Category Archives: family life

Egg and Sausage Breakfast Casserole

Posted on by Run DMT
1

PhotobucketYou will seriously love this breakfast casserole recipe and you will want to bookmark it or pin it for sure.  Go ahead.  I’ll wait.

Because this breakfast is so tasty and such a crowd-pleaser, I’ve made it twice just this month for family and friends.  Seriously, it’s that good.  And the best part, it’s low fat.  You’re pinning it now, aren’t you?  I knew I would have you at “low-fat”.

I’m not sure how I stumbled upon Eat Yourself Skinny, but I was happy to find her low-fat recipes, especially her healthier version to a brunch classic.  However, I had to modify her recipe because I can’t eat breakfast sausage that contains MSG due to my sensitivity to it.  So, I substituted the reduced-fat pork sausage for an even lower fat option: Al Fresco Country Style Chicken Breakfast Sausage.

I also used a half loaf of Publix White Mountain bread because I thought the thick, dense bread would make a wonderful base for the casserole.  Both substitutions were spot-on and like I said, a real crowd pleaser.

All you need is a mimosa to wash it down.

Low-Fat Egg and Sausage Breakfast Casserole

(Adpated from Eat Yourself Skinny)

Ingredients

1 package Al Fresco Country Style Chicken Breakfast Sausage

1 medium onion, diced

2 eggs

4 egg whites

2 cups fat-free milk

1 ½ tsp spicy brown mustard

½ tsp Kosher salt

¼  tsp ground black pepper

½ loaf of dense, crusty bread cut into 1 inch cubes

2 cups (8 oz) reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 350° degrees.  Prepare a 13 x 9 inch baking pan with cooking spray.

In large skillet, stir and sauté onions until translucent.

As onions cook, slice sausage links into quarters.  Slice each link into quarters lengthwise and then slice each quarter strip into small bite size morsels.  Add to onions.  Stir and warm through.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs, egg whites, milk, mustard, salt and pepper.  Stir in the bread cubes, cheese and sausage mixture.  Pour into baking dish.

Bake at uncovered for about 45 to 60 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.  Watch closely for the last ten minutes to avoid overcooking or burning the casserole.

Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting.  Serve with Tabasco or fresh salsa.

Makes 12 servings.

Thanks for joining our weekly Friday Food Fight! Can’t wait to see what everyone is flinging this week!



*Also submitted at*

Denise Mestanza-Taylor+

Chicken and Chorizo Paella

Posted on by Run DMT
4

PhotobucketI seriously love Spanish food.  For me, Spanish food is comfort food, like someone’s else mac and cheese.  Throw a bunch of ingredients together and it’s like a latino’s version of a casserole.  Not to mention, there’s just something about the saffron that just makes me happy.

I’m just mad about Saffron. 

So when I found this easy, low-fat version of a Spanish classic, I had to give it a whirl.  Thankfully, my family loved it and now this meal is a regular on our weekly dinner menu.

Now, if I was a better latina, I would go to the bodega to buy my chorizo, but I’m too lazy for that, which is just sad really because there’s a bodega on every corner in Tampa.  However, there is really no need for me to make an extra trip to the bodega, except to support small business owners which I really should instead of giving money to big corporation.

But in one weekly shopping trip to my local Target, I can buy MSG-free Archer Farms Chorizo Sausage as well as pick up a allergy medication, tampons, a cute sundress, some new sandals for my kids and deeply discounted running clothes.  See how I save money shopping at Target?

But this post is about paella not summer deals at Target.

Chicken and Chorizo Paella (Pollo y Chorizo Paella)

(Borrowed from So Easy by Ellie Krieger)

Ingredients

1 Tbsp olive oil

3 chorizo sausage links

1 lb skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes

1 medium onion, chopped

1 garlic cloves, minced

2 cups low-sodium free range chicken broth

½ cup frozen peas

1 cup uncooked white rice

1 ripe tomato, chopped

¼ sliced green Spanish olives with pimentos

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp ground black pepper

¼ tsp turmeric

Pinch of Saffron threads

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 375.

Using a large, heavy skillet with lid, heat olive oil in skillet on a medium heat.  Add chorizo links and cook for about 3 minutes on each side or until brown.  Remove links from skillet and slice into ½ inch round slices.  Return chorizo to skillet and add chicken.  Cook both meats together for about 5 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink on outside.  Transfer chicken and chorizo to a plate.

