I was up at 8:30 on my own and was anxious to get the day going. Now that I don’t have as much free time as I used to, I don’t like to waste any of it! I had a quick, scrumptious pumpkin cake to start the day on a good note.
- canned pumpkin (last dregs of the last can… must restock ASAP before they leave stores!)
- egg whites
- 1 tsp TJ’s pumpkin butter
- 0% Fage Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp flaxy pb
- 1 tsp lemon curd
- agave nectar
- cinnamon
- nutmeg
After breakfast I made a meal plan for the week, then went out to shop for it. Although I went to four stores, I got most of my groceries not at the expensive health food store, but in the ethnic aisle of my local supermarket! Get a load of this hot ticket:
That would be Coconut Oil from Guyana. If I had purchased a similar item at aforementioned health food store, it would have cost me $15. This little guy was $2.49! What’s the most interesting food item you’ve found where you were least expecting it?
I spent the rest of the morning making a few lunches for the week; I’m going to be out at least two nights so lunch will be one less thing I’ll have to worry about. Despite a gloomy forecast, it was beautiful out and still early in the day so I decided to go for a run. It was great! I really needed to get outside and breathe fresh air, see living trees (we have a fake plant in our bedroom), and just go. It was a success!
Total distance: 4.5 miles
Total time: 42:19 minutes
When I got back I did a quick ab series, then made lunch. Hugh dropped by, too!
In the mix:
- curly-leaf kale
- spinach
- carrots
- celery
- tempeh bacon (finally found it!)
- grape tomatoes
- goji berries, soaked to plump
- dried cranberries
- pumpkin seeds
- Rosemary Quackers
- agave/rice vinegar/soy sauce/toasted sesame oil/sesame/salt/pepper vinaigrette
I made some of Mama Pea’s Vegan Energy Bars to put in my desk at work…
… which had to be sampled to make sure it was good, off course. It was 
I got into bed to read for work nap, and woke up hankering for a crisp Fuji apple. (Recycled photo alert!)
Ilana, Christine and I had the first of many Family Dinners tonight, served pot-luck style.
“I’m cooking!”
We sipped probiotic cocktails…
Ilana made delicious green beans, mushrooms, and broccolini using a family friend’s trusted recipe.
Christine made a refreshing veggie-full salad with mixed greens, green + red pepper, grape tomatoes an scallions.
She also made vegetarian chili + cornbread!
We certainly did not go hungry; we feasted like queens! Everything was delicious, and I’ll be very happy to eat the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
For desesrt, I made the same vegan chocolate mousse that Dynise (the Urban Vegan) made at the cooking demonstration on Saturday. It’s so easy: 3 ingredients, and it only takes 5 minutes!
My food baby (Claude) is quite content tonight 
I’ve been having trouble fitting my huge metal water bottle into my purse to bring to work every day; Christine found these genius collapsible, BPA-free and environmentally friendly water bottles. Look how cool they are!
I’ll let you know how I like them.
Please excuse me while I take my time catching up on your e-mail questions… I’m a little behind. Off to do some reading for work… hope to be asleep by 12!
Have a great night
COOL collapsable waterbottle!! Your doing great with your running, keep it up chica..your going to rock your half!! Family din din looks fantastic!!!..wish I lived with your fam! hehe!! Have a great tuesday! xoxo!
Mmmm the pumpkin cake sounds delish. How exactly did you make it?
the lemon curd dollop = lovely!
SCORE on the coconut oil. Sadly I just had to plunk down WF prices b/c I was out and didnt plan ahead and order any. Sigh.
The choc mousse. I make a 3 ingredient one, too. Cocoa powder, agave, and avo. Coconut oil optional. Is yours kinda the same? Soooo good!
The energy bars. Nice. I just made some that I am happy with and I sampled plenty, too, for quality control, of course
xoxoxo
Woah – those waterbottles are sweet! I hate lugging around my metal one, especially once it’s empty. Those look like the perfect solution. Can’t wait to hear how you like them!
Chili in cornbread is the best combo ever! Those water bottles look awesome!
Hey. I’m having trouble with your website. I can’t see the pictures. Is anyone else having this problem? I have been having trouble with my computer lately, so I’m not sure if its my Internet connection or if its your website. Thanks!
love that dinner spread – family style meals are so much fun. i’ve got to make some chili soon.
and where in the world did you find a bottle of coconut oil for 2.49?? that is an unbelievable find!
Maybe this just shows that I don’t use it very often, but I didn’t realize that canned pumpkin was a seasonal item!
Hugh was pretty busy yesterday; he visited me too!
<3 <3
I love the Platypus brand of bottles that collapse… So handy…
I find that the international food aisle in the grocery store is a treasure chest of cool food finds!
Congrats on the run
I keep seeing broccolini but have yet to try it. Your desserts always look delicious!
IU love the ethnic aisle at the grocery store. Great find on the coconut oil. I like how my Goyo Coconut water is so cheap at Sack n Save. It’s uasually 1.19 a can and 1.39 for the big cans.
aww family dinners are so cute and fun!!
i totally need to stock up on pumpkin..thanks 4 reminding me!
Yummy looking chocolate mousse!!! And naming the food baby? So hilarious.
Now I’m going to have to start doing that!!!
Have a great day, Katie!
XO,
Erin
That Chocolate Mousse looks delish!!!!!!!! Looks like a great family meal!!!
Coconut Oil is supposed to be great for cooking with right?
Oh Starla is just too funny, i cant get enough pics of her!!!
The wine is a must try!!!!
holy monkeys, that’s quite a spread! your family dinner looks fabulous!
i’ve found foods in some pretty surprising places…. but not in a good way. refrigeration seems optional here. milk is on the shelves, and i have found cottage cheese in the cupboard at work! uhm… yuck!
WOW a very colorful post. I love pumpkin cake… pumpkin anything really.
i’m loving the pumpkin. what a clever idea.
those collapsable water bottles are AWESOME! and i am loving that veggieful feast you ladies put together – VERY IMPRESSIVE! i feel ya on the free time too – i mean, i got home, ate dinner, blogged, did some yoga and its already 9pm. that does NOT make me happy.
Your dinner feast looked incredible! So many colors! It’s always nice when you have a crowd to help cook, and appreciate your cooking – you’re lucky you have such a nice big kitchen for it!
MMMMMMM! look at all those veggies! delish!!
your pumpkin breakfast sounds delicious toooooo!
interested to see those water bottles filled and how you like them!!
HAPPY WEDNESDAYYYYYYYYYY KATIE!
[...] was Act III of our Family Dinner series (read parts I & II), and I’m pleased to report it was another success! We’ve had our dinners on [...]
beneficial good…this post deserves nothing …hahaha just joking
…nice article 