"I can't believe it's not potatoes"

I want to start off by saying HAPPY FRIDAY!! I am ready to kick off my shoes, pull on a bathing suit, and relax by the pool all weekend. I look forward to this day all week. Sometimes sitting behind a desk all week can make me a little crazy.

 

Now to my wonderful recipe

Growing up I was a huge fan of potatoes. Some might say I was a little obsessed with potatoes , like my dad. Just a funny story about that on this rainy, cold Friday. One night he had taken my brothers, sister and I out to eat to a buffet (my mom was out of town for some reason) probably so he didn't have to cook :). Anyways I go to fill my first plate up and I get a huge roll and a half a plate of mashed potatoes. I eat that then go back for a little bit more of the tasty mashed potatoes and when I finish that as I get up to go have my final plate (probably mashed potatoes) my dad says " Melissa if you get mashed potatoes again and not something healthy you are going to get a spanking". So I listened to what he said went and got a plate and this time I got a baked potato. I came back to the table and he said" Melissa what did I tell you". I looked at him very seriously as said "what daddy you said I couldn't get mashed potatoes. " haha This story always makes me laugh. Now days I can't eat mashed potatoes for every meal or I would be as big as a house. I probably haven't had a potato well since I started my healthy living lifestyle. Now I do miss them but I like my skinny jeans better. So I decided to find something that would help my potato craving. Boy did I. Before I found this recipe I had never even heard of this veggie. It is a called rutabaga. Right? Weird name I know. So I went to the grocery story and picked one and came home to try out this new recipe.

What you will need

1 rutabaga

any seasoning you like on potatoes ( I used garlic, Italian seasoning and paprika)

a peeler ( to peel the outside)

a VERY sharp knife

cooking spray

 

 

Preheat oven to 400"

Start by peeling off the outer layer.

After completely peeled, get ready for an arm workout. These things are tough to cut.

I ended up having to microwave for a few minutes to soften it up because I clearly didn't have a sharp enough knife.

Once you finally get it cut up put on baking sheet and add your seasoning and cooking spray (some people add olive oil but I think that is just extra calories)

Once everything is added put in the oven for about 15 to 20 minutes ( flipping halfway through)

Once they are golden brown and crispy, let cool and......

 

 

enjoy your " I can't believe there not potatoes"

 

 

All I have to say about today's workout is, wheeewww, this girl is sore.

 

Week 1 Workout 4

Today's workout

 

Treadmill: 15 minutes- incline 15 and 3.5 mph the 4 minutes jogging at 4.5 mph then ended with 1 minutes of 5.5 mph.

 

25 sit ups

25 mountain climbers

25 leg raises

1 minute plank

(I repeated this 3 times)

 

Day 115:

Post workout smoothie: handful of spinach, 2 tablespoons of pb, 1 banana, 2 ice cubes and a cup of almond milk

Breakfast: 2 eggs with skim cheese and a teaspoon of sugar free syrup

Snack: homemade hummus and broccoli

Lunch: Romaine lettuce, skim cheese, tuna and hot sauce as dressing

snack: mixed nuts

Dinner: homemade Skinny Mozzarella Sticks

 

64 days no diet mountain dew- 18 days no soda



 

 





Spicy Homemade Hummus

I was introduced to hummus this year and the first time I tried it I was like, whoa, how have I missed this. Then I found out that it is healthy? I was in heaven. Buttt it can be rather expensive. It can range from $4 to $7 (for just a little). Now me being the person that I am (cheap), I hate spending money on food. So a lot of the time I will make a homemade version and it ends up being so much cheaper. So that is what I did. All together this cost me about $8 buttt it made enough to last me for weeks.

What you will need

2 can of chickpeas

1/2 green pepper

1/2 red pepper

2 1/2 garlic cloves

juice from 1 lemon

2 jalapenos

sriracha hot sauce (of course this is only if you want it really spicy)



 

 

Start by dicing all your veggies

 



 

Then add all ingredients to a blender or food processor. If you only have a blender (like me) add a little bit at a time and blend, it makes it easier on your blender. Once everything is blended well,

 

Pour into container to store in fridge.

Let refrigerate for about an hour or until chilled.



 

Then enjoy your Spicy Homemade Hummus. ( I topped mine with extra hot sauce, of course)

 

Then I cut up some broccoli for some yummy dipping. (great for a snack at work)

 

I then noticed I had some leftover peppers so I chopped them up and made an omelet for breakfast this morning. ( more veggies in my belly the better)

 

 

 

Now to my workout....

 

It is amazing how different my mornings are now that I am getting up earlier to go to the gym. I even ended up getting ready faster this morning and did some house cleaning before I left for work. Yes, you heard me right, house cleaning. So since 6am I have worked out for 45 minutes, showered and gotten ready, vacuumed the living room and hallway, cleaned Motor's bathroom, and straightened up the kitchen. I don't think I have ever finished that much that early, so once again I am pretty proud of myself.

 

I like to say this to myself every morning when I hear that loud alarm clock.

 

Week 1 Workout 3 

My workout today

20 minutes on the treadmill (14 incline - 3.5 mph)

3 times 10 push ups

100 crunches

30 squats

2 times 25 bicycle crunches

30 lunges both legs

2 times 20 side crunches

50 reverse crunches

2 times 20 mason twists

20 scissor kicks

 

Day 114:

Post workout smoothie: handful of spinach 1 1/2 tablespoons of PB, strawberries, almond milk and 3 ice cubes.

Breakfast: 2 eggs with red and green peppers

Snack: broccoli and hummus

Lunch: turkey sausage pasta with spaghetti squash & side salad with skim cheese and balsamic vinaigrette

Snack: mixed nuts

Dinner:

 

63 no diet mountain dew- 17 no soda