This shit is bananas.

So, I realize that I haven't given you an update on some new recipes I've been trying. I've tried a few winners in the last few weeks. But, where there's a winner, there's always a loser. I'll be sharing those recipes, edits, and blunders too. Buckle up.

Bananas & PB

I got this idea from Pinterest & FitSugar, but I simplified the recipe significantly. What's all this about mashing bananas and yogurt together?

Nah.

I just scooped some all-natural (no oil or sugar added) peanut butter on a few cut up nanners and froze them.

I had about five of these bites for part of my breakfast this morning. Peanut butter gets crunchy when its frozen and the nanners were perfect. It was a delightful start to my day. I made more in about five minutes to replace the ones I scarfed.

Chocolate Banana Protein Bars

 
I obviously had a ton of bananas left over from last week.

This recipe turned out pretty good. I tweaked a few things, per usual. I only have two types of protein powder: SFH Chocolate Protein Powder and Vega Whole Food Health Optimizer. Both have pros and cons, which I can talk about later if anyone's interested, but I used SFH this time since Vega powder is green and I feel weird cooking with it.

Also, I used Enjoy Life chocolate chips instead of carob chips because I ain't no vegan (anymore...that's a story for a different day).

They are pretty good, but nothing mind blowing. I'll venture out and use Vega next time as an experiement. Stay tuned.  

Cauliflower Pizza

Mine didn't turn out quite as good as this recipe made me think it would. I probably didn't get ALL the moisture out, so the center wasn't crispy at all. But, it was pretty good. 

Bless the folks who have the patience for this. Honestly, pizza isn't a craving of mine, so it's just not worth the work for me.

Next time (if there is a next time) I'll probably just buy the pre-made gluten free crust if I'm feeling naughty.

Chocolate Raspberry Brownies

 This recipe hails from PaleOMG, although she made hers with cherries.

I had bought some raspberries, but knew we wouldn't eat them in time, so I made these for a girls night and was in a little bit of a rush. So, I didn't cook them as long as I should have and they were a leetle moist. 

And by a leetle, I mean a lot.

But I think they tasted great and I love them and will be making them again VERY soon.

Vanilla Coconut Pancakes

 I snagged this recipe from The Food Lovers Kitchen.

There aren't many ingredients, which I love. But, I did replace two of the eggs with (4) egg whites to cut the calories and they were EXTREMELY dry.

I don't know if cutting the yolks is what did it, but I wasn't crazy about these.

But, they look pretty, don't they? 

Tina's recipe is still my fave. With hers, I just use oat flour, almond milk, and honey instead of flour, soy, and sugar. They taste like the real thing.

Crack Dip

This was a ridiculous find on Pinterest and I just had to try it.

S'mores Crack Dip

It was incredibly easy and delish, but there was no way mister right and I were eating all of that. So, I brought it to girls' night and it disappeared almost instantly.

Definitely make this for your next gathering. Seeing people's faces light up as you tell them there is liquid chocolate buried underneath those roasted marshmallows is probably the best feeling ever.

Well, besides the feeling you get when dip a graham cracker in this and stuff it in your mouth. So really, it's the second best feeling ever.

There you have it. Some new recipes for you to try. Let me know how these turn out. 

I'm sorry, but I have no photos of lunchtime eats to share. But, I can tell you that it's been a combination of leftovers and fresh salad mixins. Monday was a workout day, so I started the day with a pre-workout apple and a post-workout raspberry oatmeal.

1/3C oats+1/3C water+1/3C egg whites+raspberries=yum

Lunch on Monday was a combo of fresh salad ingredients and my leftover chinese food (steamed chicken & veggies). Not a good combo. Water chestnuts and cherry tomatoes don't work together. It was way weird. Yesterday, I used regular grilled chicken and fresh veggies and it was way better.

Monday night was the Bachelor Finale viewing party. There was wine, chocolate, roses, and drama.

In other words, the perfect girls night.

Can we talk about the Bachelor for a second? I can't BELIEVE Sean picked Catherine! I really don't get it! I don't like her at all.








 But, I'm glad I was right about Desiree being the next Bachelorette. She's going to kill it and I am without a doubt tuning in.

On the menu for dinner tonight: marinated flank steak with roasted veggies. If you want to keep up with my menu, follow me on Pinterest. I generally browse there and pin things that look good and easy.

Until next time, have fun being bad.

-t

Just call me Oprah

Do you know how many of you read my last blog post?

A lot. Thank you for stroking my ego.

A lot of bloggers do posts about their favorite things and Oprah has a whole show about it, so it's my turn.

my favorite things

1. Pinterest. This site saved me while I was online shopping for things for my new apartment. I created a board just for apartment ideas, pinned things I saw online, and went back later to show my mister right what I'd found.

