Sprint 2 the Table

Appetites and Adventures

Lemon Cardamom Granola

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I’m a schwag whore.

 

 

Race expo bags, conference loot, free t-shirts, retreat goodies… you name it, I get excited.  You can imagine my eyes popped out of my head when I saw the gigantic bag ‘o schwag we were gifted at the Blend Retreat.  Lots of bars, cereal, Fitmixer Aminos, protein drinks, and even granola.

One of my favorite items was a lemon-blueberry granola by Nature’s Indulgence.  It’s loooong gone, but I still think about it.

 

 

When I saw this guest post on Lauren’s blog, I was excited to be able to combine those flavors once again.

I had to take liberties with the recipe, as my training diet doesn’t allow for the sugar.  You know what?  I don’t even miss it in this recipe!  A mashed banana helped to sweeten and bind the granola, and it lended a subtle fruit flavor since dried fruits are a no-no (pure sugar, people!).

 

 

Another twist I put on the original was to add a bit of cardamom.  You have to be careful with it – a little goes a long way – but a small amount added to sweet-ish recipes can elevate it to something uniquely delicious.

 

 

One of the things I liked the most about the Nature’s Indulgence version was the inclusion of millet.  It added a cool crunch to the texture.  I didn’t have any millet, but the chia seeds in my version to achieve a similar effect.

It is really fantastic sprinkled over a bowl of Greek yogurt with fresh plum and cinnamon.

 

Recipe at bottom.

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First a little round up from the blog world!  I sometimes worry that much of the stuff I make is too weird for anyone to actually try.  More often that not I end a description with “Its really is good, I swear!”

Because of this, I get unnaturally excited when you guys share your own iterations of recipes I’ve posted.  Here are a few recent shares from around the blog/Instagram world… they’re good, I swear!!!

 

Allie ordered her very own peanut flour and tried my favorite sauce combo: peanut four, almond milk, and sriracha:

 

 

Heather rocked out a vegan version of my Tiramisu Protein Parfait using a coconut whipped cream that looks absolutely scrumptious:

 

 

Ashley made this Protein Breakfast Tart that I adapted from Tessa… coincidentally, I made it again yesterday morning. 🙂

 

 

Lauren made my PB & Jeggs with a grilled PB&J after I told her of my childhood love.  I wonder if anyone will try this lightened up version posted yesterday. 

 

 

Last but far from least, Meg made my take on a Cauliflower Pizza Crust.  It turned out beautifully, and I love her runny egg on top!

***Since the original post, I’ve remade and improved upon the crust.  Based on feedback from others I realized the measurements needed to be more precise and detailed instructions.  Look for that update on Monday!***

 

Thank you to everyone who has tried a recipe and/or given feedback!  I love learning from you all. 🙂

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Lemon Cardamom Granola

  • 1 C rolled oats
  • 1/2 large banana, mashed
  • Zest & juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 1T coconut oil
  • 1 T chia seeds
  • 10 drops NuNaturals Lemon Liquid Stevia
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp cardamom
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp almond extract

 

Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees.

Stir all ingredients together in a large bowl until well-combined.

Spread the mixture evenly onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet.

Bake for 15 mins.  Stir the granola and bake another 10 mins, until golden brown.  

Allow the granola to cool completely before transferring it to an air-tight container.

Note: If you don’t have Stevia, you can sub in 1-2T of your favorite liquid sweet treat (maple syrup, agave, etc.).

Makes 4 servings (1/4 C each).

Approximate nutritionals: 117 calories, 6g fat, 16.4g carbs, 2.3g fiber, 2g sugar, 3g protein

***

I’m attending y first show this weekend!  I can’t wait to see the figure competitors… it’s hard to believe that’s going to be me in a few months! 🙂

What is your favorite granola combo or recent blogger recipe?

What are you looking forward to this weekend?

 

The Lawrence + P28 Giveaway Winner

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Last Saturday’s cheat day adventures didn’t end with vegan soft serve.

 

I met up with Lee @ In My Tummy and her husband, Jason for dinner.  Lee and I have been talking about checking out The Lawrence (905 Juniper St., Atlanta, GA 30309, 404.961.717) since it opened.  A few months later… we finally made it!

