Once again, I’m floored. I know I shouldn’t be surprised by now, but the support this community offers is incredible. Thank you all so much for your kind words on my last post! Today I politely but firmly explained to the family I babysit for that two days a week is all I can do, and they understood, just as I knew they would. All your encouragement really helped me bite the bullet!
I woke up at 4 this morning and couldn’t fall back asleep, so instead of tossing and turning, I got up at five. I grabbed a banana for fuel and did an easy 45 minutes on the elliptical while watching The Hills and The City. I ended with 20 minutes of stretching before making a real breakfast:
Fiber One, fresh raspberries and almond milk
I spent the morning babysitting and snacked on a chocolate brownie Z-Bar at some point before coming home just in time for lunch.
I made my mom and I a sandwich with Archer Farms vanilla cranberry peanut butter and a quesedilla with PB&Co.’s The Heat is On. I added some baby carrots and huge bowl of strawberries for some fruit and veg action.
For an afternoon snack, I made myself a protein smoothie with 1 c almond milk, 1 c blueberries, 1 large peach, 1 scoop Sun Warrior vanilla protein powder and a spoonful of Maranatha almond butter. This combination made a ton- nearly three cups worth!
After seeing Jenna’s Lentil Walnut Loaf all over the blogosphere these past few days, I knew I had to make it. I consider myself a decent cook, but I’m definitely not a speedy one. This recipe took me awhile, but the result was absolutely worth it.
Holy deliciousness this was amazing. Jess gave it rave reviews, and she couldn’t have been more right! The best parts were the walnut chunks and tomato balsamic topping- both gave the dish a ton of flavor. Make this now, I promise you won’t be disappointed!
I’d initially intended to wait for my parents to eat dinner, but after smelling this fresh from the oven, I had to dig right in J I ate outside, so at least my cats kept me company!
Plus a green salad topped with ketchup. Yes, I’m weird.
I’ll bet you can venture a guess at what I had for dessert…
Gala apple and the last two squares of Lindt black currant chocolate
I’m looking forward to sleeping in a bit tomorrow- it’s been awhile since I’ve had a morning to myself! Hope you all have a great night!
Do you enjoy cooking full meals, or do you prefer simpler dishes? Do you take your time, or hurry to get the prep work done so you can eat? What’s one recipe you’ve discovered lately that you’re itching to try?
In the summer months, do you like eating outside in the warm weather, or inside in the comfort of air conditioning?
40 comments:
lmao o do ketchup on salad too sometimes!!!along with like a bzillion other foods!....
i luv dining outdoors in the summer...just when the sun is going down....by the water or in the city at a cute cafe! unfortunately, most of the time its the good old reliable kitchen table..o well.
xoxoxxo sweet dreams!
I am a major foodie, so I love cooking big meals! However, since I am living alone and mostly just feed myself I try to make simpler meals so I don't have a ton of leftovers that don't get eaten.
The one recipe I've discovered that I recently tried was couscous with chickpeas, which was delicious! I have never had couscous before, so it was a delightful new experience for me.
I'm weird in that I don't like the heat, so unless I am eating something cold I tend to eat inside.
I love cooking fullmeals..and usually snack on the veg imcooking along the way haha...that lentil loaf reminds me of the one in my clean food cookbook I made, so delicious. I love when smoothies are volumous!! I alsoe LOVE ketchup on salads..and hummus as well with balsamic vinaigrette, amazing!
Ah, I wanted to try that loaf - it sounds absolutely amazing!! I love sitting on a patio with a cool drink - its the epitome of summah time to me.
I love eating outside!! With only 4 warm months I take advantage. The lentil loaf looks so good, I think I need to jump on the bandwagon.
I try not to be STARVING when I cook so that if it does take a while, I'm okay with it. Otherwise I get impatient. Cooking is really fun to me though so I do enjoy it. The end result is always rewarding too.
I love when my smoothies make THAT much. Honestly, I drink it all too. Haha.
I'm glad you made the right choice and everything worked out for you :) I bet you feel much better now!
I definitely need to get to making this lentil walnut loaf!! I love simple meals - but when I have time to make ones that are more of a process, I love that, too!
