I’m On a Roasting Roll

Hey chik’lins! I hope each of you got to savor the last bit of the weekend – back to the daily grind tomorrow. And for me, no mas vacation from school. Ugh. Please, if you comment tonight, tell me to suck it up. School’s almost over, and I’m only taking three classes, for crying out loud. (cough*with two  miserable classes*cough)

I still had a couple blackberries in my fridge, and naturally knew rolled barley flakes were what nature intended them to be spooned into my gullet with. I should really get out of the habit of calling my breakfast oats when really, only half the time is it 100% oatmeal. Actually, never of the time is it 100% oatmeal. Hey, it’s easier.

In the base this morning:

• 1 T. oat bran, 3 T. rolled barley flakes, 1 T. wheat bran
• 1/2 c. brewed coffee, 1/2 c. almond milk
• blackberries
• trail power
• drizzle of maple syrup
• 1/2 T. chia seeds
• 1 t. milled golden flax

and to dress ‘er up:

• honey chia-acai icing
• toasted slivered almonds
• toasted coconut
• Dundee ginger preserves
• Artisana coconut butter
• and some blackberries, sauteed in almondmilk and a drizzle of maple sizzurp.

Oh, yes. Maple syrup is back. I missed it. I love me some 53 grams of carbs per serving of maple-y goodness. Luckily, a serving is also 1/4 of a cup, and hardly even a tablespoon is necessary to get the full essence. Hey, Hannah Teter follows the maple syrup diet, and look at how successful she is. Maple Blondie Ben & Jerry’s, anyone? While we’re at it, though, we might as well take on the Vermonster.

To keep on keepin’ on with the maple train, I brewed via-Keurig a fresh cup of Timothy’s Sugar Bush Maple coffee. Because if it ain’t Green Mountain, it best be Timothy’s.

This is where I’m going to give a funny little blurb about something we’d like to call dialect. Has anybody noticed I use the word ain’t rather liberally? As well as other ridiculously improper grammar that only a backwoods farmer in the hills of Vermont (bless their souls – I love the produce they provide us with) would be heard saying? I have this little thing, I suppose: when I hear a funny word or phrase that is so ridiculously improper or strange that I don’t know how anybody could ever think it’s correct or makes sense, I start to use it, just out of pure irony and…well…dry humor. In a nice way. Other examples of this little habit: “ain’t got no,” said in only the best backwoods accent, as well as using a phrase that has become overly popular that I find makes no sense (is it just Vermont where saying “what’s word?” or “what’s really?”  is equivalent to asking somebody “what’s up?”) and likewise,  sometimes I’ll start out making fun of a phrase I think is stupid, but by the time I say it so much, I actually use it in daily vocab. Example? sick, legit, and wicked. I made fun of legit for weeks until I realized I was no longer making fun of it when I used it. Anybody else catch themselves using phrases that really, don’t make much sense? Hi, I’m Jess, I go on tangents about random [and useless] stuff. Disclaimer: ain’t is used exclusivley in my best backwoods accent among only people close to me so people don’t start thinking I talk like that naturally. I realized you guys may very well think I believe ain’t to be in the English dictionary.

Just to get back to subjects of the foodie nature, I’ve been doing some reading-up on flax oil, and found the following information. Some of you may know I’ve been toying with the idea of switching over to using flax oil more than milled flax, with the discovery of Barleans Omega Swirl Flax Oil. If anyone else is interested, here’s a quick little blurb, just so my food blog doesn’t become a lesson-in-English blog.

“Because flax oil contains both of the essential fats needed for optimal health, virtually everyone can benefit from taking flax oil. Essential fats are directly connected with many life-sustaining biological functions. A lack of essential fats in the diet has been associated with numerous diseases and health complications:

Fatigue and lack of endurance

Dry skin, cracked nails, dry hair

Dry mucus membranes

Maldigestion

Constipation

Weak immunity

Depression

Forgetfulness

Hypertension

Chronic arthritis

History of cardiovascular disease

And then, of course, we could probably google and find just as many websites telling us that flaxseeds and flaxseed oil will one day kill us all. Isn’t that always the case? I was hoping to find more comparison of oil vs. seeds, but couldn’t find much. One said the whole seeds were more beneficial, yet everything I’ve ever read has said the unground seeds hardly have nutritional benefits other than fiber. mreh well.

The victims.

After breakfast I wasted no time getting ready. If I get dressed right away, I am far more likely to wind up doing something productive (as in, not just baking all day) whereas if I just do busy-work in my pajamas, that’s how I’m likely to stay.

The sun was beginning to peek through the trees, so I broke out my boots, saddle, and found my mom and wasted no time going for a trail ride. My mom wanted Jiggy to…uh…get some kinks out first – so I took Mel down the road and left him alone, and then she would ride him with Mel and I. This makes for an unhappy Jiggy at just the thought:

Before we even left the driveway. I'm actually sitting on Mel.

The view.

we're back!

I was stuck on old faithful – Mel. Melody, bless her soul, likes to move at an average pace rivaling that of a sloth. She is a saint, and my mom loves her and has had her for her whole life. You cannot phase her. That being said, I prefer some speed and unpredicatability when it comes to riding. Realizing unpredicatable wasn’t up my alley today, I decided to at least get my muscles back in gear, and spent 75% of the ride in half-point position. And oh, my muscles felt it. I don’t expect people who don’t horseback ride to believe that it’s actually hard work, (I’ve gotten into the argument enough times to recognize that it’s not worth it) but when you’re supporting your weight with just your calves and thighs, as when you’re in proper two point – your calves, legs, and abs feel it afterwards. I guess the closest thing I could compare it to is wall squats. But for a longer period of time, more use of ab muscles, staying balanced, and dealing with a sometimes-less-than-well-behaved equine comrade. [the latter was not part of today’s equation.]

