Pin It Party - Take 2

Remember the last Pin It Party? Fun idea, right? Lindsay at The Lean Green Bean is hosting another one! So today, I'm highlighting a few workouts and recipes that I've posted and think are super pinnable. Let me know in the comments if you're playing along and link me to your Pin It Party post!

:: Basic Body Cardio Circuit ::

I just posted this workout yesterday! I think it's an awesome hot weather cardio alternative when you're stuck in the gym. 

:: Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies ::

I love these cookies. They're incredibly tasty, and they're dairy-free! There's even an option to make them vegan. And don't let the image fool you, they can be made any time, not just for Christmas!

:: Fast Friday Fitness ::

I'm all about simple workouts when I'm working out on my own, and this one is super straightforward. 20 reps of four exercises. Repeat for five times total. Finish with a plank. BOOM! 

:: Mean Green Breakfast Smoothie ::

Now that summer is finally here, I'm all about the cold breakfasts in the morning. Enter: smoothies! Plus, I also love getting some greens in first thing in the morning -- it just makes me feel like I'm on the path to healthiness for the whole day!

:: Heartbreaker High Intensity Interval Training Workout ::

Ok, so this one isn't so simple, but it's also an awesomely tough workout that leaves you sweating like crazy. Do one to three rounds, which will range from 15-45 minutes.

Recipe: No Sugar Added Coconut PB Balls

Last week, I impulsively signed up for Laura @ Mommy RunFast’s sugar detox. I signed up for the challenge, without much thought or preparation, because while I go through periods where I don’t really want sugar very much, I also go through some insane sugar cravings. And if I think about a certain sugary item, then I immediately want it. 

Monday and Tuesday both went relatively well, except for a few swallows of kombucha and a bite of Kim’s birthday dessert at her surprise dinner Monday night. But Wednesday morning I was absolutely dying for some sugar, so I made these coconut peanut butter balls using dates to add sweetness. They remind me of something my mom used to make when I was little and they're a great sweet snack without a hit of refined sugar.

Ingredients

1/2 cup shredded coconut

1/2 cup peanut butter

2 tablespoons oats

2 tablespoons flax seeds

2 tablespoons chia seeds

20 dates

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to food processor and blend until it sticks together. 

2. Form mix into balls and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Have you ever done a sugar detox or other kind of cleanse?

Pin It Party, Iron Man 3, and Race Cheering

Hi all! It's Friday!!

I am off to see Iron Man 3 this morning. Perk of being a student (for the last time ever!) is that I can indulge my nerdiness and see the first showing of the day. I did the midnight showing for Avengers last year, but sadly Sourabh has to study and couldn't invest the full night necessary for that kind of thing.

Then, I have to prep for this weekend, when I'll be heading to NJ for the New Jersey Marathon and Long Branch Half Marathon! No, I'm not running. I sold my bib and am being a responsible adult.

But I have some awesome friends who are going to rock the race and I am so excited to have a runner slumber party and then cheer them on!! It's my first time cheering at a race and I'm so psyched :)

By the way, in case you missed it yesterday, Carrie at Fitness & Frozen Grapes and I are hosting a book club! Hop over to yesterday's post to check it out if you haven't already. And if you just know you're excited about it by the name of it, here's the link for the sign-up form!



So, on to today's business. Lindsay at The Lean Green Bean is hosting a Pin It Party! I loved the idea of featuring some posts that I consider extra pinnable. Here are the ones I chose! (PS: here's my Pinterest page)

:: Ab-tastic Core Workout :: 

:: Dairy-Free Almond Waffles ::

:: Fast 'n' Sweaty Strength Circuit ::

:: Spring Cardio Extravaganza ::

:: Garlicky Mustard Hash with Brussels Sprouts and Potatoes ::

Do you use Pinterest? What kinds of posts do you consider most "pinnable"? Any race cheering tips for me?

Recipe: Garlicky Mustard Brussels Sprouts Hash

Brussels sprouts hashes are one of my favorite dinners to make because they're fast and full of greens yet taste like comfort food. I've already shared my Brussels sprouts & quinoa hash recipe. This one takes a bit more time, but by that I mean 20 minutes max instead of 10-15.

