Fun Facts

Fun Facts of the Day:

• Prairie Voles are one of the only mammals that are monogamous
• Running isn’t so bad when you don’t have an awkward camera/camera bag around your neck and your ears are warm
• It’s really baffling me that I can’t locate my belt, as there are only two places in this house where I would be taking off such a thing
• I am currently drinking tea. Tea means fall is upon us.

These waffles this morning were out of this world good. I added loots of cinnamon to the usual recipe, and topped it with fresh banana slices – which was a change from my usual nuked banana slices – dried figs, cashews, and peanut butter sauce. The combination worked so well…especially because my peanut butter sauce was amped up! I mixed some monkey business with organic valley vanilla yogurt, chia seeds, and maple syrup. I wish I could say I love this new peanut butter – but the more I have it, the nastier it is It was fine in this combination, though, and mixed into things in general – just not plain. Too…artificially.

Anyways. Enough about breakfast. I went for another runwalk before it, though! I just…keep getting so inspired to run! I think the weather changing has a lot to do with it, as well as inspiration from everyone I read. I know Sunday’s wasn’t overwhelmingly amazing, but I erased any memory of it and set out. Which is ironic, because this morning was really crappy weather, and usually that puts me in a reclusive mood, not a “rah, rah, run!” mood. It was sprinkling, even!

But I had fun. My revelation: if you wear really dorky headphones, they cover your ears enough that the tips don’t get cold, which is always my biggest complaint. And having a working iPod definitely helps. And no bulky camera at your side.

Oh, those ears...my favorite part of him 😉

After breakfast, though, I went to see loverboy. We had such a good ride! I don’t think his little legs had ever moved so fast before our little gallop up the hill 😉 We did some work in the outdoor despite the less-than-stellar weather and then moved onto messing around in the meadows before haulin’ butt home. Not the best thing to teach him to run home, but we’ve gotta live a little, you know!

I feel much less stressed about him lately – I was sort of freaking out about whether he would “work out” where he is now, especially when winter sets in and we do indoor work. But you know…whatever happens, happens. I don’t think I’ve ever had a horse that I’ve been so content to just do whatever with…but I am with him. Even if all I do is brush him and give him his belly rubs…he’s just so much fun to be around.

Buuuut then the party was over and I got home to get some school work done. Enter: prairie voles.

Backtrack.

First, I called my mom and requested onions and peanut butter while she was at the store. How bizarre of a request is that? Onions…and peanut butter. Hmm.

and lunch was definitely not anything to be skipping over, either. Holy wow are these wraps good!

especially when you nuke them, smear them with garlic hummus, feta cheese, and roasted red pepper and then nuke a bit longer.

It was oozy, creamy, nommerful deliciousness.

With some vanilla chobani, pineapple, and energy chunk crumbles for some more protein-age and deliciousness, too.

And I just had to make something today, of course! Since I was going to still be a good student, I kept it short and sweet with homemade crackers…

mix of: 1/4 c each: sunflower seeds, chia seeds, milled flax, cashews, plus some sesame seeds and BBQ rub. Numnum.

Not really necessary, but I knew I wasn’t going to be able to keep studying diligently if I didn’t just make some banana soft serve to get it off my mind. Pure creamy, heavenly deliciousness in a bowl. I blended frozen banana, frozen raspberries, and some almond milk for pure bliss.

Enter: online classes. I’m lucky it was a dreary day, because otherwise I never would have been so diligent about reading all about prairie voles and their monogamous preferences.

Oh yeah, and cleaning out the ponies. I feel sort of bad that we haven’t done much with the lately except brushing and ground work…but at the same time, I guess it’s okay because when winter sets in we won’t be able to ride them much anyways. So hey…if they hangout and just get doted on and look cute  ’til spring it’s not the end of the world.

And to wrap this up (man, why am I so boring lately?) dinner was fabby, too:

I had a cashew-pineapple-quinoa stir fry from veganomicon, though switched up a hair just based on what I had. Initially, as I was making it…I was concerned there were too many flavors and that it would never work. But it was a-ok and was even mother approved.

Cook as instructed some quinoa.

