Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Sunshine, Shopping And Sweets

I am diggin' this weather. Something about the warm sunshine really makes me happy! I planned on getting out for a walk this morning, but since I had to do a catch up post, I didn't make it out. I did a weighted treadmill walk instead. I tried to get my heart rate going by really pumping my arms. Boy, that works!

After my workout, I had a Weight Watchers Petite Bagel with 1 tbsp. homemade almond butter and a side of cantaloupe for 4 POINTS...




For lunch, I went with a yummy tofu scramble. This mix was 3 oz. tofu, red onion, mushrooms, spinach, roasted peppers, salsa and 2% cheese. Mmm.. my mouth is watering just writing about it! Seriously, it's that good! I had side of Triscuits for a salty crunch. A super filling 7 POINT lunch...


I went out to do a little shopping after lunch. I am in need of some summer clothes, mainly shirts. I tried on a few things and am still in amazement at the fact that I now wear a size M shirt. Comfortably. I can even get away with a Small here and there. In my mind, I still see myself as that 2x girl! Note to self: work on body image, girl!

When the daughters came home from school, I had a snack of lite string cheese, pretzel rod and clementine for 2 POINTS...

I felt like having something sweet after that. The munchies were gearing up for a visit. I decided to break out some armor...Arizona Pomegranate Green Iced Tea...



This tea comes in individual tubs that you mix with water. Each tub makes 2 Quarts. It is sugar free but, sweetened with Splenda. It is really good and helped kick the sweet munchies to the curb...


Dinner was low key tonight. The husband was traveling, so the daughters had free choice for dinner. They chose mac n chreeze (it's made with nutritional yeast instead of cheese), paninis and fruit. I decided on a panini and this new soup I picked up at my second home...

Sorry for the blurry pic! One cup serving is 1 POINT. This is a bit high in the sodium department, but has a ton of potassium!

I have to say that this soup is yuck -e. I think it is basically V-8 juice in a carton. I hate V-8 juice. Badly. Eeew. Gross. Okay, sorry. However, if you are a V-8 fan what is wrong with you? , you will definitely like this =)

Thankfully, my panini was the redeeming part of my meal. I made a ham and smoked gouda panini using 2 slices Trader Joe's Sprouted Flourless Wheatberry Bread, 2 oz. ham, 1/2 oz. lite smoked gouda, baby spinach and dijonnaise. A good 4 POINT dinner ( minus yucky soup)...


I had plenty of room for dessert and decided to conjure up a cake recipe using some overripe bananas that I had. I came up with a Chocolate Banana Cake with Cocoa Glaze. Basically, I used my whole grain Banana Bread recipe replacing the chocolate chips with unsweetened cocoa. When the "cake" was cooled, I drizzled it with a glaze made with 1 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa, 2 tbsp. powdered sugar, 1/4 tsp. instant espresso powder and 1 tbsp. water. Here's the result...


I played around with the amounts of the ingredients so as to keep it to 2 POINTS per serving(I run everything through my Weight Watchers Etools Recipe Builder). Even with the glaze, I was able to accomplish that. Here's the recipe, if you'd like to give it a try...

Chocolate Banana Cake with Cocoa Glaze
(8 servings)
  • 1 1/2 c. whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1/4 c. sugar
  • 1/4 c. Splenda
  • 1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder (such as Hershey's)
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 4 tbsp. unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 medium bananas, very ripe, mashed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix mashed bananas, applesauce, vanilla and egg in a large bowl. In another bowl, combine dry ingredients. Gradually add dry ingredients into wet ingredients until well combined. Spread batter into a 8" square baking pan sprayed well with nonstick spray. Bake for 20 -25 minutes. Let cool completely before adding glaze.

For the Cocoa Glaze, whisk together 1 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 tbsp. powdered sugar, 1/4 tsp. instant espresso powder and 1 tbsp. water. Drizzle over cooled cake.

You can have your cake and eat it, too - even with a little lite whip ...

Have a sweet night ;)

15 comments:

Wendy said...

that cake sounds great!

Sharon said...

HAHAH, I hate V8 juice too! I find it.. ugh. yeah no. Well, there are tropical varieties of V8, and I'll have that. But no thanks to tomato drinks. LOL. But glad the panini was delicious!!! I want THAT!! =D

Unknown said...

The panini looks great. I love a good sandwich. The cake looked great too, now it has me wanting chocolate, which I don't normally crave.

Thanks for following my blog BTW!

Mom on the Run said...

Oh that cake looks and sounds great!

I must make that soon :)

Kelly the Happy Texan said...

Girlfriend, that cake loks so delicious. Wish I had some right this minute.
So jealous of you wearing size M! :P I'll join you one day. hehe

I'm loving the warmer weather too. Means that swimming is coming up and people won't try to roll me back out to the water like I was a beached whale. LOL

Danica's Daily said...

Thanks for the soup review - I would have tried it since I LOVE TJ's roasted red pepper soup for 2 pts a serving.

That cake looks amazing - yum!

Di said...

Tofu...be afraid ! (Just Kidding). Actually i have to avoid soy in any form because it is a great big no no for people who have thyroid issues. While I walk through the valley of the shadow of death ( or as some call it menopause) my thyroid has gone like a girls gone wild contestant , and anything that affects it is to be avoided. But i have done tofu scrambles in the past and they are good !

Anonymous said...

It all looks so good! I will definitely try the cake. Thanks!

Reen said...

I have never tried tofu but I'm definitely intrigued by your scrambled tofu. I've added so many new things in my life, so why stop now, right? So putting tofu on the grocery list.

The chocolate banana cake looks amazing....but I don't think it would be safe for me. For some reason, chocolate has become an issue for me.

Amanda said...

Wow, that cake looks great! But what's the difference b/w ww pastry flour and regular ww flour? I looked once for the pastry flour but couldn't find it.
But I might have to try that cake! Yum! Might be a good thing to bring to family parties.

I also am not a fan of v8 juice at all! My dad loves it though. I only like the v8 splash and stuff like that!

superbecca said...

I wish I had TRADER JOES!!! Stupid Canada :( I happen to love V8 and also your dislike of it. Thanks for following my blog, and for today's laugh. I bet the soup would be good cold too like gazpacho over cucumber and shredded carrot.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your smaller size!! I'm not a fan of V8 juice either. Thanks for the tip to avoid this one. Your Chocolate Banana Cake with Cocoa Glaze looks divine!!

Unknown said...

OMG that cake looks amazing

Angela Power said...

WoooWEEEE that cake looks and sounds scrum!!!!

You're a teeny tiny Medium!! It feels great when a medium fits better!!

Marisa @Loser for Life said...

Amanda- WW pastry flour is lighter in texture than ww flour and produces a less dense baked good than using regular WW flour. I buy the Hodgson Mill brand and I find it 2 of my local supermarkets(acme and safeway) in either the baking aisle or in the natural foods aisle. You may be able to order it online, too :)