Busy Weekend

Why is it that the weekends go so quickly?  I vote to have the weekends last just one more day.  It seems that as soon as I have started relaxing, it is Sunday & I have to begin thinking about the work week.  No fun.

Over the weekend, I tried some new recipes (some of my own & some from others)..  As always, I enjoyed Angela's Banana Soft Serve Vegan Overnight Oats  However, this time, I made some peanut butter because when life hands you raw peanuts, YOU MAKE PB!!

So, I took my 1.12 lb of peanuts and threw them in the processor...

and let 'er rip!!

The key is: PATIENCE!!  Patience is something I have been working on lately... more to come on that.

Voila!

This PB only cost two and a half bucks & it has no added oils, salt, or sugar.

So, I took my PB and processed it up with my banana soft serve & added a dollop on top.  YUM!

As you know, work has been crazy... A while ago, I signed up for a managing stress class at the local co-op.  Well, on Thursday night I had the pleasure of attending the class and meeting two wonderful ladies who lit a fire in me.  

The class focused on the connection between your mind, body, and spirit.  We learned to use meditation, art, and guided imagery to refocus our thoughts.  There was also some discussion regarding aromatherapy. 

When I went home that evening, I felt much lighter.  The stress that had been clouding my thoughts and causing tension in my body was wading away.  I have realized that I need to calm myself and focus on my breath.  My body can only take so much stress and I was reaching my limit.  Being able to relax and clear my mind is something I will be focusing on... The two women were from the Renew Integrative Health Center.

I also spent the weekend relieving stress by...

MELON BALLING

Oh summer fruit... how I love thee.

I found out Sunday that one of the The Boy's coworkers got engaged (CONGRATS Blair & Jeff), so what else to do but bake!  I dove into Lorie's Snickerdoodle Blondies.

Seriously, the smell in the apartment was out of this world!

Wet & Dry.. then....

heaven....

...a cinnamon-sugary heaven, that is.

FINALLY... I made a homecooked meal for The Boy on Sunday evening... It consisted of:

tilapia, basil, orange juice, orange zest, salt, pepper, mushrooms.

They were all foiled up in a pack & baked at 375 for 20 mins.

YUM!!

So, here's to another work week.  I hope you focus on yourself, thank your body for the wonderful things it provides for you, and don't forget to smile.

Love, Haley

blah

I pray for strength to get through the next few days.

The past 2 days at work have been crazy... I don't even know what to say or where to start.  Therefore, I will leave you with some pictures of food, my dog, and my love.  These things make me smile...

Banana, cup strawberries, cup of spinach, cup of almond milk, scoop of vanilla protein, 1 T chia seeds...

Topped with blueberries... mmm mmm

Just have...

FIGS: newest obsession

Cheesy Veggie Stacks: egg plant, zucchini, ricotta cheese, spinach, onion, tomato sauce, mushrooms...

My puppers

He keeps me sane..

so fresh & so clean, clean

once again, it has been a while...

things have been crazy around here in san diego.  i started work up again on august 2.  therefore, tons of staff development & getting the classroom/school ready.  i am teaching first grade at a new school in SD.  the building is an old headstart (preschool) building; there is tons of painting and fixing up that is being done.  i am super excited for the year to start on sept 7 though..

i have also been busy with our charger season tickets!  so far there have been 2 preseason games & the boy and i are living it up.  my dad sent us a chargers ez-up for tailgating.  it is pretty sexy...

anywho... i really wish i made more time for my blog.  i think i spend entirely too much of my day on the internet looking up random things & reading through others blogs.  i want to blog more because it is an outlet.  blogging is a way to talk about your day, your life (crazy-sad-happy-exciting-busy-etc.) and send it out to the world.  who knows if it will be read?  but really, for me, that is not what it is about! 

enough about that.. for dinner tonight we stayed FRESH & CLEAN (thanks outkast)..  the boy said he wanted a sunomono salad (cucumbers--like at sushi).  so, i whisked up some rice vinegar, splenda, soy sauce, & ground ginger... mmm

pic is a tad blurry... sorry.  the boy was rushing me!  we also made up some kabobs.. with bell peppers, onions, monster mushrooms, and shrimpys! 

well, it is sunday night.  tomorrow starts another work week.. we will see how thing blogging keeps up.  i hope it does =)  night all...

<3, haley

Dairy-Free Polenta Lasagna

Happy Wednesday!

Yesterday was a great day... started off with the pancakes, then lunch was a HUGE salad..

Romaine, broccoli, carrots, corn, black beans, 2 slices of turkey, red pepper flakes, italian dressing, and a dusting of nutritional yeast... yum yum yum

Once The Boy got home from work, we took Stanley to the park to release some of that crazy dog energy!

