Food Science

Wondering what I had for dinner last night? The greatest taco salad ever! I know, I say this a lot, but for real this time…

Homemade tortilla chips, homemade guac (avocado, garlic, cilantro, pinapple salsa red onion, fresh lemon juice) and every other vegetable imaginable… Food happiness:-)

Food science exam today (yesterday in lab, we made fresh butter and whipped–amazing!).  I needed a good breakfast to fuel me through the morning sans coffee because I wanted to feel sober.

Egg, black bean, guacamole and hot sauce and veggie cream cheese on a warmed tortilla.  This was so good!  I also had OJ and a new yogurt that was fabulous as well.  Check this stuff out!

I don’t really buy sweetened yogurt because it has so much extra sugar, but I was intrigued by the unique flavors of this brand.  The vanilla chai was SO worth the sweetener…

I topped it with Grape Nuts for crunch.  Should be good to go for the morning.

Enchiladas, Veg.

But first…

Lunch was a Garden Herb Sunshine Burger topped with melted goat cheese and dijon mustard.  I had a great salad on the side… We’ve really been stocking the veggies lately!

As mentioned in the title, I gave black bean and veggie enchiladas a try and I was excited about how good they turned out.

Add some chips with guacamole and salsa on the side and this is the dinner from heaven:-)

Plate presentation is everything!

So one of my favorite things about blogging is that I have started to make a special effort to make my meals look better on the plate.  This really makes a huge difference as to how satisfying your food is.  Unfortunately, tonight when I was making dinner I had a major flop in presentation and there was no saving it!!

This, my friends, was supposed to be a Mexican-inspired frittata.  I was so excited about it too!  I sauteed onion, garlic and red bell pepper in a skillet with EVOO, threw in some leftover broccoli and black beans then added a whipped egg.  I seasoned it up with cumin, chili powder, extra hot sauce and topped with pepperjack before covering to let the top cook.

I could NOT get this thing out of the pan for the life of me.  It’s funny because as soon as it just kind of broke apart and fell on my plate, the first thing I thought was “my picture is ruined!” LOL Oh well, I’m OVER it!

Still tasted wonderful, by the way!  I had some avocado on top and it just put the dish on a whole new level.

Taking things back to the early morning, I started my day with a refreshing bowl of cheerios.

Sometimes I’m so intrigued by new and exciting cereals, I forget about the classics!  Cheerios are so good… I can definitely put them in my top 5 at least.  This is probably about 2 servings with strawberries and vanilla soy milk and it held me over to lunch just fine.

I also had some of my new Twig Tea and it was really good!  I don’t have a picture and my camera is charging, but click here for the website if you’re interested.  The taste is hard to explain, but I liked it a lot.

Lunch was packed, and included a PB and J on Oatmeal bread + fuji apple and a few cut up carrots.

I didn’t end up eating the banana because the sandwich was SO filling!  I swear it took me 20 minutes to eat because the bread is so dense and chewy. I did, however, end up eating banana in the form of a Clif bar later in the afternoon after my workout.

I liked this flavor a lot!  I could really taste the chunks of banana and nuts and was surprised to bite into some chocolate as well.  I’m now out of the Clif’s I bought with my coupons and I can officially say that Maple Nut reigns supreme!  I havne’t tasted all of the flavors, but here’s my ranking of the ones I have:

1. Maple Nut
2. Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch
3. Banana Nut Bread
4. Oatmeal Raisin Walnut
5. Blueberry Crisp
6. Black Cherry Almond

I didn’t really not like any of them.  Can’t wait to try some more!

I just finished off some chocolate, and I think it’s time for me to start getting ready because I’m meeting a friend for a drink tonight.  Thirsty Thursday anyone??? See you tomorrow!

The best french toast ever.

Hey everyone! I’m in a great mood tonight because I got a ton of stuff accomplished today, had a great workout and some great food.  I think I finally have my class schedule figured out for Fall semester.  What are all of you students taking next year?

My day started nice and early with this fantastic breakfast of french toast with fruit on the side.

I know this looks like pancakes, but the homemade oatmeal bread is a round loaf… This bread definitely contributed to the BEST french toast I’ve ever made.  I think it’s because of the dense texture.  Not sure, but I used 1 egg, vanilla soymilk and cinnamon for the batter and it turned out perfect!

Mid-morning study fuel was an apple with PB.

And lunch was this mix of flavors that I have seen in blog land before many times… Black beans + sweet potato! I tried the combo in quesadilla form (Ezekial tortilla), and added my own twist with arugula and avocado. I just read that Miss Tyler from Raspberry Runner had a similar lunch today… we didn’t plan it, I swear!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Yum! This was super good! The sweet potato adds just a hint of sweetness. I had a banana on the side, but I’m sure you all know what that looks like:-)

Between lunch and dinner I attended a “Skill Builder” on sushi rolling because the woman I intern for was giving the presentation.  Very interesting! I learned some new things and got some free twig tea that I’ll be testing out tomorrow.  I’ll definitely do a review because it’s a pretty unique flavor!

