Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Inspiration in green
Amazing, creative and green! Check out http://inspirationgreen.com/plastic-bottle-homes.html!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Creamy Curry Cauliflower and Veggie Soup
I modified a recipe and made this soup. I'm calling it creamy cauliflower and veggie curry! Right now, it's my new favorite soup! The PB makes it creamy... Oh my, it's good! It's super easy to make (pun intended).
Ingredients
1 32 oz. container of vegetable broth
~3 cups of water
2 bags of frozen cauliflower, carrot and broccoli mix (I get it from Whole Foods) -- note pull the broccoli out and don't let it cook as long as the carrots and cauliflower (see directions below).
1 bag fresh spinach (or a couple of cups of frozen).
You can use fresh veggies if you prefer or any mix of veggies that you like. I think zucchini and red peppers would work well, in addition to the cauliflower, carrots, broccoli and spinach.
1 medium sized yukon gold potato, cubed into 1/2" cubes
1 chopped onion
1 - 15 ounce cans of chickpeas, drained & rinsed
1 26 oz box/can of chopped tomatoes
1 tablespoon of turmeric powder (don't be shy, but note that it can stain things!)
1 tablespoon of curry powder
1 tsp. of salt (or less if you have salt in your tomatoes / garbanzo beans and broth you may want less. I used low-sodium broth and no salt tomatoes and beans so I added 1 teaspoon. Check labels! Salt to taste!)
1/4 - 1/2 tsp red cayenne pepper (depending on how much kick you like!)
2 - 8 tablespoons of organic peanut butter (optional and see note below)
Optional, optional:
More spinach or kale thrown in at the end for more GREEN! (I like it green!)
Directions
Put liquid (broth and water) in a big stock pan.
Add chickpeas, cauliflower, carrot, potato, and onion and boil. Lose track of time because you are multi-tasking but note that the veggies are all pretty soft (most likely 20 minutes).
Add the spices and tomatoes and cook for a while longer (lose track of time--probably 10-15 minutes).
Add the PB (you decide how much; I like 1/2 cup) and stir well. Add the spinach last and cook as long as you want (from no time to 1/2 hour).
Serve in a bowl like soup, over rice, over more veggies (I like it over kale or broccoli) or with bread. A note on the amount of PB, I put a lot in the soup--you can do less and I'm imagining you could substitute some of the PB for PB2 and still get the flavor. I love the taste of PB. Unfortunately, PB is high in Omega-6 fat, but even a 1/2 a cup isn't that much in this recipe (or so I keep telling myself) because you get SO much soup. (Someday I'll try subbing in a little PB2 for some of the PB. True confession, last night, I used the a lot of the full-fat version. I'll let you know if I try it with PB2.)
Ingredients
1 32 oz. container of vegetable broth
~3 cups of water
2 bags of frozen cauliflower, carrot and broccoli mix (I get it from Whole Foods) -- note pull the broccoli out and don't let it cook as long as the carrots and cauliflower (see directions below).
1 bag fresh spinach (or a couple of cups of frozen).
You can use fresh veggies if you prefer or any mix of veggies that you like. I think zucchini and red peppers would work well, in addition to the cauliflower, carrots, broccoli and spinach.
1 medium sized yukon gold potato, cubed into 1/2" cubes
1 chopped onion
1 - 15 ounce cans of chickpeas, drained & rinsed
1 26 oz box/can of chopped tomatoes
1 tablespoon of turmeric powder (don't be shy, but note that it can stain things!)
1 tablespoon of curry powder
1 tsp. of salt (or less if you have salt in your tomatoes / garbanzo beans and broth you may want less. I used low-sodium broth and no salt tomatoes and beans so I added 1 teaspoon. Check labels! Salt to taste!)
1/4 - 1/2 tsp red cayenne pepper (depending on how much kick you like!)
2 - 8 tablespoons of organic peanut butter (optional and see note below)
Optional, optional:
More spinach or kale thrown in at the end for more GREEN! (I like it green!)
Directions
Put liquid (broth and water) in a big stock pan.
Add chickpeas, cauliflower, carrot, potato, and onion and boil. Lose track of time because you are multi-tasking but note that the veggies are all pretty soft (most likely 20 minutes).
Add the spices and tomatoes and cook for a while longer (lose track of time--probably 10-15 minutes).
Add the PB (you decide how much; I like 1/2 cup) and stir well. Add the spinach last and cook as long as you want (from no time to 1/2 hour).
Serve in a bowl like soup, over rice, over more veggies (I like it over kale or broccoli) or with bread. A note on the amount of PB, I put a lot in the soup--you can do less and I'm imagining you could substitute some of the PB for PB2 and still get the flavor. I love the taste of PB. Unfortunately, PB is high in Omega-6 fat, but even a 1/2 a cup isn't that much in this recipe (or so I keep telling myself) because you get SO much soup. (Someday I'll try subbing in a little PB2 for some of the PB. True confession, last night, I used the a lot of the full-fat version. I'll let you know if I try it with PB2.)
