Reunited with My Bike

Today my bike finally came home to me in one piece!! It was a great feeling to finally have my bike in my arms again. I honestly thought I was never going to see my bike but when we saw it on craigslist yesterday I was overjoyed but it was such a hassle to get it back.
When we called the local police department Friday night, we were put on hold for almost an hour to finally find out they had lost the police report and could not help us at all. I was so mad I did not know what to do. I wanted to start crying which I did when my boyfriend told me let’s call the police station in the next town and see if they could help us. It sounded like a good idea I just did not want to get my hopes up, so he called them told them the story and they told us that they would help us. The posting on craiglist for my bike was in there town and they could actually do something about it which was my fist fear. But there was a catch (there is always a catch)! One of us would half to go and identify the bike to make sure it was mine. My boyfriend decided he would go identify the bike, so a cop car came and got him bright and early the next morning. It took about an hour or so and I was finally reunited with my bike, and off to the farmers market I went. Did I mention I am going to bake cookies for the police department just to say thank you.
I hope everyone has a great Saturday 🙂

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Green Falafel

Well did you guess what I am making for dinner? I hoped you guessed right… I am making falafels!!! I had a craving for Middle Eastern food and I wanted to try and make my own again.  It was my first attempt at making falafels and I did pretty well. They are vegan and gluten free which is a plus!! When it was time to start making the dish of course I forgot that I no longer had my food processor; so I used my soup blender and I had to blend up everything in small batches which took longer than expected. It was a pretty rough task but it had to be done.
We’ll let’s go and start whipping up a batch of yummy falafels…

Let the blending begin..

Chick Peas, onions, spinach, garlic, and spices all mixed in.! Now all we need are the oats

Green Goodness..

I look so, so, so, good to eat

I know I know to bright,but I had to show you guys the golden brow texture!!!

This is what my plate looked liked when I started to eat, but I had three more I know, I know there is no hope for me 🙂

Adapted From: Baked Spinach Falafel

Ingredients:

1 cup dried chick peas (soaked overnight and cooked)
2 cups spinach chopped
1small onion chopped
2 cloves garlic
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. coriander
2 tsp. cumin
2 tsp. chili powder
1 ½ cup rolled oats

Directions: Place all the ingredients into the food processor and make sure it becomes a thick paste then add the rolled oats by hand and form balls. If you are using an immersion blender add the onion, spinach, and garlic to the cup blend well and add to the bowl, then blend up the chick peas add the thick paste to the bowl; add the spices mix all the ingredients very well (if it is a little watery do not panic the oats will soak it right up)…. Fold the roll oats into the mixture until you can form balls. Fire up the skillet with a little olive oil and let them fry on each side for about three minutes… Once they are golden brown let them cool serve and enjoy!!!

No Smoothie Today

No smoothie today I am delaying my smoothie challenge for a while since my food processor blade just collapsed on me last night. I will half to go out and get a new one or maybe a blender I have not decided which one would suit me better. I had to switch things up today and so I had one of my favorite breakfasts. Almond butter, one banana, and wheat toast. I love this breakfast so much I wish I could eat it all day everyday but I don’t want to get tired of it. It’s been a long week and I am happy to end my week with this yummy treat…

Over worked and under appreciated 🙂

Dried Chickpeas soaking overnight.. Cooking in the crock pot right now… Can you guess what I am making for dinner tonight? Well lets hope you guess correctly because you guys are making them with me tonight.. 🙂

Smoothie Challenge: Day 4

Today Smoothie Challenge, Was a smoothie in a bowl I used two chop carrots, 1tbsp of flax seed, ½ cup of oatmeal, and one banana. I used my handy dandy food processor but lately I am thinking maybe I need a blender to get a creamier look… My smoothies in a bowl are looking more like a thick porridge. I also had a piece of toast and an egg for my breakfast. I am not getting enough calories so I am trying to get as much as I can in the morning..

Smoothie Challenge: Day 3: YUCK!

Today smoothie was horrible it was really bad! Yuck!! I have no clue what happen! I think the problem was I let the broccoli, kale, and carrot juice sit in the fridge since I juiced it last night. I have no clue what went wrong I need to figure that out… The smoothie was so horrible! I gulped it down but it was the longest five minutes of my life… I had to chew gum and eat a piece of toast just to get the taste out my mouth. Well not in that order…

I decided that I need to get cleaner with my diet I have been eating way to much organic, vegan, and vegetarian processed foods. In the beginning it was fine but now it does not agree with my belly and I seem to be putting on weight instead of taking it off. Needless to say I guess it is time for another clean eating revamp. Since watching Food Inc. I refused to eat feedlot animals ever again the movie made me go all organic but I have been going about it the wrong way. I would have never thought because it was organic, vegan, or vegetarian it would be processed; this new found information blew my mind. I have cut meat out of my diet for three months this time and I am not happy with my energy levels; I also think my boyfriend is getting sick again he is looking really pale it’s not a good look for him. After much looking around I finally found a local ranch that raises grass fed beef; they sell it at the local farmers market on the weekends so we will be checking it out this weekend… I am so excited I cannot wait to tell you guys about it.

