Going for a Holy Party (WIAW)

Hey ya’ll! As most of you know, I am on my flight to Israel right now, but I wanted to do something creative for Wednesday because it is my favorite holiday after all. What I ate Wednesday. So I thought long and hard about what I could do for this special day traveling to a special place, and it hit me. I’m going to do a What I Will Eat in Israel Wednesday to celebrate my epic journey to the holy land. Every week we have to give it up to Jenn for creating and hosting such a wonderful weekly event.

Now, what kind of diet to Israeli’s eat? Well a good one, at least I think based on my best friends pictures that went on the trip a couple of years ago.

I stole this from my friend, but it’s all good. Facebook is meant for stalking. Anyways, one of the days we are there, we get to go to the largest open air food market in Israel. I know Israel is a small place, but they love their markets, so this is pretty impressive. Pretty much this is going to be dried fruit heaven. My brother and I have already planned to pretty much eat dried fruit as our lunch that day because it is one of our favorite snacks. This is only half of the dried fruit stand too. It is extremely large, which is good because it will offer tons of variety in case someone may not like a certain fruit. I can’t wait. Hello to gaining a few pounds from dried fruit. Nothing to complain about since it will be tasty and in my belly.

(Source)
If there is one thing and one thing only that I remember from years of Hebrew school is that Israel has the best falafel known to mankind. How do I know this? My Hebrew school teacher, who I had for 4 years, lived in Israel and made falafel from scratch. I wasn’t quite a fan of hers, but I can’t wait to sample the goodness that is awaiting me in the holy land. Yes, I will probably eat some gluten on this trip, and do I really care no? Should I? Maybe, just because we are sleeping in a desert one night and I really don’t want to have stomach issues out there. Oh well. I’ll just not eat falafel that day. Random fact of the day: apparently there is a war on falafel and Israel is being sued by Lebanon. Oh those silly people, it is freaking falafel, get over it.

Hooo-muhs. Yes, some of the people on the trip try to say it like they are Israeli. Ummm hello, I don’t know if you have looked in the mirror lately, but you are white and from America, so just say it like a normal person because you are not being cool. Enough complaining, I will be enjoying tons and tons of hummus. I will dip veggies in it. Actually I’ll probably just eat it by the spoonful because it will be so much better than any hummus I have eaten before and trust me I eat pretty good hummus.

Oh la la la Bamba (in case you can’t read Hebrew). It is a popular snack in Israel and to make it even better it is gluten-free! Success. It is a peanut butter flavored corn snack. It comes in a variety of flavors too like chocolate, strawberry, and banana flavored. I can’t wait to try this. One of the chaperones on the trip is gluten-free and she says this is one of the best snacks out there. Mainly non-gluten free people eat it because it is just so good. I’ll probably end up taking half of my suitcase up just with bags of this, so I can enjoy it back in Texas.

Frozen Yogurt in Israel. Oh heck yeah I’m getting on that train. From previous out of the country experiences, I feel as if yogurt and icecream are just a million times better than what it is in the United States. Probably because they use more natural ingredients and it isn’t as processed as the stuff we consume in America. My friend said that this was super delicious, so I probably will be eating as much as my body can handle. Who needs to eat actual meals, when you can eat scrumptious frozen yogurt like this?

I’ll have to thank my friend for letting me steal all her pictures, but doesn’t this look good? It will totally be worth eating gluten for. Hopefully I will get some of this, if not I probably will still be eating a delicious lunch. Not only does it look tasty, but for the main part the food in Israel is pretty healthy. What is with everyone else, but the United States huh? So unfair, but as long as you eat smart you can still eat delicious food.

Hope ya’ll enjoyed my What I’ll be eating in Israel post! Have a lovely hump day and hope you are all eating some delicious eats on this wonderful holiday!

Have you ever been out of the country before?
What was your favorite thing you ate and in what country?

Eat Your Eggs

Hey ya’ll! Hope everyone had a good Friday night. I tried to go to bed early, but no someone wanted to ruin my good night of sleep by throwing a loud party next door, screaming bloody murder about things I could not even understand, and talking loud on the phone or computer (not really sure which one). Enough with complaining because that won’t do anything for the situation. It has been a productive morning though. I have gotten through most of my ten page anatomy and physiology review, so I’m in a good mood again. Plus UT women’s volleyball won last night in an extremely close match against Kentucky in their home stadium. Oh yeaaah. Tonight we play UCLA and I’m super nervous already because they sweeped Penn State (an enemy of UT).

Today I’m bring something new to my blog. I’m going to start focusing on more food, health, and nutrition related stuff because when I started this blog that was pretty much the purpose, but my funniness and goofiness sort of took over. Each week, usually on Fridays, but because I got that award I’m doing it on Saturday this week, I will do a post totally focused on some important nutrition fact. Today I’m focusing on breakfast. My favorite time of the day. Ya’ll know why. OATMEAL, but there is more to breakfast than just oats.

In my mind, breakfast is probably the most important meal of the day. Due to the gap between our last meal from the night before and the next morning, our brain and muscles need a source of energy to function. Without a real meal, you will still be able to get through the day, but having a hearty meal allows you to concentrate better, be more productive, and feel less lethargic. Besides providing general body function, eating breakfast has shown to actually help you lose weight instead of gain. Most people assume the opposite, but by not eating breakfast people tend to eat more later on in the day not realizing that calories add up quickly. Metabolism is key in this because by eating breakfast it allows your body to keep your metabolism running instead of slowing it down, which is key in weight loss.

“I don’t like breakfast foods”, “I don’t have time to eat breakfast”, or “I don’t get full from breakfast” are some of the common things we hear when it comes to morning meal discussion, but don’t worry I have some healthy choices for you to eat.

