September Food PenPal Reveal: My Trader Joe's Care Package

This is only my 3rd Foodie Penpal posting but I already feel like I'm a part of an exclusive club.  I guess, in a way, it is an "exclusive" club, but any foodie can join. No blog required, you can just be a reader and join in on the fun.  To learn more and sign up, check out Lindsay's Foodie Penpal program details and then stay to enjoy her food and exercise tips at The Lean Green Bean. Thanks, Lindsay, for putting this amazing event together for us all to enjoy!!

This month, my package came from Allie who has a fun blog at A Day In a Joyful Life.  Her post on Sunday is looking back at being a kid and she posted a picture of the original Power Rangers; wow, forgot about those guys! My little brother would watch them and I'd watch along pretending I didn't care; but I really did! No shame here.

Allie was so kind as to take into consideration my requests for nothing with a lot of ingredients, no sugar, most oils, or carageenan gum. On top of that, I am now gluten-free adding more things to look out for. I also tend to hold a grudge against anything in a package, with a few exceptions, since packaged usually means too processed for my liking.

From our conversation, I could tell she genuinely cared about getting things I'll enjoy, and she ended up with the perfect package! This was basically a Trade Joe's care package I'll happily accept anytime!  Here's what she sent.....

- Trader Joe's Ruby Red Chai Tea
- Trader Joe's South African Smoke Seasoning Blend Grinder
- Trader Joe's Hot Chipotle Salsa
- Trader Joe's Almond Butter with Roasted Flaxseeds

"Awesome" was the one word I used upon first opening the box, and awesome best describes the items I received. Tea, not sweetened at all, is always a welcome gift for me.  I brew all types of tea throughout the day everyday and love how many varieties there are. Mixing herbal with black or green tea gives me a flavorful boost of caffeine in minutes; I love it! Red (aka Rooibos) tea is my favorite herbal variety, and chai is my favorite flavor blend, so the Ruby Red Chai is a win-win for me!

Perfect for my Meatless Monday meal!!

Another everyday essential in or on my food is some form of salsa (for my salad dressing) and spices galore.  I didn't own any spice mixes and usually just add a little from each bottle I have each time, but the South African Smoke spices made this a lot easier and kicked up my salad with the heat I crave.  Adding to the heat, I topped my salad with both the spices and Chipotle Salsa to make a delicious cold, yet "hot" salad.  The smokiness from the spices and chipotle creates a depth of flavor that would be perfect in baked salmon cakes ....hmmmm.

Last but never least, almond butter with roasted flaxseeds is pretty much good on anything.  I dipped carrots in it, smeared it on my microwave protein cinnamon bread, and mixed it into creamy protein dips.  Oh yeah, and I just ate it with a spoon. Good, no, great....I don't want it to end.

Share? I don't understand that word.....

Thank you, Allie, for the perfect package and being so thoughtful in your choices.  I am making great use of all of these and it even inspired me to go to a Trader Joe's not so close to my home for the first time.  The verdict? I'll be returning very soon!

If you want to see what I got my Foodie Penpal this month, check out Olivia's blog at The Lovely Sisters.

And now it's time for some details about Foodie Penpals.  In case you’re a new reader, here’s a reminder of what the program is all about:

-On the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.

-You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal! 

-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!

-You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)

-Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you are to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month. 

-Foodie Penplas is open to US & Canadian residents.  Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. We've determined things might get too slow and backed up if we're trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa. 

If you’re interested in participating for October, please CLICK HERE to fill out the participation form and read the terms and conditions. 

You must submit your information by October 4th as pairings will be emailed on October 5th!

*If you're from somewhere besides the US, Canada or Europe and want to participate, send me an email and I'll see if we get enough interest this month!

WIAW #30 - Homemade Milks + Veggie Okara Burgers

I don't know about everyone else, but it I am positive the temp rose in conjunction with the first day of Fall. We were basking in the almost-perfect 80 degree weather last week, and now we're back in the mid-90's here in Texas. What gives?

Oh well, I shouldn't complain, I choose heat over cold any day.  I'd rather sweat pools, not shiver like stiff, rigid tree on a windy day.  Yeah, that was the analogy that came to mind, so I'm using it.

