Yesterday evening I went for a 3 miler and some mini leg strength. And today is my REST DAY!

About Rest Days Rest days are incredibly important as they give your body time to repair itself between all your hardcore workouts. I realize that once you get into a [...]]]> Good Morning!

Yesterday evening I went for a 3 miler and some mini leg strength. And today is my REST DAY!

About Rest Days
Rest days are incredibly important as they give your body time to repair itself between all your hardcore workouts. I realize that once you get into a routine you can feel guilty about wanting to take a day off. However, this can lead to over-training, which can lead to injury. I don’t know about you, but I definitely do not enjoy being injured, so I take my rest days seriously. If you are in training mode, rest days can only HELP you! And if you still feel lazy on those days you can always do low level activities like clean the house, take a walk, shop (;)) stretch, or do a little bit of light yoga.

Moving along to the food…

Ever since seeing this yummy pizza on Mae’s blog, I have been wanting to give it a try. What is it? It’s a tortilla pizza with Humnut Cheeze Sauce!

Humnut Cheeze sauce is simply: 2-3 tbsp of hummus mixed with 2 to 3 tbsp nutritional yeast. You can add a pinch of tumeric if you want, for color and then thin with water (up to 1 tbsp).

I decided, since I didn’t have any tomato sauce, but did have pesto and a lot of green things to make a Green Pizza!

I slathered a large Ezekiel Tortilla with lots of yummy pesto (mmm, I love pesto), I added artichoke hearts, green olives, red pepper flakes and a very good amount of the humnut! Then I broiled it in the oven until it was warm and crispy.  

I ended up topping the pizza with some fresh parsley and thyme after I took the picture.

HOLY YUM! This was TASTY . The cheeze sauce was so good I didn’t notice that real cheese was even missing! This is my new favorite pizza topping EVER! And the pesto didn’t hurt either

The olives I used on the pizza were actually the same ones I enjoyed when BF and I went to 10 Downing!

I was at Whole Foods yesterday, spotted them and immediately grabbed a container.

I forgot to catch the name of them though! They are very small and round and sweet and not a traditional “olive green” color… they are a brighter green, which I love! Know the name of them??? Anyway, I’ll look the next time I go.

Also, they were doing a Vita-Mix demo at Whole Foods yesterday! I stayed and watched for a bit and I have to say that I was TOTALLY sold. Not that I wasn’t before, with all the rave reviews around the blogsphere. But, wow, to see it in action. I want one! I need one!  …I wish they weren’t a million dollars. Want to buy me one? PLEAAASE?

I have class all day today! Everyone gets excited about Friday’s cause “Woo hoo, the weekend!” but Friday’s I have class until 9PM and then again tomorrow morning at 9AM! (yes, Saturday morning class).
…. Luckily I LOVE LEARNING!

Alright, off to Sciiiiennnce Classs! HORRAY! …Nerd Alert!

 
Here’s a blast from the past for you: Me in high school chemistry class…it was valentines day, so we dressed up
Still had my goggles on though!

 Were you a “Nerd” in high school/university (aka did you study a lot?) Or did you party a lot?

So, pancakes I made.

For him I made traditional blueberry pancakes

Cooking up in the pan: Flip!

Plated with sliced bananas and a drizzle of agave. [...]]]> The first thing the BF said to me when he woke up this morning was “I want pancakes”.

So, pancakes I made.

For him I made traditional blueberry pancakes

Cooking up in the pan:

Flip!

Plated with sliced bananas and a drizzle of agave. Ah, Beauty.

Too bad moments before I was done making the pancakes, BF announced he wasn’t feeling well.

Therefore, only 2 bites of these pancakes were consumed. Oh well. At least they looked pretty.

I was not going to let this spoil my pancake party, however!

I made myself some oatmeal blueberry pancakes.
 
 

Breakfast is served! Mmm, love blueberry pancakes.

The BF started to feel worse as the day went on, so I opted to stay home with him. We had a very low key day. But I didn’t mind.

