Pumpkin soup

Day 1 without eating fruits and nuts, going really well so far. Yesterday evening I got sick all of a sudden, so I hadn't eaten anything from noon until this morning. Still wasn't too hungry, but I figured I should eat something to get myself started so I had some beef stew with spinach and zucchini which kept me going all morning. I even cycled to the market, still a bit weak-legged but I made it, and got way too enthusiastic while stocking up on the veggies again.
My fridge looks like one colourful food collection, there's cauliflower, beets, daikon, kohlrabi, turnips, carrots, broccoli, brussels sprouts, paprika, purslane and much more. So I better start cooking now before it goes bad.
But first I need to go to the store and buy myself some new containers to store all the meals I'm going to freeze. I just don't have enough of those..

Purslane parsnip fritatta

CrossFit wasn't that hard today, my workout looked a little like the one from last Sunday. I was still full from the apple crisp and ice-cream from yesterday so I skipped breakfast and didn't get hungry all morning, not even after getting active.
From now on I'll be logging my workouts over here: http://wodstack.com/users/302
So go ahead if you want to follow my progress!
 I also made a small improvement to my blog; you can now sign up for email updates by clicking the link in the sidebar on the right.
For lunch I made this fritatta, turns out, purslane and parsnip make a great combination!
Last time I used purslane I discovered some kind of snail in between there, so I made sure I washed it thoroughly, as you can see below. For now, I'm out of purslane, but I'll probably buy some more at the market tomorrow.

Nutty snack balls

I guess I just had to snack tonight.. But instead of going to the supermarket and get myself a bag of crisps, I made these little thingies. Much more satisfying and they taste better too!
They were especially good while enjoying one of my favourite movies: The Chronicles of Riddick. (and some episodes of House MD, of course..)
Plus I used up of a lot of dried fruit this way!
You could use some dried cherries instead of half of the raisins and add some vanilla to make these balls extra special.

Banana nut ice-cream

Today I've started stocking up on lots of meat, fish, poultry and eggs, and I'm trying to get rid of most of the fruit I have left.
I even cleaned my freezer! I just took my blowdryer and the whole thing was emptied, cleaned and filled back up again in under 20 minutes. Without water damage ;)
Seems like my diet and working out are making things like household chores much easier to get started with too. I used to put them off as often as I could, but now it hardly takes me any effort anymore.

Spicy almond beef burgers and roasted broccoli

Had another cool workout yesterday, they let me do an exercise called 'rope battle', which I think is really hard.. Not hard to do, but it takes a lot of effort from your arm muscles. I like it though! At one point my trainer asked what my heart rate was, so I measured it; 132 bpm. And he was like 'that's only average, let's do another set and go all-out!'. I'd never heard a trainer say that in a gym, and it was just what I wanted to hear!
I also had to push a prowler to the other side of the gym a few times, at max speed. That surely got my heart rate up ;) Anyway, it was really cool again, and I had lots of energy afterwards and even today my energy levels seem to be higher than usual. And I'm not that sore at all!
Next workout will be on Sunday! I'll have my own schedule by then, so I can do a workout without making an appointment first.

Chocolate parsnip pudding

Still had some parsnips in my fridge and decided they had to be used.. So, I made a chocolate pudding! Not exactly a combination you'd expect, but it works so well, especially with the coconut and the bananas.
Of course I also got myself (and a large part of the kitchen..) covered in cocoa powder.. They really shouldn't make those boxes so deep, it's too hard to get the last bits out without making a mess! Or maybe I'm just a little clumsy.. I guess we'll never know ;)

Purslane lemon mash

Another purslane recipe today! I have a whole bag full of it, so I thought I'd better use it, before it goes bad.
I also had half of a celeriac left, and together with garlic it made a great puree in my last recipe, so I decided to experiment with it some more. With some lemon and purslane, it worked out very well.
I topped it with some sardine fillets, but any other fatty fish or even grilled chicken fillet would work great as well.

Beef Jerky

As mentioned in my previous post, I'd keep you up-to-date about my beef jerky.
I'm sorry about the bad picture, but neither my phone or compact camera would take a decent picture, so I had to use this one..
Anyway, the jerky itself (which is way more important than the picture) turned out delicious! I'd never eaten beef jerky before, and I guess I'm hooked, after eating just a few small pieces.

