Good evening bloggie pants.

So today I felt a new sense of freedom, not having any classes or tests to worry about. I felt guilty all day though, like I was procrastinating and not doing homework that I should be doing - I guess it takes a while for that feeling to wear off!!

Before I get to my eats from today, last night I had a BIG snack because that test made me hannngry, and I eaten my dinner at 4:00 yesterday. My snack was some brown rice with hot sauce:

An orange:

And some pickles and cheese:

This morning for breakfast I had some eggs and rye toast:

And a glass of orange juice:

Lunch was a frozen dinner (Now that I am a little less busy, I will have time for better lunches I hope), and a babybel cheese. Yes I am addicted:

I also had vanilla yogurt topped with frozen blueberries, that melted just in time for lunch:

For dinner this evening I made a lovely veggie and tofu stir-fry with some Asian noodles tossed in to bulk it up:

I always eat stir-fry with chop sticks. It totally tastes better that way :-)

After dinner the hubby and I went shopping for picture frames and spent WAY too much money. We have been blowing through cash like it is going out of style lately, as we are busy decorating our newly (almost 100%) finished basement. I want it to be ready for all the Christmas festivities that will be taking place at our home. Before and after pictures will be up within a couple weeks for sure!!!

After blowing a million dollars (give or take a few bucks) we went for lattes to the local Starbucks/ Chapters. My city has no free standing Starbucks!!! Crazy hey!! They are all inside of either the Chapters/ Safeway/ or a hotel. I got a skinny, decaf, 1/2 sweet gingerbread latte.

Now I am about to make a soothing concoction for my throat, as I woke up with a sore throat ... again. Didn't this happen like 3 weeks ago!!?

What is your typical coffee order?

Also, before I forget ... Check out Taylor's blog for a great giveaway!!

Hey peeps! It is almost Friday!!!!!!!!!! Today stared out great because the hubby woke me up and told me he had made waffles :-0

I had 1/2 a whole wheat waffle with almond butter spread on it, a sliced banana, and a teensy tiny drizzle of syrup:

Lunch was left over tofu and bean chili from the other day (I will spare you the picture, because it looks down-right-disgusting in the pic. It tasted good though). I also had these guys:

I know I have been having this combo a lot lately - but you should see the enormous bag of pears that we bought. And the giant bag of babybel cheese. Delish.

After a busy day at work, I coached a v-ball game, and then went to the lab for a couple hours. I was starving by the time I got home, so supper had to be something quick and easy. I had a grilled cheese sandwich:

That I dipped in ketchup of course. Do you dip your grilled cheese in ketchup? If not, you must try it ... it is the only way my dears ... the only way.

I also had a small bowl of tomato soup, because duh ... they go together:

I sprinkle a couple little pieces of cheese into my soup - it makes it better.

This dinner just didn't cut it for me today. I was still hungry after eating it, and needed something else. I whipped up a quick smoothie containing:

- 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond breeze
- some blueberries
- 1 scoop chia seeds
- 1 berry apple sauce cup
- 1 pack of amazing grass (berry flavoured) powder

After dinner I made Halloween treat bags for the kids in my class, and now I have to figure out how I am going to dress up for work tomorrow ...

What are your Halloween plans? Do you dress up at work? What are you giving the trick or treaters?

Vegetarian Meal #8 of 10

Okay ... after reading your comments to yesterday's post, I totally feel boring in the popcorn department! You guys put some crazy, yet interesting things on your popcorn! What I am wondering is, what made you want to try new flavourings for the first time?? Are you really that adventurous!? I am a chicken, and never venture beyond the butter or margarine world. Hence, my boring popcorn last night:

You know how a few weeks ago I woke up to snow ...
Well that is all gone now. It was nearly hot last weekend.
And this morning I woke up to pouring rain! This is Saskatchewan weather for ya!

So when it is pouring rain, and cool, and dark, breakfast can only be one thing ...
OATS!



(1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond breeze, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup oats, homemade pumpkin butter, and pumpkin seeds)

I had a mid-morning glo-bar snack:



Then for lunch I had perogies:



And the terrible two:


(old Cheddar and pears go fabulously together).

I have had more of an appetite than usual today, and by 3:30 I was haaaaaangry!
I had my 2nd LARA Bar:



This one was even more delicious than the last. I am so happy I finally tried these bars.
They are a little on the sweet side, and since I don't have a sweet tooth, I can only eat about 1/2 at a time - but I do love 'em.

Dinner was Vegetarian Meal #8 of 10

Red Tofu and Bean Chili

Ingredients:

- 2 t olive oil
- 3 cups chopped onion
- 1/4 cup chili powder
- 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 3 cups veggie stock
- 1 can kidney beans, drained
- 1 can black beans, drained
- 1 can chopped tomatoes, drained
- 1 can mushrooms
- 1/2 block extra firm tofu
- Cheddar cheese to sprinkle on before serving

Directions:

• Heat oil, add onion, saute 5 min.
• Add spices, and saute 30 seconds
• Add stock, beans, tomatoes, bring to a boil
• Add tofu and mushrooms
• Simmer about 45 min. or 1 hr.
• Sprinkle shredded cheese on top before serving

I just realized that I didn't eat very many fruits/ veggies today. Guess that means I should have a GM tomorrow morning.

I really try to get my veggies in everyday, but some days (like today) I realize that it just didn't happen. No sweat. I will just have more tomorrow :-)

How do you maintain balance in your diet? Do you strive for a certain # of servings of the different food groups, or just eat what you feel like eating?

Tuesday's Eats and Vegetarian Meal #4 of 10

Good evening everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Tuesday! Today was another busy day of work, and then straight to the lab to run participants through my experiment.

This morning I woke up with absolutely NO appetite - I guess I ate too much last night! Breakfast was a single egg on a piece of toasted rye bread:

Mid-morning snack was a small glo-bar:

Lunch today was turkey noodle soup!! My hubby made the broth last night, and then finished it up with the noodles this morning and packed me some for lunch :-)

I also had one of these:

After work I drove straight to the university to work in the lab. I had this on the way there:

Dinner tonight was the 4th recipe of 10 vegetarian recipes this month. I am trying to make things that use a variety of vegetarian proteins (so far I have used kidney beans, black beans, lentils and today, tofu). I am also trying to avoid making pasta, since that often seems to be a fall back "vegetarian" recipe, and basically it is just too easy. I hate when the only veggie option on a menu is a pasta dish.

Coconut Curry Tofu

Ingredients:
- 2 bunches green onions (chop white parts finely, and chop green into 2 inch pieces)
- 1 (14 oz) can light coconut milk
- 1/4 cup soy sauce, divided
- 1/2 tsp brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp curry powder
- 1 tsp minced fresh ginger
- 2 tsp chili paste
- 1 lb firm tofu, cut into 3/4 inch pieces
- 4 roma tomatoes, chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 1 T dried basil
- 4 cups chopped bok choy
- salt to taste

• In a large skillet, over med. heat, mix coconut milk, 3 T soy sauce, brown sugar, curry powder, ginger and Chili paste. Bring to boil.

• Stir tofu, tomatoes, yellow pepper, and some of the finely chopped green onions into the skillet. Cover, cook 5 minutes, stir occasionally.

• Mix in basil and bok choy

• Season with salt and remaining soy sauce. Continue cooking 5 minutes, or until veggies are tender but crisp. Garnish with remaining green onions.

My portion:

The only thing that would have made this curry better would be if it had been served on rice - I wasn't thinking obviously. All in all ... it was awesome!

Do you like curries? What is your favourite kind?