2. Brooklyn. My new home base. So much to do there and we LOVE our new neighborhood!

Holler to this guy for the sick pic

3. Mexican food. I used to HATE Mexican food. All the gooey, cheesy enchiladas grossed me out and I felt like I couldn't ever find anything. My, how the times have changed. Now, I could eat Mexican and/or Spanish-influenced cuisine every day. I love soft (corn) tacos filled with glorious meats, chips and salsa, arepas, pupusas, rice and beans, and PLANTAINS. I. LOVE. PLANTAINS.

4. Jillian Michaels. I like her no-bullshit attitude on the biggest loser. Also, I like that she hasn't always been thin.

5. Apples. Over the last few months, I've eaten almost an apple a day. I can't get enough of them! Also, grapes are particularly delish too. Especially frozen ones.

6. Ian McEwan. He's the well-known author of Atonement (yes, it was a book before it was a movie). I'm reading one of his early novels and falling in love with his writing just as I did with Atonement. He's literally painting with words. I don't know how else to describe it. I plan on reading his most popular books chronologically. Starting with The Cement Garden.

7. Gold jewelry. I never liked gold. I was always silver all the way. But, I've officially crossed over. I'm loving my gold statement jewelry these days.

 

8. Kanye and Eminem. I don't love rap or hip hop. But, my mister right does and he has probably been the biggest influence of my growing love for Kanye. I really dig his jams. I do not, however, understand the obsession with his lady. Kim Kardashian's fame baffles me. 

 

My love for Eminem, on the other hand, existed way before that. I find that my love for Marshal Mathers increases depending on how much running I'm doing, since Lose Yourself is my all-time, hands-down favorite running song. Try it. AMAZZZZZING.

9. Warby Parker. I got new WP glassies for Christmas and I am loving them!!! Already shopping for my next pair.

10. Survivor. Yes, it's still on! I watched last season and was hooked! It helps me work out harder when I think about all we would have to endure if the Apocalypse were upon us. Survivors would be prepared. Hopefully I will be too.

Okay, enough of that. On to the important things: food. On workout days, breakfast is broken up into two parts for me: preworkout and postworkout. Below is a banana chocolate chip oatmeal protein bar (could that name be any longer?) I made and snacked on. Yum.

Lunch was leftover pad thai with beef, scrimps, and broccoli. Unfortunately, I used WAY too much noodles, so it's more noodles than produce, but I've learned that lesson for next time...

Dinner was from my new favorite spot, Hu Kitchen. Everything is real food and freshly made. I had roasted chicken with sauteed collard greens...

My sexy companion (you know who you are) had the roasted chicken with grilled pineapple...

I can't even...just...so....good.

Welp, that's all I have for today. Enjoy the weekend and, as always, have fun being bad. I sure will.

-t

Breaking up is hard

So, I've realized why/how I can't get a photo of everything I eat. I eat it too fast.

My lunch today was a mishmosh of beef/shrimp pad thai and kale quinoa salad. Would you like to see a picture?

Too bad. I don't have one.

But, as usual, I have a few snapshots of half-eaten food that I'll share with you.

I'm beginning to veer from one of my frequent breakfasts: oats, strawberry jam or fresh strawberries, and chocolate protein powder.

I call it chocolate-covered strawberry oatmeal.

It is very tasty.



<--- pre choco

<--- post choco

This is the protein powder I've been adding to my oatmeal. It tastes delish. But, check out that laundry list of ingredients.

No thanks.

So, we decided to see other people and I'm trying to pawn this tasty, ingredient-dense powder on someone who doesn't care what the back of the package says.

Any takers?


Since I broke up with my powder, I bought liquid egg whites and I've put that in my oatmeal. Sound gross? It's not. It firms right up and I flavor it with some jam and berries and I'm ready to rock. Much better. All ingredients I recognize.

Here's my half eaten lunch from yesterday. Roasted chicken breast with a kale, quinoa, tangerine salad.

Snack from yesterday.


Don't think I need to explain this one...hopefully.






Just in case you're wondering what my typical grocery list looks like, here it is.

Staples that you will most likely ALWAYS find in my fridge or pantry:

Apples
Peanut butter
Hummus
Carrots
Eggs/egg whites
Coconut or almond milk
Salsa
Avocados
Rice or rice cakes

I've mentioned my peanut butter addiction before. But, just to reiterate, I buy my next jar of peanut butter before I finish the current jar because I never want to be without it. You may think that's obsessive, I think it's proactive.

And yes, I eat bacon.

Until next time, have fun being bad.

