Blackberry Vanilla Oatcakes…etc.

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Happy Monday, folks. I have been running around like cray-cray today in an attempt to run errands, clean, cook, and be awesome.

Good thing I started the day with a POT of coffee and these babies:

Honestly, just go make these right now. Even if it’s for dinner. I made these with a sample packet of Sunwarrior Vanilla Protein Powder that I got in my Bulu Box awhile back.

I’m not sure why I never used it sooner, because it had a fantastic flavor that really oomph-ed these cakes. (Oh, and I just looked online, and it’s REALLY expensive to have some of the stuff shipped to Canada. So, if you know of any secret place/way I can get it on the cheap, I’M ALL EARS)

Blackberry Vanilla Oatcakes

1 cup oat flour (I put oats in the food processor for this)
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
2 egg whites
Sunwarrior protein powder (or a scoop of protein powder of your choice)
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp nonfat plain greek yogurt

Mix everything together, pour on hot griddle (with cooking spray), top with sliced blackberries, flip, eat. These came out SUPER fluffy and they were nice and filling. I topped the stack with a mixture of greek yogurt, almond milk, cinnamon and agave. Oh, and chia seeds.

I must be on a greek yogurt kick, because it was included in lunch as well. I knew I wanted a ton of veggies, but I wanted something to give a plate of plain, raw veggies a little bit of a kick.

Insert: Dill Dip

Yet another ‘recipe’ that I just threw together, and didn’t really measure the ingredients. But, it included:

Greek yogurt
Dill
Parsley
Garlic Salt
Lemon Juice

It went really well with my lunch plate!

For the record- lentil chips are the bomb dot com.

Onto random ramblings!

I FINALLY got a call from Tiffany&Co saying my earrings were in. To quickly recap: I brought them in in December when a screw back fell off one of the posts. I was told they no longer make those and my earrings would have to sent out for repair (approx. 1 month waiting time). I then called them to tell them I would be out of the country and to call Tyler because I wouldn’t have a phone. Obviously they didn’t do that, so we were never notified my earrings were in. I went to the store at the end of January and found that they set my diamonds in completely different settings without my consent. Never mind the fact that the ‘replacement’ backings were defective as well! So, they were sent back out to have set in the original settings. I was told a week, and it took 3. I went in to the store this morning and found that the 2nd replacement/repair was STILL defective. I took them anyways because I was sick of dealing with their crap. RESULT: WE WILL NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH THEM AGAIN.
I am going to Seattle in 17 days!!!!!! I can’t wait to see my best friend. Nevermind the fact that I’ll be there for St. Patty’s day AND her birthday! 😉 😉
I made fudge a couple weeks ago and over-boiled the evaporate milk concoction. The batch was super dry and yuck. So, I was overly cautious when making some rocky road fudge last night. Apparently I was TOO cautious. It didn’t set. BUT THE GOOD NEWS YOU GUYS is that if you throw it in the freezer, it’s edible! If that didn’t work, I was going to resort to nuking it in the microwave for an ice cream topper in the future.
Here’s a list of AWKWARD SITUATIONS. The best part, I personally find them all hilarious. Like, I would WANT to be in those situations so that I could try to make other people uncomfortable. Ok, maybe not #3.
Not that I’m trying to get serious or anything, but this article on 10 Reasons Why Women Don’t Say “I’m Pretty” I thought I’d include this because I am totally guilty of just about all of them.
Way to go, Alberta.
Check out this playlist I put together for today’s run:

I had to put this thing together all by myself. With no help. Why? Look:

64 of you saw this update/request I posted on my Facebook page yesterday, but NONE of you provided suggestions. Do you not listen to music? I kid, I kid, I know you were all probably too busy with Oscar/Walking Dead/Amazing Race watching. In case you were NOT one of the 64 people who saw this, I urge you to go LIKE MY PAGE. Maybe *you* will be helpful to my future requests.

Question: what’s your favorite way to use protein powder? Got something random to share?

2 recipes + 2 workouts

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

I have TWO recipes and TWO workouts to share with you. All FOUR are fantastic. (I can do maths!)

First up, the recipes. Both used my favorite protein powder, Click. Seriously, I can’t get enough of the stuff. I’ve already shared an awesome cookie recipe using Click. Now if only they sold their product in Canada, I would be so much happier.

Friday, I made an awesomely yummy smoothie.

