Yup, the breakfast parfait is alive and well. Plain Greek yogurt mixed with 1 tablespoon of sugar free pancake syrup, a small tangerine, strawberries and ½ a banana for the fruit filling and 1/3 cup of granola. 376 calories, 2.4 fat, 66 carbs, 7 fiber and 22 protein.
The weather was beautiful at lunch there was no way anything was going to stop me from getting outside. I checked weather.com – said it was partly sunny and 50, so I wore a long sleeve shirt and my light fleece – after 50 minutes I was actually pretty toasty – it felt great to be moving!
So I saw a recipe on Epicurious.com for a chicken vindaloo. I saw the spices they used and knew that not only my SIL would like it, but my co-worker would too. However, once put together, I didn’t like the original outcome. The directions said to mix the tomatoes and spices together to make a paste, then “fry” the paste in oil, cook for a few minutes, then add diced potatoes and chicken.
The sauce was super runny and the chicken had a “boiled” taste to it. Next time I make this and put the complete recipe in, I will sauté the chicken in the oil about half way done to get some browning on the chicken. Since I didn’t like the consistency, I ended up scooping out the chicken, then pureed the potatoes with the tomato mixture and liked that much better.
I had to deconstruct it to figure out the calories – I basically divided the sauce in four servings, which actually turned out really tasty – although my co-worker and I still kicked it up with sriracha. I will give you the recipe for the sauce, because it’s something that can be made ahead of time and poured over chicken and veggies to spice up leftovers.
Vindaloo Sauce (makes 4 servings: 106 calories, .3 fat, 23 carbs, 4.3 fiber and 3.1 protein or 3 WW points)
- 4 medium whole tomatoes (fresh, not canned)
- 2 ½ tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 cube of fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne
Throw all the ingredients into a food processor. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.
My bowl: 2 cups of steamed broccoli, 4 ounces of chicken, and ¼ of the sauce and cilantro for the garnish. Lunch comes in at 417 calories, 13 fat, 32 carbs, 6.3 fier and 22 protein.
I was so excited for dinner because I was meeting up with blogger Mara from What’s for Dinner? She and I first met a few years ago. I had written a post about a co-worker who was pregnant and her secretary had made cookies that said “these cookies have nuts” and they had a blue ribbon around them, to indicate that she was having a boy.
Mara happened to read that post, showed her co-worker, who just happened to be the sister of the woman who was pregnant in my office. Talk about a small world! We then discovered how close we lived and worked to each other. For some reason, this is only the third time we’ve met in person, but we plan to change that. She’s funny, down to earth and super easy to talk to. And we both dislike KathEats.com. Show of hands of anyone else who doesn’t care for Kath?
I had a Restaurant.com gift certificate for Nozumi in South Barrington. This is probably the sixth or seventh time I’ve been there and it has been awesome each and every time I’ve been there.
I told Mara about the calamari fries. Seriously people, I dream about these fries. Lightly battered, not greasy, paired with a vinegary slaw and Chinese mustard mayo dipping sauce. I usually put all three together and it’s the perfect combination. I know when Mara goes back with her husband she’ll get these again.
I ended up ordering the yakisoba noodles with chicken, shrimp and veggies (no onions!) and had them make it spicy. It was so much food, I ate maybe half? You can imagine what I am having for lunch today – leftovers!
Mara likes sushi – I think this one was the salmon roll? I love how pretty the row looks on top.
And what’s dinner out without dessert? Chocolate lava cake and green tea ice cream.
Thanks Mara for a fun dinner – and next time? Five Guys Burgers in Crystal Lake!
I tried my best to figure out the calories in dinner – I put in fried calamari for the calamari fries and based on everything I ate, my guess is dinner comes in at 627 calories, 30 fat, 41 carbs, 2.8 fiber and 37 protein.
Stats for the Day:
- 1420 calories, 46 fat, 141 carbs, 16 fiber and 100 protein
- 40% of calories from carbs, 29% fat and 30% protein
- 50 minute walk at work
- delicious dinner out with a friend
I’ve been using fatsecret.com to figure out my calorie intake. Yesterday when I was inputting my food a pop-up came up and said I hadn’t entered my weight in 16 days. I put in my current weight, and this is what it said:
You lost 0.4 lb (0.2 %) since you last weighed in on Sunday 01 Apr 12.
At that rate it will take you about 39 months to get to your goal weight.
I need to pick up the pace people! Well, after I try a Five Guys burger!
Make it a great day!
🙁 I’m so jealous I missed out on this!! Miss you ladies!
Also forgot to say I have those glasses your parfait is in and I totally would not be able to eat that dish with a pile of cilantro on it.
I just had to go look at Kath Eats to try and find these videos you guys are talking about and I can’t find them 🙁 Boooo I never read her- all those “popular” bloggers annoy the shit out of me. It’s just daily photos of oatmeal, a wrap for lunch, a piece of fruit for snack, and a tiny non-yummy looking dinner. I can’t relate to them at all and I never eat like them- so it just doesn’t hold my interest. I personally feel like they all have orthorexia anyways, so it just screams unhealthy and sick too.
As I was driving there I was thinking of you Christina! Miss you too!
