Dessert/ Dinner

Mojitos, Sushi, Cookies Galore!

Hi everyone! It was great to actually “meet” everyone! How much fun would it be if we actually got to meet face to face?! Maybe someday! Well this afternoon was totally relaxing…I actually did something I NEVER do—-I fell asleep on the couch reading my new cookbook! I had the door open to the balcony outside and I woke up an hour later scratching a bug bite on my cheek, but the nap def. was appreciated and very, very nice! When I woke up I ate a Kind fruit & nut bar and then had my exercise for the day (not much): I walked to the grocery store to pick up stuff to surprise Ryan with our favorite drink–Mojitos–when he got home from work!

My plan worked great…we each enjoyed one mojito together when he got home before dinner. It was very nice and something we def. don’t do often! Sushi was delicious, as always! I ordered a miso soup with tofu to start and two veggies rolls as my dinner…a “seaweed salad” roll and a regular old veggie roll. I also got a blueberry cosmo! A fun “valentine’s day” dinner for sure! After dinner we debated going to a movie, but all the movies were starting an hour later so we decided to just come home and have my cookies for dessert. I heated up two in the microwave….they were sooooo good!! Nothing, NOTHING is like a warm chocolate chip cookie! Even better than it was vegan!

Now we are being lame and going to bed early…even thought I napped today I still feel very tired. I think its just a culmination of this week. I need my rest! See you tomorrow!

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Yummy sushi!! My two veggie rolls are on the ends here–one of Ryan’s rolls (with cream cheese) is in the center!

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Clearly Ryan snapped this picture of me when I wasn’t aware—I seemed to be VERY much enjoying this chocolate chip cookie!! haha!

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  • Karen
    February 16, 2008 at 2:52 am

    That drink looks so much fun! Sushi looks great. I’d love a piece of tuna now.

  • jen
    February 16, 2008 at 2:55 am

    wow. i just realized how much you look like my cousin and aunt (and by extension, i guess, a weeeeee bit like me). eerie! you have any long-lost relatives in philadelphia? haha.

  • Laura
    February 16, 2008 at 2:59 am

    Aww the both of you are too cute for words!!! Love to see you so happy 🙂 And that cookie looks amazing…I would be in a trance too!

  • VeggieGirl
    February 16, 2008 at 3:00 am

    Ahh, that’s too bad about the nasty bite that bug left you – hope it heals quickly! On a brighter note, your dinner looks so delectable!! I was practically raised on miso soup, so that bowl looks quite tantalizing :0)

    Okay, the photograph of you and Ryan is just too precious; and the one of you eating the cookie should be an advertisement for vegan baking!! :0D

    Have a FABULOUS night!!

  • Rach
    February 16, 2008 at 3:00 am

    That was a really cute post Jenna! 🙂

    Also, I have a question for everybody. I’m considering trying bikram yoga, but am a little concerned about the whole heat factor. Do people ever pass out during the classes? What are the best ways to prevent dizziness? I’m on a medication that causes me to be kind of dizzy during day-to-day life so I need to be careful trying bikram…but I think it will be really good for me, so I just want to be prepared! Thanks!

  • Clarissa
    February 16, 2008 at 3:06 am

    Yum everything looks amazing! How did you and Ryan meet?

    Your vegan cookies look AWESOME. Is the recipe posted??

  • Danielle
    February 16, 2008 at 3:13 am

    Aww, so adorable! I’m just catching up on blogs for the day so I figured I’d add to the introductions, excuse my lateness 🙂
    I’ve been following this blog from the beginning and it’s, by far, my favorite! I’m 19 and from Westchester, NY. This weekend I’m home but I’m usually in Syracuse and studying Magazine Journalism and Modern Foreign Languages (Spanish & French) at Syracuse University. I’ve become very interested in learning more about nutrition after going through some ups and down with restrictive eating and unhealthy dieting. I’ve even gotten into cooking for myself now that I have my own apartment… definitely not good yet but I keep on trying, haha, Jenna, you’re my inspiration! Exercise-wise, I absolutely love yoga and try to go as much as possible but have trouble getting into a routine with other sorts of fitness (unfortunately, running is just not my thing).
    When it comes to healthy living I still struggle but reading these blogs really helps. I’m worried most about going abroad in the coming months for the next year, first to Santiago, Chile and then Strasbourg, France. I’m hoping that I can keep a healthy balance while enjoying all the pleasures of both cultures. Wish me luck 🙂

  • Krista
    February 16, 2008 at 3:13 am

    Drinks, dessert, and dinner look amazing Jenna!