Besides the lack of Fall feeling in the air, I still feel like it's Fall when I go to the store. There is winter squash and Fall decorations place across the store I go to.  The squash catches my eyes more so than any decorations; you can't eat those!

This Fall, I'm predicting I'll use my new Soyajoy G3 Soy Milk Maker for a lot of things. Of course, I'll make soy milk, but you can make milk for anything that's a nut, seed, grain, or bean, so why limit myself to just soy?  I've already made quinoa milk and a mix of soy and pistachio milk which both created a creamy, tasty milk perfect for smoothies, cereal, or drinking alone.

But soy milk isn't all you can make with this handy kitchen tool; it makes juice, smoothies, soup, and a base for veggie burgers/patties too.  The pulp leftover after straining the fresh-made soy milk is called okara and is similar to tofu but less processed and has more fiber.  Yay, fiber makes you "move"!

My first attempt at using the pulp/okara to make vegetarian burgers turned out fantastic.  I'm not a fan of using the traditional bun, so I made an open-faced portobello bun burger instead. As you can see, I had to try before I felt it was picture worthy, but it obviously passed.  I'll be making these using different add-ins quite often.

When I don't have time to use the okara for patties, I can just make thick, protein filled smoothies instead. I haven't tried, but wonder how it would do in a microwave protein cake recipe like my chocolate layer cake.  Hmmm, stay tuned.

Old, recycled pic. Like the red tint everywhere? There's nothing actually red in there!

I need to do some more tampering with the burger recipe and then I'll share with anyone who cares.  The next function I am eagerly waiting to use is making soup.  As soon as the fall weather accompanies this fall season, I'll attempt a creamy pumpkin-ginger soup.

I know there's winter squash galore at the store (didn't mean for that to rhyme), but I also have 2 cases of Farmer's Market Pumpkin Puree to use when in a time crunch. You might say I got a little excited on Amazon, but organic and bpa-free cans at a lower that in-store price is hard to turn away. Plus, you can never have too much pumpkin on hand!

Needless to say, the soy milk maker is a healthy addition to the kitchen and you can expect to see several delicious creations I've made using this machine.

Thanks to Jenn at Peas and Crayons as always for putting on this WIAW event! Now, lets get to the eats....

Happy What I Ate Wednesday!

Ok, this is not my typical way of eating (although I do take in most of my daily energy at night when in the comfort of home), but I had to fast all day for a blood test in the afternoon.  After that, I finished my work for the day, struggled through a workout (yes, I'm stubborn....or is it stupid?), and then went about eating to my heart's stomach's content.

This is my breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, etc. all in one. Since my stomach has limits, I'll make up for the lack of food tomorrow, I'm sure of it!

I'll admit, I did have this in the morning with a little homemade soy milk.

Then, in the evening, I started with my usual big salad. This one had a lot of salmon and brussels sprouts drenched in my own lentil salsa dressing.

I snacked on a lot of these peanut butter pumpkin cookies along with a chocolate spinach protein smoothie.

Moving on, I demolished a microwave chocolate protein bread/cake with plain Chobani and peanuts.

Not one to give in to a slightly full stomach, I ended with a generous portion of my coconut peanut butter pumpkin protein dip. This stuff is bliss in edible dip form; so addictive!

Not as much as usual, but I'm sure you all have "those" days...right? Fasting as a foodie is no fun!

Hope you have a wonderful rest of the week!

If you could or do make your own alternative milk, what would you use (besides soy) to make the milk?  Think of all the nuts, seeds, grains, and beans; so many options, I don't know which to choose next.  Maybe black bean milk? Hmmm, sure that would look tasty....

Meatless Monday: Pumpkin Omelettes and A Goodbye to Our Dog, Candy

Hey there, how was your short-as-usual weekend? Hopefully pleasant and filled with healthy, delicious food! Unfortunately, mine was sad and not a great way to welcome the Fall season.

