Hearty Steel Cut Oats

Have you ever had steel cut oats? I tried them for the first time about a month ago. If you're one of those folks that doesn't really enjoy the texture of oatmeal, this might be the fix for you. The steel cut oats are much thicker and more chewy and hearty....so the final product isn't goopy like regular instant oats.

Steel cut oats may seem healthier, but I'm pretty sure that there's not a huge difference when compared to regular oats, the only difference is the way the grain is cut. But any kind of oatmeal is a great choice for breakfast...as long as you cook it yourself!


Hearty Steel Cut Oats
Serves 2-3

2 1/2 cups water
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup steel cut oats
2 tbsps natural maple syrup (none of that glorified high fructose corn syrup nonsense!)
1 dash of nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
(brown sugar or raw if this is not sweet enough for you...or you can sweeten with a bit of almond milk)
Top with fruit, nuts, etc.

Bring water and salt to a boil. Add oats, and reduce heat to simmer, stirring often. Can take up to 20-30 minutes to absorb the water and be cooked. But remember, the oats will always be chewy.

This is a great breakfast to make double of and reheat throughout the week. Just add some almond milk and heat up in the microwave! :)

Question of the Day:

What do you usually eat for breakfast?



Ginger-Lime Kale and Sweet Potatoes

This is my new favorite dish. I've prepared it twice in two weeks. The flavors in this recipe are very good and eat ingredient really stands on its own but they come together quite nicely. I also love it because of how good it makes me feel. It's very good for the digestive system and for the skin. It's no secret that hearty greens can give you a glow.

This recipe is based on one from Clean Eating Magazine. I found it while scouting around for cooking inspiration. I made a few changes and this version is not only cheaper, but includes more of my favorite ingredients!


Ginger-Lime Kale and Sweet Potatoes
Serves 4-5

2 cups sweet potatoes, cubed
2 tbsp olive oil, divided
1 sweet onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 tbsp ginger, chopped finely (or grated)
8 cups kale, washed and chopped
1 can chick peas, drained and rinsed
1 handful dried cranberries
Juice of one lime
Season with salt

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400. Chop your sweet potatoes and toss them in 1 tbsp olive oil. Spread on a cookie sheet and bake for 25 minutes, until tender and lightly browned.

2. While your taters are baking, heat the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil in a dutch oven over med-high heat. Add onion and cook for 5 minutes, or until translucent. Add garlic and ginger and cook for another 30 seconds (turn down the heat a bit).

3. Add kale and cover. Stir once it starts to wilt, turn temperature down to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stiring once or twice.

4. Add chickpeas and dried cranberries and cook until heated through. Now throw in your cooked sweet potatoes.

5. Stir together with the salt and lime juice and make sure everything is heated through. Now serve it up in huge mounds and consume! :)

Question of the Day:

Have you ever tried kale? Do you like greens?

My Favorite Foodie Sites

In response to Wednesday's post I received the following comment:

"I’ve been dying to hear about your progress! I have been
curious about cutting meat out for a while now but I have to do it subtly as my
guy would NEVER go for it. The benefits sound amazing – too good not to try!
Where do you go for recipe inspiration?"

Great question Meghan! And one I'm delighted to answer. Here are the sites I go to most frequently for recipe inspiration, and they never let me down.

OhSheGlows.com - Vegan Recipes by Angela Liddon

DailyGarnish.com- Vegan/Vegetarian Recipes by Emily Malone

EatingBirdFood.com - Healthy Recipes by Brittany Mullins

NeverHomeMaker.com- Healthy recipes by  Ashley

The Whole Foods Recipe Page

The Engine 2 Diet Recipe Page

That's just to name a few. I also find a lot of great recipes and inspiration on Pinterest. I have an entire board full of healthy veggie recipes! Check it out here. 

Hope this helps you find some great ideas for the kitchen and inspires you to up your veggie intake! Happy eating!

Question of the Day:

Do you have a favorite veggie site that I didn't mention? Share it!

The Healing Power of Vegetables

                                                                           Source: health-heaven.tumblr.com via Hannah on Pinterest

Remember this post back in September? I know! I had forgotten about it, too. It's been months and I haven't updated you on how it's going and the changes we're seeing.

