Blissfulbritt | Page 66

- I Love Carbs
  
  Posted at 10:58 AM by Brittany, on June 15, 2012
  One of my favorite things about half marathon training is all the carbs I need to eat. These will be my main energy source and with the running I will be doing, I will need A LOT of carbs! Carbs are my friend, they always have been. Any excuse to eat more bread is a GREAT excuse in my book. A lot of bread has been made around my neck of the woods, and it continues to get better each loaf.
  
  A couple weeks ago I shared a beer bread recipe from a vegan cookbook I have, but this bread was a bit dense. It was good..edible..but definitely needed something to go with it such as a jelly or PB. I have currently been sinking my teeth into the most amazing beer bread, with two simple variations. One with apples and cinnamon, and one with banana and chocolate. The loaves didn’t stand a chance and were gone within two days. If you take anything from this post let it be this: go make this bread..as soon as you can. Make sure you have friends with you because you WILL want to eat the entire loaf.
  
  Vegan Beer Bread
  - 2.5 cups whole wheat flour
  - 1 tablespoon baking powder
  - 2 teaspoons salt
  - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  - 1/3 cup melted Earth Balance (I use the soy free one)
  - 1 bottle of beer
  Preheat your oven to 350F. Grease a loaf pan and set aside. Combine the first four ingredients, then add the Earth Balance, then the beer. Mix together and the base is done.
  
  -This is where the loaves can vary. To make an apple cinnamon loaf simply cut up one whole apple into small pieces and mix into the batter. Add a LOT of cinnamon..no measurements..just a LOT!
  
  -For the banana chocolate bread, using a banana flavored beer added extra banana flavor. Mash an old banana into the mix, and find your favorite chocolate bar to chop up. Add banana and chocolate to the batter.
  
  This is seriously SO easy to make. After deciding which variety you want pour the batter into a your greased bake pan and take brown sugar, cinnamon, and oats to lightly cover the top of the loaf. Pour a small amount of Earth Balance on top, and bake for 50 minutes.
  
  This bread is moist, flavorful, and a perfect snack on the go, or addition to your morning coffee. This bread doesn’t need anything except self control from the person eating it.
  
  Q: Have you ever tried beer bread with fruits and spices added to them like these two variations?
  | 27 Comments Tagged Beer Bread, Food, Half Marathon, Recipe
- Done
  
  Posted at 8:22 AM by Brittany, on June 11, 2012
  
  I am done. I am officially done, done planning my vacation for the end of August. I started this planning process on January 18th. This is a specific date that I will come back to in just a moment. My tickets are purchased, my hotel is paid for, and my legs will soon be ready for a lot of walking..and..running. Had I waited just ONE month after January 18th, this trip would not have been possible.
  
  For the past two years this has been a day dream of mine, a goal that I didn’t think possible for various reasons. Finally I pulled the trigger and said go. The preparation for this vacation starts today.
  
  A closer look..
  
  On September 2nd I will be running my FIRST half marathon!! This isn’t just any half marathon, I wanted number one to be special.
  
  DISNEYLAND!! I am so unbelievably excited. Race registration opened on January 18th and was SOLD OUT by February 19th. Had I waited, this would not have been possible. I have been sitting on this “secret” for a few months. I wanted my trip to be complete before sharing. Along with running the half marathon, I will be going to Disneyland and California Adventure two of the days I am there.
  
  I wish I was running with Snow Whites Manfriends. My only goal for the actual run is to get a decent photograph. I’m talking about the ones that the “professionals” take. I don’t want to look like this..
  
  Seriously..how does that even happen. This was the last 5miler I ran and I felt GREAT during this race, yet I look like a 70yr old dying woman about the throw up her crackers and soup. I can’t believe I even put this on here, I invite you to laugh because I sure as hell had multiple laughing fits over this shot.
  
  With that said, I have no time goals. I am running this race simply to get my foot in the door and see how I like running 13 miles. After this race the opportunities are endless. Why did I choose DL as the first one? Possibly because it’s the happiest place on earth, and because not everyone can say, “My first half marathon was at Disneyland.” I can’t wait to share more about the training process, and then the vacation itself! Stay tuned, and wish me luck!!
  
