… and had the best dinner ever. But let’s start with breakfast, which started last night:

With some of this:

And some of this:

Smooshed onto Santa’s face to make my first breakfast cookie!!!

I woke up with a headache .. sad, for my not-even-a-glass-and-a-half of wine, but I just really don’t drink. After some coffee and nana:

I ran a 5k at the gym (too windy for the trail) in 28:59 and spent 15 minutes with the Stair Master.

Treadmill:

• 5 minutes @ 6.0 mi/hr, 2.5 incline
• 5 minutes @ 6.5 mi/hr, 2.5 incline
• 2 minutes @ 7.0 mi/hr, 2.5 incline
• 5 minutes @ 6.5 mi/hr, 2.5 incline
• 5 minutes @ 6.0 mi/hr, 2.5 incline
• 5 minutes @ 6.5 mi/hr, 2.5 incline
• 2 minutes @ 7.0 mi/hr, 2.5 incline
• 1:59 minutes @ 6.5 mi/hr, 2.5 incline

Stair Master:

• 3 minutes, level 3
• 2 minutes, level 4
• 3 minutes, level 3
• 2 minutes, level 4
• 3 minutes, level 3
• 1 minute, level 5
• 1 minute, level 4
• 1 minute, level 3

Then I came home, had this:

and thanked God for Gina.

Seriously delish. I might add some Truvia or honey next time for a little more sweetness, but it really was like a giant oatmeal raisin cookie!

After a brief trip out with mama, I came home on the verge of being hangry! I was craving falafel and sweet potato fries. So I made both. While my “fries” were baking, I made this Hugh Jass salad:

  

It was a beast containing:

• The remainder of the spinach container (3 cups?)
• The last 3 Veggie Patch falafel balls
• Brocc
• Green beans
• Peas
• Hummus
• Tzatziki
• Frank’s

It was delicious and devoured. Then these were done:

Half of the potato in here, half in the fridge to take back with me.

We had plans to go to a Cuban restaurant in New Haven, but they couldn’t seat us for a while, so my uncle suggested Barcelona, a tapas and wine bar. I’ve been DYING to go here since the summer. There is one closer to us, in Fairfield, but we were meeting my stepbrother and he lives closer to New Haven.

Fail: no pictures. I REALLY wanted to take them, but my I’m still to shy in public .

I started off with a white wine, a 2007 Albarino from Pedro de Soutomaior in Rias Baixas, Spain. It was really great – refreshing, crisp, fruity – but not sweet. My mom and stepdad had the red sangria but I didn’t try it. It was really really hard to choose what to get to eat. For tapas, aka “small plates”, you can get a few tapas for your meal, or a tapas as an appetizer and an entree – there’s probably thousands of combinations you could make.

I ended up choosing 3 tapas for my meal:

• Warmed Cana de Cabra (goat cheese) with Port Figs and Green Apple
• Spinach-Chickpea Casserole with Cumin & Garlic Confit
• Pulpo a la Plancha – Octopus with Fingerling Potatoes, Smoked Paprika, and Celery

Yes. It’s okay to be jealous.

My stepdad got the Boquerónes (fresh marinated anchovies) and something else I can’t remember. He and my mom also split the the Roasted Chickpea Puree with House-Made Pita Chips, the Homemade Cumin-Scented Chicken Empanadas with Avocado Puree, and some roasted brussel sprouts with garlic and bacon (not on the online menu so not sure of the exact name/ingredients). My mom also ordered the Albondigas (meatballs). My uncle was at the other end of the table, so I’m not sure what he ordered, but my stepbrother and brother both ordered the Pepper-Rubbed Filet Mignon with Mashed Potatoes, Brandy Reduction, and Crispy Onions.

After we ordered, fresh loaves of bread were brought to the table and olive oil was poured. As it was white bread, I didn’t have any, but everyone said it was delicious and very warm and fresh. The tapas were brought out as they were ready. I got my goat cheese, fig, and apple platter first, on a long white platter, each ingredient perfectly separated from the other.

OH. EM. GEE.

Warm, creamy, amazing goat cheese. Port-soaked juicy, chewy, sweet figs. Crisp, tart, refreshing slices of Granny Smith. Really there are no words except Gina’s – FOODGASM. And the perfect dish. The best thing I’ve ever eaten (in America).

The spinach and chickpea “casserole” came out next, in a small, shallow round dish. Whole chickpeas were covered in the most thinly sliced spinach I’ve ever seen. To be honest, I couldn’t taste any cumin, and only got the taste of garlic a few times throughout the dish. It was good, but if those two flavors had been more pronounced, it would have been great.

Then the warm octopus salad came out. It was in a small, shallow, rectangular dish with octopus (flesh and tentacles), whole fingerling potatoes, celery slices, and red onions. The octopus was perfectly cooked – chewy, but not rubbery at all, and very savory. The potatoes were great too, but overall, the dish was WAY too salty. I actually didn’t finish it. Shocking – I know. Also, there was bacon in the dish, which I tasted before I saw. This was not indicated on the menu, and if it had been, I probably wouldn’t have ordered it. I would also be concerned for pescatarians/flexitarians/quasitarians/whatevertarians here – octopus would might be okay for them to order, but the bacon wouldn’t be! Also, I’m not sure if octopus is known to be fatty (?) but one of my pieces was entirely fat. I actually spit it out into my napkin .. conspicuously, I promise.

