Lenten-Friendly Recipe Week: Final Post

 Happy Good Friday!

 I'm blogging today from Beach Plum Bakery, the cutest coffee shop & bakery around!  I absolutely love this place, and have been visiting since I was a little girl.  This shop sells award winning muffin tops, and my Mom and I would frequently visit during the summer months. This morning,  I decided to take advantage of their delicious food, iced coffee and internet access.  Eating here reminds me so much of summer, I can almost feel  it coming!

Their welcoming sign, minus the lush summer landscape!

  Seeing that it is Good Friday, I have two more Lenten- Friendly recipes coming your way that are sure things!  Both of these recipes have become staples in my monthly repertoire, and I so excited to share these fool-proof beauties with you!  I love fish, especially grilled, but this time of year is tricky for that in MA! I have fallen in loved with these two staple fish recipes this winter.

Walnut Salmon:
1/2 c walnuts
1/3 cup panko (you can use all varieties of panko)
Blend this in the immersion blender until fine.
1lb salmon brushed with lemon juice (If you don’t have it I have used cooking wine before and it worked well)
Press the nuts mixture into the salmon and bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes
Drizzle with syrup for added pizzaz

Parmesan fish topping:

 I like this fish topping for more a of a protein packed meal instead of the traditional breading with butter
1/2 c parm cheese
3 tbs plain greek yogurt
2 TBS lemon juice
several shakes of Old Bay Seasoning
1 TBS minced garlic
* Makes enough for 1.5 lbs of fish. I have used haddock, cod and tilapia with this in the past.
-bake fish for 12 minutes brushed with the lemon juice.
-take out and spread cheese mixture on top
-bake for another 4 to 5 minutes, or until flakey
-enjoy!

Imagine a World Without Hate

Today was one of my favorite days of the school year: The ADL Youth Congress!!

  As well as a middle school teacher, I also wear a couple of "advisor" hats.  Many people think teachers partake in these activities for extra money, although these people are CLEARLY not in education.  If you are, you know that the money from these "extras" ends up being peanuts by the time the work is done!  That being said,  I love being the ADL Peer Leaders and being their advisor.  Today I was lucky enough, along with two co-advisors, to bring 21 middle school students to the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Castle, for ADL's  one hundredth year of service.  The Anti Defamation League spreads awareness and education, working towards equality for all. Out of the 21 students we brought, three of them were facilitating a lesson to a group of students at today's event; therefore we needed to report at the hotel QUITE early.  Which translated to.... I needed to board the bus at 6:20 :(  I made it sucessfully, and the early wake up call was well worth it.

  ADL, as usual, had many speakers and presentors.  Today we were lucky enough to listen to Ernest Green from the orgial Little Rock Nine.  In fact, my students were lucky enough to grab a photo! Both Green and senator, Joe Kennedy, encouraged students  to make the change, and that you are never to young to start something.  To embrace our ever changing society because we are the generation that will have the most time with all issues at hand, such as marriage equality, education and technology; and lastly to share your thoughts via to  larger crowd by utilizing social media.  Ernest Green actually encouraged the 1,000 students present to "live tweet" his entire speech!  My students of course jumped on the opportunity to use their phone without being rude!  The words of both Kennedy and Green rang through my head as the day; what can I do to make the change I'd like to see?

  As the least political person on the planet (or one of them), the question is almost intimidating!  But I was inspired, motivated and determined to take some sort of action by the end of the day.   Below is the trailer for today's event:

Today was one of my favorite days of the school year: The ADL Youth Congress!!

  As well as a middle school teacher, I also wear a couple of "advisor" hats.  Many people think teachers partake in these activities for extra money, although these people are CLEARLY not in education.  If you are, you know that the money from these "extras" ends up being peanuts by the time the work is done!  That being said,  I love being the ADL Peer Leaders and being their advisor.  Today I was lucky enough, along with two co-advisors, to bring 21 middle school students to the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Castle, for ADL's  one hundredth year of service.  The Anti Defamation League spreads awareness and education, working towards equality for all. Out of the 21 students we brought, three of them were facilitating a lesson to a group of students at today's event; therefore we needed to report at the hotel QUITE early.  Which translated to.... I needed to board the bus at 6:20 :(  I made it sucessfully, and the early wake up call was well worth it.

