Sprint 2 the Table

Appetites and Adventures

Easy Meal Ideas + Bar Recovery

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Stress does funny things to people.

Or it makes you find odd things funny…

I’ve been traveling this week and with the possibility of more travel looming and a bunch of personal stuff on the horizon, the stress level is high.

So I looked for the humor.  Turns out, all I needed to do was look down… and then coin my new favorite hashtag: #meetingfeet.

You know you’re in Florida when an exec rocks the sock-less loafer look.

Those would be beer mugs on this business leader’s socks.

Speaking of stress, my friend Kat is stress-free after the Bar Exam!!!  I am so proud of her – I can’t even imagine having the discipline to get through all that.

Today she’s sharing her relaxation strategy and a couple of quick-yet-awesome recipes.  I cannot WAIT to try her Thai Coconut Hummus!  But I’ll let her tell you about it…

 

Easy Meal Ideas + Bar Recovery

Thank god the bar is over!!!!  It was not fun, and I hope I never have to take it again.  Unfortunately, bar results don’t come in until October 28 or so.  Yeah, that seems like a LONG time.  But, “patience is a virtue,” and I guess it gives us some time to get over the trauma of a two-day, four-session, exhausting marathon of a test.  (Editor’s note: It is downright cruel for them to leave you hanging so long!)

One text I got in the middle of the first day was, “You’re 25 miles into the ultramarathon,” and that’s how it felt… taking it a few steps at a time, leaving whatever happened in the first parts of the test behind to focus on success in the future.

Hard to Fly

After the Ultramarathon (the Bar Exam), it was time to start letting go of the built-up stress, tension, and the parts of me that really aren’t so pretty when I feel so overwhelmed.

Two days after the exam, I took off to the beach for a long weekend!  It was wonderful to get away, and not study!  I got to read for fun on the beach, meditate, collect seashells and just let go anything weighing me down.  (Editor’s note: Most deserved trip ever.)

Reading on the beach at sunset. Heaven!

Reading on the beach at sunset. Heaven!

It was also fun!  We found a dog beach, where our newest rescue, Scout, was able to go swimming and play with all the other dogs!

I had never seen anything like it.  There were probably over 50 dogs that I saw, all playing, swimming, rolling in sand, and enjoying the day.

Dog Beach

By the end of our first day at the beach, I may have had 1st or 2nd degree burns on my butt and back.  No, this is not a joke.  (Editor’s note: Ummm… why did the sun see your arse?!)  My back-side has not had a lucky summer…. between poison ivy and now not being able to sit due to a sun bum burn!  But I was still so happy to get away.

In my bar recovery regimen, I also need to give a shout out to the cuddle bugs, the animals in my life.  They are the most wonderful beings who help ground me, and who love me unconditionally, and I do not know how I could have survived the bar without them!  Scarlett and Echo are my kitties (Echo turned 5 on Saturday).  And then Gracie the golden, Murphy, and Scout the lab.

Fur Babies

I love them!

Before I took the bar, I had no time for any fancy meals or kitchen projects, so I kept it super simple.  Here are two super easy, fun recipes that allow you to enjoy delicious food, when time is not on your side.

Pizza

Gluten-Free Tortilla Pizza

  • 1 Rudi’s Gluten-Free tortilla, thawed
  • Handful of spinach
  • Tomato paste, spread thinly
  • Olive oil, lightly drizzled over the spinach, before the cheese
  • ¼ sautéed onion, sliced
  • 3 baby bella mushrooms, sautéed and sliced
  • 1 oz honey goats cheese, crumbled
  • 1-2 oz drunken goats cheese, sliced
  • Any other toppings of your choice

 Preheat oven to 425.

Top pizza and bake ~15 minutes, or until your cheese begins to brown a little. 

Devour.

This is a meal I had several times while studying through dinner.

Thai Coconut Hummus

Thai Coconut Hummus

  • ½ C plain hummus
  • 3 T coconut cream
  • Thai Curry Almond Seasoning (found at Whole Foods) 

Mix the ingredients together in a bowl and eat! 

I’ve been snacking on this with raw beets, carrots, chips, gluten-free tortillas, and anything under the sun!  It’s light and flavorful.  A new staple.

thai Coconut Hummus

And now that I’m done, it’s time for more adventures!

