Berry-Licious

Yesterday I ended up going for a walk after dinner and then watching a movie so I didn't have time to post. I only had one picture from yesterday though since most was leftovers and repeats. I have to show you what I did for breakfast though because it was amazing.
Carob Chip Cookie Dough Oatmeal. I know, I've made this before but I used a secret ingredient for this bowl.
-1/2 cup oats + 1/2 cup water + 1/2 cup almond milk
-cinnamon
-raw oats
-carob chips
-scoop White Chocolate PB
-Artisana Coconut Butter!!!
The hint of coconut was wonderful in these oats! The consistency of the butter was a little solid at first, if you want you can heat it a bit and stir until creamy. I actually just used it solid, scraped it with a butter knife and used the shavings to sprinkle on top. The flavor was excellent! Pure coconut goodness.
Today's breakfast was a favorite, Raspberry Oatbran.
-1/2 cup oatbran + 1 1/2 cups water
-cinnamon
-Artisana Coconut Butter (again used in shavings)
-scoop Archer Farms Vanilla Cranberry PB
-fresh raspberries
With another taste of that PB, I find that the flavor gets lost in my oatmeal. I always swirl my PB into my oats after the picture and this flavor hardly stands out. Too bad.
All I wanted for lunch today was a big bowl of veggies so I threw together an Asian Stir-fry.
-carrots
-snap peas
-corn
-yellow onion
-garlic
-bok choy
-teriyaki sauce
-pepper, 5 spice, red pepper flakes
It was delicious! I love throwing random things into a pan and having them taste great in the end. I also had 2 slices homemade Whole Wheat Bread and my last Sunshine Burger (not pictured). The Sunshine burger was eaten after my meal because I wasn't satisfied. I knew I needed more fat and protein and afterwards I felt very content. I'm so excited!!! My mom planted a strawberry patch in our yard and the first berries and starting to ripen. I found this one today and had to take a bite...

Mmm, it was so juicy and sweet. I have never eaten a homegrown, freshly picked strawberry before...it was delightful!

My snack was berry-licious too!

-1 1/2 cups Kamut Puffs

-almond milk

-carob chips

-fresh raspberries

-coconut shavings (the last of the jar!)

Spectacular! I love raspberries and carob together...it's such a perfect pairing.

Today I also opened up this Young Coconut! It was really hard to open so I just went outside and threw it on the concrete. That worked and I still managed to get a bit of water to try. Wow, fresh coconut water is NOTHING like store-bought! It is so much better. I don't ever buy the store-bought kind anymore since it was way too sweet and kind of artificial tasting. I can't wait to experiment with the coconut meat.

I'm sorry to any cyclists out there, but I think I might just HATE bike riding. I mean, I like the exercise and everything but damn...my butt is SO sore afterwards! I even used my mom's bike which has a really wide seat. Didn't help...how do cyclists do it?!

Off to go study for finals! Only 2 days left of junior year! Woo! =)

Bliss

I wanted something different for breakfast so I re-heated some Thai Pizza. It was still as amazing as when I first made it and gave my lots of energy for the day. I also had 2 cups of Kamut Puffs with Carob Chips and I was still a tad hungry.


Fast forward to this afternoon where I received this in the mail!

Artisana Vegan Cacao Bliss Butter! I am beyond excited to try this because I've only heard good reviews from the other bloggers out there. I also received...

Raw Organic Almond Butter...

Pecan Butter, a small jar of Cacao Bliss, Walnut Butter, Coconut Butter...

Coconut Oil, Tahini, and Macadamia Nut Butter...all in cute little 1 tbsp jars, perfect!! Tristan from the Artisana Company was sure to spoil me and I am very thankful to have received samples of their wonderful products.

Expect some reviews soon! Thanks again Tristan!!

To anyone who guess Kabocha Squash...you were right! I finally found some on my last trip to Whole Foods and even though they were tiny, I needed to try them ASAP! I actually made fries the other night, which were delish...but tonight I wanted something different.

Neon Green Kabocha Oats!!! I got the idea from Maggie's blog and used...

-1/2 cup oatbran + 1 1/2 cups water

-vanilla, salt, cinnamon

-1 tbsp Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein Powder

-1 cup baby spinach

-1 cup steamed kabocha squash

This made a HUGE bowl but I finished most of it because it was just so good! The sweet kabocha was perfect and will be a favorite oatmeal addition of mine from now on. I just wish I could find them all the time!

As promised...KITTIES!!!

I am so blessed to have these beautiful babies in my life. They make me so happy and I love snuggling with them. Hopefully you all didn't pass out from all the cuteness.... ;)

A Little Off

Good Evening Lovebugs =) Pure Decadence. This PB&J&C Oatbran was fabulous!

-1/2 cup oatbran + 1 1/2 cups water
-cinnamon
-White Chocolate Wonderful PB
-spoonful Strawberry Fruit Spread
-sprinkle of carob chips
I was really really full after eating this! I don't know why because my breakfasts are usually the same size as this. My appetite has been very off lately though. Sometimes I'm super hungry and I'll just keep snacking yet other times I'm not hungry at all. I have no idea what is going on. I guess I just need to listen to my body and eat when I am truly hungry.


Quick note on the PB: I got 2 PB&Co flavors from Whole Foods yesterday...for $4.39 each! I was shocked! It's so much more expensive at Target at $5.99. Needless to say, I couldn't pass up this deal!
I've been literally waiting months to try these Sunshine Burgers! I found them at Whole Foods the other day and was so excited to try them. I got the Garden Herb variety and while they were expensive, I hoped they would make up for it in flavor.

Alongside my Sunshine Burger I had a slice (or two) of homemade Whole Wheat Bread, roasted asparagus, and ketchup for dipping. The burger was...PHENOMENAL! It had a lot of fresh, natural flavor that tasted homemade with big chunks of veggies inside. I also loved the texture of it. The outside was nice and crispy while the inside was smooth and creamy. Yes, I know...weird words to describe a burger, but it was SO GOOD. I will buy these again!

This is one of the best dessert/snacks I've ever had. I call it an Apple-Almond Mash but I got the idea from Jess Likes it Hot.

-1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

-1-2 tsp almond butter

Heat and stir together (about 1 minute)

-1/2 cup kamut puffs

-sprinkle of carob chips

Seriously, you must try this now...it is beyond tasty!

Here are the pictures of Sweet Potato I promised...just kidding! I would never roast my precious kitten into fries, she's too adorable. I did have some Sweet Potato Fries with dinner though, and I'm so glad they are back in my life. Love!

The main part of my dinner was a BBQ Salad.

-baby spinach

-broccoli slaw

-carrots

-cukes

-avocado

-Smokey Maple BBQ sauce

It was perfect...as always.

Psst...here's a new item I found at the store, can you guess what it is?! I will be using it in my dinner tomorrow night =)

Liar, Liar

I lied, no kitten pictures tonight. Sorry but time just got away from me. They're also roaming the house now and very hard to keep still. Maybe I'll sneak in during their nap and catch some cuteness. I will make it up to you with a product review!

Archer Farms (from Target) Creamy Vanilla Cranberry Peanut Butter.

I was going to buy PB&Co but then I saw this and since it was about $2 cheaper, I went with it. The ingredients are fairly simple and the nutritionals are great too. The flavor was ehh. I thought it was good at first but then I get this little aftertaste that I'm not a fan of. It was also very runny which can be a plus or minus for certain people. I did like the little bits of cranberry in every bite and the sweet yet not-too-sweet flavor. Would I buy it again? Most likely no...but it was fun to try. Yesterday morning I tried it on a big bowl of Raspberry Oatbran.

-1/2 cup oatbran + 1 1/2 cups water

-cinnamon + vanilla

-ground flax

-fresh raspberries

-scoop Vanilla Cranberry PB

I was a little snacky mid-morning so I had a slice of Chocolate Pumpkin Loaf. Freezing leftover baked goods is such a genius idea...makes the weeks to come that much more exciting knowing I have a little slice of heaven waiting for whenever I need it.