  ADL, as usual, had many speakers and presentors.  Today we were lucky enough to listen to Ernest Green from the orgial Little Rock Nine.  In fact, my students were lucky enough to grab a photo! Both Green and senator, Joe Kennedy, encouraged students  to make the change, and that you are never to young to start something.  To embrace our ever changing society because we are the generation that will have the most time with all issues at hand, such as marriage equality, education and technology; and lastly to share your thoughts via to  larger crowd by utilizing social media.  Ernest Green actually encouraged the 1,000 students present to "live tweet" his entire speech!  My students of course jumped on the opportunity to use their phone without being rude!  The words of both Kennedy and Green rang through my head as the day; what can I do to make the change I'd like to see?

  As the least political person on the planet (or one of them), the question is almost intimidating!  But I was inspired, motivated and determined to take some sort of action by the end of the day.
ADL's trailer for today's event

Question fo the day:  What would you do to change the world you live in( big or small)?
I spend my day with hundred of students.  I want them to feel safe in their learning environment, but also comfortable in their own skin.  This is quite the feat for a middle schooler developmentally, but with bullying, teasing and torturing on the rise, it is important to me.

Sites that may interest you:
ADl's Site

Lenten-Friendly Recipe Week: Day 2

Finally a fishy (sort of) success!
   I concocted an original Lenten -friendly recipe today and was successful!!!  Thank goodness! And for those of you who read on a daily basis, this is not a planned recipe for the week.  Yesterday was a bittersweet day, although many pieces of food fortune came my way, I experienced a bump in the road come the afternoon.
  We had an after school meeting that concluded around 3:30.  I also was hosting a few of my ADL Peer Leaders, who are presenting at the annual youth congress this week,  to prepare materials for the event.  After the girls finished their posters, I gathered my materials and realized my jacket was missing.  I have had this problem before with this traditional black North Face fleece, because students mistake it for their own, and take it home.  Today's problem:  My keys were in the coat pocket!
  After searching most classrooms and lost and found bins in the school, I aborted the "find coat now" procedure and sought out a ride home. My two friends, Elise and Beth, graciously offered to drive me, and to pick up Tucker on the way.  Such great girls!  Elise ended up driving me and grabing Tucker.  Tuck and I made it home around 5, and I was starving.  Of course I was planning on getting home much earlier, and making a croc pot dish.  I postponed this meal for later in the week, and started concoting an orginal dish.

Quinoa to the Rescue!!

 The ingredients are as follows:
Parmesan quinoa scramble
  Ingredients:
1.5 c cooked quinoa
1/2  97% fat free chicken or veggie broth
1 bag baby spinach
a crown of broccoli
1/2 c parmesan cheese
15 shrimp (cooked) or 2 breast of chicken (sauteed) for a non-lenten option.
3 tbs garlic
3 tbs margarine

Instructions:
-Cook the quinoa
-Sautee chicken
-Add veggies and margarine, sauté
-Add quinoa, chicken both and cheese
-Turn the burner down to low and mix all together

MMMMmmm Good! (this is before I added the shrimp)

I LOVE this recipe!  It was quick, nutritious and delicious!  Not to mention, it fits in nicely with this weeks Lenten -friendly recipes.

This has nothing to do with my concoction, but I wanted to share my gorgeous floral view from the dinner table!  I love the color combination with this piece of wall art.  If only fresh flowers didn't die!

Enjoy it , vary it, and let me know how it turns out!

xoxo,
Jeanie

Questions of the day:
  What is your take on quinoa? 

Some people despise quinoa, but I welcome it into my kitchen!  The thing with quinoa is,  it doesn't hold a lot of natural flavor, so you need to pair this grain with other flavorful ingredients. It also cooks up quick, is convenient and nutritious; god knows those three aren't found together too often!
Quick + Convenient + Nutritious =  Welcome, stay a while!

Lenten Let Down

Fishcake fail!

  As I mentioned in my previous  posts, I have been searching for some new fish-friendly recipes to accommodate some Lenten restrictions for this week.  I also have been reading a lot about supermarket circulars, and am trying to base my meals around sale items.  This week, haddock was on special for $4.99 a lb!!  Although I also plan to observe a meat-free Good Friday (not that I'm devout, but I try to avoid meats on Fridays), I was planning on trying out these fish recipes ahead of time in INSPIRE  you folks. The menu I composed for my week ahead is as follows:

Monday:  Potato and Haddock Fish Cakes with Homemade Tartar Sauce

Tuesday:  Slow cooker Caribbean Chicken

Wednesday: Almond encrusted Haddock

Thursday: Pretzel Chicken with Homemade Honey Mustard Drizzle

Extra recipe if need be....Italian chicken in the slow cooker served with quinoa.

