It’s been a strange but good week. I can’t complain. Busy, yes, but good. And the feeling of being settled is REALLY good.
I say we keep the theme going today. No over-thinking things, just keeping it light. Besides, I said enough in my last post. 
Here are a few of my Food and Fitness Strange but Good (maybe even GREAT) combos of the week.
Just plain good. Just Plain strange….but Great
Saving myself a few sample Muddy Buddy Mocha Healthy Bites then licking the spatula. Yes. So good!
Also, look what i scored. A gigantic Love Grown Granola Cluster, which is just plain good. Dip in in some coconut Cream and Dark Chocolate Nuttzo and it’s just plain GREAT! Strange? Perhaps, but that’s how i roll.
Seriously, it tastes better than Nutella!
Then there is my sweat and strength class. This week my iPod strangely froze so we had to use Pandora on my friends phone, commercials and all. Strange, yes, but it ended up being a Good, almost great, class! Oh and the AC was out, that part was not so good.
Just in case you don’t know what dancing crabs are (strange I know), check out Bonnie doing them here.
I almost forgot about my Ellie outfit. What’s strange about it? Nothing, it’s all good. I know a lot of people have had issues with sizing, but STRANGELY enough, I got my order right the first time. And I really LOVE my outfit. Fabric and all! Phew! If you want to sign up and get 20%, just click on the ELLIE link on my side bar (shameless plug right there, whoops.)
Last, but not least, my strange but good Marshalls finds. Don’t you just love Marshalls for that very reason?! Where else can you buy Australian candy, gluten free mac and cheese, hair spray, sesame oil, bath mats, and cute coasters all at once? Ha ha.
Recipe: Quinoa Mac and Cheesy Satay
Ingredients
- 2 cups quinoa pasta noodles (you can also use regular quinoa if you prefer)
- 1.5 tablespoon organic cream cheese
- 1.5 tablespoon cashew butter (can also use other nut butter or peanut flour)
- coconut or almond milk (4 TBSP)
- Chili Pepper Flakes
- 1 cup Grilled or Roasted Chicken
- 1 tablespoon organic butter (optional)
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast or brewers yeast
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ tablespoon balsamic glaze or balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Cook pasta or quinoa according to instructions.
- Drain, then return to stove on low heat.
- Add in your cream cheese and nut butters first, stir or mix until melted.
- Then add in your seasons, chicken, nutritional yeast, milk, butter, and balsamic glaze. Mix once then cover and let them melt for a few minutes on medium low.
- Remove from heat and garnish with red pepper flakes.
- Optional: Adding any ¼ c shredded cheese of choice to make it extra CHEESEY
Preparation time: 5 minute(s)
Cooking time: 15 minute(s)
Number of servings 3-4 (depends if you want it as a side dish or entree)
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Let me know if you try it!
Happy Friday!
What strange but good combo happened to you this week?
Cheers!
LC
p.s.
Today is National Peanut Butter Lovers Day. Guess who’s giving a huge discount on their product? yep, NUTTZO! 50% OFF NuttZo Original and NuttZo CHOC online www.nuttzo.com 24HR SALE with COUPON CODE JARFULLOFLOVE (ALL CAPS- NO SPACES)
Funny…I see nothing strange about this post in any way, shape, or form! 😉 And that cheesy mac looks soooooo good!
Love Marshall’s (or well, TJ Maxx since that’s what we have around here), STILL jealous of your gigantic cluster-o-love, and seriously, PLEASE tell me you’re planning to host a workout routine at Blend this summer!!!
oh should I? that would be fun!
Oh my heavens!! There’s SO much good in this post! I’m not sure where to begin! Since you ended with the mac n’ cheese recipe, I guess that’s where I’ll start. Lindsay, this recipe sounds like something I’m going to love!! Macaroni and cheese has been my favorite food my entire life, but since becoming gluten free several years ago, I don’t eat it as frequently as I used to. I love the addition of cashew butter–talk about major deliciousness!
That Love Grown granola cluster should go in the granola hall of fame. Wow. And how have I never tried coconut cream? Is it similar to coconut butter? You’ve definitely piqued my interest with this one!
Oh, and that Nutzo discount?! I’m so bummed I missed it!
Hope you enjoyed the rest of your weekend! xoxo <3
i always think of YOU with mac and cheese! your my go to mac and cheese queen. We must make it together some day… sigh.
My strange, but good combo. I just discovered Peanut Butter Co. Kind of wish I did not as I am addicted and eating it straight from the jar with a spoon, need to get my willpower in check. However they have one that is called Cinnamon Raisin Swirl. It is like Peanut butter Swirled with Cinnamon Raisin bread. So GOOD!
that stuff i like crack! maybe i should use it in healthy bites. hmm
Ooh, I wish I’d read this sooner so I could have gotten the Nuttzo deal!
i’ll have a discount about every other month to share. Will keep you posted for sure!
