Dealing with Disappointment (and CHOBANI!)

Today has been a downer. I've been in quite a funk this whole week, trying to get myself on track with school, running, cooking, homework... LIFE. And things just haven't quite been adding up the way I would hope. You ever have those times when you're just about at your breaking point and the littlest things sets you off?

Yup. That was me this morning.

You see, I was going to do my second WIAW post, but as I went to take a picture of my breakfast this morning (which tasted kind of...ehhh. Not really worth sharing...) my camera told me there was a problem with the memory card.

Would you like to reformat? YES.
Reformatting will delete all pictures on memory card. OK.
*Wait three minutes*
Reformatting failed. OK.
Would you like to reformat?................ Cycle repeats. 20 times. Girl almost throws camera out window and starts to cry. Girl turns off camera with a sigh, finishes breakfast, and moves on to go to school.

And then little irritance number two...
I recently bought a bodybugg SP system. It's been okay... kind of fun to know how many steps I take during the day and such and it has been helpful for me to reconcile that I burn more than I would have thought, so I've been eating more appropriately, but today, the app just wouldn't load. I press it... it says loading and then just stops and returns to the home screen.

WHAT?!!

That's been the kind of day I've had. And it is frustrating.

So here's my advice: we cannot control many of the things which will come our way in life. Irritants, whether they be big or small, are inevitably going to set us back... but only if we let them. Yes, you can get annoyed. In fact, please do. It's unhealthy to bottle up the stress. But after you cry/scream for your 5 minutes, you just have to take stock of things and find a new goal. Put it in perspective. Ask yourself- is the energy I'm using to stay mad about this really worth it?

And then we find new things to make us happy. Like a lovely little shipment from Chobani, courtesy of Lindsay. (Thank you so much! It made my day! Seriously...after what happened today...It was like Christmas!) I managed to get my camera on the non-card mode, which meant it can take a whopping 4 pictures, but here they are:

STEP ONE: The box

STEP TWO: The inflated silver thingy

STEP THREE: the freeze packs

STEP FOUR: LOTS OF YOGURT!!

QUESTION OF THE DAY:
(to ask yourself, although you are free to share) WHAT DISAPPOINTMENTS HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME THIS WEEK?
AND....What's your favorite CHO flavor? What should I try out first?

Natural Food Store Review +WIAW

Yesterday, I fell in love. With a store.

To be fair, it was a cute little store, stuffed to the brim with organic and vegetarian products. I had never seen anything like it near me- the closest I'd come was the giant Whole Foods monolith an hour away in West Hartford. But this was in my very town! Sadly, my new crush and I did not have much time together, since my mom had to go to the bathroom and kept reminding me to 'make my choices and get out'. But I could have stayed for an hour. Maybe two. Just LOOKING at all the possibilities. It was my new health food dream come true.

Maybe if you live down in shoreline CT you should stop by. It's called, quite literally, 'The Natural Food Store' in downtown Niantic. But that's enough of that. Here are some of my new finds, which I'm excited to try out:


Arctic Zero Ice Cream- High Protein and looks sooo good. (If you can't tell, this is the coffee flavor.)

Nutritional Yeast. I've been searching and searching and FINALLY found it!



The Uber-cool bag....



Ultra Energy Bar- with 22 grams protein. You know me and protein. It's good stuff! And look at this! Cookies and Cream! I can't wait to sample all my new goodies!

  On to WIAW. The theme is 'FALL into good habits'. What's my good habit? Well, mine is pretty simple, actually. It's...eating. For those who don't know my story, check out the food philosophy page. In short, though, my eating habits these past few weeks have fallen apart. I've really been giving in to restricting urges and it's time that I took control back. My body deserves to be fed, and it deserves a healthy, balanced diet that can fuel my running and daily activities and not leave me an emotional wreck. So the goal for me this Wednesday, and days to come, is to EAT. More. More calories, more often, more nutritionally-concious. It will be good for me.
 

Today's breakfast started off nice and hearty with some Creamy yOATgurt on the stove (recipe to follow). The flavor I settled on was strawberries and cream, topped generously with some peanut butter to make a little PBandJ yOATgurt.



I may also have had some ah-mazing coffee. Another new obsession. It's fall and pumpkin is everywhere, what can I say? It's simply delicious, and the smell just makes you want to hug someone. Spread the love, won't you?



Lunch included a veggie burger on toasted whole wheat bread, Spicy Pizza Hummus and cauliflower for dipping, and some cocoa roasted almonds to snack on before practice.

Haven't gotten to dinner and evening snack yet, but I'm pretty sure the agenda will include some fresh roasted spaghetti squash and Spinach N Veggie Wraps.



