Lilveggiepatch » muffins

Belly Full 'O Pasta

lilveggiepatch — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:33:15 +0000

Evening! How was your day? Mine was just fine, but I’m ready to crawl into bed and call it a night!

This morning when I woke up at 8:30, I panicked for a few minutes before remembering that my boss (at my internship) had canceled work for the day. I was up and ready to go, though, which things to do and people to see!

I was excited to try these goji berries with my breakfast. I’ve only ever tasted these chopped up and mixed into other things, but when I snatched them right up when I spotted this bag on sale for $2.19 at the food co-op this weekend (they’re usually almost triple that price). Goji berries are rich in antioxidants, and among their many benefits they are touted to improve eyesight (they’re rich in beta carotene), boost immunity, and spice up your sex life

I tossed them in with Greek yogurt, 1/2 toasted Trader Joe’s Berry Mango muffin, warmed frozen berries and flaxy peanut butter. The goji berries are firm but chewy; the texture really complemented the rest of the mess.

This held me over for a really long time. The rest of the morning was spent reading, researching, and waiting until I was digested enough to go for a run. I warmed up with a 20 minute hip opening flow, then set out for an easy 2 mile run.

Total distance: 2 miles

Total time: 20:09

Most of my runs are going to have to be in the morning now that it’s getting dark earlier; I’ll have to crank out some long runs on the treadmill when I’m in Russia, however. I’m a little nervous that I won’t be able (psychologically) to run 7 miles on a treadmill…. What are you tips for making it through a long treadmill session?

Lunch was pretty basic (and very green): the last of the spinach and rice soup and a crunchy salad (spinach, broccoli slaw, celery, roasted almonds; sesame oil/rice vinegar/sesame seed dressing).

My interview was at 3:30; when it was over I hopped right back onto the subway and headed home. I had 1/3 of a Key Lime Pie Larabar on the ride back:

I found myself in one of the rare instances when I didn’t have anything to read on the subway… it was completely disorienting. I always have a book with me (sometimes two!); I would have brought one to prom if it had fit in my clutch! Ari calls me his word nerd.

When I got home, I went straight to the kitchen to unwind and get dinner started. I’ve had my eye on Martha Stewart‘s recipe for Roasted Cauliflower with Pasta and Lemon Zest (in the November 2009 issue) for quite some time… a little too much time, because the head of cauliflower I’d bought in anticipation a couple weeks ago had started to mold. But have no fear! I just sliced off the offending areas. I’m frugal, what can I say?

While slicing onion, I remembered what one of my cooking teachers always said: always cut out the middle greenish part of an onion. I can’t quite remember why that is; I think it has something to do with it not being fully developed yet and causing stomachaches.

I was eager to try out this pasta… Nature’s Place is Hannaford grocery store’s natural, minimally processed brand. Fresh (not dried) pasta always tastes so much better to me.

Plus, they look like little nests! Two “nests” make one serving.

When the veggies finished roasting (perfectly crispy!), it was all I could do to keep myself from eating them all right off the baking sheet. I’d already made quite a dent in the cauliflower while I was chopping it… if I wasn’t careful, I wouldn’t have any ingredients left for dinner!

I tossed the roasted cauliflower with the pasta and added lemon zest, fresh parsley, and a drizzle of olive oil.

When it comes to parsley and other fresh herbs, I’m of the “more is more” mindset.

Lest you think this was a dainty, “ladylike” portion…

I had enough fuel to run a marathon with this baby. Come November 6, you just might find me eating it!

There wasn’t too much room in my tum for dessert, but in the words of Tim Gunn, I made it work. Dried figs and prunes stuffed with dark chocolate chips are so good… and they just keep me going back for more. They kind of look like frogs, right? I seem to have successfully eaten nuts in some form or other for every meal and snack today.

I’m off to seal my day with a lunar flow practice and hope to be in bed by 10. I’ll make it work.

Bonne nuit

Edited to add: Kristina from Stonyfield Farm wants me to let you all know about a fun “Greek” opportunity!

“When consumers buy our quarts instead of single-serving cups, they pay less for their yogurt, but we know that a quart is not as convenient as single-serving cups for on the go consumption,” says our President and CE-Yo Gary HIrshberg. “The reusable yogurt cup gives our quart buyers the convenience of the Stonyfield 6 oz cups by providing a way to create easily transportable single servings for anywhere, anytime.”

Yogurt lovers just have to buy four Stonyfield yogurt quarts through December, and mail in the foil lids (describing this offer), and they’ll receive the reusable, eight-ounce yogurt cup made by Preserve®. Made from 100% recycled plastic, the cup is perfect for yogurt-lovers on the go, the ideal size for breakfast or a snack, with room to stir in fruit or granola. It’s dishwasher safe, BPA-free with a screw-on lid – and it’s made in the US.

Consumers will also get $4.50 worth of Stonyfield and Preserve coupons along with the cup.

Our recycling partner since 2000, Preserve uses innovative methods to turn used materials (including used Stonyfield yogurt cups) into stylish, useful household products like toothbrushes, colanders, cutting boards and tableware. Preserve products are 100% recycled and recyclable too.

Consumers can mail clean foil lids, with name, address and phone number on an index card or 4” x 6” sheet of paper by February 28, 2010 to:

Stonyfield Farm
Reusable Cup Offer
PO Box 4840
Manchester, NH 03108-4840

Cups will be shipped starting in January, 2010 with delivery in 10 to 12 weeks. This offer is good only in the US, while cup supplies last, and is limited to one cup per household (to better spread the love around).

So save those lids!

A "Quick Meal"- Themed Day

lilveggiepatch — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:18:27 +0000

Good evening, Upper East Siders! How are you? I’m taking a little work break to blog and catch up on my Gossip.