Monday, May 28, 2012
New recipe for yummy PB and chocolate breakfast scones
I modified this recipe to create these scones. (I changed from stevia to maple syrup but you can go back to stevia or xylitol if you prefer.)
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Mix
1/4 cup flax
1 cup PB2
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup almond milk
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1/2 cup chocolate chips (more or less as you desire)
Mix the 3 dry ingredients in one bowl and then mix the wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Stir the wet and dry ingredients together and add chocolate chips. Shape into 12 small scone shapes. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes or until done. Enjoy!
Note from 9/8/2013, the scones with oat flour are super yum. They are less dense and intense than the others. I definitely like them better!
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Mix
1/4 cup flax
1 cup PB2
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup almond milk
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1/2 cup chocolate chips (more or less as you desire)
Mix the 3 dry ingredients in one bowl and then mix the wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Stir the wet and dry ingredients together and add chocolate chips. Shape into 12 small scone shapes. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes or until done. Enjoy!
Below, I modify my own recipe...
1/8 cup flax
1/2 cup oat flour
3/4 cup PB2
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup almond milk (or whatever non dairy milk you like)
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4-1/2 cup chocolate chips
Again, mix the 3 dry ingredients in one bowl and then mix the wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Stir the wet and dry ingredients together and add chocolate chips. Shape into 12 small scone shapes. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes or until done. Enjoy!
(4/19/2013)
(4/19/2013)
Note from 9/8/2013, the scones with oat flour are super yum. They are less dense and intense than the others. I definitely like them better!
Friday, May 25, 2012
Whoa... It's been 2 weeks since I last blogged...
I've been working out a lot recently and I haven't been blogging. (This kind of feel like a confession, eh?) I'm not sure where my blogging-mojo went, but it's completely gone at the moment. Here's a little of what's happened: I did a big project for the school my girls go to, some of our family visited so we were busy with company, and as I mentioned in the opening, I've been working out more than usual. I'll be talking mostly about working out, today.
What inspired me to post today was that I feel the need to share that I tried Bikram Yoga on Tuesday! A few years back, when I first heard about Bikram, I thought NO WAY, NEVER. The Bikram format is a 90-minute yoga class in a 105 degree room. I don't really like yoga* and I don't like heat. So what made me change my mind and try it? A new friend who does it made Bikram sound appealing. (Friends can be very important and powerful influences in our lives!)
A little history, I love to work out. I'm a Zumba girl, a hip-hop girl, and a tap dancer. I do Pilates to keep myself strong and flexible; I like Pilates but I don't love it. I also do a weight (toning and strength) class about once a week. I wouldn't do weights or Pilates if they weren't necessary, but they are necessary so I can be strong enough to do the things I love and not get hurt. I got hurt a few years back and I made a decision to make sure I was strong enough to prevent any further injury! Since I do weights and Pilates every week, they are now part of my routine. I do feel good and I am stronger. When I miss a workout, I don't feel as good. That gives me incentive to keep doing them even though I don't love weights and Pilates.
Okay, back to the Bikram Experience on Tuesday. My goal for my first class was to survive. I'm in pretty good shape (I typically do 5-8 workouts a week), but I was still worried. The heat had me most concerned. I don't even like to Zumba in a hot room, and I love Zumba. Given how I feel about yoga, I was worried that with the heat, I'd need to leave the room. I had to really mentally prepare myself for the heat. I was drenched with sweat within the first 5 minutes of class--perhaps even sooner, but I stuck it out.
So what does one do to prepare to go into a 105 degrees for 1.5 hours? I asked my friend who took me to the class; she recommended drinking coconut water and lots of water before the class. I drank a lot of water the two days before and some coconut water. (I was pleasantly surprised to learn that coconut water is tasty--I don't like coconut! It tastes nothing like coconut.) I like salt, so I also gave myself permission to eat some salty things the day before figuring I was going to go sweat all the salt out in that class! I ate my normal breakfast before class. The class was at noon so I also had a light snack around 10 am. I wore the closest thing I have to yoga attire (a yoga skirt and a work out top).
I am so glad I went with my friend. She introduced us to the the teacher and she knew the ropes. I would have been too intimidated to go on my own. During class, I learned that when you sweat so much you are very slippery. There were some moves that I couldn't do because I kept slipping out of my own grip. I also learned that for me, the challenge wasn't the flexibility part--I'm very flexible--but the challenge was the balance and strength part. I also learned that they tell you to LOCK your knee in Bikram. This goes against all the training I've had for my entire life and was very hard for me. I felt a little light headed on a couple of the poses, but not too bad. I did (or tried to do) everything. At the end of class, I felt very cleansed (from all the sweating), but I felt good. I was especially pleased I had lived to tell about it!
