Don’t fight the festive.
My former Grinch-self is kicking me in the shins.
As advertised, Vegas and I got a tree. Vegas did the lights (after a debate over whether wrapping or running lights up and down is better). We hung ornaments. There was Christmas music and champagne.
This, after being opposed to Christmas decor of years. My former self thought it was a waste of time and money, not to mention messy.
My new smiley-self loved every minute of it.
(And that’s not just the wine talking.)
#dontjudge
This WIAW I revisited some old favorites… and created a new #strangebutgood dinner!
Read on for my eats, and then check out Jenn’s blog for everyone else’s delicious creations!
Breakfast:
After my morning cocktail, I ate my morning sludge. As usual.
Breakfast was made in a rush while I was getting ready. Turkey omelette with strawberries. It was lovely… eaten the car. Out of tupperware. #notamorningperson
Mid-Morning Snack:
Arugula salad with carrots and fresh lemon juice with a lazy version of an old favorite – Chili Nutty Baked Tofu. The lazy version doesn’t get pressed or marinated, and the sauce is just peanut flour, sriracha, and a little almond milk. Sooooo… totally different, but baked the same way. Like an easy Thai Peanut Tofu!
I also had one of my Apple Carrot Protein Muffins for dessert. They freeze really well.
Lunch:
Canned salmon (desperation move after a lunch got cancelled) mixed with lemon and nutritional yeast. The awesome part was the veggies I tossed on top. I used Kristina’s recipe for Bourbon Roasted Brussels and Winter Squash. My only changes were to add pecans and use kabocha squash. You 100% should make this too.
Mid-Afternoon Snack(s):
I’m loving a pre-workout bar lately. Particularly these Quest S’mores bars. I cannot get enough – baked or just plain!
Dinner:
This was one strange but GOOD creation. Most of the time when I panic-cook after a workout it is something involving protein powder and a blender. Tonight I was carving scallops. I sautéed my Sizzlefish* scallops in a little coconut oil while I made the strange part. I needed a sauce and I needed to use the last of my Apricot Riesling Greek yogurt cream cheese… so I mixed it with some aged balsamic and a little cinnamon.
Plated on a corn tortilla (which I had no illusions of trying to fold into a taco) with arugula and tasty local #yolkporn. Side of roasted kabocha topped with peanut flour sauce.**
*Sizzlefish is offering 15% off their Holiday Sampler pack with the code HOLIDAY. It sounds odd, but this is makes an awesome Christmas gift! I just ordered some for Vegas.
**I order my peanut flour from iHerb. I like it because it doesn’t have the added sodium and sugar that other brands (ahem PB2) have. Use discount code USO924 for $5-10 off your order!
Dessert:
I do love a midnight snack. This was an especially good treat… it tasted like chocolate cake batter! Greek yogurt mixed with coconut flour, gelatin, carob powder, almond milk, vanilla, and NuNaturals cocoa syrup. Topped with Boom Chicka Pop kettle corn, Cool Whip, and sprinkles.
***
I’m humming Christmas carols. WTF?!
Are you a holiday decoration enthusiast?
Do you midnight snack? I must have sweetness before bed. #TWSS
Um, can I just admit something? Your Santa outfit…. Yeah, that’s sometime I wear during SEXY TIME……. Well, wear it for about 5 minutes! LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL! Because you’re a HO HO HO???
SANTA!! I love the new happy holiday things – a shared tree is a nice thing, indeed.
I just landed back in Portland, and I would LOVE another big old pan of those roasted veggies, YUM! glad you made them, pecans is a great addition.
XO
They were fantastic! Definitely going to make them on the regular. I’m thinking with cauliflower would be great too!
Well there goes my fellow grinch.
You know I love your midnight snacks and I am definitely a fan of them- although mine are like 10pm lol! And scallops…..ahhh we share a seafood tooth. Best.
Runny eggs on scallops- genius much?? That dinner looks phenomenal! I eat dinner fairly late so rarely snack before bed….which explains why I am always so ready for brekkie when I wake up :)!
Runny eggs on anything, right? 🙂
this is the first year that i’m doing a little decorating….. and your midnight snack made me drool on ig last night!! i’ve got to get my hands on those smores quest bars – everyone is raving about them!
well, this year i did not even put up a tree 🙁 is quest bar really that good – i hardly eat protein bars but this one keeps popping everywhere..
Definitely worth a try! It’s just about the only protein bar I eat. Let me know what you think of you try them!
hmmm can I be a JEWISH GRINCH?
A JEWINCH?
I promise not to be next year after we are done done moving!
I think you’re allowed this year! Drink some manischewitz!
Apricot Riesling Greek yogurt cream cheese!?!? Mind blown. I love tofu though-and youre totally right, it’s super easy!
We got a tree this year too and I love it. Except we have this stupid LED star on top that looks terrible and ruins the whole thing.
Errrrr… get a new star? I bet Alex loves it though!
I love the peanut, siracha and tofu combo one of my go to’s as well. Santa costume-very cute!