This afternoon's workout summary:

8 squats with weight

shoulder press (40 total lbs)

side plank 45 seconds

repeat 3 x

Shoulder mobility

one leg elevated glute bridges

repeat 3x

 

Treadmill running 4 miles at 7.0 speed and a slight incline

  I started out on my fish frenzy last night after the gym. I was tired and hungry, which is not a good cooking combination for me! I planned to make potato and haddock fish cakes to spice up white fish in general.  The recipe was as follows:

 Ingredients:

4 potatoes cooked, peeled and mashed

1 lb haddock poached over mik, and flaked once partially cooked

1/2 cup flat leaf parsley chopped

2 cloves of garlic minced

1egg

2 TBS olive oil

Directions:

-After masking the potatoes and flaking the poached haddock combine both ingredients into a large bowl.

-Add parsley and minced garlic

-mix throughly

-add 1 egg for consistency 

- Form into patties 

- place olive oil in frying pan.

-cook the patties for 2 minutes on each side.

The outcome:  BAD!!!

  These fishcakes are in some serious need of some spices.  We tried to eat them, because I did take the time to make them, but they were quite bland.  I think in the future if I am brave, I will make them again and add some Italian seasoning, and double the garlic.   The tartar sauce called for Greek yogurt, relish and horseradish.  It was VERY spicy, and could clean your sinus right out.  I made a small amount and decided against it, before even trying the patties. We tried adding salt, pepper and old bay and dipping them into ketchup.  These spices and sauce helped, but did not make them worthwhile..  All in all, we ate something else.

  The only reason I posted this recipe was for HELP!  Perhaps someone else will have better luck with varying the ingredients to add more flavor.  But until then, I will not eat this again.

  On the plus side, I did find a great new blog this morning that happened to post about quinoa burgers yesterday!  I am hoping to make these Lenten- friendly burgers later this week or next, and am hopeful they will end in a better outcome!

  xoxo,

Jeanie

Question of the day:  What is you "go to meal" when recipes don't turn out right?

This is tough for me.  I HATE when recipes fail, and it always leaves me feeling very down.  It stinks to put time and good food into something. all for it to turn out poorly.  However, I always turn to some kind of egg and veggie scramble.  Breakfast for dinner is quick, nutritious, and delicious ;)

Sites you may be interested in:

Happy Being Healthy This is the new blog I found this morning.  The gal behind the blog is a mother of 5, and she blogs about healthy living, just like me.  She has some great kid's lunch ideas, as well as the burgers I plan to make featured in her last few posts.

Passover Recipes Yesterday, Julie Fagan,  of Peanut Butter Fingers, featured a guest blogger who provided some DELICIOUS Passover friendly recipes.  One of them is a spaghetti squash Kugel that looks incredible.  I figured I would share this for those who are looking for Passover friendly food.

A Taste of Spring

Ahhhhhh Sunday.  One of the better days of the week!
  This Sunday, in particular, I was excited to meet up with my Mom on the Cape.  My mom and I meet up frequently on the weekends because both my Dad and mark tend to be working; and let's face it we're best friends.  We had planned for Sunday for the entire week, until Saturday when she broke the news that my dad was off, and that the had an appointment with the cable company between 11 and 3.  Gee thanks Mom!

  To accommodate my Mom's busy schedule (sense my sarcasm), I puttered around the house a bit, and finalized my lenten themed recipes for this week's blog post, graded some students' blog posts and went to the grocery store.  Tuck and I headed down to my parents house around noon..  My mom made a delicious lunch of Turkey burgers, homemade guacamole, fresh melon and cut veggies.  She knows me too well! 
   After the cable technician left, the three of us headed to Chappaquoit Beach because the tide was perfect for walking.  During low tide, the beachfront doubles in size at Chappy, and makes for a great walking trail.  If you walk all the way to the end, you can see Black Beach, a beach only accessible by boat, that is on my top ten favorite places list.  I didn't know the tide would cooperate today, so when my dad told me, it was a pleasant surprise 

  

   

Upon arriving, Tucker was in HEAVEN!  He ran, swam, chased, leaped and pounced through the sand and ocean.  This dog was made  to be by the water, literally (ha hah).  I'll give it to him though..... this was pretty breathtaking.  My parents and I walked to beach until about 4, and then headed home.  The day was filled with hope that the snow will eventually stop, and that spring with grace us with her presence here in New England.  Below are some of my favorite snapshots from our adventure today.  I don't typically include this many photos in one post, but these were truly stunning, and I just HAD to share.

Playing  

Playing x 2

Deep sigh.. I love this one!

Gorgeous.

Air Tuck!

Best pals!

