Pasta Slim and MorningStar Farms Tomato and Basil Pizza Burgers

This is what I made for dinner tonight:

A very appetizing dinner, no?

Yeah, I didn’t think so either. It looks like what I imagine Frankenstein’s intestines look like.

Green and bloody. Although I’m not really sure if Frankenstein has blood…

Anyways!

I made Spinach Fettuccine Pasta Slim topped with marinara, a crumbled MorningStar Tomato and Basil Burger, and Parmesan.

Pasta Slim is a low carb alternative to traditional pasta. It’s a Japanese noodle made from tofu, traditionally called tofu shirataki. When these noodles first hit the market there were only a couple different brands, but now there are many brands and varieties of shirataki noodles.

This was my first experience with shirataki noodles. I was excited to try Pasta Slim specifically because they claim their noodles don’t have to be rinsed like other shirataki noodles. (Typically shirataki noodles come in a fishy smelling liquid. They must be rinsed and excess moisture must be pressed out of the noodles before cooking.) However, right when I opened the bag, I knew I would have to prep the noodles. The fishy smell was d.i.s.g.u.s.t.i.n.g.

I rinsed the noodles for about a minute under hot water. Then I pressed out the moisture with paper towels. I was still a little afraid of ending up with fishy tasting noodles, so I sauteed the noodles in a hot, dry pan to evaporate any moisture the paper towels didn’t get. Then I sprinkled the noodles with salt, oregano, and garlic powder. By then, my noodles were smelling quite good, so I set them aside to prep my sauce.

I’ve eaten this burger plain, and it’s quite good. I like that they have 10g of protein, but I don’t like the super long ingredient list. Frozen veggie burgers definitely aren’t the cleanest, least processed food, but they’re quick and easy.

I cooked the burger as directed by the package instructions. They can be microwaved, so that wasn’t too hard. Then I chopped the burger into little pieces and put it in a pot with a jar of pasta sauce. I added the noodles to the same pot, letting everything warm up. Then I dumped it all out onto a plate and topped it with Parmesan cheese.
So what did I think?

This meal was okay.

I kind of had an issue with the texture of the noodles. They were chewy as you might imagine a noodle made out of tofu would be. I kind of got used to the texture as I ate more of the noodles. By my last bite I was much more okay with the chewiness. The noodles tasted fine though, which was really my biggest concern going into the meal.

I really, really loved the addition of the veggie burger to the pasta sauce. It was such a quick, easy, and really delicious way to add some protein to the meal.

I was actually pretty full and satisfied from this meal, although I don’t know if I would ever make it again. I would definitely add this particular veggie burger to pasta sauce, but I’d use it to top whole wheat pasta or spaghetti squash. The tofu noodles just weren’t my thing. I’m glad I finally tried them though!

Have you tried tofu shirataki?

Do you have a favorite frozen veggie burger or veggie burger recipe?

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve eaten recently?

XOXO,

Jamie

 

Microwave Apple+PB2+WIAW

Hello and happy Wednesday! As always, thanks to Jenn for hosting this lovely event. This week is dragging by thanks to the fact that I’m writing secondary application essays like a mad-woman. It’s all good though. I’m my best me when I’m busy.

I meant to chronicle my entire day’s worth of eats either yesterday or today, but silly me always forgets to take pictures of my food. So, instead, I’m just going to share a couple things I remembered to take pictures of.

What you see above is 1 apple sliced, topped generously with cinnamon and stevia, and microwaved for 2.5 minutes. After dinner yesterday I was still a little bit hungry, and I was craving something sweet. This just came to my mind, and I’m glad it did! It tasted like apple pie filling. After 2.5 minutes in the microwave, the apple slices are soft and HOT. Let them cool off for a couple minutes before digging in.

