New Obsession

It has been quite hot in Wisconsin as of late, and nothing is suiting me better than Heather's Protein Ice Cream.

I like to play with the recipe and see how interesting I can make it and other times I do it just like Heather.

                                              

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Ice Cream

Same ingredients as Heather, just added in some chunky peanut butter, then topped with walnuts.

Yum in a dish.

I am really enjoying all the new discoveries of foods in the blog world.......

Vegan Overnight Oats

Protein Ice Cream

Humnut Cheese

Breakfast Cakes

Raw Nut Taco Meat

and the list goes on................ and on................ and on.

I am looking forward to creating my own recipes in the future and sharing them with all of you!

Nichole

In Need of Detox....

I am in need of detox from all the sweets I consumed this long 4th of July weekend. My weekend was filled with lots of family, food, and fun.
Summerfest on Friday night to check out a group called NERD, it was so busy on Friday night it was hard to stay put in one place because there were people everywhere. Mostly we walked around and people watched.

I ate entirely too much sugar this weekend which includes lemon cake, cookies, banana creme bread, apple pie, vanilla ice cream, and coconut popsicles. Not too mention there could be more.... that is why I am trying to detox right now.

I am trying to eat raw fruits and veggies during the day and minimally steamed veggies and soups at night. Tonight it was steamed asparagus, raw spinach, tomato and carrot salad and instant miso soup.

This was dinner around 6pm, I was pretty hungry after work so I started making it as soon as I got home.  Afterwards I did some laundry and dishes, and took the pups for a long walk. I wanted a nap but worked out with Jackie Warner instead with a 40 minute full body workout. I am glad I did it felt great and I haven't done a strength training workout in a week. 

I so pretty sweaty post workout so I made a Protein Smoothie and it was great and perfect to cool me down. 

I leave you with some gorgeous pictures from the Milwaukee lakefront fireworks...

Hope everyone had a great Independence Day and honored those brave men and women who fought for it!!!!!

Nichole

Vibrams Five Fingers

Long time no... blog? Ha! Well it is summer and life has been very busy! Work, exercise, social life and time for cooking and family.. how I fit it all in I will never know. Sometimes I wish there were just a few more hours in a day.

Everyday when I come home from work I change out of my dressy work clothes into my work-out clothes... this motivates me to get some exercise in some way or another. I have not been stressing over days where I miss a work-out, because life happens and there will always be another time to get in that work out.

I picked up a pair of Vibram Five Fingers from Rodiez's Running Store in West Allis, WI. I have been reading about the "barefoot alternative" and I thought these would be a great option for the shin splints I get from running, and I could use them for walking the pups as well. I was still sore from my intense work out with Jackie Warner so I decided a nice long walk would be a good alternative & not over doing it.

Funny looking little shoes aren't they? They had a pair of Green and White ones that were not as bright and noticable but not in my size so I decided to get these brightly colored Vibrams!

My verdict: I liked them, I didn't run in them but I think they will take a little time to get used to. I feel like my walk was more intense but I guess that would make sense since my feet and legs would be working a little harder and not being so relaxed from the cushion of the tennis shoes.

I have been doing a lot of reading on these shoes and Ashley at edible perspective has a great info page on Vibrams located here.

Check out Lindsay Carron's website she is a truly talented artist.

Delicious dish of the day:

Vegan Refried Pinto and Black Bean Burritos!

It's easy to make vegan refried beans, just subsitute your fat with vegan butter! Warm pinto beans in a pot on the stove add in 1-2 T of vegan butter and mash when warmed. Easy and delicious. I wrapped up the refried beans, rinsed black beans, spinach, tomato and avacado all up in a La Tortilla Factory whole grain wrap.

Nichole

Summer Salads

I had such a busy day yesterday filled with lots of exercise! I started my morning out with a 24 minute lower body workout with Jackie Warner. I seriously love this woman. I am upset that the full body workout is no longer on my "on demand". I guess this how they get you to buy the DVD. Which I just might crack and buy.....
On with my day I had a great day at work and came home & walked both dogs (seperately), I could not walk a 90lb rottweiller and a 70lb black lab at the sametime. They would be pulling me in all directions! Then I went for a bicycle ride, I would say it was about 3 miles. When I got back I was craving cold veggies and I had plenty stocked in the fridge. I also wanted to try my new salad dressing..

