Reducing It

Today I went to the school I am going to be student teaching at to meet with my mentor teacher, get the lay of land, parking pass, ID, etc.  It went so well!  My mentor teacher is awesome.  He is a really nice guy, he cleared out a whole desk for me, he showed me around the school, introduced me to tons of people, took me to the department meeting, etc.  You could tell that everyone there loves him there.  It was just really great, he made me feel really welcome, seemed happy to have me there, and was really more than I could have asked for.  I am still nervous, but my mind is a little more at ease now.  

Anyway, on to food!  For lunch, I had the raw Squash "Rice" from yesterday, but I cooked it!  I just sauteed it in a pan in some cooking spray, and made some simple salt and pepper tofu.  It was fabulous!!  It was totally the perfect lunch.  

I calculated the nutrition info for the "rice" yesterday.  I had a half serving of that with 3.5 oz of extra firm tofu.  What kind of tofu do you normally use?  I always buy extra firm unless a recipe really calls for firm...or silken, of course.

Because my schedule has changed so much now, my gym schedule has subsequently changed.  It is totally a different crowd, a lot of younger people, and a lot of mom's whose kids are at gymnastics (a big part of my gym is gymnastics/cheerleading).  I'm used to the over 60 crowd, haha.  That and, there was just no one I recognized, not even the same trainers.  One guy did approach me though, as "the girl who does yoga on Saturday".  Once he said something, I realized he had been behind me this past weekend, haha.  Today was chest day, it was pretty good.  I just realized that this is the last week of the program I have been doing.  I kind of like it, part of me wants to keep doing it, but I know it'd be better to change it up.  I don't know if I should go back to my favorite program, since it'll be easier to do something I already know and like when I start student teaching, or do something else I've had in mind.  We'll see.  Oh and I ran a little after lifting.    

I had some protein ice cream when I got back, and I really just wanted vegetables for dinner.  Lots of vegetables.  I had a Roasted Fennel and Onion salad with Orange and Balsamic reduction.  

Orange reduction (left, obviously), was made from 1/3 cup orange juice, and 1 tsp sugar, and just cooked down until it is a syrup consistency.  

Balsamic reduction, was about 1/4 cup balsamic cooked down to a...well, a reduction.  

Does anyone else love reducing things?  I think its so cool, and for some reason, I'm always surprised that it works, haha. 

This was drizzled on top of one bulb of roasted fennel and one large roasted onion, which were placed on some salad greens.  

This was yummy, and simple, just like I wanted.  I also had some broccoli.  Lots of veggies.

Serves 1

Nutrition Information:  237.0 Calories;  0.7g Total Fat;  0.0g Saturated Fat;  0.0mg Cholesterol;  53.8g Carbohydrates;  10.3g Fiber;  5.6g Protein 

On another note, I've been a big Top Chef fan for awhile, but it just hasn't been the same this season (the first season I have watched since becoming vegan).  For instance, this episode is all about "honoring the protein" (meaning meat).  They went to a farm, where all the produce is grown fresh right there.  All the meat is raised right there too.  One of the contestants even talked for awhile about how "He definitely isn't a vegetarian, but believes that all food animals should be respected, etc".  Whatever.  I couldn't imagine playing with baby lambs in the field outside the farm, and then chopping them up and cooking for dinner.  I guess that's why I'm not on Top Chef though, right?

I forgot to mention it, but don't forget to sign up for the Juicer Giveaway if you haven't already!

Breakfast for Dinner

I don't know what the weather is like by you, but it has been cold and icy here.  Good thing he's a snowman, or he'd be in bad shape.  

I really hate driving in bad weather, which is part of the reason why my husband and I are looking to move a little further south, and also hopefully to a city, so we just have to drive less altogether.  Regardless, being cooped up inside all day yesterday has left me still feeling a little defeated today.  I did go to see Slumdog Millionaire with my mom, although that just made me feel like even more of a loser because I messed up my gym schedule and went afterwards instead.  That movie is fabulous, in case anyone was wondering.  

So I went into dinner tonight feeling like I'd already lost.  Well, I don't know how you could actually lose at dinner, but I just didn't feel like being creative.  I was going through my blog updates, and up popped a vegan omelet recipe from Sweet Beet and Green Bean, using all ingredients I already had.  How perfect.  Breakfast for dinner is served.  

The recipe called for dill, but I definitely did not have any fresh dill.  What I did have, that looks kind of like dill (work with me here, okay?), was fennel!  So I put some fennel fronds in it and on top of it.    

This recipe was totally delicious, although there are a few things I would change about it.  First off, its too big for me.  Second, too much oil.  As it was, I only used 1 tbsp the first time, and I thought it was unnecessary.  I also used roasted asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes, and added some sauteed garlic.   

Pre-folding it over

Yummy!

This really was tasty though, it had a nice fluffiness to it!  I will probably be trying it again with different proportions and no oil in the batter.  It was the perfect amount of calories for dinner, really, but I like to have something else.  I don't know if that makes sense, but I like to have more than one thing on my plate, haha.

Serves 1

Nutrition Information:  453.5 Calories;  22.9g Total Fat;  2.7g Saturated Fat;  0.0mg Cholesterol;  45.0g Carbohydrates;  9.3g Fiber;  23.6g Protein.  

Anyone else ever get frustrated when going out to eat?  I don't live in a very veg-friendly area, and my mom and I are going out to lunch tomorrow with some of her friends, and one of my friends (who is the daughter of one of my mom's friends).  We're going to a pizza place.  I guess I could order a pizza with no cheese, because I hate ordering (and paying for) a salad with barely anything on it.  They do at least have whole grain crust there.  I'm just still trying to avoid a lot of gluten.  

I had a great conversation with my yoga instructor after class tonight!  He was playing Ben Folds during class, which was actually kind of distracting to me because I wanted to sing!  But I was telling him how much I love Ben Folds after class, and he was telling me how his brother in law has met him, tuned his piano, etc.  Dear God I was so jealous, but that is so awesome.  

So, on that note, today's Cooking Song of the Day:  Jane Be Jane - Ben Folds Five

Don't forget to sign up for the Juicer Giveaway!! 

    

Juicer Giveaway

That is right, ladies and gentlemen, it is time for my first giveaway.  I am very excited about it!  

The giveaway is being sponsored by 877MyJuicer.  You can find information about this particular juicer here - Lexen Healthy Juicer.  They say that:  

The Lexen Healthy Juicer is an amazing easy and effective wheatgrass and leafy green juicer, making it the most popular on the market.

The reviews generally say that it is easy to use, and easy to clean.  If juicing is your thing, or you want it to be, here is your chance to score a free one!

There are just a few very simple guidelines:    

To enter the giveaway, leave one comment.

Second, for every person who comments and mentions that you referred them, you get another comment.

If you don't have a blogger identity, where I can easily reach you, please leave an email address for to contact you if you win.  If you don't want it posted publicly, you can email me at ginakina@gmail.com after you comment.    

Lastly, you must be able to give a US address to 877MyJuicer so they can send you your gift if you win (sorry foreign friends!).

The contest will run for 2 weeks.  The winner will be chosen at random on January 22, 2009!

Happy commenting and good luck!