And dessert? Well, I'm thinking that coffee ice cream looks pretty good ;)

Running Shoe Shopping

If there is one thing that I love to buy, it would have to be shoes. Flats, converse... and of course, running shoes. I love the bright colors, testing out the soles, trying to figure out all the new technology. But somehow today, despite all the wonderful options available, I did the only thing a girl could do: go with the classic. I'm an Asiacs girl. I think the past 5 or 6 pairs I've owned have all been Asiacs! This time, though, I actually ended up with the exact same pair. Yupp. THE EXACT SAME: color, size, design, model... the only difference of course, was that I hadn't been wearing them! I figured it was a new season, so it was probably time to get a new pair, but I couldn't help feeling a little foolish. Why was I dishing out another $90 to get something I already had? I don't know... oh well. I trust these shoes. They've been like old friends, carrying me through hard workouts and hikes and rainstorms and adventures in the woods...and I definitely just used a run-on sentence. Once again: oh well.

I sadly haven't had a whole lot of time in the kitchen due to school starting up again (technically I really should be studying right now for a test in AP Bio...on the second full day of school no less!) so no new recipes to report. I did, however, whip up something a little yummy quite some time ago which I brought up on Averie's site here. Pumpkin peanut butter. Maybe it sounds like a strange combination, but I think it's heaven. A great fall twist on an old classic at the very least! Here's the super easy recipe:

Sarah's Pumpkin Pie Peanut Butter

1/3 cup canned pumpkin

1.5 Tablespoons Peanut Butter

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Dash Pumpkin Pie Spice

1-2 teaspoons raisins

1-2 teaspoons chopped walnuts or pecans

2 teaspoons almond milk

Sweetener to taste (I don't use any)

*Optional- a handful of cacao nibs or chocolate chips :)

Note: this isn't a picture of my recipe. I don't have one. This image came from here. But mine looks just as good, if not better!

Simply stir everything together and keep in the fridge. Serve on sandwiches, with graham crackers, apples, bananas, celery, bread, on oatmeal....whatever your heart desires. Or even eat it with a spoon, because it is THAT good. Especially with the chocolate. Shhh. I won't tell anyone.

I've really been into pumpkin lately, in case you haven't noticed. In fact, I ate it with every meal today! (pumpkin oatmeal, pumpkin pb sandwich, pumpkin burgers, pumpkin pie banana protein shake...the list didn't end!) Something about it just warms you from inside out, though. And I needed some motivation at practice today. We ran 800 reps with medicine balls/agility ladders/strength in between each. And we increased the speed by 10 seconds with each round. We only did 3 800s total, but of course we had the 15 minute warmup run and all of that strength, so in the heat it made for a pretty tough workout. Plus, I had conditioning in gym, and I worked HARD with lunges and on the weight resistance machines. I'm going to get MUSCLES this year (my goal, at least....)

Question of the day: What is YOUR shopping addiction? Do you have a go-to exercise apparel or shoe that you just can't let go of? 

Daddy's Birthday Dinner

Okay, so it's not REALLY his birthday yet, but it's close enough to cook him a new creation, right? Plus, since I have to go back to school the same day as his REAL birthday, it works out pretty well to just make something now while I've got the time on my hands. And maybe, quite possibly, it's my not-so-subtle attempt to coax him into getting a new food processor. But I'm not saying anything. These are all speculations, of course.

Today just felt like a lazy day. Despite much caffineated bliss, I didn't really feel like doing anything but sitting at the computer and drooling over blogs. Working out? Well...

But ALAS! Be proud of me! I got on that elliptical and sweated it out for 30 minutes before deciding I had paid my dues. It was time to get fancy in the kitchen.

So I looked all over my newly cleaned cupboard (hooray!) and figured I'd make a nice, spicy Indian dish for my Dad. He LOVES Indian food. Me? Sorry folks, I've never been able to get on that bandwagon. Curries are NOT my thing. It's blasphemy, I know. Do I get kicked out of the vegetarian blog world now? (Please NOOOO)

Anyway....

PUNJAB PATTIES

( on SALTED QUINOA FLATBREAD with CHILLED YOGURT)

Serves 2-3

For The Patty

1/4 Cup Homemade Chickpea Flour (I finally used it up!)

