hi yall! Sorry for the combined lunch + dinner post but as you know, I’ve been at work all day then when I got home I rushed to study a bit for my test tonight before making dinner! I hope I do well!! It should be a really fun night though and one I’ve actually been looking forward to for the entire 3 weeks because tonight we are making…….BAGELS! I LOVE bagels! We are making old fashioned NY style bagels as well as those huge soft pretzels. You better believe I’m having a bagel with pb for breakfast tomorrow! I’ve been thinking about it all day! Its also my Chef’s birthday tonight so we are doing a little surprise celebration for him. So….hopefully (despite the test) it will be a fun, easy and maybe early? night!
Back to the rest of the day though—I have a new obsession: Italian Deli Style Tofurky. Man, this stuff is GREAT! It was peppery and a little spicy and made an absolute perfect sandwich when combined with my homemade whole wheat bread, a slice of all natural pepper jack cheese, spinach and honey mustard. So good and so filling. I’m telling you–tofurky is a lot more filling than actual turkey for some reason. I just feel so satisfied after eating it. I also had a juicy navel California navel orange (love these because they don’t have any seeds!) with it and a tiny piece of dark chocolate for dessert.
For a snack later in the afternoon I packed more homemade trail mix. I highly suggest doing this at home because it comes in so handy and you can totally customize it to what you like. I like homemade trail mix much more than plain old bars. Trail mix is just more exciting to me! Its filling too with good-for-you fats. 🙂
Dinner tonight was leftovers. I heated up the rest of the spicy beans and kale dish and had it with mashed cauliflower (love this stuff) and couscous. Has anyone tried whole wheat couscous? I’ve looked for it at the store but couldn’t find it and was wondering if it tasted any different. I love couscous because its so quick to cook and so filling with all that volume. I also had a small spinach salad with broccoli slaw and bell pepper with Annie’s dressing on the side.
Off to school now to take a test and make bagels! Expect fun pictures in the morning!
BethT
March 6, 2008 at 10:25 pmI use whole wheat couscous – found it at Trader Joe’s. Not a HUGE taste difference IMO, but at least it has the benefits of being whole wheat.
Dorothy
March 6, 2008 at 10:26 pmI’ve had whole wheat couscous, and though it did have that ‘whole grain’ taste to it, it wasn’t a huge difference. And, it didn’t have a big difference in the nutrition facts. If I remember correctly the brand I bought claimed the same fiber for whole wheat and plain couscous.
By the way… I’m jealous about your making bagels… I’ve been craving one for days, and haven’t gotten around to getting any.
Dorothy
March 6, 2008 at 10:27 pmOh, also, I bought my whole wheat couscous at Big Lots!
Elizabeth
March 6, 2008 at 10:30 pmI have had whole wheat couscous from Whole Foods. I like it a lot – the flavor is nuttier than regular couscous, and it is higher in fiber/protein (at least the version I bought was) than regular.
Lindsey
March 6, 2008 at 10:33 pmDoes anyone know the difference between roma tomatoes and just normal tomatoes. All the recipes I read call for roma. similarly, what is the difference b/w grape and cherry tomatoes?
Veggiegirl, since you eat so many veggies do you buy them pre washed (ie prewashed broccoli or lettuce)? How do you store all your veggies so they last all week (if other people have tips, I would love to hear them as well!)
arimcg
March 6, 2008 at 10:53 pmI feel like I’ve seen whole wheat couscous at most grocery stores. I know they have it at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. You can get it in bulk in a lot of health food stores. I like the taste better, but I always eat whole wheat everything. You’d like it too probably since you’re used to it.
ChocolateCoveredVegan
March 6, 2008 at 11:02 pmThe wonderful comments you wrote on my blog mean so much to me, especially since I actually found your blog a few days ago and have been meaning to leave you a very similar comment. YOU are the great writer! And I’m even more impressed with your healthy approach to food. Too often people take an all-or-nothing attitude when it comes to sugar, fat, calories, etc., so I love how you manage to eat healthfully while still enjoying life! Your balanced philosophy really shows, too, because you are beautiful!
I’ve bookmarked your site :o). Oh, and I love mashed cauliflower too! It’s one of my newest favorite things to eat.
Courtney
March 6, 2008 at 11:11 pmOh I am so excited to see your bagels! I don’t know if you’ve answered this already, but are you going to be able to post the recipes for any of these yummy things you’re making in class? That homemade wheat bread looks wonderful!
Good luck on your test!
madiella
March 6, 2008 at 11:25 pmI’ve been reading your blog for awhile and I think its great! I’m really curious what tofurky tastes like – I’m always really nervous to buy it at the store because I think it looks a little funny, but i know people who rave about it so maybe I’m just being silly. How does the taste and texture compare to regular turkey? Thanks!
Anna
March 6, 2008 at 11:25 pmMmmm…I just made the “chickpea” cutlets, but I substituted edamame beans for chickpeas, and left out the thyme and sage…I made the cutlets smaller, more like small patties, and then ate 3 of them over some mixed greens with Annie’s gingerly vinaigrette. YUM. 🙂
Romina
March 6, 2008 at 11:31 pmI tried tofurky once, but I didn’t like it at all. It tasted too fake, but on the upside, it’s not made from soy protein isolate, and it’s made from tofu.
I LOVE whole wheat couscous. (I refuse to eat anything that’s refined). It’s so quick to cook, and so easy! It’s definitely a staple in my kitchen.
Caroline
March 6, 2008 at 11:31 pmHi Jenna–I, too, use the Trader Joe’s brand of whole wheat couscous. I use it for everything, mostly because it cooks a lot faster than brown rice, and because it adds a lot of volume to my meals!
