Happy Blogiversary to Me! One Year of Blogging!

This weekend, a thought occurred to me when I was driving in the car.  I thought, “Hey.  I think I started my blog about this time last year.”  So I checked and… TODAY’s the day!  Yes, a year ago today, I wrote my first blog post for Confessions of a Former Couch Potato.  In the beginning, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted my blog to focus on.  There were a lot of things in my life that I wanted to write about: a husband and child, food, a job I loved, a variety of fitness activities, trying to eat “right” and more.  My blog sort of combines all of those things into this digital version of a scrapbook. 

I’m a wife and mom who tries to be budget-conscious, while also leading a fairly healthy lifestyle.  Do I fail miserably?  Heck yes.  It happens all the time.  But I think that is just  how “real life” is.  I used to think I had to hide that from you when I was blogging, but now I have decided that honesty is the best policy.  I think people like to read about people who are real.  So I try to be real with you.

It amazes me every day that people actually read this blog.  Thanks so much to all of you who make comments on the blog or on Facebook or Twitter.  It makes me so happy when you say, “I made your recipe!”  or “I loved what you wrote about running a 5K!” It makes me smile.  Thanks to all of my followers and readers! 

I’d love to know… what’s something you have enjoyed here at Confessions?  Is there a recipe you tried and liked?  An entry you remember?  Tell me about it!  Just scroll to the bottom and click to leave me a comment!

So, it was a fairly ordinary Sunday for us.  Yesterday I went on a 3-hour river tubing adventure with some friends, so today I was exhausted.  My sweet hubby took us to breakfast this morning at one of our regular breakfast spots: The Little Cafe.

 

Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Prince Charming joined us, as well.

So rude… they didn’t even offer to help pay the check.

I decided on an omelette with ham, cheese, tomato, and onion.  And I shouldn’t have… but I got hash browns.  :)  They were delish.

Afterwards, we enjoyed a riveting movie… “Aladdin.”  And then I headed to the pool while Ryan and Sadie napped here at the house.  It was such a nice day AND I got to finish my book, The Hunger Games. 

Now I need Book 2 of the trilogy!  I am hoping someone will lend me the Kindle version.  (Anyone?  Anyone?)  I’ve gotten so used to reading on the Kindle.  If not, I know a few people that will lend me toe paper copy.  It’s such a great book!!!  Very intense!  And at the end, I was dying to know what would happen next! 

We had a meeting to attend at church, so we had a quick and easy dinner.  I have decided it is ok to eat frozen pizza sometimes.  I just add some fresh fruits and veggies.  Roasted broccoli and watermelon made this meal better.

Happy Sunday night and have a great week!

Asian Turkey-Veggie Sauté

Don’t you love it when an experiment in the kitchen turns out to be WONDERFUL???  I do!  I am so excited to share our dinner recipe from tonight with you. 

(a little preview!)

Today was the first day of school!  It went very smoothly and was a great day!  It’s always nice to have the first day down.  My only mishap for the day was forgetting my comfortable shoes for recess duty!  DOH!  I was wearing pointy-toe shoes with heels.  Not great for recess duty!  Luckily, a coworker let me borrow some flip-flops! :) 

Tonight I taught a super-fun Zumba class!  I was tired when I arrived, but by the end, I had so much energy.  I love how exercise does that for you.  You think you have nothing in you… but when you get started, it’s like a rush of adrenaline hits and BAM!  You’re on fire!  Love it!

So anyway, on to our dinner!  When I bought these ingredients, I was originally thinking about making some sort of Asian lettuce wraps for dinner, but since I have been eating Lunchtime Lettuce Cups so much lately, I decided to try something different.  Before I went to Zumba, I actually had about an hour at home, so I was able to prep the ingredients before I left.  When I got home, this was a cinch to put together!