 

 

We studied the menu, strategizing our order.  The menu is separated into small, medium, and larger plates.  The smalls are tapas-sized, mediums contain 3-4 ounces of a protein, and the larges are 6-7 ounces of protein.  We settled on sharing a few small and medium plates.

 

 

 

First, a gift from the kitchen:

 

Our amuse bouche was a spoon of sweet corn soup with a bit of smoked trout and parsley.  This may sound weird, but I really appreciated the touch of green to balance the sweet and smoky flavors.  Maybe I’m just a big fan of greens.

 

Our first small plate was actually quite large.  This plate of grilled summer squash was served with tarragon, maldon salt, and garlic oil.  The squashes were cut into thick wedges, which meant that there was still a good crunch to the center.

 

My favorite of the smalls was this Salt & Pepper Tofu.  Lee’s husband commented that it tasted a little lick chicken.  The chef had soaked it in a rice vinegar and coated it in rice flour to dry fry.  It was served with spicy radish slices, cilantro, and Serrano pepper.  I would go back for this dish alone.

 

 

Have you ever heard of dry frying?  I wasn’t familiar with the term so I googled it and found this article.  Exactly how it sounds!  I’ll be recreating this delicious meal soon.

 

The last small was good, but somewhat unremarkable.  Thin slices of Cremini mushrooms were tossed with artichokes, arugula, and a herb-lemon vinaigrette.  It wasn’t bad, just not special.  I’d try something different next time.

 

Our mediums were excellent.  We had the seared Black Bass.  It was served with baby eggplant, confit potato, carrot, and tomato compote – a sort of deconstructed ratatouille.  I never think to serve a rich tomato sauce with fish, but I loved the flavors together.  Black Bass is on the meatier side of the fish spectrum, which the sauce complimented well.

 

Last was the Speckled Trout Sashimi.  I’ve never seen trout served sashimi-style before, so of course I had to try this out.  It was beautifully plated with a schemer of black garlic mayo, edamame, and pickled maitake mushrooms.  Much to my surprise, the trout wasn’t too fishy!  I wish I had asked where it was sourced from because it was perfectly fresh, making it palatable for this new sushi eater.

 

I sort of wanted dessert, but no one else seemed passionate about it.  That turned out to be a good thing because a plate of mini-citrus Madelines and strawberry jelly bites (like thick fruit roll-ups) were delivered along with our check.  Jelly candies aren’t my favorite; however, I could have eaten the entire plate of cookies.  It was just the thing to end the meal. I’m trying the butter cake next time though.

 

Service is a big selling point for me.  The staff at The Lawrence was fantastic.  The hostess’ were friendly, our server was knowledgeable about the menu and the (too small) wine list, and my water was kept full by the entire team.

Overall, The Lawrence is another win for the Dinner Party group.  But please expand the wine list.

 

Check out Lee’s review from earlier in the week!

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Don’t worry!!!  I didn’t forget the P28 Bread Giveaway winners!

*drum roll*

 

 

  1. Laura @ Mommy Run Fast
  2. Alysha @ She’s On the Run
  3. Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean

Congratulations!

Winners: Please send me your addresses. 🙂

***

My site was down over night and early this morning.  I apologize for this post being late… thank you guys for checking back and a BIG thank you for BlueHost customer support!

Do you freak out when you have technical problem that you have NO idea how to fix?  I admit… freaked more than a little this morning.

Do you like to order small plates to share, or have your own to hoard?

 

Indecisive Love

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It’s a travel week at work

That means a quiz post is on order.  I always do these when I’m short on time, thinking it will be a quick post.

The joke’s on me.  These almost take me longer than a regular post because I debate so much over the choices.  Indecisiveness prevails.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MORE?(Copied from a bazillion other bloggers.)

1. Strength training or cardio?

Strength training all th way.  Which is convenient since I’m going to do a figure competition. 😉

I do hate this machine though:

My Nemesis: Hack Squats

2. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

Brinner!  (That’s breakfast for dinner.)  I’d eat breakfast for any meal.  PB & Jeggs, anyone?

3. Dress up or workout clothes?

Workout clothes.  Getting me to wear “real” clothes is like pulling teeth.  If you really think about it, it’s pretty stupid that we have to dress uncomfortably to go sit behind a desk all day.

4. Wine or beer?

Hi, have we met?  I love wine.  I traveled to Italy to drink it.  If I could, I’d live on a vineyard.  Or in a wine glass.

