weekend review: pumpkin two ways

Figure 1. Friday night's dinner: balsamic salmon (8/10), wild mushroom couscous, and roasted green beans topped with dry-roasted almonds.

Figure 2. Saturday baking: toasted coconut cake with coconut filling and coconut buttercream (?/10). I'm not revealing this cakes tastiness rating because there is a post devoted to this cake tomorrow.

Figure 3. Sunday morning baking: skinny pumpkin nut muffins (7/10). These muffins are very moist (although they stick a bit to the muffin papers) and contain a lot of pumpkin flavor. The addition of pecans make these a winner in my book.

Figure 4. Pumpkin fettuccine Alfredo (9/10) and, my old love, caramelized Brussels sprouts (10/10). This version of pumpkin pasta is extra creamy thanks to the use of a roux and the addition of milk and creamy goats cheese.

Note: each recipe is rated on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the tastiest, for your recreation pleasure.

the cardigan experiment: introduction

Background. I blame the world's warped view of cardigans on Mr. Rogers. Every time I put one on, my boyfriend tells me I look like a nerdy school teacher. Well, listen up now. First of all, I AM a nerdy school teacher. But, second of all, cardigans are not nerdy - they are chic, stylish, and versatile.

There are long cardigans, neutral cardigans, short cardigans, fitted cardigans, wool cardigans, sparkly cardigans, flowy cardigans, patterned cardigans. You can wear a cardigan on its own as a top or use it to complete an outfit. You can do anything with cardigans. Absolutely anything. Shall we put this to the test?

Objective. To explore the versatility of the cardigan to provide excitement to my wardrobe, inspiration to my readers, and to give back to the wardrobe essential that has given so much to me.

A cardigan from my fashion idol, Kendi.

Methods. Style four completely different cardigan varieties in four different outfits. Take photos and record my feelings, others' reactions/complements (if any), comfort, confidence, and overall experience.

And, I want you to play along! Style your own cardigan - your own way or try some of mine - comment and tell me how it goes. Even better, email (mylessseriouslife@gmail.com) or tweet (@lesseriouslife) me a picture so I can get inspiration from you and share the cardigan love (and blog link back!) with my readers.

(Access my other fashion experiments here)

(image 1, 2)

what i ate wednesday: issue 57

Another Wednesday, another day of meals.

 Figure 1. Breakfast: a bowl (x2) of Kellogg's All Bran, Cheerios, cinnamon, a sliced banana, and cow's milk.

Figure 2. Lunch: a spinach salad with carrots, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, raw zucchini, mushrooms, cottage cheese, sprouts, golden raisins, and almonds drizzled in balsamic vinegar. Sprouts are an awesome salad addition, by the way.

Figure 3. Afternoon snack:  leftover whole wheat apricot muffin and plain Greek yogurt.

Figure 4. Dinner: leftover pot roast, a homemade whole wheat dinner roll with Earth Balance, and roasted green beans. A perfect Fall meal!

Figure 5. Dessert: dry chocolate Chex. Is anyone as obsessed with chocolate Chex as I am? Just look at the way they sparkle...

And that concludes another What I Ate Wednesday (featuring what I ate Tuesday, November 6).

my less serious day: fall back

A brief history of what I do with my extra hour.

15 years ago: an extra hour of sleeping (noon wake up time at my parents house, to be exact).

10 years ago: an extra hour of studying (early morning cell biology reading at Barnes & Noble with caramel lattes, to be exact).

5 years ago: an extra hour of partying (late night of beer drinking and pool playing at various bars, to be exact).

This weekend: an extra hour of cooking (7 AM bread dough kneading, to be exact).

Time. Change.
 

Wearing.

Dress: J Crew outlet; cardigan: unknown (old); boots: Steve Madden; short necklace: LOFT; long necklace: gifted via Mom.

Doing.

This morning I went on a 30-minute pace run followed by a short cool down walk with L. I walked to and from my car to my lunch destination in the middle of the day. Finally, I finished the day with a 60-minute Body Pump class.

Eating.

Breakfast was this messy bowl (x2) of Kellogg's All Bran, Cheerios, banana, and cow's milk. A healthy breakfast, indeed.

