Tagged: Pugs

19 April, 2012

Mexican Spinach Egg Casserole

I have learned that only two things are necessary to keep one’s wife happy. First, let her think she’s having her own way. And second, let her have it.

LYNDON B. JOHNSON

When Chris is away, the dogs will play. I was enjoying the nice weather on my back porch when I noticed Nellie was playing with a strange toy.

What is that? Is that a stick? Why is she getting so defensive when Doug tries to play with it? Oh, wait that is definitely not a toy. That is a rather large turkey leg. Awesome, that is just what I needed.

Thinking happy thoughts, I wrestled the leg away from her and disposed of it. Then I turned around to discover that she had found another one. Turns out there were a whole collection of turkey legs in our backyard from Chris’ weekend hunt, and I had to single handedly get them all from her.

The whole turkey debacle left me wanting to work on a meat free breakfast option, so I made an easy…

Mexican Spinach Egg Casserole

Ingredients:

12 eggs

2 cups spinach

1 (12 ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chilis

¼ teaspoon pepper

¼ teaspoon salt

1 cup Mexican blend cheese

Direcetions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat together eggs.

2. Drain tomatoes and stir in along with salt and pepper.

3. Combine spinach with egg mixture. Pour into greased 9 x 13 baking dish.

4. Top with cheese and bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

5. Enjoy!

I typically always turn to oatmeal for breakfast, so it is nice to have a low carb vegetarian option to go to when I need a change of pace.

The green chilies add a nice spice to this dish. When eating this casserole, I even omit my typical hot sauce splash. Sometimes hot sauce with hot food is too much heat for me. This casserole has the perfect amount of heat.

I am all about the spinach in this dish! It adds so much flavor and protein. Who needs meat for breakfast?

This casserole is so easy to make on Sunday and enjoy throughout the week.

Add this to my low-carb made easy week.

What do you like to have for breakfast on a low-carb diet?

10 April, 2012

Peppered Popcorn

You aren’t wealthy until you have something money can’t buy.

GARTH BROOKS

A week ago I talked about My Perfect Day on a Diet. One of my favorite filling snacks is popcorn. I like to eat food that I can have a huge portion for few calories, so popcorn is perfect.

Like Nellie, I am a little obsessed with food.

That girl will eat anything, including popcorn.

Doug is usually interested in anything that Nellie likes, or he just wants it so she can’t have it.

Though, for some reason he hates popcorn! He always wants to try it, but he ends up spitting it out.

“Get that out of my face.”

This just means more popcorn for me, and with only 100 calories in each bag, it is perfect! It only gets better when I eat…

Peppered Popcorn

Ingredients:

100 Calorie bag of microwave popcorn

Spray Butter

Pepper

Directions:

1. Microwave popcorn as directed.

2. Coat popcorn in spray butter.

3. Sprinkle pepper on top.

4. Enjoy!

I grew up loving simple pasta with butter, salt, and pepper. This popcorn reminds me of a healthier version of that dish.

I do not know what it is about the pepper, but I just love it!

Do your dogs like popcorn?

28 January, 2012

Black Bean Quinoa

The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.

ANN WIGMORE

I am one of those people that loves to be surrounded by people at all times, while my husband loves to have his own space and quiet time. Quiet time makes me nervous. If I am home alone, I will have the TV on just for some background noise. Thankfully, once we adopted Doug the pug, I never had to worry about being alone. That dog is a stage four clinger. He would shower with me if I let him. Creepy!

My dogs’ personality kind of mirrors Chris and mine. Nellie is a social butterfly, and has some junk in the trunk, or middle depending how one would look at it, just like me. Doug keeps to himself and is freakishly athletic for a pug. Seriously people at the dog park cannot get over the pug that leaps through the air to catch a Frisbee.

With Chris utilizing the last weekend of duck season and Mel moving in to her new place, things were pretty quite here today. Some of us took it harder than others.

I can’t complain though because having such a wonderful friend a few miles away is still pretty unbelievable for me, this comes from a Kansas girl who knew no one moving to Oklahoma. To cheer me up today I cooked up some…

Black Bean Quinoa

Ingredients:

1 cup dry quinoa

1 cup black beans

1/2 cup red peppers, chopped

1/2 cup green peppers, chopped

½ cup red onions, chopped

½ cup cilantro, chopped

1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar

½ lime, juiced

Directions:

1. Finely chop peppers and onions. Bring two cups of water to a boil. Add in bulgur, cover, and remove from heat. Let it sit for 15 minutes to cook.

2. Combine bulgur, peppers, and onion.

3. Stir in black beans, oil, and vinegar.

4. Add cilantro and squeeze ½ a lime over mixture.

5. Enjoy!

There is a version of this side dish at Target, and I just can’t get enough. I skipped the corn on my spin, but it was still incredible.

Quinoa is loaded with protein and a healthier substitute to the traditional pasta salad, and it mixes so nicely with the vegetables for an even ratio of carb to vegetable each bite.