    Hi everyone I’m Krista! I am 23 years old and live in San Francisco. I, like Jenna, attend the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School and am going through both the baking and pastry and culinary programs. I love food,cooking, baking and also am really into nutrition. I don’t call myself a vegetarian but honestly I much prefer grains, beans and rice over any meat. I hope to become a pastry chef one day and own a small catering business…. I also have a serious boyfriend like many of you~been dating 5 years and he is attending law school. Anyways I love this blog and Jenna is so awesome!! I am also obsessed with France and french food and way of eating…Jenna’s blog couldn;t be more relatable for me!! It was so nice to meet everyone…you all sound awesome!!

  • Kelly
    February 16, 2008 at 3:26 am

    Adding to the Intros!!!

    I’m Kelly. I’m from the Houston area. Go Rockets! I’m currently in work in Oncology Project Management. I’m 25 and did my undergrad at Texas A&M University (GIG EM!) and my Masters at the University of Houston. I have been married for almost 2 years (in April) to a fabulous man who just happens to be my HS sweetheart.

    Like everyone else here I love good healthy food. I often find that people think I’m odd that I don’t crave the greasy burger and fries but rather fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll devour a huge slice of oreo cheesecake no matter how full I am but I just crave healthy foods.

    I do pilates, lift weights and run a few times a week (not too far, just a couple miles). Like several others I managed to get to a weight that was’t healhty so now I’m working at removing all the sugar free fat free chemical filled foods I used to eat and replacing them with the real thing. I’ll take the lbs as they come. It’s one meal at a time for me and I just listen to my body and feed it what it wants.

    Now for fun… I love, traveling, reading, Pat Green, oreo cheesecake, oatmeal, SALSA (the food), the lake, Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, and most of all the Lord. 🙂

  • Sarah (another one!)
    February 16, 2008 at 3:35 am

    Yum, warm chocolate chip cookies sound delicious! I’m so glad you had such a great day, you deserve it : ) Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

  • Courtney
    February 16, 2008 at 3:37 am

    I know everyone introduced themselves in the last post, but for all of you who have Facebook, we should all start our own little group, or just friend each other! What do you think???

  • Kay
    February 16, 2008 at 3:37 am

    Nice to “meet” you all!! Everyone seems to be about the same age, wow lots of 24! I just turned 25… the oldest!!?? I live in Sunny Florida as well, in Ft. Lauderdale (north of Miami) and travel to Orlando sometimes to see friends. Love the weather but hate the hurricanes here… I am Japanese, although I have lived here for a long time with my American hubby.

    Jenna, forgive me but I have to say it!…… I see a spoon in the miso soup but that is not how it is supposed to be eaten. The proper way is to use chopsticks to eat the “gu” (tofu, seaweed, whatever is solid) and gently take the little bowl to your mouth with both hands and sip the fluid. But I guess, as long as it goes from table to tummy, it is all good. I had to say (write?) it though… Also, you will not see cream cheese in sushi in Japan! It is strange how ethnic restaurants in the US become so Americanized that they are way different from the real authentic food!! Unfortunately, in many cases they become less healthy. California rolls especially; they really are California food and not Japanese food… French restaurants here are not like the ones in France, right?

    You and Ryan look so happy together!! That cookie is as big as your face and looks delicious!

  • Betsy
    February 16, 2008 at 3:47 am

    Hi Jenna!!! i feel kinda silly that i’ve never commented, but I’ve been reading this (and Kath’s) since…more or less the beginning, i guess. I thought now is as good a time as ever to comment!!

    I’m 25 (eek!!) and live in New York City, but I’m originally from Cleveland and went to college in Connecticut. I work non-profit and live in an apartment with a ridiculously high rent which means I have to cook alot, instead of eating out, like the rest of the city. But, I love cooking and experimenting in the kitchen, so it works out for the best. I cook entirely vegetarian at home and will order fish out (or eat it at my parents in Ohio), so I LOVE reading this blog to get lots of ideas. I’m also thinking about going dairy-free cause milk does NOT sit with me well, so I’m just venturing out into the world of milk alternatives, and have officially jumped on the hemp milk bandwagon.

    I’m also a runner, so love reading a food blog from the perspective of another runner. Running is probably my favorite thing to do, so hi! fellow runners!! I’m training for a half-marathon in April, so I’m super psyched about that.

    And…I’m working on starting a blog of my own…it’s about halfway done. So keep your eyes peeled!!

