Voracious Vorilee

Full of Almonds

2010-03-10T08:20:47-05:00

Good morning everyone! Can you believe it’s already Wednesday? This week seems to be going by so quickly. I woke up hungry after a night of tossing and turning, and knew that I wanted a filling breakfast. Of course, that meant oats – nothing fills me up quite like them!

This batch was full of almondy goodness. We got some almond milk on our last grocery trip, and I used that in place of the milk in this bowl. I stirred in some yogurt for protein, along with raisins and maple syrup. When my oats were done, I added shredded coconut and almond butter to the top.

Delicious! I love the flavor of the almond milk – it’s mildly almondy and only slightly sweet. I couldn’t really tell a difference in this bowl of oats flavor-wise, but loved every bite. I completed my breakfast with a big mug of dark roast coffee – yum!

Today looks to be a gray one, but the weather is supposed to be in the fifties – spring is starting to arrive. I’m excited for buds and blossoms in the ground and on the trees, and especially excited for the start of baseball season. I love this time of year.

Question of the Day
What is your favorite part of spring? I love that it means baseball season and longer days!

Speedy Eats

2010-03-08T22:36:16-05:00

Happy Monday everyone! I’m sorry I wasn’t around much this weekend, we were busy and out and about with some friends. We went up to our old roommate’s place to visit with him and his wife, playing Magic and Rock Band. It was a fun evening and we ended up getting in late and going straight to bed. I was asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow!

This morning, I woke up ready to fuel up for the day, and had breakfast ready and waiting in the fridge.

Overnight oats! I topped these with an almond butter sauce I made using milk + almond butter (I got the idea from KERF!) and stirred in some sliced banana. I used my little green spoon I got from Crate & Barrel over the weekend and loved every bite. This bowl kept me full right up until lunch time. I love the staying power of these breakfasts.

My day was busy, and went by quickly, and before long, I was arriving home to three kitties and The Boy, all of whom were ready for dinner. Because we were grocery shopping this evening, we had plans for a quick and easy dinner on the agenda – something that would take a few minutes to make and allow us to get to the store faster.

On the agenda – barbeque beef sandwiches! I fixed some homemade macaroni and cheese over the weekend, and we reheated some of the leftovers to have along side the sandwiches. Some peas completed the meal, which was quick and very filling. We were able to head out for groceries not long after we finished eating, restocking our refrigerator before settling in for some Pawn Stars.

Now, I have a full, happy tummy and a purring cat beside me. I’m about to head to bed – I have a workout on the agenda for the morning and need to get my beauty sleep. I hope y’all have a great evening!

Taking it Easy

2010-03-05T23:48:07-05:00

I didn’t have much on the agenda today, and since I had the day off, I decided to sleep in today. I woke up around nine, when my tummy started grumbling for some food. I was going to make eggs, but upon making a discovery while reaching for the carton, I ended up going with something else instead.

My discovery?

An empty nut butter jar. I knew that I had to fill it with some creamy oats, and decided to stir together a batch of steel-cut oats with banana. They took a while to cook, but were so worth the nutty, chewy texture when they were ready for me to dig in.

Today’s mix was simple: rolled oats, milk, water and a banana, left to cook until most of the liquid was absorbed. I scooped the whole mixture into the jar and added a sprinkle of coconut and granola before digging in. It was delicious. The Boy asked me why the jar method made for such good eats, and I told him that I liked scraping down the sides of my jar to get nut butter in every bite – so good! I wish I could have oats in a jar for breakfast more often.

My breakfast ended up fueling me through a workout at the gym. I did a weight workout from the book New Rules of Lifting, and followed it with some time on the rower. I worked up a sweat and quite the appetite during my workout, and when I returned home, refueled with a quick lunch. I ended up making eggs and turning them into a sandwich with some cheese. Some fruit and thin mint cookies completed my meal. Unfortunately, I was in such a rush to eat that I didn’t snap a picture, but trust me – it was GOOD.

I spent the afternoon catching up on chores and getting my hair cut. I’ll have The Boy help with a photo of the new style tomorrow – it’s definitely a bit shorter than it was, but I really like it! While I was out, I stopped at Crate and Barrel for some small spoons and to peruse their placemats. I keep debating getting some to add a pop of color to our dinner table – what do you think?

