Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

In the midst of this miserably rainy day, I cannot help but channel my inner Jack Johnson; I am sitting, waiting and wishing--for spring break. In precisely 15 days, I will be headed for a weekend of fun in DC (where I will dine at Nora and Rock Creek), plus several days of relaxation at home (where I will participate in this 5K). My motivation for schoolwork is waning, but I've still got two tests and a paper separating me from my freedom. Wish me luck in the upcoming weeks!

What are you looking forward to these days?

At least I have my cooking to distract me from the monotony of classes...

Monday
Although the dining committee had intended to dine out at a local Mediterranean place, that plan somehow crumbled. To be honest, I was a bit bummed. Instead, I grabbed a quick salad from the salad bar to which I added my own navy beans. I also made a pesto potato salad, as inspired by Ellie Krieger. I used that pesto in a tube again, and my love for pesto grows each time I use it. Anyone have a good recipe for homemade pesto?
I opted for a classic combo for the smoothie: strawberry-banana. Never fails to satisfy:)
Tuesday
I found myself with a little extra time yesterday morning before class, so I decided banana fingers would be a good breakfast option. I dipped banana in plain yogurt, then rolled it in crushed Peanut Butter Pows cereal. That's Sunbutter on the side--perfect consistency for dipping!
For lunch, I tried out one of my new TJ's finds, Low-Sodium Butternut Squash Soup. This soup tasted notably sweeter than others that I have tried, likely due to the absence of salt. I played up the sweetness factor by adding a dash of cinnamon and handful of pecans. Along with it, I had a grilled hummus sandwich, greens, and peaches.
Last night was pasta night for me. I made a quick puttanesca sauce out of tomato sauce, basil, oregano, minced garlic, ground red pepper, and olives. I added white beans for protein and poured the goodness all over some whole grain angel hair pasta. I had a salad with red bell pepper strips as well.
Last night's smoothie was a new delicious combination for me: strawberry and mango. Let's face it: I'll eat anything with mango in it.
Wednesday
In contrast to yesterday morning, today I was running short on time, so I whipped up a quick Banana Bread Blender. This rendition included frozen banana, GoLean, spelt flakes, soymilk, cinnamon, vanilla, and cashews. I just love this stuff--it's like good-for-you pudding! You're a genius, Katie.
Given the present weather conditions, all I feel like doing now is changing into my H&M lounge pants and red fuzzy slippers. What's your relaxation uniform? Are you a fan of sweats or yoga pants? We all have our individual lounging preferences, I think:)

Enjoy your Wednesday!

"But Mom, It's All for Basketball!"

During a recent phone conversation with my dear mother, I was detailing how amazing the night's basketball game had been and how excited I was for the next game. I also happened to let it slip that I had a quiz the next day (Tuesday) for which I studied a total of 20 minutes. Uh oh.

"Caroline, I think you need to study more than that. We don't pay all this money so that you can blow off your classes."
"No, just think of that money paying for access to Duke basketball games."
"Ugh. I think it's time to get off the phone now so you can study."

She just doesn't understand--it's all for basketball! She won though--I did end up studying for a bit longer:)

Anyway, as a result of games on Monday and Tuesday nights, in combination with a flurry of tutoring appointments, my diet continues to consist of simple favorites. Please pardon the monotony!

Monday
Before rushing out the door to the basketball game, I snagged a Coconut Creme Pie Larabar (but failed to snap a picture). Although I scarfed it down in less than a minute en route to the stadium, it tasted phenomenal! These would be a great stocking stuffer *hint, hint, Mom* When I got back, part B of dinner commenced: a hummus sandwich on an Arnold sandwich thin, plus a handful of carrots.
The shake of the evening was a berry-chocolate delight: strawberries, raspberries, soymilk, and chocolate hemp.
Tuesday
In a last-minute study session for the aforementioned quiz, I quickly toasted up two PomegranPlus waffles and topped them with hazelnuts and agave nectar. I had a delicious pear on the side.
The no-fuss trend continued into lunch: Goddess garbanzos (with tomatoes and kelp granules) in an Italian flatbread, plus a simple salad and an apple.
My friend Ms. Larabar joined me again for dinner. This time I enjoyed the PB Cookie variety--another winner! The only downside is that I tasted PB for the entire night as I cheered on the Blue Devils. I also had a small baggie of soynuts. No pics of this uber-exciting fare.

