Sprint 2 the Table

Appetites and Adventures

Blueberry Cheesecake Fluff + WIAW

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I must confess something.

 

Don’t worry, this isn’t another TMI post.

I haven’t had a perfect Junk-Free January.  Being sick and doing some crazy endurance work has derailed me.  However, I did lay off the booze and I really don’t regret the times I ate deliciousness like this:

Waffle House chocolate chip waffle

 

I listened to my body and my body wanted calories.  Trashy calories.  Post-stomach flu and post-crazy racing I’d lost a couple of LBs.  They have been found. 🙂

This could also have something to do with a killer Chest and Bicep workout with my trainer on Monday.  We did supersets,  alternating between chest and bis, to get done in an hour.  I benched pressed about 8 lbs more than my body weight and then preacher curled a little more than half my body weight.  And now I can’t lift a glass of water.

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I’m back on track for this WIAW.  Still hungry ALL the time, but I’m keeping it clean and fueling my body with good stuff.  It’s crazy how your body still demands replenishment days after a big event!

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Check out my 7 meals below, and then click here to head over to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons to get to see how others dined this week!

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Meal 1:

After my morning cocktail (mix of Apple Cider Vinegar, Glutamine, and Fitmixer Aminos), I broiled a grapefruit according to this method with coconut butter, cinnamon, and cardamom.  That was “dessert” after I demolished an herbs de provence egg white omelette.

Broiled grapfruit and eggs

 

 

Meal 2:

A rare thing happened – I went to the gym in the morning.  Never fear – hell didn’t freeze over.  I’m still not a morning person – this trip wasn’t exactly early.  It was a killer leg day though!

I packed a protein-rich treat to refuel in the car before an appointment:

Leg day and refuel

 

This was delicious chocolate pudding made with 1/2 C Greek yogurt, 1/2 scoop chocolate protein powder, almond milk, and cinnamon.

The topping was a crumbled Sweet Potato Baked Oatmeal, straight from my freezer.  I’m so obsessed with these.

 

 

Meal 3:

Lunch was an old favorite: Salmon Pizza with Sweet Potato “Sauce.”  I used tortilla crust and topped it with spinach, artichokes, and onions.

Sweet Potato Salmon Pizza

 

 

Meal 4:

I developed an addiction to Whole Foods’ Naked (read: no salt) roasted chicken.  Not a cheap habit, but worth my sanity as I hate touching raw chicken.  Every Sunday I buy one and pull off all the white meat to eat throughout the week.  Today I ate it chicken salad-style, but with a hummus mix rather than mayo.

Hummus Chicken Salad

Hummus Chicken Salad

  • Shredded chicken
  • Broccoli slaw
  • Red peppers, chopped
  • Hummus
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Cumin and red pepper flakes, to taste

 

I didn’t measure, but the hummus and ACV is about a 1:1 ratio.

 

 

Meal 5:

I could hardly wait for dinner.  I’ve been eyeing Kristina’s Cholar Dal recipe for a couple of weeks and this frigid day seemed the be the perfect time to try it out.

It was AMAZING!  I licked my plate clean.  I ate it alongside some pan-seared tempeh and roasted brussels, broccoli, and mushrooms.

Cholar Dal, tempeh, and roasted veggies

There is something in my head that will not allow me to simply follow a recipe.  Here are my modifications:

  • Added 1/2 red pepper
  • Used 1/4 C tomato paste rather than fresh tomatoes
  • Added 1/4 tsp fenugreek and 1/2 tsp coriander
  • Increased cayenne to 3/4 tsp
  • Didn’t use the salt, butter, and dried chilis

 

 

Meal 6:

Please don’t get bored with me.  I love carrots.  And peanut butter.  And eggs.  PB & Ceggs.  Again.

PB & Ceggs

 

 

Meal 7:

Casein is good to have at night for muscle recovery.  unfortunately, I can’t stand the texture.  No matter – I really like having dairy before bed.  Maybe a carry over from a youth filled with nighttime ice cream bowls?

This creation is going to be in heavy rotation.  I’m scraping the bottom of the bowl and trying to convince myself that I don’t need another as I type this.  It’s like blueberry cheesecake with hot brownie on top.

Clean Blueberry Cheesecake

Need I say more?

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Blueberry Cheesecake Fluff

Blueberry Cheesecake Fluff

  • 1/2 C cottage cheese
  • 1/4 C blueberries
  • 1/4 tsp butter extract
  • 1/4 tsp coconut extract
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ginger
  • Pinch of cardamom
  • 6-7 drops liquid stevia
  • Water or milk
  • 1 rice cake

 

Place everything except the rice cake in a blender with enough liquid to blend.  Blend until mostly smooth.