Add onions to skillet and cook, stirring often until softened, about 3-5 minutes.  (There should be enough oil in the pan left from the chorizo, but if need be, add 1 Tbsp olive oil to skillet.)  Add garlic and cook for about a minute.  Return chicken and chorizo to skillet and add chicken broth, peas, rice, tomato, olives, salt, pepper, turmeric and saffron.  Bring to a boil, cover and transfer to oven.  Cook until rice is tender and the liquid is completely absorbed, 25-45 minutes*.

*Time may vary depending on oven.  This dish takes closer to 45 minutes in my oven.

Thanks for joining our weekly Friday Food Fight! Can’t wait to see what everyone is flinging this week!



*Also submitted at*

Denise Mestanza-Taylor+

Our Own Joan of Arc

Posted on by Run DMT
10

As we wrap up the end of the school year, it seems like the projects keep piling on.  One of the recent projects required my youngest daughter, Emmalynn, to read a biography, complete with a book report and then she had to either dress as that person or create a puppet of that person for an oral presentation.

Did I mention she’s only six?  I don’t recall having to do these types of presentations until high school.  Nonetheless, Emmalynn and I visited our local library to search through the stacks of biographies for her report.

There were so many wonderful biographies of great people.  Although the choices were endless, we limited our choices to the materials and costumes available in our closets for the oral presentation portion of this assignment.  Should she be Sacagawea?  Mary Queen of Scotts?  Madame Curie?  Hillary Clinton? Miley Cyrus?  Harriet Tubman?
You Wouldn't Want to Be Joan of Arc!: A Mission You Might Want to Miss

The choice seemed clear when we found You Wouldn’t Want to Be Joan of Arc!: A Mission You Might Want to Miss.  She
could totally pull off a Joan of Arc.

With her Bob haircut, a sword, a riding horse-on-a-stick, and a homemade Princess Leah costume, she would be a dead ringer.  Not literally, though.  We would omit the whole burning at the stake part for her presentation.

As we read through the book, we learned that Joan of Arc preferred carrying a banner over a sword.  Therefore, we fashioned a similar banner using the backside of some leftover Christmas wrapping paper.  Emmalynn did her best to draw a few fleur de lys, the angels Michael and Gabriel seated on either side of God and the Latin words “Jesus Maria”.

For a more dramatic effect, Dad wrapped some duct tape around the cardboard tube.  It also helped strengthen the tube.

In the end, we had our own little Joan of Arc, who lived to tell about her adventures.

 

Denise Mestanza-Taylor+

Motherhood Makes Beautiful Things

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In recent months, there has been a resurgence on  “war on women”.  I’m not referring to the “war on women” that has been happening for centuries in the Middle East or the heinous atrocities happening to women in Africa or even the verbal attacks in the U.S. political arena. Instead, I’m referring to the age old war of working moms vs. stay at home moms and the other ugly battle, attachment parenting vs. traditional parenting.  First, it was the ridiculous comments made by Hilary Rosen about Ann Romney.  Then, there was an uproar in response to the Time magazine cover.

Why do we allow society or the media to flame these feuds?

If you work outside the home and still have the strength to raise a family, then you should be applauded.  If your job is a full time mom trying to juggling it all without losing your mind or yourself trapped between a world of toddlerese and Lori Berkner, then your efforts should be applauded as well.  Neither job is easy.  Motherhood no matter how it’s dressed up, be it a corporate suit or yoga pants, requires sacrifice and that sacrifice should be praised not ridiculed.

And yet, somehow that sacrifice opens the door for ridicule or judgment rather than praise.

As moms, we make decisions every day about child-rearing with the sole purpose to do what’s best for our children.  Therefore, how can any reasonable child-rearing choice be wrong?  If you choose to breastfeed your child until school-age, who are we to judge?  If you choose to bottle feed your baby over breastfeeding, who are we to judge?  And if your child stays on the bottle, boob or binky until kindergarten, then that’s also a parenting choice and no one should judge.

No matter which avenue we choose to get there, we all want a stress-free existence with confident, well-adjusted children.  Our ultimate goal is the same.  So why not build a society that mirrors the one created when we cradle infants in our arms, be it on the breast or on a bottle?

Acceptance and support starts with each of us.  As mothers, we need to stop criticizing each other and start supporting one another.  We can’t allow magazine images and political sound bites to open the door to criticism and attacks.