For all who are new to my blog, in September John and I tried a little experiement. John had chronic heartburn and we started to wonder if cutting out meat, dairy, and processed foods could heal him. We started out on a vegan diet, and instantly saw his daily heartburn pain subside. 

After a few months we found what worked for us. We didn't like a completely vegan diet. Though about 50% of our weekly intake of food is still vegan, our day in and day out diet fits a little more comfortably into the "vegetarian" team. When people ask, though, I usually say "plant-based" since there are times when we are served meat or make it on rare occasion and will eat it...which people are very quick to jump on us for, but c'est la vie, right? You have to be happy and comfortable with what you do, and no one else's opinion matters.

                                                                                Source: thinisalwaysbetter.tumblr.com via Hannah on Pinterest

I had read about and heard personal accounts of how a plant-based diet could cure you of things, but wasn't sure I really believed it until I saw for myself.  Here's some changes we've noticed in the last 5 months of plant-based eating and picking up a routine of exercise. The changes I found in myself were completely unexpected!

JOHN:

No more heartburn!

Lost weight

Teeth and gums are much healthier

No more afternoon fatigue

Major decrease in back pain

HANNAH:

The heart palpitations I dealt with on a daily basis? GONE.

The wart I had had under my thumbnail since elementary school? GONE

No more afternoon fatigue

Teeth and gums are much healthier

No more constipation (which was an issue at times before)

Healtier and faster growing nails

Little to no back pain

I've only thrown out my neck once (and it healed in a day instead of being down for a week like usual)

It has seriously been a life-changer. And there's no turning back, not when we see so many results! To think, I used to take heart medication for years to help regulate my heartbeat, and all I really needed were some vegetables! If I would have known that, I would have done this years ago. And now John no longer takes Prilosec every single day, instead he starts off his day with a smoothie! :)

Coming up soon: How veggies changed my parent's health. This story will BLOW YOU AWAY!



Roasted Vegetable and Feta Pitas

I savored every last bite of these. Not only do they make for a healthy meal, but they also might make a great meal to clear out leftover veggies in your refrigerator.

I found inspiration for this recipe on the Whole Foods site, as I so frequently do. But changed a thing or two here and there according to my liking and the amount of time I had.


Roasted Vegetable and Feta Pitas
Serves 4

1 pkg baby bella mushrooms, sliced
2 zucchini, cut lengthwise and then sliced
1 red onion, cut into lage wedges
1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks
3-4 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper
4 oz (or more) feta cheese
4 whole wheat pitas

1. Preheat oven to 425.

2. Prepare all of the vegetables and place them in a large bowl. Toss in the vinegar, oil, and salt and pepper and arrange on a large baking sheet.

3. Cook for 30-45 minutes, or until very tender and juicy.

4. Remove pan from oven and place pita straight on the oven rack for 5 minutes.

5. Cut pitas, add veggies, and sprinkle feta throughout.

6. YUM!

Consumer Anarchy: Granola Protein Bars

You all know how much I love being a consumer anarchist. When I make something myself, or find alternatives to what I have been told I need, I feel like I've taken on "the man" in a huge way. As these granola bars baked, I sat at the kitchen table with receipts and recipes in hand, a calculator, and a grin. I discovered the following:

Kashi Granola Bars (which I usually buy) cost a whopping $0.67 per bar. 

These little puppies? Half the price. Just $0.37 a bar to make...and they make 12 bars instead of the 6 you get when you purchase at the store.

Not only are you saving yourself a lot of mula by making them at home, but you are also saving your health. Next time you dig into a store-bought granola bar (and after reading this, I really hope you don't...) read that ingredients label. You'll find that that health bar isn't all it is cracked up to be, especially if you purchase Quaker or other cheaper brands.

These are a whole food, the only thing in them, are the simple ingredients you are about to read. And that just makes them taste that much better.

John's response to the granola bar? "Very tasty! And I love knowing exactly what's in it!"

For this recipe, I used Healthy Green Kitchen's suggestions and a swap out of my own when I didn't want to pay $18 a pound for hemp seeds. ($18 a pound?!?!) Also, see her site for the nutritional info on this bar!




Homemade Granola Protein Bars
Makes 12 bars

2 1/2 cups raw oats
1 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup organic natural peanut butter
1/2 cup Greek strained yogurt (I love Fage)
1/4 cup whole flax seeds
1/3 cup sesame seeds
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp cinnamon
a sprinkle of nutmeg
1 tsp salt (or a little less if your PB is a little saltier than some others)
1 tsp vanilla


Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325.

