Posts Tagged by Nooch
Overuse of the word AWESOME.
| June 19, 2011 | Posted by Sweet Tooth Runner under Uncategorized |
HEY friends!! And HAPPY FATHER’S DAY to you all!! Hope you had a very special day with your loved ones 
Father’s Day is a VERY special day for me. Because I love my dad so so much and he is AWESOME!!
He is my biggest fan (I swear half my blog hits are his doing), supporting my running and encouraging me every step of the way in my journey.
I also love him because we are twinsies. And I didn’t realise this until combing my photos two days ago. Now let’s play Who’s Who!
Our Signature Move:
LOVE YOU DAD!!! 
Ok, now I’ve done a Lindsay Sappy Sunday, it’s time for something less sappy but *almost* as AWESOME as my dad: PANCAKES.
And you know I tried these for the first time yesterday?
Well I figured, why not combine the two?
Caramel Pancakes
Vegan, Serves 1
- 1/2 cup wholegrain spelt flour (most flours should work fine)
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 cup non-dairy milk (more or less to get desired pancake batter thickness)
- Pinch salt
- 1/4 tsp vanilla essence
- 1 pot Soya Caramel Flavoured Dessert (is about 5 tbsp of dessert)
- Sweetener, if desired (I didn’t use any more, but you might like to add some brown sugar or maple syrup)
- Combine dry ingredients and mix. Add in wet and mix well. Make your pancakes, and ENJOY!!
Obviously, I enjoyed them as I always do- drizzled with maple syrup and choc chips:
Next time, I think I’ll add some diced apple for Caramel-Apple Pancakes!
After an AWESOME church service about listening to what God is trying to tell us (I need to work on this!!), I popped out to the shops to stock up on essentials (dates, broccoli, chocolate chips, and more peanut butter- not kidding!!), and I found my FAVOURITE flavour of Nakd bars being sold!! I’d only seen these in WF before!!
These taste like brownies and are soooo good!!
I also made Julie’s Peanut Butter Granola, which I’d had my eye on since I first saw her post the recipe!
This granola is AWESOME. To me, granola is only granola if there are big clusters. Otherwise it’s just baked muesli. And check out these clusters!!
I am a granola MONSTER and there was literally only a handful left once I had finished munching. SO DARN GOOD! And it’s like four ingredients or something and takes about 10 mins form start to finish!! Gotta love short ingredients lists and speed!
And I had the best afternoon snack EVER!! Check this awesome snack out…
Oatmeal with chopped apple and apricot jam! Just the usual 1/2 cup cooked in the microwave this time, and it was SO good! Afternoons are definitely when I get hungriest (I eat a pretty late dinner- usually around 8-9pm!) so I always have a lot to eat inbetween. I went back and put some PB granola in there too for good measure 
Dinner was pretty awesome too. Quinoa in hummus/nooch sauce, marinated tofu and cucumber…
…but the best bit was (obviously!) dessert. This was something Katie suggested to me in the comments of her Cookie Sandwiches post, and it sent me into a state of pure bliss.
Two of my peanut butter cookies sandwiched together with strawberry jam. PB&J is literally THE most awesome food combo in the world. I’d never had a cookie sandwich before now, but now I don’t think I’ll be eating anything else. Ever.
I realise I have used the word awesome about a thousand times, but in my defence it’s late and that really just describes LIFE anyway! And I know this week is going to be BEYOND awesome for me, and here’s a clue in case you haven’t guessed already…
What made your day awesome? Tell meee!!
Are you a granola fan? Yes, it is one of THE most addictive substances on the planet in my opinion. I need Granola Rehab.
What time of day do you get hungriest? Definitely the afternoons! It used to be right before I went to sleep, but nothing some late night snacking couldn’t solve
Hope you guys have an AMAZING week!! Love you all!! <3
I am ‘special’.
| May 7, 2011 | Posted by Sweet Tooth Runner under The Crazy |
HEY friends!! Having a good weekend? OH and I forgot to mention yesterday how GRATEFUL I am to all your awesome responses to my Q+A post!! You’re all the BEST and if you have any more questions feel free to ask here! 
I like to think of myself as ‘special’. I prefer that 1000x to ‘weird’ which I know is what people mean when they say I’m special in that patronising loving tone. Trust me, I get it a lot, but I just EMBRACE it!!
