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Making the transition...so scary!

I've been thinking for a long time now, about becoming a vegetarian. And to be honest...it scares me to death. I feel as if I'm pretty close to being one already, and I honestly think I'd enjoy the food better. So what's holding me back?

Cookouts with cheeseburgers and family members. I'm French...being vegetarian just isn't "normal." Of course, having a brother who's been vegetarian for a year now will help somewhat...at least the term 'vegetarian' isn't so bizarre and "out there" as if I came in at first. Kudos to him for not caring what people think!

Okay, BUT, I'm different...I don't think I can do this cold-turkey, so I'm going about it the slow and easy way. I'm still drinking milk and eating eggs, and I'm still allowing myself "one slip-up" a week to cover for those random cookouts or eating out, or when a meaty meal that I just happen to enjoy comes around (such as salmon on the grill or burgers at a family cookout.) Maybe someday I'll reach the point where I can actually call myself a vegetarian. But for now...I'll just wean my way into the new culinary experience.

How has my family reacted to this new decision of "meat only once a week?" To be honest, I haven't told them yet. I have this funny fealing its going to come up this week though, considering we have more then one "meat meal" planned (sausages, ham&corn chowder, cod, and hotdogs and beans.)

On to lunch. I came back from a 5-mile run, feeling absolutely wonderful. I had a large breakfast this morning, and a starchy meal last night, which resulted in a ton of energy. I love that feeling. :D After coming back, I wanted something fresh and light, so I had the rest of the kashi crackers and a huge salad that was made up of spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, an orange, 2 egg whites, garbanzo beans, and Annie's Organic Raspberry Vinaigrette...everything hit the spot, and I'm nice and full now.

I should get back to work...I've been sleeping just a tad bit later in the mornings now which I think is actually helping me be even more productive then normal. I'm a big morning person, but an extra hour of sleep is sometimes exactly what a person needs to stay focused for the day. :)

Happy Thursday everyone!! :D

Saucy Veggies

What's better then saucy veggies and pasta, sprinkled with parmesan cheese?

My family indulged in an Italian night of a meaty sauce that had more sausages and beef then a person would know what to do with. My family is generally very conservative when it comes to eating meat...we eat it only on occasion, mostly because the meals we love just happen not to have meat in them (such as mac&cheese, lasagna, spaghetti, and things like that...)

I decided to skip over the "overly meaty sauce" and make my own concoction. I went with a can of diced tomatoes, garlic, basil, oregano, onions, mushrooms, broccoli, sweet red pepper, 1/2 c. garbanzo beans, parmesan cheese, some hot sauce, and pasta. It turned out delicious, and was exactly what I was in the mood for. On the side I also had a salad, and I felt so full of fresh, good food and energy! :D

Perfect meal to keep me going through a night of studying...:)...oh...and biggest loser as my study break, of course! :D

Well worth the wait...:)

I had breakfast with my sister at my absolute favoritest breakfast place, and decided to go all out when ordering. :D

Before heading out, I had a banana and a tablespoon of peanut butter to hold me over, and I'm glad I did. We waited about 1-1/2 hours just to get seated because of how busy the restaurant gets, and it was nice having that bit of energy and food to hold me over. :)

What did I order? A lil' of everything. haha...I couldn't decide what I wanted, but considering the place makes their own maple syrup, I had to get something paired with that. So I chose a pumpkin pancake.

I also had to try their maple baked beans, and an egg along with some hash browns on the side (these are amazing,) and 1/2 of the homemade sourdough bread that is the most amazing and delicious breakfast treat. *sigh*...

So yep, the breakfast was definitely worth "splurging" on and waiting for. :D I ate every last bite and enjoyed it immensely.

While there, I also bought some maple tea which I'm really excited about trying. :) Today was the perfect weekend finale to my spring vacation...:D

My Favorite Things...

I served myself one of my favorite lunches today, and was so full by the end that I couldn't even eat my bowl of fruit. It's okay though, because it will make the perfect topping in a bowl of yogurt for a snack later...yum! :D

So what's inside that sandwich? 2 T. of dill hummus (my favorite savory flavor!), shredded carrot, and lots and lots of spinach. All toasted together for a wonderful mix of flavors, crunch, and nutrition. :)

On the side I had some Annie's Whole Wheat bunny crackers, a large mish-mash of various veggies, and a glass of milk. This is one of those lunches that keeps me full for a long time, and is so much fun to eat because of all the different foods available to pick at and taste. :D

Happy FRIDAY everyone! :)

Night Out

Eating out was fun! The company was the best part, and the food was, without trying to sound too negative, just okay. The asparagus was my favorite part, along with the pine nuts sprinkled on top. I never realized how much I really love pine nuts..soo good.