Three pieces of sushi ended up being my pre-workout snack… I did a 3-miler as fast as I could and I finished in right around 26 minutes. After doing some back, shoulder, and abs which included:

• Bent over rows
• Boat shoulder presses
• Back hyperextension w/hand weights
• Stability ball push-ups
• Crunches, ceiling pulses, bicycles

I came home and made this quick dinner:

Tuna + pepperjack (toasted) on more oatmeal bread, steamed brocc w/oregano, strawberries! I think I’m fiber’d out for the day…

Chemistry time. Have a great night!

Just got done with my last lab of the semester!!!!! I’m so excited that from now on Tuesday classes will be dunzo at 12:30! Anyways, I had a good day of eats to go with my good mood because I’ve got yummy groceries this week…

Starting with my favorite meal of the day:

I made a yogurt bowl because I finally picked up some new yogurt (Stonyfield Lowfat Plain) and Strawberries were buy 1, get 1 free!!!  I’ve eaten almost an entire carton in 2 days and you will be seeing lot’s more!

Lunch was packed and eaten during class per usual for Tuesdays.  I had a hummus/arugula sandwich (on homemade oatmeal bread!) + a fuji apple and some trail mix made with walnuts, raisins and choco chips.

I’ve never bought arugula before but it was on sale and I thought what the heck.  Just like I had always been told, it has a slightly peppery taste.  Pretty good!

Works wonderfully as a mid-morning snack!

They were all out of pink lady’s this week, but this guy was nice and crunchy!

Dinner was SUPER early because I worked out and was hungry for more than just a snack… I threw together this black bean and pepperjack quesadilla and cut up my cantaloupe so I could have some on the side.

Of course by the time I got home from lab, I was hungry again, so I just finished dinner #2… mug of oatmeal with flax, cinnamon, strawberries, and soy milk

I’m good for the rest of the night now:-)

Time to do some NSCA studying and finish up some laundry… Night!

A cereal kinda day

I’m back!

Thanks for all of the lovely comments on my new page… I’ve been meaning to jazz up the whole blog for awhile now, but by the time I post and catch up on my Reader, I feel like I’m on the computer too long and need a break!  Eventually I’ll have more recipes, workouts and pictures up, just not yet! On to breakfast…

This is the new Nature’s Path Optimum Power cereal I was talking about the other day… It’s the Blueberry Cinnamon flavor and I LOVE it! There are actually freeze-dried blueberries in it.  Here’s the ingredients:

Organic wheat bran, organic evaporated cane juice, organic whole wheat meal, organic soy flour, organic flax, organic puffed Kamut®*, organic flaxseeds, organic barley malt extract, organic soy fiber, organic oat bran, organic rice bran extract, organic freeze-dried blueberries, sea salt, organic cinnamon, calcium carbonate, folic acid, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B-12), tocopherols (natural vitamin E) added to enhance freshness.

Not too shabby, and it kept me full all morning.  I loved how there were so many different textures and shapes.  I would buy this stuff again for sure!
It was just a cereal kinda day.

After my internship I had this packed lunch in a cubicle in the library.  I never seem to learn that these wraps don’t hold filling well!  Regardless, it was still yummy, just a little messy.  Good thing I brought a fork!
Inside of this mess of a wrap:

• Black beans
• Mango
• Spinach
• Red onion
• Goddess dressing and Parm. cheese

Delish!

The honey Oikos was delicious as well, but had more honey than I needed.  Way too much in fact.  This is what was left at the bottom of the container after I finished it:

Yikes! No wonder why there’s 17 grams of sugar in this bad boy… However, I didn’t really mind because it was on the bottom so you could control how much you added.  I really loved the Greek yogurt/honey combo too so I would buy this one again!  Another Oikos winner!

After a fantastic workout (thank you, BodyStep!) I came home and showered, then made this early dinner because I was starving!

That’s right, more pesto!  This was a grilled sandwich with a packet of salmon, pesto, tomato, and pepper jack cheese. I wish it was bigger because I was sad when it was gone.  I absolutely love pepper jack  and I think that it was the best part! I’m telling you, pesto goes good on SO many things. I still have a little bit more left…

I snacked on a mix of raisins, walnuts and chocolate chips before step and I’ll probably be having another snack sometime soon because I’m still a little bit hungry.

This is random, but what are your thoughts on the Biggest Loser?  We’re having a debate in one of my classes, so I would like to hear your opinions!

Starting fresh.

It’s already 8:00!!!!??? Where did my Sunday go?

Today was homework-filled and I am happy to say that my Graves’ disease paper is pretty much done.  It feels so good when I sit down and hammer something like that out for about 3 hours… The time really flew.

Before I went to meet with one of my group members to get working, Nichole and I went for a nice long run/walk.  Around 4.7 miles total.  The weather was cold but sunny… perfect for running!  Then I came home, stretched, and made this for lunch:

Hard to see inside that deep bowl! But it was sort-of a Mexican-themed polenta dish… FABULOUS flavors!  Here’s what went in:

• About 1/4 polenta log, cubed
• Black beans
• a tomato
• Handful of spinach
• Jalapenos
• Red onion
• Sarah‘s guac!
• Parmesan cheese on top

This is what it looked like in a skillet… I basically sauteed the polenta and onion in some olive oil first (let them cook for about 5 minutes while chopping the rest), then dumped the rest in and shook the pan every so often.  I seasoned with salt, garlic powder, cumin and cayenne pepper.