 As you can probably tell, the beach is where my soul goes to unwind and simultaneously recharge.  I am now motivated for the week to come.

xoxo,
Jeanie (and Tucker)
ps.. Many of you have messaged me asking about Tucker's eye.  Thanks so much for your concern.  As you can see, his energy level is more than normal!  The eye itself is still a bit wet, but the meds are working well.  Thanks again!

Question of the day:  Where do you go to unwind/ recharge? 

Date Night: CBS Scene

Mark I and I met at Patriot's Place for a much needed date night.  He was working nearby, and my afternoon birthday party wrapped up just in time.

  After browsing Open Table for restaurant options, we decided on CBS Scene because we figured we could watch the March Madness games with ease!  Our reservation was at 8:30 ,and we were seated right away (score).  We each ordered a light beer to sip on while we browsed their extensive menu. 

Mark ordered seared scallops over a bed of parmesan risotto.  I went for the grilled vegetables, hummus and goat cheese wrap, and added grilled chicken.  The sandwich was served with fries, which I was unaware of  when I ordered. 

Doesn't this look delicious!

 I won't lie Mark and I each had a couple, but most were thrown out.  I am specific about french fries.  I like certain restaurant's fries, but these were't my favorite.  It was great to catch up on life tonight, and simply be on a date.  This is something we need to work on: making it a point to make date nights to spend time together.  We were diligent about this over the summer, and Wednesday's were "our" night. Nothing interfered and we had a blast.  I'm hoping we recreate this tradition  once Mark's busy season is complete.  Hello date nights!

  The CBS scene was incredible!  Upon walking in there are wall to wall projection, flat screen and massive TVs.  This is the IDEAL venue to watch a sports game.  Each booth is also equipped with an individual TV and speaker.  While we ate we watched Gonzaga lose, which caused quite the uproar  in the bar area ( I had them in my bracket too ;( ).  I will definitely venture back to CBS Scene.  The food was  delicious, the menu offered MANY options ( both healthified and not),  and our service was on par.  I had some of the house-made lemon hummus in my sandwich and it was quite good.  Next time I go, I may order the hummus plater appetizer to enjoy more of this hummus.  The hummus platter was served with pita bread, veggies and olives for dipping.  Mark decided next time he wants to try the nachos because it seemed like every table was ordering  this dish.  ;)

Happy Sunday!

xoxo,

Jeanie

Question of the day:

Where is your favorite date night spot?

Mornings with Mark!

This morning was a pleasant surprise!
  As I mentioned before, Mark's work schedule has been VERY crazy lately, leaving little time to spend time just the two of us. I am typically really at good at being alone and fending for myself, but this week it started to bother me.  Although Mark is working again this week, his homeshow started later than expected leaving us the a few hours this morning to chat, spend time with the dog and make breakfast together.  This also means I skipped my second favorite yoga class of the week, but it was worth it!
  Breakfast:
  We decided to make a veggies and egg/egg white scramble with whatever we had in the fridge.

Our "scramble" veggies.  We mixed these with 4 eggs and three egg whites.

Mark then added all the ingredients together and served a delicous and protein packed brekfast.  I washed this town with a cup of coffee and ationed myself at the computer while he got ready.  I decided to seek out some decent white fish recipes for the blog and to eat this week becasue fish is on sale.  Not to mention, I feel that white fish is all to tradionally served with white wine, butter and crumbs and wanted to branch out a bit.  I found some good recipes, so stay tuned!


My Workout:
  Since I skipped yoga and got a bit carried away with my white fish recipes, I had not a tremendous amount of time to  workout before a bridesmaid gathering and a bithday party at 4.  I decided to run for time at the gym; something I haven't done in a while because I was focused more on distance.  Lets just say I felt it!  I ran 4 miles at 7.8 speed with a slight incline.  I was actually sad to leave beause I was watching one of the many Bring It On movies.  Nothing like a poorly made teen movie to get me hooked!  I then got off and did an ab yoga sequence and some push ups and dips.
Yoga sequence:
down  dog
to high plank
to low plank
back up to high
knee to nose
knee to left elbow
knee to right elbow
repeat x 3

Arms:
10 push ups
10 TRX dips

So Handsome!

NIce and tired!

I returned home to an excited pup!  As opposed to walking Tuck ,which can get mundane although relaxing at times, we ventured into the backyard to play a little "tennis".  This translates into me hitting the ball and him fetching it, and repeating this process about 25 times or so!







 Ok, off to my bridesmaid gathering/ birthday party!
Happy Saturday,
Jeanie

Ps...
Hummus from Lebanon as promised:
1 can chick peas rinsed
3 TBS tahini
1/2c lemon juice
1 clove garlic minced
2 TBS water
Grind in immersion blender
add salt to taste ( I added about 2 tsp total)