I had planned to share an almond flour blueberry muffin recipe…however, I just took the muffins out of the oven and let them cool. Let’s just say, they aren’t sticking together. So, my almond flour adventure turned out to be quite a flop. Such a bummer. (Anyone read Angela’s post this morning?)
So, instead, I will simply be sharing my exercise and eats.
Exercise
I did an hour-long Group Power class. Before class I did this interval treadmill workout. The workout only lasts about 20 minutes, so when I was finished, I continued running at 7.0 until I reached a total of 3 miles.
Breakfast
Breakfast was brought to you by this bad boy.
A mere $4.00 at Trader Joe’s.
I nuked some Bob’s Red Mill 10 Grain Cereal with a mashed banana and some light vanilla soymilk. Then I added the TJ’s almond butter as well as some pear butter.
A winning combo for sure! Adding the banana really adds a natural sweetness to oats.
Lunch
Lunch looked something like this.
This picture is actually from dinner last night. And I assure you, the leftovers I had for lunch looked the same.
The pizza in the picture above is Kashi Mexicali Black Bean. I picked it up the other week when Kashi pizzas were on sale.
I liked this one a lot more than the Kashi Mushroom Trio and Spinach Pizza.
But I was still a bit disappointed. This picture is deceiving. There were hardly any veggies on this thing.
Dinner
I found myself reaching for processed food again…
These were a total impulse buy. A couple months ago, they were on sale at Whole Foods, so I snatched a box. I’ll try anything once!
Now, I’m no dummy…I realize that just because these are sold at Whole Foods and are “organic,” they aren’t nutritious! I think they have a NuVal score of about 4. Basically, that means there a very few vitamins and minerals to be found in this box.
So I added some.
In the form of collard greens.
And I really liked it!
I simply followed the box’s instructions, but when it was time to stir in the cheese packet, I added about 2 cups of collard greens to the mix.
I know it sounds like a crazy combo, but it worked!
It’s strange…collard greens have a spicy taste to me. (Anyone else?) Adding them to my macaroni really spiced things up!
And if collard greens aren’t enough of a kick, crushed red pepper will do the trick. 
I also enjoyed a bowl of broccoli on the side.
***
I have been so tired lately! Not sure what it’s all about. But I do know that my body is screaming for sleep right now. See you all tomorrow!
Question: Do you prepare your oats on the stovetop or simply microwave them?
I’m a microwaver. I don’t get all you fancy stovetop people. The microwave is faster, easier, and dirties less dishes! And from my experience, the taste is absolutely the same.
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I’ve never detected a “spicy” taste to collards but to Arugula- yes!
I usually prepare my oats on the stovetop because I don’t do it everyday…plus I have bad experiences with overflows in the microwave
No! Microwave is not the same! I heartily disagree!
See, I like my oats kind of burnt on the bottom, for that lovely crust and chew…and you can’t get that with a microwave!
I am definitely a microwave girl. Washing the pan from the stovetop is annoying and time consuming IMO. Your amped up pasta looks great! I always add peas to my annie’s whole wheat shells/white cheddar pasta dinners… makes me feel less guilty about loving the processed goodness
i microwave my oats- one less pot to wash! i’ve actually never cooked em stovetop, so it’s not fair to say i like them better in the micro. but i do. haha. so glad the feed thing got resolved,now i won’t miss a thang! mmm that pizza, i love anything mexi-cali flavored
Microwave fo’ sho’. Although I don’t eat a lot of oatmeal.
I always need to put more veggies on the Kashi pizzas. It definitely is lacking.
I prepare my oats on the stovetop and i LOVE that almond butter…one of my favs!
hope you get some rest…..
I like the microwave but I always add too much and it overflows and makes a mess. Since my microwave is currently above the fridge on a shelf, it is awkward to reach up there in the first place. So for the time being I use the stove top, but as soon as I move I will resort back to the microwave!
As a Southern girl, I’m obsessed with collard greens and they actually taste sweet to me. I could eat them daily!
I used to only microwave oats, until I tried custard oats. They don’t come out quite as creamy in the microwave, so I use the stove now. It still only takes a few minutes with rolled oats.
Stovetop oats all the way!! I swear it’s a different texture! Though to be fair I’ve only ever microwaved using water, and only ever stove-topped with milk….I don’t get how adding a banana would work in the microwave though, cos I have to squish it down on the stove. Oats without the banana is like PB toast without PB! ie NOT RIGHT!
I’ve been failing at some recipes as well. No worries! I use quick oats and for ME it’s the same..it m ight get a lil dry on top at times but I just mix it! My mom still swears by the stovetop method though!
We make a big batch of steel cut oats on the stovetop every Sunday and then we have them all week. But I reheat them every morning in the microwave.
OKay…PB with added flaxseeds…yum! Why can’t we have a TJ’s??? SO JEALOUS!
Microwave all the way!!! For the same reasons you listed. I think the microwave is my best friend.
Adding collard greens is such a great idea. Looks so pretty too!
I always cook my oats on the stove.