Now...I'm not a huge fan of pizza. I'd rather have a stir-fry or sandwich instead. But after seeing this post on Sarah's blog, I had to make this pizza. The recipe is the Thai Un-Chicken Pizza from ED&BV. I made the dough from scratch using this recipe and subbing GF AP flour for most of the Whole Wheat. I also halved the sauce recipe as I knew it would be too much for me. The taste? Phenomenal! I loved the peanut sauce, topping flavors, and crispy crust. It may have even converted me into a pizza lover! Yet, I will never make this again...as I ate HALF the pizza! I wasn't even that full afterwards either, just comfortably full. Granted, I wasn't hungry again until dinner but it was awesome. I can't wait to eat the rest of it.

Still somewhat full from my pizza lovin I had a small Salad.

-baby spinach

-carrots

-broccoli slaw

-cukes

-crumbled Chickpea Cutlet

-dijon dressing (homemade)

It was delish.

Who can resist Carrot Cake Oats?! I sure can't, so when the idea popped into my head for today's breakfast, I had to make it.

-1/2 cup oats + 1/2 cup hempmilk + 1/2 cup water

-1/2 shredded carrot

-cinnamon, cloves, allspice, ginger, nutmeg, vanilla

-1 tbsp coconut

-scoop Vanilla Cranberry PB
It was one of the best bowls I've had a a long time. The warm spices, creamy hempmilk, and sweet coconut all blended together to make one heavenly desser...I mean breakfast ;)

After lunch (not pictured...leftovers!), I went to Whole Foods with my cousin who after seeing me go vegan, has decided to be one too. Sadly, she's only been to Whole Foods once!!! I got a lot of new items to try so be ready for some new product reviews and delicious foods.

I was ravenous when I got home so I made myself a bowl of Cereal.

-1 cup Kamut Puffs (Kailey!!! They finally got them in at the store!)

-sprinkle Enjoy Life Very Berry Crunch Granola

-hempmilk

-5 almond clusters (added after I snapped a picture)

Mmm, nothing like cold cereal on a hot, sunny day. The Enjoy Life granola was the last one I needed to try and I still can't decide which one's my favorite. This one smelled SO GOOD when opening the bag and the taste was even better. Seriously...I couldn't tell you which one is best because they are all amazing. I understand why it's pretty expensive, it's so worth the money!

I'm off to finish some homework and relax a bit. Enjoy your night loves <3

Fantastic Food

The reason why I'm posting in the morning is because my cousins came up from AZ to visit for the next 2 weeks. It's going to be a little busy around here so I will be posting when I can...not to mention finals coming up the first week of June, then I'm done!
Yesterday I started off with some Raspberry Oatbran.
-1/2 cup oatbran + 1 1/2 cups water
-cinnamon
-fresh raspberries
-sprinkle ground flax
-scoop Pumpkin Seed Butter
It was simple, delicious, and filling.

I was in the mood to cook something so I went all out and made one of the most delicious lunches I've had this month. First I made Chickpea Cutlets from V'Con. This recipe is one of my favorites and it always comes out good. I omitted the oil and also used quick oats instead of breadcrumbs. I think the oats gave it a softer texture because when I've made these in the past they are VERY tough...these were a bit better. On the side I had Steamed Broccoli, 1/2 an Avocado w/ hot sauce, and a slice of homemade Whole Wheat Bread (x2). Everything was so wonderful and I was perfectly content after eating this meal.

Fast forward to dinner where I had Curried Rutabaga Fries with ketchup. I also had 1/2 a green smoothie and some leftover Green Monster Pancakes w/ strawberry preserves and almonds. It was a great dinner because it was everything I was craving and not a put-together meal. Sometimes I just want pancakes and fries, don't lie I know you think it sounds good ;)

I'm finding it very had to stomach a whole Green Smoothie at once. I get super full really quickly. I made one for my snack and I had to finish the rest at dinner. Does anyone else have this problem?

I'm thinking about posting a couple kitten pictures tomorrow...would you like to see? They are getting so big and into so much trouble!

Sun & Yum!

I was going to post last night, but something came up and I didn't get to. I might actually do a couple morning posts but I'll try and keep the rest at my usual time.
I had a really great, filling breakfast yesterday of Vanilla Protein Oats.
-1/2 cup oat bran, 1 1/2 cups water
-cinnamon & vanilla
-1 scoop Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein
-ground flax & AB
It was very voluminous (which is how I like my oats), and scrumptious. Vanilla is one of my favorite flavors because of it's sweet, light taste. I used to be a die-hard chocolate fan but that's probably because all the vanilla flavors I had were artificial and processed. I think it was the vanilla cupcakes from VCTOTW that converted me.

I didn't think I would need a snack mid-morning but I ended up getting hungry while tanning :)

I decided on a Chocolate Raspberry Scone I had stored in the freezer and some almonds (not pictured).

Lunch was leftover rice and then I had more rice with milk for a dessert. I was just carbing it up yesterday! This doesn't happen very often but sometimes I just have those days where I want is grains and bread. Oh well.

Speaking of bread...I made some homemade Whole Wheat Bread using this recipe. It was really easy and always gets rave reviews. When I took it out of the oven the top was hard as a rock. I thought I did something wrong but it's supposed to have a crunchy crust. It tasted phenomenal! The inside was chewy and moist while the outside had a crispness that can only be found in freshly baked bread. I smeared some Cinnamon Agave AB on top, ate, and repeated that sequence once more for maximum snackage.
I received Peta's Vegan College Cookbook from Angela yesterday! I won her giveaway and I was so excited to receive this. While I find the recipes super easy, they give me really great ideas for more complicated meals. I do have some delicious-looking recipes marked so you'll just have to wait and see what I create! Thanks again Angela!

I don't have much planned for today, tanning for sure though. I was out for a half hour Friday and Saturday and I've already got a little glow. It just gets so boring sitting there. The pool opens soon though so that will be something to do.

Enjoy your day everyone!

Bowls of Deliciousness

Hey my loves <3

Today I started off my morning with some Carob Cherry Oats.
-1/2 cup oats + 1 cup water
-1/2 cup frozen cherries
-cinnamon
-flax
-carob chips
-scoop Smooth Operator PB
This combination never gets old. How could you go wrong with a carob-covered cherry?!
I was still craving some PB when I got home so I threw together a little Rice Pilaf.
-1/2 cup rice
-baby carrots
-snap peas
-corn
-teriyaki sauce
-PB
-red & black pepper, hot sauce
It was delicious! I love PB with spicy foods. It balances the flavor and adds so much creamy goodness to the dish.
I was craving some more granola at snack time so I sampled another Enjoy Life flavor. Cranapple Crunch.

This granola is packed with cranberries and apple pieces, had a sweet/tangy flavor, and it the perfect texture for drowning in milk (ie: doesn't get too soggy). I really enjoyed the flavor and I would be sure to pick this up at the store, totally worth it. I can't wait to try the last flavor now!

I think all of my foods come in bowls. My nutritionist once said that I should branch out and eat things on plates that aren't all mixed together. I just sat there and thought "What a crock!". Who cares how I eat it as long as I am eating!

This post is a short one, but my day was pretty uneventful. I think I'll go snuggle up and watch a movie now. 6 more days left of school...and then I'll be a SENIOR?! Time goes by so fast, I'm getting too old! =P

Check out Zesty's one-of-a-kind giveaway! This is such a great idea and would be so much fun to win!