-t

Catching up and a little I scream, you scream

Oops, I did it again.

Truth is, I moved. And things have been slightly hectic. But, I'm getting back into the swing of things.

What I am no so much getting back into the swing of: taking pictures of my eats. Just getting up a little earlier to workout is a challenge these days. But I'm getting there, so bear with me. Bare with me? No, bear. Bare is like naked...weird. Just stick with me and my blog is what I'm saying, okay?

I do, though, have a few rando pics to share, so here goes...

         

To the left is an example of a day where I had time to cook: sauteed chicken breast, roasted cauliflower with a bit of cheese, and half a sweet tater. To the right is an example of the other side of the spectrum: gluten free bread, turkey, spinach, and cheese. 

It's been a relatively consistent seesaw between these two trends...

Planning: strawberry protein baked oatmeal...with a schmearance of almond butter...yum.

Improvising: hard boiled eggs on gluten free toast...yum? No, but it gets the job done.

When I haven't been fluctuating between extremely delish well-planned/-thought out meals and last minute throw togethers, I've been domesticating myself....

Yes, we have his n' hers mugs. Except the mister does not drink anything that goes in a mug (aside from the occasional hot chocolate...he's weird...who doesn't like coffee?!), so I use the his mugs to regulate my ice cream consumption.

Yes, I eat mug-sized ice cream portions. Otherwise, I'd eat it til it was gone. 

Do you remember my purple ice cream maker? Well, let me tell you, I have been making some kick ass ice creams in there: mint chocolate chip, vanilla, chocolate, dark chocolate peanut butter, vanilla peanut butter. As I've said, my life essentially revolves around peanut butter, so you can guarantee that almost every flavor I make will have it integrated somehow. 

My basic vanilla recipe: 1/2 can full fat coconut milk, 1/2 light coconut milk, a little less than 1/2 cup of honey (or maple syrup or agave or sugar or whatever), and a tbsp vanilla. Blend in a blender and put in my magical happiness creation machine for 15 minutes.

You can really add a lot to this recipe. Decrease the vanilla and add about 1/3 cup cocoa powder and BAM...chocolate ice creams. Add a little peppermint extract and BAM...chocolate mint ice creams. The possibilities are endless.

Bottom line: buy an I scream maker. Eat I screams. Be happy.

Til next time, have fun being baaaad,

-t

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I'm baaaack

Friends, I'm the worst. I have been crazy busy since the holidays, but I promise to get back on some sort of schedule.

I always have a resolution or goal that I'm working towards, so New Years generally isn't anything special. But, I will share with you a few of my resolutions for 2013:

1. Lose 10 pounds. Yes, I know I'm not fat. No one said anything about that. Just want to get lean and eat less chocolate.
2. Save money. 
3. Double unders. I hate them. Must dominate them. And then be able to string them together.
4. Strict pullup. That's right. I just want to get ONE.
5. Cut out desserts and chocolate. I just can't control myself. If there is chocolate around. I'm eating ALL OF IT. I don't know how long of a hiatus this will be. But, I'm going for as long as I can. Hopefully until Nike Women's Marathon in April.

 So, them's my goals and I'm hoping that posting them here will help me stick to them.

My good friend and kick ass running coach, Heidi Jones, has initiated a sugar detox. She and I did this same thing a few months ago and it really is amazing. Once you're aware that sugar is in everything, you'll see that it is LITERALLY. IN. EVERYTHING.

The thing that's bad about sugar is that it causes a number of reactions in your body that do not help to make you stronger, faster, smarter, or happier. I won't go into the science of it, because I'm sure to mess it up. So, below are some links to the sciencey stuff, for those who care.

MDA -- Definitive Guide to Sugar
MDA -- Sugar Suppresses the Immune System
NYT -- Is Sugar Toxic?
YouTube -- Sugar: The Bitter Truth

Heidi and I are working together to spread knowledge of the evils of sugar. So, please feel free to ask questions here or in person. If I don't know the answer, I will direct you towards someone who does!

Have a great weekend and, as always, have fun being bad.

-t

Attack of the killer kettle bell

Friends, I had a thought as I read this blog. I should begin recording my workouts here. Writing about them will keep a good record of my achievements and areas of improvement since I literally write NOTHING down.

Today's WOD (Workout Of the Day):

Black Box WOD/Beginner WOD:  
A1: Push Press 4×3
A2: 30-second goblet squat hold x4 sets
B: 4 rounds: 3-minute AMRAP of 5 pullups, 10 pushups, 15 situps; rest 1 minute between rounds


A1: My group started our first working set at a comfortable weight and tried to increase the weight each time: 53#, 63#, 73#, 73#

• 73# felt really heavy and I'm not sure I could safely add any more weight, so I kept it there for our last set.