Last night, after we got back from the wedding, I hunkered down to do some reading and prepare for my interviews. All of that brain stimulation must have shot my metabolism into overdrive, because only a couples hours after dinner, my tum was a-grumblin’ something fierce! I thought I might just be thirsty, but that didn’t seem to be it. Finally, I put down my book and headed into the kitchen to make a bowl of Kashi GoLean and Smart Start. Problem solved!

This morning, I woke up bright and early to see Ari off. As I mentioned, he’s going Vigilante through December, and had to leave at 7:30 this morning. I tried to go back to sleep, but my mind was already up and ready to go. I had to be at physical therapy at 10 anyway, so I just got up and made breakfast.

Taking Jess‘s advice, I heated up half of a Trader Joe’s Berry Mango Bran Muffin, crumbled it up, and tossed in on top of 0% Fage with some warmed frozen berries and a scoop of flaxy PB. I really like this peanut butter, by the way. It’s both crackly and crunchy and adds great texture!

Quite the mess!

My therapy session went well… I still have a lot of tightness in pretty much each muscle in my legs, so I have to keep working on that. Repeat after me: yoga, rolling and stretching, okay! When I got back, I briefly chatted with the guest who is staying with us, made myself an apple-cinnamon snack, and retreated to my room to be interviewed (via phone) with the HR department for the company I’m interviewing with.

It shaped up to be one of those days where I was constantly hungry, so I made something as soon as the clock showed that it was even remotely close to lunchtime. Ellie reminded me yesterday about the beauty of the crack wrap, so I made one with a whole wheat wrap, three-layer hummus, and a slice of Jarlsberg cheese.

I ate it with half a can of Progresso’s Fat Free Lentil soup. This isn’t the tastiest of the canned variety, but I had a hankering for soup. I’ll definitely be making my own in the near future!

Finished up the meal with a piece of salt water taffy for a sweet end.

I’ve been searching in vain for the seasonal Celestial Seasonings teas (like Sugar Cookie and Gingerbread)… any New Yorkers know where I can track it down? I settled on a cup of Sweet Coconut Thai Chai, which was a good substitute…

…but it knocked me right out! Ari caught me snoozing at 5PM when he woke me up with a phone call. Whoops! I snacked on some carrots to perk me back up…

… then did Yoga Download‘s Hip Opening Flow #2. I have trouble practicing yoga for more than 20 minutes when I’m not in class… does anyone have tips for staying in the moment? Turning off my phone would probably be a good start!

I heated up some leftover Coconut Barley Pilaf and made a quick salad with kale, broccoli slaw, grape tomatoes, sesame oil and rice wine vinegar.

Honestly, as much as I love my fancy salad dressings, I could probably make a sesame vinaigrette every night and be happy. It’s simple, but so delicious. I don’t even use measurements or mix anything together… the vinegar and oil just get drizzled on.

I made another quick dessert, starting with a tri-flavored chocolate sauce using Pure Dark cardamom chocolate, semisweet and bittersweet chocolate chips.

I added a few drops of water, microwaved the bowl for 35 seconds, then mixed in some Brown Sugar ice cream.

And thus concludes another day’s passing without having spent a single extra dollar on food. I’m going to have to buy some fresh produce soon, as we’re running low on fruit and vegetables, but otherwise the kitchen is pretty stocked. It’s a satisfying feeling.

Back to work… it’s going to be a late night. Bonne nuit

Sweet Coconut Nights

lilveggiepatch — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:22:30 +0000

So sorry to have disappeared last night! I was so enraptured with Betty White in The Proposal that before I knew it, it was time for bed. I don’t usually like doing massive, two-day catch-up posts, but if I don’t, I’ll be living in the past for a while and we can’t have that.

My new peanut butter was calling my name from the pantry.

How could I incorporate it into my breakfast?

I decided to make eggs-in-a-basket (or “toad-in-the-hole”, as my grandmother calls it) which I’ve seen all over the blogs recently. I used Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin bread and cut a hole in the middle with my water bottle. The “hole” was the perfect size to to test the peanut butter out on.

I melted a slice of Jarlsberg cheese on another piece of bread, and put a little pumpkin butter on top of the flax hole.

I love getting as many tastes as possible out of a meal!

After waiting a couple hours to digest, I laced up my sneakers, stretched, loaded my ipod with a new playlist (thanks to Maya for turning me on to this site) and hit the pavement. This was my third run in a month, and I wanted to make it count. I ran slowly but easily, and before I knew it I was bake at home with 4.5 miles under my belt. I wasn’t even out of breath! To be honest, I was worried I would have lost my stamina and wouldn’t even be able to make it half that far. This is a good sign

I went into the city to meet my mom at Macy’s to go coat shopping. It was exhausting. Although I’d brought kale chips and an apple, we didn’t end up eating until 3:30.

If there’s one thing I know about my mother’s side of the family, it’s that we get c-r-a-n-k-y when we get hungry. Au Bon Pain was the only option for us at Macy’s (the rest of the fast food joints didn’t have any vegetarian options), and I quickly made a salad with spinach, artichoke hearts, green beans, roasted red peppers, tuna and Thai peanut dressing.

The only memorable aspect of this salad was how quickly I ate it. My mom got us a bag of mini chocolate chip cookies, and I had one somewhere in the lingerie department while searching for Hollywood Tape.

Three stores and one successful purchase later, we fond ourselves sitting at the old wood bar in DiFiore Marquet. This was only my second time coming here, but it’s one of my favorite spots in the city. It’s charming and quirky, quiet, inexpensive, and the staff is so knowledgeable about their wine list.

Last time we went, I tried my first glass of Vouvray. This time, I went for the Alsatian Pinot Gris (I get this whenever I see it on a menu), and my mom got the Torrontes, which is a fruity white similar to a Pinot Grigio.

The Pinot Gris is on the left, the Torrontes on the right.

On our way home, we made a pit stop at The Donut Pub.

My mom and George both think these are the best donuts in the city.