Saute diced onion and garlic in peanut oil. Add in a pinch of ground ginger. Keep stir frying, and then add in sliced carrot, diced bell pepper, and frozen peas. Season with salt and pepper, stir frying, then add in fresh mint and fresh basil. Stir, Stir, Stir! Then add in sliced pineapple and your cooked quinoa. I chose to add some black beans for a bit more oomph, too.

Top with chopped cashews!

I’m off to go find my belt and read about the variation in color in ladybugs. I bet your night won’t be this crazy!

What’s your favorite stir fry meal? I’ve never made a real stir fry, I don’t think…but I don’t know why not!! So I want to hear all your crazy concoctions. I know there’s a few of you that enjoy them quite often 😉

Give me your most bizarre factoid!! Or self quirks. I can write a whole blog post no problem, but when I’m done and need to add tags and categories, I get so lazy and it just seems like so.much. work.

Why Not Pasta?

Oh boy, I am an old lady lately – last night, I totally crashed around 8:40. I guess I’d had a busier day than I’d thought, even though I did nothing all morning! Of course, sometimes doing nothing for that long is more difficult than doing everything for just as long – for me anyway! haha. I always definitely feel more worn after a day (er…two classes worth) of class than I am after a day of work. Does anyone else find that to be true for themselves, too? Of course, one of the ponies I rode yesterday just about killed me – not in a dangerous way, in a “if I use any more leg muscle to get you to move, I’m going to be arnold schwarzenegger by the time I’m through” kind of way.

I woke up excited for my oat ritual that I so dearly missed yesterday morning. Glad to hear I’m not the only one who just loves the whole process of the morning! It’s gotten down to a science. Funny, because I hate science. I know when I need to start the oats, when I need to brew the K-Cup, when I need to start the topping, if I’m toasting anything, toast it now…oh, it’s great. And then the whole process of eating. I know it’s said to be bad to “do stuff” while you’re eating, and I used to do nothing. But now, I just enjoy sitting in my big comfy chair with my big fluffy quilt that my sister made herself, and reading blogs, e-mails, looking at horses for sale, finding interesting foodie finds, and the whole lot. I guess it’s more of a “surf and eat” rather than “surf while eating,” since I still make sure the oats get my full attention rather than eating them mindlessly.

I had pineapple on the brain since I had to open a whole can for last night’s dinner. Pina Colada oats crossed the mind, but after yesterday’s overnight carrot cake oats, I sort of felt like I needed to put love in a “real” bowl of carrot cake oats!

And that’s what I did. In the base of my tropical carrot cake oats:

• 1 T. oat bran, 3 T. Bob’s 5 Grain Plus Flaxseeds, 1 T. Wheat Bran
• 1/2 c. water, 1/2 c. almond milk
• 1/2 of a carrot, grated
• sliced pineapple
• trail power
• 1 scant tablespoon chia seeds
• cinnamon, and a small drizzle of maple syrup

And then of course, there’s the toppings. Ohhh, the toppings!!

• chia-flax icing
• toasted coconut & slivered almonds
• crystallized ginger
• Mae’s Tropical Toasted Coconut Butter (gahhh, I can’t say enough how amazing this is. I need to expand my vocabulary, but my mind is just too focused on the pure bliss that it is, that nothing else comes to mind.)
• and a compote of grated carrot, sliced pineapple, and golden raisins simmered in almond milk with a drizzle of maple syrup and some cinnamon.

…and then, you guessed it…I blog surfed and enjoyed my Sunday morning with my mom, chatting about animals and random tid-bits of life, sipping on our Timothy’s Sugar Bush Maple coffee, listening to Henry’s waspy snores from the living room.

Ahhh, such is life. Someday, I’ll learn to sleep in on a Sunday morning. Someday, I’ll go back to Pancake Sundays. I wonder if someday, I’ll look back and think I was crazy. Do you ever think about what you’ll think of yourself 20 years from now? I do. I mean, just this time last year, I’d still be sleeping, and maybe roll out of bed around 10:00. Have a slice of toast. Frantically do some homework. And then I don’t even know what. I’m happy with where I am now.