Blackberry Cheesecake Oats (Gluten Free)
1/3 c. Gluten Free Oats
1 1/3 c. water
1/2 c. low fat cottage cheese
3/4 c. blackberries
1 packet of truvia
1 tsp of vanilla extract
2 tbsp of PB2

1. Make the oats either the day of or the night before by microwaving oats and water for 2:55, letting sit in microwave for 5 minutes, then placing in the fridge.
2. Place cottage cheese, truvia, and vanilla extract in oats and mix well.
3. Microwave half of the blackberries for about one minute or until warm and there is blackberry juice present.
4. Pour microwaved blackberries in oatmeal and mix well.
5. Top with remaining blackberries and 2 tbsp of PB2

Of course I’m going to say oatmeal is a good option for breakfast, but it is not just because I love it. Oatmeal is a good source of fiber, protein, and it is low fat. Due to its fiber and protein content, it allows you to stay full longer than a sugary cereal or granola bar would. Besides having just a good nutrient composition, oatmeal can also be considered a functional food because oats have shown to lower cholesterol, blood pressure, blood triglycerides, increases insulin sensitivity, and lowers the risk of coronary heart disease. Sign me up please. Besides the oats, adding fruit increases the fiber content even more and blackberries are also a functional food. The cottage cheese is a source of dairy, and the peanut butter is a healthy fat. Now that is a meal that packs a healthy punch, will keep you full for hours, is easy to make if you are in a hurry, and you can create a bowl of oatmeal to your liking.

Finally I make a perfect omelet and the picture comes out blurry. Just my luck. Anyways, eggs are always a good option for breakfast. Personally I use egg whites instead of whole eggs because the yolk in eggs contains high cholesterol and fat, and when you switch to egg whites you are still getting a ton of nutritional benefits. Most of an egg’s protein is actually from the egg white or albumin, so by consuming egg whites only you are not missing out on benefits. The protein will help keep you full until your mid day snack or next meal. Egg whites are low in calories, so you can increase your nutrient intake and add more food items to bulk it up with flavor and calories. I usually fill my omelet with a minimum of two vegetables (but usually more) and another source of protein. In this omelet, I have mushrooms, onions, green peppers, slices of ham, and low fat shredded cheese. The vegetables provide fiber, the ham increases the protein amount, and the cheese is a good source of healthy dairy. This is pretty easy to cook, the eggs coagulate pretty quickly, and yet again you can customize an omelet to your liking. I choose to make this breakfast before I go to the gym and head to class after I work out, and it tends to keep me full until after my class. Pretty successful, don’t you think?

While I’m not an advocate of quick breakfasts, sometimes you are in a real rush and you don’t have time to whip up an omelet or a bowl of oats, so frozen products can be a healthy alternative depending on what you are choosing. Obviously you shouldn’t be eating toaster pastries, but by choosing products that have flaxseed and more nutritional ingredients you are saving yourself from the harms of high fat foods. These are Vans Gluten Free Blueberry Waffles with sliced strawberries and sugar free syrup on top of them. In order to make a quick product more filling, add things such as fruit to increase the amount of filling fiber in a meal. Another alternative you can do with waffles is make a sandwich with an egg, a couple slices of meat, veggies, and cheese. This way you are eating a more filling meal that will help you get through the long hours in a day.

Some of my random breakfast advice:
1. Drink a glass of water while preparing your breakfast, and then another while you eat. This will help you make sure you get all of your daily water intake.
2. Do not eat bars for a meal. They will not fill you up, they do not provide an adequate amount of nutrients, and you will end up consuming more. If you do this at least make sure you pair it with some fruit and other small items like a greek yogurt.
3. Just don’t skip breakfast!

Hope everyone has a lovely Saturday! I will hopefully be attending the UT mens basketball game, but if not I’m going home to my mom’s for a couple of days to do some last minute things before Israel and to get some peaceful sleep before my two biggest finals.

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
What is your best advice to others in regards to breakfast?

Partying Hard (WIAW)

Hey ya’ll! It is that time of the week again. Another What I Ate Wednesday Post. I should learn how to document my food more, so I actually have more delicious food to post and less of my jibber jabber. Although I do think I’m rather funny, so I subject ya’ll to that more often than I should. Sorry, but not sorry. Anyways, all of us bloggers that participate in this lovely holiday must give it up to the wonderful Jenn for hosting and creating such a great day in the week. Without this day, I probably would not have discovered some great food items out there or met some amazing people. Plus it doesn’t hurt having people stalk your blog more. Enough with the chit chat, lets get to why ya’ll really came to my page, the food:

Baked Apple Pie Oats (Gluten Free)
1 Braeburn Apple
cinnamon
Brown Sugar
crushed walnuts
raisins
1/3 c. Gluten Free Oats
1 1/3 c. Water
1 tbsp of PB2
truvia packet
1 tsp vanilla

1. Prepare oats like the normal method of microwaving, letting sit, and refrigerating the night before.
2. The next day slice up apple into really small chunks, sprinkle with cinnamon and a pinch of brown sugar, put in a microwave safe dish, cover in plastic wrap, then microwave for 5 minutes.
3. While apples are cooling, reheat oats from the night before, then mix in a packet of sugar and a tsp of vanilla.
4. Mix in hot apple mixture, but leave some apples on the top.
5. Top with sprinkle of raisins, walnuts, a little cinnamon, PB2 and a pinch of brown sugar.

Hands down the best oatmeal combination I have come up with yet. Besides tasting good, your apartment will smell of sweet cinnamony apples. For once, I actually liked going out of my room since it smelled lovely. I definitely recommend everyone make these as soon as possible because they are life changing. If you don’t want the oats, I still suggest that you make the cooked apples because it is a super low-cal, healthy, filling, and did I mention delicious snack?

Today I went to the library to study for my Food Science final that is tomorrow. Ah. Yeah, I feel like I’m ready for it, but I just never know. I really just need to get a B on it, so I can keep my A. Enough with that. You can’t go to the library without amazing study snacks. So I brought along for the journey a bag of baby carrots, a bag of berries (strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries), and a bag of special trail mix (almonds, gluten free pretzels, and raisins). I also had two babybell light cheeses, a sugar free vanilla snackpack, and a gluten free marshmallow bar, but I crammed those in my mouth really quickly and didn’t get any pictures. Who wants to see that anyways?

