Whew, what a day!!
Today was CRAZY at work since Adam is going out of town tomorrow and won’t be back until Monday…you know what that means…yours truly will be the only pastry person there! Eek! For the rest of the week my hours are going to be very long indeed…Friday and Saturday I work 10 hour shifts both days!
To start my day off, I had the exact same breakfast as yesterday because it is SO delish and filling. Pumpkin banana oats made with 1/2 cup rolled oats, 1 cup silk, 1/3 cup pumpkin, 1 banana, 1 spoonful almond butter and pom. seeds:
Mid-morning I had nuts:
And for lunch I had a turkey sandwich (3 slices boar’s head turkey, 2 bread & butter pickles, 2 slices Arnold’s protein bread) with a pear and a blueberry Chobani 🙂
Another Chobani winner with this flavor! It had whole blueberries on the bottom and was uber creamy. It did taste sweeter though than the strawberry one from last night but was a nice “dessert” after my sandwich.
I just got home from work and had a coconut cream pie larabar as a pre-gym snack:
I’m resting my legs for a few minutes right now but I’m about to gather my strength and go to the gym to do a lower body workout. I find that even when I’m tired before going to the gym (and it takes all my will power to get out of the door), I never regret going. Maintaining my workouts and doing this job where I am on my feet for 8-10 hours a day definitely has been a struggle sometimes, but I’m so glad that I have kept on exercising! Only one more month to go! haha 🙂
I didn’t take too many pictures today at work, mainly because I was SO busy.…and I did boring things like punch out cheddar wafers for 3 hours (yep, 3 hours—I timed it). Here’s 10 lbs of cheese that I grated:
And crusty hot olive focaccias:
I miss being in college!!! Working is hard! College girls, enjoy it while it lasts!!!!!
I’m off to the gym!
VeggieGirl
November 12, 2008 at 2:46 pmEEEEEK hang in there, girl!!! I know it’s crazy at work, but you ALWAYS get through it with flying colors (to use a cliché, haha) – stay positive!! 🙂
That’s cheese?? I thought it was spaghetti at first, haha.
jess
November 12, 2008 at 2:47 pmhope you have a great workout! That snack should be the best fuel ever, although it sounds like you’re on your feet All Day anyway.
It’s amazing that adam trusts you enough to leave you in charge of the kitchen; you must be progressing by leaps and bounds. I cannot wait till you open your own bakery!! Haha. At the rate you’re going it’ll be in no time 😉
Becca A
November 12, 2008 at 2:51 pmJenna,
what do you plan on doing once you officially graduate?
jenna
November 12, 2008 at 2:53 pmBecca A,
Haha great question! I’m working on a book right now and that probably will take a looooot of time….but won’t pay the bills (until its a best seller haha). I’m not sure what I’m going to do in the meantime……
Carly C
November 12, 2008 at 2:55 pmJenna,
I love your blog! Just wondering. . . is there any way to buy pom seeds? Or do you always just buy the pomegranate and de-seed it?
jenna
November 12, 2008 at 2:57 pmCarly,
I hear you CAN buy pom. seeds but I have never seen them before. I always seed my own…I’m sure its much cheaper than finding the seeds!
Allison
November 12, 2008 at 3:11 pmMy dad tells me to enjoy college while I can ALL THE TIME! 🙂 lol
Shelby
November 12, 2008 at 3:16 pm10 lbs of cheese!!!! And you grated it all?!? What a workout =)
Hang in there with work, i’m sure it will calm down soon.
ModelBehavior
November 12, 2008 at 3:18 pmUnless your forced to juggle BOTH a full time job and a full time school schedule, then your like me and CAN’T WAIT to graduate because then it’s one less thing on your plate! Sounds like your schedule is crazy but it will calm down soon! Hang in there!
http://www.modbehav.com
Jennifer
November 12, 2008 at 3:23 pmI totally hope you get a little down time tonight! That focaccia looks DELICIOUS!!!
Aggie
November 12, 2008 at 3:49 pmHi there! Just came across your blog, via Petit Chef! I love your blog…I really love “good” food too and try to keep things healthy and nutritious around here! Anyway, just wanted to stop in and say hello! That foccaccia looks unbelievable!
Oh, btw…I’m in the Orlando area too! In Sanford. Where are you going to culinary school?
