One of my favorite meals is homemade pizza. The storebought or take
out variety just do not compare. I originally got hooked when my mom
started making homemade dough, but it took me a while to actually try
to make my own. I think the whole yeast and having to let the dough rise scared me!
One of the reasons i never wanted to attempt to make my own dough was
that it took too long. After mixing up the dough, it would have to
rise in a warm oven for a couple of hours. I have never been one to
come home from work and spend a few hours making dinner. I like 30
minute meals, because when im hungry, im hungry. I luckily found a
quick rising yeast at HEB that does not require the lengthy 2 hour
rising session. Just mix all the ingredients together, roll out the
dough, add the toppings, bake for 15 minutes and voila!
Dough:
2 cups flour (I use 1 cup whole wheat and 1 cup white)
3 tbsp olive oil
1 packet quick rise yeast
1 tbsp dried oregano
3/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp sugar
2/3 cup warm water
Directions:
Start with 1/2 cup wheat flour and 1/2 cup white flour in mixing bowl.
Add olive oil, yeast, oregano, salt and sugar. Add warm water and stir
until all ingrediets are mixed and a wet dough starts to form. Place
1/2 cup flour on countertop, roll wet dough mixture onto flour pile on
countertop. Add remaining 1/2 cup flour to top of we dough mixture (so
your hands dont get covered in dough). Knead flour into dough. dough
will become drier and less sticky. Once all flour is incorporated,
roll into desired shape. **I usually sprinkle cornmeal on the counter
while rolling dough out to avoid the dough from sticking to the
counter.
Add your favorite toppings. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes!
Some of my favorite pizza combinations:
Pesto, sundried tomatoes, mozarella cheese, feta cheese, chicken
sausage, onion, mushrooms, spinach
Crushed garlic and olive oil drizzle, mozarella, goat cheese, feta
cheese, red onion, mushrooms, artichokes, fresh basil
Marinara sauce, sausage, bell pepper, mushroom, onion
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
35 Weeks
Originally written 7/1/13
Time is flying, i cant believe in just 5 short weeks (or less) we will
have a precious little baby girl in our arms! It feels like i have
been pregnant forever, but honestly thinking about only having 5 more
weeks left makes me forget about how long i have been pregnant.
Nothing is really new this week, we had a doctor appointment this week
which is the last of the normal pee, blood pressure, weight, heartbeat
appointments! We are moving on to pelvic exams starting next week to
track progress. According to the doctor, my belly is measuring
"perfectly" meaning the little bean is growing just right! This makes
me a happy mama, partly because it reassures me that im not overly
large (since that is how i feel), but also because it reassures me
that i have been feeding the little bean enough to grow at the pace
she needs to grow at to enter the world healthy. As a dietitian,
providing proper nutrition without going overboard has been one of my
biggest worries throughout pregnancy and im sure it will continue
throughout breastfeeding and childhood.
Im looking forward to getting through labor and delivery, hoping that
my efforts in continuing to work out and practice yoga will get me
through a quick and easy delivery. Workouts have definitely changed
over the past few weeks. Pilates type leg exercises had been feeling
good, but now i feel a pulling in the lower abdomen that hurts during
the exercise and leaves me feeling crippled for a good 12 hours, so i
have stopped those. I have also become pretty lax on the yoga, now i
just do about 5 minutes of stretching (without the video) to stretch
out whatever i feel like. I have also been doing the Tracy Anderson
Pregnancy Project videos. These are broken down into 9 disks for each
month of pregnancy. I just started with month 8 this week (i had been
doing months 5 and 6 since i still felt like i could do the all of the
exercise) and there are some noticeable differences in the exercises.
Many are done with a chair for support, and it is a little slower
pace. This is perfect at this point, because it doesn't take much to
get the heart rate up and get tuckered out!
Looking forward to our last ultrasound next week! I hear they will be
estimating her weight...im hoping she is not measuring at 8 pounds
already!
Time is flying, i cant believe in just 5 short weeks (or less) we will
have a precious little baby girl in our arms! It feels like i have
been pregnant forever, but honestly thinking about only having 5 more
weeks left makes me forget about how long i have been pregnant.
Nothing is really new this week, we had a doctor appointment this week
which is the last of the normal pee, blood pressure, weight, heartbeat
appointments! We are moving on to pelvic exams starting next week to
track progress. According to the doctor, my belly is measuring
"perfectly" meaning the little bean is growing just right! This makes
me a happy mama, partly because it reassures me that im not overly
large (since that is how i feel), but also because it reassures me
that i have been feeding the little bean enough to grow at the pace
she needs to grow at to enter the world healthy. As a dietitian,
providing proper nutrition without going overboard has been one of my
biggest worries throughout pregnancy and im sure it will continue
throughout breastfeeding and childhood.
