Breakfast: Every Sunday morning I try and make a couple of things to help me make the beginning of my week a little easier. This morning I tossed a couple of chicken breast in the oven (lunch/dinner helpers) and made a batch of ricotta pancakes. I ate a couple with some Sugar Free Maple Syrup before starting my big project for the day. They will make an easy breakfast tomorrow with a smear of almond butter.
Shelly's Blueberry Cheesecake Ricotta Pancakes
1/2 cup Ricotta Cheese
1 Egg, beaten
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Torani Syrup (Sugar Free Vanilla, Caramel, French Vanilla)
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Cheesecake Pudding Mix, dry
3 Tablespoons Multigrain Pancake Mix
25-30 Blueberries (about 3 or 4 per pancake)
Mix all ingredients together. I use whole milk ricotta, if you use part skim, drain first. Spray pan with non-stick spray. Spoon a dollop of mixture in pan and pat flat. Add blueberries. Cook on low till golden, flip, pat flat, cook till done. Serve each pancake with a drizzle of warm Sugar Free Maple Syrup or delicious just plain. Makes 8 pancakes.
These can be frozen between slices of wax paper or kept in the fridge a day or 2 and reheated (nuke 25 seconds) for breakfast during the week. Surprising good cold too. Leftovers usually get some SF jam, almond or peanut butter smeared on them, wrapped in foil and they become a great breakfast-on-the-go.
More Eggface Pancake Recipes
More Eggface Weight Loss Surgery Friendly Breakfast Recipes
I am doing a little reorganizing of my garage... little shared fact about me... I used to be the Curriculum Director of a couple of local Child Care Centers (500+ kids, 8 weeks to 12 years, 150+ staff) I have 2 racks of tubs that are from that time in my life and I really need to sort through them. I also have my Pyrex (I collect vintage Pyrex) in a couple of places and I'd like to have a dedicated cabinet for that. It hasn't been a priority but I'm really just sick of seeing it on my to-do list. Today was sort of pre-cleaning and making the workspace dust bunny free. I turned on 80's music on Spotify and knocked a lot out but before I knew it, it was well after lunch.
Shelly's Spiced Chai Yogurt Dip
1/2 cup Greek Yogurt, plain
2 Tablespoons Big Train Fit Frappe Spiced Chai Protein Powder
1 Tablespoon Honey (or 1 T. Sugar Free Torani Syrup - SF Vanilla)
Mix together till well blended. The honey, mango, chai combo is perfect together sort of Indian. If you can't do honey any sweetener you use would be fine.
It was really refreshing. I sat outside looking at the clouds and breathing some fresh air... before heading back into the garage for a few more hours. I've got some project ahead of me. It's going to take a couple of weekend days. I might be listening to today's hits by the time I'm done ;)
Dinner: Thankful for yummy leftovers from dinner last night. My Sicilian Grandmother would have been proud instead of being lazy (and just making meat sauce or using store bought meatballs) I made homemade. I need to do this more, it really wasn't all that more time and so much tastier. I use 1/4 cup of oatmeal soaked 1/4 cup of milk as the replacement for breadcrumbs and it makes a super tender meatball.
Shelly's Homemade Meatballs and Zucchini Noodles
1 pound Ground Beef (85% is what I used, you can use whatever or turkey or combo beef & pork)
1/4 cup Oatmeal
1/4 cup Milk
1 Egg, beaten
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated
1 small Yellow Onion, sauteed
1 teaspoon Oregano
dash Salt
a few twists of Black Pepper
Soak the oats in the milk for about 2 minutes. Saute onions, set aside to cool. Mix all ingredients together (including soaked oats and cooled onions) till well combined. Roll into meatballs. Saute in a little olive oil turning to brown on all sides. Pour 3/4 of a jar of tomato sauce over (I prefer Rao's Tomato Basil, it's most like my Grandma's sauce) simmer till meatballs are cooked through and sauce is warmed through.
In another pan saute the zucchini noodles (2-3 small zucchini turned into "Noodles" or "Zoodles" with either a spiralizer or julienne peeler) till tender in a little drizzle of olive oil.
Drain any liquid and add to meatballs and sauce, mixing to coat. Serve with shredded Parmesan or Ricotta Salata cheese.
More Eggface Low Carb Pasta Alternatives
More Healthy Italian Food Recipes
Snacks: Coffee (really not that much today) I am sipping on a cup as I type this... as I worked I drank water with Crystal Light Pink Lemonade. I picked up a few of the new Quest Bar Mocha Chocolate Chip flavor (when I picked these up I randomly met a blog reader at the store and had a nice chat, Hi Jennifer!) Verdict: It's yummy as a bar though I would like more coffee flavor.
I love to turn Quest Bars into cookies (better portion control, 8 cookies/bar and I eat 2 cookies as a portion and am satisfied) So 2 cookies have my name written on them later while I watch a little TV.
I'm trying to clear off my DVR because I'm thinking of axing DirectTV. I'm not a big TV watcher... I really only watch a couple of shows regularly: Amazing Race (I know I can get CBS online for a few bucks a month), but my Mum loves her General Hospital and I'd like to have my mindless Bravo and Food Network (my dirty little secret Real Housewives and Spring Baking Show.) We are in a valley so we get NOTHING on an antenna so it would be online (or I do have a Smart TV) and I don't mind a few subscriptions but you know not paying $70+ would be nice, $25-$30 maybe? Advice from those who have cut the cord is appreciated.
More Days in my Pouch
