I don’t know why I don’t bake as much as I cook. I guess it’s because baking is more of a science – it’s a perfect ratio of ingredients, and if one of those are off, it just doesn’t turn out. I much prefer cooking to baking. But, with the millions of food blogs out there, I think I am in the minority on that one! Let’s just say that I can count on more than one hand the times I’ve made muffins, only to serve them to my family and realize I’ve forgotten to add any sugar. Seriously.
But, I decided to make my boss something for her birthday. I had two very ripe bananas, and a cup of frozen blueberries so that was that. I also don’t adhere to the fact that you have to separate the dry ingredients from the wet ingredients – I am a one bowl baker!
- 1/2 cup shortening (I used Crisco sticks)
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 medium bananas
- 1 cup frozen blueberries (no need to thaw)
- 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1/4 cup butter toffee peanuts, pulsed in a mini chopper to a powder
Start with the shortening and sugar – beat with a mixer just until creamy. Add all the remaining ingredients (except nuts) and mix just until combined. Pour into a cake pan greased with Pam. Top with ground peanuts and press to the batter. Bake at 350 for an hour.
I ended up cutting the bread into 8 slices – um, one slice is 402 calories, so this is a special treat, but this was delicious if I do say so myself. The bread was moist and the peanut topping was perfect. Still with my Chobani, breakfast was 530 calories – so not too bad!
My blood sugar was a perfect 200 before working out. I decided to do the arc trainer and I loved it! My feet didn’t get numb like they do on the elliptical. I just chose one of the workouts on the machine and did that for 30 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of upper body with the weight machines. The gym is getting closer to being done – only about 4 pieces of equipment still need to be put together.
I watched The Chew while I was working out. The theme of the show was “bucket list” meals and Michael Symon made corn flake crusted french toast with a banana maple syrup sauce that looked amazeballs. If I ever host a brunch I would totally make these!
When I got done working out, I could feel my blood sugar dropping like a stone. Even after my shower I was sweating – I ended up buying and eating a Nature Valley granola bar on my walk to the car – when I got back to my desk I tested my blood sugar and it was 61! Luckily lunch was simple to put together. Dish #3 of the $5 rotisserie chicken – chicken tacos! With 1/4 cup of salsa brown rice and 1/4 cup of my stove top refried beans. I love the crunch of the red cabbage and carrots.
Later in the afternoon it was birthday treat time for my boss. I wish I could say that I made this fruit tart, but I bought it at Mariano’s. I restrained myself and didn’t have any, but with each slice I cut it was more than tempting to cut a slice for myself!
When I got home from work, our neighbor was outside chatting with Tony. We talked for a good hour – it was kind of nice to come home and just relax before making dinner. I actually didn’t even start making dinner until nearly 7! Dinner was quick though – my chicken marsala for two. I just added baby spinach to mine. Not the best picture because the sun was setting, but this was tasty!
Stats for the Day:
- 1671 calories, 201 carbs, 85 protein, 55 fat and 24 fiber
- 29% of calories from fat, 20% from protein and 48% from carbs
- average blood sugar 139
- just over 10,000 steps!
If you want to be my friend on Fitbit, leave a comment and I’ll add you by email. I’ll need to “step” it up to beat Fran! Make it a great day!
All the meals look delicious as usual!
You were strong to resist that fruit tarte, don’t think I would have resisted it.
Great job on the steps, if you make sure you walk or do some cross training about 30 minutes a day you will make it to 10,000 steps. All I did yesterday was take a 43 minute walk with Bella and I just got over 10,000 steps.
You can add me on fitbit, I love having more fitbit friends.
Just sent an email invitation! 😀
Baking definitely is quite the science. I’m more comfortable following a recipe and not quite so brave/creative to throw things together to see how they work, so baking is something I enjoy.
We also use our leftover rotisserie chicken for tacos! So tasty. We shred the chicken and heat it up with black beans, cumin, garlic powder and Ro-tel, serve it on tortillas and top with cilantro, hot sauce, maybe some sour cream and or cheese. Yum.