I spent the better part of the day creating a recipe (will follow)... Dairy-Free Polenta Lasagna

I started off with making the Polenta

As it was thickening up, I added in some dried basil and garlic powder... stir, stir, stir

Once the polenta is THICK (~15 min), pour & spread in an oiled dish to firm up (~10 min)..

As the polenta is firming, caramelize some chopped onions & brown ground turkey (or meat substitute). Add in a little garlic salt.. & then combine the onions & turkey

The polenta should be firm by now... turn the dish upside down on to a plate to continue the cooldown.

Julienne (or cut up) some veggies that are in the fridge & saute.  I used zucchini, carrots & cabbage...

Cut the polenta in half, lengthwise, in order to begin the layering process...

(pic won't turn... hmmm...)

You get the idea.

I cut the polenta, spread some tomato sauce on top, added tomato sauce to the meat & onion mixture (simmer)... then LAYERRR

I layered polenta, veggies, meat, polenta, veggies meat....

Then cook at 350 for 20 mins (covered)... then uncover & cook an additional 10. Voila!

(I added some nutritional yeast for the cheesy taste...)

ENJOY!!

Polenta Lasagna

.5c of Polenta

1.5c water

.5t basil

.5t garlic

.5 tsp salt

10 oz. turkey

.5 onion

1 zucchini

1 carrot

cabbage

tomato sauce

red pepper flakes (to taste)

1. Cook polenta, add in basil, garlic, salt (stir, shape, cool)

2. Brown turkey

3. Caramelize onions

4. Combine turkey and onions

5. Julienne zucchini, carrots & chop cabbage

6. Cook veggies

7. Heat tomato sauce & add in turkey mixture, red pepper flakes, dash basil

8. Cut polenta in half to layer...

9. Layer polenta, veggies, meat, repeat

10. Cook 350 for 20 mins covered then 10 mins uncovered..

11. Dust with nutritional yeast!

12. ENJOY!

I am off to purchase an ice cream maker... recipes to come for sure!

Love, Haley

wannabe "chopped" contestant

I tend to make random posts here on this blog... I spend more time reading others' & enjoy trying new recipes & workouts... However, today I had to make a post.  Yes, I HAD to... according to the Boy.

Before my boyfriend left for work this morning, I asked him, "What should we have for dinner?"  He reply was chicken & broccoli.  I thought, "Hmm.. Okay. BORING!"  I took this as a challenge....

After my first heated yoga experience at CorePower Yoga (which I loved more than the gym.. but shhh, don't let 24hour know that), I returned home to a Yum-O Chia StrawBanana Smoothie.  Then, I took to the kitchen to snoop around.

Whilst my search was going on, I stumbled upon some Laughing Cow.. I thought to myself (like the guy in the Windows 7 shower commercial), "I could stuff some chicken with a broccoli/cheese mixture."

I immediately steamed some broc, took out my food processor, chopped up the broccoli, cheese (I used 3), salt, peppa, & red pepper flakes.  Let me just tell you, it smelled delish.

Once the chicken breasts were thawed, I pounded them out to ~1/3 inch & dusted salt, peppa, and cumin on top.  I flipped the puppies over & spread some of the broc/queso mixture, rolled the chix, and toothpicked 'em up.

I made 4 small chix in a square Pyrex, poured some chicken broth in the dish, and cooked them (covered) for 30 min at 350... uncover and cook another 10.

I made the dish as a surprise for the boy.  He came home & inhaled his pieces.  He immediately said, "You need to publish this on the internet.  Ya know, the recipe place."  I knew he meant my blog/in the blog world...

Needless to say, here I am... posting the recipe.  I recommend you make it.. it was YUM-O!

Love, Haley

"clean out the fridge" din-din

Good evening!  I hope you all had a terrific hump-day.  Does anyone else find it weird to say that?  Maybe I am just immature....

I am off to San Diego tomorrow because I have an interview on Friday (fingers crossed!!!) morning.  Since I will be gone Thurs-Sunday, it was time to rid my fridge of all of the veggies.  Therefore, I came up with Scrambled Tofu & Chick Pea Stuffed Peppers.  They were fab!

Along with the peppers (there were 2), I had some roasted veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, onions & a crunchy salad (only iceberg left) with some broccoli, onions, cukes, nutritional yeast, and red pepper flakes,

Delish... Now my belly is full and I am looking forward to Modern Family tonight.  The show is simply genius.  If you have not seen it yet, I highly suggest you do...

On the list for tomorrow::: gym, work, and then 200 miles to San Diego.  My bf is there waiting for me <3 in our new apartment.  Lucky for him, I am bringing a couch.  Let's hope it will not look like a bachelor pad.  If it does, it will not for long because I will be down there in a month!

Sweet dreams...