just a few new finds

I don’t have too much time to blab on today, as I’m trying my darndest to focus on my proposal,  but I did want to just stop by and share a few good finds I discovered and some eats I made this weekend.

Can I just say that it is absolutely glorious sleeping in till 7am and eating when the sun is actually up!!  Because we went out to dinner a bit late with our friends Friday evening (terrible pictures by the way), I decided to sleep in just a little bit.  I love having the sunshine to be able to take food pictures!! Yay!  Most of the time I leave when there’s not enough sunlight and get home when the sun is just going down.  Dang you time change.

I could even take a nice picture of breakfast!  This is just a mixture of Wallaby yogurt mixed with a scoop of LF cottage cheese, topped with frozen blueberries, cereal, banana, and flax.  I also had 1/2 a date bran muffin I found in the freezer.  Those muffins are definitely our favorite!

Saturday we spent most of the day running errands and grocery shopping.  I found some items I can’t wait to try . . .

For lunch I made a munchie plate with crackers, hummus, string cheese, apple, and salmon salad with pistachios and persimmons. 

I tried a Fuyu persimmon for the first time this season and I really enjoy them.  It tastes like a subtle creamsicle to me?  I like to put them in chicken lettuce wraps too.

I also found the Laughing Cow cheese finally and am looking forward to adding it to various recipes like so many of you do!

 

Persimmon Pistachio Salmon Salad

• one small can wild salmon with bones (for added calcium!)
• 1/3-1/2 cup low fat greek yogurt
• 1 Fuyu persimmon, peeled and chopped
• 1/4 cup cranberries
• 1/4 cup chopped pistachios
• various seasonings (all-purpose, garlic powder, s & p, splash of vinegar)

Mix it all together!

I found this quick cooking barley at Walmart.  This will be great to add to soups, oats or make a salad with because normally barley takes quite awhile to cook.

I have to say I am impressed with Walmart’s selection of healthier items and brands at a reasonable price.  For some families, it’s just being able to find these and make the choice to buy them over what they usually do, and that can be tough.

That afternoon we went to a bike demo for a local bike shop that we like to go to and it was also a charity event for our local Shade Tree Shelter.  Lots of bikes!

We signed a waiver and then tried out a few of them.  Most of the people there were mountain bikers, which is a completely different crowd than road bikers.  Kind of like the laid back surfer dude type. 

First we tried a couple road bikes.  Boy, it’s amazing how much better those felt compared to my baseline model.  I was really looking forward to trying a tri bike, but they didn’t have any there to sample.  We also got to ride around Red Rock on a mountain bike.  It was so much different than a road bike but a lot of fun!

Hey, even this dog was enjoying a little road biking!  I thought this was too funny.  How does that little guy stay on there? 

After a C25K run/walk this morning, I made one of my favorite festive bowl of oats this holiday season.  I call them festive oats! (gee that’s inventive) 

I just love Egg Nog and usually find the low fat version or the soy version around this time of year.  I also saw some kind of pumpkin spice nog at Walmart that I’ll have to try.  Both low fat nog versions taste equally yummy.  I could imagine these would be awesome in your morning coffee too. 

Here’s my version this morning:

• 1/2 cup soy nog or low fat egg nog
• 1/2 cup skim milk
• pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, fresh nutmeg
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1 banana (1/2 mashed to add with oats, 1/2 for topping)
• 1 tsp flax mixed in
• splash of vanilla extract
• 2 dates
• Handful of Kashi cinnamon cereal and shredded wheat
• sprinkling of pistachios and pomegranate seeds for the festive touch!

It’s not even Thanksgiving quite yet, but I thought this would be fun :)

 

How do you add a festive touch to your dishes?  Any favorite items only available during the holiday season?

If I don’t post again till Thanksgiving I sure hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend no matter what holidays you celebrate!  We are going to visit Chris’ dad and step mom who just moved into a new cabin for their retirement.  It’s going to be freezing, but I’m looking forward to spending time with family and enjoying a great meal.  I am definitely most thankful for my family without a doubt.  It just wouldn’t be the same without their never ending love and support.  Hope you all enjoy your time too :)