Wednesday, April 6, 2016

A little of this, a little of that, and some peanut butter

I don't want to spoil the run of peanut butter treats this week - so here you go.

Jan mentioned breakfast bars in the comments of Jill's post yesterday. I thought of these.

I haven't made them yet, but I'm definitely going to.

No-Bake Chocolate-Coconut Protein Bars


I'll update this when I make them.


Okay, back to the regularly scheduled post.

One of the things I find most challenging about healthy eating is finding the energy to cook something after a long day of teaching and tutoring. There's no way I'm going to eat what I cook for my husband - I'd weigh a ton. (He does very physical work and needs the calories) But cooking a second, healthy meal... well let's just say that more often than not, it doesn't happen.

That's why I love finding something healthy and easy. Monday night was crazy - first day back at school after Easter break, teaching, tutoring, and then a long parent meeting. It was almost 7 by the time I got home. I was starved, but I wanted something healthy.

I had beets in the frig.

I bought a sweet potato.

I had mini-pitas (low-sodium ones).

I have sprouted lentils that I love and that only take 5 minutes to cook.

There was some baby kale for my smoothies and I had a fresh container of hummus.

Inspiration!

I sliced the sweet potato, drizzled the slices with extra virgin olive oil and put them in to roast while I walked the dog. When we returned, I sliced the beets and steamed them while I showered.


Invigorated by a shower and the amazing scent of roasted sweet potatoes, I cooked the lentils, then mixed in the hummus, layered the kale on the pitas, spooned the hummus/lentil mix on top and warmed it all together a bit.

The beets and sliced potatoes went on the side but I piled them up when I began to eat.















Delicious, healthy, and most of it cooked while I was doing other things.











Best part?  Leftovers tonight so I have time to eat before the meeting at church!




14 comments:

  1. That's an interesting way to cook sweet potatoes. Must try. They are one of my favorite foods. Hummus and lentils too. (I'll give you my portion of beets.)

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    1. I will happily eat your beets, Tina. I love, love, love them.

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  2. I love beets and sweet potatoes! And I love cooking sweet potatoes or squash with apples and having my own squashy-fruity deliciousness.... and I must grow beets this summer, they're getting super-popular!

    Cate... peanut butter... oh mylanta, what a marvelous invention that was! LOVE IT!

    Thank you for this delightful and healthy look at dinner, we know I will be less healthy tomorrow.... which provides much-needed balance among the New Yorkers in the cafe, LOL!

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    1. LOL, Ruthy, I'm the healthy balance.

      Have you ever had those chips - maybe Terra brand - called Sweets and Beets?

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  3. That's my favorite hummus from the grocery store! I love that one with the olives.

    I bought a bag of sprouting beans but haven't tried the sprouting yet. You need to do a post on that to show me what to do! :)

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    1. Missy, I'm no help there. These already come sprouted and dried.

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  4. Cate, my favorite part of this post is how you worked in cooking amidst all your chores. Great multi-tasking. smile

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    1. That's the only way I'll get to eat, Sandra. Self-defense. But usually I'm too lazy.

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  5. You are so creative in the kitchen -- and at the end of a grueling work day too! And such happy colours. I like pretty food. :-)I love hummus. I use it as a veggie dip all the time. Now you have me craving it and I don't have any in the house and I'm not about to go out and get some in this blizzard!

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    1. Not sure creative is the word, Kav. More like desperate!

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  6. I'll take Tina's beets!! I love them and find them to be very good for me....so healthy and beneficial. I need to include sweet potatoes in my diet more...my Mom (deceased) served them regularly, many ways.

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    1. Mom knows best, right, Jackie. ;)

      Thanks for visiting.

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  7. Using the steamer to cook beets? Why haven't I ever thought of that before?

    And the roasted sweet potatoes...

    Make a double batch the next time. I'm coming over! :)

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  8. Will do. I'm planning on using a batch with blueberries and kale in a smoothie.

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