I hate to do this, but...

Hey everyone....as much as I hate to do it, I'm afraid I'm going to need to take a little blogger break for the next week or two.  I hope to be back up to speed ASAP, but for now I need to hold off for a bit.  I'll fill you in soon!!!!

Until then, have a great week (or twoJ)!

Saved by the oven....

So this ungodly & dastardly heat subjected me to not one, but TWO nights of chickpea salads this week....as Tuesday night, I was just barely 'cool enough' to throw another one togetherJ hahahahahhahaha.   But man, or at least husbands, can not live on chickpea salads alone.  Therefore Scott had graciously offered to cook dinner last night and made some yummy stuffed peppers....

And never fear, as these stuffed peppers were not only delicious BUT they were moderately summer friendly, because all of the 'baking' was done in the toaster oven!  (God, I love that thing!)

You could also heat them up on the grill, but even the thought of turning on that baby was just NOT HAPPENING!

He started by mixing up a yummy filling.  Best part is, you probably have all of this stuff lying around in your kitchen!

• 3/4 pound lean turkey breast
• 1 cup rice, cooked  (use brown rice for even MORE nutritional benefits.  We just happened to have white on hand for PennyJ)
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 box frozen spinach, defrosted & drained
• salt & pepper

While the filing was cooking on the stove, he seeded & halved 2 red peppers and popped them in the toaster oven.  Once the turkey/rice mixture was ready, he scooped it into the warmed red pepper shells, topped them with grated cheese and popped em back in the toaster oven for about 10 minutes to warm everything through.

YUM!!!!!!!!!!!  These were sooo good!  Quick, packed with healthy ingredients and very filling....even on these "hotter than hell" nightsJ  Try em out tonight.....that is, if you have a toaster oven handy!

SO NJ is seeing no relief in sight.  The heat index is suppose to be 115 tomorrow!  YES, as in ONE ONE FIVE.  OY!  Someone get me a pina colada & a beach houseJ hahahahahhahahaha

And speaking of NJ, my fellow Jersey blogger Amanda over at the beautiful "Our Italian Kitchen" posted my guest blog for my Cappuccino Muffins.  Check it out AND check our her awesome blog!  Thanks again, Amanda!!!

Alright everyone....hope you have a good Thursday and can see the weekend within your grasp! J 

Super Simple Salad...

OK, this may be the most ridiculously, deliciously, simple salad I've ever madeJ  I had one for lunch on Saturday and could not WAIT to make it again for "Monday night salads" this week.  Are you ready for the recipe??

Here goes:

• Red leaf lettuce
• Chickpeas
• Sprinkle of grated cheese
• Olive oil whisked with lemon juice

Wallah!!!!  Sooooooooo fresh, easy and simple!  Maybe it's this heat, but I was in no mood for ANY. MORE. INGREDIENTS!  This one suited me jussssssssst fineJ

Scott, meanwhile, got a little more colorful with some broccoli, red peppers, carrots & craisins....

Hence why salad is a good "couples" meal:  It's customisableJ hahahahhahahaa....

And since my salad was a little on the 'super simple' side, I thought I'd show you one of my favorite lunches from the last week & a half...

OK, I know it's not rocket science...but these taters wrapped in plastic speed up the cooking time just a weeeeee bit!  7 minutes and you are cooked golden!

And I topped the tater with one of these numbers...

Easy, cheesy and only 40 calories a pop!  Toss this baby in along with your potato for 2 minutes and...

Tada!  You have a super low cal but VERY filling lunch that looks sorta somethin like thisJ

Use your imaginationJ

So anywayyyyss....guess who isn't walking ONE BIT outside longer than I have to today????  It's so hot that they are even having a Mr. Softee truck come visit my work today.  Funny, right?  Yet oh-so-necessary.  I'm soooooooo over this shenanigans!!! J

Have a good (and cool) Tuesday, everyone!

Get set for the week...

Hey everyone!  So we were out & about a lot this weekend (sans camera...sorry!!!) but I hoped my workout schedule from the week would be enough to jump start your "Monday Motivation"J...

Tuesday:  Bethenny yoga-40 minutes

Wednesday:  30 minute "Walk Away the Pounds" (2 miles) + 1 round of 8 pound weights (12 of each: lateral raises, overhead presses, bicep curls, tricep kickbacks & "shoulder pinches")

Thursday:  30 minutes dance + 1 round of 8 pound weights (+ 50 tricep dips)

Friday:  Bethenny yoga-40 minutes  (yes, againJ)

Sunday:  1 hour Yoga for the Warrior

Hope that starts your week off on a motivated track to try something maybe you've never done before.  (or...if your like me: keep doing what you like over & over...hahahahahahahahaha)

Have a great Monday, everyone!