I think this meal is a great alternative to takeout.  I LOVE Chinese takeout, but when you cook at home, you can control the amount of fat and sodium that goes into your meal.  Plus, you can add in whatever veggies you like the best!  I couldn’t decide what to call this meal… because it’s not technically a stir-fry… and it’s not a one-dish meal… so I am calling it a Saute, for lack of a better word!

Asian Turkey-Veggie Saute

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. extra lean ground turkey
• 1 head of Bok Choy, chopped (will make about 3-4 cups)
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 1 large carrot (or 3-4 small ones) grated
• 1/2-1 cup of chopped water chestnuts
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• 1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger root
• 1 Tbsp. Sesame Oil (I used dark—more flavor)
• 2-3 Tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce

Preparation: Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet.  Add ground turkey, carrots, and onion.  Cook, stirring often and breaking up meat as it browns.  (I use extra lean turkey so there is not much fat at all—in fact, you may not even need to drain the meat afterwards.  When meat is brown, add garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant (stirring), about 1 minute.  Add soy sauce.  Stir.  Add water chestnuts and bok choy. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until the bok choy starts to wilt.  The recuce heat to low and allot the bok choy to get a little more tender—about 3 minutes.  Serve over brown rice or in lettuce cups.  (You can also add extra soy sauce if you like, just before serving.)

I am so excited that we have leftovers!  I am planning to eat this for lunch tomorrow—in lettuce leaves, of course! 

Gettin’ Figgy

Wow!  I have lots of news to report tonight.

1.  OMG!  School starts tomorrow!  WHERE does the time go???  It seems like just a day or so ago I was announcing that I was on vacation!  I am very excited about a new year and new possibilities.  I am lucky to work in a wonderful school and district!  :)

2.  Sad News… our TV broke tonight.  So weird!  It was perfect last night.  But today… it won’t even come on.  If you follow me on Twitter then you know I am a little suspicious.  Hubby has been wanting a flat-screen for years.  Yes, we are the last people we know that still have a TV that weighs more than both of us together.  LOL.  I am wondering if he might have sabotaged the TV… hmmmmm.

3.  Thanks to Diana over at The Chic Life, I have a new breakfast fave.  I heard Diana talk about Green Monster Smoothies a lot and always thought, EWWWWWW.  Spinach?  With fruit?  Sounded crazy to me.  However, I tried it and YUM.  So Good.  So filling and has really stuck with me in the mornings!  You can go here to read all about making Green Monster Smoothies.  Anyway, I don’t add any sweeteners, so mine is purely milk, banana, and spinach, and I LOVE it!  You REALLY cannot taste the spinach.  Try it tomorrow and see how you like it!  And then let Diana know how awesome it was!

4..  I am so excited about a fruit I found at a local farm stand yesterday…

FIGS! 

It seems like everyone knows someone with a fig tree… but you can’t buy them in most markets.  I even checked the Rock Hill Farmer’s Market (who has a GREAT variety of produce) and they didn’t have any.  Luckily, the Bush n Vine in York, SC sells buckets of figs this time of year! 

The Bush n Vine is wonderful.  They have great locally-grown produce, but they also offer CSA memberships throughout the year!  We’ve been thinking about joining a CSA for a while now and maybe this Fall will be the time!

I think figs are just about the prettiest and most surprising fruit when you cut them open. 

Look at how pretty and pink they are!  I have been snacking on them a lot the past 2 days!  I’m thinking about a pizza with figs… hmmm.  Maybe you’ll be seeing that soon!

Cheeseburger Lettuce Cups (Take That, McDonald’s!)

Happy Sunday, friends!  This has been a great, relaxing weekend!  I’m reading a new book… The Hunger Games.  It’s SO GOOD!  Have you read it?  It’s very suspenseful.  It’s actually more of a young-adult book, but lots of adults are reading it.  I’ve always liked futuristic books.  The beginning of this book actually reminds me of a really creepy short story I read once called “The Lottery.”  Anyone else read that???  Talk about disturbing!

On to other (less-disturbing) things… let’s talk food.