My friend that went to the library with me was getting hungry for lunch, so we decided to take a break and walk all the way to Subway. I have all these giftcards there, so I am always down to get a salad with all the toppings on it. Today I got a turkey and ham salad with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, banana peppers, pickles, and regular mustard. I love subway, and I just discovered that the one we went to is open 24 hours. Hello late night munchies at like 3 am. Haha. No, I actually won’t be going to a Subway that late at night because I would rather eat something sweet or salty. After our lunch, I decided to trek all the way back to my car and go to my apartment because I had wasted 2 hours at the library chatting away and playing words with friends and hanging with friends. Damn you evil IPhone games.

I had pork chops and apple sauce for dinner. What a winning combination. I should always trust traditional southern food, but I actually have never had it before this. All I did to make my pork chops was sprinkle them with tenderizer and let them sit for about 20 minutes before tossing them into a hot pan with some oil. Let me tell you that tenderizer does some amazing tricks. I learned about this secret in my Food Science lab when we did the section on meats. It makes the meat really juicy and tender. I paired it with my famous green beans…from a can. What a perfect meal. Atleast in my mind. Totally unkosher, but thankfully I’m not religious.

Mango is on sale at the grocery store right now, so what did the Jew in me say? BUY BUY BUY. Good choice though. Not just for the pricetag, but mango is a really delicious snack to have at night. The citrus flavor definitely woke me up to study some more for my exam. The only thing is that the darn fruit is really hard to cut, which is no wonder so many people buy it already sliced and peeled in packages.

Who has had one of these before? Gluten Free, organic, super tasty. No complaints over here. One of my favorite gluten free products is this peanut butter with chocolate drizzle rice bar. Satisfies that sweettooth craving, especially when you are wanting something like a brownie or chocolate cake, but you can’t have it. I tend to go through these really quickly because they are so good. They come in 4 different flavors – wow I sound like an advertisement.

It is time for me to get off the internet, so I can get back to some last minute studying. Hope everyone had a wonderful Wednesday and good luck to all of those taking finals right now!

What are your favorite study snacks?
When are your exams, if you have any?

Coming Home (a shopping trip)

Hey ya’ll. As the title of the post says, I went home this weekend. It was awesome. Mainly because there was some sweet NCAA volleyball watched, but I also love seeing my family. We are a pretty close unit. Plus when you are in college going home for the weekend is a nice break from the hectic schedule of school and exams, drama from your friends, and various other reasons. One of my favorite things about going to see my mom is all the food shopping that is done. I’m a cheap person, so I will not splurge on super nice groceries for myself at Whole Foods, Central Market, or Sprouts, but if my parents want to donate some goods to my cause of living then I’m not going to complain.

Oh my Whole Foods. Yes, you all should be jealous. I live in the greatest city in the world (Austin) with the best Whole Foods in the world. I’m not even kidding. Since Austin is the headquarters for Whole Foods, it is only natural that we deserve the best. Also we are getting two more Whole Foods, probably just as great as the Lamar location that I attended with my mother. I won’t lie to ya’ll, but the best thing I probably got was this freezer bag. Now I can buy all kinds of freezer and cold items, and make it to my apartment without everything turning into a complete mushy mess. Who has ever forgotten they had ice-cream in the back of their car? Hmmm maybe just me. I forget things a lot. I just blame it on my old person tendencies. My other favorite purchase is the Udi’s gluten free pizza crusts. Two in a package, taste just like normal pizza crust, dare I say even better than normal. These serve as a palate for my creativity. Almost as much fun as coming up with oatmeal combinations. I said ALMOST. Other good buys are the Envirokidz bars, Gluten Free Peanut sauce, Lucys cookies, and vermicelli noodles (duh..How else would I make my spring rolls – post coming soon about how to make them). Now I was going out on a limb trying gluten free cookie dough. This is not something I recommend. I find the taste to be indescribable. I’m going to stick making it from scratch. Also, Arctic Zero. I’m still up on the fence about it. Sometimes I have it and it tastes good, but other times I will have a couple of bites and it just tastes like icy water. What gives? Make up your mind and stop trying to confuse mine please.

Central Market is Texas’s little secret. You all may have your amazing Trader Joes (I am jealous, oh how I miss all those wonderful, cheap goods – frozen orange chicken anyone?), but we have a really good alternative. Central Market is like a fancier H-E-B (one of Texas’s main grocery store chains), and it provides healthier and more local grocery options. My dad and I have this thing were whenever we are both in town we usually go hit up the central market (this journey takes about an hour and a half) slowly going through each aisle looking at what is available. For one, Central Market has one of the best gluten free sections I have seen in a grocery store. I was able to find graham crackers, animal cookies, “bread” crumbs, and bars for cheaper prices than anywhere else. Success for the Jews! That is a jar of PB&Co that you see hiding behind various other bottles of random junk. I need some healthy fat in my life, and maybe with a little extra sugar than needed won’t kill anyone. Especially when its swirled with cinnamon and raisins. I bought a lot of baking stuff this trip. Hmmm guess I may have had sweets on my mind during this specific trip. Usually I buy more produce than anything because Central Market has such a variety of fruit and vegetables that it is pure heaven going through and sampling everything. Yes, they have healthy samples. Seriously, best place ever for the health conscious or a person who is wanting to choose better foods. They also offer cooking classes, which is where I took the fish one with my mom. Good times.

It isn’t a stay at home without going to Jew central, oh I mean Cost Co. Good place to buy bulk. While I usually would not buy normal food from here because warehouses tend to cater towards restaurants and food service industries, they actually provide a various amount of good produce. For example, organic berries at a good price. No wonder all the Jews are driving crazy outside to find a parking spot to fight for some blueberries. I eat an apple every day, so being able to buy a bulk package for the cost of buying like 5 apples at the grocery store is such a good deal for me. My advice to surviving Cost Co is to focus mainly on the produce, veggies, and other healthier items that you can buy in bulk and consume every day, and steer far far away from fatty items such as bulk candy, baked goods, and other saturated fat items. Just say no, but not to all deals because then that wouldn’t be very Jewish and smart of you.