I ate about halfway through the pasta before deciding I wasn't crazy for the lemon sauce...it could have used something, like parmesan for a boost of flavor maybe. But thats just me being too critical I think...haha...the toppings were delish, and I ate almost all the shrimp, asparagus and pine nuts. So all in all, it was a wonderful night, and a nice way to spend my spring vacation. :D

Hope everyone's having a good day as well! The weekend is almost here! :D

Leftovers

I'm going out to eat tonight, which I'm pretty excited about. I definitely don't eat out very often, but it seems that when I do, it all happens at once! I also have plans for breakfast with my sister on Saturday, at my absolute favorite breakfast place. And Sunday is, of course, Easter! All this great food, all at once...I better enjoy it before school starts up again and I'm back to preparing quick lunches on the fly. :D

For lunch I ate the leftovers from last night's supper, 1/2 a large sweet potato with ketchup, and a glass of milk. In case you couldn' tell, the ketchup "design" was a feeble attempt at spelling my name, but I only made it half way across. haha...

Have a great Thursday everyone! :)

(p.s. Just wanted to let everyone know that I won't be posting every meal/snack, so don't freak out if it seems I'm eating too little! I kind of decided not to make it a constant "this is what I eat" blog, even though I love reading everyone elses. I'll skip around from meals to meals, and post favorites and flops, snack ideas I've tried, dining out, meals on the run, breakfast-to-go, transportable "college meals," and other things like that....:)

Oat Bran

I made my breakfast, took one look at it, and thought I had made an ultimate flop. For one thing, I added too much flax (2 T...next time I'll just add 1), and since I added 1/4 cup of vanilla hemp to my already creamy bowl of oat bran, it seemed a little too...soupy?

BUT, once I added the toppings (the flax, about 10 cashews, 5 chopped dates and maple syrup,) everything thickened perfectly, and the flavors all melded together in perfect and creamy deliciousness.

The taste was wonderful, but next time I'll be sure to keep eye appeal in mind and mix in the flax with the bran. I think I might cut the syrup out too, since I actually prefer my breakfast less sweet then this ended up turning out. :D

Not bad for my first experiment with oatbran and flax though...haha. :)

Facing my culinary fears...

Today was full of "first times." So why not continue on with the theme? I found a stir-fry recipe in my Cooks Illustrated Light recipe, that called for a mix of tofu, shiitake mushrooms, napa cabbage, and a hot-sour sauce. How's that for first times? :D

I think mushrooms are one of those things that you either love or hate. I happen to love them, and shiitakes are one of my favorites for their creamy/soft/velvety texture. Not to mention how cute and fuzy they are...:D

The meal came together...I was a bit skeptical. Tofu has always struck me as one of those things that people joke about. "As long as she doesn't start eating tofu, we'll be all set..." is a comment I've heard more times then one from family members, accompanied by a light-hearted laugh. I always laughed along with them, until, finally, today I decided that maybe I should give it a try. How can I say it's disgusting and strange if I never gave it a try?

Not to say all recipes are good or bad, but judging upon this particular recipe? I love tofu! To think I'd ever hear myself saying that...ha! It was so tasty and light, and kept me full and content for hours. It mixe great with the veggies and sauce, and would have been even better on top of a bed of noodles or rice. BUT, I was much too excited over the fact I had conquered my "tofu phobia" to think about cooking some, so chose a slice of wholegrain bread instead. Too yummy...:)

Another "first time" today was this pumpkin apple butter I tried. I got the basic recipe from Libby's pumpkin's website, but made some changes. It's SO easy to make and taste GREAT on homemade bread...I think it'd also be great in oatmeal, yogurt, cornbread, muffins, waffles, etc...

Quick and simple to make: 1 can pumpkin, 1 medium apple shredded, 2 T. brown sugar, 1 cup apple juice, 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice...combine all these ingredients, bring to a boil, and simmer on low for 1 to 1-1/2 hours. DELISH! :D

My weakness is revealed.

There's something wonderful about cooking cornbread in a skillet. It has a nice rustic, old-fashioned charm to it. And this recipe from Veganomicon did NOT disappoint...