Sorry the muffins didn’t turn out. Check out my blog for a couple of almond flour muffin recipes that have worked really well for me.
As far as oats, I do it in the micro. I have found that using just a bit more liquid makes them just as creamy as the stovetop, especially if you let them soak in the liquid overnight.
usually I microwave, it takes shorter and its just easier bc I microwave it in the bowl I eat it out of so less dishes, right?! once in a while I do it stove top thougH! honestly, I dont really see a difference in taste! its just if i’m in the mood! love that you added th greens to your mac and sneezeeee! i do the same thing to my pastas to beef up the veggie intake
LOVE that PB from trader joes…its like teh Naturally more PB which is fantastic!
Kashi pizzas never have enough veggies on them. Sometimes I end up adding my own! I always cook my oats on the stove top, but that’s because my microwave doesn’t work very well so it would take just a long to microwave them
Are those collards raw? I just tried them for the first time the other day and steamed them – I was too nervous to do raw the first time!
I love your creativity with greens! Mmm mmm!
I’m a microwave fan unless it’s steel cut oats
LC, they are indeed raw! but mixing them in with the mac n cheese steams them a bit.
You’ve been holding onto that box for so many months??? Amazing. Love the additions.
Pear butter?Mmmmmmm. I have that peanut butter too and the only thing I don’t like about it is that it gets SO hard. Almost like they took out the oil to make up for the flax seed fat.
pear butter? I’ve never heard of it before, but that does sound like an awesome combo! I am not an oats kind of girl, but the few times I have enjoyed them..definitely stove top!
Microwave…
We need a trader joes down here…
I usually microwave because of the time crunch I leave myself in the mornings… I start it and leave it to dry my hair a little more…
I should really work on doing the stovetop more… there is a difference!
WAY TO EAT!!!
I am a stove top oats kind of girl. There’s something about the process that I find satisfying…probably because I only eat oats 2 times a week (but who’s counting?) so I like to savor the experience.
I will most definitely be looking for that almond butter the next time that I am at Trader Joe’s.
Aww, sorry for your almond flour flop.
I TOTALLY embrace the microwave! I love mine, and use it daily!
microwave oats!
pizza looks good!
sadly the closest trader Joe’s to us is over 6 hours away!
mm, I love your eats!! Good for you for not believing that “organic” and “sold at Whole Foods” means healthy. I do think the NuVal score for those shells and cheese is something like 4…but when you add a bunch of veggies, the number definitely increases
I have seen that almond butter at Trader Joe’s and almost bought it the last time I was there. The reason I didn’t was because I don’t really care for their peanut butter with flaxseeds, so I figured I wouldn’t like the almond butter. I may still try it sometime though. It IS cheap!
I prefer my oats in the microwave. It’s too easy! I am eating some right now actually. Have a nice weekend Lily!
Mmmm I love the addition of collard greens to the mac n cheese! Great and fillng idea!
I prefer the microwave because it’s just so quick and I don’t dirty as many dishes. But I do like the texture and gooiness of the stovetop variety!
Have a great weekend!!!
I was just at Trader Joe’s and almost grabbed that almond butter with flaxseeds. I resisted because I have 4 open jars of nut butter and 1 unopened…yikes. It’s good to hear it was good. I am a huge fan of Sunbutter and was curious about Trader Joe’s brand… I agree, A LOT of their stuff has added sugar, corn syrup and salt. You still have to read the labels.
I go back and forth between the microwave and stove top. The microwave is quicker, but I’m always weary of using it too much, so when I have the time, I’ll def. do stove top!
I totally agree with you about the microwaved oats. I can’t tell a huge difference in taste and it’s really the dishes part that annoys me the most, especially in the morning. I don’t want to have to wash a pot early in the morning! Glad there are lots of other microwavers out there!
$4 seems like a great deal! I wish I had TJ’s near my place.
I always do stove top. I have really small dishes and the oats always make a HUGE mess in the micro. Normally I’ll do my make up in the morning while waiting for breakfast to get ready. Takes about 10 minutes.
I love how you healthified the mac and cheese. I bet spinach would also work and taste good.
I usually make my oats on the stove top. Not sure why but it is always the way I have done it…lol!
I like to make my oats on the stove because I like to add sliced banana to my mixture of water and milk once it starts boiling to really soften the banana, then i add the oatmeal right at the last minute..its delicious!
Stovetop all the way!! I don’t mind microwave oats, but the sloooow cooking is what makes them mega creamy. Almost like a creamy rice pudding. It’s to die for. Plus, my oats always explode in the microwave, which actually leads to more clean-up for me
Talking about random mac n’ cheese add-ins, my sister always made Kraft Dinner with tuna. It was quite good!
Susan, Stephen has made me mac n cheese with tuna before too. It was good!
I like the Greens in the Mac & Cheese!
[...] a tiny bit of Scottish oats left over- definitely not enough for a full meal, so I added one of my failed almond flour blueberry muffins to the mix. I froze the batch of muffins, and every once in awhile I thaw one and eat it for [...]