eats

This year didn’t start off the greatest. It began with a lingering cold/flu, cough, snot factory that shot all my plans of starting the year off healthy. I think I lived on oatmeal and pancakes for the past 2 weeks.

This weekend I decided to start over. I planned meals and I have hit the gym 3 days in a row, what?

1. red curry: 1 can light coconut milk, 3 tbsp red thai curry powder, baked tofu, zucchini, yellow squash,and red pepper over brown rice.

I busted out my brand spankin’ new tofu press. Hey rather large spaghetti squash, I see you in my future.

Work day snackage:

spicy baked chickpeas

Ian had the day off, and when I got home from work he had a nice little appetizer display ready for me.

bye cold, hello vegetables.

Dinner #2: greek mac n cheese

with kalamata olives, havarti dill, feta and spinach

…and some Winan’s chocolates for dessert. One of our patients brought all the therapists a box of chocolate since today was his last day of therapy. How sweet is that?

Coming soon:

3. zucchini boats

4. reubens

cookie butter oatmeal

the stuff mornings are made of:

cocojo fresh from the Keurig!

medium sized coffee + large mug sized hot chocolate=a perfectly filled mug of cocojo from my Keurig

and oatmeal. I reeeeeally love oatmeal. Hot, milky, sweet oatmeal.

My new obsession: quick oats, lots of almond milk, lots of cinnamon, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a big dollop of cookie butter! Mmmmm. Trader Joe’s cookie butter to be exact.    Go get some now.

Now I want oatmeal scotchies.

sick day

Cold/flu season is in full force over here…

my mom got it. ian got it. i got it. my brother has it. who’s next?

hopefully not you.

I REALLLLLY REALLY really didn’t want to take off work today, but it was definitely in the best interest for me and my patients. Yesterday I saw inpatient’s with a face mask on, but you can’t really do that with children.

Olive was a good nurse today.

She was very concerned.

She let me sleep in bed til 10, when I started getting hungry and made myself a delicious bowl of oatmeal. The rest of my intake today included hot tea and hershey kisses. Those are the only things that sound good right now.

We haven’t moved far today.

NYE dinner

success!

our hike, not so much. Ian and I were both feeling a little under the weather, but wanted to get out of the house to do something. I looked up a nearby “hiking” trail and we persuaded Olive to join us.

I packed us pesto, roasted red pepper, tofurkey, cucumber and cheese sandwiches and a Yuengling for fun!

We parked and ate our lunch in front the “waterfalls”.

We walked  for 2 minutes, hit a no trespassing sign and walked back to our car :(.

Dinner made up for the crappy hike.

tzatziki and carrot sticks

fennel, almond, olive, fig and grape salad

mushroom gruyere tart (Ian said this was the best thing I have ever made!), inspired by a recipe Ian’s mom sent me a year ago but I could not find it anywhere! Google search to the rescue.

It is pretty simple to make.

Dough=1 refridgerate pie crust, folded over, brushed with egg wash

Mushroom filling:

• 12 oz wild mushrooms, sliced
• 1 white onion, finely chopped
• heaping tbsp of chopped fresh thyme (would have been good with rosemary too)
• ~tbsp olive oasis olive oil
• s and p to taste
• béchamel sauce:
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 2 Tbsp flour
• 1  cup warm milk
• 4 oz grated gruyere cheese
• * I didn’t end up putting in all of the sauce, just about 3/4 of it*

and for dessert….

inspired vegan chocolate mousse,  made with silken tofu, semisweet chocolate, agave nectar/maple syrup, unsweetened cocoa powder,  vanilla and a splash of almond milk, sprinkled with raspberries and sugar. I was weirded out at first because of the tofu,  and I thought I could taste it, but it still tasted good. Ian said he LOVED it. (I didn’t tell him there was tofu in it until the very end). He said he wants me to make it again.

Happy NEW YEAR!

the last day

source

Here’s to ending the year on a good note.

Ian and I have plans to go on a hike with Olive and then spend the night cozy at home, sippin champagne, and on the menu for tonight…

1. Tzatziki with crudites

2. Wild mushroom gruyere tart with a side of fennel, almonds, grapes, olives, dried figs and cheese

3. Vegan chocolate mousse for dessert!

Cheers to a happy, healthy, FUN new year! 

Thanksgiving

the day started with a beautiful run on the beach.

Then frolicking on the beach trying to tire olive out before the festivities.

I hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving!!

olive oasis

A couple weekends ago, we went to the new local, family owned olive oil and balsamic vinegar shop!

I of course was attracted to the place simply because of the name.

I was loving the olive plates.

They have a variety of olive oils made from different types of olives, infused olive oils, and infused balsamic vinegars. They also provide bread for dipping and sampling!

We bought a bottle of this Tuscan Herb infused oil, so good!

Can’t wait to go back and try more!