Not Just For Hippies...Granola

Today was gorgeous outside! I'm not sure the exact temperature but I didn't even need a coat this morning walking to school. I also got a little tan after school. I only sat out for a half hour but I did get a little color.
This totally looks like yesterday's breakfast but instead of oatmeal, I used Granola.
-1 cup Hemp-anola (recipe from ED&BV)
-almond milk
-strawberries
-scoop homemade Cinnamon Agave AB
I thought all the granola would be a little too filling but it was actually perfect for the morning. I was adequately fueled but not overly stuffed.
I've had this recipe saved for a while now so today for lunch I made Mac & Cheese (or rice and cheese and I made). I cut the recipe in half so I could save some and added rice, broccoli, and pizza cheese. It was just okay...nothing special. The pizza cheese really saved the dish, along with the chickpeas. This girl loves her chickpeas =)


As I was getting ready to go outside to tan, I saw this on my front porch...
A box of assorted Enjoy Life Granola from Kasey of the Enjoy Life company! I've been eyeing this stuff for the longest time and I was so excited to be sent some samples. I was provided with their Cranapple Crunch, Cinnamon Crunch, and Very Berry Crunch granola. This company is really great as they a safe for anyone with allergies. They promise they are...
-Allergy Friendly: free of the 8 most common allergies. Which means NO wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish, or shellfish.
-Certified gluten-free.
-Made in a dedicated nut-and gluten-free bakery.
-No artificial anything!
-Delicious and great for the whole family.
This company also makes cookies, snack bars, granola, bagels, trail mixes, chocolate chips (some of which I adore!), and chocolate bars.

The first one I tried was the Cinnamon Crunch. Here are the ingredients...

Brown Rice Flakes; Evaporated Cane Juice; Brown Rice Syrup; Water; Raisins*; Rice Crisps (Rice Flour, Rice Bran, Raisin Juice Concentrate, Honey, Salt); Rice Bran; Cinnamon; Natural; Cinnamon Flavor; Ground Flaxseed; Rosemary Extract

After impressing me with the ingredients list, I just had to sample some. So I made a bowl of cereal with a serving of Cinnamon Crunch Granola on top. It was phenomenal! It wasn't too hard like some granola can be, it had a sweet, cinnamon flavor that wasn't too over the top, and the juicy plump raisins were the perfect pairing. I can't wait to try the rest of the flavors and since summer is coming up, cold cereals are a favorite on a hot morning. Thanks again Kasey!

Thanks to everyone for leaving such amazing comments. You are some of the most genuine, caring people I have ever met and I am so glad to have you all in my life. Oh and to those "lurkers" out there...don't be afraid to comment! I won't bite...unless you are made of oatmeal ;)

Updates

Hello my lovelies <3

It was 80* out today!!! Time for some Summer Lovin'. I'm started to feel so happy and comfortable in my body. Oh and I have my laugh back! When I was underweight and restricting I rarely smiled and a laugh was out of the question. If something was funny I would have to fake a smile or giggle. I'm so very proud to say that I can laugh again.
After getting an amazing deal on strawberries yesterday at TJ's, I just had to incorporate them into my breakfast this morning. I decided on Blended Strawberry Oatmeal.
-1/2 cup oats +1/2 cup water
-1 pkt Jay Robb Strawberry Rice Protein Powder
-1 tsp vanilla & cinnamon
-sliced strawberries
-scoop Smooth Operator PB
I forget how much I love strawberries! They were juicy, sweet, and perfect for topping my oats with. The strawberry protein powder...ehh, wasn't so great. I noticed it was chalky (which wasn't the case with the other flavors) and that the strawberry flavor was way too artificial for me. The chocolate and vanilla were much better so if I end up ordering a bigger size (which I probably will) then I will order those.
I wasn't in the mood for creating an elaborate raw dish so I made a Salad, again. It's a good thing you all told me you weren't sick of them! haha
-baby spinach
-broccoli slaw
-carrots
-cukes
-hot salsa
-pizza cheese (yes, this is the 3rd week in a row!)
It was delicious and just what I wanted. I think next week I'll make something different and more put together but all I wanted was a big bowl of veggies.


Month of May Challenge Update:
Since I started the challenges in this post, I think I have been doing great!
1. The spinach salads and smoothies have been doing wonders for my skin! I've noticed a lot less breakouts and a little glow! I think once the Farmer's Market opens I will get more greens to experiment in my smoothies but right now all that's available is non-organic stuff and I always make sure my greens are organic.
2. The Raw Wednesdays have been a little repetitive but so what. It's good food that I love to eat and I enjoy making it. I think I will continue this once a week after the month is over since I'm beginning to get more into raw foods. However, it won't be a certain day.
3. While I don't do yoga 5 days a week (sometimes it's 4, sometimes 6), I have been feeling AMAZING! No more ankle pains or shin pains! Yoga is helping me become more comfortable in my body and I've actually had less and less body image issues because of it. I'm also more flexible and have more energy throughout the day. I do occasionally run in gym but it's only about a mile per week.
4. The groceries have been hard to restrict. I keep wanting to buy pretzels or unnecessary items but then I have to remind myself that I can make things at home out of the things I already have in the cabinet. I can also make my own bread, guacamole, and nut butters.
5. The outside thing is just starting to pick up. It's been a bit chilly and breezy the past couple weeks so unless it's randomly sunny I don't like to go outside. I have been on some bike rides and I love to sit in the sun to do homework. Hopefully this goal will increase when it gets hotter out.

Hope you all have a great night =)

Sour Cherry

OMFG!!! I totally had to skip blogging last night because the season finale of Gossip Girl was on...it was bliss. I'm not giving anything away for the people who missed it, but let me just say it made my night, no...month! Oh and P.S. I love the song Sour Cherry by The Kills and I originally heard that song on GG...hence the post title =) Yesterday's breakfast consisted of a Granola Bowl.
-1/4 cup wheatberries
-1/2 cup Hemp-anola
-1/4 cup PB Granola
-almond milk
-scoop White Chocolate Wonderful PB
I absolutely love cold granola! It gets a little chewy in the milk while still retaining a little crunch. Mmm, it was so good. I'm actually out of the PB Granola because of it disappearing into my stomach so I will have to make some more soon. Some snackage...2 slices of Mango Bread. I love the hints of cinnamon in this bread. It's nice and light too. Perfect for an afternoon snack, or anytime of the day really.

Greeeen Smoothie! This one was uber creamy...

-1 cup baby spinach

-1 cup water + 1/2 cup almond milk

-1/4 avocado *key ingredient*

-1 cup papaya

I've never tried avocado in a smoothie before but now I don't think I could drink one without it! It makes it so smooth and rich. Yummy. I wanted to try out some more protein powder samples so this morning I had a bowl of Blended Cookie Dough Oatmeal.

-1/2 cup oats + 1/2 cup almond milk + 1/2 cup water

-1 pkt Jay Robb Chocolate Brown Rice Protein Powder

-1 tsp vanilla & cinnamon

-carob chips

-raw rolled oats

-scoop White Chocolate PB *the last of it!!!*

Heavenly! This tasted just like a warm cookie, fresh out of the oven. The protein powder was terrific! Not too sweet, and not fake tasting like some flavored powders tend to be. I just wish it was more chocolaty, it was more of a subtle chocolate flavor than a deep, rich one. This breakfast was higher in calories than I'm used to eating so I was pretty full. It kept me well fueled though and that's what matters. After seeing this post by Jenna the other day, I wanted to make that recipe. So for lunch I made the Lemon Scented Quinoa from 101 Cookbooks. I scaled it down to serve two and used creamy cashews instead of tahini. I also added some broccoli for some greens. I topped it with some homemade guacamole and enjoyed every last bite.

After a hour or so of grocery shopping (!) it was 2:30pm and I was hungry. Usually I eat at 3pm so I contemplated it for a couple minutes. I could feel my hunger but it wasn't on schedule. Then I said, to hell with the "rules" and made myself a bowl of cereal. Who cares what time I eat it, if I'm hungry I need to fuel my body. This bowl had...