I had made Brussels sprouts with potatoes before, but never with this amazing sauce that Dori clued me in on when she tweeted about it. This sauce is fantastic and really jazzes up this hash!


Garlicky Mustard Brussels Sprouts Hash
Serves 1-2

Ingredients
1 tbs olive oil
1 package shaved Brussels Sprouts from Trader Joe's (~1/2 lb chopped Brussels sprouts)
1 potato OR 4 small potatoes
1/4 c. Trader Joe's Garlic Aioli Mustard Sauce (or Dijon Mustard with 1 tsp crushed garlic)
2 tbs parmesan cheese

Directions
1. Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat. While pan heats, chop potatoes into inch-size cubes (precision is not necessary here).

2. Add potatoes to pan. Mix with Garlic Aioli Mustard Sauce. Stir frequently until brown and soft when pressed (about 5-7 minutes).

3. Add package of shaved Brussel's sprouts. Continue stirring until sprouts are crispy and cooked through (about 5-7 minutes).

4. Add parmesan cheese and stir for 1-2 minutes until cheese has melted and browned.

5. Serve and enjoy!

Easy Indian Vegetables Recipe

After Sourabh and I graduated, we had very little money for the first few months. My student loans hadn't come in and all of our savings had gone to safety deposits and moving expenses to get us into our NYC apartment. At the time, we were in Riverdale in the Bronx, living in a Columbia-owned condo. We rattled to law school (for me) and work (for him) in the "shuttle" that was actually a van that was constantly overcrowded and sideswiped cars multiple times.

ok, we weren't poor, but money was a bit tight.
(source)

This recipe was one we made frequently since it's extremely cheap -- potatoes and whatever vegetables are on sale. Eggplant, onions, and cauliflower are all good bets, but we've made it with okra and green beans before and it's still delicious. You can eat it over basmati rice or on its own. And it's a great take-to-work/school-and-reheat meal (Sourabh ate it for lunch today).

This dish is a traditional type of Indian side, too. Sourabh's mother frequently makes just one vegetable as a side to a curry, but we like to make multiple vegetables and make it the main meal. You could make just one vegetable with an Indian-spiced meat/fish if you wanted extra protein.

What I'm trying to say is, this recipe is adaptable. And keeping that in mind, I'm not giving complete measurements because they'll vary based on the vegetables used and it's hard to over-spice this recipe (and you can always taste-test as you go and add more!). I will give you some suggested amounts, though, so you're not operating totally in the dark.

This is great to make on the weekends (hence, why I'm sharing it on a Friday) because it can be a bit time-consuming--say, an hour? I recommend cooking each vegetable separately if you aren't a top chef (I'm not) to ensure each cooks to its desired done-ness. We like to make it on a Sunday and then eat the leftovers throughout the week. Just prop up your laptop and put on a movie while you cook!

Easy Indian Vegetables Recipe

I know, it doesn't look good -- but it's delicious!

Ingredients
3-4 medium potatoes, thinly sliced
1 medium eggplant, thinly sliced
2 cups cauliflower, chopped
Curry powder (approx. 2 tsp. per vegetable batch)
Turmeric (approx. 2 tsp. per vegetable batch)
Cumin powder (approx. 1 tsp. per vegetable batch)
Salt (approx. 1/2 tsp. per vegetable batch)
Olive oil (for cooking)


Directions

1. After chopping each batch of vegetable, cover the top with the spice mix like in the picture below, then toss the vegetables in the spice mixture.

2. Cover pan with olive oil and heat (approximately 1 tablespoon per batch of vegetable).

I mixed the eggplant with the green beans, but wished I hadn't -- the eggplant cooked much quicker than the beans

3. Cook one type of vegetable at a time, stirring frequently. Cooking time varies, but you want the eggplant to be falling apart, potatoes to be alternatively crispy and mushy when you press on them, and cauliflower should be close-to-soft.

4. Once the last batch is done, toss all the vegetables together in the pan for 1-2 minutes to make sure everything is nice and hot, then serve!