The rest of the day was spent finishing the laundry and spending time with The Boy. Dinner was great – we had planned a “whatever you want” night, where we each picked something we don’t eat often. I had a hankering for some salmon, so that’s what I fixed.

Alongside some asparagus and a soft roll, it was a light but satisfying meal, and was immediately followed by several games of Magic. Tonight we tried trading and playing with each other’s decks. It was pretty fun – I think we played six games before we decided we were done playing for the night. It’s really easy to lose track of time when playing.

Well guys, it’s my bedtime, but I’ll see y’all tomorrow. G’night!

A Hint of Spring

2010-03-04T23:01:38-05:00

Today was busy, and as a result, went by pretty quickly! The Boy let me sleep in until almost eight this morning – I definitely needed the extra rest! I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to get my day started. Today was a rest day from the gym, and I was eager to fuel my sore muscles with a filling and healthy breakfast.

I whipped up two eggs with some milk and scrambled them with cheese. A peppery topping and side of banana completed this meal, which filled my belly. I love eggs as a protein source because they’re inexpensive, easy to prepare, and so versatile! I don’t cook with them often because they can unpredictably cause me belly troubles, but when I get a hankering for them they’re SO GOOD.

I was happy that today was sunny, and took time out at lunch to go for a walk and enjoy the sun. It’s starting to feel like spring really is on the way. I love how the world looks and feels this time of year. There’s something about the light that just feels and looks warmer – like new things are coming. I’ve been hearing birds chirping, too, something I haven’t heard since I went to Texas in December!

Today was a busy one for both The Boy and I, and our original plan for dinner was nixed when we both realized we’d be getting home on the late side. Instead, it became a fend-for-yourself night, and we each fixed what we wanted when we got hungry. I rustled in the kitchen for a little while before finally coming up with something quick involving leftovers.

A refried bean and cheese quesadilla. I know I make these a lot, but they are something that’s quick, easy, and versatile, and there are times when I can’t get enough of them. Last year, I went through a phase where I was having quesadillas of various varieties three times a week! This was crispy, ooey, and gooey, and satisfied my need for crunch. I enjoyed my tortilla triangles with a hefty amount of medium-hot salsa, yum!

After dinner, we settled in to watch some Grey’s and to play with the cats. Enzo has been begging us to play fetch lately, bringing us one of his fuzzballs over and over so we can throw it for him – it’s adorable! Maggie used to play with us and her favorite mouse like this – begging us to throw it so she could chase it and bring it back. I love how cute our fur-kids are when they’re playing, they can be so full of energy and never fail to make me smile.

Alright guys, it’s time for me to head to bed. I have a fun day ahead of me and need my sleep. I hope you had a great day and I’ll see you tomorrow!

From Breakfast to Dinner

2010-03-03T23:44:10-05:00

I can’t believe how busy I’ve been lately. The Boy and I have been spending a lot of time together in the evening, whether we’re just watching TV, playing Little Big Planet, or playing Magic. It’s nice, and we’re both enjoying the extra time together.

I’ve ended up making some changes to my day-to-day routine in order to have more free time in the evenings, and as a result, have moved my workouts to the morning. I love how quiet the gym is first thing, which makes it easier for me to get in and done in less time. This morning I worked through a weight lifting routine in about forty minutes time. Beforehand, I ate a yummy bowl of oats.

I went for cheesecake oats this morning, stirring 1/3 of a cup of cottage cheese along with some brown sugar into my oats as they cooked. A scoop of almond butter completed my bowl, which was sweet and tangy – it tasted like almond butter cheesecake! YUM!

This bowl of oats fueled me through my workout and most of my morning. I ended up snacking my way through the day, and eventually sat down to a hearty dinner with The Boy.

We fixed turkey with gravy along side home-fried potatoes and roasted asparagus and brussels sprouts. It was a quick and easy dinner that was full of satisfying flavor and texture. Delicious!

After dinner, we got everything together for tomorrow, played with the cats, and played a few games of Magic. It was a lot of fun, and I can tell that I’ve been learning a lot from how often we’ve been playing the game. I’ve been able to refine my playing technique as well as some of my decks, and I’m feeling more confident as a player.

Well guys, it’s bedtime. I’ll see you tomorrow! Night!