Wow, I’ve been getting sentimental lately. Sorry folks. Anywho, after eating I went on a crazy kitchen-cleaning rampage and organized just about everything, including putting open things in tupperwares for easier access to sneak a snacky hand into. I feel so accomplished after organizing, but I’m totally one of those people that gets way too involved and has way too high of hopes, and realize halfway through that I’m sick of cleaning and want to move on to bigger and better things. Like horses, on this beautiful Spring day.

Luckily, though, today didn’t quite follow that same predicament and my mom and I successfully and happily accomplished our mission. We put together a food shelf bag, too! I definitely encourage everyone to check out their cupboards – there’s probably more in there than you know 😉

What’s your “organizing method” entail? We weren’t a mess/wreck by any means, but since I have so many bulk-purchased dried fruits and nuts, it’s easy for me to get kind of lazy with re-sealing them properly, especially since they’re just little baggies with a twist-tie to close. I tend to just twist the plastic shut and call it done. With the warmer months approaching I know that’s going to get bad since bugs will be more attracted, so I put everything in resealable containers or resealable baggies. Maybe not too environmentally friendly, but I figure it’s not wasting toooo, too badly since I’ll just keep re-using them in this way, and I’ll definitely close them properly rather than the “lazy way.” I also limit the amount of oats/breakfast grain open at a time, too so that the open bag can always have a home in larger, airtight ceramic containers I have. I would like to get even more, though, so I can do the same with the flours we have. I have 6 different kinds alone! My mom, on the other hand, is normal. She has one. It’s all purpose. Where’s the fun in that? 😛

After our mission was accomplished I was ready for snack. My stomach tells me what time it is, and so I made up a protein cake with the last of my protein powder, topped with Crofter’s Europe and some cottage cheese. And cashews, that – may I say – were easy to grab from my newly organized “nuts & seeds cupboard.”

does this make anyone else laugh?

There was forecast for rain this afternoon, so my mom and I set out for a ride right about 10:45. It was beautiful out! Everyone behaved themselves quite well, and we were able to really enjoy ourselves.

Pardon the B&W. Henry accidentally had his camera in BW mode 😛

And we didn’t get back until 1:15!! Neither of us could believe it. We were both starved though, and since I didn’t feel like taking the time to cook up a bunch of veggies, made up a repeat of yesterday’s lunch. No complaints – it happened to be what I was craving, anyways! I’m feeling a tempeh and jam panini obsession coming on strong!

I mixed in a little bit of TJ’s Sunbutter that Kelli sent me this time, too. I needed some salty to go along with it! Paired with some everything pretzel crisps with some almond mozzarella melted over – this hit the spot, but wasn’t quiiiite enough.

After doing some quick schoolwork, I cut up a plum with some cottage cheese … I swear, plum + cottage cheese + cinn + tiny drizzle of irish cream agave = best combo eveer.

Well, that and pesto-cottage cheese on toast. I forgot about the pesto I made…and needed to re-do pesto cottage cheese just as soon as I kicked butt on the last of my presentation. Just as good on toast as naan, I’d say. I may need to have a pesto-cottage cheese sammie for lunch tomorrow!!

Although…the combo also made an appearance in my less-than-aesthetically-pleasing dinner.

I gutted the fridge of random veggies, and was planning something ratatouille-esque, but with the veggies I had and some other elements I added, I sort of missed the mark. No less, it was quite tasty. Is anyone sick of my italian-esque veggie-packed meals lately? If so, I apologize. I can’t say I’ll be changing it, though.

In the bowl is a serving of whole wheat penne, mixed with a combo of broccoli, carrot, eggplant, roma tomato, and a portobello that were sauteed in balsamic vinegar, olive oil and minced garlic. Once the pasta was cooked, I mixed it with some of the pesto and a good spoonful of cottage cheese before combining everything.

Mmmm – diiiiiiiivine! I’d had this planned in the back of my mind since my last ratatouille (well, not exactly – I had another ratatouille on my mind, not this) but hadn’t craved it until tonight. Hey – cottage cheese and pesto works on bread, why not pasta? I wasn’t sure if it would be completely gross, but hey, go big or go home, right?! So I went big, and it was far from failure.

