Breakfast

Enjoying the Journey

Good morning!

Gahhh someone stayed up too late sucked into a new book I got for Christmas:

img_4202

This book is great. Every vegetable, fruit, grain and nut is featured in a two page spread that includes all the info about it as well as a yummy sounding recipe. I flagged the hummus recipe (the name of the recipe is “the best hummus recipe ever” to make in my new blender). I guess I’m a nerd but I really get into reading about food!!

I finally shut off the lights around 11:15 and then this morning woke up at 7:30. I could have slept a lot longer but I made plans with my mama to go to a hot yoga flow class at 9:00 and had to eat beforehand. The class is not a traditional bikram class— but it is a class practiced in a heated room where we do one set of bikram poses with a vinyasa in between. I’m actually pretty sore from yesterday’s class so this will feel good to stretch out my muscles.

I had a quick breakfast of a waffle sammie using 2 maple cinn waffles (Nature’s Path brand) with hazelnut butter, preserves and a banana:

img_4203

Today I am FINALLY getting to make my first batch of sourdough bread!!! Yesterday I had to make the firm starter out of the barm (the loose bubbly white stuff) by adding flour and water and letting it ferment at room temp for 4 hours. After it fermented I had to cover it back up and put it in the fridge again overnight. Today I actually get to mix the dough in my new kitchenaid, let it ferment ANOTHER 3 hours then let it proof for 2 more hours then bake!!!

I know it seems like a lot for two loaves of bread you could easily buy at your local bakery (or so says my mom), but I assure you that when you take the time to bake your own bread from scratch the end product is far superior to anything you could ever buy! It is also more about the process than the end product to me, at least. Like anything, you have to enjoy the journey! Creating something alive out of only flour and water is actually quite cool and the reason I do what I do! 🙂

You Might Also Like

  • Jenna 2
    December 30, 2008 at 7:46 am

    I can’t wait to see how your bread comes out! Bread baking is so intimidating to me.

  • VeggieGirl
    December 30, 2008 at 7:55 am

    Wonderful book and breakfast!!

    Have fun bread-baking!! 😀

  • caroline
    December 30, 2008 at 7:57 am

    I feel the same way, once i started baking its like a revolution!It sounds corny, but it’s true, it is so therapeutic to get in there and nurture and grow something so delicious! I cnt wait to see how it turns out!

  • Jenny
    December 30, 2008 at 8:00 am

    morning jenna,

    i had asked you about bikram yesterday . . . and i went to my FIRST class last night! I wanted to thank you for the advice you gave me (it really helped)! Overall, i thought the class was definitely challenging but amazing at the same time. I felt great about myself during the whole class and afterwards i felt like TWO million bucks. Anyway, i wanted to ask you about Bikram and weight loss. I obviously am doing Bikram to become more fit and mentally healthy, but i would also like to shed a couple of pounds. I’ve read a lot of conflicting articles regarding Bikram and weight loss and was wondering if you could put in your two cents?

    • jenna
      December 30, 2008 at 11:15 am

      Melanie and Jenny,

      As for losing weight through Bikram…..really, its like any physical activity. You aren’t going to magically lose 10 pounds in two weeks by practicing Bikram three times a week…you will only lose weight if you expend more energy than you take in (if you exercise more than you eat basically). I did lose about 10 pounds by practicing yoga my senior year of college but my daily 1 1/2 practice was accompanied by walking about 5 miles a day and eating very healthfully. I don’t really think any exercise will help you lose any weight at all if you don’t eat right as well. Exercise is only about 10% of the equation…..I’ll tell you this though—-if you make a plan to practice Bikram (or any yoga really) four times a week and eat right, you WILL lose those unnecessary holiday pounds.

  • Shelby
    December 30, 2008 at 8:15 am

    I love baking! The only bread I buy is ezekiel bread, the rest I make from scratch.

    Mmmm, wafflewich…how are those Maple Cinn Waffles? I was going to get that flavor next time I go to the store but I don’t know if they’re any good.

  • K
    December 30, 2008 at 8:29 am

    Can’t wait to see how your sourdough turns out!

    Do the cinnamon waffles taste really cinnamony? I’m pretty sure that’s not a word but I was curious if there was a strong cinnamon taste. Thanks!!