Ingredients:

1 scoop of Click
1/4 c. plain greek yogurt
1 c unsweetened almond milk
handful of blueberries
handful of strawberries

It had a wonderful combination of fruit with a kick of espresso.

My second Click recipe to share with you is a concoction of chocolatey, blueberry goodness. In the form of pancakes. Oh my god, my stomach was so happy with these.

Ingredients:

1 c flour
2 1/4 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1 t sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 c unsweetened almond milk
1 t vanilla
1 tbsp cocoa powder
3/4 scoop Click
blueberries

For the protein frosting:

Plain greek yogurt
Unsweetened almond milk
Click protein powder

Pretty easy directions. Mix all the ingredients then portion it out into about 6 pancakes on the griddle. Place desired amount of blueberries on pancakes as first side is cooking. Stack when finished, top with protein frosting (you can play with the ratio of frosting ingredients for desired consistency), top with more blueberries and chia seeds.

SO GOOD, you guys!!

Now onto the workouts. On Friday, I wasn’t entirely in the mood to do the designated BBB workout, so I decided to whip up my own batch of goodies. I divvied it up between lower and upper body.

Lower Body (10 reps of each move, done 2x through)

Stability Ball side lunge (L)
Stability Ball side lunge (R)
Gliding reverse lunge (L)
Gliding reverse lunge (R)
Single leg squat (L)
Single leg squat (R)
Single Leg deadlift (L)
Single Leg deadlift (R)
Glute squeezes
Weighted plie squats

Upper Body (10 reps of each move, done 2x through)

Tricep Dips
Pushups
Front raise
Weighted Arm Circles
Standing overhead press/Oblique crunch (L)
Standing overhead press/Oblique crunch (R)
Kettlebell swings

I managed to get in 20 minutes of spinning just before the workout to get my heart rate up. All in all, the circuit is quick, but effective- I was sore the next morning!

Even though I was sore, I wanted to get my blood pumping on Saturday. I opted to do yet another Deck of Cards workout. (Previous Deck of Workouts can be found here and here)

♠ V-sits
♣ Burpees
♥ Kettlebell swings
♦ Pushups

I kid you not, I shuffled them almost into respective suits. I must have done about 60 pushups right off the bat, and OF COURSE, most of the burpees were at the bottom of the deck. Yikes. But totally worth it. I was sweaty and ready to have a yummy pizza for dinner. (More on that meal later!)

Anyone have a favorite protein powder? Favorite recipe to use with it??

Let’s rewind.

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

I somehow how a little time before getting food ready for the big game that I have decided to catch up on my recent things on these here blog.

I somewhat touched base as I was sitting in the Albany airport, but that doesn’t really count. Let’s rewind to Wednesday night…

Ok, so Wednesday night (my last night in New York) I got dressed after the workout I did at home and headed out to dinner at my FAVORITE local restaurant with mom and dad.

Outfit: American Apparel leggings and a top I scored from JCPenney.

Dinner was at Bistro LeRoux. I seriously cannot praise this place enough. The food, atmosphere and service are all so fantastic. I ended up having Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling, 1/2 order of crab cakes, 1/2 order of poached pear salad with steak, and a lava cake with peanut butter ice cream. I’m not really good at writing about my full experience, but let’s just say that I was ‘mmm-ing’ with every bite. Ahhhh, so good! I can’t wait for my next visit home so I can go there again 🙂

As I was packing later that night, I came across my high school prom dresses. Feel free to laugh at how ugly they are!

That really concludes my trip home. Although, I did manage to wake up at O-dark-thirty on Thursday morning to get in a 40 minute run on the treadmill. I watched a Jillian Michaels infomercial to keep me motivated.

My trip home was a long one. Having a layover in Chicago in the middle of winter is practically a death sentence. My first plane was 45 minutes late, but made good time getting into O’hare. I chilled out for what was supposed to be only a 2 hour layover and had me one of these suckers:

I also had a steak salad, but didn’t take a picture because I was hungry and ate it. Duh.

I then walked all over the terminal not only for exercise, but also because the incoming plane for my gate was super delayed (I was also on the prowl for some good chocolate).

Well, I didn’t fin the chocolate that I wanted, but I ended up settling with a bag of these:

They look like GIANT malt balls

But they are SUPER WEIRD on the inside.

I also managed to take advantage of the DUTY FREE shop! I have never done that before, so it was an interesting experience.