I hope everyone seized their Sundays and is oh-so-excited to go back to work and school tomorrow. We’re slated for another week of rain – no me gusta, once again. Ya’ll (yes, I just said ya’ll) are supposed to keep your rain, not send it east!!

MIA

Is it really Wednesday night already? I feel like time has been flying by way too fast lately – does anyone else feel like time was slower when we were younger? Oh me, oh my.

My advance apologies for the disappointing pictures today. I can’t wait for natural light to be available on my work days! Almost, Lucy, Almost 🙂

I had the other half of my mango from yesterday to put to good use in mango oats! I’m becoming obsessed with mangoes, and I’m not quite sure what took me so long! They are so good. And with pineapple, coconut, and coconut butter? yes, please.

In the mix: oat bran, TVP, spelt flakes, wheat bran, coffee & almondmilk, goji berries, mango, pineapple, chai spice blend, and vanilla extract.

On the top: chia-acai icing, coconut butter, strawberry-pom jam, flax, and mango and pineapple sauteed with coconut, macadamia nuts, and chai spice blend.

Love how oopy-goopy (yes, that is in the dictionary, for those wondering) the coconut butter gets!

For some reason though, I felt so rushed this morning! I think it’s because I slept right to my alarm. Usually I wake up shortly before, and either get up then, or wait for my alarm to go off. So it felt like I “slept in” even though I didn’t. This feeling kinda stuck with me throughout the day, for some reason. It was weird! No me gusta.

I packed my turkey meatball panini wrap last night, which reminded me why I like to panini them at home rather than just wrapping them. They’re so much easier to eat!

Yeah, I pack Kale chips for lunch in a tin pie plate. What of it?

That and, since we have a toaster oven, I pop it in there for a couple minutes and it comes right back to life. Perfecto! Lets take a look at the rest of my study in tupperware containers:

Greek yogurt with a bit of mango & chai spice blend; granola

Carrot for carrot sticks; wasa crispreads & sesame rice crackers

Drive in: cawfee; english muffin w/ blackberry honey creme & PB; mini nanner

The strange thing about today, however? My appetite was MIA! Not impressed. This girl likes to eat! I should have known when I wasn’t much wanting the banana. I always want a banana! So I had half and saved the rest for my morning yogurt. Speaking of which; notice how I switched up the morning snack? No orange – instead I wanted to try something a bit more filling. Maybe this was the reason for an MIA appetite? hmmmm. I was hungry for that at the normal time, but the rest of the day? Nothing!

Obviously I still ate lunch – which, I totally burnt the Kale chips again – and had a couple crackers and the carrots, but other than that I was largely disappointed with myself. Oh, well.

What do you do when you’re not craving or hungry for anything? Still eat, or just wait until you are? I did a little bit of both, I guess. I just wasn’t sure if the yogurt kept me that content, or I just wasn’t having a “munchy” day. I’m banking on the yogurt, though. I guess it’s a good thing!

I did take some salmon out of the freezer this morning, and had planned on making honey-balsamic glazed salmon, and it’s a good thing I had a plan, too! Otherwise I know I would have either been lazy, or waffled back and forth twenty times before deciding on a dinner. I did cut lose the plans to make some wild rice that I’ve yet to try to pair with it, however.

Turned out my mom & Henry had something with shrimp for dinner, and there were some leftover. They went quite nicely with it!  Haven’t had good shrimp in a while, so they were a nice surprise 🙂 I made some burnt broc and Kale to go with it – right in the same pan, worked perf. This is probably right up there with Blueberry Salmon in terms of favorite way to have salmon. So quick, simple, and flavorful! I wasn’t going to post the recipe for it, but since I’m boring tonight, I will, hah.

Honey-Balsamic Glazed Salmon

Ingredients, for one serving:

1 salmon filet

smoked sea salt & cracked black pepper

1/4 c. balsamic vinegar

1/2 T. honey mustard

1/2 T. whole-grain dijon mustard

1/2-1 T. honey

dash crushed red pepper flakes (opt, to taste)

1/8 t. garlic powder

EVOO

Destructions:

Rinse salmon & pat dry; preheat skillet with drizzle of olive oil. Sprinkle salt and pepper on each side of salmon. Place in pan, letting cook approximately 4-5 minutes each side, just to get some color.