Hope you enjoy your morning tomorrow :)
Wow all of your food today looks AMAZING!! With my schedule, I don't like to do anything with a lot of prep-work or time involved. I am really interested in dishes you don't have to cook that I have been seeing all over with the warm weather
chocolate brownie Z-Bar = my kid doesnt eat those, but every blogger i know does, LOL
the lentil loaf. ok i dont read her blog, ahem. But...I bet that something like that would be GREAT to serve for thanksgiving. Or some sort of neeed a substantial entree kind of occassion. Making mental note. There are tons of loafs in ani's and sarma's books, but this one looks great.
i have windows of the day that i can cook in. other times of the day are kid, hubs, exercise, blog, etc. if i cant make the food and do the prep work in that window, it must wait til another day type thing.
have a beautiful nite Gabriela!
I generally stick to more simple dishes - mostly because I'm usually just cooking for myself. Most recipes make 4+ servings, and I hate to risk wasting all that food! I definitely do want to make it a point to make more "elaborate" dishes, though...I'll just have to find ones that my parents enjoy!
That lentil loaf looks phenom! Would you believe I've never even cooked lentils? Don't answer that... :P
Hey, any luck with the HLS roomie situation? Keep me posted! Have a great night doll :)
The lentil walnut loaf looks great. We say Jenna post it, and made me go out and get lentils, now just have to make it!
And blueberry smoothie looks great!! We just ordered some Sun Warrior, cannot wait to try it!
Yay for just saying no! You go girl!!
SO GLAD you liked the lentil loaf.. and yeah, the topping is pretty amazing! Jenna is one smart lady.
That smoothie sounds SO GOOD!!! I loove cooking meals like that. And ketchup on salad? yes please!
Love you girl!
we grill and eat outside a lot during the summer
i feel like everyone and their mother have been making the most GORGEOUS blueberry smoothies lately! i've been serrrrriously missing the boat on that one and need to get my dirty paws on some bluebs pronto!
glad you said no girl! :)
First of all, I think that lentil loaf looks amaaaazing! I have all the ingredients - it is definitely getting made soon!
I love cooking and in the winter, I'll cook huge hearty meals. But in the summer, I enjoy light, crisp, and lots of veggies. I like eating outside, but Chicago is so humid that I usually eat indoors. I hate bugs too - dont believe me? Check out my post from this evening! haha!
I'm so glad the family was understanding. It's easy to stretch yourself too thin, and yous till want to enjoy your summer!
I I loved the look of that loaf, too. I'll definitely have to make it soon!
That loaf DOES look phenomenal. I have so many beans and lentils around right now...I should definitely make a loaf! Thanks for the inspiration babe!
I never really cook what is technically considered "full meals" - I cook for one always so I generally prep things like beans and grains at the beginning of the week and use them throughout. Most days for lunch and dinner I eat bowls of vegetables (steamed/roasted) or salads with tons of veggies and a protein or two. I really always enjoy making them but they rarely ever take longer than ten minutes to throw together (not counting the roasting veg time - which I prorate because I do it ahead of time for quick-use reasons).
I haven't turned my AC on yet! My boyfriend is complaining to me like no other about it but I like it! I'm getting acclimated to the heat now.
I don't spend much time actually cooking, more like boil some ravioli or chop up some fruit haha. I do enjoy baking every now and then though.
I've been looking for the perfect lentil loaf recipe for awhile now, and this seems just that!
On weekdays I usually prepare simple dishes, but on weekends I like to prepare fun recipes, like this one! The nice thing about this loaf is that you can make a big batch, cut them up, freeze them for later noshes! :-)
OMG that lentil walnut loaf looks absolutely amazing!!!
I like/have to prepare simple meals just b/c I'm always on the go all the time, but whenever I get some downtime I enjoy making a nicer meal that takes a good amount of time to prepare.
I also enjoy dining outside in the summer...just not here in Dallas unless its early in the morning b/c its so stinkin' hot and humid! lol
Good job on voicing your feelings, girl! It may be hard to say no to those you love when you really want to help them, but also need to keep yourself in mind. It's not selfish if you're taking care of yourself because that will just make you better able to help others. Win, win! Oh, and your day off tomorrow is a total bonus. Congrats! Although I like preparing complicated meals every once and awhile, I find that for myself, my taste buds prefer simple. I've really developed a taste for foods the way nature intended them. Yumm!
Have a lovely day!
xox
that is a big smoothies! that lentil loaf looks good, iv not tried lentils this way, just in a soup and i didnt like it! xx
Yum, I want to try lentil walnut loaf!!
I think sometimes its incredible the amount of support you can get from the blogging community--I've received texts/emails mid-day when I'm not even thinking about it, with comments that are really sincere and thoughtful and thought how nice it is to have this outlet, you know?
