Tag: Peanut Butter

• Early Morning Confessions

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on April 27, 2017

  1. I had a coffee date with a woman I met through pet sitting last week, and she is such a gem. She gifts me with things each time I watch her cat and on our date she gave me a card with ten euros inside for my upcoming trip.

  

  2. I get overly excited when I enter a bathroom other than mine and find the toilet seat up. To me this means the bathroom was freshly cleaned (usually at 6am when I arrive at work) and mine will be the first fanny of the day to grace the seat.

  3. I have been trying to get back into a running groove lately, and had a few runs last week that really made my soul sing. I managed a 5 miler that I didn’t think I had in me. Proof that whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right.

  

  4. I’m writing this to kill time before my bimonthly massage. I’m anticipating the jello like state my body will be in post rub down. The woman I see is a magician. Update: this massage was so good I couldn’t think straight.

  5. I have some kind of OCD when it comes to containers of food. Specifically nut butter jars. I need the sides clean of product as the jar is used. I do not like when there is butter all up the sides when the jar is half gone.

  

  Possibly hard to tell, but the top of the PB must have an even line. Minor residual remnants at the top are OK, but clumps are no no no.

  6. I’ve had this song on repeat. Tell me, would you dive with me?

  7. One of my runs last week was along the water. In the pouring rain. After a 15 hour work day. It was awesome. 

  8. I watched La La Land for the second time, and it was just as depressing as it was the first time I watched it. The end makes me feel sooooeemmpptyyy.

  9. I’ve been riding the veggie train haarrrddd lately because they make me feel good. I love when I share photos with my friends and their reply is, “looks good, but where’s the protein?” Then I proceed to school them.

  

  Legit this plate of plants has over 35g of protein. Thanks for the concern though. 😉

  10. Asparagus pee. That is all.

  Q: What’s your confession?

  

  | 61 Comments Tagged Early Morning Confessions, Ireland, Peanut Butter, Plant Based, Run, Running, Vegan

• One Day Detox

  Posted at 7:14 AM by Brittany, on February 9, 2015

  My fat consumption has been through the roof the last few months. Before I go any further let me just say I have NO problem with this, and all my fats come from things like coconut oil, avocados, nuts, nut butters, a scoop of granola here, and a handful (or three) of flax chips there. However, “healthy” fats need moderation too.

  

  Chocolate avocado pudding with full fat coconut milk anyone?

  When I take the time to wrangle in my sugar beast, my cravings for all things fatty increase. Makes sense as both have equally addictive properties. I’m not knocking fats OR sugar, but I will say (healthy) fats are a better choice than the typical sugar I consume. After noticing some extra bloat and gas I knew I needed a one day detox.

  

  Don’t worry cashew friends, I’ll be back.

  SO last Thursday I avoided my typical healthy fats. No avocados, no nut butters, no hemp seeds, no granola, and no coconut products whatsoever. Post 4 mile run I ate some protein oats with berries and some chex. I need crunch, it’s a texture thing.

  

  Aka second breakfast.

  I had an apple and a snack sized pack of edamame around 1, but you’d have thought someone was putting me through a drug detox once the clock hit 3PM. I ate a normal lunch/dinner (I like to eat reaaalllyyy early, but I also wake up really early) of kimchi, a giant salad, and more edamame. I also had some chips with a lower fat count, but my typical fatty treat was skipped, ignored, left in the dust. ABANDONED. 

  

  I couldn’t stop thinking about the peanut butter in the fridge. Or the ice cream at the store. OR the chocolate bars I passed by at World Market a few hours earlier. It was ugly. I combated these feelings the only way I knew how.

  

  

  Sugar. With a bite of a bran muffin.

  

  Even my muffin is frowning. Or spewing a mango, you decide.

  I wanted to roll around in a pool of peanut butter. I could feel the cats judging me from their shiny tub, but I ignored their cries to mingle and party. It was their fault I needed this detox! I’m 100% addicted to peanut butter, and not in a good way.

