Mama Rini’s – Home Version!

When I woke up yesterday morning, I was going to suggest to Tony that we go out for breakfast, but quickly realized I already had all the ingredients to make  a kicked up breakfast.  First up?  Hash browns!  This is one potato – it was huge!  I finally figured out that I have to cook the potatoes in water first, then dry them and then Pam/oil fry them.  That way they are crisp on the outside, but still tender on the inside.

try not to overcook them - if they are too done, they will fall apart in the frying process - they'll still taste good, just not as pretty! 😀

My plate: 3.5 ounce steak, hashbrowns and 1 egg sprinkled with 1/2 oz. of 75% reduced fat Cabot cheddar cheese.

I need to figure out a way to organize my pantry items.  While trying to come up with a solution, I discovered I had five boxes of spaghetti opened!

maybe that's my problem! 😀

I then hit up the gym.  5 minute warm up and then:

not breaking any speed records any time soon!

Earlier in the morning I did my full meal plan and grocery list!  When I got back from the gym, Tony and I headed out for a bite to eat before hitting the grocery store.  We have never been there before – it’s called Fire Bar & Grill and it’s in Crystal Lake.  The main reason I picked that place was because I had a coupon for buy one, get the other half off – but turns out that was for entrees only and we each got sandwiches.  Mine was really good – the chicken was so flavorful!  Another way I rate restaurants?

they had Tabasco!

I got the chipotle wrap:

I ate 3/4 of the wrap and about 7 steak fries. Here's the tricky part - how many calories?? I forgot to ask no ranch dressing, so my educated guess is lunch comes in around 676 calories, 80 carbs, 36 protein 24 fat and 4.6 fiber - do you think that's about right??

I came home and Hannah was back from work.  She was going out to dinner with friends, but we realized we still had time to hit up our local Goodwill.  I had a coupon for 25% off our entire purchase 😀  I have been looking for a new work back.  My old one was just one big bag, no pockets, so everything always fell to the bottom.  I totally scored!  Check out my new Ralph Lauren bag!!

with my 25% discount, I got this bag for $15!!!

It has two outside pockets – one is for my camera and battery charger, the other one for my phone and iPod.  On the inside it has a center pocket where I am going to put all my diabetes stuff (no more scrambling to find my insulin pen!) and an inside pocket for my make-up (chapstick and mascara – so low maintenance!).

Tony and I ate so late we decided to not eat my scheduled bbq ribs – but I still put a dry rub on them and cooked them for three hours at 250 degrees until tender.  We’ll finish them off on the grill tonight.   But I did make my Best Buffalo Chicken Chili to have later in the week for lunches and to freeze some.    I now have a printer friendly version here!  My store had boneless, skinless chicken breasts for $1.49 a pound – their ground chicken was $2.99 a pound, so I just ground up the chicken breasts.  I like doing that anyway, because my store doesn’t sell ground chicken breast, just “ground chicken” so I am not exactly sure what’s in it!

cook up the chicken breasts and carrots and orange pepper

The only thing I changed in this recipe was used orange peppers (since Tony bought them from the $1 rack, instead of red pepper).

the seasonings 😀

pouring in the liquid gold

Around 8:30 last night I did get hungry, so I had 1.5 cups of chili, 1 oz. 75% reduced fat Cabot cheese and 1 oz. of tortilla chips.

555 calories, 62 carbs, 47 protein, 13.9 fat and 12.2 fiber

Stats for Saturday:

• 40 minute walk/jog on treadmill
• 1721 calories, 170 carbs, 122 protein, 62 fat and 19.3 fiber

I had a great grocery shop – and actually think I might do it on Saturday’s from now on – it’s kind of nice to have it out of the way today!  I spent $111.00, but had $10 in coupons for a total of $101.00.

On the menu (breakfast/lunch = just me!)

Breakfasts

• zucchini omelet with diced potato hash
• breakfast pizza
• cheese and bacon oats with hot sauce 😀
• apple cinnamon pancakes (from freezer)
• crustless broccoli quiche

Lunches

• chili baked potato
• grilled chicken salad with spicy peanut dressing
• creamy orange pepper soup with spinach and carrot salad
• chile rellenos (not fried!)
• chicken tikka masala

Dinners

• baby back ribs with boston baked beans and potato salad
• grilled steak sandwiches with asian slaw and oven fries
• pork chops with Parmesan sauce with cauliflower gratin
• Herb & Balsamic steak kabobs with herbed rice and asparagus
• Italian burgers with balsamic green beans
• shrimp tacos, refried pinto beans and Mexican rice

On tap for today – hopefully a trip to Whole Foods!  I still have my gift card from my parents in law!  And I have to clean around the desk I am sitting at right now.  Currently there are 4 cookbooks, 5 magazines, and about 60 sheets of printed out recipes – I think I need an intervention!  In the kitchen: making the orange pepper soup and trying to make rye bread for the first time.

Hope you enjoy your Sunday!