Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Meal Planning 101: Week 12

I know I seem like a slacker and haven't been keeping my "post a weekly meal plan every Sunday which usually means Monday" promise. You probably think I've been eating frozen things or fast food like the last time I did this. But I promise, I'm not! 

Last Tuesday I went to the Farmer's Market, we discussed that. Then my Aunt came to visit on Thursday and boy did she deliver on the promise to bring me goodies from Pawpaw's garden! 


There are blueberries, corn, squash, zucchini, okra, banana pepperx, bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, a watermelon and... The reason my meal planning has been lacking this week. 


TOMATOES! Oh my the tomatoes. I had tomatoes from the Farmer's Market AND Pawpaw's tomatoes. I could eat garden grown tomatoes like apples. No grocery store tomato tastes like these. I have lost count of how many meals have consisted of pretzels and a tomato sandwich. Soft bread, a little mayo, thick slices of tomato, salt and pepper. It's like heaven in my mouth. 

I hate summer. I do. It's HOT! We're possibly reaching record temps this week, breaking into the 100s and everything. But... there is one thing that makes me be positive about summer and not want to rush it away too fast. Tomatoes. And their sandwiches. 

Moving on to my not so involved distracted my local home grown fruits and veggies meal plan for the week... Seriously. I'm preparing you. It's not nearly as creative as it normally  is. I just want to eat veggies! 


Yep. I confessed in my prior post that for dinner one day I ate nothing but Blueberry Cinnamon Rolls with Lemon Cream Cheese Glaze. I'm owning it!

Sunday:

Blueberry Cinnamon Rolls

Monday:


Leftover Ginger Pepper Basil Scampi Trenne with Turkey Bacon and Breadless Heirloom Bruschetta Salad (A rambly mouthful that means I made a scampi sauce, melted down some Ginger Pepper Jelly instead of wine, fried up some turkey bacon, tossed it with a cool tricolor trenne pasta I found at Home Goods and lots of fresh basil, sliced a beautiful heirloom tomato and some basil and sprinkled it with salt, pepper and balsamic and didn't know what to call any of it because I just made it up.)



Tuesday:

Veggie Stir Fry (fresh squash and zucchini with onions and carrots) and Sliced Tomato

Wednesday:

Leftover Veggie Stir Fry and Edamame Rice

Thursday:

Spicy Baked Tilapia with Sauteed Squash

Friday: 

Rehearsal Dinner! One of my very best friends is getting married this weekend.

Saturday:

Wedding Reception Food



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Blueberry Cinnamon Rolls


We all deal with stress differently. Some people sleep. Some exercise. Some avoid. You've heard of stress eating right? Well I stress bake. Stress baking is almost as bad for you as stress eating when no RAs are around to feed your baking projects to! Remember that time I ate four blueberry cinnamon rolls for dinner and just that? Oops. I'm gonna need to move back into my apartment soon and have access to my craft box for other means of stress relief!

But seriously, if anything stuck with me from counseling it was the bit about doing mastery and pleasure activities in times of overwhelming sadness or anxiety. Translation... doing things you know you can master, finish and accomplish well and things that bring your soul pleasure. Knowing this is going to help me make it through the difficult times that lie ahead with my dad's health. Baking definitely meets both of those needs for me. I wish you could have seen my face when I opened the oven to the beautiful creation above. On second thought... I'm kind of glad you couldn't see me. I'm certain I looked like a super dork. But I was ecstatic! I had been crying for hours, got up, baked, and pulled that out of the oven! I was so happy and proud of my creation. I think I may have even bounced on my heels a little.


I'm claiming this recipe as my own because it really was mostly me. The cinnamon roll recipe was from food.com, but I altered it to be a healthier version using egg beaters, heart healthy mix, and low calorie butter. The blueberry part was inspired by recipes I've seen but my combination of ingredients. The glaze was thrown together by me.

Ingredients


Blueberry Filling:

  • 1 cup blueberries
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons water
  • Additional 1/2 cup of blueberries


Cinnamon Rolls: 

  • 2 1/2 cups Heart Healthy Bisquick
  • 1/3 cup of skim milk
  • 1/4 cup Egg Beaters (or 1 large egg)
  • 2 tablespoons Brummel and Brown yogurt butter
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon


Lemon Cream Cheese Glaze:

  • 3 tablespoons reduced calorie whipped cream cheese
  • 2/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • splash of milk






























  • Directions 


    Dough: 


    Preheat oven to 375. Mix baking mix, milk, and egg until a soft dough forms, I used my stand mixer dough hook for the first time! Place dough ball onto lightly floured parchment paper or a lightly floured clean surface. I'm OCD about germs so I always use parchment or wax paper to do dough work. Gently kneed the dough until mostly smooth. Roll dough into a 8 x 10 (ish) rectangle. If your dough is looking more round and not square enough, fold in the ends and keep rolling. Combine cinnamon and the 1/4 cup of sugar. Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar mixture over buttered dough.