-1 cup Corn Puffs (stupid health food store was out of Kamut)

-1/2 cup Hemp-anola

-almond milk

-fresh strawberries (organic, and a total steal at Trader Joe's)

I enjoyed my bowl while sitting in the sun enjoying nature...actually tanning but whatever.

Random Face moment: I just felt like taking a picture of myself. Enjoy ;)

I'm pretty sure you are getting bored of all my salads but frankly, I'm not. They are so delicious and make me feel so energized and awake. This Hugh Jass contained...

-baby spinach

-carrots

-broccoli slaw

-cukes

-chickpeas

-avocado

-wheatberries

-BBQ sauce

That looks like the ingredients list on a box of Oreo Cakesters! It is so long! (that's what she said).

I'm off to go relax, finish some homework (only 10 days left of school!), and shower. If you noticed in my picture, my hair is a little curly...the only way to effectively curl my hair would be to sleep in soft rollers. Yes, I walk around the house looking like one of the Golden Girls but hey, whatever works!

A Night of Laughs

Today was so boring! I felt like a week passed and I had nothing to do. I hate when this happens because it tends to lead to negative thoughts. I guess not keeping myself busy allows them to creep back into my mind. Do any of you have some suggestions on what to do when your bored? Any favorite activities?
This morning I made something I haven't had in a long time...pancakes! But not just any regular recipe...Angela's Green Monster Pancakes! I still had leftover coconut milk in my fridge that I wanted to use up. I also wanted to make something a bit more special than oatmeal (not that oatmeal isn't special...). I had remembered this recipe and the green aspect of it just sold me on making them. I switched some things, water instead of milk (I was too lazy to open a new one), 1/2 cup applesauce + 2 tsp egg replacer instead of banana, and cinnamon instead of nutmeg. I got 10 pancakes out of this and layered 3 onto my plate. Toppings included Homemade Cinnamon Agave Almond Butter, agave nectar, and a sprinkle of PB Granola that I made yesterday using this recipe. I couldn't even taste the spinach! They were fluffy, light, and didn't leave my stuffed like some pancakes do. I froze the rest for quick breakfasts (or lunches, or dinners) later in the week.

No this is not the same picture as yesterday...I just made the same Roasted Butternut Salad! I couldn't help it, this salad was so good! Today I ended up adding the figs and using agave in the dressing. It was still amazingly delicious and perfectly filling.

While waiting for the squash to roast I had an apple with the last of my Black Bean + Pumpkin Hummus. Must make some more hummus soon!

Did you really think I could go a day without oats?! I was looking forward to this Vanilla Protein Oat Blend all day =)

-1/2 cup oats + 1 cup water

-1 pkt Vanilla Jay Robb Brown Rice Protein

-1 tsp cinnamon & vanilla

-sprinkle PB granola

-scoop White Chocolate PB

It was fabulous, but now for the tough question...Jay Robb or Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein?! I'm going to have to say *drumroll please* Jay Robb! It had such a rich, deep vanilla flavor and was less chalky than Sun Warrior. Sometimes I found that Sun Warrior was too sweet for me and that it made me feel too full. Jay Robb didn't give me that uncomfortable feeling and I actually had room to sample a Carob Chip Raspberry Scone (which was delish!). I still love the Sun Warrior and I will continue to use it but when I run out I will seriously consider buying Jay Robb. Now I can't wait to try the other flavors I received!

I'm so excited for tonight...there is a new Dane Cook special! LOVE HIM! He is too funny. I'm also going to finish watching Get Smart. This movie is laugh out loud funny! I thought it might me a lame kids movie but it was awesome. Ew, tomorrow's Monday...I forgot. I'm already getting on summer time. Which means, I have no idea what month or day it is. Can't wait! =)

Edit to add: Look for me on today's (5.17.09) page of Tastespotting!

The Best Day

I swear I had the greatest day of eats today. Every meal was amazing and left me wanting more. If I didn't have a blog I think I would eat these same meals everyday for a week. I wanted something simple and delicious for breakfast. Oatmeal of course, but this combination was Fig & Wheatberry Barley.
-1/2 cup barley flakes + 1/2 cup almond milk + 1/2 cup water
-1 tbsp flax (half mixed in, half on top)
-2 chopped figs
-2 tbsp wheatberries
-scoop Smooth Operator PB
I love how I can taste all the individual flavors in this bowl. The chewy wheatberries, the smooth, silky PB, the nutty flax, and the soft, sweet figs. Who needs fancy combinations when you can have this?!
I think this was the best salad I have ever made, and it didn't even include BBQ sauce...or hummus! I got the idea from this recipe and used some of the same ingredients but changed it a lot to my liking and to what I had on hand.

Roasted Butternut Salad

Squash:

-1/3 giant butternut squash (or however much you want to eat)

-cinnamon, nutmeg

-1 tbsp brown sugar

-cooking spray

Chop the squash into bite sized pieces and lay on a baking sheet. Spray with cooking spray and sprinkle on the cinnamon and nutmeg...as much as you'd like. Then sprinkle on the brown sugar. Bake for 30 minutes until bottoms are browned and crispy. No need to flip. Set aside while you made the rest of the salad

Salad:

-1 cup baby spinach (or more if you want)

-1/4 cup wheatberries

-roasted almonds (I used these, crumbled into the salad)

-chopped figs (I didn't use them this time since I already had some earlier)

Assemble salad and pour squash pieces into bowl.

Dressing:

-1 tsp dijon mustard

-3 tbsp water (or oil if you'd like)

-2 tsp apple cider vinegar

-2 tsp maple sugar or 1 tbsp agave nectar (I didn't have agave on hand)

Mix and pour over salad

Scrumptious.

Transport me to the islands now and please let summer come soon. This Smoothie was absolutely phenomenal!
-1/2 cup light coconut milk
-1/2 cup water
-1 cup papaya
-1 tbsp coconut
-2 slices dried pineapple
It was really easy to make but the flavors were perfect. Tell me why I didn't try coconut milk earlier?!
More squash Shelby?! Umm, yes please! I was really craving some Butternut fries tonight so I just had to make them. This batch was huge but I had no problem finishing it. Ketchup and Pizza Cheese were the dips of choice tonight and they were tasty with the sweet and crispy fries.


Now on the the baked goods!
First up is Mango Bread. This is the original recipe but I wanted to use up the rest of my mango. I already had 2 pieces of this today! It was moist, sweet, and the mango added bursts of fruity goodness to every bite. The changes I made were to switch the sugar with 2 packets of stevia and use almond milk instead of soy.

I have been craving scones lately so that's what I made next. The Raspberry Chocolate Chip Scones from ED&BV. I haven't tried these yet but I'm sure they taste great. Some substitutions I made were...applesauce instead of oil, carob instead of chocolate, 2 packets of stevia, and used all spelt flour.

As I was trying to find the scone recipe, I came across the Hemp-anola. I remembered I had some hemp seeds in the fridge and no cereal in my cabinet. The baking sheet came out and I got to work on my 3rd tasty treat. The only replacement was applesauce instead of oil and it still turned out nice a crispy. I can't wait to have a bowl of this before school one morning. I bet it would be fabulous on top of smoothies as well.

Figs were the dried fruit of choice for this granola. I added them to the jar and shook everything up to distribute. It smelled heavenly!

I'm still in a baking mood...hmm we'll see what happens.

Sweet Dreams everyone!

So What

Just because I can, I'm going to hold out on the college subject. I'm still figuring things out and want to have a solid idea before revealing it. Hope you don't mind =)
The combo today was Indian Spiced Oats.
-1/2 cup oats + 1/4 cup coconut milk + 1/4 cup almond milk + 1/2 cup water
-cinnamon + garam masala
-diced mango
-shredded coconut
-scoop Smooth Operator PB
It was absolutely heavenly! The coconut and mango are the perfect pairing and the spices just added that special kick. My only quip was that the coconut milk flavor wasn't as strong as I would have liked it to be. Maybe I'll use more next time...or reduce the amount of spice.


