Happy Belated WIAW. I was so busy yesterday that despite being able to take pictures of all my eats, I didn't have time to post about them!
I was busy in the morning babysitting. My siblings started off the day with Eggo Waffles, and I started off with this:
Kashi Go Lean Crunch, topped with cinnamon, and coffee. You can see the reflection of the trees surrounding my deck in my coffee cup!
Usually this cereal really fills me up, but by the time lunch rolled around I was starving! I made a salad consisting of iceberg, cucumber, green pepper, corn, carrots, tomato and goat cheese. I loved all the colors in it! I also paired my salad with a slice of Great Harvest Dakota Bread! After reading so much about CVille on Kath's blog, (not that I know her personally, I'm just a big fan!) I decided to look up my local Great Harvest and found one less than five miles away! There's another Great Harvest location near my work, which you will hear quite a lot about very soon.... :)
Can you eat with all the colors of the wind? I can.
After lunch, I took the kids to the pool for a bit. I brought an (unpictured) apple to hold me over, but it hardly did the job! I was, again, quite ravenous when I returned home, so I microwaved some bread pudding and topped it with peanut butter. To die for? I think so.
My sister and I read the book One Day by David Nicholls just last month, so when we heard the movie was coming out we decided we'd have to go and compare. We planned to go to the 7:30 showing, but before that, dinner was in order. I thought Bonefish would be a good option, because they have $5 Bang Bang Shrimp on Wednesdays, but when we got there, we learned of the 40 minute wait, and promptly walked out. We instead chose to go to Fresca Grill, and had an extremely quick dinner of paninis. Unlike my last venture to Fresca, everything was cooked well, and not burnt. Fresca has been redeemed in my eyes.
I ordered the Aztec Chicken panini, made with grilled chicken breast, monterey-jack cheese, caramelized onions and chipotle-mayo.
My sister ordered her staple, the Chicken Parm panini. Both were yummy (but mine was better! Megan agreed).
The movie was, well, awful. It strayed from several important story lines that deeply impacted the characters in the novel, and Jim Sturgess's character was gross and obnoxious. I guess seeing the character live really enhanced his negative qualities. The parts I did enjoy were the ones that reminded me of Bubbaloo. The main characters' love for one another was incredibly passionate and deep; this is what made the novel, and their love was the sole positive aspect of the movie.
Megan was craving dessert after the movie, so I suggested gelato from Ariano. They were out of pistachio, so I instead settled on coffee. It was delicious, as always, so delicious that I finished it in the car before we even got home, before I could take a picture of it.
So I took a pictures of Megan's vanilla, and passed out, asleep, shortly thereafter. I had a big day ahead of me...
Today was the first day out of the past three that I didn't wake up tired! I even jumped out of bed because my Dad was running out the door and Kara needed me. In other words, she was crying, devastated, because Madison got to with Daddy to a doctor's appointment and she had to stay home with Kait-Kait, i.e., me. I finally got her to stand up and stop crying, and together we made her bed, very neatly, in fact. She did a good job.
By the time I made her toast, she was almost completely better. I settled on some lemon water and found a lovely spot to take pictures. The early morning sunlight was shining through the back door, through the back of the chair, and then, through my lemon water.
I decided on a blueberry Chobani for breakfast, with 1 tbs. ground flax and some dried cherries. The sugar content of this breakfast was a little too much for me. Those cherries were so sweet! I think next time I'd add them to plain yogurt, and cut the amount of cherries I used in half.
For the rest of the morning, Ryan lounged around until I finally yelled at him to read. Kara helped me make cookies, which none of my family will help me eat. Cherries and oatmeal...in a cookie! That's not a cookie... So, while they loved Mama Pea's Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls, they did not appreciate her Anytime Cookies, though they are quite yummy, just not in a sugar-high way. I'm already predicting that they'll become a staple on rushed mornings once school starts.
