Curried Udon Noodles with Chicken

Although we would typically do something fancy or go out to eat for our Anniversary, a Monday night called for cooking at home. We had steaks for Father's Day on Sunday, so I was thinking something more on the lines of chicken for Monday's dinner. The hubs and I are celebrating our anniversary this Friday here in Raleigh and are pretty excited about it. My husband worked here in college and has been raving about it since the day I met him, yet I have never been. We are FINALLY going and are pretty darn excited about it. So that will be our "special treat" dinner!

Back to the matter at hand. I bought udon noodles a couple months ago, but still had them in the pantry. I have never cooked with udon noodles, but gave it a whirl last night. The recipe took a little more time that I had expected, but it was yummy. I added chicken in which I had marinate for a few hours with soy sauce and garlic, and also added mushrooms and peanuts to the recipe. Those are the main changes that I did. Thai dinner it was! Click here for the recipe.

On the side we had a spinach salad with toasted almonds and craisins. For dessert we had peanut butter/chocolate icecream (yum) with a side of my latest obsession: date bars. Holy yum.

Little slideshow for our Anniversary :)

Happy 2nd Year Anniversary! on PhotoPeach

Happy 2nd Anniversary!

Daniel,

Happy 2nd Anniversary! It seems like just yesterday I was getting ready to walk down the isle to you. So much has happened in the past two years and it all has made us stronger and closer than ever before. We bought a house and survived the remodeling adventures, we also both went through layoff's and came out better than ever because of them. We have learned that life ain't easy, but together we can get through it.

You are my best friend. You make me laugh every.single.day. You are my biggest cheerleader. You are my problem solver. You are so much to me and more.

I love that you are such a big family man. Your family is so important to you as is important to me. I love that you tell your family that you love them, and do this often. I love that you like to joke and are always making others laugh. I love that you love our furbabies, Zeus and Zoey. You are one day going to be an incredible father. I love how you always put me first. I love how we can laugh about the stupidest things so much that is brings us to tears. I love how you work hard to support our family. I could go on and on and on, but most of all...I love how you love me and I love you SO much.

Happy 2nd Anniversary...here's to many, many more!

**Stay tuned for something special on the blog that I will post later tonight!**

5 Ingredient No Bake Date Bars

I love dates. My Mom makes an amazing date cake and my Grandmother makes yummy date cookies. Now folks, I have the perfect and fairly healthy date bar recipe. I had a bar last night for dessert and it was so moist, filling and bursting with flavor. I think I may love dates as much as chocolate...this is a good thing! I have a feeling I will be making this recipe very often...soooo yummy!!!!! I got the recipe from this blog and she got it from here. This recipe calls for coconut oil. I have never used coconut oil before, but found it at a nearby health food store-Good Foods Grocery.

Crust:

1.5 cups whole raw almonds
1.5 cups regular oats
1/2 t. salt
10 Medjool dates, pitted and roughly chopped
1/4 cup coconut oil

Date Filling:

25 Medjool dates, pitted and roughly chopped (about 2.5 cups)
1/2 cup water

Directions:

-Line a square pan (I used 8in x 8in) with two pieces of parchment paper going opposite ways.
-In a food processor (or a blender), process the almonds, salt, and oats until a fine crumble forms.
-Now add in the 10 dates and process until crumbly again.
-Melt the coconut oil and add to the mixture (mine was at room temp. and I just stirred it up and it was fine) and process until sticky.
-Set aside 3/4 cup of the mixture for later!
-Press the rest of the mixture very firmly and evenly into the pan.

-Grab your 25 chopped dates and water and process in the food processor (or blender) until a paste forms. You will have to stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl often.
-Scoop out the date mixture onto the crust and gently spread with the back of a wet spatula until even.

-Spinkle on the 3/4 cup of mixture you set aside and gently press down with fingers.
-Refrigerate until firm for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight.
-Cut and serve!
-Store in the fridge or freezer.

Give this a try and let me know what you think!

Happy Father's Day to my wonderful Dad!!!! My Dad has the biggest heart and is the hardest working man I know. He is the best role model for his children and is always there to offer us advice and support. Dad started training with me a few weeks ago at 6 am on Tuesdays and Thursdays and he is doing great! It is such a special treat to have this time with him during the weekday. Because of this he is feeling and looking great...GO DAD!! I love you! We are going to celebrate this evening with steaks, baked potatoes, green beans and a pie...all his favorite things.

Happy Father's Day to all of the father's out there! What are you doing this Father's Day?