I love how beautiful that fruit tart looks, but I’d still rather eat something with chocolate, LOL.
The reason you prefer cooking to baking is why I prefer baking to cooking – I like following a recipe exactly (though with time, I’ve come to be able to change things up after learning some of the science myself) rather than just throwing things in that sound good. I’m not good at that – I ruin stuff that way! haha!
Please send chicken marsala!!! 🙂 That is all!
This post made me hungry. Everything looks delicious. That fruit tart is so pretty! The berries make me think of summer. It was actually a gorgeous spring day here thankfully because my son had a half day. We spent the afternoon at the playground with lots of kids from school. The sun felt wonderful.
I don’t think we are Fitbit friends. I’d love to be friends! 🙂
Oooh I’ll be your friend on fitbit but I’m currently not wearing mine… No point when I’m on crutches going MAYBE 100 steps a day I think it’d be depressing
This does sound like a great recipe! You are doing so good. I love how you try to fit all your veggies in by adding spinach and such where you can. And hubby and I are looking into getting two fitbits. You should put a link on your site and get some credit! How’s that Foodie Blogroll thing working out? Just curious!
Hi biz….I read your blog everyday and have used several of your recipes. I would love it if you added me as a friend on fitbit. I’ve had mine over a year and love it.
cyndiwilliams1198@yahoo.com.
Isn’t it nice to be able to be outside and chat with a neighbor? All week that has been happening to me. It’s so nice because it’s been kind of a lonely winter stuck inside – seeing people and interacting and hello the SUN makes such a difference.
Also? You are a kickass employee!
Add me to your Fitbit friends.
Lovely fruit pie…your boss must really love you!!! Wow all those fun machines to work on. I’d want to hit every one of them and probably do a machine a day just in order to try them all. Do you usually have the whole place to yourself….that would be the best part.
I love the way you are getting different recipes and ideas from one rotisserie chicken. JP likes the legs for on dinner, I go for the breast, then there is chicken sandwiches, then soup, we might get 3-4 meals out of one chickie. So you are doing well. Have a good day.
Oh my, that blueberry bread sounds fabulous. And the fruit tart looks divine. You’ve made me hungry, and I just ate!
I want to be FitBit friends – if you add me can I add you from that or does that automatically make us friends?
That tart looks awesome – my boys would love it!
Wow the chicken marsala looks amazing! I need to take a cue from you and add more spinach to my dishes.
Ooooh, that fruit tart! So pretty. You are so kind to your boss. And that’s all I’m going to say about that. 😉
Ha, wink wink Shelley! 😀
Yes, please add me. I think my nickname is treasa h. Maybe I will get motivated to step it up.
I sent you an email – hopefully you got the friend request!
Nice job with your steps every day! And great job at the gym. I hate those Arc trainers. Maybe because I don’t *really* know how to use it properly, but I used it once and decided it just wasn’t for me.
Maybe give it another shot Courtney – there were tons of different workouts to chose from, maybe the first one just wasn’t for you?
Yum! The chicken marsala looks delicious! I’ll add marsala wine to my shopping list. That fruit tart also looks delicious – I’ve never made a fruit tart before, so many different kinds of fruit to get that by the time you add it all up the cost is pretty similar I think. And it’s healthy. 😉 Have a great day!
Well, I’ll say its “healthish” – it does have a butter crust, custard and the fruit is brushed with a sugar glaze – I would still count it as a fruit serving though!
I like how you post your gym photos. I am still convinced it is a private gym since I rarely see people except one or two in the pool 🙂 They have signs posted all around in our gym. No cells phone usage in this area or cellphone restricted in that area. I’m guessing it is some kind of privacy thing. I guess they don’t want an accidental half dressed person showing up in someone’s photo. I’m going to get brave and snap one shot eventually. I am amazed at you usage of the rotisserie chicken. So many meals from one bird. How do you do it?
I think of you every time I walk into the gym and no one is in it! I do have to say that it is a tennis club too – and that part is always super busy.
Well, it helps that Tony doesn’t eat as much meat – and most of the leftovers were for myself – so having 3 ounces of leftover chicken per meal goes a long way!