Green Coconut Smoothie

Today, instead of using my juicer, I decided to use my blender. I have found that when you use leafy greens in a juicer you don't get a lot of juice out of it. You have to use almost an entire bunch of kale to get a good amount of juice from a juicer. In a blender, you need only about 2 cups of kale. Here is the recipe for my Green Coconut Smoothie-

Ingredients
1 celery stalk, cut up
1 bartlett pear
1/2 cup red grapes
a couple slices of frozen peaches
2 1/2 cups black kale
handful of spinach
1 Amazing Grass wheat grass packet
1 11.2 oz Coconut water

Blend all ingredients together, adding the wheat grass packet at the end. Blend for another 20-30 seconds. Done!

Happy juicing!

-Kat

Oatmeal Chocolate chip cookies

For dinner tonight I cooked a meatless picadillo (I recommend Yves meatless ground round) and a ground chicken picadillo for my boyfriend. I made a white, basmati brown, wild rice, quinoa medley as a side with onion rings (the onion rings weren't homemade). Dinner was delicious and I ended it with some Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and a glass of almond milk.

First batch in the oven!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour

2 cups organic rolled oats

1/4 cup turbinado sugar

1/2 cup canola oil

1 tspn raw honey

1 tspn vanilla extract

4 eggs

2 tspn baking powder

2 tbsp coconut peanut butter

1 cup organic chocolate chips

1/2 cup crushed pecans

1/4 cup dried cherries

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In a large bowl mix all ingredients except for the chocolate chips, pecans and dried cherries.

3. After evenly mixed, add the chocolate chips, pecans and dried cherries.

4. Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls and evenly place on baking sheet.

5. Bake for 12-14 minutes.

6. Let cool for about 2-3 minutes and enjoy!!

Happy cooking!

-Kat

Orange and Green Power juices

The ingredients pictured made about 32 ounces of juice so it's great for prepping ahead of time. Ingredients in yellow are organic.
Ingredients
-1  whole gold beet, with stems
-2 cups cantelope
-1 whole sweet potato
-mint
-1 valencia orange
-1/2 small pumpkin
-2 handful spinach
-5 carrots
-a TINY piece of ginger root, peeled
-1/2 banana

After juiced, I stored in mason jars. I also added 1 tablespoon of chia seeds.

This Green juice is a recipe I found in an issue of Vegetarian Times. I used all the ingredients in the recipe and added mint and coconut water, 8 oz.
All ingredients I used are organic except for the lime and coconut water.
-Mint
-Persian lime
-Kiwi
-Granny smith apple
-Italian parlsey
-3 celery stalks
-TINY piece of ginger root, peeled
-coconut water

This filled one 16 oz Mason jar.


Happy Juicing!!

-Kat

Cranberry sauce and Sweet Potato Mash

Obviously you can tell by now I'm in the "Autumn" mood. I've been eating pumpkin any chance I can! I had leftover cranberries from the Cranberry Banana Oat muffins I made the other day so I decided to make Cranberry sauce for the first time! Here is a simple recipe-

Ingredients
2 cups fresh cranberries
1 cup water
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
1 tablespoon raw honey
cinnamon, as desired

Directions
1. In saucepan, bring water, sugar, and honey to a boil. Stir to dissolve.
2. Add cranberries, return to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer for 10 minutes or until cranberries burst.
3. At this point, add desired amount of cinnamon. You could also add blueberries, orange zest, raisins, nutmeg, allspice, etc.
4. Remove from heat. Cool completely at room temperature and then chill in refrigerator. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.





Now for the Sweet Potato Mash-

Ingredients

2 large organic sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed

1/4 cup almond milk

1 tablespoon organic maple syrup

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon garlic salt

dash of sea salt, dash of freshly ground pepper

organic green onions, chopped, for topping

Directions

1. Boil cubed sweet potato for 20-25 minutes. Drain.

2. In the same saucepan mash the boiled sweet potato. Add all ingredients except for green onions.

3. Mix all ingredients until completely even.

4. Top with green onions and serve!

The entire meal consisted of 2 Gardein breaded chik'n with marinara, sweet potato mash, cranberry sauce, and roasted garlic green beans. The green beans were simple. Cut the ends off. In a large bowl mix fresh sliced garlic cloves, green beans, sea salt, ground pepper, smoked paprika, evoo, and toss. Then put it all in a baking pan and roast at 400 degrees F for about 15-20 minutes.

Happy cooking!

