Hodge Podge Update and a Recipe!

I'm baaaaaaack! (Don't worry I won't judge you if you skip all this writing and go directly to the pretty pictures and recipe at the bottom of this post!) Sorry I've been missing for a couple days but I didn't want to just throw up posts just for the sake of posting.  I don't like when I feel pressured/obligated/rushed to write posts!  For me blogging is something that makes me happy, and this whole blog is somewhat of a "happy space" for me.  So I never ever want it to turn into a source of stress.  Besides I think I owe it to you to put my best effort into all my posts since your taking the time out of your day to come over to my corner of the internet and read whatever I write.

That being said I still want update WAY more frequently than I did this week.  But sometimes life just kinda takes over...but I am very proud of all I have accomplished so far this week.

Things I accomplished this past week:

-2 group presentations
-1 paper draft (that now needs some MAJOR revising :( )
-Finished throwing and trimming about 6-7 bowls.  (Doesn't sound like much but for a beginner it is!)
-Glazed I don't even know how many bowls...many left to go...
-Turned in 2 ceramics projects.
-Finished my 50 hours of student teaching for the semester!
-Started my final for drawing (foreshortened self-portrait)
-Spanish LPE Interview
-Finished arranging catering and music for my upcoming receptions/events at the gallery (side note have I ever mentioned my work as a manager of a gallery? I have a reception tomorrow night so you'll probably learn more about this amazing job when I post bout that!)

Whew! I am so relieved this week is almost over!  So how did I survive this week?  Well I have to say I did NOT plan very well for this week.  But an impromptu stop at Target on my way home from student teaching on Monday really saved me.  I nabbed some fresh veggies and hair gel to make it through the week.  Really I could have done without the hair gel...showers were sparse this week.  My homemade deodorant really proved itself though!

Anyways my eats for the week are as follows...

Scrambled eggs literally everyday for breakfast, these babies never fail me.  Add a bunch of veggies and dump truck load of salsa and your good to go.

Mega Salads took over my lunches. (Well and that family size tub of hummus in my refrigerator is getting surprisingly low...)  The salads were basically whatever fresh veg I could get my hands on tossed into a bowl.  There were some massive salads this week...and I am so sad that I realized/noticed grape tomatoes cost $2.99 for a tiny pack.  I refuse to ever buy grape tomatoes again at that price no matter how delicious I think they are.  Looks like I'll have to learn how to grow them in my apartment!

I have also been eating many many many lunches/dinners or both out of tupperware...

Cheese totellini creations.  Yum yum yum.  Whenever I get stressed my carb cravings go through the roof (and when I don't work out too) and cheesy carbs were about all I wanted to eat this week!  This is definitely NOT a low impact choice in any way shape or form.  The ingredients list on these tortelinis is atrocious, they are exensive, and heavily packaged.  Oh and the pasta sauce came out of a jar too, but it's Paul Newman...so that's about as good as it gets for food in jar.  What can I say? Sometimes I'm far from perfect.

Especially since I forgot to photograph the amazing cheese tortellini dish I made the other day. It consisted of wilted spinach, peas, broccoli, and chick peas, then it was DOUSED in pasta sauce.  It was also consumed in under 30 seconds. It was also probably twice the size of my head.  What can I say? Ohh I know, my jeans feel really tight after this week...

And of course it wouldn't be a stressful week if I didn't rely heavily on my old favorite standby to survive- tuna salad!  Really I could never be a for real vegan for two reasons, tuna salad and eggs.  They just never get old...or expensive. 

Now do you see why I didn't update the blog this week? You would have cried tears of boredom and never bothered to come back ;)

My hectic life isn't over yet though, I have lots of bowls to glaze tomorrow and on Monday and lots of paper writing and flashcard making + studying to do this weekend.  But for tonight I am going to give myself a little break to celebrate the small victories of this day.


The main victory?


I worked out today.  Yes my past 2 weeks have been so hectic that before today I had only managed to workout ONCE.  Nothing makes me crazier than not being able to work out.  I think I have posted about this before, but workouts = major stress relief for me.  I'm pretty sure this is because I grew up in the country and instead of watching t.v. I played outside and then all throughout Elementary, Middle, and High School I was always in sports.  I think I just learned to rely on sports as an outlet.  Anyways this reliance on activity means not working out = frazzled, stressed out Claire.

