And now something other than just oats.

Tonight as I went to the gym to play squash with my dad I decided that I was going to wear shorts.  The last time we played, I wore my Lululemon pants and to say the least I thought I was going to pass out.  When I do my weights with my trainer, for the most part I tend to stick with pants because it's only 66 degrees F in the gym and truthfully that's a little too chilly for my bones even after I've been sweating.  Usually it's not a problem, but the past few mornings I've been a little tired and that doesn't seem to help with my body regulation.  Nonetheless the reason for this tangent about nothing really is because of my shorts.  I haven't really looked down at my legs in a while (other than when I'm in the shower) so I haven't really noticed a change in my body.  Today however, I noticed how much personal training has really made a difference.

A few weeks ago, I went and redid my fit test after it had been a month and six days since I'd started my training.  The results to say the least were quite impressive, and definitely gave me the motivation to continue doing what I've been doing.  When I took the test, I was told my legs had gotten 2 inches bigger, yup, I've definitely noticed this, as my jeans are getting a little tighter (which is an awesome feeling).  Speaking of awesome feeling, going to the mall today, trying on some clothes and getting asked by the woman if I'm a size five NOT a zero or double zero, goodbye skinny days!  So, to say the least my physical changes have been really uplifting to me.

Yes, this just sounds like a "praise Sam" post, that's not what I'm going for at all.  It's just that lately, all I've been posting is recipes for variations of shakes and bowls of oatmeal.  When I first started making both of these things items and figuring out ways of adding in the most fats (healthy) and protein that I could possibly do I was a little afraid that this was just going to add in weight gain and not muscle, so I was a little afraid to say the least.  However, not the case.  More calories = much more energy.  More protein = bigger muscles/more muscle repair.  Fat = satisfying/more energy as well.  With that being said, I certainly have not lessened the amount of nutrients going into either of these items, in fact I've been adding much more, and I wouldn't change it for the world.  I love it and it makes me look very forward to waking up to have my oats followed by my post-work out recovery shakes.

lkfj;dslkfjsdlkfj okay, should I just get to it?  I think so.  I promise today will not just be a recipe for a fruity protein shake, or a bowl of oats (however I will be posting my latest and greatest favourite) plus a recipe for a recent meal I made, mmmm!

For starters, this mornings breakfast, holy moly.  As I've recently stated I am hooked on anything with peanut butter, in fact if I could take a peanut butter bath I probably would (should I of maybe not admitted that?  Perhaps.  Oh well.)  Seeing as I've finally stocked up on Nutella, and after making Nutella Oats, I decided that I had to make a peanut butter + Nutella bowl of oats since to me this is reminiscent of my childhood/peanut butter cups!  Yup, this bowl definitely sang peanut butter cups all over it.  So, so, so good.

This morning I woke up pretty early, around eight o'clock (this was early in the sense that, I wasn't working out until eleven, so I wouldn't be eating until ten).  As I was tossing around trying to get back to sleep I noticed that my back and legs were in a lot of pain.  This certainly didn't make me want to jump for joy at the fact that I had training in a bit since I was in a lot of pain, which I assume was from the deadlift's I did yesterday.  I sent my trainer a text and asked her if I could reschedule to tomorrow morning.  I hadn't heard from her, and I decided to still go with my plans to eat the breakfast I was planning, after enjoying each and every bite with utmost satisfaction I decided to text my trainer back and tell her that I would come in.  These oats made me forget my pain.  They gave me so much flippin' energy that I actually hopped out of the door when the time was necessary.  I loved this, and when I don't know what I want to make for breakfast/am craving something incredibly sinful/filling I certainly will not be hesitating to make this bowl of awesome.

Peanut Butter Banana Nutella Oats

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup oats
• 1/3 cup soy milk + more for garnish
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Dash of salt
• 1 ripe banana + a few slices set aside
• 1 tbsp peanut butter
• 1 tbsp nutella
• 1 tbsp chopped hazelnuts
• 1 tbsp peanut butter chips
• Vanilla 0% fat Greek yoghurt

Directions:

In a small sauce pan, bring your oats, milk, water, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla to a boil.  Once your oats have started to boil, mash in your ripened banana, peanut butter and Nutella.  Keep your oats on the stove until your level of "cooked" oats has been achieved (mine take about 4-5 minutes, I still like them a bit hard).  Top with additional milk, Greek yoghurt, banana slices, chopped halzenuts and peanut butter chips.

Kale and White Bean Soup


Recipe taken from here

I haven't made soup in a long, long time.  Last week as I was perusing the typical foodie blogosphere I stumbled across a kale and white kidney bean soup.  Seeing as I am incredibly in love with kale, and have recently been a convert (and obsessed) with all things beans I figured why not give it a try.  After reading the directions it gave me even more of a reason to because it was basically chop a little veggies, throw everything into a pot, allow to simmer for an hour, indulge.  And indulge I did.  I had just gobbled down a huuuuuge protein shake and didn't think I'd be hungry for an eternity so the hour wait made it even more appetizing.  By the time the thirty minute mark hit, hunger was no longer a physiological thing, it was completely psychological.  The aromas coming from my kitchen oh, there was no denying how wonderful it smelt, and my brain was definitely wanting some of it.  By the time the twenty minute mark came oh I started taking a few spoonfuls from the pot (anyone want to come over for a meal ;)? - my germs!)

... after waiting, I finally made it down to the eight minute mark, and at this point I didn't care any longer, I was spooning the soup into two bowls, one for me, and one for my friend.  After taking a bite, I decided to add quite a bit of salt, this enhanced the simple flavours even more.  This soup was delectable.  It was so simple, easy to clean, super healthy, and the perfect thing to mix with a shake after an intense work out.  After, seriously gulping down a huge bowl, I couldn't help but take another bowl full.  I loved this.  I'm not sure why, but I added "don't you think this is reminiscent of like a war-time soup?"  I'm not sure what it was, perhaps the simplicity, or the fact that there were beans in the soup, who knows, but that's what it made me think of.

I'd never had white kidney beans before, after thoroughly enjoying this soup, I am definitely a convert and cannot wait to try bean spreads with this particular legume, mmm mmm mmm.  This is seriously such an ideally perfect soup if you don't have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen, or it's incredibly cold out and you want to snuggle up on the couch with a warm bowl of soup, or you just want to indulge in something incredibly healthy and have that hearty comfort food feeling!


Ingredients:

• Extra virgin olive oil
• 1 onion - diced
• 2 large garlic cloves - minced
• 2 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 8 cups of vegetable broth
• 2 cans of white kidney beans or 3 double handed scoops of dried beans you've cooked yourself
• 1 bunch of kale - deribbed and chopped

Directions:

Pour some olive oil into a large pot over medium heat. 

Add the sliced onion and minced up garlic cloves to the olive oil.  Cook until the onion is soft and translucent.  Add the vegetable broth, salt and pepper.  Add the beans and the kale, and simmer over low heat for at least an hour.

Garnish with parmesan cheese before serving (if you eat this). 

Enjoy :)