Motherhood makes beautiful things.  Society needs to stop turning into something ugly.

With yesterday being Mother’s Day, I felt compelled to share my thoughts about moms supporting other moms and what better way than incorporating it into a Music Monday post.  What topics and tunes are moving you?

I’m still co-hosting with Xmas Dolly and her Monday’s Music Moves Me crew (Lorie, Stacy, Callie and Cathy), so link up and share.

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Denise Mestanza-Taylor+

Mexican Wedding Cakes for Cinco de Mayo

Posted on by Run DMT
10

PhotobucketMy family and I are participating in a Mexican-themed race today called the Crazy Sombrero.  Afterwards, one of our friends is hosting a post-race party where all the guests were asked to being a snack to share for the fiesta.

What to bring?  What to bring?  Margaritas?  Mexican Lasagna?  

As I flipped through the Mexican-flare recipe cards in my mind, I recalled the potluck luncheons from my early teaching days. Back then, I taught in a very rural community of Dade City with a large population of migrant workers, mostly Mexican and some were part of our school’s staff.  Thanks to the lovely senoras on staff, Mexican Wedding Cakes were always part of the potluck and they were delicious.  Similar in texture to a shortbread (Scottish, not Martha’s), they were a tasty light, flaky buttery cookie.

So, to pay homage to my Mexican homies, I tried my hand at Mexican Wedding Cakes like the senoras used to bake.  Traditionally, these cookies are made with pecans or walnuts, but due to my nut allergy, I chose to use almonds instead.

Before beginning the cookie batter, I roasted the almonds on an ungreased baking sheet at 325° for about 10 minutes for a rich fragrance but not burnt.

I let the roasted almonds cool completely before I chopped them in a food processor for a fine, almost mealy texture.

Using a standing electric mixer, I combined the butter, powdered sugar, salt, vanilla, ground nuts and flour.  Then, I rolled them into 2-inch balls and baked them for about 15 minutes until the edges were golden brown.

I let the cookies set and cool for a few minutes before rolling them in powdered sugar.  Once coated with a light layer of confectioners’ sugar, I returned them to the cooling rack.

Honestly, Mexican Wedding Cakes are so easy to make and I think the senoras would be quite pleased with my cookies.  They tasted just like I remembered.  It’s funny how one small taste can send you back in time.

Me gustan mucho.

Mexican Wedding Cakes

(Adapted from The Joy of Cooking)

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature

½ cup confectioners’ (powdered) sugar

¼ tsp salt

2 tsp vanilla

1 cup nuts (pecans, walnuts or almonds), toasted and finely ground (See above.)

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup confectioners’ sugar for topping

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.

Grease or line two cookie baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpat liners.

Using a standing electric mixer, beat butter, sugar, salt and vanilla until well combined.  Then, add finely ground nuts and mix on a low setting for about 15 seconds.  Add flour and mix on a low setting until well combined.

Shape into 1-2 inch balls and arrange about 1 ¼ inch apart on the baking sheets.  Bake one at a time until edges are golden brown, about 15 minutes.  Remove sheet from oven and cool on a wired rack for about 5 minutes.

While still warm but cool enough to handle, roll each cookie in confectioners’ sugar and return to cooling rack.  Just before serving, sift additional confectioners’ sugar over cookies.

Yields about 2 dozen

Thanks for joining our weekly Friday Food Fight! Can’t wait to see what everyone is flinging this week!



*Also submitted at*

Sweet Tooth Friday

Denise Mestanza-Taylor+

SeaWorld’s TurtleTrek

Posted on by Run DMT
12

From the moment they hatch, sea turtles face many great challenges on their way to the sea.  From mistaking lights on the beach for the moon to the numerous predators, sea turtles must overcome great odds to survive.

SeaWorld’s newest attraction, TurtleTrek, teaches visitors how to help sea turtles as they make their journey.  With a little education, conservation and awareness, we can make a difference in the life of a sea turtle.  As the exhibit proudly proclaims, each of us has the potential to be everyday heroes to help make the world a better place for all.

TurtleTrek’s  up-close observation deck allows guests to encounter West Indian manatees and sea turtles in a naturalistic habitat.

In one corner of the exhibit, a model of a turtle nest offers a real-life example as to how some everyday heroes protect sea turtles on the beach.