In other shopping news, one of my friends gave me a 25$ giftcard to bath and bodyworks and recently I have become obsessed. I bought this cupcake shaped wall plug that lights up, various wall plug flavors (oatmeal raisin cookie, gingerbread, sugared donut, and caramel apple), and some gingerbread hand soap. Can I say yummy? Yes, my room smells so good that I want to eat the air. I tried. Doesn’t work to well. I also bought, well my mom bought for me as an early Hannukah present, the cake pop pan. No, not that little panini machine pan, but the one on TV bake pops or something like that. I’m going to make some sweet cake pops (I just introduced the phenomenon to a friend of mine, he had no idea of the amazingness of these sweet treats) – I’m going to work on making a tasty gluten free one then get rich of it. Yes, I always think about money.

Anyways, I hope everyone is having a wonderful start to their week. I start finals this week. Not looking forward to that, but in 9 days I’ll be in Israel so who cares. Plus ya’ll will get a break from me and I have some amazing guest posts lined up for that time! I can’t wait.

Where is your favorite place to grocery shop?
Do you only go to certain places with your parents to buy groceries?

Back to the Party (WIAW)

Hey ya’ll! It is my favorite day of the week. I always consider it a little holiday because many bloggers take a break from their normal routine and post up an awesome spread of their eats. Best stalking site ever. Seriously, how do you think I found most of ya’ll? We have to give a big thanks to Jenn for hosting this weekly party. I seriously do not know what some bloggers would do without her. Enough talking, lets get to the good stuff: the eats.

PB&J Oatmeal (Gluten Free)

1/3 c gluten free oats
1 1/3 c of water
1 banana
2 tbsp organic raspberry preserves (or any jam/jelly of your choice)
2 tbsp PB2
1 packet of truvia
1 tsp of vanilla

1. Make oats the night before, using normal method.
2. Next morning, slice up 1 banana, place on top of oats, and microwave for about 2:50
3. Stir up everything until banana is “melted” in oats
4. Add in vanilla and truvia packet
5. Then swirl around one tablespoon of preserves at a time
6. Top with PB2 and you are ready to enjoy

I love peanut butter. I love jelly. I’m not really a fan of the sandwiches unless they are made just right, but I thought why not try this classic combination in one of my bowls of oats. I have the best ideas. The natural sweetness from the raspberry preserves made a perfect combination with the saltiness of the peanut butter. Next time I am going to through in some actual raspberries to make the meal even better than it already is.

Yes, for once I actually recorded some of my snacks. Lets not get ahead of ourselves because I did not manage to catch everything. I may have missed a cheesestick or two, but I’m trying here. I want to live up to the WIAW greatness.
I’m being a typical Jew when it comes to my grocery shopping lately, but I buy so much produce that I have to hit up the deals otherwise I will be dropping mega wads of cash all the time on fruit. Right now, Rome apples are on sale. Rome you say? Well, unfortunately the apple does not bring back memories of a warm summer day strolling through the Roman forum while ingesting coconut gelato, but I’m not going to complain because it is still a really tasty apple. I try to eat an apple a day; however, it definitely does not keep the doctor away because I have been having some arthritic pain lately.

Thanks to my school I have made one of the best discoveries. Okay, technically I did not discover it since they came to lecture about their company, but hey I did go out and try it on my own. Welcome to My Fit Foods. The company has pre-packaged healthy meals (with all of the nutrition information on a label) for each meal of the day. They serve vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free products. It is amazing. I went in this past week when they were having a 40% off sale and got two meals to try for the price of one. Jew heaven. This is the Salmon stir-fry, and it was so delicious. There was a wide variety of vegetables with a nice side of rice and a good chunk of salmon with a spicy rub on top. What a perfect lunch time meal.

Yes, I eat green beans out of a can and I like it. No, I love them. I may be weird, but I don’t really care. I’m getting my servings of vegetables, so who cares where they are coming from. That is a lot more than I can say for most people in America. Don’t be hating on my can veggie loving.

One of the best gluten-free snacks out there. Rice pudding. These little snack packs are the perfect sweet treat to hold you over for a while. Topped with fat free cool whip to make pure perfection. Also I have a kerropi spoon that I got from this guy that worked at yogurtland. Thanks for all the free spoons. Now eating my pudding is so much more fun. I think Katie would approve, especially because I have Hello Kitty, Chococat, and My Melody.

Turkey Meatballs with Spaghetti Squash (Gluten Free)
1 lb extra lean ground turkey meat
1 diced onion
2 egg whites (I used egg white substitutes)
1/2 c. gluten free oats
1/8 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 c. fat-free milk

1. Turn on oven to 400 degrees, coat baking sheet with spray or use a piece of aluminum foil
2. In a bowl, mix egg whites, oats, and milk until combined
3. Add oregano, onion, garlic powder, and salt and mix.
4. Mix in turkey meat until all into a solid mass
5. Makes about 32 meatballs, roll with your hands, and place on baking sheet
6. Bake for about 10-12 minutes

I placed my meatballs on spaghetti squash. I know ya’ll are probably sick of seeing spaghetti squash, but I bought two of them and I just used up my second one. I can’t help it that I’m a little obsessed with this low calorie pasta substitute. I know nothing will replace the doughy taste of fresh pasta (trust me because I have eaten pasta all throughout Italy), but for those who are health conscious this is a pretty good sub. The meatballs had a great flavor from the oregano and garlic powder and went well with the squash. I’ll be eating these leftovers for a while.

I’m ending my day with a nice cup of hot cocoa, marshmallows, fat free cool whip, and some sprinkles. I feel like sprinkles makes everything better or at least prettier. This hot drink is soothing my throat, which is randomly sore, and making studying for my anatomy exam a little better. Although studying for anatomy, not really fun, ever. Luckily I’m a whiz when it comes to that stuff otherwise I would be screwed like 95% of the class. Three points for being smart.

Of course I’m going to leave ya’ll with a little fashion. This is sort of my low-key look. Yeah I know, low key, haha this is still dressing up for most people that go to school where I do. I just will never get into the lazy look. Its just not me. Anyways the top is forever21, pants are macys, boots are DSW, and scarf is JcPenneys. I paired it with a black leather jacket from Urban Outfitters for when I went to class.