Meanwhile, whisk together all remaining ingredients. When salmon has cooked on both sides (but not quite cooked through) pour glaze mixture over salmon. It will be liquidy. Flip salmon and cover, leaving over low heat until glaze thickens.

If desired, cook with some chopped broccoli, kale, and shrimp.

Yum!

I wish I had more exciting stuff to tell all of you loveys, but I’m out! Tomorrow? I think so 🙂 Make sure you enter my giveaway, though – time is a-tickin’!

p.s. I’m having a malfunction replying to comments via e-mail because even though I may work with computers everyday, I’m still really dense when it comes to using them. Help?

Laugh a Little

Happy March! Did it come in like a lion for everyone?

I wasn’t so sure what to think – I woke up to a cold, drizzly morning – definitely more of an April Showers vibe than a lion vibe. I did, however, sleep like a baby. I hit the hay early and was raring to go by the time 5:45 rolled around. I think a freshly made bed helped – I was so cozy! Luckily, I’m not one to hate getting out of bed every morning, especially when I’m feeling that well-rested. What do I credit this to?

Oats and Coffee, of course!

Punkin-Apple Oats! I used to have oat bran all the time before I became a grain-head and started mixing nearly every grain under the sun just for one bowl! Oat bran made it back into my mix this morning. I forgot how much I love it!

In the grain mix this morning was oat bran, rolled barley flakes, rolled spelt flakes, wheat bran, brewed coffee & almondmilk, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, ginger, goji berries, pumpkin, vanilla, and 1/2 an apple, diced.

On the Top was pumpkin-chia icing, crystallized ginger, flax, honey-apple butter, Cinnamon-Raisin PB, and 1/2 a diced apple sauteed with maple syrup, spoonful of pumpkin, and raisins.

I also forgot how filling oat bran is! I had to break halfway through to do my breakfast dishes, haha. I hate feeling too full.

Before leaving the house this morning, I made my dinner! I won’t give it away yet – but remember the last time I made dinner at breakfast time?

Are these shots looking all to familiar? I thought so too I’m not sick of having the same snacks – but I am open to ideas as to good snack ideas for work! I don’t have a whole lot of time to sit down and eat other than lunch and when I have my orange – but I’ve been thinking I want to start bringing yogurt. It’s funny because when I’m home, yogurt mixes are pretty much my go-to snack, not so much pretzels and munchies. At work, though, it’s easiest to just be able to grab a handful of pretzels or a bar and not be hindered too much. What’s your favorite snack? Do you find you differ in your go-to snacks whether you’re at work or at home?

For lunch was a crab & shrimp wrap (I will never be sick of wraps!) and sugar snap peas (hint: leftover from when I made dinner!)

For snackage was butter snaps, an orange, carrot sticks, and a Spooky S’mores Clif Z Bar. Because – I’m still a kid at heart. I’d been dying to try this flavor, and let me tell you: it certainly lived up to the expectations I had! Soooo good for when I’m not craving blueberry – my other fav! They are still on the sweeter side of bars (through no fault of Clif, however – they are geared toward kids) but I love that they’re not as filling as a full-blown Clif bar, Luna bar, or Larabar. They come in handy when you want a smaller snack rather than a more filling, protein packed bar.

And of course, ride-in snack was a banana and half a WW english muffin with honey-apple butter, PB, & granola. (another hint? the english muffin was leftover from dinner-making, too!)

On the ride in to work I heard something interesting: Children laugh an average of four hundred times a day, while adults only average laughing fifteen times a day.

Whaaaa?!?! That’s crazy talk. I certainly hope all of you laugh far more than that – I want you to live long and prosperous! haha. But really: laughter relaxes your whole body, boosts your immune system, releases endorphins, and helps protect your heart. I guess it’s a good thing that in situations where I could cry, I instead chose to laugh. (well, usually anyway.)

So go ahead, lighten up! Laugh a little. What did you laugh about today?

And in case you haven’t laughed your necessary four hundred times yet, I’ll help you reach your goal.

I didn't take this one. In case that wasn't...uh. Obvious.