5. Peanut butter or almond butter?

I love all nut butters.  Especially these Nutty Butters.  If forces to choose… I’d have to go with my childhood classic: peanut butter.  Preferably in the form of a simple, grilled PB & J.

6. Heels or flats?

I’ll get even more specific than that.  Flip flops.

Please ignore the ugly feet, but these are a must-have. (Click for source.)

More terrifying than wearing a bikini on stage for my competition is the though of having to walk across that stage in stripper heels.

7. The actual cake or the frosting?

20 years ago (wow… that make me feel old), I would have said icing.  Now I’m all about the cake.  Unless it’s cream cheese-pecan icing on carrot cake.  That required equal parts of both. 🙂

8.  Spring, summer, fall, or winter?

Either spring or fall.  Maybe a little more fall because I love trips to the mountains to get apples and see the leaves change.  But spring is so fresh and full of possibility.

Ohhhh… just remembered that fall also means college football season.  FALL.  Go Jackets!

9.   Real animal or stuffed animal?

Stuffed. I love the idea of a real animal.  I’m a cat lover.  However, I am terribly selfish.

My boss and I were actually just talking about this and she said I’m centered around self right now.  Not self-centered, but focused on accomplishing specific goals.  So much so that it’s all I can do to keep my house plant alive.  Is that a terrible thing to admit?  

10.  Bright or light?

Errrrr… black?  If you look in my closet, it’s all black.  To me, it’s comfy like workout clothes.  Black workout clothes, that is. 🙂

Black with accents of gray.

***

I’m in Texas selling (I hope) some work today.  I forgot my cowboy hat, but the dude on the plane next to me let me borrow his.  (Not really, but he was wearing one.)

Don’t forget: click here to enter my giveaway for a loaf of high protein bread from P28 High Protein Bread – ends tonight at 11:59p!

Are you/have you ever been centered around self?

How about you?  Pick a couple and tell me your loves!

Banana Creme Brownie Parfait + WIAW

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Bad smells piss me off.

You know when you’re in the gym and someone has offensively bad body odor?  That makes me insane.

I think I was that girl.  With garlic, not BO.  During leg day on Monday with my trainer, he asked what I had eaten that day.  I sheepishly had to admit to have excessive garlic.  He could smell it on my skin!  Is that weird?  I’ve never noticed that… have you?

On the flip side, there was a guy in the weight room yesterday morning that smelled really good.  I was going to thank him, but I thought maybe that would be creepy.

Speaking of training… no changes in my nutrition plan to report this week.  Yet.  

While I’ve been obviously gaining muscle, I haven’t actually gained weight.I think we’re increasing carbs a bit, and adding some addition little more fat.  I’m excited about the increase in fats – I’ve been craving avocados!  I also get to start doing some sprints.  Apparently sprinters have nice bums… I have no bum.  That asset is an important one in figure competitions.  😉

Lolo may not have earned a medal, but I will admit her body is bootylicious.

I’m going to assume you didn’t come here to talk about BO and butts… let’s move on to the What I Ate Wednesday  goodies.

Check out my summertime appropriate eats below, then click here to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons to see everyone else’s summer eats!

Meal 1:

This is an old pic; I now use Optimum Nutrition Orange Amino Energy mixed with ~2T of apple cider vinegar and water.  Enjoy this first thing, about 30 mins prior to meal one for its benefits related to energy, digestion, and skin.  I don’t even drink coffee anymore thanks to this.

I added another treat to my digestive system this week too: Good Belly.

These kind people sent me coupon to try out their probiotic shots.  I was pleased to see that there is a no-sugar-added option!  The taste was good – fairly neutral actually.  Probiotics are known to help keep your body’s bacteria in balance, and help the digestive system.  Nothing yet to report on the digestive end (get it?  end?  tee hee!), but I am a believer in the benefits of probiotics.

Isn’t the smiley face cute?

As I mentioned last week, I’m doing some meal-order-swapping around my workouts.  Since I went to the gym early, I swapped meals 1 and 2, meaning I need a fruit and a protein first thing and my post-workout meal would include my carb.

I’m on a PB & Feggs (fruit + eggs) bender.  Remember these PB & Jeggs?  Or these PB & Aggs?  This week it’s PB & Peggs!