2 tsp. Kebab Paste

1/2 tsp. Djion Mustard

1/2 tsp. Flax Oil

Pinch Cinnamon

Pinch Cardamom

5-6 Sweet Potato Chips, Crushed

For Quinoa Flatbread

1/4 cup uncooked Quinoa + 1 cup water for cooking

1/4 Cup Flour (can even use Quinoa Flour again for GF)

1/4 Cup Water

1 tsp. Almond Oil

Kosher Salt

For Chilled Yogurt Sauce

1 HEAPING Tablespoon Plain Greek Yogurt

1 Tablespoon Water

Pinch Curry Powder

Pinch Garam Masala

Pinch Cinnamon

1/2 tsp. Kebab Paste

Extras:

Lettuce and Tomato

More Kebab Paste for Sandwich Spread

1. Mix Up all your ingredients for the patty. You may want to add some egg white depending on how dry your flour is... mine was still a tad moist so I didn't need to.
2. Heat up small skillet with oil and lightly pan fry patty until golden and beginning to dry out a little bit. OR if sweet potato chips begin to blacken. Flip and repeat on other side until cooked. Set aside. Mine started to crumble all over but it still worked fine as long as you get those crumbles out of the pan.
3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook quinoa: (boil water, add quinoa, stir, reduce heat to medium and cover. Leave alone for 5 minutes before returning and fluffing it with a fork. Cook until water mostly absorbed, though still damp.
4. Mix all other flatbread ingredients, except salt, then add cooked quinoa when it cools. Allow to stand for at least 5 minutes.
5. Grease a baking sheet and insert into oven for 1-2 minutes to heat it up. This will help the flatbread to not stick. When it comes out of the oven, lay your 'batter' out in small rectangle, about 4 inches by 10 inches or so (thickness should be maybe 1/4 inch). Put back in oven and bake 9 minutes until it starts to bubble. Take out, flip over, and cook additional 5 minutes if still gooey on other side.
6. When fully cooked, cut in half and toast each slice. Put aside.
7. Mix everything up for your yogurt dressing. Chill at least 5 minutes, or if you make it right ahead of time, there's no need :) Just be sure it's cold when serving.
8. Put everything together; spread a little bit of yogurt sauce and additional kebab paste (if desired) on the bread. If desired, also use lettuce and tomato. Fill with patty/crumbles and top with other bread slice. Serve warm (except for yogurt sauce. If reheating, leave that out of sandwich while heating other elements and then add on).

ENJOY!

P.S. I will continue to be stalking drooling over reading all your blogs out there! Thank you to everyone for making such delicious recipes!

Question of the Day: Do you ever have a 'lazy day'? What's YOUR favorite thing to do when you get in that mood? Mine used to be curling up with a book and then going on Pinterest for hours. (Now it appears to be salivating over blogs. Same difference)

Quinoa, Quirks, and Quotes

The 3 Q's. Or at least my 3 current favorite ones.
-Quinoa: That little high protein grain/fruit that is just so CUTE. It's like a little ball with a tail on it. Which of course leads us to number two:
-Quirks: I'm full of them. I do some pretty random stuff. I'm a little OCD, and I periodically exclaim random things. Often these things are related to number three:
-Quotes: I just love them. They make great conversation starters and continuers. They can inspire you or bring tears to your eyes. It doesn't even really matter if they are cliche. They just brighten up our world!

So today, you get all three! YIPPEE!!! (rhyming... falls under category number two. Although often, related to category number three. Not too many words rhyme with quinoa, so I think we're safe on that front.)

Italian Veggie Quinoa 'Risotto'

1 Portabella Mushroom Cap, diced

1 Cup Cauliflower Florets, diced

1/2 Medium Zucchini, sliced into Coins

1 Tablespoon EVOO

2 Cups Vegetable Broth

1/2 Cup Quinoa

1/2 tsp. Basil

1/2 tsp Oregano

1/4 tsp california lemon peel, or lemon zest

Salt and pepper to taste

1. In pan or wok, heat oil on medium high. Add mushroom, cauliflower, and zucchini. Cook until tender and soft. 
2. Add quinoa and cook for 30-45 seconds to lightly toast it
3. Add first cupful vegetable broth, about 1/2 cup at a time. Allow most of it to be absorbed by quinoa before adding second 1/2 cupful.
4. Add last cup of vegetable broth and cover, reducing heat to low-medium. WALK AWAY and leave for at least 5 minutes. Go for 10 if you can bear the suspense (I couldn't).
5. Stir it up and make sure all liquid is absorbed. Add spices. Serve and ENJOY!

COTTAGE CHEESE TOMATO CUPS

1 Medium Tomato- about 5 oz

1/4 cup low-fat cottage cheese

Black Pepper

Paprika

Dill

Onion Flakes

Italian Seasoning

1 tsp. Parmesan Cheese, or Nutritional Yeast for Vegans

1. Preheat oven to 250.

2. Cut circle in top of tomato to remove 'lid'- don't cut all the way down through the tomato, just most of the way so you can remove the core. Do your best to hollow it out, making enough room for cottage cheese mixture to go inside.