  Q: If you’re a runner, tell me about the first time you ran your longest distance. If you’re not a runner, tell me about an athletic goal you have, or have already achieved.
  
  | 56 Comments Tagged Disneyland, Half Marathon, Half Marathon Novice 1, Horrible Running Picture, Running
- NEWWW
  
  Posted at 8:29 AM by Brittany, on June 1, 2012
  New Food Find: Fiddle head ferns.
  
  These alien like claws of goodness have a very mild flavor (WHEN COOKED CORRECTLY!!) I boiled them until the gooey green stuff came off, and then drizzled lemon and pepper over them. They are crazy good for you and are comparable to broccoli and asparagus. This must be their love child. I purchased mine at Trader Joe’s, but you may be able to find them elsewhere..try them!
  
  New Eating Technique: Watermelon with a spoon.
  
  So here’s the deal, instead of making a mess on your counter by cutting this up, designate one half of a watermelon as “yours” and eat with a spoon whenever you want. I don’t advise sharing watermelon halves with anyone, this must be your own goldmine. Especially don’t share with your cat. Mine is creeping in the upper corner of the picture, you can see his paw. He goes crazy for watermelon. The empty watermelon half can be used as a hat, Frisbee, serving bowl, you name it!
  
  New meals: Green tea noodles, and pita pockets.
  
  ^^^ THAT was the best meal of the week. If you have never tried green tea noodles, go now. Something you must add to your bucket list. The texture and flavor are unbeatable. I used these noodles that I found at a local health store. I didn’t know what sauce to use, so I experimented with adding garlic, asparagus, onion and olive oil. It was perfect.
  
  Pita pockets stuffed with Punjab, cabbage, and an extra can of garbanzo beans. Asparagus is quickly becoming my number two veggie. Quick and easy meal.
  
  New Twist On Old Favorites: Gnocchi and Pad Thai.
  
  Normally I would douche my gnocchi with cheese, that’s not very vegan of me. Instead a basic homemade tomato sauce was used. It was just as delicious!
  
  What is Pad Thai without crushed peanuts? When discovering I had no peanuts to top my meal, I quickly improvised. Insert wasabi almonds instead. The extra flavor and heat was almost better than the peanuts! Almost..
  
  New Recipe: Whole Wheat Beer Bread.
  
  I recently received a new vegan cookbook from the wonderful Kelly. Inside was a recipe for beer bread that turned out great. It was quick, easy, and most importantly I was able to tweak the recipe to incorporate vital wheat gluten. This stuff is a goldmine and I have been trying to find decent recipes to slip this protein powerhouse into.
  
  Vegan Beer Bread
  - 2 cups whole wheat flour
  - 1 cup vital wheat gluten
  - 2 tbsp raw sugar
  - 3 tsp baking powder
  - 1 tsp salt
  - 12oz beer
  –Preheat oven to 375. Combine flour and other dry ingredients into a bowl. Pour in the beer and mix until a dough forms. Use your hands to finish combining the ingredients. Put dough into a well greased pan, spread the dough with your hands so it’s evenly distributed in the pan, and bake for one hour (or until you feel it’s ready!)
  
  Good, dense, hearty bread. That loaf up there had over 100 grams of protein. WOWWZA.
  
  That’s all I have for now.
  
  Q: Tell me something NEW that has happened to you, or that you have eaten.
  | 56 Comments Tagged New, New food, Recipe
- I Gave My Life Away To Eat More Food
  
  Posted at 9:36 AM by Brittany, on May 28, 2012
  Saturday I was able to spend the entire day with my dad. He was in town to pick up my sister, so I jumped in my G-ride and drove to Seattle to spend some time with them both. My thoughts of us sharing DNA have been confirmed, immediately upon arrival he wanted to grab a bite to eat. Not just a bite, a vegan bite to ensure I was able to eat. What a nice kid.
  
  We headed to a vegan Thai place called Araya’s. The menu looked like a High School math problem, so I decided on the buffet. This was not only the easier choice, but it allowed consumption of multiple different options. NEVER choose just one item.
  