I was in the mood for some yoga (I guess my body really missed it) and had an amazing hour session with my favorite Sarah Ivanhoe DVD's. VeggieGirl recommended them to me and I LOVE them. Each DVD is only 20 minutes so you could do a quick workout or combine them (like I do) for a long, challenging practice. Today I did Power Beauty Sweat, Sculpted Buns and Thighs, and Weight Loss. My favorites are the Buns and Thighs (which contains amazing hip opening stretches), and the Abs. I highly recommend these DVD's and the instructor isn't as annoying as most are.


I totally crashed after working out and took a 2 1/2 hour nap. I'm loving these naps I've been taking. I wake up so refreshed and well-rested. I used to hate naps because they made me even more tired and I felt like I was missing part of my day. Now, my body craves it. I'm pretty sure it's more of a mind nap. I think way too much during the day and my mind just needs a break!
I know, I know, I've been eating salads all this week but they are so easy to make and delicious too. This one was Not a Hugh Jass Salad, but still tasty.
-baby spinach
-broccoli slaw
-baby carrots
-homemade guacamole (I had an overripe avocado so I just mixed it with salsa, lemon juice, hot sauce, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes)
-Black Bean + Pumpkin Hummus
Oh but what's that to the left of my salad?
Cauliflower Mashed "Potatoes"! As soon as I saw this recipe on Courtney's blog, I bought myself a head of cauliflower. I used all vegan ingredients plus a little water to help blend. They were fantastic! I've had mashed cauliflower before but the cream cheese and vegan parm just made it taste SO much better. I still have plenty left so I can't wait to eat the leftovers.


I'm off to go bake! I've had this urge to bake since this morning so I've just got to do it! The treats will be revealed tomorrow!

New Ingredients

Good Evening babes <3

I've been having a fabulous day considering what has been going on. I couldn't fall asleep last night (since I napped until 6pm) so at my normal bedtime I went to talk to my mom. We talked about colleges and things like that and I finally found something I might want to do. It just clicked. I'll go into more detail another time but I'm less stressed out now and I'm just going to enjoy my last 14 days of school!!!
My Oatmeal was simple today...
-1/2 cup oats + 1/2 cup water + 1/2 cup almond milk
-cinnamon
-2 tbsp wheatberries
-1 tbsp flax
-scoop of ???
This would be the magical green goo that is sitting pretty on my oats this morning. Pumpkin Seed Butter! It was actually the first thing I ordered with my debit card (unlike most teenagers who spend their money on clothes) and I couldn't wait for it to arrive. This stuff has 10.5 grams of protein in each serving! Plus, it tastes absolutely amazing. I love pumpkin seeds and while it was a little dry, the flavor was just perfect.

After chatting with a very good friend and agreeing to babysit my little brothers for a couple hours, I made lunch. It was so difficult to make lunch, I don't know how my mom does it! First the baby was fussy, then the little ones wanted a PB&J, then the older one needed help with homework. Ahh! I did finally end up cooking my lunch and I very much enjoyed it. I made the Coconutty Butternutty Rice from Maggie's blog. This is my first time working with coconut milk (a new item for CCV's contest!), and I really enjoyed the flavor it lent to the dish. I used wheatberries instead of rice because I already had them cooked and I was a hungry mungry by the time I got home. Topped with some shredded coconut, this was a great meal. I also had a couple almond clusters for crunch.

I also found this prize on my doorstep, Jay Robb Rice Protein Powder in Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry! Heather, my angel, sent me these samples and in true Heather fashion...I can't wait to try these out in a big bowl of oatbran. Thanks girl!!!

I was really tired from school, and watching the boys so I decided on a nap instead of yoga. I love yoga...but I'm not going to push myself to do it if I'm tired. I feel kind of guilty for not doing it but I've got to learn that I might not be able to exercise everyday. I can always look forward to tomorrow's session.

My nap wasn't too long today so I actually got to eat dinner at my normal time. I made a Hugh Jass salad...of course.

-baby spinach

-broccoli slaw

-carrots

-snap peas

-BBQ sauce

-Black Bean + Pumpkin Hummus

-Raw Pizza Cheese

Do I even need to explain this greatness?

Soon I will be doing a review of my goals for the month, I'm almost halfway done. How exciting!

So Much Energy!

I just want to THANK YOU all so much for the advice on college. I feel so much better now and I'm going to be looking into schools that I would like to go to. I'll decide on a major later. All the advice was amazing and really helped put things in perspective. I really don't know what I would do without all of you loves.
There is nothing like fresh fruit on a warm bowl of Oatmeal. Today's combo was...
-1/3 cup oats + 1/4 cup wheatberries + 1/2 cup water + 1/2 cup almond milk
- cinnamon
-4 oz fresh juicy raspberries
-scoop homemade Cinnamon Agave Almond Butter


For those of you that guessed Raw Donut Holes...
You were correct! Ever since I got Ani Phyo's Raw Food book I've been wanting to make this recipe. At first my eating disorder held me back because of the almonds used. As you know by now, I love healthy fats and couldn't make these fast enough. I actually used figs instead of dates because that's all I had on had. I'm never making these again...
Because I had 4 today already!!! Good thing I made them smaller so they'd last longer...or not. I froze the rest for later so they would.

For my raw meal, I decided to make Raw Wraps. I used 2 romaine leaves for the wraps and filled it with Raw Pizza Cheese (best. recipe. ever. I could just eat this stuff with a spoon!), and some broccoli slaw. On the side I had baby carrots. I was still pretty hungry afterwards so I just drank a lot of water and had my 2nd apple of the day.

Let me just tell you this: usually I get tired around 45 minutes of doing yoga (I do 60 minutes 3-4 days a week), but today...I was FULL of energy. I just felt like I could keep going and going. Must be all that raw food! =)

After yoga I took a nap. I've been SO tired all this week and finally got one in. The only problem was I missed my snack and I was ravishing when I woke. I immediately went downstairs to make this...

Inspired by Sarah, a Hugh Jass Salad.

-baby spinach

-broccoli slaw

-carrots

-snap peas

-Pumpkin + Black Bean Hummus

-BBQ sauce

Yummy in my tummy.

I also had a slice of Blueberry Breakfast Cake (from the freezer) with carob chips and almond milk, some graham crackers I had in my cabinet, and currently I am waiting for my B-Nut fries to finish cooking. That's what I get for missing a snack, but I don't feel guilty in the slightest. My body is hungry and needs it's fuel. If that fuel comes in the form of many delicious foods, so be it!

Right now, I'm going to eat my b-nut fries and do some history homework (ew). Have a great night everyone <3

Fresh Out of the Oven

Hey friends :)

I feel like it should be Thursday. This week is already seeming to be so long! The only good thing is that I have no homework tonight. Well, except for reading The Great Gatsby but I'm already ahead on that. I actually really love that book. It's my favorite book in English class so far (and I'm talking all my high school years of English). The only problem is that my teacher made us watch the movie first! Who does that?! She said it was so we could understand the text...umm people are just going to skip the reading because they know what happens in the movie. Sure, the movie helps understand the scenes (if your not a great reader) but it should be watched afterwards, to clear up any confusion. Anyway, enough of my ranting... I made such a creative and fun breakfast this morning. I got the idea from the Foods That Fit blog and CCV. It's a Snickerdoodle Breakfast Cookie. I used...
-1/2 cup oats + 1/2 cup water + 1/4 cup almond milk
-1 tsp cinnamon
-1 tsp vanilla
I let that soak in the fridge for about 2 hours then blended until creamy. You could also wait until morning to blend but I knew I wouldn't have time. I just made sure the oats were soggy. After blended I spread it on a plate and microwaved it for 2 minutes. I then topped it with more cinnamon and some homemade Cinnamon Agave Almond Butter. I never thought to cook my breakfast cookie, or to blend it, but it tasted amazing! So creamy, warm, and with a subtle chew. Just like a freshly baked cookie, right out of the oven.

