Sticking with Resolutions, Goals

Good Morning!
Yesterday was my first day back to work after a week long vacation that was needed for me. I work as a mortgage loan officer and interest rates recently have slightly rose from what they were all summer so business has slowed down a bit and I was able to take a little time off. Back to work after the new year means a few things for me such as cleaning out my desk and files, working the Home Builder Expo at the Frontier Airlines Center in downtown Milwaukee since it is in early January of every year, and cleaning up my customer lists and exploring new marketing ideas. Even though work has slowed down in January, there is always plenty to do.

Ever since my move back in October, it has been really hard sticking to a schedule with exercise. I think that has been partially due to my rental property not being rented and all the time I was spending there. I think we are almost there - found a renter & should be able to not have to worry about that place, hopefully.

I have been able to get in a couple works outs on my new eliptical. Thank you Santa <3

Gold's Gym Eliptical

My Review:

Not a bad piece of equipment for the price. It does the trick, makes me sweat and is challenging so far.

It makes a couple noises but I am normally jamming to my ipod tunes anyway so I don't hear a sound.

My goals this year are to get more green vegetables into my diet on a DAILY basis. Make exercise a priority and there are no excuses when I have this lovely eliptical machine in my home.

So far so good, it normally takes a couple months for the "goals" to wear off, or be forgetten right? hahaha.

I think I had a sucessful 2010.

I traveled to Florida to visit family in April.

Stuck with my vegetarian ways.

Expanded my cooking

Purchased a New Home

Finished remodel on Rental Property

All in all 2010 was a pretty good year for me. I am excited to see what 2011 has to bring!

First I am going to enjoy this coconut milk yogurt.

with walnuts.

Nichole

Bringing in 2011

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope that the new year finds you fortune and happiness and of course love.

For the first time in a couple years I stayed in on New Years Eve, I had a great time with friends and it was nice not worrying about getting home safely. I enjoyed some good eats, cold drinks and great company.

I had jumbo shrimp, taco salad, cookies, homemade salsa, veggie & fruit platters and hummus, onion dip and carrot cake bars. I have lots of leftovers :)

Prime spot for a dog, directly under the table, in case anyone drops food.

We popped bottles at midnight and took jello shots and played drinking games. Fun was had by all. 

Are you making any new year resolutions?

 I am trying to incorporate MORE veggies into my diet, specifically green leafy vegetables, you know the good kind.

I hope you had a great holiday season, today I took down all my Christmas decorations.

(Christmas morning)

This corner is completely empty once again & I am brainstorming with what could be useful as well as gorgeous in this corner.

Good times with family <3

I recieved a lovely order from iherb.com

use my code XUT690

and save $5 on your first order.

I went a little bit crazy.

Raw cashews, organic tanning loition, flax powder, stevia powder, amazing meal, coconut oil, what grass powder and liquid stevia.

and these are pretty good too.

Really good prices at iherb.com cheaper than in the stores and free shipping too!

Have a great night and exciting start to 2011!! :-D

Nichole

Some Amazing Tofu & Stir Fry

When I first decided to go vegetarian (almost 2 years in January) I started to explore other options and meat subsitutes. I have always like tofu just didn't know how to make it properly. I knew that tofu would absorb the flavors that you are cooking with and conform to that dish (mostly). The first time I attempted to make tofu kind of ruined it for me for long time. I hated it, I choked it down and threw away all the leftovers that had any tofu touching it, or I feed it to Kujo. One of the two.

Well my friends I am happy to say that I made some fabulous Tofu Stir Fry that I can seriously brag about. So fabulous that I have to share the recipe.

Tofu Stir Fry

• 1 Package Extra Firm Tofu
• Light Soy Sauce
• Ginger
• Onion
• Green Onions
• Vegetables of Choice
• Red Pepper Flakes
• Garlic
• Garlic Powder
• Cooking oil of choice, I used olive oil

Try to get rid of any excess water in the tofu by pressing it.

Chop into small cubes (bite size).

Get your oil, soy sauce & garlic heating up to get the flavors going.

Season tofu with garlic powder, red pepper flakes and ginger (just enough to cover the tofu).

After a few minutes I tossed in the mushrooms and onion - just because I like them cooked well, not raw or crunchy for that matter.

I believe the real trick here is to let the tofu cook awhile, about 20 minutes (over med-low heat) until its browned, that's when it becomes the most delicious.

Add in the remainder of veggies that you want and stir fry for a few minutes or until cooked to desired consistency.

Enjoy. I did multiple times. For dinner and lunch until it was all gone. I bragged and even showed pictures of it on facebook. haha yea I did. It was that good.