Our family dog, Candy, who lived at my mom's and was a black lab mixed breed, passed away.  She started acting weird early last week, and the vet just said it was arthritis.  Turns out, they later confirmed she had cancer that was too far along and had to be put down.  Since I don't live too close anymore, I just found out after it happened.  It was mostly expected, but you never think so soon.

I don't have any pictures on my computer, but she was a sweet dog who loved to chase fireworks and bring home half alive rodents to show off. She was around 12 human years old and lived an exciting life with loving friends and family. So, to Candy, I'm sorry I didn't get to see you that much these past years, but you will always be with my in my heart.

On a lighter note, I made Kelley and me pumpkin omelettes inspired from Heather at Kiss My Broccoli and they were a delight! I used only egg whites and no filling but they were perfect; light, fluffy, filled with pumpkin pie spice, and healthy!  Thank you, Heather, for the great recipe that will be used a lot in my home!

The soymilk maker I just got made some delicious soy milk and another batch with half pistachio, half soy nuts.  After allowing the milk to cool, I added a touch of sea salt, bit of stevia, and some vanilla extract which is way better than store bought to me. So goodbye Silk Almond Milk and hello homemade! Now I just have to turn Kelley into a fan and we'll no longer need to buy organic skim milk!

Nothing like fresh-made soymilk in your Sunday coffee!

The leftover pulp from the milk, called okara, was enough to create delicious vegetarian okara burgers.  These will be a great change from the usual steamed beans and veggies for Meatless Monday.

Okara patty on a portobello; I was too excited to try before taking a picture....hence the giant bite marks on the right. So good and easy!

Recipes to come, I promise, just not sure how soon since this week will be work-focused most of the time.  Boo, I know, but work pays the bills and lets me get the healthy, delicious food I love so dearly.

Speaking of, I better go and get to work! Have a wonderful Monday!

Have you lost a loved animal? I'm sure most of us have, but how do you cope or comfort others?

I know my mom misses our dog, but thankfully she has another, spunky little dog who stays at her side wherever she goes. I think the comfort of your other animals can help console you after losing another pet.

Also, congrats to Renata for winning the Navitas Naturals giveaway, hope you enjoy the Cacao and Lucuma powders! Thanks to all who entered!

WIAW #26 What Can't You Eat With a Cup and Spoon?

And here we are again, coming to the end of another month. School is back in session, Summer is winding down, Fall is fast approaching, and fresh winter squash will be in markets soon!  I always get excited for the multiple winter squash varieties that arrive for the season and try to switch them up.

Are you going to change your staples along with the season?  I will definitely use less canned pumpkin and more fresh squash as it comes in season.  I typically use squash as a base to make thick and creamy protein smoothies, but always enjoy some diced and roasted too.

My squash staples tend to be Spaghetti, Butternut, Acorn, and my ultimate fav....Delicata! I can't wait for Delicata to show up so I can stock the kitchen and use them in my decadent smoothies; they won't last long.

Speaking of smoothies, I like them thick enough to eat with a spoon and have had them every night for over a year now.  Maybe I missed a day or two, but no lie, every night.  Thick, healthy, and creamy smoothies in a cup are my summer staples that will be carried right into fall; then winter, then Spring, and...you get the idea.  Never ending!

I blend two smoothies every night that are part dinner, part dessert, and totally healthy; except for when I add vodka or bourbon. : )  The first smoothie is mostly all veggie with frozen organic spinach, a mixture of different steamed veggies, and a little bit of frozen fruit.  I'll add ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and unflavored protein powder to the first, and the second one is more of a treat with chocolate, vanilla, peanut butter, or banana flavor.

The smoothies are sweetened with unprocessed stevia and they send feel good vibes all over; the perfect end to the day.  I work out in the evening, and make these right after to place in the freezer to help thicken the mix.  After my nightly salad (another staple), I take the first mix out of the freezer, top with a little lowfat cottage cheese, and proceed to ease my mind and block out anything stressful in the day.

Big batch of PB Protein Smoothie for a Quick Cup Refill!

While the ingredients might change, eating the mixtures with a cup and spoon will stay.  I would eat every meal with a cup and spoon if I could. Well, almost, I enjoy finger foods and sandwiches too much to put those in a cup.

