Farmer's Markets and Turkeys

It's been a relaxing and fun weekend here in my little planet.  After further brainwashing my loving husband about the virtues of real food, we decided to take advantage of our year round farmer's market.  It was a beautiful day and it was a really fun time.  I talked to a guy who told me about the virtues of local honey and bee pollen and it was really interesting.  I came home with a steal on fresh, local, organic products:

 

• Brown rice, wheatberries, carrots, bok choy, cilantro, kale, beets- all for $10

I know a lot of people can't afford to eat all organic all the time, but it can be affordable, especially by checking out farmer's markets and local ads.  If anything, it's worth checking out your options and then deciding what's available and what you can substitute or change to make it work.  End PSA.
Besides my shopping, I also conquered the kabocha squash:

I ate all of it with brussels sprouts and my new hummus.  It kept me full for 5 hour yesterday- unheard of.  There was also some vegan baking:

Some non-vegan baking:

Some snack plates:

Some almond butter vs. Bee's Knees PB battles:

(It was a tie)
After all the foods yesterday and today, it was time for a walk.  We went to the reservoir by our house.  Look at the view:

It was really sunny and nice.  Hubby thought this was funny. I thought my workout hair was funny.

We also saw wild turkeys just chillin in the road:

We are off to the gym for a workout and then it's bed time.  I hope ya'll had a great weekend and are ready to take on a new week!  Next up will be a little recap on my recent ethnic market shopping.
Peace out beauties!

Hot Friday Night Date

Hope you guys are had a hot Friday night date night!  I usually look forward to Friday as a time to spend with my guy and unwind.  This week was the beginning of my Friday night class- Managerial Accounting from 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM!  It takes the pressure of ever coming up with plans for a Friday night!

I still didn't stray from the traditions of what normal people do on a Friday night.  What am I, some wierdo?  I started out with a drank:

This drink was called "Blood" and is a beet, apple, ginger and lemon juice.  It was intense.  Intense in the way that made me twitch every time I took a sip.  Yum.

I followed it up with a 3 course meal:

Organic pink lady apple with a side of laptop.  Yum.

Roasted asparagus eaten outside because it smells.

It was actually a really interesting class for what it was and the 4 hours went by quickly.  Of course once I got home it was time for some real food!

Sprouted bread with almond butter, banana, cinnamon, and chocolate syrup :)  It was Friday!  I followed it up with my square cookies, because I know how to party.

I hope you are enjoying your Saturday!  I am off to rule the world.

Crabcakes Make me Swoon

Hey Beauties!  Today was a fun bloggie comment day.  I loved hearing about your juicing experiences.  I think the key to making my juice less icky is the addition of fruit, particularly citrus.  I'm not done with Mr. Juicer quite yet.

A couple of you humored me and asked how I made the raw-ish crackers.  There is no real recipe.  I took the pulp of the juice stuff, mixed with cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper, and popped into a 350 degree oven.  I let them 'bake' for about 20 minutes, then left them in the oven overnight.  When I took another look in the morning, there was still moisture, so I let them 'bake' again by heating the oven to 350  and leaving them in the oven for the rest of the day once it shut off.  Follow me?  These are the obstacles girls without dehydrators go through!  It would work best to probably leave the oven on for 40  minutes the first time, then leave in the oven.  I'm sure the raw ladies can help you get a legit recipe!

What I do have a recipe for is my Zucchini, Arugula, Pink Lady Apple, Tempeh, and Fancy Fig Salad

I packed it all up in my tupperware for work.  Once I got there, I warmed it up for a minute and added some TJ's Champagne Vinaigarette.  Sounds strange, but it was good!  Look at the cross section of my fancy figs:

As I packed my salad, I also baked some cookies.  After my healthy cookie adventure I decided to give my husband a little more white flour in his life.  Well, since I couldn't help myself, I omitted the oil and messed with the sugar content.  (Insert evil laugh here).  The cookies were not very sweet.  We called them cookie bread, cookie rolls, and my favorite, cookie naan.  It wasn't that bad, but just not a sickeningly sweet mix.  At least they were pretty.  I am obsessed with my new square muffin tins and make square cookies for fun:

Despite all the food critic talk, they are almost gone.  You are very welcome, husband.

Speaking of my guy, I'm on my own tonight.  Hubby is on a business trip, but surprised me by coming home to have dinner with me before he left.  I know- we are newleyweds.  I had already inhaled this dinner when he called me to say he was on his way:

• Sprouted grain bread, egg white, pepper jack cheese, guacamole, and hot sauce

Hubby got my made up recipe for crabcakes with wasabi aioli:

I snapped a picture on the table, and then homeboy took the plate from me.  He said it tasted like heaven.  I was in heaven admiring my crabcakes.

Mmmmmmm crabcakes :)  I accidentally missed his face in the picture, but I know where my priorities are- crabcakes (nod nod wink wink)!


