I am so done with winter. When I left the house yesterday morning, it was 4 degrees, with a windchill of -20. The only saving grace was the snow that fell the night before was like powder and could be brushed off our cars with a broom, and the sun was shining. About the only thing I like about February is that it is still light out when I leave work. 
One day closer to putting our gazebo up!
I normally don’t buy processed food, but this one isn’t too bad – and it was buy one/get one free and I had a coupon for a free one = so two for zero dollars.
this was surprisingly very filling!
My pre-workout fuel was an unpictured banana. I decided to run a 5k. I walked the first 5 minutes and told myself I could stop running whenever I felt like it. Well, I felt like stopping a lot! But I would tell myself, your breathing is fine, nothing hurts, just keep going. I ended jogging a 5k in 41:06, which included the 5 minute warm up. I think next time I am going to do a warm up, restart the machine to see what my actual 5k time is.
By the time I got back to the office, I was hungry! On the menu – Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Cilantro Cream – 5 points for TWO CUPS!
Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Cilantro Cream (from http://mybizzykitchen.com)
- Adapted from http://goodlifeeats.com
Cilantro Cream
(4 servings: 2 PointsPlus – 62 calories, 6.2 fat, 2.0 carbs, 0 fiber and 1.2 protein)
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- Zest of half a lime
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of pepper
Whisk together and cover and refrigerate before serving.
Roasted Red Pepper Soup (printer friendly version here)
(5 servings of 2 cups each: 3 PointsPlus – 123 calories, 4.5 fat, 14.3 carbs, 4.5 fiber and 0 protein)
- 8 red bell peppers, roasted, seeded and chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Tabasco
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch pepper
Directions:
- Using your broiler, roast the peppers until charred on all sides. Let cool. Don’t scrape off the charred bits, but slice open and scoop out the seeds.
- Heat a dutch oven with the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 5 minutes, careful not to let it brown. Stir in the cumin and paprika and stir for 30 seconds. Add tomato paste and flour, cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the broth, smoothing out any lumps. Add roasted peppers.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer, and cook until the peppers are completely tender, about 15 minutes. Using a stick blender, blend until smooth.
- Serve with a dollop of cilantro cream.
The reason for this soup is that I got about 10+ peppers for $2 over the weekend:
don't scrape off the charred bits - that's what gives the pepper soup a smoky flavor
with Ritz chips with 1 pt. cheese melted, lunch comes in at 10 points
Sadly, my blood sugar dropped to 43 in the afternoon, which happens when I have a tougher workout. So I had 5 points of chocolate – thank goodness for flex points!
For dinner I defrosted two links of Christina’s dad sausage with the hopes of making an even lighter bolognese sauce. My previous version is 5 points for 3/4 cup – this one comes in at 3 points for 2/3 cups. While I don’t like mushrooms by themselves, I have been loving them as the base of sauces and stews – just have to puree them since I don’t like the chunks! And since there is only six ounces of Italian sausage in the whole pot, you still get the great sausage taste without all the extra calories.
Italian Sausage Marinara (printer friendly version here)
Makes 10, 2/3 cup servings: 3 WW PointsPlus (134 calories, 8.3 fat, 5.8 carbs, 1.4 fiber and 5.5 protein)
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 cup mushrooms, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes (I buy the one that has garlic and basil)
- 1 cup red wine
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 6 ounces Italian sausage, removed from casing and chopped fine
Directions:
- In a Dutch oven, heat oil and butter. Add carrot, celery, mushrooms and garlic, and sweat over medium heat until the vegetables are tender. Add red wine and cook an additional 5 minutes.
- Add diced tomatoes and beef broth. Using a stick blender, puree the mixture. Add in the chopped Italian sausage, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and oregano.
- Simmer for 20 minutes, or until the sausage is cooked through.
my plate was 11 points with 1/2 cup frozen veggies added to the sauce
Tony actually has a procedure today where they tattoo his tumor for his surgery next week – apparently it helps the surgeon find the tumor faster for his surgery next week – isn’t that weird? And here we’ve always told our kids not to get tattoos and he’s breaking the rules!
Stats for Tuesday:
- 32 points, 41 flex points left, 23 activity points earned
- 5k on treadmill in 41:06
- average blood sugar 98
Gotta get ready for work – have a great day!
As soon as I opened your post I laughed because I had just finished eating a D-lights Turkey Sausage Bowl. It is one of the very few packaged items I buy and keep on hand for when I need a quick go to. I actually like the taste of this one too.
Do you think Tony could ask them to make his tatoo say “Eff Cancer!”?
I just found her site and LOVE it! I’m pre-diabetic and was taking metformin before my pregnancies. I came off of it while nursing my son (about 2 years ago now). I also participate in 5K runs and did 3 last year. After each one, I’ve had the worst headache ever and end up taking a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon. I’m curious about the blood sugar drop you mentioned and the correlation to the running/jogging. Does this happen frequently to you? I’ve never connected the two issues before now and plan on keeping an eye on it. I’m also getting a treadmill in the next few weeks so I’ll be able to train on there. (Sorry, I get a little carried away when I find a blogger I can relate to!