  I have dreamt about that coconut curry in the upper left corner and the pad thai in the middle of the plate for the past two nights. I like my food hot, like..”nose running so bad your date would get up and leave” hot. Unfortunately I missed the spice table because I was too mind bogged by all of the food on my plate. This just means I have to go back and douche my plate with hot spices.
  
  This sugary crunchy mixture had lettuce and fried tofu. They had me at fried. This was delicious.
  
  After this meal, I ended up passing out due to over excited neurons in my brain. Too much good food too fast will cause this to happen. Information overload.
  
  I’m joking, I went to give a piece of my life (and my skin) and donated my blood for the first time. This is one of those rewarding, but painful experiences. Similar to finding relief after a few days of constipation. I have made another appointment for this week to return to the blood bank and retrieve the skin that was ripped from my arm. I have been mistaken thrice for having a flesh eating disease due to the loss of skin on my arm.
  
  No, that is not the Grand Canyon. This is the flesh wound from the size 16 needle that was shoved into my under sized vein. I was unable to give blood once before because my veins were “too small.” Why I went back for seconds I do not know. I am glad I did though, and once I stopped whining like a 6 year old child, the experience was rewarding.
  
  After giving my life away, it was time to see a movie. The Avengers. Good movie, lots of action, and not too long. I almost turned into the Hulk myself when the woman next to me (that didn’t know the meaning of personal space) kept coughing. I should have offered her a cough drop from the purse I don’t carry. All that action and loss of blood was one more excuse to get more food.
  
  Insert Stellar Pizza. Grungy college joint with more warmth than a heating pad. Loved this place. They won me over with their vegan pizza option that included sliced Yukon potatoes.
  
  Vegan version in front (half eaten because I lack patience) and same pizza in back with cheese on it for the non vegan meat eaters. I look forward to annihilating the small slivers that are left of the front piece momentarily. Twas a fabulous day. The only thing that makes good food better is good company.
  
  Q(s):
  - What’s the last movie you saw?
  - Ever donated ~~skin~~ blood?
  | 40 Comments Tagged Donating Blood, Flesh Eating Wound, Movie, New food, Thai, Vegan
- The Best Race I Ever Did Run
  
  Posted at 12:42 PM by Brittany, on May 22, 2012
  
  There has been minimal running talk here lately, but that does not mean it hasn’t been happening. I have been running twice a week, cycling twice a week, and whatever else helps to fuel my cookie addiction. Sunday I ran another race. This race counts as the May race for my, “one race a month” goal. This race was hands down the best race I have yet to run. Let me tell you why.
  
  Reason Number One: SWAG BAG!
  
  Now before you get your pants into an excited bunch, I did NOT run a marathon. I ran a 5 miler. The capital city marathon had three races: a marathon, a half-marathon, and a 5 miler. Due to the fact that there was a marathon and a half going on, this meant a real swag bag. None of those paper envelopes filled with a running chip and a race number. The shirt was a tech shirt, not cotton. I was in running heaven.
  
  Reason Number Two: Spectators, Water Stations, and Course.
  
  This was my sixth race this year, and this was the first time I really felt like a runner. There were people around every corner cheering us on, watching us, and giving us that extra boost of energy. Water stations were at every two mile mark, and I was able to snag some ~~electrolyte~~ SUGAR crack water each time. I didn’t get tired once. I wanted to keep running. The course was awesome. Through neighborhoods, and main roads..it kept winding so I never felt like I was running a straight away towards my death.
  
  Reason Number Three: My new 5mile PR.
  
  I’ve run 5 miles multiple times, always somewhere in the 10:00 min mile range. I never want to get too run happy and tire myself out. I tried to hold back in the beginning because the first half was almost all uphill. I held a comfortable pace and enjoyed every step. I ran a 9:38 min mile pace, and I finished 5.11miles in under 50 minutes which was my goal (and a new 5mile PR). Yay. I don’t have a picture of the PR, but it looked something like this.
  
