A Break? What’s That?
I was really tempted to name this post “Your balls are flat” but we’ll get to that later.
Why is it that the days you have “off” always seem to be the busiest?
I woke up and dished up some breakfast because heading to my massage. I know, I live a hard life.
For someone who “doesn’t really like chocolate,” I sure seem to be hooked on chocolate oats.
Topped with jelly and maple pumpkin butter, which is new to me. I’ll let you know the brand tomorrow but believe me, it’s awesome.
Is this blurry or artistic?
I’m so glad I scheduled a massage with my mom. Not only did she do some great work on my IT band but it was the only point in my day where I felt relaxed.
Thanks, Mom 🙂
From my parents’ office I ran serveral errands and shoved some almonds and roasted veggies in my mouth at some point.
Then I got to work on these.
I had to be at school to watch final presentations and signed up to bring cookies because apparently I’m still in high school and we have in-class parties. I don’t know why I’m complaining.
I decided to make these and these from Mama Pea. I’ve been eyeing them for weeks!
I went through A LOT of peanut butter. But I’m okay with that because that only means one thing… OIAJ in my near future.
Dough was made. Two batches of peanut butter/chocolate chip dough balls.
And one batch of cinnamon sugar dough balls.
Then something went horribly wrong and my cinnamon dough balls came out flat!
Really flat.
I thanked myself for eating some of the dough before it deflated and realized tiny cinnamon sugar cookies are just as good as dough balls.
And the flat balls were overshadowed by the awesome peanut butter dough balls that didn’t deflate.
Whoa, look at the inside of those babies.
To be honest, the dough balls tasted a lot differnt than I’d thought. They were a little dry and a LOT peanut buttery. It made it easy to only eat one…and a half. Everyone in class grabbed one so hopefully they were well received.
Are your “days off” busy too?
Just Say No
I have a total of 8 pictures from today and you know what? I just don’t like them.
So, I’m just saying no to posting pictures that I’m not happy with.
Instead, I’m going to share my favorite Christmas songs because that makes me happy, unlike “bad” food pictures.
Just know that I made this salad dressing and I’m pretty sure it’s going to be downright awesome tasting. I’ll let you know.
Now, on to bigger and better things.
Lauren’s Christmas Mixmas:
1. When My Heart Finds Christmas by Harry Connick Jr.
2. Last Christmas
3. I Want a Hippopotumus for Christmas (it’s been stuck in my head for DAYS)
4. All I Want for Christmas is You (preferably the Love Actually version)
5. Jinglebell Rock by Hall and Oates
6. Happy Christmas (War is Over)
7. Merry Christmas Happy Holiday by Nsync
8. Rocking Around the Christmas Tree
9. This Christmas (especially if it’s by Chris Brown)
10. Little St. Nick
11. White Christmas (because I am dreaming of one)
12. Last but not least, The 12 Days of Christmas by Straight No Chaser (if you haven’t heard this song you should look it up. NOW)
My dislikes list is much much longer but we’ll save that for another day.
What are your favorites?
Dexter Themed
Any Dexter fans out there? The season finale was last night and in honor of the event we cooked up a spooky-looking dinner.
Doesn’t this look appealing?
I’ll be the first one to say that no, it doesn’t look good. It looks like a blob of red goop and that’s because, well, it is a blob of red goop but delicious and wonderfully colored goop.
Beet Risotto with Greens and Goat Cheese (from Cooking Light)
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 2t olive oil
- 1 cup onion (we used red)
- 1 cup Arborio rice
- 1T peeled fresh ginger (we used powdered ginger and probably only 1/2T worth)
- 2t fresh rosemary (we used dried)
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 3 cups finely chopped beets (I had no idea how many beets it would take to get 3 cups. I only got 2 cups out of 4 beets so I was a cup short but I thought 2 cups was plenty.)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4t salt
- 14.5 oz. can veggie broth
- 6 cups chopped Swiss chard (or just use the beet greens if you want)
- 2 ounces goat cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (we didn’t use this because I do not like walnuts!)
Directions:
- Heat olive oil in a pot then add the onions and saute for 3 minutes.
- Add rice, ginger and rosemary and saute for one minute.
- Add wine and cook until liquid is absorbed (~5 minutes), stir constantly. I had to recruit Joey to stir while I chopped the beets and I don’t think he was pleased since he was trying to watch the Cowboys game.
- Add beets, water, broth and salt. Bring to a boil then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Add chard and cook 5 minutes, then add goat cheese and stir until blended.
- Serve with some Dexter (preferably beforehand if the likeness between your food and blood is too much for you to handle…) and a warning that it may look like you’re peeing blood later.
Well now that I’m done talking about pee and blood let’s move on to more food.
As promised, stew pictures.
This is Angela’s Blanket Stew and you must try it! The broth is unlike anything I’ve ever had in a stew and it’s the perfect winter meal 🙂 We’ll be having the leftovers all week. No, I won’t make you look at pictures of it everytime.
Check out all those veggies!
I ate a small bowl alongside half of a half of an Udi’s eggplant and goat cheese panini. I think I had enough goat cheese yesterday.
Are you sick of seeing this sandwich yet? Too bad, because I’m not sick of eating it. And because I have another half of a half in the fridge.
I consider this a fairly light lunch, which I did on purpose because I was planning to go on a run!!
It was a nice day, temps in the high 40’s, so I pulled on my long sleeve running shirt, gloves, my earwarmer and my Garmin and headed out.
The Run:
- Mile 1 – 9:40
- Mile 2 – 9:45
- Mile 3 – 9:31
- Mile 4 – 9:31
- Mile 5 – 9:29
- Mile 6 – 9:18
- Mile 7 – 9:29
- Total time – 1:06:48
I didn’t plan on going 7 miles but I got out there and felt GOOOOD. I’m extra proud of myself because this was the furthest I’ve ever gone solo. Wahoo!
I rewarded myself this morning with some pumpkin oats.
In the mix:
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1/3 cup vanilla almond milk
- 1 cup water
- 1t ground flax
- 1/2 cup pumpkin
- 1t pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2t vanilla
Topped with:
- 1T vanilla almond milk
- drizzle of maple syrup (I’m almost out! Good thing I bought a 32 oz. jug of it yesterday…)
- pumpkin granola
- dried cranberries (because they make me feel festive!)
Did I mention I did 80 push ups and 197 sit ups. Oh and I’m really confused because I thought this was a 200 sit ups challenge, there’s 2 weeks left and I’m already at 197… I’ll have to check that out.
I’ve got a list of things to do. None of which involve school work because I’M DONE!!!
Happy Monday 😛
Lauren Loves Good Food 