Pour over a rice cake.  Tops as desired – I warmed a Cookies ‘n Cream Think Thin bar in the microwave and crumbled it on top with more fresh berries and cinnamon.

Devour.

Note: if you don’t have butter and coconut extracts, simply sub vanilla and/or almond extract.

***

The protein count for the day: 183.2g.  Nailed that one!

Don’t forget to join the Strange But Good link up this Friday!!! 🙂

What trashy calories does your body crave?  When do you give in?

What is your most recent fitness accomplishment/milestone?

 

Cramming 101: Endurance Training and Recovery

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Endurance isn’t for the weak.

 

It also probably should not be prepared for in a cram session.

This Saturday I’m doing an adventure/orienteering race that my cousin talked me in to.  8 hours in the woods with a GPS.  They give you the start, the finish, and a couple of mandatory check points along the way.  It will be running, hiking, mountain biking, and canoeing.  I hope I live.

 

Keep going

 

Some of you may not know it, but before I got into lifting seriously, I was a runner.  I was a decently fast 5K’er, loved adventure races (hellllloooo Tough Mudder) and ran a few Halfs.  I wanted to run a full but one day my knee said no.  If I ever want to run distances again I need to have surgery.  That won’t be happening.

 

All of this to say, I haven’t been running in 8 months!  Saturday that changed.  My cousin recommended I get 6 hours of continuous exercise/training in before the race.  Cramming.

Kat agreed to keep me company for half of that by taking me on one of her trail run/hikes.

Kat and Me

 

13 STEEP miles in 3 hours.  We hiked up steep incline filled with wet leaves, leapt over creeks, and ran power lines.  It was the perfect day for it – record high 75 degree temps and partly cloudy.

I was sore half way through.  

 

Nutrition is something I struggle with.  I have a hard time eating or drinking during a run – it makes me slosh and cramp.  In our 3 hour run, I just ate a mini über Lara Bar (the one with the nuts) and sipped some water.  Will have to be sure to take in more fuel while biking and canoeing this weekend.

We finished (thank you, Kat, for being patient with me) and did a little yoga to loosen up.  I chugged water.

Post-Run Yoga #FitFluential

 

Kat dropped me at my place where I ran up to pee, change shoes, and eat.  In that order.

I broke out an old favorite for fuel:

Sweet Potato “Cereal”

  • 1/2 sweet potato, bakes and cubed
  • 1 scoop protein powder
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • Unsweetened almond milk

 

Place sweet potato in a cereal bowl.  Mix together remaining ingredients in a separate bowl, adding milk until the mixture thins to a milk consistency.

Pour protein milk over the ‘taters and inhale.

 

Then I grabbed my bike, water bottle, and a GU and took off.  (Note: Espresso GU is tasty!)

Gingerly set out may be a better way to describe it.  I was tired.  What I considered to be “flat” ground before seems quite hilly.  I rode about 15 miles (had to stop for air in my tires and forgot to re-start my RunKeeper app).  After I loosened up a bit, it turned into a fun ride.  I followed Atlanta’s new Beltline Path and got to see the city in a whole new way.  I even took a tour to ride the Krog Street Tunnel (infamous for its graffiti):

Krog Street Tunnel

Krog Street Tunnel

 

I decided to get back on the path and head back when I rode past a woman on her porch yelling at her neighbor, “Don’t mess with me or I will HURT your dog!”  Scary lady.

Honestly, after I got back within a mile of my place I’d convinced myself to call it quits at 5 hours.  I was tired, sore, bored, and hungry.  Then I ran into Carol and her sweet puppy Bailey!  She was walking home from an afternoon at the dog park, so I joined her to catch up.  30 mins walking there, then another 30 back to my house = 6 hours DONE.

 

When I got home I was famished.  I would have eaten my right hand (I’m left-handed).  Instead, I stood in the door of my fridge and ate half a rotisserie chicken with my bare hands.  After washing my hands, of course.

Then I cleaned my sticky self:

 

And finally it was dinner time.  Burger topped with avocado, black bean dip, jalapeno, and pico de gallo, with a side of house-made crinkly-crispy sweet potato fries dipped in sriracha and mustard.  Then… there may have been an (unpictured) apple pie milkshake.  I’ve been boycotting the burger trend (I HATE Yeah! Burger), but Grindhouse Killer Burgers changed my mind.

