What's For Dinner? Menu 10/8-10/14

Day	Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
Sat. 10/8	Cinnamon Rolls, Fruit	On the Go	Meatball Lasagna w/Bread & Garlic Butter ((BHG p.48)
Sun. 10/9	Pancakes, Eggs, Bacon	LO Lasagna	Hubby's Cooking (Recipe undecided)
Mon. 10/10	Granola w/Yogurt	LO Dinner	Teriyaki Salmon w/Mushrooms, Orange Ginger Snap Peas (FFF p.199)
Tues. 10/11	Egg Scramble	LO Salmon	Lentil Soup w/Crackers (My Recipe)
Weds. 10/12	French Toast	LO Lentil Soup	Grilled Chicken & Veggie Arugula Salad (FFF pg.94)
Thurs. 10/13	Granola w/Yogurt	LO Chicken	Red Beans & Rice
Fri. 10/14	Cheese Omelets	LO Turkey	DATE NIGHT!

Key:  LO = Leftovers, FFF = Fresh Food, Fast Cookbook, GHK = Good Housekeeping Cookbook, SBD = South Beach Diet Cookbook, BHG = Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook, MISC - Some random recipe I've collected, MOM = My Mom's Recipe, GMA = Grandma's Recipe


Let's Connect! XO, Courtney

       

Weekly Wrap Up

It was an excellent week.  Highlights: 1.  First DATE NIGHT with the hubs in like 6 months, seriously that is way too long!  2.  PEANUT BUTTER creme filled oreo cookies.  OMG.  Heaven in your mouth.  3.  I finally figured out how to take quality pictures using the iPHONE, lol, and I'm now having a blast with it.  And 4.  It is already UGG weather in NYC.  I'm not a fan of the cold, so the only thing that is making it better is: pumpkin bread, cinnamon sugar cookie lattes and snuggles with Jerry and Zion.

I'm jazzed for this weekend...Jerry's parents get here this afternoon for a weekend of fun, food, and our highly anticipated APPLE/PUMPKIN picking trip!

How did you week finish off?  Exciting weekend plans?

Much love,

Let's Connect!

       

I'd Loaf A Slice of Bread!

What exactly is that you are looking at?  Probably a huge mess about to be made, but hopefully not!
I am about to embark on a strange journey into the currently unknown (to me) realm of good, old fashioned bread-making.  This is definitely something I've been wanting to do for a while, but had no idea where to begin.  That is, until my very sweet friend Kristina gave me the confidence boost and inspiration to go ahead and give it a shot, by posting this simple recipe for a sourdough starter.
I didn't even know what a starter was until I read her post, well, with the exception of the friendship breads I used to receive during my short stay in Louisiana a couple of years ago!  
I don't actually have any recipes picked out to use after my starter gets ripe (is that what you even call it? I have no idea!), so I figure I have a few days to come up with something while its doing its thing.  I am hoping to have some fresh baked bread for this weekend to share with Jerry's parents who will be visiting...perhaps I am being too ambitious.  We'll see!
Do you have any good sourdough recipes?  

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Body for God: Couch-to-5k in 9 Weeks

I've decided to do a 9 week program to get back into running.  I mentioned in my previous post, I have had a lot of injuries this year, due to thinking I am invincible starting out too hard and fast, and not giving my body enough time to adjust to new routines.
I was browsing training programs and stumbled upon this guide here.  I have a hard time accepting that this is where I am at, because I honestly do not enjoy running under 3 miles.  I am more of a distance runner, in fact, I love running 6 or more miles at a time.  I now understand that in order to get back there, I have to take baby steps or I'll be benching it yet again, waiting for my injury to heal.
The thing I love about this particular 5k training program is that it only requires 3x a week.  That is less than half of the days, which seems like less pressure to get out and run.  Time won't be so much of an issue either, 20-30 minutes per workout is all that it takes.  
I have to get my jiggly-self outside (rain or shine) and do it this week, or I'll likely be faced with the "it's too cold outside" dilemma.  If I can get back to an addictive 3+miles a run before the brutal chill of winter, there is a very good chance I will be in crazy-running-addict-mode enough to run in the 20 degree tundra that I expect will be hitting by December.
If I get my way, next fall I will run my first marathon, in Chicago!  I've been dreaming of running that 26.2 mile race for the last couple of years.  (Not to mention visiting Chicago, which I hear has some serious foodie-friendly restaurants!)  
What are your fitness goals for the fall and the winter?  Do you want to try the 9 week program? 
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Top 5: DIY Fancy Coffee Drinks (No espresso machine required!)

I LOVE COFFEE.  I'm obsessed with it.  Blame it on my Seattle roots, or the fact that I have a very energetic toddler who wakes up at 6am every morning, either way, it is one of two things that I will never part ways with.  (Ummm...the other is ice cream!)

Growing up in Seattle, the very LAST place you'd go to get coffee was a Starbucks.  There are just so many other quality breweries to choose from.  My favorite in the PNW (Pacific NorthWest) is Victor's Celtic Coffee.  Ahhh-mazing-ly delicious coffee---certified fair trade peeps.  I DARE you to try it.

One thing that Starbucks has going for them is that most coffee in NYC is, well...disgusting, I don't know how to put it nicer than that.  I call it "coffee water."  In order to avoid Starbucks, as much as possible, I prefer to make delicious fancy coffees at home.  I don't have the counter space for an espresso machine, so I've become quite creative at mimicking drinks I've had and liked or creating my own indulgences.

1.  Peppermint Mocha

8-12 oz fresh, hot, quality, brewed coffee

5 Andes Mints or if in season…2 Godiva Peppermint Truffles 

1 packet instant cocoa mix (Swiss Miss or Nestle are fine)

A tablespoon of creamer (optional)

Whipped cream (Reddiwhip or similar) if you like

Red sugar sprinkles 

Directions: In a big fancy mug…put contents of packet of cocoa mix, andes mints.  Pour in half of coffee, stir until mints are melted and cocoa is dissolved.  Add creamer.  Pour the rest of the coffee in.  Top with whipped cream & red sugar sprinkles if desired.  Enjoy.  

Is your mouth watering for more?