Breakfast

Today I was craving eggs. More specifically, sunny side up eggs, ketchup, and toast.

This breakfast invention (x2) was delicious.

Oh and, also a slice (or two) of this.



Pumpkin-Blueberry Almond crusted Bread Pudding


My food hasn't been so exciting lately... and my camera has been really acting up! :( I think I need to buy a new battery pack or something.

Yesterday was my anniversary with the bf. :) And tomorrow is my nephews birthday so... photos coming your way!

Q: Eggs and Ketchup? Yum or Eww?

A new week begins!

This weekend was rather busy. It was great beause I got to cook a lot, eat yummy foods, and spend time with the boyfriend. :)

I haven't stopped cooking it seems! I've made pumpkin pudding, pumpkin pancakes and crustless pumpkin pie (twice!)

The family is loving my craze, and I am as well. ;) Today we're going to make a trip to Costco, simply to buy a bigger bulk of the orange stuff! Yeah, we're crazy for pumpkin over here.

Low in calories, carbs, and good for you... how can you not be?! It's a perfect addition to many foods. Perfectly delicious. ♥

I will write another update most likely later on tonight. I'm going to try my hand at Pumpkin Ravioli sometime this week as well (Hey, we're Italian over here, we love our pasta! :P) with the Dad.... we'll see how that turns out!

Q: Do you like pumpkin? What are some ways you like to prepare it?

And so, fall is here....

....Because canned pumpkin is BACK on the shelves~! :))))

Now, I loooveee pumpkin. In stews, pies, breads, pancakes. Yes, pumpkin pancakes are extremely delicious. It's like a pumpkin pie, mixed with pumpkin bread, and just the right flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg... and that beautiful orange color! All the things that make fall wonderful.

Simply Yummy Pumpkin Pancakes

1 1/2 cup whole wheat (or multigrain) flour (I use Arrowhead Mills Multigrain Mix)

1 cup Vanilla Soymilk (I really like the Silk Organic Vanilla soy, sold at Costco)

1 egg

Tons of cinnamon** + more for sprinkling after

A dash of nutmeg**

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 can Pure Pumpkin Puree (Like the kind from Libby's)

Stevia drops (or 8-10 packets of Splenda) to sweeten
1 TBSP whipped butter

**or if you have pumpkin all spice, that works too.

Combine dry ingredients first, whether by hand or blender. (I find a blender works better, in this case) Then add the egg, soymilk, and remaining ingredients. Blend until a smooth consistecy is made.

(The temperature of the skillet is the most crucial factor in the success of the pancake. The skillet must be hot enough that water droplets dance on the skillet and smoke rises from the skillet, but must not be any hotter. Chefs recommend that you wipe a skillet that is too hot with a wad of wet paper towels, then allow the skillet to smoke before proceeding.)

Once skillet is heated, spray with non-stick cooking spray, and carefully pour batter to make a 5" circle. Allow bubbles to form, and flip. Continue until all the batter is gone. Sprinkle finished pancakes with cinnamon and a dollop of whipped cream (or your favorite vegan substitute) and enjoyyy!

I know I did. ♥

My Favorite foods (From A-Z!)

I've seen this on quite a few food blogs as of late, and figured I'd jump on the bandwagon as well!


Apples. They're delicious, crunchy, and a perfect balance of sweet and sometimes tart! My favorites are Fuji Apples.
Baba ghanoush. I. love. to use this as a dip for pitas.
Carrots. Give them to me raw, steamed, roasted or thrown into a stew.

Daiya Cheese. Cheese is delicious. Vegan cheese makes me happy. ♥
Eggplant. Between baba ghanoush and this... can you see I really love Eggplant?
Falafel. Give me any kind of middle-eastern food, and I'm a very happy person.

Grapes. Wine, grapes and cheese. Need I say more?\

Hummus. I wasn't joking about loving middle-eastern cuisine.

Ice Cream. You know this one was coming! Who doesn't absolutely adore Ice Cream?! Toffee Ice Cream... *drool*

Jalapeño peppers. Spicy!

Ketchup. On eggs, Vegan burgers, used as a dip (or just eaten straight... hey. I'm weird.)

Lychees. A childhood favorite for me, I can go through a ton of these in one sitting.

Medjool Dates. Can you say Nature's perfect candy? ♥

Noodles. All kinds. Udon, Ramen, Rice, Clear.

Olives. Kalamata, Spanish, Sicilian.

Protein shakes. I have one almost everyday, with fruit, almond milk... blended into a sweet, cold treat.

Quinoa. Replaced brown rice for me! It's so versatile.

Ramen bowls. Now, I'm not talking about Maruchan or Nissin. I'm talking, legit, huge veggie packed, noodle filled, asian spiced bowls of homemade ramen. Healthy comfort food at it's finest.

Salsa. On everything. Eaten alone. I love the stuff!

Toasted bread. Comfort food for me! With almond butter, or some real butter spread on a slice aside a warm cup of joe.

Udon noodles. My favorite of the noodle family. ♥

Vegetables. A give in!

Wasabi. Another one of those foods that I excessively slather over stuff. And kill my sinuses in the process.

Xanthum Gum. Not an edible food by itself, but it's AMAZING for thickening up protein shakes and different dishes.

Yams. Baked yams with some cinnamon and truvia.

Zucchini. Shredded into eggs, raw in salads, baked into breads.

Q: Do we have any in common? What are some of your favorite foods?

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

Yesterday was a good day. :) I got a lot of work done, hung out with my mom and watched a great documentary about World War II. I also jogged for 4-miles, had a delish dinner



Lavash Bread toasted in the oven, topped with homemade pizza sauce, mushrooms, garlic, onions and Vegan Chik'n Strips



and bonded with my father over a game of Call Of Duty: World at War.
Something you all should know about me, I ♥ History. Especially WWII related subjects.