I have a few trail runs in California in the coming weeks, and some adventures to wrangle (Editor’s note: What adventures?!  I want to wrangle…) before I really get serious about working full-time! 🙂

All Great Things

***

No, I didn’t crawl under the table for the sock shots.  I just casually held my phone down.  😉

How do you recoup after a long stretch of go-go-go?

What’s your favorite quickie meal when you’re too busy for a big-deal meal?

Bake Sale for Kids + WIAW

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Bake sales are the best.

 

Homemade baked goods are the most “worth it” treat.

Amanda @ Run to the Finish has teamed up with Women’s Health and will be running and fundraising for the FEED Project, which seeks to feed hungry US kids.  Their RUN 10 FEED 10 program is really cool – you run a 10K and 10 children in your community are fed with the proceeds.  (Amanda has a discount code you may use here.)

But you don’t HAVE to run!  You can opt to just eat. 🙂  Amanda is hosting an online blogger bake sale where 100% of the donations will towards feeding these kids.

feed 10

Bidding began yesterday (I’m behind – sorry!), and bids will be accepted until August 7th 9AM EST.  Winners will be contacted and asked to donate the specific amount via CrowdRise.

Hurry over and bid on your auction deliciousness here.  There are tons be homemade items from bloggers (and products from several sponsors) available for bidding.  A batch of my vegan, no-sugar added Chewy Granola Cookies are up for grabs… you might even get a little something extra. 😉

granola-cookie

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These WIAW meals were half eaten at work and half on the road.  I didn’t do the most elaborate job of planning, as I am enjoying my final week of “freedom” before I start competition prep in earnest!

WIAWbutton

Read on for my traveling food, and then check out Jenn’s link up for everyone else’s delicious days.

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Breakfast:

My morning cocktail (apple cider vinegar, water, Glutamine, and Fitmixer Aminos) happened, as usual.  I swear this is the biggest addiction in my life.

I had an early morning meeting, so I made sure my breakfast was ready to grab a go.  Overnight oats in a cottage cheese container!  Almost as good as a PB jar… 

This raspberry and maple-laced concoction was really good!  And easy to eat from my lap on the way to work.

Raspberry Maple Overnight Cottage Cheese Oats

Raspberry-Maple Overnight Oats

  • 1/4 C cottage cheese
  • 1/4 C oatmeal
  • 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder
  • 1 tsp chia seeds
  • 1/2 tsp maple extract
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ginger
  • 1/2 C almond milk

 

Mid-Morning Snack:

Like I mentioned last week, I have been into the Trader Joe’s Balsamic Chicken.  It’s one of the few packaged things I buy, but when I’m traveling a lot this is a great (low sodium) item to keep on hand.

Eaten with veggies I pre-roasted on Sunday with some marinara sauce and nutritional yeast.

TJs Balsamic chicken

 

Lunch:

I was running out of my office to get my stuff ready for the airport (and squeeze in a workout… shhhh!), so this almost didn’t even get pictured.  A mix of no salt deli turkey, celery, hummus, and cayenne.

It was so quick I called it the lazy girl’s turkey salad. 😉

lazy turkey salad

 

Afternoon Snack:

I have become obsessed with post-workout Chocolate + Beet Protein Smoothie Bowls.  I used this recipe again, but added spinach and topped it with muesli and kabocha squash.

No exaggeration, I could eat this every meal.

chocolate-beet protein shake

 

Dinner:

Dinner was eaten in Florida.  I hopped a plane, ate some unpictured pretzels, and went right to dinner with my co-worker.  We hit up Columbia, a famous Cuban spot and Florida’s oldest restaurant.  It was delicious!

We started with giant warm, crusty loaves of Cuban bread and the 1905 Salad.  The bread was amazing… the salad… I’d say it’s basically a Chef’s salad with no egg and a ton of dressing.  I also enjoyed a margarita – one of the best I’ve ever had!

Columbia restaurant stuffed shrimp

Terrible pics… it was dark!

My main was massive.  The server highly recommended the Camarones Rellenos “Jesse Gonzalez.”

I thought shrimp would be light-ish… I learned that it’s not when it’s stuffed with lump crab and a generous helping of butter.  Did I mention it was served with rice, beans, and roasted veggies?  And that my co-worker ordered sides of yucca and fried plantains?

Call me happy and roll me home.

 

Dessert:

You know I’m full when I can’t even imagine eating dessert.  Hell froze over.