    Filling: 


    Combine 1 cup blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice and water in a small saucepan. Cook on medium low heat until blueberries start to burst. I used a potato smasher to break mine down a bit more and thicken the sauce. When the sauce is a good consistency remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Spread the blueberry sauce on top of the cinnamon and butter topped dough. Sprinkle additional 1/2 cup of blueberries.


    Baking:  


    Roll up tightly starting with the long side. Pinch the edges of the dough closed. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Cut 3/4 to 1 inch slits going almost through the bottom using a sharp knife. Don't go all the way to the bottom! It should make 8 rolls, 10 smaller ones. Bake for about 20 minutes or until light golden brown. 

    Glaze: 


    Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon juice, and a splash of milk in a small bowl or a large measuring cup and stir! I used my immersion blender and it made it a quick and easy job.



  • Just look at it! They are so very good and just pretty! In the words of a coworker I shared one of these cinnamon rolls with, "These things are gourmet!" Easy and impressive. You can never have enough recipes like that. 

    I'm not suggesting that these as "healthy" BUT they are a much healthier version of most cinnamon desserts and cinnamon rolls. According to the Weight Watcher's Recipe Builder they are 7 points with the glaze. For comparison, a Starbucks Morning Bun (their cinnamon roll) is 10 points with no icing or glaze. A Corner Bakery Cinnamon Roll is 17 points! A Pillsbury Supreme Cinnamon Rolls is 10 points. 7 doesn't seem bad at all in comparison!



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    Wednesday, June 20, 2012

    Meal Planning 101: Week 11

    Remember that time I had a REALLY bad week? I mean just bad on top of bad on top of bad. An awful cold in June, of all months. Summer colds just feel worse than winter colds, it just feels wrong! Then there was family trauma/drama that resulted in lots and lots of tears, like days of tears, and then days of Netflix to recover from tears and new favorite shows happened (Jane by Design, Drop Dead Diva, and Firefly). Then I lost my voice and had a severe case of #firstworldproblems when I had no food, didn't feel like grocery shopping, and the people in the gross fast food restaurant drive through lines couldn't hear me. THEN... monthly girl curse. No exaggerations. All of this happened from a Wednesday to a Saturday, not even a whole week! And then on Tuesday I fell out of my desk chair.


    So maybe just maybe you can forgive me for not following through on those promised recipe posts? What if I share a coffee trick with you that I tried this week and love? Coffee is always a good bribe right?


    I made coffee ice cubes! You know me, I don't drink hot coffee in the hot months. BUT this is actually perfect if you do drink hot coffee. Always have leftover coffee in the bottom of the pot? Freeze it in ice cube trays! I brewed a whole 10 cup pot just to make a big batch of these to have on hand. They are great as ice cubes in iced coffee if you're a super coffee fan and hate when the ice dilutes your iced coffee. What I've been doing that I saw on Pinterest (of course), is pouring milk and a little creamer over the coffee ice cubes. They suggested vanilla almond milk... I tried that. Yuck! Just give me my regular organic skim milk please! And some creamer. Don't forget that part. Unless you want to. Then do. I also added a Splenda packet. I'm a slow drinker, so it's perfect for me. The coffee cubes start to melt into the milk flavoring it with that wonderful coffee taste. Note - although I love my Tervis tumblers, I highly recommend not using a Tervis for this trick. Why? Because they really do keep your drink cold! The ice will met A LOT slower.


    This weeks meals are inspired by my Farmer's Market finds! I went with a twenty dollar bill and a mission to spend it all. I came back with three fresh garden tomatoes, two heirloom tomatoes, a cantaloupe, local honey, lemon thyme, basil, mint, rosemary and dill. I even had some spare dollars for a snack from the Market! The honey stand also sold honey lemonade and made while you watch sweet and salty kettle corn! All of that with one dollar left. I'm sold! Main Street Clinton's Fresh at Five Market will be getting my money every Tuesday!

