Hi Bloggie Friends! How was your weekend? Did you do anything fun or exciting? I began packing for the move back to San Diego. Nothing like a bunch of dusty random things like extension cords and light bulbs and my drawers-full of kitchen gadgets that all needs to find it’s way into boxes. Oh the joy.
Snapshot of my world this weekend: Packing up all my kitchen appliances. Since I’ve moved at least 10 times in 10 years, I am smart enough to save the original packaging from appliances now, since I know in just a few months, I will likely be moving again. I don’t relish moving, but it’s just worked out that way.
Note the Bullet and the Blend-Tec are Getting Packed. The Vita I will keep with me. Shotgun, front seat; I would never relegate my lover to a moving truck. Mama Pea and I both have our lovers favorite appliance. If you missed my not-so-subtle review post of the Blend-Tec vs. the Vita, Click Here.
So you can see where all my disposable income has gone the past few years and what I did with all my “spare time” this weekend…haha!
And that was just the half of it. I also tackled the master closet which is 99% mine. Scott has a tie rack in it. Everything from purses to shoes to racks of bras that I never wear anymore because I live in $16.99 sports bras from Target all needed to get packed. My hands are literally cracked and raw from struggling with packing boxes. Moving is such hard work! Manual labor at it’s finest.
And because I wasn’t already exhausted from carrying boxes up and down the stairs and packing, I also hit the gym, hard, because my fitness show is just 10 days away! I am really excited to just do it already! As I said here, I don’t plan to “do” anything differently in terms of diet and exercise that what I am doing now, and would mostly be doing anyway, so that’s easy. Eat right, train, rest, repeat. I have a meeting with my trainer tomorrow to discuss tips for the day of the show. Everything from the schedule to tanning re-touching people to spraying down with Pam cooking spray. Oh yes, how fun for me to look slick-n-shiny. I wonder if Pam is vegan. Kidding!
I omitted my Highlights of the Week Posts as I said I would be doing because they are just too time consuming. But here is the Post Title and One Recipe or Event per day from last week. I was bitten by a few creative recipe bugs last week and want to refresh your memory.
Tuesday:
Big Announcement: Moving, Photoshoot Dress Pics, Toughing It Out or Giving In?
Wednesday:
Roasted Coconut Ginger Peanut Butter Carrots, Blogger Meetup, Online Ordering, Saying Goodbyes
Thursday:
Quesadillas with Raw Vegan Taco Nut “Meat”, Roasted Corn, Donate or Pack Rat, Which Pictures to Post
Friday:
Naturally Nutty Give Away for 5 Winners!!!
Saturday/Sunday:
Photo Shoot & Modeling Photos
Ok that recap only took me a few minutes, not hours. Yay!
I wanted to touch on the outpouring of supportive and wonderful comments and sentiments about my Photo Shoot and Modeling Pictures I Posted. Not gonna lie, it takes big balls courage to post pictures of yourself, in a bikini, on the internet. I was a little worried that there were going to be some nastygrams left in my comments but apparently my Disclaimers worked. Whew.
I asked you which photos were your favorites and
But you can go check them out for yourself and tell me what you think!
Thanks for telling me your favorites because it helps me decide on which photos to put in my portfolio.
Thank you all for being such great readers and friends and for being so supportive! I went to many of your blogs and commented back thanking you for your support. Some of you I emailed, some of you I replied to in my own comments. And, thanks to everyone who de-lurked and commented for the first time. Yay for that! And to everyone, Thank You for The Lovely Comments…they made my weekend!
As I have mentioned recently, my blog is about life, not just food. It’s a lot more fun for me, and I’m sure for you, to talk about “life stuff” rather than just roasted corn! This post proved you all are more interested in life, too! I’m pretty sure this was my most popular post. The second most popular being my post on Abs & How to Get Them: Tips, Tricks, and Tough Love.
Moving On…
With all the hot weather we’ve been having here, it was time to create another version of Vegan Softserve.
Some Previous Softserve Receipes Ideas….
My Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip Softserve
Vegan Vanilla Chocolate Chip Softserve and Sundaes
Today’s Softserve…
(with a nod to Gena, our resident Softserve pioneer)
I saw a recipe on Kenzie of A Healthy Purpose‘s site that had me intrigued. I added a lot more sugar and coffee and chocolate and chocolate chips and sprinkles made some changes and this is what I came up with.
Averie’s Vegan Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Coffee Softserve
3 Previously Frozen & Chunked Bananas (freeze in chunks)
1/2 c Coffee (better if it’s been refrigerated)
1/2 c Cocoa Powder (use more if you can still “taste” the bananas and don’t want to)
1/2 c white sugar (you can also reduce, omit, use lucama powder, stevia, agave, maple, etc. If using a liquid sweeter, do not add any other liquids to the recipe, i.e. water or nutmilk)
1/2 c Chocolate Chips (or more if you prefer. Or try carob chips, cocoa nibs, white chocolate chips, sprinkles, etc.)
