Hi friends! Whelp, I've made it through work shift #7 (in a row). I was supposed to work but I just received the best phone call of my life - I'm OFF today! Wooohoooo! More time to pack for Myrtle Beach! I can hardly wait. I asked the Manfriend to pick up a few ingredients so I can bake some road trip treats for our 6-hr car ride. Sticking to my challenge might be tricky so I figured why not bake a little beforehand? I'm sure the others will thank me as well :)
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After yesterday's killer spinning sesh followed by weights (triceps, shoulders, abs), I was in the mood for a protein-packed lunch and had some time to spare before heading into work. We're trying to rid the apartment of produce before we leave so I did my best to use what we had available open. The meal actually came out aaaaah-mazing. This one will definitely be on repeat.
Mexican-style quinoa stuffed acorn squash (Vegan and gluten-free)
Ingredients:
1 acorn squash
1/2 package medium/firm tofu, diced into small cubes
1 can black beans, rinsed
3/4 jar medium salsa
1 cup quinoa, rinsed and cooked
1 T chili powder
1 t cumin
sea salt, black pepper to taste
avocado (optional)
Directions:
(Squash)
Boil acorn squash for 25 mins
Cut in into 4, spray w/ EVOO, dust with chili powder and cumin
Cook for ~20 mins at 425F
(Topping)
Combine remaining ingredients (except avocado)
Warm on stovetop over low heat
Serves 4-5
Seriously amazing.
* * *
With a stomach full of happiness, I headed to work for shift #7. I'm so over canned soup or salad (even if it's Amy's and salads) for packed dinners at work. Maybe in the summer I'll crave something lighter but for now I crave warmth and comforting foods.
So why not combine two of my favorite healthy comfort foods?
Magic soup + baked sweet potato = so, so good.
I also packed a Chocolate-Raspberry Protein Cupcake errr Muffin (?) for later snacking..
1 scoop chocolate protein powder (SunWarrior brand)
1/4 cup frozen raspberries
1 T egg whites
pinch baking powder
stevia, 1 serving
H20, to moisten
Microwave for ~1 min 30 seconds
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Have a great day everyone! Keep those music play list suggestions coming. I need some new tunes for Saturday's half marathon.
What should I do on my impromptu day off?
What are your favorite road trip snacks?
You always have such amazing recipes!! Have fun in Myrtle Beach! I love curling up with a good book on my days off :) Trail mix is my favorite road trip snack. It's so great to munch on. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteWow that looks SO good. I don't know why it never occured to me to have quinoa WITH beans. I love black beans with everything so this sounds right up my alley!! Yum!
ReplyDeleteThis looks so good! I'm on a quinoa kick so I'm always looking for new recipes, this one looks awesome.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what you already have on that playlist! Lately I'm enjoying running to: Thunderstruck by AC/DC, Come with Me by PDiddy, Lose Yourself by Eminem, Animal by Def Leppard.
Angry much? ;)
I'm so jealous you're headed to the beach! You more than deserve the little vaca after 7 shifts in a row. For road trips, I always have a huge cup of iced tea and a bag of sunflower seeds.
ReplyDeleteWith all the cold weather, rain, and winter illnesses abound, I sure wish I had a nice beach day right about now!
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw your title it made me think of george michaels song, freedom! lol! Now its stuck in my head!
ReplyDeleteYay for the day off girl and that protein cupcake sounds soooooo yummy!
xoxo
Have an amazing time at the beach! That protein pancakes looks super tasty, by the way.
ReplyDeleteooo I loved stuffed squash! So so good!!
ReplyDeleteHave fun on your day off! I would probably take advantage by shopping!!
Try Sandcastle Disco by Solange (Beyonce's sister). So fun!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite road trip food is pretzels, but mostly because I always get carsick :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your day off!
I love baby carrots on long car trips. I had to make several all day drives recently, and a 1 lb bag let me get my munch on!
ReplyDeleteAs for pump up jams, my new fave is Taio Cruz's "Higher." The race sounds awesome. Have fun!
have an awesome road trip! I'm a big nerd and loser but I'm digging GaGa and Avril's new singles. Haha. And Glee music. I seriously need to get a life.
ReplyDeleteI've never made one of those protein muffin things before--but I have all those ingredients so I'm going to try.
Have a great trip!
The squash looks awesome! Yum....love that combo.
ReplyDeleteAnd, um the cupcake...I mean, muffin---that looks great! I love stuff lie that.
On an impromptu day off you should definitely do something really fun and relaxing. It sounds like you've been working like crazy, so you deserve it!
I used to always eat junk on road trips. Now, I like lara bars or if I'm driving for a long time, I've been known to munch on chocolate covered coffee beans...
That looks SO delicious!!
ReplyDeleteOkay, you said it was amazing at least twice, so I added it to my recipes to try page!
ReplyDeleteThis weekend is going to be so beautiful, and you're leaving town? :-)
ENJOY your day off!
ReplyDeleteI am also doing a gluten-free clean month (more like 6 weeks) and so far it's going well with a few unintentional screw ups. I'm excited to see what you come up with :)
that mini cake is looking pretty stellar! I love throwing everything in a Tupperware for dinner! (hate having to plan in advance though) I'm with the rest of your readers: putting this recipe on file
ReplyDeleteKatherine
I had the best acorn squash of my life last week and this has got me craving some more! I've never made my own though- cutting squash scares me.
ReplyDeleteFavorite road trip snack is trail mix. Although I always eat too much of it!
Have a good time!!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite road snack is either peanut butter packets or trail mix. I can eat an entire bag of trail mix though, so thats not always the best idea for me ;) I like taking muffins like yours too though! Those babies are quick to make and are tasty!
I haven't made one of those protein cake things in too long! Have a good trip :)
ReplyDeleteI need to make quinoa more often. I love it whenever I do make it, I'm just lazy. And it doesn't even take that long!
ReplyDeleteHave a fun vacay! I'm jealous. I'm ready for a break from school. :)
Deciding what to do on an impromptu day off is so hard! Have fun at the beach!!!
ReplyDeleteI made the magic soup with leftover roasted sweet potatoes and added some light coconut milk. It was soooo good! It tasted like an African style soup. Thanks for the recipe..it's my new favorite!!
ReplyDelete