That being said, the best way to get in shape for riding is riding, so I’m glad I can practice on old faithful and get in shape before getting back into lessons. And I really can’t wait to! I can’t decide if I want to get back into hunters

Burly and I, pretending to be hunters.

or dressage:

Cheyenne. Ages ago. Like, four.

Since I’m relatively horse-less, I could really get back into whatever I want. If only I was 18…I’d love to show ponies. Love those little devils:

Corona pony. Pathetic attempt at dislodging me.

Luckily, she had redeeming qualities, unlike some.

But, enough blabbing about horses to you guys – sorry for that tangent!

My legs were like jelly once we got back from our 90-minute excursion and I was huuungryyy. After taking care of los caballos, I recharged:

CC w/ sizzurp, plum, cinna-raisin date ball

But that was all sweet, and next I wanted salty.

Snyder's pretzel snaps, fig & goat cheese spread

thaaaat’s more like it! That spread is so good as a dip, too.

Shortly afterwards, I began roasting some eggplant, tomatoes, and red pepper seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic in the oven for a roasted veggie panini! This is weird, but I was proud of my pre-planning enough to use the oven for lunch, or something other than baking. That meant thinking about what I wanted for lunch 45 minutes before I was even hungry for it. I’m usually bad at that, hence why 99% of my cooking is via stove-top.

And ohhh, my world this sandwich was rockin’. I had one thick slice of multi-grain bread from the depot left, and decided to just try and cut it in half, rather than have an open-faced sandiwch melt. On one half, I spread garlic lovers hummus and sprinkled with some grated Lisanatti almond mozzarella, and on the other half I spread some tomato puree. I added some spinach to the veggies while they roasted, and then piled them all on. Panini’d with some smart balance cooking spray and viola! Soo yum, sooo good. And sooo much food. I had to sacrifice some of the bread. By sacrifice, I mean a volunteer named Kaia helped me out with it.

I also tried parsnip fries for the first time. The verdict? Love. Why has it taken me so long to figure that out?! They don’t quite rival sweet potato fries yet – but they’re right up there with them! What’s you’re favorite kind of veggie to make fries out of?

And a new High Country Kombucha. It was okay. Still haven’t found one to rival GT’s Gingerade.

Afterwards, I gave another go at date bars – this time cranberry-orange with almonds. While the mixture was chilling in the fridge, I messed around outside with my mom and Kaia, just walking all around up in back.

I was so famished when I got back that I took a spoonful of date mixture to the mouth:

open wiiiide!!

…juuust kidding! Although, I did need to clean the bowl…

better than cookie dough.

…and thought a banana-date oat bran muffin would be the perfect vessel…

perfect partners.

It was. Oh man, guys. This batch is a winner. My mom and I both agree the cinnamon-raisin ones are good, but the raisin-y ness could be upped, if that’s the flavor I was going for. Speaking of the desserts I made yesterday, the banana cream pie was a no-go. It’s not bad – I mean, it’s basically bananas, dates, and greek yogurt pureed together – but I want a dessert to rock my world, and this was just “well, I could eat a banana and a date at the same time and it would taste like this. I went through all that trouble…for this?” That and, the crumb mixture on top was kind of…well, miserable. I chucked it (it was a separate bowl from the filling – and me chucking food is really say sometihng. it was painful.) but later on last night I had some of the banana filling mixed with cottage cheese and it was pretty tasty. Sorry, Clean Eating. Not one of your better recipes. Anyone who’s made it and loved it, feel free to yell at me. Though I will say, based on the fact that for dessert every single one of us – my mom, Henry, and myself – opted for a date & nut ball and/or a banana-date muffin over the nanner cream pie, the filling may well find itself in the garbagio, too.

As the afternoon progressed, blogs were read…

bottom of the barrel. err, bag.

I polished off some Snyder’s in style…

another perfect pairing

…and lets pretend I was able to enjoy this deliciously-refreshing looking cold bowl of Kashi:

Unfortunately, I was not. After my first spoonful I had to dash out the door to rescue Kaia from wild beasts. By rescue, I mean bring inside, and by wild beasts, I mean random neighborhood dog impeding upon her territory.

Buttt, I was on another roasting roll for dinner, which starred low and slow sweet taters a-la Kath.

life. changing.

I was a sweet potato fiend before. I don’t even know what you’d call someone who has surpassed the fiend-stage by miles, but that’s where low and slow took me.

Enjoyed with some fiiiiine mango-tempeh curry. Beyond delicious. Gah. Tempeh. Sweet potatoes. I am a happy girl. And since I really fail at wrapping up posts lately [re: wow I talk a lot, they must be sick of me by now], go check out Rebekah’s post about soy. I found it beyond helpful to me, as I try and sort through information. And she is farrr better with words than I am, yet this is what I’ve been trying to say lately, hah.

Have a good night everrryyybahhhhdy!

favorite google hit of the week? “rude spelt.” that got me a shocking 4 hits. why are four people feeling like spelt is assaulting them? and when have I ever done anything other than sang praise to spelt? hmmm…