2. Mix all ingredients in a bowl (if the PB is a little hard, you can microwave it for a few seconds to get it melty.

3. Oil a 7x11 glass pan (this size worked best for me to cut the bars into the shape I like, but you can use an 8x8 too.) Press the granola into the pan evenly.

4. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown. Cool, cut, and wrap in cellophane. I keep mine in the refrigerator to keep them from getting too crumbly.

Questions:

Are there any health foods you refuse to buy because of the mark up?

Weekend Update| January 23, 2012

Happy Monday! I don't know why, but against all odds I am extremely happy and energetic this morning. Yup, I'm the "looks like somebody's got a case of the Mondays" girl. I just can't wait to find someone to say that to. It feels good to be her every now and then!

John was out of town last week and he came back on Friday night. I enjoyed sleeping in on Saturday and then heading out to do some shopping at Whole Foods and our local produce market. When we got back to the house I made granola protein bars (recipe to come this week) and then took a nice nap.

Protein bar preview!

After my nap I went for a 1.5 mile run. I'm really excited that our training for the 5k in February is starting to take us past the 1 mile marker on a consistent basis. I think I'll finally start to see my endurance build. Today we have another 1.5 miler and then by the end of the week we are pushing up to 2 miles! I've never run that long on my own accord without being in a race. :)

Saturday night I made a really yummy new recipe that I found on the Whole Foods recipe page. I'll also be sharing that this week. So get ready for some awesome new recipes to put on your to-do list. They are called Grilled Veggie Pitas, but I made it with a twist. Here's a teaser....

Sunday morning we got up and ate breakfast, put on our outdoor gear and headed out for some kayaking on the lake. What a beautiful morning! The birds were chirping and water was still. Look you can see my reflection...

We had a blast, and I would love to make this a weekly thing. Not only is it a great upper body workout, but it's so nice to slow down and glide across the water and notice the little things that are so easily missed in nature otherwise.

It was a great weekend, and something tells me that this week is going to be equally magnificent!

Question of the Day:

What is your favorite outdoor activity?

Homemade White Pizza

This recipe is not my own, it is actually my mother's. She taught me how to make it this past weekend and it's one of my new favorites. Who knew that pizza, sans sauce, could be so delightful? The flavors of the vegetables really shine when not overpowered by a red sauce and the pizza feels so much lighter too (which means you can eat more!!)

Over Christmas, my mom taught my little neice how to make it too. It's a simple recipe to make with kiddos and is a great way to have fun and teach nutrition! Here's little Juliana adding her own special ingredients. ; )

Homemade White Pizza
Serves 3-4

1 ball pizza dough (homemade or store bought and risen and tossed according to directions)
Olive oil
Garlic powder
Salt
Pepper
Italian seasoning
2 handfuls spinach, washed and torn
1 large tomato sliced (or 3-4 roma tomatoes)
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
Freshly grated parmesan
1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
Freshly shredded mozzerella
Corn Meal

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sprinkle a baking stone generously with corn meal.

2. Toss dough, and lay out over stone. Coat dough with olive oil and sprinkle with seasonings and a little fresh Parmesan.

3. Top with spinach, tomato, and mushrooms. And cover with a generous dose of each- Parmesan, feta, and mozzerella cheese.

4. Place in center rack of oven and cook for 18-20 minutes. When done, lit sit on the counter for 5 minutes while the stone continues to warm and the juices settle.

ENJOY!

Question of the Day:

What's your favorite (Papa John's, Domino's, Pizza Hut, or Homemade) and why?

4.

Something Other Than Stretchy Pants....

Oh my goodness, I feel like a brand new woman today. I don't know if it was the antibiotics the doctor put me on, my diligence in taking them, or your thoughts and prayers, but I feel great today! You know you were really sick when a great day means you can breathe through your nose, even if you have to blow it every minute of the day...

I've been itching to get back here and share some photos and an update from last weekend. Remember this post where I talked about my "accomplishments" for 2012? One of them was to seize the moments when John is away and really enjoy spending time with myself. Last weekend I did just that!