Im looking forward to getting through labor and delivery, hoping that
my efforts in continuing to work out and practice yoga will get me
through a quick and easy delivery. Workouts have definitely changed
over the past few weeks. Pilates type leg exercises had been feeling
good, but now i feel a pulling in the lower abdomen that hurts during
the exercise and leaves me feeling crippled for a good 12 hours, so i
have stopped those. I have also become pretty lax on the yoga, now i
just do about 5 minutes of stretching (without the video) to stretch
out whatever i feel like. I have also been doing the Tracy Anderson
Pregnancy Project videos. These are broken down into 9 disks for each
month of pregnancy. I just started with month 8 this week (i had been
doing months 5 and 6 since i still felt like i could do the all of the
exercise) and there are some noticeable differences in the exercises.
Many are done with a chair for support, and it is a little slower
pace. This is perfect at this point, because it doesn't take much to
get the heart rate up and get tuckered out!
Looking forward to our last ultrasound next week! I hear they will be
estimating her weight...im hoping she is not measuring at 8 pounds
already!
Friday, June 14, 2013
32 Weeks and Feeling PREGNANT
I was beginning to wonder when i would really start to feel pregnant. Not that i havent felt pregnant for the past oh 20 weeks or so, but i feel like i have been lucky enough to avoid many of the said pregnancy pitfalls..swollen feet, waddling etc. That all seemed to change this week, I think my belly has stretched so much and the little lady continues to grow so rapidly, that i am now flat out UNCOMFORTABLE.
1. Bruising near the top of my ribcage. Goodness gracious, i feel like i got punched in the belly! Im not sure if this is baby M's favorite place to hang out, or if she delivered a swift kick to the area at some point and now im feeling the after effects.
2. NO abdominal strength. I had noticed my ability to get out of bed, or sit up after a quick nap in my chair at work, was waning. Now it is a full on production to perform these once simple tasks. Bless my husband for seeing me struggle and helping to push me up, even in the middle of the night when im racing to the potty. I will never again look at my abs and not appreciate them for all they do for me!
3. Decreasing desire to work out. For most of my pregnancy i have maintained a solid 3-4 times per week workout regimen, usually with a 30-45 minute strength video followed by 30-45 minutes of vinyasa yoga. This week i have really been struggling with yoga, movements are much harder, i feel fatigued, and overall discouraged. I love the way i feel after im all stretched out, so i have been sticking to the short 15 minute version instead of the longer sessions. I am also struggling to get through the normal workout videos i had previously been breezing through. I am proud of my self for staying active this long, but i think the workout videos and vinyasa yoga will soon be replaced with walks through the neighborhood and gentle yoga sessions.
4. Its HOT. I know its summer, and i know its supposed to be hot, but there is something about carrying around and extra 20 or so pounds that makes it that much more miserable. My maternity wardrobe is limited, so my one pair of maternity shorts and couple of maternity dresses are getting me through most weeks.
Those are the bad things i have been feeling, but i assure you there are many MANY more good things that i am feeling now that we are getting close to finally meeting Baby M!
1. Bruising near the top of my ribcage. Goodness gracious, i feel like i got punched in the belly! Im not sure if this is baby M's favorite place to hang out, or if she delivered a swift kick to the area at some point and now im feeling the after effects.
2. NO abdominal strength. I had noticed my ability to get out of bed, or sit up after a quick nap in my chair at work, was waning. Now it is a full on production to perform these once simple tasks. Bless my husband for seeing me struggle and helping to push me up, even in the middle of the night when im racing to the potty. I will never again look at my abs and not appreciate them for all they do for me!
3. Decreasing desire to work out. For most of my pregnancy i have maintained a solid 3-4 times per week workout regimen, usually with a 30-45 minute strength video followed by 30-45 minutes of vinyasa yoga. This week i have really been struggling with yoga, movements are much harder, i feel fatigued, and overall discouraged. I love the way i feel after im all stretched out, so i have been sticking to the short 15 minute version instead of the longer sessions. I am also struggling to get through the normal workout videos i had previously been breezing through. I am proud of my self for staying active this long, but i think the workout videos and vinyasa yoga will soon be replaced with walks through the neighborhood and gentle yoga sessions.
4. Its HOT. I know its summer, and i know its supposed to be hot, but there is something about carrying around and extra 20 or so pounds that makes it that much more miserable. My maternity wardrobe is limited, so my one pair of maternity shorts and couple of maternity dresses are getting me through most weeks.
Those are the bad things i have been feeling, but i assure you there are many MANY more good things that i am feeling now that we are getting close to finally meeting Baby M!
