Plan Jan 6-12

Monday 

Run 3

Breakfast for dinner: biscuits, olive gravy, tofu scramble, tempeh maple bacon

Tuesday

Walk 

Skinny Mac and Cheese

Wednesday

Run 3

Pre semester meetings all day

Dinner is a catered event at the college, but there generally isn't much for me, so I will bring my own hummus.

Thursday

Mia and I are trying out a vegan friendly pizza place in Virginia!

Skinny Pad Thai

Friday

Run 10

Virtual run: Resolution run 15k

Baked potato samosas

Saturday

Indo Noodle Salad with a Thai Peanut Dressing

We're headed up to Rob's mom, and I'm making dinner for us!

Sunday

We will have an early dinner from one of my favorite vegan restaurants: Everlasting Life Cafe

Most of the recipies this week are from Lindsay Shay Nixon's new cookbook: Happy Herbivoire Light and Lean. Lindsay is the blogger at Happyherbivoire.com, and in addition to having written 4 cookbooks, she also creates weekly meal plans (getmealplans.com) and has a YouTube channel.

I really enjoy Lindsay's recipes, I've purchased her meal plans a few times, but I think they are too structured for me, but her cookbooks are fantastic. This book in particular is focused on low calorie meals, and includes a fitness plan. I'll let you know at the end of the week how these recipes turn out!

Plan Dec 30- Jan 5

Monday Dec 30

Hiking

Rob's pizza

Tuesday Dec 31

Hiking

Tofu scramble

Chili and nachoes

Wednesday Jan 1

Hiking

Black eyed peas

Vegan biscuits and gravy

Thursday Jan 2

Run 3

Happy Herbivore black bean burgers

http://happyherbivore.com/recipe/quick-black-bean-burger/

Friday Jan 3

Run 5

Sweet potato, peanut, and white bean BBQ Burger

http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com//2013/03/spin-on-sweet-potato-veggie-burgers-bbq.html

Saturday Jan 4

Rob's bean soup

Sunday Jan 5

Tofu Mushroom Stroganoff from Isa Does It!

Well, being sick over Christmas really threw me for a loop. As I write this, I'm still not at 100%, but I know I need to get back into my training. I am disappointed I wasn't able to finish my running and squat streaks. 

On the upside, though, Mia has agreed to do a crunch challenge with me this month, so I'll be posting those. And I loved the strength that squats gave my legs, so I will keep those.

The one goal I've been able to stick with these last few weeks of 2013, is reading, I've gotten a lot of that done!

I am hoping, in 2014, to review my cookbooks. Buying vegan cookbooks has become an obsession of sorts, an I have quite a few. I am thinking that I would like to, once or twice a month, cook a few recipes out of a book and share my thoughts with you.

Plan Dec 21-29

It's a busy time of year, and I have the flu. I am really bummed about breaking my running/skiing streak. I'm hoping to get back out there tomorrow.

Saturday 21

Vegan Pot Pie from Isa Does It

This was delicious, and everyone liked it!

Sunday 22

Sleep, no dinner for me.

Monday 23

Split Pea soup

Tuesday 24

Potato Curry

Wednesday 25

Leftovers

Thursday 26

Run >1 mile

Dinner  @thesilverdiner

Friday 27

Run 5 miles

Vegan spinach Lasagna

Saturday 28

Run >1 mile

Tofu veggie rice bowls

 

Sunday 29

Vegan cheesy pumpkin quesadillas

Run 3 miles

Photographic evidence

My goal is to read all of these by January 20.  Think I can do it?

Tempeh Pannini @ Busboys and Poets

I got to meet Isa Chandra Moskowitz!

She was very cool- awkward and genuine and adorable.

Signed my books (and one I got for Cari, too!)

This is why she's so cool- I said "Now duckface!" and she actually did it!

Plan Dec 16-22

Monday:

Walk 1

Run 3

Vegan cheesy broccoli and Quiona.

http://detoxinista.com/2013/09/cheesy-broccoli-quinoa-casserole-vegan/

Tuesday:

Run >1

Dinner with Rob at Busboys and Poets, to see Isa Chandra Moscowitz!

Wednesday:

Walk 1

Run 10.5

Frozen Vegan pizzas

Thursday:

Run >1

Potato curry

Friday:

Run >1

TBD

Saturday:

Run >1

Mia's special mashed potato pizza

Sunday:

Run >1

TBD

This is such a busy time of the year! This week, my goals are to continue on my running streak, and get my grading done. Most of my gen ed tests are graded, but I'm still slogging through my 2100 tests and final projects. I'm hoping to finish those tomorrow, as final grades have to be posted on Wednesday.

Once those are done, I'll reward myself by reading some books! I miss reading. I haven't had a chance to do much of it lately. Sure, I have work stuff I could be doing: prepping a presentation I have to give about common core, planning a new course I'll be teaching in the spring, etc., but that can wait for January.  My research plan was approved by my mentor, and is with the committee. Since it is between quarters now, it could take them up to four weeks to get back to me. January will also find me working on my literature review and IRB form.

But back to this week, I'm super excited that Rob and I will get to meet Isa Chandra Moscowitz, the post-punk kitchen goddess, on Tuesday! Also, Mia, Cari and I have a samosa date in Wednesday!

