January 21, 2013

Weekly Glory

This past week was definitely a great one!  I worked Monday-Friday and ran before work on Tuesday and Weds, which I thoroughly enjoyed!  I wasn't feel well on Thursday so I decided to skip the run.  Thursday afternoon I went to a ladies luncheon for my dad's work and it was seriously lovely.  My mom and I ate some delicious food, including this sparkly little bad boy below, listened to wonderful female speakers, watched a fashion show and got some free goods! What could be better?

ALMOST too pretty to eat.  I said almost...
On Saturday morning, I met Britta and Max for a nice and easy 7 km run followed by a delicious americano at Cafe Fantastico!  After I got back and showered up, my mom and I decided to do a little bit of shopping and then met with the boys for some delicious lunch at Rebar (where else?).  We spent the afternoon lazing around and in the evening we left the boys to their hockey game and went to watched Silver Linings Playbook (SO FLIPPING GOOD. GO SEE IT NOW).  

Sunday was another AMAZING day.  We started our day off by going to Willie's Bakery and Cafe on Lo Jo.  I have gone past here hundreds of times...get my hair done right beside it, eat and shop all the way around it and yet I've never gone in.  So, we decided to check it out after Britta recommended it to me!  Holy moly was it ever good!  I wasn't sure what to order...there were so many amazing things on the menu and I was very excited...so I started off with an americano and decided on the cinnamon raisin french toast.  I had 2 slices and left the 3rd for Francis.  Stuffed to the brim!




My mom got the pancakes (BEST I HAVE EVER HAD OUT), an egg and sausage.  


Francis got the huevos rancheros, what else?  Isn't he handsome?

After breakfast my mom and I headed to Costco to get some goods.  It was so busy that we were in and out as fast as we could.

Goods from Costco: yogurt, hummus, mango, lettuce, blackberries, tomatoes, organic eggs and a melon.  The only things that aren't pictured are pears, oranges and chicken.
We spent the afternoon relaxing at home.  I had a quick lay down and then met Britta for our long run around 4 pm.  We were set up to do 13-14 km but by the time we got to 14 we weren't back to the car yet and it was getting dark and a tad sketchy so we decided to keep running...since we got to the car at 14.7 km we decided to even it out and stop at 15 km!  It was an absolutely fantastic run...and we both agreed that we could have kept going, which is always THE BEST feeling :-)  I was definitely feeling amazing after this run.  Had a HUGE smile on my face for the rest of the night and just feel so fortunate, giddy and just plain great!!!!  For more info on my half marathon training, check out my Workouts page.

When I got home I had a little facetime sesh with my sis, snacked on some mango and made some delicious dinner.  Garam Masala Yogurt Chicken it was!!!

Garam Masala Yogurt Chicken

Ingredients
1 medium onion, chopped
3 gloves garlic, minced
1 tsp grated ginger
1 tsp tumeric
1 1/2 tsp garam masala
3/4 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup greek yogurt
1 cup grape/cherry tomatoes
2-3 chicken breasts

Directions
1. Put 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.  Once hot, add in onion, garlic and ginger.  Cook until onion is soft.
2.  Add in spices and cook for about 2 mins.
3.  Turn down heat to low/medium.  Wait for a minute or so until it cools down and then add in the yogurt stirring frequently until it is well combined with other ingredients.
4.  Cut tomatoes in half and add them to the mixture.  Cut up chicken breast into strips or bite size pieces and add them in as well.
5.  Stir to combine all ingredients, and cover with a lid.  On medium heat, allow chicken to steam for about 20-30 minutes, checking every 10 mins.
6. Serve over grain of choice, top with greek yogurt!



Hope you all have a wonderful Monday!  Here is my FAVOURITE song right now.  Feel free to get up and dance to it...you know you wanna ;)














January 12, 2013

Baking Frenzy

Boy do I love Saturdays...everything about them makes me happy.  I think what I love most is that the city sleeps for so much longer on the weekends, making everything much more relaxing and just plain wonderful :)

I woke up this morning around 8 am so that I could enjoy a nice, nourishing breakfast before I headed out for my Saturday run!  Since I haven't posted in quite some time, I guess I should tell you all that I am training for another half marathon at the end of March!  Britta  recently moved back to Victoria (eff yes) so we decided to train for the race together!!! EEeeee so excited to have her here!

