Pumpkins and Pancakes

I am happily settling in to the swing of things. My days are busy but not overwhelming and I’m maintaining a happy balance of work, school and play. Clearly I need to be just the slightest bit more organized, though, so that I can squeeze in a few more blog posts in the week! So much to blog so little time!

I wanted to share a new addition to the breakfast rotation. It’s cooling down in the mornings so I’m not having big green smoothies quite as often – I still do enjoy them, after I’m bundled up in sweats, wool socks, my favourite hoodie and nestled underneath a blanket next to a space heater…

I make pancakes every once in a while using spelt, buckwheat or oat flour. Or if I’m feeling particularly lazy, I simply use Kodiak Mix. All of the outcomes are delicious but pancakes have a funny way of leaving me STUFFED at the scene, then famished an hour later. No bueno.

I’ve heard good things of this recipe for protein pancakes. I never thought I would be one to have protein powder as a dietary staple, but it really does help to power me through busy mornings.

Here’s one variation with bananas (cooked inside) with drippy almond butter and raspberry chia jam

and another with pure pumpkin and dark chocolate mixed into the batter with bananas, almond butter and pure maple syrup.

Besides enjoying these comforting short-stacks for breakfast, I’ve officially crossed over into the dark orange side: PUMPKIN EVERYTHING.

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie — You can find the recipe over at YYsCene Magazine, where I contribute posts weekly

Pumpkin Overnight Oats.

• 1/3  c. oatmeal
• 1 tbsp. Sunwarrior protein powder
• 1 tbsp. chia seeds
• 1/4 c. pure pumpkin puree
• 1/2 c. almond milk
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. ginger

Leave in the fridge to soak overnight and top with pure maple syrup, chopped pear, almond butter, and trail mix.

 

Crazy Sexy Adventure Day 18: Vacation Procrastination

I leave for Miami the day after tomorrow. I plan on throwing whatever is clean into my luggage 15 minutes before departure and cursing myself the entire time I am away that I didn’t plan more efficiently. Acknowledged. Progress.

I’ve been enjoying the same chocolate cherry milkshake smoothie for breakfast for the greater part of this cleanse. If it aint broke… It’s simply frozen banana, frozen cherries, a heaping spoonful of cocoa powder, chia seeds, almond butter and almond milk with a few big handfuls of spinach or kale (or both!) I sometimes add a handful of raw oatmeal if I’m hungrier.

I bummed around for the morning, watching a few episodes of Dexter — I plough through TV series’ like no body’s business. In the last little while I finished LOST, Mad Men, Arrested Development, Community and Girls. It’s a wonder I get anything else accomplished.

Eat – TV – Eat again

Traditional chicken salad has never really appealed to me, but the thought of veganizing the popular, gloppy mess of a sandwich staple sounded fun.

Chick-Un Salad

Serves 1

Ingredients:

1/4 block extra firm tofu, pressed and diced

1/2 apple

1/2 c. grapes

2 tbsp. walnuts, chopped

1 celery stalk, diced

2 tbsp. red onion, diced

1 tbsp. hummus

1 tbsp. Dijon mustard

1 tbsp. lemon juice

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Mix and serve with crackers, in a sandwich, wrap or over a bed of greens.

Come to think of it, this would have made a great stuffing for lettuce wraps.

After lunch I declared the day to be TO beautiful to sit at home and watch a handsome serial killer murder other serial killers (seriously, how do they come up with this stuff?) I put on some people clothes and took a stroll to the natural foods market to do some window shopping and pick up a couple of food things to take with me to Miami — protein powder sample packs and a few different kinds of bars, “just in case” things. We’ll probably do a quick grocery trip once we get to Miami because I’m so high maintenance according to my loving family 🙂

My walk accidentally ended up being about a 4 mile loop! Carrying groceries on the way back! Afterwards I took my favorite hot and sweaty class at Yoga Passage so basically my laziness earlier in the day was effectively cancelled out. It’s science.

Crazy Sexy Adventure Days 14, 15, 16: Weekend Warrior

Hello! I decided to take the weekend to just relax and recoup. I cannot believe that there are four days left of my adventure cleanse where did the time go?!