Crabcakes with wasabi aioli:

• 1/4 can of the GOOD crab meat (I got mine at TJ's- where else?)
• 1 eggwhite
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
• Spices to taste (I used paprika, chili powder, cumin, garlic salt, and pepper)
• Olive oil spray
• Optional- cheese (for me, it's not an option- cheese makes my husband happy)

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  Combine the crab, eggwhites, breadcrumbs, and spices, making sure all the ingredients mix well.  Use a muffin tin that has been sprayed with olive oil spray, and pack in the stuff.  Bake for 10 minutes, then add the cheese and bake for a few more minutes to melt the good stuff.

Aioli:

• Mayo of choice and wasabi mustard.  Mix like crazy, depending on your preferred level of spice

I chilled with some of this dessert:

• Hemp protein powder, vanilla yogurt, greek yogurt, Trader Joe's mixed berries, cinnamon, and white chocolate chips

I was actually full and couldn't finish it, but you'll see the leftovers in my breakfast cookie. I don't waste liquor, coffee, or protein cookie ingredients!

I love your comments and I love to know what you think!  Is there anything you would like to see a post on?  Tell me!
Have a great Friday!

National Chocolate Cake Day!

Hi Guys!  Thanks for all your sweet comments on last night's post!  You make me smile each time for real!  Today I was pleasantly surprised to learn from my diva friend that today is National Chocolate Cake Day!  Luckily it was birthday cake day in the office- a wonderful time when we pretend to like each other and then eat cake.  This was only made better because they decided to serve chocolate cake!  I casually told my secretary friend of the glorious holiday and she announced it to the office.  I had to provide back-up (I'm surrounded by nerds), but I found some article from the US Post, so it's a legit holiday!
Sorry, no photo.  Nobody at work knows about my little hobby.  I don't think they are my target market, so I don't tell them about it.

Anyhoo, I celebrated like a champ with a demure little piece in front of everyone and then another similar sized piece for a pre-workout meal.  I made the mistake of saving up for cake time and I was truly hungry!  Nothing cures hunger like chocolate cake!  It kinda made me queasy, but I had plenty of energy for another random workout:

• 1 mile warm up run
• 20 minutes elliptical intervals
• 15 minutes bike intervals
• 4 back exercises (lat pulls, another back thingy, rows, and pullups)
• Followed by stretching

I was a mess and came home to eat my treasure- my first attempt at raw crackers made of my juice pulp!  It took me 12  hours in my oven but I did it and they were gooooood!

Believe me, they taste better than they look.  This is the pulp of carrot, zucchini, and orange juice.  I don't have a recipe yet because I need to drink more juice and try it again!  I served the crackers with some more zuch sauteed in spices and agua:

Topped with some of this sauce.  I have to keep myself from drinking this sauce:

What I have no problem containing myself around is the actual juice:

I made it last night and drank half this morning.  I take it like shots and it ain't pretty.  I will have to chug the rest tomorrow!

My question for you: Do you juice? What's your favorite juice combo?

Not the Treadmill, Protein Cookie Dough, and Tempeh

Work it Out
I'm back tonight from a sweaty workout.  I haven't been posting about the gym too much lately, but I've been doing the gym thang, don't worry!  In my new theme of mixing things up, I ditched my beloved treadmill for a different kind of workout and it was awesome!

• 25 minutes bike intervals
• 20 minutes stairmill (the kind that looks like a mini escalator and hurts like hell)
• Pushups- 2 sets of 15, 2 sets of 10 for a total of 50 REAL ones
• Lunges- regular ones and the lunging backwards kind, and another leg exercise I don't know!
• Wall sits with curls
• Planks on the ball, side planks, crunches on ball
• Lots of stretching and a few downward dogs and cobras for good measure

New Foods
I came home to attack my dinner- a different twist on the typical bagel and lox:

• New sprouted grains bread, wild smoked Alaskan salmon, topped over guacamole (Thanks Tania and Benny!!)

The guac worked like the cream cheese, minus the saturated fat and the salsa provided the tomato and onions that are usually sliced up and fall off the bagel.  I loved this and hubby requested it for breakfast tomorrow.

Also on the menu tonight was my take on the Protein Cookie Dough that I always see on Namaste Mari's Blog. I think I turned it into Protein Cheesecake Filling though, because that's what it tasted like to me!

• 1 Tbsp TJ's Organic Chocolate Hemp Protein, sprinkle of ground flax, 1/4 cup greek yogurt, cinnamon, vanilla extract, stevia to taste, 1/2 Tsp unsweetened cocoa powder.  
• Mix, and top with mini chocolate chips and leftover baby birthday party sprinkles.
  

I also finished baking up some BBQ tempeh for lunch this week.  I tried and I like!  Bring on the fermented soybeans in all their chewy glory! 

I'm sold because although I like tofu, I try to stay away from a lot of processed soy products.  I'm sure I'll get sick of this, but I love it so far.
Finally, hubby tried to redeem himself by taking a picture of me doing what I do best- staring at the screen while sititng on my butt!  It's no cupcake shot, but I'll take it!

Gosh, I'm so hard core when I type.  Have a great night- it's almost Wednesday!

Out of the Food Slump

Hi Ladies and Gents!  I hope you had a chill Monday and are ready to tackle the rest of the week!  I had a chopped up day by starting work early, leaving for an appointment, and hopping back on the computer for a little more work tonight.  Not a bad deal, if you ask me!