No other pictures tonight but I want to let you know what is in store for Raw Wednesday...see if you can guess what I will be making ;)

What I wanted to talk about yesterday was something that has been freaking me out lately. College. I have NO IDEA where I want to go or even what I want to do. How can I go somewhere without having a major? It's so hard to pick something and I'm not even sure what I'm good at. I'm just really nervous because I only have the summer before I have to start sending in applications and filling out everything. Uhh, it's just so confusing. Any advice? I know I can always count on my lovely bloggers for support.

Sensual Seduction

I wanted to post about something tonight but it's already getting late and I don't want to miss Gossip Girl. I have been known to miss the first parts of the show due to blogging (haha) so I'm going to just save what I have to say until tomorrow.
Straying from the usual oats this morning, I made a PB Sandwich with a sliced Apple on the side. I used a soda biscuit with 2 tbsp White Chocolate PB...it was delightful! I also had 2 prunes (shout-out to my girl Jenny!) with 1/2 tbsp PB on top of each. Yum.

Lunch was something quick and simple. A Bulgar Pilaf.

-1/4 cup (measured dry) bulgar + 3/4 cup water

-1/4 red bell pepper

-1/2 carrot

-couple sugar snap peas

-1/4 avocado

-2 tbsp Black Bean + Pumpkin Hummus

Yesterday I made my momma some of her favorite cookies for Mother's Day. The Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from ED&BV. I changed the raisins to her favorite chocolate chips and doubled the recipe. The family loved them!

Now for a little cuteness: I just had to show you Sweet Potato's eyes. Her eyes were blue as a little baby and now they're turning green. If you enlarge the picture, you can see her eyes are both blue (on the outsides) and green (around the middles) at the moment. So pretty!

I'll leave you with this mighty seductive picture of Bloo. He'll be driving the ladies WILD ;)

You Can Make A Fry Out of Anything!

First off I want to say Happy Mother's Day to all the lovely mothers out there. I'm not going to go all sappy and explain how much I love my mother because I really can't put it into words. She's my Mama Peapod and I'm her Little Peapod. Always will be. I love you Mom!
Christmas '07. Yes I am taller than her, muahahaha ;)

I really need to branch out to other breakfasts...but when I do, I miss my oats. Oh well, I don't think you can overdose on oatmeal. I made Apple Pie Oatmeal today with...

-1/2 cup oats + 1 cup water + 1/4 cup almond milk

-1 apple, chopped

-cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves

-1/2 tsp almond extract

-1 tbsp ground flax

-3 tbsp Mighty Maple PB (yes 3! I scooped out what I'm guessing is two tbsp, then I finished the last of the jar)

It was excellent. And needless to say, I didn't even need a morning snack. This kept me going for hours!

I didn't feel like making anything fancy for lunch so I went with some good old favorites. Roasted Veggies (zucchini, carrots, red bell pepper, onion, garlic, herbs and spices, balsamic vinegar), Millet, cucumbers, and Black Bean + Pumpkin Hummus. I always forget how delicious simple food is. I feel like I need to make something elaborate when sometimes it's the opposite.

After lunch I finished some reading and then went on a bike ride with my little brother. We went on the prairie path and it was so lovely to be outside in nature. I used to ride on that path ALL the time a couple years ago...then I just stopped for some reason. I think I might go more often as I found it very enjoyable. It was also nice spending time with my little brother.

I forgot to show you, I received this in the mail on Saturday! It's a print of a painting done by the amazingly talented Emily. Thanks girl!!!

I'm going to hang this where I can see it every morning. I love it!
Think McDonald's...healthified! For the burgers I used 1 Soda Biscuit (favorite recipe here), a serving of Falafel (recipe from SBitK), with mustard of course. Then I made some french fries using a RUTABEGA! I got the idea from Amy's blog and I just had to try it. A vegetable in fry form is like the best food ever. I've never tried this vegetable before but now I love it! It's a little sweet but then it has a mild potato-y taste to it that makes it just like a french fry. I still have 1/2 rutabega too, more fries for me! I wonder how many other vegetable fries I can make.
I just had to do a little baking before I go back to school tomorrow. I've been meaning to make this again because of the splendid results of the first loaf but I'd been sidetracked by upcoming recipes and laziness =P Tina's Chocolate Pumpkin Loaf is so scrumptious, it's worth making over and over again. I love it.

You know what I just realized...my kittens didn't get me any mother's day gifts, how rude! ;)

Once again, Happy Mother's Day. Enjoy your night everyone <3

Did You Know...

that this is my 300th post!!! I can't believe you all haven't gotten bored of me yet ;) My 1-year Bloggiversary is also coming up next month...what are you getting me?!
Before I get on with today's eats, I have to share this amazing snack I had last night. I made my normal Carob-Kamut Cereal bowl (love this combo!) but this time I added a slice of the Blueberry Breakfast Cake I made the other day. *swoons* It was magical.

At first I thought I should do something special for my 300th post. But then I realized...what better way to celebrate than with my favorite foods?! Pumpkin Oats was the first thing that came to mind.

-1/2 cup oats + 1/2 cup almond milk + 1/2 cup water

-1/2 cup pumpkin

-1/2 scoop Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein Powder

-1 tbsp flax

-scoop Mighty Maple PB

I always forget how much I love flax in my oatmeal. I must remember to add it more often!

While cleaning I started to get hungry so I had an apple to tide me over until lunch.

Then I made this spectacular meal. Falafel from SBitK along with 1/4 an avocado on a homemade GF wrap. Baby carrots on the side of course. The wrap was inspired by Polly's recipe but I used 1/4 cup GF AP flour, 1/8 tsp baking powder, and 3 tbsp hot water. Then I poured the liquid into a cast iron pan and let it cook for about 1 minute on each side. It wasn't exactly like a wrap (more like a crepe) but still delicious! I also had 2 prunes for a little sweetness.
While waiting for my lunch to cook I decided to make some Black Bean + Pumpkin Hummus (since the FP was already out). I based it off of this recipe and used:

-1 can chickpeas

-1/2 cup black beans

-2 cloves garlic

-dash paprika and black pepper

-2 tbsp pumpkin

-1 tsp tamari

-1 tbsp lemon juice

-2 tbsp BBQ sauce

-a couple dashes hot sauce

It turned out fantastic! Perfect for salads since the hummus and BBQ are already mixed together. It also made a lot so it will last me a long time...err, I mean less than a week =) Plus it was way cheaper to make than buying it from the store.

Since I was planning on making a salad for dinner, I didn't make a green smoothie. Instead I had this lovely PinkBerry Smoothie (inspired by the lovely Polly). I used...

-1/2 cup almond milk + 1/2 cup water

-1/2 cup frozen strawberries

-1/3-1/2 cup applesauce

-1 tbsp Homemade Cinnamon Agave AB

It was LUSCIOUS! Oh my gosh, I was in heaven! It took all my willpower to not chug this is 30 seconds.

Believe it or not, the last 3 batches of B-Nut Fries have been from one squash. I bought three ginormous squash when I was at the store and only just got through one of them! I tried mixing the curry powder into the ketchup as Miss Ruby Red suggested and it was tassssty.

I also had a small Salad so I could try out my new hummus.

-baby spinach

-baby carrots

-cucumbers

-avocado (twice in one day?!)

-hummus

After I took this picture I realized something was missing...so I crumbled pretzels on top and smothered it with BBQ sauce. haha YUM.

About today: I am so proud of myself. As you may have noticed...I ate 1/2 an avocado in one day. This is the first time in ages I've even touched a whole one. Usually I go for the pre-portioned guacamole but not this time. Healthy Fats consumed today = 4! Flax, AB, PB, and Avocado. Shelby 1, ED 0. Sucka!

