I have to brag for a minute.
<brag>
I did NOT want to go to Jazzercise tonight. I was tired, it was gorgeous out, and all I wanted to do was sit outside and read a book. But, JUST in time, I saw a message from Stephanie at Back In Skinny Jeans that said something like “if you don’t want to exercise, make a deal with yourself: Just 10 minutes. Bet you’ll do more!” So I got in my car and drove to class, saying “I might not stay the whole class.” We got started, and I got into it, and I even did some of the routines “high impact” instead of the wussed-out versions I normally do. When we finished the class, I had sweat dripping down my back, my face was beet red, my legs were shaking… and when I got to the car I checked my Polar F6 as I always do, expecting to see my usual 620 calorie burn. Oh no. It was not 620. It was not even 720. I burned 760 calories in an hour! I don’t know what was so different about this class… maybe it was the new routines, maybe the self-challenge, but I rocked it!
<\brag>
Now, onto dinner. This meal looks so much like so many other meals I’ve made, but I guarantee you it tasted different. I took the chicken method from my mock KFC bowl last week, and made more normal-sized pieces of chicken. At the produce market, I found for $4.40 a pound of chicken cutlets, which were whole chicken breasts cut widthwise into thin slices. They were GREAT! I got to eat 3 pieces of chicken for the “damage” of one! I also used panko crumbs instead of regular bread crumbs to save on calories even more.
So there’s the mustard chicken. Here’s the sweet potato (we shared this plate):
It was a great, simple dinner, and I’m perfectly satisfied. I do WANT something sweet, but I’ll probably have a small bowl of cereal later. Now, a little bit of rewinding is necessary…
Last night, after reading on Thinspired about the BSI being bananas, I immediately set to work making something. I had no idea what I was doing, but luckily I used measuring cups and spoons! I call them:
Mini Choco-Coco-Banana Tea Cakes
makes 6 mini-cakes
Ingredients
1 cup rolled oats
2 Tbsp dry chocolate PB2
1/2 c. light vanilla Silk soy milk
1 banana, cut into pieces
6 tsp. shredded coconut
Directions
Combine ingredients in a blender, food processor, or, like I did, a cup that fit my stick blender. Blend all ingredients thoroughly until a thick batter forms. Allow to sit about 10 minutes while you pre-heat the oven to 200*. Spoon the batter onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. Sprinkle each with a teaspoon of coconut. Bake until dried out a bit, about 40 minutes. The inside will still be moist and cakey. Enjoy!
Now, while still in rewind mode…last night, I got an email from Brandi about a fun dinner she made!! She was my first un-provoked Guest for Dinner! I met Brandi a couple years ago on the Weight Watchers message boards, and she’s been my “beach” and friend ever since! So, Brandi, pull up a chair, have a seat at my table, and tell us about your meal!
Spaghetti Bowl
Sauce:
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 6 oz. cremini mushrooms
- 1 large (28 oz.) can of crushed tomatoes
- 1 14 oz. can tomato sauce
- 1 tsp tomato paste
- 1/2 cup water
- oregano
- garlic powder
- chopped onion
- italian seasoning
- crushed red pepper
- salt
- pepper
- Heat pot over medium heat.
- Add mushrooms and cook until browned. Add in onions now, if using and let cook until softened.
- Add in ground beef/other protein source of choice and let brown.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste and water. Stir together.
- Add in all spices to taste and let simmer 10 minutes.
I made a layered pasta bowl for dinner and it was good! 1.5 cups spinach on the bottom
1/2 cup green beans
1 cup whole wheat angel hair pasta
1/2 cup of so of the sauce
Sprinkle with a pinch (or handful!) of parmesan and enjoy!
Thanks Brandi!! That really does look like a fantastic meal, and I love all the veggie layering action going on there!
Would YOU like to be my guest for dinner? Send an email to mara@imadedinner.net outlining a dinner you’ve made (or eaten at a great restaurant!) with photos, a recipe, and description, and I’ll post it!
In other (EXCITING!!!) news, the “really cool thing(s)” arrived today! You only have to wait about a week to find out what it/they are! AND I absolutely cannot contain myself because tomorrow, I’m having a blogger dinner with Jenn from EatingBender, Michelle from LuckyTasteBuds, Shannon from The Daily Balance, and another foodie friend at a fabulous Cuban restaurant!! I CAN’T WAIT!!!
QOTD: What are you excited about? Do you have anything youn are looking forward to soon? For me, its the blogger meet-up, the end of the school year, the start of my summer job, and FARMERS MARKETS!
TGIAF!















definitely looking forward to the end of this term at school.
your tea cakes look cute! i really want to try PB2!
Emily´s last blog post..Reasons why today has been a good day
[Click to reply]
So I have to admit I have NO idea what Jazzercise is but MY GOD you burn a ton of calories doing it!!!!!!!!!! lol
TorontoGirloutWest´s last blog post..Maybe Blogger is Still Angry at Me
[Click to reply]
WAY TO GO on your exercise today! It sounds like such a fun class
Olga´s last blog post..TV Land.
[Click to reply]
Good for you on going to jazzercise!!
