The Birthday Day
First of all, thank you. For everything. I haven’t had time to say that enough between the half marathon and my birthday, so I wanted to get that out from the start. These past two days have been hectic but I panned them that way after all and so thank you for all your well wishes. Over the past two days, 1) my official time and place was announced as 1:42:10 and 36, 2) Megan wrote this article which I really enjoyed pausing to take the time to read and I think you might as well, and 3) my Wellness giveaway is still running so get your entries in!.
Pumpkin Oatmeal With Butter Toffee PB, Vanilla Cake Chobani With Milk Choc Peanuts
Vanilla Cake Chobani With Milk Chocolate Peanuts
For breakfast I had plain ol’ pumpkin oatmeal with butter toffee peanut butter, which we’re running out of here and at my dorm so clearly it’s time to reorder Naturally Nutty. I sweetened a plain Chobani with 1/2 a serving Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free vanilla cake mix for something really yummy. On top were also one of my favorites–milk chocolate peanuts–making this definitely one special birthday breakfast.
Spelt Banana Goodness Bread
Since it was raining, I took the chance to do something I haven’t done in over 4 weeks: bake! Runners gotta run and bakers gotta bake. Since going low-gluten, I’ve discovered that one of the wheats I can tolerate is spelt. Spelt is an ancient, non-hybrid grain whose gluten is generally accepted better. Hearing that, I whipped up one of my favorite recipes, the banana goodness bread. A good bread has plenty of brown sugar on top to turn into a crust 🙂
Honey Baked Tofu
I decided to do a “practice” for something to make for Easter Sunday and try baking a tofu “ham” with honey and cloves. The result was OK, but it really didn’t come out like I was thinking it would, and I much prefer maple anyway. Who needs to stick to tradition?
Honey Pineapple Soyaki Tofu And Asparagus
Spelt Banana Goodness Bread
The honey with some soyaki Trader Joe sauce was actually really good and made it taste a little “tropical”; it reminded me of the Wildwood tofu I reviewed a while ago. For a vegetable, there was asparagus. And because bread tastes freshest, I had a slice of banana goodness bread made with spelt, chocolate chips, and hemp seeds(!!). The hemp added a great subtle nuttiness to it that I preferred to the flax.
Apple
Even though I wasn’t running, I felt like I could eat and eat and eat. This apple came while I was cleaning up dirty dishes and waiting for my next baked good to cook…
Gluten-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies
You all didn’t think I posted that recipe last night for no reason, did you? I made a batch of gluten free chocolate brownies done peanut butter style. I had such difficulty finding the black beans, wondering why they weren’t with the baking items?! I definitely had no patience, ended up cutting into them way too early, and making 1/4 of the pan turn into crumbs. Nevertheless, I got my slice.
Gluten-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie With Chocolate Chip Coconut Milk Ice Cream
Brownie a la mode, anyone? I’ve actually never understood the combination of cold ice cream and warm brownie–until yesterday that is. It’s not that you want the contrast between the two, you just want brownies and ice cream and so take both 🙂 This was So Delicious, pun intended, but not terribly filling. Why not have more?
Coconut Milk Vanilla Yogurt With Gluten-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie
Did you know the same amount of So Delicious ice cream and yogurt has just about the same amount of sugar? In fact, a lot of flavored yogurts are just as sugary as some ice cream brands. Maybe I should have just had the ice cream, lol. At least this had probiotics. And after this grand afternoon snack I was filled well for dinner, which we ate at Tomasso.
Grilled Local Chicken, Sage Roasted Fingerlings, Broccoli Rabe
Holy yum, a dinner I didn’t have to cook! At first, I was a little disappointed the prezzo fisso menu wasn’t that appealing nor were the specials; I ended up ordering(for the first time, too, probably) just off the everyday menu local Misty Knoll chicken, roasted potatoes, and broccoli rabe. Let me tell you, the chicken and potatoes were to die for. Seriously, I have a little for leftovers and can’t wait to have them. I don’t think I’ve eaten local chicken before, either! So it was special after all.
Raw Vegan Brownies
When we got home I whipped, err, processed up dessert. I made a batch of raw vegan brownies using sunflower and hulled hemp seeds; I love that a raw recipe can be so no-fuss and still taste great and exotic! I made a quick and raw coconut milk frosting using about 2 parts coconut milk and agave to 1 part cocoa powder.
Raw Vegan Brownie With Raw Chocolate Frosting, So Delicious Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Coconut Milk Ice Cream
Brownie a la mode was definitely the theme of the day 😉 The chocolate peanut butter swirl ice cream never gets old; it’s just pure magic, and such a fine, natural replacement for my old Turkey Hill addiction. And anything with frosting never disappoints 😉
Raw Vegan Brownie
I snagged one last brownie, because, ya’ know, they’re best when they’re freshest out of the food processor. They’re also little sugar bombs, which is probably why I was up 2 hours later, but I got to sleep… eventually. All in all, it was a great great day, and that’s coming from someone who has a tendency to inflate the importance of things and create impossible expectations. I drank too many cups of decaf coffee to count, ate a lot of sugar, and couldn’t get out for a run because of the constant deluge here in New England, and I’m OK with all of that because that’s what special days are for.
I can’t believe all the Facebook notifications in my mailbox right now; did it have to send one everytime someone posted on my wall? Now I have the morning to deal with that. I’ve also decided I’m going to try to go low/no added sugar today and without sweetened beverages; after yesterday, my palate is just begging to taste something other than sweet. I managed to keep my breakfast “clean”, but I’ll save that for the next post. In the meantime, here are giveaways for a refrigerator makeover, my favorite brand chocolate, gluten-free goodies, a gluten free cheesecake giveaway, and one for coconut oil.
