They were so delicious that I ate more than I should have (one… maybe three more). And the major bonus of the evening was that the meal was complete and ready to be devoured WHEN I ARRIVED! So no waiting, no letting my stomache just growl and beg for food. None of that. Just totally delicous tacos and the most wonderful company a person could ask for. Oh, and we watched a episode of The Office, which had some funny parts (I laughed on the inside). And then we played Warcraft and I dominated the battlegrounds. Yeah, we’re geeks like that.

So I used a basic chocolate chip cookie recipe and altered it a bit so it wasn’t so unhealthy (basically reducing the sugar and swapping out the oil for applesauce). The results were both edible and dunkable (in a small glass of almond milk, how else?).

The batter (yummy and vegan, so no worries eating this stuff!)

Into the oven (they spread)

Fresh out of the oven (Wait? How do people do that?).

Ingredients (all ingredients are rough estimates):
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup brown sugar (can be reduced if you’d like)
1.5 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup non-dairy milk
2.5 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1.5 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 – 1.5 cup vegan chocolate chips

Combine the wet ingredients well. Sift in the dry ingredients and mix just enough to combine. Portion out as big as you want (I did a heaping tablespoon and it made about 36 cookies). Bake at 350 degrees F for 12-15 minutes.

It’s still a treat, not to be indulged in every day, but I will still enjoy every bite. And take the rest to work and give away to friends. Laughter, like tasty cookies, are best when shared.

G’nite!

I wanted to start off both the annual tradition of October and vegan food, as well as a new commitment to myself for choosing to eat healthier and more whole foods with recipe that would get me back into the kitchen cooking (not just reheating or boiling pasta). I chose banana bread because A) I have a huge bag of super ripe frozen bananas in my freezer and B) it’s quite chilly outside and a hot bread just sounded delicious. I got the recipe from an old e-cookbook from Happy Herbivore called Awesome Fat-Free Banana Bread.

I also made a tofu scramble for dinner which was super simple and completely rocked the house. These measurements are exact. Feel free to use more or less of any of them to your own tastes.

Tofu Scramble

• 2 blocks extra firm tofu, pressed
• 1.5 tsp garlic powder
• 1.5 tsp onion powder
• 2-3 tsp soy sauce
• 1/3 cup nutritional yeast

In a large skillet at medium to medium/high heat, crumble the tofu and allow to cook for a few minutes, moving the tofu around a little bit, breaking it up to your own liking. Add in the garlic powder, onion powder, soy sauce and nutritional yeast, stirring everything together until well coated and hot throughout.

Yeah, it’s a pretty standard tofu scramble. I think it goes really well with a few slices of buttered toast, but it’s pretty amazing just by itself. I kept it simple this time around, but I also like to add in fresh mushrooms or green peppers or even some fresh spinach and let it wilt down. It reminds me a lot of scrambled eggs, but without any of the unpleasantness of what eggs actually are (ie. chicken menstruation).

First day of Vegan Mofo and I’m pretty happy with making two recipes (more cooking than I’ve done in a while). Now I need to find some things to make tomorrow, and also need to find a kick ass recipe for lunches for work next week.

• • • • •

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Today’s “3 Daily Goals”

1. BODY: Bring carrots to work for a snack. – [✔]
2. HOME: Clean out the junk drawer.
3. ACTIVITY: Morning workout on the elliptical. – [✔]

• • • • •

Over the last few years, but especially the last few months, I’ve begun to truly understand the value in being able to adapt. For me, this means a certain level of acceptance for change, and the willingness (and sometimes even eagerness) to improve myself with this change. In nature, the species that haven’t found a way to adapt haven’t done so well, and the same goes for humans. Adapt or get left behind.

I used to spend so much time being mad about things I didn’t have any control over. A client interaction or work conflict. The economic downturn and all that comes with that. Even summer humidity! But no matter how mad I got, it didn’t change anything except turning my sour mood into a downright rotten mood. And the thing about being mad at things I didn’t have control over, was that it can quickly become a habit. One person comments on the humidity and it had the possibility of ruining my whole day. Lamesauce, I know!

Adapting is kind of the opposite of getting mad about these things. It’s about recognizing the situation for what it is, seeing the effects it has on my life, and moving forward. Yeah, sometimes I liked the way things USED to be, but looking for the good is most changes makes the process a LOT easier. I mean, if I have to change anyways, why not make it easier on myself, right?

This week I started a new work schedule, and it’s one I am so happy about. The catch is that I need to get up earlier, and it’s presented a bit of a challenge. I had a hard time getting out of bed this morning, and I didn’t have time for my morning workout. The consequence of that was a sluggish day (and possibly the reason I have a headache right now). Tomorrow, I will not miss my workout (you heard it hear first, people). I just need to adapt my body to getting up earlier, and then the routine and habit will take over. And it’s a lot easier to do this if I’m not mad every morning my alarm goes off, even if I still want to hit the snooze button a few times.

