Funnest Day Ever!

So Mondays are always a drag right? I thought so too. It was a typical Monday:

Run

Eat

Walk

Clean

Read 

But as I was getting ready to pick up my little sister from preschool I saw something peaking out of the trunk of my dad's truck. It was a little wheel. So when I peaked though I was jumping for joy as I saw this pedal go-kart inside. 

GRR, do I really need to pick up my sister now? I mean, she loves school so she can just stay there while I play with this totally epic new toy right? 

I rushed as fast as I could to pick up my sister and then get back home. I wanted to be the first person to ride it. 

 Yes, the greedy beast who lives within me comes out every now and then. 

I got home, only to see my dad fixing it. Someone at his job was going to throw it away, but it just needed to have the chains and some other parts fixed. I swear my dad had all three of my sisters and I sitting patiently awaiting for his completion of PROJECT FUN! 

Then, BAM! He's done! I was off in a jiffy!!!!

We went around the block taking turns.

I know, siblings take turns.....miracles do happen. 

While one person drove, the rest of us would run behind.....This made two hours of  my day yesterday.

PS....I also made a smoothie using Chocolate Soymilk.
(I never been a huge fan of soy and always pick almond milk instead)
I used
3 bananas, 1 pear, 2 cups of chocolate soymilk, 1 huge tbsp of carob powder and some ice.

I split it with two of my sisters and it was really good.
On second thought, I should of just kept it all to myself!!!

PS #2.......I saw this little movie yesterday, I don't know if anyone has heard of it.

and while watching it I ate an entire pint of 

It honestly want that great. Don't get me wrong, it was good. However, it wast SOOO delicious. I prefer the coconut milk version of this flavor. 

Then I forgot my keys at home but my mom left the door unlocked for me. 

:)

Getting My Sweat On

Happy Sweaty Tuesday! 

I ran for about 9 miles, its super hot outside and I decided I should take a picture so everyone can see the mess I make out of myself. 

shh.....I'm all smelly and don't feel like showing at the moment. 

Note how I'm too tired or too lazy to even stand up in the picture......wow

Tropical Cookies

I do not live in a vegan household. I eat with 5 other omnivores, so sometimes I will cook something that isn't vegan. I respect that they aren't vegan and I try not to disrupt their habits. So, when I was making my granola bars I also whipped up my dad some of these breakfast cookies with the yogurt in the fridge. 

Ingredients:

1 c oats

1/2 c. PB

2 tbsp. flaxseed 

2 tbsp. wheat bran 

1/4 c. honey

1.5 c whole wheat flour 

4 oz. of strawberry yogurt 

1/2 c. of milk 

1/3 c. tropical trail mix

There isn't any fancy directions here people. I never understood mixing the wet ingredients and the dry ingredients in two separate bowls and then combining them. In the end everything is going to get mixed together so I always dump everything in the same bowl at the same time and mix. 

Or you can call it laziness.....since I don't want to bother myself to wash an extra dish. 

Bake for about 18 min at 350 degrees Fahrenheit 

Yes, that a picture of the cookie in my hand.....and it looks sooo lovely. 

Vegan Thai Food

Going out to eat isn't the simplest thing to do when you are a vegan. It seems that everything has some type of animal protein in it. We went to the mall and I pursued my options: McDonalds, Panda, Tokyo Grill, Chicken Now, Steak Escape, Johnny Rockets, Hot Dog on a Stick, Mongolian BBQ, Napoli Pizza......
Yet I found one stop that might be my savior....

I asked the guy working behind the counter if they had anything vegan. He asked my if I had meant Vegan or Vegetarian. He quickly told me the options that were free from any animal products. Stating that some of the items such as the rice contained egg or something else. That was very helpful because so many people think that Vegan and Vegetarian are the some thing and try to stuff eggs and butter down your throat. 

