I woke up this morning to find a fairly empty refrigerator. Namely, we had NO produce. Ummm…how? $50 of our last week’s grocery bill came in the form of fruits and veggies! I guess on the bright side that means we ate our fair share of produce over the last six days. I can always find a silver lining. And I can always find reasonable options even without an emergency trip to the colorful bounty of your local grocer.

This morning I did manage to scrounge up one piece of produce for my pre-workout snack. Every morning I eat a banana before heading out the door for my workout. I always make sure to buy enough to get me through the week, so I still had my banana waiting for me before spin class.

Once I got home from the 45 minute spin class, the hunger beast had set in. What to do? What to do? I actually felt like having something different than oats again, but the pantry and fridge were still bare. So, I turned to the freezer.

Two whole wheat waffles spread with peanut butter and a Trader Joe’s Mango chicken sausage worked well in a pinch.

Can you tell I tried to make it look more appetizing with a cute smiley face? 😉

Leftovers also work wonders when you run out of options. We had Heather’s Green Chile Beef Stew a couple nights ago for dinner and I dove into the leftovers for lunch.

It included corn and potatoes so I guess I did manage to find some produce. 😉

Shortly after lunch I broke for my dark chocolate + decaf coffee fix.

What some may call a bad habit, I call a sanity keeper. This much needed break recharges me so I can keep that good mom perspective we talked about yesterday. Of course this is just a little pre-snack to my real afternoon snack.

I dug another Springtime Lemon Raspberry Muffin out of the freezer to have with a Black Cherry Chobani. Two bits of raspberries and black cherry “stuff” count as produce, right? I did miss my crunchy apple though. I eat an apple literally every day. If only the saying claimed to keep the dentist away. Darn.

Now to figure out dinner. I do the shopping tomorrow so I have a feeling I will be eating these tonight.

I promised the husband we could get Chick-Fil-A for the two of us soon since Makenzie’s trip had him quite jealous. Might as well get a grilled chicken sandwich with a side salad when the only option at home would be a PBJ. At least I learned something today. I really do love my fruits and veggies!

Question of the Day – What would be your go to meal options with NO produce?

First off, I completely forgot to say THANK YOU to all of you for your uplifting comments on my most recent Body After Baby progress. I really hope to show that its possible to make changes with balance and consistency. Hearing that you all recognize that in my journey means a lot. And it’s not over yet! So, thank you for the continued support I know you all will offer on a regular basis. 🙂

As the normal, I started today off with a solid workout. It really does get my day up and running on a positive note. I did a group kickboxing class for my workout today. Remember a couple weeks ago when I went and the instructor had a lot of difficulty leading the class? Well, she had her A game on today and gave us a great workout. I was so happy for her! I can only imagine the stress of starting out as a fitness instructor. She definitely seemed more comfortable today, though, and I really enjoyed the class.

After the gym, we took a pit-stop at home before heading back out for a Mom’s Club activity. Today we all met up at a local Chick-Fil-A for the kids to eat and play on the playground. We rarely do fast food, so I don’t have a problem with Makenzie having some for lunch every once in awhile. She enjoyed her chicken nuggets, fruit, and milk alongside her friends. I, however, had different plans for lunch. You see, I’m on a new kick. A goat cheese kick. I can’t get enough!

I couldn’t wait to get home for lunch. I did something quite tasty. I took two slices of 9 Grain & Seed bakery bread. Spread one piece with the goat cheese. Spread the other slice with pesto.

Then added a bit of turkey, spinach, and tomato between the two. It quickly became a thing of beauty.

And disappeared way, way too fast. So much better than any fast food!

My goat cheese kick extended to dinner as well. I guess I’m on a new kick in the kitchen lately too. I have wanted to cook a ton lately! Strangely, I find myself loving it more and more. Kind of like running. Except dishes are involved so not quite as much as running. I think my newfound enjoyment in the kitchen comes from churning out the winners I have come up with recently. First, the Springtime Lemon Raspberry Muffins. Now, my next creation:

Artichoke, Mushroom, & Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 can artichoke hearts (I used those in water)
• 6 T goat cheese (I used basil & roasted garlic)
• a couple handfuls mushrooms (white, cremini, or baby bella)

Preheat oven to 375.

Slice and sautee the mushrooms until brown and tender. Set aside on a cutting board. Chop the mushrooms and the artichoke hearts into small, even pieces. Add to a small bowl along with the goat cheese. Mix to an even consistency.

Pound the chicken breasts out to 1/4” thickness between two sheets of plastic wrap. Spoon about 2 tablespoons worth of the artichoke, mushroom, and goat cheese mixture into the center of the flattened chicken.

Roll up and secure with toothpicks. Repeat with remaining breasts.

Place in a hot pan lightly oiled or sprayed with cooking spray. Let brown on one side for 2-3 minutes. Flip and brown on the opposite side for 2-3 minutes more.

Transfer the chicken to a baking dish and bake in the 375 oven for 10-15 minutes until cooked through.

Now you tell me. Why wouldn’t you want to eat something bursting with gooey cheesiness and delicious things like mushrooms and artichokes? Especially something as easy as this.

It almost makes me love cooking. But don’t quote me on that….yet.

Question of the Day – What makes you like cooking more?