I finally convinced him to get out of the apartment to accompany me grocery shopping to Whole Foods.

We picked up groceries for the week and I picked up some hot/cold bar for dinner.  And BF felt much better after getting some fresh air.

With dinner, we both drank Newman’s Own Virgin Lemonade. It was very muted, but I liked it.

I made the BF penne pasta with veggies and tomato sauce
 

My hot/cold bar (looks like falafel, artichoke hearts, veggies, lentils, heirloom beans …and a bunch of other stuff!)

For dessert BF picked up these little guys 

My brothers are big fans of them and insisted we buy them when we went to Florida.

What are QB’s? They’re basically a frozen rice-crispy square with marshmallow and ice-cream inside.

What could be bad about that, right!

I pointed them out to BF when we were shopping and he decided to give them a try.  (I’ve never tried them)

He enjoyed

I might have to have a bite of em one of these days.

My dessert was a Cara Cara Pink Navel Orange
 

The Cara Cara is like a regular navel orange on the outside, but pink like a grapefruit on the inside! My kinda orange!
Cara Cara’s are sweet and less acidic then regular oranges.

Loved it!

“Pink is the new Orange” !

Yeesh it’s late! But I’m not sleepy as I didn’t do too much all day.

But my Fitness Challenge officially starts tomorrow so I have to be on the ball! I’m not going to fall behind this time!!!

Hope you had a great weekend!

And a big congrats to those bloggers who ran the Disney Marathon today!!! So inspirational!

So…I got an okay start on “getting back in the game”

Breakfast was a bowl of oat bran. I LOVE oatbran… I think I may like it even more than oats! I haven’t had it in so long, so I was very excited to have [...]]]> It seems so weird not to spend all day studying!

So…I got an okay start on “getting back in the game”

Breakfast was a bowl of oat bran. I LOVE oatbran… I think I may like it even more than oats! I haven’t had it in so long, so I was very excited to have it this morning.

In my excitement I totally forgot to add bananas into the mix
I made do by slicing some up to put on top.

I also decided to hop on the “maca” train and sprinkled some on my oatbran along with my regular cinnamon.

I’ve seen it floating around the blog world and I’ve been wanting to test it out.

What’s so great about Maca?
Well… it’s rich in amino acids, phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals. It increases energy, can help with endurance and it supports the immune system and adrenal function (helps with stress). It gives things a malted flavor.

Common use: desserts, pudding, smoothies, yogurt, ice cream, nut milks
(All info from Pure2Raw)

For more info on Maca you can go here.

***
My exercise today was SHOPPING!

I went to Sur La Table to get some kitchen items. It was very difficult not to buy everything in the store. I had fun looking around. It’s a cook’s paradise in there

I ended up getting a salad spinner, dish brush and an ice-cream scoop. I have my eye on a couple other things I may go back for though!

The rest of the day was spent with JH! We went to Whole Foods for a late lunch and we each created our own salad.

My ugly, yet very tasty, salad.  (romaine, roasted veggies, quinoa, tomatoes, chickpeas)

And JH’s pretty, and also very tasty, salad (Arugula, chick peas, berries, walnuts and goat cheese)

I am slowly but surely getting back on track. Tomorrow morning will definitely include a trip to the gym! I’m scheduling it in

Also…JH was kind enough to provide me with another awesome recipe to share with you! A fruity and delicious treat for the holidays.

Crinkly Baked Pears
Serves 6.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup of marsala wine or dry red wine
• 1/4 cup raw sugar.
• 1/4 cup agave nectar
• 2 cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick.
• 1 strip lemon zest,, removed with a vegetable peeler.
• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract.
• 6 firm ripe pears, Bosc preferred (unpeeled)

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 300F.
• Place all of the ingredients except the pears in a shallow gratin or baking dish in which the pears will fit; stir to combine.
• Stand the pears in the liquid.
• Bake, basting now and then with the pan juices, for about 2 hours. When the pears are done,, they will be tender but not mushy, the skins wrinkled and crinkly and the liquid syrupy. Cool the dish on a wire rack.
• Remove the spices and lemon zest. Serve the pears warm or a a cool room temperature, spooning a little syrup over them.

