Sunday, February 28, 2010

All Running and No Key Makes Claire Crazy!

Dinner
Last night there was a performance that a bunch of my colleges were in called a "Liederabend" which is German for Evening of Song. I ended up going for a little run around the neighborhood despite my laziness. Once I was out and running about I got into it! After I showered I made this tasty grilled sandwich.
  • frozen eggplant burger
  • mushrooms
  • bell pepper
  • scallions
  • cilantro
  • avocado
  • olive paste
  • hempseed hummus
  • chicken seasoning
  • salt and pepper
I had the left over yams from the other night on the side and the last little bit of the avocado I was using.
I don't think I will ever get tired of these sandwiches. It's the mushrooms and scallions that do it I think. They make the whole sandwich taste more gourmet.

For dessert I had three pieces of crystallized ginger and few chocolate covered blueberries.
After the performance Kelsey was snacking on some apple chips that she just picked up from Costco and I was curious so I tried a few.
They were really good!
Last night I went to Savannah's boyfriend, Matt's, metal show which was really intense! While I was there I met some German speaking Swiss boys! I get so excited whenever I get to speak German again, it seriously made my whole night :) I ended up making it back home earlier than the night before but still not super early...I slept in till ten though so I think I made up for it!

Breakfast
I was so ready for some whipped banana oats this morning! I decided to try a technique I read about on KERF- Kath Eats Real Food where she sited another blog called Being Chelsea. She suggests cooking the banana a little first because it makes it a little sweeter. I can see how this would work since the heat would bring out the sugars in the fruit and as I was cooking them it reminded me of Bananas Foster.
I used my LAST Starbucks VIA today ohh noo!

I am really feeling this special "whipping" technique. It does take a little bit more time and more of my attention but when I have the time for it, it's totally worth it.
I added a little soy milk to loosen things up.

Lunch
So there is a whole story that goes along with lunch. Around 12 I decided that I would run to a class at the gym that started at 12:30. It wasn't a super long run and was a perfect cardio warm up. Plus it was a gorgeous day! The first class was Cardio Kickboxing and I was totally feeling it today. I was having a workout high! After that class I decided to stay for the Power Pump Abs class which was directly after. That was awesome too! So, afterwards I jogged lightly back to my apartment, fantasizing the whole way about the salad I was going to make and the shower I was going to take when I got back. But when I got back....I was locked out, no one was home, and I had no phone. I ended up doing a lot more running around than I bargained for, trying to find a friend who had my roommates phone number so I could get a hold of someone. Every attempt I made failed and by the sixth house I tried, I was locked out just long enough that I started to go a little crazy thinking I was going to be stuck for a really long time! Luckily, Kelsey came to my rescue just in time to keep me from completely falling apart. I hate getting locked out! From now on, I'm going to have to figure out creative ways to have a key on me whenever I go to work out.
Anyways, on the bright side, the whole flustering experience made this salad taste that much better. The fixins:
  • red leaf lettuce
  • cherry tomatoes
  • a few sliced, mixed olives
  • avocado
  • scallions
  • cucumber
  • cilantro
  • pinto beans
  • salt and pepper
  • balsamic vinegar

I hadn't thought of adding the balsamic until this shot here.
To balance out the salty with something sweet, I made a glass of fresh orange juice and treated myself to a Peanut Butter Pretzel Mojo bar.

Dinner
Kelsey and I made a grocery run and when we stopped at Whole foods we picked up some pre-made food for dinner. I got forbidden rice, sesame tofu, and kale salad.
The tofu had a spicy kick which was awesome and the rice was a little bland. The combo was great.
Kale is always delicious. And I love sesame so this was great.
Kelsey and I also decided to go in together on a dessert that should last us the week: Berry Pudding! It's a recipe that comes from a cookbook Kels recently bought called Gluten-Free Vegan. There was definitely spoon licking! The recipe:
  • 12 oz. extra-firm silken tofu
  • 2 cups frozen berries
  • 6 Tbsp. agave syrup
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
It was sort of a crazy process since I doubled the batch. All you have to do is put everything in a blender and puree it! So easy!!
I garnished with mint leaves. Aren't they pretty?


I ended up licking so much off the spoon and the left overs in the blender that I decided not to have one of my portions tonight but instead I just went with a few chocolate covered blueberries. Besides, the puddings are supposed to chill in the refrigerator so I can wait till tomorrow so it will be perfect!
I can't decide if I should go to cycling tomorrow... there are only two weeks of classes left but I feel like I have a lot of academic things going on right now that should be my main priority. The struggle! If it was an hour earlier right now rather than 30 to midnight I might say that I will just suck it up and go but I have a feeling that I'm going to need the sleep to recover from the late nights I had this weekend. I need to start tomorrow on the right foot since I'm feeling a little guilty about my lack of productivity this weekend. I needed to decompress but I really do have important things I should be spending my time on. Tomorrow is time to get to work. I think I need to set goals for myself so I don't get overwhelmed.
  1. Practice Italian song/ words
  2. Extra Credit for 20th Cent. Analysis
  3. Look over paper assignment for 20th Cent. Analysis
  4. Memorize choir song.
I think I can handle that for tomorrow. There's definitely more to be done but that's all I can handle on my plate right now.
Bedtime for Bonzo! Good night!