We are literally doing EVERY.SINGLE.RUN together and I couldn't be happier.  It is so nice to motivate and push each other, especially for the super early days!  I will be posting our weekly workouts and how things are going on my running page, so make sure you check that out!

Today we met a bit later than normal (around 10 am) for a nice, easy, 5.6 km run along the water! It was an absolutely amazing day...not a cloud in the sky! Her brother, Max (who hasn't run in 7 years) joined us for a run and a wonderful americano from Cafe Fantastico.  After our run we took our coffees on a nice, cool down/stroll along the water back to the car.  Man, I am absolutely in love with Victoria and so beyond lucky to live in such a beautiful city!

After our run Britta and I parted ways to get showered up and ready for our baking frenzy! After a quick shower, clean up and salad, Britta and I made our grocery lists and headed out to Lifestyle Market to pick up our supplies and a delicious green juice to give us an energy boost!

As soon as we got back to my apartment, we unpacked the goods and got right down to it.  We started our baking date by making our Hint of Mint Bars (no bake).

Hint of Mint Bars
adapted from Oh She Glows No Bake Peppermint Patty Bars


Ingredients
4 cups rolled oats, processed into a flour (or 2 cups oat flour)
1 cup almonds
1 cup walnuts
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp fine salt or to taste
1/2 tsp - 1 tbsp peppermint extract
4 tbsp packed brown sugar
4 tbsp almond milk
10 tbsp pure agave syrup
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
150 grams mint chocolate chips
2 tsp coconut oil
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
shredded coconut, to garnish
Ingredients 
1. Line an 9 by 13 lasagna pan with one large piece of parchment paper. Set aside.
2.  Add 2 cups rolled oats into a high speed blender. Blend on high until a flour forms.  We used a magic bullet and did 1 cup at a time and found it worked quite well. 


3. In a food processor process almonds and walnuts until a very fine crumble is formed. Add oat flour, cocoa powder (1/4 cup - will use other 1/4 cup later) salt, and brown sugar. Process until combined.  You may have to scrape down the sides as it combines together.




4. Add in the agave syrup and almond milk. Process until a ball forms. Add another tablespoon of cocoa powder if you like that sort of thing ;) 


 Process in the 1/2 cup rolled oats and chocolate chips until combined.



5. Take the mixture and put in the prepared pan.  Flatten the mixture with your hands and a spoon, unless you are a super chef and have a pastry roller to smooth it all out.  Once smooth, place bars in the freezer while you make the delicious topping.


6. Add mint chocolate chips and coconut oil to a small pot. Melt on low until most of the chocolate has melted and remove from heat. Stir. Remove the pan from freezer and pour melted chocolate on top. Smooth out with the back of a spoon and sprinkle on coconut.  Place in the freezer for 10-15 minutes, or until set. 


This should make 24 small or 12 large bars. Store in the freezer and enjoy the minty goodness!


After we made these bars we were onto the next thing on our list: Vegan Fudge Brownies from the Rebar cookbook...or...Almost Vegan Brownies.


Almost Vegan Brownies
makes ~12 servings

Ingredients

Brownies:

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa

1 1/2 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt (we forgot this little tid bit)

3/4 cup coffee

3/4 cup almond milk

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup walnuts, roasted and chopped

1/2 cup chocolate chips


Glaze:

7 oz dark chocolate

5 oz vegan margarine

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.  Prepare a 9 by 13 pan by greasing and then covering it in parchment paper.



2. Sift together the flour, cocoa, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  



In a separate bowl, stir together coffee, almond milk and vegetable oil.




3. Combine the wet and dry in a large bowl or stand mixer.  Stir in walnuts and chocolate chips into the batter.  


4.  Pour into prepared pan...



...and bake for 20-25 mins (until the toothpick comes out clean).



5. When the cake is cool, prepare the glaze.  In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and vegan margarine.  Whisk together until smooth and silky.  Pour the warm glaze over the cake, smoothing it out over the cake.  Place in the fridge until cool.


After our baking frenzy we obviously had to blog together...just so happened that we were dressed the same...and have the same computers.  Promise we didn't plan it that way...or maybe we did? ;)

Tonight calls for ordering in, enjoying each other's company and maybe a little brownie for dessert...I mean...what's a girl to do?

So happy to be back in the blogging world and hope that you all keep reading.  As long as you keep reading I will keep on posting!

Enjoy your weekend!

Amy
xo