What's in my lunchbox

My biggest pet peeve is when people say teaching is easy. My second biggest pet peeve is when they say oh you only work 8-3 and you have summers off! Must be nice. Those people are usually businessmen (women do it too- I know) who sit in an air conditioned room in a comfy chair all day, who get to surf the internet on their down time and have actual adult conversation. THAT must be nice. But I’m not bitter or anything. I love my job 100%. There is nothing else I would ever want to do. I could not sit in an office all day, although adult conversation and air conditioning would be nice! Teaching is not just an 8-3 job, which is why I am showing you what I bring in my lunchbox. So if you’re a teacher or work long hours, this is a great example of how you can pack lots of healthy food for your workday.

Typically I am at work from 7-4:30. I usually eat breakfast sitting at my desk checking emails. Because of this, I try to bring something that I can munch on that’s not too messy. I’ve shared how I like to make my eggs in this post. It’s an easy, quick, and relatively mess free breakfast. The best part is, it keeps me full until snack time! Any of my teacher friends out there still need a snack at 10 every day even though it’s summer?

For snack I’ll usually have a fruit or some kind of bar, sometimes both depending on how my day is going. If it’s a full moon forget about it. My butt is walking to the staff room for oreos because most likely my kids are driving me loco. Isn't is crazy how a full moon can make people act differently?!

These are really decadent, and come in a few different flavors. My favorites are the raspberry and blueberry- yum! They’re just like fig newtons but for adults. They’re dairy free, non GMO, and kosher. Basically all of those healthy food buzzwords going around. Beware this is not sugar free, but it is a good treat when you need a pick me up.

For lunch, tuna has been one of my go-to’s. It’s simple to make and tastes delicious. I love to add chopped up deli pickles to my tuna. I find that I always need a crunch factor when eating a meal. My husband will tell you that sometimes instead of craving a specific food I’ll go whining around the house wanting something crunchy. Anyone else feel me? Instead of using store bought mayo in my tuna, I make my own. I used this recipe. I like making my own mayo because it tastes way better than store bought mayo! Try it, you’ll like it!

Yogurt and a piece of fruit complete my lunch for the day. I like these yogurts because they are only 100 calories, and of course they get a gold star in my eye because of the crunch factor. I might eat these at lunch or as an after school snack. I try to save at least one thing for after school because I can get pretty hangry!

What’s in your lunchbox?

Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Muffins

I am not exaggerating when I say that I make these muffins every single week. My husband eats them for breakfast during the workweek and they are a much better alternative to regular bakery muffins.

These muffins are delicious. They are made without refined sugar or flour which is a major bonus in my opinion. I can’t get my husband to eat lots of fruits and veggies but I can get him to eat a healthier version of his favorite breakfast. Small victories! I add a little more chocolate chips on top- it's all about the presentation!

When making these muffins I love to use these silicone muffin liners. I absolutely love them. They make cleanup so much easier! The muffins slide out of the silicone liner with ease and they are simple to wash. I usually let them sit in water for a bit before I wash them and the leftover muffin just slides right off. I highly recommend these if you like to bake like I do!

If you’re going to be baking with a lot of honey, this is the best bang for your buck. I used to go through so many small jars- and honey is not cheap! I’ve had this jar for about 2 months and I am just now getting to the bottom.

Back to the muffins! I found this recipe here and I didn’t change too much from the original recipe. Of course I used my favorite coconut milk but any milk would work for these. I’ve even made them with water when I was in a pinch and they still turned out fab! The great thing about these is that if you don’t have very ripe bananas on hand you can replace it with 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce. They are great that way too, but Jay assures me that the banana version is quite a bit better. Don't be afraid of the massive amount of 100% dark cacao powder that go into these muffins. I promise you they won't be bitter!

Oats take the place of flour in this recipe. Now, you might be thinking to yourself, oats is for oatmeal not muffins! Wrong. Oats have lots of nutritional benefits and since I know some of you are dying to know what they are I will summarize what I read about oats this article. You’re welcome.

1. Oats are a good source of carbs and fiber.
2. Oats can improve blood sugar levels.
3. Since oats are so filling, it can help you lose weight- heyyyy

There are many more benefits that you can read about here, but these three I thought were the most intriguing.

I found that the easiest way to grind the oats was in my nutribullet. You don’t need a big fancy blender, but if you have one that will work too! They take about 30 seconds to grind up to a powdery consistency, so it’s nice and quick!

Eating healthy doesn’t have to mean that you can no longer indulge in your favorite things. Eating healthy to me means making conscious choices about the ingredients you’re using while baking or cooking. By making simple switches in ingredients, food can still have all the delicious flavor without the high fat, calories, and carbs. 

If you try this recipe let me know how you liked it!! Thanks for reading!

 

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Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Muffins

by Kaytlyn Ferrando July-2-2017

Refined sugar and flour free! What's not to love?

