Things I Love
May 7th
things i’m digging:
salt and vinegar chickpeas
because I can’t be trusted around a bag of chips (serious side eye to kettle cooked salt n’ vinegar), I’ve been roasting up these babies and eating them on absolutely everything. At least they’re high protein?
coffee detox
I haven’t had a drop of coffee in just about a month, and I feel amazing. I felt myself getting addicted so I quit cold turkey. It was brutal for a couple days there, but I really can’t stand the havoc it wreaks on my internals. Will I quit it forever? Probably not. But I’m feeling good for now.
probiotics
Speaking of my internals, this stuff works miracles. Not only is it vegan and delicious, it helps with bloating and other sorts of digestive sadness. Tasty, too.
pawn stars
I seriously cannot stop watching this show. I find it absolutely fascinating. I totally admit to reading Rick’s book in less than a day. it was super interesting for a nerd like me, as he talked about how he acts as part sociologist, part anthropologist due to all of the interesting memorbilia/people that come through his doors. I.can’t.get.enough. I think I might need an intervention soon.
(I may also have a secret inappropriate crush on both Corey and Rick…)
A Sign
May 3rd
So.. is this a sign?
Well, yes, obviously it’s a physical sign but the point is this: I drove past this church every week en route to my long runs when I was training for Disney. The name of this fine establishment is was Marathon Church. The name alone was encouragement enough as I would drive by. “Hey, I’m training for that! I’m going to do a marathon!”
They’re getting a new name this month!? WHAT DOES IT MEAN!?!?!
Nashville
May 2nd
So this past weekend I went to Nashville to visit with my family and take part in various running activities. First up was the Rock ‘n’ Roll Country Music Marathon Expo! I love expos, and this one did not disappoint.
Right after the expo, we headed down the street where I ran a one-mile race with the little bro. He ran the entire time and sprinted ahead at the finish. He’s a speedy one!
So proud.
The next day I was up bright and early to run the half marathon! Over 30k people participated in both the marathon and half, so it was a little nuts.
My mom got up at the crack of dawn with me just to spectate! Thanks Mom! I love you. However, I don’t love these awful pictures of me looking stupid along the course:
mile 4:
mile 8.5:
mile 13.05:
I’m quite glad I did this race, because of views like this:
However, it was hot as hell and the hills wanted to kill me. Not my best race, but I got my body to the end, and for that, I am grateful.
Running is a gift.
I’m kind of glad I don’t have any races coming up any time soon. I need a little mental break from running, and these pool/yoga vouchers are burning a hole in my pocket.
Plus, I don’t have an adorable ice bath buddy to keep me company here in South Carolina:
Happy Earth Day!
Apr 22nd
Beautiful rainbow brought to you by Greenville’s afternoon thunderstorm (if you look closely, you can see a double rainbow).
Color remixes brought to you by Photoshop. Happy Earth Day!
Tempeh Tenders
Apr 19th
When I was in college, I was lucky enough to partake in the experience that is Chicken Tender Tuesday. It was a very big deal. These chicken tenders were prime, juicy, and just waiting to be devoured by hoards of hungry college kids. We lived for Tuesdays back then.
One of the things I miss most is a beautifully crisp chicken tender. Not so much because of how it makes me feel, but because it’s a southern culture thing. These folk don’t mess around with their fried chicken. Chic-fil-a is everywhere, trying to lure me in. Can you believe it’s been almost two years since the spicy ridiculousness?
While I don’t feel the need to go out and stuff myself with KFC, I figured I could try my hand at the next best thing, tempeh tenders. Lucky for me (and you!) they came out quite tasty.
Tempeh Tenders
Need:
1 package tempeh
a lot of cups of canola oil
for the wash:
1 egg, beaten
1c rice milk
for the breading:
1/2c all-purpose flour
1/2c panko breadcrumbs
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp Penzey’s mural of flavor or other spices as you desire
Do:
- Heat the oil in a small saucepan to 350 degrees.
- Whisk together the egg and milk in a small bowl. Combine all the dry breading ingredients in another bowl.
- Cut the tempeh into strips. Dip each strip into the breading, then the egg wash, then back into the breading. Ensure each strip is fully coated with breading.
- Repeat until all strips are prepped.
- Fry the strips in hot oil until golden and crispy.
- Allow the strips to drain on paper towels. Let cool slightly before eating. Enjoy!
I had these babies tonight dipped in some classic ketchup. Their flavor isn’t overwhelming, which makes it perfect for pairing with sauces and dips. Can’t wait to try out a crispy buffalo tempeh wrap tomorrow!
Pinterest inspired nails.. round two
Apr 17th
Actual:
Per usual, my nails are never perfect, but I’m having oodles of fun experimenting. Incase you haven’t figured out, I have a whole board full of nail inspiration over on that oh-so-addicting Pinterest. The color I used is from the elf line, and I’m happy to report it didn’t chip for a whole week! Almost unheard of over here.
This is what happens when Hobby Lobby has a paper sale
Apr 12th
I make pinterest-inspired coasters. They’re still a work in progress because my cup sticks to the surface after a bit. Maybe I need more acrylic sealer?
I was way overdue for new coasters as my old ones were literally years old and had seen much better days.
I also re-did the ridiculously easy “art” on my wall (original seen here). Such a breath of fresh air for such a small change. It feels more me, more grown up and more simple.
…but where do you get your protein?
Apr 11th
Arguably one of the most frequent questions I (and vegetarians in general) get is “where do you get your protein?” I have found, in my 1.5 years of experience, that with a little planning it’s not terribly difficult to get enough protein. There’s protein in pretty much everything! You just have to be willing to branch out a bit. Continuing to eat the typical american diet of sugary cereal, iceberg lettuce and french fries will get you nowhere fast.
So. To demonstrate, I documented a day of eats and now I’m about to list the protein content of everything*. Ready? Here’s what I ate yesterday..
breakfast:
popped amaranth (1c = 28g)
walnuts (1c = 4g)
rice milk (1c = 1g)
maple syrup (nada)
snacks:
greek yogurt (6oz = 15g)
protein bar (1 bar = 10g)
greek frozen yogurt (1c = 12g)
lunch:
rainbow rice salad:
wild rice (1c = 6.5g)
black beans (1 c = 14g)
corn (1c = 5g)
peas (1c = 8g)
peppers (1c = 1.5g)
carrots (1c = 1g)
dinner:
hummus (1c = 12g)
pimento cheese (1c = 25g)
whole wheat pita (1 pita = 6g)
cabbage (1c = 1g)
mixed greens (1c = 0.5g)
balsamic dressing (nada)
other favorite sources:
hard boiled eggs (1 egg = 6g)
quinoa (1c = 24g)
lentils (1c = 18g)
peanut butter (1c = 64g)
any other type of nut/seed butter (35-50g)
nutritional yeast (1c = 85g)
chickpeas (1c = 12g)
white beans (1c = 19g)
any other kind of bean (1c = 10-20g)
This by no means is a comprehensive list! As you can see, there are many excellent, healthy, tasty sources of protein. It’s all about finding a balance and what works for you. While peanut butter is an absolutely wonderful source of protein, it’s also unfortunately a more excellent source of fat. I wouldn’t recommend downing a cup of peanut butter daily but a few tablespoons here and there are not only delicious but an excellent way to sneak in protein!
What are some of your favorite sources of protein?
*note: serving sizes listed don’t reflect my actual servings. I normalized everything to around one cup for comparison purposes. Although I probably could down a cup of pimento cheese if I didn’t believe my arteries would immediately clog.
