quick bake revisited
November 8, 2011 First things first.
I’m a liar! I was not officially done posting about San Francisco, as stated yesterday. Here are a few straggler photos.
A completely random “salad” from Mijita, at the Ferry Building. While I could have done without the cilantro, the rest of this dish was outstanding. The grapefruit and avocado combination was better than expected, especially with the light lime dressing. The crunchy jicama and roasted pepitas added great crunch.
We were a little confused as to how many tacos was in 1 order, and unfortunately there was only 1. This was one of the best, if not thee best, veggie taco I’ve ever had. The corn tortillas were soft + fresh. The beans were not a pile of mush and the salsa was smoky and perfectly spiced. I could have eaten four more.
And this is what the Bay Bridge looks like when it’s catching a little sun! Maybe next year I’ll actually get over to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Sarah + I headed out for another fun adventure. We managed to make it to Leland Tea, with only a wrong turn or 2. I’m pretty sure if I lived in SF, a gym membership would be unnecessary with all of the walking!
Not much will beat sipping vanilla black tea, on a chilly afternoon, with a very dear friend.
I wanted to steal the spoons.
And the tea mugs.
And Mama Pea!
Now on to the rest of this completely random post.
Why am I showing you a photo of our office / linen storage room?
Because after returning from San Fran, I made a realization. I have had a list of things I’ve wanted to start + finish for way too long. I mean, who doesn’t have this list?
There are a few things I am trying to tackle that are career oriented, and I have just not been able to START. I think starting is the hardest part, especially when you know it’s not something that will be finished in a day, or even a month.
I also realized, in order for me to start those things, there are other things I need to finish first.
Now, how many times will I say the word “things?”
Things that have been looming over my head for months. Like….since we moved into our house, in April. Annoying tasks that literally bug me every.single.day.
Now that is just dumb. I’m letting little things bug me every single day, that I can easily fix. Now I know why I get headaches.
I cause them myself.
Simple solution. Tackle annoying list of things.
As mentioned Monday on Twitter, I am deeming November, Get Shit Done Month! #getshitdone
I am sick of annoying myself. And guess who can make that change?
Things have to get worse, before they can get better. See below for proof.
I have already crossed 5 BIG things off my list, and only a few more to go. I can see the light and it feels so good. Accomplishing this list will clear my mind and let me tackle the really important career goals, I’ve been meaning to start.
The open shelving was cleared and moved to the porch. Our porch is enclosed and currently acting as storage for our pint sized house. I completely organized and consolidated the porch. You can actually find things now! I moved the nightstands from our spare bedroom to the office for linen storage. They were too big for the spare bedroom and even though they don’t look fabulous, they function much better in this room. The photo below is not the end “look” of the space, but it’s fine for now!
Another HUGE task was emptying our file containers and recycling 85% of the old papers + records we didn’t need.
The dogs did nothing to help.
I also relabeled every single folder, with duct tape. Worked like a charm and so easy to read!
You have no idea how good it feels to have reorganized our files. THIS has been something that I’ve needed to do for over one year. After reorganizing, all of our random stacks of paper + mail had somewhere to go. Instant satisfaction to see piles disappear!
Dakota was happy to see her file folder first in line.
Next up? Getting things done in the kitchen. While this isn’t nearly as painful as the office tasks, I’ve been meaning to revisit a few recipes. One being the vegan, microwave buckwheat bake. Since discovering that plain flax meal works much better than a flax egg, I’ve wanted to go back and rework my list.
Starting with none other than a chocolate version.
This bake is much lighter + cakier in texture than the original. There is no gumminess or gooiness to be found.
I don’t find it necessary to add sweetener, but as always, adjust to your liking. In the past day + a half, I’ve made this 3 times. 3 times the exact same way. The recipe is a bit simpler and a bit better than before.
I’m not sure how long I’ll keep up with this “get shit done” mentality, but I’m going to ride it out as long as possible.
Because it feels so good.
Quick Cocoa Buckwheat Bake
- 1/3c raw buckwheat flour [ground from raw groats]
- 2t ground flax meal
- 1T unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3T unsweetened applesauce
- 5T nut milk
- 1/2t vanilla extract
- 1/2t cinnamon
- 1/4t baking powder
- In a small bowl, mix the dry ingredients together.
- Add in applesauce, milk, and vanilla and stir until smooth and just combined.
- Lightly grease a microwave safe bowl [mine is about 4-5” diameter], pour the batter into the bowl and evenly spread.
- Microwave for 1min 30sec – 2min. [mine took 1m45s]
- Loosen the edges, flip onto a plate + pile on the toppings.
*In my older versions I always added 1T raw buckwheat groats + 1T chia seeds. You can definitely do that here, but also add 1T extra milk.
*I don’t like things too sweet in the morning, so the peanut butter was a perfect topping for me. Add honey/maple/sucanat if desired.
