WIAW: Catching Up and Noms of Late

September 24, 2013 by Christine Skari

Hi there, friends! I hope life has been treating you well. I feel a bit like a bad blogger for being so inconsistent with my posts, but sometimes life gets in the way! My classes haven’t started yet, so I’ve been soaking up the last week or so of summer with all my friends here in Santa Barbara- it’s been marvelous! Here’s where I am at things:

Fitness: My fitness lately has been awesome! I’ve started to get back into running since I’m away from my hometown and the ridiculous (and I mean ridiculous) amounts of hills we have. I’ve gone running for around 3 miles a couple of times this week and have been happy to find that my average pace is around a 9:20/mile. While that may not be fast to some, it’s a starting point, and I’m really enjoying cooler morning runs right next to the beach!

Other than running, Kyle and I have been having plenty of gym dates. Having two gyms available to us, both within walking distance, is incredibly convenient.

Food: I’ve been pretty good about doing a good amount of home cookin’ while moved in to my new apartment. It’s beyond tempting to just reach for some of my roommates’ chips ahoy cookies 24/7, but I’ve used fresh ingredients and baked/cooked almost every day so far!

Also, my new Kitchenaid mixer came just in time before I moved in… all I can say is that I’m OBSESSED.

On the topic of food, let’s jump right into my WIAW post!

Breakfast: Today’s breakfast was quick and easy. My mandatory coffee, an apple, and the last slice of healthier banana bread. I consider myself lucky to have gotten any at all- it was gone in a day!

Lunch: Lunch consisted of leftover Garlic Lemon Shrimp Orzo and roasted kabocha. Man, that stuff is like CRACK. If you haven’t tried it yet, you definitely need to jump on the bandwagon. I basically forced everyone within a 100 foot vicinity of me to try a piece, and all of them were surprised at how tasty it was!

Snack: freshly cut pineapple with a side of “I’m sorry you’re on your period” flowers from Kyle. That boy knows how to play his cards right, I tell you.

Dinner was just a repeat of leftover kabocha and orzo and some nibbling on the huge steak Kyle and our friend Ryan cooked up. They’re both big guys over six feet tall and all muscle and managed to eat a full 1lb steak, rice, and veggies. Anyone else jealous on how much food guys can eat? So not fair!

I’m going to do my best to get back to posting daily! I always miss you guys when I take a brief hiatus! Can’t wait to read about your eats!

Lightened Up Parmesan Sausage Orecchiette

September 20, 2013 by Christine Skari

I have to admit, I’m a serious food magazine hoarder. Really, you should see me whenever I find a new Cooking Light or Food Network magazine in the mail- It feels like Christmas! I end up storing them in my designated cookbook bookcase (only me?) and might make one or *gasp* two recipes that can be found in their magical pages.

[Source]

I guess if I were to sum it up, I love the possibility that prospective recipes bring. The idea that food can take you to exotic places with one sweet or savory bite make me ooze excitement and potential. I imagine myself sitting outside a french bakery, mesmerized by the beautiful people passing by on vintage bikes, chatting casually and occasionally filling the air with the sounds of their laughter tinkling like small bells. I can just picture myself languidly lying on the softest of sands on a beach in Hawaii, sipping at my Mai Tai and taking in the therapeutic roaring of the waves and the singsong chirping of the fantastically colored birds.

And all of this brought on by a simple picture of a croissant or exotic drink that grace the thousands of recipes I have stored in that old wooden bookcase. I have a glorified idea that food has the power to bring people together and unite them under a common love and I have always felt that cooking or baking with someone is such an intimate experience.

The potential and promise with each beautifully taken picture is almost like a drug to me, bringing me comfort and allowing me to curl up quietly with some warm cocoa, completely at peace with the world as I try to decide what my next meal will be.

That being said, while I hardly ever make more than a couple of recipes within a magazine issue, they fill my thoughts with ideas that I file away in my mind and eventually put into practice.

The same goes for this delicious and light Orecchiette with Parmesan and Chicken Sausage, which was roughly imagined up from a recipe on the cover of Cooking Light. And by that I mean that I thought the pasta shapes were adorable and that anything with some sort of sausage had to, by law, taste marvelous. It was go time! And let me tell you, this recipe is a keeper! It’s bursting with flavor and was ready in under 30 minutes, not to mention it only required one pot. Since moving in to my apartment with a bunch of my main girlfriends, I feel like I’m in a constant state of dish washing, so that fact makes my world go round. So let’s see: Easy? Check. Delicious? Check. Under 400 calories per serving?!?! Let’s party!!

This dish tastes anything but light and just oozes garlicky and cheesy goodness. I love the crunch and texture that the broccolini adds, along with the beautiful green color that makes the dish look so light and vibrant.

And don’t even get me started on the sausage. My viking genes (Go Norway!) require that I get in my meaty protein fix and I was pleasantly surprised by how well the chicken sausage satisfied my cravings. I used the garlic basil edition from Trader Joe’s and found that just two delectable and savory pieces were plenty for the entire dish and that they added the perfect amount of extra flavor to balance the dish.

Also, if you don’t have garlic salt in your life yet, you’re probably miserable. Even if you don’t know it yet. Garlic salt is my remedy for everything bad in the world and is the glue that holds Kyle and my relationship together. We put it on everything savory and it makes and recipe 10 times better!

Let me know how it goes for you!

Roasted Kabocha

September 18, 2013 by Christine Skari

Hey guys!