Do you like Indian food? What's your favorite dish? Would you like to see more "everyday" Indian cooking?

Giving up on TV shows and a Green Smoothie Recipe

Giving up TV shows
I have a very full DVR waiting for me when I get back to New York. Sourabh and I watch quite a few shows, but rarely when they air because we hate commercials. Instead, we typically wait until later in the evening or the next day to watch our shows.

But this year, since I want to disconnect more, I'm going to try to purge some of those shows from our viewing list. Being here in Washington and not being automatically able to pick up shows again has made me realize how much I don't need to watch TV. It might mean that Sourabh watches without me, since we have different tastes and he still likes some shows that I don't.

Bea is so bored by TV. Also, she does not like Kanye's leather skirt (pic taken during the 12-12-12 concert) 

For example, I used to like Big Bang Theory, The Office, The Good Wife, and How I Met Your Mother, but at this point I'm bored with all of those series. I'll probably stick with The Office since it's ending this year, but otherwise I just don't want to waste my time anymore on a show that leaves me cold. Besides, I have Revenge, Parks and Recreation, New Girl, Community (finally returning), and Modern Family to keep me warm (if we're keeping the hot/cold metaphor going...). I just don't want to waste any more time on shows that I feel frustrated by!

Mini Vacation!
In other news, we're off to Seattle today! Sourabh and I are spending two days in Seattle. We're leaving Mason with his doting grandparents (aka my parents since he's their grandpuppy).

see? doting on the grandpuppy

I am super excited to spend two days exploring Seattle since I haven't spent that much time there. While I grew up two hours away from the city and have been there plenty of times, I've never really done more than a few touristy things there. Besides the obvious Pike Place Market and Space Needle, Sourabh and I want to explore a few of the cool neighborhoods like Ballard and Queen Anne's Hill. It's sort of a belated anniversary trip since we didn't go anywhere for our four year anniversary in October so it should be really fun.


Mean Green Breakfast Smoothie Recipe

Mmmmm this smoothie is SO good. I've made it while I've been home when I'm craving some greens. And since I've been home for the holidays, I've craved greens several times. I love to indulge, but at a certain point, my body basically yells at me until I eat a green.

The best part about this smoothie, though, is that it tricks your brain. You can't actually taste the spinach at all! Just the pear, banana, almond milk, and the sweetness of the maple syrup. I would love to say that I was a spinach junkie who did whatever it took for my next spinach hit, but sadly, I don't really like spinach.

Ingredients
1 pear, chopped
1 banana
1 c. almond milk (more for more liquid smoothie)
1 c. spinach
1 tsp. maple syrup (optional)

1 tsp. chia seeds (optional)

Directions

Add all ingredients to blender and mix!

Do you give up on TV shows or do you see them through to the end? 

Dairy-Free Almond Waffles Recipe

Somehow, it's supposed to be sunny for an entire week here. I would like to think that someone likes me, but honestly it's more likely someone got sick of me bitching about the weather and wanted to shut me up with sun. Well, consider me shut up.

SUN!!!!

I can actually show Sourabh the incredible mountains here! We're going to take advantage of the sun, regardless of how chilly it is. And thankfully it'll be sunny into next week so I don't have to worry about wasting a sunny day while I'm inside watching football (GO SEAHAWKS, by the way).

Anyway! I don't make fancy breakfasts at home. Really, I just make oatmeal, almond butter on toast, and occasionally some eggs. My dad, however, makes some incredibly tasty breakfasts for us on the weekend. Egg dishes, pancakes, and ... waffles! He's come up with a great dairy-free waffle recipe that uses almond meal, so it's not just tasty, it's quite healthy as far as waffles go. I figured I'd share it as a TGIF treat before I head out to do some freezing hiking!

Dairy-Free Almond Waffles Recipe
Serves 4

Ingredients
2 eggs, separated
2 c. almond milk
1 c. almond meal
1 c. whole wheat pastry flour
2 tbsp. oil of your choice (my dad uses canola oil)
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. sliced almonds (optional)
cinnamon to taste
coconut oil for greasing iron

Directions

1. Beat egg whites until stiff. Set aside.

2. Mix all other ingredients together (if you have a blender, this step is super easy).

3. Fold mix into egg whites, then sliced almonds if using.

4. Pour into waffle iron and bake!

What's your favorite "weekend" breakfast?