I tried the brussel sprouts my parents ordered – amazing. I also had two of the home-made pita chips with the chickpea puree (okay, let’s just call it hummus, because that’s what it is). The chips were visibly oily (ick), but perfectly toasted and crunchy with a great not-too-salty taste. The hummus was RIDICULOUSLY good. It had such a unique taste – including lots of garlic, which I love! I finished it off with a fork. Yup, just me and forkfuls of hummus at dinner. So classy.

It was all plated beautifully, brought out quickly, and with great service. That is, until we ordered dessert. I just got a cup of decaf (plus I still had some wine), but my uncle and brother ordered the Churros y Chocolate with Dark Chocolate Dipping Sauce and my stepdad got the Warm Carrot Cake with Cinnamon Ice Cream – mostly because my mom and I wanted just a bite. After we got our coffee, our once-attentive serve virtually disappeared and we waited 20 minutes for our dessert. It was obvious we had been forgotten about because when it was finally brought over, the ice cream on my step-dad’s plate was melted. At least plate a new dish to make it look like it hasn’t been sitting out, waiting.

I had just a bite of the carrot cake – and I’ve had better. There was no frosting on it – I guess the ice cream is supposed to serve as the frosting, but I didn’t want any. It was good, but not great. Carrot cake is my favorite so I would have been disappointed, but I’m glad I just tried it. I didn’t try the churros, but I guess they were just okay too.

Overall, it was a really great experience! My family and I had never had tapas before, so it was fun to try together. Definitely my new favorite restaurant. So so good. The atmosphere is great – very laid back, dimmed lights, nice ambiance. Modern, but welcoming. There’s so much more I want to try – and from what I can tell, things change seasonally and they use some local ingredients – woo! Go!

Back to school tomorrow for two weeks of class and a week of finals I have so much to do it’s not even funny. Normally I would feel bad about neglecting so much work over break, but I needed just that – a break. It was AMAZING to just lay in my bed all day, run when I want to (not just when I have time), spend time with my family, and have a lot more eating freedom .. especially discovering tapas. Hopefully I’ll finish my laundry tonight – nothing like waiting til the last minute! Then tomorrow I’ll get up early, run/gym, pack, and peace. With a special trip to cheer myself up on the way back to Storrs …

What’s your favorite thing to get at Whole Foods? I always love trying new foods! As much as my blog does not reflect that …

Falafel are a treasure exported from North Africa , and sold  as street fare all over New York city . These fried,  crisp , crunchy morsels take some planning ahead , but , honestly are worth all the time and effort .

New york Times Magazine

Makes 32

3 cups chickpeas      1/2 cup plus 1 tbs bulgar

3 medium yellow onions , roughly chopped

15 cloves garlic , peeled

3 tbs whole cumin seed

3 tbs whole coriander seed

1 tbs whole black peppercorns

1 tbs kosher salt , plus more to taste

3 tbs finely chopped mint

3 tbs finely chopped cilantro

3 tbs finely chopped parsley

3 tbs white sesame seeds

3 tbs baking soda

1 to 2 quarts canola oil

Place the chickpeas and bulgur each in a bowl and add water to cover by 2 inches . Cover and soak overnight.Drain well and grind through the small dye of a meat grinder into a large bowl set under a fine mesh strainer . Press on the onions to release the excess juice. Discard the juices then add the onions to the chickpea mixture . ( I use a food processor , careful not to OVERPROCESS )

In a small skillet over medium heat , toast the cumin and coriander seeds until fragrant . Transfer to a spice grinder, add the peppercorns and grind to a powder. Transfer the spices to the chickpea mixture , along with the salt , mint , cilantro , parsley and sesame seeds . Stir to combine . Mix in the baking soda and let stand for 30 minutes . season to taste with salt .

Heat a medium pot filled 2 inches with canola oil to 350*F. Using your hands , shape the chickpea mixture into 2 inch balls . Fry in batches for 3 minutes or until dark brown and cooked through.

Serve with Hummus , raita and Pita bread

Location:

504 Bloor St. W, Toronto

Cost: $3.49 for a falafel

www.ghazale.ca

We found ourselves searching for food in the Annex one evening before the start of Filmi 2009.

I laugh now when I think about how we walked right PAST Ghazale (even though it was packed; which we all know is a clear indication that the place is damn good) and over to Mount Everest (which I’ve also heard is amazing) to check out their menu and see if we could have a sit-down dinner there in under 30 minutes (answer: no). So again, we walked about perusing outdoor menus and turning our noses down to practically everything we didn’t have a hankering for. Finally with less than 15 minutes left before the start of the fest, we shared a quick slice of Pizzaiolo pizza (I am a fan of their chicken pesto slice) vowing to get a proper meal after the show.