Candi
Well, I’ve figured out if my blood sugar is over 200 before exercise, I am okay. Yesterday it was 161 before exercise, so I think that’s what did it. It happens probably a couple times a week, which isn’t too bad.
Woke up to even colder than that in MN, nice on the sun though. Today is pretty much the same. Yuck!
Good eats though, I always get hungrier looking at your blog.
I love how people have to play the “it’s colder here, more snow, more ice” card on blogs.
Sorry – negative anything is cold. period. And we all stop counting when you see the negative sign.
It isn’t a contest. It is simply Mother Nature. No one wins when it is that cold. Ever.
The soup looks delicious. I want to know where you got that many peppers for 2 bucks. Jealous.
And yes – the tattoo should read “Ef cancer” hee
Wow, that soup looks fierce. Was it good?
Delicious! The Tabasco added just enough bite to the smoky peppers
Interesting about the tattoo…but hey, whatever helps the doctor find and remove the correct object is all good.
At the risk of incurring skippymom’s wrath, we are back to winter here after a sunny weekend – and apparently the roads are icing up. Which I’m supposed to go drive on in an couple of hours. Lovely. I guess you must have to plan extra time in your morning to get the car ready for driving? I have to hand it to you, Biz – I couldn’t do it.
Yeah, time to clean off cars is totally planned into my winter…all winter long. gross!
The soup with the cilantro cream sounds wonderful. It’s going on my list! But I’ll hold the cilantro cream for the teenager…
The soup looks awesome! Awesome job on the 5k!
Winter has definitely kicked Chicago’s a$$ this year. Last year when my son was there it was a pretty mild one. He’s glad he’s here!
I’ve never tried roasting peppers but with the great stats on that soup, I’m going to try it. I scored a bunch of peppers this weekend for cheap too! LOL’d at Helen’s comment about the tatoo saying FUCK Cancer!
How the heck did you get 10+ peppers for $2.00??! I’m totally jealous.
Great job on the run, Biz!!
My store has a $1 rack – stuff that needs to be eaten NOW! It’s the first thing I do when I enter the grocery store
I am totally craving rigatoni now!!
Have a good day, Biz!!!
roasting veggies is the way to go! even with soup!
Yumtastic! I love the idea of cilantro cream in that soup. So fancy! You reminded me of a recipe I need to post–I’m never gonna catch up! I will post it today. Your sauce is off the hook! mmmm
That red pepper soup should be 2 points since its 123 calories.
I have all the stuff except for the peppers, so I’m going to pick some up!
I should say I know its 3 points, but 3 points for only 123 calories?
boy, you aren’t kidding…either its snowy or its arctic these days….soooo done with winter….so done…sigh…
anyway…your soup looks incredible. I have been hankering for some homemade soup…and two cups in a serving…WHAT??? I am soooo all over this…going to make it this week, I think.
We had my dad’s sausage Monday night! It was the sweet Italian one. That’s my favorite and the Cajun one.
That’s weird about the tattoo! I never knew that! hehe He’s only “temporarily” breaking the rule since it’ll be cut out anyways!
that roasted red pepper soup looks great. you always find the best deals on bulk items like peppers and tomatoes and bananas – it’s awesome! i dont think i’d know where to begin if i scored all that fruit/veg at once.
Whoa! This soup look glorious! And just perfect for this horrid winter weather.
Is chocolate ever NOT worth 5 points!? The soup looks wonderful, Biz…cilantro creme…yummmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!
Posted on Thanks guys. For some reason I just got the e-mail on these ctmoenms so Sawyer, I hope you did play it for your wife on V-Day and I hope it accomplished whatever your goals were at the time.
I’m not a pepper person, but I bet my husband would love that soup!
he can have the soup, and I’d take the chocolate
What a deal on those peppers! I buy one of those boxed soups at Trader Joes that is a roasted pepper and tomato soup that is wonderful! Your’s looks yummy.
Man! I’ve always wanted to try those Turkey D’lights bowls! hehe
The soup looks so good! I’ve been craving homemade soups lately, yummmmmy
Oh, that pasta looks great! I need to try roasting my own peppers! I think I could totally do it!
I hope his tattoo went well today!!
4 degrees!! Oh my gosh, I would die!
That red pepper soup sounds like the perfect solution. It looks excellent! Stay warm!
Those peppers are so beautiful. I love the colors, and I love the resulting soup! A bargain at any price!
I love this kind of soup so it’s going on my “to make” list for sure. And I really think that the cilantro cream would be a yum-yum-yummy topping on lots of dishes. Am printing these recipes up right now!
Okay, I have to admit, when I saw the title of your post the first thing I did was scroll down looking for the tattoo!
great tips!! i think lots of strength tnniairg and yoga really helped my running. i hope all these stretches and exercises keep you pain free Sam recently posted..