Apple Pie Oatmeal

For the first time all winter, today actually feels like winter. Since it was gloomy and a super chilly low of 60 degrees, I was craving a warm bowl of oatmeal. This recipe is extremely thick, filling, and naturally sweet. Stay warm little snow bunnies!

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Apple Pie Oatmeal
Serves 1

1 fuji or gala apple, chopped
1/2 cup whole rolled oats
1/2 cup milk of your choice
2 Tbsp chopped walnuts
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Chop apple and combine with rolled oats, milk, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer/boil, then cover and bring down to low heat. Cover and stir occasionally and until the oats and apple become cooked and liquid is absorbed. Top with chopped walnuts and enjoy!

Toppings: Enjoy with 2 tablespoons of chopped walnuts, or if you’re feeling crazy, try 1 tablespoon of peanut or almond butter!

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The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: apple
Whole Grain: rolled oats
Protein: milk
Plant Based Fat: walnuts (or 1 Tbsp nut butter!)
Free Extras: cinnamon & nutmeg

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I’m so excited and honored to be featured in Natural Delights free eBook “Nature’s Power Fruit” this month! Click through the image to download the free ebook featuring 5 recipes!

Health & Happiness
xo Catherine

Quinoa & Beet Kale Dolmades

Thank you so very much for your comments on my last post. You are all so beautiful and I appreciate you sharing your personal stories with me : ) Your support is incredible and I’ve never been so moved my complete strangers before. What am I talking about, I feel like I know some of you by now because I get to talk to you on Facebook and Instagram all the time! I just adore you guys!
Oh, and I just realized that I really need to update my fitness page since my routine has definitely changed from when I first started this blog. Working on that right meow!

To start the weekend off right, I made some Quinoa & Beet Dolmades made with Tuscan kale for the ultimate veggie snack! The idea was inspired by my friend’s mom who is a chef (she makes amazing Greek food)! Instead of traditional dolmas with meat and grape leaves, I changed it up with quinoa & kale! They’re so refreshing, I think you will absolutely love them slathered in hummus. The cooked kale wrap turned out awesome and I cannot wait to try this same technique with some more recipes! I hope you have an amazing weekend and eat lots and lots of rabbit food!

xo
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Quinoa & Beet Kale Dolmades
Serves 1

4 leaves of dinosaur/Tuscan kale
1/2 cup beets, grated
1/4 cup uncooked quinoa + 1/2 cup water
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp orange zest

Cook quinoa to package instructions. Fill a separate pan with water and bring to medium/high heat. Place washed kale leafs spine/stem side down in the warm water, cover, and soak for 10-15 minutes until the leafs become flexible (This will help you to roll the dolmades without the leaves breaking). Add grated beets, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, and orange zest to the cooked quinoa. After the kale leaves have become pliable, remove from the water and pat dry. One by one, place kale stem side up, add 2 Tbsps of quinoa mixture, fold edges in and fold tightly (like a burrito). Once all leaves have been rolled up, place them in a pan with olive oil and 1/2 cup of water. Cover and set to medium/high heat. You want the water and oil to simmer but not boil. Let the dolmas cook in the covered pan for 45 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of water at a time if needed throughout the process. Once the leaves have darkened, remove from the pan and transfer to a plate. Enjoy with hummus!

Note: I love these after the have chilled in the refrigerator!

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: kale & beets
Whole Grain: quinoa
Protein: none – enjoy with 1/4 cup hummus
Plant Based Fat: olive oil
Free Extras: lemon juice, orange zest, & balsamic vinegar

You’re only one workout away from a good mood!

Today I wanted to talk about exercising and the happiness that it brings.

I’ve never been a huge fan of working out. A few years ago, if you gave me the option of going to the gym or watching a movie on the couch, I would say “movie on the couch” in a heartbeat. I have to admit that I still have these moments, but they are far more rare.

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It can take a lot of energy and strength to get yourself back on track and exercising, but once you do, you are unstoppable!

I’ve recently realized that working out makes me a much nicer and happier person. No matter how hard my workout is at the time, or how much my quads are burning, or if my heart is racing so fast I think I’m going to die in spin class, it’s only an hour of my day. It’s only a tiny fraction of my day being uncomfortable and pushing my limits until I am in an excellent over the moon happy mood. And to be quite honest, sometimes I think of the men and women training in the armed forces for inspiration to push through. If they can survive bootcamp, I can make it through 1 hour of exercising!

Sometimes I spend too much time in my head and I am so darn hard on myself. I beat myself up for not being as “perfect” as others. The more I compare myself and my body to others, the more depressed I get. Comparison truly is the thief of joy. The only way to get out of my own head and stop comparing is to focus on me, and me only. How do I do this? I workout.

I love who I am after I workout. I love that my mind is clear and my thoughts are all positive. I’m proud of myself for getting to the studio and being there. I’m proud of myself for not giving up when I’m at my limit. I’m proud of myself for pushing through and completing the workout. I’m surprised and amazed by how strong my body is and what it is capable of accomplishing. I love that I feel stronger and stronger after each class. I am grateful for this strong body that I have worked so hard for. I am proud of myself, and that makes me the happiest.

In the past couple of weeks, I have really stepped out of my comfort zone.
I took my first ever pilates reformer class, I took back-toback spin classes, and I sat in the front row. I even did a two-a-day three-a-day completely unplanned because I felt so great and energetic! All of the above make me so happy and proud! Was I excellent at pilates? Heck no! I practically folded into a pretzel during one of the workouts. Was I ranked #1 on the leaderboard at spin class? Not even close! But I showed up, I worked my butt off, I never took a break, and I smiled bigger than ever before after that workout.

