If I had to design a perfect birthday weekend, I definitely wouldn’t include two days of work. Unfortunately, my boss didn’t agree.
I guess I can’t really complain about it though, since I just got back from a week vacay in CA. I was totally prepared with a buncha pre-packed food.
Fruit, of the dried persuasion, included mango and pear slices, as well as a strawberry chewy-thingy (Nike race freebie), while fresh fruit was limited to a smallish apple. I also bar-ed it up with the Blueberry Crisp flavored Clif, and a Cashew Cookie Larabar. Other “side dishes” included Newman’s Own protein pretzels and ray-rees, but it was this simple and yet delish salad, that was the lunch time star.
Spinach (and I mean a LOT of spinach), Tokyo seaweed salad, arame, and raisins filled this tuperware and my tummy right up.
The day was actually surprisingly relaxed. Weekends can be that way…until the cold weather hits. Then we get all the homeless crazies looking for shelter and a meal their methadone.
I knew EXACTLY what I was going to make for dinner when I got home.
Spiralized zucchini!
How beautiful is this bowl…and how interesting disturbing is this leftover piece.
I still ate it though :) And to top the “pasta”, I heated up some vegan meatless meatballs and organic tomato puree.
(Left photo) + (right photo) = (below photo) aka heaven
Yes, there was nooch involved. AH-MAZE-ING.
I made some fake ice cream for dessert using frozen nanners, chocolate AND vanilla protein powder, Xagave nectar, water and ice.
Yeah boi. If you enter my giveaway, you can try it, too.
Sunday brought more of the same. Work. Packed food. Patients.
I used this Baked Tofu salad to create a lunch salad in 5 seconds (just add spinach). To be honest, I was a bit nervous about how good it would be, because it had some kinda random ingredients (parsley, seaweed AND hot peppers together?). BUT. I’m happy to report…
It was really good! I’m glad I got to try this product for free because I have seen it before at my local health foods store, but never given it a chance because of the (seemingly) odd flavor combinations. But now that I know it’s a winner, I will definitely buy it again.
The rest of my lunch included bars (honey graham Z bar, apple pie Larabar and a mini s’mores Luna bar), fruit (apple, dried papaya, dried pears, and dried mango), and a pretzel/raisin mix.
The entire subway ride home I contemplated what to make for dinner. I was so sad because I knew I wanted spiralized pasta, but had no zucchini at home (tear). Taking an extra 10 minutes to grocery shop on the way home was not an option – I was too tired, lazy and just plain hangry – so I figured I’d just wing it. As I walked in the door, I was greeted by my K-love and two beautiful zucchini :) He knows me so well.
This picture just makes me giggle. I swear I’m not 5 years old!
To top the raw zucch noodles, I made a “meat”y sauce with LightLife’s Smart Ground veggie crumbles, chickpeas, and Chobani plain greek yog.
Ignore the nasty color/appearance of the sauce (it’s never a good sign when I can draw comparisons between my dinner and something I’ve seen come out of a patient earlier that day).
It was good, but not great. At first I was going for a meat sauce, but then, when I discovered we were out of BOTH marinara sauce AND tomato puree, I switched to a faux cheese sauce (using greek yogurt). Unfortunately, the sauce lacked in the flavor development, so next time I would pump up the seasonings (I’m thinking parsley, onion, oregano, basil, etc.).
About half way through my own meal, I was tempted with Kyle’s neighboring dish…365 tandoori naan and hummus – ummm, yes please!
Never mind the completely random (and admittedly contrasting) flavor profiles of eating Italian and Indian meals simultaneously. He was nice enough to share, so I was happy to indulge in the cross-culture yum yums.
He even remembered to get some fruit for dessert! Since we split it, I needed a little something extra to fill up my tummy (hence the additional apple with cinn sprinkled on top).
Don’t forget to enter my giveaway!
WOW! I love the look of that seaweed and spinach salad, I bet the flavor combination is perfect. I’ll have to try that for sure, thanks for the great idea.
Yummy looking spiralized zucchini, both sauces look great. Although you might have turned me off the second one when you mentioned its similarity to something that came out of a patient….
I will definitely be trying the zucchini pasta! It sounds like such a good alternative to regular pasta. I just need to find myself one of those spiral tools.
Ah I need a spiralizer too! Looks like so much fun ;).
I got some arame the other day and didn’t know what to do with it. Now I’ve got an inspiration. Thanks!
Mmmm so glad you’re maxing out on spiralized zucchini with no end in sight – everything looks delicious!
I’m jealous of that spiralizer! Everything in this post looks so yummy 🙂
LOVING that spiral pasta.. looks so pretty!! I have never tried that smart ground stuff.. I always see it but am afraid to buy it. I love veggie protein though so I need to try it out sometime!!
Stop making me want a spiralizer. If not for the delicious pasta creation, then for the slightly phallic/uh, turd-y aftermath of a zucchini. I’m 5, really.
At first I thought that Luna was normal size and I was just losing it. Thank goodness it really is mini.
Have a fab Tuesday! Love ya!
thaaaat spiralizer. i’m so jealous. i know i’d end up taking more (likely purposefully perverted) photos of the leftover zucc–but that’s part of why i want it.
i want more newmans protein pretz; i legit ate that bag in one day. twas triste…
have a great tuesdya!!
stop it now that Kyle already had a zukes at home for you. That is probably the most romantic thing I’ve seen in a while. no joke.
Hahaha I totally giggled at your picture yesterday with the zuke in the spiralizer but just didn’t want to admit it. I also rekindled the same giggle when that pic came up again today.
really mature Julie
I had never actually SEEN a Spiralizer before… I use a julienne peeler to make my zucchini pasta, but then I don’t get such pretty curls. Though I guess it all ends up in the same place anyway…
<3 <3
I am so jealous of your spiralizer–what fun! And yay for dried pears!
Courtney
Happy belated birthday! And SO glad to see you got your hands on a spiralizer. I definitely spiralized like dozens of zucchinis in the first couple weeks after buying mine. It was a great investment because I’m still using it, even in the cold weather! I’ll admit I’ve only used the thinnest setting though. Now that I’ve seen how your zucchini came out, all fettuccine like, I won’t be afraid to experiment! I actually love to bulk up a serving of soba with a spiralized zucchini – triple the noodle action, instantly! I also hear ya on seaweed obsession right now – I’m there with you, believes.
I totally giggled at that picture too.
SO HAPPY YOU LIKE THE SPIRALIZER! Hooray for zucchini pasta, it’s life changing. Though I rarely use the flat blade setting — you’ve inspired me!
xoox
That’s an awesome image from that spiralizer! I totally LOLed…haha
p.s. i’m jearrrous
Daaaang I need a spiralizer.
Also, I am oh so jealous of your pre-packed work eats. I need to get more creative with mine.
I love the zucchini wiener picture – I totes laughed. I want a spiralizer now. My family would look at me like I’m cray-cray if I opened that on Christmas but I’m willing to take those chances!
That second zucch pic is so naughty Elise!