*ahem* moobin’ on.

Work was rockin’ and rollin’ and I was outta there before I knew it! Love those kinds of days.

They’re made even better when you’re able to enter the house to the aroma of melty parmesan, egg, turkey, and pineapple!

awwwwwww yea – Asian Ginger-Lime Turkey Meatball Strata? I think so.

Okay. Maybe it seems weird, but just roll with me on this one. It was to. die.

For the bread base I used up the last piece and some random pieces of spelt bread, a leftover sandwich thin from last night, and half an english muffin. Crumbled over some turkey ginger-lime meatballs, carrots, spinach, red onion, sugar snap peas, fresh pineapple, some lime zest, and then the egg mixture which I added lime juice, salt, pepper, ground ginger, lime zest, honey, and almond milk to. Topped with a bit o’ freshly shredded parmesan and more salt and pepper, covered with aluminum foil and it got all delicious and stuff in the fridge while I dreamed about it and worked my booty off.

On my way home – when I had about 40 minutes to go – I called my mom and kindly asked her to pop it in the oven – covered at 350*. When I got home it smelled deeee-ricious the second I opened the door. It had a little bit to go yet – just to get the top browned – so I cooked up some burnt broc and the last of the sugar-snap peas for a side.

Topped with some sesame seeds (I read clean eating while I was eating breakfast – sesame seeds were discussed for being a good source of copper and a good source of magnesium and calcium) and a lil’ more of that divine freshly shredded parm and viola! Dinner was served. Served for tomorrow, too! Tomorrow is my late-night at school, so Tuesdays = reliance on leftovers or something super-quick.

Definitely came in handy tonight, too – for some reason, I was volunteered at the last possible second to put together a group write-up that’s due tomorrow? So I was able to whip it out between eating dinner and dessert.

And speaking of dessert?

You didn’t think I’d be able to resist the coconut butter craze, did you? My shipment from Live Superfoods was waiting for me – and even though I was pretty content after the strata – there was no possible way I was going to put off using this baby until morning. Heck, I didn’t even want to wait an hour or two to digest some more! So I went for a happy medium: half an almond butter & jam bran muffin. The other half is gone as soon as I finish up this post 🙂

The Verdict? ohmagaw. So. dang. good. At first I was a little concerned at how hard it was, but knew it needed to be microwaved before use. Worked a charm!

I just microwaved it until it was soft enough to sort-of spread, as I wanted to microwave the muffin anyway. When I tasted it slightly on the cool side I wasn’t so sure about the almost gritty texture. But when warmed all the way? It is just.like.frosting. Chocolate coconut frosting, that is the perfect sweetness. I am in love with how it’s not too sweet and chocolatey (we all know how I feel about that!) but is jusssst right.

And the company I bought it from – Live Superfoods? They’re super! Normally it would cost way more to ship this (I got three products – I won’t give away yet what they are, but you’ll see – each this size) and usually companies charge way more – at least $15. They had one low, flat rate! I also received it very fast, and they are the best price on these butters that I’ve found. They were also having a sale on all Artisana butters – and still are! So if you want 10% off, head over thurr.

But that is all from me – I’ve got blogs to catch up on, cacao bliss to eat, and a bed to crash in.

Ciao!

p.s. Live Life, Eat Right is having a Chobani Giveaway!

p.p.s. Don’t forget to enter my giveaway!

Farewell to February

The last day of February already? Where on earth has the month gone? Crazy business, I tell you. I’m not ready for it to be March yet. I become an old lady in March

This morning started off with a lesson in serving size versus modern-day cereal bowl size:

So, I have two of these bowls. I know they’re big, so I’ve never used them for breakfast oats before because I thought it would seem like there was so little. Well, I was really diggin’ the green this morning and it was one of my finds from yesterday so I bit. And lookit how pathetic my oats barley looks! This is what is coined a “standard cereal bowl.” That is a normal serving size of rolled barley & TVP: 1/4c. PLUS 1 T. of wheat bran, and all the toppings. Even though a serving of normal oats is 1/2c, I find the barley actually gets more voluminous anyways.