My mom and I did a taste-test with a glazed and a sugar ring (I had tiny bites of each); glazed won. I got a marble cake donut hole for myself.

I don’t even remember the last time I had a donut! Oh wait… it was almost exactly a year ago!

We finally did get home, where we met my dad for a takeout pasta dinner from La Parmigiana in Southampton. We started with salad… I thought all “Italian” dressings would taste like this when I was younger, and was sadly disappointed when I learned this was not the case.

Their pasta is hard to beat. I had a plate with half linguine with clams, half linguine with broccoli rabe and sundried tomatoes. I gobbled up all of the former, but had had my fill and didn’t quite finish the broccoli rabe pasta.

My mom and I split a Criterion apple that my parents picked last weekend…

… and, later, I had three chocolate snowballs. They were even better the second day!

I’ve been having a lot of trouble sleeping recently… rather I normally have a hard time falling asleep, but have been enjoying a nice respite from that and have been nodding off quite easily. No sleep aids required! The last few nights, however, it’s been hard for me to fall and stay asleep, so that by the time morning comes around it just seems like a mean joke. Needless to say, my breakfasts have had to be pretty darn good to make up for it.

These Berry Mango bran muffins from Trader Joe’s came recommended by both Lauryn and Caroline, and I knew I had to try them. I’m not a huge muffin lover, but bran is a whole ‘nother story. Love it!

I popped half a muffin in the oven to warm it up, and while it was toasting got out the container of almond butter my parents had picked up for me at the Co-Op.

Beat that, Maranatha!

I slathered some on my muffin, and used the nut-buttery-spoon to scoop my banana/cinnamon/honey-filled Oikos. How’s that for a complete breakfast?

My physical therapy appointment was scheduled for 11, and although I left with plenty of time to spare, my subway line is all messed up and is skipping my stop due to track work. So I had to ride all the way to the end of the line and back down again, and by the time I got off at the appropriate stop only had five minutes to spare. I ran all the way there with a shoddy umbrella, dodging raindrops and praying my waterlogged Chucks wouldn’t trip me up. I didn’t fall, but was still five minutes late. Not a problem… I still got quite the workout in.

My left thigh was been really sore for the past few days… I don’t know if it’s because of the exercises I’ve been doing or just freak tightness, but my therapist worked it out for a good ten minutes. I also did some calf, core and quad work on the Proform (which I am really feeling today!), then got iced down and strapped with electrodes. Who knew therapy could be so fun?

I packed my lunch to take with me to eat in transit:

In the mix:

mixed greens
grape tomatoes
frozen pineapple
broccoli slaw
Dr. Praeger’s California veggie burger (like other Dr. P. burgers, this is very mushy and doesn’t have a real “burger” texture. I really like the taste and chunks of veggies, though)
kale chip “dressing”/hummus

Because it was cold and rainy out, there wasn’t really anywhere to sit and enjoy a leisurely lunch. So I ate LVP-style: standing up and shoveling food into my mouth in the middle of the sidewalk.

Also had a Pink Lady apple… wonder if there is a T-Bird variety apple as well?

After I finished my dignified lunch, I walked across town and went up to meet Greg at Starbucks. I got the coupon in the mail for my free birthday drink (if you have a Starbucks card, register it!), which I used for a Grande Skim Dirty Hippie (Chai with two shots of espresso).

Two sample trays came by while we were chatting: Peppermint Mocha and Crème Brulée.

I remember when I used to get so excited for Peppermint Mocha-season… now I found this – and the crème brulée- way too sweet. The only sweet coffee drinks I like are Chai lattes and the occasional Mocha or Frappuccino; I tend to stick to lightly sweetened cappuccinos and black coffee.

The rest of the afternoon was spent running errands (found the perfect pair of jeans on sale). I was in four different areas of the city in under four hours, and let me tell you: it gives you an appetite! It was the kind of day where I felt hungry all the time. I dug into my bag and found this Tropical Fruit Grain-Ola bar that Bear Naked sent me as a sample and ate it on the subway.

Review: This was way too sweet for me, and the ingredients list (and 18g of sugars) explains it. Why does the fruit need to be dried with sugar on top of the additional tapioca syrup, honey and maple syrup that gets thrown into the mix? It was also very, very greasy.

Would I buy this? Thanks, but no thanks.

When I got home, I started making this recipe for Coconut Barley Pilaf.

My dad had made it a few weeks ago and recommended it to me, so I decided to give it a go. I substituted shrimp for chicken, light coconut milk for regular, and chili flakes for jalepeño.

I didn’t know how many people would be around for dinner so I made the full recipe… we’ll just have a lot of leftovers!

I really liked this. The sweet barley, salty cashews, chewy shrimp and fresh mint were in such harmony! I would definitely make this again (although I think I can get another 3 meals out of this batch). Ari didn’t like it as much… he prefers chickpeas and mushrooms.

We also had some Sauvignon Blanc…

… and I finished off the snowballs. Nom.

We’re off to Connecticut for a wedding this weekend. What are your plans?

This Sedentary Life

lilveggiepatch — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:57:44 +0000

Hey there, chickadees. It’s 2:40 on a Wednesday, so for all you working lads and lasses, your week is more than halfway done! I hope it’s been a good one. As for myself, I’ve spent the past few days with my fingers fused to the keyboard, searching for any and every job post. My boss forwarded me this article yesterday… talk about depressing! I’m still optimistic, and feel like there is always something somewhere, even if it’s not exactly what I’m looking for. There is hope!

Yesterday I got up on the very early side to finish some reading and writing for my internship. I caffeinated myself and prepared this lovely (if not very random) breakfast.