  Everything about this race has kept me on a constant runners high. I had such an amazing time, and I didn’t even get food after the race (aside from some PB pretzels I stole from MF.) Normally I am more excited about the food than the run, but this time it was ALL about the run. For all you foodies that don’t get excited reading posts like this, I will leave you with this valuable food information. I polished off an entire box of cookies, two chocolate bars, enough spaghetti to feed all of Italy, PB sandwiches fit for Shrek, more chocolate, more cookies, and lots of gas worthy veggies– anything to get that extra push over the finish line.
  
  Q: What is the best swag bag you have received from a race, or from another event? For running, this was the best one. I have a new lunch bag and a comfortable new running shirt. From a different event, I once got a bag of womanly items like makeup and candy from a women’s expo. In that swag bag was a tongue scraper, to scrape your tongue and get rid of the nasty bacteria. I can’t live without my tongue scraper, toothbrushes will never do the job of the scraper.
  
  | 38 Comments Tagged 5 miles, Race, Running, Swag
- Inspiration
  
  Posted at 6:26 AM by Brittany, on May 20, 2012
  
  in·spi·ra·tion- The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, esp. to do something creative: “flashes of inspiration.”
  
  Not to be confused with the medical definition of drawing air into the lungs. Although, when I feel inspired I tend to get excited, which causes me to breath heavy. So I supposed they tie together in the end. Sesame Street inspired me to eat a lot of cookies throughout my life, and cookies make me draw LOTS of air into my lungs.
  
  I’ve been inspired, well more like someone I know has been inspired. After talking about purchasing a Barbie sized grill for a few weeks, I bought one! I think the grill party I had inspired me to take the plunge.
  
  Widdle baby. Perfect sized grill for a ton of veggies, and a couple bean burgers. This has been dubbed as the “veggie grill.” No animal meats will ooze onto this grill. The meal that broke Char-Broil Charlie in was veg-tastic.
  
  Grilled broccoli, Brussels, carrots, tomatoes, mushrooms, and onion. The veggie tray is perfect for grilling the vegetables.
  
  My favorite part about grilling is the lines that indent into whatever burger is made. I have officially been lined. That bean burger above was charred, lined, and attacked by my intestines. A new recipe including vital wheat gluten (protein protein PROTEIN!) was used, and I enjoyed it! I need to share my bean burger recipe soon! I was able to use some more Swiss chard from the garden to top the burger!
  
  Of course something sugary was needed before I went into shock. If I go more than 2 hours without chocolate I will pass out. I’ll give you a guess as to which banana is mine..the one with 4 pieces of chocolate. I don’t mess around.
  
  Since purchasing Charlie the Char-Broil (maybe someone else should name this one) I’ve grilled like crazy. Grilled pineapple that was soaked in lemon juice for an hour and then topped with coconut is life changing. Grill that now.
  
  Q: What’s the best thing you have grilled? That pineapple was seriously life changing. Pizza too.
  
  | 27 Comments Tagged Bean Burgers, Grill, New food, Vegan, Veggies
- The First Harvest
  
  Posted at 9:28 AM by Brittany, on May 14, 2012
  
  It’s about time I gave you all an update on my wine box garden. So far I am beyond pleased with how things have turned out. It’s been just about two months, and I’ve already harvested some of the goods! Here are some before and after photos.
  
  Onions
  
  Beets
  
  Carrots
  
  Swiss Chard
  
  The Swiss chard has amazed me the most! The wine boxes have seen better days, and probably wont be used again after this growing season. They have continued to do their job, and for that I love them! The remaining wine boxes (I told you I was hoarding them) will be used for shelving/decoration.
  
  The chard was getting so large in some spots that it was shading the little leaves below. Time to harvest.
  
  These will grow MUCH larger, but having a few right now was great. They were washed, cut, and mixed in with some lentils.
  
  It is so rewarding eating produce from your own garden, and this is just the beginning. I will literally pee myself when I eat my beets. I will probably cry too. It will be a messy moment.
  
  The beets and carrots have been thinned so hopefully they will grow into giant beet balls and carrot tubes. Everyone is invited over for a carrot,onion,beet,chard,garlic fest at my dinner table in another month or two.
  