I am ‘special’ because I get up early on Saturday mornings to make myself the perfect breakfast. Chocolate PB cup baked oatmeal:
(Based on Katie’s cookie dough version, which I LOVE and made last week!) I basically followed her recipe but added 1 heaped tbsp cocoa powder plus put lots of nut butter (I used cashew) in the middle, so after baking, the middle looked like this deliciousness:
Mmmmm so delicious and so filling!! 
I am ‘special’ because I get embarrassingly excited over deliveries, especially packages that are bigger than my head…
…and trust me, that’s saying something! 
It was the goodies I won in Jemma’s giveaway!! A whole box of energy bars plus hemp protein powder:
SNACK BAR HEAVEN!!!
Thank you so much Jemma- you’re the BEST!!
I am ‘special’ because I always forget something. Like when I got to the gym today, only to realise I hadn’t packed any shorts/capris/sweat pants…
So I ended up doing my workout in what I was wearing there- skinny jeans.
Not comfy, very hot, and many many funny looks. Worth it though- had a great workout, and of course I had my fave chocolate milk waiting for me afterwards…
I’m telling ya, my muscles love me for it! 
I’m ‘special’ because I think it’s normal to have a big bowl of banana oatbran with nut butter and jam as an afternoon snack/post-workout munchie…
I was hungry, and I wanted food, and this was deeeelish!!
Of course, I still ate a big lunch and dinner too…
Creamy-cheezy polenta (cooked with vegan butter+nooch) topped with half a tub of red pepper hummus, and kabocha squash+brussels roasted in lots of coconut oil (<—HEAVENLY).
Lentil-potato stew with chopped kale, topped with tons of nooch. I added more nooch afterwards cos I’m addicted to the stuff!
I’m ‘special’ because I’m a cookie dough addict, and today I made a simple protein single-serving chocolate chip cookie dough!! 
Single Serving Protein Cookie Dough: 2 tbsp natural protein powder, 1 tbsp maple syrup/agave, 1 tbsp PB, vanilla extract, chocolate chips. (You can adjust quantities to make it as wet/dry as you like). Stir all together and stick in your freezer for a few mins if you like, or just eat straight up! Honestly, this is total bliss
I am special because I despite the fact that I am going to Hawaii…
…and San Francisco in a few months time…
…and I’m going to see those beautiful sights and do so many awesome things, I am almost just as excited at the prospect of hitting this place:
And Whole Foods. And the awesome vegan bakeries in San Fran. I know, I’m ashamed of myself. But I seriously am SO EXCITED about this summer, and I’ll tell you guys all about my plans in a later post so you can stalk me there, k?
Are you crazy ‘special’? What are your ‘special’ qualities? Special quality= not being to tell my left from my right straight away. I have to make the L sign with my hands, or just guess and hope I’m right!
What are your summer plans? Tell me so I can get jealous, and stalk YOU!!
Where would be your dream place to go in the world? If you say London to meet me, you get bonus brownie points, and real brownies when you come to visit
Have an AMAZING rest of the weekend, and I LOVE YOU ALL!!
What I Ate Wednesday
| April 13, 2011 | Posted by Sweet Tooth Runner under Uncategorized |
Howdy friends!! Happy Hump Day! 
I’m doing it people.
I’ve been reading about this What I Ate Wednesday for the past few weeks on the amazing Lindsay’s blog, and this week, I’m gonna join the fun! Yesterday I asked your opinion on posting my eats for a whole day, after a number of requests, and y’all said DO IT! So I am! 
Breakfast:
Choc-PB Banana Bread in a Bowl. 1 cup Ultra-Bran cereal, 1 cup vanilla soy milk, 1 frozen banana, 2 tbsp PB, 1 tbsp cocoa powder and xanthan gum (to thicken), topped with more PB and cacoa nibs.
Morning snack:
A 9 Bar. Such love for these
Lunch:
Sweet tater, aduki beans in a tomato ‘cheeze’ sauce (just tomato sauce+nooch) and 2 mushrooms stuffed with spinach and more nooch. Followed by:
Soy yogurt topped with morello cherry spread.
I then made the first batch of raw vegan cookie dough truffles for Carrie, the (VERY generous!!) highest bidder for them in Katie’s vegan bakesale for Japan. I, of course, had to taste-test two of them. You know, to check they weren’t poisonous or anything… 
The chocolate chips also suffered heavy losses.