I will go back. Bikram doesn't work in super well to my schedule. I already have a lot of classes I love, but I'll make it work once or twice a week at least for this month. (The studio has a great trial membership.) They have a family "warm, not hot," class and I'll try that it with my girls next Saturday. I imagine we'll love warm, not hot, yoga next winter!
*I want to like yoga. I just haven't enjoyed it that much.
What inspired me to post today was that I feel the need to share that I tried Bikram Yoga on Tuesday! A few years back, when I first heard about Bikram, I thought NO WAY, NEVER. The Bikram format is a 90-minute yoga class in a 105 degree room. I don't really like yoga* and I don't like heat. So what made me change my mind and try it? A new friend who does it made Bikram sound appealing. (Friends can be very important and powerful influences in our lives!)
A little history, I love to work out. I'm a Zumba girl, a hip-hop girl, and a tap dancer. I do Pilates to keep myself strong and flexible; I like Pilates but I don't love it. I also do a weight (toning and strength) class about once a week. I wouldn't do weights or Pilates if they weren't necessary, but they are necessary so I can be strong enough to do the things I love and not get hurt. I got hurt a few years back and I made a decision to make sure I was strong enough to prevent any further injury! Since I do weights and Pilates every week, they are now part of my routine. I do feel good and I am stronger. When I miss a workout, I don't feel as good. That gives me incentive to keep doing them even though I don't love weights and Pilates.
Okay, back to the Bikram Experience on Tuesday. My goal for my first class was to survive. I'm in pretty good shape (I typically do 5-8 workouts a week), but I was still worried. The heat had me most concerned. I don't even like to Zumba in a hot room, and I love Zumba. Given how I feel about yoga, I was worried that with the heat, I'd need to leave the room. I had to really mentally prepare myself for the heat. I was drenched with sweat within the first 5 minutes of class--perhaps even sooner, but I stuck it out.
So what does one do to prepare to go into a 105 degrees for 1.5 hours? I asked my friend who took me to the class; she recommended drinking coconut water and lots of water before the class. I drank a lot of water the two days before and some coconut water. (I was pleasantly surprised to learn that coconut water is tasty--I don't like coconut! It tastes nothing like coconut.) I like salt, so I also gave myself permission to eat some salty things the day before figuring I was going to go sweat all the salt out in that class! I ate my normal breakfast before class. The class was at noon so I also had a light snack around 10 am. I wore the closest thing I have to yoga attire (a yoga skirt and a work out top).
I am so glad I went with my friend. She introduced us to the the teacher and she knew the ropes. I would have been too intimidated to go on my own. During class, I learned that when you sweat so much you are very slippery. There were some moves that I couldn't do because I kept slipping out of my own grip. I also learned that for me, the challenge wasn't the flexibility part--I'm very flexible--but the challenge was the balance and strength part. I also learned that they tell you to LOCK your knee in Bikram. This goes against all the training I've had for my entire life and was very hard for me. I felt a little light headed on a couple of the poses, but not too bad. I did (or tried to do) everything. At the end of class, I felt very cleansed (from all the sweating), but I felt good. I was especially pleased I had lived to tell about it!
I will go back. Bikram doesn't work in super well to my schedule. I already have a lot of classes I love, but I'll make it work once or twice a week at least for this month. (The studio has a great trial membership.) They have a family "warm, not hot," class and I'll try that it with my girls next Saturday. I imagine we'll love warm, not hot, yoga next winter!
*I want to like yoga. I just haven't enjoyed it that much.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Chocolate, Chia, Walnuts, Dates and a touch of vanilla (and that's it!)
I got this recipe from my Happy Healthy Friend.
Makes 10 bars
Prep time: 15 minutes (If you don't get interrupted by children!)
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups pitted dates (Warning: Make sure there aren't any pits! An errant pit will stop your food processor cold!)
1/3 cup raw usweetened (& undutched) cocoa powder
1/3 cup whole chia seeds
3/4 tsp vanilla extract, optional
1 cup raw walnut pieces
Cocoa for dusting
Preparation
1. Place dates in bowl of food processor; puree until thick paste forms.
2. Add cocoa powder, chia seeds, and vanilla, if using. Pulse until all ingredients are combined.
3. Add walnuts; pulse until nuts are finely chopped and well distributed through date mixture.
4. Spread large sheet of wax paper on work surface
5. Transfer mixture to wax paper, and press mixture into 1/2 inch thick rectangle. Wrap tightly with the waxed paper, and then with foil. Chill overnight.