Now what are you doing, to get shit done?
Ashley
p.s. If you’re not sick of me yet this morning, hop on over to Emily’s blog at Daily Garnish, where you’ll get a little bit more.
Recipes
Reader Comments (78)
PRAISE THE LORD for microwaveable breakfast food!!!! Wuv you. Your dogs are kind of adorable. Anddddd girl, that's how it is up here in Syracuse -- or should I say, Stairacuse, Upstairs NY.
I like that you said this"
"I’m not sure how long I’ll keep up with this “get shit done” mentality, but I’m going to ride it out as long as possible.
Because it feels so good."
YES it does feel sooo good!
Congrats on a successful weekend, a meetup, a great choco micro bake (I'm all about the micro bakes too) and for reorganizing your files. THAT is a project that has got to feel great. I need to tidy mine, too. Ugh.
Hah! I hadn't named my month but it's basically a "Get Back on Track" kinda month. Good on you organizing the papers. That's what my hubby is for. I hate doing it.
Also, I've been trying the buckwheat bakes recently and I love them! I've done the cocoa banana, banilla, and french toast ones so far but only in the oven. I think I wanna try one of the cocoa ones in the microwave next. Try out the different texture. Thanks for such great breakfast ideas Ashley!
I am definitely with you on this. I am going away in January and December is going to be it's usual haphazard self I am sure, so I am also trying to get through my list this month. I am trying to get rid of as much stuff as I can part with, selling, donating or throwing away. I started it in that sort of prodding away seeing how much there was to do a few months ago, so now I am trying to take action and tick it off before I head off. I am finding music helps be very much!
I love the idea of November being 'get shit done' month. I have a free day this weekend and I'm going to try and get some sort of sense of order back into my life!
Hi Ashley! I recently found your blog and wanted to say hi - I am from Boulder, CO but live in Norway now. Love it here but totally miss Boulder sometimes...and whole foods :) Anyway, your blog is great and those veggie tacos looks awesome!
That taco looks and sounds absolutely amazing. I probably would've had to order more...that one looks tiny.
Always love the buckwheat bakes! They are one of my fave breakfasts and I usually make up 2 or 3 at a time so I have them "just in case."
November is also my "get shit done" month - started working through the list and it feels great! Good luck on yours!
We moved in to our house in June and I am also in operation get shit done! I ordered a dumpster yesterday which should be here sometime today, I can't freaking wait to fill that bad boy with all the crap accumulating in our garage!!!
Ya gettin stuff done month! And protein packed nutritious buckwheat sounds like a dreamy way to power through your day! looks delicious!
Did you know it is virtually impossible to find buckwheat groats where I live?? I have looked EVERYWHERE! I think I am going to have to look into ordering online.
i
am
in.
i have a ton of shit to get done!
I love your mantra for November! :)
I have never had a quick bake but I keep seeing your recipes for them, I'll have to give it a try, it looks so good!!
I love getting shit done and crossing things off my list! It is the best feeling to get things accomplished. I totally know what you are saying with you have to get one thing done before starting another sometimes. I am like that with the kitchen and office, I need organization before making another mess!
Yay, for crossing things off your list!! :-)
I have those exact tea mugs! And a matching tea pot! Love them :)
The organizing looks great and always feels so cleansing after its complete.
The tacos... I order tacos every time they are on the menu (given they are GF), and these ones look better than any kind I've had. The tortillas look so pillowy and soft, yum!
I love that there are so few ingredients in this recipe!! When you grind the groats, do you have some chunky pieces, or is it smooth? I don't know if my blend has enough power to make it smooth... Have a great day!
Getting organized can just feel so good right?! I love when I finally get something organized that had been hanging over my head for a while.
That cocoa buckwheat bake looks INSANE...especially with the melted nut butter on top! :)
this is the second post i've read this morning from someone who has been being very very productive lately. it's motivating! congrats on getting so much shit done. ;)
I so understand needing to get shit done. I woke up yesterday with a fire under my butt and tackled so many little tasks around my house that have needed to be done for waaaaay too long. Feels nice :)
I'm also really happy you made a quick version of the buckwheat bake. I love the other ones, but I don't always have time to bake them in the oven in the morning. So, I'm totally trying this recipe tomorrow morning. Thanks!
i bought paint a year and a half ago... we just started painting a few days ago! my goal is to finish the last two rooms by thanksgiving. good luck to us all!
Totally in the same situation! And this is exactly what I'm doing as well, getting shit done. It's taking time and we're doing stuff each weekend but things are getting done. Whew! I hate clutter and it was making my brain feel cluttered as well!
My get shit done list all surrounds the fact that there is half an unused couch in my dining room, the other half in our living room which I use as my office and therefore these 2 rooms are like storage bins. I want to get shit done and reorganize, make them nice, etc. but I need my husband to get the damn couch out first! So annoying b/c he doesn't seem to care. I'm pretty sure he's strategy is to wait until after the holidays so I'm unable to have everyone over our house. Tricky...