This may look like a regular bowl of oatmeal, but oh no, it most certainly is not! This is oatmeal with the addition of…

PB2! I just received my PB2 order from Amazon a couple days ago, and I am in love. I ordered both the original and the chocolate varieties, and they are both fantastic. So far I’ve had them mixed with water as per the package instructions, stirred into yogurt, and stirred into oatmeal. I love the added protein to my oatmeal. Plus the fact that it tastes like I’m eating a big bowl of warm peanut butter is pretty great too. I can’t wait to go home and be reunited with my blender- I’m gonna make some awesome PB2 smoothies!

Moving onto the theme for July’s WIAW: Fitness

As per usual, I’ve been going on lots of walks. I’ve also been doing some yoga.

So far I am loving it. I think it will really help me build some strength, and it’s really relaxing too.

Have you ever tried PB2? If so, what’s your favorite way to eat it!?

What’s the best thing you’ve eaten this week?

Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday!

XOXO,

Jamie

Monday Musings

It’s Monday. My brain is officially fried. I need socialization.

And those are the three reasons this post is going to be my random musings about anything and everything.

(photo from pinterest.com)

How cool would this street sign be!? It pretty much exemplifies my mood right now. Very few people have witnessed me in my delirious/I need to get out of the house/don’t let a doctor see me or they might institutionalize me mood that I am currently experiencing. My sisters have had the pleasure of seeing it on numerous occasions. I know they secretly love it when I run around the house singing, baking, dancing, and acting (all at the same time, no less).

But right now I’m not home. I don’t have my sisters to drive up the wall with my antics. And that’s where you all come in!

(photo from pinterest.com)

This is the cutest thing I’ve seen in days! I want to snuggle with that puppy so badly! Cutie patootie face!

MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP! So true! Look at that little pengy (short for penguin)! His little feetsies are so cute cuddled under all his feathers.

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Okay, in an attempt to not make this the most pointless (albeit cutest!) thing I’ve ever published, I’m going to have a little discussion about a quote with a little more meaning.

(photo from pinterest.com)

Goals. We all have them. They are great in that they give our lives direction and purpose. However, they can also leave us feeling unaccomplished and unfulfilled.

Goals can be very long-term. Because of this, it’s important to acknowledge all the small steps you take towards achieving your goal. Even when experiencing set-backs it’s important to recognize the progress you have made.  In other words, don’t get discouraged  by a goal that is huge and time-consuming. All you can do is work to make progress every day, and if you do that, you should be proud.

For me, and probably the majority of society, it’s easy to get too wrapped up in our goals. We focus so much on the future that we forget to live in the present. We essentially postpone our lives and our happiness until we achieve our said goal. But happiness doesn’t come with accomplishment. Happiness is not a destination or an event or something that can be achieved at a discrete point in time. Happiness is more like a process in the same way that living is a process. How many times do we think to ourselves:

I’ll be happy- once this assignment is turned in

- once I graduate from college

-once I lose five pounds

-once I have a boyfriend

The list goes on and on. But none of those things will ever actually make you happy. Once you achieve something, you’ll turn to the next goal and postpone your happiness yet again. The cycle won’t ever stop until you decide that your own happiness is internal. It is an acceptance of yourself having very little to do with external achievements (especially those as superficial as losing five pounds).

So I guess this whole little discussion is my way of saying that I might not be there yet, but I’m closer than I was yesterday. And even though I’m still a work in progress (as we all are), I’m still going to live my life as fully and with as much happiness as I can.

XOXO,

Jamie

Simple Things Sunday

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our daily lives we forget to appreciate what it is in our lives that we truly love and enjoy. So today, I’m stealing this survey idea from Tina who stole it from Janetha, and taking a moment to be thankful for the simple pleasures in life- from A to Z.

A- Animals. I love my pets. I love the fun I have with them, their unconditional love, and the relaxing, comforting feeling I get when I snuggle with them. Also, animals in the wild are pretty fascinating.

B- Books. A good book can completely remove me from my life to the point where I totally forget about time or anything that might be bothering me.

C- Charlie. I had to do it. I haven’t known him very long, but he’s already a great friend!

