When I first started this blog, I had no idea how many great people I would “meet” whether it be on a daily basis via blog reading or actually in person. While the bulk of emails I get off line are questions on how I handle diabetes, I will give you the #1 FAQ of My Bizzy Kitchen. . .
How Do You Do It?
Meaning, how do I work full time, spend time with my husband and daughter, menu plan, grocery shop and cook and post a blog 5-6 times a week.
First of all, I have all of you as inspiration on my meal planning. I have a long list of things I want to make. But I first start out with my grocery store sale flyer. If chicken breasts are not on sale, all the chicken dishes I want to make are put on the back burner for that week. Secondly, I try to figure out how dinners can become leftovers for me later in the week. For instance, over the weekend I made a 2 pound pork roast on the grill. It later morphed into my version of Clean Eating’s Pulled Pork Sammie.
Once I have my meal plan, when I get back from WW on Saturday mornings, usually Tony and Hannah are still asleep and I have a couple hours to enter the recipes for the week into the WW eTools recipe builder. That way I know where the recipes are and I can throw out all the printouts.
Next, since I know what I am going to eat when, I start writing my blog posts for the week with the recipes. So on the day I actually post, I only have to add any timely information according to what’s going on that day, and upload my pictures to the post.
Second, I get up at 6:30 in the morning, and don’t leave the house until 8:30. That gives me 2 solid hours a day to publish my blog, read blogs, cook my breakfast and/or lunch or marinate meat for that night’s dinner if necessary.
Lastly, but most importantly, I have a very supportive family. They are so used to me taking my dinner outside to get a picture in natural light, taking 10 pictures of the grill before removing a roasted chicken. So thanks for Tony and Hannah for putting up with my hobby! š I may not say that enough, but I really do appreciate it.
Now onto the food!
How could I have missed bagel Wednesday?! Whew, good thing I got my bagel fix yesterday morning – I have a 1 point eggbeater patty in the middle, which is drawfed by the size of this 9 point bagel. Breakfast comes in at 10 points.
It was overcase, on the chilly side yesterday, so I headed to the gym. I ended up doing 45 minutes on the treadmill, increasing my sprints – I held 7.5 mph for 1 full minute!!
I realized yesterday morning that I had only planned 4 lunches for myself and my co-workers. I thought to myself – I have to have something to make in the house. I had eggs, egg whites, bacon and broccoli and a quiche was born. I got this recipe from the Whole Foods site – I have never put flour in my crustless quiche before – it held up beautifully! Their recipe called for onions (nope) and spelt flour. I didn’t have spelt flour, but I did have rye flour!
Bacon and Broccoli Quiche
- 4 servings – 6 WW points per serving
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 3 cups chopped fresh broccoli
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup egg whites
- 1 cup skim milk
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 3 ounces cheese (mine was a combo of pepper jack and another white cheese from my cheese ends I got at the deli – maybe white American?)
- 3 tablespoons real bacon bits
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 cup rye flour (or wheat or white)
- dash of paprika
Preheat your oven to 450. Spray a pie plate with Pam. Heat oil in a large skillet. Add garlic and cook for a couple minutes. Add broccoli and saute for 5 minutes. Put the broccoli in the bottom of the pie plate. Mix together the eggs, egg white, milk cheese, salt, pepper and oregano. Whisk in rye flour. Pour mixture evenly over broccoli. Sprinkle with paprika and bake until set, about 35 minutes. Let cool at least 10 minutes before slicing.
![quiche 001](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/quiche-0011.jpg)
![quiche 005](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/quiche-005.jpg)
![quiche 006](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/quiche-0061.jpg)
![quiche 014](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/quiche-014.jpg)
I looked at my menu plan for the week, and was actually shocked that I had nothing on the menu for Thursday night! While I could very well have come up with something off the cuff, my brain is fried with everything that’s going on at work, so I asked Tony if he minded if we ordered a pizza. I didn’t even take any pictures! I had six squares of pizza, and later on had three cheese and crackers, so dinner comes in at 19 points.
FLASHBACK FRIDAY!
I hope my brother doesn’t mind me sharing this! Back in 1975 we lived in a townhouse that had a courtyard that everyone shared. All the kids decided to put on a concert. My Dad made a big banner, we decorated one porch like a stage. My brother put a wig on and sang – it was a big production! That’s Charlie with the guitar! š
My sister and I apparently sang a song together – but I am sure we waited until it was dark so we could have the spotlight! I am pretty sure I am the one on the right, but my Mom or brother may have to correct me!
