Dunkin'

Did you know that there are no Dunkin' Donuts in Cali?  

Source

no joke. i'm serious.

When Shane and I first moved out here, one of the first things I did was go on the DD website and search for a location near my new home.  NONE. I was devastated and suffered withdrawls the first couple months.

They got really bad in September and I felt a pang of jealousy every time a NJ friend would post a Dunkin' related FB status.  "Just got my first DD pumpkin coffee of the season!" or "Nothing like a DD iced coffee to start your day ".   I'd yell in my head, OMG, be a little more sensitive!!  Don't you know I'm suffering out here?! 

When I visited home in December, the first thing my Dad did after picking me up from the airport was stop at a DD, at 5 in the morning, because he's great like that.

But I digress.  Because this post isn't actually about Dunkin' Donuts coffee at all. 

Or about how much better I think Dunkin' is than Starbucks.

Source

This post is actually about doughnuts.  It all started on Tuesday night when Shane innocently said he was craving a doughnut.  Jenna's glazed cake doughnuts immediately popped into my head.  I impulsively went shopping during my lunch break on Wednesday for a doughnut pan at Target.  

They did not have doughnut pans...but there were mini bundt pans.  And you better believe I bought one! 

These were so easy to make and they taste amazing!!!  I made doughnut "holes" in my mini cupcake tin and brought them into work.  Let's just say, that by the end of the day they were all gone!

Question: Will you buy and open up a Dunkin'Donuts in San Diego? All kidding aside, if I had the money, I totally would.

Starbucks or Dunkin'? I think you know my answer...

Girl Power

Woops!  Did I say girl power?!  

Now you probably have a Spice Girls song stuck in your head...

 

I meant to say Green Power!!!!!

 It's amazing what a little green juice, green salads, and green apples can do to your life.  In my last post I admitted to my sugar filled week which left me feeling tired, heavy, and unmotivated to work out.


Sunday, I thought, enough is enough!  I'm going grocery shopping and buying enough fruits and veggies to feed a small army!  An army of 2 that is ;)


Would you believe that all this produce, along with 2 containers of hummus came to only $23.52?!  Yes, the power of Vine Ripe people.  And then I went to Henry's for some grains in the bulk bins and spend a whopping $2.27.  And I used my debit card, because who carries cash nowadays?


As you can imagine, a big chunk of my Sunday was spent washing all this produce.

Last week I saw a commercial for a news segment about the disgusting germs found on produce.  I didn't even watch the segment, but it made my skin crawl to actually think about it.  So this week I soaked my veggies in apple cider vinegar water, about 3 TBSP per gallon of water.  


I've noticed so far that it's so convenient to just grab something from the fridge and not have to wash it.  Although it was time consuming on Sunday, it pays off during the week.

Some of my eats:

Monday

Handful dandelion greens, green apple, 1/2 cucumber, 1/2 lemon

cocoa oats with fresh blueberries

Salad with spinach, snap peas, chick peas, sunflower seeds, nooch, evoo + celery and PB

Shane made veggie-ful stir fry!

Tuesday

oats in a jar + 1/2 cup coffee

Salad with spinach, stir-fry, bean sprouts, snap peas, soy sauce, sunflower seeds + celery and hummus

Mediterranean Bulgur and Lentils

Mediterranean Bulgur and Lentils

From Betty Crocker Easy Vegetarian 

1 cup uncooked bulgur wheat (I used cracked wheat)

1/2 cup dried lentils, sorted and rinsed

1 tsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp sea salt

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 can whole kernel corn, drained ( I used frozen corn)

2 14oz containers veggie broth

2 medium tomatoes, chopped (1 1/2 cups)

1/2 cup drained pitted kalamata olives (I left these out)

1 cup crumbled fetta cheese (4 oz)

1. In a 3 to 4 quart slow cooker, mix all ingredients except tomatoes, olives and cheese.

2. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 3 to 4 hours or until lentils are tender.

3. Stir in tomatoes and olives.  Increase heat setting to High.  Cover; cook 15 minutes longer.  Top with cheese.

This was yummy and easy.  Mine turned out a little mushy, I think because I used cracked wheat instead of the bulgur.  It is a warm and satisfying meal that kept me full!!

I actually made this a while ago, hence the lack of pictures, and froze it.  Last night was the perfect opportunity to heat it up in the microwave and enjoy it all over again!

 Question: Did you have a favorite spice girl?
I loved Ginger Spice!!  She was so cool with her daisy dukes, bright red hair, and sassy attitude!

Sugar Overload

Remember last week when I was stressed to the max and then I got sick?  Well this past week I felt like I had my energy zapped out of me.  I was out of my workout routine and was totally off with my eating.  

Who wants to eat veggies when there are homemade VDay "Reese's Cups" in the freezer?

This past week was one bad decision after another eating wise.  A little bit of this, and a little bite of that.  One reese's cup...okay maybe 3.  

I Googled "too much sugar" and the first article that popped up is a doozy from Time, Too Much Sugar Increases Heart Risks.  