***

Tomorrow I fly back home and Thursday I drive to South Carolina.  Despite the craziness all I can think about is 1) When do I get to go to the farmer’s market to get “my” food and 2) How am I going to fit a workout in Thursday and Friday?

Have you checked out the bake sale?  What item is catching your eye? 

Does the combo of beets and chocolate sound #strangebutgood to you?  I thought it was normal until I told my co-worker about it…

 

Sweet Potato Ribbons + Other Marvelous Things

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Sometimes you need a hug.

 

Other times you need to punch someone something.

This weekend I needed a hug.  Lately I’ve been feeling like I’m chasing my tail.  I’m frustrated with where I am and I need to ACT.  Marvelous is being honest about needing a hug and getting a bunch of love from Facebook land.  Marvelous is unplugging with a movie and popcorn on the couch.  Marvelous is a wise friend telling you what you needed to hear:

“You have everything you want right in front of you.”

 

Marvelous Monday

Here are a few more marvelous weekend highlights… be sure to check out the beautiful Diva-Mamma Katie’s Marvelous Monday link up. 🙂

Other things that are marvelous:

A full hour of booty building with a killer butt workout… and camera filters that make you look tan.

 

Free 2oz tastes of Buchi Fire sorbet at Whole Foods.  Its good… but I still like the actual kombucha best.

Buchi kombucha sorbet

 

Brewing your own kombucha at home.

homebrewed kombucha

 

Having dinner with a good friend…

And Instagramming pic from said dinner and receving multiple compliments on my boobs.

Watershed patio

 

Farm fresh local eggs from the farmer’s market.

farm eggs

 

Branching out.  I’ve taken a brief break from kabocha.

Sweet potato may not be an earth-shattering ingredient, but this dish stopped me in my tracks.  Let’s put it this way, there was Sea Bass on my plate and I still saved the sweet potato ribbon as my last bite.  The privilege of being the last bite is a serious thing.

I have no idea why I don’t cook with coconut oil more.  I tend to reach for olive oil… but definitely go the coconut route in the recipe.  It’s absolutely delicious with the sweet potato and softens the slight bitterness of the greens.

Sweet potato ribbons and sea bass

 

I enjoyed this with a side of roasted beet that was a great compliment to the sweetness of the potato.  The beet was topped with a Greek yogurt curry sauce that I threw together.  Just 2 T Greek yogurt, 1/2 tsp curry powder, and a wedge of lime juice.

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 Sweet Potato Ribbons

Sweet Potato Ribbons

  • 1 small sweet potato
  • 1/4 tsp coconut oil
  • 1 T fresh rosemary
  • 1 C greens (I used red spinach)
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • Juice of 1/2 lime
  • Pepper, to taste

 

With a very sharp knife or a mandoline, carefully slice sweet potato lengthwise into thin strips.  

Once sliced, use a knife and cut them to about 1/4-1/2 inch thickness and set aside.

Heat a medium saute pan over medium heat, grease with a bit of oil, and add in sweet potato ribbons.  Continually stir until cooked through to desired doneness (~6-7 mins).

Add coconut oil, rosemary, and greens.  Stir and cook until greens are just wilted.  Sprinkle in cinnamo nand lime juice to finish.

Plate and top with freshly ground pepper (if desired).  

Enjoy!

***

And then I roasted another kabocha squash.

What was marvelous about your weekend?

Do you ever feel like you’re chasing your tail?  How do you break the cycle?

 

Sweet Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins

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My blood is Southern, but the kinship stops there.

Well, there and with a preference for Coke over Pepsi.  I still feel strongly about this even though I no longer drink soda… but I digress.

Being Southern, you would expect me to love cornbread, but I’ve gone through life avoiding it.  I never cared for the gritty, heavy feel and the taste didn’t draw me in.  My mom made it a lot when I was a kid.  My family even ate it in a bowl with milk poured over it.  Cornbread cereal?!  Blech.

Sweet Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins 1

When a friend requested that I make him sweet cornbread, I was intrigued.  What if cornbread could be more like dessert bread?  I love dessert!

First I had to “fix” the texture.  By using a mixture of cornmeal and flour, the grittiness is less noticeable.  I also used a hand mixer to cream together the oil, butter, sugar, and eggs to make the bread light and fluffy.  The brown sugar adds a deeper sweetness.  It’s noticeable, but it doesn’t overwhelm.

