Wednesday, October 14, 2009

A Crock Of…

It was a rushed morning, mainly caused by me trying to fit in some things before leaving the house.  Gotta cross stuff off the list!!!  No time for a proper breakfast, but I wasn’t that hungry anyway and knew I wanted to run, so I didn’t want a whole lot in my stomach.  I grabbed a Chobani and bagged up an apple for later…

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I got to the gym and went right to the treadmill.  I ran at a decent clip for 2 miles, then walked the rest at an incline.  I forgot to take some Advil beforehand and my hip acted up a little toward the end of the run, but seemed okay for the walk.  I’m trying not to focus on it too much because I think my fear that it will hurt and keep me from finishing the race is weighing on my mind and it’s almost like I’m making it hurt more!  It’s that psychological game.

After the gym, I ate my bagged up breakfast in the car and headed to the supermarket.  I picked up something new to try for lunch- Gardenburger Portabella Veggie Burger

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I thought it would taste great with some of this topping…

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And it did!  I served it on an Ezekiel Sesame Seed Hamburger Bun (love) with some Trader Joe’s Sea Salt and Pepper Rice Chips and 3 darling clementines…

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The afternoon was a blur of picking up and dropping off and waiting and driving.  Yay for afterschool activities :(  I made sure to bring my “car snack” so I wouldn’t be screaming come dinner!  I found one of these Kashi TLC Pumpkin Pie bars in the pantry (a little past date-okay, a lot past, but I’m still alive!) and thought it would be just right for EWD (eating while driving) <---  that was very “Rachel Ray” wasn’t it? …

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I also needed a little pick me up.  I chose a little bubbly.  No, not that kind.  This kind…

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I grabbed another Zevia before I left.  This flavor was black cherry and not my favorite, although I find anything black cherry flavored to be too medicinal tasting in general!

We finally made it home at dinner time.  I had planned ahead, so dinner was waiting in the crockpot.  Or as I like to call it “The Crocker”.  I have a love/hate relationship with The Crocker.  I want to love it;  I really do.  I feel it would be an excellent time saving/ meal prepping tool.  HOWEVER, nothing and I mean nothing, I make in The Crocker ever comes out very well.  It’s overdone, overdry or has a  weird texture.  When I take The Crocker out and put it on the counter, the husband and daughters run.  They know nothing good can come of The Crocker.  But, my middle name is perseverance and I keep trying!  This dinner disaster came in the form of Balsamic Apricot Pork Tenderloin.  It had the potential for greatness.  I used a 1 lb. pork tenderloin and put it in The Crocker with 1/4 c. balsamic vinegar, 1/4 c. apricot preserves, garlic, thyme, s + p.  I put it on low for about 4 hours.  Dry and tough.  Yes, it broke apart leading me to believe it would be succulent pieces of deliciousness, but it had a dry texture to it.  Unappealing.  You can imagine the response from the peanut gallery ;P  The saving grace was the roasted diced sweet potatoes (I pre-roasted earlier in the day and reheated at dinner) and green salad with evoo and balsamic…

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This lackluster dinner left me wanting dessert.  I was in the mood for coffee, too, so I decided to mix the two!  I made up another version of a Mock Mocha Frappuccino, this time using some Silk Heart Health Vanilla Soymilk

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I was sent a few coupons a while back to try this out.  We are already Silk soymilk fans;  little daughter has been drinking  the plain Silk since being diagnosed with a milk protein allergy at 8 months old.  Thankfully, she has outgrown that allergy and some others, but continues to drink the plain Silk because she likes soymilk better!

To make  my Mock Mocha Frappuccino, I used 1/2 c. Silk Heart Health Vanilla Soymilk, 1/2 c. Breyers Fat Free Double Churn French Chocolate Ice Cream (for some reason, I have 3 containers in my freezer!), 1 tsp. instant espresso powder and blended it up with about 5 ice cubes.  It was awesome!  I topped it with a tiny squirt of light whip…

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This tasted just like the real thing!  And for about the same calories – mine came to 145 calories with whip!  This might be a daily thing now, just warning ya!

Since I like to share, I have 4 more Silk Heart Health coupons for a free half gallon in my possession, so I’ll be glad to give them to 4 lucky winners!  Just leave a comment here and you’ll be entered.  If you don’t have a blog, make sure to leave your email address with your comment so that I can contact you.  I’ll announce the winner on Friday morning, October 16th.

Have a great day!

ONE GOOD THING:  I made sure to have my snacks with me so that I wouldn’t be tempted to overeat at other meals:)

Question(s) of the Day:  Do you use a crock pot?  What the heck do you make in that thing that comes out good??!!

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi,

We love boneless country pork ribs, bottle barb. sauce, and sliced onions in the crockpot. Low for 8 hours and they are great.
Lori L.

Amanda said...

Would love a coupon. I'm scared to buy it! This would get me to try it!

I use a crockpot sometimes, but I might make taco soup, chili and sometimes a chicken meal in it. In fact, recently I made chicken posole. But I made a sweet and sour chicken before too which was good. I don't use it often though, would like to use it more.

Sorry, you have such trouble with it! My parents make roasts and things with theirs.

Chinye said...

Hi There!

Love the blog, gives me great inspirations on meals to try. I for one have only managed to make soup in a crock pot (go ahead and laugh, i know lol).

I would love to get a coupon! I'm lactose intolerant so you can imagine how nice this would be! I've already subscribed and will be checking back to see if I've won!

Anonymous said...

I have a crock pot, and seriously, nothing I have made in it has come out tasting as good as if I had just made it in the oven. I have the same problem, meat is tough, has an odd flavor, or is just "wrong". I'm like you, I'd LOVE to love it, but really...it just doesn't work out for me.