I later realized I could easily make this stuff myself and have in the past since the ingredients list consists of apple cider vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, water, honey, garlic, onion and pepper.

Um yea.... it was still good.

Spinach, Cukes, Celery, Tomato, broccoli, crushed black pepper

With Some Yummy Daiya action

After I consumed this huge salad, I wanted something sweet...

Banana Walnut Ice Cream

1 frozen banana

1 spoonful peanut butter

1 spoonful cashew butter

cinnamon

1/4 cup almond milk

handful walnuts

1 teaspoon chia seeds

BLEND IT ALL!!

Hit the spot. Yum. 

I broke down and ordered a Vita-Mix yesterday, granted it was only a refurbished one.. let's hope it doesn't break the bank! Ha! I am so excited to use it and try lots of new recipes :)

Daiya Review

I finally was able to try Daiya Vegan Cheese! It was located at my local co-op Outpost Natural Foods in the Cheddar flavor. I thought this would be great to try on nachos, pizzas, tacos.... the list goes on.

I have been craving some healthy style pizza and this what I decided to make with Daiya.

1 whole wheat tortilla

pizza sauce

mushrooms, zucchini, spinach, onions

italian seasonings and Daiya

Broil for 10 minutes or less watch carefully....

mine got a little crisp around the edges!

There is a thing as too much Vegan cheese. I did enjoy the Daiya but I definately put way too much on my pizza here. I was picking majority of it off because it was a bit overwhelming.

Less is more with this stuff!!!!

I can't wait to try it with some other recipes, maybe where the cheese is more blended or masked by another element. I think this would  be good in lasagna. Otherwise I am excited to  melt some into a refried bean dip or on bean burritos. I think both would turn out lovely. I will post those when I try them as well!!

Busy Memorial Day Weekend

I hope everyone had a fabulous longggggggggg weekend! Mine was crazy busy and did it fly by. Friday night was filled with some yummy wine and fabulous art by my brother's beautiful girlfriend Lindsay Carron. She has her own studio in downtown Waukesha and let me tell you she is extremely talented. I took a photo of the river in Waukesha......

(this is some serious Blackberry action)

After the art festivies I made my way over to the first big festival in Milwaukee of the summer Dan Jansen fest. I consumed a couple beers and enjoyed some local music with some friends.

Saturday was a friend's wedding, also in Waukesha. Right at Frame Park on the river. So pretty. I loved all the flowers outside. Purple flowers and purple dress. I had to.

I started juicing again this weekend, my first batch of green lemonade of the year!!

I missed you Green Juice. I am defiantely right my body craves this stuff when it's warm outside. Winter not so much!!!!

I also made another batch of the Vegan Banana Walnut Pancakes this time for my brother and Lindsay to enjoy, and I think they did.

Sunday afternoon was filled with boating and attempts to wakeboard/surf after about 6 tries I gave up and I have been feeling it in my arms & back since then! :)

We had a bonfire Sunday night on Lake Michigan...

Remember those brave men and women serving our country for our freedom!

Nichole

Protein Vegan Ice Cream

It has been quite hot lately in Wisconsin and I have been enjoying a lot of this banana soft serve, I can't get enough of it!

Combine ingredients in a blender...

1 frozen banana

2 TBSP Peanut Butter

Cinnamon

1/4 cup almond milk

small amount vanilla

Vanilla Spirutien Protein Powder

sprinkle with walnuts, almonds or anything your heart desires!

My body craves fresh fruit and greens when it's hot out so I love enjoying a crisp Spinach and Strawberry Salad w/ walnuts and a raspberry vinagrette.

Here are some items of great deliciousness that I have been enjoying for lunch when I am in a hurry...

Naked Vegetarian Taco Salad from Qdoba

                                                Love all that color and love the grilled veggies!

Also enjoyed some hot bar at Good Harvest Market.............

Roasted Veggies, Potatoes, Wheatberries, Miso Noodles YUMMY!!!!

On these hot summer-like nights I like to enjoy something fast and fresh, and light.

Whole grain tortilla with "Vegan refried beans"

Black Beans

Spinach

Tomato

Avacado, Onion & Jalepeno

I plan on ordering my Vita-Mix soon, I am exxxxxcited!!!!!!!!!!!

Nichole