Enjoying a Routine + WIAW

June 18, 2014 By Laura

I crave a routine.

This is shocking news, even to me..

It’s not that I mind change. I’m actually quite flexible! #TWSS

What I like is some calm after a storm, however that rockin’ boat may have been. I’m back in the office this week after more travels, back in my “home” gym, and back on a *gasp* meal plan. It feels good.

Other things that feel good include a really nice vendor. My boss has been working with these people for a while, but they sent me a little gift for joining the team. How sweet is this?!

Other awesome things: boss-man told me yesterday “I’m glad you’re here.” *grin*

This WIAW is back to normal. For real this time. No more travels ’til this girl’s show mid-July!

Read on for my normal (for me) eats, and then check out Jenn’s blog for everyone else’s delicious creations!…

A New York State of Mind

June 16, 2014 By Laura

I made it almost 31 years never having been to New York.

The city. I’ve been to Syracuse and Schenectady. Doesn’t count.

Last week I finally got there! I had a work conference at Columbia University. It didn’t leave a ton of time to explore, but I was thrilled. Especially when the hotel looked eerily like a scene from one of my favorite movies, The Shining.

REDRUM

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Spirulina Cherry TVP Oats

June 13, 2014 By Laura

Green is so easily considered strange.

So this recipe feels like a cop-out.

These green oats are legit strange though! It’s not the green you’re expecting, and it’s not really even oats. If you’ve been reading for a while, you know I have a thing for TVP oatmeal. TVP (Texturized Vegetable Protein) is like chicken. Or tofu. It tastes like whatever flavor you apply to it. A sweet bowl of TVP oats isn’t hard to make good!

Now for the green part. It’s spirulina. Heather repped Nutrex Hawaii at the Blend Retreat this year and generously shared a few samples with me. To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure what I’d do with it. I knew it’s healthy. Spirulina is a microalgae that grows naturally in healthy bodies of water. It’s good for energy, immunity, cellular health, and cardiovascular, eye and brain health. It’s also high in protein and Vitamins A, K1, K2, and B12.

Did I mention it’s super-green? It begs for #strangebutgood applications. You want a bite, I swear…

Also found at Blend was a shiny new bottle of Cherry-Vanilla NuNaturals Liquid Stevia. I’d had it before and loved it, so I was excited for the refill. Of course, I mixed in my Growing Naturals vanilla rice protein (don’t forget about the freebie code!). Gotta keep fueling the muscle growth!

Protein powder adds stay-power AND a fantastic creaminess to your morning bowl of deliciousness.

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Spirulina Cherry TVP Oats

1/3 C TVP
1/4 C oats
1/2 C water + 1/4 C
15 grams vanilla protein powder (I used 1/2 scoop of Growing Naturals)
1/4 C cherries, chopped
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp butter extract (optional – you can also use vanilla or almond)
4-5 drops Cherry Vanilla Liquid Stevia (or preferred sweetener)

Add the TVP, oats, and 1/2 C water to a small pot, stir, and bring to a boil (you can also microwave it like oats).

Reduce heat to a simmer and cook about 10 mins, until mix softens and thickens.

Stir in protein, cherries, extract, and stevia. Add more water as needed (~1/4 C). Allow to cook for 2-3 more mins. The mixture should be silky smooth.

Scoop into bowl and add your favorite toppings.

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How have you enjoyed making co-workers, friends, or family stare with strange but good creations this week? The link up rules can be found here or by clicking on “Strange But Good” in the menu bar above. In short, I want to see what concoctions have earned you weird looks from co-workers, family and friends! Post your Strange But Good creations, grab the logo below for your blog, and link up here.

If you’re not a blogger, you can still share your recipes on Instagram with the #strangebutgood hashtag.

Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂

An InLinkz Link-up

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I’m back from my NYC adventures (check out Instagram if you’re curious) and SO ready to get back in the kitchen! More recipe are sure to come! 🙂

Have you ever had spirulina?

What is your favorite oats mix-in?

Utah Dining with Blends

June 11, 2014 By Laura

REDRUM.

Please tell me you get the reference…

This is the hotel I’m staying at in NYC:

I have no cleaver intro other than to inform you that it’s taking a lot of self-control not to run down the hall yelling “Heeeeeere’s Johnny!”