I am so in for #getshitdone!! So much I've been putting off.
And I swear, nearly every picture you've posted of Mama Pea on this trip, she is on her phone :p
You have inspired me to finally cross a bunch of things off my list!
Hey Ashley!
What brand is that pull up bar you have? Is it the kind that you don't have to screw into the door frame?
Thanks!
Jenn
I love the microwave versions of the buckwheat bakes! This looks yummy. I tried microwaving one of your banana variaties that was supposed to be oven baked to see how that turned out. It worked, but took about 4.5 minutes in the microwave & I don't think it was as good as it would have been baked. Still made a great breakfast, though!!
Get shit done November? Sounds like a plan. Also sounds like I need to START, seeing as how it's already November 9th.
I'm totally on board with 'Get Shit Done November'. I definitely have a list of things that are taking up way too much mental space and unnecessarily stressing me out. I find that once I just start 'getting shit done', I get on a roll and can knock out a bunch of stuff, and it's often much less painful than I made it out to be. The hard part is just getting started!
We just moved from a 2 story house to a 1 bedroom apartment last weekend to save some money, so I am totally down with "Get Shit Done November"! I have taken 4 carloads full of clothes (a 4-Runner, not a small car, mind you) to Goodwill this past week alone, not to mention the queen-sized mattress, 3 end tables, 2 set of dishes, & countless clothes that my neighbor came & took off my hands! My boyfriend actually coined a term a while back for your new mentality, we call it: "GSD Mode"!
It's such an amazing feeling to get everything organized! I currently have a huge pile of paper and bills on my dresser...your post today is motivating me to go through them! I know I'll feel so much better once I do it.
Ahh! The LIST. My to-be-done-eventually list is enormous and it kind o makes me mad when I look at it. Good for you for tackling yours! Although if my list included delicious things like quick buckwheat bakes, I might be more apt to get on it. First on my list is cleaning out the basement. Ugh.
I often get into swings like that, where I want to organize everything and clean everything and basically GSD. It usually ends up like this: http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-is-why-ill-never-be-adult.html
I am pleased to report, though, that I am currently GSD in my kitchen cupboards and it is going smoothly so far! Here's to GSD in November!
Yay for Getting Shit Done! I love it! I am one of those people that trives on crossing something off a list. I am totally joining you this month on tackling things I've been wanting to get to for months now. The time is now!
I organized my files like that earlier this year and it felt AMAZING! Now, time to get more crap done! :)
Thanks for revisiting the vegan bake! And I'm so with you/ I really have a ton of shit to get done this month, I just need to DO IT
I was doing the oat cake thing for a while and now I'm back to baking it in the oven. Don't get me wrong, I love it microwaved, but there is definitely a texture difference. I'm with you on the November thing too...I need to get some shit done!
I seriously need to put down the iPhone.
I am loving the sound of the Quick Cocoa Buckwheat Bake! As I sit here writing this, I am surrounded by piles of 'stuff' that needs to get organized. I already have a bag filled with 'stuff' I put together for the local women's shelter (from the summer). Need to get through more 'stuff' to fill more bags and get it out of here! I know when I do, I will feel so much lighter.
girl, i'm all in on 'get shit done month' - guess who moved into her house almost 2.5 years ago and STILL hasn't done anything to organize? yikes...
#getshit done is working for me as well. I know what you mean about papers and files. I did hte same thing. When we moved in this summer I just let paid bills, papers and other random things pile up. Now we need a weekend in town to get some more shelves hung up so we can finish a few rooms!
:)
I feel like you took the words right out of my mouth! Of course I'm not getting anything done right now since I'm reading your blog, lol, or maybe that counts since I've acquired a great new recipe. I just made this for breakfast and topped it with a disc of baking chocolate and some mashed banana/peanut butter and it was delicious. It made a HUGE portion! I almost couldn't finish it. THis should definitely tide me over until lunch. I agree, the texture is so much better using just ground flax and not a flax egg. Now, I'm off to get something done!!!
Ahhh I've missed the microwave bakes! Seriously makes my breakfast a bazillion times better. PS) What are your thoughts on rice milk? I've had soy and almond, but haven't braved the other stuff! Worth it?
This is just the kick in the butt I needed! I am totally going to make this weekend "Get Shit Done Weekend." And first on the list- organizing all my mail and paperwork! Yikes!
I'm adopting get shit done month. We moved into our house 6 months ago and I'm still working on the kitchen table..... also love your recipe! so excited that its gluten free!
I like the idea of a get shit done month. It's a little late, but I think I'll be joining in.
Yes, please join!! I just started myself!
I am still working on the kitchen table too. Like...as we speak! haha I have a lot more GF breakfast bake recipes on my recipe page!!
That is the worst, but I love when all of the piles disappear!