I knew it would be good since I liked the others, but I didn’t remember exactly how awesome warm peaches are.  I used the now in season donut peaches to make what might be my favorite Feggs creation to date!

PB & Peggs:

  • 1/2 C egg whites
  • 2 T peanut flour
  • 2 T unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 donut peach, cut into ~1/2 in pieces

See this post for detailed instructions.

Meal 2:

Post-workout I felt like a little treat.  I’ve had Brittany’s Sweet Potato Pancakes bookmarked for a while, and had just mashed some sweet potatoes.  Perfect timing.  I followed her recipe closely.  My sweet potato mash was about 1/2 C.  I used just 1/2 a scoop of protein powder and added 2 tsp of chia seeds.  I only needed 1 T of the milk.  Oh, and I was verrrry generous with the cinnamon.

For my topping, I mixed equal parts Sunbutter and coconut flour with enough water to form a paste.  I also threw on some caramelized bananas, using the same method from my French Elvis Toast.

Meal 3:

This lunch packed some color!  I made Lauren’s Beet Burgers earlier in the week… only I got too creative with the recipe and they won’t hold together.  They did taste fantastic (especially with the extra garlic I added… sorry again to my trainer)!  I used my burger crumbles to top a spinach salad sprinkled with nooch.

My carb and additional protein was a slice of my favorite P28 High Protein Bread with a schemer of artichoke spread sprinkled with red pepper flakes.

Meal 4:

I pride myself in making different meal constantly.  Repeats don’t happen often in my kitchen… until recently.  I’m absolutely obsessed with the Capella Cake Batter Flavor Drops I shared here last week.  This and the Carrot Cake Batter Shake happened at least 2x a week these days.  Good thing carrots are so sweet and flavorful this season!

Meal 5:

I was inspired by Heather’s field trip to the Asian market to make my own tofu Tofu Spring Rolls.  Heather even sent me this handy tutorial on how to roll them.  Seems easy enough…

Apparently I am not as skilled as my broccoli kissing friend because mine didn’t exactly hold together.

I'll keep working on it...

At least the sauce was good.  It was a simple spicy peanut sauce made from peanut flour, water, lime juice, and sriracha.

Served with a side of quinoa that I tossed in a very small amount of miso tamari, rice vinegar, avocado oil, and red pepper flakes.  It was healthy fried rice!

Meal 6:

I happened to see on Pinterest that someone pinned my parsnip fries.  It was a great reminder to make them again!

Of course, I couldn’t do it the same way twice.  And when I ate this it was 9:30pm, which to me = dessert time.

Cinnamon sticks with a protein frosting dipper.  Holy yum.  I simply tossed my parsnips in a teeny bit of coconut oil and a ton of cinnamon before roasting.  The dip was vanilla protein powder, stevia, a splash of vanilla, and water to mix.  I also added a few drops of the Capella Cake Batter Flavor Drops. Easy and OMG good.

Meal 7:

They say that everyone has a twin somewhere.  I don’t know about that, but I certainly have a food twin.  Meg @ A Dash of Meg and I share the same palate.  I’ve made several of her dishes and am always blown away.  She is a HUGE source of inspiration not only for healthy eating, but also for pushing harder in the gym.

It was her recipe for a Chocolate Brownie and Raspberry Parfait that inspired this lovely creation that I downed like a fat kid at recess.

 

This Banana Creme Brownie Parfait rocked my socks off.  A couple of my favorite summertime potluck desserts are banana pudding and brownies.  This killed two cravings with one stone.  As I slowly worked my way through the wine glass (that’s right – I eat wine parfaits), the creme was soaking into the brownies leaving a decadent, spongy, slightly gooey bedtime snack of champions.


Banana Creme Brownie Parfait

For the Brownie:

For the Creme:

  • 1 C plain greek yogurt
  • 1/4 tsp banana extract
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • Bananas

 Mix the brownie ingredients in a small bowl.  Microwave until just done, ~ 1 min.  

Meanwhile, stir together the yogurt ingredients.

To assemble: layer yogurt, brownie pieces, and bananas in a pretty glass (yes, it must be pretty), alternating until you’re out of each.

Enjoy!

***

Are you keeping track?  I managed 158.5g of protein – all vegetarian!

Does body odor make you mad?