I'm so proud of this picture. It documents a Saturday morning where I actually showered, did my hair and makeup and looked pretty for the day! Most my Saturdays are spent in stretchy pants and workout gear with my messy mane pulled up in a nasty bun-thing. But Saturday I was spending time with my girlfriends and took the oportunity to put on some tunes and primp myself for once. I enjoyed it so much I might do it again this weekend! :)

Here I am with my girly friends Kayla and Kate. Kayle (the middle) is getting married on February 25th and we spent Saturday at her dress fitting and enjoying a lunch together. She looks so beautiful in that dress and I can't wait to show you all pictures from her big day.

Kate is the maid of honor and I'm a bridesmaid in the wedding, so we spent the rest of the night together crafting and planning for Kayla's bridal shower we're throwing this Sunday. YAY!  I'll have many pictures coming up. The theme is "I've Got Your Love to Keep Me Warm."

And now...a immunity-booster smoothie...

Immunity Boost Berry Smoothie
serves 2

1.5 cups orange juice
1 banana
4-5 large frozen strawberries
1 handful of frozen mixxed berries (blueberry, blackberry, raspberry...)
30 drops GSE liquid probiotic
4 ice cubes

Blend and enjoy the boost!

Question of the Day:

What kind of things do you do for you when your husband is gone?



Accomplishment for the New Year

"Resolutions" always leave a bad taste in my mouth. Mostly because we go into them half heartedly...the very word means that we have resolved to...or we are resolute in our thinking. But I find that most often we come up with a list of things we "wish" we could have in a perfect world and kind of mosy along to try and prove we can make them a reality. Not much resoluteness there.

                                                                                Source: Uploaded by user via Becca on Pinterest

"Goals" is a good word. Here we have not only wished something, but we have set up a method with which we will accomplish them. We know what we want in life, and we set it in our sights and create steps to achieve them. This is a great plan, but even the term "goals" has kind of worn itself out...

This year I have a list of "accomplishments." You might think it is kind of strange to credit yourself for things that haven't happened yet, but I feel like if I already create the award for myself, all I have to do is achieve and accept it (and maybe make a lengthy speech) and then I will have done something great...I've already set myself up for success.

This year I will accomplish:

1. Running a 5k in February without walking.

2. Running a 15k in September for the first time.

3. Complete my graduate certificate in TEFL.

4. Complete my CPM training (Church Planting Movement).

5. Learn to seize the moments that I have alone when John is traveling instead of dreading those times.



Brooks Adrenaline G12s

Let's talk about accomplishment #1 today. Last year I started running and ran/walked my first 5k in September of 2011. It felt so great to accomplish that goal, but I really wanted to strive for excellence and signed up for another one in February so I could push myself to run the whole thing.

For Christmas we bought ourselves some actual running shoes. I've been running in Nike cross-trainers. And though they are great for cross-training, running is a whole different story. We put down the cash and made an investment in our feet and in our new hobby. I'll be using these bad boys to train for my races this year! :)

In February I'll be running this race...only the 5k, not the marathon...

We are super excited. We will be running this one with my mom and step-dad, David. It's going to be such a fun time and a great way to build us up as a family. I can't wait to share with you how I accomplish this goal and prove to myself that I AM A RUNNER and that the hard work does pay off!

Question of the Day:

What stops you from reaching your goals? Is it the semantics?



Kalicious Smoothie

First off, I'm sorry I've been off the grid lately. It's a combination of laziness and running around like mad these past few weeks. When I look at my schedule I'm not that busy, but I am. It's just not logical.

Second, I have good news to report! As of last night, Grandma Ruth was taken off the ventilator and is breathing on her own and very very unhappy to have to sit in a hospital bed. My father-in-law reports that she's literally kicking to get out of bed, but still has a lot of resting to do. Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers yesterday. So many people here and on Facebook were diligently lifting her up and the Lord has heard our prayer as she was not expected to survive while off the ventilator there for a while.

Now onward, to a delicious smoothie recipe! You may remember the Kalicious smoothie we got when we went to Whole Foods a few weekends ago. Well, I search high and low online and couldn't find it on their site, so I made up a recipe of my own based on what we had, and voila!  I'm here so share it with you today.  But first some promises...

1) It's delicious and detoxifying. I'm not going to elaborate on how I know the latter. But I know it. Period.

2) You won't taste the spinach and kale, scouts honor.