In the mix:

Stonyfield Farms organic fat free plain yogurt
Trader Joe’s Mangolicious mango/berry blend, warmed
1 kiwi
1/2 Silver Moon pumpkin muffin, smeared with peanut butter

On Tuesdays when I intern at the office, there’s usually only an hour or two of work for me to do. When there, I file, run errands, and read manuscripts; when I’m at home, I read and write in the comfort of my bed. Yesterday there were a few outdoor things to do; I always enjoy a trip outside to stretch my legs and a chance to re-start my energy with a snack. On one such occasion, I snacked on a Great Date w/ Chocolate YouBar.

I really liked this bar! I will write up a full product review once I have tried all of the samples I was given, but should you decide to make a purchase at YouBar in the meantime, enter the code “Lilveggiepatch” at checkout for a 5% discount.

At noon, right as I was leaving the office, I got a call from an orthopedist’s office letting me know I had gotten a last-minute appointment with the doctor to figure out just what’s going on with my knee. I had just enough time to pick up a salad at Ready To Eat, an upscale takeaway deli near work. I picked up a curried shrimp salad, which came with mixed greens, avocado, orange, tomato, and lemon. It was on the pricey side ($9.95) considering I hadn’t planned on buying a meal (had to cancel a lunch date with my mom for the appointment), but the salad was really big and very filling.

In what’s becoming true LVP-style, I inhaled my lunch on a bench in the subway in less than ten minutes. Sadly, in my frenzy to eat and make my appointment on time, my poor tomato flipped out of the container and onto the ground. The 5-second rule does not apply in NYC public transit, sorry. It was a good thing I took the time to sit and eat, however, because I bumped into a good friend I hadn’t seen in an embarrassingly long time, and who now lives in California! It was a very nice surprise, but we were both in a hurry and had to rush off.

I got to the hospital an hour before my appointment to take X-Rays.

The X-Ray technician was great. Each time she moved me or took a photo, she explained exactly what she was doing and why. Here is the X-Ray of my right knee:

Unfortunately, the appointment with the doctor himself left me frustrated, confused, and really irritated. He did not go over the X-Rays at all, explain what he was doing as he manipulated my leg, and only gave me information when I asked him directly. Do I have a sprained mensicus? No. I was told that I did… is it possible that it healed itself already? No. My knee-cap clicked a bit just now… is that normal? You have a little arthritis. He did say that it was caused my overdoing it, and that low calcium + vitamin D is probably part of the culprit. I should take Citrical supplements, and get a bone density scan. (I used to take a massive quantity of vitamins every morning, but didn’t want to spend the money re-stocking when I ran out.)

He left the room about two minutes later, and still didn’t know what I could and could not do. When can I run? Can I strength train? What, if anything, should I do at the gym? Arthritis?! I got dressed and found him outside in the hallway, and, desperate for one more minute of his time, asked if I had arthritis. He then examined me in the middle of the hallway, lifting the back of my shirt up all the way and having me bend completely over, as he stood very close to me and ran his fingers along my spine. I don’t think I need to elaborate on what that looked like from the side. I’m sure the doctor wasn’t trying to do anything inappropriate and didn’t think that I might be a little uncomfortable in front of other patients with my shirt up, but I was really uncomfortable. Uncomfortable, and angry that the doctor hadn’t made sure that I understood what was wrong with me, and how I could fix it without hurting myself again. Not knowing how to improve is so frustrating. I think I’m overly sensitive about it because running was a reliable way for me to structure my day now that I don’t have a job, and now I just feel like I’m floating in limbo.

On the way out of the office, I scheduled a bone density test for Thursday at 8:30 AM. I also received a prescription for physical therapy, although the prescription is for work on my left knee, and not my right. (Mistakes can happen, and luckily this isn’t a serious one… I have a friend who had the wrong side of his body operated on a few years ago.) I talked to my dad, near tears, right after I left the doctor’s office. He said this is usually how “network doctors” (doctors who are covered by insurance) work, because they have so many patients to see each day. I understand that, but I also wanted some answers. He called the office and asked them to call me back… the doctor’s assistant actually just called (a day later) as I was typing this post. She didn’t know much else, except that I have a “knee sprain.” I asked about the arthritis, and she said that, from the X-Ray, I don’t have it. I should only use the recumbent bike at the gym, and no strength training. So now, I really don’t know what to think. The doctor basically told me the exact opposite things that the physical therapist did last week. I need to start seeing the physical therapist so I can gradually start running again, but I haven’t been able to get their office on the phone.

It isn’t news that doctors are overstretched and, unless they’re privately hired, don’t have time to work closely with patients. I’m lucky to not have really needed hospital or serious doctor care until recently, and I need to learn to be patient with “the system.” That patience needs to be transferred to my job search as well…. Om.

When I got home from the hospital yesterday, I was pretty hungry and made a yogurt bowl with a microwaved apple, cinnamon and granola.

After spending a couple hours decompressing, I set to work on a new baking project. Since high school, cooking and baking has always been a way for me to relax and take a break from more stressful things like school work and job searching. Even though the finished product might not be “perfect”, it’s finished, and I can feel good about that. So, without further ado, I give you…

The Virtually Fat-Free* & Vegan Banana-Pumpkin-Date Tea Loaf! (And don’t let the name scare you off… it tastes pretty darn good.)

*Bananas have a very small amount of fat.

Adapted from Veganomicon‘s Lower-Fat Banana Bread.

Ingredients:

3 small ripe bananas
1/4 cup applesauce
1/2 cup canned pumpkin pie mix
1 tablespoon molasses
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 crushed cloves, or 1/8 teaspoon ground
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup chopped dates (about 7 medjools)

Preheat the oven to 350˚ and lightly grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until no large chunks remain. Add molasses, applesauce, and pumpkin pie mix and stir. Mix in half of the flour, spices, and salt. Stir in the remaining flour until no clumps remain. Fold in chopped dates.

Pour batter into pan.

It will be very thick.

Bake on middle rack for 30 minutes or until a knife inserted through the center comes out clean. Cool. It will be dense, but adorable.