I like foods that have a crazy mix of color, and Black Bean Quinoa is just that. With such variety, I know I am getting an ample amount of good nutrients.

What is the most colorful food you have eaten lately?

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27 January, 2012

Cheever’s Cafe

Let your light shine. Be a source of strength and courage. Share your wisdom. Radiate love.

WILFERD PETERSON

Did I mention that I have the nicest friends and family? Living three hours away from my family means that I miss out spending some big moments with them, but they always make me feel like we are closer than ever.

Besides sharing my birthday with Ellen DeGeneres, there is one special lady who takes the cake.

My maternal grandmother, Nanny, turned 77 yesterday. I am her oldest grandchild and feel so blessed to share her birthday with her. When it comes to role models, I wouldn’t want to be like anyone else.

Even though I couldn’t be with my family this year on my actual birthday, my heart was filled with love from my wonderful husband and friends. From thoughtful gifts from friends this weekend to surprises from my co-workers, I had the most wonderful birthday…I kind of forgot I was venturing in to my late twenties…kind of.

I have only been working with these amazing women for a few weeks, but they sure did surpass any of my expectations. From the minute I walked in the door, they were in full celebration mode.

One thing I can really appreciate from working with women is their appreciation for a good nail polish, and these girls know their polish! There was an abundant selection of OPI for me to choose from for my birthday treat. Are you kidding me? I’m in Heaven.

Then to top it off, my supervisor made the most over the top cupcakes ever. She combined a few ideas form Pinterest and ended up with chocolate cupcakes with caramel filling and savory sweet icing. Whoa!

They were so moist and delicious!

After work the hubster took me out for a real birthday treat at Cheever’s Cafe. This was my second trip there, but I had forgotten how wonderful this restaurant truly is. They specialize in “American cuisine with Southwest influences with a variety of sublime prime steaks, seafood and salads.” Even though I still enjoy seafood, they have a wonderful vegetarian section.

For starters we had the calamari.

This is one of Chris’ favorite appetizers, and I totally enjoy it as long as I don’t have to eat the big tentacle pieces. What I enjoyed about Cheever’s is the melted Parmesan and banana peppers along side. Delish!

Chris is fairly predictable at restaurants. Whenever he sees a fried steak of some sort (sandwich or just steak), he usually has to have it. For dinner, he selected the Cheever’s Chicken Fried Steak with Jalapeno cream gravy.

It was HUGE! Pretty sure it was two full-breaded chicken breast. I was torn between the Mixed Seafood Tamales and the Cherry-Pecan Crusted Salmon, so I was happy to hear that the waiter recommended the salmon above all. Made my choice a whole lot easier.

He was so right! It was perfect with the crunchy, pecan yet chewy, cherry crust. I wish it were my birthday every day so I could eat this treat!

It wouldn’t be a birthday without cake, so why not indulge in a cupcake and strawberry cake in the same day??? I only turn 28 once right?

My dogs were lucky enough to enjoy in the treat too since it was chocolate-free.

Nellie still can’t stop thinking about that cake…me either.

I enjoyed my cake cozied up to a good movie. We watched 50/50, which I don’t even know how to describe because it was so funny and sad at the same time. I would consider it a good choice though.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you to all of my marvelous family and friends who made my birthday so special! I love you all so much.

What do you look forward to on your birthday?

23 January, 2012

Tuscan Salad

Never give up on something you can’t go a day without thinking about.

UNKNOWN

Mi Casa, also known as hotel to any friends that will come visit or just plain move to OKC, is losing a wonderful tenant this week. My friend Mel found an apartment to move in to. I feel like it is finally official that she is a permanent Okie.

We sure are going to miss having our third wheel/sister wife (just kidding), especially with all the one-liners she throughs around like, “That’s what this show should be about, bitch be gone,” in reference to the shenanigans on The Bachelor. Good thing we will only be a few miles away.

As much as I will miss living with Mel, I think someone will be even sadder to see her dog Murphy go.

These two are lovebirds for sure. The only thing that can distract Nellie from her boyfriend is food.

Yeah, I am bringing back my pug with food series.

Tuscan Salad

Points Plus Value: 5

Ingredients:

2 roma tomatoes, chopped

1 (12 ounce) Cannellini beans

1 bag spinach or spinach mix

1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

3 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar

3 Tablespoons Goat Cheese

Flat Bread

Directions:

1. Layer 1/3 cup chopped tomatoes into small glass cup or container.

2. Top with 1/3 cup beans.

3. Pack in as much spinach as you can fit on top. It will be about a cup or two.

4. Flip cup over and shack ingredients loose from the side. Let the cup sit upside down for a few minutes.

5. Slowly pull off the cup.

6. Top with 1 oz. goat cheese and garnish with flat bread. Enjoy!

This salad is a replica of my favorite side salad at Houlihan’s restaurant. I love to eat the salad on top of the flat bread. I like the combination of the sweet balsamic vinaigrette with the goat cheese. It is so good!