Hot Roomie Date

Matt & I have been planning this hot roomie lunch date for about a week now :)
We both share an intense love of food... (if we didn't, I doubt I could be his friend!)
AND he knows about my not-so-secret obsession with fried mushy chic pea balls - aka falafels... So, he told me about this great and seriously authentic falafel/middle eastern place by campus. 

We planned and planned... and waited and waited.. and finally, the day has come!

However, that was for lunch.
So, I had to wait until 1 o'clock to finally get my falafel fix!!!

Anyways, I was happy to indulge me sweet tooth for breakfast :)
Vanilla and apple cinnamon oat meal with blueberries and puffed wheat cereal.

This stuff was ultra-thick and creamy.... just the way i like it.
Since I'm still on my running hiatus (grr) I suited up and headed out for a 9 am swim :) It was kind of cool because the pool was basically empty.  Unfortunately, that meant it was cold as heck and I was tempted to swim with my sweatpants on (lifeguards frown upon non-swimwear in the pool..)

Yes, I only have one one-piece (because nobody should ever feel the need to own more than one... unless you have a good reason).  AND I whipped out 2000 meters in an hour.

My workout went like this:
- Easy 200 meter warm-up
- Easy 500 meter freestyle
- Fast 5 x 100 meter freestyle intervals
- Easy 500 meter freestyle
- 200 meters of leg workouts with a kick board
- 100 meter cool down

I had a protein shake in a bowl (chocolatey deliciousness.... sooooooooo perfect for a post-workout)

ARABIC CLASS.

Then it was falafel time!!!!

Check out my hot date :)

He got the falafel and avocado pita sandwich.
Which he devoured and enjoyed immensely!!!!

And I got... the falafel plate with their homemade hummus and tahini sauce on a bed of lettuce and tomatoes. HEAVEN ON A PLATE AND HEAVEN IN MY MOUTH. 

Ps. I got a huge serving of Pita bread to go with it :) (see second picture)

 

AND, if you think things couldn't get any better, the did.....

One of Matt's friends came in with a huge bag of homemade frosted sugar cookies... 

And she asked if we could please take a few off her hands.

UM, DUHHHH!

I napped.  I went to class.  I visited some friends.  I ran some errands...
And I came back for dinner.

I knew it was time for leftovers...
So, I planned of finishing off the bread pudding & enjoying some sauteed veggies with balsamic vinegar and seasoning. As seen below.
 

However, I wasn't really feelin' it.
At all.

The balsamic vinegar basically took over my veggies.  It wasn't pleasant.  And my mouth was kind of on fire (since I added red pepper flakes and cumin too... not smart)

So, I tossed it after a bite or two.
And fried up another chicken sausage and some eggs, topped it on my bread pudding leftovers and added in some more green beans :) way more delicious.

For some reason, I'm on a serious chocolate-sugar binge.
I've already had a cup of hot chocolate, two calcium chews, a piece of chocolate Opera cake...

I'm sure it won't end there.
damn. 

Anyways, sorry for rushing through this post!!!
I have tons of homework and way too little time.. story of my life.

Calories Don't Count On Your MOM'S Birthday!

I didn't want any food pictures to steal all the attention from my MOM'S BIRTHDAY POST so now you're all going to be overwhelmed by porn... foooood porn.

And just so you know, calories don't count on your birthday. SO, since it's my mother's birthday, that means half of my calories don't count, right?  fact.  Don't you just love how genetics work like that? (Yes, parents, this is what I've been learning in class... your money has been well spent)

Today went by super fast even though I had a little down time to relax...
Thanks to the end of Ramadan, my Arabic class was canceled!!
Fun fact? Today is the day of feasting in celebration of Ramadan... so, obviously I had to participate in that.  Purely out of respect for my fellow classmates.

Breakfast was a thick bowl of apples and cinnamon oatmeal!

I love a huge bowl of oats in the morning.  They fill you up (for at least an hour....!) and it always makes me feel like I'm eating dessert for b-fast.

Um, upon grabbing the books I'd need for the day, I realized I was packing a small library.
WHO NEEDS THAT MANY TEXTBOOKS?! It's called an IPad professors... just create an app for it.  They have an app for everything else.

I headed to class (sat next to a cutie!) and then headed to get some fuel before going to spin.  I ran home to change into my long spandies (nobody likes a chafe-y crouch) and a tank top, grabbed a handful of raw almonds and a bite-sized pbj lara bar!  That little bar fills you up like no other because it's basically nuts and dates crammed into a delicious bite.

Spin class was bomb.  My thighs were a-burnin' but our instructor was super pumped so I felt the need to keep up with his energy...

That doesn't mean I wasn't excited when it ended.  I was ready for food.
I hit the weight room for a total arm workout.. and then basically ran home (actually, I walked... dumb sprained ankle.  Anything that gets in the way of food in my mouth... not my friend)

Lunch?
Leftover butternut squash and chicken sausage bread pudding & and chopped salad topped with yellow mustard, tomatoes, and hearts of palm.