 Hope everyone had a wonderful Wednesday and thanks again to Jenn for allowing me to shamelessly whore out my blog through WIAW!

I Want YOU So Bad!

Hey ya’ll! Sorry for the lack of posts. No excuses. I’ve been lazy. Bad me. I have a crazy last two days of class coming up. Two exams: Food Science and Food Systems. One Single Spaced Paper due and to make it even worse its a group project. Let me tell you that this past week has been filled with drama because of it being in groups. I hate my original group, so I decided to write my own paper and just help my other group. Then I had two girls join me on my solo project (we are finished, YAY!), BUT their groups weren’t happy and I still have to help my original group (who are two of the stupidest people EVER). Sorry, but not sorry. I’m kind of harsh on people, but if there is one thing I can’t stand it is stupid people.

ANYWAYS. On a much brighter note this post is dedicated to WIAW. Although I completely missed WIAW, so this is just my way of honoring the wonderful Jenn a day late. Instead of just including one day of eats, I have mixed up a couple of meals because I can do that.

First up we have some yummy Pumpkin Pie Pancakes.
All you need to do to make these is follow my Pumpkin and Banana Pancake Recipe, but just omit the bananas. Also, I used fat free milk this time instead of coconut milk. I thought it tasted the exact same, so I guess it just depends on your milk preference.

I have been up to no good in class creating some good oatmeal combinations that will be appearing on the blog throughout the next week. Recently I decided to make Chocolate Covered Strawberry Oatmeal. Superb.
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Oats (Gluten Free)
1/3 c. of Gluten Free Oats
1 1/2 c. of water
1 package of 20 calorie cocoa mix
handful of chocolate chips
1 cup sliced strawberries
1/8 tsp vanilla
1 packet of truvia
1 tbsp of PB2

1. Microwave the oats and water in a plastic measuring cup for 2:50, and then let sit for about 5 minutes with door closed
2. Place in refrigerator for overnight
3. In the morning, microwave for about 2-3 minutes, depending on how hot you want the oatmeal
4. Mix in cocoa, chocolate chips, vanilla, truvia, and strawberries
5. Top with PB2 and a couple of strawberry slices and enjoy

I think I should start a class at school that is oatmeal 101 just so I can have more time in the day to come up with recipes. I love oatmeal. For me it isn’t a healthy living blog thing because I know a lot of people out there just eat oats because it is popular, but I have been eating them since I was like 6, so yeah I’m just that cool as an originator. Or I like to pretend that I am to make up for all my nerd-tastic qualities.

New discovery. Okay it wasn’t really my discovery, but I was the one that seeked it out in order to get some. This girl in my food systems lab came to class one week with a bunch of gluten free baked goods from our schools monthly farmers market. Usually I’m sort of sketched out by baked goods that are gluten free because one time I had these funky breads that left bad tastes in my mouth. Never again. This looked good though, so I faced my fear. It was awesome. I had to go get some of my own. Of course the market had closed by the time I made it there, so the girl in my class gave me the company’s card. Sweet Texas. Oh how I love thee. I went all the way out to Lakeline Mall just to get this:
Let me introduce you to my new best friend. Sweet Potato Bread. It will blow your mind. Especially for being gluten free. It is better than many gluten containing breads that I have consumed over my lifetime. It contains sweet potato, cinnamon, pecans, and shredded coconut. What a great combination indeed. It was so good that I bought two and some Brazilian cheese bread. I actually enjoyed the farmers market because my good friends the peached tortilla were there. They serve their tacos on corn, which I just found out that day, so I can eat them! Also I found another gluten free company at the market and ended up buying a gluten free snickerdoodle. Not pictured because I ate it in like 5 seconds. Hunger gets the best of me sometimes.

I have had this spaghetti squash sitting on my counter for a while staring at me. It has been wanting me to cook it, but I didn’t want to because I had no good recipes to make. I have been wanting to make this recipe I saw from Heather at Kiss My Broccoli, but I always seem to not have all the ingredients at the same time. However, the other night I was surfing around on pinterest. What else is new right? That thing is addicting. Anyways, I found some inspiration.
Mexican Style Spaghetti Squash
3 oz of cooked chicken
1/4 c. of black beans
1/4 c. diced tomatoes
1/4 c. corn
1/3 c. Pepper Jack shredded cheese
As much spaghetti squash noodles as you want

1. Cook spaghetti squash any method you like then pull the “noodles” from it
2. Place in chicken, beans, tomatoes, corn, and cheese
3. Place in the microwave for 2 minutes or until cheese becomes completely melted

Bon apetit!

My other important discovery was kamut puffs. Hello. Low in calorie for a large amount. I’m not complaining. Plus you can mix whatever you want with it. Greek Yogurt. Fruit. Banana Soft Serve. The list could go on and on. I had mine with blueberries, strawberries, and fat free milk. This is definitely going to be a new standard in my diet.

In non food related news, I want YOU so bad.

Uncle Sam, stop scaring away all my blog readers. So as most of you know I am going away to Israel for 10 days then I will be staying in the big apple for a couple of days after that, so I need some amazing guest posts to entertain the world while I’m out of the country. If anyone is interested please send me an email at survivingcandyland@gmail.com or tweet me or do something crazy? I would love to have anyone write for me. I will also be personally sending out messages asking a couple of people to write, but heck if you beat me to it thats good too! Can’t wait to hear from ya’ll!

I Like A Good Party (WIAW #3)

Hey ya’ll! I know I have been missing from the amazing action that is What I Ate Wednesday. Usually I’m too lazy to record all of my eats in a day/I am forgetful. My camera tends to die when I’m about to take a picture of food. What is up with that? Anyways thanks to the lovely Jenn for hosting this drool worthy party. I think my Wednesdays would be boring if I did not have a long list of blogs to stalk for inspiration.