On Friday I took advantage of my morning off and went to work for a Chiropractic treatment (my first ever!) followed by a Naturopathic appointment. I am so, so lucky to work where I do. Continuing on with my healthy momentum, I took a lunch hour class at Yoga Passage and then settled into work for the afternoon. Once I arrived home, I declared a night off of greens in favour of something a little different

Sweet Potato Blackbean Quesadilla

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 1 tortilla (I used Food for Life brown rice but sprouted wheat would be great too)
• 1/4 c. grated sweet potato
• 1/8 c. fresh corn
• 1/8 c. blackbeans
• 2 tbsp. chopped cilantro
• 1 small clove of garlic
• sliced white onion
• 1/2 tsp. coconut oil

Directions:

In a small pan, quickly sautee the sweet potato in the coconut oil until brown. Add in the rest of the ingredients and cook together until the corn is slightly softened and the sweet potato is cooked through. Spread hummus onto the surface of your tortilla and sprinkle with nutritional yeast. Place your sweet potato mixture onto one half of the tortilla, fold over and bake at 350 for 5-10 minutes until browned and bubbly.

Saturday was a long day at work as well as juice fast day.

I drank green juice until I got home at 5:00  and then made a big chocolate cherry green smoothie with almond butter and a sprinkle of granola.

Sunday was all over the place. Before going to bed the night before, I poured some almond milk over some of my quinoa granola and left it to soak overnight. In the morning I added berries and dug in. I think this is what people call muesli. Thoughts?

Of course, Sunday morning means Body Combat. After class, a quick shower and a smoothie, my mom and I went to wander about the mall for a few hours and then I was off for the best night I’ve had in a while! Before I get to that, let me show you dinner

My favourite summer salad is spinach, quinoa, strawberries, walnuts and feta with a balsamic dressing. The flavour combination is perfection, but, of course, feta is not Crazy Sexy approved. When the craving struck I made a quick batch of tofu ricotta and it was so, so delicious, I had several spoonfuls before even putting it ontop of my salad. It offers the salty, sourness that I love so much about feta cheese in this salad.

This past weekend was the Calgary Folk Music Festival. I have known about it for months but, being me, I put off buying tickets until it was too late and they were sold out. Basically crushed, as Iron and Wine, one of my favorite groups, was going to be the closing act of the festival. While lying in bed on Saturday night, I was having nagging thoughts to track a ticket down. After a quick scan on kijiji I was so lucky to find one for the regular price! Even better, the girl selling the ticket goes to Yoga Passage so exchange was simple enough. Sometimes things are just meant to be.

Like finding the perfect spot for Sam Beam to serenade you. I got home late and went to sleep late and missed spin+core this morning but who. cares. This was epic.

Crazy Sexy Adventure Day 8: Hot Hot Heat

A green smoothie sounded so delicious this morning but there were no frozen bananas to be seen! I popped a few into the freezer and had a bowl of quinoa granola and fruit with almond milk instead.

I had work at Yoga Passage this morning and broke for lunch around noon

a beastly salad out of an old peanut butter container – no tupper ware to be found!? Afterwards I took the (extra) hot restorative class. The weather in Calgary is absurd. Hot and delicious. My body craves the restorative class by the time Saturday rolls around. Today’s class paired with yesterday’s juice fast has left me feeling squeaky clean, like a reset button has been pushed on my entire existence!

I came home dead set on an icy cold smoothie. Walking through down town I walked by no less than four ice cream trucks! I needed something refreshing and cleanse friendly and then I remembered a smoothie combination that my friend Christa from Edible Balance recommended:

1 c. frozen mango, 1/2 c. almond milk, 1 c. coconut water and a hunk of ginger. Amazing.

Dinner was another salad beast this had Spinach, lightly steamed broccoli, sweet potato,saur kraut, eggplant bacon, olives, snap peas, edemame millet burger and lemony-tahini dressing. Essentially everything within arms reach went in.

I have no further plans today than to laze around and watch Community. Toodle-oo

Thunder and Showers

I was rudely awaken just before 7 this morning by a grumble-grumble-POW. That’s my interpretation of the loudest clap of thunder that got me out of bed when my alarm clock failed.

I had an interview at 10, so I was able to ease into the busy day with hot shower, and episode of Mad Men, and a huge pancake

Kodiak mix with cinnamon, blueberries, banana, greek yogurt and peanut butter

My interview was for a volunteer photographer position at the AIDS Calgary Awareness Association. It went really well and I’m happy to get involved in such an important cause.

After quickly looking at the address last night, I determined that the interview wasn’t too far from the area where I work, so I figured I could walk. FALSE. It took me about 45 minutes to figure out where I was going (the opposite direction than what I had initially thought, go figure) but luckily I made it on time. I just wish I didn’t wear heels today

After my interview I headed to class, where I was informed that my research paper is due next Thursday. Nothing to do but cry laugh and write. I refuse to pull and all nighter for this one.