Alas, after the show and after chatting with friends, we realized it was too late to enjoy a fancy restaurant experience on a weeknight, but not too late for a falafel! And after hearing how good Ghazale is from the said friends, we had to try it.

I present you with:

Falafel Sandwich $3.49

Ghazale Menu

Fresh ingredients

Ghazale is situated beside the Bloor Street Cinema

Happy Falafel it was.

Frugal fare at it’s best in the city!

They’re open till 4am all week, and a new location just opened at Church & Wellesley (78 Wellesley St.)

Mount Everest has some competition now.

Here I sit on Friday night and I feel like I got absolutely NOTHING accomplished today. But you know what? Sometimes we just need days like that.

I woke up this morning at the late hour of 8:40 a.m. (seriously that is late for me) and made some breakfast:

Pumpkin oat bran with raisins, chocolate chips and PB. Seriously, you think I would be tired of chocolate chips by now. Nope!

I met my mom for coffee and read some really cool vegetarian magazines at the bookstore where I got some ideas of things to buy and places to shop for some vegan goodies. Plus it was nice catching up with my mom since we didn’t see each other at Thanksgiving.

For lunch, I ate some vegetarian baked beans and brown rice but didn’t take a pic since it’s the exact same thing I had for lunch yesterday!

Suzie got a bath and did this most of the afternoon:

Before I went grocery shopping, I started having a mad craving for some falafel and made a stop at Shiraz Mediterranean Grill which has my absolute favorite falafel (so far).

I nixed their sauce and added my own hummus. I also fell for their sweet potato fries and finally decided to try some!

But I gauged my hunger and knew I couldn’t possibly finish all of this food in one sitting, so I put one of the falafel balls with the veggies and pita plus half of the fries in the fridge for another meal.

Here’s my actual plate:

It was delicious!

After dinner, we watched the movie “Year One” which wasn’t as funny as we’d hoped it would be. Thankfully we only got it because we had a free rental from the Redbox.

Dessert/Evening snack was my favorite, you guessed it.

At first I was kind of bummed that I didn’t exercise today (other than grocery shopping) but I think I needed today since I ran a 5 mile trail run on Wednesday and did a very challenging yoga program yesterday. My arms and shoulders are totally sore today!

So I’m thinking a run is in order for tomorrow. Probably going to wait until later in the day when it warms up a bit. It’s freaking cold out there tonight, I think we’re getting down to 32, boo!

I’m not a fan of cold weather. But I can appreciate the need for seasons. Sadly, I held out as long as I could…we turned on the heat tonight. We’re only going to use it when absolutely necessary but tonight I was freezing.

Hope wherever you are, you are warm and comfy!

Good night

Hello bloggies!

We have a lot to catch up on! After posting Wednesday night I had this bowl of grapes and dried apricots:

My approach to Thanksgiving was simple: to treat it like any other day. I woke up, had a couple bites of banana and some coffee, and set out for the trail to run. I was very pleasantly surprised to wake up without any soreness from my 6+ miler! I ran an easy 3 miles in about 29 minutes, came home and had this:

We were supposed to be at my dad’s at noon, a family friend’s right after that, and my aunt and uncle’s at 1:30 to eat at 2 – but my family is never on time. I know that, but I still get anxious and stressed out when they’re late. I knew I had the massive stash of bars I keep in my purse and grabbed a gala as well, since I couldn’t gauge my hunger or eating schedule.

After we left our family friends’, I ate my apple, figuring I would just switch out my lunch and afternoon snack. We didn’t end up eating until 4:30, which was fine since I had eaten. I was full from the apple all afternoon and just had a few random shrimpies before the big meal.

I didn’t take any pictures, but here’s what was on my plate:

• Spinach and mixed greens salad with olives, shrooms, and yellow pepper
• Roasted brussel sprouts
• Roasted parsnips
• Turkey
• Mashed winter squash (not sure of the type – when I asked, I got “yellow” as a reply)

Trust me, it was a large meal. For dessert, there was chocolate Tofutti ice cream, vanilla and eggnog ice creams, plus an apple pie and a pumpkin pie. To be honest, I was satisfied with my meal and really didn’t want any dessert, so I didn’t have any.

It was nice to see my family, hang out with their doggies, and talk about Farmville with my cousin, but I wasn’t in the best mood all day. Thanksgiving is nice, but Christmas is by far our family’s (at least, my dad’s side) favorite and biggest holiday. By the time my brother and I got home at 7, I was STARVING – figures. I made pure deliciousness (better than Thanksgiving dinner, perhaps …)

Frank’s was a delicious and perfect addition – as it always is.

A little while later, I popped some popcorn with added cayenne and cinnamon and had a hot chocolate.

Perf!

Although yesterday was Thanksgiving, today was the day that I actually felt like it. As much as I love my extended family, there’s a lot of things that make me anxious at/about family stuff (I’m sure you all understand). My mom, stepdad, and uncle spent the holiday yesterday with my stepdad’s family, so my Mom and I planned to make tonight Thanksgiving in our house!