3) You will never age as long as you drink this smoothie.

(Ok, that last one was a stretch...)

As it is, the smoothie is really great for you. Kale and spinach are both leafy greens high in vitamin K, A, and C. Along with other goodies like protien, calcium, iron, and B6.

To add a little boost to my smoothies, I also add GSE and chia seed. I put GSE in every smoothie I make. On it's own, it's one of the most disgusting tastes you have ever tasted. It's only saving grace is that the taste doesn't linger in your mouth once you swallow. But in a smoothie you can't taste it at all. GSE is Grapefruit Seed Extract and it is a nutribiotic. Basically it's properties naturally fight against bad bacteria and viruses in your gut that could cause you to get sick.

Chia is a seed high in omegas with moderate amounts of protien. A good additive if you are vegetarian or vegan to help get those omegas in your diet.

The Kalicious Smoothie
serves 2

1.5 cups apple juice
1 lemon, juiced
2 bananas
1 cup spinach
1 cup kale (middle vein removed, it's bitter...)
5-6 ice cubes

Optional:
30 drops GSE
1/2 tsp chia (up your liquid by 1/4 cup if you add chia...it absorbs TONS of water).

Place everything in a blender, and blend on high until smooth and frothy! Enjoy!

Question of the Day:

What's your favorite smoothie recipe?



My First Thanksgiving

Well, this is my first Thanksgiving as a vegetarian. It isn't, however, my first vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner, as the family I am going to visit in Pennsylvania has absolutely no idea I'm a vegetarian...

I'm banking on the fact that a Thanksgiving table is usually plump with variety, leaving plenty of goodies for yours truly to eat. But when you think about it, the following items also could contain meat- gravy, stuffing, casseroles, green beans, etc. So it's also likely that I could have a plate full of cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and bread. Not exactly balanced, but you won't find me crying in my cranberries. I'm really just happy to be with family. And there's always opportunity for the glory of a veggie filled table next year.

                                                                                          Source: google.co.za via Andie on Pinterest

The real question is whether or not to let them into my secret. The men in my family are big time hunters, canning up venison and freezing freshly slaughtered birds all year. Something tells me if I "come out" I may not hear the end of it and may end up in a can myself. If I had to guess, the pin above would really sum up their feelings.  ;-)


Coming up this week:
Tuesday: My Top Picks for Thanksgiving Recipes!
Wednesday: 10 Ways to Keep the Peace This Thanksgiving
Thursday: Thanksgiving- A Reflection
Friday: Too. Much. Pie.

Vegetable Tian

 Isn't this dish so beautiful? I waited with anticipation as it cooked, so anxious to set it on the table because I knew it would be impressive. Even after a year of cooking for John I still get excited to cook for him, and he still gets excited to see what's for dinner. I knew I had it beat with this dish. And it's not just pretty folks, it is tasty to boot!

I found this recipe on a blog called For the Love of Cooking. Really great recipes there and I'll definitely be going back after trying this one! Go check it out!

Vegetable Tian

Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil (divided)
1 large sweet yellow onion cut in half and sliced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1-2 russet potatoes, unpeeled
1 zucchini
1 yellow squash
3 large Roma tomatoes
Sea salt, freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Dried thyme, to taste
1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375. Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a skillet and saute onion until translucent. Add garlic and cook a few minutes more until the onions start to brown and caramelize a bit. While your onions are cooking slice the potatoes, zucchini, squash, and tomatoes into 1/4 inch slices. Spray a tart dish or pie plate with cooking spray and pour the cooked onions into the bottom of the pan. Spread evenly.

Arrange the vegetables (potato, zucchini, squash, tomato) in order in a ring around the plate (as shown in picture). Sprinkle with salt and pepper, thyme, and drizzle with last tbsp of oil. Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes.

Uncover and sprinkle with Parmesan. Place in the oven, uncovered, for an additional  25-30 minutes.

Question of the Day: 

Have you discovered any great new food blogs? If so, share a link!

Vegan Butternut Squash Mac and Cheeze

It's no secret that I love the vegan recipes from Oh She Glows. I've reposted a number of them on here, but never fail to give credit where credit is due. Angela is a cooking machine, and her kitchen produces some of the best healthy recipes I've ever tasted. This is just another one of those, perfect for fall, and a perfect comfort food without all the "bad for you" things we typically find in mac and cheese.

