Our fridge is almost empty, so please bear with me for the next 24 hours!
But tonight’s dinner made good use of leftovers –
I found myself snacking on PB and crackers around 5:30 while I waited for the husband to return from shopping. I started with 2 and ended up eating about a serving’s worth of kashis and probably a tbsp of PB – straight from the jar/box. They were good.
Around 6:30 I started the stir-fry assembly: leftover beef tenderloin, leftover wheatberries, frozen stir-fry mix, EarthFare Peanut Satay sauce we’ve had in the fridge for months.
I cut the beef into strips and stir-fried the veggies (put ’em in frozen and let them get hot) and berries in cooking spray, drizzling on about 3-4 tbsp of the sauce at the end.
I topped mine with just a few pieces of beef (4-5?) and a big blob of leftover hummus to “beef up” the dish
It was quite good. And this Wal-Mart onion-free stir-fry mix was awesome!!! It was nice to have something frozen that wasn’t freezer burned. I guess the trick is to use it soon after buying it. You might be seeing more frozen mixes in that case, because to buy all these ingredients separately and prep them would have been so time consuming – and expensive!
His portion had a lot more beef 🙂
And a lot more beer!! He gave me the last 3-4 oz of this huge bottle to have with my dinner. (if you can see).
He also had some cheezy jalapeno bread, and I had 3 bites of it.
Once the kitchen was cleaned from round I, we moved onto round II. He worked on a bread dough, and I made the bourbon balls!
They turned out pretty good in the end, but there were several points tonight when I thought the recipe was a bust. I studied a few recipes and found that most used either vanilla wafers or graham crackers and pecans or walnuts. Since I had grahams and walnuts on hand, that’s what I used. The dough was SO CRUMBLY. I had to add 2 tbsp more bourbon (no problem there 😎 ) and 2 tsp more corn syrup, which made it very sticky at the end. So I am not sure I’d recommend this recipe but since I figured you’d ask anyway…. And if anyone has tried and true bourbon ball recipes, feel free to share with all of us!
Adaptation:
- 2.5 cups graham cracker crumbs (crushed in food processor)
- 1 cup walnut crumbs (in food processor)
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
- 2 tsp cocoa powder
- 3 tsp corn syrup (2 at first, 1 following)
- 1/3 cup + 2 tbsp bourbon (which is half a cup, but I added them in these installments)
- Powdered sugar for rolling at the end
-Mix all ingredients together and roll into balls. Mine made about 45 balls.
I ahem…cleaned off….ahem my hands after I was done rolling, which included some pretty big chunks 
And then had a real one to taste test –
And you know what? BOURBON BALLS = LARABARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LaraBar totally should make a bourbon flavored bar 🙂 But I guess they’d either have to use real bourbon, or something artificial, and I’m not sure artificial would fly.
Tomorrow’s our big travel day. The baker is getting up at 2:55am for work and will be home around 2:30pm. We’re hoping to depart for Hillsborough by 3 to make my sister’s holiday party she’s hosting at my parents’ house at dinnertime. We’ll be in town through Christmas (Karen + Andrew are joining us) and then we’re all headed to Bald Head on Friday through Tuesday.
My goal this next week is to FEEL my best. I know that feeling my best means eating well, minimizing the alcohol to times when it’s absolutely necessary (and yes, sometimes it is), and getting in some sweat sessions when I crave them. I could care less if I overeat on calories, but not if it means that I feel stuffed and sickly. Other than feeling healthy, there are no rules 😎
Going to read in bed beside sleeping beauty!
Madison says
I’m confident you’ll achieve your goal 🙂
Have a great day of traveling!!
VeggieGirl says
Can’t go wrong with leftovers!!
Good luck traveling and enjoy yourself!! 🙂
Liz says
Love your attitude about the holidays and eating–what a good way to think about it. Have a great time!
Betsy in Pgh says
Hey Kath, I’m having a giveaway on my blog – just wanted to share with you and your readers!
joeandbetsy.com
Justy2003 says
Great goal…to feel your best. I know what you mean about overeating and feeling all icky. Me being at home for 2 weeks is proving to be a challenge. There are all sorts of sweets around (since it’s the holidays) but I know that if I eat too many for 2 weeks, I will feel terrible!