  Q: Have you harvested anything from your garden yet? If you don’t have a garden have you tried any new produce lately?
  
  | 48 Comments Tagged DIY, Harvest, Produce, Wine Box Garden
- Virtual Vegan Potluck: Save The Best For Last
  
  Posted at 1:41 AM by Brittany, on May 12, 2012
  A few weeks back, I jumped for joy at the opportunity to take part in a vitrual potluck put on by the adorable Annie at An Unrefined Vegan. What a fabulous idea. I was given the option of making an appetizer, beverage, salad, bread, main dish, side dish, soup, or dessert. I’ll give you eight guesses as to which option I chose, this shouldn’t be hard. I chose dessert..shocker I know. Any excuse for chocolate is a great excuse. Besides, I like to save the best part of the meal for my ending bites. Dessert is last for a reason.
  
  I wanted to make something safe, but unique at the same time. Something I knew would taste good. This was no time to experiment and be left at the pot luck eating my dish alone in the corner. I want people to crave my chocolatey goodness! The dishes had to be vegan, which was no challenge for me. I knew exactly what I was going to make.
  
  Chocolate Chunk Cookie Topped Zucchini Brownies
  - 1.5 cups of raw sugar
  - 1/2 cup of melted coconut oil
  - 2 cups of whole wheat flour
  - 1/2 cup of cocoa (and then some)
  - 3 cups of shredded zucchini
  - 2 tsp of vanilla extract
  - 1tsp salt
  - 1.5 tsp of baking soda
  - 1 cup of chocolate chips/chunks (and THEN some!)
  - 1 cup of warm water to start, and gradually add a bit more (if needed) until mixture is wet
  - 1 package of “Oreo” style cookies. If you are a strict vegan and don’t want products made on a facility that shares milk and eggs then Newman-O’s are certified vegan. Otherwise you can use any other brand as long as no dairy is listed in the ingredients. Newman-O’s tasted off, so I would use Late July brand, or even Trader Joe’s chocolate vanilla Joe-Joe’s. Don’t buy them off of Amazon. Joe-Joe’s are $2.99 in the store.
  1. Preheat your oven to 350F. Grease an 8×11 pan and set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, combine sugar, coconut oil, and flour, combine until mixture resembles wet sand. While mixing, add cocoa, zucchini, vanilla extract, salt and baking soda. Mix until well combined. Add water (as much as you need) and stir in the chocolate chips.
  3. Pour brownie batter into prepared pan, crush cookies ontop, and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean and the brownies are set.
  Once brownies are done, you must eat at least half of the pan before completing a new task.
  
  Although, I like to wait until the next day when the chocolate chunks have set in and have hardened back to a thick chocolate. These brownies lasted all of two days.
  
  This is just the beginning of the dessert portion of the pot luck! If you want to see more dessert, or jump back to previous dishes click the photos below. These will lead you to the dishes before and after mine. Once you are on a new page you can continue to bounce from page to page by clicking the buttons! Have fun!
  | 45 Comments Tagged Brownies, Chocolate, Recipe, Vegan, Virtual Vegan Potluck
- Grill Love
  
  Posted at 8:40 PM by Brittany, on May 7, 2012
  It’s finally time. The grill has been dusted off and used for the first time this season. Browned veggies and crispy pizza make for an unbeatable combination. I went to a friends house to make some grilled pizza’s. We made these last summer, but they ended up burning on the bottom (I still ate every last bite.) After some research we found that the pizza’s need indirect heat, opposed to being placed directly over the coals.
  
  First things first, prepare the toppings. Grilled veggies, vegan sausage, and homemade pizza dough.
  
  There were 7 small/medium pizza rounds prepared, and there were 4 people. Not everyone gets two, but I made sure I had two. Normally I have to shank people to get two pizzas, but fortunately the host knows I throw away a lot of food. While the dough was setting we took part in some appe-teasers.
  
  Grilled peppers, grilled eggplant, and grilled oysters (for the non veggiebites.) Did I mention we used the grill? The eggplant was seasoned to perfection. After inhaling this produce, the main course was prepared.
  
  Two vegan pizza’s, and a garden fresh salad full of Swiss chard, beets, and tomatoes.
  