Grindhouse Killer Burgers - Gringo

 

Yes, it’s Junk-Free January.  I needed calories… and it was junk-free-ish.  The meat for the burger is freshly ground by a small North Carolina producer and delivered every day, and the bun is a soft potato roll made by a Pennsylvania Dutch bakery.  The sauces are homemade.  The shakes are homemade.  I have no regrets.

Then I crashed.  And got hungry again.  Banana.  Cottage Cheese.  Protein powder.  Cinnamon.  Face plant in bed.

Then, in the wee hours of Monday morning, I got the stomach flu.  I think I would have gotten sick despite the cram session… but it probably didn’t help.  In the future, I’ll plan better.  Thank you all SO much for the well-wishes!

2 days ’til race day!!! I’m eating my carbs and doing to light workouts to prepare.

***

I was nominated for something I’m really excited about: Top Health and Fitness Blog of 2013.  I’d be honored to have your vote!  It’s really easy – no registration required.  Click here to Vote.

Leap Fitness Top 100

 

How do you fuel before/during/after races?

What is the toughest race/physical activity you’ve ever done?

 

Coca-Cola’s Anti-Obesity Campaign + WIAW

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Coca-Cola is fighting obesity?!

 

Something feels fishy.

When you make your money by selling sugar… can you really be an anti-obesity voice?

[pullquote align=”left|center|right” textalign=”left|center|right” width=”30%”]”The biggest single source contributor to child and adult obesity in the USA is sugar-sweetened beverages,” says Barry Popkin, a nutrition professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.[/pullquote]

 

Monday night Coca-Cola will begin airing a two-minute video on several national cable networks,  It talks about the range of beverages produced by Coca-Cola, and how they voluntarily began offering water, juice, and lower calorie options (let’s not talk about the additives in diet drinks…) in schools.

 

Sugars in soda

 

Damage control?  Most certainly.  But should we complain or be happy they are making a positive move, regardless of the motivation?

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This WIAW post is terrible.  I admit it.  I’m doing what I can to eat anything at all in order to recover from this stomach bug.  There weren’t any real “meals, ” so I’m calling them all snacks.

I did eat all of this randomness with blessing from my trainer:

 

Be sure to click here to head over to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons to get to see everyone else’s (more appetizing) meals!

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Snack 1:

I wasn’t sure what to expect from my stomach when I woke up, but I figured kombucha green tea and a couple of Go Raw Spirulina Super Chips.

Go Raw crackers

 

 

Snack 2:

Crackers stayed down so I decided to move on to bread.  Half an English muffin made by my mom with TONS of peanut butter and some fig jam.  It was the jam.

 

 

Snack 3:

I had to go home (Mom’s Internet is down = deal breaker), but mom sent me with homemade matzoh ball soup.  I swear this is the perfect sick food.

Mom makes the best matzoh ever.  And we’re not Jewish.

Matzo Ball Soup

 

I chased that with a Lemon-Ginger Kombucha.  Reed’s was a new brand to me.  I liked it, but Buchi Fire remains my #1.

Reed's Kombucha Lemon Ginger Raspberry

 

 

Snack 4:

Right before my next feeding, I got an email from my concierge that a package had arrived.  My iHerb delivery!!!  I shuffled down to collect it, and made snack #2 with some of its contents.

 

iHerb order

  • Peanut flour
  • Growing Naturals’ Chocolate Protein Powder (SO good!)
  • CarbRite bars
  • Collagen
  • Probiotics
  • Resveratrol (antioxidant… and “supposedly” anti-aging)
  • Creatine (I’m going to try it… stand by)

 

If you haven’t tried peanut flour or the Growing Natural’s rice protein yet, I highly recommend both!  Use code USO924 for $5-10 off your order.

 

The thing about being sick is that you end up carb-loading.  I needed some green and protein to help me heal!  A green smoothie bowl with my replenished protein powder was in order.

 

healing green smoothie

Healing Green Smoothie

  • 2 C raw spinach
  • 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
  • 1/2 banana
  • 1/2 in piece fresh ginger
  • 1 stick fresh cinnamon (or 1/2 tsp ground)
  • Pinch of Guar Gum
  • Ice + water, to taste
  • Toppings: pomegranate arils and oats

 

I put it all in the Vitamix and let it run until I had “ice cream.”

FYI: banana and ginger are both tummy-soothers, cinnamon is anti-bacterial, and pomegranates are antioxidents!

 

 

Snack 5:

Anything involving peanut butter sounded good to me today.  Apples are good for the tummy.  Naturally I needed to have both.