    Monday:

    Potluck Birthday Dinner with friends (I'm brough Garlic Cheddar Biscuits)

    Tuesday:

    Breakfast - Sausage and Cheese Muffins (skinnied with added onions and lemon thyme), Egg in a Basket, Rosemary Breakfast Potatoes and Mint Honey Fruit Salad

    Wednesday:

    Leftovers

    Thursday:

    Edamame Fried Rice and Veggie Stir Fry

    Friday:

    Leftovers

    Saturday:

    Basil Ginger Pepper Jelly Pasta and Cucumber Tomato Basil Salad

    Sunday:

    Leftovers



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    Monday, June 11, 2012

    Meal Planning 101: Week 10

    Oh hey! I'm back. The summer has this nice lazy facade it puts on, but really, it's always so busy! Friday until Thursday I was in Upland, Indiana at Taylor University for the annual ACSD (Association of Christians in Student Development) Conference. I barely had time to sleep in my own bed before being gone again from Friday until Sunday for Bridesmaids Bachelorette Weekend. This coming weekend I'm going to visit my dad for Father's Day. Then there is one not busy weekend. And then the wedding and bridesmaid duties weekend. July is a little more calm, which is good since August all the crazy begins again!

    I'll give you a quick-ish (okay, maybe not so quick, you know I like to talk) summary/recap of my trip via Instagram pics.

    Trip preparations! I have to travel to do laundry for the summer. Not fun! But then there was a pedicure and coffee
    (and staying up until 2:30 am packing) and I was ready to go! 
    On our way! 
    Three of us went early for the New Professionals Retreat. It came with lots of fun,
    lots of connections AND a t-shirt. No regrets! 
    And there was a campfire. With s'mores! The weather was perfect and not Mississippi-like at all. 
    Due to the nice temperatures, I drank hot coffee! A lot. Because they offered it at
    everything with yummy creamer options! And cute clear mugs. Who could say no? 
    And then everyone else arrived and they welcomed us with an ice sculpture.
    I was impressed.
    Aren't we a good looking bunch?! I mean who wouldn't want to work with us. 
    I take a lot of notes. And I just might happen to color code them. #OCDproblems
    There were themed hang outs each night each with cute decorations and yummy snacks. Coffee House Night was my favorite. 
    The Conference theme was Cultivating Wisdom. I loved this fun play on the theme
     for sports night! There were wings, a nachos bar, fried zucchini chips and
     loaded fries. Oh and some sports game on TV. 
    During free time we toured the nearby BEAUTIFUL campus of
    Indiana Wesleyan University. 
    And had more coffee of course. With reading. And a cute little coffee shop with huge fun lanterns and fun things on the tables. 
    One of the highlights of the trip. Ivanhoe's is a famous ice cream shop and
    restaurant in Upland. They have 100 shake flavors and 100 sundae flavors!
    But the star is their Strawberry Shortcake! The best version of my favorite
     dessert that I've EVER had. 
    To wrap up the week they had an Indiana themed picnic dinner outside. The decor and weather were LOVELY.
    The food was so good and very Southern cuisine like. 
    A great week indeed! Happy to home though and able to control my own food again though. Speaking of food. Meal plan! That's what you came here for right?

    Monday:

    Shepherd's Pie (Pre-frozen from St. Patty's Day) & Cheesy (as in healthy Laughing Cow cheesy) Broccoli

    Tuesday:

    Chicken Pot Pie Baskets (inspired by this recipe, but almost everything will be too different to say it's that recipe) & Fake Fried Okra

    Wednesday:

    Fake Fried Fish Tacos topped with Wild Rice and Homemade Salsa & Spicy Potato Hash

    Thursday:

    Buffalo Chicken Sliders, Blue Cheese Baked Potatoes & Carrot Chips and Celery with Healthy Ranch

    Friday:

    Visiting Dad and Stepmom in Arkansas for Father's Day

    Saturday:

    Visiting Dad and Stepmom in Arkansas for Father's Day (maybe they'll let me cook!)

    Sunday:

    Out with Brother (traveling home)

    Secret... I kinda spent all my grocery money on the trip and buying stuff for Bridesmaids' Weekend. All of these meals were planned with stuff I already had (with the exception of the celery and ranch that I'll buy on Thursday since I get reimbursed). It's amazing what you can come up with when you think you don't have any groceries!

    Since I ran out of bread but need lunchy meals for lunch too, I came up with something to make it through the week for that too! Peanut butter and jelly meet graham crackers (which for some reason I have an abundance of...)! You will make lunch time happy this week.


    And just because I can't leave well enough alone, one more picture and highlight of the week.


    I finally got to meet my best friend's baby, Alice! She liked me and I love her. And now I will stop talking. :) I will be playing recipe post catch up this week. Expect recipes for Eclair Cake, French Dip Cups, Espresso Chocolate Cupcakes with Crunchy Chocolate Hazelnut Filling and Nutella Cream Cheese Frosting, and maybe Chai Banana Bread Muffins (I didn't take great pictures of those, so we'll see.)



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