What is your favorite way to eat eggs?  Have you tried the PB & Feggs?  Or do you think I’m insane?

French Elvis Toast

By

My love affair with breakfast continues.

I couldn’t choose between something peanut butter-y and French toast.  Like a true healthy-living blogger I want nut butter at every meal, but I’d been thinking about french toast ever since receiving a loaf of P28 Bread.

French toast was my favorite childhood breakfast.  Mom used to make it on challah bread with lots of cinnamon and a drizzle of honey.  She would then warm syrup with butter to pour over the decadent toast.

Obviously that’s not on my training diet, and I had not attempted to make a healthy version due to my protein requirements.  There’s no way French toast would pack 20g of protein… until I received high protein bread.

You may have seen me mention P28 bread in previous posts.  I absolutely love it.  One slice packs 14g of protein!  Count me in.

P28 bread is chewier than regular bread.  Some people (Lee‘s husband) like that.  I don’t mind it, but prefer the bread toasted.  The toasting turns it perfectly soft with a nice crunchy exterior.  Note: Due to the whey, it toasts faster than regular bread, so keep an eye on it.

Now about the french toast…

Peanut butter-coated and topped with caramelized bananas, I had to name it after The King.

You know how good warm, runny nut butter is?  Imagine that, but soaked into bread.  A little vanilla and cinnamon makes it almost like eating dessert for breakfast.  Dessefast?  Deckfast?

For my topping, I sliced the bananas and let them briefly caramelize in the pan.  Arranged atop of the peanut-y toast and drizzled with cinnamon-lace syrup, those bananas added just the right amount of richness and creamy texture.

No peanut flour?  No problem!  Just use regular peanut butter.  (It will be easier to mix if you warm it just a bit.)

But really, you should order this peanut flour via iHerb.  Use coupon code USO924 for $5 off your first order.  It’s awesome, and it’s made in Georgia. 😉

Let’s pretend I didn’t lick my plate clean like a little kid…

Recipe at the end.

And now for the fun part.  P28 has offered an opportunity for 3 readers to try their bread!

P28 is made with 100% Whole Wheat, Whey Protein Isolate, Oats, Flaxseed, Sunflower Seed and Millet.  It’s 100% Natural, and is a great source of Omega 3s and 8 essential Amino Acids needed for growth, energy, and vibrant health.

Want a loaf of your very own?  Receive up to 4 entries by:

  1. Follow me on Twitter or Subscribe to the Sprint 2 the Table RSS feed or email
  2. Tweet: You could say something like: I’ve entered to win a loaf of high protein bread from @P28bread with @sprint2thetable http://wp.me/p16jDn-1uR #giveaway
  3. Be Social: Twitter Follow P28, Pinterest Follow Me and/or Pin Something of Mine, Instagram Follow Me
  4. Comment: What would you make first with your bread?

Please leave a *separate comment* for each entry!

Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST Thursday night,  August 9th.  The winner will be announced here on Friday, August 10th!

Open to US Residents only.  If you’d like to try these bars but didn’t win, check out their website to find a local retailer, or to order your a sample pack.

French Elvis Toast

  • 2 T peanut flour
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 C egg whites
  • 2-3 T milk (I used unsweetened almond)
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 4 drops liquid stevia
  • 1slice P28 Bread (or bread of choice)
  • 1/2 banana, sliced

For Syrup:

  • 2 T sugar-free maple syrup
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp butter extract

For the Toast:

Combine all ingredients in wide bowl.  Dip bread in mixture until saturated.

Cook in pan over med-high heat until golden brown on each side.

When almost done, place banana slices in pan and allow to caramelize slightly (they will turn a bit brown on top).

For the Syrup:

Pour syrup in small bowl.  Mix in cinnamon and butter extract.  Microwave for ~20 secs, until warm.

Plate your toast and top with caramelized bananas and syrup.

Makes 1 serving.

Note: If using regular bread, you may need 2 slices.  P28 slices are large and more dense than a standard slice.

Vegan Option: First, use a vegan bread source.  Second, replace the eggs with more almond milk and add a tablespoon of flax.  Let it sit for 10 mins to thicken before dipping your bread.  Proceed to cook.