I had to have a dessert after that meal (like every other meal) so I had...
Plain yogurt with frozen mixed berries, coconut extract, and puffed wheat cereal!
 

While I enjoyed my dessert...
I iced iced, baby.

Today called for a two-broccoli-ice-pack!

Shortly after, I had to run (okay, walk really fast) to my last class of the day.  Human rights is always a good way to end your day :) although, normally the subject of genocide is considered depressing... weird.  Maybe I'm just wired a little differently than most people.

I ran some errands, met up with some old high school buds who were visiting the area, and headed home for ANOTHER delicious meal.

I wanted major comfort food.
So I took a trip to the South for some inspiration (this trip took place in my mind... I actually pictures South Carolina and Tennessee for a few minutes). 

Waffles with jalapenos chicken sausage smothered in maple syrup, maple syrup baked beans, and yellow and green beans on the side :) 

When I want comfort food... I go all out!!
This meal will probably be a regular in my household - starting today.  Sweet and savory deliciousness in the form of waffles andddd MEAT?  sign me up.

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Well, in honor of my mom's birthday...
and the end of Ramadan
and the fact that I get double the calories today (thanks Mom & genetics & no-calorie-birthdays!)

I took a trip to my favorite ice cream place :)
My friend from high school actually Yelp!ed this place ahead of time and asked if we could go... Uh, she didn't hear any objections from me.

 

I got the burnt caramel and the cinnamon candied orange peel in a home made waffle cone filled with chocolate at the bottom.  

And she got a scoop of honey and a scoop of milk chocolate, sour cherry & marshmallow ice cream :) 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!
I LOVE YOU!
&&&& I LOVE ICE CREAM!

birthday post - in case you missed it the first two times.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMAAA!!!

I know my last San Diego trip had enough decadent desserts and dinner celebrations to kill a horse... but all of those mini-extravaganzas were building towards this day:


MY MOM'S OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY!!!
She's the most amazing person I know.  And Mom, you deserve the world on your big day :)

Mom, you've taught me everything.  Any wisdom I have, has been passed on from you.  Any compassion I have, comes from your extraordinary love and kindness for friends, family, and strangers. Any strength I have, comes from your constant encouragement to be stronger.  You've been my rock, you've been my inspiration, and you've been there to pick me up everytime I go big and fail miserably.  I thank the Lord, everyday, that I got lucky enough to have you in my life.  I love you more than anything and I wish I could be there right now to celebrate (with some Brownie Sundaes!) .... Happy Birthday to my Mom, my best friend, the best person I know.

PS. I told you she was inspiring!! Check out this post for details about her journey to a healthy and happy lifestyle.

LOVE YOU MOMMMMMA!

Day From Hell -- Heavenly Night

Warning - this post might be short and to the point.  I AM TIRED!!!!

Soooo... you automatically know when you get less than 5 hours of sleep, your morning might be a little rough. This was the lovely thought that I fell asleep to - after I got back from work - at two in the morning!!!

When my alarm went off, I was not happy.
It's safe to say I was a little less than my pleasant, morning-loving self.

However, I did have breakfast to put some hop in my step.
Golden multi-grain waffles covered with maple syrup. and a HOT cup of coffee.

Work was pretty bad.... It's hard enough to be nice when I get a normal amount of sleep. But when I'm operating on fumes (approximately four hours) I am mightyyyy dangerous.

I might have kicked someone when they couldn't figure out how to work the scanner.  And another gym goer when they didn't know where the locker rooms were.

THANK GOD leftovers kept me sane :)
 Butternut squash and chicken sausage bread pudding for my lunch! And a huge apple!

I ended up heating up my lunch after my shift and heading out to find a spot in the sun to enjoy my goodies.  After devouring my food, I promptly fell asleep for 14 minutes before Arabic!

Plus side?  Being half delirious from lack of sleep made me confident enough to volunteer for a dictation in front of the entire class (the teacher read arabic words aloud and I wrote them on the board for everyone.... woah, man!) This could have gone wrong.  I could have been terribly embarrassed. THANK GOD I'm a genius.

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I came home from class and I was surprisingly in the mood to cook.

It finally happened.
I have broken out my Christmas/Birthday present early.....

HELLO VITAMIXER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this is probably the coolest 17-appliances-in-one-awesome-machine thing. EVER.

What did I make? Falafels.

I blended a cup of chick peas, some spinach, some onion, some flat-leafed parsley, added in garlic salt, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper.
 

And decided to put it in the refridge so I could make fresh falafels for dinner!!!
I knew I needed...
1. a snack that would carry me through a boring class and a hard workout
2. a nap.

So.... I took a Larabar out for a test drive :)
and I was NOT disappointed. 
 

I tried the peanut butter cookie flavor, upon Jenny's recommendation (I looovvee peanut butter - nut buttttt - and cookies, so this was perfect).  And the coolest thing?  This bar is dense, delicious, and simple.  It has only 3 ingredients: Dates, peanuts, salt.