D- Dads. I remember being in the fourth grade and losing the election for class representative. I came home and cried on my dad’s shoulder while he hugged me. Then in the seventh grade, after I got a B in choir class (for talking too much! I’m still bitter about that…), I came home and cried on my dad’s shoulder. There’s something really powerfully comforting about a dad’s hug.

Senior homecoming. Aww daddy—seriously about to cry reminiscing over this picture right now.

E- Elcherts. I’m so thankful for the wonderful, amazing, supportive, HUGE family I was lucky enough to be born into.

A bunch of us at my aunt’s girls-only Valentine’s day party last year.

F- Fridays. I never forget to TGIF.

G-Giggles. One of my favorite things in life is when I’m completely alone, I think of something totally ridiculous, and laugh hysterically to myself. I’m not sure if this is totally normal, but I love to laugh by myself for no reason.

H-Help. Sometimes it’s hard for me to ask for help because I want to handle everything by myself. However, sometimes we all need a little help, and I’m grateful for anyone who’s ever been there for me.

I- Ice Cream. This one speaks for itself.

J-Jest. It doesn’t matter how old I get. I’ll always love to play.

K- Kitty! I love my Kitty! Bentley is the bestest kitty ever. He is perfectly happy with his less than slim body, and demands food whenever he is hungry. We should all live like Bentley.

Bangs are so not a good look for me.

L-Lotion. What did people do before lotion? In the winter I put lotion on my hands at like 10 times a day.

M- Mom. Bet you didn’t see that one coming

N- Navels. Okay so maybe this is a little weird, but I kind of really like navels. Like, I think they’re cute. And I have a navel piercing. 

O- Oatmeal. Probably my favorite food of all time.

P- Ponytails. I really don’t know how I would survive if I couldn’t pull my hair back out of my face every day. Seriously. I always do my best thinking when my hair is pulled back from my face. When I’m doing homework, you’ll always find me with my hair pulled back.

Q- Quotes. I love reading quotes whenever I get in a funky mood. They give me something positive to think about.

R- Reality Television. I know this is just the slightest bit shallow, but I love my Real Housewives and Dance Moms.

S-Sisters. They’re my bestest friends in the whole wide world.

Harry Potter!

T-Tea. I drink a cup of tea almost every day. Usually a cup of Chamomile at night when I’m relaxing before I go to bed.

U- Cute Underwear. Having on cute underwear gives me a boost of confidence. It’s like my little secret. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way!

V- Vacations. Super excited for my trip to Boyne Mountain in August!

Me and the Sisters at Cocoa Beach. Gosh..This was back in 2007 I think!?

W- Warm Laundry and Walks. There is something I find extremely comforting about warm laundry. Whenever I take my laundry out of the dryer and it’s still nice and warm I cuddle with it for a while before folding it. Don’t diss it till you try it! I LOVE going on walks. It’s one of the most relaxing, enjoyable things to me.

X- Xtra Large Comfy Sweatshirts.  Okay so I have this huge, wonderful Michigan sweatshirt that I wear like every day. I come home from work, and immediately change into comfy clothes (usually including my Michigan sweatshirt). I bought it at Goodwill and I just love it. Some things can’t be explained in words.

Yep that’s the one. This is me eating breakfast at Charlie’s house.

Y- Yuletide. I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I feel like everyone is in an extra happy mood around the holidays, and I just love that feeling.

Z- ZZZZZs. I am very grumpy when I don’t get 8-9 hours of sleep. So I really make sleep a priority, and I’m thankful I’m able to do that for myself.

Do you feel extra confident when you’re wearing cute underwear?

What’s something simple that you’re thankful for?

XOXO,

Jamie

 

Baked Wonton Ravioli

Today I had the pleasure of cooking dinner for the family I’m staying with this summer. I had a bunch of wonton wrappers left over from my blueberry tartlets, and I wanted to use them up. I came across a recipe on the Nasoya website for spinach ravioli that sounded really great, so I gave it a go!