Approximate Nutritionals (without syrup or bananas): 223 calories, 5.9g fat, 342.5mg sodium, 16.2 carbohydrates, 4.1g fiber, 4g sugar, 28.8g protein

***

I’m have a double serving for breakfast today.  Last night was leg day with my trainger and I sort of want to die after  those hack squats.

My trainer posing with his torture tool: the hack squat machine.

What was your favorite breakfast as a child?

Have you even done hack squats?

The Mailman Makes Me Smile

By

He delivers my packages!

 

Last week was a good week in terms of goodies.

Bulu Box was kind enough to send a sample of their July sample box.  Bulu is a monthly subscription service.

For $10 a month, you can get a box filled with 4 to 5 nutritional products from top brands.  Products include vitamins, supplements, sports nutrition, meal replacement, energy, protein, natural remedies, endurance… and more.  Honest opinion: this was $10 worth of goods.

 

In my box:

  • Life Equals Omega-3 (2 pills)
  • RevHoney (a tube of energy – created with freeze-dried fruit and honey)
  • Pure Matters Vitamin D (this was a full bottle!!!)
  • NightFood Cookies ‘n Cream Bar (nutrition bar formulated for better sleep)
  •  Cellucor Super HD (fat-targeting weightloss supplement)

 

 

My favorites were the Omega-3s, Vitamin D, and NightFood.

The Omega-3s – as advertised – didn’t product “fish burps.”  I take Vitamin D every day and had just run out, so I was elated to get this bottle.

 

The NightFood Bar was only 150 calories!  It was low in sodium (90mg) and had 6g of protein.  The taste made me forgive the 9g of sugar.  Did you guys ever eat those Cookie ‘n Creme Quaker Oats Bars?  This bar tasted just like those!   Nom.

 

***Disclaimer: I received the Bulu Box for review purposes though the FitFluential program. All thoughts and opinions are my own.***

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That box would have been enough… but there was another box!

I also received an incredible thoughtful box in the mail from my Foodie Penal, Edwina.  She doesn’t have a blog, but she is an avid blog-reader.

 

 

She did her research!  The items she sent were EXACTLY the sorts of things I like to eat.  She read my blog and knew I had a love of spicy food, protein, peanut flour.

She also must have known that I drink 120oz of water per day, because she sent me a tasty bottle of spring water from her home state of Idaho.

 

In my Foodie Box:

  • Chocolate-flavored PB2
  • Spring Water from Idaho
  • Melinda’s Habanero Hot Sauce (it’s hot, ya’ll)
  • Bhuja cracker mix (with wasabi peas)
  • Oatmega-3 Protein Bars
  • Annie Chun’s Wasabi Seaweed Snacks (I eat these ALL the time and love them!)

 

 

I used the hot sauce last night to spice up my marinade for this favorite Chili Nutty Baked Tofu recipe.  It gave it one helluva kick.

Served with quinoa, shiitakes, asparagus, and radish sprouts.  I was one happy Foodie Penpal. 🙂

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And one more box, though this one was FROM me!

My July Foodie Penpal, Peggy, doesn’t have a blog.  She was introduced to the program through her daughter, Bethany @ One Girl’s Taste On Life.  Peggy sent me the sweetest write-up of the box I set her to share:

 

My daughter, Bethany, a member of Foodie Pen Pals, strongly encouraged me to join. I was reluctant at first because I am not the primary “chef” in our home. My partner, Wes, has spoiled me in many ways; one of which is his culinary abilities.

I hit the jackpot!  Thank you, Laura, for making my first swap so much fun!  Her package arrived and I couldn’t wait to tear (gently mind you) into it to see what goodies I had.  Oh my, such great finds.

 

OK, so my eyes first focused on the Goo Goo Cluster.  I had my first sampling of this yummy treat when I moved to Tennessee in 1984.  I held off opening this true delicacy until I had taken the picture.  It was hard to do, but you will be proud of me.  I DID IT! I originally thought of slitting the back of the package.

I LOVE nuts and cranberries.  Laura must have had a spy in my house.  I’m going to savor this little baggie of treats until I have finished this write-up.  Work first, eat second is my motto.  Dumb motto, huh?

 

 Laura is health conscious.  What a good partner I have.  Her mission, which she chose to accept, was to send something healthy to inspire me to “live long and prosper” in the words of Star Trek’s Dr. Spock.  Quinoa is something I have had one time.  It was a very Plain Jane variety.  I think I did something wrong in the making because it tasted burnt.  Laura has given me a second chance to redeem myself.  Sun-dried tomato AND basil flavor.  I KNEW she sent a spy; I love anything sun-dried.