I truly believe the whole six degrees of separation thing…we are all so connected in this world…which is why I am loving the new show Touch on Fox on Thursday nights…have you seen it? Anyway…
Lunch looks incredible! Five Guys…oh my….LOVE their burgers and the fries ain’t too shabby either. Not too diet friendly…but oh so good!
Nope, I haven’t seen it – we tape so many things its hard to add one more thing! 😀
Five Guys Burgers is pretty meh. There is one about 45 min from me, and I went with some friends, and I was completely underwhelmed. So many other better burger places out there – it’s just a fast food burger people. And they don’t even use real cheese! Fail.
What a fun dinner date! I love blogger meetups/dinners! And what a coincidence about the people in your offices. Small world. 🙂
The dinner date sounds great and the food, your calamari in particular, looks delish! Funny how you two met 🙂 Don’t know who Kath is, looks like I don’t want to…lol!
I used to read Kath when I first started blogging thinking that I had to, but couldn’t read for long. She’s not my cup of Joe.
Your parfaits always make me drool. Okay, stupid but honest question: Do you really think a parfait is more enoyable to eat rather than a bowl of yogurt with the same toppings dumped on top? Let me know your honest opinion!! 🙂
Absolutely – something about digging the spoon all the way down to the bottom and getting just a bit of everything – plus it takes me like a half hour to eat it! 😀
::raises hand:: I just can’t with Kath anymore.
How fun that you got to meet up with Mara for dinner – bloggy friends are great!
And wow, that pop up reminder about how long it would take to reach goal weight is shocking…but I guess it worked to motivate you (after the Five Guys, lolol)!
It seems so sad that you would go to an upscale restaurant and not bring your amusing and attractive husband. I hope the poor fellow wasn’t home alone suffering from complications from his death defying surgery.
While you know I love your company honey, it was a Gals Night Out! I love you!
haha how do they calculate those things anyways?? I think you are doing great! Those wide open roads with the fields kinda make me miss IL … but then I have mountains!!
Your dinner looks incredible especially the calamari fries. I love the story of you and Mara met. Such a small world sometimes.
LOL about Kath. I had to stop reading her blog after she posted a video about how to not fold your clothes. It was basically her shoving clean clothes in a drawer. Really?!
Thank you! And the video she posted on how to make your bed – really? I really can’t wait to see how she’s going to manage after having a baby.
*snort* you mean the one she plans on toilet training at 5 or 6 weeks?!
I admit every now and then I read BERF. It’s like a train wreck and I can’t look away. She is even weirder now. She tries to feel her uterus? Who does that?!
I had no idea that Vindaloo was so low-cal. I love the stuff, so I assumed it wasnt’ healthy. 🙂
Yaya for fun dinner dates!! Blogger meet-ups always look like a good time!
I am so glad you mention that about KathEats, I thought it was just me!
Oh, there are lots of Kath haters – check this out:
http://getoffmyinternets.net/2012/kerf-is-a-professional/
I blame you for the neglect of my children this evening. The night was lost to GOMI, how have I never read this site before?
I always add maple syrup to my plain greek- so good! Glad you and Mara had fun. She seems like such a sweetie! And what a delicious meal
That vindaloo sauce sounds delicious and so flavorful! And I absolutely love fresh cilantro, can’t get enough!
Well, well. This IS a first. With the exception of the parfait I can honestly say not a thing in this posts appeals to me. heehee Now, before you take that to heart, realize that a lot of the food in the post was restaurant prepared and I don’t like sushi, calamari – hey you can fancy up the name but it is still squid/octopus, ick, green tea anything blah, blah, blah. Or maybe I am just cranky? heehee
And I am sorry your vindaloo didn’t turn out as expected. I like the way you fixed it you are wicked amazing that way – thinking on your feet, but that is something I feel I wouldn’t like either as it has a few spices no one here really cares for.
I have never read Kath, but I will pop over and peruse. Still, if you don’t like her than I am sure she won’t be my cup o’ tea either. Should be fun tho’.
Hope your brother is doing well. Say hi from all of us.
[PS I missed a few posts, sorry about that – but your poor smoker. 🙁 Quick, off to Home Depot for one. They’re pretty cheap AND sturdy. I know because a cute little birdie told me. :D]
You’ll be happy to know Skip that the smoker is alive and well – I just need to take more lessons from Tony to refresh my memory from last summer!
That dinner looks so good!
I have mixed feelings on Kath, sometimes she’s just a little too OCD for me. And this is coming from a super type A.
Enjoy that weather! It’s been hot here!
Your dinner date sounds like it was a good time.
Five Guys Burgers is so good! Luckily the closest one to here is 45 minutes away, so I never make it there. I have to pick up my pace as well.
Have a great day, Biz!
That recipe just sounds like something is wrong with the procedure! I was taught to make Indian style dishes by two women – one was from Sri Lanka, the other from India. The reason you make that paste and fry the spice is to toast them so that the sauce will taste richer. I would imagine the consistency of the sauce would actually depend on how much water your fresh tomatoes were holding.
Yeah, I guess it does depend on the tomatoes – I am going back to the drawing board on the whole recipe though!