Mom had been telling me to eat Greek yogurt for the probiotics… that sour-ish taste didn’t appeal to me, but I finally found a way I could do it: Apples and zucchini with Peanut Yogurt Dip.

 

Peanut Yogurt Dip

Peanut Yogurt Dip

  • 1/4 C Greek yogurt
  • 2 T peanut flour
  • 3-4 drops liquid Stevia
  • Unsweetened almond milk (to desired consistency, ~2 T)

 

 

Meal 6:

I don’t know why this sounded good, but I wanted something chocolate.  I mixed up the dregs of a cottage cheese container with 1/2 scoop of my chocolate protein powder and some almond milk.  Then I crushed a rogue bag of airplane pretzels on top.  Tasty.

Cottage cheese and chocolate protein

***

The protein count for the day: I have NO idea.

Don’t forget to join the Strange But Good link up this Friday!!! 🙂

What do you think about Coke’s anti-obesity ads?

What is your comfort food when you have a tummy thing?

 

Flu Fighting + Oatmeal Cookie Shake

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This was going to be an “easier” week leading up to my big race Saturday.

I just didn’t realize how easy…

About 1:30am on Sunday I got sick.  Stomach flu sick.  Hence the super-late post today.

At 4am I was a little worried I was going to pass out and texted to see if my mom was awake.  The woman never sleeps, I swear.  She was at my door in 30 mins.  Yup, I’m almost 30 and I call my mom when I’m sick.

I actually feel really lucky that I didn’t get it worse.  My little sister had it last week and she was in the ER getting fluids!  When I felt like I could make it in the car, Mom took me back to her house where she nursed me back to health.

Flu remedy

Ginger Kombucha with bananas.  And a flamingo.  Sure to make the sickest patient smile.  I ♥ my mom.

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Enough unpleasantry!  Let’s drink cookie shakes!

You may remember this creation from last year… it is on my “sick craving” list today.  Thankfully, it’s one that would actually be good on my tummy since it uses Silk Pure Almond Unsweetened Vanilla and bananas (bananas are good on an upset tummy, FYI).

Appropriate for breakfast or dessert, this is one tasty batter. The mix of oats, banana, flax, and coconut flour give it a fabulously doughy texture. I almost wanted to put the mix in the oven once I blended it.

Nutritional yeast may seem like a weird addition, but it has a rich, nutty taste that compliments the sweet flavors in this dough. The vanilla and cinnamon add to the cookie flavor, and – if you have it – the butter extract just adds a hint of “fresh from the oven.”

Oatmeal Cookie Protein Shake

Oatmeal Cookie Shake

  • 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
  • 1/4 C rolled oats (use gluten-free for a GF shake)
  • 1/2 banana
  • 1.5 tsp ground flax
  • 1 T coconut flour
  • 1.5 tsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/8 tsp butter extract
  • 7-8 drops liquid stevia
  • 1/2 C Silk Pure Almond Unsweetened Vanilla
  • Ice, to taste
  • 1/8 tsp Guar Gum (optional, but this addition will make your smoothie thicker)
  • Toppings: crushed walnuts, raisins, cacao nibs (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a high-seed blender and blend until smooth.

Add toppings and drink your dough!

Notes:

  • Nutrition will vary based on the protein powder you use.
  • You may leave out the protein powder; however, I like the addition because protein is good for muscle building/recovery and it makes this even more filling.
  • Using Silk Pure Almond Unsweetened Vanilla rather than skim milk saves you 25 calories in this recipe

Oatmeal Shake Nutrition

Be sure to check out Silk Pure Almond website and Facebook page to see more delicious, creative recipes!

This post is part of a sponsored campaign with Silk and FitFluential, LLC. All opinions are my own. Learn more about Silk Pure Almond Unsweetened on Facebook and Twitter.

***

The endurance cram-session post is coming.  I swear… unforseen circumstances.  Ugh.

Do you have a stomach bug miracle cure?  I have to be 100% by Saturday!

What is your favorite milk?  I will never go back to regular again.

My Morning Cocktail + WIAW

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I love a cocktail.

Shameless, I tell you.

During Junk-Free January, my sole cocktail is my Morning Cocktail.  If you’ve been reading for a while, you know I start every day with this apple cider vinegar-laced gem:

My Morning Cocktail:

  • 12 oz water
  • 1 T apple cider vinegar (with the mother)
  • 1 tsp Glutamine Powder
  • 1 scoop Amino Energy (I changed brands since the above pic, but the link is correct)

Glutamine and Aminos are both great for synthesizing muscle protein and preventing catabolism (muscle breakdown).  Key if you are trying to build muscle.