Sweet Jalapeno Cornbread Muffin bite

Those who know me won’t be surprised that I also threw in a couple of jalapenos.  I thrive on heat, and this addition helps to retain the southwest feel of a traditional cornbread.

These miiiight not be the healthiest muffins, but it’s not so bad.  And it’s summertime.  Take them to a picnic and share the calories deliciousness with your friends and family! 😉

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Sweet Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins

Sweet Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins

  • 1 C all-purpose flour
  • 1 C yellow corn meal
  • 3 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ C canola oil
  • ¼ C salted butter, softened
  • ½ C sugar
  • ¼ C brown sugar, packed
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 C unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 1-2 jalapeños, seeded and diced

Preheat oven to 350.

In a medium bowl, mix together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and cinnamon with a fork.

In a separate bowl, cream together butter, oil, eggs, and sugars with a hand mixer.

Add the creamed butter mixture and the milk to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.  Fold in the diced jalapenos (you may adjust the amount of jalapeño used to your taste, or leave it out all together).

Pour into greased muffin tins and bake 12-15 minutes, until golden.

Makes 12 muffins.

Note: These could easily be made vegan using Earth Balance and egg replacer or flax eggs.

***

Despite having found a cornbread I enjoy, I still refuse to pour milk over it like cereal.

Do you like the food of your “people”?

If your favorite foods determined your ethnicity, what would your heritage be?  I’d be Italian.  Or Indian.

Obnoxious Orders + WIAW

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Lately there seems to be a streak of obnoxious.

Or maybe I’m having a streak of impatience?

We’ve become a nation of “have it your way.”  But has it done nothing more than turn us into entitled, bourgeois consumers?  We can have virtually anything we want almost instantly.

Take Starbucks.  Yesterday I ran across this article filled with the most obnoxious Starbucks orders.  At first I thought they weren’t SO bad… but keep reading.

Starbucks

My favorites:*

  • Decaf, Soy Latte With An Extra Shot And Cream → Soy, decaf… with CREAM?  And an extra SHOT?  I’m naming this “The Oxymoron”
  • Quad Grande, Non Fat, Extra Hot Caramel Macchiato Upside Down → Upside down?  This is coffee.  Not a cake.  And why bother with the non-fat after all the damn sugar you’re drinking?!
  • Caramel Macchiato, Venti, Skim, Extra Shot, Extra-Hot, Extra-Whip, Sugar-Free → You are aware that whip isn’t sugar-free, right?
  • Grande Chai Tea Latte, 3 Pump, Skim Milk, Lite Water, No Foam, Extra Hot → If you have a pump number specification, you miiiiight be high-maintenence.  And lite water?  As opposed to full-fat?

*All of this is in good fun… I’m sure people (read: my boss) think the way I order in restaurants is obnoxious.

 

It is rare that I buy coffee.  It’s rare that I even drink coffee.  That said, I do dig this Mocha Protein Frapp.  I know, I know, leave it to me to prefer a protein drink…

Mocha Protein Frapp

Who needs Starbucks when you can have a homemade protein mocha frapp with a fraction of the sugar?  Make this and save yourself $6 and 20g of sugar.

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This day of WIAW eats was odd… there were some semi-fails and a wave of nausea… but  let’s face it, eating is always the best part of my day.

WIAWbutton

Read on for my eats, and then check out Jenn’s link up for everyone else’s delicious days.

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Breakfast:

My morning cocktail (apple cider vinegar, water, Glutamine, and Fitmixer Aminos) happened, as usual.  I swear this is the biggest addiction in my life.

Breakfast was a pancake experiment… it’s not there yet.  Will keep working.  That said, everything is better when topped with bacon and peanut butter sauce.

Pancake experiment

Mid-Morning Snack:

I don’t buy packaged proteins very often, but I do like the Trader Joe’s Balsamic Chicken.  Its full of flavor and high in protein.  Perfect for busy weeks!  I ate it with raw corn and riced cauliflower mixed with hummus.

That sounds odd after typing it out loud… hmmm…

Chicken and cauliflower rice

Lunch:

My favorite: Sea Bass.  I prepare it during my Sunday food prep.  It’s simply coated with fresh thyme, rosemary, garlic, black pepper, and lemon, then I bake it on foil in the oven for 12 mins (400 degrees on convection roast).

I ate it with a side of veggies I pre-roasted on Sunday.  To reheat them, I just place them in the oven under broil so they get nice a crispy.