I took the day off from exercise, and made a delish and light yogurt bowl:

Then I picked up one of my best friends who I haven’t seen since AUGUST for lunch at Chef’s Table, where my mom and I had lunch the other day. Today my amazing salad consisted of:

• Romaine
• Grilled chicken
• Kidney beans
• Steamed broccoli
• Shredded carrots
• Fat free balsamic

So amazing. Salads always taste better when someone else assembles and mixes it up for me! I came home intending to do work, but instead I read blogs and watched That 70’s Show all day. Oh well, it was my holiday. I also had a Granny Smith with cinnamon:

Then I helped my mom start to cook! I peeled tomatoes, rinsed and prepped green beans, and other small things that wouldn’t affect the taste of food if I messed up, considering I burn toast.

The six of us had enough food for my entire dad’s side of the family (20 people). We made:

• Turkey
• Mashed potatoes
• Mashed butternut squash
• Steamed green beans
• Peas
• Mashed white turnip
• Mashed yellow turnip
• Stuffing
• Cranberry sauce
• Gravy

My mom, stepdad, and I had some of this Viognier (white wine) while we were finishing cooking and setting the table. I laughed at the company name, Cono Sur, which apparently comes from the region of Chile the wine is produced in, but I thought was a play on “connoisseur.” ANYWAY, it was pretty good – crisp and fruity, but not overly sweet at all. I also had a splash more with din. My plate had:

• Turkey
• Mashed potatoes (I asked my stepdad to make me a small portion of pure potato – no butter or anything mixed in)
• Butternut
• Green beans
• Peas
• Yellow turnip

Everything was SO GOOD. My favorite thing is to get a forkful of peas, mashed taters, and turkey all in one – best taste combo for the holidays! The yellow turnip was my favorite dish by far. It has such a great taste and texture, sweet but nutty, chunky but smooth. Yum! Obv went back to seconds this Thanksgiving – of turkey (this time with hot sauce!!), mashed taters, peas, green beans, and turnip). Now I’m super stuffed. I actually can’t remember the last time I felt this full, which is great because I’ve really learned to stop myself from overeating. But, it was a holiday, all delicious and amazing, and all WHOLE foods! Like really, I ODed on veggies – it’s fine. Sadly, we didn’t have any dessert, but since my stomach is carrying a small child of produce, it’s probably not a bad thing. Now that it’s officially Christmas season, I’m sipping some Candy Cane Lane (hoping the green tea jumpstarts my metabolism to relieve the food baby pressure) and watching ELF!! YES – I’ve been dying to watch this all week. Good night!

P.S. My new bangs and I are still trying to work things out – haircut picture when we stop our argument.

Merianstraße 3 69117 Heidelberg

“Are you okay with the music?” asked the lone Syrian worker behind the counter as Arabic tunes echoed throughout the restaurant.  I nodded in approval as I enjoyed a sip of Arabic tea and a bite of my falafel wrap.  This is the scene at Falafel restaurant, where the ambiance is casual and the food is remarkable.

The menu board here is relatively small, which is not a bad thing at all.  You can choose an assortment of items to be stuffed in flatbread (mit Brot) or different types of entrées on plates (auf Teller).  They also have various salads and a few dessert items.  Drinks are rather inexpensive.  However, what makes this place unique is the free hot Arabic tea.  That’s right.  I said free!  There is a small table in the corner with glass cups, a large tea kettle, and sugar cubes to sweeten your drink as desired.  The tea is unusually addicting.

Falafels here at Falafel are, as expected, fantastic.  Although I have only eaten falafel once before, I was completely blown away by the taste and texture of the spiced chickpeas here. 

At 3,70 €, the Falafel with Halloumi cheese in flatbread is a definite hit.  Upon placing your order, the falafel is scooped into balls and deep fried.  Sticks of halloumi cheese, which has a high smoking point, are also put into the deep fryer.  Next, the cook smears red tomato sauce on a soft, thin sheet of flatbread, adds the falafel balls, presses down to spread them out, places a couple of tomato slices and a handful of shredded lettuce inside, scoops a generous amount of Tzatziki sauce on top, sprinkles some chopped parsley on top, folds the bread over like a wrap, and then places it inside a sandwich press.  The end result is a falafel sandwich wrap with eye catching grill marks. 

The combination of falafel, halloumi cheese, assorted vegetables, and yogurt sauce is undeniably delicious.  The wrap is reminiscent of a burrito – the falafel acts like ground beef, the red sauce spicy resembling salsa, cheese adding a flavor boost, and the vegetables granting a crunchy consistency.  Unlike ground beef, however, the falafel has a crunchy texture and a distinctive flavor that had my taste buds dancing in excitement.   

Order the 4,70 € chicken breast plate and you get a platter with a small portion of salad, Tzatziki sauce, hummus, chunks of tender chicken breast, and a thin piece of flatbread.  The salad consists of sliced carrots, thinly sliced cucumbers, chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and green onions with scattered pepper flakes, all tossed in a vinaigrette.  In terms of taste, there isn’t anything special about it.  The hummus with olive oil is decent.  Unfortunately, the cook was a bit too aggressive in sprinkling the cumin on top.  The chicken breast – tender and bursting with juice – is terrific, although you only get about twelve small chunks.  You only get one piece of bread, so you end up with an excess of dips without anything to eat it with.  How sad.