Wasn’t today so perfect outside? I went walking at lunch with my co-workers and it was hard to come back in!
Good eats as well!
Jenn@slim-shoppin´s last blog post..Savory breakfast muffins
[Click to reply]
WOW! Way to kick ass at Jazzercise! I’m just enjoying the summer… school’s going to really kill me starting in August.
Victoria´s last blog post..An Indian Feast
[Click to reply]
Holy Cow that’s a ton of calories in an hour!!! I’m jealous. All I did was a wimpy walk, lol. Way to exercise when you were tired and didn’t feel like it.
Chicken and sweet potatoes, no meal could make this girl happier!!!
Melissa´s last blog post..Trying To Catch Up
[Click to reply]
Oh, how I would love to have one of the tea cakes right now…
Have a great dinner tomorrow!
[Click to reply]
Ohh how fun for the meet-up, you’ll have to write up about the Cuban restaurant so I can see if it’s good!
I agree today WAS beautiful – good job on resisting reading. I love reading on our back patio, but today was windy!
Christina´s last blog post..Chicken Caesar Salad
[Click to reply]
YAY! glad you went and enjoyed yourself and had a blast blasting 760 kcal an hour! wow, girl! and your chicken looks better than KFC’s, def!
Sophia´s last blog post..Oiling up my rusty culinary skills
[Click to reply]
hey i really love design of your page! Your site really serves as a model for me to follow as I am building mine! If you wanna find some sources of humour and laughter ! Please go to my site!
[Click to reply]
that is such a great attitude – it’s true, once you get started, you are more than likely to want to carry on! i will have to remember this!
your BSI entry looks yuuuuum
mi´s last blog post..the choice is yours
[Click to reply]
I can’t believe you just whipped that up off the cuff like that!
The blogger dinner is going to be SO much fun. I can’t waitt to hear recaps from all you lovely ladies
Lara (Thinspired)´s last blog post..BSI Reminder!
[Click to reply]
hmmm, excited about the husband returning monday? Im going with that
MizFit´s last blog post..Stonyfield Farm Organic Yogurt is…
[Click to reply]
it was so good that you went to the workout at the end….. it’s also harder to move from home to the class than doing the class itself!
great BSI entry~
I’m looking forward to start my summer intern!
coco´s last blog post..Family issues!
[Click to reply]
Hi Mara! I just found your blog and I love it!
Love your choco-banana tea cakes! I thought I would try the BSI this time, too and came up with choc banana cupcakes! Great minds think alike:)
Looking forward to hearing about your blogger dinner – love jenn bender!!
Marisa (Trim The Fat)´s last blog post..Someone’s In The Kitchen
[Click to reply]
[...] sure to check out Mara’s blog today – I was her dinner guest last night!** Thanks for having me, [...]
great job on the jazzercise – that is awesome
Your BSI Recipe looks really good, too!
Thanks again for “having me over for dinner”!
….mmm, I’m excited about a possible girls weekend soon, my 5 year(!) wedding anniversary at the end of the month, and my trip to Honduras this summer.
brandi´s last blog post..Read, Run, Rain, Refuel
[Click to reply]
congrats on the jazzercise success!!! surprise killer workouts like that are the best. and whyyyyyy do we have to wait a whole week to find out this super exciting thing that arrived???
i’m jealous of your blogger dinner. you’re going to have so much fun!
Sarah (Tales of Expansion)´s last blog post..Influence
[Click to reply]
Great job @ Jazzercise, lady! I love Skinny Jeans – I follow her on Twitter too and I love when she says, “Go drink a glass of water” – I always listen!
Great guest dinner post tonight too!
Can’t wait to hear about this foodie adventure.
Rose´s last blog post..It’s like totally PROM tonight.
[Click to reply]
YAAAY mara for going to jazzercise!
Pearl´s last blog post..Trypophobia
[Click to reply]
Getting there is 90% of the battle. Good work!
Have a fun blog date!!!
Hangry Pants´s last blog post..She Says: On the Fence
[Click to reply]
I am so proud of you for going to class last night! I’ve been noticing that the newer Jazzercise routines are kicking up my heart rate and calorie burning as well!! It’s awesome. LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog!
-Stephanie
Stephanie´s last blog post..PRODUCT REVIEW: It’s Shake ‘N Bake and he helped!
[Click to reply]
LOVE panko!
I’m looking forward to my mini-vacation…although I’ll be honest, it requires being in public in a bathing suit AND golfing, and I’m extremely self-consious about both! (well, less so with the golfing…I know I’ll suck and that’s that!)
Hallie´s last blog post..Easy, Yummy Doctored-Up Soup
[Click to reply]
Wow, you killed that Jazzercise class!
I’m excited about vacation!
Jess´s last blog post..Cross-training and Daily Run: Anxiety
[Click to reply]
My daughter loves the skinny chicken cutlets – she doesn’t like the “fat” parts!
Kudos on doing the jazzercise! See, you never regret doing it after you are done exercising!
I think I’ll jump in with BSI bananas this week – cherries by me last week were $7 a pound!
Biz´s last blog post..“Would you like tots with that?”
[Click to reply]