The Apple Cider Vinegar is what I get more questions about.  Here’s why it’s my jam:

  • It improves digestion and “regularity” (hence the glory of taking it first thing in the morning…)
  • Helps clear up acne (I also use it as toner)
  • Relieves joint pain and prevents muscle fatigue after exercise
  • Strengthens the immune system
  • Increases metabolism
  • Breaks down fats so that your body can use them rather than store them
  • Natural heartburn remedy
  • Lowers/regulates blood pressure,  bad cholesterol, and glucose levels
  • May control fleas (hopefully this is more applicable to your pets)

Drinking this each morning truly is energizing.  I no longer need coffee… until mid-afternoon when I’m freezing and getting tired of the computer screen.

This WIAW post features 4 meals (meals #2-5) that were totally prepped on Sunday evening.  Planning is the #1 thing you can do to start your year off right in terms of nutrition!

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Check out my 7 meals below, and then click here to head over to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons to get to see how others dined this week!

Meal 1:

After my morning cocktail, I set out to make one of my new staples: the Sweet Potato Pan-lette.

It’s a great, low-carb breakfast option.  Since I’m experimenting with a higher fat-lower carb diet this week, I made a couple of modifications:

  • Used 1/4 C egg whites + 1 whole egg
  • Added 1 tsp ground flax seed
  • Reduced the amount of sweet potato to 1/4 C

Meal 2:

The best part about a higher fat diet is bison.

I enjoyed a bison burger with apple slices and a high-protein, Strange But Good dipper:

  • 1/4 C no-salt cottage cheese
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 drops liquid smoke
  • 1 drop lemon Stevia
  • Sprinkle of cayenne

Meal 3:

Lunch was a super-easy fancy meal.  Salmon, roasted squash and eggplant, and celery.  Since I prep most of my food for the week on Sunday nights, this took all of 30 seconds to throw together.

Meal 4:

This was my post-workout meal: trout, broccoli, and hummus.  Again, all of this was prepped on Sunday so I could have it on the plate and in my belly STAT.

It was my first time making trout and I really liked it!  It is slightly fishy, but not offensively so.

Apparently it was a good workout because I wanted a little something extra after.  I busted out the jerky samples Simply Snackin’ sent me.  The flavor I tried would certainly qualify as Strange But Good: Beef Sirloin with Cranberries & Blueberries.

I’m not a huge jerky fan… but OMG.  This was fantastically moist and delicious.  Yes, jerky is salty… but if you’re going to eat it this is the way to go.  It has about half the sodium content you see in most (270).  Not to mention they are all-natural, high protein, and low calories.  Score.

Meal 5:

That trout was good… so I had it again.  Should have bought more… I only have 1 serving left!

I ate it on a bed of spinach with roasted broccoli slaw and brussels.  I coated them in a sauce I’d forgotten about: Lemon Tahini.  Served with a mini-Cauliflower Crust Pizza.

Meal 6:

The incredible, edible egg.  PB & Ceggs-style, topped with peanut butter.  The recipe is for a vegan version with tofu, but tonight I used real eggs.  And I used almond extract rather than maple.  Never.  Gets.  Old.

Meal 7:

Low carb is hard.  My low carb diet is high in carbs.  I’m trying… it’s a lot of error.  Who knew so many veggies were carb-loaded?  Ugh.

All of this to say that by meal 7 I’d had more carbs that I targeted.  Solution?  Low-carb protein creation.

It wasn’t awesome.  So I topped it with goji berries, sugar-free marshmallow creme, and cacao nibs.  And still… it wasn’t awesome. #fail

***

The protein count for the day: 177.0g.  The carbs?  Lets just say I suck at low carb.

Don’t forget to join the Strange But Good link up this Friday!!! 🙂

Do you use Apple Cider Vinegar?  What benefits have you seen?

Have you ever tried to go low-carb?  Any tips are appreciated!

2012’s Popularity Contest + WIAW

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2012 was a great year for discoveries.

 

I can’t believe I survived without some of these things before.

I feel like I’ve gotten to know so many inspiring people (like YOU).  Becoming a member of the FitFluential community has been a huge game changer.  The members of that community are constant sources of motivation and positive energy.  I’ve discovered new blog, learned a lot, and been able to learn about new products (shameless plug: perfect example is my Polar HRM from h.h. gregg – check out the review/giveaway here).