While the bread cooled, I made a quick and easy dinner that was a tribute to my college days of yore.

I mixed a cooked sweet potato and a can of tuna into a packet of Annie’s Mac & Cheese. I always enjoy Annie’s with a little more cheeze than the packet comes with, so I added a scoop of nooch as well. A sprinkle of chili flakes made it the perfect meal, taking me right back to long days procrastinating writing papers.

For dessert, I had two small slices of fresh low fat vegan banana-pumpkin-date tea cake, one plain and one with almond butter and raspberry jam. It’s moist, soft, and perfectly sweet. Possibly not the best idea to bake a whole loaf of bread when most of your roommates are on vacation, but…

I tried to hold out for as long as possible, but eventually went back for another plain slice. What can I say? Blame Lexi Gray.

Alright, time to get a-movin’. If the recumbent bike is all I can use, I’m off to bike-a-way.

On Bended Knee

lilveggiepatch — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:29:18 +0000

Well, looks like the alarm clock got the better of me this morning. I had a terrible time falling asleep, and had an air filter going in hopes that the white noise would lull me to dreamland. It did… but it also meant I didn’t hear my phone go off to wake me up! Anyway, nothing catastrophic happened and it seems that the world still makes sense.

Yesterday was a busy day at the house, as the boys were packing up and getting ready to go to Europe. I dreamed a little about Parisian breakfasts as I based my own around Chobani‘s Vanilla-flavored Greek yogurt.

I also mixed in a crumbled Chocolate Fig Vitamuffin, a small peach, and half a banana. Looks like my camera got a little brekkie on the lens… sorry about the dirty looking photo!

It seemed about time to try out my NuNaturals Vanilla Stevia…

Although the label recommends using 5-10 drops, I started out with a conservative 2. Couldn’t taste anything! Then I overdid it a little by squirting in the whole amount in the dropper. Not good at all. There must be a perfect balance… I don’t like my coffee too sweet, but a subtle hint of flavor would be lovely.

I spent the morning getting some reading done, and reading requires brain fuel! I snacked on a Coco Chew from Bonobo‘s… these are delicious.

Ari declined his Chunk of Energy, so I ate his for him. Don’t you love his shirt? It encourages people to wear seat belts. Safety is sexy! He owns two of these, purhcased on separate occasions.

A little later, my dad picked me up so I could spend the rest of the day with my parents before they went to Europe. Do you see a trend here?! Am I the only one I know who will not be feasting on crêpes, moules, and patîsseries? I’m sure I’ll make do. You know what they say about what happens when the cat’s away…

I made myself a big salad for lunch, and incorporated in these gorgeous heirloom tomatoes Ilana got me at a farmers market in Westchester.

I started with a few leaves of romaine and tossed in leftover swordfish, 1/2 apple, dried cranberries, and that cute little orange tomato in the back. I made a dressing using Emeril‘s Kicked Up Horseradish mustard that Foodbuzz sent me a while back, white wine vinegar, olive oil, and honey. Parfait!

Couldn’t resist a few bites of my dad’s cold sesame noodles… this has always been one of my favorite dishes at Chinese restaurants.

I washed it all down with Black Cherry Zevia. I really liked this flavor! Missy also told me it was her favorite.

The rest of the afternoon was spent reading and writing. Two books in one day? You know it! I read almost all of one novel while soaking in the tub with scented candles. Now, if I could only just get paid to do this… We ate dinner on the later side, so I snacked on an apple with cinnamon to hold me over. I’ve been eating so many apples recently! When they come fresh from the farm, they’re hard to resist

My dad made a dish for dinner that has already become a favorite in the LVP household: Lemony Rigatoni w/ Chickpeas & Broccoli. Two years ago, Ari and I made this recipe (from the 2007 Food & Wine Cookbook) the first time he visited me in Minnesota. A few months later my dad, not knowing that Ari and I already loved this pasta, made it for a family dinner. It’s a hit, and so easy to make. Sea salt, pepper & parmesan raise it to the level of simple perfection.

I drank a cup of milk with my meal… growing up, I always drank a huge glass of milk (twice this size) with dinner. One must build strong bones! (I bought this cup in Berlin… I love mugs without handles, for some reason.)

For dessert, we had Bartlett pears…

… and a square of dark chocolate.

Since yesterday morning, I’ve had some pain on the inside of my right knee. I don’t know if it’s post-race stress or wearing the wrong casual shoes, but I heeded my dad’s advice yesterday by icing the knee and not doing a lick of exercise. The next time I run a distance longer than 2 miles, I’m going to do it on the treadmill to give my bones a break. I don’t usually get knee pain from running, but I don’t want to take any chances. I am, however, planning on doing the Pete McArdle Cross Country Classic 15K on December 13, and came up with this training plan with Runner’s World’s SmartCoach. This is a great resource if you want a little help organizing your own training plan.

Check out Gina‘s giveaway that will help you with your own training.

What are your short-term or long-term fitness goals?

Cassoulet for a Crisp Fall Day

lilveggiepatch — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:21:09 +0000

Good afternoon, Lovepies! I hope you are having a fantastic day, although by the time you read this it might very well be nighttime for I am once again on the World’s Slowest Computer (WSC).

We are really running low on fresh supplies (although I have oodles of chocolate!), but I’m going to be out for a few meals in the next few days so I’d rather not buy produce only to have it spoil. Yesterday I turned to the freezer for inspiration, and heated some of Trader Joe’s Mangolicious blend, which I mixed with a crumbled Apple Berry Vitamuffin and nonfat yogurt.

I’ve been wanting to make a pretty parfait again, but the only clear glass in the house has gone missing.

After I worked around the house for a little, I grabbed an apple and headed into the city for some speedwork at the gym.