Optional:
Splash of Water or Nut Milk only if needed for blendability/smoothness or increase coffee amount
1+ Tsp Vanilla Extract
1+ Tsp Coffee Extract
Combine all Ingredients In Blending Device except chocolate chips
Combine everything except the Chocolate Chips
I happened to have this on hand. I would never buy this product just for this recipe, but it definitely adds a nice touch. Really imparts a strong coffee flavor without having to use more actual coffee. You could also brew espresso if you happen to have an espresso maker.
Note for Vita Users: Blend at a Level 2-3 for about 10 seconds just to break up the banana chunks. Then blend at a Level 8-9 for about 20-30 seconds or until incorporated. Do Not Overblend and Do Not make the mistake of blending on too slow of a gear, i.e a Level 2-3 after the first 10 seconds or so have elapsed, because you will overheat the machine.
If you’re adding Chocolate Chips (1/2 c), I recommend hand stirring them in after incorporating the softserve as to not pulverize them. I was also feeling frisky and included chocolate sprinkles (1/3 c), too.
Good Stuff! The coffee and chocolate flavors were both present, but not over-powering. If you like a really rich, extra-chocolately ice cream or really want a stronger coffee flavor, increase those ingredients to taste.
And dare I mention that Skylar was clamoring for the Coffee Softserve. She’s 3. Three year olds are not supposed to like coffee. I wonder who she gets her affinity for coffee from? I guess she must be a chip off the ole block.
It didn’t really wind her up any more than her usually spunky and energetic self.
Not that I give my 3 year old coffee all the time or anything, though! This happens to have been the first, and only, time. And for the record, I find a few spoonfuls of vegan softserve with a mere 1/2 c of coffee in the entire batch to be a far less “offense” than Fritos or Coca-Cola or most of the food served at 3 year old birthday parties. Birthday parties are a minefield. Tread lightly through the neon-colored HFCS cake frosting!
Yoga Today is Astavakrasana
Gym & Weights Workout Today from my Tab: Day 1 – Legs
with extra Ab work: Crunches on Ball, V-Up’s, V-Up’s Holding Medicine Ball, Twisting Crunches using Medicine Ball, Hanging Knee Lifts Straight Up and Down and then Alternating to Each Side, Incline Situps
Tip of the Day: My Naturally Nutty Give Away for 5 Winners!
Each Winner Picks His/Her Own Flavor AND Can Choose from 1 Large or 2 Small Jars of Nut Butter!
Questions
1. Best thing you ate or did over the weekend?
Me = Crazy as it sounds, getting my kitchen 85% packed was a great accomplishment. Now I just have 2000 more square feet to work on. Fun.
And Skylar randomly telling me, “You’re the Best Mommy. You make sure everyone is happy and healthy.” At 5pm on Sunday after a weekend of ridiculous hard work, she somehow knew I needed to hear that, as I was embarking on preparing the 17th snack of the weekend and cutting up yet more fresh fruit and veggies. What a sweetie!
2. Do you like coffee-flavored things?
I actually love coffee and am just so-so on coffee-flavored things. The opposite of my girl, Jessica, who doesn’t love coffee but loves coffee-flavored items. What about you?
3. If you drink coffee or tea, what age did you start drinking it at?
I have memories of being a small child, maybe 6 or 7 and drinking Earl Gray tea with a little milk and sugar in it. I started drinking coffee in high school but didn’t really get truly hooked til my mid 20s. My dad has told me stories that he started drinking coffee as a boy. Growing up in the midwest with brutal winters, that was one way to stay warm!
4. Have you ever worked a manual labor job? What was it? Did you like it?
The moving process always renews my appreciation for those who make their living from the sweat of their back. I used to work in restaurants and bars and it’s hard work carrying all those heavy dirty dishes, empty beer bottles, dirty ashtrays, heavy plates with half-eaten food. I have appreciation for anyone who earns their living in a manual labor job. There was something really satisfying for me knowing that I physically worked for the money. What hard jobs have you held? Or what’s the craziest job you’ve ever had?
5. Do you get nervous for things? Or experience anxiety, stress, or worry leading up to big events? Are you a worrier?
Some people have asked me if I am nervous for my show? Or nervous for the move? No, I’m not nervous. I am a planner, an organizer, and an orchestrator, which is just exacerbated when you become a mom. As long as I can mentally plan and prepare I am fine and don’t get nervous or tense about it. Usually am so over-prepared well-prepared for things that I would just like them to get here already and get on with it already! I hate waiting around for “big things” when I am ready to go. It’s the waiting game that can give me anxiety sometimes because that’s when my overactive-won’t-shut-off-brain can run a little wild.
Do you get anxious, nervous, or stressed surrounding big events? What’s your strategy to cope and to reign yourself in, so to speak?
I am off to the Gym before the childcare closes at 11am and packing the rest of the day!
Stay Tuned For Something of mine that was Published…