But today I had the best workout I've had in a really long time, taking a break from working out always makes me appreciate it about 10 times more.  So what made today's work out so effing spectacular??

It was outside.

And I ran. Outside. NO stupid treadmill.

Not only did I run. Outside. But I ran 6 miles.

You should see the rosy glow that is currently emanating from my cheeks.  I am the picture of health at this moment.  I am so surprised I could still manage a 6 miler after not running forever.  (I don't count my pitiful 2 mile jogs on the treadmill as running...I really hate the treadmill despite my efforts to make it work, but it's just nothing, actually worse than nothing, compared real running!)  Today while I was running I remembered why I have huge thighs, because they are amazing and can do anything.  Like run 6 miles out of the blue.  Thank you thighs for being large and charge. Please never change because I love being a sports nerd far too much.


Of course after that athletic feat I was starving, so I decided to make a millet recipe...I wanted to make it on Sunday to feed me for the week...but laziness is, sadly, a trait I posses.


Why millet? Well it is about the only grain I have left in my cabinet and I was inspired by this article that was in a magazine I read while I was on the elliptical at the gym this past Sunday.

 Ohh yes Millet, you are marvelous...

Coconut Curry Millet

Ingredients:
1 cup millet
2 cups water
1 tsp curry powder
2 tbsp Coconut Oil
1/2 medium onion, chopped
2 stalks celery
1 cup lentils
2 cups water
1 tsp Cinnamon and Curry Powder
1/4 tsp Ginger
Salt to taste
Raisins for topping

Coconut Vinegar Dressing
2 tbsp Vinegar
1 tbsp Coconut Oil

Directions:

Toast millet in 1 tbsp coconut oil.  While millet is toasting bring 2 cups water and curry powder to a boil.  Once millet is toasted transfer it to the boiling water, bring to a boil once again, and then let simmer until all the water is gone.  About 15 to 20 minutes.  While millet simmers add 1 tbsp coconut oil to a heated medium sauce pan and add onions and celery.  Saute until onions are translucent.  Add lentils remaining spices and 2 cups of water, bring to a boil, them turn the heat down to a simmer.  Simmer until the lentils are soft.  There shouldn't be too much water left in the pot, but if there is more than about 1/2 cup of water drain the excess.  Mix the vinegar and coconut oil to make the dressing.  Add the cooked millet to the lentil mixture and stir well, add the dressing.  Add salt to taste and top with raisins.

What an easy recipe.  Although I had some issues with it.  Overall it is not bursting with flavor and I considered not posting the recipe becasue although it is good, and I'm sure I'll make it again, I just felt like something was missing from it.  Yet that didn't stop me from going back for seconds...and then snacking on it from out of the fridge.  I couldn't stop eating this!! So I figured it was worthy of a post even though it's not completely perfect. 

For some reason I had the urge to put Maple Syrup on top of this creation...I didn't because I thought that was too weird.  I think it would probably be PERFECTION with a yogurt dressing.  But I didn't have any in the fridge...ah the hard life of a college student.  Next time I make this I will definitely test out a different dressing for it.

As is it's still a great salad to make and take to work/school for lunch!

Of course I played with aperture(focus) while I waited for the millet and lentils to simmer.  Loved this combination of spices! Definitely another winner.  I want to learn how to cook more authentic Indian food though...I'll definitely have to do some researching and cooking over Winter Break.

 Looks like I sat at a table and ate this dinner live a civilized human being, right?

Wrong I ate it sitting at my very messy desk and while running around cleaning my room and calling caterers.  Haha at least my work for the day is now all done!


I am now off to watch the Christmas Glee episode...seriously I almost skipped writing this post to watch it.  But I love this blog a little too much to leave you hanging like that.

I'm glad to be back, I missed this blog a lot!  I think it has become both a creative outlet and a stress reliever...I'll have to keep that on mind and plan posts ahead of time during my next stress filled week.

Until next time! (and by that I mean tomorrow I hope)




What have you accomplished this week?