Sharon says
Wow, looks great Kath!
Heather McD (heather eats almond butter) says
Ha – I added a big glob of hummus to my dinner plate as well. It just wasn’t hearty enough yet 🙂 I would love to try a Bourbon flavored Larabar – that’s my kind of drinking!
Mel says
Stir fry is definitely my go to when the fridge is low too!
Bourbon balls sound amazing and they should totally make a larabar in that flavor!
Shelby says
I LOVE leftovers =)
carolinebee says
wheatberries in place of rice is SUCH a good idea!
Megan says
The bourbon balls look like they turned out great! I agree with the Lara bar idea.
Diana says
Looks tasty! I fiiiinally got some of those Kashi crackers you’re always talking about in the cheese flavor. I can’t wait to dig into them!
Have a safe and fun trip and Happy Holidays!
🙂 Diana
Lee says
I might have to make those bourbon balls. Yum.
Halie says
Well it certainly looks like your recipe for bourbon balls was successful! I’ve never encountered them before, so I have no frame of reference, however.
Enjoy the time with your family 🙂
I think your plan is very balance and very smart! And very practical – over eating in terms of calories is not important, and what is important it feeling your best! The sick feeling after overeating is dreadful!
Victoria says
Those look really good. Sorry the recipe was kind of a pain though. Have fun this next week!
faith says
hark!! will you be i hillsbor for a bit?? if you have time to wander down to chapel hill i can tell you the caribou i work at and maybe treat you to a cup! sounds liike you’re busy though..how fun it would be to meet the infamous kath, husband, karen, and gang :p
Jen says
How far is Hillsborough from Raleigh? That’s where I am…but in the grand scheme of things I haven’t been here that long, so I don’t know where things are in relation to each other. Lol.
The bourbon balls look great! I too would enjoy a bourbon flavored Lara Bar.
The real reason I am commenting is to tell you I made my first Kath-inspired oatmeal this morning! I made whipped banana oatmeal with pumpkin, pecans, and dried cranberries. I add two hershey’s kisses too for fun and they actually took away from the taste! Who would have thought? 🙂
Oh She Glows says
wow what a great meal for not having much in the pantry!!! You are so creative. And great bourbon balls!
Angela
www.ohsheglows.com
gina (fitnessista) says
a hefty blob of hummus is the best way to beef up a meal 😀
BOURBALL BALLS? sounds amazing!
enjoy your night!
Tracey C. says
I will modestly point you at my own fabulous post about Bourbon Balls, including recipe. They come out wonderfully. 🙂 You could roll them in powdered sugar instead of demerara if you really wanted, I suppose, although I like the crunch.
Jennifer says
I’m glad you ate dough…yummy!
Lisa says
I’m a fan of the Wally-World frozen veggie mixes, too. I like the Italian blend because it’s a) cheap and b) chock-a-bock full of lima beans. Also it’s onion-free.
And you have the most sensible, positive attitude to holiday eating that I’ve ever heard.
Hil says
I used to be a snob about frozen veggies, but frozen stir-fry vegetables have completely won me over. As you say, they are much cheaper and easier than buying all of those different kinds of vegetables separately.
I love your attitude about holiday eating. I completely agree. Holidays are not a time to worry about calories, but you should always care about making your body happy and feeling good. Well said!
B_Healthy says
its been awhile! Hi Kath!
How funny is this … I MADE BOURBON TRUFFLES today too!!!
Mine were chocolate bourbon truffles and I added extra bourbon too them too.
I posted my how-to steps on my blog here is the link:
http://runlmo1.blogspot.com/2008/12/chocolate-bourbon-truffles.html
Safe Travels and Happy Holidays!
kwaze says
I love you sttitude about the holidays……I am going to try and do the same:) Have a Merry Christmas!
seelee live (for the love of peanut butter) says
Kath, you’ve got a great attitude about the next week. Right on, girl!
Erica says
I love stiry fry- it is one of my favorite dinners (in fact we’re having it tonight!!). Glad you are happy with the outcome of the bourbon balls- they look great! Have a lovely time on your trips!!!!
