From drab to fab

In case you want a visual image with the post title, as you say it picture me snapping my fingers across my body with some serious sass. 

And now roll your eyes.

Ah well, we can’t all be divas.

Nonetheless, my week’s work eats have been nothing short of amazing. 

From drab…

To fab.  🙂

On top of the quinoa, I chopped up the fattest pear I’ve ever seen (I’m not even exaggerating, it was a beastly looking fruit), and then some crushed cashews.  Not just plain cashews though. 

I put them in a baggy, pounded them til they were adequately pulverized, added cinnamon, shredded coconut, and (hardly any) agave nectar…then had a shake ‘n bake party.

Drab ingreds have never been so delightful. 

That wasn’t the only questionable looking dish though. 

Exhibit B.  How raunchy does that banana look?

Broken down, that would be oats, goji berries, carob chips, coconut flakes, and half a banana.  Fortunately, they look better once mixed up a bit…

Ok, I need to pause for a second here to discuss something.

Goji berries.

Have you ever tried them?  The first time I heard of them was a million years ago (ok, 3 years ago) and I figured they would be right up my ally.  Dried fruit?  Berries?  These are all things I like.  So I went to my local health foods store in NYC and got some from the bulk bins section.  Problem was, I had no clue what to do with them.  I first tried them plain but discovered they had a pretty weird flavor, a very weird texture, and frankly, I was pretty unimpressed. 

Then I got a sampler in my NutsOnline shipment. 

Knowing their products are super high quality, I figured if there were ever a time to give goji berries a second chance, it was now or never. 

By adding them to my oats, they were able to soak overnight, and the next day when I ate them at work, they were soft, plump, and hardly even resembled the shriveled up things in the bag!!  Whoa.  How did I not catch on to this sooner?  Call me a convert.  Now I will definitely be using these in more of my meals.  Thank you NutsOnline for encouraging me to re-try these!  The benefits of goji berries are SO amazing, I’m glad to have found a yummy way to eat them.

They they are kinda a big deal in China and have been used for ages in a medicinal/healing setting.  Not only are they packed with antioxidants, but they have anti-inflammatory effects, and have been linked to improved cardiovascular, immune, and neurological health.  Goji berries are also said to contain a natural form of atropine (which is a drug that I’m familiar with in cardiac nursing…as it’s used to treat bradycardic patients).  In other words, atropine will speed up your heart rate.  The amount in goji berries is likely well below the concentration needed to have any true cardiac effects, but who knows?  There are numerous other benefits, but I’ll stop before you all doze off.

Have you ever written a food item off, only later to discover it’s actually delicious?  I keep trying to make it happen with tempeh…

More lunchables. 

Don’t think I’ve been hoarding these dried peaches from Frog Hollow Farm this whole time.  I just have a hard time finding things on my shelves.  Things can get buried you know?  Especially when you have an addiction to buying every new product that you see (yes, I came home with bars from Palm Springs). 

See what I’m working with?

I am semi- embarrassed to admit that I have dried beans and grains in there that haven’t seen the light of day since we moved in.  The tea shelves (upper right two) on the other hand are ones that constantly need restocking. 

Clif Spiced Pumpkin Pie bar (seasonal yum!), carrots, and a cereal assortment with cheerios, Three Sisters Cinnamon Sweets, raisins, toasted cocoa almonds, and plain raw almonds.

 

Another day, another dollar line-up. 

Some of this will look familiar (goji & coconut oats with a banana to add in), candied ginger, apple, carrots, etc.

By the way, the cereal/nut/dried fruit trail mixes that I’ve been making are what I eat on the way to work or in the car before I head in to the office hospital.  I have been keeping up with my 4:15 am pre-work workouts because it has really been a nice way for me to wake up in the morning.  I used to HATE waking up early, but now I’m loving how 20 minutes of Jillian’s Shred jump starts my whole day.  I get a little sweaty, then I eat a little somethin somethin’, and then I start work feeling energized. 

It’s a good routine I think. 

This mix used up the last of my salty cocoa nuts, so another batch is coming soon.  Have you tried them yet? 

The new feature in this line-up was a coconut butternut squash quinoa dish. 

Expect a LOT of butternut recipes soon.  Why you ask?  Remember when I mentioned my friend who is the general manager of North End Caffe in Manhattan Beach?  Well, he wanted butternut squash for a particular item on the menu.  Long story short, he ordered a case and had a TON of extra…

Which he gave me! 

Holy squash heaven :)  I now have 12 (TWELVE!!!) butternut squash to use. 

 

I roasted them in Tropical Traditions coconut oil, then added it to deliciously fluffy quinoa, and sprinkled Tropical Traditions shredded coconut on top.

Butternut ideas are welcome!! 

Moving on.

Empty wrapper 😛

I’m purposefully omitting most of my desserts from the last few days because I have been riding a major chocolate rollercoaster. 

Ciao for now.