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I’ve realized that so much of my happiness comes from stepping out of my comfort zone and the feeling of accomplishment after I do so. As I have talked about before, I struggle with depression. But I don’t like who I am when I’m depressed. Last time I bought at circadianoptics.com a light therapy lamp to try to treat my depression, it helped me feel better. But no matter how comfortable I get being isolated from the world and in my own head, I know that’s not who I am. I’m loud, funny, obnoxious, extremely energetic, and full of life. And when I’m down, that’s my inspiration to get happy. No matter how deep down the rabbit hole I may be, I know that that Catherine is just peeking out from the top. No matter how awful working out may seem at the time, I know that as soon as I get on that spin bike and the instructor says my name that a little spark in me ignites and the happy me is there. Even when I think I can’t make it through, I know that fitness is 100% mental. That my body wont go where my mind doesn’t push it. My body hears everything that my mind says, so I must think of positive things and believe in myself that I can do anything and it will happen. It really will.

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It’s incredible how powerful the mind is, how strong our bodies are, and how a bad day can change from some measly little endorphins after a workout. I want to continue this routine that I am in because this is by far the happiest I’ve been in a long time, and it has nothing to do with my body. I say this with the biggest smile: I am so proud of myself! Instead of being down on myself for stupid little things, I am so proud of what I have accomplished. I am proud of being healthy, having a career that I love, and for pushing through the low points and lemons that life hands me.

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I am here with one purpose, to inspire you. I hope that today, you sign up for a group exercise class or something that you have been too afraid to try in the past. I often hear the same things from so many people about trying spin for the first time. “I’m so out of shape, I’m scared I won’t be able to keep up.” “Everyone in class is going to be so fit and I look so heavy.” “I don’t know what I’m doing.” If you have ever thought of any of the above before, let me tell you that none of that matters. NONE OF IT. No one cares what you look like, no one judges you for being in the studio and working out. Every single person in that studio has been in your position. Everyone there went to spin for the first time not knowing what they were getting into. Heck, half of the people might have been overweight or out of shape when they first started! Maybe that’s where their life changed and they fell in love with working out? You never know! No one at the studio is going to care what you’re wearing or what you look like. To be honest, they are probably too busy trying to make it through the workout to care or even notice! Step out of your comfort zone and go for it! After all, you’re only one workout away from a good mood.

Health & Happiness xo
Catherine

Oat & Yogurt Pancakes

I hope that everyone had a fabulous weekend!
Last weekend I was inspired to make a flourless high protein pancake, so here it is!
What’s better than warm hotcakes on Sunday morning?
Healthy hotcakes!

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Oat & Yogurt Pancakes
Serves 4

1 cup rolled oats
6 egg whites
1 cup Chobani 0% unsweetened Greek yogurt
1 Tbsp agave nectar (honey or maple syrup work as well)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp baking powder

Topping:
1 Tbsp peanut butter (or other nut buter)
1 tsp pure maple syrup

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Lightly coat a pan over medium heat with nonstick or olive oil cooking spray. Using a 1 Tablespoon measuring spoon, scoop batter into the pan. Once the batter starts to bubble, flip to the opposite side and cook through. Repeat for each pancake. Spray nonstick spray in-between each round to prevent sticking.

Note: 1 serving is 4 Tablespoon sized pancakes.

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The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: none – would be great with 1 sliced banana or 1 cup of fresh berries
Whole Grain: rolled oats
Protein: yogurt & egg whites
Plant Based Fat: peanut butter topping
Free Extras: vanilla & baking powder

Balela Salad

Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you: a healthy Middle Eastern dish!

I’ve been addicted to Trader Joe’s Balela Salad (Middle Eastern chickpea & black bean salad) for a while now. Balela is savory and tangy with a gratifying bite. Plus, thanks to the amazing plant-based protein and fiber, it’s quite filling. I’m pretty sure you guys are going to be hooked like I am!

It’s amazing on it’s own, but if you are following the Rabbit Food Pyramid, you can add some lettuce and tuck it into a whole wheat pita pocket, or serve over a bed of lettuce and quinoa!

Love my new bunny bowl that Brett gave me for Christmas! It’s so photogenic : )

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Balela Salad
Serves 1
1/2 cup chickpeas, cooked (I use Eden Organic – No Salt Added Chickpeas)
1/4 cup black beans, cooked (I use 365 Organic No Salt Added Black Beans)
1/4 cup chopped fresh tomato
3 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 cloves garlic
2 Tbsp cup chopped red onion
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 Tbsp chopped fresh mint
Pinch of cayenne
Salt & Pepper to taste

Rinse and strain cooked chickpeas and black beans. Chop, tomato, garlic, red onion, parsley, and mint. Combine together with the chickpeas, beans, lemon juice, olive oil, and apple cider vinegar. Add cayenne, salt and pepper to taste. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.
Note: This dish is best after the chickpeas have marinated for several hours of overnight.
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Make your meal RFFMBT Pyramid approved:
Serve over a bed of lettuce and quinoa
or
Add lettuce and tuck it all into a whole grain pita pocket!

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: tomato, garlic, red onion, parsley, mint (1 cup of lettuce if desired)
Whole Grain: None (1/2 cup of cooked quinoa – or 1/2 whole wheat pita pocket if desired)
Protein: chickpeas & black beans
Plant Based Fat: olive oil
Free Extras: lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, cayenne, salt & pepper

… I love rabbit food!

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