CFCP Food Essentials

So, I get this question a lot: what are your pantry/fridge staples? I was thinking I had done a post on this, but i searched and I guess somehow I never have! I always think it is interesting to hear what other people buy at the grocery store, so I thought some of you out there might be interested in knowing MY staples. It's kind of like when you go to someone's house to visit and you peek in their medicine cabinet or bathroom vanity. I'm just kidding. I've never, ever done that. Or maybe I have. You'll never know.

Eggs. I always, always buy eggs. Except for today, when I forgot them. So I have to go back tomorrow. But I eat eggs almost every day. Fried, scrambled, hard-boiled, or added to burgers or patties to hold them together. Hard boiled eggs are my go-to breakfast item when I am in a rush, and they also make a great pre-workout snack.

Everroast Chicken Breast (Boar's Head) from the deli. I get 1.5 lbs every week. Makes great lunches, pre-workout snacks, regular snacks. When I need an easy protein, this is it. Add some almonds and an apple- that's lunch in a pinch.

Lemons. I buy a bag every week or every other week. I add lemons to regular water, sparkling water, chicken, fish, salad, sliced apples (keeps them from turning brown), and more. Nature's condiment!

Bag of apples and 6 bananas. These two fruits are so portable. You don't need any utensils to eat them, and they don't make a mess. In the fall, I always buy Honey Crisp apples by the 3 lb. bag, and other times I buy Pink Lady or Gala apples. Why 6 bananas? I have no idea. Just seems to be the magic number.

Ground beef- grass fed if they have it where I am shopping. I use ground beef to make hamburger patties, Paleo meatballs, Chili, and more. We eat it every week. If it is on special, I always stock the freezer, too! It's a great price at Trader Joe's, and I just heard that Aldi has it for a great price. I guess I need to learn how to shop Aldi!

Almonds or cashews. I usually buy one or the other every week- because it's a portable yet healthy fat and sometimes you just need something crunchy!

Breakfast sausage. Some people are camp bacon. Some are camp sausage. I am camp sausage. I add it to scrambled eggs, frittatas, sweet potatoes, and more. I am trying a new brand this week: al fresco. I hope I love it! It's got a pretty clean ingredient list!

Sweet potatoes. I used to despise them, but my tastes have really changed! I used to disguise them, but now I even like puréed sweet potatoes!

3 lb. bag of yellow onions. Onions go in almost everything I cook- breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Veggies- tomatoes, zucchini, and frozen green beans. We eat these almost every week because they are so easy to add to any meal. Zoodles, anyone?

So... Those are the staples I buy every week. You all know how I love to order groceries online... And Harris Teeter keeps my frequent purchases on my list from week to week, so I can shop for groceries in a snap! Then I just send the hubby to pick up the order! By the way, our local Harris Teeter is offering free pickup this week! So if you haven't tried this service out... Now is a great time!

So tell me...what are YOUR grocery staples?

In other news... I am heading back to work after 11 days of rest and relaxation. Starbucks, please have my Grande Bold Blend ready. I will be seeing you early in the morning!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Ostra and Chart House Restaurant (San Antonio, TX)

Hello, friends! Have you been reading all my posts from San Antonio? Check out my previous posts (linked below) to follow what I have been doing.

Gluttony in San Antonio

Boudro's on the Riverwalk

So far, I have learned so much and my brain is on overload, but it has been a fabulous trip. We have enjoyed many great restaurants!

I have two spots to share with you today: Ostra and Chart House.

I stumbled on Ostra kind of by accident. I was using YELP to scope out good brunch spots. I found one that looked fantastic...but when I got there, it turned out that brunch was pretty pricey. It did include bottomless mimosas...but still. It was a little more than I wanted to spend. So we ended up at Ostra.

We had a few minutes to wait for a table, but luckily they had a complimentary coffee bar! I grabbed a coffee and we enjoyed the nice view of the Riverwalk. Some parts of the Riverwalk are a little crowded and dirty, but not here!

 

Side note: check out this hotel! I want to stay HERE if I visit again!

We decided to go with the buffet, which was delish! I loved the scrambled eggs with pico de gallo and Serrano peppers!

After our breakfast, we were stuffed, so we spent some time wandering around and explored the Alamo a little.

I loved this tree, which was over 100 years old! It's located just outside of the long barracks of the Alamo.

 

So now... I want to tell you all about my favorite spot in San Antonio so far: Chart House.

Chart House is actually located on the top of the Tower of the Americas.

Chart House is about 500-550 feet high, and the elevator ride was pretty exciting and nerve-wracking!

The ride was worth the wait!

When we stepped off the elevator, we were greeted with the most beautiful, panoramic view of the city. Every table has this amazing view! Plus, the floor rotates very slowly, so throughout the course of your meal, you make a 360 degree turn around San Antonio.

I started with a dirty martini...

...followed by Gazpacho!

You rarely see gazpacho on a menu, so I had to get it, and it was wonderful! One of the best I have had! And by the way, that is a pickle stuck in there! Love!