Also on the observation deck, visitors can play Race for the Beach, an educational video game displayed on massive screens.  After selecting their species of sea turtle, guests swim the ocean munching on favored foods while avoiding hazards like nets and plastic bags.

As guests follow the TurtleTrek trail below, they become immersed in underwater life.

Schools of more than 1,500 Caribbean-native fish, sea turtles and manatees greet guests on their way to the world’s first 3D 360 dome theater. With the aid of a state of the art film, Nyah, a sea turtle shares her amazing journey and there are no bad seats in the house.

Once I learned a portion of each dollar spent in the TurtleTrek gift shop benefits in-the-field research to help save animals, I couldn’t resist purchasing some gifts for my children.  With small trinkets, I would be an everyday hero to my little critters as well as sea creatures.

For residents and locals, the best way to experience TurtleTrek again and again is with a Fun Card or annual pass. Each provides unlimited visits to SeaWorld Orlando and all the park’s special events and festivals including Halloween Spooktacular and SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration.  Even better, there are no blackout dates!

For more information or to buy your Fun Card or annual pass now, go to www.SeaWorldOrlando.com

*I experienced SeaWorld’s newest attraction, TurtleTrek, as part of a grand opening media event and received no compensation for this review.*

Random Thoughts about Nutella, Superheroes, a New Challenge, Anxiety and Track Tuesday

Posted on by Run DMT
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So, have you heard the news about Nutella? Are you surprised to hear it’s not healthy?  Shocking, I know.  How could something with sugar listed as its first ingredient not be healthy?  Not to mention, it has 3.5 grams of saturated fat and only 3 grams of protein.  How on earth did anyone think Nutella was healthy while peanut butter and eggs get a wrap?!

I have so many runner friends that love the stuff and I’m sure their Nutella power balls are getting soggy from all the sobbing they’re doing since hearing the latest news.  Personally, I never liked the stuff because it always tasted fake to me, but I think maybe I’ll make some cookies just to tease smooth things over with my runner friends.

My family and I can’t wait to see The Avengers this week and since we’re so pumped about the new movie, I planned this month’s fitness challenge around it.  When I told my oldest daughter, Allana, about the challenge, she told me I should have created exercises specific to The Avengers and then demonstrated some examples.

“You could smash something like the Hulk”, she said and threw a clasped fist as she squatted.

“And then you could throw a shield like Captain America”, she said as she twisted her torso to throw an invisible shield off to the side.

“And then you could smash a mallet like Thor”, she said as she twisted her torso and pretended to smash a mallet to the opposite side.  “But I’ll have to think about Iron Man.”

I think she’s onto to something there and I wish I had consulted her sooner.  We could still do the Superman exercise but call it Iron Man instead because Iron Man flies too.  I’m going to video record Allana and I performing the exercises and maybe we can throw them into the superhero mix.  Wouldn’t that be funny?

Last week, I had some terrible bouts of anxiety.  I’ve never shared my issues with anxiety before on my blog, because I’m a little embarrassed by it.  I’ve always been a “shake it off” kind of person and so it’s hard for me to admit to any issues with anxiety, but last week, I had two attacks and I feel compelled to share.

One happened during a run with my Strider friends.   About 3 miles into the run, I pulled back away from the pack to slow down a bit.  At the particular point, the path became very dark.  Since I had forgotten my flashlight, an overwhelming sense of fear began welling up in me.  I tried to stay focused on my pace to avoid crying.  It was awful.  Next time, I need to stay with a buddy or bring my flashlight or pop a Zoloft.  Though, I think fear worked in my favor because I had a pretty good run.

4 miles

Time 39:11

Ave Pace 9:48

Max Pace 7:29

The next panic attack happened the very next day at a media event at Sea World.  I became overwhelmed by the crowd, but I powered through it once again.  I haven’t had a bad spells with my anxiety in awhile so I was really taken back by these episodes.

Hubby is out of town for a few days, which has put a damper of my training especially my speed work.  Therefore, I have no sprints to share this week.  Hopefully, Ricole can be a hero and save the day with some faster than a speeding bullet sprints for Track Tuesday.


How about you?  Did you do some sprints?  Link up and share.



By the way, while you’re here don’t miss out on the Joggermom Marathon and giveaway!

Stacy

Denise Mestanza-Taylor+

Joggermom Marathon 2012

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3

As a mom on the run, I understand the difficulties of training for races while raising a family.   Mother runners struggle with balancing sleepless nights, sick children, crazy schedules, carpools, after school activities and homework with our training.  It’s not easy.