    By the way…that cookie looks amazing!! And you and Ryan are toooo cute!

  • Andrea
    February 16, 2008 at 4:28 am

    One more intro 😉
    I’m Andrea, a sophomore in college in Boston. GO SOX !!!! I’ve been a vegetarian since December of 2007. I’ve always been athletic (played lacrosse and ran track in high school) and a HUGE chocolate lover!! In high school I had a period where I was extremely underweight and struggled with an eating disorder/body image. I currently am back to a healthy weight, but I still have slightly disordered eating and exercise patterns. I find it challenging, especially in college where many girls have weird patterns with eating and drinking, to be healthy and feel good about my own decisions about food and working out since people are constantly judging everyone. Anyways, I found your blog on a link off of Cristin’s eatlikeme and i absolutely LOVE it! (you should work for another magazine like Cristin!) I check it probably 3 times a day and get great ideas and it keeps me on track.

    p.s. You and Ryan are the cutest couple ever!!! I hope some day I can have a relationship like yours!

  • kali
    February 16, 2008 at 4:50 am

    Wow! I feel sooo old!! Im a 28 year old criminal defense lawyer in San Francisco. I’ve been following along for a while now and really enjoy reading the blog – and all the comments! I have a very stressful job – so eating healthfully and staying in shape really help me maintain in my day to day life. I have a very “strange” diet – according to many – but for me it is great and keeps me happy and healthy! I’ve been vegetarian – mostly vegan – since I was ten years old. I only eat dairy incidentally – i.e. if its in a baked good or pre-prepared food item. I dont drink dairy or eat cheese mostly for humane reasons but also because I prefer the taste (and health benefits) of soy products and alternate “milks” such as hemp and almond. I added fish back into my diet a year or so ago – and feel really healthy because of it. I try and get to the gym 5-6 times a week and love to run! I was raised in a family that ONLY cooked food from scratch – either from the garden or farmers markets – and ate only whole natural foods growing up. I have to say as a child I was very upset by not being able to eat fast food and tv dinners – but now I am sooo thankful my family instilled such healthy habits in me. Unfortunately – Im not as strict about eating ONLY whole natural foods these days – because of the long work hours and lack of motivation to shop, cook, and clean at the end of a looong day. I would appreciate any “quick” healthy recipes any of you have to offer…
    Anyway – I have thoroughly enjoyed reading and learning about each of you – its nice to find common ground to relate to people with similar beliefs and habits all across the nation!

  • Danielle
    February 16, 2008 at 5:44 am

    A facebook group sounds like a great idea Courtney! Friend me 🙂 Danielle Alvarez

  • blueberrybabe
    February 16, 2008 at 5:54 am

    jenna i honestly wasn’t really interested in making the vegan cookies until i saw you eating one that was the size of your head!!! its sheer size has convinced me to make them tomorrow!!! better get to whole foods and ask where that blackstrap molasses is or whatever it is called lol. and btw while i was reading all the intros i was secretly hoping for another new yorker to post so i could make a friend 🙂 now i get to go do my FAVORITE thing on friday/sat nights… turn OFF the alarm button!! ugh the best feeling!!! good night pretty ladies 🙂

  • Alli W.
    February 16, 2008 at 6:36 am

    yay for intros!! I am so excited to ‘meet’ y’all! And holla to the californians, I go to school in california, but i’m headed to the east coast/south next year for law school! anyhow, jenna, thank you again for the blog! i’m so glad we’ve all found a little community here with each other! much love!

  • Shannon
    February 16, 2008 at 7:02 am

    That cookie looks so good! I can’t wait to try out the recipe.

    I suppose I should add to the intros:

    – I’m 20 years old and a junior at the University of Georgia
    – I’ve always been into healthy eating and nutrition, but just recently started cooking and baking a great deal
    – I love exercising and attend Pilates twice a week — I swear by it
    – I’m a journalism major and the Managing Editor at our independent, student-run daily newspaper with a 17,000 circulation
    – I’m seriously considering becoming a vegetarian, even though I don’t think I could give up fish because I love sushi!

    P.S. I like the Facebook idea!

  • TimeofButterflies
    February 16, 2008 at 8:05 am

    Adorable pics, Jenna! You and Ryan always seem like you have such a good time together.

    As far as an intro goes, I’m Amanda, 27 years old (will be 28 in a little over a month!), and live in a suburb of Houston, Texas. The nearest Whole Foods is many miles away. 🙁 I teach high school English (pre-AP, which is like honors) and love it!