Di said...

I use mine a lot, and I have figured out its quirks. First, NEVER put anything in before lunchtime or it will turn out horrible. Second- never cook chicken in it because it will turn out dry and funky tasting . That being said the best things I make in mine are BBQ pork ( take a cut of pork, dump BBQ sauce on it and shred it after 4 hrs) Black bean chili ( a can of black beans, a pound of ground turkey and a large jar of Aldi's mild salsa) or a very basic marinara sauce involving meat, tomato sauce, spices and NO other veggies . It seems modern day low cookers heat a lot higher ( something like 325 degrees) and they like red meat or pork products better than poultry.

Shhhhh said...

Ooooooh, free stuff! :)

I use my crock at least twice a week. I'd be lost without it! My favorite crock meal is Italian chicken. I have the recipe on my blog somewhere. Other things I make in the crock: chicken nachos, au gratin potatoes with turkey ham, turkey breast with dressing, roasts, meatballs for subs, and lots more!

Joanna@BooneDocksWilcox said...

Other folks LOVE the crock pot but I've never made anything too tasty in it. Thanks so much for all the photo's, idea's, and weight-control support, I really enjoy coming to your site.

bostonred said...

I love my crockpot - it lets me have a nice dinner on Sunday evenings *and* lets me watch football games!
I am very fond of this blog :
http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/

In fact, my cookbook with recipes from that site just arrived today!

I find that the saucier a dish is, the better the crockpot works. Soups are the best.

Best of luck on Saturday in your run!
-sue

KHedman said...

My favorite crockpot recipe is Salsa Chicken - 4 FROZEN, boneless, skinless chicken breasts, jar of salsa, can of drained/rinsed black beans, and a can of drained corn. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Chicken will shred easily. You can eat it as is, or I like to put the filling in a wrap. I find using frozen chicken helps alot, but you have to cook on low for the 6-8 hours, not high. Good luck!

Family Fitness Files said...

I rely on my crock pot a lot - favorite is apple butter BBQ pork ribs. Also like to make Salisbury steak in there. Lots of things, too many to list! It's a lifesaver on long days with kids going to various activities. Soups and chilis are easy in there. Also great for heating up apple cider and having it ready on snowy days! Ahhhh!

Katie Metzler said...

First time commenter... and this is totally random too. My boyfriend's last name is Crocker so everytime I read "The Crocker" it made me laugh.

Katie

Lori said...

I really like crock pot cooking. Try the pork roast with 1/2 a bottle of bbq sauce on let it cook on low all day. Yum!

I think maybe the vinegar was the problem?

Girl in Carolina said...

I usually only make chili in mine, or sometimes chicken. That frap sounds YUMMMM!!!

PS I'll be rooting you on for your 5K - can't wait to hear how yours goes. We'll have to compare notes! :) I'm nervous as heck too!

Andrea@WellnessNotes said...

I haven't used my crockpot in a long time, but experimenting with it is on my "to do" list... I am a bit afraid that it will turn out dry, so I guess that's why I am avoiding it...

janetha said...

i am an acronym lover so EWD made me smile! the portabello burgers look great and i love that TJs spread. your slimmed down shake is amaaazing! make me one! :) one good thing: im going to the dentist today! i have never used my crock pot.. i want some ideas!

Meghan said...

I'm sorry your pork didn't turn out - that really sounded like a good recipe! I usually don't have trouble with the slow cooker, but I honestly can't tell you what it is I do that makes things turn out right. Perhaps you needed more liquid to keep the meat tender?

Kristen J said...

Would love to try the Mock Mocha Frap with the silk. :-)

My favorite thing to cook in a crock pot is veggie chili. To me, chili tastes better if it simmers all day, and the crock pot is the best way to do that!

Anonymous said...

I don't own a crockpot, but it seems like a very easy way to cook for the busy bees out there.

I was drooling over Biz's pulled pork tho. I think she made it with a crockpot too.

Currently enjoying the Silk Heart Health soymilk too. Yay for spreading the Silk love.

Miz said...

I LOVED my crockpot when I lived on the east coast.
I still use it here but only for overnight oats :)

Joanna Sutter (Fitness & Spice) said...

I know it's been said, but I love overnight steel cut oats in my crock pot.

I also have been playing around with home made soups already this Fall and plan on using the ole crock for good stuff like that.

By the way, chobani? My fave!

Jessica @ The Virtual Scrapbook said...

OH, I want to win a coupon!! :) Love your blog, found it randomly (that's how it always is, right?) and rely on your daily entertainments! :)

Unknown said...

i'd love to try silk - thanks for the opportunity!

autumn398 @ yahoo.com

Tales from the Edge said...

I use the crockpot for soups like lentil or split pea. I must say for meat its tough because it seems that the best meat I have ever made has been with less lean meats like spare ribs, pot roast and chili. Not very friendly for watching your weight.

I really try to use leaner cuts but add more liquid. Root veggies are great too. Make sure you really season or it will taste blah.

electropositive said...

hi! I always read but never comment, but I had to interject to share crock pot recipes!

my house's favorite is pulled pork, like mentioned above. I use a whole pork shoulder (or some other cheapo cut of pork): let simmer in water all day, shred, add tons of sauce to taste!

Cuban black bean soup, made with water instead of stock (just let the beans soak, and their natural juices make the best dark dark stock!). I use a variety of recipes but the water is the trick :)

and the other best one is super easy: a few frozen chicken breasts, a can of shredded pineapple, and a few squirts of assorted flavorings (I often use salad dressing, flavored oils, or whatever else I have around). Let simmer till the chicken falls apart, serve over rice. Yum! I may make that this week!

Love your blog :)

healthandfitnessgeek.com said...

i love your choice of food delicious and healthy .