Very Berry Banana Oatmeal Recipe

In the dead of January, I want something warm and filling for breakfast, but I also want something bright and cheerful to help me beat the winter doldrums (especially right now while in Washington, as I stare at a grey, rainy sky). A healthy serving of bananas and berries make this oatmeal much more fun than a boring cup o' oats! This dish is a perfect way to start the day, filled with antioxidants from the berries, potassium from the banana, and protein from the oatmeal and egg whites. Plus, lots of fiber!

I've made this three days in a row and don't think I'll stop making it any time soon. It leaves me full for hours and has lots of fruit for an added nutritional punch. Frozen berries are cheaper and more sustainable in the winter since fresh berries aren't in season for most of the U.S., and you don't lose any nutrients by using frozen berries. Since they're baked in the oatmeal, they become warm and gooey, dripping berry juice throughout the oatmeal.

If you don't like oatmeal but want to fit this powerhouse into your diet, this recipe is the perfect way to do so. My sister can't stand oatmeal but loved this when I made it for her and even requested the recipe to cook it herself! The reason it's great is that it tastes more like an oatmeal bake; no drippy oatmeal here!

It might seem like a lot of ingredients, but if you lay out the non-perishable items the night before, this shouldn't take more than 5-8 minutes tops since it comes together very quickly. 

Very Berry Banana Oatmeal Recipe

Ingredients
Serves 1

1/2 large banana or 1 small banana, mashed (slice and save other half for topping if desired)
1/2 c. almond milk
1/2 c. egg whites
1/2 c. oatmeal
1 tsp. maple syrup or honey (I prefer maple syrup)
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 c. frozen berries
sliced almonds (optional)

Directions

1. Mash banana in bowl.

2. Add almond milk, egg whites, vanilla, maple syrup, cinnamon, and baking powder. Mix together thoroughly.

3. Mix oatmeal into bowl slowly then add frozen berries and mix.

4. Place bowl in microwave and bake for 1 minute and 30 seconds. Take out and mix, then bake for 1 minute more. Let sit for 30 seconds.

5. Top with sliced almonds and banana and enjoy your very berry banana oatmeal!

Are you a fan of oatmeal? How do you like to make it?

Christmas Fun & Pfeffernusse Recipe

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas weekend! The past few days have been relaxing and full of family fun. Also full of a lot of Pfeffernusse, a spice cookie that my family makes for Christmas every year, which I included a recipe for below.

After a call to discuss a pro bono project with my supervisor Friday morning, I spent the afternoon running a couple of miles before taking a barre class with my mom and sister at a brand new studio in a nearby town. At 3 classes for $30, I had to try it!

Unfortunately, the class was a bit too easy for me. However, since I have 2 more classes, I think I'll try another instructor and see if I can get a good workout. I sweat a lot when I work out normally, even in barre classes, so the fact that I was dry the entire time was disappointing. Fingers crossed the next class is better!

rural roads make for great running :)

The rest of the weekend was spent buying last minute gifts, running on some gorgeous country roads, and being extremely lazy. I baked cookies with my parents and enjoyed a delicious quinoa salad at one of my favorite local cafes to make up for all the cookies. I sat on the couch a lot. It was a lovely weekend.

the "downtown" area -- the town has a Dutch influence, hence the windmill 

Then, I ran 12 miles on Christmas Eve Day. It was another tough run -- I started when it was about 34 degrees out and it never got above 38 degrees. However, that didn't stop the clouds from opening up. Despite forecasted sun, I ended up running in freezing rain (when it's 4-6 degrees above being snow, I think it qualifies as freezing).