What I love about this ravioli is the high protein content which comes from the addition of tofu to the filling. Making each of the raviolis seems like a long, time-consuming process, but it’s really not! It probably took me about a half hour to make the filling and assemble the raviolis. Then they simply go in the oven for about 10-15 minutes, during which time you can do the dishes and prepare a salad.

The wonton wrappers give the ravioli a nice crunch that you don’t get from normal pasta. The tofu filling makes for a great meatless meal that’s still high in protein. And to those of you who are wary about tofu, you can’t even taste it! The filling really just tastes like ricotta and pecorino romano cheese.

I really enjoyed this meal, and I would definitely make it again. Emily’s family complimented me quite a bit on it, so I think they truly enjoyed it as well. In fact, Emily said, “This is really hitting the spot.” I love when people enjoy the food I’ve made!

Baked Wonton Ravioli

recipe from Nasoya.com

Ingredients:
1 pkg Nasoya Won Ton or Round Wraps
1 pkg Nasoya Firm Tofu
10 oz fresh spinach (I actually used 10 oz frozen spinach that I thawed in the microwave)
15 oz ricotta cheese
3/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Preparation Method: Cook spinach with 2 tbsp of water in the microwave or on the stovetop for 5 minutes or until just wilted. Let cool and drain excess water. Place tofu in food processor and pulse until it is pureed. Add the ricotta cheese, pulse until combined, then add spinach and grated cheese and process until smooth, about 30 seconds. Season with salt and pepper.

Line baking sheet with parchment paper, or spray sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Take a wrap and place approximately 2 tbsp of mixture in the center if each wrap. Do not place filling near the edge. Use a pastry brush dipped in water and brush edges of wrap. Place a second wrap on top, then crimp edges together tightly with your fingers or the tines of a fork. Brush ravioli lightly with olive oil.

Bake in 375° F oven for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve ravioli with your favorite marinara sauce for dipping.

Have you ever used wonton wrappers? If so, for what?

XOXO,

Jamie

Celebrate the Small Victories

Today I had a little blast from the past when I went to a Starbucks near Northeastern to meet up with my roommate from freshman year.

This is us at a hockey game. Aren’t we just the cutest most innocent freshman you’ve ever seen!?

As I’ve written about, my freshman year at Northeastern was when my eating disorder began. I isolated myself from all the girls on my hall, and was downright mean to most of them. The disorder made me selfish, withdrawn, and absolutely miserable to be around. I’m thankful to those girls for the patience and kindness they managed to show me that year. I didn’t recognize it at the time, but as evil as I was to them, they were incredibly inclusive and supportive to me.

Today, I arrived at Starbucks about 15 minutes early, so I had some time to myself to reflect on how I’ve changed since that year. The first thing that came to my mind was the fact that I was drinking a vanilla latte. Back in my darkest days I wouldn’t have dared to drink a latte. It was either coffee (black, of course) or tea (no cream or sugar). In other words, drinks with calories were completely off limits.

Today though, I ordered a vanilla latte and enjoyed every foamy sip, not feeling even the slightest bit of guilt.

And in that moment I realized the importance of celebrating the small victories. Full recovery takes a long time, and a lot of hard work. No one can completely get rid of their disordered eating thoughts over night. And since recovery takes a long time, it’s important to recognize and congratulate yourself on the smallest victories. It might be throwing away your “sick” clothes, eating a “forbidden food,” going back for seconds when you’re not full, or even something as little as having a latte without guilt. The small victories eventually lead to big changes. Recovery is possible. You can do it <3

XOXO,

Jamie

Blueberry Tartlets

Every heart beats true for the red, white, and blue(berries)! Happy 4th of July everyone!

I made these blueberry tartlets for the 4th of July cook-out Emily’s family is hosting today.

They.Are.Divine.