I made my purchase, showed them my boarding pass and ID, then got a receipt with a pick-up tag. The attendant would then meet me at my gate and hand me my purchase as I was boarding the plane. Nothing like being able to carry a big ass bottle of Grey Goose on a plane!

A few hours later, I was home and reunited with my puppy!

And now begins the dog pictures. You have been warned.

Tyler and I enjoyed the first bottle of home brewed wine (It was REALLY good!) and watched the first two episodes of The Following (also REALLY good!) The show was intense.

Friday, I was left at home to get back into my routine. The morning was filled with lounging, house-things, and puppy cuddles.

My workout was the Endurance workout from Best Body Bootcamp (supersets of exercises to be repeated until you reach 100- same as last Friday). I busted them out as I watched recorded episodes of The Mindy Project. After I ran out of episodes- and finished my strength workout- I headed over to the gym for a sweaty 14 miles on the bike. I really missed the Keiser bikes while I was in New York. Oh right, and Layla joined in on my strength stuff. Forgot to mention that.

She was so excited to see me put my coat and shoes on to go to the gym, that I felt bad and ended up taking her for a walk as soon as I got home. She was kinda rude about it, but whatever.

Apparently I didn’t take her on as good of a walk as Tyler has been doing the last few weeks, so as soon as he got home, she was all over him. Traitor.

We rounded out the night with tacos and watched Flight (so glad I waited until after my trip to watch that movie!)

On to Saturday. Bacon and eggs for breakfast. YUM. And lots of coffee. YUMMx2. Then errands.

One of our stops was the mall so that I could pick up my earrings from Tiffany & Co. I had dropped them off last month when one of my screwbacks kept popping off. As the associate unwrapped my earrings, I noticed that not only did they not replace the backing, but they completely reset the diamonds in different posts WITH different (ugly) backings! And the backings wouldn’t even stay on the post! I tried to be as nice as possible, but it was pretty upsetting that they made all these changes without my knowledge. I ended up leaving them there until the Ops Mgr calls me to discuss possible solutions. Fingers crossed I get a free upgrade.

Blah. That was kind of annoying to type. I just want my friggin earrings back!

My workout for yesterday was supposed to be ‘cardio of choice.’ I chose to do a mish-mash of things at home. I did alternating kickboxing and strength moves and finished up with 100 burpees. 100 BURPEES!! Rather than breaking it up into sets of 10, I wanted to bust out as many efficient burpees as I could. I would do as many as I could with the best proper form, record the number, and take a quick break before attempting more. After 15 attempts, I hit the 100 mark. I’m totally going to do this throughout February. I’m starting to love burpees again.

And again, Layla joined me.

Once my workout was complete, I quickly cleaned up and Tyler and I headed to the Flames game! Tyler got tickets from his boss, so it was a sweet (and free) way to have a nice little date night. And of course we enjoyed beer and hot dogs.

The game was actually close, but the Flames lost in a shootout.

Which brings us to today.

PANCAKES.

Chocolate chip pancakes.

With Coffee.

HEAVEN.

Chocolate Chip pancakes

1 cup flour
1 cut oats
2 c + 2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
2 tsp sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
4 tsp baking powder

1. Mix ingredients. Pour batter on griddle. Top with chocolate chips. Flip. Eat.

I was planning on topping with a tiny bit of pure maple syrup, but they were so moist and gooey that it really didn’t need it. Go make these now.

Now I must go put cheese on chips and chips in dips. And watch football.

Question: What’s your favorite pancake flavor?!

Another workout..yes, really.

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

…I’m back. Lots of things to share from today, and it’s not even over!

For breakfast this morning, I was having a hankering for pancakes. So…I made them. Ooooh and they were so good you guys.

Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

3/4 cups oats
1 cup almond milk
1/2 cup flour
2 tsp brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 egg
4 tbsp butter, melted

Directions

1. Combine the oats and milk. Let set for 5 minutes.

2. Add everything else to oat mixture.

3. Pour batter on skillet until each side is lightly browned.

Makes 4

(I drizzled honey on mine. You should too)

Then, because it’s Friday, I ate my breakfast in bed. Accompanied with my variety of liquids.

Fast forward a few hours (nothing to see here, people) to lunch

Scrambled eggs mixed with veggie marinara, black beans and a side of rye crackers.

And now for today’s workout. Usually, I take Fridays off, but lately I have been having that extra surge of energy, so today I decided to do yet another treadmill interval!

