Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

Sorry I have been MIA for a few days I have been feeling under the weather and didn't have anything fun to post. The last few mornings I have been making an apple cinnamon pancake for breakfast which is delicious!

Ingredients:

1/3 cup Heart Smart Bisquick1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder
1/2 apple diced
1/2 tbl cinnamon
1/4 cup of water or until you find the right consistency

Mix together thoroughly until all the mix has no clumps. Spray a nonstick pan and place the mix into the pan. Cook on med/high for about 3-5 minutes then flip and cook for about another 3 minutes. Remove from pan and top with syrup or butter.

This is delicious and super easy to make before work. Enjoy!

Question: What is your favorite quick and easy breakfast?

Apple Picking

Yesterday morning my sister and I headed out for a 10 mile run before we made our trip to Stow for our annual apple picking trip with my family. The run was a rough one for me because I was dehydrated and there were several hills along our route that I wasn't expecting. I somehow managed to finish with a decent pace of about 9:35. Then it was back to my sister's to shower and have a quick egg white breakfast sandwich before we met everyone else to head apple picking.

We headed out to get our apples but needed some pictures before we got started since it was Abigail's first apple picking.
 

She wasn't too sure about this apple picking thing!



My dad and Abigail in the pumpkin patch

Once we starter heading into the orchards the rule is no one can start picking until my uncle takes a bite of an apple on the tree I know it's weird but we all have our crazy family traditions.

Let apple picking begin!

We filled our bags quickly since it was about 80 degrees and plus we all just wanted to eat. I swear we don't go for the apples but the picnic we have after, which always includes my mothers homemade chicken cutlets and roasted red pepper sandwiches, wine, and donuts and cheese from the apple shop. Sorry there is not pictures of the food I guess I was too hungry to think about pictures.

Question: What is a family tradition you have with your family? 

LARABAR Giveaway

Well we have a winner for the Larabar Giveaway. Congrats to Lauren at The Running Cook for winning the giveaway. Please email me your address so I can get the package out to you.

Okay I am off to a class at the gym which is a 30 minute strength training circuit type class taught by my trainer Keri.

It is a great workout and I even got my sister to take it so that makes it more fun!

Then my sister, mom, Abigail, a friend and I are heading to the Yankee Candle Flagship store. Later we have a birthday party to attend. Then tomorrow we get to go apple picking with the family, I can't wait!

Have a great weekend!

Question: What are your fun plans for the weekend?

Last Day for LÄRABAR Giveaway & Fitness Friday

Don't forget to enter my LÄRABAR Giveaway, it ends tonight at 9:00pm and I will announce the winner tomorrow!

Also I wanted to let you guys know I made my decision on the Maine Marathon. I have decided to switch it to the half marathon give then fact that I will be running another half on October 23 in Newburyport with my sister and just found on this morning that I will be running the Chilly Half Marathon in Newton, MA on November 13.  I will be running the Chilly Half Marathon with one of my BOMF residents who eagerly said yes to me this morning when I asked if he thinks he would be ready to run a half marathon in November. I am so excited for him and can't wait to enjoy the journey with him!

Don't forget that it is also Friday so hop on over to Jill's blog and join in on the Fitness Friday Blog Hop!

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken

Yesterday was a crazy day for me. I had to be in town for a BOMF breakfast with the founder of BOMF, Anne Mahlum. We met bright and early at 6:30 at ASANA which is located inside the Mandarin Oriental hotel. I didn't get to snag a picture of my Brioche French Toast but trust me it was beyond delicious!

Since I had a Pilates appointment and a massage later that night I knew making dinner would be tough. Luckily I had found an easy crockpot recipe the day before at It Sux to be Fat.

Before I left for breakfast I threw some chicken in my crockpot with a packet of Hidden Valley Ranch dry dressing mix along with a full bottle of Frank's Hot Sauce and set it to cook on low for 6 hours.