Thankfully, Joggermom has made training and racing while raising a family easy with her Joggermom Marathon, but don’t let the word “marathon” scare you.  With Joggermom’s virtual marathon, you simply run a total 26.2 miles during the month of May.  In other words…

“You have from May 1st thru May 31st to complete 26.2 miles. That means you have 31 days to run 26.2 miles. That is a little more than 6 miles a week, a very attainable goal for even a couch potato. This marathon is not about who comes in first, it is about completing something you set out to do for yourself.” – Joggermom

 

Think you can do it?  Like Joggermom said, it’s totally attainable.  I participated last year and I’m joining Joggermom Marathon again this year.  Now, I want to share this fun, totally attainable marathon with you.

One lucky Run DMT reader will win a free entry in the Joggermom marathon.    

To enter this Joggermom Marathon entry fee giveaway, leave a comment below and tell us how you plan to reach 26.2 miles in 31 days.  Giveaway ends midnight on 5/14.  One winner will be selected at random with the help of random.org and announced on 5/15.

Even if you don’t win, please sign up as 10% of each entry will go to the American Heart Association.  Registration will remain open until May 15 at midnight.

There a few “rules”, like keeping track of your mileage in a spreadsheet and submitting photos as proof of your efforts, but it’s so worth it when you see the fabulous prizes you can win.  Not to mention, there’s that sense of accomplishment you’ll feel when you finish.  Then, you can wear that pride along with the Joggermom Marathon finishers bib to make it official!

How fun is that?! 

Rest assured your favorite stunner will be sporting a bib for sure.

So, you will join Joggermom Marathon and wear a finishers bib too?

Denise Mestanza-Taylor+

Babes and Blossoms

Posted on by Run DMT
13

While the weather is pleasant, Little Lion Man and I have been partaking in the preschool-appropriate fun at our neighborhood shopping center. With camera in tow, I try my best to snap photos of a rambunctious toddler who is more interested in shopping cart shaped like police cars, trains and fountains than lizards and hedgehogs.

So although I couldn’t capture a decent photo of Liam, I was able to snap some photos of the flowers cascaded through the plaza.

Spring is definitely in full bloom at our favorite stomping ground, The Shops at Wiregrass, which is perfect timing for the Leap into Spring! Photo Challenge.

For these photos, I decided to have fun with Field of Depth so you could truly experience the sights and smells of spring in my neighborhood.

Now, gather a whiff of the Jasmine bush growing wildly outside our front door.  With its twined vines and pungent fragrance, it welcomes you to our home.

Well, it would welcome you to our home if one particular little man would stop the picking the flowers.  Otherwise it will just be bush with a bunch a leaves waving hello.

spring photography challenge, kristi live and love out loud photo challenge, project alicia photo challenge, bumbles and light photo challenge,Mama's Losin' It

 

“Has Spring sprung? Post a photo journal of what Spring is looking like in your neck of the woods!”

*Also submitted at*

PhotoStory Fridaythe hollie rogue Look whooooo’s snapping Unknown Mami

Denise Mestanza-Taylor+

Leap Into Spring Photo Challenge: Eggs

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12

This week’s Leap Into Spring Photo Challenge is Easter/Eggs.  Given that Easter was just a few weeks ago and I still haven’t shared those photos, I hopped on it.

Like most , our Easter our was full of eggs from decorating and dying…

…to four different egg hunts.  There was one egg hunt with Emmalynn’s class.  Chugging along with a train basket in tow, Little Lion Man tried to keep up with the big kids.

We always love our annual egg hunt with our Moms on the Go friends.

On Easter morning, the Easter bunny left some jellybean-filled eggs in the yard.  Did you know that dump trucks make better Easter baskets?

Then later that day, Grandma hid some eggs in her gorgeous garden, which is perfect for eggs hunts and wanna-be photographers.

After a long, “eggs”hausting hunt run in Grandma’s huge yard, we rewarded ourselves with the Cadbury Creme Egg Cupcakes I baked for dessert.

Yep, it was a truly “eggs”elent Easter.

spring photography challenge, kristi live and love out loud photo challenge, project alicia photo challenge, bumbles and light photo challenge,

PhotoStory Fridaythe hollie rogue Look whooooo’s snapping Unknown Mami

Denise Mestanza-Taylor+