Beef Stir Fry with Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans

I'm feeling much, much better today thankfully. I was able to finish up the rest of my errands and get some housework done. I still took it easy, but wasn't sitting around like I was yesterday. I should be back to 100 percent tomorrow.

Last week I was looking through the magazine rack at the grocery store and I saw a new issue of Clean Eating magazine. I think I bought an issue last year but never actually made anything out of it. But a stir fry with beef, sweet potatoes and green beans caught my eye in this new issue so I bought it.

I'm not sure I buy the "eating clean" thing. I checked the Eat Clean Diet book from the library and I'm not sold on it. I think that some of the ideas are good — fill up on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy and lean protein with plenty of good fats. It also suggest you avoid added sugars, saturated fats, trans fats, white flour and alcohol. What it doesn't seem to leave much room for are treats or the occasional food that's not "clean." It just feels too strict.

I also thought some of the recipes in the book and the magazine seemed plain and thought it would lack flavor, but I was pleasantly surprised with the beef stir fry. It was actually delicious. I used sirloin, the marinade actually made a little gravy that coated the vegetables.

Beef Stir Fry with Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans
Serves 4. Adapted from Eating Clean Magazine

1 pound top sirloin steak, trimmed of all visible fat and cut into bite-sized pieces
1 tbsp unsweetened applesauce
1 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp sesame oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger, crushed
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
2 cups sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 cup green beans
4 tsp olive oil
1 medium onion, sliced
salt and pepper to taste

Combine sirloin, applesauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, ginger and red pepper in a small bowl.

Bring three cups of water to a boil and add sweet potatoes. Cook sweet potatoes for 2 minutes, then add the green beans to the pot. Boil 4 minutes. Drain and set to the side.

Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium high to high heat (my burner runs hot so medium high was enough for me). Add the beef and onions and salt and pepper to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, 3 to 4 minutes until onion is tender and beef is cooked. Add the reserved potatoes and green beans, cook about 1 minute until warmed through. Serve alone or with brown rice.

Quick Chicken and Noodle Soup

I haven't been feeling so great today. Last night I ate some dodgy-looking salsa from the fridge with my dinner and a few hours later I had one of the worst stomach aches I've experienced in a while. Lesson to self: 4 month old salsa isn't to be trusted — even if it "smells OK."

To add insult to injury, I had to be on a conference call for work from 3 a.m. until 5 a.m. this morning. I managed to take a nap after work and fell asleep again around midnight. They weren't sure when I would need to be on the call, so they called to tell me they were ready for me around 3 ish. I was done a little before 5, but I don't think I finally fell back to sleep until about 6 a.m. I slept until noon today, but I'm sure the wacky sleep habits isn't helping matters today.

Add in some gloomy looking skies and lots of rain and you've got a perfect opportunity for chicken noodle soup. This came together easily, which is important when you're not feeling well. One downside to being single is that I can't sit and moan on the couch and have people serve me. If I'm running a high fever I can usually persuade friends or family to drop off some food, but not for a stomach ache.

It's based on a well-rated Cooking Light recipe, but I've made a few changes because I like my soup with more broth and I prefer onion and didn't have parsnips. I could have picked up some, but honestly, I didn't feel like fussing with it. I'd rather be watching endless hours of HGTV and trashy VH1 reality shows.

Quick Chicken Noodle Soup
8 servings (1 cup)

1 tbsp butter
1 cup onion, chopped
1 cup carrots, sliced
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1 tbsp flour
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup water
1 bay leaf
1/4 tsp salt
pepper to taste
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
4 ounces whole wheat egg noodles
2 tbsp parsley

Melt the butter in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add flour and the chicken broth, water, bay leaf, salt and pepper, stirring to combine.

Bring to boil, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the chicken and the noodles; bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the parsley and serve.

B.E.S.T Sandwich

I've been surprised over the years how people seem to not know about a fried egg sandwich. Sometimes I make them with lettuce and tomato and bacon. But almost always mine feature plenty of mayo (now of the light variety) and cheese (the 2% kind, of course). They are my go-to sandwich because they're simple, delicious and who doesn't have cheese, eggs, bread and mayo already in the fridge?

But to some, this is a new idea? Shocking, I know. What's new to me, though, is making it with hard-boiled eggs. Duh. I'm not sure why I didn't think of it before. It instantly takes a sandwich best eaten freshly made (cold runny egg? YUCK.) and transforms it into something portable. In fact, these were best cold the next day. The only downside to my fried egg sandwich was that I never had leftovers for lunch. But if I fry one and make the other hard-boiled.. problem solved.

It's really a spin on a BLT plus egg, but I called my version a B.E.S.T sandwich because it featured baby spinach rather than lettuce. The sandwich also included light mayo and was piled on a ciabatta roll.

Last week called for several sandwich nights. I did squeeze in some workouts, but was otherwise busy at work with lots to do when I got home. Short weeks can be like that. Plus, I saw a movie with an old friend and went with my family up to see my sister for her birthday. And last night my parents had the dog over at my apartment trying to avoid the fireworks. They set some off near their house and it really makes the dog snap out.

Unfortunately next week looks equally busy with my boss being out all week. I spent today planning food and workouts, so hopefully that part will go smoothly. I really need to refocus. I'd love to fit into last summer's cute sun dress by my sister's bridal shower. Almost there — it zips up about half way.

What's your favorite go-to meal?