Nichole



Working on my Fitness

I finally have been back into a groove lately with workouts. I did my Jackie Warner 40 minute workout right before Thanksgiving and I couldn't walk up and down stairs without screeching in pain!! Seems like that is over, thank goodness. I am looking at buying a treadmill and eliptical machine for my basement, because I lived about 10 minutes (at least) from any gym. They would be great for the cold winter months in Wisconsin that is for sure. Anyone know what the good deals are and the best equipment to get would be?


As far as eats go I made some poor decisions in the food department in the last couple of weeks so nothing worth posting about. However I did make some yummy taco salad with blue chips.

Blue chips, pinto beans, Vegan sour cream, spinach and tomatoes - all mixed up.

My first time making mashed cauliflower. I thought this was fantastic!

All whipped up and fluffy just like mashed potatoes.

I made some killer Tofu Stir Fry - recipe is coming soon!!!!! Until then -- puppy pictures!!!

My mother's 5 week old chihuaha puppy

awwwwwwwwwww so precious!!!

Nichole

Wingin the Zucchini Casserole

I have a problem. This problem would be writing down recipes as I do it. I usually wing it but when I am finished I find myself, thinking geez I would really like to share this but I can't remember my exact steps.

I am going to wing it but I am sure this recipe will be pretty close to exactly how mine came out.

Zucchini Casserole

• 4 Cups Zucchini (cut into slices)
• 1 Can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 small onion, diced
• Vegan Sour Cream
• bread crumbs
• salt, pepper, garlic
• Vegan Butter (I used 1 stick of earth balance)
• Daiya Shredded Cheese

In a large pot boil the zucchini until tender.

In a skillet melt butter and saute onions and garlic, remove from heat and add in sour cream and soup.

Drain zucchini and mix in, as well as half of the breadcrumb mixture.

I don't ever purchase bread crumbs, I throw some Ezekiel bread into a blender and BAM. Gorgeous breadcrumbs that are healthy :) I used 2 slices of bread here.

Pour into 3 Quart baking dish (I coating mine with earth balance).

Top with remaining bread crumbs. I also had some Daiya Vegan Cheddar Cheese to use up so I tossed it in here as well.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until hot.

NOTE: This recipe is NOT Vegan due to the Cream of Mushroom Soup.

I really enjoyed this recipe and think I will be making it again :)

Possibly might add some big mushrooms to this next time.

Enjoy!

Nichole

Vegan Lasagna

Happy December!!! Even though it is the beginning of a brutal winter in Wisconsin, I still love the month of December.

It's the first year I put my Christmas tree up the day after Thanksgiving. I think I was eager to put it in the new house. I have been very productive lately getting lots of Christmas shopping done over the internet. Do you or anyone you know participate in the craziness that is Black Friday?

I really don't like to be in crowded stores to begin with. I avoid the grocery store at 5pm, unless there is no avoiding it, however that is the "after-work" rush. I prefer to do my grocery shopping later in the evening to avoid those crowds. For that reason alone I don't think I would fare well on Black Friday at any electronic store. I did go to a furniture store and it was not that crowded. I didn't buy anything but I am keeping my eye out for a good deal on a new couch.

I have been feeling pretty creative lately and I have been pretty busy in the kitchen. My favorite was over last weekend, and thanks to Mama Pea I enjoyed some "tofu ricotta" as well.

Vegan Lasagna

1 package of lasagna noodles (I used whole wheat noodles)

1 jar of organic tomato sauce or make your own

8 oz Daiya Vegan Mozzerella Cheese & Daiya Vegan Cheddar Cheese

Tofu Ricotta

1 T garlic

1 small onion

tomatoes (optional)

Instructions:

First step boil lasagna noodles in big enough kettle. Or wait for them to get soft and press them in the kettle, like I did.

Meanwhile I was warming up the frozen Boca Crumbles on the stove with some minced garlic, tomatoes, and a small onion that I chopped.

When noodles are cooked, I layed them out to dry.

Prepare "Ricotta Cheese"

Layer Ricotta over noodles with a spoon to spread it, then layer meat and sauce mixture & topping with the cheeses. Repeat Layers.

Bake for one hour at 375 degrees.

Try to take a picture before indulging into this masterpiece.

Don't share with Kujo, no matter how long he stares.

ENJOY!

Nichole

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you are able to spend Thanksgiving with family or friends and the loved ones that make this holiday so special to share!

I can't wait to share this very meaningful time with my loved ones and share food, time and a special holiday together.

I am very thankful for a wonderful family, great friends, health, a roof over my head and food.

Nichole