 

Polar Leg Day

 

Another amazing discovery was Instagram.  It’s unbelievable how much it’s changed the way we interact.  I love that when I can’t decide what to eat, I can just scroll through my feed.  It has been a fun way to have conversations with people throughout the day!  It’s basically Twitter with pictures and open comment threads!  I also love seeing recipes people are interesting in.  I forget that just because I make a certain snack every week doesn’t mean everyone else does!

 

I also have to give a holla to my morning cocktail.  Apple Cider vinegar became an addiction in 2012.  I drink it every morning with my Fitmixer Aminos (fruit punch flavor).  It is delicious and has totally replaced my need for coffee in the morning.  Love.  It.

 

 

One last love.  Peanut flour.  I cannot imagine my life without it.  I use it in savory sauces, smoothies, PB & Jegg-like creations, Elvis French Toast… to quote the Texas Pete lady: “I put that shit on everything.”  You can order it online through iHerb.com.  Use code USO924 to get $5 off your order!

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This popularity contest is my first WIAW post of 2013… What I Ate in 2012!  Below are the Top 10 Sprint 2 the Table posts of 2012 (based on page views).  Click on titles to link to the recipe.

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Check out the Top 10 below, and then click here to head over to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons to get to see how other started out their 2013.

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Most Poplar Recipes of 2012

1. Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

These take the prize for my favorite veggie sneak.  If you tasted these, you would have NO idea they have zucchini. OR that they are basically sugar-free.

 

 

2. Banana Creme Brownie Parfait

What’s better than brownies?  Brownies with (healthy) icing.

 

3. Raspberry Baked Oatmeal To-Go

Seeing this recipe pop up in the top 10 made me realize I’ve been making new versions and not sharing.  I’ve share a new twist on this soon!  I always have a few in the freezer for quick breakfast or snack.

 

 

4. Peanut Butter & Jeggs

I would like to vote this my favorite invention – and worst pic – of 2012!

 

 

5. 150 Calorie Chocolate Protein Cake

I’m actually eating one as I draft this post.  This cake is my most repeated dish of 2012!

Chocolate-Microwave-Protein-Muffin

 

 

6. Vegan Goat Cheese Oven-Roasted Tomatoes

I made these for a French-themed book club while I was eating vegan.  The meat-eating crowd ate them with no problems!

Vegan Goat Cheese Tomatoes

 

 

7. Chewy Granola Cookies

Otherwise known as “the ones that mom likes.”  She requests them. 🙂

granola-cookie

 

 

8. Sprouting Chickpeas

It shocked me to learn how easy sprouting is!

chickpeas sprouted

 

 

9. PB & Aggs (Peanut Butter and Apple-Eggs) and Carrot Cake Protein Batter

I don’t know which of these made this post popular… but I eat both almost weekly.

PB & Aggs and Carrot Cake Batter

 

 

10. Basic Protein Shake Recipe and Protein Powder Review

This is one of my favorites because it’s the post where I announced I was training for my first figure competition!

***

I’m so excited to start Junk-Free January!  My sister came over for dinner last night, and we enjoyed a tasty kombucha cocktail over out collards and black-eyed peas.

What was your favorite recipe last year?

Did you have any group/social platform discoveries on 2012?

 

Brandied Baked French Toast

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What didn’t I eat Wednesday may be a more appropriate title.

I may have over-done it on the sweets…

Do you look forward to the holidays being over?  After I left my mom’s last night, I was sad to be going home alone, but at the same time a little relieved to get back into a normal routine.

I do hate leaving this beautiful scene though!

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Today I was going to take another “break” from blogging.  Then I realized a) I don’t really have anything else to do and b) this would be a fun way to shock myself into going cold turkey on the sugar.  I didn’t get pictures of it all, and we slept in so it is kind of a random slew of snack rather than meals.  You’ve been warned.

We didn’t totally fail at Jenn’s What I Ate Wednesday theme this month… but it could have been better less sugar-filled:

Check out my Christmas eats, and then be sure to head over to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons and see what everyone else ate on this most wonderful day of the year!

Meal 1:

I didn’t have Fitmixer Aminos at my mom’s, but I did have my ACV and water first thing

Christmas Eve I prepared an overnight baked french toast to be ready to pop in the oven Christmas morning (almost afternoon… we didn’t eat until 11a).  We open presents while it baked.  Before the toast, we started out with a Christmas tradition: mimosas!

The french toast was served with an easy cranberry sauce.  I soaked fresh cranberries in Gran Mariner (orange liqueur), and placed it all in a small sauce pan with some vanilla liquid stevia and cinnamon.  I let that simmer on low heat while we opened presents, adding a little water as needed.

