Sooooo...much to my giddy excitement, as soon as I looked out the window when I woke up yesterday morning, the snow was already coming down in white, fluffy buckets. And what happens around here, first thing, when it snows???
Opening...
...every...
...blind...
...in the house!
I just think it looks so beautiful, I can't even stand it. Like being inside a snow globeJ
(And yes...I say this with every acknowledgment that I was lucky enough not to have to leave the house. I know I wouldn't be as giddy seeing it from the car windshield:P)
8:00am: Coffee with eggnog creamer
9:30am: Breakfast- Toast with butter & flax
And it was only AFTER I took my first bite that I realized it would have been a PERFECT day for WARM & FESTIVE OATMEAL....which COMPLETELY slipped my mind in my love of toastJ
After toast, came my only exercise for the day: chasin Katie around out in the snow...
Scratch that. It was actually chasing PENNY around in the snow. She discovered a new, favorite game entitled "Grab Katie's gloves off her hand and RUN as fast as I can!" Thanks, Pen.
1:00pm: Lunch- Leftover Cheesesteak Mac & Cheese
I actually mixed the veggies INTO the mac & cheese when I reheated a bit for lunch, and it actually tasted even BETTER. (Maybe THAT'S what you were suppose to do with em in the first place??)
2:00pm: Snack- Hot Chocolate
Scott was home by 1 o'clock yesterday, so I was lucky enough to share a hot chocolate snack with him after he came in from shoveling. I made this cup with 2% milk for added protein and it WORKED. I was really full from it for the rest of the afternoon.
6:00: Dinner- Healthy Garlic Goat Cheese Fries...
Remember last week when I said I had MORE plans for that goat cheese in the fridge?? Well, here was PLAN #2....and OH, IT WAS A GOOD ONE! And who can resist the excuse to eat cheese fries when they're actually pretty healthy???
First, I started by dicing up potatoes in fry-shapes and tossing em with olive oil, sea salt and some Montreal Steak seasoning before baking in the over at 400 for about 40-45 minutes...
While the fries were working, I tossed some trimmed chicken breast into a pan to let that cook up and meanwhile, got to dicing up some peppers & onions. In CHRISTMAS-Y COLORS, OF COURSE!
Once the chicken was cooked, I gave it a quick shred and tossed it back in the pan to finish cooking along with the peppers & onions...
Meanwhile, I was also whipping up an easy Garlic Goat Cheese Sauce...
First, make a quick roux with 1 tablespoon butter & 2 tablespoons flour. Once that cooks together for a minute, whisk in:
- 1/2 cup of chicken broth
- 1/2 cup of 1% milk
Let that come to a boil, before lowering to a simmer until thickened. Once the sauce it thickened (about 5 minutes), remove from heat and stir in the goat cheese until melted. Season with salt & garlic powder to taste. (Next time I'm gonna try adding FRESH garlic to the roux!)
And FYI- if the sauce is still a little too thin, you can always toss in a little thickening agent to help. I always use Wondra...
Reminds me of my Grandmom. She used to have this around for when she made me potato pancakes...yum!
Once everything is complete, pile up your plate with fries...
...some chicken and peppers & onions...
...and finally, a beautiful smother of garlic goat cheese sauce!
Now I ask you: Could this ever be bad?? Answer: NO! Cozy, semi-messy and healthy from the baked fries, lean chicken, peppers & onions and a low-fat cheese sauce...that's a winner/winner chicken dinner for SURE!
8:00pm: Dessert- Mexican Chocolate Bread
So any good snow day ALSO requires a good "baking project"J And for this one, I put Katie to work!
After helping me knead, roll & spread the cinnamon & cayenne laced chocolate paste, I had to take over to work the rest of this deliciousness....
It LOOKS complicated, but really after rolling the dough cinnamon roll-style, it was only a slice down the center and a quick twist of the two halves!
Really simple, but pretty impressive looking, RIGHT???
And after a quick 30 minute bake in the oven, the final coating of deliciousness was added via a brush of melted butter & a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar.
It took EVERY ounce of willpower and remembering "TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY TO HAVE ANOTHER SLICE" for Scott & I not to go back for more last night.
Layers of cinnamon & chocolate, sweet decadence from the butter, all wrapped in tender pastry dough, make this baby the next time a Sunday morning breakfast treat is on your agenda...you will NOT be sorry! (although I'd get it started on a Saturday night...it does require some time for rising!)
Well, now that I typed all that, it's going to be a struggle not to have a slice of this for WEDNESDAY morning breakfast! The only thing holding me back is knowing I'll feel REALLY lousy about half way through Power yoga this morning if chocolate & cinnamon is all I'll have in my tankJ Hahahahahahaha...I'm off to reluctantly grab something a little more fillingJ
Have a great Wednesday!
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