Tomato Bombs

Well, honestly, this recipe caught my eye primarily because it's the day before pay day so my refrigerator and pantry are looking a little bare. The only ingredients I had to pick up last night were large tomatoes and black olives. The recipe was SO easy, it took me less than 10 minutes to prepare- and that was adding in a side of Roasted Garlic Couscous and Spinach & Sesame Seed salad.

Aside from looking pretty on the plate, this dish was really flavorful and filling with its black olives, garlic, marjoram and parsley. (Also, I was excited to find a use for the plastic-tasting vegan cream cheese that has been sitting in my refrigerator.) I give this recipe 2 thumbs up and look forward to sharing it. By the way- the optional recipe suggested smoked tofu, seaweed and sticky rice. Definitely gonna have to try that too!

Toasted Granola

Cracked open my new cookbook "Vegan" last night and prepped for today by preparing my first recipe: Toasted Granola.

I was able to find some Blackstrap Molasses at Martin's- honestly, it looks like a container of motor oil so definitely a little scary. But, the recipe called for it, so that's what I got. I had some natural granola left from my last trip to Apple Valley, so I mixed it with the molasses, some soy milk and some EVOO, considering I couldn't find "rapeseed" oil at Martin's (something to do with it's politically incorrect name??). Baked for 15 mintues and Voila! Toasted Granola.

I ate some this morning with vanilla soy milk.. and it was pretty good! I think I'm used to the manufactured Granola that's held together with a buncha not-so-good-for-you stuff, cause I prefer it more crunchy than chewy. Or, it could just be that I need to figure out how to replicate the crunchy granola. Either way, this recipe was flavorful and filling, and that's a success to me!

Work it out!

Along with changing my way of eating, I am still...occasionally...dedicated to working out. But more occasionally now than in the past..so that's a good thing! :)

As this has been another struggle I have fought since childhood, I have gotten pretty good at pinpointing reasons why I have been unsuccessful at keeping a workout routine. One of the biggest being that...it's a routine (see my first blog). But, again, this is no longer the time for excuses.

SOO..!! With that in mind, I am now focused on discovering and holding tight to NEW and exciting ways of keeping physically fit! I've discovered kayaking, disc golf, yogalaties and Zumba. And, I must admit, all of these discoveries have been quite humorous to see....

BUT, I am going to keep it fun and interesting..and make being physically fit an INSEPERABLE part of my life. Well, my life from now on.

Because I KNOW I can do it and I WANT to do it.

As I approach my 30th year of life, I realize that now is the time to do all those things I have been dreaming of, thinking about, planning on doing. Life is not coming back to me, it is only passing me by.... So NOW is the time to design my new life and LIVE it!!

Eatin Vegan

Highest on my list of self-improvements, you will find, is my health.

I've analyzed, deduced, equated, and pondered trying to figure out HOW I got to where I am when it comes to weight, eating habits, physical inactivity and all that jazz. In the end, I have decided that no matter whether it stems from bad childhood training, emotional distress or mere laziness, the result will be the same. Change will occur!

And it has.

Almost 2 years ago, one of my best friends became vegan. While I have been avidly "dieting" since I was 10 years old, this was my first exposure to such a drastic lifestyle change. More intriguing was the ease with which she grasped veganism. So while I was curious for so long, it was only 2 months ago that I finally focused my attention and had a long conversation with her on the ins and outs of being vegan. She suggested I read the book that changed her thinking, "Skinny Bitch." I did. And it changed mine too.

I've reformed my emotional..and physical...attachment to food and gotten it back into my control. I'm proud of that. And, along the way, I have discovered an exciting world of food that I never knew existed- one void of chemically-saturated and inhumanely-reaped animal meat and byproducts- (Yes, I have given up the cheese. I now know all things are possible.)- and filled with a rainbow of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and legumes most of which I have never even heard.

It is this discovery that part of my blog will share. While I have already been introduced to (and fallen in love with!) such staples as hummus, veggie burgers, and avocadoes, I am excited that there is still so much to experience!

With this in mind, and in the light of the recent movie "Julie & Julia," I have decided to cook my way through a recently acquired cookbook "Vegan" by Tony Weston and Yvonne Bishop. Except, unlike the movie, I am unwilling to sacrifice my sanity and social time. With that said, the cooking will come at my own pace. And I will love it..and love blogging about it!

Movin on up....

My first blog! I've never been the first to jump on any technological bandwagon, but I'm happy to say I am becoming better as the years go by. Which is the essence of this blog- to analyze myself, pinpoint exactly where I am lacking as a better person...and do something to fix it!

Don't worry, I'm not a perfectionist. I think I would better be described as...slightly ADD.

In truth, I get antsy with mundane. I get bored with repetitive. I get restless with stability. It's a situation where I can't even drive home the same way every day because.. I don't want to. So when it comes to my life, I simply aim to keep it new and exciting. Not too hard, right?

In actuality, my journey through life may not need ANY assistance at staying far from boring... But what fun is that when I have so much more to add? :)