Pinkish pancakes

Ever since last week when I juiced a bunch of beets, I’d been looking forward to dyeing their pancakes pink with some of the juice.

Looking good right?

Then I flipped them and…

What happened?!  Where’d the pink go??  It’s like the pink hue just vanished as they cooked…isn’t that weird? The inside was kinda pinkish but it was definitely a let down.  Like my sister said, I guess that’s why people use artificial coloring.

After they were fed my dad came over and hung with V while I dropped P off at school and went to do some errands.

I listened to this while riding my bike.  It’s a pretty random podcast, since I have no attachment to Richard Simmons, or any reason to learn more about him, but I heard about it on another podcast and thought I’d give it a shot.  It’s really interesting!  And now I’m mentioning it here because of this.  NPR’s politics podcast is one of my faves and is where I heard about how this month leading podcast publishers are joining forces to expand the podcast audience.  All March listeners are being asked to share stories of why they listen and their favorite podcasts using the hashtag #trypod. Per NPR, 50% of the population doesn’t even know what a podcast is.  So there you have it.  My #trypod suggestions for you all, include but are not limited to:

• NPR politics – they have weekly roundups and at least one or two episodes mid week depending on what has happened in the news. It’s more in depth than theskimm (my other go to news resource) but still not too detailed that I can’t follow
• Radiolab – some are good, some are GREAT, some are meh. Definitely get sucked into these and want to keep working out to find out what happens.  Kinda 20/20ish.
• More Perfect – from the Radiolab people. It only had a few episodes in the first “season” and is now on a break (to make more??) but they were all cases dealing with the Supreme Court and for someone who knows nothing about the law or the legal system in general, I found it fascinating.
• Jillian Michaels – used to listen to this religiously but haven’t in a very long time.  No real reason why, I just have been seeking different material
• WTF with Marc Maron / The Nerdist / Here’s the Thing with Alec Baldwin – when I want to zone out to an interview these are my faves
• Inquiring Minds – science stuff.  Super interesting, but I cherry pick topics that I want to hear.
• Happier With Gretchen Rubin – I listened to this for about a year straight but haven’t in a long time.  I’m in a good place mentally and emotionally, but this was helpful when I was more stressed and exhausted with losing my identity as a mom a while back.
• How I Built This – Kyle turned me onto this and it’s a podcast that will majorly inspire the entrepreneurial minded listener.  It’s stories of mega big deal companies and how they came from nothing to be the multi million dollar corporations they are today.  Clif bar, Spanx, etc.
• Mystery Show – if you haven’t listened to these (there are only 6) then you must.  I wish Starlee (the host) would make more because they actually made me laugh out loud at times.  The 5th episode “Source Code” is in my all time favorite podcast episodes.  Ever.

There are more, but that’s probably enough to start.

After I worked out I made a black and white cookie smoothie.

Topped in granola.

It was Vega One chocolate protein powder with frozen banana and watermelon, and almond milk. I’m unsure if the combo was a winner, but I ate it nonetheless.  : /

Lunch.  Kale salad.

Dinner.  Kale salad.

I’m pretty sure I blogged about this the last time I made it, but here’s the link to the recipe in case I didn’t.  It’s great.  I made it with barley instead of farro this time, only because I had it on hand.

I almost set off the smoke detectors while sautéing those pepitas in the pan.  One second too long and it’s a code red situation.

All set for dinner time!

But first!  The kids woke from naps and snacked before tee ball practice.

Those bananas with dried blueberries are “alien eyes” and the pistachios are “space creatures”.  Per P.

Batter up!

And then we came home to this.

Despite the fact that I have a bunch of chocolate in my stash, I couldn’t help but get this on my TJs run earlier.

It was SO GOOD. I’m not sure it had the flavors listed (coconut?) but had a ginger turmeric or something or other going on that I liked in a big big way.  TJs is on the money with their chocolate.

Full disclosure: I’m trying to eat a litttttle less chocolate at night. Will you guys be my moral support?  I know myself and there’s no way I can give it up, but my sweet tooth is getting a touch out of hand, so I’d like to keep it in check by seeing how a reduction might feel.  If I don’t post about it, it will never happen.  So now it’s in writing.