scrape it clean
October 13, 2010 Wednesday, already? Eeek!! I have a fun mid-week announcement! I’m going to be blogging, once weekly, for City Sports!!! You may remember that I recently blogged for them a few times. The response was great, [thanks to a lot of you, I’m sure] so they want me to continue with a once-a-week post. I couldn’t be more excited. :)
And now to the food.
Something new! Sort of. Oats in a homemade nut butter jar. Way better than the plastic pnut butter container! I was always concerned about putting really hot food in those jars, too. I picked up a few glass jars, like the one below, from Crate + Barrel. I love storing nut butters in them. The jar is nice + wide, which makes for easy knife or spoon scraping. :)
There was only about 1T left. I was about ready to plop it on my oats, when I realized the oats should go IN the jar instead.
Uh, yum.
I had to add another plop of nut butter on top! It’s hard to see, but it’s on the spoon and is my roasted maple cinnamon almond butter. [my absolute fav]
There was 1/2 banana in the mix but sometimes I like putting the other half on top as well. The banana texture works really well with the oats. Also crumbled on top was mandel bread!
Partaay in my mouth. My finger may have helped scrape this jar clean.
This morning I was out early for a swim. When I do go for a morning workout, I typically split my breakfast in 2. The first half of breakfast was a Nature’s Path waffle + nut butter + 1/2 banana. The 2nd half was this amazingness below.
Just when I thought the butternut squash smoothie couldn’t get any better…it just did. I tweet Gena nearly everyday to thank her for creating the original recipe.
So what made this extra amazing?
Sweet mashed potatoes. Yup. Monday, I noticed 3 medium sized sweet taters that were close to going bad. I popped them in the oven at 400* for 1hr. Then I let them cool for awhile. Then, into a bowl they went with about 1/2-3/4c plain almond milk. I used my immersion blender to get the mixture perfectly creamy [skins on]. Then, into a tupperware and into the fridge! I figured I could eat it throughout the week with lunch.
In a smoothie, this worked amazingly. It was much thicker + creamier than with pumpkin or butternut squash. First make the sweet mashed taters and then make this smoothie. You will be happy, I promise.
Sweet Tater Smoothie
- ~3/4c sweet mashed potatoes
- 1/2-1c milk or water [I was out of almond milk today, water worked fine]
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 3T hemp protein powder [or your favorite]
- handful of ice [optional…I like mine just slightly cold, so I leave the ice out]
- 1/2-1t cinnamon
- 1t fresh grated ginger [or 1/4t powdered ginger]
- 1t vanilla
- few shakes of nutmeg
- Blend away!! Add more liquid, until desired consistency is met.
FRESH ginger made a huge difference. I looooved it!! The hemp protein works really well with these pumpkin spiced smoothies because it has a bit of an earthy flavor. You don’t notice it alt all in this smoothie.
Monday I went on a 1hr 30min bike ride. It was awesome. We’re finally out of the 80 degree days and into the 60’s. My average speed was just over 15mph and I rode about 23 miles. After biking, I did some upper body strength training + crunches at home.
Today, I was feeling a bit sore from the lifting and my legs were a bit tired too. I didn’t have a goal in mind for my swim, so I just started.
Here is how it went:
- 100m warm up
- 500m freestyle – feeling a bit tired
- arm + leg stretch in pool
- 250 breast stroke – my legs are really tired!
- switch back to freestyle for 250m – feels better, arms still tired, probably stopping soon
- switch to backstroke – feeling SO much better – made it 500m
- 250m breast stroke – feeling better
- 250m freestyle – feeling great!
total workout: 50 minutes, 2100m, 1.3 miles
I think my body was stretching out for the first half of the swim. I really felt great once I started backstroke.
And then this happened.
This is how you build a nutrient dense, delicious, filling sandwich. Calories? No clue. My main concern is refueling with healthy fats, protein + fiber, after my workouts.
Building a hearty lunchtime samich
- First, get a really cute plate from your sister-in-law [thanks Natalie!!].
- Then, snag 2 pieces of hearty bread + toast them. I used Ezekiel.