My eats this week are pretty lackluster and I didn't take many pictures since it's been the same thing most days lately. So instead of a collage of daily meals, I made one with the many smoothies in a cup I've savored throughout the summer. Stay tuned for my smoothies in a cup Fall edition....coming this Fall.

I posted a few pics of my eats, but I apologize now for the lack of my foodie photos this week.  Hopefully I'll get on track again soon!  As always, thanks to Jenn at Peas and Crayons for putting on and hosting these fun What I Ate Wednesday events! Even with her husband back from overseas and her vow to never leave his side, she's still able to post and host.

Happy What I Ate Wednesday!
Hope the rest of the week is smooth sailing right into the extended weekend!

Breakfast - mix of steamed beans and veggies with spicy brown mustard stirred. I had a fresh fig and baby carrots on the side.

Lunch - More steamed bean and veggie mix with mashed sweet potato; another fresh fig; homemade granola for a little treat.

Dinner - My standard giant salad with brussels, broccoli, water chestnuts, kipper filets, and radishes with homemade red pepper salsa for dressing

Second Dinner/Dessert - Microwave chocolate protein bread (more like cake, used this recipe I posted before and added cocoa powder) and a big serving of plain 0% CHO topped with roasted peanuts from my Foodie Penpal; more granola might've found it's way into a cup with almond milk, and I migh've just had a spoon to eat it with.  Just saying.

I just finished the first 30 out of 90 days of the Supreme 90 Day workout DVD's my mom got me for my birthday. Thanks, mom, I take back the jokes I made about these videos in the past, they really work you hard! Of course, the instructor can be a little cheesy at times, but that just makes for something to laugh at while your quads are on fire from jump lunges right after finishing burpees, mountain climbers, thrusters, and triple axle handstand push-up flips.  Ok, I made that last one up, but just imagine what that would look like.

I'm still trying to fit my own heavy lifting routines and some running or biking into the mix, but feel I need to allow more time for recovery.  Maybe I'll try that....maybe.

Do you like eating things with a cup and spoon? What's your favorite way to eat most meals?

Have you ever followed a DVD program like the popular P90X or something similar? If not, do you want to?

Eat This Now: Fresh Figs

It's fig season, and I think everyone should have the luxury of trying them fresh while they can. Dried figs are okay, as long as you avoid the sulphur dioxide contained in most commercial dried fruits, but fresh just can’t be beat!

The delicate skin easily succumbs under light pressure and opens to reveal its sweet, vibrant flesh. They are perfect as is on their own, but sliced and mixed into yogurt, paired with goat cheese, or any other salty food.


I just snatched a few varieties at the store this weekend and plan on eating them after lunch at work for a nice treat. Here is one I sliced and mixed with plain CHO and granola in my designated eating cup. I didn’t even need honey or another sweetener to enjoy the natural sweetness of the fig. Can that ever get old? I’m thinking “NO”.

There are multiple varieties of figs; here are my favorites and consequently the most popular:


Black Mission Figs: Exceptionally sweet and gooey on the inside; perfect with plain Greek yogurt or tangy goat cheese for an appetizer or dessert. They have blackish-purple skin and dark pink flesh.


Source


Brown Turkey Figs: Dark brown purple skin, similar to Black Mission in appearance, but are less sweet and better used in recipes where sweetener is added or just on a salad.

Calimyrna Figs: Fairly large, with bright green-yellow skin and a pinkish flesh that has a unique nutty flavor. Great compliment to any nut, but walnuts are a popular choice.

For more info on figs, WHFoods.com has a great list of benefits, history, and recipes to try.

Fig season is starting now, late summer, and should run through most of fall. Better act quick to grab them while fresh and delicious. Only buy what you can enjoy within 2 to 3 days, this soft and squishy fruit will spoil fast. Enjoy at room temperature to obtain the delightful sweetness each plump morsel has to offer.

Have you tried fresh figs before? Do you like them alone or paired with other food? Alone is my preference, but sliced into yogurt is a pleasure I’d like to enjoy again soon.

Hope your weekend was fun-filled (or at least not bad) and you enjoy your week! Thanks for stopping by!