I was craving a good batch of cornbread for lunch...usually I'll stick to whole-grains, because it keep me going for much longer and it just makes me feel better. However, when the urge for a peice of hot-from-the-oven golden corn bread calls my name, there's no saying "no." :D

This is probably one of my favorite feel-good meals, and if I wasn't so dead set against using the phrase "guilty pleasure," I'd be sure to use it here. I paired a hot slice of corn bread, spread with a bit of smart balance, with a bowl of vegetarian baked beans and a side salad. Heavenly!!!...I could eat the entire pan. Yep...my weakness has now been discovered. Not sweets...not meat...not salty foods...and not just any old bread either. Plain and simple: cornbread.
I could have picked at the cornbread all afternoon, but stuck to one slice. It will still taste good tomorrow, after all, warmed up with a bit of jam and butter, as a side to my breakfast or lunch. :)

Now I'm finishing my meal with a glass of hot milk (just adding to the 'old fashioned' rustic feel :D, and a sweet apple. My tastebuds are incredibly happy. :)

Hi Everyone! :) I just wanted to let you all know that I'm going to be stepping away from the blog for a while, in an attempt to A) focus more on chemistry! B) find a volunteer job to build future resumes and have some fun while I'm at it :) and C) just to enjoy stepping away from the camera for a while.

BUT, I'll definitely still be visiting all of your great food blogs because they're always giving me new and yummy ideas and tips to try. :D

Sorry about this, and thanks so much for leaving all the kind comments you guys have left over the past months! I've really appreciated it and had fun talking food with everyone. :)

Thanks again!
~Sarah

Day of Shopping...:)

My mom, sister, and I went out shopping this afternoon and made an entire day of it. It was great having some "family girl" time, and the fact that we ran into some good sales was just an extra bonus. :D

Here's the day's recap! Sorry about the blurry photos!! I didn't bring my usual camera which meant not as great quality...:-/

7:00---Breakfast
12:00---We stopped at Friendly's for lunch, where I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich with the dressing on the side...I decided that I was definitely more in the mood for ketchup, and went with that instead. On the side I had a bowl of veggies and a few dill pickles...yum! I ate 1/2 the sandwich, which kept me going strong through a day of shopping...haha. :) For dessert I had a dish of cookies and cream icecream...yum!
3:30---I saw a starbucks and couldn't resist an iced coffee...it was exactly what I was in the mood for. I also split a fruit salad with my mom and sister...I think its so cool that starbucks offers this for a snack. They also had veggie sticks, yogurt, and low-fat milk...makes me happy to know there are more and more healthy options for people out there. :D
5:30---For the ride home, I had a boysenberry yogurt and some apple slices for dunking...:)

6:30---By the time I got home, the one and only food I was craving was something warm and comforting..ah yes, what else but vanilla hemp milk with some ezekiel cereal? So good, and it hit the spot perfectly. :)

LUNCH: 1/2 a Grilled Chicken Sandwich, side of mixed veggies, and pickles...:)

Dessert: Dish of Cookies and Cream Icecream: one of my favorite flavors...besides mint cookies and cream which is my all-time fave...:)
Afternoon Snack: Fruit Cup to split with the girls, and an iced coffee.
Snack for the ride home: Yogurt and apple slices for dunking.
Perfect Warm and Comforting Supper: Vanilla hemp milk with ezekiel cereal...sooo creamy and tasty. :)

Now I'm off to relax for the rest of the night...hope you're all enjoying your weekend! :)

Blanket of White

I woke up to see that a blanket of snow had fallen overnight. It's soo pretty, even if I am ready for spring to start. haha...I figured that since it was all snowy out, I would warm up with a nice hot bowl of banana-nut oatmeal. It hit the spot perfectly. :)

Okra...attempt #1...

I've been wanting to try okra for as long as I can remember, and I decided to pick up a bag of frozen chopped okra at the grocery store. Ahem...warning: do not attempt this meal at home! haha...

If theres anyone out there who knows all about how to properly cook it, PLEASE let me know! I steamed it, but apparently overdid it. It came out kind of gummy and overly soft. Eeks...I want to try it again, because I know I'm not giving it justice, and I'm sure theres a better way of cooking this stuff!

The rest of the meal was quite good though. It was a random concoction of leftovers...marinara sauce (from cookinglight, which I just froze and popped on the stovetop along with some white beans and extra basil,) atop a warm scoop of creamy polenta. YUM! I absolutely love polenta.

And, since the family was having a boiled dinner, I saved some cabbage on the side for myself because I absolutely love it sauteed as is, with just a little salt and pepper. Delicious...:)

So yes, aside from the okra, it was quite a delicious meal (even if it was slightly random!) :)

**Forgot to add that I also had 1/2 a guinness beer with supper...my brother had come home with some for the St. Patty's Day meal, so I couldn't resist (even if my meal wasn't exactly "St Patricks Dayish"...haha. I don't drink very often, but do enjoy it every once in a while...:)

Spring break!! :)

Spring vacation is finally here, and in order to celebrate...I think I'll be going out to pick up veganomicon this evening. :D I can't wait to try some recipes from there, because I've heard so many good things about it.

