Good morning, internet friends! Be sure to check out Monday's fluffy pancake stack post in case you missed it because it's a good one. I hope all is splendid with you!
Breakfast
Two pieces of avocado toast with fresh lemon juice, za'atar, tahini, kosher salt, and micro greens. One on TJ's sourdough and one on the sprouted wheat berry bread. Sourdough has a chew that just cannot be beat!
Overnight steel cut oatmeal (actually posting the recipe/process on Monday!!) with date pecan butter, blueberries, and cinnamon.
More oats with this yummy cinnamon honey peanut butter and melty blueberries.
Fox in the Snow egg sandwich and a lemon blueberry tart shared with Jeff over the weekend.
Almond croissant and coffee date at Pistacia Vera.
Simple Mills pancake mix with almond butter and berries.
Lunch/Dinner
Mediterranean Baked Fish with Capers and Tomatoes, local corn and roasted zucchini + tomatoes. I absolutely loved this dish and will definitely be making it again! I used frozen wild cod fillets from Costco that I defrosted and subbed apricots for the golden raisins.
A random lunch of leftover cod, TJ's lentils, sauteed cabbage and kale, and cilantro lime crema.
I finally tried Trader Joe's cauliflower gnocchi and I actually loved it! Now this is coming from someone who never eats cauliflower rice (or really any veggie noodle/rice) and who adores regular gnocchi. That said, Jeff didn't even realize it was cauliflower based till I told him! We eat regular whole grain pasta all the time (TJ's new lentil and brown rice spaghetti was good, too), so this was a fun change of pace. I didn't follow the package directions, though. First I sautéed two bags of the frozen gnocchi in olive oil for about eight minutes. Then I put the lid on it for another 5ish minutes and sautéed it again in a little more oil to crisp up. I served it with my favorite Kirkland organic marinara and roasted shrimp.
I buy the wild Argentinean shrimp from TJ's. Defrost, toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and bake at 400F for about eight minutes. Garnish with parsley and a squeeze of lemon. Done!
TRISM bowl with maple tamari tofu, forbidden rice, chipotle sweet potato hummus, house banana peppers, roasted sweet potatoes, sautéed greens, saucy black beans, and herbed tahini dressing.
The best bean balls I ever made with TJ's lentil brown rice spaghetti, Kirkland organic marinara, and a big salad! I used this recipe as a base but changed a few things. I always make a double batch so we have enough for at least two nights.
First, I toasted 1 cup of oats and ½ cup walnuts at 350F until browned and blended half of them with a can of chickpeas in the food processor as the base. I dumped that in the mixing bowl and repeated that for the other can of beans and the rest of the toasted mixture. Meanwhile, I sautéed half an onion with three cloves of garlic and shitake mushrooms in oil. For the flax mixture, I did 2 tbsp flax and 4 tbsp water. I also about ¼ cup of nooch, ¼ cup of marinara, and some oregano to the original recipe and no breadcrumbs. I baked them at 375 for about 12 minutes per side. So good!
Last night I made some pretty fantastic enchiladas using this recipe as a guide. I didn't use jalapeños, subbed pinto beans for black beans, and added a chopped tomato, a bunch of fresh greens, and lots of garlic to the veggie mixture. I also pressed the tofu before blending. I seasoned the mixture with cumin, smoked paprika, and plenty of salt to taste. I used Whole Foods brand of enchilada sauce (not as good as Frontera brand) and stirred in leftover chipotle in adobo sauce (I always keep this on hand, lasts forever in the fridge) to give the a kick it needed. The crema added the perfect creamy touch, which was just a little tub of 2% Fage Greek yogurt blended with garlic, salt, a splash of bottled lemon juice, and sauce from the chipotle in adobo peppers. Garnished with cilantro and avocado!
Snacks/Treats
The most luscious vegetable plate! This was yesterday when breakfast was an oatmeal bowl, lunch was a big bowl of Cheerios followed my leftover bean balls and eggplant, and a KIND bar. LOLZ. I was craving veggies hard and this took less than five minutes to make! I topped the sliced cukes and tomatoes with kosher salt, a few grinds of pepper, garlic powder, za'atar, squeeze of lemon, tahini, and micro greens. This is totally gonna be a new thing!
Jeni's brambleberry crisp + brown butter almond brittle in a cone.