6. Unwrap block, and cut into 10 bars. Dust edges and sides with cocoa VERY lightly, if desired, to prevent sticking. Wrap each bar in waxed paper & store in the refrigerator.
Everyone needs a little treat every now and then! These are so yummy. I've made them for a few different people and no one can believe how good they taste when they hear the ingredients. It's amazing what you can do with dates, walnuts, cocoa, and chia. They taste like a really rich brownie with little crunchies (the chia) inside. All 3 of my girls LOVE them.
Below, you can see me getting ready to enjoy one for my birthday cake and my 7-year old eying the treat!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Cold Korean Hotpot
I don't know what to call this besides, "lunch." Lunch the other day was super yum food and good friends at a Korean Hotpot Restaurant. Take a look:
Look at that asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, tofu, and lots of other good stuff! I added sriracha sauce and it was definitely a spicy coldpot... Is that a term? Anyway, I want to go back and enjoy it again!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
I have this friend...
She's a great athlete, she's in awesome shape, but she eats a terrible diet. She's completely a testament to the power of genetics (she looks good and damn, can she perform); not all of us are so lucky. And, even if we're tremendously gifted and have genetics on our side, like the story of the person in the article (linked below) and my friend, we can benefit from a healthier diet. I wish my friend would be open-minded to improving her diet.
Actually, I really wish, since she's a fitness professional and a role model to many, that she wouldn't encourage others to eat an unhealthy diet. She likes to talk about the taco place she frequents and how much bacon she eats. Her attitude is "I eat it and I am in good shape so you can eat it and work out and you'll be fine, too." Unfortunately, that's not the case. The people who take her class aren't teaching 15+ classes a week and they don't have her genes. In addition, she may be in great shape on the outside--I hope she's in great shape on the inside--but we can't know without some blood work.
In the meantime, go read about the ultra-marathoner, Scott Jurek. I love reading about plant-based athletes. Just this weekend, I was sitting across from a nurse and a long-distance runner and she was wolfing down chicken and beef. She was discussing how she needs protein to do what she does. Next time I run into her (or someone like her) I'm pulling Scott Jurek out and discussing him. Let me know what you think of him.
If you exercise a lot, do you feel it's easy or hard to be plant-based? I love being plant-based, but sometimes I end up eating too many nuts (in my opinion) to make it through the day. It's something I'm working on and I'll tell you more about in future posts.
Actually, I really wish, since she's a fitness professional and a role model to many, that she wouldn't encourage others to eat an unhealthy diet. She likes to talk about the taco place she frequents and how much bacon she eats. Her attitude is "I eat it and I am in good shape so you can eat it and work out and you'll be fine, too." Unfortunately, that's not the case. The people who take her class aren't teaching 15+ classes a week and they don't have her genes. In addition, she may be in great shape on the outside--I hope she's in great shape on the inside--but we can't know without some blood work.
In the meantime, go read about the ultra-marathoner, Scott Jurek. I love reading about plant-based athletes. Just this weekend, I was sitting across from a nurse and a long-distance runner and she was wolfing down chicken and beef. She was discussing how she needs protein to do what she does. Next time I run into her (or someone like her) I'm pulling Scott Jurek out and discussing him. Let me know what you think of him.
If you exercise a lot, do you feel it's easy or hard to be plant-based? I love being plant-based, but sometimes I end up eating too many nuts (in my opinion) to make it through the day. It's something I'm working on and I'll tell you more about in future posts.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Born to stroll
I'm kind of a zealot when it comes to exercise, but you don't have to be to get benefits. New research shows just how important it is to move and do something. Check out this new book by Gretchen Reynolds and take a walk!
On a related note, I've been reading about treadmill desks. (Just google treadmill desks for more information.) My husband and I are talking about getting / making one. I do a LOT of sitting and reading for my work, so it would be great to read and walk. When things are busy at work, I sometimes sit for 3-4 hours at a time--not good. Even if I just stood and walked really slowly while I read, it would be better for me. (Even if I just stood for 1/2 the time and sat for 1/2 the time it would be better for me.) I do work out (a lot), but I think it would be better for me to move a little more.
Color me intrigued by the treadmill desk.
On a related note, I've been reading about treadmill desks. (Just google treadmill desks for more information.) My husband and I are talking about getting / making one. I do a LOT of sitting and reading for my work, so it would be great to read and walk. When things are busy at work, I sometimes sit for 3-4 hours at a time--not good. Even if I just stood and walked really slowly while I read, it would be better for me. (Even if I just stood for 1/2 the time and sat for 1/2 the time it would be better for me.) I do work out (a lot), but I think it would be better for me to move a little more.
Color me intrigued by the treadmill desk.
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