Practicing Vegan

I find myself getting obsessed with certain things.  Well, recipes in particular.  First, it was Danica’s Cheesy Bacon and Bean Stuffed Pepper recipe.  I couldn’t get it out of my mind once I saw it!  Now, it’s the Fat-free Pumpkin and Raisin Biscuits from Fat-Free Vegan Kitchen!  Why the vegan recipe?  Well, I’ve always been intrigued by vegetarianism and veganism.  I even tried on the vegetarian lifestyle for a while, but started getting lazy about cooking and ended up eating lots of junk instead of healthy foods.  Anyway, this past week Michelle from Eating Journey asked if I would like to join her and other bloggers in going Vegan for a Day on Thursday.  I thought it would be a fun challenge, so on Thursday, vegan I shall be!

To “practice”, I whipped up these biscuits for breakfast.  They were so easy;  no mixer required…

They baked up nice and high…

I had a couple of the little guys with some coffee…

Extra tasty with a little Earth Balance…

Then it was off to church to give thanks and praise :) 

Lunch had to be quick because I was starving and we wanted to head to the park  to enjoy the beautiful day!  I remembered there was some  White Pizza with Zucchini and Broccoli in the freezer, so I heated that up pronto…

Then, it was off to the park for a 2 mile walk and some B-ball …

Dork.

I planned a lovely, healthy Sunday dinner of roasted chicken, roasted butternut squash and broccoli.  No one eats the squash except me, (sigh)but I keep trying…

I didn’t have any bread in the house, (why do I always feel like I have to serve bread at every meal?!) so I broke out these crackers from the Anniversary basket …

and crunched on this x3…

Sad to see the day end.  Love these gorgeous days!  Hope you had one, too!

ONE GOOD THING:  Trying new recipes really satisfies my creative needs!

AND THE WINNER IS (thanks to Random.org cuz I would love to pick everyone!)…

Chelsea said...

I love your positive attitude and he that that you never give up! You are truely an inspiration to so many people! Thanks for the giveaway! cmdrayer@comcast.net

Chelsea, please send me your address and I’ll get the goodies right out to you!  Thanks to all who entered and thanks again for celebrating my One Year Blogiversary with me!

Starvin’ Marvin

I am starving upon waking up in the morning!   Well, in the afternoon, too, but let’s just stick with the morning for now ;P 

I had planned on running at the gym, so I didn’t want too much in my stomach.  I decided these were perfect to tide me over…

They were just enough to quiet my stomach and give me a pop of energy for my 3 mile run. 

I felt much stronger during my run today.  Less winded, less time-checking and less leg weakness.  I like that feeling!  Don’t know if it’s the increased run time and mileage or just a good day.  I may have a better idea after my outdoor runs this weekend – Sat. is 2 miles and Sun. is 3 miles.

I wanted to take a minute to thank you for your comments on my last post regarding the pre-5K training schedule.  I am always open your suggestions and recommendations.  Manderz and Amanda gave me some great food for thought – thanks, guys!  And as strongly that I feel about trying to improve my running skills, I also don’t want to injure myself.  So far, my hip has been cooperating, but I know that with overuse, the bursitis could majorly act up.  So, I’ll promise to respect my body and listen to how it is responding to the schedule.  I think what may work best is to follow the schedule for one week on/one week off.  By off, I mean my regular exercise –elliptical, weights, The Arc Trainer and save the running for the “on” weeks.    What do my running peeps think?

After my run, I was starving again.  I brought another dashboard breakfast that I grabbed from the freezer – mini Veggie Quiches…

I dug these out from the depths of the freezer and I wasn’t sure they would be good, but they were A-OK :)

But, not very long lasting.  I was starving about an hour later!  I tried to take my mind off it by doing some house chores, however, that didn’t work very long.  I decided to just listen to my body and EAT!!!  I made a wrap with turkey, bacon, baby spinach and salsa.  Along with it, went some cantaloupe, pineapple and POPchips…

Plus more POPchips.  Cuz, once you POP, you can’t stop! Hey, how’s that for a slogan?!  You heard it here first, POPchips peeps!

Later in the afternoon, the munchies came to visit.  I started off with some #@!$%^&* Cheez-its, then stopped the insanity with a healthier choice…

I was trying to eat a little lighter (don’t laugh) so I could indulge in pizza at dinner!  Pizza is so easy now that I use Biz ‘s no rise pizza dough.   I made a regular boring –old- sauce –and- cheese only pizza for the husband and daughters and  White Pizza with Zucchini and Broccoli for me.  So easy with having leftover zucchini and broccoli waiting in the fridge!

White Pizza with Zucchini and Broccoli

• 1 recipe No Rise Pizza Dough
• 1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
• leftover roasted zucchini
• leftover steamed broccoli
• 1 heaping cup part-skim mozzarella

Way delicious…

I couldn’t wait to dig in…

I think I could eat this everyday…

I did finish the night with a piece of dark chocolate that I didn’t take a picture of  because I sprinted up the steps and locked myself in my room so I wouldn’t eat any more!

Okay, I won’t torture you anymore with my punchy writing today …

ONE GOOD THING:  Locks on my bedroom door.  Better than what I used to use across the kitchen opening…

Have a great day, everybody!!