The Brandied Baked French Toast recipe is below.  It will look like it has a lot of booze in it, but it really isn’t strong once you bake it.  Most of the booze cooks out.  I tried to keep it a little lighter using unsweetened almond milk rather than a traditional cream or whole milk.  Making that simple change save a lot on calories and fat, but you don’t loose any flavor.  This resulted in a flavorful, surprisingly light, fluffy French toast… it may have to happen once more on New Years Day.

Also on our breakfast table was French-pressed coffee, ambrosia (my mom and sister’s favorite… I passed), and fresh figs wrapped in prosciutto.

Meal 2:

Popcorn.  We devoured a bag of Smart Food’s Parmesan & Herb Popcorn while watching Elf.

smart food

I grazed some more on almonds, random sweets, an extra bite (or 5) of breakfast… but we really enjoyed sea salt-breadcrumb dark chocolate by Chuao that Santa brought me:

Meal 3:

I don’t know if this counts as a meal… but we snacked on more prosciutto with Trader Joes’ Raisin Rosemary Crisps (like the Raincoat crisps sold at WF, but much cheaper), cream cheese with strawberry-champagne jam, hummus, carrots, and celery while dinner cooked.  With a pear cider cocktail (pear cider + brandy, ginger liqueur, and lime juice). mosaic0b25d31f486daf509eeb7b4a6a6c7088509ad55a

Meal 4:

This meal was probably unnecessary after all of that.  In my family, Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas brunch  are a bigger deal than Christmas night, so we didn’t do anything too fancy.

I kept my plate small, but everything was delicious.  We made a quick salad, wild rice with pomegranate and kale, roasted sweet potatoes, and grilled lamb chops.  All drizzled with a thick balsamic.  There was also an unpictured glass of Alamos Malbec… did I mention the return of Sober January?

Also unnecessary was dessert… which I happily enjoyed.  German Chocolate Cookies, coming to you Friday!

Brandied Baked French Toast

Brandied Baked French Toast

  • 1 loaf Ciabatta bread in 1-inch slices
  • 3 C unsweetned vanilla almond milk
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 T brown sugar
  • 1 packet Stevia (can replace with more sugar)
  • 1 T cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 3 T Cointreau
  • 3 T Frangelico
  • 1 T brandy
  • Optional: 1/2 grated apple

Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish (I used Pam).

Place bread in two tightly-packed layers in the pan.  If you use the apple or other fillings (any fruit or nut would work), sprinkle them between the layers.

Whisk milk, eggs, sugar, spices, and booze together in a large bowl.  Pour mixture over the bread.  Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.  The bread will absorb the milk mixture overnight.

Bake at 425 for 25-30 minutes, until fluffed and golden brown.  

Cut into squares and serve with fruit, syrup, or any other favorite breakfast topping.

Serves 6-8.

Notes: If you don’t like the alcohols, you may use a couple of teaspoons of vanilla or other extract.  You could also experiment with other liqueurs like Irish cream, Gran Mariner, Kahlua, rum, etc.

***

The gluttony will stop after this week… I swear.  I have one more cookie recipe to share, and it’s slightly lightened up!

How were your holiday meals?  What was the winner?

Are you a little relieved when the festivities end?

Attacking a Cold + WIAW

By

I will not get sick. I will not get sick.  I will not get sick.

 

Clicking my heels together 3 times…

I woke up Tuesday with a scratchy throat and stuffy nose.  I spent all day feeling like I was about to cough… you know, that tickle in the back of your throat?

Time to attack.  My solution (I hope):

  • Juice Plus – These are my ‘vitamins.”  It’s awesome because the pills are made from fresh fruits and veggies.  They juice them and then dry it into a powder, so you’re really getting a whole food-based pill vs. a vitamin (no, they don’t give me kickbacks… but they should!)
  • Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) – You guys know I love this stuff.  In addition energy and digestive benefits, it is alkalizing.  this is important because when you’re sick your PH balance is off
  • Water – LOTS of water helps flush out the germs
  • Luden’s Wild Cherry Throat Drops  – I’m pretty sure these don’t do anything… but they taste good and have a comforting factor since my mom used to keep them on hand when we were kids #sorryimnotsorry
  • Zinc – Some studies have found that Zinc reduce the length and severity of a cold… some found that it does nothing.  I’m covering all my bases
  • Vitamin C – Also questionable, but it potentially can shorten the length of a cold.  Again, covering my bases
  • Bourbon – KIDDING.  I’m not drinking away my symptoms… but I have a friend whose grandmother says to take a tablespoon of bourbon and a tablespoon of honey every hour until you feel better or pass out.  In reality, I’m infusing this bourbon for a special Christmas cocktail… TBA

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Today I don’t necessarily have holiday recipes to share… but I have recipes creations!  I’m exercising my Kitchen Workout (have you joined?), especially now that I’m feeling the ick.  Lots of  clean eats to heal and ward off sick germs.  During cold and flu season, I think this still fits with Jenn’s What I Ate Wednesday theme this month:

Below is my day of healing eats.  Check it out, and then be sure to head over to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons and see what everyone else is cooking up the week before the fat man come creeping down your chimney!

