Perfect Protein

As part of my post workout routine, I normally drink a protein shake or eat a protein packed breakfast.  I workout very early in the morning and can't stomach the idea of having the small protein filled snack experts say you are supposed to have, but the next best thing is eating within 30 minutes of your workouts culmination.  

The directions on the back of my protein powder can say to mix it with a little water and then drink it.  Well, I can drink it that way, but let's just say it isn't pleasant.  The powder refuses to dissolve completely with the water so you are left with little chunks when you are drinking it.  And, if you have ever tried protein powder before (it doesn't matter what kind) it has a weird aftertaste.  So, I had to find a way to make it more pleasant.  It has such great benefits and I really do think it boosts my workouts, but day after day, I can't take the chunky chocolaty protein powder water.  

This shake I created is protein packed, is full of healthy stuff and best of all tastes great!  You can use whatever fruit you want, but make sure to use bananas.  The blended frozen bananas create the best consistency.  It creates this creamy, decadent froth that you can't even believe comes as a plain old banana.  I like to freeze my own fruit, but you can use store bought if you want.  This shake keeps me satisfied for a long time and I look forward to making it every morning!

Chocolate Protein Shake

Ingredients

1/2 cup Fat Free Milk

1/2 Large Banana, frozen

1/2 Peach, Frozen

1/2 cup Blueberries

1/2 scoop Whey Protein Powder, Chocolate

Directions

Roughly chop banana and peach into chunks.  Pour milk into blender, then remaining ingredients.  Blend till mostly smooth and frozen chunks have been broken down.


What is your favorite post-workout meal?

Cooking for One, Part II

There are a lot of reasons that I love having my husband around, but I do have to say one of the positives to him not coming home for dinner is that I can eat whatever I want...even if that means Lucky Charms! I didn't get a chance to make myself breakfast this morning or eat a normal lunch, I just ended up eating junk and snacks all day. Horrible. I needed protein, and some Lucky Charms just for good measure...

I made myself a beautiful egg white omelet with diced grape tomatoes, fresh spinach, mushrooms and a sprinkling of reduced fat cheddar. I bought myself a piece of filet, I know how decadent, and seasoned it with some McCormicks Grill Mates. That stuff is great, but a little goes a very long way. There is nothing like breakfast for dinner!

The other great thing about this meal is that it is so easy to prepare one or 5, so you aren't stuck with a ton of extra food.

So if you find yourself cooking for one, consider having breakfast for dinner, you might surprise yourself with how delicious it can be!

Restaurant Review: Haute Cakes Caffe

Haute Cakes has become Brian and my Sunday morning ritual. It is tucked away in a strip mall on 17th street, but it is not exactly a secret. There is a big reason for the long line to order, fight for tables and people sitting outside in the pouring rain. The food, especially the breakfast, is fabulous. You do not find great breakfast and comfort food often in Southern California, but what I like most about Haute Cakes is that they put a "California Twist" on traditional breakfast foods.

Even though there is a long line most of the time and not too many inside seats, I can assure you the line goes fast and you can usually snag an inside table. I am not a fan of sitting outside unless is a perfect sunny day with no breeze, but we always manage to get a table inside. How? Why? Because Brian and I start off waiting in line together and decide what we want, meanwhile I closely keep one of my eyes on the tables inside, as someone gets up to leave I dart over and take the table regardless of whether it has been cleaned off or not.

I then text my choices to Brian to order.

This is a very carefully mastered task...

attempt at your own risk of getting accosted by a Newport Mom or Man Cougar.

Hot Chocolate

Vanilla Carmel Latte

Amazing Custard Slice

Amy's Breakfast Special: Egg White Omelet with Kalamata Olives, Pine Nuts, Feta Cheese and Peppers. Served with Fruit and Whole Wheat Toast. Mmmm. It is huge and I can never come close to finishing it, but it is so interesting and tasty!

We Love Breakfast!

Brian and I are both big fans of breakfast! Brian loves the food and I love a nice healthy breakfast to start the day off after a great workout! This morning I made French Toast with Maple-Apple compote before I set off for work. I really meant to make this on Sunday morning, but didn't get up early enough!

Sunday morning I went to a cooking class with Bridget at Williams Sonoma. We both went in thinking that we were going to learn how to make homemade pasta, but that isn't what happened. We learned how to make a basic bolognese and boil pasta. There were two highlights: First, when one of the ladies was naming off all the names of various pastas and she couldn't pronounce any of them. Secondly, when they were adding the ground beef and called it "hamburger". HAHAHAHAHA. It was ridic! Bridget and I are still laughing about this...

Back to my breakfast....

Apples Sauteing...

Finished Product!
Complete with a Lactose Free Latte for Brian with some fresh grated Nutmeg on top!

About 1 minute later!

Overall it was a good, tasty recipe. It was fairly simple to make. I say fairly because I was making it after my Morning Bootcamp and before work. When I am working on a time schedule and have a lot of dishes to clean it makes me a little frazzeled. Despite all the bowls and pans, this is a good one. The best part of it is that it uses a lot of things I usually have on hand anyway! Try it out and tell me what you think!

Note: I used about half the butter that it called for.
If you are going to do this, watch out for the apples or turn the temperature down a bit so you don't have to babysit them otherwise they will burn!

Great Start

There is nothing better to start your day than a workout and a great breakfast! This morning marked the first day of my family's new private bootcamp. For the past 7 months we have been going to a bootcamp down the street, but they moved a lot further away and at 5:30 am no one wants to drive further or wake up earlier. Our solution: Make our own bootcamp! It is fabulous!

Last night I made these Oatmeal Blueberry Muffins as a new addition to our normal breakfast this week. My hopes are that Brian would like them and his brain would get its "unhealthy craving" for the day and be tricked! They are made with whole wheat flour and oats and really taste good. The part in the recipe where you toss the blueberries in flour first really works. They are pretty quick to make (despite my lack of interest in baking) and are great!

Batter-I used steel cut oats so I think that is why they are more grainy and visible. They tasted fine though. I sometimes make dumb choices at Trader Joe's!

Brian's Chocolate Soy Latte made with our Nspresso (best machine ever!)

Overeasy Eggs (with extra pepper)

Beautiful Muffins

What a great start to a great day! What do you do to start your morning??