Afternoon snackage:
A green monster, and Marmite on crackers x 10000.
Freya was right- those CRACKers are like crack! 
Pre-workout:
Another microwave banana oat cake topped with PB (I have these pretty much daily!), and PB+apple on toast:
Oh, and you may have seen on my Dailymile but I did a 5 MINUTE RUN on grass with NO SHIN PAIN!! I went a bit faster than was advised because I got so excited (avg 6.24 min/mile) but it felt fine! Although it was on grass, and I know that on pavement it will be different, but still! Baby steps! My full workout today was an hour of Power Yoga + weights.
Post workout: The usual recovery stuff (chocolate milk+broccoli)
And I bonded a lot with my dried fruit and trail mix throughout the day…
It’s okay- washing my hair more regularly was last month’s goal…!
Dinner:
A BIG plate of WW pasta with tofu-cheeze-spinach sauce (a whole block of silken tofu blended, then combined with 4 tbsp nooch+spinach+spices in a saucepan over a low heat). So filling, and SO full of protein! The sauce alone has about 40g! BAM!
Dessert:
A PB+J stuffed Medjool date…AND my new fave…
Oh yes! Dark chocolate stuffed Medjool date!! Just melt some dark chocolate, put it in your date, and stick it in the fridge for a bit, and ENJOY!! Bliss
So I think I solved a number of ‘mysteries’ for you:
- How I managed to get through a whole bucket of PB in 2 weeks.
- Why I am constantly on a sugar high.
- Why my blog tagline is ‘Fuelled by chocolate’.
Hope y’all enjoyed seeing my eats today! Please note that I do NOT think my diet is perfect in any way (ahem…sugar intake! ), and I’m not suggesting you should eat the same way! What I DO think is that it is SO important for us to eat ENOUGH to fuel our bodies!! I have seen HUGE changes in myself performance-wise, physically and mentally since I started eating the right amount for me, and I really FEEL the difference! Personally, I have stopped reading food blogs that I know have a negative effect on me, as I don’t want to be influenced adversely, y’know? I am totally comfortable with how I eat now, and although sometimes I feel a bit weird for eating so much more than my friends, both volume and calorie wise, I just remind myself that I NEED it, and just roll with it! Phew, that topic is tough and so taboo!!
And I am SO SO excited about tomorrow!! It’s a surprise, which you can (hopefully!) read about in tomorrow’s post!
Share one thing you ate today! Make me jealous!!
What are your thoughts on this calorie intake/food blogger thing? I think that although it is obvious that some bloggers AREN’T eating enough, most food bloggers don’t post EVERYTHING, so I guess you don’t really see the whole picture. And everyone is different, so what is enough for one person will be too much/little for another…
What are you excited about for this week? I’m excited about my ‘surprise’ thing tomorrow and about this weekend…it’s gonna be a good’un!
Don’t forget, if you have any questions or anything, you can always leave it in the comment section, email me or ask me anonymously on Formspring.
Have a great week friends!
P.S. I REALLY recommend you read Jenny’s amazing post on self-love. LOVE YOURSELF friends! I love you too!!
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s masterpiece”
I feel cool
| April 2, 2011 | Posted by Sweet Tooth Runner under Uncategorized |
I actually feel seriously cool today. Yo.
Cool people, especially cool young people, get up early on Saturday mornings to work out.
Cool people buy gossip magazines to read on the machines.
Admittedly, I only bought this cos the shop were all out of running magazines. And it actually made me realise how truly uncool I am, since I had no idea who half the people were! But hey, pretty pictures! 
Saturday workout:
1 hour elliptical speed intervals
20 mins weights
Cool people have two breakfasts- one before and one after morning workouts.
PB and apple toasted sandwich, and cookie dough overnight oats. I love breakfasts! 
Cool people get very excited over grocery shopping. Especially when the chocolate stash that was polished off yesterday gets replenished…
A serious taste testing session ensued…
Cool people have the same foods every single day. Like this snackplate of apple and a microwave banana oat cake topped with almond butter. I think I’ve had this every day this week, and I’m still lovin’ it!!
Cool people make Single Lady Peanut Butter Cups for themselves. Super-Indulgent ones to be precise…
Yes, I made it very uneven, with a thick base and a very thin top bit, but it tasted AMAZING anyway. Heaven…
Indulgent Single-Lady Peanut Butter Cup
So quick, so simple, so heavenly.