  If you haven’t tried a grilled pizza, I suggest you do this immediately. The flavor is unlike any pizza I have ever had. Be sure to indirectly heat the dough, and before applying any toppings quickly grill the side you’ll top to ensure crispy-ness on both sides.
  
  Perfect Piadine Pizza Dough
  - 1 active packet of yeast
  - Half a cup of lukewarm water
  - 4 cups flour
  - 1 cup cool water
  - 2tblsp extra virgin olive oil
  - 2tbsp salt
  -Mix the yeast, warm water and 1/2 cup of flour. Let dough rise, about 20 minutes. Add 3 cups of flour, 1 cup cool water, olive oil, salt, and start kneading the dough. Continue until the flour is mixed in, and then add the remaining 1/2 cup of flour as needed to produce a moist and soft dough. After a fair amount of punching and kneading leave the dough on a floured surface and let rise, about an hour. Once ready to use the dough, roll out individual pieces and let sit for about 15 minutes to spread out completely.
  
  This is some of the best dough I have had for a pizza base. Make this dough, and then buy a grill. Grill the dough and use it as a pillow. Do this because the dough is fluffy, and because it will make a great midnight snack. Hooray for foodie friend adventures!
  
  Q: Have you had pizza made on a grill??
  | 28 Comments Tagged Grill, Pizza, Recipe, Vegan
- Enjoy Life: Plentils
  
  Posted at 3:50 PM by Brittany, on May 3, 2012
  
  Whenever I hear the door bell ring I jump up like my toe nails are on fire. I run to the door faster than Shalane Flanagan at the Olympics. 9 times out of 10 the door is not for me, but that slight chance that it is, is enough to set sparks to my soul. The other day the door bell rang, and the door was for me. I opened up the box and found a rainbow explosion.
  
  Food..for me? Awww..whod’a thunk I’d be getting food in the mail. Such a shocker. This box of goodies was sent to me free of charge by the wonderful Alina with Enjoy Life Foods. This is my fourth review for Enjoy Life products and good golly, it must be illegal for an allergy friendly company like this to be so good.
  
  This time I will be sharing my opinion about a new product of theirs, Plentils! These savory little puffs of crunch are made from lentils. This means more bang for your buck in the nutrition department. No more greasy chips without any fiber, bring on the plentil for a guilt free snack with a punch to the colon (a good punch) thanks to natural fiber!
  
  Sea Salt
  
  This is the basic flavor of the four varieties. A nice salty flavor, but not too overpowering. These won’t cause your intestines to shrivel up like a salted slug.
  
  Dill and Sour Cream
  
  I am not a big dill fan, so I was afraid to try these. I should be ashamed of myself for ever doubting Enjoy Life because these were very good! The dill was detected, but not to the point where I felt like I was licking a tube of the spice.
  
  Garlic and Parmesan
  This flavor was my favorite, hands down. Perfect balance of flavors. Love love loved this one.
  
  Margherita Pizza
  
  I must admit this one sounded odd to me at first too, but once again..duhhlish. Due to the fact I am eating a vegan diet right now, it’s nice to know I can annihilate a bag of plentils and lick the sides of the bag clean to get my cheesey pizza fix. This tasted just like a forkful of basil, tomato, mozzarella and dough. Odd..maybe. Delicious..oh yes.
  
  How do you eat plentils you may ask yourself? Well I highly suggest eating them all at once. No, not the whole bag..but one of each..all in one bite.
  
  Just like that. Or, you can pair the plentils with one of these.
  
  Yes, both options would behoove you.
  
  So what’s the overall verdict on these crunchy lentil chips?
  
  Thumbs up from me! Please ignore the despicable phrase exiting the cartoon version of me..to heck with soy perhaps..but no, do not give me the tri-tip. I happen to be partial to that wannabe mullet I have, this could be a new look for me. That is all.
  
  Enjoy Life Foods are free of the top 8 allergies: dairy, wheat, gluten, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish, and shellfish! NO EXCUSES go try something from this company STAT.
  
  Happy crunching!
  
  | 35 Comments Tagged Enjoy Life, Review, Sandwich, Vegan, Vegetarian
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