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Easy Pizza Dough
Ever since my mom started making homemade pizza, i have never been able to appreciate any other pizza variety quite as much. It took me a while to gain the confidence to attempt to make my own dough, but once i did, i realized how easy it was and how DELICIOUS the end result was!
Easy Pizza Dough
Top with your favorite ingredients. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.
Enjoy!
Easy Pizza Dough
- 2 cups whole wheat flour (i usually use 1 cup white flour, 1 cup wheat)
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 packet Fleischmans instant yeast
- 1 tbsp Oregano flakes
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp sugar
- 2/3 cup warm- hot water
Top with your favorite ingredients. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.
Enjoy!
Blueberry Oatmeal Bread
Sweet breads and pancakes have been one of my biggest cravings over the past couple of weeks. Luckily, I am in an office with five other dietitians who all share the same passion as me...FOOD! I have been spoiled with homemade baked goods most days of the week. Some of the recent treats include: pumpkin bread, zucchini bread, chocolate sugar cookies, bread pudding, cranberry orange scones and cake batter cookies. Last night i decided it was time for me to get into the kitchen and whip up a treat. After searching Pinterest (because where else would i go to find delicious recipes), i found this recipe for Blueberry Oatmeal Bread. I adapted it a little bit, mostly based on the ingredients i had on hand.
Blueberry Oatmeal Bread
adapted from The Lemon Bowl
Blueberry Oatmeal Bread
adapted from The Lemon Bowl
- 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 3/4 cup white flour
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 12 oz yogurt (i used one 6 oz plain Chobani and one 6 oz blueberry Chobani)
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 cup blueberries (i used a mix of fresh and frozen)
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and grease a bread pan with non-stick spray or butter.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients: whole wheat flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.
- Using an electric stand mixer, beat together yogurt, oil, vanilla and eggs over medium speed. Slowly add dry ingredients until just combined then remove from mixer.
- Carefully fold in the blueberries then pour batter into the bread pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
Pregnancy Workouts
Fitness has always been important to me, but as my body continues to change with the passing weeks, i find it harder and harder to enjoy the same activities i was prepregnancy. My goal is to stay active throughout my pregnancy, but my idea of "active" has been evolving over the last few weeks. Now, a 30 minute walk after work gives me the same sense of acheivement and accomplishment i used to get from a one hour high intensity cardio class at the gym. I have traded in most of my favorite gym classes for incline walks and short weight circuits. I wanted to share a few workouts that have left me feeling like i got a workout, but are within my current physical limitations. Here is one to get started.
Legs, Chest and Back:
Repeat circuit 3 times. I used 12 lb dumbbells for all exercises.
Legs, Chest and Back:
Repeat circuit 3 times. I used 12 lb dumbbells for all exercises.
- Warm Up: 20 minute incline walk (3.7 mph and 5 incline)
- 20 deadlifts
- 20 one legged squats on Bosu ball (each leg)
- One leg on Bosu, one leg off, squat. Switch legs and repeat.
- 20 lunges
- 20 one legged dead lifts (each leg)
- 20 bosu push ups (flat side up)
- 20 back flys
- 20 alternating arm bosu push ups (flat side down)
- One arm on ball, one arm off, push up. Walk arms over ball to switch. Repeat.
- 20 double rows with resistance band
- Hook to pole or peg so both sides are even. Pull back both arms at the same time until you feel back muscles pinch.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
18 weeks
Sorry for the hiatus, its been a busy few weeks. We have had family visits, work, and a new roommate! Yep, the new roommate also happens to be my sister. Its been great having some company around when i get home from work and someone to help think of dinner ideas :)
On the preggo front, things have been good. The bump has officially popped, cant button any of my pre pregnancy pants anymore, though i have been continuing to wear my work pants unbuttoned with a tightfitting cami to hold the flaps closed. I bought one pair of maternity pants and they just dont fit right. I thought i would eventually fill them out, but they still look baggy in the front. I bought a couple pairs of maternity jeans from GAP a couple weeks ago and im officially in love! I may never go back to regular jeans :) Im still able to wear most of my flowy shirts, they just fit a little different thanks to the growing girls and growing belly.
Food wise things have improved. My appetite is pretty much back to normal, just larger portions and more frequent snacks. I have never been one to keep snacks in my desk at work, but i have officially adopted this strategy after a few too many days of not packing enough snacks for the day! Currently i have some trail mix and a jar of peanut butter to snack on. I have gotten back into veggie smoothies in the morning, now with almond milk as i think cows milk was upsetting my stomach. Lunches have been either leftovers from dinner, or sandwiches. I have really been loving buffalo anything lately, so buffalo chicken salad has been a staple! Just mix some canned chicken breast with mayo and franks hot sauce and voila!