Yesterday I wrote about my new school lunch idea: Lunchtime Lettuce Cups.  You see, I am going back to work and I now have to think ahead and prepare healthy (and, more importantly, tasty!) lunches to take and keep at work.  My first lettuce cup that I shared was the pimento cheese and tomato lettuce cup.  Today, I would like to feature a seriously delicious Lettuce Cup idea…

The Cheeseburger Lettuce Cup. 

This idea was inspired by a recipe from Hungry Girl a.k.a. Lisa Lillien.  She’s a genius when it comes to giving unhealthy food a makeover.  I got addicted to her cheeseburger quesadillas a summer or two ago.  But the problem is… I can’t exactly whip up a quesadilla at work.  I have access to a fridge and a microwave… so anything I make has to be simple.

The ingredient list is simple and you probably have most items on hard, with the exception of the veggie burgers.  Tonight we cooked our veggie burgers on the grill, but the fabulous thing about both Boca and Morningstar Farms Veggie Burgers is the fact that they can be cooked in the microwave in under 2 minutes!

Make things simple for yourself.  The night before, dice up some onion, tomato, and pickle.  Place these in baggies.  (You could even make 2 days’ worth—and have these two days in a row!  I also diced up some cheese, but you could easily use pre-shredded.  Also, make sure you’ve got large lettuce leaves on hand.  Iceburg, Bibb, or Romaine works well.  (I used Romaine for these.)  In the morning, pack your lettuce, fixins, and box of frozen veggie burgers.  You may also want to pack a plastic knife for cutting your veggie burger if you don’t have access to plastic ware at work. 

At lunchtime…

Start by nuking your veggie burger.  When it’s done, let it cool for a minute and then dice it up.  (Pieces should be smaller than dimes.)  Sprinkle over 2-3 lettuce leaves.  Next, sprinkle desired amounts of cheese, diced tomatoes, diced dill pickles, and diced onion.  If you like, add ketchup!  (Lucky for me, we have this condiment on hand in the school cafeteria… but if you have a shared fridge, this may be on hand.)

AND now… ENJOY!  This Lettuce Cup is no joke!  It’s filling and tasty!  The diced onion and pickle will remind you of those tiny little McDonald’s cheeseburgers… but this is WAY better for you.  And it’s so pretty!

I’m planning on doing another post soon on foods I like to keep on hand at work—stay tuned for that!  Does anyone have any favorite products that you like to keep on hand for workplace munchies?  Favorite lunches?  Snacks?  I’d love to feature some of your ideas when I do that post!  Leave a comment by clicking the “comments” section.  If I feature your suggestion, I promise to give you credit!

Have a wonderful Sunday evening and have a WONDERFUL week!!!

Hearts for Lunch? (Lunchtime Lettuce Cups)

Don’t be scared.  I’m not really writing about hearts.  Well, not the kind you’re thinking about.  I’ll explain in a minute.

This week, summer vacation officially ended for me.  I’m back at work.  We made it through our first two teacher work days, and soon all the kiddos will join us at school. 

It’s been a great week.  I’m really excited about getting the school year started.  But with work starting, it means that I’ve got to start being a better planner when it comes to lunches.  Last year I started off doing really well… but before long I was falling into the cafeteria trap.  Our school lunches are better than the stereotype.  However, there’s a lot of processed food, and it’s not always the healthiest.  I have found that the key (for me) is to be able to have healthy choices readily available.  And that means keeping a well-stocked work fridge and pantry.  Enter Lunchtime Lettuce Cups. 

This idea is actually one I got from my sisters and my mom.  I got addicted to those cute round flat breads last year.  They are great for sandwiches.  However, I fell a little less in love with them when Weight Watchers changed their POINTS system and they jumped from 1 to 3 POINTS, mainly due to the carbs.

