
KathEats says
It was miso, butter and garlic – that’s it! All mashed together.
char eats greens says
Your breakfasts always make me incredibly hungry!! We JUST got hit with more snow yesterday (why, winter, whyyy?!?!), so being able to run outside last week feel like such a fake-out now!! I’m hoping this is the last of it, so that I can officially start enjoying t-shirt and shorts soon (and taking my little girl to the park!).
Lauren @ Focused To Be Fit says
I thought we were close to Spring and then…. it snowed. 🙁 All of your food looks delish, as usual, and those tulips are gorgeous!
Siiri says
The beef shank looks excellent! Could we have the recipe for that?
KathEats says
I don’t have a formal recipe, but we pretty much put those ingredients in the crockpot with tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, chili powder and maybe a dash of Worcestershire?
Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs says
So much delicious looking food! It’s torture to read these posts on an empty stomach 😉
Kate @ Indulgent Wellness says
I thought you were a Vitamix girl? How do you like the Ninja?
KathEats says
While I LOVE the Vitamix forever and ever, the Ninja is my go-to these days because of the single serve cups!! So easy to throw in the dishwasher..
Jesse says
i like the same style of lunches — a big bowl with lots of yummy bites of different things.
http://semiweeklyeats.blogspot.com/2014/04/atticus-outfit-4.html
Jeri says
While I love everything nutrition and healthy living you post, I get inspired by your lack of (or better placement/hiding) of clutter. I had a tupperware spice rack that I have loved for over 10 years (it might even be 15) that I have said it needs to go because of clutter.
(Part of the diagnosis from the VA is Readjustment Disorder and I get overwhelmed if things are cleaned up. That whole unannounced inspection thing is still in my head) Anyway I finally said it’s gone! Got a wall mount spice rack I love from Williams-Sonoma and BINGO…Counter space!
Now I look at your dining room table. I was always loved how my grandmother had her table decorated at all times. But as you just showed, a simple nice centerpiece make everything seem so clean and neat.
Now to tackle the magazines!
KathEats says
: ) I love all things organizing and decluttering : )
Rebekah {aCricketSang} says
Great looking eats!
Polly @ Tasty Food Project says
Everything looks so yummy! I sometimes use greek yogurt as a replacement for sour cream. I want to find more ways to incorporate it into my recipes!
cynthia says
Most of the drinks I always serve for myself also have apple cider vinegar on it. Helps me when I sometimes have lamb meat dinner.
but the way breakfast #3 is what I like most. I still like orange juice every morning along with bananas.
melissa says
I didn’t know you had a Ninja! I got one for my best friend for her wedding… how do you like it?
What is the picture of you and other mommies from? If that is your backyard… it looks beautiful and huge!!
KathEats says
I like it a lot! The vita-mix has the edge on pureeing but the Ninja is just so convenient.
Alex @ Kenzie Life says
I have one last slice of ISB in my freezer and I don’t want to eat it because I will be really sad when it’s gone! I’ve made my own Irish Soda Bread before but it’s just not nearly as good! I should buy more than one loaf next year and store them in the freezer for months to come! 🙂 I’ve been on a greek yogurt kick as well–on top of soup, with granola, in a feta cheese dip. It’s so refreshing and tangy and delicious.
Heather says
I heard if you put chia seeds in a blender they break open and leave a nasty taste in the drink/smoothie you make, so I stir mine in. Do you find that to be true? I never tested the theory
KathEats says
I kind of agree with you – maybe a bit more bitter?
Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves says
You are really rockin’ the workouts, Kath! I totally wish my hometown was as walkable as Charlottesville.
I actually started adding yogurt on top of my savory, saucy, stewy dishes thanks to you! It balances out the flavors so well, and I can NEVER get enough Greek yogurt. Ever.
Lissy says
Our favorite quinoa recipe! http://www.spoonforkbacon.com/2011/11/cheesy-quinoa-cakes/
Great for little hands too!
Becky says
What others said about rinsing your quinoa – and I never serve it plain. I usually make it the basis of some sort of salad. Last night I tossed it with arugula, white beans, carrots, olive oil & the juice of a grapefruit that was lingering in the fruit drawer. (It was also the only citrus I had!). It was delish. I also use it in tabbouleh and similar salads.
Spice Chicken says
Thanks for recommending oatmeal made with a mix of oats and oat bran. I started making it this way with a ratio of 1 part oat bran to 3 part oats and really like it.
Corey says
Just tried No Bull burgers for the first time (the sundried tomato variety), and they’re delicious. I used your idea and had one with a kale salad and piece of bread. A delicious and healthful lunch.
KathEats says
Yay! Glad you liked it.
Lynn @ The Actor’s Diet says
woah. cantaloupe in the smoothie is kinda blowing my mind.