This afternoon I finished my last pass at the wrap coma I have put myself in over the last week.  Once I like something, I really like it- and eat it every day!  Today was a roasted veggie wrap:

• 1/2 of a Whole Wheat Lavash wrap with roasted eggplant and zucchini (my current favorite vegetable) with a healthy glob of Sundried Tomato and Basil Hummus

Today after work I went to Trader Joe's and did a looooonnnng shop all by myself.  It meant that I could walk up and down the aisles and read every single package.  That's what normal people do, right?  I made sure to get some new items since I've been eating the same thing all month.  Here are some of my goods:

• Sprouted bread (4 grams of fiber per slice!), Jasmine Green Tea, Organic Hemp Protein (8 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber per serving), Olive Oil

• Gummy vitamins, Vanilla 0% Greek Yogurt (run to get this- it's as amazing as it sounds!), tempeh, organic pink lady apples, refried black beans, pesto, organic light string cheese, natural BBQ sauce, and Turkish figs.

I got to work putting together a new meal for me- homemade pizza with TJ's whole wheat crust.  I loved it!  It was so doughy and good.  Hubby had a boy sized, meat-filled pie.  He took it before I could eat it.  Here is my mini pie:

• Topped with BBQ sauce, carmelized red onions, and artichoke.  Yum yum!  I served brussels sprouts on the side for extra chewing satisfaction.

Cookies!
Since the oven was already on and I still had my mom's mixer (Hi Mom!  I'll give it back eventually), I went to town and baked chocolate chip cookies.  Once upon a time, when hubby and I were courting, I used to make him cookies.  I made the doughy, buttery, chocolate filled yummy kind and then I started experimenting and making healthier cookies.  He always ate them- there was even a green cookie incident.  It was the moment I knew he loved me <3!
When it comes to cookies, I think one needs to separate them from healthy eating.  There is room for a real cookie in a diet from time to time.  However, I can't help myself but to experiment.  I saw the whole wheat pastry flour and went to town!

I present- Whole Wheat Chocolate Covered Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 Tbsp brown sugar
Desired amount of chocolate chips
3/4 cup applesauce
1 egg
1/2 stick butter of choice
Vanilla extract to taste
2 Tbsp agave nectar

Mix all wet ingredients (the last 5) and then slowly incorporate the combined dry (1st 3 ingredients).  Add in your chocolate chips too!  Drop onto the cookie sheet using a spoon.  This should make about 20 fairly large cookies.  If you prefer, cover in melted chocolate like I did.  It's still healthy because the recipe is whole wheat.

In all honesty, the texture of these is 'healthy.'  I love healthy, so I enjoyed one with a dollop of my new greek vanilla yogurt:

I also had one of the chocolatey ones immediately after and approved.  Hubby shoved 4 or 5 in his handsome face and told me they tasted healthy.  Oh well, he has nothing to prove now!  I encourage you to give these a try and let me know what you think!

If It Ain't Broke- Don't Fix It

Hey Guys!  I'm back from Cupcake-Palooza 2010.  I think I made it on the Most Wanted list after supplying some toddlers with a lifetime of sugar in one day.  Oh well!

Over the last few days I've been enjoying the same variation of foods over and over again.  Some may call it a food rut, but I call it creating a routine.
First, the Protein Pancake:

• 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder, 1 eggwhite, 1/2 cup pumpkin puree or applesauce, 1/8 tbsp (or a sprinkle) of baking soda
• Iced with plain yogurt, cinnamon, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract

I never get sick of this.  It only takes 3 minutes in the microwave and makes the best cake/meal!

I've also been enjoying breakfast wraps:

• Whole wheat Trader Joe's lavash wrap, 1 tbsp almond butter, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, cocoa powder.
• Wrap and enjoy in the car as you are racing to get to work!
  

I'm pumping myself up to go in the kitchen and make some veggies and meals for this week to keep myself from eating the above meals 3 times per day.  We've also got a workout planned after all the football!
I leave you with some highlights from the rager:

I've eaten 4 cupcakes so far and I'm attacking my goodie bag.  I am embracing my inner child today!

Have a great weekend!

Late Night Baking

Tomorrow is my nephew's birthday party.  I volunteered to bake cupcakes.  I got all my ingredients ready and threw these together:

Banana chocolate chip with chocolate frosting and neon dinosaur sprinkles

Red velvet mini cakes and cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and red and rainbow sprinkles

Chocolate with chocolate frosting and mini chocolate chips

Strawberry with cream cheese frosting and airplane sprinkles, I think!?

Vanilla cupcakes with vanilla frosting and verde sprinkes.  Also, vanilla stars for extra sparkle

All together now on my kitchen floor to chill out overnight.  Oh please don't let me develop that sleep walking and eating disease tonight!

For a bloggie lesson, when your husband offers to take picture of your 'cupcakes' make sure you watch what's he's shooting.
Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

I've clearly done too much quality control.  I'll be back tomorrow with a report for you on the rager.  I hear 3-year-olds can really party!