Meet Elvis, he is a great breakfast companion, and will keep you satisfied all day long. At least until you are ready for your next meal date.
Elvis Pancakes (Gluten Free)
1/3 c. Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour
1/3 c. Non-dairy milk (almond milk)
1 package 20 calorie hot cocoa
1/2 sliced banana
pinch of chocolate chips
1 tsp baking powder
2 Tbsp Gluten Free Oats
1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Mix all of the the ingredients in a mixing bowl
2. Make 1/4 cup scoops and pour onto pan over medium-high heat. Makes 5 pancakes
3. Then top pancakes with PB (I used PB2), the second half of the banana (slices), and a little bit of syrup of your choice (I used sugar free)

Of course Elvis did not come alone on this wonderful morning date. He brought a long a sexy friend. Dark, but warm. Oh my. I like the way this day is going.
Oh yes! I got myself a fixing of hot, steamy chocolate in the morning. Just the way I like to start off my day. Thank god when I woke up it was 45 outside. I seriously ran around my apartment doing a happy dance at like 6:40 am. I am so sick of this random hot Texas weather. I want winter. NOW.

Lunch was feeling pretty plain today. I was in need of some omega 3′s, so I decided to have some tuna. Mix in a little hard boiled egg, onion, mayonnaise , and dijon mustard. You have yourself an easy masterpiece and filling meal in about 5 minutes. I used celery as a spoon to eat it. Oh yeah I’m creative. Celery actually has some benefits for you too. Not only is it filled with water, but it is rich in flavanoids and contains Vitamin K, which plays a role in Alzheimer’s Disease. Oh Functional Foods class, you are actually coming in handy, even though you will be the death of me.

I have finally discovered the amazingness of freezing bananas. Oh homemade froyo, where have I been without you for these last few months? My concoction consists of half a frozen banana and a handful of frozen cherries. Then to make it even better (although it was already really tasty) I topped it with a sprinkle of Gluten Free Chocolate chips. I’m seriously going to raid HEB for all types of frozen unsweetened fruit just so I can make all different kinds of froyo. I have found a new life passion. My mom will be so proud this is what I’m spending my time doing…maybe not.

My other new favorite snack. Gluten Free Rice Cake topped with organic raspberry jam and PB&Co Cinnamon Raisin Swirl. Yes. I have turned over to the dark side. I have realized the amazingness that is PB&Co peanut butter. If it wasn’t so dang expensive I would go out and buy every single flavor. Right now. Alas I am poor, but I am going to NYC once I return from Israel, so I will beg my dad to let me stop at the store for a picture and a bunch of peanut butter. My dad loves me.

What is this? Breakfast for Dinner? Brinner. Please tell me that some of you watch Scrubs. My brother was addicted to the show when he was younger, so I’ve seen pretty much every episode in existence. Why not have breakfast for dinner? I’m too lazy to actually cook gourmet, so I’m just going to make scrambled eggs. Egg whites, Ranch style beans, ham, onions, and mexican cheese. Such a satisfying meal.

Just to make things even weirder, I had sauteed zucchini on the side. Right now I’m addicted to zucchini, so no day is without it, except when I run out and do not have time to go to the store. Seriously, this is one of the best vegetables I have ever had. When you saute it, the vegetable gets this buttery taste and you didn’t even use butter. Mmmm. So freaking good. AND it is healthy for you. Win, win. Oh and did I mention my great Jew reason: it is really cheap. Jump on it.

I am working a bake sale tomorrow, so today I had to make something for it. I decided on something easy and cute. Chocolate dipped pretzel rods. I even made some gluten free ones, but I forgot to take a picture of them. Plus I had to hide them from myself because I kept nomming on all of them, which made me have to make even more. I’m super pumped for the bake sale, so hopefully people come to buy things, and hopefully cute boys come by too.

Hope everyone had a fab WIAW! I must be leaving because I have an Anatomy Lab Practical in an hour and a half, and before I have to go drop off all my pretzels at the president’s apartment. I’ll leave with you my fabulosity aka my amazing outfit that I wore today. Most of the people here should hire me to dress them, they need it.

Lace top/Black skinny cords: Anthropologie, Black Boots: DSW, Scarf/Blazer: F21

Do ya’ll participate in WIAW?
What was your favorite thing you ate this week?

Perks of a Nutrition Major

Hey ya’ll! A while back I did a guest post for Kalie about the good and the bad of being a nutrition major. Well today was definitely some of the good. Food Science Lab. The main reason why you should be a nutrition major. Each week you go in to lab, focus on a certain food like eggs or meat, and then get to cooking. Lately my professor has been implementing her own recipes into the lab while still making us do the silly activities out of the manual. Oh I do not mind at all. These recipes are AMAZING. One of my favorite parts of the lab is..complaining. Not really, but sort of. I seriously got the best kitchen group (the other two members are in my functional foods class, so we always complain about how awful class is), but we get along great which means good food. Usually we get screwed with recipes because we are in the middle of all the kitchens, but today OH MY today we got blessed. Today the lesson was on eggs. Hmm…what can you do with eggs. Scrambled. Sunny Side Up. Fried. Oh no no no. That is just waaaaaay too simple for a nutrition class. We got to make things like Huevos Rancheros (get on this asap), deviled eggs, angel food cake, pavlova, and creme brulee. Can I just say that last one again? Creme FREAKING brulee. Unfortunately my mouth got the best of me (story of my life), but I did manage to record two of the foods cooked. None were by me, but that was because my lab had Huevos Rancheros, which we gobbled up in like 5 minutes after making it. Sorry I’m not sorry. I love spicy Mexican food. Get in my belly.

Meet Mr. Creme Brulee. Our lab was running late, so the people making it did not have time to torch it. Hell, it still turned out AMAZING. I literally had to glue my butt to my seat because I would have eaten about three of these. In lab, the kitchen making this had to do two different variations. I am providing the recipe of the creme brulee, which is shown above. If you do not have a torch, you can place granulated sugar and brown sugar on top of the pudding after cooked then place in oven on broil at highest heat possible until top has browned.

