Thanks so much for your kind messages and comments on my post yesterday about Sam. It meant a lot to me and my mom always reads the comments so I know she was touched as well.
It always feels weird to just pick up and resume normal life after something so sad happens. Before I get into my post for today, let’s take a moment to celebrate a new life.
Today is Zoey’s four month birthday. The picture to the left was taken right at two months. She’s changing so much every day. I’ll write a more in depth update post about her soon. She brings me so much joy and was so sweet and cuddly towards me when I was upset about Sam. It’s crazy how intuitive and sensitive they are about human emotions, even at such a young age.
I have a few recent eats to share with you.
Banana egg white oatmeal topped with fig preserves and peanut butter.
Caprese quiche with tomatoes and smoked mozzarella with a side of fresh fruit and black coffee at The Mayobird. (Yes, I’ve already made a return trip!)
Peanut butter, honey and banana sandwich and a salad.
Soup and salad. Important note: this soup was Carrot Almond from the Imagine Organic brand from Whole Foods. I bought two boxes of their soup on special 2/$6 this week and will be returning both of them (the other was tomato basil). They are flavorless and watery. I couldn’t even get this down it was so bad. Has anyone else tried these soups? Pretty much the only pre-made boxed soups I like are from Trader Joe’s.
Salad with a leftover teriyaki turkey burger.
Yes…I like salads for lunch! 🙂
Lemon parmesan salmon (with the addition of a little Panko), green lentils and brussels sprouts.
Teriyaki turkey burgers with Sriracha aioli and avocado, roasted carrots and mushrooms and kale chips. These turkey burgers were awesome. I will post the recipe soon.
Greek-style sautéed chicken breasts with feta, kalamata olives and artichokes. On the side was leftover lentils and zucchini and squash “noodles.” I broke out the spiralizer for the first time and loved it! Can’t wait to play around with it more.
After cooking homemade meals Sunday-Wednesday, I turned to something super simple Thursday night. I baked a barbecue chicken frozen pizza from Whole Foods. It was delicious! I also had a random side of green peas but that wasn’t worth taking a picture of.
Do you have any favorite spiralizer recipes or ways to enjoy “zoodles?”
I’m always amazed at how fast puppies grow. They can look so different in just a matter of weeks.
i know! i swear she hit a growth spurt and grew inches this week!
Puppies bring so much joy into our lives (and sadness) that’s why I don’t know if I could ever have a dog again :/
I LOVE spiralzing raw beets! They are the best!
i know it’s hard to lose them but all the joy is worth it for me. every one of them touches me in a different way.
i love beets! i will try that!
Your brussels always look so perfectly roasted. Do you have a specific way you make them?
yes! i always roast them at 400 with olive oil and salt but i have a favorite recipe that i need to share as well!
Hello and happy Friday!!
A few items to catch up on:
I had the most somber look on my face when I read the post of your loss. Praying for all of you!! You too Mom!!
I wanted to let you know my sister Ann (I told you about her….. a breast cancer survivor and expecting their first at age 42). Well little Evan, named after my 99 year old grandma. is doing well. Thank you for your good thoughts!!
Finally, I’m trying a rowing workout in the am that you posted a while back. Wish me luck; it’s the 500 meter one!!
Have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for all you do!
Blessings,
Christy
hi christy –
thanks so much for your comment. thank you for your prayers. my mom and grandmother said they read every single one of these comments and loved each one.
congratulations to your sister and her new baby boy. love family names. thank you for following up on that. it’s wonderful, uplifting news.
how did the workout go?
I’ve made carbonara with zucchini noodles. I’ve also made a sesame noodle bowl with carrot noodles.
Yum!yum !
mmmmmmmm……………
that all sounds amazing! thank you!
I still haven’t bought a spiralizer. I always order zoodles when offered in restaurants but never feel like making it at home! I should though…And ugh, nothing worse than buying something thinking it will be good and then it’s gross. I agree that TJ’s soups are the best (and I don’t even love soup). I do buy the TJ Low Sodium Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Soup which is great.
they’re so cheap! buy one!
and the roasted red pepper tomato is my #1 fave! i just bought some tonight!
I tried the imagine brand soups once and hated it too! Try Pacific Foods brand. They have a really flavorful carrot ginger soup
glad to know i’m not the only one! i will try your recommendation!
Ugh, that soup! We got the tomato basil and were SO disappointed as well. Luckily I made some amazing grilled caprese sandwiches to compensate for them.
I love my spiralizer…I almost always make a side of zoodles now rather than noodles. Then I usually make up for it with garlic bread. 🙂
glad i’m not the only one with these thoughts about the soup!
and hahahaha! i love your garlic bread/zoodles rational! 🙂 🙂 🙂
I’ve actually never made zoodles. But it is on my list of must try soon!
Puppies grow up way too fast…I recently FINALLY bought a spiralizer from Bed Bath…I love putting zoodles over anything. It’s pretty versatile and such a fun way to add more veggies.
Your salads always look perfect!
I’m with you on the soups, the only time I’ve had success with a boxed soup is from TJ’s.
thanks! and yes, i just restocked on TJs soups tonight! they are the best.
Love seeing pics of cute Zoey!
Question for you: When you take pictures of your dinner, how do you set your camera or what settings do you use? During the day, natural light makes photography a lot easier, but I’m just getting into photography and haven’t been able to figure out how to take quick dinner snapshots when the light’s gone!
hey liv! i totally agree that it’s easier to shoot in natural light but i rarely get the chance to shoot dinner in natural light…even in the summer! honestly, i just shoot in the kitchen and edit a ton in post to brighten it up and sharpen it. i don’t even use a lightbox or anything…too much trouble! biggest tip is not to use the flash…it blows the food out!
I love Zoodles!! We have made them several times since I got my spiral slicer. I have only use zucchini and squash, but I am going to be adventurous soon and try other veggies. XO
ditto! i need to branch out!
I love spiralizing! I’ve used carrots, cucumbers, zucchini and beets. My favorite is to make zucchini noodles with tomatoes, basil and chicken. Simple and healthy
that sounds amazing! thank you!
Zoodles are my new favorite way to eat zucchini!! I recently made a big pot of Chicken Zoodle Soup – instead of using real pasta/noodles, I dropped in some spiralized zucchini and it was amazing. I may never have chicken soup with pasta ever again! Also a plus, the zoodles did not get soggy or soft in the soup broth the next day 🙂
omg! brittany! that’s such an incredible idea! love it and will definitely try it.