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
- 2 tsp peanut butter (or any other nut butter)
- Melt the chocolate in 20 second intervals in the microwave.
- Put half into a cupcake liner (or two if you prefer). Layer the nut butter on top, then cover with the remaining chocolate.
- Refrigerate until solid (took mine about 10 mins), and ENJOY!!
Cool people tell themselves it’s perfectly okay and totally normal to eat this much chocolate when you eat nutritious meals.
Stuffed peppers:
Lentil and WW couscous tomato stew and a side of spinach sprinkled with nutritional yeast:
WW noodles in soy sauce with grilled humnut stuffed mushrooms and cucumber on the side:
Humnut sauce= equal parts hummus (I used red pepper) mixed with nutritional yeast. SOOO good!!
Cool people look forward to Sundays, because it is blatantly the best day of the week. Pancakes, church, and a hill workout. Beat that.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip pancakes.
Cool people are expert procrastinators. I had a to-do list today as long as my arm which I decided to try and tackle (and mostly failed!), so everything I said yesterday that I would do today (get my gait re-analysed, post my goals, etc) I will be doing TOMORROW instead. 
I am actually seriously excited about getting to run tomorrow, even if it is at 1mph for a few minutes whilst being carefully monitored. Running is running! And I’ve had zero shin pain for the last few days!! Yaay!! Still playing it safe though, but I’ve got my fingers crossed!
Cool people get excited about updating things. I am looking to update my Q+A page, cos I keep forgetting! And I’ve now copied Carrie’s idea (sorry girl!) and gotten a Formspring account. That means you can shoot me questions to answer anonymously, so no need to feel embarrassed or anything!
I’ve also removed my Blogroll, because I felt it was a) seriously outdated, and not a true reflection of the blogs I do read regularly now and b) because I want everyone to be on it if they want to! I agree with Katie that I don’t want anyone to feel left out or hurt because they’re not on it! So if you want to be on it, leave a comment below or email me! Don’t feel shy, and anyway, I may not give you a choice! 
In what ways are you cool/uncool? I am so uncool. Most days I don’t brush my hair or wear make-up, I live in sweats, and most of the music I listen to is classical. I am an 80 year-old inside.
What are your favourite magazines? I only read two normally, but they happen to be the most expensive two on the planet: Runner’s World and Women’s Running.
What’s your favourite chocolate percentage thingy? Do you like 99%? I definitely didn’t at first, but it’s really grown on me!! My fave is 85% though at the mo
Enjoy the rest of your weekend friends, and don’t forget to shoot me your questions and to leave a comment saying if you want to be on my blogroll!
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
Friday Faves!!
| March 18, 2011 | Posted by Sweet Tooth Runner under Friday Favourites |
It’s FRIDAY FAVES time people!! SO many people do this now, and it’s such a great way for us to share our happiness with each other! 
1. Katie’s amazing chocolate fudge.
It is the most delicious thing ever, despite what this picture makes it look like! I’m a talented photographer, dontcha know? 
And is a perfect topping for oatmeal…
2. QUADRUPLE Chocolate Oats. Remember the Triple Chocolate Oats on my last Friday Faves? Well I amped up the chocolateyness even more. Soon, I’ll be at Dectuplet (is that even a word?) Chocolate Oats. But this was good enough for today! 
1/2 cup oat bran and CHOCOLATE milk topped with Dark Chocolate Dreams, Katie’s chocolate fudge and cacao nibs. Oooooh SO good. Went into a slight chocolate-induced coma after this one.
3. Getting started on my rehydration mission! This was one of my March goals, because I know I am lacking in salts because I never replenish them!! So I ordered some Nuun rehydration electrolyte tabs.
Today was my rest day but I’ll test them out tomorrow!
4. Nooch (Nutritional Yeast). This stuff is the BOMB!
(Yes, you caught me, I am holding a square of chocolate in that picture…Lindt is another Friday Fave I had to subtly sneak in! )
I sprinkle it on ANYTHING savoury, and it makes it SO much yummier!! Take today’s dinner for example: sweet tater, tomato lentil stew and broccoli, all sprinkled with nooch…
…and then a ton more after that photo was taken!
I get a LOT of questions about this stuff. Basically, it tastes like cheese, and has around 14g of protein per serving, plus tons of B vits. You can’t beat it!