We all know too much sugar isn't good for us.  Not only can too much sugar increase our jean size, turns out too much added sugar, 

"can also lead to dangerously high levels of blood fats, and raise the risk of heart disease as much as a diet full of high-fat foods...Fructose *think high fructose corn syrup* can prompt the liver to generate more cholesterol and metabolize triglycerides from sugar in the diet, as well as slow down the clearance of fats from the blood".  

Scary stuff.

No wonder I feel terrible after eating too many sugary treats.   I've seen a lot of bloggers go on sugar detoxes, but I don't think I can commit to that.  However, I can commit to being more aware of my sugar consumption.  Being mindful of the types of sugar I put in my body. And asking how will that make me feel?

To counteract all the sugar I've eaten this week and all the sugary treats on my blog, I will share a delicious and satisfying soup with you.  I've always been a bit wary of cooking with curry, but when I made an impulse purchase of curry powder at TJ's, not unusual, I found this simple curried soup and just had to try it.

Curried Carrot Soup

from Simply in Season 

  

 

1 onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

2 stalks celery, chopped

• In a large soup pot, saute in 2 TBSP olive oil until soft.

 

2 lb carrots (or you can use sweet potato), chopped

6 cups veggie broth

2 tsp curry powder

• Add to pot and bring to a boil.  
• Simmer until carrots are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Remove from heat and cool slightly.
• Puree.  I used a regular blender.

 

1 tsp lemon juice 

salt and pepper to taste

• Add and stir well.
• Serve with a dollop of yogurt or garnish with cilantro leaves.

ENJOY :)

Partay Animal

I went out on a school night...GASP!

No, I didn't just randomly decide to go have a big, juicy, burger. I'm a veggie head, aka vegetarian, remember?

Now I'm not one to go out on a school night and my reasons for not doing so are endless.

But I need my beauty rest.

I'll be cranky tomorrow.

I have TV shows to watch.

And blogs to read.

Who will play with the kitties?

I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE IT!

You get the idea.  I get home, Shane and I eat some din, and we put our butts on the couch until bedtime at 9:30.   

 Partay animals.

But the other night was the exception.  My cousin, from NJ, was here in San Diego!  Of course I had to meet up with him and catch up.  I love my couch and all, but this was more important. Family > Couch...it's simple math!

Bare Back Grill in Pacific Beach touts 100% organic beef and organic, locally farmed fresh veggies. 

 It was a yummy good time!

There are no pictures.  I didn't want to be a  weirdo.

I had the Pattie M Melt (veggie burger): swiss cheese, grilled onion and pepper relish, with homemade 1000 island dressing served on toasted rye bread.  

I highly recommend this place and am definitely bringing Shane back so he can eat these burgers in all their beefy glory.

Isn't Your Birthday in January?

Yes it is.  And I know this is late... 

Like super late.  

obnoxiously late.

But I had a fabulous birthday, way back on January 29th and thought I'd finally share some pictures!

Full outfit shot...I just had to

Our table at Kaminkski's.  It was my work holiday party!

Preparing for SHAKEY FACE

 wow

 Birthday girls!!  Love that we both went with bright coral dresses

Good times :)

 

xoxo

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

We walked around La Jolla on this gorgeous Vday.  

Don't mind the goofy pics, we couldn't get a good one.

I blame it on my watery eyes and runny nose.

xoxo

Sniffly Sunday

Satruday night I went to bed with a bit of a runny nose.  No big deal.

Sunday I woke up with a scratchy throat + runny nose + watery eyes.  No more hiking trip with friends :(

This is what I missed out on, wah!  Next time!

 Shane and I headed to Vine Ripe Market.  I needed oranges in my life.

Baskets of Middle Eastern candies

Great priced produce

sweets!

We had never went here before, assuming it would be expensive.  But we read some reviews on Yelp! and had to try it out.  It's super cheap, and they have a good variety of produce that is delivered everyday.  It specializes in Middle Eastern/Mediterranean food and they have a huge selection of freshly baked bread.  The naan looks so good, but we went with whole wheat pitas.  

And of course lots of oranges.

I got progressively worse as the day went on.

Spent the day napping, reading and sniffling.  I am loving this book, The Art of Eating In by Kathy Erway.  Has anyone else read it?  I'm almost done!

I also got caught up on some homework.  We're having a workshop on Wednesday and I needed to finish reading. 

Any early childhood educators out there?  This book is wonderful.  It's not one of those books that's all theory and by the end you're wondering how in the world to implement it in your classroom.  It does a great job of providing real examples and strategies  you can start using right away! 

*Sorry non teachers for this tangent!!*

Around 5 I mustered up enough strength to finish making Shane's dinner. Jenna's Chicken 'n' Biscuits to Fix Your Life

Shane was in heaven.  I need to cook this boy meat more often!

 

 

I soothed my throat with a smoothie

-handful dandelion greens

-frozen blackberries and blueberries

-rice milk

-1/2 banana

-orange juice

Thank goodness my school is off on Monday!