The middle miles were rough and slow, and since I was running in my town I was mainly running through residential neighborhoods there wasn't even interesting sightseeing. I wanted to run on a trail, but my parents asked me to run in an area with plenty of people so they wouldn't worry. Town run it was! Their house, their rules :)

The run was a slog, but I pushed through and got the miles in, finishing with an 8:57 mile! I feel very ready for Monday's New Year's Eve Half-Marathon. Although right now the forecast is saying high 20s or low 30s, cold for Washington... ahh!! Hopefully my breathing is ok! Whatever happens, I'm really happy I put a race on my calendar to keep me active while home in Washington.

yumm -- lots of avocados were consumed

I refueled post-run with a delicious Christmas Eve dinner of Mexican food, and of course lots and lots of cookies. Not very traditional, but I was happy -- I love Mexican food! After some caroling and watching the Nutcracker, we trotted off to bed (with visions of sugar plums, stockings hung with care, etc.)

thank you, Instagram, for capturing the glowy-ness of our Christmas tree 

I had so much fun picking out gifts for my family this year, so it was wonderful to see them open their presents. A few of them were even fitness-related (what can I say, I'm obsessed). I got a foam roller for my dad, who's new to running and has back issues, and an Erica Sara Designs Say It Do It bracelet for my mom to help keep up her gym motivation. I also received some great items as well, most of which were for running, of course. Nothing like a stocking full of nuun to make me happy!

Merry Christmas, Mason!

The rest of this week will be full of taper goodness, with just a couple of short runs, some yoga, and lots of foam rolling!

Elf for Health

When I saw all the Elf4Health chatter on Twitter, I was curious what the challenge was. It's basically a series of mini daily challenges to keep you healthy during the holidays, but it also involves matching up with a fellow Elf to support them! I loved the idea so much, but unfortunately I found out too late to participate in the first rounds. I am signed up now, though, and was matched with Sophia!

We both successfully completed the Monday challenge of calling an old friend to chat. It's funny -- I rarely call people other than Sourabh or my parents! It was nice to chat with an old friend and figure out when we'll be seeing each other over the holidays. We ended up getting a white Christmas after all when it started snowing around 11 AM, so Tuesday's challenge of taking a walk with the family was a no-go since there's nowhere to walk around my house and the roads weren't plowed. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the challenges and getting to know my fellow Elf more!

Pfeffernusse Recipe
Makes roughly 4 dozen

These cookies are nutty, spicy, and full of deliciousness. You could use them as run fuel if you're a whole foods-fueling runner since they're basically sugar and nuts with some flour thrown in, but no dairy to cause phlegm (my nemesis when running). If you want to make them sweeter, roll them in powdered sugar after they come out of the oven. If you want to make them vegan, here are some suggestions for how to replace eggs in baking. Otherwise, enjoy a semi-healthy and extremely tasty spice cookie.

Ingredients
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
3 eggs
1 cup honey (warm)
1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
3 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
2 1/2 tablespoons cardamom
2 teaspoons fresh finely ground black pepper
4 teaspoons fresh ginger
2 cups finely ground hazelnuts
2 cups finely ground almonds
4 cups unbleached flour (can substitute 2 cups regular for 2 cups whole wheat flour)

bonus: you can fit a lot on one baking sheet!

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Combine sugars and eggs.

3. Add honey, soda and spices then mix.

4. Fold in nuts then add flour gradually. You may need to combine using your hands as the dough becomes quite thick.

5. Round dough into 1 inch-thick balls, place 1 inch apart on non-stick pan or on parchment paper and bake 12 to 15 minutes.

6. Let cool on wire rack (option to roll in powdered sugar here).

How was your Christmas? Are you running any holiday races? Any special holiday recipes?

Christmas Trees, Cookies, and Exams

Friday was a day full of getting errands done since classes are over and, after presenting my group project, I just have a 6-page double-spaced paper to write to finish my term. I was going to do speedwork, but Thursday's double workouts left me way too sore! A full hour of core work and an Uplifting class at Uplift Studios can do that to you. (Seriously, I can barely get out of bed or pick things up off the ground)

So Friday turned into a day for GSD: getting stuff done.

my view as I walked to the subway after Thursday night's Uplifting class 

While I'm basically done with my term, Sourabh is not. I've mentioned before that this year we are both law students. We were both admitted to Columbia Law our senior year of undergrad. Actually, our admittance letters came the same day -- it's the only time I've ever jumped into his arms out of excitement. We were poor college students, so we celebrated by buying a mini bottle of champagne and a mini chocolate cake. Ultimately, he decided to defer for two years and work in order to gain some real-world experience, while I went straight to law school.