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Meal 1:

This was my first ACV of the day: my morning cocktail (mix of Apple Cider Vinegar, Glutamine, and Fitmixer Aminos).

For breakfast I was inspired to repeat the cauliflower “grits” I shared Monday.  Carol suggested I add nutritional yeast to make cheese grits!  I followed the same recipe, but added a tablespoon of nutritional yeast and some cayenne (to help clear out my nose).

Served with a toasted P28 protein bagel and a runny egg, cooked in a bit of truffle oil.

 

 

Meal 2:

Goji berries have tons of antioxidants   I re-hydrated some to plop into a bowl of cottage cheese (yes, I am aware that diary isn’t good for congestion, but it’s what I wanted… and it’s about to expire).  With all the add-ins this tasted like a bowl of pie!

Goji Berry Pie

Goji Cottage Cheese Pie

  • 1/2 C no-salt cottage cheese
  • 1 T vanilla protein powder
  • 1 T goji berries (re-hydrated in water)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1-2 drops english toffee flavor concentrate
  • 3-4 drops vanilla stevia
  • Blob of Sunbutter

 

Mix together in a small bowl, adding milk/water as needed.

 

 

Meal 3:

The worst part about feeling under the weather is not wanting to eat.  I LOVE to eat.  Just not right now.

But I forged on.  I used to love making pizza crust out of Kamut flour, and decided that would be a nice comfort food.  Until I ruined the crust by letting it stick in the pan.  Kamut toasts it is!

 

Served with a warm salad.  The dressing was a mix of ACV (heal me, vinegar!) and red pepper hummus.  My toppings were swordfish and sautéed red peppers, baby bellas, and onion.  I very lightly sautéed my spinach at the end.

Did you know that cooked spinach increases absorption of its calcium and iron?

 

 

Meal 4:

If you follow me on Instagram, you saw I got a little package in the mail after arriving home from the gym:

 

My Bulu Box this month contained C-Spray!!!  Perfect timing.  I don’t know if it works yet, but it was pretty tasty.

After my spray, I made a random post-workout meal.  Tuna burger from Whole Foods with sriracha, cucumber with fresh ground pepper, and a sweet potato topped with peanut butter.

 

I always eat the skin of my sweet potatoes for the fiber.  Plus I like it.  Is that odd?  I thought everyone did until someone at work commented…  Is this a Strange But Good?

 

 

Meal 5:

I wanted black bean soup.  I wanted cabbage.  I wanted brussels sprouts.  I had no patience.  This could only end in a stir fry.  It was a hodge podge… and it was pretty tasty!

 

Mexican Trash-Fry

  • Brussels, chopped
  • Red Cabbage, rough chopped
  • Shallots, diced
  • Garlic, minced
  • Tempeh
  • Black beans, no salt added
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Cumin
  • Cayenne
  • Coriander
  • Cilantro

 

Start sauteing the brussels first, as they will take the longest.  I didn’t measure, I just tasted and added.  It’s be best kind of cooking.

 

 

Meal 6:

More C-Spray, followed by eggs.  PB & Ceggs, topped with muesli.  Except I didn’t make them vegan – I used real eggs.  and I used caramel extract rather than maple.  Yum.

 

 

Meal 7:

I managed to take a break from the 150 Calorie Chocolate Microwave Protein Cake.  I had to finish that cottage cheese!

It was a random mix, but one of my favorites:

  • Cottage cheese
  • Cocoa powder
  • Chocolate protein powder (1/2 scoop)
  • Cinnamon
  • Cherries (melted in the microwave)
  • Cake of rice

 

Brought to you by the letter “C.”

And yes, I ate out of the same bowl 3x today.  Anything to avoid dishes.

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The protein count for the day: 165.0g.  A little low, but I’ll get it back tomorrow when all my “cures” work.

Don’t forget to join the Strange But Good link up this Friday!!! 🙂

Do you have a secret remedy for colds?

What are you making for the holidays?  My baking begins in earnest today!

 

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