Meaty Squash

Tonight's dinner was a bit of an experiment. I cooked butternut squash (because that's what I had in the fridge) and a meaty tomato sauce. Squash: cut in half, cover with plastic wrap, and nuke for 8-10 minutes. The sauce: 1 can of diced tomatoes, 1 lb LEAN ground beef, 1/2 can of tomato paste, black olives, red onions, zucchini, mushrooms and spices. Brown the meat first (with some spices). Saute the mushrooms, zucchini and onions. Combine all ingredients in a large sauce pan. This makes a VERY thick, meaty sauce.

NOTE: This was pretty tasty, but I think I will change it in the future. This sauce would have been fabulous on spaghetti squash. For butternut squash I think I'll shoot for a spicy/sweet sausage sauce.

Now that's a steak!

The brilliant Geoff bough these fabulous steaks for dinner on Friday night. I think I was still digesting it on Sunday. Delicious. The Mediterranean salad went beautifully with them. Nom. Nom.

High protein breakfast.

Breakfast today was a delicious pile of eggs scrambled with smoked salmon and feta and a side of bacon. The eggs are easy. Simply cook the eggs mostly through. Add the salmon (cut/torn into small pieces) and feta and finish cooking. Done. Nom. Nom.


Our WOD today was modified for working out at home with limited supplies (for now). Every minute on the minute for 15 minutes of 4 pull ups, 8 squats, and 4 push ups. Short, sweet, and sweaty.

3 rep Thrusters

So I'm pretty sure I got a new PR today, but it's hard to count it as one since I don't think I've ever done a 3 rep max on thrusters before. Successfully lifted 100#, but only got 1 rep at 105#. Not too shabby, I think. Of course, it's hard to feel impressed with myself when lifting with Del & Kristina who both simply kick my butt. I love having fabulous, tough gals to lift with!

Yet another salad?

You'll probably start to notice that I make a lot of salads. It's my go-to lunch. It's quick, easy, and delicious. There are a ton of variations on salads and playing with different ingredients keeps it interesting. Today's was a double meat day honoring my favorite: bacon. Mmmm... bacon.

Chicken & bacon salad. On mixed greens with portabella mushies, red peppers, zucchini, onion slivers, and avocado.


One trick: I grill 3 chicken breasts and a huge steak at the beginning of the week. After grilling, I cut them into salad sized pieces and put them in individual sized portions in the freezer. That way, when I want a quick lunch, I can make my salad, thaw out some chicken and it saves a TON of time. Plus, it travels well if you have to take lunch to go.

March has been a busy month for me.

Here are some of the quick & easy meals I've been eating lately.

Salad = pile of veggies topped with grilled chicken and a sliced red pepper on the side.

Spinach, mushroom, and sausage omelet. I always make too much filling and it goes on the side.

Baked sweet potatoes & onions with sauteed sausage and mushrooms.

CrossFit Lunch

Went to the noon class today and had 21-15-9 of 185# dead-lifts and 75# overhead squats for lunch. 15:38 was my time. Del beat me, of course, by 37 sec. She probably would have been even faster if we hadn't had to share bars. Oh, and we definitely should have done 85# overheads.

Afterwards I rewarded myself with a hot shower followed by a Susan Standard Salad. Green leaf lettuce with tomatoes, mushies, red onions, green peppers, snow peas, and grilled chicken topped with a oil & vinegar dressing and fresh ground black pepper.

Hospital Food.

Who knew it could be so yummy. I worked at St. Francis Medical Center Wednesday. Lunch was so good (pictured below) that I bought dinner on my way out. No need for home cooking.

Salsa chicken and veggies.

Pan Fry - Chicken & Sausage

Tuesdays are my long days. Class from 9:25 - 4:20, finishing with Physical Chemistry lab. Then hurrying down to CrossFit for a good workout. Since I missed yesterday's WOD and it looked like fun, I decided to give that suck-fest a shot today. Modified to my abilities I did 3 rounds of 25 Jumping Muscle Ups, 100 Squats, 35 GHD sit ups (regular situps for rounds 2 & 3). Took me 27:19. And, yes, it sucked. :)

Fortunately for me, I have left overs! No cooking necessary tonight. I reheated some of yesterday's dinner (featured below) and had some squash w/ applesauce to go with it. Took all of 3 minutes to put together. Good thing, too. I could have eaten someone's arm.


Pan Fry - Chicken & Sausage
Cut brussel sprouts, broccoli, and asparagus into bite sizes and steam. Cut chicken & sausage into bite sizes. Cook in a wok with coconut oil and spices (I used a cajun mix this time). When meat is just about done, add in veggies. Spice to taste. And done.

Pretty simple. Just one note... if you're going to add red peppers, make sure the lid of the jar doesn't come off while your shaking them into the wok. Whew! I scraped as much out as possible and still my mouth was burning. Those who know my love of hot foods can tell you that it's really saying something if I think a food is too hot. :) Ooops.