For lunch, I used some leftover quinoa and placed it atop a salad of iceberg lettuce, chopped onion, carrot, celery, and diced tomatoes. On the napkin is an Anytime Cookie.
For the dressing, I combined 1 oz. fresh goat cheese, with 1 tbs. olive oil, 1 tbs. white wine vinegar, 1/2 tsp. honey, 1/2 tsp. dijon mustard, and sea salt. I was quite pleased, as I usually just throw together oil and vinegar and call it fully dressed, which is not always the case.
Kara and I traipsed to the pool around 1p.m., and I even got in the big pool with her. We swam for a bit until I got skeeved out, which didn't take long. When she asked to use the bathroom, the horribly unkept, disgusting, gross gross bathroom, I almost told her to pee on the grass. She would've made me go with her, anyway. She's a very persuasive five-year-old.
We lasted an hour and a half, by which point she was bored and cold. Also, some bees were floating around and the memory of getting stung only last week is still very clear in her mind. So we went home, and I whipped up a snack of celery sticks and almond butter. Not pictured were two more Anytime Cookies.
I was actually quite full after my snack, so I was grateful to Jay for making a later dinner. Following Uncie's recipe, he made some delicious Mac N' Cheese with a side of carrots and peas. He also bought me roses. I have the most wonderful boyfriend in the world.
Around 10:30, I was in the mood for pistachio gelato, but since all the ice cream places in Media were closed, Jay and I went to the supermarket and searched high and low for pistachio gelato. Breyers didn't have it, Turkey Hill didn't have it, even the fancy gelato pints didn't come in the flavor pistachio. Sea salted caramel but no pistachio? What is this world coming to?
So when I did spot a strange brand of "Simply Enjoy Pistachio Gelato," I threw my hands up and did a little shout. I grabbed it with no regards to the price or ingredients, ecstatic. Only later in the car did I realize it was made of corn syrup solids and hydrogenated oils. I gave it a shot anyway, but with dismal results. The gelato base was shockingly sweet and the pistachios were whole, and soggy. I was happy that there were no artificial colorings, but this brand did not deliver at all in terms of texture and taste. I think I'll have to order a pint from our local Italian gelateria next time.
Overall, a wonderful What I Ate Wednesday. In the future, I'll just have to prepare in advance for random gelato cravings after business hours!
Welcome to my first What I Ate Wednesday!
Today, I finished the last of my homemade almond butter. I literally scraped the sides of the container with a knife, spoon, and then a spatula. It is a sad day.
Breakfast was delicious, even so. There was just enough almond butter left to cover my Food for Life English Muffin. I used to be a hardcore loyalist of the Thomas Original Nooks & Crannies, but since trying this sprouted brand, there's no turning back. Nineteen grains and seeds, no added sugar, no flour, and a moist, nutty taste? I was sold at the first bite.
After breakfast, I meandered a bit, read blogs, made the kids lunch, and found the perfect recipe for my lunch. I wanted to use spinach, and eggs, and a scramble seemed just too obvious. So I searched "spinach" on Smitten Kitchen. The results included one of my favorite foods, quiche! I don't like the dry, microwaved kind that you'll oftentimes get at some coffee shops, though to be honest, I've never had homemade quiche; it was the perfect opportunity. We had frozen spinach, eggs, cheese, and a few random frozen puff pastries. Destiny beckoned me to follow the light.
You see, it's very rare that I find all the ingredients for a new recipe in our kitchen. By "our," I mean my family, which includes my Dad, Kelly (stepmom), and my siblings, Megan, Ryan, Madison, and Kara. There's quite a few of us. My parents are very busy with jobs and three young kids, ages 11, 9, and 5. This leaves little to no time for them to cook, and its rare that we have a sit down dinner anymore.
Cooking, in my family, usually means microwaved Easy-Mac, chicken nuggets, and sometimes microwaved peas for the three young ones, and some sort of sandwich for my parents. My twin sister Megan and I usually fend for ourselves. I don't mind this set up, as it gives me the freedom to choose what I want for dinner and include important food groups such as vegetables, but I would love to teach to my younger siblings the importance and downright deliciousness of unadulterated, whole foods.