Emily says
Hey Kath I loooove that sitr fry mix–the Great Value asparagus stir fry is really good as well–especially for omelettes 🙂
Meghann says
That’s my goal for the holidays as well, to feel my best. 🙂 Safe travels today!
zestycook says
Great Stir fry! Great Bourbon Balls! Great Attitude!
Have safe travels Kath.
zesty
JENNA says
Great philosophy for the holidays kath!! 🙂 have a great Christmas!
WendyF says
Bourbon Balls! You just brought back some great childhood memories growing up in the Canal Zone. :-). Thank you.
I also found that that if keep some sort of workout routine I really don’t have a setback from the holidays.
We made our Christmas eve tamales(fresh masa, Oaxacan Mole and pork) last night so I can not wait until tomorrow!!
Have a safe trip and great holiday!
Stephanie says
I loved the last bit about FEELING your best. That was my policy for Thanksgiving. No calorie counting, but I didn’t want to feel so stuffed, I was miserable. And I did it! It was so great to enjoy just a tiny bit of everything, and still had enough in me to go play outside. That, for me, is the greatest accomplishment of my weight loss.
I also had 2 questions for you. Do you get your hummus in a box and make it yourself, or get the prepared stuff?
Also, when you do the poms in your Oikos, do you stir it in, or leave it on top?
Thanks!!
Katie says
o-m-g those bourbon balls look sooooooooooooooooo good!!!!!!!!! i’ve never heard of or seen bourbon balls before but wow i want to try them!!!!! 🙂
Maureen says
I knew I recognized that bag of veggies… I couldn’t put my finger on it until you said Wal-Mart! Thosee bourbon balls look delicious. Are you giving them away as gifts?
mg says
Kath, I tried to post this earlier but I don’t see my post for some reason. I just created a blog, and I’m trying to get a recipe link on the side like yours and I’m not sure how to go about doing it. Any suggestions? Thanks!!
Kati says
this stir-fry is a regular in our freezer as well 🙂 i love the asparagus one too!
Adi says
I second your holiday goal — just to feel healthy. Enjoy the time with your family.
Missy (Missy Maintains) says
I have never heard of a bourbon ball but it looks delicious!
I will keep your goal in mind during the holidays. I really need to focus on feeling my best when I start to lose control in the kitchen!
www.missymaintains.blogspot.com
Kath says
Betsy in Pgh,
OH man – I want to win that basket!!
Diana ,
The cheddars are good, but you haven’t had Kashi crackers until you’ve had the Honey Sesame!
faith ,
I’m not sure we’ll have time, but send me an email with the hours you’re working and the location and maybe we can squeeze it in.
Jen ,
Hillsborough is next to Chapel Hill – about 25 minutes from west Raleigh and 30-40 from the middle parts.
Tracey C.,
Saving your recipe for next year!!
B_Healthy,
DROOL!
Stephanie ,
This is homemade hummus that Karen brought over (Barefoot Contessa’s recipe) but I like the store-bought Sabra hummus too. I also mix the POM into my yogurt.
mg ,
I create stationary subpages under the “Real Food” page. If you go check there, they are all double listed at the bottle of that page. It’s not how I would choose to do it, but I don’t see any other way to get around it since all pages in my theme much have a parent page.
Kath
runjess says
“Feeling your best” is a good philosophy for the holiday. Let’s face it, now is not the time to count calories. Just enjoy!
Lauri says
I made Booze Balls Last Night!!
Here is the recipe I used:
1 cup semisweet choc. chips
20 choc. or vanilla wafers (ground in food processor)
1/2 cup finely chopped pitted dried plums (about 15)
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup bourban or 1/2 cup brandy or 1/2 cup rum
1/4 cup swtnd condensed milk
1/4 cup granulated, or confectioners’ sugar for decorating
Put chocolate in heat safe bowl. Heat a saucepan of water to a slow simmer and place bowl of chocolate on top. Stir occasionally until melted. Mix in wafers, plums, confectioners’ sugar, liquor, and milk. Refrigerate until firm and then roll into balls. Dip in sugar topping to coat.