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Lazy Lazy Lazy

Lunch

I had the last slice of the Pumpkin and Black Bean Casserole for lunch and it was delish.

When I got down to the last few bites I added a little hempseed hummus for an extra kick.
Later, I decided that is was finally time to watch the last episode of Dexter. I am obsessed with this show and I had been saving the last episode of the 4th season for a few weeks now. I was just waiting for the perfect moment and it finally came! Of course I needed a perfect little snack to go with the perfect moment so I invented something super satisfying. This is my very own Peanut Butter Chocolate oat concoction and some mint tea.
Ingredients:
  • 3 tsp. peanut butter
  • 1/2 tsp. cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp. agave syrup
  • small splash vanilla
  • approx. 1/8 cup oats
  • sprinkle of shredded coconut
Directions:
  1. I first microwaved the peanut butter for 15 seconds in a mug
  2. then I mixed together the cocoa powder vanilla and agave
  3. then I added the oats
  4. Next I microwaved it again for 5 seconds
  5. Garnish with coconut and that's it!
It was so satisfying!
So I just finished the last episode of Dexter and I can't believe it! I'm just stunned with the direction they decided to go in and I love it but I'm still in shock... and a little sad. I am sooo anxious for season 5 to come out!

I'm continuing to be a complete vegetable today and I'm actually ok with it. Tomorrow I will try and be a little more productive but today I am decompressing big time.

Hope you're enjoying your weekend too!

Midnight Snack, Rain Outside- Creamy Oats Inside

Midnight Snack

Talk about a midnight snack! After Shabbos I hung out with some friends who were also at dinner. It was raining and we walked from dinner to another friends house with trash bags on like crazy people! When I finally got home I had the last Skinny Figgy Bar and it was sooo good!

I had it with a mug of mint tea.

Breakfast

For breakfast this morning I whipped up some especially creamy banana oats. In the mix:
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup raisins
  • 1 sliced banana
  • 1/2 cup oats
  • 1 tsp. milled flaxseed
  • 1 tsp. chia seeds
  • shake cinnamon
  • splash cinnamon
  • drizzle of maple syrup
  • scoop peanut butter
I took the extra time this morning to really whip the oats and stir them constantly. It made a big difference because my oats came out much more creamy!


How is it sunny out and yet it's raining? Baah!
Now, I'm procrastinating the cleaning and homework I have to do by watching "Corina, Corina" on TBS With Whoopi Goldberg and Ray Liotta. It's so sweet! Wow, it just started pouring even harder!! I love the sound of rain :)

Hopefully Kelsey and I will be making a trip to the gym later, in a car of course.
See ya later!

Friday, February 26, 2010

Finally Friday!

The weekend is finally here!!!!!!

Snack

After anthropology and before studio I ate this banana. Perfect on the go food.
Lunch

I went to work after studio and I was prettttty hungry the whole time! When I got home I ate the salad that I had originally made to take with me but decided to leave it.
  • mushrooms
  • cilantro
  • bell peppers
  • scallions
  • avocado
On the side, crostini, olive paste, and bruschetta!

For "dessert" a dipped Mojo Clif bar.
I am having an intense bottomless pit stomach moment! I cut up half a banana, mixed in walnut pieces, and drizzled it with a chocolate sauce I made myself. To make the sauce I mixed:
  • 1 tsp. coconut oil
  • drizzle of vanilla extract
  • spoonful of gourmet drinking chocolate powder
I microwaved it for a few seconds, stirred it all up and drizzled away!

I don't understand why I just couldn't be satisfied with anything!!! I just decided to finish the other half of the banana with a scoop of peanut butter and be DONE!
It's Shabbos!! I won't be able to take any pictures of dinner tonight but there are always amazing salads, hummus and couscous! I'm going to keep it light and enjoy myself.

Happy Weekend Ya'll!

Best Breakfast EVER!

I thought I was being lame when I only did the first four on this card but later that day I was feelin it in my arms! I did two sets of each and it really did work! This morning I woke up and did the next four, also two sets each.

Breakfast

This breakfast makes me feel like my life is good :) How can a simple thing like breakfast do that, you ask? I'll tell you!
I used Savannah's George Forman Grill and cooked up:
  • scallions
  • mushrooms
  • red bell peppers
  • vegan breakfast sausage
While everything was grilling I smothered one piece of bread with hempseed hummus and a sprinkle of chicken seasoning and the other slice with avocado. Then I loaded up the bread and grilled everything together!
While that was grilling I used my electric citrus juice to make fresh orange juice!

Breakfast Panini with the works, fresh squeezed orange juice, green tea, and gummy vites. This Breakfast Rocks!!! I could have ordered this from a restaurant it's so good!
Uh! I just can't get over it!
Today I am singing the two pieces I plan on singing for juries in studio and I have no chance to warm-up before. I've been singing in the kitchen all morning haha!
It's another long day today but I am all juiced up and it's Friday anyways!!

Happy Friday!!!!