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Since I am traveling this week for the second week in a row, I am sharing a few Blend meals with you rather than the random assortment of schwag bag goodies (thank you BLEND sponsors!!!) and conference food I actually ate this week.

Check out Jenn’s blog for everyone else’s more reasonable delicious creations!

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Heather and I arrived in Utah pretty late on Thursday and went directly to dinner. We did not pass go.

She took me to a plane she’d dined on a recent trip called Silver. It was incredibly good – by far the best meal of the weekend! I started with the Bartender’s Roulette, a drink where you simply tell the bartender what your booze preference is and he makes something up. This was their take on a Manhattan. It involved something cinnamon-y, which made me far too happy.

We started with a couple of apps: a venison carpaccio with housemade granola, parmesan, and micro-greens, followed by the baby octopus with pimenton spices, potatoes, lardo, and fennel. I used my newly found low alcohol/sweet + savory drink trick and ordered the Riesling to accompany the rest of the meal. It was fantastic with the spicy octopus and our main dish, a bone-in pork chop cooked sous vide and then seared. It was served with a kraut with lardon and apples over a schmear of beer jam. Thank god we split a main – the pork was huge, but so incredible it would have been a sin not to finish it.

The next morning I was glad we’d had such a hearty meal because by the time we finished the workout I was famished and ready for breakfast. We did a plyo-style workout courtesy of the Onnit crew, followed by ab work and the afore mentioned planking contest.

Eggs, chicken sausage, tofu scramble, and – the best part – a Quest Chocolate Fudge Cookie Cup. Holy mother of yum. I absconded with an extra for a post-hike snack. #sorryimnotsorry

After breakfast we were off for a hike! It was really neat to be able to take a ski lift up the mountain to our starting point. I’ve never been on a gondola without snow before! The ride was stunning, second only to the incredible views during the hike.

After the hike and a much-needed shower (and post-Quest cupcake seconds), we had another snack time.* I ate all the foods. Kidz Shake had a able of chocolate-banana protein smoothies and amazing date balls that tasted exactly like cookie dough (not kidding – I’m picky about my dough!). There was chocolate from Lily’s Sweets (I’m on a mad hunt for those sugar-free chocolate chips now). Silk brought their “A” game with incredible Cherry-Almond Butter smoothies, and Arctic Zero sampled their new flavors and ice cream bars. You guys HAVE to try the orange – I almost never choose a fruit-flavored dessert but it was fantastic; it tasted like those Flintstone push-ups you eat s a kid! I was in frozen snack heaven.

*Note: If you come to Blend, you will NEVER be hungry.

The food doesn’t end there. We had some down time before our cocktail hour and dinner… which was just enough time to work up an appetite. I didn’t take a TON of pics, but I did manage to get a shot of the best part of the evening meal.

The deliciousness in the middle of the table was a soy-glazed salmon from Sizzlefish. You all know my love to Sizzlefish… I finally got to meet Rob, the founder, which felt like I was meeting a celebrity of sorts because I’ve loved their product for so long!

Speaking of celebrities…

I had a re-enactment of my favorite rockstar picture from last year’s retreat with two of my favorite Blends: Heather and Lindsay.

The next day there was more food, more workouts… and then another dinner out!

We met up with a bunch of blends for a dinner out at Purple Sage. The food was good, but I must say that the company and the wine was the highlight at this dinner: a bottle of Orion Swift’s Abstract with a side of Melissa and Madelyn! (But the duck and the bread pudding did not suck!)

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I love traveling… but OMG I’m ready to be home.

Where would you take your Blends out to eat in your town?

Any restaurant recs in NYC?!

Growing Blend-ships

June 9, 2014 By Laura

What happens at Blend doesn’t stay at Blend.

Well, maybe SOME things do… shhhh…

What I love the most about Blend is the staying-power of the relationships we form and/or solidify in just 3 short days. I’ve read many of the attendees’ blogs before, but meeting these women in person makes the connection that much stronger. Life long Blend-ships! Maybe Corny Cotter is rubbing off on me?!

