It was below 0 when I got up this morning to go to the gym. Enough already! 😡 I am really getting antsy for spring. I warmed up and then did the weights.
| Exercise | Set/rep/weight | Muscle worked |
| Lying leg press | 3 sets of 10 at 110# <—increase | Lower Body |
| Dumbbell pull over | 3 sets of 12 with 20# DB | Back |
| Captain’s Chair | 3 set of 10 | Core |
| Incline Chest Fly | 3 sets of 10 with 15# DBs (30# total) | Chest |
| Calf Raise | 3 sets of 10 at 170# | Calves |
| Good Mornings | 3 sets of 10 at 55# | Low Back and hammies |
| Upright row | 3 sets of 10 with 30# bar | Shoulders |
The gym was crowded today. Well, crowded for my gym at any rate. Tuesdays are normally very quiet, but I think people that didn’t come yesterday because of the snow came today.
Came home to peanut flour waffles!
I am totally addicted to the peanut flour, so I think I will have to order some online and stock up. Or drive 3 hours to a Trader Joe’s. Road trip!!!
You know, lately I feel like life has been in such flux, especially since I lost one of my jobs in January and then I changed up my workout schedule. Now things just seem… unsettled. I can’t put my finger on it because nothing really has changed outwardly in any drastic way, but I feel like I am waiting for something to happen, but I don’t know what that is. Guess I am supposed to make something happen, but I don’t know what that is, either. And I am a little tired of thinking about it.
Anyway, I also had some trouble thinking of lunch. Didn’t feel like eggs and today is a lower carb day. Chicken on the menu for dinner already. So, mish mash – welcome to the table! I split open a magic roll, toasted it, and did half almond butter and half cream cheese.
This was good, I have to say. Plus a perfectly ripe pear. Filling as well – yay fat!
Not much work this morning, which means pile it on later in the day. Sigh. Part of that unsettled feeling. John made up the lattes this afternoon. I am loving the new Saigon cinnamon. Sprinkle, sprinkle!
and peanuts:
I planned out dinner tonight with the thawed chicken breasts. We decided on the Chicken with balsamic tomatoes from ReadySetEat.
- 2 tablespoons oil (we used coconut)
-
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (4 oz each)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup sliced onion (we used 1/2 cup diced)
- 1 can (14.5 oz each) diced tomatoes, undrained (they recommend seasoned ones, but we just had plain)
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
Heat oil in medium skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken with garlic salt and pepper; cook chicken 5 to 7 minutes or until browned, turning once. Remove from skillet; set aside. Add onion to skillet; cook 1 to 2 minutes over medium heat or until crisp-tender.
Add undrained tomatoes and vinegar to skillet; bring to a simmer. Return chicken to skillet; cook 10 to 12 minutes more or until chicken is no longer pink in center. I added some dried basil and oregano to this.
The only thing I added different was when the chicken was done, I added a couple teaspoons of cornstarch mixed with a couple tablespoons of water to thicken the sauce a little bit.
They recommend serving with pasta (which John had), but I had mine with broccoli!
Serves 4
Calories: 226
Fat: 9.3 g
Protein: 23.2 g
Carbs: 12.4 g
This was quite good and very easy. I think I might cut down the vinegar a bit next time or get a better quality one 
We have leftovers, so you will see this tomorrow!
We were supposed to go out for coffee tonight, but with all the late work – somebody is working at nighttime. 3 guesses as to who that is…
Guess I will make some decaf for home sipping.
Question: Ever cooked with balsamic vinegar?
This is almost exactly what I cooked today!
Yum all over the place.
I’ve never cooked with balsamic?? I’ll have to give it a shot…I eat it on everything 🙂
Good job on the weight increase!
Love balsamic vinegar! I have an aged 25 years from Italy that is as thick as molasses and it is amazing. I don’t cook with it, rather reserve it for drizzling over veggies and salad. I have a good quality standard balsamic for cooking and making vinaigrette and white balsamic that is wonderful. I used it on cooked greens, in salad dressing and it’s particularly good tossed with roasted cauliflower.
Below zero? UGH!
We could with balsamic a lot. I love the flavor. I also use it as a dressing with a little oil and pepper. Simple but tasty.
I’ve made balsamic chicken before and it was delicious! I’ve seen it used over things like strawberries or other fruit, but I haven’t ventured into that yet!
I love balsamic vinegar – love cooking with it, and your chicken dish looks really good!
Re your unsettled feeling – wonder if it’s just ants in your pants for some good bike rides (for cupcakes!). Or else maybe it’s a sign for you to open your own cupcake/bagel/soap shop? 🙂
Haha – I was saying it was time to break out the soap equipment today. Then John said something about us being destined to open a donut shop 😀
I need investors.
