Afternoon snacks!
Fresh Great Harvest cranberry orange bread (I haven’t tried it before so I had to have the tiny end piece). You can see how he just walked in on me at my computer and dumped down 3 mini loaves of bread!
And at 4:00 I had an Emmi Swiss Yogurt with TJ’s Fiber Worms and some GoLean Crunch. I used to love these yogurts, but it was much tangier than I remember today. The total opposite of greek yogurt.
And plain green tea. Blah but warm.
Par-Tay
Karen + Andrew arrived around 5:30 and the boys worked on their latest beer exchange. FYI, the husband has a BLOG in the works where he will tell you all about the homebrewing process. Our kitchen is a brewery
I got to taste the product. In my opinion, this was not drinkable!
I wasn’t going to drink tonight, but the ambiance was so festive with Andrew’s last night that I decided to partake in some Murphy Goode Sauv. Blanc.
Dazzling Stuffed Pork With Dates
Title Courtesy of ZestyCook!
On the menu, Karen brought over two pork tenderloins, which we stuffed with blue cheese, dates and pecans. I made a separate recipe page for it: Blue Cheese, Date + Pecan Stuffed Pork Tenderloin.
I could have just eaten a pile of the filling!! The meat was OK but the filling was amazing.
Along with balsamic roasted broccoli (just broccoli roasted for about 10 minutes at 400* with balsamic and EVOO)
And lastly, mushroom + spinach risotto, which was just arborio rice slow-cooked with chicken broth and cremini mushrooms and baby spinach added at the last few minutes.
I had a second pour of vino with dinner –
As usual, we forgot the bread in the oven!!! I didn’t really need any, but I had a bite. This is Great Harvest Country French and it’s absolutely amazing. Much better tasting than it looks! Very chewy!
And for dessert, I had a root beer
I probably wouldn’t have photographed this except it was so easy!!!
And guess what!?!?!?!
I DIDN’T GET A COFFEE HEADACHE!!!! Probably because I intentionally chose caffeinated tea, but I am glad.
I am planning to run first thing in the morning since the sun should be out (we’re having crazy gusty wind here!) but we’ll see how I feel. I definitely want to do more yoga – I am already craving it = crazy!! You know how (well some of you might) weight loss isn’t fun but when you start to see results just because you’re going through the motions it motivates you to keep going through the motions to see more results? Well, that happened to me all throughout my weight loss.
It’s been the same with yoga. I didn’t really want to start doing it except that I felt like I should because you hear all these great things about it. Well, now that I’ve been doing it and seeing good results – more flexibility, and surprisingly more muscle tone – it makes me want to do it more and more. Maybe even more than 20 minutes soon! And maybe even go to a class.
Motivation is an effect, not a cause.
Hope I can sleep tonight!
Tina says
I’m excited to read Matt’s blog! I wish Mal would brew beer– I’ve actually suggested it as a hobby for him in the past! 😉
Oh She Glows says
I love your comment about motivation.
I felt the same way about running. I heard all these great things about it so I felt like I was missing out. I didn’t like it at first but now I am hooked.
Thanks for reminding me to order my first yoga DVD!!! I can’t wait to try something new. I think it will be a great balance to the running and weights.
PS- What will the husband’s blog be about? More than beer I imagine?
Angela
www.ohsheglows.com
zestycook says
Kath, that pork is Dazzling… for real! I love it. As my stomach growls here I am jealous. Your new camera takes great pics. Looking forward to Matts Blog.
zesty
hk says
fun dinner, yum 🙂 YAY for yoga- awesome motivation, so glad you’re loving it 🙂
Kate says
Kath-where did you get your dishes from? They’re beautiful.
Kath says
Oh She Glows,
Beer and bread!
Kate,
I honestly don’t know – Karen got them for us many years ago when we graduated from college at some specialty shop in South Carolina. But they are very similar to those at Crate & Barrel and other stores with square plates.
K
Meg says
The pork and risotto look delicious! Have a great evening!
seelee live (for the love of peanut butter) says
I love your last line –motivation being an effect—-not a cause.
