Kamoebas and Kale Chips

I was starving after work today, and was so excited because I knew I had crispy BBQ kale chips waiting for me in the D.

For some reason I didn't think they were as good as the last time I made them, but that didn't stop me from scarfing down three bowls. Whenever I eat kale chips I have an inner conversation with myself that goes something like this:

"Okay, this is the last one."

"I mean it, no more after this guy."

"Hey- how did that get in my mouth?!" 

"Oooh, look at all the seasoning on this chip!  I wonder how it tastes."

"Mmmm. Crispy."

"Better see if this one's as good."

"Nope- kind of gross.  I need one more to leave a good taste in my mouth."

"Seriously!  This is the last one."

I washed down my head of crisped kale with a Kombucha.  The kamoeba (I think the real name is scoby?) was impressively large in this bottle.  I hate it when you bravely attempt to drink a kamoeaba in one gulp and it tries to escape your mouth, suctioning itself all over your chin in the process.  

My other eats today looked something like this:

 

 (smoothie, curry pate on cukes, Raw Food Real World's buckwheat cereal w/ raisins and hemp milk)

Next up:  a huge dinner salad and, or course, a piece of banana cream pie. 

Question:  Do you eat or drink anything that others find revolting?  

Whining about Winelessness

This week I decided to go back to my pre-Christmas break policy of wine only on the weekends.  I don't think it's all that great for my body to have wine each evening, especially not the ten second pour that TH serves.

Well, it has been harder than I imagined.  The teenage natives who migrate through my classroom on a daily basis have been significantly restless this week, practicing pre-mating rituals like Pencil-Grab-and-Hide and Everyone Look At Me Because I'm Doing Something Funny.

I've found myself wanting to break my self-imposed rules several times, but I've managed to hold strong,  in part due to replacing my wine glass with a bottle of kombucha.

I find it interesting that the entire bottle of Synergy only has 4 grams of sugar.  It tastes so sweet to me.  Does anyone know how to explain this?

Now that I'm not drinking workweek wine, I can actually remember what I ate all day (just kidding!!).  For breakfast I had my usual green smoothie, which looks a little purple due to frozen cherries and chard. 

Lunch involved Russell James's Nut-Free Bread, veggies, hummus, and olive tapenade (recipes from Raw Food Real World).  

My pre-P90X snack was buckwheat cereal (Raw Food Real World again) and Pacific Natural Foods hemp milk (didn't have time to make my own).  

(old picture)

While making dinner, I ate my weight in greens (in the form of kale chips). 

Do a post-munch teeth check if you are eating these in public. 

For dinner I ate my normal giant salad, this time covered in hemp dressing from Delightfully Raw.

I'm thinking dessert will be mango sorbet.  

Question:  What kinds of rules do you hold yourself to?  Are they hard to follow?  

Viv Goes to Town, Part 1

Sometimes I wonder if Viv ever gets tired.  I made her earn her keep today!  (TH wants to buy me earmuffs,  to protect my ears.  I made him happy by wearing my earplugs.)

We had lovely smoothies this morning, chock full of chard, frozen bananas, mango, mandarins, spirulina, protein powder, and coconut oil.

Then Viv and I did our thang, getting yummies ready for the workweek and for dinner at a friend's this  evening.

I have good news to report.  The bread that I was so worried about yesterday tastes a lot better with toppings.  

Russell James's Nut Free Bread

Delightfully Raw's Tomato Sauce 

Russell James's Macadamia Mozzarella

Olive Tapenade from Raw Food Real World

Shrooms marinated in Bragg's, garlic, and EVOO

I also made two new-to-me kale chip recipes.  BBQ (yummmm) from Raw Candy and Wasabi  from Affairs of Living.  I was looking for something nut free and delicious and these two recipes delivered the goods.  I think I will use more wasabi powder for the second recipe next time.  (I know liquid smoke and wasabi are probably not totally raw, but neither am I!) 

Of course I took full advantage of the opportunity to make dessert for raw curious friends.  I went with the springform mode once again, layering a chocolate crust with caramel, avocado chocolate mousse, whipped cream, and chocolate caramel candies.  I think it's too soon to remove the springform, so I will return with a full bite by bite report tomorrow. 

I need to head out the door, so Vivian's escapades will be continued at another date.  Have a lovely evening!  

Question:  Have you ever accidentally started your lidless blender (full of liquid) with your husband sitting in exactly the wrong place?