I don’t know about other runners out there, but I have a really hard time staying on the treadmill for more than two miles, and even that is a challenge for me. It’s just so boring! There was nothing but reality and sports showing on the TVs, and running in place feels a little depressing to me. I can’t stop myself from staring at the screen as minutes and distances slowly tick by, even if I cover it with a towel. I think I can also run faster when I’m outside; on the treadmill, running less than a 10-minute mile is really a challenge for me. One more reason that I need a Garmin! Finally, Behind The Music: Pink came on, and I actually kind of really like her, so I watched that and the time passed a little more quickly. I ran 4 miles at speeds ranging from 6.0 – 7.5, taking recovery breaks at 4.0, and cooled down for 3 minutes.

Total distance: 4.15 miles

Total time: 42:28 minutes

Maximum heart rate: 192 (97%)

Average heart rate: 176 (89%)

Calories burned: 496

After a very fast shower, I hurried to the subway, eating my Whole Foods meal (which I had wisely bought before working out, to save time) on the way. I actually wasn’t so excited to eat this… I think I’m beginning to suffer from Food Boredom.

In the mix:

spinach
broccoli
roasted sweet potatoes
bok choi
baked tofu
vegan chicken salad
seaweed salad
sweet & spicy dumpling (1)

I almost got a soup to accompany my salad, but I was low on time and wanted to save room for my afternoon treat. I hopped on the subway, transferred, and made my way to Babycakes to meet Ellie and Leslie.

I’ve dreamed about Babycakes cupcakes and their icing shots for far too long. Even if their pickings were horrible (which is far from the truth, their store is one of the cutest places I’ve seen. The bake staff have the most adorable little Waitress-style outfits (that I would definitely wear in a non-working environment) And, even better, these treats are actually good for you! Have my prayers been answered yet again? Here’s what they say about the sweets on their website:

In a city dominated by cupcakes overflowing with sugar, flour and butter cream, it’s easy for those with persnickety diets to feel left out. BabyCakes offers all-natural, organic and delicious alternatives free from the common allergens: wheat, gluten, dairy, casein and eggs. Rest assured, all sweeteners have been chosen responsibly and used sparingly. White sugar will never be found in our bakery, nor will we ever use toxic chemical sweeteners. Instead, most products are sweetened with agave nectar—a natural syrup from a cactus which is low on the glycemia index and often a safe alternative to most non-insulin dependant diabetics. Occasionally, unprocessed and unrefined sugar is used in certain goods, although sparingly.

The menu of the day:

It was very hard for me to choose…

As soon as I saw the Vanilla Cupcake with Chocolate-Fig Ganache and Cinnamon-Nutmeg frosting, however, I knew what I needed.

Leslie got this as well. We both thought that the cake itself tasted a bit like sweet cornbread, which wasn’t a bad thing! The filling was amazing, and the frosting was un-freaking-believable. I need to go back and get a shot of that before they stop making their seasonal flavors.

It was really nice to chat with the girls; I met Leslie in Boston at the Summit, and we really have to get together again soon. Lucky for me, I’ll be able to see Ellie again on Friday for dinner! After we parted ways, I headed home. Ari is leaving on Sunday for Europe, and I wanted us to be able to have a nice dinner together before. I was mighty thirsty when I got back from the grocery store, and sipped on Goya coconut water while cooking. This stuff is great… it’s cheap (6/$3.50) and has small chunks of young coconut meat on the bottom!

I also snacked on this silly-looking carrot.

I whipped out my Vegetarian Times Cooks Mediterranean cookbook, which I do not use nearly enough. Melissa Clark is one of my present-day culinary heroes. I wanted to make something with either mushrooms or chickpeas (Ari’s favorites, after steak ), and decided on Garbanzo Cassoulet

The recipe calls for either homemade or store-bought tomato sauce; since the cassoulet was already going to take 2+ hours to make, I picked up a jar of Newman’s Own Sockarooni sauce.

It’s not organic, but the ingredient list is short and comprehensive.

I threw in a couple shakes of Emeril’s Original Essence for good measure…

Instead of using regular breadcrumbs, I used whole wheat panko.

Two hours later, the cassoulet was done. There is a recipe for “Quick Cassoulet” on the opposite page of the same cookbook, which would be nice if you don’t have time to make this one. However, if you do have the time, it really pays off.

I served it with some steamed green beans. We got more than our fair share of veggies!

After a few bites, Ari remarked, “Hey! It’s vegetarian and I love it!” I’m glad it was a hit. We both went back for seconds, which we enjoyed with some Gato Negro Sauvignon Blanc.

After dinner, we had to run some errands and somehow ended up walking out of Coldstone with huge cups of ice cream. The photo didn’t turn out, but I got a “Like It” (or “small”, if you are Coldstone-illiterate) with Sinless Sweet Cream ice cream, cookie dough, and hot fudge. Oof, my tum was not happy about that choice.

Well, I’m off to get some reading done. Enjoy the rest of your day!

Ari is awesome.

lilveggiepatch — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:47:10 +0000

I asked Ari what this post should be titled, and this is what he deemed to be appropriate.

Good afternoon! I hope your day is off to a great start… I woke up thinking it was Saturday! I slept in this morning, which was glorious. Not too much on the agenda for today, which is A-OK with me

Yesterday was slated to be a long run day, so I woke up, guzzled some coffee, and fueled up with half a Dulce de Leche Luna Bar.

I stuffed some gummies into the little pocket of my shorts (which left me a tad sticky)…

I finally made a new playlist… the No Doubt song has been in my head for the better part of this week.

The run was fine… again, I just felt sleepy. I think, for me, running distances is going to end up being more of a psychological challenge. Obviously the physical aspects are also great, and every time I go out for a run I hope so hard that it won’t be the day that something goes wrong again. The only thing that went “wrong” today was that my heart rate monitor didn’t register my actual heart rate…

Total distance: 6.4 miles

Total time: 1:07:55

I’m not sure if I should be concerned that I haven’t been increasing my speed for these long runs… and it’ll probably be time for me to increase my distance again soon, too. I just signed up for my first 10K a couple minutes ago- it’s next WEEK- so I’m going to have to start working on this!