Sea bass and roasted veggies

Afternoon Snack:

The smoothie love continues.  After my workout this afternoon I made a strange… but strange… smoothie bowl.  I think it would have been fine if I hadn’t added so much wheatgrass. strange smoothie

In my smoothie:

  • Chocolate protein powder
  • Wheatgrass
  • Spinach
  • Broccoli slaw
  • Maple extract
  • Cinnamon
  • Fresh ginger
  • Liquid Stevia
  • Toppings: TruWhip, cacao nibs and raw oats

I had an awkwardly timed hair appointment after work, so I had a second snack to tide me over.  My favorite thing.

Kabocha squash!  I roasted it like I did in  this #strangebutgood post and topped it with a quick sauce of peanut flour, almond milk, almond extract, cinnamon, and a couple drops of stevia.  And cacao nibs (I think I’m addicted).

Cocoa Kabocha roast with peanut sauce

Dinner:

I went to get my mane tamed, and while I was in the stylist’s chair I got oddly nauseous.  It was so weird!  Suddenly I just felt like I might have to run to the bathroom.  I drank water, breathed calmly, and made it through the cut.

After I got home I wasn’t hungry, but I knew it was time to eat.  Cheese toast sounded good, so I made that with some Ezekial bread and sample packet of Dubliner cheese I found in the fridge (hope that wasn’t too old…).  Then I added a bunch of stuff.  Swordfish (just a bit for protein – seafood isn’t appealing when feeling puke-y), sugar peas, hummus, and roasted tomatoes with basil.

odd dinner

Dessert:

I still felt a little off, so I went with Greek yogurt hoping the good bacteria would work some magic.  A bit ‘o #strangebutgood always makes me feel better. 🙂

Popcorn is an awesome dessert topper.  I buy mine in the bulk bins and pop it in brown paper bags in the microwave.  This was topped with melted cherries.  The underbelly of this deliciousness was Greek yogurt mixed with 1/2 scoop of protein powder, carob powder, cinnamon, a little cayenne, and a few drops of Stevia.

popcorn protein geek bowl

***

After leg day on Monday, I am so sore today that just the thought of walking hurts.  Can that cause nausea??? 😉

What is the most obnoxious thing you order?  Mine is salad.  Basically I want to build my own.  I don’t want the cheese if it’s the crappy shredded stuff, I do want to add red pepper flakes, the dressing must be on the side, and – for the love of god – don’t salt anything.  Is that so hard?!

What do you eat when your stomach doesn’t feel right?

Raw Tomato and Corn Salad + Weekend Marvels

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Merry Marvelous!

Are you ever so cheerful you annoy yourself?

It’s false cheer.  Sort of.  I’m not in a bad mood… but does anyone really look forward to a Monday like they do a Saturday?  Yet another reason to love Katie’s Marvelous Monday link up. 🙂

Marvelous Monday

First up in the world of marvelous is this #vitamixporn.  That’s a legit hash tag, no?

This deliciousness is a Chocolate-Beet protein smoothie.  It was so thick and creamy I ate it with a spoon… like I do with just about every smoothie.  It’s the only way to go after a hot, sweaty romp in the gym. 😉

chocolate beet protein smoothie

You can make this in a regular blender, it just might not be quite as ice cream-like.  I posted the recipe here on Facebook.

Marvelous item #2 involves one of my favorite movies – Grease!  Saturday it was playing it on the big screen at a the Fox Theatre… it was done like a sing-along!  The words to every song were scrolled across the bottom of the screen and they handed out little props for people to use throughout the movie.

They had a costume contest before the movie started!

The less-then-marvelous part is that I was supposed to go with my best friend, but at the last minute she got the stomach flu!  So I went by myself.  It was a little awkward due to the interactive nature, but I sat back and enjoyed the show and the people watching.  It was rich – the over 50 crowed came out in full-force dressed like Pink Ladies and T-Birds.

In the end, I was happy.  I was in a loner mood for some reason anyway.  When I got home there was more marvelous = clean sheets!  I put myself to bed with a book and a handmade mason jar candle.

candle

This next item is more hilarious than marvelous.  I was in the gym, minding my business, when I came upon a full spread of beauty supplies in the locker room.

The pic doesn’t even show it all.  I couldn’t fit in the towel wrap, 2 pairs of shoes, flip-flops, bobby pins, comb… and dirty clothes on the floor.  I chuckled… and then I Instagrammed.  (She was in the shower… I’m not quite that ballsy.)

gym mess

Yes, that is a hair weave on the counter.

