Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Quenching My Appetite

Hello Friends!

This week is flying by, even considering it has been exactly one week since my surgery and I've moved off the couch a total of 5 times.

Okay, I may be embellishing a tad, but truly, doctors orders are to rest and rest is what I have been doing.

Last night, like clock-work, I had my 3am pain wake up call and quickly swallowed some pills to put me back to sleep.

I woke up feeling a little better today, but still pretty crummy. I think the antibiotics are slowly working their way out of my system but it's amazing how different my entire body feels when I am taking them.

Even though I wasn't very hungry and food wasn't exciting in the AM, I knew I needed to eat. I can't stress enough how much better I feel when I have something in my stomach.

Today, hot oats or coffee were just not doing it for me. I craved sweet, juicy, cold.....

Like these strawberries....



And Applesauce and Yogurt. I put these things together with a diced pear, cinnamon and some Kashi Autumn Harvest. Oh and I can't forget the Honey Almond Butter!


This was a winning choice. Everything sat really well in my stomach and made me feel 100 x better!
It was a cold and rainy day. We even had our first measurable snowfall last night, so walking Sammy was a joy. This little dog hates the cold, rain, snow, or any slight breeze, so trying to get him to do his business was quite a task.

Eventually, he gave in and I proceeded on with my day.

I needed to run to the Health Food Store to pick up a few ingredients for a recipe I was making. This store is dangerous for me; I'm like Paris Hilton in Tiffany's.

After spending way more time then my intended 10 minutes, I did get the things I needed plus a few other fabulous finds...

Kefir! Allie, this one is for you girl! I've been meaning to try this ever since you've inspired me with your love for this cultured milk product. They had these little 80z containers on sale, so I grabbed the Blackberry.

Some other goods I scored: Coconut Milk Ice Creme, Cherry Amaretto (Okay, so there does happen to have about 12 different kinds of ice cream in my freezer at the moment, but I just couldn't help myself. This was on sale and my deep love for coconut milk and cherry and amaretto was far to great to pass it up!), Vegan Cranberry Orange Oatmeal Cookies, SO Coconut Milk Creamer (I've been looking for this EVERYWHERE!), and Organic Ginger Crystallized Dark Chocolate (Sounded purely heavenly to me).

And the best of all....

PUMPKIN!!! Even though I may have paid an arm and a leg for the high priced organic stuff, it was well worth it. I also finally found me some Butternut Squash Puree!

Despite the cold, rainy weather, again, I craved cold and refreshing for lunch.

A smoothie sounded so perfect!

Spinach, 1/2 frozen banana, frozen blueberries, frozen mango, almond milk, a little POM juice and wheat germ.


I also made a big salad with the rest of the tuna I made from yesterday.

Romaine, Cucumber, Tomatoes, Olives, Tuna Salad, Hummus and Pesto.

And because I also felt the need for a little carb action, a small piece of pump smeared with LC and mango chutney.

This was an Andrea kind of lunch indeed!


Now I know why this gal eats these lunches so much. Everything was fantastic and I had the best of all worlds in one meal.

After I ate, I cleaned up and moved right on to my next "to-do", making Homemade Granola.

I've decided to make Granola to give away as Christmas gifts to my friends and co-workers this year. Since I don't bake cookies, this is my way of spreading the Christmas Cheer with some homemade love to people I love. Who doesn't love some homemade granola? I decided on

Cherry Almond Pecan Coconut Granola

4 Cups Rolled Oats

1/2 Cup unsweetened flaked coconut

1 cup raw whole almonds

1 cup raw whole pecans

1 cup dried cherries

2 tbl canola oil

1/4 cup maple syrup

2 tbl agave

cinnamon (as much as your heart desires!)



Mix everything in a large bowl until the oats are completely coated.


Spread on a cookie sheet lined and greased with foil.


Bake at 300 degrees for 25-30 min (stirring every 10 min).


That's it! Couldn't be easier!!

I tested out a little of the hot granola with a splash of the Kefir.

LOVE! Loved the granola and LOVED the Kefir! Allie is right, it's like drinking yogurt. Kind of like a grown up healthy GoGurt! :)

I can't believe it's already 4pm! I haven't even had a chance to nap yet, haha.

Better get on that because Toly will be home soon and I need to have BFD ready a little earlier tonight because he has plans to go out later.

Be back soon with some Wednesday Night BFD action for you! :)

See you soon!


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14 comments:

  1. Grrrreat treats!!

    Hope you feel 100% better soon!!

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  2. Let me know if you think the kefir is worth it! I always pick it up and put it back! Glad you're getting rest in- you need and deserve it! Hooray for BFD and that is some fabulous look granola. I like the homemade version MUCH better than anything store bought

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  3. Love the 3-part lunch! So psyched you found the coconut milk creamer too, hope you love it :)

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  4. Wow, you got some wonderful looking treats :)

    You'll have to let me know how you life the kefir milk ... I've always allllmost gotten it.

    Glad you've been getting your rest:)

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  5. i just bought some kefir and am excited to try it!and i'm glad you are following doctor's orders :)

    xoxo
    shelley

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  6. Glad to see you're getting all these yummy nutrients in! I'm thinking about making granola too for my friends...what I'm worried about is...will they get soggy from the dried fruits if I want to send them via mail?

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  7. smoothie sounds sooo good!! and the granola!!

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  8. The granola looks great! What a fun idea for Christmas gifts!! I've heard of Kefir before but never really known what to do with it! Looks very interesting!

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  9. YUM that granola sounds/looks like the bomb dot com. i want to get some kefir. i always think of allie when i see kefir too! that bowl is like an optical illusion! i like it though. this comment is 100% random and i am sorry. it is late. sleep well tonight love!

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  10. Ice Cream and Pumpkin make everything better!
    I just bought some butternut squash puree, too. I have big plans for it! ;-)

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  11. I am in love with this post! The amazing lunch and then you made granola! :D I wanna come over and hang!

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  12. i've been stocking up on pumpkin wherever i see it too! i feel like i have a hordeing problem...

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  13. OOH that granola looks DIVINE!

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  14. Oh girl, see?? You CAN bake! You made granola! Whoo hoo to you! And yay for the pumpkin puree too. I'm so glad you finally found some! xoxo

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