I got myself situated on a treadmill with a view

Then I got a-runnin’

This is how my workout was broken down

0:00-5:00 @ 4mph
5:00-6:00 @ 6mph
6:00-7:00 @ 4mph
7:00-10:00 @ 6mph
10:00-11:00 @ 4mph
11:00-13:00 @ 6mph
13:00-14:00 @ 4mph
14:00-17:00 @ 6mph
17:00-18:00 @ 4mph
18:00-19:00 @ 6mph
19:00-20:00 @ 4mph
20:00-25:00 @ 6mph
25:00-26:00 @ 4mph
26:00-29:00 @ 6mph
29:00-30:00 @ 4mph
30:00-31:00 @ 6mph
31:00-32:00 @ 4mph
32:00-35:00 @ 6mph
35:00-36:00 @ 4mph
36:00-38:00 @ 6mph
38:00-39:00 @ 4mph
39:00-42:00 @ 6mph
42:00-43:00 @ 4mph
43:00-44:00 @ 6mph
44:00-45:00 @ 4mph
45:00-50:00 @ 6mph
50:00-51:00 @ 4mph
51:00-54:00 @ 6mph
54:00-55:00 @ 4mph
55:00-56:00 @ 6mph
56:00-60:00 @ 4mph

PHEW!

Post workout fuel consisted of fresh strawbs, 1/3 banana, OJ and ice blended. HIT.THE.SPOT.

My afternoon was straight up dedicated to Layla. The poor girl had a vet appointment for some follow up blood work. She did awesome with the doctors, but left with a band-aid.

I kind of felt bad, though. I pretended we were going for a walk, when really we just ended up walking to the vet. Terrible move for a dog-mommy to make. (Car was still getting all $049520397235092 of work done).

To make up for my awfulness, we walked to the little pet store in the same shopping center so that Layla could get some well earned treats. This was my first time actually taking Layla into a pet store and I was very skeptical. Especially since this particular store has a huge display of chewies and treats that are dog level- right at the entrance. But she was a star!

She got her treats

And a WAY better harness. (How do I know it’s better, you ask? Well, because she wore it on the walk home and she was a doll. No pulling. It was a-MUH-zing.)

We just picked up my car and I have had chili simmering in the pot since I began writing this post. If you do the math, that means the chili is ready and it’s my time to say goodnight!

Chicken breasts in a bag

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Big things are happening here. I started season 1 of Mad Men today. I have a strong feeling I’ll be sucked in to the Mad-ness (pun intended). I’m going to have to restrict myself to only so many episodes per sitting so that I can get stuff done around here. Like, walks with the dog and domestic errands. OooOOoo.

I was busy on the Internet box last night but managed to quickly whip up a dinner that Tyler actually liked.

Potato chip chicken and Brussel sprouts with walnuts and raisins. In case you ladies need to make dinner in a jif (dare I say male readers want to get creative in the kitchen. Oof sexist comment? Nah, just praise for lady kitchen genius over here-me,) here’s how it’s done:

Potato Chip Chicken
In a bowl, whisk an egg and 1/8 c of milk. Add a dash of salt and pepper. Take 1/4 bag of potato chips (I used BBQ popchips), and crush the chips still in the bag. Take two large chicken breasts and soak them in the egg wash. Then throw both breasts in the crumbled bag of chips and shake to ensure the breasts are completely coated in chips. Put chicken on a baking pan lined with foil and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

Brussel sprouts with walnuts and raisins
Cut the sprouts in half and simmer in a pan on medium high with olive oil. Cover and let steam for 10 minutes. Toss in a dash of cinnamon, raisins and walnuts, and a bit more oil, and stir. Cover the pan and remove from the heat and let sit until chicken is ready. (I added a dash of red pepper flakes since Tyler likes spice. The sweet/spicy combo was actually great!

Dessert was a modified banana split. I melted 1/4 c chocolate chips, topped with rainbow sprinkles and a banana to dip.

Then, another sleepless night. More reading under the covers, tossing and turning, and according to Tyler, I was sighing all night. I even got up at 3:30am to shower in hopes it would help me sleep. Meh, no such luck. I really think I need to get out of the house and keep busy so that I konk out at night. Today, I shall do just that! (after a couple episodes of Mad Men, of course).

But first, breakfast!

I had leftover batter from Sunday’s whole wheat pancakes. Except this time, I made them with bananas, then topped with almond butter and a drizzle of honey. A glass of OJ ~~Simpson~~ on the side. Terrific way to get my intended busy day started!