my most used kitchen appliance + healthy, quick, flavorful, FRESH brussels sprouts

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pancaaaaaakes! this recipe is older than Chiso but it's a quick, healthy, goodie. dump the following into your blender. everythang!

  • 1/2 cup oat bran or oatmeal
  • 1 banana
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cashew milk
  • dash sea salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

 Chiso (4 yrs) usually asks for homemade pancakes, waffles, or oatmeal for breakfast.  i have been throwing everything on my griddle usual! it's my staple appliance cause it's just so easy and convenient.  plus the price tag was SO worth it. our previous griddle seriously lasted like 10 + years, no lie.  that's using it at least 5 times per week too!  get you one.  30 bucks!

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last week was Red Ribbon Week and the kids got to wear different things on different days to preschool.  this guy could not WAIT for thursday cause it was pajama day!! he was the only one with pajama shorts as we walked up to school, lol. we sent this pic straight to Granny.

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immediately after school, it's lunch time. kids are just like adults; if they go a few hours without eating, attitudes and tantrums pop right on up. so once home, you guessed it, i whipped my grill right back out and threw some Applegate organic uncured turkey hotdogs on there with some Nature's Own whole wheat buns.   i add some shredded colby jack to Chiso's and he is good to go.

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i got in a workout while Chi was at school and i stopped by Sprouts Farmers Market before heading to pick him up.  fresh brussels sprouts are on sale this week so that prompted me to finally put some in my cart. i have never cooked fresh sprouts before yall, only frozen! i have definitely been missing out.....

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do you see that beautiful green!? gorgeous!  i washed the sprouts, halved them first, then chopped up one yellow onion and diced a handful of turkey pepperoni. next, i coated my pan in olive oil spray,  then threw everything into my cast iron skillet on medium high heat and let it sauté for about 12-15 minutes. didn't have turkey bacon but the pepperoni was the next best thing IMO. i added a squirt of coconut aminos, cracked black pepper, and BOOM. quick, healthy, and flavorful. 20151030_163808-1

 i'm stickin' with fresh from now on. #sold20151030_163816-1

apparently balsamic vinaigrette is the key ingredient to tasty brussels sprouts!  i got several facebook and IG comments about adding a bit to my  sauté next time. duly noted! can't wait to try!  also a bit of honey is an option as well.

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the sprouts paired perfectly with our wild chipotle paprika salmon, also on sale at Sprouts this week. i baked a 2 lb fillet for 14 minutes on 450 degrees, fyi.94251daea9bbf8edba6262d02c2b9909don't be all talk and no action!  get on your grind and handle your business. actions will always speak louder than words, fit friends.

Q: how do you cook your sprouts?  what else can i throw in my skillet with them that you've tried (and love)?

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this post contains affiliate links. you will not pay more when buying a product through my link. however, ordering via my link helps me to continue to offer you lots of free stuff!!! thank you in advance for your support.

wienervention - the cleanest hot dog i've ever eaten

another early gym date accomplished this morning and officially 1 month postpartum! i expect to get a lot done today. CYMERA_20140717_115153

i had my usual preworkout snack, some hot, magical coffee, and headed out for an hour of treadmill intervals. i alternated btw:

5 incline @ 4 mph - 5 minutes

15 incline @ 3 mph - 5 minutes 

walking IS boring but there are ways you can rev it up.  i always swing my arms vigorously, walk heel-to-toe with a wide stride, and i never hold the side rails either. that's cheatiiiiing ;)

can i do a blog #throwbackthursday? i'm doin' it anyway!

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while we were headed home from the hospital last month with our brand new baby boy, something beat us there- my Wienervention Kit from Applegate!!!

that nostalgic red and white pattern always reminds you of what? a summer picnic, yep.

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however, the Houston heat was too much and i just wanted to lay down somewhere and stuff my face in the AC.  i'd like to give a gigantic high-five and thank you to one of my favorite natural and organic brands, Applegate, for the goods. i knew the kit was on the way, but it slipped my mind after giving birth and all.  my mom and aunt were at our house tidying up and waiting to help out with our new family member, so unbeknownst to Sonny & i, they went ahead and cracked the kit open and prepared a welcome home lunch for us! perfect timing, right?

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i actually used to avoid hot dog wieners for this very reason...  i've always thought of them as the wack parts of meat that didn't make the cut all blended up together with fat and other UFOs.  i would only have them every blue moon, like july 4th or memorial day at somebody's BBQ. at home? not so much.  also, reading 'mechanically separated turkey, chicken, or beef' in the ingredients list is not very appetizing. thank God we have many healthier options to choose from these days; these Applegate wieners are in a league of their own! a wienerventioW was overdue.

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rest assured these top-notch dogs are:

  • all natural
  • contain no antibiotics
  • humanely raised beef fed vegetarian/grain diet
  • gluten-free
  • casein-free
  • contain no fillers
  • contain recognizable ingredients! every single one.
  • really, really tasty.

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nailed that presentation.

they also sent along condiments, cause you can't build a stellar dog without them.

20140619_185515_1 for the buns, we had a choice of Rudi's Organic Bakery Multigrain or White hot dog buns!  i loved them both and you can snag a coupon for a bag of your choice right on their website. 20140620_144055_1from the bun, to the condiments, to the wiener, this is THE cleanest hot dog i've ever eaten.

time to change the meat you eat and give Applegate a try.

in newborn news, CYMERA_20140717_114845

i think he'll be tall.

more tummy time, aka, push up practice!

le