My “training schedule” is a little weak, since I only have 8 days, but here’s what it looks like, which I made on the Runner’s World website:

When I got back from my run, I made another excellent fall smoothie: Cherry Pumpkin Pie.

I made this using frozen cherries, canned pumpkin pie mix, homemade almond milk, cinnamon and nutmeg, and topped it with a little GoLean & granola. After breakfast and a bunch of puttering around, I packed up my portable lunch. I wanted to use up all the leftovers, which, combined, made for an… interesting salad:

The bottom layer was covered with sprouts, topped with corn & edamame salad and beets; the small compartment had leftover fish and a few noodles. Some things, shall we say, do not taste great the morning after.

On the subway, I snacked on some TJ’s dried fruit. Balls to the wall, as my lady would say.

My dad had told me about a DMV that expedites all of their services, so luckily I was in and out (with a new picture!) in 20 minutes. Must be some kind of record. It was starting to rain, so I went into Starbucks and bought a Tall Skim Chai so that I could eat my lunch without getting drenched.

After taking a few minutes to read and decompress, I skedaddled along to an informational interview, then picked up a few books. The first was a beautiful collection of poems by my friend and former professor, Kristin Naca.

The second was A Race Like No Other, to motivate and inspire.

Then, in the spirit of racing, I rushed home to see my traveling musician, who has spent the last three weeks on his own kind of race, driving back and forth across the country with Blink 182 and the All American Rejects.

We grabbed some friends and went for dinner at a nearby Thai restaurant. I was still pretty full from lunch, so I only ate a little of my Massaman Curry with shrimp (with unpictured rice) and took the rest home.

A little while after we got home, however, I was hungry again, and dug right back into the take-out container Ari and I went separate ways for dessert; I had a Double Chocolate Dream Vitamuffin with frozen cherries, Greek yogurt, and homemade almond milk.

Ari had Saltines with Nutella & peanut butter.

Nutella is made with skim milk, hazelnuts (healthy fat), and chocolate (antioxidants), so it’s practically a health food!

We had a little Domaine Lalande Pinot Noir (a gift from Howard on my last day of work), and watched Grey Gardens, which Caitlin had recommended.

It was a great night… I’m so happy he’s back!

I’m off to go cross-train, as my training schedule recommends. What are your plans for the weekend? Enjoy it!

Muffin Lovin'

lilveggiepatch — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:12:34 +0000

About a month ago, the lovely folks over at Vitalicious were kind enough to send me a VERY generous sampler pack of their VitaMuffin VitaTops and VitaBrownies.

Vitalicious supplements their baked goods with tons of vitamins and minerals to help busy consumers get the nutrients they need. They worked hard to create rich and wholesome muffins, brownies and cakes that can satisfy the sweetest tooth without giving you, well, a muffin top! Did they succeed? Read on!

VitaBrownie w/ AB

VitaBrownie: The look of it reminded me of the packaged brownies that one can find in the checkout aisle of grocery stores. While the nutrition facts are better than those packaged brownies or even a homemade version, I’d prefer to eat the richer dessert. However, for someone looking for a quick chocolate fix, this is a good and healthy option.

Banana Nut

Banana Nut: This tastes just like banana bread! There are big nutty chunks, and it smells like it came right out of the oven. Perfect!

CranBran

CranBran: Very moist. The dried cranberries add just the right amount of tartness to the sweet muffin. It was perfect on its own and didn’t need any kind of spread.

AppleBerry

AppleBerry: This is one of my favorites. It smells heavenly, just like the apple cake my dad makes. The berries are plump and juicy, and the muffin is light, fluffy and satisfying.

Fudgy Peanut Butter Chip

Fudgy Peanut Butter Chip: This was good, but a little dry. I had high hopes because chocolate + peanut butter is one of my favorite flavor combos; it wasn’t bad, but I would have been happier with more peanut butter flavor.

Chocolate Fig

Chocolate Fig: This was good, but again it was a little dry and being the fig lover that I am, I wanted more dried fruit!

Blue Bran

BlueBran: As soon as I opened the microwave, it smelled like homemade muffins. I loved this flavor! It tasted just like something I would have baked for myself.

Golden Corn

Golden Corn: I love corn bread. I never think to make it myself or even buy it in stores, but when I do have it I’m a very happy girl. This muffin doesn’t taste exactly like a traditional corn muffin, but the taste is still there. It’s a little sweet, but that gave me more options to play around with it. Would you make a Greek yogurt/plum parfait with your Thanksgiving corn bread? I don’t think so! But maybe you should.

Double Chocolate Dream

Double Chocolate Dream: The white and dark chocolate chips get deliciously melty, and it really does feel like eating birthday cake for breakfast.

Deep Chocolate VitaTop

Deep Chocolate: There were so many warm chocolate chips in here… I loved it! It was the perfect dessert, and definitely soothed my chocolate craving.

Bottom lines: I’m usually a chocolate fiend, but I surprised myself by enjoying the fruit and bran more… I found them to be more flavorful and “real” tasting. These muffins are fabulous for what they are: rich, low in calories, and full of wholesome ingredients.

Would I buy these? I don’t usually order muffins at bakeries because they’re usually pretty large and full of not-so-good things and a pretty big undertaking. With Vitamuffins, however, I can supplement my regular meal with a healthy treat without feeling like I can’t eat anything else for the rest of the day. I would definitely order this sampler pack again. Click here to purchase… it seems they have already come up with new flavors like Banana Fudge and Chocolate Mint, and have even added a low-acid coffee to their list of products!

Thanks again, Vitalicious!

I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

lilveggiepatch — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:11:39 +0000

This morning I woke up with the line “Couscous is a traditional North African dish…” running through my head. I guess I’ll be making some of that soon! I don’t always remember my dreams, but when I do, they’re usually pretty vivid. What dreams have you had recently?