So I was looking for jobs in Austin and was on the Catz Sports and whose picture do I see? : )
bahaha no way! i’m still up on their site? p.s. COME TO AUSTIN!!
That giant LOVE cluster is nothing but lucky!!! Isn’t that the definition of what we look for in granola? Yes!
I need to go to TJ Maxx…your Marshalls finds reminded me of that.
And, I totally forgot to tell you! I went to this amazing multi-cultural market last time I was in St. Louis, and they had Vegemite and it made me think of you! 🙂
no way! did you try it?
I decided to pass on it 😉 But I tried it once when I was a teenager because my mom and I took a tour through Europe and all of our tourmates were Aussies and Kiwis and they all brought it with them for their morning toast.
This week has been so incredibly busy that I’ve been super boring with my eats! It’s been a marathon to the finish, but now it’s the weekend and I’m looking forward to playing with my meals now. I hope you have a great weekend and enjoy your new home! xoxo
we finally got our kitchen set up so it was fun to play! Although I am admiring your kabocha hoard.. hehe
Mmm, the muddy bites are so tasty. I need to order more from you soon! So funny about Marshall’s I don’t think I’ve been. I’ll have to check it out! I love one-stop shopping. Except Wal-mart. I don’t do Wal-mart!
what!!!? you’ve never been? Oh my, jan come visit!
Ha! I cant even imagine AC right now as it’s 25 degrees here and we consider that warm! Yay for a great Nuttzo deal. I loaded up!
i know, i felt bad typing that. hehe. It’s 70F here today.
Loving ALL the strange but good combos happening up in here!
The workout, the mac and cheese. Yum!
I still have yet to try that granola! No one sells it over here. Sad times.
One day I’m pretty sure they’ll come though!
I’ve been curious about the Ellie line, since I heard so many different things. Your looks cute though!
i know, i think everyone is getting different treatment with ellie. It’s a good clothing company, i just think they are trying to compete with too much right now, ya know?
I’m going to attempt making some of your healthy bites this weekend! Just have to decide on a flavour!
Crazy what you have to roll with as a teacher sometimes!!
haha, i bet you have stories as a teacher! do tell! and keep me posted on the healthy bites, k?
YES to granola clusters! Those are my favorite and so are stacked tortilla chips…HA! Extra crunch and extra deliciousness. My latest weird combo is carrots and a packet of Justin’s PB. Happy weekend! XO
that’s not weird to me, that’s perfect! Sometimes i did carrots in peanut butter and cream cheese. teehee
I have got to try that Nuttzo… and Ellie! I have been hearing so many negative things about Ellie that I was afraid to try it.
you would love the PB free one. So good! okay, let’s catch up soon! YA!
Oh yum! I haven’t had mac and cheese in forevs! Love the chili flakes 🙂
i kinda think your salsa would be the perfect topping!
LOVE your unique combos of food (and fitness!)…you inspire me to go crazy and just TRY new ways of doing things. one of a zillion reasons I love you so :)happy weekend!
i have to say, you’ve out created me this week, and i LIKE IT! LOVE U
Just bought some nutzo – been wanting to try it and 50% off is hard to beat!
Happy weekend friend!
oh yay! you will be hooked! How are you friend? Coming to ATX soon?
You know I already love Marshalls/HomeGoods. I always have to try everything on so I don’t know if I could do something like Ellie or PVBody due to sizing. A small in one thing is not my size in all things 🙁
i haven’t been to home goods yet, but it’s next door. I’m scared i’ll spend too much. eek!
p.s. the Ellie clothing line runs similar to nike or underarmour
I think that I need to come and take one of your classes! Nah, I think that you would work me too hard 🙂 xox
My whole life is strange but good ;). Last-minute half-marathon? Strange, but good (I hope!). Loving “Duck Dynasty”? Strange, but good. Apple cider vinegar and orange/peach/mango juice (I ran out of apple)? Strange, but good. My husband claims that my tendency to get a bit of sunbutter and a bit of fig butter on a spoon and just lick it off is strange, but I think it’s just plain good 😉
oh man, i do that too! seriously, i think we are related! p.s YOU ROCKED your half!
Trying not to over think too! 🙂
LOVE the recipes!!!! AND the holy grail of Love grown Nut clusters!!! I am afraid I could not portion control!
On Nutella – I don’t get it, not my thing & NuttZo is sooooooooooooooo much cleaner & better!!!!
Costco, Marshalls, TJ MAxx home goods – need to stay away! 😉
i agree! and i love the crunch in NUTTZO too! perfection
I was just going to ask what the dancing crab was, and then you answered it. 🙂 As for strange but good, I was just telling Laura that I should link up with my daughter’s combos each week… yesterday she had a “wrap” for lunch- banana, peas and raisins rolled up in a piece of turkey. Gross… but she claims it was good!
not gonna lie, i’d try that! LOL!