Actually i heard that Trader Joes was going to stop carrying the peanut flour so you may want to order online instead.
Yummy food!!
Yes, I heard that as well. Bummer.
Forgot to say i used balsamic vinegar tonight on my kebabs 🙂
I am a big fan of balsamic vinegar. That recipe sounds good, but I would definitely cut the amount of vinegar as that amount would be too strong for me.
Boo to having to work tonight!!!
Feeling unsettled is never fun…I hope whatever it is comes to you.
Yum! I really need to try that chicken dish – especially since that’s the only meat that we eat!
I’m not a fan of the balsamic vinegar, but the seasoned tomatoes may take care of that piney taste. 🙂
Hmmm, such interesting stuff in the comments sometimes. Andra’s mention of the aged balsamic–25 years. I guess I don’t need to worry about the big bottle I had sitting around here for 3 or 4 years!
TRADER JOE’S IS GOING TO STOP CARRYING THE PEANUT FLOUR??? Just when I decided that I must stop and get some??? That’s not right!
Okay, now to comment on your blog! Did you remember I made this stuff? I loved it. I wonder if your thickening it made the balsamic flavor stick out more? Anyway, i couldn’t figure out why your calories were less than mine. I think I miscalculated on subtracting the pasta calories! That made me happy because I thought it was 300something calories, and I thought that was too pricey. Now I will make it again.
…drumming fingers….impatiently waiting for the magic roll recipe…
Well, a 3-4 ounce chicken breast is 150 calories or so, plus the sauce, which isn’t that caloric. Most of the calories in thatcome from the fat (which is about 50 calories per serving). Pasta adds a *lot* of calories – in the area of 150 to 200 calories. Too many for a small portion for me.
Yes I’ve cooked with balsamic. It’s also great to use in a dressing with a bit of olive oil.
That dish looks really good! If I remember correctly you don’t often use tomatoes do you?
I can understand your feelings but I’m sure once Spring finally comes around the corner and you can get out more often and more easily you will be fine again (at least I hope so)
Holy cow Lori, scrumptious looking food there! That chicken looks amazing & of course I can’t wait for that dang roll recipe! You making me wait so many days for it! Yes, the teases was too much for me, I want it now & tomorrow is the day, right!!!! 🙂
And here I was complaining it was too cold in my city cause we are having a cold wave for southern CA! 😉
I make a similar recipe that I found on Sparkpeople but I serve mine over brown rice. I learned some years ago that rice & beans also form a perfect protein so I figure there’s nothing wrong with upping the protein!
I know that I’ve been under some stressors lately but I have to say the cold is just wearing me out. I am finding it increasingly difficult to even want to go out in the cold to exercise.
I vote for bread/bagel/muffin bakery. That’s what you should do.
I love making homemade waffles but of course I use the regular flour and all the other processed stuff that goes into them. Your recipe looks easier easier enough for this amateur to make them. Maybe the kids won’t even notice that they are healthy. I know the feeling of waiting around for something to happen. My husband and I have decided to start flipping houses (I saw in one of your previous post that you have done a couple) and boy what a waiting game this is. Talk about nothing happening like I want it to. Another lesson in the practice of patience I guess. :0 Hope you have a great Monday! I am still dying to go get a bagel!!! LOL!
I really enjoyed flipping houses, but the market got bad and I ended up keeping a house and renting it out, which I sold last year (thank you!). I would love to get into it again, but it is pretty financially risky.
I heard they discontinued peanut flour at TJ’s….I’m like 95% sure, so double-check me on that one. Some other bloggers were really bummed out about it because they loved it too. It sounds very intriguing but apparently wasn’t popular enough.
I have heard that, too, about the peanut flour. It is available online, so no worries there. Maybe that should be my new business – selling peanut flour LOL!
Great job at the gym!
Balsamic vinegar is awesome. It sounds strange but try dipping a strawberry in it. It makes the strawberry taste super sweet.
Hi Lori, sorry to hear you are feeling a bit unsettled. I really hope life settles down a bit for you soon! Hang in there – “this too shall pass”. Your balsamic chicken looks amazing!!! Have a good day.
I like marinating zuchinni in balsamic vinegar and olive oil and them either cooking them on the Foreman or pan fry them. That is what I’m having for dinner tonight! 🙂
I make salmon with a balsamic reduction that is really good and easy!
Me and my boss panic ordered a 4 pack of peanut flour to share. We live way to far from a Trader Joe’s to get some before they sell out. Heartbroken!