VeggieGirl
March 6, 2008 at 11:54 pmGreat-looking lunch & dinner – those meals will DEFINITELY keep you nourished and energized for your bagel-making session tonight!! Can’t wait to see the results of your bagel batches, in the morning!! :0)
Whole wheat couscous IS wonderful – I like the Fantastic Foods brand.
Alli W.
March 7, 2008 at 12:20 amWeird!! Your lunch sandwich is my all time favorite sandwich ever. Turkey, pepperjack, spinach, and honey mustard!! I will definitely have to try this Tofurkey business now! It’s serendipitous!
Lindsey
March 7, 2008 at 12:37 amAre chickpeas a whole grain?
Lindsey
March 7, 2008 at 12:51 amJenna, sorry totally wrote the wrong thing. What I meant to ask is couscous a whole grain (but I guess just whole wheat is- the other is refined?). Also, does it fluff up more than rice? I’ve never had it before. But I know rice expands to like twice the size. Thanks! Have fun baking and good luck with your exam 🙂
erica
March 7, 2008 at 12:54 amlindsey – in my experiences making both rice and couscous, i’d say couscous is WAY more voluminous than rice. it comes out to be a huge bed of fluffy, whole grain goodness.. MMM!!
Lindsay
March 7, 2008 at 1:50 amJenna ~ You may have mentioned this before but i was just curious if there is a certain % of Dark Chocolate you like? Or a certain brand? I have tried the 85% dark chocolate and it was just too bitter for me, but I love the 65% dark chocolate… Hope your test went well – good luck!
Betsy
March 7, 2008 at 3:03 ami’ve seen whole wheat couscous at Whole Foods, but I’ve never bought it. I bet it’s good though.
I can’t wait to see those bagels and pretzels. Yum!!!
Lindsey
Couscous isn’t a whole grain, it’s a pasta. Think of it like spagetti cut into itsy bitsy pieces.
Courtney B
March 7, 2008 at 3:06 amI really want to try Tofurkey, but I’ve my friends that have tried it really don’t like it! I think I’m going to try it anyways.. can anyone describe the taste??
Sarah
March 7, 2008 at 3:17 amI have found whole wheat couscous at just about every grocery store I have ever shopped at (including SuperTarget and stupid Walmart–yes, I venture inside there from time to time as I am a college student!) I don’t think it tastes any different from regular, but I don’t really like either that much so I’m not that discriminating. I always buy whole wheat anything when possible, so I’d say go for it if you can find it and actually enjoy couscous! I’d love to hear how you prepare it—when I have bought the “overly processed” curry kind, I have enjoyed it, but I don’t want that much fake stuff in my food.
Sarah C
March 7, 2008 at 3:27 amThey have whole wheat couscous at Publix, it’s right next to the regular kind! Super yummy!
Ashley H
March 7, 2008 at 3:47 amLindsey- Chickpeas are a bean.
Ashley H
March 7, 2008 at 3:49 amJenna- I love TJ trail mix and I know you love trail mix too. Is there a ratio of nuts and seeds to dried fruit that you like?
jenna
March 7, 2008 at 4:15 amEveryone,
I personally think tofurkey tastes the SAME as turkey. But then again, I think morningstar “chicken” nuggets taste the same as chicken. You should try it and decide for yourself…I just love it though because its so convenient and sometimes I get stuck in a lunch rut where I make the same pb & j or hummus sammies every day. Plus, I love all the different varieties that tofurkey comes in. The italian deli was so great! I’m interested to hear what others think once they have tried it!
jenna
March 7, 2008 at 4:16 amLindsay,
I LOVE Green & Black 70% dark chocolate. It’s organic and just wonderful in my opinion. They also make an equally superb organic cocoa powder. I hate milk chocolate though and my taste buds are def. geared towards the darker more bittersweet chocolate. I’m lucky because the darker you go, the healthier it is!
jenna
March 7, 2008 at 4:18 amCourtney,
I can’t post the exact recipes but I’m working on some variations that hopefully I will perfect and post soon!! 🙂
Ashley H,
I don’t really go for a ratio..I just pick whatever appeals to me. I like to incorporate a nut, a seed and a dried fruit always but I don’t get more of one than another or something. I just get whatever, mix it in a huge bowl then portion out 1/4 cup scoops into individual baggies for easy snacks on the go!
Lindsay
March 7, 2008 at 4:33 amThanks Jenna ~ I have seen that brand before so I’ll have to give it a whirl 🙂
sexywife17
March 7, 2008 at 5:42 amI am personally not a huge fan of cous cous but something I LOVE that has a very similar texture is bulgur. Talk about quick- you don’t even have to cook it! You can, of course if you want it to be hot but all you have to do is soak it in water for about 5 minutes and then it’s ready. What it is is whole wheat berries that have been parboiled, dried and then cracked and they’re super good. I love mixing it (and cous cous too, I suppose) with chopped tomatoes, diced cucumbers, balsamic vinegar and a little olive oil, s and p and maybe some herbs for a salad. You should try it out!
erica
March 7, 2008 at 5:54 amjenna, when you made your salmon and broccoli slaw sandwich yesterday, did you just put the slaw on the sandwich, or did you mix it with the nayonaise/dijon dressing along with the salmon?
and also, where did you get that beautiful plate that you had that sandwich on? i love it!
jenna
March 7, 2008 at 1:20 pmerica,
i mixed the slaw in with the salmon to make more of a salad mixture. That plate is my roommates and I have no idea where she got it but I’ll ask! She has a matching mug
erica
March 7, 2008 at 5:07 pmthanks jenna! i bought a can of salmon yesterday so i can have it for lunch today. 🙂