Oh, and I did something to my hair, a change for the fall season...

Yeah, I cut bangs into my hair!

 Do you all like it? I look really young with straight bangs, but I love it. Not many people have straight across bangs! At least, I haven't seen any around where I live...

Today's breakfast was also really yummy. ♥



1 cup Fage 0% yogurt, Topped with 1/4 cup oats, 2 TBSP of freeze dried blueberries all settled into a small pool of unsweetened almond milk.



Today are the usual plans... work, jogging, and making homemade Almond Butter!

Post later~ please look forward to it. :D

Yesterday was a fun day...

 Filled with cuteness...



dad? mom? why so many photos?!





taking pictures of our baby!



Relaxation...

Some more cuteness...

Beauty...

And ended with yummies. ♥





♥ sunny days.

I. love. vegetables.

YES.

I went for my 4-mile run, and once I showered and got to relaxing, it struck me that dinner should be made. and fast because, I was craving, roasted. vegetables.

Now, this wasn't a craving that was to be ignored, naturally. You see, there are 5 foods that I cannot get enough of!

Roasted Vegetables

Fresh Salsa

Baby Carrots (roasted, plain, in soups and stews, desserts... i didn't get my name for nothing! ;)

Sorbet (Oh my god, give me some berry sorbet and I'm a very happy girl)

Ketchup (I love ketchup on EVERYTHING.... pretty much everything anyways... ketchup on ice cream?! ewwwww)

Are my tastes strange? I crave carrots? maybe.

So Immediately, I threw together some olive oil, pepper, salt and garlic and poured the mixture over a medley of vegetables. Set the oven to Roast, and in they went!



Om Nom Nom....

    

Once those were done, I wanted something crunchy to accompany it. Something... warm... salty... cheesy.



1 oz. Lavash Bread, Daiya cheddar and mozzarella, Classico Tomato & Basil sauce and Half a packet of Light Tuna


Oh. and there may or may not have been an extra little serving of ketchup for vegetable dipping. Just saying. I ♥ my ketchup.

Good Morning world ~

 I woke up today rather late... but full of energy!

I checked emails, went over a few things with work, tanned... oh and now I'm enjoying this.




1cup vanilla Organic Soymilk, 1 cup frozen strawberries, 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder, 4 ice cubes

 

Served in my trusty Venti Starbucks cup. ♥ what great way to start the morning... a frosty treat after spending time under the gorgeous sunshine. 8)



Plans today are::

-Go running
 (3-mile run everyday, it's not much but it's good to stay consistent with something :)
-Prepare some more hummus (parents loved it!)
-Work
-Dance class

woo!

Dinner & exhaustion

Today was a superrr tiring day. I ran errands, went to class and worked my butt off!

Not to mention, went for a 8 mile run tonight.



yeah, I was pretty ECSTATIC to be done and over with it.

 The weather was hot and humid (when is it not in Miami?) Little bugs kept flying into my eyes, I could hardly see in the darkness of the night! (my parents live where literally there are only farms around here...) and I lost my way... twice.

My legs. are. burning. That's what I get for not exercising for 10 days!

I know that after such an misadventure I was in the mood for something savory for dinner after such a dragging run.

French bean casserole, steamed peas and a ton of pieces of Lavash Bread

Oh, and also some of this.

Natural Homemade Strawberry Sorbet
Made from only strawberries

Now I want to sit with a book, and maybe catch up on a little bit of piano. ♥

Crazy Days

Lately, I've been in the mood for frozen-fruity goodness things for breakfast.



2 cups frozen spinach, 1 cup frozen blueberries, 1 scoop whey vanilla protein and 1 cup unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze

 A purpley green monster....? It tasted like chocolate. I swear.

Oh an also, hummus.

Who else adores hummus? I had some of the BEST hummus in california and simply had to try and re-create the recipe (that the owner wouldn't share! darn!) back home. I'd say it came out pretty fire.

Amazing Tangy "Hummus"

Ingredients::

2 cans garbanzo beans, drained

1 tsp garli powder (or one clove of natural garlic)

Juice from half a lime (yes, lime)

Pepper & Salt to personal preference (I added a lot of salt, though I usually eat low in sodium, because it really compliments with the lime juice. Try it!)

2 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Now, the olive oil is very crucial that it's a good quality, delicious tasting oil. I use a brand called Fruttato Colavita First Cold Pressed. It can easily be found in most major supermarket.

You might also notice the lack of Tahini in this recipe. I added it. It did NOT come out the same as the hummus I was trying to duplicate. Therefore, I left it out despite actual authentic hummus calling for it... I'm not a picky person. Tasted like hummus to me!

This recipe is super easy. Simply dump (yes, dump it all in there) the ingredients into your food procceccor and let it do it's magic. If you need to add a tablespoon of water to reach desired creaminess (I did... I like creeeaaamy hummus) by all means, go ahead!

Refrigerate for an hour (because all the flavors are really accented when the hummus is cold) and dip dip dip! Maybe with some homemade Lavash?

recipe coming soon!

I'm gonna go attack that hummus now.

Om nom nom. ♥

At Starbucks... finally getting an update in!

 So, California so far has been amazing.... I've seen and done so much, the people here are wonderful, the weather and atmosphere. Everything is gorgeous! The days have been perfect, visiting different areas with the boyfriend. I will post a more detailed post when I return home on the 11th... but for now, here are some random photos. :)

San Clemente

On the iPhone~ at the airport ☻

Breakfast the boyfriend made for us ☺

I died and went to heaven with this asian market we went to....

♥