Same goes for the brands we’re introduced to. For example. I love Silk Pure Almond, but meeting the reps and learning more about the company and type of people they employ make me want to support them that much more. It’s just one more reason I was so excited to get to represent Growing Naturals again this year. I’m so passionate about this company, their products, and the people that work there… it makes me want to share it with everyone!

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Blend Your [Growing Naturals] Protein

June 6, 2014 By Laura

My Blends are Strange.

But oh-so-good.

Today I am in Utah for the annual Blend Retreat! I look forward to this retreat all year… and I feel especially lucky because I get to represent Growing Naturals again this year. I wish I could share them with everyone (but scroll on down for a sweet freebie offer). You should all come to Blend next year! If you can’t be there this year, be sure to follow along on Twitter and Instagram for the live action.

Last year they were a huge hit with the other bloggin’ ladies, but here are a few reasons I personally love them:

Reasons I love Growing Naturals:

Not chalky
Great flavor (not fake-tasting)
Super-clean (vegan, soy-free, and gluten-free!)
Low in sodium, sugar, and carbs
Their staff rocks – they are passionate about their product and committed to health!

Growing Naturals truly is my favorite protein to use. I love to use it in all the things! It’s fantastic raw in smoothies like my favorite Mocha Beet Frapp and Carrot Cake Batter Shake, or baked into Plantain Ginger Bread.

Rather than one of my own #strangebutgood creations this week, I wanted to feature some favorites from my Blends who use Growing Naturals!

My “original” Blend, Sarah, is the first blogger I met in real life. We will miss her this year, but will celebrate her strangeness today with her Strawberry Pineapple Cilantro Smoothie:

Strange creation #2 comes from a Blend who I basically invited myself to visit… having never met her… in Switzerland!

Lucie is one amazing woman. I wish she could make it to Blend, but I guess coming from Europe would be a little pricey. Instead, we should all make her Green Protein Pancakes in her honor! 😉

Last (but certainly not least) is a Blend I will get to see tonight! My brother from another mother, Lindsay!

This lady knows more about fueling with food and gut health than anyone I know. I’m so glad she’s agree to share 3 strange but healthy recipes today!

Grain-Free Superfruit Bread

Orange Dream Machine Smoothie

Mexican Chocolate & Walnut Healthy Balls… errr… Bites

I have made these, only I subbed sunflower seeds for the walnuts. They rocked my balls off.

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If you’re not a blogger, you can still share your recipes on Instagram with the #strangebutgood hashtag.

Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂

An InLinkz Link-up

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Want to try Growing Naturals for yourself? Sign up to be a Growing Groupie and enter discount code sprint2thetable at checkout for a free bottle of Simply Soapberry (their natural laundry detergent) and a free 1lb container of protein powder. Offer expires 09/06/2014.

What is your favorite protein powder recipe?

What was the last recipe you tried from a Blend? (Blend = Blogger + Friend)

Food & Wine Festival Fabulousness

June 4, 2014 By Laura

Atlanta’s Food & Wine Festival is my frenemy.

It knocks me down, and still I come back for more.

It’s not just the wine talking though! Its the food. It’s #strangebutgood, it’s perfectly executed, it’s stuff you’ve never imagined… it’s the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival.

Here is just a fraction of the goodness we sampled over 3 days. Some of it I couldn’t slow down enough to photograph. I can’t even believe there is so much fabulousness in the world….

Low Alcohol Drinks & Spicy Bubbles

June 2, 2014 By Laura

I took a lot of classes this weekend.

If only high school had been this much fun.

Atlanta’s Food & Wine Festival is my favorite event of the year. It’s not just another tasting tent cattle call. Food and wine experts come from all over the Southeast to teach classes, host tastings, and showcase their best on the tasting trails.

Food and wine are also great bonding agents. I tend to go to these event alone, which has lead to meeting a ton of great people. This year I went with my friend Stephanie, whom I met at last year’s festival in the beer and doughnut pairing class!

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Enjoying a Routine + WIAW

A New York State of Mind

Spirulina Cherry TVP Oats

Spirulina Cherry TVP Oats

Utah Dining with Blends

Growing Blend-ships

Blend Your [Growing Naturals] Protein

Reasons I love Growing Naturals:

Food & Wine Festival Fabulousness

Low Alcohol Drinks & Spicy Bubbles

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