After topping it with a hefty scoop of guac, this meal was perfect.  I tried getting everything in each bite because the flavors really mixed well together.  This will be a recipe page soon!

Later on I went to Target to get socks. $34.00 later… (You all know how that goes, right?) I ended up coming home with a new running outfit!  I finally found a running skirt that I loved and it was just 9.00!  Can’t beat that, and I got a really nice top to match as well.  Love finding sales!

I was starving by the time I came home so I whipped up the quickest thing I could find… Frozen B-nut Squash ravioli with red sauce, pesto, and zucchini.  I bought this Rosetto brand because the ingredients were minimal and it looked great in the picture on the bag.

It was o.k… The filling was practically non-existent though which should be the best part of a ravioli!  I don’t think I’ll buy this again, because it’s basically like eating plain pasta.  Actually, not as good.  I’ll stick with my WW angel hair!

ALSO I snacked on this during my researching extravaganza today…

YUM! I forgot how much I liked this flavor… Definitely top 3.  And I never buy plain cashews, so it’s a great change from walnuts/almonds.  LOVED it.  Once again, I’m amazed by the deliciousness of the LARABAR.

Time to get ready to start a new week…Have a nice night!

Mmmmm Carbs

Happy Wednesday!

I can’t believe I said that already!  As sad as I was to see spring break come and go, this week is almost over and I’m 6 weeks away from Graduation!!!! Graduation #1 at least… ha ha

So my eats today were all about grains.  LOVE them…

Breakfast was a perfect bowl of cereal, Post Great Grains to be specific.  This cereal is super good, almost like a granola.  I added plain yogurt (wish it was Greek, but sadly it was just plain), chopped apple, and of course some TJ’s almond butter because apparently I can’t go a morning without it!

As soon as I took this picture, I mixed everything up into a big mess of crunchy goodness and it was great!  Best breakfast I’ve had in awhile for sure.

Lunch was packed today because I did a little midday studying at the library.  Leftover rice, and the last of my black beans tossed in TJ’s Goddess dressing.  AMAZING!  I love the combo of rice and beans as is, but mix it with the best dressing in the world, and times it by 10.

Also had some citrus on the side and man was it juicy! Just the way I like it.

Do you like my classy presentation of a ziplock baggy?

I also had a individual chocolate Silk before aerobics and it did wonders for me! I was hungry and it was the only decent thing I could afford on campus!! ha ha… seriously though, tons of energy to get down in hip/hop!

Lastly, you know a carbo-licious day couldn’t be complete without pasta so I did it up good with a great spinach salad.

Extreme close-up of the spinach salad w/blue cheese, raisins and balsamic viniagrette.  Look at that CHEESE!!

As you have probably noticed, raisins are a regular addition in my salads.  It really adds a ton of good flavor.

I ate dinner suuuuuuuuuper early tonight and I’m pumped it’s still light out.  However, it’s still FRIGID so I can’t really go out and enjoy it.  I want spring now!!!!

Before I go, I’m actually remembering to link back to a post! First time ever I think! lol… The Fitnessista is having a Quaker giveaway so check it out here for your chance to win an “all natural gift bag”.  I heart robes.

Go Greeeeeeeeen

I’m so excited that I got home early from lab!  I can post, get some hw done and get to SLEEP early! ha ha… yup, still tired!  I was really excited to post tonight though because I think I perfected the green smoothie for lunch and I made something different for dinner and it turned out great!  Here is my artistic display lol…

For some reason I was just craving toast this morning.  It was Sara Lee 100% whole wheat with honey bread that my mom bought for me.  I have to say it was really good!  I’m pretty picky about bread, but as far as I can remember this didn’t have funky ingredients in it and the taste was nice and hearty.  Topped with AB and J… just what I needed.

I snacked on an apple and string cheese to get me through my last class until I could make it home for…

Yes,  I tried the green smoothie again to see if I could do a better job and I think I hit a winner with this one.  I used LOTS of spinach, 1/2 an avocado, an overripe banana, milk, flax, honey + ice for extra coldness and volume.  It was soooooooo creamy and delicious.  Filling too! I’ll be having this again sometime soon.

Dinner was a spur of the moment creation:

Stuffed peppers!  I stuffed each half with brown rice, black beans, diced grape tomatoes, onion and garlic (all were sauteed in a skillet with EVOO and seasoned with chili powder, cumin and spiced paprika).

I boiled the peppers for a few minutes to soften them up, and added cheese on the top before popping the whole thing in the oven for about 10 minutes. I’m pretty proud of myself! ha ha

Thanks for all of the bean suggestions today, I still have a tiny bit left! I guess instead of 3.5 servings, I get just over 2 out of a can.

No workout today, I was too exhausted!  I know, I know, lame excuse… Tomorrow for sure.  Night!