Lunch in 4 minutes!

Last week my husband started a new job (YEAH!) and now I FINALLY get to make his lunches. I've been waiting years for this, let me tell you. 

On a side note - I am terribly nervous about uploading these videos and the many others I have made. I make no apologies for my messy kitchen, fast talking, or funny faces. This is just me...Becoming Annie. 

On morning #2 I got up and realized I had made lunch the night before, just not for me! I had to be at work quickly and needed to just throw things together that I already had in my fridge.

Here is the intro that I posted to Instagram.

Here is me & my hurrying to a meeting/trying to get comfortable in front of the camera, self getting my lunch ready at Annie speed (which is kind of fast).

Salsa Crock Pot Chicken (1/2 C)

1 C Spinach

Rice & Quinoa packet from Costco (1 serving)

1/4 C black beans cooked with minced onion

Green onions

Olives

Cafe Yumm Sauce (1 TBSP)

1/2 C Pineapple

1 barre3 Pumpkin Spice Cookie

Water (the other 2 liquids I drink aren't allowed at work ;)

This lunch has enough protein in it to get me through the day. This chicken is so moist I can actually eat it cold in a wrap, and I've brought it to conferences like that before. Cafe Yumm Sauce is only available in the PNW. The sauce itself is best bought from the retailer because the value for the size is unbelievable! Buying it at Whole Foods or New Seasons is a very large price hike. 

The key to this lunch: salsa crock pot chicken! More on this to come but it is as easy as it sounds. Thanks to my bestie Robyn for teaching me this trick years ago. Or rather, thanks to her Mom for teaching it to her! 

Happy Lunching! 

snow day sweet snack!

Last week had a "lot" of snow...

safe sling activity - snow angel

somewhat safe snow activity - making snowballs.

until your husband throws a snowball at you.

for the record - I was already sitting down

 

When you're cooped up inside for 4 days because you're afraid to walk outside...and you can only use one arm...there's only so many things you can do. I employed my husband and I think it worked because chocolate was involved!

 

Chocolate trail mix bites.

 

I got the idea from the blog Undressed Skeleton. These were so ridiculously easy to make! We melted Moonstruck 70% cocoa chocolate in the microwave on Power 3 for about 3-4 minutes, stopping every minute to stir. Spoon 1 spoon full on to wax paper. Top with nuts & fruits. We used a mix of macadamia nuts, pistachios, almonds, TJ dried cranberries, sea salt.  Two 3.0 ounce chocolate bars made 16 double spoon full bites (the bigger ones) AND about 30 single scoop bites. We'll be making many, many more batches of these! And...my husband was right {yes, you read that right}, sea salt makes all the difference!

 

 

I definitely plan on bringing these along with us on trips and hikes!

Do you have any toppings you think would be good on our chocolate trail mix bites?

a few random tips!!!

By the time you read this post I will be doped up on drugs & not really writing this blog post! I was paroosing though my photos and realized I hadn't shared a few of these tips with you all!

 

1. The rubber banded apple.

 

I was a little skeptical about this one. I don't like brown apples. And while it was a tad brown it was totally edible! On this morning I was heading to an early gym session and needed by breakfast to be ready to go! 

 

2. Cooler bag for grocery shopping.

 

My grocery store, New Seasons, is right across the street from barre3 {nifty - right}! Depending on what time classes are and who is teaching I sometimes go shopping before barre3 but I don't want my food to spoil! Solution --- bring a cooler bag with 2 ice packs into the grocery store. This way my meat, dairy, or freezer items won't go bad!!

3. Week long salad prep!

I know I've shared this one here before but it's so simple I want to keep reminding you all of it! I cut up lots of veggies and place them into 4 containers for salads for lunch during the week! Here the array was: edamame, purple cabbage, feta, tomatoes, green onions.

4. Double batch of soups...

 

When I make soup I almost always make a double batch. One batch will last us for about 2 dinners for 2 and a lunch or so. A double batch will give us a few more lunches AND many servings for the freezer!! This is perfect for those nights you don't want to cook...surgery....or to give to people who might need a meal because of an extenuating circumstance.

I hope that you might try one of these tips this month! Let me know if you do!!