  • Anna
    December 30, 2008 at 8:32 am

    I’m also a foodie/cookbook reader. Have you read Nigel Slater’s Kitchen Diaries? I looove that book — actually, anything Nigel Slater writes is pretty much pure gold.

  • Moran
    December 30, 2008 at 9:20 am

    Looking forward to seeing the bread!

  • Mara
    December 30, 2008 at 9:23 am

    I’m very eager to see how your bread comes out! I’ve never used a live starter, and am dying to!

  • polly
    December 30, 2008 at 9:56 am

    Hi Jenna! I want some of your bread, please. I made soup today and that would go perfectly. I’ll just wait by my door until you fly up to drop some off, thanks. 😉 hehehee

    Have fun at yoga! You rock! XOXO

  • Oh She Glows
    December 30, 2008 at 10:02 am

    Oh that book looks great!! I can’t wait to hear more about it. I am a huge organic freak so it may be a good book for me to invest in. 🙂

    Angela
    http://www.ohsheglows.com

  • leadingladylis
    December 30, 2008 at 11:05 am

    Wow! I have met very few people who enjoy sitting down and reading a cookbook cover to cover, like I do! It’s just the best way to come up with ideas for new meals and fun things to try out in the kitchen. I got the Kitchen Bible for Christmas and have spent the last week or so going through the ENTIRE thing! Such great pictures!
    I’m super excited to see how your sourdough project turns out- I usually ferment a portion of my dough because it makes it poof up more, but I’ve never made sourdough.
    Good Luck!

  • Melanie
    December 30, 2008 at 11:05 am

    Jenny I am curious about Bikram too and have been wanting to try a class. There is a studio across the street from where I work. Guess I feel a little intimidated. I’d like to drop a few pounds too so would like to know too. Sounds like an amazing thing to experience!

    Jenna good luck with the bread! Sounds great! Enjoy the VitaMix too 🙂

  • Juliet
    December 30, 2008 at 11:25 am

    I agree! Home made bread is the best.

  • Sharon
    December 30, 2008 at 11:44 am

    Sourdough bread? Sounds so exciting!!! yum!
    And love your waffles!

  • Jasmine
    December 30, 2008 at 11:45 am

    I have seen that book before, I love it! post about how the hummus turned out, I love hummus but i have never made my own.

  • Rachel
    December 30, 2008 at 11:51 am

    That book looks awesome! Thanks for the tip. Looking forward to hearing about the sourdough 🙂

  • Allison K.
    December 30, 2008 at 12:09 pm

    I love sourdough! I wish I was brave enough to make it from scratch….I guess not brave enough…Talented enough!

  • Jessica
    December 30, 2008 at 4:16 pm

    Jenna! that bike is adorable it is going to be so much to bike all around once it gets reallyyy nice out in florida for the spring and summer!! And that smoothie sounds GOOD!!…

    SO, quick question, what is your opinion on combining carbs? Like….should we stick with one carb serving per meal?? Example, omelette w/ toast and fruit as opposed to omelette with toast and potatoes….
    I just had that amy’s veggie bowl with brown rice and to beef it up I added another 1/3 cup of my own brown rice with a green apple on the side and I am trying to decide whether that was unnecessary or totally fine! haha!! I love your blog and it’s fun because I definitely eat a lot like you and try to work out but I’m more of a cardio girl than weights, but I’m working on changing that! 😉

    • jenna
      December 30, 2008 at 5:48 pm

      Jessica,

      Well, first of all a potato is a vegetable not a carb like a piece of bread is a carb. Both contain complex carbohydrates that release sugars slowly into your bloodstream (as opposed to a piece of candy, which is a simple carb and releases a quick burst of sugar into you then you drop fast) but both potatoes and sweet potatoes are considered vegetables. When I plan my meals, I think of ways I can combine protein, complex carbs and healthy fats because that is the trifecta that keeps us full until our next meal. Would I personally have both rice and bread at dinner? probably not. I tend to stick to one serving of carbs with my meals but I do eat both fruits/veggies and grains at the same meal….both are which complex carbohydrates. You won’t die or get fat if you eat both bread and rice or a biscuit and rice at the same meal but I just prefer to keep it balanced.

  • Jessica
    December 30, 2008 at 6:56 pm

    OK great thanks so much for the info!!! Tonight I am going to enjoy a delicious trader joe’s bean soup, salad with avocado and some chips and salsa! yay! 🙂 Protein, carbs, healthy fats!