The smoothie last night featured the last tablespoon or so of my vanilla hemp powder, plus a few scoops of the Nutribody protein powder I mentioned a few posts back. Soymilk, frozen peaches, and ginger granola made this quite a delectable concoction.
Wednesday
I just can't stay away from CCV's Banana Bread Blender very long. This time I used cashews for the nut component.
For lunch, I quickly heated up some leftover butternut squash soup and added broccoli and chickpeas for an extra nutritional boost. I also had some peaches with almonds/cinnamon, plus a handful of crackers.
Tonight, I finally got around to preparing an acorn squash that had been lurking on top of my fridge for the past week or so. I simply baked it in the oven along with some cubed tofu that had been rubbed with agave nectar and cinnamon. (Maple syrup would have been ideal, but, alas, I have none). Once they were finished baking, I stuffed the tofu inside the squash and finished it off with some chopped hazelnuts. I also had a piece of whole grain toast and a small salad.
If you're still reading, here are a few things interesting about yours truly. (I was kindly tagged by Paulina to do so).

1. My favorite color is red. I know, I know a boring fact, but you don't understand the extent of this love. I don't just wear red, but I invest in it. My phone, my iPod, my planner, my dumbbells, my backpack--all red. The one exception is my camera; it dons my second favorite hue, pink.

2. I am currently obsessed with Enrique Iglesias's song "Do You Know? (The Ping Pong Song). I first heard it on VeggieGirl's dance video, and I have been flouncing to it ever since. Perhaps its appeal lies in the fact that I can relate to its sentiment...or maybe I just like Enrique's intensity. I think I played it only twice today...but the night is still young.

3. I have a "thing" for brightly colored coats. It all started with a turquoise coat I got for my birthday four years ago. Ever since then I have been collecting: a green pea coat, a pink rain coat, a red pea coat, and a magenta swing jacket. I'm always easy to spot in a crowd!

4. I can sing in random languages. Throughout middle- and high school, I took voice lessons and sang in my school's choir. Although cultivating my musical talents was the ultimate goal, I also picked up a knack at singing in foreign languages, including German, Italian, and French. Sometimes I just bust out with "Voi che sapete" or "Gretchen am spinnrade" when the mood strikes.

5. I have an addiction to magazine subscriptions. Ever since I got my first subscription to Self in 10th grade, I have been a mag devotee. At one point, I was subscribed to Women's Health, Today's Diet & Nutrition, Self, Fitness, Vegetarian Times, and Reader's Digest simultaneously. It's totally impractical since I have ZERO time to read them while I am at school, but I just can't bear to give them up--they're rich with such valuable information for my everyday life!

Whew! This post is excessively long. Congratulations if you made it this far. Feel free to share little nuggets about yourself--I'd love to know more about my readers! Ciao for now.

Full Friday

I am still beyond perplexed how my Fridays become so busy, even when I don't have any classes. Today alone I had my workout, a dining evaluation at an on campus eatery, a psych experiment to participate in, a trip to Whole Foods, a tutoring appointment, a mega-laundry session, and another Target run. Sheesh. Never mind even trying to get a head start on studying for stats...instead I plan on watching a movie with a friend. A much better use of time, in my opinion:)

I have been on-the-go recently due to more tutoring appointments as of late; the freshmen live on a separate campus, which doesn't leave much time for lengthy meal preparation. Here are the goods anyway:

Wednesday
I got creative with my butternut squash soup again. This time, I baked some tofu slabs in the creamy goodness and topped them with walnuts and cinnamon. On the side, I had some couscous, salad, and cranberry sauce. Quite the fall feast.
The smoothie of the evening featured blueberries, strawberries, acai hemp powder, and soymilk. Love that ginger-y granola on top.
Thursday
More fall flavors appeared on my plate for breakfast the next morning. I made a pumpkin-banana smoothie with ginger and cinnamon and rounded out the meal with a whole grain mini bagel with Sunbutter.
I prepared a quick lunch before heading off to an afternoon of tutoring: baked sweet potato topped with refried beans and salsa, brussels sprouts, and that mess on the side is applesauce with ground flax.
Before heading off to RUF, I made a quick burger out of an Amy's Bistro patty, organic ketchup, mustard, lettuce, and a whole wheat sandwich thin. I served it alongside a salad with veggies and chopped almonds, plus a little dish of grapes.
Last night's shake was phenomenal. I combined chocolate hemp protein, soymilk, banana, strawberries, and a few dairy-free chocolate chips for a big dose of chocolate-y goodness.
Friday
To adequately fuel myself for a busy day, I made a batch up vegan banana pancakes this morning...while listening to Jack Johnson's song "Banana Pancakes." Yes, I am that cool. I topped the hotcakes with agave nectar and chopped hazelnuts.
I stopped by the apartment amidst the chaos for a quick shower and a meal. I tossed some cubed tofu into a pita with lettuce and Annie's Woodstock dressing. On the side, I had a big salad and a perfectly ripe pear.
Once we returned from the mecca of convenience shopping (aka Target), I was too hungry to think of anything creative for dinner. I settled on a Sunbutter and apple butter sammie with broccoli, and some plain yogurt with a fruit cup.
I am off to enjoy a movie (likely a sappy chick-flick). Happy weekend!