You can use lots of different types of lettuce for these Lunchtime Lettuce Cups, but I like Hearts of Romaine.  (Hence the title… “Hearts for Lunch.”)  The shape of the leaves is like a little boat—or a hot dog bun.  Plus, they add a nice crunchy texture.  The filling possibilities are endless.  The Lunchtime Lettuce Cups I have pictured here are filled with spicy pimento cheese and roma tomato slices. 

Another combination that my sister Adrienne recommended to me (and it is delicious): Spread each lettuce leaf with a little chive and onion cream cheese (I use the light version).  Top with thin slices of turkey breast or grilled chicken breast strips, and chopped tomatoes.

As I said, there are many possibilities, AND these are healthy and low-carb.  Add some fruit or a cup of vegetable soup for a delicious, nutrient-rich lunch.  I’ve actually got a soup recipe to share with you very soon… AND another very filling Lunchtime Lettuce Cup idea!  Think… cheeseburger… meets salad.  Coming soon!

Dinners and Drinks with Family and Friends (Philadelphia)

So I know I have posted all these fun and famous places that we visited in Philadelphia: (visit these links to catch up)

• Reading Terminal and Chinatown
• Lunch at Marmont in Historic Philadelphia
• Touring Historic Philadelphia
• Cheesesteak Fix

But one of the best things about our visit to Philadelphia was the time with family and friends.  We had some amazing in-home meals!

Fun cookout at Aunt Linda’s with family…

Cocktails with Fonse and Grace (my grandparents’ next-door neighbors)

(we also found this cicada shell and had some fun with it…)

Sunday Dinner with Mom Mom and Aunt Susan

And a delicious pool-side dinner with Dee, George, Mimi, and Bill (family friends)! (Oops!  No people pictures!)

(This pool is painted dark instead of blue or white.  My sisters and I always remember it and call it “the black pool.” )

Seriously, how beautiful is this yard?

You know… as I write this post and think back on my trip… it is suddenly clear to me why my Zumba pants were tight on Monday.

We had a wonderful trip and I think I can honestly say that we squeezed about a week’s worth of activity into just 4 days.  There is so much more I would like to do if we’d had more time: another trip to Reading Terminal, a visit to the Zoo (which is massive), explore an art museum or two, and more.  Maybe next year we can spend a week! ;)

Now, my next post will feature what’s been happening in my life this week.  There’s an easy soup to feature, plus a new lunch idea!  AND soon I will be celebrating my blog-iversary!  One year of blogging!

Reading Terminal Market + a Glimpse of Chinatown

Welcome!  It’s Thursday Eve!  Yay!  I’ve been telling you all about my quick but fun-filled trip to Philadelphia. Today I want to tell you about our trip to Reading Terminal Market.  I’ve seen Reading Terminal on the Food Network and other documentaries many times, but I have never had an opportunity to go. 

Until now. 

I have one piece of advice for you if you are planning a visit to Reading Terminal.  Do. Not. Eat. Before. You. Go.  Actually, I have two pieces of advice.  Don’t go when you have a big lunch planned for right afterwards!  My problem was the latter.  Even though I knew we couldn’t eat a meal at RT, I still wanted to go an explore and see it for myself.

Think… Food Court meets The Fresh Market meets Whole Foods meets Earth Fare meets bakery meets pastry shop meets florist.  Times 100.

Here’s a picture of Reading terminal in 1952. 

You can find ANY type of cuisine here at Reading terminal, plus you can do your grocery shopping.  There is fresh produce and fresh meat, all sorts of seafood… and desserts galore. 

Of course I couldn’t leave empty-handed, so I decided on an assorted box of cookies from the Famous 4th Street Cookie Company, redf grapes (for Sadie) and dried Kiwi slices.

 

Then we decided to head into Chinatown, just to explore a bit.  I’ve been to Chinatown in San Francisco and it is HUGE and amazing.  Philadelphia’s Chinatown is a little smaller, but it’s fun to explore a bit. 

Sadie got this pretty fan in a little gift shop.  It might be her favorite souvenir from the trip!

There’s one last Philadelphia post coming up—great meals with family and friends!