5. A project I worked on today…my RUNNING JOURNAL! I kept a running journal of sorts before in a tatty old notebook, so I thought it was time I changed things up:
Yes, it is very amateurish, and pretty cheesy/lame, but I love it! It has some of my favourite quotations and some pics too 
Back cover:
“When your legs get tired, run with your heart” is my favourite quotation, and below it is a fave mantra of mine: “Pain is temporary, Pride is forever”.
Inside front cover:
Inside back cover:
I LOVE my new journal!! I am SUCH a sucker for quotations, and I have left a page at the front for some more, so I’d love to hear your favourites to write on it!
6. Looking forward to tomorrow’s run: my first ever real track run!
I have simulated track workouts on the treadmill before, but obviously it’s not the same as the real deal! There isn’t one very near me, which is why I haven’t done one before. But tomorrow morning I’m gonna travel and go hit that track! Can’t wait…400’s methinks…bring it on!!
What are your Friday Favourites? Share with moi pretty please!
Do you have any favourite quotations or mantras? I’d love to hear your favourites and add them to my list!!
Do you have a running journal/exercise log, etc? Do you find it useful? I love having one! I just looked back at my first ever entry: 3 min run, 1 min walk repeated. “It was HARD!”.
Have a great weekend friends!!
P.S. Your comments on yesterday’s post were amazing. You guys are the BEST and such inspirations to me!! You all HAVE to come and visit me and run the London Marathon with me in a couple of years, k? It will be SO MUCH FUN!!
A belated Friday Faves!
| March 13, 2011 | Posted by Sweet Tooth Runner under Friday Favourites |
Hey friends!!
Thanks for all your responses so far to my giveaway post! Keep ‘em coming!! And a couple of you mentioned subscription problemos? Well I have a new plugin thingy (so technical…!) so if you had problems before, HOPEFULLY this one’ll work! Otherwise, I am totally clueless, and I’m sorry! 
So yesterday I didn’t get to do my usual Friday Faves post! I’ll make up for that now with my Friday/Saturday Favourites! 
1. A delicious breakfast! Kris’ Vanilla Coconut Breakfast pudding, only chocolatified…
I used chocolate soy milk instead, and boy this was gooood!! With a banana on top and PB on toast on the side, cos life just isn’t complete without a ton of carbs! 
2. People being nice to the ‘special’ one. Went to a birthday partay last night, and there was a buffet (not so good for vegans generally!), BUT my lovely friend provided some vegan food!! In particular, this bean salad rocked.
Screw plates and hygiene. I’ll just eat it straight from the bowl thank you.
3. Positivity and perspective. I had an easy 8 miler planned today, but experienced a fair amount of side shin and Achilles pain, both of which are new to me!! So I stopped a few times to stretch out, and easy jogged a bit, but it didn’t go away. I decided in the end it was best not to risk it, and cut my run short. 
Even though I was disappointed about this, I still LOVED my run, and being outside in the fresh air, and focused on that instead! 
And I thought my average pace of 7.55 min/mile was pretty good, especially in the circumstances! As soon as I got back, I stretched, and watched Friends with a bag of frozen sweetcorn on my shin.
It WILL be fine. Positivity cures everything 
4. Refuelling food is the bomb.
Smoked tofu and broccoli sprinkled with nooch, and chocolate milk too of course!
5. Baking time!! Oh I do love to bake yummy treats…!
Basically, a while back, amazing blog reader Angie sent me a couple of goodies, including these delicious chocolate chip Clif Crunch Bars:
They weren’t around for long sadly! So I tried to recreate them today, with a little twist…
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Crunchy Granola Bars (adapted from this recipe)
Depending on what mix-in you use, these have no added sugar- just sweetened with agave. They are crunchy, delicious, and not overly sweet. These are filling and healthy, and make the perfect on-the-go snack!
(Makes 12 very large bars, or 24 squares)
- 4 cups quick cooking oats (I used half rolled oats)
- Generous 1/3 cup peanut butter, melted
- 2/3 cup agave nectar (or maple syrup, etc)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips/chopped chocolate/cacao nibs
- Preheat oven to 180C/350°F. Spread oats on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes, stirring a couple of times. Allow oats to cool to room temperature.
- Melt the peanut butter in the microwave (may not be necessary, depending on how drippy your nut butter is), and let cool.
- Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Spread mixture into a 9×13-inch baking tray that has been greased or lined, pressing down hard to compact it.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool completely and cut into bars, and ENJOY!!
So. Good.
I wolfed down those two big bars, and then passed out in a food coma.
6. Looking forward to SUNDAY!! Sunday is a great day-one of my favourite days! Sunday means pancakes…
…a hill workout…
and church! A great combination if you ask me!
What are some of your Friday/Saturday Faves? Your turn to share!!
What are your post-run/workout foods of choice? Chocolate milk always! And broccoli is another fave…and PB banana toast!
What is your favourite day of the week? I love Sundays and Fridays the best I think!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend lovelies!! And don’t forget to keep those affected by the earthquake in Japan in your thoughts and prayers, and to donate if you can!
Mondays are amazing
| March 7, 2011 | Posted by Sweet Tooth Runner under Reader Request, Special Breakfast Mondays |
Hey friends!!
Likin’ the new look? I’m still trying to figure out some things, but bear with me, k? I’ll host a big pancake party at my place in return, sound good? 
So what made my Monday amazing?
1. Special Breakfast Monday! Katie’s Banana Bread Blender Cereal. But chocolatified…
I added a tbsp of cocoa powder, and topped it some shredded coconut and a fudge baby. This is the most delicious and filling thing ever. You can’t beat chocolate for breakfast! 
2. Package deliveries. I get SO excited about packages, and post in general really, because mentally, I am a 5 year old.
3. Bubblewrap. ‘Nuff said.
Hours of endless amusement right there.Better than any video game I say! A great finger workout too! 
4. Goodies!!
The lovely folks at Meridian Foods offered to send me some of their stuff to try out! They are SO lovely and generous, and clearly know me well: nut butters, jam, and snack bars?!
Raspberry and Morello Cherry fruit spread
No salt/sugar/oil almond butter and smooth PB
Tahini (I think it's hummus time!!) and 3x PB and oat snack bars
I will officially taste test tomorrow. Be prepared. And then…a GIVEAWAY!!
5. Monday Reader Request: What I eat for lunches. Well I have a lot of lunches to-go, because eating vegan makes things a little tricky, not to mention EXPENSIVE!! So I batch make something, and then use that for the rest of the week. This week= wholewheat vegetabley couscous (with mushrooms and tomatoes)…
…topped with a mountain of broccoli and nooch!
Voila! And THIS is why I don’t post my lunches! Because it’s exactly the same pretty much every weekday!
6. Taking advantage of the sun! I couldn’t resist. It’s been so grey and rainy recently in London that when I saw the blue skies, I knew I had to ignore my plan to take a running day off and cross train instead. So I did a easy run in the sun!
I needed it for my health. My tan was fading. And that’s saying something for someone who is half Indian!
Anyway, it was an amazing run! My legs were tired from the tough 6 mile hill run yesterday, so I took it slow and just chilled and coasted along, enjoying the sun
Easy run: 3.41 miles, 7.48 min/mile pace.
7. Checking out/drooling over a new gym. A Virgin Active one. It is SO POSH.
It’s so HUGE and it has AMAZING facilities that really put my current gym to shame…
So I just have to decide whether it’s worth the price! Double the amount of my local gym’s membership…hmmm…
7. Discovering the joys of Google Reader! I’m a bit late to the game I know!!
I can now stalk all your blogs 24/7, mwah ha ha….! 
So what things have made your Monday’s amazing?
What are you looking forward to most about the coming months? The weather. End of.
Do you have Google Reader? Do you like it? I keep seeing everyone talk about it, and now I finally know what they are going on about!!
And the Featured Athlete posts begin next Monday, so get excited!! I sure am!
Have a great week friends!!
My inner geek
| February 24, 2011 | Posted by Sweet Tooth Runner under Uncategorized |
Hey friends!! Hope you had a rockin’ Wednesday!! *Edit: This is yesterday’s post! My internet was down last night so I couldn’t publish it!!*
rgea
Breakfast this morning involved something totally new: bulgur. Inspired by Katie’s breakfast bulgur, I thought I’d try something different! I’m really trying to experiment with my brekkies this week, and I’m loving it! 
Topped with black cherry fruit spread and sultanas
Brekkie Bulgur ‘Rice Pudding’ (inspired by Katie’s recipe)
Serves 1. Tastes like pudding.