Butternut Squash Mac n' Cheeze

Ingredients:
1 fresh butternut squash (peeled and chopped)
Extra virgin olive oil
Dash of salt and pepper
1 tbsp Earth Balance (or butter if you choose, but will no longer be vegan)
3/4 cup unsweetend and unflavored almond milk
1 tbsp cornstarch
6 tbsp nutritional yeast, or more to taste
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2-3/4 tsp kosher salt (or to taste) & ground black pepper, to taste
8oz whole wheat or brown rice pasta of your choice
Mix-ins of choice (I used spinach and leftover chunks of roasted butternut squash)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425F. Spray a casserole dish with PAM. Mix chopped squash with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast for about 40 minutes, uncovered, or until tender.
2. Meanwhile, prepare the cheeze sauce in a pot on the stove top. Add Earth balance/butter over low-medium heat. In a bowl, whisk together milk and cornstarch until clumps are gone. Add into pot and whisk. Stir in remaining ingredients (nutritional yeast, Dijon, garlic, salt and pepper) and whisk over low heat until thickened (about 5-7 minutes or so).
3. Cook your pasta according to package directions. The sauce makes enough to cover 4 servings of pasta.
4. In a blender, blend the sauce with one cup of roasted squash.
5. Add cooked, drained, and rinsed macaroni into pot, along with cheeze sauce & mix-ins. Heat and serve.

Question of the Day:

Does the idea of eating a vegan meal scare you/turn you off? If so, why?



Weekend Update| September 26, 2011

After the race all I could do was smile and say "wow!!"

I did it! I ran a 5k and man does it feel fantastic! I can't thank you all enough for your encouragement on my last post and for your tweets the day of the race to pump me up for the challenge ahead. It really meant so much.  Here's some details from the day:

- I woke up at 3:00am the morning of because I realized I hadn't put together a running mix for my iPod. I can't think of a better use for 3:00 in the morning. It so paid off when we left the chute for our 3.1 mile run.

- We woke up at 5:30. I bounced out of bed and into my gear, and John said "so you have no problem jumping out of bed at 5:30 on a Saturday to go running, but I can't get you out of bed for the life of me at 7:00 on a Wednesday. I don't understand you."

- We feasted on english muffins with peanut butter and split a banana on the way to the race.

- We hit major traffic on the way there and were 20 minutes late to the start line. Yup, 20 minutes! We started running with just a few other stragglers and then caught up with the walkers and stroller-pushers by the end of it.

- I ran 3.1 miles in 37 minutes, only stopping to walk for 3 of those minutes. That's about a 12 minute mile pace.

-Reaching that finish line was the most exhilarating thing I have ever done. I smiled wide, thumbs-uped the cameras and kept saying "yes!" every exhale till my toes crossed the finish line. :)

I am absolutely hooked people. Like, I need to run another race right now. Unfortunately I'll have to wait until February. We're signing up for another 5k in Melbourne and we're running it with my mom and step-dad! It's going to be a great time and another great reason to keep training and try and improve my time.

Thanks again for all the encouragement. It made my day! And your breakfasts tips totally helped, the english muffin and pb really did the trick. I didn't feel sick at all!

Pre-Weekend Update| RUNNING

                                                                              Source: media.photobucket.com via Hannah on Pinterest

So, I know it's a bit unusual, but today I need to do a pre-weekend update because there is something I'm so excited to tell you that I just can't wait until Monday!

Tomorrow is the big day...our first ever 5k race! I. AM. SO. EXCITED. We have been preparing for this race since the beginning of summer and I can't believe that tomorrow morning, 7 a.m., I'll be kicking off from the starting line. I'm prepared to fall head over heels in love with the thrill of a race day tomorrow, and am already pumped to sign up for an 8k this February. Running has finally gotten fun, and though my endurance still needs a little work the fact that I can run 1.5 miles without stopping gives me the motivation I need to keep pushing toward new goals. It really is the possibilities that keep me going!

Here's the shirt I bought, on sale, at Sports Authority for my run (only $14!). It's a Nike Pro Fitted V-Neck tee and I love it. If I had a million dollars I would buy this shirt in ever color it comes in. I chose pink because, even though I hate wearing pink in real life, I love wearing it when I work out because it makes me feel like a lady even though I'm sweating like a pig and grunting through my workout like a man.

