Yesterday, my brother and I did the Pure Cardio Insanity DVD together. We skipped the stretching in the middle and went straight from the warm up to the workout for a total of 30 minutes (don’t be fooled, the warm up is a workout in itself!). I wore Garmy and as I expected, my heart rate was pretty stinkin’ high. As high, if not higher, as when I run at full speed. Afterwards, I did full body strength training alternating with three 10 minute spurts on the elliptical. I looked like I had just come out of a swimming pool afterwards…hott stuff!
Earlier in the day I hit up Trader Joe’s while walking errands. I didn’t pick up a whole lot because I’m going to Chicago next week for the Healthy Living Summit.
I had a random craving for Z Bars the day before, so I picked one up in my second favorite flavor, Chocolate Chip (first favorite being S’mores). I also spotted Dark Chocolate Caramel Wedges while waiting in the check out line. I simply love chocolate and caramel together so there was no thinking twice about this one.
I planned on saving my Z Bar for dessert but I ate it as a pre-workout snack instead. I think I got jipped though….look how small this one was!!
I had to taste a couple chocolates too, duh.
For dinner, I made an Eggplant Pizza Casserole. I made this a few times last winter (for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve dinner) but never posted a proper recipe. It’s really quite easy…
Eggplant Pizza Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 large eggplant
- 1 jar pizza sauce
- 1-2 cups spinach
- 1 large tomato
- cheese (I used goat cheese this time)
Directions
Preheat oven to 375* F. Wash and cut eggplant and tomato into round discs. In a glass pan/casserole dish, layer ingredients in the following order starting at the bottom 1) eggplant discs 2) pizza sauce 3) spinach 4) tomato discs 5) pizza sauce 6) eggplant discs 7) pizza sauce 8 ) cheese. Cover pan with aluminum foil and bake for 65 min. or until eggplant is soft. Remove foil for the last 10 minutes.
Note: I usually use more cheese, especially throughout the layers, but I’ve been trying to cut back on dairy due to digestion problems. The tomato produces quite a bit of water–you can either de-seed the tomato or leave it out of the dish completely.
***
Now for the photos:
Layer 1
Layer 2
Layers 3+ 4
Layers 5-8
Ready for the oven!
I served it with a new (to me) TJ’s product, Italian Sausage-less Sausage
They may not look very appetizing but they are pretty stinkin’ good, especially mixed with the pizza sauce and veggies!
I definitely went back for seconds!
For dessert, I ate a bowl of ice cream and proceeded to get some major stomach cramps. I decided it was time to pick up some Lactaid (really, just an excuse to go to Target late at night). I also found some other things too…are you surprised?
This morning, I took 1 Lactaid pill in anticipation for breakfast.
I got this tub of Chobani on sale for $3.29 last night!!! I know, I’m supposed to be cutting back on dairy but I couldn’t resist such a great deal. Plus, I had Lactaid, right? Uh huh.
Come to Momma!!
Immediately after I took the Lactaid pill, I began to feel extremely nauseas. I even checked the ingredients on the box to see if there were peanuts because I got a little itchy and felt like I was going to vomit (for the record there are no peanuts in Lactaid, haha). Unfortunately, it sorta ruined my breakfast experience 
.
So much for trying to be cautious!
Whole Grain Spelt Sweet Potato Waffles w/ Greek yogurt, blueberries and toasted pecans.
I didn’t make these, I found them at Target!! The ingredients list is not too shabby. The sweet potato flavor wasn’t very strong but it added a nice moist texture.
It’s been far too long since I last had waffles. Get ready for some epic waffle mountains!!
It took about an hour of laying in bed, clutching my stomach, and drinking hot tea before my stomach recovered. Umm I think I’d rather have a little bit of discomfort from dairy than the nausea caused by the Lactaid pills. I Googled it and apparently there a lot of people out there who have had the same experience. Weird, huh?
I’m going to head down to the gym to watch some tennis on TV while ellipticalling. I’m a bit sore from yesterday and I need to loosen up my muscles!
Happy Friday!!
Tell me: What’s your favorite pancake/waffle flavor? I think I have to go with chocolate chip!
{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
My doctor told me that people who are lactose intolerant can eat yogurt without Lactaid pills since there is no lactose in yogurt.
Amy–
Really? I’ve found that yogurt makes my stomach pretty uncomfy, especially when I have a lot at a time such as when I have homemade tart frozen yogurt! I’m pretty sure I’ll never ever take Lactaid pills again though.
Awh I’m sorry your stomach was playing up a bit!
I don’t like pancakes, with the exception of Angela’s spelt pancakes, which I LOVE! Waffle wise, I’ve never really had them…England don;’t seem to care for waffles :p
ohmygosh – can’t believe I get to go to Trader Joe’s for the first time EVER nextweek!! :O
Ouch
I’m sorry your tummy wasn’t feeling good!
Ouch! That stinks that you had such a bad experience with the pills – I used to get migraines all the time (little did we know it was actually my food intolerances which caused them) and I was put on migraine medicine… that gave me migraines?!??! Weird.
I hope you get all that dairy stuff figured out. I just avoid it now, it seems easier for me that way.
That eggplant dish looks great!
What I love about your photographs is how WHITE your yogurt looks on the waffles — it is beautiful!
I love blueberry pancakes and waffles. Well, and chocolate chip and banana nut.
the eggplant dish looks fab!
I love waffle’s topped with yogurt and berries, it’s my second favorite breakfast
And always love the blueberry waffles and pancakes the most, soo good.
Love your blog, new follower
I try to avoid pancakes and waffles even though I love them. They immediately cause me to tank energy-wise. The eggplant dish looks YUM….might have to try that tomorrow.