Have a great night

Janna

Have you ever seen Breakfast at Tiffany’s? If you haven’t, you really should!

In it, Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) describes the way she feels about Tiffany’s.

Holly Golightly: You know those days when you get the mean reds? Paul Varjak: The mean reds, you mean like the [...]]]>  

Have you ever seen Breakfast at Tiffany’s? If you haven’t, you really should!

In it, Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) describes the way she feels about Tiffany’s.

Holly Golightly: You know those days when you get the mean reds?
Paul Varjak: The mean reds, you mean like the blues?
Holly Golightly: No. The blues are because you’re getting fat and maybe it’s been raining too long, you’re just sad that’s all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you’re afraid and you don’t know what you’re afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling?
Paul Varjak: Sure.
Holly Golightly: Well, when I get it the only thing that does any good is to jump in a cab and go to Tiffany’s. Calms me down right away. The quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there. If I could find a real-life place that’d make me feel like Tiffany’s, then – then I’d buy some furniture and give the cat a name!

One of my colleagues at the PR company I used to work at once wrote a blog post about how Shopper’s Drug Mart was “her Tiffany’s”. (Shopper’s is a Canadian drug store, kind of like the Duane Reade we have here in NYC but SO MUCH BETTER!)

Well, Whole Foods is MY Tiffany’s. And I’m sure it is for a lot of you as well. I go there and I instantly feel better. Nothing very bad could happen to you there.

Like yesterday for example. I was studying a lot (hence, no post), and I was feeling anxious and nervous and I needed a break… so where did I go? Whole Foods, of course I walked the aisles, grabbed some hot bar for lunch and instantly felt better.

Oh my! That doesn’t look appetizing at all! …But it WAS! Sweet potatoes, chana masala, pecans, butter beans (giant white beans), guacamole, quinoa… mmmm.
Happiness in a box.  

For dinner I had an equally calming meal which included steamed Kabocha squash drizzled with lots of ABU .

Comfort comfort comfort!

On the agenda today: grocery shopping, Yoga, laundry and studying.

I hope you have a great Sunday!

Janna

**********
I really want to know: Where is your Tiffany’s?

p.s. CONGRATULATIONS to Tina, Kath, Caitlin and Jenna who all won awards at the Foodbuzz Blogger Festival! YAY!

Into a bowl went a small avocado, lemon juice to taste (I like A [...]]]> I made a fancy lunch for myself today. I have been wanting to try this simple, but delicious sounding combination for a while now. I LOVE guacamole, and avocados in general…and this is pretty much guac without the tomatoes!

Tomato-less Guac Sandwich

Into a bowl went a small avocado, lemon juice to taste (I like A LOT), a  couple drops of EVOO and a generous sprinkling of red pepper flakes.

All Mashed Up

I spread the mixture on Ezekiel sprouted bread and topped with another sprinkling of chili flakes (I like it hot )
 

On the side I had some herbed olives and goat cheddar.

All together now:

I should have toasted the bread. But otherwise – it was delicious and filling! A definite winner

For a dessert I had half a mango

Before my LAST GRE CLASS I snacked on some raw almonds.
x3

And I brought I teeny tiny banana to eat during the break in class:

Dinner was picked up from Whole Foods. A HUGH JASS salad mess with …oh man, I don’t even remember… roasted veggies, chana masala, seafood, lentils, peppers, quinoa, artichoke hearts…It was AMAZING. My favorite WH salad thus far.

It was bittersweet having my last GRE class tonight. It will be nice to have a break from going to class until January. But now I’m on my own!

And my teacher was so sweet. At the end of class she said “I know the classes are over… but I’m your teacher until you get the score you want, whether that’s 2 weeks from now or next year. You can always come to me for help. ”
It was really sweet to hear. She was a really great teacher. If I do well, I totally credit her.