Nonetheless, Falafel restaurant definitely serves up some of the best falafels in Heidelberg.  Add in a cozy atmosphere, fresh ingredients, reasonable prices, and free tea and you have a winner in the heart of the Heidelberg Altstadt.  It’s a nice alternative to the Döner Kebabs in Germany.

Summary:

Falafel, located at the corner of Heugasse and Merianstraße in front of a large church, is an Arabic restaurant specializing in, you guessed it, falafel.  The prices here are extremely affordable.  Free tea!

Overall – 4.5 stars

• Falafel mit Halloumi (Falafel with Halloumi cheese, wrapped inside thin flatbread) – 5/5
• Hähnchenbrust auf Teller (Chunks of Chicken Breast on a plate with hummus and flatbread on the side) – 4/5
• Arabic Tea – 5/5
• Service – 5/5

Last night, I had a bedtime snack of some unpictured dried apricots.  I’m crediting this smart snack decision with this morning’s best run ever, which included a new PDR – 6.34 miles!

I woke up, tried to talk myself out of running, made some coffee and had half a Chocolate Hazelnut Jocalat bar (camera battery was dead this morning), made a bangin’ playlist, threw on my new Lululemon Wunder Unders and Brisk Run Headband (and a shirt for good measure – long sleeved, to be exact), and drove to the trail intending to do the whole loop of a little over 5 miles.

As usual, I tried talking myself into settling for 3 miles, then at least 4, but as I passed the half-mile mark, I knew I would run the whole valley.  I felt so so good.  My legs and hips felt great, and mentally I was in a glorious place – the place of knowing I was having an amazing run.  I’m sure starting the best run ever with this Lady didn’t hurt either.

Early on, I told myself not to push it – I really have a problem pacing myself.  It’s a learning process that not every run has to be the fastest, that I need easy days too.  Consciously slowing down was a huge factor.

Just after I turned around at the halfway mark, I was thinking how much I want to run 6 miles and when I would be able to do that.  I wondered if my friend Emily would run it with me.  Then I realized that I was having a great run, mentally and physically - so why not just do it today? When I got to the end of my run (the beginning of the trail), I could just turn around and tack on another mile by running to the half-mile marker and turning around again.  Amazingly, I didn’t try talking myself out of it.  I even considered making it 7 miles, but I knew that was pushing it and that I should have brought some extra fuel for 7 miles.

My knees and hips started annoying me around mile 4, but I just kept going.  When I got to the end of the trail, I turned around and did another quick mile. Total = 6.34ish miles in 1:02.

Maybe it’s because it was on a looped route, but it didn’t feel like that big of a deal.  But it is.  But it doesn’t feel like it.  Does that ever happen to you – you reach a new goal and you don’t feel accomplished?

I actually wasn’t hungry for a while when I got back and ended up eating an hour and a half later.  Sometimes exercise does that to me.  I ended up making some yumminess for brunch though:

1 egg + 2 egg whites omelet with spinach and feta with Frank, half an apple on a Pepperidge Farm 7 Grain Deli Flat with cinn

It’s true.  I’m cheating on Arnold with the Pepp.  Stop & Shop only had rye sammie thins left and I’ve been digging the multigrain goodness so I decided to try the deli flats.  I think I’ll go back to Arnold after these are gone.  My omelet was great though – spinach and feta is one of my favorite types!

On our 29823498th grocery shopping trip of the week, I had a hazelnut coffee with skim and Sweet & Low (ew) – I was exhausted all afternoon.  I also sampled some cranberry cheese on a Dr. Kracker.  If only both items hadn’t cost my first born (okay, so $11 and $8, but still).  Major nomminess.

Before dinner I snacked on some grapies and then devoured this amazeballs plate:

Corfu pockletless pita with 4 Veggie Patch falafel balls and Sabra tzatziki, plus sugar snap peas, carrots, and brocc with hummus

Lighting sucks and I was too hungry to maneuver around my house for a decent photo.  First time ever having tzatziki and wondering how I ever dressed my balls without it.  Could have used some Frank’s, but I was too lazy.  Wish the pita had been whole wheat but it was amazing so whatever.  Apparently have become too lazy to use pronouns.

Haircut (to debut later).

Snack:

Siggi’s Plain Icelandic Skyr with Stew Leonard’s Cranberry Fitness trail mix

That trail mix is my favorite, but me and trail mix are a problem.  The problem being that a portion size equals an entire bag.  Luckily, they started making snack packs.  Our love is reignited.  It has peanuts, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, pepitas and maybe cashews and more?  I’m not sure.

Mmmm look how thick!  Like soft serve …

Siggi’s Icelandic Plain Skyr Opinion
Taste: Tart, tangy, delish.  5/5.
Texture: As thick and creamy as soft serve, fo realz.  5/5.
Fill Factor: Again, I didn’t eat it alone, but I think alone or with mix-ins, it would be a great snack/large meal, depending on your choice of toppings and hunger level.  4/5.
Ingredients: “Pasteurized skim milk, live active cultures, vegetable rennet.”  As to close to perfect as it could be.  5/5.