  When it was all said and done I still had some gut bugs doing somersaults in my small intestine. Turns out it might not have been the fat, but instead the cupcakeicecreamcookieCATSANDfats over a couple days. A combo effect.

  I also blame the kimchi, those probiotics don’t mess around.

  Q: Do you ever find yourself needing a one day break from a certain food group? Does peanut butter count as a food group? Because we’re going on a break. 

  

  | 90 Comments Tagged Detox, Fat, Food, Peanut Butter

• NO MORE CATS

  Posted at 6:27 AM by Brittany, on February 5, 2015

  This week I’m spending some quality time with this guy.

  

  I’m house sitting until the 13th, which means I will be hanging up my crazy cat lady apron and going on multiple daily dog walks instead. I house/dog sat this guy back in October so we’re already lifelong friends. House sitting meant making a trip to TJ’s.

  

  That’s all I bought. Just kidding. I wanted to highlight/share the new hemp seeds they’re selling. Fantastic purchase. I also picked up the usual 15 lbs of produce, along with a new to me treat. When I worked at TJ’s I was in charge of the cookie order (go figure right) yet I never actually tried these cookies…until now.

  

  These chocolate cats are pure evil, they’re straight from Satan’s bowel movements. I cannot stop eating them. The tub has 15 servings and I ate HALF the tub in two days. As if it couldn’t get any worse I also thought this would be a good idea…

  

  …it was not. The PB jar is also half gone in two days.

  

  The cat made me do it.

  No more cats. NO, get them away from me.

  There is one positive outcome from this gluttonous cat adventure I embarked on. Both days I ate the cat/pb combo I had insanely good energy for my evening spin class. I could hear the cats crying as they dripped from my pours. That sounded gross, sorry.

  Seriously though, I’ve never ended a spin class with a higher watt (power) output than I had at the beginning. So maybe the cats can stay…no…yes…no.

  Moral of the story: do not purchase cat cookies when you’re house sitting alone.

  Q: Have you tried these cats? They also make them cinnamon flavored….

  

  | 72 Comments Tagged Cats, Peanut Butter, Trader Joes, Vegan

• One Pot Veggies Spice and Rice (Noodles)

  Posted at 6:37 AM by Brittany, on June 4, 2014

  I have somewhat of a love/hate relationship with peanut butter. I love to dip my spoon into the jar more times than I can count on two hands, but my waistline hates me for it. It’s a tough life I tell ya.

  
  I haven’t had a jar of PB in my house in months, sometimes when I look in the mirror I don’t even know who I am anymore. Instead, I’ve been embracing almond butter in all its nutty glory. I have a bit more self control when it comes to the AB variety, but just a skosh.

  To honor my “just a little bit” mindset with nut butters lately, I made myself an Asian themed meal – all in one pot. Just a little bit of flavor, and just a little bit of almond butter. Full of vegetables, vegan, AND gluten free, but no one would ever notice the lack of meat or milk.

  

  Before cooking.

  Pad Thai has always been a favorite of mine, but I don’t tend to like restaurant versions because they are much too high in sodium. I hesitate to call this Pad Thai at all though because the nutty flavor is much too mild (I did up the amount in this recipe after making it.)

  Instead I’ve channeled my inner child and put my rhyming skills to good use. Veggies-Spice-Rice…because all three are abundant here.

  

  

  I’ve seen these “one pot wonder” meals around the interwebs, but I’d never attempted to make one. I don’t know what took me so long because something this easy should be done over and over again.

  One Pot Veggies Spice and Rice 

  Adapted from Apron Strings Blog

  

   

  Ingredients 

  • 16 oz rice noodles
  • 6 cups water
  • 3-4 large cloves of garlic, sliced thin
  • 1 tblsp tamarind paste
  • 1 tblsp soy sauce (I used two of the sample packs)
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes, or cayenne pepper
  • 2 inches of a ginger root, cut in 1/4 in pieces
  • 1 large carrot cut into large strips
  • 1 red bell pepper cut into strips
  • 4 green onions cut in half, and then into 2 inch pieces
  • 3/4 cup sliced almonds
  • 1/4 or 1/3 cup almond butter (depending how nutty you want it)

  Optional addition: 1 med/large jalapeno WITH seeds for extra spice.