I had to take a picture.*  If I had to bring THAT much crap to shower at the gym, I’d just go home.  (I have never showered at a gym, actually.)  If I hadn’t been in a hurry, I would have waited to see what she looked like after getting all dolled up.

*Nothing shocks me anymore at my gym – last week there was a girl there carrying a dog around in her purse.  In the weightroom.  While using the leg extension machine.

 

Lastly, I have to include food in the weekend marvelousness.  This happened before I made it to the market.  you can always tell when it’s the end of the week because I’m eating a random hodge podge of protein.  There are 3 types of fish on that plate.

The real marvelous part was the salad.  I managed to end the week with a lot of veggie goodies left over, and throw together a fresh, raw salad.

Fish and raw salad

If you haven’t had corn raw before, check out this #strangebutgood Berry Corny Salad too.  It fabulously sweet and crunchy!

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Raw Tomato Corn Thyme Salad

Raw Tomato Corn Thyme Salad

  • 1/4 C sweet corn kernels
  • 1/4 C cherry tomatoes, sliced
  • 1/2 C raw asparagus, sliced
  • 1 T diced shallot
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme
  • Drizzle champagne vinegar (or other vinegar)
  • Freshly ground black pepper 

Mix together veggies and drizzle of vinegar.  Finish with fresh black pepper.

Note: You could also add olive oil, nuts, or other herbs!

***

It must be the crazy humidity, but I’m craving raw foods lately… which simply means I’m (re)learning you can put just about anything in a blender. 🙂

What is the strangest thing you’ve ever seen in the gym?

Would you go to a show at a theatre by yourself?  What is your favorite character from Grease?  Mine’s Rizzo!

Zucchini TVP Lasagna

By

Taking risks is one of life’s great joys.

 

It can also be a fail require patience.

My favorite risks involve something food-related.  Hence all the #strangebutgood.

A couple of years ago I decided to adopt a vegan diet.  That risk didn’t pan out, but it did result in a TON of recipe risks that did.  One of my favorite discoveries from that time was Texturized Vegetable Protein (TVP).  It’s super-high in protein, low in carbs, and low in fat.  It’s like a body builder’s dream food.

Texturally, TVP is reminiscent of ground beef.  This lead to the obvious first recipe – “Beefy” TVP Chili.  Taste-wise, TVP is like chicken.  It will take on the flavor of anything you add to it… so the “Chick-less” Nuggets were born.  Beef, chicken… why not bacon?!  Kat made hers and then I followed with a smokey version.

TVP Collage

 

All of that was good… but was it really that strange?  Chicken and TVP take on any flavor…  hold up.  So does… OATMEAL!

I went TVP oatmeal crazy: Mango-Coconut, Maple, Pumpkin Pie, Spiced TVP Breakfast Squash, and even Greek Yogurt Overnight Oats!

TVP Oatmeal Collage

 

This was a really, really long-winded way to say that I am ridiculously excited to share Kat’s guest post today.  Her brilliant move is to use it in lasagna!  Well played, my friend.

Here’s Kat….

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Zucchini TVP Lasagna

This blog has to be short and sweet because I am in study mode.  The Georgia Bar exam is less than a week away, and I’m still trying to absorb as much as I can!  (Editor’s note: How’s that osmosis working for ya? 😉 )

choose to see the good stuff

 

Mostly through the emotional, mentally exhausting roller coaster, I have realized it is SO important to stay positive through this time.

Choose to see the good stuff (because it IS a choice), and I have to trust that I have it in me to achieve this goal!  (Editor’s note: YES YOU DO!  I’m so proud to call you a friend.)

Talk About Blessings

 

I would not be able to make it through this time with out running, lots of running… and thinking about what I will do after.  When I get done, I am going to the beach!  I am getting a haircut, and I am going to NOT study, and maybe never take a test again!

 

Anyway, let’s get to the fun stuff!  Every now and again a more intensive kitchen project is relaxing to me.  Remember that ricotta I made?  (Editor’s note: you mean the one you haven’t made me yet?)  I decided to use it to make a vegetarian, gluten-free lasagna…. with zucchini and TVP!

Note: You can also use this quick, vegan tofu ricotta.

