Sprained Ankle = Kitchen Adventures!

I love coming across a new recipe that is delicious and super easy to make. I bookmarked this recipe for future use and it was perfect timing because I had a massive apple waiting to be eaten. Have I mentioned that I am slightly obsessed with the blog Oh She Glows? This is where I got the Baked Apples Stuffed with Date Pecan Oatmeal recipe from. It's one that I will use often for all meals: breakfast, snack, or dessert. I didn't have any pecans so I used sunflower seeds instead, and it came out tasting great. A scoop of vanilla ice cream and this dish is irresistable.

In other news, I signed up to play intramural basketball with some co-workers. I thought it would be a great way to have fun and be active. Unfortunately, it was just that, a thought; I heard a crunch and realized I rolled my ankle over my toes. This was in the first 10 minutes of the game too.

The result: My ankle disappeared under swollen tissue. 

I am hopeful that it won't hinder me too long. I can already walk without too much of a limp, especially when I wrap the darn thing. Ibuprofen helps with the swelling and pain. Positive though and applying RICE should get me back in working order soon. To help pass the time, I am experimenting in the kitchen. 

Sometimes I bake things that look delicious but don't taste great, and today was one of those days. I attempted black bean brownies. Looks can be deceiving. The brownies were ooey gooey to the eye, but bitter and pasty to the palate. I think I failed on this recipe because I cut out too much sugar. I like the idea of using beans instead of flour, and it did produce a moist brownie. It lacked sweetness and that 'melt in your mouth' sensation. I will definitely try it again, altering the recipe, but overall this trial was a failure. 

On the bright side, I was successful in making a huge pot of vegetarian chili. I had a bag of lentils and half a can of black beans (leftover from the brownies) to use up and this seemed like a logical dish. I was happy something with the beans turned out. I was also able to get started on Halloween baking. Since I am working 10 hours on Halloween, I thought I'd make some delicious treats for everyone. Gluten-free cake balls were a success and looking rather festive. If I have some time tomorrow, I will attempt some more baking.

A Rainy Saturday = Pretzels & Muffins

I've been back in Fredericton for over a month now, and I think my busy schedule has finally caught up to me. I have been pretty tired lately and drained of energy. Thank goodness for great friends though; I hit up the market with Heather A. this morning, followed by an amazing brunch at the Kaempffer's. The rest of my day consisted of me locking myself in my apartment and not leaving (except to see Jen). I was able to catch up on laundry, and with inspiration from Sarah's previous meal, made delicious pretzels.

I am sometimes amazed by the incredible support system I have here. It's a relief to know that I am surrounded by people who are caring and genuine, especially while Alex is away. So, a big thank you to my friends and family :) You are the best!

Pumpkin Quinoa Muffins

To prep for the day of rock climbing I have scheduled for tomorrow, I made pumpkin quinoa muffins - nom nom. If I make it viral that I'm to go climbing, I feel more obligated to actually go. I am having a hard time mustering up enough motivation to leave my warm duvet. Unfortunately, I'm not feeling that great, which isn't helping my motivation levels. Here's to positive forward thinking and a little less complaining :)

I heart cycling but my behind does not!

Last weekend, I spent two full days in the spinning studio working toward obtaining my Indoor Cycling Certification through C.O.R.E Cycling. I recently started cycling outdoors and I love it. I enjoy it a lot more than running (not that I any good at it). Taking the steps to become an instructor seems like a great way to stay active, push myself and learn. Plus, certifications always look good on a CV :)

Before we set foot in the classroom we were to read the manual and watch drill videos. The manual was an easy read and just made sense. The videos were short and sweet, which made working through the material less daunting. 

Day 1 - We were in the classroom for 1.5 hours and in the spinning studio from 10:00-18:30. Most of that time, minus 30 minutes, was on the bike. We went through bike setup, drills, cuing, prohibited moves and so much more. I am not an avid cyclist and my tush was hurting! I haven't built the tolerance to the saddle just yet. I got home and had to put together a 20 minute class for the next day. This was the practical portion of the certification. There were nine participants in total, but only five of us were to prepare a class. The other four are already instructors and were take this course for extended learning. I gave up around midnight because I knew I had a long day ahead. Who would have thought that a 20 minute class would consume so much of my time.

