Author Archives: Emily

Vegan Challenge Recap

by

*Sorry this is a little late!

If you didn’t check it out already, click HERE for the intro/explanation to my vegan challenge.  I knew going into the two weeks that I had no long-term plans to become a full-time vegan.  That did not change, at this point I can’t see my life without eggs, yogurt, and the occasional turkey burger.  That said, I really enjoyed the two weeks and would like to repeat the challenge again at some point this year.  Maybe even a Vegan Month.

I am really proud of myself for sticking to this challenge.  Maybe I can’t be bothered to train for a half marathon, but I did successfully make it two weeks without losing it to any meat or dairy products.  I am also proud that I did not depend on imitation products during this challenge.  No soy yogurt breakfasts and tofurkey sandwich lunches here!  While I recognize that many people have healthy, happy diets with those products, the point of the challenge was to rely on whole foods.

Here are some of the main things I learned during my 2 weeks as a vegan –

  • Green Monsters rock my socks
  • I prefer smoothies without milk or yogurt in them
  • Eat, Drink, and Be Vegan is a book no kitchen should be without
  • I actually like tempeh
  • vegan baked goods taste better than ‘normal’ ones

How do you classify your eating habits?  Vegan, semi/vegetarian, raw, carnivorous?  For now I am semi-vegetarian who doesn’t eat mammals.  But I’ll be eating a little less dairy than I used to.

A Season Behind

by

I’m so frustrated!  My insomnia is back in full-force lately and not sleeping at night is pushing my mornings back which I don’t have time for this week.  Breakfast was good though.

I found this Low-fat Maple Vanilla Stoneyfield recently, seasonal flavors are so exciting!

I wanted the yogurt to be the focal point of breakfast so overnight oats sprang to mind.

Last night I combined the yogurt with 1/3 cup oatmeal and 1/4cup skim milk.  This morning I topped the mix off with 1/2 cup blueberries and 1/4 cup Kashi Go Lean Crunch.

Perfection.  This was one of my best combos ever.

I have a follow-up foot appointment around noon today so lunch will be eaten on the go.  I’ll do a lunch/dinner post later, I’m not even going to try to go to bed early tonight, instead I’m going to focus on crossing off some of my major to-do’s.

You Can’t Do It Without the Meat

by

Before I start – I also forgot the ricotta, which I realized as soon as the husband got back from the store.  He hates me a bit and our burger apparently didn’t quite follow the recipe!

As I said before, the plan for dinner was Turkey Burgers with Carmelized Onions and Blue Cheese (recipe here).  I’ve been craving turkey burgers since before the vegan challenge, which I swear I am going to recap soon, so this was the perfect dinner choice.

I had one burger on a bun with blue cheese spread and a few onions.

A stack of oven-baked fries.

And leftover veggies from the other night.

In spite of the small hiccup (who forgot the turkey and ricotta?!?) it ended up being the perfect dinner.

Sadly the burger did not kill my turkey burger cravings  😦  I know we left out ricotta but the recipe needed far more Worchestire for my tastes.  The fries were fantasmic though 🙂  We subbed in butter potatoes for russet and we not disappointed.  I don’t know why I ever eat fried fries, these are so much better!

Now the plan is to do my pt exercises, shower, and turn into bed.  Wish me luck actually falling asleep tonight!

What do you top your burgers with?  I almost never eat things on a bun, but usually I dip my patties into ketchup.

Where’s the Beef?

by

It’s been a filled but successful day.  I knew the days before I left for Orlando would be stressful but thankfully, especially for a Monday, today wasn’t too bad.  And hopefully it will be over soon and I’ll actually get to sleep after dinner.

On my way out of volunteering I grabbed a (caramel biscotti)coffee with 2% milk.

Then I came home and geared myself up before heading down to the nearby coffee shop to work.  I filled out notecards from 2:30 – 5:30 and had a yummy lunch.

“Queen City” Eggplant sandwich; blue cheese, hot sauce, and field greens.

And small side of horseradish potato salad.

I wished both dishes were a bit spicier but they were very tasty.

The husband stopped by around 4:30 and distracted me for the last hour or so planning a very exciting trip.  I can’t wait to tell you guys about it once I get back from my spring break trips.

The dinner plan is this turkey burger recipe.  It’s been on the menu planner for more than a month but somehow it wasn’t until all the other ingredients were on the counter that it occurred to me we had no turkey!  Whoops!  The husband was such a sweetheart to run out and get more.  And while I waited I figured I’d do this lunch post 🙂

I blame my interim snack on Jessica –

After gummi cola bottles York Peppermint Patties are my favorite conventional candy.

I’ve got to go make my husband a well-deserved dinner, but hopefully I’ll be back with a final post for the day not too soon!

What is your favorite kind of ‘conventional’ candy?

The Good Snow

by

Last night was ridiculous; it was past 2am when I finally stopped tossing and turning.  Needless to say, my 6:30am alarm was promptly shut off.  I have to leave for volunteering in just a bit, so my homework assignment is still looming on the horizon.