I can’t live without my nightly chocolate, no matter what time I get home! I’m such a grinch – I’m yet to find someone who can convert me haha
I didn’t think it was possible… but I guess never say never!
Decorating the tree is my favorite part of the holidays! I like Christmas decorations but don’t go too overboard. We got a few things for the house this year, and I made some artwork which turned out awesome!
I love the idea of artwork! Personal decor is the best.
That is one impressive midnight snack! I do tend to be a nighttime snacker, too. If I’m really full from dinner I nix it but there’s something about a snack after the house is quiet and kids are in bed that feels so indulgent!
Feeling indulgent is my favorite. 🙂
Oh duh, never thought of using almond milk for a marinade. I tend to do the PB2, Sriracha & Bragg’s for an easy marinade – sometimes I’ll add in kelp and dulce flakes.
It’s really good – adds the texture! Good call on the dulce!
Anyone who gets you in the Christmas Spirit (FINALLY!!) earns BIG brownie points in my book. 😉
HA! You’ll love Vegas. I told her you are more Type A than I am and she didn’t believe me. I don’t even scratch the surface in comparison!
I’ll take that as a complement!! 🙂
As you should!
Bourbon anything is always good. Your tree is cute! 🙂 We have had ours up for almost 2 weeks and I love it! Makes me happy with all the twinkling lights >:) Besides, my son is 7 and it’s kind of a requirement, lol. Have a great one Laura! Happy Hump Day -Iva
OMG – you should see my mom’s liquor cabinet.
You crack me up! I used to so be a grinch and never decorate. I thought it was too messy. Now that I host the holidays at my home, I love it. Actually makes me sad that I’m injured again and couldn’t do as much as I wanted this year.
We have a little Charlie Brown-esque Christmas tree and I love it. Also…now I need to go buy kabocha because you’ve given me a huge craving for it!
My brain gets all fuzzy by your crativity – especially in the sick state it is now (isn’t it always?).
Seriously, How do you do it to have such a great variety in your daily meals all the time! I am so lazy.
Can you come and be my private cook? I pay you some trips to Zermatt as a salary.
DEAL!
hahahaha awww the Santa hahahah & the tree too funny Ms Grinch gahaha!! Love it! I have not decorated but it’s mainly bc I’m going home for Christmas in Oklahoma so I’m like whyyyy hahahah!!! So basically I’m lazy gahaha!!! And I have not listened to any Christmas music lol! I’m not a grinch I love the holidays but let’s just say some ppl go overboard on it & then it drives me MAD LOL! Old roommate would start listening to it like in November & we commuted together at the time I was like STOP IT LOL! Gahaha 😉 yay!!
I am with you on the music! I can’t start it til after Thanksgiving. Enough is enough.
i crave scallops daily. I wonder what they’d be like in your tofu nutty version.. hmmmm… p.s i love that you are lovey! hehe
Ohhhh… or the shrimps?! I could eat both constantly.
omg I’m dying over that chili tofu! I like how there’s a quickie way to make it. Definitely gonna try it out 😉
Thanks Karen! Let me know what you think if you do!
I vote lights being wrapped around instead of up and down, just in case you all want debate assistance:)
I appreciate ya. 😉
been dying to try that quest bar! it look so good!
Love your midnight snacks they are always mouth watering!! Xo C
Aww, I’m glad you decorated this year and smiled about it!! Woo!! I’m kind of in the same thought process as you with decorating… I like the idea of it.. but I always feel like it’s messy/expensive/time consuming. But most of all, we don’t have a ton of storage for decorations, so I keep it minimal!!
I love having something sweet before bed, too! And Thai Peanut tofu sounds SO good!
Add Cool Whip and sprinkles to anything and my kids and I will eat it. Looks like a day full of nourishing eats! I am a huge Christmas decoration fanatic– sometimes I’m too tired though and only put up a few. This year we brought them all out, so clean up should be fun. Glad you found the spirit!
I must be one of your kids… LOL!
“My new smiley-self” …. <3 YAY!!
And yes, I midnight snack … too much!
The best part of that Santa costume is the two glasses of wine. Those were both yours, right? And I see that you went with stringing the lights up and down, LIKE A HEATHEN. Unforgivable.
Duh. I have to have balance!
And Vegas is the heathen. I can’t complain because I didn’t have to do anything but drink wine and cook dinner.
I’m not a decorating enthusiast…mainly because what goes up, must come down. I decorate enough to enjoy but not so much that I hate life when it’s time to take it down. You ate in the car?!! Bad girl. I got in a wreck today. All my fault. Bumper to bumper traffic. I nailed the douche in front of me (who stopped to let someone turn. No. You don’t do that). His car was fine. My poor baby needs some plastic surgery. I wasn’t texting, but I was distracted. Don’t get distracted in traffic. You’re a native of Atlanta. You know this. My midnight snack is lame. Oats, stevia/splenda, cinnamon, water. Of course, I can easily eat like 8 servings of oatmeal late night. It’s still better than a late night Big Mac. Right?
Oh man… I’m a native Atlantan. Therefore, I can do 108434895748957 things at a tie while driving at 90 mph. 😉