Amy
November 12, 2008 at 3:54 pmSo impressed by your work effort. You handle a lot, i hope you give yourself credit jenna! Whether its work outs or just plain work, you always manage to juggle it all. Anddd, thanks for the college girl shout out =D
jenna
November 12, 2008 at 4:02 pmAggie,
I am finishing up school at Orlando Culinary Academy! How funny! 🙂
Maureen
November 12, 2008 at 4:09 pmJenna, what’s your #1 pre-gym snack/meal after a long day at work? I work from 6:30-3 in a chemistry lab and it’s a REAL struggle making a gym workout happen. The will is there, but not the energy. And I feel like a lot of good pre-gym snacks are loaded with calories, which defeats the purpose for me. Help?
jenna
November 12, 2008 at 4:11 pmMaureen,
Easy! My number one pre-gym snack of all time would be a piece of whole wheat toast (or a kashi go lean waffle) with a tbsp of peanut butter and jam. The combo of healthy complex carbs + fat + protein keeps me going for hours and it fills me up without weighing me down!
Runeatrepeat
November 12, 2008 at 4:15 pmI didn’t realize you were working on a book! Good for you 🙂
Seriously, you get a workout at work!
Nicole
November 12, 2008 at 4:21 pm3 hours! Wow!
Hang in there girl, I hope the rest of your work week goes smoothly!
Oh She Glows
November 12, 2008 at 4:32 pmI HEAR you on the work vs. college thing! I say that to myself all the time! I should have stayed a professional grad student 😀 lol
Oh and you and Kath are making me crave pumpkin oats like mad!
seelivelee (for the love of peanut butter)
November 12, 2008 at 4:38 pmHahaha Jenna, i’ll do that for you :o)
yumm for delish & filling breakfasts!
Jenny
November 12, 2008 at 5:10 pmYou can do it Jenna! I am really impressed at your stamina to do such an amazing job during the day, and keep up such an awesomely healthy lifestyle–you’re my role model 🙂
Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food)
November 12, 2008 at 5:34 pmSo cool that you are working on a book!
Mel
November 12, 2008 at 5:39 pmHoly cow, that’s a lot of cheesy goodness. It must have been a workout!
Julia (Santa Barbara Dreaming)
November 12, 2008 at 5:48 pmI hear you girl! College was soooo much fun and I had Waaaay more free time, even with multiple internships, jobs, etc. Seriously, enjoy it while it lasts!
Can I be on the waiting list to get your book as soon as it gets out? 🙂
I’ve yet to try that flavor larabar. How is it?
Marissa
November 12, 2008 at 5:49 pmdo you mind me asking how you cook your oats? they always look so darn creamy!
Maureen
November 12, 2008 at 5:59 pmThanks! I shall have to try that tomorrow or the day after!
jenna
November 12, 2008 at 6:02 pmMarissa,
I pride myself on my creamy oats :). The secret is to use 1 cup of silk light vanilla soymilk!! Seriously! I used to use 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup soymilk but when I switched to 1 cup soymilk, the results were amazing. Here’s what I do:
I simmer 1/2 cup oats with 1 cup silk light vanilla on the stove…..into the mix, I add a little pure vanilla extract, a pinch of sea salt and a thinly sliced whole banana. I cook the oats on high heat until they start to boil, then I turn down the heat and simmer (while stirring) for about 3-5 minutes.
For this bowl, I took the pot off the stove after 5 minutes and stirred in the pumpkin. Add some nut butter, pom seeds and voila! A creamy bowl of oats at your service!!
Fitness Surfer
November 12, 2008 at 6:15 pmI had a job starting at 14 and even worked thru college. Luckily the job I had during college was actually a career job “Data Administration” that paid well and paid for my education, but was not my idea of a life time career. My first job during college was a chef, and I made over 1500 pieces of French toast some mornings, and the largest vats of macaroni and cheese you’ve ever seen (4 ft tall 3 ft wide vat). Well, it’s all good experience on the resume and makes you appreciate the good jobs.
I love the pumpkin banana oats. That looks delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Rose
November 12, 2008 at 6:58 pmHope you’re doing ok with your schedule! I agree – I totally miss college life! Working is tough…
Kailey
November 13, 2008 at 7:22 amThere are times I wish I were out of this college bubble and want a real job and life…and then I think, when else will I be able to do all the things I love (study, write for the paper, sing in two choirs, model on the side), live with an amazing friend, AND socialize all.the.time? Thanks for the reminder to love it! I must say, though, I always think your life sounds so fun and interesting (ok, maybe stressful too! 🙂