-Kat

Pumpkin Green smoothie

I got inspired by @simplegreensmoothies on Instagram! She posted a recipe for "The Great Pumpkin green smoothie". I drank it with one of my muffins this morning. The following ingredients will provide enough for two 16 oz jars. Next time I'm going to use the pumpkin I bought! Just didn't have time to cut it up.

PUMPKIN GREEN SMOOTHIE

Ingredients
2 cups pumpkin (I used canned-short on time- 1 whole can)
2 cups organic spinach
1 organic banana
2 cups almond milk
1 tsp cinnamon
1 chai tea packet
1 tablespoon raw honey
1/4 cup organic rolled oats

Blend all ingredients together. Enjoy!!

-Kat

Cranberry Banana Oat muffins

Cranberry Banana Oat Muffins

This is a recipe that one of my co-workers gave me from Food.com. She brought me one that she made and I loved it!! I tweaked the recipe somewhat-


Ingredients
1 1/2 cup organic whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cup organic oats
1/4 cup turbinado sugar
1 1/2 tspn baking powder
1 tspn baking soda
sprinkle some sea salt
1 organic egg
6 organic banana's mashed, ripe
1/4 cup vegan buttery spread, melted
1 cup cranberries
(I added pumpkin seeds which was not in the recipe and also a dash of cinnamon)


Directions
1. Combine first six ingredients in a bowl.
2. Mix well.
3. Beat together egg, bananas and melted butter until smooth.
4. Add to dry ingredients.
5. Stir to blend.
6. Stir in cranberries just until combined.
7. Spoon batter into prepared muffin pan
8. Bake at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched.

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Happy cooking!

-Kat

some advice for that job interview

First, I will begin by saying that I had 6 interviews this week with potential candidates for my department. It reminded me of how LOST people are when it comes to resumes, applying, the actual interview, follow-up, etc. Here are a couple pointers, based on some of the mistakes I witnessed this week.

-PREPARE AN IMPECCABLE RESUME! It will be the hiring manager's first impression of you. I tossed about 15 resumes because they were ridiculous. Don't include an objective, it's cheesy and predictable. Do not put education before job history if you do not have a college degree. Don't leave out job's from your job history on the resume that you want to talk about in the interview. It feels questionable. Why didn't you include it? Lastly, do not put "References available upon request" at the end of the resume. The hiring manager will ask for references so have them available.

-DO NOT SHOW UP LATE! Being too dressed up is better than not dressy enough. Show up clean, sharp, dressed to impress this person. Look your best. Don't chew gum. Do not leave your sunglasses on your head.

-Be honest and interesting. Understand that you are not the only one applying for the position. Act like you want it! Stand out but don't talk too much. Answer questions genuinely. For the most part, if it's a good interviewer they can see right through your bullshit. Be clear and honest. Sell yourself but be slightly modest. No one likes a person that says they have no flaws.

-Do not talk about money, how times are tough for you, that you have a mortgage to pay, that you are a single parent trying to earn a living. Don't tell the interviewer your sob story. Be confident and sell yourself not your problems. Don't divulge too much personal information. Remember this is the very first time you are meeting this person.

-Be ready for any type of question. Don't let the interviewer catch you off guard. PRACTICE BEFOREHAND IF YOU HAVE TO!

-Lastly, do not pester the hiring manager. One follow-up call is enough. An e-mail is OK too. If they want you, you will get a call back. You don't want to look needy!

Don't forgot there are millions of people just like you looking for a job.

-Kat

thought about it....

I am going to cut back on the amount of fish I eat, to no more than 2-3 times a week. Dairy (mainly cheese, I don't like milk) and Eggs will remain in my diet. 

AND I'M OK WITH THAT. 

This morning I worked early and did not prepare any meals because I worked late last night. I stopped at this Bagel deli I discovered last week.. It's on Collins and 65th street.I picked up a caramel latte with an extra shot (my staple) and a power bagel(flax/pumpkin/sunflower seeds on whote wheat) with a fresh artichoke cream cheese. I asked the server to cut the middle out of the bagel (bagel thin!). I highly recommend this place if you are in the area of Miami Beach. They have fresh veggie and fruit juices/smoothies, homemade cream cheeses, wheat grass shots, vegetarian friendly sandwiches.

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.newyorkbageldeli.com/menu.html

I try my best to prepare my meals but if I can't I'm always on the prowl for healthy spots that serve whole foods, fresh. Any recommendations?