I’m hungry again.

This post title is in honor of my spanglish sistah and my visiting foodies.  But first and foremost, I just wanted to say that re-reading my last post made me feel so whiney.  Not a fan.  I definitely did not mean to sound all “woe-is-me” and “there’s-no-rest-for-the-weary” because I’m going to be working on thanksgiving.  So let me explain.  I would definitely head home if I could – the more family time the better!  Kyle actually headed home Sunday morning, which I very much encouraged him to do (why not take as much time off as his job would allow?).  Unfortunately for me, the hospital doesn’t close up shop for people to stuff their faces (sounds like a perfectly legit reason to me, but I guess that’s why I’m not a hospital administrator…).  How awesome would it be if everyone just promised not to cardiac arrest near the holidays? 

Anyways, I will be working on Thanksgiving.  And the day before.  But today I was free to cook…and EAT! (duh)

I had a massive frothy cuppa joe and an equally massive bowl of [me] & goji cereal.  Sadly, I have reached the bottom of the barrel   Time to order more. 

I polished off the last bit as a dry snack while reading blogs and brainstorming my vegan Thanksgiving meal. 

New York Big Apple State of Mind.  Why is NYC called the big apple anyways?  What would I do without wikipedia…

I had a little snackplate for lunch, including: falafel, apple slices, spelt pretz, and the food that unites the world tastes good on everything, hummus. 

Obviously I took some time to digest, but after that, I headed to the gym for some serrrrrious mileage.  I’m not joking, I was totally ready to get my cardio on.  I did 6 miles in the gym, but then felt antsy and wanted to really stretch my legs…so I headed to Riverside park for another 4 miles.  It was crisp outside, and I was cruising.  Loves.  Eventually I made it back to the apartment and made another manzana-full plate.

If anyone’s keeping track, these are apples number 4 and 5.  Boo-ya!

After getting decent I took mid-town by storm for some errands, then headed downtown.  Guess where I went for dinner? 

Hot bar central.

And guess who my hot dates were? 

Pssshhh, the peeps this post is dedicated to of course (Brooke, Kailey, and Sarah)!  (ahem, for whom this post is dedicated – happy Kailey?)

So fun.  No other words to say really.  I felt like we could’ve chatted all night…much to the dismay of our neighbors?  I don’t think it was our volume or constant laughter that annoyed them so much as Brooke shooting a rubber band at them.   

I headed home to pack my lunch and get ready for another day of work.

More apple love.  This is now a full blown obsession.  Someone may need to call Promises.

P.S. Happy Birthday to my FAVE 25 year old sister!

Hey everyone!! Sorry for the late update — it’s been a hectic day!

I was up and at ‘em early (okay, I was up…but was I fully functional? no. ), and then heard the buzzing of my phone, and the familiar ringtone I have for my school e-mail address….first thought — Class canceled??? Alas…no. haha He was going to be late (he totally should have canceled though, in my opinion haha). Either way, I was able to get ready and get out the door without rushing myself. I got my coffee (sorry no pics…although I’m sure by now, you are well aware of what my skinny hazelnut latte looks like), and ran into a friend who was in my class, and we caught up and whatnot while postponing going to class. It was lovely. We did eventually go to class though. haha

I got home from class, and I had to go get a few errands in really quickly. I picked up a present that really is for my mom, but it is meant to share obviously. I just wanted her to know just how much I appreciate what she has done over the last few months for me…driving me back to school after work, and picking me up and all that.

So THIS is what I got her:

It’s this lovely little cupcake shop around the corner from me called Sweet. It’s definitely not cheap and definitely not an everyday thing…but as a treat, oh yes. Perfect. I picked up a half dozen, and boy do they look delicious.

The flavors I picked were pumpkin with cream cheese frosting and a candied roasted pumpkin seed on top, and, my personal fave, red velvet with cream cheese frosting. You could pick as many flavors as you wanted…but I figured the simpler the better. These pictures really don’t do the cupcakes justice…I’ll have to get a better picture tomorrow when they are no longer in the box.

I’m excited for my red velvet!! haha Yes…I claimed cupcakes in my own gift to my mother — I knew she would not object.

Anyway, so it was around 1ish? at that point, and I needed to clean my apartment and eat some actual food…instead of just staring at beautiful cupcakes.

I made myself a yogurt mess with the usual players.

I honestly can’t remember if I ate anything else before dinner — I sure as heck didn’t photograph it…it was a hectic afternoon! In my evening class we watched part of the movie The Fog of War. I really liked it — it was interesting to hear almost “behind-the-scenes” convos of Presidents past…and just how…messed up war and government truly are. I can honestly say that I would never want to have to make the choices that not just US officials, but politicians everywhere have to make…sometimes there just is no right answer. I’m anxious to see the rest of it.

After class, I had plans to go to dinner with my mom. We went to Cafe Jaffa and it was delicious. I got the same thing that I did last time…the falafel and hummus plate. YUM! I also had some mango sangria. — just what I needed!