- 1/3 cup prepared bulgur wheat (see Katie’s tutorial for a great how-to)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup non-dairy milk (I used coconut)
- 2 tbsp (soy) yoghurt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Combine the cooked bulgur with the applesauce and milk in a saucepan and heat on low, stirring occasionally like you would oatmeal.
- Once the bulgur has absorbed most/all of the liquid and reached desired texture, remove from heat.
- Stir in yoghurt, transfer to a bowl, add spices and toppings/mix-ins and enjoy!!
Nutritional Info (excluding toppings/mix-ins): Calories 241, Fat 2.2g, Fibre 9.9g, Protein 8.7g
efw
This is amazing!! Tastes like rice pudding and is so filling! All stirred in:
RICE PUDDING!!
hrst
I exercised my inner geek big time today. Well I am a geek, and usually embrace that. But today was geek-overload…
Geek Example #1: Obsessive running research. I am a running geek. I headed to the library and got a ton more books out on running.
Knowledge is power people, knowledge is power…
grea
After breakfast and the library visit, I headed to the gym for my longer easier run of the week (6 miles @ 8 min/mile pace). Gym entertainment:
iPod for plugging into the tread and watching Toy Story 3 on, then ‘Performance Nutrition for Runners’ book for the elliptical, using the good ol’ hairband trick:
Geek alert. I always get funny looks doing that, but hey, at least I’m not stuck with watching reruns of Bargain Hunters on the gym TVs like everyone else! 
gre
In true geek style, I put what I’d learned from the first few chapters of that book (which is AWESOME so far btw!) into practice at lunch with a ‘balanced’ meal:
Veggies (broccoli+mushrooms): check. Carbs (spelt flakes): check. Protein (‘Cheezy scrambled tofu’ and more nutritional yeast in the spelt flakes): check.
aera
Dessert was Averie’s amazing ‘Raw Vegan Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding’. 
I did a little happy dance at all the goodness there. GEEK.
Not to mention it tasted SO yummy!!
thrs
I then headed off to central London! Being a geek, I went to spend some quality time in Europe’s largest bookstore (Waterstone’s Piccadilly). I almost fainted when I saw the HUGE section of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks!
About half of them!
EVERYTHING I had ever clicked ‘Add to Wishlist’ on Amazon was right there. Being a geek, I counted the vegan cookbooks. 31. New record.
I couldn’t leave that section empty handed. Especially when I saw Lindsay’s book! I’ve been reading her blog forever, and I was reminded of it after seeing that Freya had bought it in her post yesterday. So I got it too! 
It was this recipe that had me:
Single-Serving Brownie?! Hell YES!
I then went to check out the running section. And fainted in awe. Hence no photo of that gloriousness! I did take a stack of books though and sat on the floor and read them, because I’d already spent all my money. WHAT a geek. And said geek WILL be returning on Friday to drool over the books some more!
5era
The Geek headed next to Whole Foods. Because The Geek can’t manage to not go there after 2 days apart apparently. Only THIS time it wasn’t for food, it was for the Sports Nutrition talk!
It. Was. Brilliant.
It was a lovely small group of us (only 13!) in a little room with comfy chairs. Oh, and they provided food.
A platter of fruit and a platter of veg. Only at a nutrition talk! 
Got given a wrap too! 
And gave us some snack bars to take, like this one:
Bonus points because they provided ‘doggy bags’ for us to take stuff home at the end. Guess who made it first to the food?
Shameless.
grea
Because I’m a geek, I took copious notes.
Like I would want to miss anything important! I learned SO much (I NEED MORE SALT), and was totally inspired by the speaker! He did make one mistake though: he gave me his email address. Guess who I’m going to be bombarding with questions daily? 
htrs
Okay, so some recipes coming up tomorrow! Think hummus people, think hummus. The Geek tried 5 batches to get it right, and grew many, many grey hairs. Worth it though 
grs
Are you a geek? Are you proud of your inner geek or do you hide it away? I’m proud to be a geek. I think it’s cool (<—GEEK!)
gera
What books are on your Wish List? I have SO many! Including Run Faster, The Thrive Diet, and Vegan Cookies Invade your Cookie Jar. Says a lot about me really!
gre
And did you notice a change to the recipe I posted? I posted the nutritional stats after an email I got requesting the calorie counts for my recipes. What do you think- stats or no stats? I’m not a calorie counter, but I appreciate that some people might want to know, and I do like knowing the protein and stuff…so I’m mixed!!
grea
Sorry for the ridiculously long post! The Geek needed to express herself eloquently! Have a great week friends!!