  For topping at the end of cooking

  • cilantro
  • juice from 2 limes

  Optional topping (which I highly suggest): dry roasted edamame for an extra protein boost. However much you desire per serving.

  

  Directions

  1. Place everything except the cilantro and lime juice into a large stockpot. Cover and bring to a boil.
  2. Reduce heat and let simmer to cook for about 10 minutes. Stir the mix every couple minutes to avoid any sticking.
  3.  Once liquid is evaporated to your liking remove from heat.
  4. If you like salt and pepper season to taste. I didn’t add any.
  5. If you want to, remove slices of ginger. I left mine in because I love the sharpness of ginger.
  6. Stir in cilantro, as much as you feel is needed, and juice from the limes. I also topped my bowl with more cilantro.

  

  After cooking.

  Notes: I used all water in this because I like “mild” flavors. If you want to use vegetable broth instead use 5 1/2 cups of broth and 1/2 cup water. The tamarind paste helps give this a sweet/sour flavor.

  

  Prepping the veggies took the most time, but even this was a quick process. The entire meal was smooth and fast. I served this over a bed of steamed kale, because I always need more green.

  

  

  

  I find great joy in taking the extra time to make something like this. It was a nice break from my usual “quinoa and veggie” mix. 
  

  

  Behind the scenes cell phone shot.

  Q: Do you ever find yourself dipping the spoon one too many times in the nut butter jar? I already know the answer for most of you….

  

  | 47 Comments Tagged Almond Butter, Gluten Free, Peanut Butter, Recipe, Vegan, Vegetables

• Sometimes

  Posted at 11:26 AM by Brittany, on April 29, 2013

  Sometimes I take pictures that make me feel really freaking awesome. I pretend I am a professional feline photographer for a feline magazine. I call this, “Dreaming of a better life.” In reality though, he is really spoiled and comes home within 20 mins of being let out.

  Sometimes I edit pictures that make me feel really freaking weird.

  This is what my cat would look like with a human face. Or so I assume. I couldn’t decide on which one to post so I posed three different versions. I think I like the goober, simply because it best describes my inner personality.

  Sometimes I fight my cravings for cupcakes and satisfy my sweet tooth with something easy and quick. It’s never the same, but the sugar rush is similar.

  Adult version of ants on a log. Minus the log. Sub chocolate for raisins  So really this is nothing like ants on a log..scratch that all together.

  Sometimes I surprise myself with a good run. 6 miles at a 9:31 pace is about a minute faster than my average pace. I’ll take it. Still undecided if I am going to run my third half marathon next month though..I take it day by day with my knees.

  Sometimes I get wild and give into my cravings for what I really want and build myself ONE cupcake. If I make more than one, I eat more than one. Problem solved-bake one.

  No recipe for this yet, it still needs some tweaking. It did satisfy my craving though..so job well done funfetti like cupcake. I made a sprinkle cupcake to celebrate the missed birthday of my blog. Oops..I forgot that last week was my two year blog birthday. I can’t believe it’s already been two years. I should have known with a first post like this I would be here for a while. The weirdness hasn’t changed, I can tell you that much.

  Sometimes my family makes me smile.. OK more like a lot of the time. My younger sister has started an art blog. If you like to draw and want to participate in her contests check her out over at: Order of the Pencil. YAY! I wish I could draw, but really my skills are as bad as a monkey trying to sing. My talents include twisting my arms to look like Frankenstein and making faces that would frighten small children. I’ve been blessed.

  Q: What’s your “sometimes” for the day?

  

  | 64 Comments Tagged Cats, Cupcake, Family, Peanut Butter, Random, Running, Vegan

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• BRITTANY- Self proclaimed minimalist "granola" striving to maintain a balanced, healthy life with good food, long hikes, strong relationships, exploration, lots of broccoli, and laughing like it's my J.O.B. Currently living and working in Germany, join me on my adventures abroad!
• Contact: blissfulbritt@yahoo.com

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