A2: I used a 12kg kettle bell for our goblet squat holds

B: I did pullups with a green band (higher resistance = more assistance = easier) since my hands are getting crazy calloused from all the pullups I've been doing. I'm glad I did, because I learned that I have to kip (ie, swing or use momentum) quite a bit while using the blue bands (lower resistance = less assistance=harder) and I didn't really have the room for that today. I started the first round doing unassisted pushups, but I couldn't keep that up the whole time, so most were done on my knees. Damn, that minute of rest went fast.

• Round 1: Two rounds + 5 pullups
• Round 2: Two rounds + 5 pullups
• Round 3: Two rounds + 4 pullups
• Round 4: Two rounds + 5 pullups

Each round of 5 pullups, 10 pushups, 15 situps equaled 30, so score was determined by how many reps were completed in each round. My score: 65, 65, 64, 65.

How'd I feel? Good, not great. My legs are still sore from Sunday's killer kettle bell workout.

Today, Coach Will gave us a worksheet for us to write down our personal, health, and career goals for the next one, three, and six months. This workout definitely served to highlight some things I need to work on.

Things to improve:

1. Sleep more -- right now, I average about 5-6 hours/night. This is a recurring problem for me.
2. Pullups -- I just want one by this time next year.
3. Double unders -- I get one or two at random now, but I want to possess the skill of being able to string together double unders at will.
4. Handstand pushups -- still lacking the shoulder strength to do these properly.
5. Speed -- I'm a slow mo' f*cka. Gotta catch up.

This actually took a lot of time, so I'm not sure I'll remain consistent. But, I'm sure gonna try!

Here's to being bad,

-t


 

Who's counting?

Ask me about my weekend. 

It was awesome, thanks. I spent half the day on Saturday wandering around Brooklyn, trying to figure out which way was up and the rest of the day trying to get out of there.

We did come across this gem.

The World's Largest Menorah. So they claim. 

My first Hanukkah was greeted with screams and bounces of jubilee as I opened my first gift.

A gloriously purple ice cream maker.

 

Who has some cool recipes? Everything I look at is inspiration for ice cream now.

Cinnamon roll ice cream

Eggnog Ice cream

Pancakes n' Syrup ice cream

Peppermint Bark ice cream

Peanut butter n Jelly ice cream

It's all happening. Just wait.

In other news, did you know that I love the Lady of Pop? 

Well, I do.

I think she's cool and that we should be friends. I also love these pictures by Terri Richardson. I love that he captures her doing such normal things. Like putting milk in her coffee, getting her hair dyed, eating, and brushing her teeth. 

It reminds me that she and I are not all that different. She just has way more fans and wears fake eyelashes. There are more differences (like the Grammy awards and international fame), but who's counting.

Anyway, to remind myself that I can achieve just about anything (even a pullup), I made the Lady my cover photo on my iPhone.

Inspiring, no?

Today, I snacked on a Larabar (pbj flavor, duh) at 6am while packing my clothes for work and watching Season 4 of True Blood on the iPad.

As it was someone's birthday at work, a coworker brought in some delicious doughnuts to celebrate (and test my self control...it failed, as usual). I had a lot of little pieces that probably added up to a whole, but who knows.

I haven't eaten lunch yet, but I won't even bother taking a picture of it because it looks like poo. Indian lentils with grilled chicken and rice is yummy, but not pretty. I'll take a picture of the next pretty thing I eat. Worry not.

Until next time, have fun being bad.

-t

Happy Christmukkah

I have very exciting news.

Are you ready?

It's my first Christmukkah.

My first Christmas tree as an adult, coupled with my first Menorah EVER. Side note: the boy made that Menorah in grade school.

Yesterday, I had a very fun snack. 

 Lactose free yogurt with almonds & honey.

 

With some kiwi dipped in.

Drizzle drizzle.

Lunch yesterday was a Bad Girl Classic: my tuna salad with a brown rice tortilla. Delish, but boring.

Today, I ordered from Dig Inn. Since no one was hungry when I was, I had to beef up my order to match the minimum delivery amount. I got a build my own plate with braised beef, cauliflower salad with raisins, roasted veggies, and a broccoli quinoa salad.

And a pineapple/coconut smoothie (hold the added sugar/agave nectar)...

Verdict?

The smoothie was much better than I anticipated. It was super yum. I actually wasn't crazy about my red pepper dressing and the broccoli quinoa salad, so I didn't finish that, but everything else was awesome!

And, for honesty's sake...I had two mini Christmas candies (york patty and reese's) and a dark chocolate salted caramel...

I'm such a bad, bad girl.

-t