Lunch With A Friend

It's been a long time since I had a lunch date with my friend E. We met years ago at dance class and she is also the sister of my primary doctor and worked in his office. We would often speak when I made a visit there.

We decided it's time we meet up again. We usually meet for dinner after work but she currently has another job that allows her to take an hour lunch and is not located to far from my office. So we agreed to do lunch this time.

We met halfway at a restaurant called Dino's in Bessemer City. It's a little Italian place tucked alone off the hwy. This was my first time visiting.

I'm really wanting to stay on my healthy eating plan this week as I'm still trying to shed a couple pounds I gained the past couple months.

I may or may not have just blown it again.

The items on the menu looked delicious, but since I'm not used to eating a big lunch, I chose just to have the Ruben sandwich. It was served open face with a side of home fries. As the waitress put our plates on the table, our eyes grew large as theses sandwiches were made for a giant. The waitress suggested we take a picture of them. Of course I will. I'm a blogger!!!

I ended up only eating half. I took the other half home for my husband to enjoy later.

 

The sandwich was delicious and I had a hard time skipping those home fries. I love any kind of fries! I managed to only eat a couple and leave the rest alone.

My friend E had the Roast Beef Club with french fries.



She talked about how good it was. She said it had lots of horseradish sauce on it which she liked, but again, it was way to much food and she ended up taking half of hers home as well.

I really needed this time with a girl friend. I work all day, every day around nothing but men.
Its nice to have a female to talk to. We had a lot of catching up and girl gossip to do. We had a great time and suggested we do this again. The only problem is we didn't have enough chat time as we both had to head back to work.


I'm Not a Dog Hater

I was called a dog hater the other day. This kinda pissed me off actually. It was said after I refused to take home a stray pit bull. Are you kidding me? OK before you start the "pit bulls are sweet" lecture, Let me just say, I know too many incidents where a very sweet loving dog chewed someone up regardless of what kind it is. So Lets keep those comments to yourself. I'm not dog prejudice.

I have been called a dog hater by others before too.

I do not hate dogs. I love dogs. I like to watch them play, and I like to hug and pet them and when I get my hands on one, Its hard to put it down,  But I choose not to own one.

I have my reasons.

1. My daughter has a real bad allergy to pets. She can stand being around them for a few minutes but then she turns into a sneezy snot machine. If a dog licks her skin, it will break out. I have allergies to them too but not as bad. I just feel like bugs are crawling all over me after I play with one.

2. I do not want the responsibility of finding someone to care for it when I go on a trip. I like my husband and me time alone.

3. Vet bills. Yes these can get expensive and I can't even afford my own doctor bills much less a pet.

4. They smell. I do not care how clean you say your pet is, they stink.

5. They die, then your heart broken. Face it. They do not live as long as humans. It happens.

Does this make me a pet hater? Why would I be labeled this?

Maybe its the look on my face when I see a pet owners dog slobber on their chair. Or that a dog licks itself then gives them a big snoopy kiss on the face. Yuk!

Because I do not like the way they smell and the allergic reaction my daughter has to them, I wish not to sit beside one at a restaurant. If I move, people will call me a dog hater and I'm shamed!!!! This bothers me too.
They do not get it. Is it really becoming a dog world?

I saw a dog in a grocery cart at Walmart the other day. Eeeesh. Though this grosses me out, I can't say anything or I'd be called a dog hater and shamed once again. But I really do not want my food packages to sit where I dog has been.

Sadly, this cartoon is how a lot of people feel. Its ridiculous.

At a family dinner, my family knows the reaction my daughter has with pets, and they still will bring their dogs to dinner. Then they hold them at the table, play with them and then handle the food!!!!!!! They also stink and I really do not want to smell it at the dinner table. No one notices the problem here since they all have a pet. They are used to it. My family of three are not even respected a little on this issue. I'm pretty sure all the act is on purpose.

I'm out numbered and can't say anything. Besides, its not my home. I have to just grit my teeth and hope for the dinner to end quickly and hope my sister doesn't start squeeking that toy! over and over and over.

Do I sound like a dog hater????
I grew up with a dog. But it was treated like a dog. It was loved, petted, talked to, played with and spoiled rotten but it was not treated like a child. It did not get to sit in the chair at the table or the front seat of the car. It did not wear a tutu or pajamas or get to go shopping with me.

Maybe I'm just being an old fart. But I'm not a dog hater.

For the record: 
If I had a pet dog , I would want a Boxer. Those are my favorite.
If I had a cat, I would want a Blue Scottish Fold. I love those!
I also like guinea pigs, and always wanted one of those too.
Sadly my situations prevent me from either.











Protein Waffles

This post is for my Nutrisystem friends, Those on Nutrisystem, Those wanting to be on Nutrisystem, or those that want to steal a Nutrisystem shake from someone. 🙋.

I have been on Nutrisystem now over two years. I love it that much. Its changed my life for the good. 
I have reached my desired weight and now use Nutrisystem to maintain my weight while I add in some of my own meals. (AKA flex meals). The flex meal is a meal you do on your own while maintaining healthy portions and guidelines of the diet plan.