Here’s to ADAPTING!

• • • • •

Monday, July 11, 2011

Today’s “3 Daily Goals”

1. BODY: Eat two vegetables today (not including my green smoothie) – [✔]
2. HOME: Clean off the top of the cabinet next to the back door (it’s piled with junk for the last few months!) – [✔]
3. ACTIVITY: DUST! (cat and dog hair get EVERYWHERE!) – [✔]

• • • • •

One final note that fits in the theme of adapting: I’ve realized that I need to make my 3 daily goals list the day before so I give myself time to actually do them. Plus it gives an added motivation instead of just sitting on the couch. BONUS!

But back to my dilemma: where to take THIS blog. This forces me to take a look at my life and see what I am interested in now. Not any of those fleeting interests like couponing (argh, major disappointment since most are for processed foods and junk) or running (something I’m not quite ready for *yet*).

Over the last few years and getting stronger, I’ve been very interested in minimalism. The act of purposefully reducing what I have to streamline my life. Now I know that people have different ideas of what minimalism is, and I’m not trying to jump on anyone’s bandwagon and say I totally agree or disagree with any view. This would just be my own journey.

So what does this mean for this blog? I’m not sure yet, since this post is more about throwing the idea out there and seeing what sticks. It’s also about asking questions like:

1. How do I apply minimalism to weight-loss?
2. Is it about eating simple, whole foods?
3. Do I buy a camera to document my reducing/reusing/recycling?
4. Where do I begin?
5. What do I call my blog? (something I have struggled with since I started this however long ago…)

One thing I’ve learned from the Trading Pounds site is to start slow and begin habits. It sounds so simple, but have you ever tried to start an actual habit? It’s a huge undertaking if it’s not your default setting*. Can I change my default to being more active? I have no idea, but why not give it a try?

First order of business: START. Just start somewhere and if it doesn’t work, try something else. If it works, then keep expanding ideas until I find a natural rhythm. But remember to not get to comfortable. My comfort zone is my default, and it’s the opposite environment that I want to be in if I want to change. That is why I love this quote:

“If we’re growing, we’re always going to be out of our comfort zone.”
~ John Maxwell

So I’m going to begin with 3 more daily goals, but each will have a specific purpose this time around. BODY will be one thing I will do today that will improve my physical well being (at the moment, I will be focusing on food and nutrition since this is where I am lacking the most). HOME will be one thing I will do to minimize the amount of “stuff” I have, taking steps towards a more minimalism environment. ACTIVITY will be one thing I will do today to get my body moving, which can be anything from taking a walk to cleaning the bathroom to weeding the garden to playing fetch with Doc to vacuuming or doing dishes to working out on the elliptical machine. I just need to be moving my body (ie. not sitting on the couch or in front of this computer).

• • • • •

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Today’s “3 Daily Goals”

1. BODY: Find a recipe for this week’s work lunches that includes 2 vegetables, and purchase the ingredients during grocery shopping today. Make recipe today.- [✔]
2. HOME: Clean out organizer in kitchen that is doing everything BUT organizing. Keep only the items that you have or will use. Toss or donate everything else.- [✔]
3. ACTIVITY: Clean bathroom. This includes those ick-y shower shelves and washing the curtain and rugs. (oh, and that weird mildewy corner next to the tub, what IS that?) – [✔]

• • • • •

* My theory is that most people have a natural default setting for life. Some people are go-go-go busy-busy-busy people who always need to be doing something. Other people (like me) are more bursts-of-busy and longer periods of lazy-non-active. Some people naturally love to read, or write, or be in nature. I consider the default the place we go when we aren’t trying or paying attention.

Oh, and did I mention I completed my 3 Daily Goals from yesterday? Because I did! I didn’t think I’d make it to the fans, but I put it on here so I felt like I *had* to get it done. I didn’t want to come back and say I failed! haha

• • • • •

Today’s “3 Daily Goals”

1. Clean shelves in the shower (because they are ick-y!)
2. Clean shower (yes, this is a separate task from the shelves)
3. Wash shower curtain and rugs in bathroom

• • • • •

• • • • •

Today’s “3 Daily Goals”

1. Clean the osolating fans in my house (they are filled with dust that erupts every time I turn them on).
2. Make a lunch for tomorrow (because I ate my last frozen dinner today and have no plans to go to the store).
3. Make muffins (or some other snack for tomorrow, cause I get hungry and then I get a headache and then a stomach ache. I just want to be a little proactive, that’s all.).

• • • • •

Just a little something to brighten and lighten your day. If you can find a little something to motivate you everyday, you will make progress. Don’t give up!

Note to self: STOP COMPLAINING AND MAKE A CHANGE. DO SOMETHING! ANYTHING!

*changing*