Janna

___________________________________________________________

More Housekeeping – So it seems my new blog layout may not be ready for another SIX WEEKS! I may try and make a few changes myself to make it a bit nicer… but otherwise. I have to wait I’m sure it will be worth it though!

Thanks to those of you who emailed me with New York suggestions (including you Dad )! I have lots of ideas about what to do and where to go… and where to eat now! And I feel like I’m already on my way!

I managed to take a whole day off [...]]]> Good Morning!

Thanks to those of you who emailed me with New York suggestions (including you Dad )! I have lots of ideas about what to do and where to go… and where to eat now!
And I feel like I’m already on my way!

I managed to take a whole day off from blogging yesterday.  Well… it was because I was out and about the ENTIRE day… until 2am!

It was an out of the ordinary day as the bf and I ate EVERY meal out. And let me tell you, we were WELL FED yesterday!

Breakfast

Cafe Gitane has to be one of my favourite places for breakfast in NYC. It is a quaint French-Moroccan cafe, it’s always packed, has delicious food and a very “Euro” atmosphere.

It was late and the bf and I were hunngry.  So we shared:

Fruit Salad with fresh mint

Bruschetta with balsamic and fresh French bread
 

And we each got an order of their famous baked eggs (with basil and tomatoes)

Mmmm

Fabulous.

After breakfast we spent the afternoon searching through the racks at Century 21.

Century 21 is literally across the street from Ground Zero.

I was unsuccessful at finding anything but the bf bought some socks.

On the way to lunch we passed a little reminder of home for me. Timmy’s!

Skipping through lunch and dinner and onto the good stuff

Since dessert was the most noteworthy meal of the day… I will quickly let you know Lunch was a salad at whole foods (red leaf, chick peas, tomatoes, quinoa, mushrooms, goats cheese) and Dinner was some roasted vegetable pasta at Ruby’s (a hole- in- the-wall Australian cafe with deliciiouuuussss food).

After dinner the bf and I went to see Where the Wild Things Are.
I liked it. It wasn’t as “happy” as I hoped it would be, but it was still a very neat movie. Loved the little kid who played Max.

After visiting the world of Max from Wild Things, the bf and I spent some quality time with another Max. We went to a place that I can only describe as the place of my Chocolate Dreams.

MAX. BRENNER.

Our night in pictures…

Yes, those would be chocolate syringes

It was 12:30 at night. And it was packed.
 

For our indulgent dessert, the bf and I shared Warm Trio Chocolate and Toffee Caramel Fondue.

Dark Chocolate, Toffee Caramel, Milk Chocolate

Served with strawberries, bananas, the most amazing banana bread I’ve ever had, and marshmallows that you could roast at the table.      
 
 

Action shots:
Dipping in the chocolate….
   
Attempting to eat a gooey marshmallow  
 

Proceeding to get it all over my face
 

YUM-O.

What did you say? That wasn’t a very healthy choice for a nutritionist-to-be? Um, chocolate is TOTALLY good for you. And so are strawberries… and bananas… and…

Okay, obviously this is not something I will do regularly (as much as I may want to!). But it is important to treat yourself once in a while!

If you like chocolate…GO HERE! 

Needless to say the bf and I were stuffed after our indulgent day.

On the agenda today:
Eating healthy , grocery shopping, regular shopping, gym-ing (or maybe going for a run… it’s so nice out!) and studying!

Have a lovely Sunday.

Janna

This morning the bf and I realized that someone (::cough:bf:cough::) had accidentally left the fridge open last night. It was open ALL. NIGHT.

I made a mental note to throw everything out. But somehow, when I decided to start making my breakfast (cold [...]]]> I’m having one of those days today… where nothing seems to go right.

This morning the bf and I realized that someone (::cough:bf:cough::) had accidentally left the fridge open last night. It was open ALL. NIGHT.

I made a mental note to throw everything out. But somehow, when I decided to start making my breakfast (cold cereal and almond milk) I forgot.

The almond milk was warm and gross tasting! EW! That went straight in the garbage.