Now, I'm the wizened third-year and Sourabh is the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed first year! Since you interview with firms in August after your first-year (trying to get a summer associate position that typically leads to a full-time post-graduation offer) it's the first year grades that really matter, so I've been feeling really anxious for him. Sourabh had his first exam on Friday, and I barely slept Thursday night I was so nervous! (He thinks he did well -- fingers crossed until January when grades come out)

gifts for NYCares Dear Santa letters!
(Pro Tip: the post office said the best way to mail weird-shaped items like a basketball is to wrap them and put a mailing label on the wrapping paper!)

I wanted Sourabh to have something nice to come back to after taking his exam, so after doing laundry, tidying up the apartment, and buying gifts for my NYCares Dear Santa letters, I went to Whole Foods and bought a small Christmas tree! It's actually the first time we've had a Christmas tree, even though we've lived together for three years. Since our parents always have trees, we just never got one, but this year I decided that needed to change. I might be a tiny bit obsessed with it, as my Instagram feed shows.

Christmas tree + Instagram = dangerous

The tree was only $19.99, and I bought lights, a garland, mini ornaments and a Chihuahua ornament (!!!) for only $15 at CVS. That seemed like a great deal by New York standards!

I also decided to bake some cookies for Sourabh and try out the coconut oil I purchased. After he got back from his exam, we spent our Friday night munching on these amazing cookies, catching up on our Thursday night shows, and admiring our twinkly little Christmas tree.

Quasi-Vegan Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies 
(adapted from Heidi Kristoffer's delicious recipe on Shape.com)

I ended up using Ghirardelli chocolate chips and a regular egg instead of the vegan substitutes, but kept the cookies dairy-free by using coconut oil instead of butter. I also had no brown sugar (it hardened from disuse, apparently) or spelt flour, so I had to use white sugar and regular flour. They still turned out delicious! I'm definitely going to make them again with the proper sugars and flours.

Whatever you do, do not substitute butter for the coconut oil. I really, really loved the different taste these cookies had without the butter.

Ingredients:
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup vegan white sugar
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 egg (see original recipe for egg replacement)
1 cup spelt flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup vegan dark chocolate chips

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and line cookie sheets with parchment paper or spray with canola oil.

2. Mix coconut oil and both sugars using a hand mixer in a mixing bowl. Blend until creamy, about 2 minutes. Beat in vanilla and egg (or egg replacement) until light and fluffy. Add dry ingredients slowly until well blended. 

3. Stir in chocolate chips by hand.

4. Drop by heaping tablespoon onto the cookie sheet about 1-2 inches apart. 

5. Bake for 15-17 minutes, until edges are lightly browned. Place baking sheets on wire cooling rack for a few minutes, then transfer cookies onto wire racks to cool completely.

Step 6. Enjoy!

Have you baked any holiday cookies yet? Share the recipes, please!
When was the last time you were really sore?

Recipe: Brussels Sprouts & Quinoa Hash

I got home tonight and was so happy that I'd planned on making this recipe earlier in the day. I trained with Amanda this morning, ran errands in the afternoon, and then took an Uplifting class at Uplift Studios at 7:00 PM with Liz and Nicole. By the time I got home at 8:45 PM, I was just not up for making anything that demanded real work. This recipe is delicious, nutritious, and takes 15 minutes tops, so it was perfect.