Ingredients

• 2 ripe bananas
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsps vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup coconut milk (or milk of choice)
• 1/3 cup honey
• 2 1/2 cups oats
• 2 tsps baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 tbsps dark chocolate cacao powder
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Mash bananas. 
2. Add all wet ingredients to the mashed bananas and whisk together until fully combined.  
3. Grind 1 1/2 cups of the oats until they are a powdery consistency.  
4. Add the oats, ground oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cacao powder to the mashed banana mixture. 
5. Whisk until completely combined.  
6. Fold in the chocolate chips. 
7. Pour batter into a greased muffin tin or silicone baking inserts. 
8. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. 
9. Let cool and then enjoy!

Details

Prep time: 10 mins  
Cook time: 20 mins  
Total time: 30 mins  
Yield: 8 jumbo muffins

Niagra Falls

We’ve been on vacation for the last week so I didn’t do much cooking or have much time to sit down and do a post. Jay and I went to Niagra Falls in Canada for our first wedding anniversary, and it was so much fun! I thought it would be fun to share some of the things we did in Niagra Falls! First of all, if you haven’t visited Niagra Falls I highly recommend it. The Falls are the most magical and mystical things I have ever seen. They took my breath away when I first saw them. Their size and power are indescribable.

We stayed right in the middle of the small city surrounding the Falls, which I would definitely recommend. We could walk everywhere and we used their WeGo bus system. I’ll link the package here that we used to explore the Falls. It was the perfect way to see everything we wanted to and get around the city. Another benefit to staying right in Niagra Falls was the surrounding attractions. There were SO many restaurants, adventure parks, arcades, rides, and touristy things to do. If you have kids, this is the holy grail of how to keep them busy and happy. Warning: be prepared to spend some money. Obviously going on vacation you go in with that mindset, but really everything is a bit more expensive there and everything had a $6 parks fee, it was our running joke the whole time we were there. Not that I am complaining! All of the fee money goes to keeping the Falls and the area around it maintained and beautiful for tourists like us.

The first thing we did and the most fun thing we did was the Hornblower ferry into the falls. Basically it’s a huge ferry that brings you past the American Falls and then into the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. When I say into I don’t mean near the falls I mean you’re basically right next to the falls! As we got closer and closer we began to feel the spray from those majestic beasts, hence the fabulous- and oh so stylish- red ponchos. When the ferry got to the falls it was breathtaking. Literally breathtaking because there was so much water spraying in my face that I couldn’t breath! But once I got over that and wiped away the loads of mascara running down my face (note: wear waterproof mascara) I got to see the beautiful falls up close. It was like no other experience I've ever had.

The next thing we did was the White Water Walk. This is about a ½ mile walk along the rapids of the Niagra River. The rapids are moving about 24 mph and the waves are over 10 feet high! This was another breathtaking sight and another thing I highly recommend.  

We also did another tour behind the falls (waterproof mascara not required) which was second best to the Hornblower ferry. Basically we took an elevator down about 250 feet down and ended up in the tunnels that were dug long long ago. We got to explore the tunnels and read about the Falls; did you know that the Falls were once dried up for a few years so scientists and experts could study the rocks and earth behind them? Really interesting stuff! Two if the tunnels lead you directly behind the falls. We got to see the power that’s behind those magnificent falls. The last tunnel leads you out to a small landing right next to the edge of one of the Falls. We were lucky that it was overcast that day so we captured the Falls in all their glory.

Overall we had an amazing time. We even went over to Toronto to catch a Blue Jays game. The stadium there is really nice and clean (that’s important to me). Jay has a bucket list to see as many baseball stadiums as he can. So far he’s visited 5 out of the 30, so he has we have a lot more to see!

There were so many other amazing things we did in Niagra Falls,  but I don’t want to give all the magic away! If you have any questions I’d be happy to answer them! What are your summer vacation plans?

Banana Pancakes

There's nothing better than weekend breakfast. I try to make a big breakfast either Saturday or Sunday, and this weekend it happened to be today. Can you tell which plate is mine and which is my husbands?

I love banana pancakes. There's something about the sweetness of the banana combined with the rich flavor of real maple syrup. They go together so perfectly! I added some strawberries on top of mine, which I don't normally do, but now I don't think I'll ever do without them again.

Now onto the good stuff, ingredients! I love taking recipes and adapting them to my own liking. I found this recipe here but I made a few changes. Often I find recipes that I really want to try but they can have some high fat/calorie ingredients. There is no reason to look at a recipe that calls for butter and think I can't make this recipe! I used to think that way, but there are so many ways to substitute with a lighter choice.

Here are my favorite substitutions: 

applesauce for butter
unsweetened coconut milk for milk
coconut oil for butter/other oils
whole wheat flour for white flour
molasses for brown sugar

How did I get so off track?! I just have so much I want to share with you all! Back to the banana pancakes. It's really important for this recipe that the bananas are very ripe. This is your only source of sweetness for these pancakes. If the bananas are not ripe you will have very bland pancakes sitting on your plate and a frown on your face as you take your first bite. If you choose to make them anyway, add a little bit of vanilla extract to add some sweetness.