Feeling the Love

Thank you all so much for your supportive comments. I always find myself feeling so much better after reading them all. It means the world to me. I don't even know where I would be if I didn't have all of your kindness and love.
I decided to keep it simple with my Blackberry Oats this morning.
-1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1/2 cup water
-1/2 cup blackberries
-cinnamon
-large scoop Smooth Operator PB
After taking all my oatmeal pictures I take my spoon and just stir and stir until everything is combined. I find that when I eat it this way, every spoonful has a hint of delicious PB in it. Mmm.
I've been eating leftovers for the past couple days and it has been so delicious. I've been seeing posts going around the blogging world about some of the pressure that comes with blogging. To try new recipes all the time, blog everyday, and eat the healthiest. I still love blogging but sometimes I just don't have the time. Instead of pressuring myself to make a quick post, I'm going to just wait and post when I really have the time. Same thing with my food. I don't always want to make a new recipe. Especially after school when I'm hungry. This week has been a lot of leftovers and simple foods. It's what I love best.
Today was no different. I re-heated some leftover Snobby Joes (recipe from V'con), brown rice, and broccoli. Then I topped it all with some Raw Pizza Cheese. Delicious.


I had to watch my little brothers today while my mom went to the store so by 2pm I was already super tired. I started to do some yoga and did about 20 minutes before deciding to take a nap. I'm not going to force my tired body to do something my heart isn't in. I do yoga because I love how it makes me feel, not to burn calories. The nap was yummy though ;)
When I woke up I was pretty hungry. While making dinner I finished off the Pizza Cheese, make this stuff now please! And then send it to me ;) I started out my dinner by making a Salad filled with
-baby spinach
-carrots
-black beans
-cucumbers
-Pretzel Thins
-BBQ sauce
Pretzels and BBQ sauce...umm yes please!
Then I took my Curried B-Nut Squash Fries out of the oven and plated 'em up with some ketchup. I used Sarah's method again but this time I added some curry powder. Honestly, I like it with plain black pepper better, but this was a nice change. I also think I'm more of a sweet potato fry girl, but since I have 3 monstrous squash in my house, these will do just fine!

All together now. Mmm.

I think tonight I will watch a movie, I've had the same one's from Netflix for at least a week and a half. 'Night!

One Giant Leap

Hey Loves, it's almost Friday!!! This week has felt super long but maybe that's because I'm just bored. Bored of what, you ask? I guess just life in general. Nothing exciting or new is going on and I'm spending more time with my thoughts. Some can be good, some bad. I've been having some body issues lately, my stomach mostly. Everything else I am pretty comfortable with but my stomach on the other hand...I am so insecure with. I went to my nutritionist last night and I gained a bit. I'm not happy about it. I was maintaining a certain healthy weight for 2 weeks and I can definitely feel this extra weight on me...which hasn't happened before. I just have to remember that I'm not perfect and my stomach will never be like those airbrushed models in magazines. Wait...this isn't oatmeal?! I decided to do some baking and give the oatmeal a rest yesterday. I have been wanting to make this Blueberry Breakfast Cake for a bit now and I finally got around to it (partly because I haven't had any homework this week). It was just as good as it looks! It wasn't too sweet and the texture was moist and soft. The blueberries added some extra flavor and to top it all off, White Chocolate PB just made my mouth swoon.

I'm trying to kick the bar habit but I needed to grab something as I was walking out the door for school. This Kashi Baked Apple Spice bar was the closest thing in reach. I love the crust part of this bar...but then again I'm the child who picked the marshmallows out of the Lucky Charms and ate Rice Chex instead of Fruity Pebbles. I just don't like overly sweet things. The filling was good but nothing special. It did not hold me over AT ALL! I was hungry about an hour later. Tsk Tsk.

Since I was super hungry getting home, I made the quickest thing I could think of...a Stir-fry. This recipe is one of my favorites and it's so delicious. I used carrots, broccoli, zucchini, and snap peas for the veggies. Then I mixed in black beans instead of tofu. I threw the glaze ingredients together and let it simmer until it thickened. To top it all off, I added Pretzel Thins. Yeah, weird I know...but it was really good.

A Green Smoothie was in order for my afternoon snack. This contained...

-1/2 cup papaya

-1/3 cup strawberries

-handful spinach

-1/2 cup almond milk

-1/2 cup water

I was planning on doing this raw and then forgot about the almond milk. Then I couldn't get to the store so I didn't have any good produce on hand so I decided to do a Raw Thursday instead.

Leftover night! A batch of Snobby Joe's were sounding pretty good at dinnertime. I just went with what I was craving. The problem was...I didn't have any bread on hand. I made Couscous instead and plated it all fancy like Snobby Joe's are meant to be served ;)

Fast forward to today where I only took pictures of the raw meals I ate (the rest were leftovers!). My raw snack was a Green Smoothie (this time sans almond milk). I used...

-handful baby spinach

-1/3 cup strawberries

-1 scoop Sun warrior Vanilla Protein Powder

Delicious. Oh and just to let everyone know...I don't measure any of my food (unless it's oatmeal or when I'm baking). I just guesstimate in case anyone wants to re-create one of my meals. Plus, all this time measuring...it's pretty easy to just eyeball it. I wanted an Appetizer Plate for dinner but I know I needed more than just veggies. That's where Gena's Raw Pizza Cheese comes in! Oh my gosh. This stuff is amazing!!! I only made half a batch but I swear I could have eaten it all. I limited myself to a couple spoonfuls and I can't wait to try this in raw wraps. Yum. Seriously, everyone must try this!

Wow, today was filled with healthy fats. Raw cheese, more than 2 tbsp PB this morning (not pictured but I just had to finish off the jar), extra cashews. I don't even find myself afraid of them anymore! I actually have grown to love healthy fats and look forward to eating them. I bought whole avocados today (instead of buying pre-measured guacamole) and I didn't even think twice. Considering I used to eat all fat-free foods, it's a huge leap from how I used to think.

After a day of great eats, I'm off to go relax. No homework equals catching up on some reading and maybe painting my nails. Who knows? I hope everyone has a fantastic night!

Squash You Like a Bug

The weather is finally looking up! I'm so excited for summertime I can't even describe it!!!

More Vanilla Protein Oats! Will I be continuing my oatmeal affair through the summertime? Maybe...but I'm not sure yet. I'll probably eat more Muesli than cooked oats and granola is always a good option. This bowl contained...
-1/2 cup oats + 1/2 cup hempmilk + 1/2 cup water
-1 scoop Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein Powder
-cinnamon
-2 chopped figs (mixed in)
-1 scoop White Chocolate PB
I just love this combination.
With my new goal being to spend less and cook more, I've been reading some of my favorite cookbooks and finding new and old (favorite) recipes. The Snobby Joes from V'Con has always been one of my favorites since buying the book and I haven't made it in a long time. I didn't have any onions or peppers (need to go shopping!) so I just omitted them and it turned out fine. On some freshly baked biscuits (one of my favorite recipes as well), I layered baby spinach and about 1/4 of the recipe. Yummy.
I wasn't really hungry around snacktime so I just had a couple handfuls of animal crackers and some baby carrots (not pictured). While snacking, I started reading The Great Gatsby. I have to read it for school and while I've only read chapter 1, I love it! We just finished Huck Finn and I hate that book with a passion. It's so hard to understand! The Great Gatsby is right up my alley. I love books set in different time periods and the 20's is one of my favorite eras.

1st Course: A Spinach Salad.

-baby spinach

-corn & edamame

-homemade seitan

-the last of my hummus *tear* (I told you that 1 lb-er wouldn't last me a week!)

-BBQ sauce

I figured since I didn't have my green smoothie today I would just make up for it with a tasty salad. But I also had something else in mind...