Class ended early so I rushed home for a shower and a snack and was right out the door again for yoga

It was the sweatiest beast of a class, thanks to the humidity from outside and I immediately poured myself a cocktail once I got home

Watered down pomegranate juice, coconut water and lime

Showered –is anyone keeping a tally of how many showers I took today?– and dined

Sweet Potato – Chickpea Stew

Serves 3-4

• 1 can coconut milk
• 1 large sweet potato, diced
• 1 large tomato, diced
• 1 can chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 inch of ginger,grated
• handful of cilantro
• Squeeze of lime
• salt and pepper

I was rushing to yoga so I threw everything into a pot, brought it to a boil, and then transfered it into my slow cooker on low for the 3.5 hours I was away. It turned out perfectly! Salad of spinach, hearts of palm, walnuts and chopped dates dressed with lime juice and truffle oil on the side

Here, There, Everywhere. Also, Soup.

I think the weather makers in Calgary are confused. Alternating threats of rain and blasts of sunshine. WHAT DO I WEAR !?

Slept in and made a yogurt mess

Greek Yogurt, Rolled oats, trail mix (sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries and golden raisins) banana, honey and peanut butter.

Eaten with my favorite spoon that makes everything taste better. It’s science.

School: Research paper on psychoanalytic feminism, the male gaze and the portrayal of women in advertising. Boom.

Physical Activity: Body Combat, Quick weight sessions, Yoga (always) and walking everywhere because I’m too poor to buy a car. Also this:

A run is still a run. Even if your destination is the gas station to get a Klondike bar.

— Ariffa Lalani (@MyCupOTea_) May 31, 2012

Work: I like it a lot.

Social life: #FAIL. I’ve kind of become that friend who sucks at making time for her friends. Not cool, acknowledged and working on it.

I bought a day planner. I expect it to fix everything. Also, do you even realize how difficult it is to find a day planner half way through the year? Some people need some time to get their shit together.

I’m at this weird stage where I want to do everything and have no money or time to do any of it. Buy a car, move out, yoga teacher training, travel the universe NEW KITTEN. None of it is happening any time soon. Not cool, acknowledged and working on it.

After school snack

Cinnamon apple sauce, granola and almond butter. This is even better if you let it sit for a little while so the granola gets soggy. True story.

I went to hot yoga later in the evening and just finished the quickest dinner, let’s call it spicy Thai soup with shrimp and vermicelli.

Boiled vegetable broth and a splash of full fat coconut milk, threw in shrimp and lemon grass, garlic, ginger, sliced onions, diced tomato, siracha. Simmer while you shower off your yoga stank, throw in a handful of brown rice vermicelli and shrimp. Simmer for a few more minutes until cooked through and finish with a squirt of lime.

If I go to sleep RIGHT NOW I will be able to get 7 hours of sleep. This weekend is insane!

Easter Weekend

Hello! Long weekends are so pleasant, especially when there isn’t much to do in terms of school work. I have a 500 word paper and one last exam before I leave for Hawaii on Thursday, but nothing that I’m stressing over.

Food things:

Sprouted wheat toast with tahini, dates and honey before Ashtanga on Friday

Spolumbos chicken sausage + leaves — made delicious with this dressing.

Saturday began with overnight oats with chia seeds, vanilla, raspberries, banana, peanut butter and granola. After breakfast I went to my first spin class in months and my butt is killing me. Thought you should know.

The rest of my Saturday was spent doing some last-minute shopping for Hawaii, a little bit of school work and this:

Spur of the moment decision to lose six inches! So much for my fixes for post-gym greasy hair.

I’m trying to clean out my fridge before leaving for Hawaii. It is packed with vegetables, I have a plethora of fruit and some dairy products that need using up.

Saturday Dinner

*please note that these measurements are approximations because I don’t normally measure when I am cooking.

• 1 c. brussels sprouts
• 1/3 c. vegetable broth
• 1 tsp butter (coconut oil/ olive oil would work too)
• 2 tbsp. dried cranberries
• 1/4 c. salted pistachios
• pinch of dried thyme
• pinch of garlic powder
• 1/2 tbsp honey

Add brussels sprouts and vegetable broth into a small sauce pan. Cover with a lid and simmer on medium heat until sprouts are tender and liquid has evaporated. Add butter, honey, garlic and herbs. Toss and allow sprouts to brown slightly. Mix in dried cranberries and pistachios. Serve and devour!

Breakfast this morning was Crepes (this recipe, subbing spelt flour for all-purpose) with home-made lemon curd, almond slivers and raspberries.

Back to the grind tomorrow. Only four more days!!!!