I can't wait to report back to you on Monday with pictures from race day and some other fun things on the agenda this weekend. I just know that this weekend is going to fly by, but I'm going to try and savor every last minute of it.

I'll leave one final question for you runners out there:

Question of the Day:

I've never gone running so early in the morning, and don't typically eat breakfast until 9:00. What is a good breakfast to eat early in the morning before we get there at 6am that would be good fuel and not make my stomach real sick?

Grilled Vegetable and Bean Salad

This recipe is so good. If you're not a big veggie fan (which is crazy to me...) you may look at this salad in disgust. But I tell you, you will be pleasantly surprised when it hits your taste buds. The grill makes all the veggies so sweet and tender, and when mixed with the semi-sour dressing it is everything you could ever want in your lunch box. This recipe is from Oh She Glows. I just added an extra protein kick by throwing in some chick peas in addition to the other beans and grains.

Salad:
3 bell peppers (red, green,  yellow)
2 zucchinis, sliced in half lengthwise
6 ears of corn, husk removed
1.5-2 cups cooked black beans (or one 15oz can)
1/2 cup uncooked wheatberries (optional)

Dressing:
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lime juice (2 limes) I’m sure lemon works too
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 small garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp minced fresh cilantro (or herb of choice)
1 tsp maple syrup (or other sweetener)
1 tsp Dijon mustard
Salt and Pepper, to taste

1. Preheat the grill over medium heat. When it’s ready add the corn, rotating every few minutes. After about 10 minutes, add the zucchini and bell peppers. No need to chop the peppers, you can leave them whole. Grill for another 10 minutes, rotating frequently, until lightly charred.

2. Meanwhile, cook your wheatberries on the stovetop (if using them) according to package directions. In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients and adjust to taste.

3. When vegetables are done on the grill, cool, and then remove corn and chop the peppers and zucchini. Mix the drained and rinsed beans, wheatberries, dressing, and vegetables together in a large bowl. Add a generous amount of salt and pepper, to taste. Will keep for a few days in the fridge.

Question of the Day:

What site do you get most of your recipes from?

Link it up in your response. :)



Weekend Update| September 19, 2011

Well, this past week two of my very best friends got engaged. Love is in the air and it isn't even springtime! I'm so excited for both of them and can't wait to see how their beautiful wedding plans unravel. I know that both of them have many many happy years ahead of them with the good men they've snagged.

Becky and her rocks. :)

Kayla and her rocks (and her fiance Sheriffe).

Saturday morning I had breakfast with Becky. She asked me to be her matron of honor and I, of course, said yes. Only, it took me a second to realize what she was asking. Why the heck am I a matron? OH YEAH, I'm married now which apparently makes me matronly. #Ifeelold

We had a great time talking wedding stuff and eating bagels and cream cheese at our traditional breakfast date spot- Panera.

John was helping some of our friends moved to I went ahead and tackled all the grocery shopping. Check out all the produce I got at our local produce market...

Only $31!!!

Saturday night we had our friends Caitlin and Ben over for dinner. They are also vegan and we had a great time talking about our experience going vegan last week. A lot of the conversation centered around poop. But trust me, if you try veganism that's a great topic of conversation. I know you're thinking, "Hannah, it may be a good conversation to have with other vegans, but not with your blog friends..." Ok, I get it.

Vegan Diet Update: We have been meat and dairy free for a week now. Last week John had ZERO heartburn, except for one day when we went out with friends and got a beef schwarma. So far the diet seems to be helping and meat seems to be the heartburn culprit.

Sunday we went to Beachside church (a.k.a. we skipped out on church and went to the beach instead.) It was so much fun, we went with some friends and I enjoyed talking with my friend Laura while all the guys tried their hand at surfing.

The rest of the day was spent napping, doing homework, and packing. Yup, we found a new place to live and will be moving on October 8th. More on that (with pics!) later on this week!

Question of the Day:

What did YOU do this weekend?

Do you buy your produce at a chain store or a produce stand or farmer's market?



Who Brews the Kombucha

                                                                                            Source: blueeggkitchen.com via Hannah on Pinterest

I'm getting my first batch of kombucha and my little baby scobys this Thursday. In case you are unfamiliar with kombucha tea I'll give you a brief description...