- Then slice 1/2 to a full avocado.
- Then, cook 1-2 eggs, with my pour, poke + spread method.
- Top one side of the bread with tomato paste.
- Spread your favorite salsa on top.
- Add a dash of salt.
- Cut.
- Tear into this delicious creation!
A few suggestions on how to make this lovely thing at work.
- Pack 2 slices of bread in tupperware.
- Slice an avocado but leave it in the shell. Wrap tightly with saran.
- Hard boil some eggs at the beginning of each week. Take 1 to work with you that day. [Make sure it’s in a sealed container, in the fridge, or your coworkers might hate you.]
- Mix 1T tomato paste with a scoop of salsa and store it in a small tupper ware container.
- Toast your bread at work [if you can] and top away!!
Vegan? Don’t like eggs? Take some chickpeas, white beans, black beans, or your bean of choice and smash about 1/2 cup of them with a fork. Stick in tupperware and use in place of the eggs.
CHOW.down.
Anyone watch Parenthood? I am loooooving it! :)
Night!
Ashley
Recipes, sandwich, smoothie, sweet potatoes in nut butters
Reader Comments (61)
Your food always looks so good! I'm going to have to try doing oats in a jar soon. It looks like a fun way to eat them.
yep - we watched Parenthood tonight... love it. :) Do you watch Modern Family?? HILARIOUS.
that sandwich looks SO good !!
I have been wanting to start watching Parenthood, but can't find it anywhere online!
Great idea with the jar. I can't wait to make my own peanut butter soon but I gotta get through this jar of so-so Jif first.
I love Parenthood!
How could you go wrong with all of those amazing actors? Peter Krause and Lauren Graham are amazing...I am a huge Six Feet Under and Gilmore Girls fan, so loving them was a given...but I love them all.
The story line is going well. My favorite show currently, I think.
In other news, your sandwich looks fantastic!
Fabulous sandwich! Avocado really goes well with everything :D
Parenthood? hm, I have to check it out...
i need to find those jars at crate and barrel!
Those oats look amazing. Well actually all the food does!
I had almost the same kind of sandwich the other day! Just on an English muffin. I love eggs and avocados! Alright, your swim sounds incredible. Can't wait to read what you'll come up with for City Sports. So good chatting with you last night!
That sandwich looks incredible!
Congrats on the new writing opportunity!! That is so awesome. Are you still working at Whole Foods? I haven't heard you speak of it much and I was just wondering.
Wow, you've just elevated this smoothie to an entirely new place. Sweet Potatoes in the drinkable form? Now that is genius!
I just don't even know where to start with this post. OIAJ, smoothies, sammies? Where have you been my entire life, Ashley? And why must you live in Colorado instead of Chicago?
Congrats on the gig-that's awesome. I totally agree about the dangers of putting super hot food into a plastic jar. I try to use glass storage containers as much as possible.
I've been drinking a lot of pumpkin smoothies this fall (amazing!) and you may have convinced me to try a sweet potato version.
That nut butter treat looks amazing
I loooove Parenthood!
Your pics are always so beautiful! Inspiring!
I heart Parenthood! I look forward to it every Tuesday!
I love Parenthood as well. It always makes me laugh.
Congrats on the City Sports gig.
yum!! congrats on the new blogging adventure! :)
The sandwich looks amazing. I was staring at the photo wondering how I could vegan-ize it, then I scrolled down a tad and discovered you already did the thinking for me! I know what I'm having for lunch today.
I love hearty sandwiches like that. Yum!
And I'm also into Parenthood. I can't wait to watch this week's episode. it likely won't be until tomorrow night though. :(
I'll second Modern Family. I cry-laugh every episode!
And I think the idea of bringing each piece of the sandwich to work separately and assembling there is great. I usually do that so it doesn't get soggy.
Congrats on the blogging gig! Exciting :)
And now I want that sandwich. I think that needs to happen this week! And a pumpkin smoothie.
I also love those working glass jars....grew up with them and of course bought my own after realizing I missed them so. They always remind me of the bonne maman jam jars as well. Pretty exciting about the city sports blog...I was a big fan of that place in college in boston when running cross country. They saved me many times when I needed fuel mid-run and cold weather running gear.