This morning I packed along a Kashi Trail Mix bar and a banana to hold me over for yet another late lunch. I've been eating after I get out of classes this past week rather then eating in class, because its much more enjoyable to eat in the caf or in my car. Thankfully my breakfasts and snacks have been good about holding me over so long. :)

For lunch today, I packed a Black Bean Gardenburger (in between a Matthew's Whole Wheat english muffin, with 2 thick slices of tomato, spinach, and ketchup)...so delicious. :D I love these muffins, and the entire sandwich was tasty and filling all at the same time...:)

On the side I had a carrot, a vanilla yogurt, and a juicy pear. I love having something crunchy like the fruit and carrot for the ride home, since for some reason, I always feel like munching after classes. :D

Enjoy your weekend everyone!!! :D :D

Blueberry Bliss

Last day of classes before spring break!! I'm pretty excited, but have to make sure I stay motivated to get the rest of my homework done before the week finishes/starts. haha...

For breakfast I had a big bowl of cereal (1 cup Kashi Honey GoLean Crunch, 1 cup Kashi 7-Grain Puff, 1 cup milk) with 1 cup of frozen (dethawed of course) wild blueberries. Simply delicious. The best part is the milk after you finish eating, because it gets all sweet from the blueberries and honey cereal...yum! :D

Okay, I'm off to work a bit before heading off to school. HAPPY FRIDAY!!!! :D :D

No Pudge Fudge

This afternoon I was actually done homework for the day, so I decided to break out the box of No Pudge! Fudge and see what they tasted like. I'd never made them before, so was a little skeptical. I've tried homemade versions of low-fat brownies in the past, and they've always come out either too much like a cake or rubbery...never that perfect bite of chocolately goodness that I want in a brownie.

Well...the verdict is in::*drum roll please*...

They were SO tasty and gooey!!! I was pretty much in chocolate heaven when I bit into one of these. The only "flop" I did was when I forgot to put the timer on while they were cooking in the oven, so the doneness was based on guess work. haha...I think I actually undercooked them, but they still tasted delish. Ooey, gooey, and chocolatey, all topped with walnuts...so delicious! Okay, I'm done raving about the brownies now...:D

On the side I had a glass of milk and an orange...


For supper, I needed something quick and easy to prepare after shopping. English muffin pizzas were the perfect option. I gave a new brand of english muffins a try called "Matthew's English Muffins." Its the first time I've seen these, so I'm not sure if they're widely available or not, but they were definitely way better then Thomas'. Nice and fluffy and soft, all natural ingredients, 100% whole wheat...making for the perfect pizza. :) On top I had sauce (tomato sauce, 1 garlic clove, basil, oregano, pepper), mozzarella cheese, onions, and spinach. And, of course, there was a side salad to go along with it...:) Not bad for a quick dinner!!

You just can't go wrong!

Apples are the perfect study snack...:) I had one this morning at around 9 o'clock, just to keep myself going through chemistry.

Lunch rolled around, and I had only one thing on my mind...pb&j on waffles!!! You just can't go wrong...especially when its paired with a glass of vanilla hemp-milk. Pure bliss..:D

Tasty and Easy Breakfast...:)

I think my brain is already on "spring break mode." I find myself getting up a little later and browsing a little longer through magazines in the morning, just pushing off a little bit of time here and there. Yep...definitely in need of a week's break!! haha...

Breakfast was simple but yummy...I had 1 cup of Kashi GoLean Crunch (Honey version), 1 cup of Kashi 7-puff cereal, 1 medium banana, and 1 cup of milk.

Off to study some chemistry!! :)

Deja Vu?

Nope! Just me and a typical salad that looks a whole lot like my snack from last night. :D I was still feeling full from lunch, but a nice big salad always sounds appealing. I ate through about 1/4 of it before realizing I had forgotten to add an orange to the top...ack...how could I forget one of the best parts? :) So I snapped another picture with the orange, and enjoyed the sweet salad immensely...so tasty and flavorful! :)

Here's a pretty basic day's recap...

6:00---Breakfast
9:00---Apple
11:00---Kashi bar
2:00---Yep, definitely a late lunch!!
6:00---Salad for supper!!

And now I'm off to not procastinate and get some homework done! One more day of classes---Friday---and then I'll be on spring break...woohoo!! :D