Ingredients

• 3 whole egg
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 2 cups light cream (half and half
• Pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 tablespoons white sugar
• (foil)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees and line the bottom of a large baking pan with a damp kitchen cloth.
2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
3. While water is boiling, combine light cream, ¼ cup sugar and salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir occasionally 4-5 minutes until steam rises.
4. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, beat whole eggs and vanilla until smooth.
5. Pour hot cream into eggs, a little at a time, stirring constantly, until all cream is incorporated.
6. Pour mixture into 4 ramekins. (If some curdling occurred, strain mixture and then add to ramekins.)
7. Place ramekins on towel in baking dish and place dish on oven rack.
8. Pour boiling water into dish halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Cover whole pan loosely with foil.
9. Bake 25-30 minutes in the preheated oven until custard is just set. Check this by gently jiggling the pan; if the inner part of the custard moves slightly but the outside does not, it is set.
10. Chill ramekins.
11. Before serving, sprinkle 1 Tbsp of sugar on each and use a torch to heat (see lab instructor for this).

Meet my next friend. Oh Pavlova, you are such a beautiful woman. The dessert was actually named after a Russian ballerina. What a lucky girl. If only I could have a dessert named after me then my life would be complete. Lindsay Cakes, THE Lindsay…well we will just have to work on that.
Yes…the picture is a weee bit blurry. The excitement of eating all the good egg related food has gotten to me by the time I remembered to take a picture of this beauty. All I can say is that the Russians sure know how to make some good desserts because the light and fluffy taste of this dessert was making me think that I was eating air and not consuming any calories at all. Those sneaky Russians. They stay skinny while making everyone else fat with good food. I caught you.

For crust:

• 4 egg whites
• ¼ tsp cream of tartar
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 tsp cornstarch
• 2 tsp white wine vinegar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Cooking spray (to coat pan)
• 1 Tbsp flour (to coat pan)

For whipped cream:

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 Tbsp powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla

For topping:

• 1 cup raspberries
• 1 cup strawberries

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
2. Coat springform pan with cooking spray and flour.
3. Whip egg whites, salt, cream of tartar until stiff peaks form
4. Add sugar, a little at a time. Beat until glossy.
5. Add white wine vinegar and beat in.
6. Add cornstarch and beat in.
7. Add vanilla and beat in.
8. Add mixture to sprinform pan and cook at 275 degrees for 60-75 minutes.
9. While baking make whipped cream: whip cream until stiff, beat in powdered sugar and vanilla. Do not overbeat.
10. Remove crust from oven, top with whipped cream and raspberries and strawberries (washed and cut into quarters)

 Thanks professor for letting me steal your recipes. If ya’ll want any of the other recipes from the egg section (listed above) I will gladly send them to you. Trust me. They are good. I would not lie to ya’ll. I love you, I love you, I love you…these words are my own. Okay I’m lying. Those are definitely not my own. I wish. Love me some Natasha Bedingfield. I discovered her in Europe back before she became popular in the US. Watching European MTV while in Berlin. Good times.

Sorry for all random stream of consciousness. I’m still exhausted from all of my Missouri trip. Hope everyone has been having a fabulous Monday like I have.

What is the best thing that you have ever made with eggs?
Do you have a favorite class where you can just be goofy in?

Give me MO-re

Hey ya’ll! Guess what? I’m in Missouri. Scary, I know. My mom decided that we needed to come see my grandparents. Not that I don’t love my grandparents, but the town they live in is the smallest thing in existence. You think I’m joking. No. There is one main road with a walmart on one end, a couple of fast food places, and a grocery store. They have a Chinese place that only has two things on the menu. TWO THINGS. Plus they do not have internet at their house, so I finally decided to go steal some at the only hotel in the town. Thank god for Holiday Inn. Anyways I don’t really have time to write a super long post about everything going on in my life because I am sketchy looking sitting out in the parking lot of a holiday inn, but I wanted to share with you some of the things I’ve been eating lately.

Here we go, one more time, everybody is feeling fine..or maybe that is just me on my meds. Uh Oh

Meet one of the great food groups in the world: BBQ. Obviously you do not know what good BBQ is because you do not live in Texas. The state of good meat. Don’t try to kid yourself either. I pretty much refuse to eat BBQ elsewhere unless I’m in desperation for a little taste of home (this has only happened once and it was in Boston). Let me introduce you to one of the greatest places in Austin: Iron Works.
Beef ribs. OH MY GOD. So good. I try to stay away from red meat, but when I have that craving for BBQ ribs, Iron Works is seriously the place to go. This is an Austin staple. The restaurant looks sort of like an old rusty shack downtown, and once you go inside it has an old western flare. Back in the kitchen they have large smokers cooking up delicious things like beef ribs, brisket, and smoked sausage. This place is even so amazing that you can order online. Nom nom nom. A plate comes with baked beans, potato salad, onions and pickles, and a piece of bread (did no consume). When you stick that rib in your mouth, the meat just falls off and the flavors are so rich, especially when mixed with the barbeque sauce. The sauce adds a sweet tangy effect to the smokey taste of the ribs. If you are ever in Austin, I recommend that you go here immediately. Whenever my friends from Boston come to town this is one of the places I take them for a meal.

What happens when you run out of food and have to make a meal from scraps in your cupboards? The greatest creations ever. Say hello to Quinoa Fried Rice.
Quinoa Fried Rice:
1/4 c. Quinoa
1/2 c. of Water
1 bag individual sized frozen peas
Handful of shredded carrots
1 tsp Gluten Free Soy Sauce
3 tbsp of Egg Whites
3 oz cooked chicken

1. Place Quinoa and water in a microwavable safe dish and cover
2. Microwave for 4 minutes, take out to stir, then place back in to microwave for 2 more minutes
3. Cook egg whites separately in small pan, follow instructions for microwavable pea bag
4. Mix all ingredients together in original dish and now you have a delicious meal

Seriously, this dish is a lifesaver. It contains a large amount of protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables. Not to mention it is really delicious. I brought some to eat between classes on Thursday, and so many people came up to me asking what I was eating and if it was easy to make. Due to all of the nutrients it contains, the dish is very filling for the serving size.