I call this a hash because it's several different ingredients mixed together in a pan to create delicious goodness that isn't very attractive. It's a highly technical definition.

ingredient snapshot

Here's how to make this the easiest recipe ever -- get packaged shaved Brussels sprouts from Trader Joe's and frozen pre-cooked quinoa from TJ's or Whole Foods. Buy sliced almonds in bulk. If you do that, then literally all you are doing here is microwaving quinoa and cooking the Brussels sprouts and almonds. You only need to have prep work if you don't have shredded Brussels sprouts (I didn't and chopped them up, but that only took me an extra 3 minutes).

healthy hash! not the best picture ever, but this stuff is TASTY I promise 

Brussels Sprouts & Quinoa Hash
Serves 1

Ingredients
2 cups shredded Brussels sprouts
1 cup cooked quinoa
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1 1/2 tbs olive oil
1 tbs apple cider vinegar (optional)
1/4 cup goji berries, dried cranberries (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

1. Cook your quinoa in the microwave according to the package's directions (or boil it on the stove according to directions if you don't have pre-cooked quinoa).


2. Heat the olive oil in a pan.

3. Pour in your shredded Brussels sprouts and sliced almonds. Stir periodically (I like to let some of them get brown for extra taste) for 5-8 minutes until sprouts are cooked through (taste to check).

4. Add cooked quinoa and berries, if using, to pan.

5. Add apple cider vinegar and season with salt and pepper. 

6. Put on plate and enjoy!

Do you have a healthy and quick recipe that's a go-to on late nights?

Honey-Dijon Salmon with Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potato Wedges

This was a great weeknight dinner. It takes about an hour, but there's a lot of down time where you can be doing other things (emptying the dishwasher, putting in some laundry, etc.) while it cooks. It's also all oven-based, which I always like since it feels less messy than having several pots and pans going at once.

I'd especially recommend this as a dinner for the night before a morning workout. I hate waking up feeling hungry and needing to work out before I can eat. The sweet potatoes will keep me full and the salmon has plenty of protein to fuel me through my workout tomorrow morning!

Honey-Dijon Salmon with Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potato Wedges
Serves 2

• 2 salmon fillets
• 1/2 lb brussels sprouts
• 2 sweet potatoes
• 2 tbs dijon mustard
• 1 tsp honey
• olive oil 
• salt 
• pepper

(1) I made the sweet potato wedges by following this guide over at Carrots 'n' Cake. They turned out great! I cut them up, tossed them in olive oil, salt, and pepper. Then, I put them in a baking pan in the oven on 350 degrees for 20 minutes then pulled the salmon out of the refrigerator.

(2) After the wedges were in the oven, I prepped the salmon by mixing the dijon mustard and honey together then spreading it over the fillets.

(3) After 20 minutes, I mixed the wedges up to make sure they cooked properly. Then, I placed the fish on another pan (greased with olive oil) and put them in the oven alongside the sweet potato wedges for another 20 minutes.

(4) As the salmon and sweet potato wedges baked, I got out my brussels sprouts and chopped them up in fourths.

(5) After chopping up the brussels sprouts, I tossed them in olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste. I used the same bowl as I used for the sweet potato wedges to save on post-dinner clean-up.

(6) Once the wedges and salmon were done, I put the brussels sprouts in a third pan alongside the other two and broiled all three pans for 5 minutes. Make sure to check on the salmon so it doesn't burn!

(7) Once everything had a nice bit of char, dinner was ready!

It doesn't look great, but it was delicious.

Chia Seed Pudding Recipe

Last night I finally got around to trying a chia seed pudding recipe that I could make overnight. I wish I'd done it sooner! The delicious, chilled chia seed pudding is a perfect summer breakfast. It's sort of like tapioca pudding, but much healthier.

Chia seeds have a ton of health benefits. They're full of omega-3 healthy fats, they pack quite the protein and fiber punch for their calories (roughly 65 calories for 2 tablespoons), and many other wonderful health benefits.

Recipe
1/4 cup chia seeds
1 1/4 cup almond milk (vanilla unsweetened)
1/4 cup fruit of your choice (I used blueberries)
1 tbsp agave syrup
1 medium Mason jar
Nutrition estimate -- 250-275 calories, 9 g protein, 18 g fiber, 15 g fat, 30 g carbohydrates

1. Put all your ingredients into the Mason jar and stir it up.

pre-shaking and stirring

2. Put the cap on the Mason jar, tightly, and shake it vigorously for 30 seconds or so.

3. Put the jar in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
4. Open and enjoy!

it doesn't look that good, but it tastes delicious!