quick black beans

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

My original plan tonight was to make something extravagent from one of my new cookbooks, but that was an EPIC fail. I was way to tired to make a huge meal tonight and it was already past my usually eating time of seven. So, I steamed up some asparagus and added some lemon juice, cut up another apple and added some almond butter (if you haven't noticed this is practically my favorite food right now), opened up a can of organic black beans--added some cumin and bay leaves--,and then cooked up some brown rice. It was actually very good and very filling for a quick, unplanned meal. 


I also got some great news from various vegan companies I contacted which you guys will be hearing about in the days to come. Also, if anyone has any advice to help me gain some followers that would be great...i've been doing my best but i seem to be failing in gaining popularity. I also created an Edgy Vedgy facebook page, so if you facebook, which I'm sure you do, please like my page....thanks in advance :] 

Well, i'm calling it a night blogfam. nighty-night! 

Amazing grass and workout

If you read my post from this morning you probably know I've been a bit down about getting back into shape from surgery, but let me tell ya, today's workout was AMAZING. I incorporated some new things into my workout and decided to follow a running plan instead of just winging it everyday at the gym. While I was catching up on my blogs this morning I was reading Kathy Eats Real Food, who I highly recommend following if don't. In her blog about running she has a half-marathon plan that she used so I decided to modify to my recovery and own plans for a marathon. My workout was ecstatic I'm still smiling from how happy I am...after my workout I decided to give Amazing Grass a try and it actually isn't to bad at all...it's a little rich though, maybe next time I'll add some extra rice milk.  I added the packet to my after workout smoothie of banana, rice milk, and some raw oats. I also had another apple with almond butter and some steamed carrots and green beans.


Now, it's nap time. :]

mmm Smoothies

So, it's day three of my adventure back to health and fitness and I can proudly say that I've been feeling great, sore, but great. Every morning I've made a fruit smoothie after my workout. This week I've usually just been using frozen bananas, strawberries, mangos, and pineapple with some coconut water. But today I was a little extra hungry so I had a piece of spelt toast with some almond butter, and an apple that didn't make it past the knife. I've been limiting my carb intake, but when I do enjoy them I make sure their whole grains or something like quinoa. I've also been eating a ton of steamed veggies and fruits. I'm pretty sure I've gone through 2 bags of Trader Joe's asparagus and 2 bags of fuji apples and it's only Wednesday.

On another note, the working out has been a little disappointing, which is to be expected I guess. Before surgery I was running nonstop for miles but now I'm having a hard time completing just 1.5 miles without needing to take a break due to all of the muscle loss in my legs. I've decided that this is definitely going to be an experience for the next few months. I'll be making something from one of my new cookbooks I got for Christmas tonight for dinner, so hopefully you'll be looking forward to another post today.

BTW i picked up a packet of the chocolate amazing grass that was recommended by livinlovinvegan when I went to Fruitful Yield the other day...I still have yet to try it because I'm out of hemp milk but I'm definitely looking forward to it as soon as i get to Whole Foods.

seeing as how my pictures won't load I'll have to add them later.


--exhausted gym rat.

Down to Business

Sunday, December 26, 2010

So, seeing as how I can't sleep and I was planning on doing this blog in the morning I decided I might as well just do it now.  Now that I'm officially going to be 10 weeks out of surgery this coming Tuesday and I've started hitting the gym a bit more and slowly getting back into bowling I've decided I might as well start my training and super healthy eating a few weeks early.  Before I found out I would be forced to have injury related hip surgery I was training for a half marathon and eating a raw vegan diet. Sadly, I have found it extremly hard to eat raw while at school, so I must opt for eating a very healthy plant filled vegan diet while at school. Tomorrow marks my first official day of training for the marathon and getting back into full athlete shape.  I CAN'T WAIT. I've missed running, boxing, and lifting so much.  So, for my last not so healthy meal for awhile I decided to feast on a large piece of homemade vegan pumpkin pie that I made for Christmas as well as some steamed asparagus, a mixture of tangerines, apples, and a banana alongside Isa's Chickpea cutlets...which I recently saw over at livinlovinvegan.






I'll definitely be keeping you updated on my delicious healthy food i'll be making in the days to come as well as some new products I'll be testing in honor of my training.

VegWeb Chocolate Cake

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

So, this morning I woke up and felt the need to bake chocolate cake, don't ask why, I just had this very strong inclination too.  So, after parousing the vegan recipe websites I came across a few on VegWeb that had some good reviews...i decided to pick The Ultimate PMS Chocolate Cake...mainly because it was quick and easy and I was on a time constraint to get to running. Anyways....after taking it out of the oven and testing it sans frosting I wasn't very impressed.  This cake is very dense, not fluffy, and it isn't sweet enough for my taste buds, I personally wouldn't recommend making it.



On another note,  I made some great Pumpkin Date muffins yesterday. These, I highly recommend making. There not to unhealthy and the recipe is very simple.



Pumpkin Date Muffins
2 c dates, chopped
1 1/2 c whole wheat flour
1/4 c corn meal
3/4 c granulate sugar (i substituted agave, you can also use brown rice syrup)
1 t baking soda
1/4 t baking powder
1/2 t ground cinnamon
1/2 t ground ginger
1/4 t ground cloves
1 c canned pumpkin puree
5 T apple sauce
2 t grated orange zest (i leave this out occassionally)
3 T. water

1. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly coat muffin pans with vegetable oil spray.
2. In bowl mix dry ingredients then add dates.
3. In separate bowl mix wet ingredients. Then add to the dry using the muffin method to combine.
4. Bake until tester inserted in center comes out clean. I've found it usually takes between 10-15 minutes depending on the type of oven.

Hopefully you all enjoy this recipe and are enjoying your holiday festivities.

Cold in Chicago