2nd Course: Butternut Squash Fries! I used Sarah's method to cook them and used 1/3 of a giant squash. Seasoned with black pepper and dipped in ketchup...it was the perfect ending to my meal.
This isn't tonight's snack but yesterday's was so damn good I needed to share! I got the idea from Jess' blog. All it is...

-1/4 cup applesauce

-1 tbsp AB

Heat that up for 1 minute and add...

-1/2 cup cereal (I used Kamut Puffs)

-Carob Chips? I ran out the day before! Well...carob counts as produce right? I can still buy it ;)

Oh man, if I knew it would be this good I would have made it wayy before now! In fact, it might just have to be my snack again tonight.

Something funny: After I chopped my squash for dinner I went to go put the kitties back in their room so they could eat dinner too. I went to pick them up and before I could they were licking my hand like mad! I wondered why for a minute and then remembered I just chopped the squash...oh I am so proud of my babies. Already loving their veggies!

I guess Bloo decided he likes Sweet Potato more than Butternut Squash ;)

Look how big they are now! Can you believe it?!

I'm off to the library to get some raw food books for tomorrow. I'm so excited for my raw meal and snack! Read more about my goals here if you missed yesterday's post.

'Night!

Edit to add: After having my salad I'm feeling incredibly bloated and gross...forgot about that edamame! No more soy for me!!!

Setting Goals

I wasn't feeling to great this morning (stomach problems) so I stayed home from school. It turned out to be a pretty relaxing day though and I got some things I needed to finish done.
Breakfast was a gigantic Cereal Mess. I like using the Kamut Puffs as a base because they are low-calorie. I like to eat lots of volume foods. If I were to eat a processed cereal in the same amount I would be eating like 500+ calories which would make me super stuffed and not able to finish. Kamut Puffs have about 50 calories per cup so they are great as a filler.
-2 cups Kamut Puffs
-1/2 cup TJ's Low-Fat Granola w/ Almonds (the last of it! *tear*)
-scoop Holiday Chia Pudding
-scoop Mighty Maple PB
-carob chips
This bowl had so many fun texture and flavors. Plus, carob chips make everything better.
I had been wanting to make this recipe for the longest time and only now got around to it. I noticed there were some dried white beans in the pantry that have not been used. I took this upon myself to make Rustic White Beans with Mushrooms from V'Con. I changed the recipe a bit though...but when do I ever keep it the same?! I actually chopped up the veggies instead of just making a broth so I could eat them and not throw them again (waste veggies? not this girl). I also omitted the oil, and used shallots instead of leeks. This meal was nice and hearty. The flavors were simple and it went great with some sprouted grain toast. I also have tons of leftovers! Perfect for meals later in the week.


I've actually been trying to limit my soy and increase other (natural) sources of protein. I was getting bad reactions to soy because of all the products that I ate...especially Kashi GoLean cereal. I got SO bloated after eating it and tofu was doing the same thing. I've actually been doing a lot better with the bloating since I cut out large amounts of soy. I still eat things with small amounts of soy and that doesn't seem to bother me as much. I've already gotten a lot of advice from VeggieGirl and Heather about it so I won't be deficient in anything so don't worry!


After doing an hour of Yoga, I feel asleep! I was in my room, cooling down from my session and lying on my bed. I ended up getting around 2 hours of sleep and waking up thinking it was the next day! I've never done that before...further proof I must be coming down with something. It is NOT the swine flu though and for all those afraid, please read THIS ARTICLE. It has a lot of helpful information.

I was really hungry upon waking up since I slept through my snack. I made this Green Smoothie (baby spinach, papaya, orange, hempmilk, water) and also had a Hummus Sandwich and a couple animal crackers. I actually had 3 slices of bread since I was so hungry I needed something to snack on while making my food. I promise a little more variety in tomorrow's dinner. I bought some new goodies I can't wait to make them!


I've made some goals for this month that I had forgotten to share with you in the previous posts.
1. Drink a green smoothie or eat a spinach salad everyday.
-My skin is not the greatest right now and I'm hoping all the green goodness with help clear that up. I know how well it works for Angela, so let's hope it will work for me. Plus, I love me some greens!
2. Eat 1 raw meal and 1 raw snack on Wednesdays.
-I have yet to stick to a raw day so I figure this will be a lot easier to accomplish. I love eating raw foods because they make me feel so energized. I also have a couple recipes I've been wanting to try.
3. Do Yoga 5 days a week with minimal cardio.
-I've posted that my ankles and shins were giving me problems when I ran or even did too much walking. I've decided to devote this month to deepening my yoga practice and listening to my body. Running has put too much stress on my joints and I need something that will help with that. I might be doing light cardio on sunny days like bike riding or swimming in the summer. It won't be everyday and it will only be if I want to do it for fun, not burning calories.
4. Only buy produce and other necessities when grocery shopping.
-This is going to be a tough one! My mom has told me I spend way too much on my own groceries and when I added it up, I do! I'm never going to be able to afford that when I live on my own so I'm going to start using up what I already have. Things I'm going to let myself continue to buy are puffed grains (they are way cheaper than processed cereals, only about $1), whole nuts (to make my own nut butters or for snacking), canned beans (need the protein and I don't have many in the pantry), and some other stuff I may be forgetting. I will not be buying cereals, bread (I have too many grains in the pantry), PB, pre-made guacamole, carob chips (WHAT?!), or pretty much anything packaged or processed. This is not only to reduce my spending, but to encourage me to get active in the kitchen again. I've become so lazy and I need a little push to start up again.
5. Go Outside More Often
-This one should be a given but sometimes I do lack in this area. I have severely downsized my blogroll and blogs I follow from 160 to 100 because it was just too much. Most blogs I deleted were from people who haven't posted since last year or blogs that have been shut down. I just cannot keep up with that many blogs anymore because of school and the upcoming summer.

I hope everyone is enjoying their day so far, and I hope everyone has a good night! =)

Going Green

Hey Lovlies, yesterday it was so beautiful outside! Too bad I was stuck inside cleaning...I did get outside for a little bit though, which you will see at the end of this post. Let's start with Friday's eats:Oatmeal! But what else is new? Oh wait...what is on top? It's the Holiday Chia Pudding from Kristen's blog. This stuff is delicious and very hard to stop eating ;) My oats contained:
-1/2 cup oats + 1/2 cup hempmilk + 1/2 cup water
-1 scoop Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein Powder
-cinnamon
-1 scoop White Chocolate PB
-1 scoop Holiday Chia Pudding
I had some leftover Israeli Couscous (recipe from V'Con), so I decided to have the rest for lunch. I did change it up a bit by adding Sugar Snap Peas, Broccoli, and Parsley Scallion Hummus. It was tasty!
Yesterday's eats included these Snickerdoodle Oats.
-1/2 cup oats + 1/2 cup water (soaked overnight)
-3/4 cup hempmilk
-cinnamon
-vanilla
-scoop Homemade Cinnamon Agave AB
-a couple Animal Crackers
I've made this recipe many times and it's still one of my favorites. It's so creamy and thick...mmm.

I wanted to switch it up and have a Salad for lunch instead of the usual dinner. This combination was phenomenal... -baby spinach -corn -edamame -carrots -seitan (homemade) -Smokey Maple BBQ sauce -HummusPost-Yoga Snack: -kamut puffs -TJ's Low-fat Granola w/ Almonds -carob chips -scoop Holiday Chia Pudding -hempmilk
I love cereal with carob chips...actually I like anything with carob chips, but this combo is good! I've decided to challenge myself to a Green Smoothie Month. I used to drink them all the time and my skin was lovely. I'm noticing an uneven and some breakouts so I hope they help! This included...

-big handful baby spinach -2/3 cup frozen papaya -1/2 orange -1/2 scoop Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein Powder -1/2 cup hempmilk -3/4 cup water

I also had a Hummus Sandwich.

That was all the food I took pictures of, I was busy this weekend so I really had no time. I did have time to take some lovely pictures of my mom's garden! Enjoy!