 

Last, but certainly not least…

Recently, I went to lunch with friends.  One of them had this product I had never tasted: Stevia.  She invited me to add to my tea.  It was quite good; I especially liked it because it was liquid and blends much better than some granules.  I made a mental note (they don’t work at my age) to buy myself some.  Never did, but GUESS what arrived in my “goodie box”.  I told you I won the jackpot.  Not only was it Stevia BUT it was orange flavored.  It was delicious in my sun tea.  Just added numerous drops to my glass pitcher and voila!  Oh YUM!!!!

 

Thank you, Laura, for the fun of being a first time Foodie Pen Pal.

HUGS
Peggy

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Don’t you want to get in to the action?

 

To sign up for a Foodie PenPals in August, click here to fill out the form on Lindsay’s site.  It’s that easy!  You don’t have to be a blogger, and the spending limit is just $15.  The only requirement is that you be a US or Canadian resident.

Join in by August 4th as pairings will be emailed on August 5th!

 ***

The chocolate PB2 is really good mixed with almond milk and eaten by the spoonful spread on apple slices.

What is the best thing you mailman (or woman) has delivered recently?

What one thing would you send a penpal to represent your hometown, or your blog-style? I thought the water was really creative!

 

Boycotts and Friday Finds

By

 Please excuse my soap box.

 

If you live in the South (a.k.a.: the land of Chick-fil-a), then you have probably heard the Chick-fil-a COO made a statement that Chick-fil-a supports anti-gay causes.  This isn’t a political blog, but I was outraged that I felt the need to speak up.

 

One of the great things about this country is our freedom of speech.  However… it’s hard for me to believe that in 2012 any company would waste their breath with such discriminatory sentiments.  Grow up, Chick-fil-a.

Yes, they have a right to do whatever they please with their influence and their money.  So do I.  That’s why I signed HRC’s pledge to let Chick-fil-a know that I don’t support discrimination.  And I can live without your waffle fries dipped in Polynesian sauce.

 *steps off box*

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Now for some positive reporting!  It’s FRIDAY!!!  In honor of my favorite day, here are some of my favorite recent “finds.”

Products, recipes, and blogs I’ve been loving lately:

1. New Flavors

Cake Batter.  Sizzlin’ Bacon.  Double Chocolate.  Caramel.

 

 

My favorite is the Cake Batter.  The others were ok, but the Bacon was a little disappointing.  It’s basically like liquid smoke.

These were ordered online thru Capella… the Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli hipped me to the fact that they are even cheaper here.

 

 

2. Peach Protein Powder

The guys at my local nutrition store gave me a sample packet of this Peach Sensation protein powder made my Allmax Nutrition.  I wasn’t familiar with the company before, but I will be now!  This stuff was really good.  The ingredients are pretty clean, and it’s low in sodium and carbs, and contains no sugar.

 

 

I blended it with cinnamon, ginger, and a little water to make a spiced peach protein smoothie.

 

 

3. Runny Eggs, Protein Bagels, and Roasted Cauliflower

Ok, that’s 3 things… but they are all so good!  I got permission from my trainer to have an egg yolk!  this is big news because I am obsessed with runny eggs.  It goes perfectly atop my other new obsession – P28 Protein Bagels.  Just 1/2 a bagel has 14g of protein.  Egg + Bagel = 20g protein

 

 

I also am on a cauliflower bender.  Today’s was cheesy chocolate.  I kid you not.  1/2 tsp cocoa powder, 1 T nutritional yeast, 1 T rice vinegar, 2 drops lemon stevia.  Roast.  Devour.

 

 

4. Surprises in the Mail

I came home last night to a package from the far away land of Canada.

 

 

Meg @ A Dash of Meg sent me a bag of her favorite ginger-flavored David’s Tea!  If you don’t know Meg, you should.  This is literally the sweetest girl I’ve ever “met.”  And we have discovered we’re food twins.  And this tea smells like heaven.

 

 

5. Green Spiced Protein Pancakes

I have made some pretty bad pancakes in my day.  This was not one of those days.