Meh, just something I found interesting considering all the media involving serving sizes, portions, obesity in america, etc. I mean – if I were to think I was eyeballing 3/4-1c of cereal, I certainly would not stop there! And if I was to help myself to oats from a bulk batch? The bowl would be at least half full! Goes to show how plate, bowl, and cup sizes can really have an affect on us psychologically. -End of geekery-

What you’re looking at for this morning is pina colada oats.

In the Mix was rolled barley, TVP, wheat bran, brewed coffee & almondmilk, vanilla, slice of pineapple (diced), and goji berries.

On the top was milled golden flax, acai & chia seed icing, crystallized ginger, White Choco Coconut PB, Strawberry-Pom Jam, and pineapple sauteed with coconut and macadamia nuts.

mmm 🙂

Got my giveaway stuff straightened out (be sure to enter!) and pretty much bummed around for the day! Lets take a peek:

Made more granola...

cranberry-almond maple granola was made – a mix of spelt flakes and oats, dried cranberries, sliced almonds, cinnamon, and mapple sizzurp. Yumm.

...Put the granola to good use without skipping a beat...

banana, granola fresh from the oven, chia & acai icing. with some chai spice blend!

...kept up with my vit c intake...

pineapple needed to be used…and I wanted it, of course.

...spelt toast lovin'...

and honey-apple butter lovin’. pepita lovin’. dried cranberry lovin’.

...lunch was had...

and a great lunch, at that! a Flax pita, toasted, stuffed with spinach and an egg “omelet” with 1 egg + 1 egg white, diced roma tomato, red onion, crab & shrimp meat, freshly shredded parmesan, and the clincher: mesquite BBQ sauce.

Sound random? I’m not sure. Maybe. But I think a mesquite BBQ sauce obsession may be overtaking my mustard obsession. That, and: totally forgot how amazingly freshly shredded, good quality parmesan chez is. And how heavenly it smells as it is melting and getting all gooey.

Do you want some freshly shredded parmesan now? Oh, I thought so.

in accent: "hit zee spoott!"

and Kale Chips con salt, pepper, and limon peppah. I’ve got my mom hooked on these babies, too.

Blueberries were had...

...but only when paired with vanilla bean latte mix and almondmilk...

...cookies were microwaved...

Remember this puppy?! The quick cookie?! Oh, I had almost forgotten, too. But today was time for a re-appearance! a dark-choco chip oatmeal quick cookie with some pumpkin-chia seed icing, applesauce, butter snaps, and wheat germ. Just because!

...snacks were nommed...

Loving these sesame rice crackers. Who’d a-thunk? Not I. But I’m glad that meatball recipe prompted me to discover them! Salty. Sesame-y. Crunchy. Crispy. Addictive.

...mas tea was consumed...

the highlight being raspberry-pom green tea with some blueberry honey.

...and dinnah was served!

Yep – more shirataki noodles. If I hadn’t had half a package to use, this was definitely a recipe deserving of real spaghetti is it was available, but it was good nonetheless. I made a quasi-bechamel!

For the “bechamel” I just whisked almondmilk, white bean flour, shredded parmesan, salt, pepper, mashed garlic, and basil until it was a good consistency.

I poured it over the noodles, which I had sauteed with red peppers, parsley, basil, roma tomatoes, red onion, garlic, spinach,  salt, and pepper. I also used my favorite meatballs, which I ended up having to make with the shredded parmesan this time. I may just like them better as such!

Topped with more parm and slopped up with some garlic-ish bread. I was going to put more effort into it – think cheesy garlic bread – but I forgot about it til dinner was plated! Ah well.

And that about wraps up February! Actually, that’s a lie because there is definitely granola in my future. And mayyyyybe a cinnamon roll that my mom made today 🙂 I only got a little nibble earlier – not fair! February’s gotta go out with a bang, you know.

What was the highlight of everybody’s February? I was going to do a fun little Feb. Favs wrap – up. But…I have too many favorites lately. hah!

And, back to my little serving-size versus bowl-size observation, do you find yourself influenced by plate size, psychologically? I know when I plate stuff on our biiiiig plates, I hate it! I know I’m giving myself enough – often, more than enough – to eat, but it looks like so little.