I have some of the Nutrisystem Protein Turbo shakes tucked away in my pantry. I will enjoy one every now and again between meals. I never really enjoy them as a meal. Something about drinking a meal I just cant do.
But that's fixing to change because I have figured out a new way to devour them.

So, Grab your waffle iron. I'm fixing to show you how to turn a shake into waffles! 

You need only five simple ingredients:

 

Ready? It's super simple and delicious.

Protein Waffles 
1 pack (or 3 scoops)- Nutrisystem Shake (I used Chocolate).
1/2 Cup Almond Milk.
1/2 Cup unsweetened Apple Sauce.
1/2 Cup (8 tablespoons) Liquid Egg Whites.
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Mix all together and pour into a heated waffle iron. Don't forget to spray it with cooking spray.
Cook for 3 or 4 minutes depending on the quality of iron. 

 

There you have it. (OK, mine are pretty ugly but you get the idea)

They are great the next day, reheated in the toaster oven. 
I top mine with spray butter (zero calories) and Sugar Free Syrup.

Waffles not your thing? Pour them into a heated skillet or pan and make ya some pancakes!

This recipe makes 6 waffles (2 servings). 
Each serving counts as 1 meal + 1pf + 1 sc (I think).

Serving size  = 3 waffles
138 calories
15 grams protein

These little things kept me feeling satisfied till lunch time.

NOTE: This recipe is for those that have been on the plan a few weeks. It is not recommend for those currently starting out on the Turbo week. 
Continue following the plan as recommended.

ENJOY  ðŸ˜‹

My Nutrisystem journey can be found HERE



Beet Hummus

Today started off with a glitch in my morning routine. As usual, I walked into the kitchen ready to smell the aroma of black silk Folgers dark roast coffee brewing. Instead of seeing the black gold dripping into the pot and hearing the sound of the bubbling perk, I saw only an empty coffee stained pot. I started to go into panic mode and rush out to Walmart for a new one. Then I realized no outlets were working on one side of the kitchen. I knew at that moment it was only a tripped breaker, so I plugged the coffee pot in another corner of the kitchen and, wah lah, we had coffee. That later led to a trip to the hardware store for a new receptacle as well.

Before we headed out to do some running around, I decided to make this delicous beet hummus to enjoy for lunch. Nick will usually add beets to his salad as they are full of nutrients and health benefits our bodies need. This is what gave me the idea to make this little flavo.

 

This was a new taste to me. I have only tasted a beet once when I was younger. It was pickled and I hated it! Never ate one again. Until today. But these were not pickled, they were roasted. Well, ok they were actually from a can, but they were NOT pickled. 

This dip/spread is perfect for dipping veggies or chips. We chose to use it as a spread on toasted whole wheat rounds topped with a slimcado. 

 

See what I did there? Not an avacado, but a slimcado. You may have seen these in the grocery store before and not even realize what they were. They are grown in Florida and have 35% less fat than an avacado. They are bigger with a bigger seed as well. One great thing about a slimcado is that they do not turn black on the outside and the inside does not darken when cut like the avacado. I wrote about them once. You can find that post HERE

This is definitely something I will make again. It was so savory and tasted like Summer. Did I mention this spread is full of healthy ingredience? Can't go wrong here.

 

BEET HUMMUS
1 can - Beets 
1 can- Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans)
Juice of 1 Lemon
1 - Tablespoon Olive Oil
1/2 - Teaspoon Paparika
1/2 - Teaspoon Cumin
1/2 - Tablespoon Garlic Powder
1/2 - Teaspoon salt
2 - Tablespoons Water

Combine all ingredients in food processor.
blend/puree to right texture.

Ready to eat. 
Use for dip or spread.
Perfect on veggies, sandwiches, pita chips, toast or crackers.
Refrigerate leftovers.

I still haven't tried a beet alone. 

Is It Really Winter?

We are at the end of February but it feels like May. I'm thinking the ground hog messed up.

We had a little snow day in January. We also had a couple days that dipped below 35 degrees. I don't even have a coat. However, February has been rather warm. I have been itching to start my afternoon walks again and the weather is perfect.


The past two weeks, I have been able to start those walks again since the days are giving us more daylight now and its warming up. I get home from work around 5:30 each day and my husband usually has my dinner ready. Though I eat Nutrisystem meals most of the time, he will still have me a side of veggies to go along with it. Its always a surprise and I can usually smell the aroma as soon as I park the car.

He will be standing there at the door with a smile on his face welcoming me home (bet you didn't think old married couples still do that did ya?), We embrace, I lay my work bag down, wash up and head to the dinner table. After dinner we will change into our walking gear and head out to the street. We will walk about 2 or 3 miles depending on how much water I drank throughout the day. Ha.

The weather has been in the 70s almost every day this month. Is it really still Winter? I really hope Mother nature does not decide to throw us a cold snap until December. The flowers are budding, the trees are blooming and the birds are getting a head start on nesting. We plan to visit our beach place in a couple weeks. I can hardly wait!


How is the weather where you are?