So if you haven't done so already, go check out Jen's beef jerky recipe and start making it! It took me a little over a day to make the jerky, after buying it I put it in the freezer for a few hours, then sliced and marinated it in the afternoon. And it wasn't until this evening that I had time to put it in the oven, so it had been marinating for 24 hours.
All in all it's definitely worth the effort and I'll be making it again! Yum :)

Purslane and chicken meatball salad

Yesterday they had purslane again at the market, something my mom used to make for me only a few times a year. I always liked it and wondered what kind of dishes I could make with it. Basically, you can do the same with it as spinach.
After some more research, I found out that purslane is considered a weed in the USA (according to wikipedia..) and that it's mostly consumed in Europe. It's really healthy though, contains a lot of omega 3 fatty acids, and besides that it also tastes good!
Today, I made a fresh salad with it, even though it's still freezing outside these days, the small amount of sunshine we get makes me feel like Spring's already arriving. And during Spring, a salad makes a wonderful dish.

Sausage garlic mash

I just read this very interesting (and funny) article about grain consumption over on Mark's Daily Apple. It's called 'Will eating whole grains help you live longer?' and it's spot-on. If you're interested in the subject, I can definitely recommend it!

Today's workout was great! Just as I hoped.
It wasn't as tough as last Tuesday, but that's because it was mostly about muscle endurance. I did a lot of squats in all sorts of ways and I trained my butt and my abs. It took about an hour in total.
Starting next week I'll have 3 different workouts every time: 1 tough, challenging one that involves strength and sprinting, 1 that's a little easier and 1 that's about muscle endurance. Everytime I get home after a workout I feel so much better! Not just physically, but I'm much happier and more positive overall too.

Pumpkin breakfast pudding

After using half of a butternut for my chicken curry yesterday, I pureed the other half and used it this morning to make a creamy and thick breakfast pudding. You shouldn't be eating this too often, because it contains a generous amount of nuts and carbs. The pudding is quite filling and warming because of the spices and perfect for a (lazy) Sunday morning.
My Sunday morning won't be lazy at all today; I'll be off to the gym in an hour for another CrossFit workout. I wonder what it'll be like today..

Coconutty protein bars

Today I felt like making a high-protein treat that most certainly wouldn't spike my blood sugar. It does contain some carbs, but a lot of protein too so I think it's very suitable as post workout food or to take with you as a snack.
I put a lot of fresh coconut meat in these (after all, I had a lot of it..) but I think they'll work just as well when you substitute it with dried coconut.
They're really firm and come out of the baking tin very easily, so they're perfect as an on-the-go snack, without having to worry they will fall apart as soon as you take a bite.

Aromatic chicken curry

First of all, thanks to Elana for posting a link to my website! In just one day, I got almost 300 visitors (instead of 20, like I usually get). So, hello everyone, I'm glad you're visiting and I hope you like the recipes! Feel free to leave comments on my posts :)

And for everyone who doesn't know about Elana's Pantry; make sure to check out Elana's website and her Black and White cake.

After following Robert J. Stone's 'Experiment' on the primal lifestyle for a few weeks (check out his blog; primalfood.wordpress.com!) and watching YouTube movies on CrossFit and seeing people get all these amazing results and a huge change of body composition, I realised I better make a 'before' picture of myself too.
So this morning I made my very own 'before' picture and measured myself. I've already dropped some pounds, but I figured it would be nice to keep track of the changes over time.
My weight is: 56.1 kg
My waist measures: 67 cm
I wonder what's going to happen when I keep doing CrossFit and watching my diet. So far, I feel great living like this so I'm definitely going to keep up the good work.

Oven baked leeks and sausages

As I expected, pretty much all my muscles hurt today.. It's not as bad as I thought it would be though, so I'm actually pleasantly surprised. Let's see what tomorrow's workout will bring.. I'm already looking forward to it.
Yesterday I realised I didn't have any post work-out food ready, so I'm going to bake my own version of this very tasty looking Chocolate Spice Zucchini bread from Kelly at The Spunky Coconut later this evening. And after a good work-out, I'll spread a slice with some coconut cream.. Yum!
Egg muffins might be a good idea as post work-out food too.

My very first CrossFit training!

I just got home from my very first CrossFit training, and I loved it!! Pretty much all my muscles hurt and I don't really feel like moving anymore at all, but it was great!
It only took about half an hour in which I did a warming up and 2 different sets of 4 exercises which I each did 4 times. The first set was mostly about my lower body and the second set focused on my upper body, and core of course; pullups, pushups, walking lunges, sprints.. I even used a kettlebell for the first time! (which is pretty cool)
Of course I couldn't do a pullup all by myself, so I got to use a rubber band to help me (and my trainer helped me a few times too) but my goal is to be able to do it by myself eventually.