Mashed potatoes shouldn't come as "dehydrated potato flakes" in a box, nor should calorie-free "butter spray" be used to replace the real thing. Sure, real butter contains fat and salt, but when used in moderation, it helps your body absorb certain nutrients and it tastes much better than that plastic stuff. I'm not telling you to dip your fingers into the jar of butter like I did when I was three. I'm just saying that in moderation, it can be good for you.
I would love to cook nutritious meals for my family. Fruit and vegetables would be plentiful, and instead of Easy-Mac, we'd be eating whole grains, lean means and beans (or tofu if my entire family didn't think it was disgusting). And I swear, it would taste good. I enjoy yummy, nutrient-dense food, and throughout the past six months, I have learned the value of cooking for yourself and others. (Thank you, bubbaloo, for allowing me to make you blueberry pancakes three weeks in a row). There is no replacement for handed-down recipes or the time it takes to cook a nutritious meal. There is so much more value in putting forth effort in how you cook and what you eat, than any boxed item can replicate.
My cousin Allison brought some friends to my Grandmother's house for dinner recently, and they couldn't believe that she made real mashed potatoes and homemade strawberry pie. It shouldn't be like this. We shouldn't constantly choose convenience over health. It isn't fair to future generations, and more importantly, it isn't fair to ourselves.
I am now stepping down from my soap box.
Back to the quiche. I followed a Martha Steward recipe, as listed on Smitten Kitchen. It didn't take long to make, and the results were divine. I'll have a recipe and more pictures up tomorrow. As I waited for the quiche to bake, I chopped up a carrot and mixed equal parts hummus and balsamic vinaigrette. I think that if I continue to eat carrots like I have been, I'm going to turn into one.
Delicious!
After lunch, I went for a walk to take a much needed break from the computer, and to clear my head. I find walks very relaxing and wholesome. I always feel like I'm doing something good for my mind, body, soul when I walk.
While I walked, I listened to The Avett Brothers, and they reminded me why I love music so much. I'd write more on that, but this post is getting long-winded already.
By the time I got home, it was around 4:15, and I made a quick run to Trader Joe's to pick up some ingredients for tonight's dinner; burrito bowls!
Of course, I couldn't just settle on guacamole...
Twenty-two dollars later, I rushed home to start prepping dinner, but I was ravenous. So I opened the guac, and paired it with some multigrain chips for a quick snack.
For dinner, I started with boiling the rice, and finished with the help of my wonderful Bubbaloo.
Lettuce, rice, and beans, topped with cheese, sauteed veggies, and Trader Joe's Spicy Pico de Gallo Guacamole, which was totally worth the splurge! (I realized, when I got to Trader Joe's, that the avocado I bought wouldn't be ripe in time for dinner :p)
The bowls were delicious, and surprisingly filling! Of course, Jay and my Dad both could've eaten another helping or two; I, on the other hand, struggled with feeling full for the next hour. Jay reminded me that it wasn't the end of the world, that eventually I would feel fine, and eventually...well, I did. During that hour though, I think my biggest fear was that I'd be full forever, that I'd let the discomfort and the urge to purge get the best of me, that I'd start the awful cycle again. Thirty days, yes, but with a lifetime to go. I wouldn't have made it this far without the support of friends, family, and my biggest support, Bubbaloo.
After making him sit through the latest episode of The Big C, at around 10p.m., he went home. Megan decided it was a good idea to watch most recent True Blood, and through the middle of the show, I was hungry again!
I chose a plain Chobani with a drizzle of honey and some dried cherries.
My first What I Ate Wednesday was quite a bit of work! I took over one-hundred pictures, and had to change my camera batteries! The results were worth it, though; a picturesque, thought-filled day in my life through food!