THIS time…I took a picture of my meal!!

I also got some -unpictured- JP Licks after that…. non-fat peanut butter soft serve frozen yogurt with some oreos on top!!!! Yumm…it was cold out but I was in heaven. Their yogurt is so good!!! I wish I had a picture…but it was too good to resist until I found my camera. haha

I’m officially on Thanksgiving Break! and ahh it feels good! I have stuff to do, but just the fact that I don’t have to drag my booty to class for the rest of the week is a weeeelcome change!! Anyone else get a decent break this week??

What do you guys like to do when you get those rare moments of relaxation??

Hope everyone has a fabulous week!!!

Peace, Love and Munchies.

Bästa K ringer och vill luncha – i Kirseberg.

Hon bor i Blekinge och har ingen aning om VAR vi ska hitta denna lunch. Och jag… jag har bara bott i Malmö i fem år så hur sjutton ska jag veta? Eller  nej, jag bor i Lomma, jag JOBBAR i Malmö, i Västra Hamnen och DÄR kan jag vartenda matställe utan och innan, men skicka ut mig på andra sidan Centralen – och jag riskerar att inte komma tillbaka före mörkrets inbrott (även i icke-november-mörker).

Jag ringer L. Hon om någon kan Kirseberg, uppvuxen där och nu åter hemflyttad.

- Jaa!, säger hon entusiastiskt. Jag vet bästa stället. Meze de Falafel No1, på Södra Bulltoftavägen. Kanonbra mat!

Där borde det ha börjat ringa varningsklockor, men nej…

Jag kör, K möter upp och vi mobilsnackar medan vi letar efter Meze-haket.

Sp hittar vi det: I den gamla personalmatsalen vid Egmonts gamla lokaler. Där jag åt lunch dagligen när jag först började på Egmont.

Tillbaka på GÅ (utan att gå i fängelse, dock. Man får vara tacksam för det lilla).

Fast mezen VAR fantastisk. Rekommenderas!

Hey there, strangers! How was your weekend? Mine was lovely… I spent the last few days relaxing in upstate New York with my parents.  Time seems to move slower there; I never felt like I was rushing to catch my breath or finish five things at once.  It was a nice change.  What did you do?

Here’s a quick re-cap of the weekend chez with Mom & Pop LVP, Do/Don’t style!

DO make Eggs In A Basket out of an open-face grilled cheese sandwich.  Thanks for the idea, Kaytee!

DO enjoy pumpkin whole wheat pancakes on a frosty fall morning.  The secret to their fluffiness? A little bit of vinegar.

DO support your local farmers and buy apples at the orchard…

…and while there, DO pick up an apple cider donut for your mama.

It will make her happy.

DO top your salads with Red Ants On A Log (celery with Sunbutter and dried cherries).

DON’T feel silly when you squeal with delight after finding holiday teas at your local food co-op, after searching every chain grocery store with no luck.

DON’T gloat about winning some fancy protein powder from your neighborhood Everythingtarian.

DO share Holly’s pumpkin molasses cookies with those who gave you life… albeit grudgingly.

DO cozy up to a mug of Spiced POM Cider…

DO have a nice dinner at Church and Main, a sustainable restaurant that supports local farmers and uses only the freshest ingredients (and DO go home and watch Food, Inc. afterward).

DO drink local Riesling…

…eat wedges of bread…

DO share two appetizers with Daddy-O to maximize tastings, like these bay scallops with parsley pesto over cappelllini...

… and this spinach and arugula salad with candied almonds, parmesan and goat cheese.

DO have the pan-roasted Atlantic monk fish with creamy white beans, celery root, warm baby winter greens & roasted beets for yourslef.

DO share three desserts (warm chocolate cake with caramel sauce, gingerbread crème brulée, semolina cake with roasted apples).

And, in case you were wondering, this is a salsify root:

…this is a celery root:

… and this is a turnip.  DON’T worry, these aren’t sea creatures!

Do warm up for your first 6 mile run since your injury with Yoga For Runners.

DO give your knees a break and run on a track.

DO utilize the Lap function on your heart rate monitor; DON’T feel bad for taking a year to notice it.

Total distance: 6 miles
Total time: 59:54

Mile 1: 9:49
Mile 2: 9:57
Mile 3: 10:07
Mile 4: 10:14
Mile 5: 10:03
Mile 6: 9:41

Average Pace: 9:58

DO refuel with a bowl of apple cinnamon raisin oatmeal.  Microwave a diced apple, sprinkled with cinnamon, for 90 seconds. Insta-baked apple.

DO enjoy an end-of weekend bowl of Marcella Hazan’s Spinach and Rice Soup.

DO buy packaged falafel based on the brand name alone.

And most importantly, DO take advantage of your boyfriend’s absence to load up on things like Garlic Lovers Hummus and raw onion.

For an added bonus for body and soul, DO a free Lunar Flow practice before bed, with your eyes closed and the lights off.  You’ll thank yourself.

What are your most recent DOs and DON’Ts?