This was the best because when I got home around 8:00 I was starving so I just pulled apart the chicken and threw it on a whole wheat Foldit with some fat free ranch dressing and spinach.  It was a perfect quick and easy dinner.

 

Question: What is your favorite quick and easy meal?

WIAW

Welcome to another WIAW inspired by Jenn at Peas and Crayons.

Yesterday morning I made Gina's Pumpkin Banana Smoothie from Running to the Kitchen. It was so delicious and just screamed fall which was perfect for a cool crisp morning.

 

Lunch yesterday was leftover chili that I made on Sunday, I think it taste even better a few days later because all the ingredients get to sit and blend together. I ate my chili with some whole grain scoops, yummy!

After work I headed to the gym for a great strength training session with Keri, so needless to say I was starving when I got home. I decided to make some burritos for Joe and I which was a new recipe for me. I cut the chicken into bite size pieces and cooked that along with peppers and onions in a pot with a little chicken stock. I spiced the dish up with the spices from McCormick Recipe Inspirations, Spanish Chicken Skillet. Once the chicken was cooked I took some of that and Uncle Ben's 90 second brown rice and added that to a tortilla with guacamole, shredded Mexican cheese and salsa. This was better than expected!

 

Question: What is a recipe that surprises you on its tastiness?

**Don't forget to enter my LÄRABAR giveaway**

Turkey Chili

Well I knew it was a Sunday in the fall when football was on tv and chili was cooking. It has gotten chilly here in Boston over the past week so I was in need of some warm comfort food.

Ingredients:
1 package 99% ground turkey meat

4 cans stewed tomatoes 15 oz. crushed with hands

2 kidney beans 15 oz. drained

2 tsp. tomato paste

¾ cup chicken stock

2 cups chopped onion

4 garlic cloves, chopped

1 cup chopped green pepper

Olive oil to taste

2-4 tbl Chili powder

2 tbl ground cumin

2 tbl red pepper flakes

1 tsp dried oregano

First you must brown the turkey in a pan and since I try to not use too much oil I coat the pan with chicken stock instead. Cook the turkey until it is fully cooked and slightly browned.

As that is cooking, in a stock pot place the peppers and onions and cook until tender.

Then add the garlic, chili powder, cumin and red pepper flakes stir to combine.

Add tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken stock, beans, oregano and cooked turkey meat. Bring to a boil and let simmer uncovered for about a half hour to an hour.

Question: What is your favorite soup/chili recipe?

**Don't forget to enter my giveaway**

LÄRABAR Giveaway

LÄRABAR was nice enough to send my some free products to host a giveaway on by blog.
The giveaway includes five different flavor LÄRABARS along with a water bottle, little bag and some stickers.

I love LÄRABARS for many reasons but mostly because they are so tasty and healthy. Unlike many other bars these are full of basic ingredients with no extra additives and sugar.

To enter please become a follower of my blog,  blog about this giveaway and/or leave a comment with what your favorite LÄRABAR flavor is. Please leave a separate comment for each one you do and I will pick a winner by Saturday September 24.

This giveaway is open to US residents only. Ends Friday September 23 at 9:00 pm EST. Good Luck! 

Fall is in the Air

I have the day off from work today so I can watch my beautiful niece. Since she is still sleeping I was able to make myself a nice breakfast and even blog before she wakes up, this is perfect!

I started my breakfast with a pumpkin spiced iced coffee, which is delicious. It has a nice cinnamon pumpkin flavor that just screams fall and since it is only about 50 degrees this morning it was lovely to have a taste of fall in my coffee. If you like pumpkin and have a keurig I would highly recommend this flavor!

After I made my coffee I started to make an egg white breakfast sandwich with cheese and spinach on a whole wheat Foldit. If you haven't tried this bread yet you should it is only 90 calories and it is delicious!

Once my egg was cooked I toasted my bread a little then topped it with the egg and cheese, spinach and a good amount of hot sauce. This was so good and I wish I could find time in the morning to make a breakfast like this every moring. 

 

Question: What is your favorite fall coffee flavor?