My strange but good has been watching the show “Better off Ted” it is strangely wonderful and hilarious. I don’t really watch too much TV, we don’t even have cable, but have been streaming thru Itunes ro Netflix. Anyway, the show is weird in all the right ways, another good one is Portlandia.. so darn funny. Have a great weekend!
oh crap, now i am going to be hooked on another show. LOL! love YOU!
I love my new Ellie pants, my issue with the sizing on the top was 100% my own. 🙂 The size chart was right, but I ordered up for some reason. Oops! Love the top you chose!
oh i know, sizing is hard. I learned the hard way on my kswiss order so i made sure to try different ones here. Plus i keep changing sizes. ARGH
Love good thrift finds. 🙂 You look so great in all of the pictures and always have the cutest workout clothes. Melted cookie butter and chocolate pudding for dessert last night……strange but oh so good. 🙂
that’s not strange to me! it’s brilliant! <3
Marshall’s = one of the highlights of racing stateside!! between that and Target I’m pretty sure I ruin a perfectly good taper walking around finding random stuff to buy.
Love all the strange but good combos—I’ve got to find out where to buy Nuttzo in Canada, I love peanut butter too much to not get in on this one! 😉
I love Marshall’s for all of the randomness they have, sometimes I go in just to look at the food & kitchen goodies! Strange but random this week…baked sweet potato with olive oil, cinnamon, cumin & sea salt, sweet & salty 🙂
oh i like it! nice touch with the cumin too
quinoa mac n cheese?! whaaaa? MUST MAKE!
First, I kind of flip from excitement when I see a giant Love cluster in my bags – they’re the best!
Second, I made avocado fudge yesterday and it’s almost all gone. Make it – you’ll love it!
oh my gosh i saw your post yesterday and wanted to LICK the stinkin screen!!!
I la la love quinoa pasta. I make mac n cheese w/ ancient harvest quinoa elbows all the time! I am not GF I just enjoy the taste of them 🙂
i know, so good! Like being a kid again.
mmmm that quinoa mac & cheesy satay sounds so good!! strange but good combo i’ve been loving: cottage juice and juice pulp! 🙂
oh i need to try that combo!! all your eats are so good linz!
The recipe sounds fab! I want to make the sauce and use it with chicken and roasted broccoli. Thanks 🙂
oh ya, do it! i saved the sauce for that reason!
Thanks for the head’s up on the Nuttzo discount–I’ve been wanting to try it! I think my strange but good combo was the roasted beets with wasabi dipping sauce that I made a few nights ago. Delish.
Pandora is surprisingly great, isn’t it? I’ve used it in a pinch when working out, and it hasn’t let me down. Happy Friday!!
whoa.. wasabi and beets is like spicy and sweet goodness! i like the way you think michelle
I loved my Ellie clothes as well, I want to live in my new leggings! I am so glad you shared your thought on the quinoa mac and cheese, looks like I will be making a trip back to Marshalls to pick up a bag.
yay! let me know whatcha think Kaitlin. It’s a small bag, so you have to add in lots of fixins
It’s a good thing I’m eating my oatmeal filled with nutzo love right now, totally celebrating the holiday up in here. AND I’m in love with the stuff, freakin’ unreal. Also? I LOVE my ellie outfit too, yours is so cute!!
seriously, it’s crack. maybe it does make us nuttzo. LOL!!
Getting one of those huge clusters is like winning the lottery! And I love dredging it in PB 😉
for real! granola lotto and pb is the bonus round! p.s. GOOD LUCK THIS WEEKEND!
I love it all!!! My Whole Foods doesn’t have the chocoalte NuttZo. It saddens me greatly. I’ve been eyeing your mac all week too – soooo good.
Ummm… I had NO idea it’s National Peanut Butter Lovers Day! Off to dig out a scoop. 🙂
i hope you did. Bust out your nuttzo and go nuttzo!
Sorry your AC was out! That sounds rough! Thanks so much for the coupon code and letting us know about National Peanut Butter Lovers day… I will definitely have to honor that one 😉
oh let me know if you do!! it’s so good
Oh man! That mac and cheese looks so good (and I can easily take out the chicken and still be able to eat it!!) YUM!!
totally, it’s just so creamy and delicious either way!
Hmmmm no strange but good combos here recently, but I love that Laura does this! I think it is so fun! Heather from kiss my broccoli is always joining in and has good creations!
Love you love! I hope the move was smooth! Or are you still moving?! <3
we’re finally in! YAY! Now come visit with baby
Aww, Katie, you are SO sweet! Love you! xoxo