Sorry I’ve gone AWOL lately, I’ve had a ton of things on my plate and can now happily say that I’ve successfully moved in to my new apartment with three of my best friends! We actually have a pretty sweet deal going on and have 16 (!) people in our immediate friend group, both boys and girls, who are living in the same apartment complex as us and are stationed right above the pool and grill.

From moving in to catching up with everyone, I’ve hardly touched my computer in the last week or so, but I’m glad to be back!

Anyways, I’ve been trying to maintain my healthy habits while in school and have to admit that it gets much harder when the college norms are to consume copious amounts of pizza and alcohol and make late night slurpie runs. I have had some success in whipping up some old favorites like my Lemon Garlic Shrimp Orzo and roasted kabocha! Man, I can’t get enough of that stuff and am SO glad that my local grocery store carries them and I don’t have to hunt them down at Whole Foods or an asian supermarket.

If you haven’t tried kabocha yet, you’re in for a treat. The asian pumpkin is unbelievably tasty and has the most delicious creamy texture. I kid you not that I’ve eaten almost an entire one for dinner and was 100% satisfied. They’re that good. And I don’t mean good as in “healthy good”, I mean just plain freakin’ yummy!

Whenever I roast up one, I find myself constantly sneaking back into the kitchen to grab just one more bite, but end up hovering and eating at least a couple of slices. Never fear, though, because kabocha is not only mouthwatering, but also good for you!

Here are some awesome facts about kabocha to convince you that it’s actually your soul mate disguised as a member of the winter squash family

“Kabocha is like butternut squash’s sadly under appreciated sister. A single cup of kabocha has forty calories compared to butternut squash’s 60, and has less than half of the carbs of butternut squash (7 grams vs. 16 grams). But, it tastes better… the perfect substitute.”
It’s a great source of beta-carotene (which your body converts to vitamin A). A single serving has 70% of your daily recommended amount. This means your eyes, skin, hair, and white blood cells will thank you!
Fiber. Lots of it!
You don’t have to peel em’. When they cook, the peel softens and is so, so, so delicious with the creamy fleshy part on top.

Anyone else share my obsession?

Healthiest Starbucks Drinks & How to Lighten Up Your Beverage

September 12, 2013 by Christine Skari

If you’re like me, nothing screams comfort more than a hot Starbucks drink on a chilly day.

And yes, I’m a California girl (aka temperature snob) and consider anything below 65 degrees to be chilly.

One thing I’m not the hugest fan of, though, is the amount of fat, sugar, and calories that tempt me on the menu when I’m ordering. While I definitely treat myself to unhealthy drinks occasionally, I try to make a habit of ordering lighter items most of the times so that the only thing getting damaged is my wallet!

Since the weather is getting cooler, I think that we all could use a guide to which Starbucks drinks provide a winning combination of flavor and healthier nutritional stats!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for hibernating in hoodies and sweatpants, gaining some extra fluff is not on my to-do list! Here’s how lightening up your drink can help:

Order nonfat milk: I personally barely notice the change from 2% (Starbucks standard) to nonfat milk in my drinks, especially with flavored lattes. By ordering your drink to be made with nonfat milk, you can cut around 1/3 of the calories and around 7 grams of fat in most tall drinks!

Go with a smaller size: As Americans, we’ve gotten so used to humongous portion sizes in both meals and drinks. By simply ordering a smaller size, you’re cutting unnecessary calories, fat, and sugar from your drink while still getting a pretty sizable treat.

Skip the whipped cream: Whipped cream can add around 120 calories and 11 grams of fat to your drink. What a ripoff! You could drink two nonfat lattes for the amount of calories whipped cream tacks on and save on all 11 grams of fat. If whipped cream is a must for you, though, order “light whip” so they go easy on the good stuff.

Add spices for flavor: I love adding a bit of cinnamon into my drink for a punch of delicious flavor and the soothing smell! In fact, spices such as cinnamon have been shown by studies to have positive health effects such as regulating your blood sugar, reducing LDL (the bad kind) cholesterol, and reducing inflammation. Win!

Now, let’s go hit up the ‘Bucks!

Also, I worked for a couple of hours today on coming up with a new subscription newsletter for when I update a post! It’s pretty and informative so you should…uh… subscribe.

(shameless self-promotion)

Question of the Day: What’s your go-to Starbucks drink?

xo Christine

WIAW & Thing I’m Loving on Pinterest

September 11, 2013 by Christine Skari

Hey ya’ll! This week is flying by. I’m moving back to my college in a new apartment come Saturday and have a ton of things on my mind in terms of packing, getting last minute things done, and being obnoxiously excited to see my best friends after our long hiatus.

Today’s plans include some freelance work, a great gym workout and my favorite “Vicious Abs” class, some recipe experimenting, packing, and Netflix. I’m looking for a good new show, so if anyone has any recommendations, I’m all ears!

I was lazy with my eats and only have a few to highlight (I promise, they were good, though!), so I’m also sharing some of my favorite finds via Pinterest today!

Onwards!

Chipotle and froyo in the same day. YES. Also amazing? The spaghetti and meatball dinner Kyle and I made! The garlic pull-apart bread was to die for!

Also, THESE no bake protein bars. All gone.

If you follow me on Pinterest (ahem, if you enjoy daily awesomeness you should ;)), you would know that I’m a little bit obsessed. Here are my latest and greatest finds!

Anddd.. that’s all folks!

Have a great wednesday and I’ll be catching up with your eats… NOW.

xo Christine