Motivation Monday

Meal Prep

I'm absolutely awful at packing my lunch in the morning. Instead, I typically take leftovers from the night before. However, that doesn't always get me all the veggies I want, or fit my diet the way I want it. But I'm lazy as shit... and I don't want to pack stuff.

So, since Sunday is dedicated to various things I don't want to do anyway, I added a quick prep in there. Grapes, strawberries, carrots, hummus tubs, and spinach ready to be made into a salad! The spinach I prepped with sunflower seeds, chia seeds, and nutritional yeast.

No time for laziness!

Also, last week, I actually got into the gym on a Monday... that. is. a. feat.

Let's be friends on myfitnesspal! Username = toriiix30.

Happy Monday! <3

What's Cookin' Wednesday

Quinoa Chili

Shit... Please excuse my ever present tardiness.

So although it's hot as shit out here in Ohio, I long for cooler weather and the yummy soups and chilis  (and clothes) that go with it. Since we don't eat meat (obviously), I wanted something that made the chili a little hearty. Quinoa. Quinoa is always the answer. It's hearty, it's a great source of protein, and it's easy to make.

Ingredients:

2 cups quinoa, cooked

1 Tbsp. olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion, diced

1 jalapeño, seeded & diced

2 cans diced tomatoes (I used Hunt's Roasted Red Pepper)

1 can tomato sauce (I used Hunt's Dinner Starters for chili)

1 1/2 Tbsp. chili powder

2 tsp. cumin

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

Salt & pepper to taste

2 cans beans (I used black beans and chili beans)

1 can corn

Juice of 1 lime

How to:

Heat the olive oil in a large pot. Sauté the onion, garlic, and jalapeño until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in the quinoa, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, seasonings, and 1-2 cups of water. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and let it cook for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the beans, corn, and lime juice, and let that heat through for a couple of minutes. 

Serve immediately with chopped green onions, greek yogurt, avocado, cheese, etc!

Warning: This makes a ton a chili. It's freezer-friendly, though!

This is when I wish I lived in San Francisco, so I could enjoy this any time!

I'd love to know if you try this and how it turns out!! (:

Motivation Monday

I always start my day with breakfast. Always. Recently, I read about drinking hot water with cinnamon and honey 1/2 hour before you eat in the morning. It's supposed to reap all these great benefits. I'm going to attempt to do this in the mornings from now on, and we'll see how it goes. I did it this morning, but I felt like it slowed down my morning just a teeny bit. I'm not really capable of doing much at 6:20am...

If you'd like to try this as well, it's simple!

Just boil 1 cup of water and add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 2 teaspoons of honey!

You can adjust the amounts to your taste, just try and keep it at a 1:2 ratio. I think when I do this tomorrow, I will take the measurements to 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and 1 tsp. honey. It was just a bit much for my morning taste buds. Let's see how this goes! (:

Friday Favorites

What do you mean it's Sunday?

1. Cargo

I've been religiously using a sample of Cargo's Water Resistant Blush in Los Cabos and just received a full-size from Birchbox!

2.  Polar FT4

I finally got the Polar FT4 for my workouts! ^.^

3. Date Days

I love days that Boyfriend and I just spend together. They're my favorite.

What's Cookin' Wednesday

Orange Chikin'

I am so excited. I don't know why, after making the Vegan Wings, that it didn't dawn on me that I could now make a ton of chicken dishes that I used to love. HOORAY! This was so. freaking. delicious.

Ingredients:

1 medium head of cauliflower, chopped

3/4 c. flour (I used whole wheat)

1 tsp. curry powder

1 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. red pepper

2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast

3/4 cup milk of choice

2 green onions, chopped

1/2 green pepper, diced

1/2 red pepper, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 c. fresh orange juice

3/4 c. vegetable broth

2 tsp. soy sauce

2 Tbsp. sugar

2 Tbsp. corn starch

1/4 c. water

How To:

Preheat your oven to 450ºF. Chop your cauliflower into florets. In a large bowl, combine flour, curry powder, garlic powder, red pepper, and nutritional yeast. Dip your florets in the milk and toss in the flour mixture. Transfer the florets to a greased baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, flip and broil with the door open for 5 minutes, until golden brown. While all this is happening, you should probably go on to the next stuff.

In a skillet, heat 2 Tbsp. of olive oil. Sauté the onions until fragrant, then add the peppers. Sauté for 3-4 minutes, then remove from heat. I transferred mine to a bowl.

In the same skillet, heat 1/2 Tbsp. olive oil. Sauté the 2 cloves of garlic, until golden. At this point, add the broth, juice, soy, and sugar. Stir to combine well. In a separate bowl, whisk the corn starch with the 1/4 cup of water. Add this mixture to your sauce and let this thicken.

This is what your "chikin" will look like when it comes out of the oven. (:

Toss your veggies and "chikin" in the sauce you've made, and let this heat for about 2 minutes.

Serve with brown rice and garnish with an orange and green onions.
ENJOY!

Motivation Monday

I love sweets. Love them. And, ya know, when you're trying to be healthier, sweets aren't what you want to eat. Recently, I've been trying some healthier sweet recipes. Banana ice cream is my favorite. It's so good. But recently, I tried these faux cookie dough bites, and they were amazing. They tasted like a lara bar!

Here is the recipe from My Whole Food Life.

Ingredients:

1 cup gluten free rolled oats

1 cup raw almonds

10-12 pitted medjool dates pitted

1/4 -1/2 cup water

optional chips, coconut, cacao nibs, raisins, etc.

How to:

Throw the almonds and oats in the food processor and blend into a fine powder.

Then add dates and continue to blend. 

Lastly, add the water, a little at a time until a paste like dough forms. 

Roll dough into little balls and place on a lined baking sheet. 

Put into the fridge to get the dough to firm up a bit.  Eat and enjoy!

Friday Favorites

1. Birchbox

Even though I was a little late, they gave the awesome option to choose a different box, or a sample to go in your regular box!

2. Opportunity

I've got an interview lined up for the State of Ohio!

3. Possibilities

As you may have seen last week, I've finished my application to Boston University Online School of Social Work! I'm more than ready to advance my career.