Trying My Luck in the Kitchen

My adventure this week has not really been about the classes but about what I've been doing in the kitchen. Last week, I figured out what I was going to be doing each day from classes to workouts to lunches. I've collected several recipes this summer and have made my own recipe binder. Knowing that this was going to be a trying semester with 2 harder core classes and 3 writing intensive classes, I wanted to plan different healthy meals to help me keep my energy up and my digestive system in sync. If I haven't already stated this before but I have tummy issues with the nightshade family of veggies - tomatoes, onions & peppers - yep, some of my favorites. And along with that, I have to have extra fiber to help my colon out because of a previous problem. Then there's my sweet tooth, I'm trying to stay away from the processed sugars so I compiled some recipes that would help calm that nagging tooth.

So after an EXPENSIVE trip to the HEB's, I have tried 3 of the 5 recipes I wanted to try this week.
I made my first successful pot of black beans! I've attempted several times but let's just say I've always had to just go buy the darn canned ones. And with those beans, I made some turkey taco meat for Taco Salad, which is a favorite underneath our Aggieland roof.

The second recipe I tried I found on Pinterest yet the want to make a pizza crust out of cauliflower was on my mind all summer and Mom didn't think that idea for supper was too hot...
Anyways, I had my go with Cauliflower Pizza Bites and let's just say I ate 2 and told Shelby she was going to have to fend for herself. When I took them out of the over, the edges were brown in the mini-muffin tin so YEAH, I thought they were done. When I took it out and tried it sans tomato sauce, it had good flavor but it wasn't the texture I was expecting. The recipe called for cottage cheese and having a sister that doesn't like it or cream cheese, I was nice and got low-fat ricotta cheese. I don't know if it was the ricotta or just the bite itself but it was mushy. So I put the oven on broil to crispen them up for a few minutes and of course, like every time I turn the damn oven on broil, I burnt them. Oh well...the cauliflower was getting old and I can always us the tomato sauce I opened to dip the bites in for later spaghetti use.

The third recipe I tried was a vegan snack bar recipe. If some of y'all have ever hear or tried a LARABAR, I love them yet they are pricey. Well...I found a recipe! I have a little food processor but it only holds one cup. I went to Wal-Mart yesterday and bought a Ninja Blender that doubles as a food processor for less than $50!!! And it worked wonders on the nuts and dates I put in it! The recipe and making of it was easy-peasy. Just almonds, pitted Mujool dates, dried cherries, dark chocolate chips and pecans. I forgot a pinch of salt but oh well, more sweet for my tooth.

These are the unpitted dates that I thought were pitted when I bought them but oh well, at least I thought to cut into them before throwing 7 of them in the processor! 

Finished product! I'll give them a try later this week or weekend.

I plan on making Mexican-inspired paninis for lunch tomorrow with my black beans on the side before I go to my classes. And maybe this weekend, Shelby and I will get a treat with Broccoli & Quiona Casserole!

So as you can tell, I've had a lot of extra time yet I am taking a full course load of 12 hours to graduate this December. I have class every day of the week and am aiming to working out 4 of the 7 days of the week at the nice REC classes or taking a neighborhood run or a dip in the pool at the REC, which I did today. And I hate bathing suits but I'm really working on loving my body because I am made in HIS likeness and image so yes, I walked from the locker room to the pool without a towel around me and found out I am not in water-shape whatsoever!

I'm also going to a Horse Show in Bellville this weekend. Although I did not ride but a handful of times in my western saddle this summer, I'll have a total of 4 lessons before the Sunday show and hopefully that will be enough for us to be in Ribbon contention. Wish us luck and pray for our and the other competitors' safety!

Miss y'all already & May peace, grace, serenity & courage surround your inner self this week,

AC


Oh here's some pics from Emily & I's adventures in the EC kitchen. We made Peanut Butter Krispies with Kisses, Nutella Pretzel Drops and Pomegranate Grapefruit Champagne Ice for our evening drink!