Kath, do you ever have late night snacks if you are hungry?
Jillian says
Pork + blue cheese? Yes please.
I feel that I must inform you that we are granite twins, we have the same stuff in our kitchen!
Shelby says
A blog from the husband? How exciting =)
Love broccoli and the cranberry bread.
Mel says
Your dinner looks and sounds amazing! Risotto is my absolute favorite food.
Thank you for the motivation quote. It’s being put up on my fridge as soon as I am done typing this.
ttfn300 says
i made stuffed pork tenderloin tonight, too! (not posted yet though…) except i didn’t have twine… that would’ve been helpful!
you make me want to give yoga a shot!
ashley (sweet & natural) says
So many fun things in this post – the husband’s future blog, date/blue cheese/pecan stuffing!, yoga love. Looks like you had a great night. Love that motivation quote.
polly says
Kath,
yay husband blog, yay yoga, ya motivation! 🙂
danielle says
I love your quote about motivation so true! And it looks like you had a great dinner party! I can’t wait to read your husbands blog once he starts it.
Jess. says
Dinner looks really delicious! My plan for tonight was to make spinach mushroom risotto for dinner, but time got away from me…. hopefully tomorrow.
I really would like ot know about home brewing and i look forward to matt’s page!
VeggieGirl says
Hooray for a great night and no coffee-induced headaches!! 😀
I too love the motivation quote – great words!!
WendyF says
woo-hoo, a beer blog and a healthy eating blog! I am looking forward to the beer blog. My guy just brewed a batch last night, the house smelled great with grains cooking. (a B-day bock and a Dortmund lager are currently in the works)
I liked the motivation comment as well. I fell off the exercise wagon hard last week.
Hope you have a better nights sleep
Victoria says
Haha Tina. I was going to say the same thing. I’ve suggested it a few times to my husband too.
rhodeygirl says
i know EXACTLY what you mean about the motions thing. that’s how i got started with strength training years ago in the first place!!!!
Amber says
Gosh the new camera really did wonders the pictures are looking GREAT!
Rachel says
We have a Great Harvest in Greensboro but I haven’t gone to it yet. Every time I think about it or I’m in the area it is closed!! 🙁 The cranberry bread looks really good!
Marissa says
That broccoli looks yummy!
HangryPants says
Can’t wait to read Matt’s blog! He’ll have an instant fan base!
noella says
Hope you will try a hot yoga class-I do recommend Moksha Yoga if possible.I just would be fascinated to read your review on a hot yoga class( you can go to one only,or there is often a deal like $20 for first trial week…) I have found it super addictive .
theoddbod says
what a feast!
Danielle says
Hi Kath,
Ok, I have a question. I know this whole lot of calorie questions are tiring, but I would really like your opinion on this one: I am 5’2″ and around 105 lbs. I do not exercise much except maybe a brisk walk now and then. I just counted the amount of calories I’ve been eating this week and it kind of shocks me. On average, I only eat about 1200 calories (ranges from 1100-1300 most days) and yet I’ve been eating like this since I was 15. I do NOT have an eating disorder. I eat burgers and fries and stuff like that sometimes and on most days, try to eat healthy. There isn’t any bodily defect and I don’t feel tired…….Is it just that some people don’t need that much to live??
Is it OK to continue eating like this or is 1200 the bare minimum to survive? Is it different for smaller people or maybe I just have a slow metabolism?
Missy (Missy Maintains) says
Yummy looking broccoli! Along with the rest of the meal of course!! Can’t wait for the beer blog!
www.missymaintains.blogspot.com
TracyJ says
I checked out some yoga dvds from the library the other day…your enthusiasm rubbed off on me! I popped one of the dvds in tonight and definitely enjoyed it! I’ve done yoga mixed with pilates before when I used to belong to a gym but never did yoga on its own…I really enjoyed it and look forward to it again soon!! Thanks Kath 😉
Sarah (lovINmytummy) says
The dinner is beautiful, of course, but I really like the pic of the candy!