I realized that I really had to empty the fridge. Almost everything had to be thrown out

I decided since it was already getting late and I hadn’t eaten yet that I should treat myself to a fun meal. I decided to check out One Lucky Duck.

But when I got there… I couldn’t really find the place. And when I finally did, it was tucked away, blinds closed, door locked. I saw the little duck picture on the window, but I had no idea how to get in!

Since I was near the Union Square Whole Foods and was definitely starting to feel hungry, I decided to quickly get some hot bar/salad bar food and a couple groceries.

Little did I know… IT WAS A MAD HOUSE! A million zillion people. I spent WAY more time in there than I should have. Picking out waay too much food, trying to move through the sea of people and waiting in the LONG line to pay.

A tip from me to you… DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT go to Whole Foods when you’re starving and far away from home.

I came home with two HEAVY bags full of groceries. I didn’t even know what I bought!

I was SO HUNGRY! All I wanted to do was get comfy with my hot bar/salad and watch my guilty pleasure shows; The Hills and The City that I didn’t get a chance to watch last night (but were pvr’d from the night before).

But when I walked into my building I saw that our elevator was out of service. Realllllly?

Now, I’m all for taking the stairs. In fact, I try to as much as I can.
But with 2 heavy grocery bags… it’s not so much fun.

6 flights of stairs later all I could think about was fooood and TV! It was already 3pm!

I quickly unpacked the groceries, sat down with my food, turned on my show and was presented with… “The Hills is currently unavailable please try again later”.  Reallly?

So NOT what I needed.  Oh well, I still had my food!

My hot bar/salad was a crazy mish-mash of stuff.

This is what it looked like. Looks kinda gross haha. Oh well. It tasted awesome!
Lets see if I remember what was in there:

Hmm, looks like artichokes, baby corn, eggplant, sweet potatoes, calamari, peppers, chana masala, grape tomatoes, seaweed salad, quinoa, olives, sundried tomatoes, dried cranberries and mixed nuts.  RANDOM!

The rest of my groceries included: Bananas, Whole Wheat sourdough bread, almond milk, natures path bran cereal, strawberries, grapes, 3 vegan cookies, a larabar, 2 nectar bars and (on the suggestion of Chocolate-Covered Katie) 2 Mint Wild bars.

I tried the Wild Bar after I finished my salad mish-mash. 

My thoughts: Very minty! I loved the crunch of the macadamia nuts and the deep chocolate flavour. Personally, I probably would have preferred just a plain chocolate version. But the stats/ingredients in this bar are great:

Organic Cacao (Cacao Powder, Cacao Butter, whole Cacao chips), Organic Dark Blue Agave Nectar, Organic Macadamia Nuts, Organic Mesquite, Organic Hemp Seed, Crystal Manna™ (Organic Wild Blue-Green Algae), Organic Maca, Organic Poppy Seed, Blue Manna™ (Organic Wild Blue-Green Algae Extract), Organic Vanilla Bean Powder, Pink Himalayan Salt Crystals, Organic Essential Oil of Peppermint

Apparently, Wild Blue-Green Algae is rich in phenylethylamine which many scientists believe can dramatically improve concentration, increase mental energy and enhance mood.  Okay! Sounds good to me!

I also snuck a bite of one of the cookies I purchased. 

The bf requested cookies when I let him know I was at WH. I took a look around when I was there to see if I could find some vegan ones. I was disappointed to find that ALL of them contained soy. Every single cookie I looked at. I try to avoid soy, so I was not happy about this. I guess this means I’ll have to start making my own!

But I ended up buying 2 gluten free chocolate fudge cookies from Liz Lovely and 1 Espresso chip cookie from Alternative Baking Co.  The cookies from Liz Lovely have a very small amount of soy, so that was the one I tried. Verrry fudgy. Tasted almost like brownie batter.
I’ll leave the other 2 for the bf to enjoy.

I am FULL now. I think I ate a little too fast.

Today is the Brazilian series at the gym, so I better start getting ready!

Enjoy your Hump Day! GLEE is on tonight! Horray!