They are a light(er) dessert, but they still taste totally decadent. I sampled the filling as I was baking these, and I couldn’t believe how good such a simple recipe tasted. Oh yes, these are simple to make, but they look very impressive. I was going to top them with a combination of strawberries and blueberries to be festive for the holiday, but strawberries were $3.99 a pint. Poor college student over here. Blueberries were buy one get one free. Bargain shopper! As my dad would say, “only buy things that are on sale!”

So cute! These tartlets are great for parties because they are small, handheld desserts. I find that handheld desserts go over a lot better at parties than whole pies/cakes/tarts that you have to slice.

Blueberry Tarlets

adapted from a combination of recipes from Eating Well and Hungry Girl

Ingredients:

15 wonton wrappers (can be found in most grocery stores near the tofu)

8 ounces reduced fat cream cheese

1/4 cup plain, non-fat yogurt

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

2 cups fresh blueberries

butter spray

non-stick spray

To prepare the crusts:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick spray, and set aside.

On a clean dry surface, set out 4 wonton wrappers. Spray each one with 2 sprays of butter, and use your fingers to spread butter evenly over each wonton; gently flip wontons and repeat. Carefully transfer wontons to muffin tin, placing each wonton in a muffin cup and pressing it in to form the cup shape. Repeat entire process with the rest of the wontons, and place tray in the oven.

Bake wonton cups in the oven for 10 minutes, or until they are firm and brown. Once cups are cool enough to handle, transfer them to a plate. Allow cups to cool completely.

To prepare the filling:

While the crusts are baking and cooling:  Beat cream cheese,  yogurt, and 1/4 cup maple syrup in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until smooth. When the crust is cool, spoon the filling into the wontons, being careful not to break up them. Arrange blueberries on the filling, pressing lightly so they set in. Chill for at least 1 hour to firm up.

I’m so excited to see how these go over at the party!

What are you excited to eat today!? I’m looking forward to having a hamburger! I’ve been craving one for a couple days now. And, of course, I’m excited to eat a tartlet

XOXO,

Jamie

WIAW (it’s back!)

Well actually What I ate Wednesday never went anywhere. I just took a little hiatus from participating. But I’m back!

 

As always, head on over to Peas and Crayons to check out the other WIAW bloggers.

Eats:

Breakfast

The usual. Oats with almond milk, stevia, and my amazing TJ’s coffee bean, chocolate, and sugar grinded on top.

Lunch

Chipotle chicken wrap and a side of blueberries and yogurt topped with cinnamon. Yes, there also appears to be a Vanilla Coke Zero with my lunch as well.  We all have our vices.

Snack

Carrots and hummus eaten while collecting data at Boston Medical Center.

Dinner

This is the darkest, most terrible picture ever! It was a Chipotle Chicken Salad (half eaten before I remembered to take a picture) from a restaurant in Lexington called Nourish. Emily’s mom took me and her out to dinner there because her dad was performing at their open mic night.  He’s a great musician! Check out his website! I thoroughly enjoyed all the performances at the open mic.

However, I have to admit, the food was just okay. I tried to order the Falafel Salad Hummus Plate only to find out that their falafel maker is broken. (Who knew there was a special machine devoted to making falafel!?!?) At that point I was already disappointed because I really had my heart set on falafel…seriously, I love it and order it every time I’m at a restaurant that has it. Anyways, the Chipotle Chicken Salad was okay. It was overdressed, kind of small, and kind of bland. Despite the lackluster eats, I still had a really amazing evening.

Fitness

I’ve been super into going on walks lately. I’ve really cut down on my running. In fact, I’ve stopped training for the half-marathon I was planning to run. That decision deserves it’s own post though, so more on that later.

Anyways. Walks are super peaceful and relaxing, and best of all, I really, truly enjoy this form of exercise.

A picture from one of my recent walks. How could you not enjoy that!?!?!

Have you been able to find a form of exercise that you really truly enjoy?

XOXO,

Jamie