So I got the Thai noodles, mixed veggies and the tofu eggplant dish. It was all yummy. I shared my noodles with my sis and stole all of her veggies. My mom and sis also tried the eggplant. We all agreed that I have to figure out how to make it. 

Beanny Couscous

Where do you get your protein from?

Is it from lentils? 50 g per cup 

Is it from chickpeas? 39 g per cup 

Is it from green beans? 2.4 g per cup

Or is it from cous cous? about 6 g per cup 

The total needed for an average woman is about 1 g per kg of body weight..... 

The average is 46 grams a day for females and 56 grams a day for males. 

However to do the math: divide your weight (in pounds) by 2.2 (this is the conversion for kilograms) and there goes your answer. 

So, how do you get your protein?

I made this for the sake of protein, not enjoyment. ;)

Ingredients: 

1 can of chickpeas

1/3 cup of lentils (cooked)

1/3 cup of whole wheat cous cous (cooked)

1 cup of green beans

1/2 cup of corn 

1 small handful of cilantro 

1/4 cup of onion 

1/2 bullion (salt free vegetable)

salt and oregano to taste

I bet you were thinking I was going to say pepper! But you were wrong!

After you cook the lentils, you can add the cous cous to the pan so that they "boil together". You should only have about (1/2) cup of extra water extra in the pot (before adding the cous cous). 

Then add the can of chick peas (omit the water, unless you think that your lentils look dry). 

Add the rest of the ingredient and simmer for about 10 minutes or until all the water evaporates

When you serve it up hot, the tomato and onion help balance the meal

It taste good paired with fresh made bread.....

No recipe for this, I just mixed a bit of olive oil, agave, whole wheat flour and water to make.....

Sweet Potato Burgers

I want a burger and I want it now!

There have been times where I just want to eat a burger and not worry what anyone else thinks. Problem being, there were no more vegan patties-ahaha my name is Paty and I am vegan-in the fridge. So I was FORCED to be creative with the leftovers in the fridge and decided to make these simple burgers. 

To make your burgers, simply look in your fridge for any leftovers you have and hope for the best :)

1/2 can of garbanzo beans

2 handfuls of spinach

1 small handful of cilantro

1 medium sweet potato 

1 bell pepper

1/3 c of oats

1/3 c of shredded carrots

1 garlic clove 

2 tbs of flax-meal (secret so they don't crumble)

sprinkle of cumin, pepper, and salt 

In the food processor I mixed-or pulverized-garbanzo beans, 1 medium sweet potato, 2 good handfuls of spinach, bell pepper, oats, garlic and cilantro. 

After that place in the bowl and add the remaining ingredients and stir, stir it UP!

Try to form little round shaped burgers on a pre-sprayed baking sheet (parchment paper will save your life here)

It might look like this if you also cut up some butternut squash that has been sitting in your fridge for a month waiting to be taken hostage in a recipe.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 30 min (flip at the 25 min marker).
Then lower down the temperature and bake an additional 15-20 min.

Then layer your food on a lettuce leaf and add tomato,  cucumber, onions, ketchup and avocado.

I just realized I forgot to add my squash to the plate....EPIC FAIL

Close up....nom nom
I want to bite my computer screen while typing this post.

Nutty Apple Chia

I keep flax seeds, wheat bran, chia seeds and wheat germ in these cute little spice jars in my kitchen. 

Today I decided to use two of them: 

Tweety  

and Sylvester!

They quickly got sad because I was "using" them. No, I do not talk to my kitchen gadgets! 

So I made Chia Porridge for breakfast:

In the mix:

I soaked 3 tbs of chia with about 1 cup of milk for a few hours. 

Then I added 

1 apple

1/2 c chopped strawberries

1 tbs agave

1 tbs of pumpkin seeds

1 tbs of sunflower seeds

1 tbs of flax seeds

1 splash of vanilla extract

and lots of cinnamon 

This is what it looked like before cinnamon 

After adding cinnamon 

It looked a little pale after I stirred it 

So I poured some more!!!

All led to a happy belly!