![Beth and Jenn](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/beth-and-jenn.jpg)
Stats for Thursday:
-
44 points (including wine)
-
14 flex points left
-
27 activity points earned
-
average blood sugar 144 (I blame the bagel) š
Happy Friday! It’s going to be an interesting day at work today – keep your fingers crossed for me today. I will have a post sometime tomorrow – I am making a lentil bolognese for our lenten lunch today. š
Oh my – I’d forgotten how elaborate your “sets” were! I do remember the concert, and how proud all the parents were that you guys put it together yourselves. Do kids still do that? Those are my feet on the left in the first photo! And I think Jenn is correct, you’re on the right.
Happy Friday – I hope your day at work is going well! š
I love a broccoli and cheese quiche. When I was little, my mom used to put leftover broccoli in our scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese – mmm!
Love the flashback! Great dresses on you guys! š
Good luck at work today Biz!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE the photos of the concert!!!!!
I still don’t know how you do it, but thanks for doing it! š
Love the flashback photos! You all are freaking adorable!!!
TGIF!!!
I gave you a shout out today on my blog and a link to yours all about your menu planning and grocery shopping with an eye on your budget! You put me to shame when it comes to how much I spend on food. I see that I could do so much better.
Cute photos of you all as kids! It’s so much fun to look back at those black and white photos. I love them.
Quiche is sounding good to me. I could use some easy heat and eat items for breakfast. Thanks for the inspiration.
Hope work goes well! Will definitely keep you in my thoughts š I love when a makeshift recipe comes together so well. Fabulous quiche. And the pictures from when you guys were kids are SO cute. You should totally frame those!!! Congrats on the 7.5 mph for 1 full minute! That rocks š
Those pictures are so cute! What great memories!
And I need to make a quiche – it’s something I’ve NEVER made…..I’m sure we’d LOVE it. š
Such a great post! I am so sorry I haven’t been to your blog in what seems like forever. I missed it!
You and I seem to lead very similar lives š I love it. I will get up extra early to read blogs and post if I know I need to also. I enjoy it so much I don’t even mind.
That bagel looks SO good…I love bagels and haven’t had a good one with a crunchy top on it like that in awhile.
Haha! I LOVE the pictures for your flashback Friday. That “concert” sounds so neat. That kind of thing would never happen around where I live. Neighbours just don’t communicate like that. It sounds totally neat š Your quiche sounds so yummy. I am just going to have to bookmark this recipe. Thanks.
OH my – flash back Friday is a good time!! Awesome!
I love learning ‘how you do it’ and OMG I agree – so important that your family is so supportive. I can’t imagine doing what I do and taking the time it takes if Austin wasn’t on board 100%!
I love that picture from your concert. How awesome your parents would do that!! Sounds like fun. You are so very organized. Lately it is all I can do to keep up with all the things my kids are doing and weed the flowerbeds, plus all the usual of house work. I’ll be thinking of you today, good luck!
Ohh I love quiche so much… that looks delicious!
Those pictures are too cute… thanks for sharing that flashback with us!
I’ve also often wondered how you do it all! It makes me tired just thinking about it! That’s a really great idea about putting the recipes in etools and on your blog on the weekends. I often do have some free time on the weekends, but almost none on the weekdays. I work full time with a 50 min commute each way, and by the time I get home, workout, and shower I have no time or energy left for cooking! Not to mention that I often have evening plans, so I’m super rushed to fit a workout in. I just blogged about how hard it was too choose between a workout and hanging out with some friends. Balance is really hard!
Thanks for adding me to your newly spring cleaned up blog list! lol š
I can’t believe you do all you do either…I find it hard to find time to get stuff done sometimes and I don’t have a full time job. What’s the first thing to go for me? exercise, of course! lol I need to remember to make it more of a priority over housework and um…yes….even cooking! lol You sound like you have a good system grooving there….nice! My family has to put up with me not only weighing all my food, but like you, taking it out and getting pictures too! haha It has gotten to a point where they won’t eat anything unless they ask me if I am done with it…
How cute are those pictures? What a nice momento of the past!
Ha! Love the pictures of our “concert!” Are those from the negatives you got at Mom’s?
I think you are on the right too š
Honestly I think all that spelt flour would have done over your rye flour would be to make that quiche gluten free. It looks delicious!
I used to be much more organized than I am now. Truthfully, I am no longer obligated to a child or even Mr. Helen who is so easy going if I never cooked he wouldn’t say a word. So I can plan or not plan. Even when I see that planning seems to make it easier, in the last year or so I often find I just don’t want to think about any of it!
Have a great weekend Biz… enjoy your time away from the office.
Wow, I thought I was organized! That’s a great idea to enter in the recipes on the weekend early. I am having Blogger problems, so anything I enter early now comes out missing it’s formatting.
I am dying over those pictures – so 70s!!! Love that not only you kids did the concert, but you got such support from the adults! Good memories. š
I’ll be thinking about you today – hope everything goes well, or at least, as it should.
The quiche looks yummy! Thank you for sharing your recipe and the mouth-watering photo. I love the flashback photos. Fun! Have a great weekend! Candace