Overnight Oats + whey powder oatmeal test

I recently purchased some unflavored whey protein powder by Jarrow hoping it could mix into oatmeal and be undetectable. This is what works and what doesn't.

Oatmeal tests:
Add whey powder before microwaving oats/water: FAIL. The cooked whey absorbed water and was chunky and strange texture. It tasted ok, but texture is too big a turn off.

Add whey powder to hot cooked steel cut full liquid oatmeal: WORKED. The addition was undetectable to finished steel cut oats. I think I tried adding half a scoop, but I think a whole scoop would be fine too. Make sure to stir in quick. Only add it to oatmeal that has all the liquid needed.

I tried adding it to hot cooked old fashioned oats with only half the liquid (a microwave trick I do in order to add milk later) and sort of had to mash it in, then I added milk after. This had strange texture again. FAIL.

If I stir it into hot cooked old fashioned oats with full liquid, then x.

Overnight oats:
I like them. This is what I do:

1/2 cup old fashioned oats (the package says this is 40 grams, but 40 grams is actually more like a scant 1/2 cup. I usually do the scant or measure it by weight.)
3/4 scoop unflavored whey powder
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 cup 2% milk
1 tbsp maple syrup
fruit mix in, chopped strawberries are great or half banana.

Shake up first 3 ingredients in wide mouth pint canning jar, then add milk and let sit overnight. Add syrup and fruit before eating.

I'm sure I'll try more variations over time. The strawberry version has 30/13/54g p/f/c. 433 calories.

Another high protein breakfast to do is http://damndelicious.net/2016/07/15/healthy-protein-waffles/

Bacon with onions and apples

I've been doing a dairy version of Paleo (lacto-paleo), or grain-free, for the past week. Eggs seem to be making me sick in the mornings, so I'm trying other things for breakfast. Oatmeal and cereal are definitely not grain-free, so I've looked on paleohacks.com for some ideas.

Today I cooked 5 pieces of center cut bacon, 1 thinly sliced small granny smith apple, and 1 thinly sliced medium onion. I cooked the bacon first, then poured off most of the grease, then sauteed the apple and onion on medium or a little lower for 20 minutes or so until very soft. I ate it with the bacon, not mixed together but often some bacon and saute in each bite. It was so divine. I'm not going to eat bacon every day or anything, but this is definitely going to happen once or twice a week.

(I had center cut left over from some cooking light recipes, and I think regular bacon slices are longer so I'd probably only use 4 of those.)

David didn't try this. I ate it all. All mine.

According to daily plate, this meal is 406 calories if you assume 1.5 tbsp bacon drippings.

Tuna Noodle Casserole

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/tuna-noodle-casserole-10000001949756/
Tuna Noodle Casserole

This was creamy and good, but the serving size is really small. I used cut up green beans for peas, as usual.

422 calories for each 1 1/3 cups. (which is not enough in my opinion)

Crab Cakes

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/crab-cakes-with-roasted-vegetables-tangy-butter-sauce-10000001723371/

I liked these. I didn't have the sides or sauce to go with them though, so it wasn't the complete experience. It is a fun way to have crab though.

4 servings. 443 per serving, (including sauce and veg)

Steak and Arugula Salad

Based on http://thestonesoup.com/blog/2012/11/could-you-make-dinner-in-5-minutes/

Steak and Arugula salad

David and I both really liked this. We used Briannas french vinaigrette (the artichoke pic one) instead of the lemon & olive oil thing, and I also sauteed/browned some almond slivers after the meet was cooked. I used shredded parmesan (not the green can, but real parmesan that was shredded) instead of shaved. It was really good! The arugula was fantastic. I've never had a meaty salad I enjoyed quite this much that was so quick to make. A 5 oz bag of arugula was just right for two people.

Calories per serving: Using 1 T salad dressing, this is between 450 and 500 calories with the cheese and nuts, assuming 6 oz cooked top sirloin per person with all the fat trimmed (320 cal).

Gnocchi Stir Fry

1 green bell pepper, sliced
1 onion, sliced
1 lb of gnocchi
8 oz kielbasa
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan (or less)
1/4 cup Basilla Arrabiata sauce

Do not cook the gnocchi. Saute onion, pepper, and kielbasa until cooked and pepper is softened somewhat. You may need the lid. Add gnocchi and sauce, toss and let gnocchi steam with lid on. Top with parmesan, stir, and serve.

I made this up and it turned out great.
Calories: 406 /serving. 4 servings.

Tilapia Tostadas

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/tilapia-tostadas-with-roasted-corn-relish-10000001911363/
Tilapia tostadas.

I loved this recipe. David didn't rate it as high as me because he doesn't like fish as much, and that fish doesn't do well in tacos. But I disagree!

Calories: 470 per serving / 1 serving is 2 tostadas.

Butter beans, roast beef, and green beans

12 oz can Roast Beef in beef broth (I get it from costco)
1 can green beans (or use fresh/frozen and cook in beef broth)
1 can butter beans

Heat beef and broth in a skillet. Add other ingredients. Simmer until broth is reduced.

David loves this. I like it a lot too and it is so easy. I eat it for lunch a lot.

Calories: 457 per serving / 2 servings

Best Beef Stew

http://mswolfson.wordpress.com/2010/01/17/best-beef-stew/

This recipe is from Cooks Illustrated Jan/Feb 2010 issue. I found it online at the above address also.

This beef stew is fantastic. Amazing. I adore it. It's the best beef stew I've made. I used 2 lbs stew beef meat (instead of cutting up a 4 lb chuck-eye roast as the recipe says). Also, I did not put in the peas and forgot to get pearl onions. Additional vegetables besides the carrots would have made this recipe even better. I used 1 tsp anchovy paste instead of the fillets. Also, I only had about 1 cup of red wine left, so added an extra 1/2 cup of broth to try and compensate. And I used russet potatoes instead of yukon gold. Otherwise, I did exactly what it said. You need to start this recipe a solid 3 hrs in advance, better to start 3.5 hrs ahead. It cooks in the oven most of that time. I used a 5 quart cast iron oval pot, with enamel coating. They sell them at Ikea or you could get a super expensive Le Creuset one. I love this pot.

I love this recipe. We ate it with a french baguette.

Notes: I usually add an extra quart of beef broth to this recipe because it gets so dry during cooking. Also I replace peas with cut up green beans that I put in with the pearl onions.

Calories: 404 per serving / serves 8 (not sure the serving volume). That's calculated using 2.5 lbs stew beef.