The old saying goes March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb.  You read that right…..March.  Friday is March 1st already.  We shall see if it comes in like a lion.  At this point we are experiencing one of our driest starts to a year since the 1950′s.  And as much as I know we need rain, and do want rain, I signed up for my first half marathon of the year for the 9th, and I really don’t want rain.  Either way, the money is paid and the miles will get run.

So in honor of March, a month associated with the color green, I will be making a new addition to the menu planning: green smoothies!!!  I tend to plan them a week out so I can pick up any ingredients at the store.  So why not give you, my dear readers, some inspiration to add some green to your eating!!!

And before we get to this week’s menu, I am going to do a mini review with a few pictures on four new crusty bread flavors I have tried recently.

 

The pesto inspired crusty bread was better that I expected.  I took a large bunch of basil, pressed and entire head of garlic into it, a touch of olive oil and maybe a tablespoon of parmesan cheese, then let this mixture sit for several hours.  Then I made the bread according to the directions.  And I topped it with freshly shredded parmesan in the last 15 minutes of bake time.  This was the most garlickly flavored bread I have made to date.

 

The second new flavored I tried was orange cranberry bread.  I used zest from an orange and about a half to three-quarter cup of crasins for my mix ins.  There was a very subtle orange flavor and this bread tasted amazing fresh out of the oven.  I even put peanut butter on it and it was still good.  Next time I may sub a touch of orange juice for the water to intensify the orange flavor.

 

The third new recent flavor I tried was pistachio cranberry.  This too was a tasty bread and would probably be good with a nut butter.  I think next time I would put some orange in it as well.  This bread didn’t quite have the same “oomph”  the other breads do.

 

The newest bread I have tried is this lovely jack and green onion.  This bread was so tasty.  The jack cheese kept the bread moist and the subtle green onion flavor is a favorite of mine.  Again, I topped the bread with more cheese in the final stages of baking.  And while I am typing up this review, it hit me that the next flavor of bread to try is another garlic and cheese bread but this time  using Sonoma Jack’s garlic jack cheese.  Sometime this week I would also like to try a lemon blueberry crusty bread, a favorite flavor combo of mine recently.  So now on to this week’s menu!

 

FRIDAY

SMOOTHIE: Slammin’ Sunrise Smoothie

DINNER: new recipe (that I think I will love and the husband not so much) Green Spinach Feta Chicken Pockets and maybe some hummus and veggies.  We also have a carnival to attend that night so this might get put off for a week, or maybe it will just be an early dinner. ***Review: pretty tasty, I froze the leftovers in individual savings to throw in my lunch.  I would make this again.

 

SATURDAY

SMOOTHIE: Pineapple Mango Green Smoothie

DINNER:  another new recipe (pinterest is to blame): Indian Spiced Burgers and a cucumber salad.  The burgers look amazing!! ***REVIEW: The burger was good.  I guess I don’t have much of a taste for the indian spice in this but it was still good.  Froze the leftovers for lunches.

SUNDAY

SMOOTHIE:  My favorite Banana Fudge Smoothie with a touch of peanut butter added.

LUNCH: ok, so I am planning on running twelve miles on this day and when I do I usually plan a big dinner.  I am going to change things up to give my body a chance to digest said big meal before I lay down for the night.  So the main course for the day will be a late, like 1:30 lunch with a small munchie at dinner time.  So for this day we are trying yet again, another new recipe: Mississippi Roast with probably noodles and green beans.***Review: AMAZING!!  The au jus was incredible.  I made horseradish mashed potatoes to go with it and it was the perfect side dish.  

DINNER:  Since I am running for so long I am going to indulge on delicious looking snack of avocado stuffed puff pastries for dinner with maybe some carrots or salad. ***Update from original post!  I am also going to add a few of these to the light munchie dinner…a replica of California Adventure’s Spicy Duck Wings from Carthay Circle (using chicken).  These were my favorite and I tell everyone who is going to Disneyland that they MUST try them.  Don’t mind if I do!  ***Review: Both recipes were tasty.  The avocado puff pastries were tasty and reminded me of my hot 7-layer dip.  The wings are very much husband approved.  Then again, the ings from Disneyland are incredible too, so this recipe is a must make.

And either this week after my run or next week after my half, I will be sharing the newest flavor of the month from Nothing Bundt Cakes, peanut butter chocolate chip.  It simply looks divine.  ***Review: It was a really good cake.  Yellow cake with chocolate chips and little balls of peanut butter and of course their divine frosting.  A definite winner!

MONDAY

SMOOTHIE: Pumpkin Spice Smoothie, not quite a pumpkin spiced latte from Starbucks but much better for you and you can make them year round!

DINNER: a family favorite and the first recipe I ever used in my wonderful crock pot!!!  Skinny Taste Crock-Pot Bolognese.  This would be the night to make the crusty bread using the garlic jack cheese.   ***Review: This pasta sauce recipe is really good.  The bread was amazing.  When isn’t it?  Go make it!!  You can’t go wrong.

TUESDAY

SMOOTHIE: I don’t usually have smoothies on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Those are my running days and I love eating a banana and a spoonful of peanut butter right after my run.  So since I am not partaking in a smoothie, lately I have been eating breakfast salad.  I use the same english muffin bread (even easier than the crusty bread) but as croutons, spinach, tomato and onion like I aways do then I add a poached egg.  The creaminess of the egg is enough that you don’t even need a dressing.  On occasion I have had some Zesty Avocado Buttermilk dressing on hand and that works well.  But it really is good plain.

DINNER: Leftovers

 

WEDNESDAY

SMOOTHIE: The very first one I ever had and still one of my top favs!!  Skinnytaste’s Green Monster Smoothie

DINNER: Leftovers

THURSDAY

SMOOTHIE: none today, subbing a spinach egg salad for breakfast

DINNER: one last NEW recipe:  Parmesan-Garlic Chicken with Roasted Potato Wedges.  The garlic chunks on this chicken just look simply divine.

That’s it for the week!!  Enjoy your first week of MARCH!!!