Mexican Pasta

Last night I made a favorite pasta dish of mine that I haven't made in a long time. It has pasta, ground turkey, salsa, chicken broth, onions Mexican cheese and spices in it.

I started by boiling the water for the pasta but while I was waiting for that to boil I put the turkey in a nonstick pan with some yellow onions, and 2 tbl of Mrs Dash. Fiesta Lime and Southwest Chipotle seasoning . I let the meat cook through crumbling it as I went. Once the meat was fully cooked I added a full jar of salsa and 1/4 cup chicken broth and put the pasta in the boiling water. The key is to cook the pasta to al dente, you don't want to overcook the pasta.

Once the pasta has cooked, drain the water and add the cooked pasta to the turkey mixture. Mix thoroughly and then add a few handfuls of low fat shredded Mexican cheese. Cook until the cheese melts all the way through.

 

Put the pasta into bowls and serve. I had to go back for a second helping last night since it was so good!

 

WIAW Turkey Burgers

Welcome to another week of WIAW inspired by Jenn over at Peas and Crayons. I know I have been off this blog hop for a few weeks now but don't worry I am back!

This week I decided to share a recipe that I made last night with you instead of showing my eats for the day. I had a strength training session last night with my trainer so I got home later than normal so I whipped together some turkey burgers for dinner.

Turkey Burgers

Ingredients:
1 package of 99% Shadybrook Lean Ground Turkey
1/2 cup raw yellow onions
1 tbl garlic powder
3 tbl Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle Seasoning
1 tbl Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime Seasoning

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix together thoroughly. Once ingredients are fully mixed form 4-5 patties and grill. I cooked mine on the George Forman grill to get rid of excess fat, which there was very little of.

Once cooked through top with a slice of fat free sharp cheddar cheese and let melt and serve on the new greatest bread, Foldit 5 Grain Flax.

I topped my turkey burger with some guacamole and spinach and I was too lazy to make a side so I grabbed a handful of Annie's Cheddar Bunnies, this was a quick and easy meal that was delicious!



Don't forget to hop on over to Peas and Crayons and join in on the WIAW fun.

Question: What is your favorite toppings on your burgers?

**PS: Runner at Heart finally has it's own url http://www.runneratheart.com/!**

Chicken Peanut Stir Fry

I whipped together a new recipe I was trying out last night. I started with cooking some chicken cut into cubes, pepper strips and onions in a nonstick pan with no oil.

While that was cooking I mixed together two tablespoons of smooth peanut butter, 1/2 tablespoon of minced garlic, 1/2 cup of reduced sodium soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of chili powder and 1/4 cup of reduced sodium chicken broth.

Once all ingredients were mixed together smoothly and the chicken was no longer pink I added the mixture to the pan. Then I let the stir fry cook until the flavors all combined. Lastly I added the cooked brown rice and let that cook for about another two minutes.

 

Finished product

** Also today on living social there is a deal for Whole Foods, spend $10 get $20 to spend on groceries, go check it out!

Lobsters and Cochrane Road Race

Yesterday morning I woke up and headed out of the house to run a 10k road race in Quincy, the Jamie Cochrane Road Race. This race had a 5k and 10k so we signed a few Back on my Feet residence up to run the 5k and my sister and I both tackled the 10k.

A few BOMF members before the race.

I was such a proud team leader yesterday because one of my residents received a medal for finishing third in his age group. I finished the 10k in 52.16 which was a pace of 8:24. I was happy with this outcome even though I didn't set a PR.

After the race I went home and picked up Joe so we could do some food shopping and get stuff together for dinner since we were having a couple over to watch football and have dinner. Fresh lobsters from Joe's uncle was on the menu for dinner so we just grabbed a few snacks to have before dinner while watching the football games.


 

The lobsters were delicious and so fresh they were caught about 1:00pm yesterday and devoured by about 8:00pm. I swear I could eat lobster every night I love it that much!

Question: What food could you eat every night?

Mine might be a tie between lobster and pizza.