When I saw this green pancake recipe by Sara @ Stories and Sweet Potatoes (isn’t that the best blog name?), I knew I had to give them a whirl.  My tweaks were:

  • Add nutmeg 
  • Subbed 2 T of coconut flour for quinoa flour
  • Left out yogurt

 

 

I made the batter the night before and let it rest in the fridge overnight.  In the morning I dumped it in a well-greased (PAM) pan and made one tasty, gigantic pancake.  Note: Don’t skimp on the spices – go big in order to give the monster some flavor.  

Topped with cinnamon, apple, and sugar-free maple syrup.

 

 

Bonus: Cold Soup

Ok, this is a little self-promoting, but I really have been loving cold soup in the hot weather.  So much so that when rockstar athlete and foodie Lauren @ Oatmeal After Spinning asked me to write a guest post for her, I decided that would be the soup topic du jour.

 

 

Click here to check out my Peach-Cucumber Chilled Soup guest post, and say hi the the vacationing Lauren!

 

***

Quote from Trainer Abdul yesterday during a particularly fun set of leg presses:

Don’t cheat yourself, treat yourself.

 

What is your favorite “find” as of late?

Is there a quote or saying that gets you through “just one more” in workout or situation?

 

Tzatziki Chickpea Tuna Salad + Giveaway Winner

By

I did something I haven’t done since I was in middle school.

 

I ate canned tuna.  My mom used to make tuna salad every Sunday after church.  She mixed in pickles, apples, onion, mayo… it was a hodge podge.  Every Sunday.  One day I decided I no longer liked seafood, and that was the last of the tuna for me.

This was not me.

 

The Chicken of the Sea (canned tuna) is a cornerstone of the bodybuilding diet.  In my quest for new ways to add protein to my diet, it was only a matter of time until tuna salad had to return.  It’s easy to make, portable, and is actually better on day 2.  It’s also filled with protein, fat-free (if you get it packed in water), and has virtually no bards.  The perfect lunch to take to work.  

 

When I decided to give it a go, I knew I had to do something different (no offense, Mom).

In my salad, I incorporated smashed chickpeas for a variation in texture.  The ‘peas were easier for me to think about eating than tuna.  

If you are vegetarian, this would be a great salad with just the chickpeas!

 

Mayo is (of course) not permitted on my nutrition plan, so I opted for a version of tzatziki sauce to stir into my salad.  This slimmed-down version of the Greek classic is Greek yogurt-based, adding even more protein.  It is also full of flavor from the herbs and garlic, leaving no trace of fishiness in the salad.  Watch out for garlic breath though!

 

The verdict?  I’ve taken this for lunch twice this week.  Apparently I really like tuna salad.  Winner, winner… chicken-of-the-sea dinner!

Note: I made my chickpeas from dried peas rather than canned to keep the sodium low.  If you do this and have left over, try roasting them for a fun snack like I did here.

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Before the winner dinner recipe, I suppose you guys are more interested in the winner of The Simply Bar Giveaway?

Congratulations to….

Layla!!!

You are the winner of a sample pack of Simply Bars.  Send me an email with your address and I’ll pass it along to the Simply Bar crew. 🙂

Thank you all for entering, and for sharing your goals.  Click here and read through the comments – they are really inspiring!

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Tzatziki Tuna Chickpea Salad

For the Salad:

  • 1 can of tuna (packed in water)
  • 1/2 C chickpeas, smashed
  •  1/2 C red pepper, diced
  • Cilantro (optional, for garnish)

 

For the Sauce:

  • 1 container Greek yogurt
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1T chopped yellow onion
  • 1/4 C fresh dill
  • 1/4 C fresh cilantro
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
  • Zest of 1/2 lemon
  • 1/2 large jalapeno
  • 1/2 large cucumber, finely chopped

 

For the Salad:

Combine salad ingredients in a medium bowl.  Set aside.

 

For the Sauce:

Place all ingredients except cucumber into blender and blend until smooth.

Stir in diced cucumber and enjoy!

 

Makes 2 servings, with some sauce leftover.

***

I saw on Nightline last night that chin implants are the fastest growing plastic surgery procedure… because people don’t like the way they look online.  Wow.

Is there a meal from your childhood that you still can’t/won’t eat as an adult?  Meatloaf, anyone?

Would you ever get a chin-plant?

 

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