Kombucha is a beverage that is made by placing a big honking slab of bacteria and yeast (the scoby) in a bath of black/green/white sweet tea and letting it steep and ferment for a few weeks until the bacteria and yeast has eaten most of the sugar out of the tea mixture. 

                                                                                                Source: deliciousobsessions.com via Hannah on Pinterest

One might ask, "why would you want to drink a brew of bacteria?" And the simple answer is, I don't really want to, but I hear that they health benefits of drinking it can be quite good, and some people enjoy the fermented, fizzy flavor. For me, that is yet to be discovered.

Supposedly the good bacteria kind of acts as a probiotic... it helps balance your gastrointestinal tract, helps your liver to function more properly, and acts as a detoxifying agent. Supposedly.

I feel that as a blogger known for adventure and as a lover of new/strange things it is my duty to be the guinea pig on this one. Word on the street is that people have been brewing kombucha for it's medicinal properties since 400 B.C. (People have also been smoking opiates for that long...so I'm not sure there's any argument there.) I can't wait to tell you more about if it really works and if I can see any increase in my vitality from this magical tea.

I also plan to post about my scobys....which I will name once I adopt them.

Question of the Day:

Have you ever brewed your own or tried someone else's kombucha tea?

What should I name my scobys?

Hannah's Health Update (and a winner...)

Today is the day we've all been waiting for....the finale of the giveaway! Our winner is.....

Comment #4- Hilliary from Happily Ever Healthy!

Congrats, girl! And thank you for all of you support! Please email your full name and address to culture_connoisseur@yahoo.com  so I can set up your subscription.

__________________________________________________________________________

                                                                             Source: saturatedcanary.blogspot.com via Hannah on Pinterest

Fitness Update:

I'm feeling great these days folks! First I want to share with you a major victory...a little over a year ago I took the Real Age Test, and scored 34 years old! (That was 12 years over my actual age.) Over the last year I have increased the amount of exercise I do, changed to a 65% vegetarian diet, started getting more sleep at night, and cut out almost all drinks but water and the occasional sweet tea. I took the Real Age Test again yesterday and scored at 20 years old...that's 4 years younger than I actually am! Needless to say, I'm feeling on top of the world!

                                                                                                Source: weheartit.com via Hannah on Pinterest

We have been running 2-3 times per week in preparation for our 5k on September 24th, go to the gym 1-2 days a week to lift weights, and we do yoga 2 days a week or as needed to relieve tight and sore muscles after our runs. With each run and each weight I feel stronger and more endurant, but the yoga is what makes it all possible. Without yoga as the foundation I wouldn't be fit to do anything else.

                                                                            Source: letsrendezvous.tumblr.com via Hannah on Pinterest

Diet Update:
I've mentioned in previous posts that John and I are "Carnevegeveganarians." That is, we eat like vegans and vegetarians for most of our week and throw in some meat here and there when we feel like it. Making this change has completely changed our health...all our afternoon drowsiness is gone, we sleep better at night, we experience little to no illness (when we used to get sinus infections and colds year 'round), our dental health has drastically improved, fewer headaches, and even clearer skin.
Since we've so enjoyed the benefits of our healthy diet, we're taking it to the next level...

                                                                                Source: theveganproject.wordpress.com via Hannah on Pinterest

I'm a little hesitant to say "we're going vegan" because I feel like "vegan" has so many opinions surrounding it. Instead I'll say that John and I are going meat- and dairy-free for a month, and the "why?" is quite simple. Even though we have seen dramatic differences in our health lately in comparison with where we were at a year ago, John still experiences chronic heartburn. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes have been known to act as a medicinal diet, healing the body of it's ailments, preventing AND reversing heart disease and pro-longing one's lifespan.

Our meat- and dairy-free experiment is to see if it will rid John of daily heartburn for good. Currently he takes Priolosec daily, and has for years (which is not recommended) and we feel it's high time we try and deal with it. Chances are a doctor will put him on a prescribed medication, and we aren't interested in those...we want the chance to heal ourselves by way of good food straight from Mother Earth.

Our diet starts Monday, and I can't wait to see what happens. I'll keep you all in the loop and say a prayer that this finally brings John some relief!

Question of the Day:

Are you a vegetarian or meat- and dairy-free?

Have you tried in the past?