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Lasagna Plated

Zucchini Noodle TVP Lasagna

  • 1 giant zucchini (or 1.5 lbs of regular zucchini)
  • 4 C pasta sauce (from the Farmer’s Market, if available)
  • ½ C TVP
  • ½ large onion, diced
  • 1 ½ C mushrooms, sliced
  • Oregano, cayenne, and garlic, to taste
  • 3 C fresh Mozzarella, grated
  • 1 C ricotta, homemade
  • 2 T coconut oil

 

Zucchini

For the Zucchini:

Slice the zucchini length wise to about ¼ inch slices.  A mandolin would be a great tool for this, but I just used my knife-skills, since I don’t have one. 

Lay them out on a pan and broil for 6-7 minutes to dry them out a little.  Drain off water, then broil again for another 5 min.  Drain.

Zucchini Broiled

 

For the Filling:

Mix the TVP with water, season with garlic salt and your favorite spices. 

Sautee the onion on medium high heat for about 5 minutes in a medium-large sized pot, then add the mushrooms and TVP.  Sautee for another 8-10 minutes or so, then add about 3 ¼ cups of the pasta sauce to make it a thick filling (reserve ¾ cup for the assembly). 

Turn the temperature to Low, and let it continue to cook.

Filling

 

For the Assembly:

Grease 9 x 13 pan with coconut oil. 

Coat the bottom of the pan with ½-  ¾ cup the remaining pasta sauce, then lay zucchini gently over the sauce, letting it overlap slightly. 

Then spread ½ of the filling evenly over the zucchini.  Next, take 1/2 the ricotta, and crumble it around evenly over the filling.  Cover with 1 ½ cup of grated mozzarella.  Repeat again… Zucchini, the other ½ of the filling, ricotta, the other 1 ½ cup mozzarella. 

Bake at 375 for about 45 minutes.  (I then like to broil mine for 5ish mins to get the cheese a little browner).

Zucchini Lasagna assembly

 

The homemade ricotta made a huge difference in this dish!  It really comes through.  This is cheesy, surprisingly light, and really delish!

And for the leftovers…  I refrigerated the pan over night.  The next day, I cut it into individual sized portions, wrapped them in plastic wrap and then foil, and froze them.  The lasagna is even better leftover!  (Editor’s note: I’m convinced that all Italian food is better on day 2… and I love it on day 1.)

CloseUp

 

Now back to Bar Review!  Hope you all are having a great week, seeing the good everywhere, and not getting TOO jealous of Laura’s trip! 😉

***

Good luck to Kat taking the Bar Exam in a week!!!!  If we all send her good, focused study-vibes it must help a little, no?

What kinds of kitchen projects are relaxing to you?

What goal are you trying to achieve in your professional/personal life?

 

Back to Reality + WIAW

By

A smart blogger would have posted a “What I Ate on Vacation” today.

I got too excited and posted my favorites on Monday.

There are a few things I didn’t yet share from Napa (besides the wine – that post is coming!).

The thing that earned me the strangest look from Lisa was probably my extreme excitement over seeing GT’s Classic in the CalMart (not to be confused with Wal-Mart).  The Classic is the version GT’s was forced to quit selling at many major markets due to the alcohol content.  This is silly.  Kombucha is fermented tea… but there’s not even enough booze for a buzz!  I chose the Gingerberry and didn’t get drunk in the least.

GT's Classic Kombucha

This next item DID pack a punch.  A Maple Bacon Manhattan from JoLe.  It was bacon-infused rye, Carpano Antica, and maple syrup… with a side of candied bacon.

I was only going to have a taste… but holy yum.

Maple Bacon Manhattan

Lunch somehow was missed in my Monday food post.  Our driver in Napa recommended that we try a new concept called R+D Kitchen.  It’s owned by Hillstone, which makes it a chain (I’m morally opposed to eating at chains)… but we bit the bullet and tried it out.  So very glad we did!

As with Houston’s, the food and service were top-notch.  We shared toasts to start – one with hummus and one with goat cheese and figs.  The hummus was very good – heavy on the tahini, which is ideal in my book!

R+D Kitchen toasts

For my meal I ordered a omelette with spinach and goat cheese.  It may look funny, but the omelette was fantastic.  It was done french-style.  It’s difficult to find a good one, but they executed it flawlessly!

It also came with roasted tomatoes and a side salad.  Those tomatoes made the meal!