Smoothie Challenge: Day 2

I am really looking at all the good things I can put in to my smoothies and boy oh boy the possibilities are endless. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and when you do not have time to eat, smoothies make a perfect breakfast. I am getting pretty good with adding more bright colors to my smoothies don’t you think so?
Today smoothie was a one banana, ½ cup of oatmeal, and 10oz carrot juice. It was about four big carrots I juiced last night save me much needed time in the morning. No sugar added and not needed it was very sweet…

Rock Star Rant…

What do you guys think of the lead singers of Green Day reaction to his one minute performance at the I heart radio concert in Vegas? When I first saw it I was laughing so hard. I am still laughing!!! I found it to be well said after all they have been in the industry for years; could he have handled it a little classier yeah! But come on!! He is a rock star that’s what they do!! They let out aggression in ways we could never imagine! I give Billie Joe 5 thumbs up for speaking his mind..
It’s a hot topic that was going on all day at work and not that I am one to get into gossip but I am a lover of music and it is one of my favorite bands. I can go techno from a techno mood my favorite DJ being Tiesto and right into a country mood gotta love Jason Aldean and Kenny Chesney. I have no limits when it comes to good music. If you have did not see Bille Joe rant it is very explicit! I hope you tell me what you think?

Smoothie Challenge: Day 1

I am super excited about this challenge smoothies for thirty days the possibilities are going to be endless… Right now my smoothies are pretty bland with not much color or radiance. I want to try and make them look appealing so I am going to see what I can do to get that wonderful look. Today smoothie consists of two bananas, ¼ cup of cooked oatmeal, one plum, and cinnamon. Now its time for me to go up! up! and away I go!!!

Carrot Bundt Cake

The decision was made and the cake that was chosen was Carrot Cake!!!!

In my post a week to bake a cake I had you guys decided which cake I should bake. I am happy it was a carrot cake because I had some carrots in the fridge that I did not want to go bad… What a great way to use them up…
First things first I was really freaking out about this cake the whole week I never baked a cake before. I am more of the spoon and bowl licker not the cake maker I see the roles for me have been turned upside down…. Even though I was freaking out about the cake It was fun making the cake.. I was so happy that Friday arrived the craziness at work was finally over. We had so much to get ready for the surprise party and then I had to bake a cake it was a crazy week for me.
Conversational Moment from the Crazy Week at Work:
Co-Worker: I know its Wednesday Shundara and I am giving you a short notice, but do you think that you have time to make something else for the party, and can you stay late Thursday to help get the break room ready…
Me: Oh wow I have not made the cake yet and I don’t know if I have time to make anything else.. I can buy some food at the store if you want??
Co-worker: Well you know the party is a potluck so homemade dishes would be nice, but its ok I will see if I can find someone else to do it… Can you at least stay late Thursday?
Me: Oh I guess we are too good for store bought items now.. How late would you like me to stay?
Co- worker: How late can you stay?
Me: I have homework due so not to late but I can stay…
Coworker: Oh its ok I will find someone else…
I guess we were all having crazy moments this week, but this was the weirdest moment for me because she wasn’t even the party planner… Let’s just say we will all be cheerful Monday…  I am happy to say they were in love with the cake and let’s just say it was MMmmm good…  I am now the official cake baker…If there is anyone who is lactose intolerant besides me stay far away from the cake if you do not want to be sick… If you are dying to have a piece and you don’t mine suffering later… Have a very small piece and savory every bite 🙂  Now it’s time to show you how it all came together…

Up! Up! and away we go!!..

The ingredients that will make the cake shine just like me..

Tip: Please do not rush and allow the butter to melt at room temperature are you will be mixing longer then anticipated..

Because hand mixers are ok when your on a budget…. Looks so good to eat without the baking

Baking in style is so much fun

Now the frosting….

Tip: chop up pecans very finely that way it will not look so clunky… Not what I had in my head but it was my fist cake.. Thumbs Up!!!

Adapted From: Spiced Carrot Cake…

For Cake:

2 cups of Flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 ¼ cup of sugar

4 eggs

1 stick unsalted butter room temperature

2 cups of carrots

For Icing:

1 stick unsalted butter room temperature

1 cup powdered sugar

1 cup cream cheese

1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:  Pre heat oven at 350.  With your handy dandy mixer Cream together sugar, eggs and butter in a large bowl.  Whisk flour, salt, cinnamon, and baking soda in another bowl. Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients once the mixture is mixed well add the carrots. Grease and flour Bundt pan very well add the mixture to the pan and bake until completely done. Let cake cool for about 20 minutes..

Icing: With your mixer mix together cream cheese and melted butter gradually add the powder sugar, vanilla, and pecans…

Enjoy….

Green Tea Smoothie

I know it looks scary but it’s really yummy… 🙂

I usually have variety in my breakfast but lately I have been hooked on smoothies. Smoothies have made life so much easier for me in the morning, because I do not half to worry about what to eat. Sometimes planning is so annoying. Now I am able to focused on my morning workouts. Today I did a full strength training work out which is very exciting because for the last three Fridays. I was not in the mood to workout at all so I would not put any effort into it and would just give up. No I am a strength training machine however it is still not my favorite to do. I have decided to do a 30 day breakfast smoothie challenge starting Monday.
Today I had a green tea smoothie it included 1 nectarine, 1 pear, 1 banana, ¼ cup of cooked oatmeal, and green tea. I didn’t use a straw this time because I was in a rush to get ready for work. I just love days where I can sit relax and sip my smoothie instead of rushing and trying to get it down in on gulp…