    As far as exercise goes, I run–I used to do 30 miles per week, but recently have knocked it down to 25 mpw so I can do more kickboxing. I also do Pilates, strength training, and row when I get a chance.

    I was diagnosed with anorexia about a month ago and have struggled to begin recovery. Jenna’s website has really helped me see a healthy relationship with food. A trigger for my disorder was my now ex-fiance–I broke it off this week. He was not happy about it, but he was also a major source of pressure to be thin. Once I broke it off, I immediately felt so much better! I’m already making goals to become healthier and I am eating more, and becoming more accepting of my body. It’s a shame I had to break it off with a man I thought I was going to marry, but he had anger management issues as well, besides the whole furthering-my-anorexia thing. I can ramble on about that forever so I’ll just stop there!

    I love the Facebook idea, too.

  • EatwellBewell
    February 16, 2008 at 10:29 am

    Hi ladies! These intros are such a great idea…its nice to hear how much everyone has in common and create such a warm and welcoming environment!

    About me:

    I’m 20 years old from the NY/CT area but I’m currently a junior at Tulane University. My freshman year was Hurricane Katrina and I ended up spending the semester at Boston College where I took my first nutrition class and was hooked. My school doesn’t offer a dietetics program, so I am now spending my senior year fulfilling all these crazy requirements so I can apply to another university to complete the track to become an RD! I cannot wait.

    I’m studying abroad in Italy and let me say the food has been AMAZING! Jenna, everything you said about your trip to France I’ve been trying to remember while I’m here and really being passionate about all the great food this country has to offer. Living La Dolce Vita! (I’ve even ordered the book “Mediterranean Stay Slim Too”! )

    Although I love to cook and bake, I’ve never been a natural at it, but this blog and all the great recipes, plus being in Italy has really allowed me to experiment and come out with some really great dishes, so thanks to everyone for that!

    I love working out–I’ve been a dancer all my life, and also love bikram (hot) yoga, and enjoy taking classes like step, total body conditioning, etc. Although still intimidated by spinning!

    Sorry this is so long, but I just want to say thanks to Jenna and to everyone for this blog, and if anyone wants to get in touch, feel free to send me an email: eatwellbewell@hotmail.com
    I’d love to hear from you

    Have a great day everyone!

  • Heather(II)
    February 16, 2008 at 12:40 pm

    Introductions are fun! My name is Heather and I am 23 year old graduate student. I am very interested in health and eating whole foods. I love to cook and reading this blog for great new ideas. I still eat chicken occasionally, but try to eat as close to “vegetarian” as possible. I am currently trying to limit my splenda intake (yay), but I cannot drink coffee without it! I am also trying to quit calorie counting (booo). Like blueberrybabe, I am often worried that people think my efforts to be healthy are obsessive.

    I would be lying if I said I had a perfect relationship with food (who does?). I would love to have the easy going mentality that Jenna has and I am really working on it. My “issue” is emotional eating. I live at home and my parents who, while open to my healthy creations, can’t let some of their less healthy foods go. In weak moments I eat too many of these unhealthy things. 🙁

    As far as exercise I love yoga and running!

    Nice meeting you all!

  • Emma
    February 16, 2008 at 1:23 pm

    Yes to facebook! Post the group name, or something so I can search it if it gets made! Thanks guys!

  • linds
    February 16, 2008 at 1:46 pm

    YES! If you’ve created the facebook group already, what is it’s name??