Energy wise i have been feeling better too, though i still have days where im dragging (im pretty sure i had these days pre-pregnancy too though). Workouts have been inconsistent with all the visitors and wacky work schedule, though i feel like this week ill be able to get back on track. I have really had to cut back on the classes at the gym that i love, Total conditioning, Yoga, Barbell Strength to name a few. I just found there was too many exercises that i couldnt do, weather it be too high of intensity, laying on my back/stomach etc. I dont like feeling like a slacker in my classes, so i have been doing my own workouts in the free weights section. Its a little foreign as i have been on the group fitness bandwagon for about 2 years now, but i know its what i need to do for my body right now. I have luckily been able to continue with STRIKE (my absolute fav), but i can see when my belly gets a little bigger ill have to stop.
I had my last doctors appointment last week. It was for the blood test that screens for chromosomal diseases such as Down's syndrome. Since we opted out of the scan at 12 weeks, we were both eager for this test. We both know its not the most accurate test, but if there is a need for further testing, we know we have that option. I was getting worried about my weight gain, or lack there of. I read a few other blogs where the girls are pregnant or have recently had babies. I kept comparing my bump to their bumps at the same stage, and wound up feeling like i wasnt getting big enough. (Never thought there would be a time when i was frusterated or worried i wasnt gaining enough weight lol). So far im up 6 pounds from my first prenatal appt, which i was about 5 weeks pregnant at. I think this is on the low end of normal, but im gonna keep listening to my body, eating when/what i feel like and accept that everyones body is different!
March 21st is the big anatomy scan where we will find out if we are buying pink or blue!
Some overdue updated belly pictures...
On the preggo front, things have been good. The bump has officially popped, cant button any of my pre pregnancy pants anymore, though i have been continuing to wear my work pants unbuttoned with a tightfitting cami to hold the flaps closed. I bought one pair of maternity pants and they just dont fit right. I thought i would eventually fill them out, but they still look baggy in the front. I bought a couple pairs of maternity jeans from GAP a couple weeks ago and im officially in love! I may never go back to regular jeans :) Im still able to wear most of my flowy shirts, they just fit a little different thanks to the growing girls and growing belly.
Food wise things have improved. My appetite is pretty much back to normal, just larger portions and more frequent snacks. I have never been one to keep snacks in my desk at work, but i have officially adopted this strategy after a few too many days of not packing enough snacks for the day! Currently i have some trail mix and a jar of peanut butter to snack on. I have gotten back into veggie smoothies in the morning, now with almond milk as i think cows milk was upsetting my stomach. Lunches have been either leftovers from dinner, or sandwiches. I have really been loving buffalo anything lately, so buffalo chicken salad has been a staple! Just mix some canned chicken breast with mayo and franks hot sauce and voila!
Energy wise i have been feeling better too, though i still have days where im dragging (im pretty sure i had these days pre-pregnancy too though). Workouts have been inconsistent with all the visitors and wacky work schedule, though i feel like this week ill be able to get back on track. I have really had to cut back on the classes at the gym that i love, Total conditioning, Yoga, Barbell Strength to name a few. I just found there was too many exercises that i couldnt do, weather it be too high of intensity, laying on my back/stomach etc. I dont like feeling like a slacker in my classes, so i have been doing my own workouts in the free weights section. Its a little foreign as i have been on the group fitness bandwagon for about 2 years now, but i know its what i need to do for my body right now. I have luckily been able to continue with STRIKE (my absolute fav), but i can see when my belly gets a little bigger ill have to stop.
I had my last doctors appointment last week. It was for the blood test that screens for chromosomal diseases such as Down's syndrome. Since we opted out of the scan at 12 weeks, we were both eager for this test. We both know its not the most accurate test, but if there is a need for further testing, we know we have that option. I was getting worried about my weight gain, or lack there of. I read a few other blogs where the girls are pregnant or have recently had babies. I kept comparing my bump to their bumps at the same stage, and wound up feeling like i wasnt getting big enough. (Never thought there would be a time when i was frusterated or worried i wasnt gaining enough weight lol). So far im up 6 pounds from my first prenatal appt, which i was about 5 weeks pregnant at. I think this is on the low end of normal, but im gonna keep listening to my body, eating when/what i feel like and accept that everyones body is different!
March 21st is the big anatomy scan where we will find out if we are buying pink or blue!
Some overdue updated belly pictures...
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| 13 Weeks |
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| 14 Weeks |
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| 15 Weeks |
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| 16 weeks |
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| 18 Weeks |
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| 18 Weeks |
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