Aww I’m sorry to hear about the Lactaid. Maybe you should stick to no dairy for a while? I know it’s hard, but it should get easier over time. I heard dairy addiction is pretty serious, actually. Goat’s milk yogurt is delicious! I’ve been eating tons of eggplant, too! Mmmm.
Sorry about your stomach! Favourite type of pancake – blueberry, though I don’t really eat many pancakes. Never really had waffles either.
Holly–
Haha I HATE that it looks white!! I sometimes mix in cinnamon to de-whiten it. I get self conscious when my yogurt is blinding
Nicole–
Even whole grain waffles? You should try making them with oats/oat flour. Perhaps that’ll keep your energy levels up? Just a suggestion.
I need to give waffles/pancakes another shot and try some new flour combos. They are really too good to live without
Thanks for the suggestion!
Icecream and Milk just KILL ME, BUT! I can have like Skim Milk in cereal or something, just can’t have like a glass of milk, or milk in a latte or something no matter the %, I can eat cheese just fine though which I find kind of strange, not sure what the difference is, might be because I never eat THAT much cheese at once. Definetly grown to love Soy Milk in lattee though, so delicious! Your blogs so cute! That recipe looks so yummy!
Pumpkin! I love the Pumpkin waffle/pancake batter from Fresh Market and use our waffle maker for perfect waffles!!
Sorry to hear about the pain. Ouch. =(
Those waffles look delish! I think my favorite pancakes are banana-walnut.
I would like a sweet potato waffle…just sayin.
I almost picked up those exact same wedges at TJ’s the other day, too! I managed to resist… this time
Favorite pancake flavor: Red Velvet Chocolate Chip
http://www.buttermilktruck.com
OMG, I actually got the same exact Lactaid product a few weeks ago when my throat issues hit and I needed something to ease the ice cream induced tummy aches! I have to agree though. It’s not exactly the greatest product in the world.
I also currently have the SAME tub of Chobani from Teets. I was feeling a little experimental today and added a few tablespoons of Coconut Flour into it. Tastes kind of like Coconut Macaroon cookie dough!
We are so alike. It’s almost like we’re related or something!
Sorry about the tummy troubles girl!
I actually really like plain waffles/pancakes. I’m all about the toppings!
I was really hoping that you had made those! I wanted a recipe
Hi…I’m not sure if I’ve commented on here before, so I just want to say hello.
I love that all your ingredients is from Trader Joe’s, because I live close to one and can make whatever you’re making.
I made healthy mexican pizza using half of your ingredients, chopped tomatoes, shredded spinach and cheese. Now all I need is the eggplants and I can make this.
My favorite pancake waffle is blueberries, yummy!
Gingerbread pancakes from Kerbey Lane Cafe in Austin, Tx! Or pumpkin from the same place. Amazing!
Those waffles look gooood. I like almost all waffles, but banana waffles have my heart.
As soon as I get back to NC, I am SO hitting up TJ’s for those chocolate wedges!
Favorite pancake flavah=banana-bloob.
Those chocolates looks gggoooodddd. TJs is so smart to put all that stuff at the check-out. It is just so easy to pick up a few things without really noticing!
I really can’t pick a favorite pancake or waffle ingredient. Probably chocolate chips, but I did put banana chunks in my pancakes the other day and they got all caramelized cooking and we were amazing. I also put walnuts into one which were better than I thought they would be too. I usually just put things on TOP of the pancakes or waffles instead of inside them. I can’t just pick 1 thing though! Sorry about the stomach problems. Have you ever seen sheep’s milk or goat’s milk yogurt? I know it’s not the same but I really enjoy it! Also…coconut milk ice cream is amazing =)
i had a bit of nausea today, but it was the coffee.. on an empty tummy. nausea is terrible tho, the feeling sucks so bad!!! i hope by the time u read this ur feeling much better!
sweet potato waffles! why does the world tempt me with their delicious creations!!!! hehe
xoxo <3
feel better love!
Oh man, I’m sorry about your tummy pain. It just ruins your entire day
And I do believe it’s called “core” for a reason! I hope you feel better soon. Maybe you should check with your doctor?
Wei-Wei
I’ve tried those waffles! They were kind of dissapointing, because I was anticipating them tasting more like sweet potatoes, ya know? Oh well, it was a good selling point for me anyway! haha!
<3 tori
Oh those chocolate looks delish ;]
I definitely have to try and make that eggplant dish of yours. My mouth is watering already. I just have one problem. I have to cook for one cause my siblings dern like veggies =/
Those waffles look delicious! Sweet potatoes are in my top five favorite vegetable…I had no idea they were a waffle flavor, lol. My favorite is blue berry, but banana could definitely give then a run for their money
Yogurt makes my stomach slightly upset too. But I find that I can’t have dairy after I wake up because it makes me uncomfortable. But if I have a glass in the middle of the day I’ll be ok. Maybe your stomach was empty so the pills absorbed too quickly?
Allie, you come up with the most innovative recipes. That eggplant casserole looks so delicious, I’m considering making this for dinner tomorrow!
Just got caught up on all your old posts- I love all the tennis action! There are definitely some good looking guys in that sport
Favorite pancake flavor is blueberry. It’s not so much because of the actual flavor, but because my grandfather has made them for us since I was a little kid and it brings back memories. It’s also the reason I love I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter and Aunt Jemima pancake syrup. Hope your weekend is off to a great start!!
Ahhh, total bummer about the Lactaid!! I too have dairy issues but for some reason am wary of Lactaid pills. Now even more so!
So sorry you got nauseated!!!
beautiful eats though!!
Chocolate chip is definitely my favorite!!!