I think the most important thing to remember when making pancakes is knowing when to flip the pancakes. It's important to keep your skillet or pan on a low temperature and only flip the pancakes when you begin to see bubbles on top and the edges start to firm up. If you flip them too early, you will most likely have some gooey batter left on the inside as you cut into your pancakes. What you want it light and fluffy with chunks of that sweet banana!

I also made some potatoes with salt and pepper and 2 eggs for my husband! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did! What are your favorite weekend breakfasts? 

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Banana Pancakes

by Kaytlyn Ferrando June-24-2017

A lighter version of sweet banana pancakes!

Ingredients

• 2 ripe bananas
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup coconut milk (or milk of choice)
• 2 eggs

Instructions

1. Mash bananas. 2. Whisk eggs and coconut milk into the mashed bananas. 3. Add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture. 4. Whisk until smooth (there will still be some lumps because of the bananas)5. Preheat and grease a skillet or pan.6. Drop the batter (about 1/4 cup) onto the skillet.7. Turn when the edges become firm and the top begins to bubble. 8. Top with your favorite fruit and syrup then enjoy!

Details

Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 10 mins Total time: 15 mins Yield: 8 pancakes

Post Workout Breakfast

I don't know about you but after I work out I am famished. It can be so easy to erase all the hard work you've done with a naughty breakfast (eggs, bacon and pancakes anyone?!). While that does sound delicious, I hate feeling so full after a heavy breakfast. This light breakfast will keep you satisfied and energized.

This might not look like anything fancy, but trust me when I tell you that is the perfect treat after any workout. I love making eggs but I am not a fan of the smell that lingers in the kitchen after you've fried it. I stumbled upon this little gadget when a friend had a pampered chef party. I love am obsessed with it! This ceramic egg cooker is so simple and saves my kitchen from smelling like a rotten egg for the rest of the morning.

I added two eggs, a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese, and pink salt. I gave it a quick stir and then popped it in the microwave (with the lid on) for about 2 minutes. When it comes out it looks like a muffin - how cute is that egg cup?

I simply sliced it in half and put it on top of my oatmeal bread and voila! This took all of about 5 minutes to make and probably went down just as fast, oops. What are your favorite post workout breakfasts?

Simple Summer Night

Some nights it can be hard to slave over the stove after a long day of work. Trust me, I get it! This simple dinner can be thrown together in about 20 minutes. With the help of my amazing husband on the grill, our dinner was ready quickly. Here's what was on the menu: bratwurst, broccoli, yellow squash, and baby potatoes. Yum!

Since it is only the two of us I find that it can be really easy to over buy on produce. I hate throwing out unused broccoli, asparagus, and grapes at the end of the week (those are the usual offenders). I've found that this pre-washed and cut broccoli is the perfect amount for the two of us, with leftovers for lunch the next day. This stuff is THE best. You just pop it in the microwave for about 3-4 minutes and the broccoli is perfectly steamed.

Another great thing to buy are baby potatoes. I buy them in a small bag that have already been washed. They only take about 15 minutes to boil and they come out so tender. I like to toss the potatoes in butter with rosemary and pink Himalayan salt. Now this is not your ordinary butter my friends. This is THE only butter that you need in your life, if you haven't tried it, you need to get to the store now and pick it up. It is dairy free, non GMO, and full of omega-3. The best part is, it tastes good amazing!! I also toss the squash in butter and pink salt. 

This is what you get when you put it all together. A quick delicious meal that will keep you full and satisfied all night. What are your go to quick dinner meals?

Life Lately

Wow! It has been awhile since I've had a recent post. Lots has happened since September (how does time fly by so fast?). Let me catch you up on some life changes.

We bought a house!! Jay and I were so excited for this part of our life to start. We have been extremely blessed with a beautiful house, which we are slowly making our own. Who knew it would take so much time and effort to make a house a warm and inviting space. Here is one, of the many projects I've done.

Between buying a home and starting the school year back up in September, I found it really tough to balance all of that and run my blog. My goal is to get into the groove of posting early this summer so I can continue to post throughout the school year. With school ending, I have time to focus all my energy onto the blog. Goodbye lesson planning, scoring assessments, and most importantly, fidget spinners (I'd love to meet the person behind that creation).

Another big change in my life is my adventure with becoming my best self, both physically and mentally. I have struggled so much with body image my entire life. I'm learning the scale is just a number and feeling strong and energized is a much better way to view being healthy and fit. I recently joined the beachbody community and have met so many women who are on a similar journey as I am. These women are strong and encourage others to be their best selves. I highly suggest you check it out if you're struggling to get motivated! I'm going to start sprinkling in some fitness posts too because healthy eating isn't the only thing that gets your body in shape! It's all about how you fuel your body to keep it running right.

So that is what has been happening y'all. I'm looking forward to posting more and sharing some delicious recipes with you!