substitutions

Honestly, I never thought I liked cooking.  It was such a chore.  It was always so messy.  It was so tedious.  I wasn't very good at it.  I was always missing ingredients.  But what I realized is: I just hate following a recipe.  I like being creative.  I like trying new things.  I like problem-solving.  I like discovering how flavors blend.  I like creating meals based on ingredients I have available (so shopping for good staples is key!).  I like feeling accomplished when something turns out perfectly (like my ... Read more » about I hate following recipes + {Overnight Oats}

Well folks, I went back to my Italian roots last night.  The recent blog post about my dear ol' Italian dad must've stirred something up inside of me!  As you may know, I've been doing a lot of experimenting creating in the kitchen the past week or two... which has been really FUN!  I want you to know, I have officially outdone myself.  This really was pure perfection... ... Read more » about Pure perfection a.k.a. Honeydew Caprese Salad

Well first of all, I must say, I have been overwhelmed with joy and thankfulness at the response to my recent guest blog post on the "Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead" website.  You can read the full post here.   This has been quite the journey with many celebrations and mini-milestones along the way, but I must say that this moment has been the best yet.  To actually feel like an inspiration to others (you!)... ... Read more » about JointheReboot + Italian Polenta

Now that I think about it... maybe it wasn't the WISEST decision to make amazing Cauliflower Crust Pizza the night before an official weigh-in.  Buuuuut, I had just purchased my nooch (nutritional yeast) and I've been excited about this crust recipe for the last 24 hours straight :)  So I did it... on a weeknight. (Doesn't that pizza pic -------> look amazing?!?!) ... Read more » about Moment of Truth Thursday - Week 3 + Pizza Crust!

I'm in a weird mood:  Kind of blah, kind of numb, kind of unmotivated.  Not sure why.  Nothing came to mind to write about tonight - and worse than that, nothing sounded good for dinner.  I stared into the fridge, to no avail.  Then I stared into the pantry, to no avail.  Then the freezer... nothing.   So I just didn't eat.  That is very unusual for me.   ... Read more » about Pooch to 5K + Cauliflower Pizza Crust

We are just LOVING this nicer (warmer) weather!  Babycakes loves being outside. She literally begs for it on the drive home now after work:  "Outside" "Playground" "Play" she says demands from the backseat, getting louder and more emphatic as we get closer to home.  So we usually walk to the neighborhood playground before dinner, swing for what seems like forever, and run around and go down the slide(s) a few times... ... Read more » about An extra hour to... PLAY! and Greek Yogurt

Before we get to week 2's weigh-in, here's what I ate yesterday:

• Breakfast - 2 broccoli pancakes with cheese
• AM Snack - Starbucks' "Calm" tea & a serving of dry roasted almonds
• Lunch - Kashi Mayan Harvest ... Read more » about Moment of Truth Thursday - Week 2

I'm Italian. I grew up eating my grandmother's spaghetti every week.  I remember waking up to that powerful smell of garlic and tomatoes, evidence that my dad had been in the kitchen since 5AM. We had bread served with almost every dinner.  I love Love LOVE tomatoes. And I wholeheartedly prefer pasta to rice.  But I'm also on a diet, a very public diet that the world can see.   Does that mean I can never eat pasta again?

I don't think so. ... Read more » about Hold the cream sauce.

I am the queen of subsititutions whilst cooking.  Sometimes out of clever planning, but most of the time out of desperation.  It usually happens like this: I scan a recipe I want to make to make sure I have all the ingredients.  Ground beef? Check.  Eggs? Check...and so on.  Then I start in on the recipe, only to find at step 6 I'm missing a super important ingredient!!  DOH!!  So I scramble to find a suitable subsititution, and it's usually a gamble whether the recipe turns out.  ... Read more » about Because this is how I roll, I mean, cook

First things first.  You MUST know...I am in love with obsessed with fish tacos.  It is extremely hard for me to pass one up.  If I could eat them every day I would.  My favorite fish taco establishment nearby work is Rubio's.  They are known for their fish tacos and specifically their "2 Taco Plate," which includes two fish tacos, a side of chips, and a side of beans.  But one day, not too long ago I realized a few things: ... Read more » about A Nearly Perfect Lunch...