3. Combine remaining ingredients (all spices are a pinch unless otherwise noted, or to taste.) Using a spoon, stuff into hollowed out tomato.

4. Bake in shallow glass pan for 15-20 minutes, until tomato begins to get soft and cheese mixture gets a little 'oozy'. Serve and ENJOY (with quinoa, rice pilaf, or fluffy Italian bread and green salad.)

Now for the quirks. I noticed as I was writing this post that the tomato ingredients look like an hourglass. This pleased me to no end, for no particular reason whatsoever, except that it's cool. I just like random things, as I mentioned before. I'm a runner. As my XC coach would say, "It's all that oxygen debt catching up with your brain." And I wouldn't disagree with him. My team is crazy.

If you've never had the privilege of being on a XC team, let me just say: you missed out. My team in particular is the most awkward, fun-loving, supportive, kind, generous, silly, happy bunch of teenage girls on the planet. For instance, we did a scavenger hunt run/photo shoot (AKA a 'kodak run'). In every single picture we had to take, someone is doing something completely outrageous, just because that's how we are. Here's some examples:

Notice girl hiding underneath truck... or me posing like a model

Pretending to eat ice cream...in front of the closed sign

"Oh look a boat! We need a picture of that!" "Ok! (hops in)" "Sarah, you can't just go on to someone's boat!" "We needed a picture..."

And I've mentioned my little OCD-ishness before. Well, Pinterest drives me nuts every few weeks. I accumulate so many pinned recipes from all of my favorite blogs that I don't know what category to put them in and I have to create whole-new boards and rearrange EVERYTHING. It takes hours.

I love it.

I mean, take a peek at my neat freak grocery list:

But you've probably stopped reading this post by now, since it's far too long. In fact, you just scrolled down to the recipe to see how to make some new food. Don't worry. I've done it, too. No hard feelings. After all, among my quirks: talking to myself randomly. Or singing. Or humming. Like Winnie the Pooh. (he's sooo CUTE. <-- #2)

We'll end on a quote, since I absolutely love them. I hope you enjoy this one (it applies quite nicely to my culinary journey, particularly the baking aspect):

SUCCESS is going from FAILURE to FAILURE without a LOSS OF ENTHUSIASM. ~Winston Churchill

Question Time! I've already shared a bit about my XC team: have you ever participated in organized sports or exercise? Tell me about the great (or not so great) times you had and the funny shenanigans that occurred.

My Dream Day: Long Runs and Cooking Stores

Well, as you've probably gathered from the title of this blog, I'm a runner. And it just occurred to me that I haven't talked about running AT ALL so far. That must be a record for me, considering I can barely take my rest days off, I'm so in love with it. Running is just awesome. And I'll tell you why.

Feel the wind at your back (or if you're slightly less lucky, at your front) blowing away all the cares and concerns that have been brewing throughout the day. Hear the dull thud of each step as you pound along the pavement in a beautiful, easy-to-find rhythm. Let your mind wander wherever it may, because right now, you are simply in touch with YOU. Every muscle, no... every CELL, every MITOCHONDRIA, every ATOM is alive and propelling you on to destiny.

I can be a bit melodramatic at times.

But I whole-heartedly believe in what I just wrote. Going for a run is one of the best gifts you can give to yourself on a daily basis. And it's FREE! (provided you don't get swept up in all the junk...heart monitors and calorie counters and fancy watches and shoes and shorts and shirts and leggings and compression socks and, well, the list goes on...)

So the best part of my day thus far was my run. Even though I got lost on it. Maybe ESPECIALLY because I got lost on it (that made it longer than planned.) You see, living in a tiny neighborhood, I don't have many options of where to go when I run. I must have covered the same route hundreds and hundreds of times, and as much as I love it, I've got to say.... it can be kind of boring.

Today I ventured off the beaten path, quite literally, by going to some newly-discovered trails that start a mile and a half from my house (part of why I've never been is just that... by the time I run to them, I usually need to turn back because in my busy, AP-class studded life, there isn't time for long runs). I glanced over the map posted at the start of the main trail and briefly considered taking a copy to go just in case...and then decided I was too cool for that. Ha. Serves me right.

I think I must have gone all over that network of trails today before finding the one that I wanted (I did remember the specific colors of where I needed to go. That gives me some credit, right?) and it took me at least 50 minutes. It was pure, exhausting bliss. I got scratched by thorns, my calves and thighs were screaming, I was getting a little bit anxious...but it was all worth it. I'd do it again. Except now it wouldn't be getting lost. It would just be having a long run.