I think its great that you are seeing the payoff in your yoga. The are definitely spiritual and emotional payoffs too. I always overlook these for the results I can see, but once I get back to practicing, I think, “Oh yeah…this is why I love it!”
Marianne says
Your dinner is about 100 X better looking than mine was tonight. Stuffed pork, risotto (love risotto) and broccoli? Yum!
AppleC says
Don’t know how you could possibly resist the bread your hubby brings home. It always looks delish. One more thing – I’d opt for wine any day over beer. When are you two going to try making home made wine?
thepinkpeppercorn says
OMG – so much going on! I don’t know how you get everything done – especially getting everything on this blog!!
K says
I’ve tried that yogurt and I agree – super tangy!!
The risotto sounds fabulous!
Tara says
ha – okay – so i read this post while sitting at work and decided that i could potentially attempt the pork tenderloin thing at home without too much difficulty.
substituted raisins for dates and walnuts for pecans. kept the blue cheese bit because, you know, blue cheese is crucial to any good recipe. 😉
was FANTASTIC and sooo easy. this will definitely be a repeat dinner option. i’m loving my current winter hibernation trend of going home, opening a bottle of wine, and whipping up a delicious, healthy dinner while destressing from work.
thanks for the menu ideas, kath and matt!
Allison K says
Ooh! A Beer and Bread blog from the husband! How exciting.
JENNA says
i love that ‘motivation is an effect, not a cause’
leadingladylis says
Dates are seriously one of my favorite foods- stuffed pork loin is one of my Dad’s specialties and I think we’ll have to try this recipe together next time I visit him.
I just started a new yoga class at my husbands University and had my first day today- it was great- I posted about it on my blog leadingladylis.blogspot.com ! I’m glad you’re starting to enjoy yoga more, too!
Melissa (the other one) says
Seriously! I’ve never tried yoga because it doesn’t seem like “my thing”…. In my head, no sweat = no workout. But all this yoga talk lately is making me want to try it 🙂
JJ125 says
DOUBLE YAY for the homebrewing blog!!!
Camtim42 says
Kath,
I’m so excited to read about your new found yoga love! And also some of the other comments here are great 🙂 I never thought I could love something as much as running, but yoga just brings me to another place. I don’t know how to describe it really, but I like being there 🙂
~the running yogini
http://camtim.blogspot.com/
runjess says
Bread dumped on desk = unfair.
I would love to make yoga a habit, but that thought is just because I “feel like I should.” Maybe I just need to make more time for it.
Kath says
seelee live (for the love of peanut butter),
Yes, I do have late night snacks on occasion. Often cereal and milk. I’ve been having bigger dinners the past few months, though, so I rarely need one these days.
Jillian ,
Granite twins! Yay!
noella ,
I do want to try hot yoga someday. It’s $16 here and I have no mat. Someday though!
Danielle ,
Sorry, I can’t answer calorie questions. Caloriesperhour.com is a good site to learn more about your metabolism and needs.
AppleC ,
I think wine requires more equipment and stuff, but I really have no idea. I’ll ask Matt tonight! Making our own wine would be golden!
Tara ,
Glad to hear it!!
Melissa (the other one),
That’s the thing I had to overcome – yoga is NOT a workout replacement for me. It is an addition. I’m sure this attitude will change with time, and esp. if I do “harder” yoga in the future, but for now, it’s one big relaxing stretch session.
Kath
RK says
Kath,
I recently found your blog and have LOVED keeping up with your postings. Thank you so much for all of the work you put into it!
I love your quote about motivation. It was just what I needed to hear today and is going to help me through some upcoming challenges in my life. Thanks again!
Katy says
Can’t wait for the beer-making blog! My DH has been begging for a setup for his birthday in February, and I don’t have the first idea where to start.
Katy
sillytatertot.blogspot.com
Lyn says
That is so true about motivation. As a matter of fact, that’s almost exactly what Shauna Reid told me today in the dietgirl interview I did on my blog. And since she’s lost 175 pounds, I think she knows what she’s talking about. It’s good to hear the same message from you. The more input I get from successful people, the more likely I will become one of them. (Successful in weight loss, at least!)