Keep warm, and stay happy!

Mystery Funlands and Cancelled Races

Sorry I've been lax on posting lately. My world has been very busy with end of the semester, plus end of the quarter, plus holiday hooplah, plus concerts and races, squat challenges, running streaks and the like.

Anyway, here's some pictures of Rob and I from last weekend. We were supposed to run the Christmastowndash 8k, but it was cancelled due to weather. Here's what we did instead:

We braved the crowds at the Yankee Candle factory to see it snow inside.

We went to see the lights at Christmastown.

And the show, and drink some glühwein.

Finally, we had brunch at Food for Thought Sunday morning (after running in the rain anyway #rwrunstreak!)

I got the tofu scramble and Red Bison (beet and carrot) juice.

Plan Dec 9-15

Monday:

Walk 1

Run 3

Spaghetti pie

Tuesday:

Run >1

Tofurky roast

Wednesday:

Walk 1

Run 4

Creamy avocado with tomato and basil pasta from Big Vegan 

Thursday:

Run >1

Chorale concert, dinner will be leftovers before or after the show.

Friday:

Walk 1 

Run 10.5

Mystery Funland adventures

Saturday:

Run >1

Hack and Slash Christmas Show, dinner out with friends

Sunday:

Run >1

Sesame Tofu Spinach wraps from Big Vegan

Rob and and I were supposed to run the Christmastown 8k today, but it was cancelled due to the ice storm that rolled through. We had a good time, though, in Williamsburg.

I am so excited about this upcoming weekend! My Mystery Funland plan for Friday is awesome. For those of you who don't know, we do this thing in my family we call Mystery Funland, wherein one of us plans an adventure for every one, and it is a surprise as to what it entails. It could be something as simple as getting coffee and doughnuts, or something as extravagant as a weekend travel trip. Generally all we tell each other is the date and time, and sometimes a dress code.

For instance, for Fridays MFL, this is what I sent Rob and Mia:

Please mark your calendars for Friday, December 13 for a mystery Funland.
We will leave the house in the early evening.
Please dress warmly.  Some of the MFL will take place outside.
Christmas sweaters are encouraged. Hats scarves and gloves (and coats, MIA) are a must.
There will be beer. And Christmas music. And explosions. And walking (only 8 blocks or so...).

Vegan travels in the Midwest.

We traveled out to Nebraska for the Thanksgiving holiday. My parents and brother and his family all live in central Nebraska, while my other brother and his wife live nearby in Kansas. Eating vegan in the Midwest can sometimes be a challenge, but it is always worth it to visit my fam!

We left super early Wednesday morning, and had a layover at the St. Louis airport where I grabbed a breakfast of a bagel with peanut butter.

Then on to Omaha where we met my folks and the rest of the family.

Lunch in Omaha was at the Blue Planet Cafe. Their corn chowder was vegan.

 

I got the BBQ Tofu wrap, and Rob got the Jerk Tofu bowl.

 

My Mom got a vegan salad, too!

 

Mia and Niki both got some mac and cheese- not vegan, but vegetarian!

 

 

Niki taught Mia a few things about her phone.

That evening, we made a lovely vegan potato curry at the house.

Thursday, I got everyone out early for a 40 minute fun run, complete with race bibs and medals (a huge hit with my niece!)

 

We had a Thanksgiving dinner that couldn't be beat. Seitan, maple tofu, kale, bru

Sales sprouts, corn, mashed potatoes, biscuits, stuffing, cherry pie, and a sweet potato parfait, all vegan.

After Thanksgiving dinner, we went out and practiced shooting! (I know- a weird activity for a vegan pacifist!) My brother set up two challenges, one where we did some target shooting with pistols and a battleship game board, and another where we used the shotgun to shoot moving targets (colored blocks of ice flung with a slingshot!)

 

 

Friday we went into Lincoln for the UNL Huskers game. They lost, but we still had fun.

 

 

 

 

There was NO vegan food in the stadium. My daughter wasn't even able to get a slice of cheese pizza.  Sigh....

After the game, we went to La Paz, a local Mexican eatery (I wanted to take the fam to Mellow Mushroom in Haymarket, but it was packed.) At La Paz, I was able to get some vegan guacamole tacos off of the vegetarian menu. The regular salsa had Worcestershire  in it, but our waiter brought us some vegan verde sauce, which was really good and really spicy!

On Saturday, my niece and nephew wanted to show us their favorite location, the Henry Doorly Zoo.  I really enjoyed spending time with Niki, who likes me, and Ryan, who sometimes tolerates me!

 

 

 

Saturday evening, we flew home. Both of our flights were delayed, so we ended up with a 5+ hour layover in the Chicago Midway airport. I was pleased to find a few vegan options, mostly at a food stand called Pegasus on the Fly. There, I got some tasty hummus, and dipped my carrots I'd brought in.

We amused ourselves, though with a Ms. Pac-Man tournament!

 

And took naps on the concourse. My scarf that my mom brought me from Turkey turned out to also be a nice blanket!

I hope you all had just as nice of a weekend! Thank you for reading!