A good breakfast can always make your forget your troubles, at least temporarily!

This bowl was Dannon Light and Fit Toasted Coconut Yogurt, topped with 1/2 cup blueberries, some crumbled banana bread (from my bloggie Valentine package) and 1t coconut flakes.

I’m getting a little sick of snow, but this lookalike was too gorgeous to hate!

Gotta jet!

How do you like coconut?  My friend told me she hated it yesterday and I almost couldn’t believe it.  Coconut is in my top 5 favorite, although I think it’s best to use a fresh young coconut for cinnamon smoothies.

Me: 0, Hunger: 4

by

I’ve been super busy (and stressed) all day and that paired with my intense hunger somehow led to me eating 4 full meals today, whoops!  The amount of school work I have to do over the next few weeks (particularly while I’m home, boo) is sort of staggering.  I’m actually looking forward to seeing whether or not I rise to the challenge 🙂

I was feeling a bit empty still after breakfast so I grabbed a Yoplait Light Red Velvet Cake yogurt.

This wasn’t my favorite flavor, but I was pretty entranced by the color.

My study session ended up being split between two coffee shops.  First Starbucks, where I ate a low-fat egg white, spinach, and feta wrap with a nonfat tall latte.

Then the Spot where I had a Cajun Turkey Wrap (ww wrap, sliced turkey, pepperjack cheese, cajun sauce, l/t).

I ate 2/3 of the sandwich plus a 2nd diet coke.

Finally Adam picked me up around 7:30 and I headed off to get my “real” dinner.  We were so excited to try this newest location of …..

Moes!  I’ve been seeing the Florida bloggers gush about this place for years so I was super excited to try it out.  Adam and I were NOT disappointed.

I did some damage on the huge bag of chips the gave me,

but my main meal was this fellow –

A Junior Homewrecker (burrito – little bit of rice, black beans, tofu, cheese, salsa, cilantro).

Yum, yum, yum.

I would say it’s been a good day but I’m going to try to bang out some of my online Chem homework so my day seems far from over.  I hope everyone else had a great weekend!

What’s your opinion on “Fourth Meal?”  Just for Taco Bell or awesome idea?

March Madness

by

Good morning!  Since most husbands and wives don’t stay up to all hours of the night watching Buffy reruns I assume my breakfast post will be read during lunch for most of my readers 😉

Even though it’s noon I figured I’d start my day with a beautiful breakfast –

A blueberry bagel with light cream cheese and Crofter’s Superfruit Spread.

And most of a Cara Cara orange.

Delish.  I really enjoyed my 2 week vegan challenge – and I plan on doing a post on it tomorrow – but I am excited to get back to dairy.

I’m also excited about flying to Florida this Thursday!  I can’t believe how busy the next 2 weeks are.  Thankfully/sadly the husband doesn’t have the same spring break as me so he can hold down the fort and be my personal airport shuttle.

  • 03/03 – Chemistry quiz
  • 03/04 – Fly to Orlando (to stay with two of my best friends of all time)
  • 03/07 – Die trying to run in the Disney Princess Half Marathon
  • 03/09 – Fly back to Buffalo; get in a 8:30pm
  • 03/10 – Fly to St. Thomas; leave at 5:30am
  • 3/15 – Fly back to Buffalo
  • 3/19 – Chem Test
  • 3/22 – Anthro Test

Yikes.  I’m really excited though.  I’m also really behind, I have a TON of reading to do while I’m home.  And today I’m meeting Caroline at the Spot for a study session.  Dinner is going to be posted late but we are trying out a new spot and I’m really jazzed about it 🙂

What are you excited for in the upcoming month?

Lovin’ Like Buffy and Angel

by

It’s been an absolutely fabulous day with the husband!  We are mid-Buffy-marathon though so I’ll keep this quick.

When we did our grocery shopping this afternoon we got salad bar for lunch.

Green beans, roasted brussels, cauliflower, steamed veggies, and spicy tomato tofu.

Yums!  I love veggies so much.

Today is the last day of the vegan challenge and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited about eating a bagel with cream cheese tomorrow 🙂

When we got home the husband got straight to work on this bad boy.

This was our first pommelo experience and we were both pleased.  Adam and I split this huge plate of gorgeous goodness.

And dinner ended up being amazing as well.

The tofu was marinated in tamari, evoo, chipotle oil, garlic, and green onions.  Then I sprinkled with sesame seeds and baked at 450* for 25minutes.  For the veggies I sautéed some frozen green bean mix in the tofu marinade.  ‘Twas good.

Dessert was also exciting.  This small self-bag of gummi candies had my first Easter candies of the season.

See you in the am!

Did you watch Buffy in the ’90’s?  I didn’t really (although one of my friends was beyond obsessed) and Adam had never seen it.  We LOVE it now though.