A girl needs to treat herself. What better treat than ice-cream? Actually I can think of many, but in Missouri there are not a lot of options. One of the popular places for the local teens to hang out at is Dairy Queen. It is sad, but why not do what the locals do when in town. My brother and I decided to get dipped cones. They are low in fat, and do not contain a ridiculous amount of calories and other scary things like most of the products sold at DQ. BEST. CHOICE. EVER. He got a butterscotch dipped cone and I got a cherry dipped cone. They do not make these in Texas, so it was the greatest discovery ever. So much better than a chocolate dipped cone. Not even joking. I take my ice-cream very seriously.

I’ll leave ya’ll with a little fashion because lets face it, ya’ll have missed my amazing sense of style. At least someone appreciates the way I dress unlike most people in the state of Texas.

Scarf - f21, dress - nordstroms, belt - f21, socks - target, boots - dsw

I hope ya’ll are having an amazing weekend. I’m really just trying to get through mine because it has been pretty rough. When I’m ready I will blog about it, but until then ya’ll will just be left with a mystery. Peace out, I’m getting weird looks from the people that keep coming by my car in the parking lot. Time to leave before someone calls the cops on me. That would definitely not be a fun time.

Are you doing anything exciting this weekend?
Have you eaten anything special this weekend or do you sort of stick to a routine of foods?

Baby I’m back

I’m back, back, back, back again. Lindsay’s back. Hey ya’ll. I know I have been missing for a while. Almost a week. Damn that is a long time for me to be away from the blog world. I mean it is surprising because I do love to hear myself speak. I have been in sort of a funk. Well I had a whole WIAW post for my birthday, but then because it was National Arthritis day I naturally had to have a flare up in my back, so I was sort of paralyzed. Not fun. However my doctor prescribed me some good old Vicodin, so lets just say I was having some “high” times. What have I been up to lately

I have been working on more oatmeal creations. Like duh. What else would I do in my non-existent spare time besides think of food? Umm nothing. Introducing the wonderful, sweet, delicious….Chocolate Chip Raisin Oatmeal Cookie Oatmeal:
Chocolate Chip Raisin Oatmeal Cookie Oatmeal (tongue twister):
1/3 c. GF Oats
1 1/2 c. water
1 microwaved banana
handful of raisins
1 tsp GF chocolate chips
2 tbsp PB2
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla

1. Prepare oats like normal method, but this time microwave in banana when you re-heat them in the morning
2. Mix in cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, raisins, and chocolate chips
3. Top with PB2 and you are ready to rock.

What would I do without oatmeal? It seriously keeps me full for hours and hours, so I can survive my classes that are back to back. Plus it just gives me something to do when I don’t want to pay attention in my classes. What else has Lindsay been nomming on since she has been gone? Well lots of salmon. I need my omega 3′s because it helps with my arthritis. OR DOES IT? I’m not really sure because I have been having lots of flare ups, but oh well I still love salmon to death. I had this sesame ginger salmon that I purchased at Whole Foods. Seriously? I am super Jew, and found a fresh piece of salmon for super cheap. $5. I know I’m impressive. It was large. I cooked some zucchini for the side. It was a meal for a queen (don’t confuse with a JAP).

Besides eating up a storm, I have been trying to be a fashion maven. Or at least pretend I have any style worth noting. I have a huge job interview coming up (tmmrw) at Betsey Johnson, so let us pray. I need some monaaaay honey. Really though. Not even funny. I need to be able to afford my shopping habits, my food habits, oh and after this past weekend I need to start affording my drinking habit because lets face it, your birthday is only once a year, so you can’t live off free drinks forever. Oh wait, look at me, I get free drinks all the time. Hahaha I swear I’m not really conceited.

Dress: F21, tights, Boots: Steve Madden

 Okay, lets get serious. We all know why you are reading this post. To find out about my EPIC birthday celebration. To tell you the truth I don’t really remember it. I guess I partied a little too hard. Lesson 1: Never drink an entire bottle of wine before even leaving to go out. Why? You will chunk up the deuce. EVERYWHERE. Oh and apparently you start fist punching the air a lot too, but that is after multiple rounds of drinks following the wine:

Oh where to go to celebrate the 22nd birthday. I have an idea. Lets go to every bar imaginable. I love birthdays. Mainly because I’m Jewish and I love free things. FREE DRINKS. Being a girl already rocks because guys buy you drinks, but on your birthday it is extra special. Luckily for my friends, we went to a bar tab that some frat was hosting, so everyone got free drinks for a while. Vodka and Sprite. Rum and Pineapple. Keep em coming. Unfortunately I can’t really remember anything after this, but I do know I made a really good friend that night:
Oh mister bartender. What would I have done without you? Holding my hair back like a real gentleman. Seriously. I don’t want to mess up my hair. He recognized the importance of having nice hair while wearing a pink fluffy tiara. I ended up getting his phone number, and he may have kissed me, but I’m not really sure about that part. I partied until the break of dawn. Not lying. I ended my night, well it was more like morning at that point with Kerbey Lane. If ya’ll are ever in Austin, CHECK THAT SHIZ OUT. It is so good. I mean you can’t go wrong with open 24/7 plus gluten free friendly and vegan friendly. Loving the locals. The downfall of partying: Not making it to Dallas to party more. Yes, EPIC FAIL. I did not wake up until Friday night. Lesson learned, but not really. It was a hilarious night. Now you may ask, Lindsay did you have a hangover? Umm duh. I consumed the amount of alcohol for about 10 men, so yeah I needed a cure. My usual cure is Dr. Pepper, but I have found something better:
Touch screen soda machine. You are my new best friend. I wish I could buy one of these for my apartment. I would literally attach an IV from it to my arm any time I went out drinking. So good. I had diet dr. pepper with cherry. YES. They have flavoring too. What did I do without this machine in my life? I have no idea, but I have been missing out. Anyways, I am so exhausted. My body is still recovering from the amount I partied this weekend. Did I learn anything? No not really. Did I have fun? Ummm DUH. Do it again? HELL YES.

How do you celebrate your birthday?
Have you ever tried this touch soda machine?