I had a massive craving for Cheerios (I ate them alll the time when I was little) so I grabbed a box of regular and multi-grain at the store. It was the most satisfying snack ever.
Snack bars this week: KIND bars and peanut butter chocolate chip Perfect Bars.
Post-enchiladas chocolate plate. Various dark chocolate bars for me and TJ's dark chocolate covered almonds for him.
Smoothie bowl with frozen wild blueberries, frozen spinach, avocado, cacao, dates, chia seeds, vanilla, and almond milk topped with puffed quinoa, nibs, and almond butter.
Simple Mills crackers are THE BEST. I get them at Costco, duh.
Cinnamon roll from Kittie's Cakes that Jeff and shared after iced almond milk lattes and before eggs and toast.
Style Inspiration
High waist gray leggings (SO comfy), cutest Nike tennies (on sale), pink hat.
Jeans, white top (similar), bandana (similar), Tom's sandals (got them last year, insanely comfy).
I got this gorgeous floral maxi dress for a wedding this fall. It's so feminine and flattering! I'm wearing a small for reference. Also loving this wrap dress in red that's under $40!
Adidas tank, rose gold platform sandals, and black jeans.
Loving this gold moon and lightning cuff fellow Columbus boss lady Nano just released! These are the bracelets you see me wearing everyday. My other go-to gold bangle is this Kate Spade one that my sister got me for my birthday. It's beautiful an compliments everything!
It was love at first sight when I tried on this comfy flare leg jumpsuit (and leather bucket bag). It definitely runs small (I got an 8 for reference). Can't wait to wear it in Portland this weekend!
Here's three books I heard rave reviews on that I just ordered: The Alice Network, Before We Were Yours, and The Great Alone. What are you reading lately?
Malisha Mishel says
I love most of the foods above and usually take at breakfast. Feeling happy to get you guys matching with me! 🙂
Nicole @ Laughing My Abs Off says
I'm currently OBSESSED with peanut butter chocolate chip Perfect bars and tahini on avocado toast. Like...how did it take me so long to come around to those two things?! Your coffee shop pastries and coffee make my soul so happy <3
Sam Vander Wielen says
Great book recommendations! I’ve loved - The Nightingale, The Orphan Masters Son, All the light we cannot see, All Over the Place, and I’m interested in Educated: The Memoir (sounds so good!)
Alexis says
Yay so good to know!
Kaci says
Date pecan butter?! That sounds incredible! I love all of your eats, especially the Mediterranean inspired caprese veg plate! I also love a good coffee shop pastry and cold brew with some milk. yumyumum
Why is everything so adorable on you?! I just love your style and how you still look so stylish while rocking the athlesiure look. I SO badly want those Toms sandals (I am a self-proclaimed Toms addict), those rose gold platform sandals are amazing, that jumper is precious and I loveeee the maxi you purchased for a wedding! How elegant and stylish!
Happy Wednesday sweet lady!
Brittany Audra @ Audra's Appetite says
I was literally just thinking the other night when I was making spaghetti how I need to make your bean balls again! YUM 🙂 and too funny, I bought cherrios at the store this past weekend too! Haven't bought them in forever but they were my favorite cereal growing up.
Stacy Parris says
Okay yesssssss to the Cheerios!! Sometimes ya just got to
Daniela says
Omg Jeni’s brambleberry crisp icecream is actually my favorite icecream ever! Made a special trip to Columbus once just to have it on my birthday. Love this week’s eats!
emily vardy says
OMG cinnamon honey peanut butter?! Kind of in love with honey peanut. butter, so I bet thats delish too! I'm almost at the end of my jar and I'm getting a lil panicky because I can't find more in any stores around here LOL
Kori says
I'm loving all of your food and outfits!! I really hope I can find TJ's cauliflower gnocchi and lentil rice pasta. Given Matt needs GF, I do love finding alternative/creative products. I have plans to make those bean balls asap, I have saved your pancake recipe to make, and I love that veg snack plate you created. So refreshing! Cheerios will always be our go-to cereal. Nostalgic and classic. That dress <3 So stunning. Also, I love your friend's Deadpool t-shirt! One of my favorite movies. So vulgar, so hilarious.
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
I don't usually eat Cheerios, but man, now I've got a massive craving for them too after seeing your photo!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
https://charmainenyw.com