Speaking of things I love, I got to go to the mall for Connecticut's tax-free shopping weekend. I went to a cooking supply store, and I must admit, I found a small haven there as well. If only I had unlimited access to all the funds I needed, then I would have gone on a MAJOR shopping spree. No joke. There were some really nifty gadgets I would like to try. Like this one:

Or the Yonanas (my friend has one and I adore it. I mean... healthy ice cream? What more could you want out of life? And it's totally delicious! I've tried the DIY version but it doesn't yield the same texture at all. Speaking of which, my food processor broke! I'm in mourning.)

And here is the wall of measuring gadgets, whisks, spatulas, timers, food scales, and everything in between. It was so TALL, and packed with different options. I wanted them all.

But, since I needed new school clothes, alas, no new kitchen gear for moi. That's okay. Christmas is only 4 months and 3 days away. But who's counting? (me! me! pick me!)

Time for a delicious recipe! I was trying to think of something creative that would embrace the good mood I was in today, so what better than a DESSERT? I know you're getting tired of all the berry posts, like the Summer Lovin' Salad and the Very Berry Pancakes, but hey, it's not my fault the fridge isn't working. And this one is different. It's DESSERT, for crying out loud.

TRIPLE BERRY BANANA BARS

4 servings Nilla Wafers, Crushed to Fine Powder (About 32 cookies)

4 Tablespoons Butter

2 Very Ripe Bananas, Sliced

1 Cup Ripe Strawberries, Sliced

12 oz. Red Raspberry Preserves

1 Cup Ripe Blueberries

1 Cup Flaked Coconut

1/2- 1 Cup White Chocolate Chips

1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk

Extra Nilla Wafers for Crumbly Topping

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Crush Nilla Wafers by placing in large plastic bag and rolling over (closed) bag with rolling pin. Place butter in 9x13 pan and pop into the oven until all butter is melted. Swirl it around to coat all the pan evenly, and then pour in your nilla wafer crumbs. Coat all crumbs with butter and press firmly into pan. If you need more butter, USE IT! Evenly distribute sliced bananas and berries over crust. Drop preserves over everything by spoonfuls so they, too, are fairly evenly distributed. You don't need to spread them with a knife, however, they will even out more with baking. Sprinkle on coconut and desired amount of white chocolate chips. Pour sweetened condensed milk over whole thing, making sure that it too is poured EVENLY. Bake for 40 minutes or until milk is no longer gooey. Allow to cool and sprinkle with additional nilla wafer crumbs, or even chopped pecans if you like! ENJOY!

They look kind of patriotic, don't they?

Here's a little laugh for the day, just something I saw in the mall parking lot (it fits with my them of getting lost, too, coincidentally) :)

The Awkwardness of Vegetarianism

We all know the questions.

"How do you get enough protein?"

"So, what, you like, don't eat MEAT? Don't you, like, crave it?"

"Do you only eat salads and stuff?"

And then there's that other category of people... probably well intentioned but a bit irritating just the same.

"Are you SURE you don't want some of this bacon? It's REALLY GOOD!!!"

"Oh, hey do you want some... (drops off suddenly) never mind."

"You can have this? Can't you? Right? Can I get you anything else? I have some crackers. How about a peanut butter sandwich? Would you like an apple? Or cake. Cake is good. You're too thin. You need some cake."

But then there are those rare instances that are just plain old awkward. 

Dad: "I'm home! Time for dinner!"

Kids (including me): "Yeah!"

Dad: *Pulls out bag from supermarket. Opens it up to reveal....*

A CHICKEN.

Yes. A full-on rotisserie chicken.

Me: *Just blinks and stares at chicken, then starts running around kitchen to heat up some vegetarian chili*

Dad: "What's the matter? I have dinner right here. You LOVE chicken."

Me: *Stares at Dad and waits*

Dad: "I really don't know what's going on here. What?"

I tried to wait a few more minutes in silence, hoping he would figure out exactly what it was that was bothering me. A chicken. Seriously?

He didn't figure it out.

Me: "Dad. I'm vegetarian."

Dad: "Oh, shoot. I'm sorry. I forgot."

Well, all has been forgiven if not forgotten, and now that I think about it it's kind of a funny story to tell. I mean, he forgot I was vegetarian. Granted, I've only been strictly vegetarian now for about 2 weeks, although I've dabbled in it on and off again for several years. So it's not totally his fault. And the Hormel Vegetarian Chili was pretty darn good if I do say so myself... 2 minutes in the microwave and PRESTO! Dinner is served! But you have to admit, forgetting that your daughter is vegetarian... that makes for an awkward situation.

The positive way to look at it? At least it wasn't a first date.