October 30, 2009

In case you were not aware, hot oil flying at high velocity out of a frying pan is really pretty dangerous. And while I love falafel, this kind of treacherous oil is the reason that I will probably continue buying falafel made by others. But I felt extremely proud of my efforts and it turned out pretty good. My dad showed some initial scepticism but ended up eating at least three so by the dad-o-meter it was a hit.

I just have this idea, sticking in my mind all the time.

All western falafel are the same, and the main ingredient is carrots!!, I still believe that samer is behind this, or at least have a share in this business!

European Falafel with carrots

P.S: orange reddish color in this sandwich is not tomato! its carrots!

Happy Friday and welcome to our weekly wrap-up, otherwise known as Friday Faves!

We’ve had a busy week here at Under Solen, with a lot of early morning business calls. So early that the coffee shop wasn’t even open… bad planning on our part. Speaking of coffee shops, we wanted to give you a little insight to our local digs. Not only does it serve the Falafel Waffle (we haven’t tried it yet, but Emily already gives it the thumbs up), you can also order yourself some good jello shots. We’re definitely feeling a falafel + jello shot dinner date coming on, any takers?

But onto the important business… here were some of our favorite things this week:

Giant Redwoods Photo Essay – These photos make us want to jump in the car and road trip down south immediately. Speaking of wanderlust, The Wild Image Project 2010 Expedition: Endangered Argentina combines travel, conservation and art, our three favorite things! In the world of new media, we’re digging Simple Earth Media, as the team calls it, “New Media Making a Difference” … we couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Along those lines, if you’re a non-profit and haven’t jumped on the new media bandwagon, here’s some help on launching an iPhone app. And while we’re still on the subject of new media, no matter how much we like being connected (we do make a business of it), just keep in mind that what happens on Facebook stays on Facebook.

Here in Oregon it’s been dumping snow up at the mountain, and that gets us thinking about cold weather activities, which you always need a good recipe to go with. We dig the Quinoa Spice Cake, Anna’s very own creation. Perfect with a hot toddy. And when you need to gear up for a salmon court battle. And last but not least, simply for some educational amusement: Did You Know Snake River Salmon Do it at Altitude?

Under Solen wishes you a fabulous weekend!

Tonight’s social ride to Falafel’s Drive In is reminiscent of one that took place before iMD was even around. The SJF crew made a trip of their own over two years ago. At the time there were only about 20 riders total. Now there’s a store. What have you gone and done Mark?

-ah

Day well done!  I hope everyone else had a well delightful Wednesday!

My day wasn’t super exciting, but it was surely successful.  I had a productive day on the lovely Obama Stimulus package.  I was able to get to the gym because my hip flexor was feeling 100% better.  And I had a super delicious dinner.

Simple things can make your day, you know?

Simple thing of the moment…

Seeing Chris O’Donnell back on the screen!  Fried Green Tomatoes Anyone.

Such an underrated heart throb.

Anywho, onto the daily eats.

Leftover falafel with spinach, tomato, spinach and yogurt dill sauce.  I also had some carrot sticks and 40 spices hummus.  I also had a delicious clementine for dessert.

I usually don’t make sticks from my carrots, but for some reason the extra effort made them more special?  Is that odd?

Afternoon snack included the classic!

Are you sick of this combo yet?  Because I am not, but I am out of orange cranberries and will have to go with blueberries or cherries tomorrow…should be interesting.  Please observe the combo of cashew, chocolate and cranberry = wowza!

After work I headed to the gym to take it slow.  I didn’t want to push the flexor too hard even though I hadn’t felt any pain all day.

I ended up sticking to the cross training machines.  30min random elliptical and 30min manual speed on the ArcTrainer.  Nothing hurt!  Simple things!  I am did quick arms between the two sets of cardio and then core work at the end.

Dinner was delicious!

Nick had dinner with his mom so I was on my own to make something delicious and not Nick approved!

Carnival squash rings, lentils, leftover taco black beans, goat cheese and cranberry apple chutney.  I liked the taco spice with the sweet chutney.  I also had a piece of 12 train with smart balance.

Great combo and I have some squishy squash leftover with lentils and goat cheese for lunch tomorrow, yes!  Simple Things.

I think I will now go have a vitamuffin with almond butter.  Simple Things.

Have a great night!

The Nutrition Nut is back…and hopefully not so “nutty”. With my biology exam now in the past, the stress level has reduced 10 fold. I re-fueled with Pita Pit for lunch, the extent of my fast food. If you couldn’t have guessed, I despise fast food. In fact, I wrote a persuasive essay against eating fast food my junior year of high school. I could go on and on…

Although Pita’s motto is: “Fresh Thinking, Healthy Eating”, all of their options are not entirely healthy. I went the Greek route, usually a healthier one: regular pita bread (they were out of whole wheat), falafel, hummus, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red onion, feta & tzatziki (cucumber yogurt sauce).

With a full tummy, I curled up in bed and napped for 45 minutes. I am drained from the week, and am being extra cautious to avoid any illness – the last thing I want to deal with over vacation. Looking forward to a relaxing evening, which does include SYTYCD : )

Happy, healthy eating!

~ Hillary