Yesterday I dug into my stash of Vitamuffins and pulled out a new flavor: Double Chocolate Dream.

Look at those bubbling chocolate chips!

I crumbled the muffin and topped it with Greek yogurt, 1/2 banana, and a fresh batch of almond milk. It hit the spot.

A little later, I snacked on an apple:

Yesterday was one of those days when I really needed that extra push to get me moving. I had some reading to do but was starting to get a little stir-crazy and needed to get out of the house. There was a 1:30 yoga class I was thinking of going to, but I made every excuse not to go: I’d have to take a 30-minute subway ride each way, which takes away from my reading time. I’d have to pack my lunch, but would it be too cold to eat it outside? And once I was in the city, I might as well stay there for a little and get some work done, but where would I go? Every excuse in the book. Lucky for me, Sarah and Will were on gChat, and kicked my booty into shape.

Sometimes a little nudge is all it takes. I loaded up on 1/2 banana with almond butter before I left:

The Vinyasa was good; I’m glad I went, but there was a moment when I looked around and all of the other students were getting into a certain pose, and I had no idea how to do it. I could have just asked the instructor for some help, but I was too frustrated with myself and just sat on my mat instead. I’ll work on getting my pride in check for next week’s class.

After class, I brought my lunch and ate it in the park (it was not too cold). My dad had found this amazing sprout salad (which I snatched up as soon as he showed me):

This whole box- almost 1 lb of pure sprout- was less than $3!

I piled sprouts, carrots, corn, beets, tomatoes, dulse and nooch into one side of my container; 3-layer hummus went into the other.

It was a salad of girth!

I also brought a package of Kay’s Naturals Golden Butter Twists Gluten-free/High Protein Pretzels.

I loved these pretzels! They’re crunchy, perfectly salted, and were perfect dipped in hummus.

After finishing up, I headed over to Everyman Espressso, ordered a skim cappuccino, and worked diligently for three hours.

After I read 100 pages, I enjoyed a Godiva Pumpkin Truffle that my mom got me. These seasonal truffles hold a special place in our family tradition; we get them every year, and after the first bite, you know Fall really has begun. How do you reward yourself to stay motivated and power through work?

When I got home, I wanted something quick and easy for dinner. I toasted up an Ezekiel English muffin with asiago cheese, and had a bowl of lentil soup. (I’m not going to lie, I am so tired of this soup! I’m sure you are, too. Only one serving left, I promise!)

Dessert was mighty fine, and complemented Gossip Girl quite nicely: Vanilla Coconut ice cream with frozen berries, cherries and almond milk.

Around the blogs: Remember this beautiful little princess? Well, she started her very own blog! Check it OUT.

This photo was taken in Giverny, France in Spring 2008.

Enter Erin‘s puffy necklace giveaway!

I’m off to read. Bonne journée!

Transportable Salads and Build-Me-Up Blondies

lilveggiepatch — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:21:35 +0000

Good morning and happy almost-weekend! I’ve already had a completely satisfying day thus far, and it’s only 11:45! But, alas, that is a story for another day. That day would be tomorrow. Hehe

To be perfectly honest, I can barely remember yesterday! Thank heavens for food photography. I started the morning with a nutritious breakfast, brought to you by Mr. Golden Corn VitaTop.

I crumbled him up and sprinkled him between layers of Fage 0% (finally caved and splurged) and a red plum. I have a feeling the last weeks of summer fruit are upon us!

The rest of the morning was spent folding laundry and cleaning. Although it was fun while it lasted, it was time for my surrogate Laundry Boyfriend to go.

Mid-clean, I stopped for an Amazing Grass-1/2 banana-PB shake:

Then I packed up my lunch and scooted into the city, just in time for my Vinyasa class. I was in the right class this time, and my muscles were very happy about it. The class kicked my butt… for some reason, no matter how much strength training I do, my arms never seem strong enough! I fell over in Crow again, but I laughed it off and promised myself that one day, however far away that day may be, I will be able to do it.

After yoga, I was more than ready for lunch. It was cold and windy outside, so in the spirit of all things “Vigilante“, I unpacked the items I’d brought…

Black-eyed peas, tomatoes, sprouts, carrots, and hummus:

1 heart of romaine:

Strawberry Oikos:

I assembled my salad:

I only looked a little bit guilty while I ate

Edible magazines are promoting Terry Walters’ Clean Food book (which I really need to check out) in such an innovative way… with basil seeds! What a great idea. I just have to find a place to plant them that gets enough sunlight!

After lunch, I wandered aimlessly for a bit to kill some time before work. Things have gotten a little crazy for me recently, and I’ve found myself to be… more emotional than I usually am. It’s a difficult time for all post-grads (and everyone else!); I’m just trying to find ways to tackle and take charge of it. This blondie (from the Union Square Farmer’s Market) helped.

It was very heavy, but the sugar and butter made me feel better. There’s a lot to be said for comfort food!

I sat on a stoop (one of my favorite things to do in the city) and traveled back to 1960s Paris…

I drank the wheat grass at work, mixed with water and a squirt of fresh- squeezed OJ.

The restaurant was pretty dead last night, and since I was closing, the clock seemed to move unbearably slowly. I was anticipating my 6 mile run in the morning, and all I wanted to do was get in bed and go to sleep.

Dinner was a lovely salad: mixed greens with tomatoes, red pepper, celery, walnuts, and… grilled shrimp. Muy bien!

I ate an apple on the way out the door…

… and decided to splurge on a cab. I’ve finally figured out the fastest and cheapest route home, and in terms of time and safety, is really worth spending the money on when it’s late. I was in bed at 12:45, and although my mind raced just thinking about my long run, I fell right to sleep.

I’m on a strict time budget today, so please forgive my good-blog-friend tardiness. Have a great day!