Exciting times #3
| February 8, 2011 | Posted by Sweet Tooth Runner under Uncategorized |
Okay, so if you didn’t realise already, I get excited a lot. Over every little thing. I put this constant high down to the sugar intake (DATES, I’m talking to you!), and clearly I get excited very easily- see my other two excitement posts for proof! 
So, seven exciting things for today!!
ghyulgyul
Excitement: I am no longer a crunchy virgin.
Before this morning, I had never had crunchy peanut butter before. If you think that’s weird, pre-blogging, I had never even had nut-butter before!
Well I gave away my flower in style. (Friends reference #1001!)
PB+J banana oatmeal
Excitement: COCONUT BUTTER!!
Artisana raw organic coconut butter
Amazing reader Angie from the US read my moans about lack of coconut butter in the UK and sent me some! Angie, seriously, we are now BFF’s.
Not only did Angie send me coconut butter, but she also threw in these too:
Clif all-natural high protein+fibre Crunch chocolate chip granola bars
Granola?! Chocolate Chips?! Seriously girl, you know me so well!! 
htsydt
Excitement: A ‘gym regular’. I overheard one of the guys at the gym in the weights area (where the good treadmills are!) say “Oh look, it’s crazy runner girl again!”. HA they don’t know the half of it…
Excitement: The Best Speed Run Ever! A speed interval run totally kicked my butt today! I was literally dripping sweat, and so red I thought my face might explode. I looked unbelievably attractive still obviously, but I thought I’d save you the sight anyway…
1 min @ 8.6mph
1 min @ 8.7mph
1 min @ 8.8 mph
2 min @ cooldown pace
Repeated for about 40 mins + a 5 min warm up and cool down. I was totally motivated by Paula!
(Excuse the blurry picture-running does not make for quality photos!)
Paula Radcliffe is actually my heroine. If you are mad and don’t know who she is, she holds the world record for the fastest women’s marathon time, at 2:15:25!! 
Anyway, I’ve just started reading her autobiography, and it’s so good! Every time I needed a bit of inspiration on the ‘mill, I just looked over and saw her face and was inspired. I know, I know, I’m lame!!
I finished up with a few mins on the elliptical reading the book using Janae’s life-saving hairband trick.
Excitement: A free Trek bar. 
Health store people are just too nice. I love them.
Excitement: A delicious dinner.
‘Cheezy’ quinoa stuffed mushrooms with tempeh, more ‘cheezy’ quinoa, and cherry toms.
‘Cheeze’ sauce
- 1/4 cup Nutritional Yeast flakes
- 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp cornflour/cornstarch (optional)
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup vegan margarine
- Spices for flavouring (optional)
- Mix the dry ingredients (except spices) together in a small pan. Add the water and cook over medium heat, whisking, until it thickens and bubbles.
- Cook for a minute more, or until desired thickness is reached.
- Remove from the heat and add margarine. Stir until the margarine has melted in. Add spices if desired (I added paprika for some spiciness).
This sauce is great! Makes about 2 cups worth, is high in protein, and leftovers keep well in the fridge. I just made a serving of quinoa too, mixed in 1/2 cup of ‘cheeze’ sauce, put into some destalked large mushrooms, and grilled for 5 mins. Delish! 
Excitement: More chocolate pudding.
The second time in the last three days that I’ve had Katelyn’s amazing mousse. I love me some raw chocolate mousse…holy yummo.
huir
Tomorrow I’m going to be having some fun with my coconut butter, and sharing a healthy, five ingredient cookie recipe!
hira
So, what exciting things happened to you today or this weekend? I gave you seven exciting things from today, so share with me some pretty please!
And do you have a role model/idol you look up to? Paula is totally mine! My dream is to meet her someday…or maybe even run with her! I think I’d be able to keep up for about a minute though before passing out with exhaustion, but I’d appreciate those 60 seconds a lot!!
rgeag
Hope you’re having a great week friends!!
P.S. The treats from Angie have inspired me- does anyone want to do an American-Brit foodie swap? It would be fun! I can offer basically anything you’ve seen on here, like Trek/Nakd/9 bars, etc. If you’re interested email me 