It took a while to decide on an entree, but I went with scallops with wasabi mashed potatoes and Asian green beans.

It was delicious! I was a little worried about the potatoes because sometimes wasabi can be a little overpowering, but these were perfect! I would highly recommend this! I definitely want to try and recreate these green beans! They were so unique! I think they had sesame oil, sesame seeds, and maybe soy sauce. Maybe I will work on a version of this when I get home!

Even though we were stuffed, we decided to share some desserts: key lime pie and cheesecake with caramel and macadamia nuts.

Are you drooling? You should be. It was so decadent!

By the time we finished dinner, this was our view:

Amazing, right?

If you are visiting San Antonio, this is a spot at I would highly recommend! It's not a place to eat quickly and run (but with that view, why would you?!), but the food and service were amazing. We had a person in our party with a specific dietary request, and the manager went out of her way to make sure the request was accommodated.

Thank you, Chart House, for a wonderful dinner!

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

A Few of My Favorite Things (Right Now, Anyways...)

I kept trying to decide what post I should write next. So in the end, I decided not to make a decision. I thought, "Why not throw it all together in one random post?" Yay for you! You get to read my rambly (is that a word?) thoughts.

Lets talk about some things I am loving right now.

1. These biscuits.

 

I saw this recipe for Sweet Plantain Drop Biscuits on PaleOMG about a week ago and couldn't wait to make them. I am always wary of Paleo baked goods- but these are fantastic! I have eaten them with sausage patties, with jelly, and with butter. Always a win. I will be making these again! Do yourself a favor and make them. You can click the link above to get the recipe!

 

2. Yes, I am stalking PaleOMG. I also made her stuffed sweet potato.

 

There's some food porn for you. Fantastic. (I wonder what kind of weird hits I will get on this post now that I wrote the word "porn." Twice.)

 

3. Frank's Hot Sauce. Best stuff ever.

Use it to make wings or the stuffing for those stuffed sweet potatoes. Or put it on anything. Drink it.

 

4. This song.

It's like I am a teenage girl or something! Whatever... Go ahead and judge me. I like it, and I like Justin Bieber, too.

 

5. This book.

I just finished it, and it was awesome. Have you read it? So many twists and surprises. Loved it. I want to know what you thought. Any opinions on the ending? I wanted a different ending, kind of.

 

6. This local market.

I have been stopping at The Peach Stand in Fort Mill to get sausage, strawberries, and more every week or two. The strawberries from Springs Farm are the best I have found around here. They put the ones in the grocery stores to shame! Their local meats are also wonderful. If you are in the area, check them out!

 

Well, I tried to make this list a nice round number: 10. But then I ran out of favorite things. So this will have to be my top 6 favorite things for right now.

What are YOU loving right now?

 

Posted with Blogsy

Breakfast for Dinner

What's up, friends? How's your Tuesday been? We are having the most amazing weather here in South Carolina. Clear blue skies, temps in the 70s for highs, sunny...it's enough to make a girl want to take a vacation day! But I am holding onto those days for summer and special occasions!

I am in a running rut. I really need to be running. I am just in a place where I. just. hate. it. I have been walking/running on my non-Zumba-teaching nights. I am trying to do between 2-4 miles when I go. I love walking, but I just don't feel like I get a good enough workout walking, even walking at a fast speed.

Anybody have some old tips for sticking with the running? I have done C25K before... and maybe I need to get back on that wagon. Anyways, if you have some tips, or words of encouragement, or even if you just want to commiserate, leave a comment on this post. ;)

In other news, tonight after I taught Zumba, I went with an old favorite- breakfast for dinner.

Yesterday I shredded some sweet potato in my food processor, and I had a pack of sausage from Lettuce Carry in the fridge. So I thought, why not? Breakfast for dinner. Bonus- I now have sausage and sweet potato hash to eat for breakfasts this week. Yay for being prepared!

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp. coconut oil
• 1 lb. ground breakfast sausage
• 1 shredded sweet potato (I shred in my food processor but you could certainly shred using a cheese grater)
• 1 medium onion OR a handful of sliced green onions
• 1-2 eggs

Preparation:

Melt coconut oil in a hot nonstick skillet. Add sausage and brown, breaking you as you go. Ice sausage is browned, add the onion and sweet potato. Cook until sweet pitta is softened- about 5-7 minutes. At this point, the hash is done. If you want to make it a single meal, set aside all of the hash except for about 1 cup of the mixture. Add 1-2 scrambled eggs to the hot pan and scramble with the hash.

Sweet and savory and filling! Nom.

And just a little treat for those of you reading... Check out this old pic I found of myself while cleaning last week:

This is me in college with my friend Lorne, who I just found out is moving to China for 2 years! Check out his blog that he is writing about the experience!

And just to compare... Here is what I look like now:

Time certainly does change things. That and a good hairdresser. And better clothes.

Nighty night, friends!

 

Posted with Blogsy