R+D Kitchen omeltte

I know this is getting long… but one more!!!  Remember the “scenic” walk to dinner I took my friends on?  I think this view at Sol Bar was worth it:

Sol Bar

Most of the meal was too dark to take pics of and we were in such a night place I felt wrong using a flash (*gasp* I do have some shame).  The entire meal was mind-blowingly delcious, and our server couldn’t have been more fabulous.

I did get one decent shot of my birthday dessert.  Chocolate Decadence with Ortiz Farms raspberries, soft cream, and cocoa nib dentelle. Words cannot describe.  It’s the last (30th) birthday cake I’ll have, I swear.

Sol Bar birthday cake

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This day of WIAW eats was fun for me!  Monday morning I woke up to find that my fridge and freezer were not working.  After a brief panic, I managed to get a handyman out and have the thing fixed for less than $150.  It was also the perfect excuse to clean out my food stash and restock!  Restocking is the best – the farmer’s market didn’t know what hit it!  I was SO excited that I got home and did my food prep right then.  Snapper, cod, gazpacho, roasted kabocha, and bison burgers.  At 9pm.  🙂

WIAWbutton

Read on for my fresh fridge eats, and then check out Jenn’s link up for everyone else’s delicious days.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Breakfast:

My morning cocktail (apple cider vinegar, water, Glutamine, and Fitmixer Aminos) is still going strong.  I am now so addicted that I brough the Fitmixer to Napa and purchased a bottle of ACV from the market there.

Something lit a fire under my butt, because I woke up in the mood to run sprints.  I can’t explain it.  Anyway, after the humid 30 minute run I couldn’t think of anything but a smoothie bowl.  Cold and now chewing required.  Does anyone else have a hard time chewing foods after workout?

Wheatgrass protein smoothie bowl

In my smoothie:

  • Vanilla protein powder
  • Wheatgrass
  • Spinach
  • Cinnamon
  • Fresh ginger
  • Lemon liquid Stevia
  • Cardamom
  • Toppings: plum and raw oats

Lunch:

I was so excited for this meal that I didn’t bother with my usual mid-morning snack.  During my Monday night food prep I roasted snapper with cilantro, fresh ginger, lime juice, pepper, and cherry tomatoes.  That was eaten for lunch along side a cup of gazpacho and a bag of veggie Pirate’s Booty.

Red Snapper and gazpacho

Afternoon Snack:

Despite having had a hearty lunch, I was still unnaturally excited for my afternoon snack.  Bison burgers!  I’ve been craving them for a long time.  This burger was so easy – I just mixed each patty with steak sauce and added red pepper flakes before cooking them in a pan.

I don’t use pre-made sauces often, but I did find this Robbie’s Naturals brand a Whole Foods that I love.  It’s low-sodium, low-sugar steak sauce.  (I also dig their BBQ sauce.)

Bison burger with Robbie's sauce

The side salad was also delish – red spinach, zucchini, asparagus (it’s been long enough to bring it back), shiitake mushrooms, thyme, lemon juice, and black pepper.

Dinner:

I’d been thinking of this all day long.  Sea Bass.  I think it’s passed swordfish as my favorite fish.  I ran home from my workout, coated it in thyme, rosemary, garlic, black pepper, and lemon juice before putting it in the oven for 12 mins (400 degrees on convection roast).

This gave me time to prep my salad: red spinach (nothing like spinach – it has a thick stem and is a little spicy), cherry tomatoes, and Persian cucumber.

Sea Bass and red spinach

Obviously I needed carbs after leg day, but I saved it for a little dessert…

Kabocha squash!  I roasted it as instructed in Friday’s #strangebutgood post and topped it with Peanut Butter Cannoli.

Cocoa Kabocha roast with peanut sauce

Dessert:

Nothing wrong with two desserts!  I almost had more roasted squash but decided to aim for variety.  And #strangebutgood-ness.

Shredded carrot, no salt cottage cheese, cinnamon, stevia, ginger, and vanilla topped with chocolate protein fluff made from vanilla protein powder, cocoa, beet powder, and stevia. Topped with massive blackberries and cacao nibs.  Just trust me.  It’s good.

***

Sorry for the picture-heavy post.  This was a lot… but I’m so excited about ALL the foods!  #lovemyinnerfatkid

Are there restaurants so nice you won’t take pictures?

If you could try anything in this post, what would it be?  I don’t think anything was terribly odd…

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