Not being able to run= Not a happy woman

Throughout the MANY years of being active and a personal trainer I have gone out of my way to be very careful to not injure my body. I take time to warm up before exercising, stretch before and after exercising, etc. I had never been hurt from exercising until recently...

A couple months ago I tore my groin muscle. Yes, you read this correctly. Random, right? I had just come home from having a wonderful massage, got in the shower and slipped because of the oils that were on my feet. When I slipped my left leg shot out from under me and that's when the torn happened.

The first few weeks I was in a lot of pain and it was even hard to walk. Funny thing (and thank God or I would have gone NUTS), I could still use the elliptical and bike. It's the pounding of the leg with the running and fast walking that bothers me. I wanted to wait it out before seeing a doctor because I've heard that these types of injury's just take a while to repair themselves. After a few weeks, walking got much easier and I was even back in the gym doing everything I typically do...except for running. Running just KILLS it. This makes me sad, especially because I was in the best running shape I have ever been in right before this happened. Ugh.

Last week I finally decided to go see a doctor since it's been a full two months since I've been able to run with out pain. The doctor was great and did many stretches and tests. Basically because I am a trainer and have an active job, and am a very active person, he said this tear will just take a long time to heal (well-obviously, haha) because I don't rest much. He has requested that I go to a physical therapist a few times and I will start this next week. Hopefully the physical therapist will help me with some stretches and tips on how to get my running back! If it is not completely healed within 6 weeks, I will go back to the doctor for an MRI. Hopefully this will not be the case...I am 99% sure it won't because I am feeling much better! :) I will keep you all posted on this issue and update you with my running results.

-Have you every torn or strained your groin muscle? If so, any tips for me on this?
-Have you ever been hurt in a way that enables you from running?

...Ahhh...as I write this on a Saturday morning there is nothing more I would love to do right now then go for a long run....grrrrrr...telling myself to rest so that *hopefully* in another month or so I can get back into it!!!!

Peanut Butter/Banana Smoothie

Trying to make up for those bodacious brownies...

(Apparently Zoey would like a smoothie too...she didn't get any smoothie although I did give her a tiny piece from the banana I used)

I love smoothies, but don't make them too often. The hubs is the one around here that tends to make them more than me (shocker I know!). I was in a smoothie craving mood the other day, so whipped this up for lunch. After eating this, I realized I need to incorporate more smoothies in my life. So yummy, healthy, filling and tastes great in hot weather!

Make smoothies for yourself and/or for your children. Smoothies are a great breakfast or snack. I love smoothies because you can put just about anything in them from fruit to spinach and they still taste great and if you make them yourself they are healthy (just watch the sugar!). Enjoy...have a great weekend!

PB/Banana Smoothie

2 T. natural peanut butter
1 banana
1 T. chia seeds
2 scoops vanilla protein powder
3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/2 container of fat-free greek yogurt (use any flavor)
a splash of cinnamon if desired

-Blend everything together...voila!

*What is your favorite kind of smoothie?

Bodacious Big Butt Brownies

I just came up with this new title...wha'da ya think? I think I like it. ;) These brownies are heavenly...sinful...and...will well, make your butt big if you eat too many of them. There is nothing healthy about these, but have no fear, moderation is the key! However...moderation is my problem when it comes to these brownies. It's hard to control it, very hard. This is why after making them I quickly gave them to our friends who I made dinner for, and I gave them to my hubs to take up to DC while stopping by my to see my brother and sister in law.

I started making these brownies when my husband and I were dating a few years ago. I think it's probably because after all of my healthy cooking, the hubs was craving a ooey-gooey treat like this. I thought he would be appreciative of this brownie combo, so decided we he needed a special treat and I came up with these...

Laura's Big Butt Brownies

Ingredients:
1 package of fudge brownie mix
1 package (10 1/2 oz.) mini marshmallows
1 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter
1 T. butter
1 1/2 cup rice krispy cereal

Directions:

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
-Grease bottom of 13x9x2 inch pan.
-Prepare and bake brownies following package directions for original recipe.
-Remove from oven.
-Sprinkle all marshmallows over hot brownies.
-Return to oven.
-Bake 3 minutes longer or until marshmallows are slightly melted.

-Combine chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter into a saucepan.
-Cook on low heat, stirring constantly until chips are melted.
-Take off of heat, add rice cereal; mix well.
-Spread mixture over marshmallow layer.
-Refrigerate until chilled (if desired).
-If you refrigerate them, take out about an hour before eating so they are not cold...this past time I did not refrigerate them and they are fabulous! So moist...just hard to cut, but it is doable.

And my mouth is watering...looking forward to having one or two for dessert tonight!

What is your favorite sinful dessert? Please share!