Whoa Mama today went by fast, I tell ya – if you start behind there is no catching up … just accept you will be behind all day!

My workout was kind of blah- my fault for going without a plan. I was trying to incorporate more strength training and it was just a major fail. Not enough planning, too much over thinking, not enough sweating…Oh well tomorrow is another day! When I got home I made a protein shake, though I kind of had to will myself into having it since I wasn’t that thrilled with my workout.

A little while later I had a breakfast of a Costco energy bar with homemade wine jelly, a sliver of almond butter and strawberries on top (yep took a bite and almost forgot to take a picture).

Lunch was kind of pathetic since I was so behind in my schedule, I just ate a pretty ripe banana and protein bar while I studied away.

Dinner on the other hand was FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC! Hello spaghetti squash with Skinny Homemade Pesto and sweet italian chicken sausage.

Skinny Homemade Pesto Recipe

Normal pesto weighs in at around 250 calories or more per 1/4 a cup. This recipe is heaven sent, with fresh healthy ingredients and with a count of only 88 calories per 3 tbsp, I can enjoy Pesto again WHENEVER I want!

Ingredients:

– one bunch fresh basil with stems removed (about 2 cups packed)

– 3 tbsp pine nuts

– 1 tbsp olive oil

– 2 tbsp water

– 2 cloves garlic

– 1/4 tsp black pepper

– 1/4 tsp salt

– 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients (basil, pine nuts, olive oil, water, garlic, black pepper, and salt) except parmesan cheese in a food processor.

Puree until smooth, about 30 seconds. Most likely you will have to scrap the sides of the food processor and process for an additionally 30 seconds to a minute.

(Side note: Before I had a food processor, and I only had a magic bullet-I used to substitute 1/2 a tube of the gourmet garden basil paste in place of fresh basil. It worked well and still tasted pretty good!)

2. Next add in the parmesan cheese and process again for about 30 seconds, scrap sides and process for an additional 30 seconds to a minute (or until smooth).

.

Now you have Skinny Homemade Pesto for your guilt free consuming pleasure! You can add more water if you like your pesto with a thinner consistency, or you can heat it up. Heating it up makes it a bit more creamy, just be careful not to overheat it. 30 second intervals of heating and stirring in the microwave maximum.

I actually doubled this recipe so that I could freeze some or use it for other things throughout the week (like on sandwiches, in wraps, on toast, on vegetables, on a pizza, in pasta….so many options)! Plus Paul LOVES sauce so I have to make a little extra.

For now it is back to the books, but I promise I’ll put the details up for the whole meal soon!

Interesting Links:

Losing Can Be Bad For Sports Fans Health (www.post-gazette.com)

Top 10 Healthy Ways to Cook Fruits and Vegetables (Healthydiningfinder.com)

18 Low Calorie Mini Meals (www.familycircle.com)