Day 2 - The morning started off with a 30-40 minute class that took us over some nasty hills. We were given the morning to prepare our rides. My music choice screamed hills and for some reason, I thought it was a good idea to 'roll' with it (sometimes I surprise myself, haha).

Pumpkin Spiced Energy Balls (Gluten & Dairy-free)

It was clear after the first day that some serious calories were being burned and appropriate fuel would be necessary. I threw together some energy balls for the class and they were gobbled up before the day was done. Who doesn't love spicy chocolate pumpkin seed?

I was nervous, tired and did I mention, nervous? I love being around people but coaching in front of a group is not a familiar place for me to be. I was the last to go and of course, I chose to do hills. To my surprise, I found some inner energy and hammered out a solid 20 minutes. The group was awesome and participated the whole time. I was a sweaty mess and didn't care.

I submitted my written exam and just found out that I aced it - 70/70! The next step is to put myself out there and start teaching. Hopefully my employers have a little wiggle room and can find space for me to get some experience.

My 20 minute playlist:
Strip me- Natasha Bedingfield
Jungle Drums - Emiliana Torrini
List of Demands (Reparations) - Saul Williams
Somebody that I used to know - Gotye Tiesto remix
Dead Disco - Metric

This one will be added to the warm up:
Young Blood - The Naked and Famous (Tiesto & Hardwell Remix)

Now I need to work on putting together a full 40-50 minute ride. If you have any song suggestions, send them my way; I am always looking for new and unique stuff :)

Let's Eat!

For those of you who do not know me, the way to my heart is through food. If you do know me, you know that cookies and various other baked goods are almost impossible for me to resist. I enjoy the baking process almost as much as eating, which is why I am always looking for new and interesting ways to make traditional baked goods a little healthier. I believe in eating whole, non-processed foods when possible and I like to know what I am putting into my body. I can easily satisfy my sweet tooth with simple substitutions, but there are times when the traditional high calorie, high fat and high sugar recipe is the only option (Christmas, Thanksgiving, date night). I don't believe in depriving myself so, on those occasions when I have a hankering for the real thing, I attempt to exercise portion control.

Sometimes I am successful in the kitchen and sometimes I fail miserably, but I enjoy experimenting with the ingredients that fuel our bodies. This page will be dedicated to my adventures in the kitchen. I don't think I will post recipes and step-by-step instructions. It will be mainly pictures and my own observations/thoughts on the meals I am attempting to create. If you have any questions, just send me an e-mail or leave a comment :)

Baking with Avocados

I have a bag of avocados sitting on my counter, ready to be consumed. Guacamole? Chocolate pudding? Salad? Nah, it wasn't doing it for me. I wanted COOKIES!

If you Google 'baking with avocados' the results are endless. Sometimes people shy away from these wonderful fruits because of their caloric density and relatively high fat content. The fat content of avocados is unique in that over half the fat in an avocado is in the form of oleic acid (good stuff), which is similar to composition of olive oil. Don't be afraid of this nutrient dense food; avocados are great for your eyes, satiety and cholesterol. Plus, they're delicious! 

Apparently avocados can be substituted for butter. That makes sense; they're high in fat and when blended, has the consistency of butter (kind of).

Protein Pancakes

My favorite meal of the day is breakfast and I am always looking for variety in the mornings. Traditional pancakes don't have much nutritional value but are oh so tasty. after several attempts, I managed to amalgamate a few recipes to come up with nutritious and tasty pancakes.

Protein Pancakes and Raspberry Topping

Summer 2012: Never a dull moment

This summer was filled with hellos, goodbyes, travel, excitement, nervousness, moving, tears, and a whole slew of other events/emotions. I apologize in advance for the lengthy post!

June

My studies at BLCU came to an end and I had to prepare to say goodbye to some great people. I studied with people from all over the world and made friendships that I hope can withstand distance and inconsistent communication. Final exams came and went and I found myself frantically packing my apartment. I purged most of my clothes and fit my belongings into two suitcases. I'm impressed I managed to stay within the weight restrictions.

I will miss these crazy ladies! 

July