Spiced Peach Pork Chops

Since my husband is the chef in our home, if he doesn't feel like cooking, we go out! But wait! He was exhausted the other night, and on a rare occasion... I decided to cook! Now Matt is one of those cooks who just throws things in, tastes it, then throws in some more. I, on the other hand, use recipes and am deathly afraid to deviate. So I picked a recipe I've tried a couple times (porkbeinspired) that I absolutely LOVE! I had it for the first time when my friend Alex made it for dinner and loved it so much I tried it myself. The ingredients sound a little crazy, but trust me, it's delicious!

INGREDIENTS
4 boneless pork chops, 1/2-inch thick
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon mustard
1 16 oz-can sliced peaches, drained (make sure their packed in their own juice, Not syrup! OR use fresh peaches!)

In small bowl stir together paprika, flour, salt, cinnamon, allspice and cloves. Sprinkle on both sides of chops. In large nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat; cook chops on both sides, turning once, for a total of about 7-8 minutes.

In small bowl stir mustard and peach slices together; add to skillet; cook and stir until heated through. Serve with chops.

I cooked the chops on both sides then threw the peaches in with them, turned the heat down, and covered with he lid. This made the flavors marinade a little better, plus it created a sauce!

Matt did help me plate the food ;) He always makes it look so pretty!

The side dish is zucchini cous cous made from a Mediterranean recipe that I altered to go with this dish. It's just whole grain garlic cous cous with shredded zucchini.

I'm linking this up with Jenn @Peas & Crayons for her virtual monthly cookbook. I know, She rocks!

You've Seen Wall-e! Lets Just Drink All Our Food!

A fellow nutritionist of mine in another county told me today about a client she had.

"Just had a client inform me that water is bad for your body and Gatorade is much healthier!"

What do you even say to that??? I feel like I am constantly trying to explain to parents that sports drinks, like Gatorade, are made for extreme athletes; and while you may think your boy is extremely active...he is not in the NFL... he is FIVE.  


                         Step Away From the Sports Drinks

That being said, I had a client the other day tell me she was giving her child, who mind you was at the 98% on the growth chart for BMI/age, Pediasure 3 times a day! WHAT??? When I asked why, she said she saw it on tv (I'm sure you've seen their commercials...) and she "thought it would be good because it has vitamins." Oh man. 


You may not believe it....but FOOD has vitamins too! I know, crazy concept ;) Try it!

Graduation!

After a LOOOOONG 10 month Dietetic Internship, I am officially done! We had a beautiful graduation ceremony this past weekend. The most moving part for me was when the Surgeon General spoke. His history is incredible and he was very inspiring. But it was a very bittersweet moment. Thrilled to be finished, but sad to leave all my new friends. It's amazing the change I have seen in myself over this past year and I am so grateful to all those who helped me along the way. We have some great Dietitians! I can't believe the only thing left to do now is take the RD exam!!! Study time!

Here are a couple pictures from our graduation:

the other intern from our county, our coordinator, and myself

DI Class of 2011

My husband and I before the ceremony

What I Ate Wednesday!

My wonderful hubby spent all day making this YUMMY pot roast while I was at work. :) It was slow cooked in our new dutch oven!! (wedding present from my cousin Heather)

Roast, carrots, mushrooms, new potatoes, probably some red wine, and fresh herbs from our garden! (had some whole grain cous cous on the side ;)

It was so good I had it for lunch today too! After we finish it all off, I think Matt is going to use all that broth to make a yummy soup. Can't wait to try it!

Twilight Zone...

I just got back to WIC today after being gone for 2 1/2 weeks for my wedding and honeymoon. I feel like I was gone for a YEAR! I came back and 6 people no longer work here, I am being moved to a different clinic, we may be closing another clinic, and apparently USDA changed the food pyramid...AGAIN!

I'm including the links to the new Healthy Plate, but honestly, the pyramid was dumb...and this isn't much better. And WHY does dairy get it's own spot?? blah.

Healthy Plate Article

Official USDA ChooseMyPlate.gov


Our funding has been cut drastically, partly due to new govenor Rick Scott (thanks a lot)! and partly due to federal funding cuts.

I'm not sure, but I think I must have jumped in the hot tub time machine on the cruise ship! Maybe I should just go back and things will be normal when I return! ;) Probably...right?

I'm a Famous Carrot

I got to be "Mrs. Carrot" for one of the classes in our daycare program. I read "The Cookie Monster and the 3 Little Bears" to the 3 & 4 years olds.

Sooo.... here is the video of me on the 6:00 Channel 3 News as Mrs. Carrot :)

WEAR ABC 3 :: Top Stories - Healthy Eating for Children

Sudoku is for Sailers?

A dad came in today with his 2 1/2 year old daughter. He seemed "normal"...for the first 10 seconds. After mumbling I don't even know what while filling out the food intake form in my office, he hands it to me and as serious as serious gets he says, "you really need to find something better to do with your time, like play sudoku." Sudoku? What was I thinking getting a college degree?! Let alone trying to help people! I could be sitting around playing sudoku all day! No words would come though, just a smile and a, "ahh ha." Then when he looked at the "goal" sheet, which was created to help people think of nutrition related goals for their children, he says to me, "Goal? We don't make goals. The only goal we have is to go sailing." Again, he was dead serious. Everything out of this mans mouth literally had my jaw on the ground, but the last thing I remember was telling him his daughter was underweight and his only response? "She doesn't need to gain any weight, because then I'll have to buy her a new life jacket!" You know...for that sailing goal. And In case you haven't caught on, he was serious.