Yum, that does sound like a delicious smoothie! The sandwich too of course. I might have to try it for lunch with my already opened tomato paste jar!
Only you could make OIAJ look like art! :)
Ah, long time no comment from me, but here I ammmmm! And I've got VFF photos to send you!
I've got to try the egg/avocado sandwich...yesterday I had this weird craving for guacamole and barbecue sauce...it didn't work out. Haha. Too many conflicting things going on there, but I am totally intrigued by egg + avocado! Mmmm...
Congrats on the gig with City Sports! That sandwich looks amazing! I really need to find a GF bread that I like.. I've been really picky but am REALLY starting to miss sandwiches!
i love sandwiches like that---and that smoothie looks great! thanks!
That sandwich looks delicious, I love the combination of eggs with avocado and salsa. Yum yum yum!
It's nice to see another swimmer in the blog world! :)
Awesome news about City Sports!
Also I hate, no despise, oatmeal, but that creation up there looks pretty tasty. I'm chalking it up to your amazing photography and nothing else. :)
OIAJ = <3333
I just made a sweet potato smoothie the other day! It was almost identical to yours, except I used silken tofu to fluff it up a bit. http://cleanteenkelsey.com/2010/10/02/shaking-into-fall/
That sandwich looks really good. If I hadn't finished the last of my avocado yesterday I would've definitely made it for lunch!
I've also been feeling the swimming lately!
After today's swim I think I need to make some more nut butter :P
Wait wait so the nut butter is homemade too? That's a genius idea. I'm not keen on the idea of putting hot oats in a plastic container either. Good solution girl!
Yummm I want to eat all of your food!
I love Parenthood to :) I am sooo going to grow up into the perfect soccer mom.
I just made the sweet potato smoothie, and I loved it. I'm usually not a fan of bananas in smoothies, but the flavor isn't pronounced, and the texture is perfectly pudding-like. Next time I'm going to try Chinese Five-Spice or chai spices instead of the cinnamon and nutmeg.
Congrats on blogging for City Sports!
I never would have thought of a sweet potato smoothie. MMM!!!
Andy and I are obsessed with Parenthood. Such a fantastic show!
I love Parenthood....!! It's one of my favorites.
Ashley, CONGRATS on the City Sports blog news! So exciting :)
I am going to keep an eye out for those glass containers at Crate & Barrel.
The sandwich looks divine - eggs & avocado are such a delicious combination!
That sammie looks like perfection on a plate !Love it!
I read your blog this morning and I couldn't think of anything besides an avocado and tomato paste sandwich for breakfast. I also love adding hummus to these guys. Something about the hummus and tomato paste combo is sooo good. I was out of hummus, though, so I did chickpeas like you suggested. It hit the spot.
That is so exciting about City Sports! You are so very talented, my friend!!!
And the smoothie looks amazingly delicious. I LOOOOOVE sweet potatoes and pumpkin AND bnut squash. But sweet potatoes are my favorite!
Ok your blog is seriously one of my FAVORITES I wish I could live viacriously through the foods you eat. They are all so unique and incredible!! I want taht sandwich and the oats, and your homemade nut butter
I LOVE city sports!! thats where I get all my workout gear here in boston!
SO I know you're a super busy gal, but I just wanted to throw this out there. If you made a calendar with your gorgeous food pics, I would buy it!! And if you sold prints, I would buy those too!
Genius! I need to add avocado to my eggs sammies!
I loved loved loved this comment!
Calories? No clue. My main concern is refueling with healthy fats, protein + fiber, after my workouts.
Brilliant and the sandwich looks amazing!
Thank you for your fresh, healthy approach!
Wow that sandwich looks incredible. Thanks for revving up my appetite in time to grab some stuff to make dinner!
Thanks Kel :) and, you're very welcome!!
I'm already working on setting up a store with prints to buy....calendars are a great idea!! Thanks Marlow!
Naomi!!! You are way too kind. Thank you so much. This really means a lot! :)
Thank you my dear, hehe. You must try the smoothie!