Split Pea + Ham Soup with Broccoli and Fage
Straight from the freezer!! We made the most delicious Split Pea Soup a few weeks ago with ham bone leftover from Christmas. I experimented with freezing it in bags flat for easy storage – worked like a charm. The soup was just as good today as it was weeks ago.
I topped the soup (which was plain) with some steamed broccoli to bulk it up a little since this was just a cup’s worth (still 275 calories though!) and a bit of Fage –
I was going to have some homemade bread on the side, but I couldn’t resist:
Dinner kcal were about 500:
Prep
While I studied this afternoon (er, answer>ed blog questions!) I simmered four portions of steel cut oats on the stove along with a huge honey crisp apple for Baked Apple Oatmeal tomorrow morning. I let the oats cook for well over 45 minutes and added a whole cup of milk near the end to make them really creamy. I think this is my best batch yet! We shall see first thing tomorrow morning.
I sipped on some hot tea while cooking…
For the apple I just covered it with water and kept it on medium heat for about 30 minutes until it was nice and soft – then I drained it and stirred the apples in with the oatmeal.
Art
The husband made this cute notecard – it’s a tiny painting of our house we can use for a nice thank you note for someone special! (Yes, he NEEDS a day job, I know!! He’s working on it…had a networking lunch meeting today and one yesterday. Crossing my fingers)
Tomorrow
Tomorrow I just have Chem and Physio and I’m done at noon in time for lunch at home!!!! But since I didn’t do that much this evening I will probably study until dinnertime.
And I’ve got spinning class tomorrow at 5:45 so I better start winding the night down!
I’m still a little hungry tonight, so I might have something else. I’ll be sure to report back in!
**EDITED TO ADD**
I had a small cup of Kashi Heart to Heart in skim milk. I’m super hungry today. I think all this walking is probably more than I’ve been guessing and I need to figure out how to eat more lunch and snacks on campus!! This being a student thing is hard!
Sarah says
Hey Kath!
I was just wondering if you've ever had any problems with people trying to "sabotage" your healthy habits, especially while you were losing weight. I'm pretty much the same story as you (being short sucks!) and I've already lost almost 20lbs, with a few more vanity lbs to go. My friends and family always make me feel bad about dieting though, and are especially critical about my calorie counting. It always seems like they're pressuring me to eat unhealthy things, which I honestly don't even want anymore (I LOVE healthy food now!) Any suggestions how to deal with them? You are so lucky by the way to have such a supportive (and cute!) husband, I'd be more than happy to hire him as my personal chef/baker : )
Kath says
Sarah,
Congrats on the weight loss!! I haven't had much (if any that I can remember?) experience with sabotage. IN generally people were supportive of my healthier eating. I think things like having a club soda and lime as my "drink" helped me fit in during social occasions (no one knows it's not a gin and tonic!). To get around stubborn family I would just try to interact as normal as possible when you're around them so they don't notice that you're not eating the XX junk food or having dessert. Put some on your plate anyways or just say "no thank you." A polite "no thank you" should never be argued with!
Kath
Jules says
Kath, is oatbran as filling as oatmeal? When do you choose one over the other?
Susan says
Hi Kath, two questions
1. do you measure things such as the apple on a food scale? do you just go to calorie king first and write down the measurements?
2. You added milk and water? Did that make the oatmeal too runny? What proportions?
Enjoy your night 🙂
Mariposa says
Hi Kath!
I was referred to your blog from another one and I do like it alot! I had asked a question on a previous post and I'm afraid it might have been missed!
How did you train yourself to wake up so early? I feel like I would have so much more time to get everything done if I woke up early (work out.. work… blog… write…etc..)
But I also do like to sleep in! I get up at about 7.. have to be at work at 8 and out at 5. Then I go home and work out 6-7.. but have to write for various work things… and cook? who has time for that?? haha! have any advice? 🙂
Thanks!!
VeggieGirl says
the baked apple oatmeal sounds quite delectable, and a perfect way to warm up a cold winter's morning – aren't honey crisp apples divine?? I love ALL apple varieties (except for red delicious), but honey crisp is definitely among my favorites.
oh my goodness your husband did such a lovely job on the note card!! such a precious little painting :0)
Callie says
Your husband really has artistic talent!
In a question to another poster you suggested having diet tonic or club soda at parties. What is the difference. There is also seltzer and sparkling? Waters are so confusing-any help so I know if I am getting calories when I order is most appreciated!
Katie says
how do you weigh a baked potato? The potato I bought is too hard, but its so hard to cut a potato before baking it. Can you weigh after?
Jill says
Kathy,
I know you have a wonderful way of getting the seeds out of pomegranate, but I cannot remember what it is… just when I got some more, too! Also, what is the difference of nut servings you use for work-out vs. non-work-out days? It would be great to know this!
Kath says
Jules,
I eat oatbran when I'm out of oatmeal!! I prefer rolled oats. They are equally filling, etc. They're pretty similar but I like the bigger oat texture.
Susan,
I do weigh apples, but I've gotten a lot better at eyeballing them. If it's a small one, I'll just skip weighing it (they are usually 5 oz) but if it's a big one I double check since some can be up to 11 oz! I keep the liquid recommendation the same for oatmeal and just substitute half of the water for milk. It's not any runnier and MUCH creamier! (1/2 cup rolled oats = 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup water; double it for 2 servings)
Mariposa,
I addressed this in yesterday's lunch post questions ("no time to eat!"). You just have to train yourself and wind down 30 minutes before your target bedtime.
Thanks Veg! I love honey crisp and pink ladies a lot 🙂
Callie,
Diet tonic is sweetened and tastes like gin to me. Club soda, seltzer and sparkling water are all just carbonated water but with different degrees of bubble size, minerals and carbonation styles (correct me if I'm wrong anyone!)
Katie,
Can you weigh the cut pieces? If not, just weigh after for a "cooked potato"
Jill,
Click on the "videos" category and watch the pomegranate video!! I usually eat 5-10 nuts at a time. If I don't workout sometimes I reduce my walnuts on my oatmeal from 10 to 5 grams or cut out the peanut butter. Not a huge difference but when I'm sedentary those extra calories make a diff.
Kath
Cristina says
While the husband might "need" a job, there are always benefits to taking some time off. Like having time to bake and expressing himself through painting. Those things need to be nurtured, there is always time for other stuff. Most of us work our lives away…
"Everything happens for a reason!"