I had to reschedule that running date from yesterday thanks to a SPRAINED ANKLE (someone from the gym noticed my fat kankle and diagnosed me with a frontal sprain).  So, I decided to take it easy and go for a swim to get my workout-for-my-own-sanity in.

I broke out the big guns: the one piece, the swim cap, and the goggles. 

I LOVED SWIMMING!!! I was scared I'd be extremely slow and get laughed and pointed at.... then I was scared I'd fall asleep and drown in my swim lane... but once I got into the pool, I knew it would be a good time.  I met up with my high school bud and we jumped right in to a great workout.

1800 meters looked like this:
- 200 meter warm up
- easy 500 meter freestyle
- 5 x 100 meters at fast/race pace
- easy 500 meter freestyle
- cooldown

I was planning on adding in 5 x 50 meter sprints... but my partner was cramping like no other.  And I was hungry as a hippo. So I basically sprinted home, took the world's fastest shower, and got to cookin

Falafels? Yep, they're still in falafel form.

However... they soon transformed into a pile of mush, which I decided to embrace, sautee a little bit, and use it as a delicious salad topper on my very own Mediterranean plate.

I ended up heating up some of my leftover Mediterranean rice pilaf and pita bread andddd adding in some garlic and red pepper hummus from T. Joes :)

I finished that whopping plate of food in under 10 minutes....
because I was excited for my date!!

With the roommies :) AT OUR YOGURT PLACE!!!
Jenny knew I'd be a grump today - thanks to lack of sleep and being over worked - so she suggested a froyo date after dinner... which I looked forward to all day.

Ghirardeli chocolate and caramel custard topped with almonds, waffle cone, and raisins.

On that note.. I'm going to hit the books :(
and promptly hit the... pillow? (is that even an expression?)

night folks!!

Butternut Squash and Jalepenos Chicken Sausage Bread Pudding

You heard me...
My dinner came in the form of a typically-sweet dessert dish transformed into a savory delight!!!!

I don't know if it's the early morning cardio session or just the simple fact that its Sunday, but all my roommates were in serious cooking mode! (this could be due to the fact that the Food Network is on our television like 98% of the time...)

So, while Matt was making Barefoot Contessa's corn chowder with bacon bits....
and Jenny was making her hearty vegetarian bean chili...
I was making....

Butternut Squash and Jalapenos Chicken Sausage Bread Pudding!!!!
Ingredients:
- 2 chicken sausages (or meat of any kind - I used Trader Joe's Jalapenos chicken sausage)
- about two cups of butternut squash (T.Joe's pre-packaged squash)
- about 2 to 3 cups of chopped cauliflower
- 1/2 of a yellow onion
- a handful of spinach
- a handful of baby bella mushrooms
- 4 slices of toasted bread
- 3/4-1 cup of egg beaters or egg whites
- 1/2 cup of almond milk
- garlic salt, pepper, and italian seasoning to taste
- Top it off with fat-free Feta crumbles!!

1. Steam and saute your chosen veggies: I chopped the onion and mushrooms and heated them in the pan with some non-stick cooking spray and a little water.  I chopped up my cauliflower and added that in with about 1/2 cup of water, then I added in my package of butternut squash.  I added in another 1/3 cup of water and covered to steam.  Check periodically and add in your seasonings (g.salt, pepper, italian). At the end, add in a handful or two of spinach :)

2. Brown your meat -- I sliced and chopped two Jalapenos chicken sausage from Trader Joes and browned them in a pan with non-stick cooking spray.

 3. Get toasty. Toast - and maybe burn - 4 or more slices of bread (I only had four left....)

4. Mix it all together: Add in your veggies, your meat, and your toast (chopped or crumbled into cubes).  Then, add in your 3/4 to 1 full cup of egg beaters or egg whites (can use real eggs too) and your 1/2 cup of almond milk (or any other type of milk). Garlic salt, seasoning, pepper toooo!

5. Place and bake. After about 5 minutes (for the bread to soak up some eggwash!), pour your mixture into a greased baking sheet and top with feta crumbles.  Cook for 40-50 minutes (mine was like 47?)

6. Let cool for a bit... or not. AND DIG IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Want to know something cool??

You can change out the veggies and the meat and play around with different flavors to make this dish totally your own.  I'm going to have fun with this in the future :)

I polished off a fourth of my huge baking sheet full of bread pudding... because there is only 790 calories in the entire dish. you heard.  I probably could have finished the whole thing... but... I accidently picked up a cake at Trader Joe's for dessert.

Slice of Opera Cake and frozen cool whip :)
opera cake is a layer of chocolate topping, coffee mousse, almond biscuit with coffee syrup, chocolate ganache, coffee mousse, and finally more almond biscuit!!!

SUNDAYS are kind of my new favorite thing...
especially if I eat like this on a weekly basis.

I'm off to fill my head with ARABIC and hopefully make it to the 7:45 abs class before work!