I'm so glad everything worked out with talking to the parents! Saying "no" can feel SO good sometimes! :)
I'm not usually one to make big dishes like that, but I'm thinking I may have to give it a try! I way prefer to make single serving meals because that way I can eat something different everyday instead of leftovers.
It's always tough to talk to parents but I bet you feel relieved that you did! I had to have a talk with the lady I babysit for because she kept blowing me off at the last minute and I would have already turned down other jobs. SO frustrating!
I have wanted to make Jenna's lentil loaf for so long now, and after your rave review I am definitely going to. Oh also I love sitting outside to eat on summer evenings :)
That lentil walnut loaf does look great! My style of cooking really depends on the day, what kind of time I have and what kinda mood I'm in. Some days it could be a more elaborate, time consuming meal (love when I have time for this!) or sometimes something simple has to get thrown together (esp if I work late & I'm tired) :)
I'm so sad my Target doesn't carry Archer Farm's PB. I've scoured the shelves of multiple stores and no luck!
I'm all about the simple meals! The quicker I can throw something together, the better!
I usually just cook one dish and eat that - a salad (sometimes covered in ketchup and mustard, so not weird at all!), a stirfry, sandwich, soup, pasta. And I love to eat outside. When I'm at home with my family we try to eat at our outside table as much as we can. I love the fresh air but the bugs love to have us as a meal, too.
I really enjoy cooking, but I seem to go through phases with just how much time I want to spend in the kitchen. Sometimes I don't mind putting a lot more time and effort into the dishes I make, and sometimes, like lately, I don't really feel like spending much time in the kitchen, so I opt for simpler dishes that are easier to prepare. Your lentil loaf looks amazing, though, and makes me think I need to put a little more time into the cooking...
And I really love eating outside when the weather permits. As long as it's sunny and not too windy, I'll take eating outside over sitting inside. Unless, of course, I feel like doing some blog reading while munching... then I tend to stay inside :)
Hope you're having a fabulous day, girl!
i've been seeing the lentil loaf everywhere too! it looks so good.
how is the archer farms peanut butter? i can't find it at my store but have seen it on some blogs.
yumm-i haven't seen that around, but i should look for it!
You know I enjoy spending hours in the kitchen. But other days I just keep it really simple!
Good for you getting up and working out! I definitely would have just stayed in bed.
i love to cook, but most often "assemble" -- too tired when i get home from a long day!
tomorrow i'm going to try try try to get up at 6 am to work out, i'm scared.
i am an outside girl, but not in DC! it's 101 degrees today... and humid! ah.
salad with ketchup?? Really? Is that what you always use as your dressing??
New reader, here, so forgive me if I should know that ;)
I never seem to be able to put the effort in when it's just for me... which is bad really because most of the time it is just for me!!
And ketchup is definitely the best salad dressing!!
I am drooling over that smoothie...Or maybe just sweating my arse off because it's 100 here in DC! When it's THIS hot I def prefer to eat inside. But as the sun goes down I love eating outside (generally something cold like salad or sushi if it's hot) and enjoying a refreshing cocktail. And by cocktail I mean margarita :)
Have a great day love!!!! XOXOXOX
i hate those mornings when its so hard to get back to sleep when its at an awkward hour!! atleast you were productive :) haha
wow that walnut lentil loaf looks crazy good!! just bought some lentils so I might have to give that a whirl!
I like cooking full mels and sitting down to eat with other people. I love the feeling of sitting around a table with friends and sharing a meal-there's just something special about it. I have been itching to make gazpacho recently. It's the quintessential summer dish-light, seasonal, and COLORFUL! I also like eating outdoors. When I'm home in the summer, the garden is in bloom and so I get to sit outside and enjoy the benefits of all my labor working in it!
Good for you for saying that you were overwhelemed. I think it is a positve sign that the family understood. Everything works out in the end, huh? :)
Mmmmm, I just LOVE those Clif Z Bars! Aren't they awesome?!?!
And I almost fell over in my chair when I read your vanilla cranberry PB - is that Archer Farms, as in, you found it at Target?!?! I must have this! :)
Good job saying NO! I bet it feels good to not have that hanging over your head anymore. You rock.
I have been wanting to try that lentil loaf! I think you may just have pushed me to put it on the menu next week. During the summer, I like simple meals (like grilling and salads) - but once in a while I go all out.
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