  • Nadia
    February 16, 2008 at 1:51 pm

    I’m Nadia, 24, graduated from law school last May (2007) and have lived in NY my entire life…seriously, I’ve never even visited another state! I work in a personal injury law firm and actually, still very unsure if I want to continue with the legal profession long-term. For now though, I do love the people I work with and the work itself is pretty interesting even though as a recent graduate I’ve made more than a few “practical mistakes” lol.
    I’ve been a vegetarian since I was 13 and my parents have still not come to terms with it after 11 yrs haha. They’re middle eastern and meat/fish is a huge part of their diet. I could never imagine eating meat…I detest the taste and am ethically against it. I was vegan for about 6 months while I was in college but found it a bit restrictve. Two years ago I also stopped drinking/eating any dairy and very rarely eat any eggs. I confess that I have eaten fish on more than a few occasions while I was dating someone who had an affinity for very expensive NY restaurants – there are never any vegetarian options there or any good ones anyway. Plus I abs. love sushi, halibut, cod and shrimp 😛 but fish only enters my diet nowadays once every 3 or 4 months or so. I have a pretty small appetite and being vegetarian and not consuming any dairy makes it hard to gain any weight (I’m 5’8″ and thin).
    I live on my own in a one-bedroom apartment (moved out a month ago from a house I shared with several girls). I very recently (thanks to Jenna’s and Kath’s blogs) delved into cooking. I’m notorious for ordering in and/or making very easy meals for lunch and dinner…think pb and j for lunch everyday and oatmeal, bagels, soup, waffles etc. for dinner…yea I need to branch out. I refuse to eat any frozen/processed food though even if it’s convenient. Even though I like to keep my meals simple I also really like going out to eat in “quality” restaurants.
    My co-workers used to get so annoyed when I never ate lunch with them – I know, very anti-social of me – but now they just have accepted it. I’m just not that hungry for much else than a pb and j. They all LOVE food and I’ve gotten more than a fair share of questions about what exactly I eat being vegetarian and not consuming dairy. As for exercise, I LOVE running but can’t get myself to run in the dead of NY winter like a lot of other avid runners so have been hitting the gym 4 to 5 times a week. I need to get more active though because I mostly sit at a desk all day so am hoping to start yoga or pilates. Ok this got long haha…nice to meet everyone here 🙂

  • Courtney
    February 16, 2008 at 2:45 pm

    Danielle–which network are you in on FB? There are quite a few Danielle’s with your last name! Thanks!

  • Danielle
    February 16, 2008 at 3:09 pm

    Syracuse University! Or Westchester, NY 🙂

  • jenna
    February 16, 2008 at 3:44 pm

    I hope I get an invite to this facebook group, too!!! 🙂

  • VeggieGirl
    February 16, 2008 at 3:48 pm

    I have a facebook account!! :0)

  • Courtney
    February 16, 2008 at 3:51 pm

    ok I’ve tried a bunch of times, but I can’t find you! Your privacy/security settings might be the reason? Anyways, just friend me, Courtney Barry, and I’m in the Towson and CofC networks! Jenna I’ll look for you too, but I don’t know your last name! I’ll look through CofC

  • jenna
    February 16, 2008 at 3:52 pm

    my last name is weber! Feel free to look me up… although I have to say I used to spend much more time on facebook UNTIL I started this blog…now I hardly ever go on because I’m always on this thing!!! There is a link to this site on my profile though 🙂

  • Courtney
    February 16, 2008 at 4:01 pm

    found you! I love the picture with Ryan, that’s how I knew it was you haha!

  • Danielle
    February 16, 2008 at 4:17 pm

    Oh my gosh, you’re right Courtney! I completely forgot about the privacy setting, sorry 🙁 But I did find you so let’s get started on this group lol

  • linds
    February 16, 2008 at 4:59 pm

    Oops I was creepy and just added jenna and courtney without including some sort of message lol I’m lindsay so don’t be scared of the add lol let’s start this group! 🙂

  • Alyssa
    February 16, 2008 at 6:42 pm

    I want to join in the facebook thing too!

  • Lisa
    February 16, 2008 at 7:54 pm

    HEY everyone!!! I missed this whole convo yesterday! My hubby and I went to see a comedian last night and didn’t have time to check this!
    I would love to join the facebook thing too….is there a group or do you just add eachother as friends?? My name is Lisa Rohrer and I have a barcelona chair (black) as my profile picture…I’m an interior designer so I LOVE designer furniture…I just can’t afford it right now! hahaha ADD me friends!

  • Susan
    February 17, 2008 at 12:08 am

    Jenna, I was reading your faq. That’s so interesting about the purelogy product. Do you use a natural brand of make up as well? Although I am guessing it’s more pricey than the drugstore -lol!

    p.s. I have resisted joining fb, I know I would get too addicted!

  • Brittany
    February 19, 2008 at 3:42 pm

    I have been silently stalking the blog for a while, but now I want to join this introduction fun!

    I’m 23 and from a suburb outside of Philadelphia. I gruaduated from the University of Maryland about a year ago, and I’m living at home with my parents right now (I know, very glamorous, but it’s free)! I work for a state representative in the area and do lots of odds and ends with politics.

    I grew up pretty overweight and I have been losing weight over the years, and about six months ago I actually started to look at nutrition over calories. I love finding new recipes (and foods! I won’t lie – when I’m really stressed out I walk through health food stores to decompress!) and cooking.

    I really like working out, too – I get up at about 5:15 every day to fit in cardio and lifting before work!

    I absolutely love the blog, it gives me terrific ideas!