Pancakes and Lattes

Ok so I am catching up on my blogging after some much needed time away to get married! But now I am officially a wife and have been cooking a lot since we got home from the honeymoon. I moved into Michael's house only a couple of days before the wedding and was feeling very much like a visitor until I rearranged the kitchen. I have been cooking almost every day and have even entertained a couple of times. I have been taking pictures and promise to catch up on recipes.

This post was actually from a few weeks before the wedding, but I have heard it is bad luck to use wedding gifts before you are married, so I delayed on publishing it. My secret is out, but the wedding was a success so I think its ok that we may have broken this rule.

People have been so generous with us and I am absolutely loving each and every one of our gifts, especially for the kitchen. Below I was able to use our new griddle and the NESPRESSO!

After some Saturday morning gym time, I love to start off the weekend with a simple but healthy breakfast. Blueberry pancakes (made with Fiber One pancake mix with added flax meal of course!) and side of sliced bananas. I think this brand of mix is great because its much lower in calories than most mixes you find in the grocery store and you only have to add water. The lovely added benefit of fiber also makes sure this comforting breakfast keeps you feeling full into the afternoon. And the added flax meal is not even noticeable. While I made the pancakes, my barista husband whipped up some perfect lattes.

Love,

Sam

Spinach and Rice with Spicy Peanut Sauce

My sister created this delicious easy dinner when she was living in New York and was getting serious about health and weight loss. She had been working with a trainer and had enrolled in an online nutrition tracker to monitor her calorie and vitamin intake. She said on the days when she made this for dinner, she would get all green check marks for her fiber and vitamins. Its fast, easy, low in calories, high in fiber, and full of flavor. It is a staple go-to dinner for me. I have even made it once for Michael and he has asked for a couple of times since then.


Cook a rice of your choice according to the package. I love this new brown rice I found at Mothers Market. Its more nutritionally complete than white or brown rice and contains a higher protein content.

While the rice cooks, combine about

• 1 1/2 tablespoons of peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce about
• 1 teaspoon of sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon of hot water (to thin the peanut butter)
• a dash (or 2 or 3) of red chili flakes. I may use a bit more than most people, but i love spicy food. If you don't, just leave it out all together.

Wilt spinach with a little water in the bottom of a large pan. Add use more spinach than you think, it wilts down to nothing. I can easily use an entire bag of spinach for myself when I make it.

When the spinach is wilted, combine with the rice, pour the peanut sauce over everything and combine! Yum!


You can also use this quick sauce on chicken or meat.

Love,


Sam