Counting Down

This week has gone by so quickly I don’t know what to do with myself. Just that much closer to the weekend and that much closer to the end of this semester and THAT much closer to my trip to Hawaii! Twenty days and counting!

The other day, I made the rookie mistake of going to the grocery store absolutely famished. I managed to walk out with a block of tofu and a can of organic artichoke hearts. I haven’t had tofu in a very long time, I backed off of it substantially following my kinda-sorta-vegitarian-but-not-really phase. But I really do enjoy it! Particularly raw/plain and dipped in Dijon mustard. What? As for the artichoke hearts, they might be my favorite vegetable but I never have them in my kitchen! I made a big salad with both of my impulse ingredients for dinner last night:

Spinach, tomato, tofu (cooked in balsamic vinegar), artichoke hearts, feta and hummus.

My breakfast involved two creations from Oh She Glows: raw buckwheat porridge with baked apples (slice, toss with maple syrup, cinnamon and coconut oil and bake at 350 for 30 minutes) and ABU (almond butter sauce) plus a sprinkling of granola.

After a long and tiring day of class, lots of reading, karma cleaning and a sweaty Ishta class at The Yoga Passage, I was so happy to be home and burry my face into a big bowl of carb-oh-hydrates!

Annie’s Mac n Cheese, made with cottage cheese instead of milk, mixed with broccoli, roasted tomatos and peas.

Now that my belly has been sufficiently stuffed, I have a presentation on Feminism to finish up

Study Breaks

I love my 8 a.m. English class, I love my 8 a.m. English class.

At least I’ll keep telling myself that. until this semester is over. Last night I was rolling around groaning I hate my liiiiife I hate my life. I hate Robinson Crusoe, I hate Daniel Defoe. Probably not helping my case

I packed a peanut butter, honey and banana sandwich to eat at school with a cup of coffee and headed to class for the day

The upside of early classes is being DONE by noon! I high tailed it home and had some left over spaghetti for lunch

After a bit of reading, I gifted myself a bit of time to make a mess in the kitchen.

Seriously.

What came of the disaster were Raw vegan cookie dough balls ala Love Veggies and Yoga

I don’t know how I manage to make such a mess with such a simple recipe. Make these!

I was also inspired by the crumbs in the bottom of my bag of granola to make something new and delicious. Please note that this granola literally lasts less than a week when I’m in this house. It’s Nature’s Path Ancient Grains and tastes like cookies. It’s not what I’d call health food but it’s one of my favorites!

Peanut Butter Granola Balls

Makes 16 balls

• 1/2 c. granola
• 15 dates
• 2 tbsp peanut butter
• 2 tbsp shredded, unsweetened coconut
• 2 tbsp dark chocolate chips
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• pinch of salt

Blend everything together in the food processor and form into balls

I’m going to relax a bit with my English readings and then it’s off to The Yoga Passage for some hot and svetty.

Back to Monday

Hello invisible internet friends! Hope you had a nice week, mine was spent avoiding the outdoors as much as possible due to some seriously brutal weather, like 40 below, brutal; drinking inordinate amounts of blacknbitter (coffee) and reading, reading, reading. Why didn’t anyone tell me that university required so much face-to-book time !?

This past weekend was positively perfection. I stayed out past my bed time to hang out with a friend on Friday night, slept in on Saturday (ok, until 7:30) and proceeded to indulge in a 3 hour yoga binge. 1.5 hours Ashtanga that left my upper body quivering and my hips screaming, followed by 1.5 hours of hot restorative. AAaaaaaah. Sunday morning I went to the gym for an hour of Body Combat and balanced it out by spending the rest of the day on my butt reading the translations of ancient Hindu scriptures. For a class, not exactly my idea of recreational reading. Best thing I made/ ate

Crispy fish and kale chips

The recipe was heavily inspired by the Eat Clean recipe for crispy chicken bites, except I used basa fish. The breading was a mix of ground almonds, flax, oat bran and wheat bran plus some herbs and spices. First I dipped the fish in a mixture of eggwhite and dijon mustard and then into the breading. Then the fish got broiled until cooked through.

30 second breakfasts are necessary

Greek Yogurt, granola, banana, raspberry preserves and peee-nah-bu-dah! <– How I say it in real life

I love the schedule I’ve made for myself. On Mondays either I go to the gym before class, then have a break to study, then go to work OR study in the morning, go to class, go to the gym and then to work. Today was the latter. I’m getting comfortable at the University gym. The sooner I establish myself as the weird girl who does squat jumps, the better.

Such a wonderful feeling to come home after a long day to see a platter of spaghetti just waiting to be attacked.

Settling into an evening of Gossip Girl and Text books (during the commercials, of course)