pOp it uP

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Thanks for the feedback on yesterday’s post about feeling Type A and/or Type B.  I used to definitely be 90% Type B up until grad school [age 22].  It started to go more towards Type A and right now I would say I’m about 70% Type A, 30% Type B….give or take 10% either way.  It was interesting to read that a lot of you consider yourself both as well!  It is nice to be lazy sometimes unless your “to do” list is haunting you in your head.  I find it feels SO good to just get the things I hate doing the most.  I still struggle to actually DO them, but when I finally carry out my most dreaded tasks, a huge weight is lifted and I feel refreshed!

Our house progress is coming along.  Not much left now.  Just have to put away a bunch of little things, clean the bathrooms, and mop the living room and entryway.  Not too shabby.

Lunch yesterday included my Delicata Squash.  I smashed it on my open faced samich and put some on a salad.

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The first few bites of the samich [squash + avocado + cucumber + swiss cheese + sunflower seeds] were good, but then the squash kind of got to me.  I scraped it off the sandwich but liked it a lot more on the salad.  I LOVE cucumber!!!

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Oh the little things….I forgot what a delicious + satisfying snack this is.  I buy brown rice cakes [only TWO ingrediens] and top with a little pnut butter. mmm mmm mmmmmm

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For dinner, I asked Chris what he felt like.  He said “buffalo!”  I haven’t cooked meat in 3 weeks and felt like it was time.  Chris is enjoying a mostly non-meat lifestyle at this point too.  I don’t have plans to become a vegetarian, but we’ll see what happens.  I’m just doing what feels natural. 

So then I asked…”what should I make with the buffalo?”  He said “meatballs!”  It was the perfect opportunity to work on one of the “mini-bites” Kelsey and I will be preparing for 24, 24, 24 on SATurday!!!  I have never made meatballs with buffalo before and was a little concerned about them drying out.

A few great things about buffalo:

  • It is local to Colorado and about $4.99/lb at WF
  • They grind it a few times a day, so it is always fresh
  • It is much leaner than Beef [less fat + cholesterol]
  • It is about 30% higher in protein than Beef
  • Higher Iron content than Beef
  • Buffalo are raised much more ethically

Baking the meatballs in a mini muffin pan kept them from drying out!

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You will never guess what ingredient I included in these!!  You’ll find out when I post all the recipes this Sunday!

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They were REALLY good.  I used 3/4lb of fresh ground buffalo and it made 24 mini meatballs. 

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Steamed brocc.

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Meatball samiches!  This hit the spot!  We’re doing something really fun with the meatballs for this Saturday…stay tuned!

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So, I solved a problem we’ve been having.  Lately, Chris + I have been popcorn crazed.  I know microwave popcorn isn’t the best thing and I try to limit using the microwave as much as possible.  I do buy organic microwave popcorn…but I’m sure it’s still not great.  Also, our MW seems to be doing a terrible popping job.

Solution: Buy a bag of kernels and make on the stovetop!  HElllllloooooooooooooooooo – SO.easy.

Only about 20-30 un-popped out of 1/2c of kernels.

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We bought organic Arrowhead Mills kernels and I looked up a recipe here at Simply Recipes.  The directions worked PERfectly.  It only took a few minutes and the taste difference was incomparable.  I added garlic powder, salt + pepper to the oil before popping and it evenly distributed the flavor.  Next time I think I won’t add quite as much oil.  It was a tad oilier than I wanted and there was definitely NO need to add butter to this at the end.

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We devoured it :)  1/3c unpopped kernels comes out to 170 cals, 5g protein + 7g fiber!!  Pretty good, right?  I tend to eat a smaller portion for dinner because I usually want a snack later on in the evening.

Breakfast this morning was good but did NOT top yesterdays layered oats. 

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Do you like my new spoon?  My mom got it for me at World Market [one of my FAV stores].  It reminds me of the Nightmare Before Christmas :)

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  • 1/3c oats
  • half vanilla almond milk + half water
  • cinnamon
  • 1t chia seeds [simmered in at the beginnning]
  • 1/2 banana

topped with:

  • Artisana, cacao bliss [10% off!] shavings
  • Justin’s organic chocolate pnut butter [I just realized this is a local Boulder company!]
  • fig jam
  • the rest of the banana
  • yogi cereal

With a side of Peppermint Creme coffee + Coconut creamer.

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Off to finish the house + work on the blog!  Happy humpday people!

~Ashley