Mid-morning snack was this banana.

I had lunch out with friends. I ordered and enjoyed this tuna salad (tuna tossed in lemon, parsley & caper vinaigrette on a bed of fresh garden greens with roasted new potatoes, green beans, roasted plum tomatoes, olives & farm fresh soft-boiled eggs).

Dinner was roasted eggplant discs on top of raw spinach and drenched in homemade tahini goddess dressing and a side of Ezekiel 7 Sprouted Grains toast topped with smashed avocado and kosher salt. Yuuuummm.

Dessert was 1/2 pint of chocolate Arctic Zero. And yes, that is whipped cream peeking out of the top...

Note: this post represents what happened in my world on Monday, November 5. 

weekend review: dinner roll details

Figure 1. Saturday afternoon baking: salted mudslide cookies (10/10). I die.

Figure 2. Saturday night's dinner: simple pan-seared salmon with crispy skin (I seasoned mine with salt, pepper, and fresh thyme with a squeeze of lemon at the end) (9/10), baked pecan butternut squash (3/10 - this paled in comparison to roasting the squash in cubes), and a roasted fig and arugula salad (4/10).

And, below - my first time making dinner rolls from scratch (whole wheat dinner rolls). Preservative free, inexpensive, and delicious. I made an entire batch, enjoyed one too many, and froze the rest for a rainy day.

Figure 3. In preparation - the dough ball after kneading.

Figure 4. In preparation - before baking.

 Figure 5. In preparation - out of the oven.

Figure 6. Sunday night's dinner: Mom's pot roast (9/10), homemade whole wheat dinner rolls (8/10), and sauteed asparagus and tomatoes. I don't know about you guys, but I request a my less serious momma post, pronto!

housewarming party

I recently moved into a new home, and my boyfriend and I threw our first housewarming party a few weeks ago. The day included friends, family, wine, and, of course, delicious food made by yours truly. Fueled by my desire to make my own baba ghanoush, the party was Mediterranean themed. The party was a late-afternoon drop-in and I did my best to keep the menu simple, healthy, vegetarian, soy-free, and delicious. 

Close your eyes and imagine you were there. Or, better, yet, snag some of these recipes up and make them yourself.

Fresh yellow and green bell peppers and cucumbers with homemade hummus (made with love by my bestie).

More hummus with carrots sticks and celery for dipping.

Grape tomato, marinated feta, and fresh basil skewers.

Homemade baba ghanoush.

Toasted Trader Joes whole wheat pita for dipping.

Black mission figs, dried pineapple, and dried apricots.

Homemade pumpkin pie roasted almonds. There were also salted cashews.

Behold, the dessert table.

Quick & easy no bake oatmeal peanut butter bites. I made mine with almond butter to ensure they were kid friendly. I also called them squirrel nuts, because I am awesome.

And, finally, the piece de la resistance, homemade baklava. 

Drool.

And that, is the food-centered synopsis of the day my family and friends came together to transform my house into a home.

Home.

(All pictures courtesy of JB).

what i ate wednesday: issue 56

 Figure 1. Breakfast: a bowl (x2) of Kellogg's All Bran, Arrowhead Mills puffed wheat, a sliced banana, and cow's milk.

Figure 2. Lunch: a romaine lettuce salad with carrots, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, cottage cheese, an Amy's Sonoma burger, ketchup & balsamic vinegar. Carrot sticks and peanut butter on the side.

Figure 3. Afternoon snack: a whole wheat pumpkin muffin adapted from Amanda's delicious recipe.

Figure 4. Check out my sleek muffin carrying case!

Figure 5. Dinner: leftover roasted butternut squash alongside a veggie-egg scramble. For this version I roasted eggplant and sauteed yellow bell pepper, onions, and garlic with olive oil, s&p, red pepper flakes, and balsamic vinegar until done. Then I scrambled 1 egg and 2 egg whites, mixed the eggs with the veggies, and topped with sunflower seeds for crunch. Delicious!

Figure 6. Dessert: dark chocolate pudding mousse and whipped cream.

And that concludes another What I Ate Wednesday (featuring what I ate Monday, October 29).