Woah! This is a day of my kind of eats!! I totally agree with you about ice cream and yogurt – the sugar stats are better, so maybe we should replace yogurt with the frozen stuff!
Jenny
March 30, 2010
Well, Happy belated Birthday! From your pictures it seems that you treated yourself very well. (I believe that is the best and only way to do it.)
I have been hunting down a recipe for some sort of sweet to take to a social event that I have coming up with some less than healthy eaters. I think that your recipe for Banana Goodness Bread sounds perfect! How many servings would you say the bread provides? (The group is sort of large.)
Thank you.
Megan
March 30, 2010
I would say you get about 12 medium sized slices from a loaf. You could also cut each of those lengthwise to get 24 1/2 slices which might be good for a tasting.
Evan Thomas
March 30, 2010
I have never had tofu, but that honey baked tofu looks delicious!
Jessica @ How Sweet
March 30, 2010
I have some bananas that are taking a turn towards the dark side, and your banana bread looks oh so very good!
Madeline - Greens and Jeans
March 30, 2010
Wow you placed 36th overall! How many people were there? Nice job and glad you had a fun birthday with all that suga!
From Party To Hearty
March 30, 2010
Definitely my kind of birthday, brownies and ice cream are the best 🙂
Lauren @ Eater not a runner
March 30, 2010
So random…but my stomach is more sensitive to spelt than it is to gluten. I learned that lesson the HARD way!
And you totally deserve all the kudos for your awesome run…Evan…really it is very cool! 🙂
Kelly
March 30, 2010
wow. amazing! I absolutely love warm choc brownies with ice cream. One of my favorite treats! I’ll have to try your recipes!
Lisa
March 30, 2010
happy belated bday! facebook really makes you feel loved on your special day, doesn’t it?!
actorsdiet
March 30, 2010
Mmmm…so much goodness here. Nothing beats banan bread warm out of the oven. Looks like a great birthday meal, too!
Anna@ Newlywed, Newly Veg
March 30, 2010
anything a la mode is awesome. and i don’t think i said happy birthday yesterday! oops. so happy belated 🙂
marathonmaiden
March 30, 2010
So much chocolate! I love it!
Thanks for linking the giveaway 🙂
Ashlei
March 30, 2010
i want that broccoli rabe! one of my favorite veggies.
emily
March 30, 2010
So many incredible eats in this post! Those brownies are making my mouth water…
Just curious, do you have a specific method for making your pumpkin oats? I am always interested to hear how other people make them, and you seem to be a pro!
BroccoliHut
March 30, 2010
I cook oats in the microwave for 2 minutes in water and salt when that’s done, I add 1/2 a cup of pumpkin and a little more liquid just because it’s so fiberous, and then reheat for 90 seconds.
Evan Thomas
March 30, 2010
Holy Cow that Vanilla Cake Chobani with Milk Chocolate Peanut M&M’s looks OUT OF THIS WORLD!!
Brittany
March 30, 2010
YUM the honey baked tofu looks so good! i like hot it isnt’ so cooked and crusted over. I like it soft sometimes! happy belated birthday evan! YAY march babies…mine is tomorrow!! I gsaw the sunprises at WF finally!! i hadn’t seen them before and I thought of your sunprises and chobani deliciousness!!!
Naomi (onefitfoodie)
March 30, 2010
Yay, I’m glad you had a happy birthday! I do the same thing…eat a lot of dessert type things on my birthday because I want to, haha.
All your baked goods sound delicious. Don’t you just love raw brownies? They’re the best.
Claire
March 30, 2010
all I have to say is nom nom nom 😉
linds
March 30, 2010
I’m so happy to hear you had such a festive, wonderful, delicious Birthday!! Hooray!! You deserve it!! Happy Birthday and happy race-day once more!! YOU ROCK!! 🙂
Astra Libris
March 30, 2010
First, happy bday, again. You’re so old now, you better get your Centrum Silver lined up! 🙂
Spelt Banana Goodness Bread- I read that as Goddess Bread. Probably b/c it looked goddess like, as well as goodness.
The brownies. Thanks for jogging my memory on how you make yours. nice.
OMG That is such an annoying aspect of FB too. Why does it have to do that? I hate that you can’t un do that setting, either. I purposely dont write on ppl’s wall if i suspect 84 of their closest friends will also show up in my inbox!
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)
March 30, 2010
Your local-raised chicken dinner looks beyond incredible. I think I drooled just looking at it! Same with your vanilla cake/yogurt chocolate peanut breakfast combo!!! Happy Birthday again Evan!
Barbara
March 30, 2010
There are so many delicious eats in this post I don’t know where to start. Though, one thing that is becoming pressing is the need to try raw vegan brownies. I love baked goods that require little to no baking.
Happy Birthday, yet again!
Chelsea Ward
March 31, 2010
Oh man evan, can you stop being such a great cook!!?? you’re makin’ all of us non-student ladies look bad!! hahaha
luckytastebuds
March 31, 2010
Oh my goodness. Those brownies look amazing!! Thanks for linking to my peanut butter article on True/Slant 🙂
Megan (The Runner's Kitchen)
March 31, 2010
What a post!! YUM. So much to comment on. LOVE that you put those chocolates on your yogurts! I recently baked a Pumpkin Loaf on my Blog – love it. But I can’t wait to try out your banana bread!!! My bananas have been rotting really quickly lately -I think it’s the warm weather…also that chicken looks super moist.
I think it’s good that you give Thanks at the beginning of your post. Always be Thankful and grateful for what you have and people who “give” to you in even the smallest ways….it’s the biggest nourishment you can give your soul.
eatmovelove
April 2, 2010