From now on I'll be going there 2-3 times a week to work out and I'm so excited about it! I'm definitely going to do more research about CrossFit too. My trainer knew quite a lot about it, but, curious as I am, I want to have at least the same knowledge.
I'm really glad I made the decision to start doing this, I wasn't too sure I could do it, but tonight gave me a lot of confidence. It's intense, but not too long and you're not constantly doing the same thing, which makes it fun, effective and easier to do while you still put in maximum effort.

Well I guess I've explained my enthusiasm about CrossFit enough for now.. Unfortunately I don't have any recipes for you today; I made a simple (though tasty) stir-fry with ground beef for dinner tonight, but it wasn't special enough to make a recipe out of it. I guess I'll be making something new tomorrow though and I'll make sure to post it here, if it turns out well.

Beef stew and celeriac fries

It's Monday, so that means it's market day again! And I found myself lots of tasty looking veggies again. (turnips, parsnips, carrots, cauliflower, leeks, onions, and much more) I also bought 2 coconuts, partially because I loved the taste, and partially because I loved the cracking process!
Yesterday I enjoyed the fresh coconut water with my breakfast, it tasted even better after it had been in the fridge overnight. I grated the coconut meat in my magimix and put most of it in my freezer. I'm sure I'll be able to use it for a pie or ice-cream sometime.

Cracking a coconut is easy!

I did it!! I cracked a coconut for the very first time, all by myself. Ok, with a little help from this wonderful youtube video..
So if you want an easy way to crack a coconut, just watch the movie and try it. It's so easy, you'll be amazed.

Parsnip pie

What a pity.. I had a lot of parsnips in my fridge, waiting to be used. So I just had to bake something!
I made this delicious parsnip pie. Not the most common way to use them, but certainly a good way. Since parsnips are quite starchy, just like pumpkins, I figured if I could make a pumpkin pie, then why not a parsnip pie!
It's not as heavy as a pumpkin pie or cheesecake, but the taste is wonderful. It's mostly creamy goodness with a hint of parsnip flavour.
I served mine with some coconut cream on top, which made it even better. But a chocolate frosting would be wonderful as well.

Sesame meatballs and roasted romanesco

It's weekend again!
I'm so glad it is.. During the week, I usually come up with so many things to do for the weekend. Fun stuff, but things that just need to be done too. (cleaning for example, but that's not half as bad when you put your favourite music on)
I wanted to make myself a nice dinner tonight, without spending too much time in the kitchen because I knew I'd be hungry when I got home. So when I found myself having an extra 15 minutes this morning, I already chopped up my romanesco. Apparently 15 minutes isn't nearly as long when you've already eaten.
When I got home I put 1/2 of my romanesco florets on a baking tray with parchment paper, sprinkled them with olive oil, popped them into the oven and roasted them at 200 degrees Celsius for 25 minutes. Sounds like an easy way to prepare it. Normally I'd stir-fry romanesco, but most recipes I found online were about roasting it so I figured I'd give it a try to see what everyone was talking about. It tastes so much better when roasted!! The roasting brings out the flavour of this wonderful veggie even more.

Banana curry and travelling

While on the train yesterday, I was reading my 'Discover America' magazine, which I took with me from the national 'holiday fair' last month. Travel magazines and me usually go together very well and they keep me entertained for a long time.
I think I know where my next trip will take me! (after going to New York and Australia that is) I think I'll go back to the USA, and drive from Seattle to Chicago, or the other way around! I'll need about a month, and I'll definitely visit Yellowstone NP and Colorado! I've heard great stories about Colorado, especially foodwise, and the nature is supposed to be beautiful too. Then there's Chicago, with its 'Magnificent Mile', for awesome shopping purposes! Ahh, I can hardly wait..
Furthermore, I simply love driving, and from what I experienced from driving in the USA during my trip in 2009 it's an excellent location. I love the many different types of landscapes and nature in the USA. So I might just go there! It would be great if I'd have more than a month to stay, then I could drive all the way through to Florida..

Roast beets, and more yummy things

We've had another beautiful, sunny day today. Feels like Spring is finally arriving! I really enjoy days like these.
I also got some good news; my practical assignments have been approved of so that means I can start with my 2nd year of my study to become a respiratory technologist. Yay!



Foodwise, today was a bit of a strange day. I had to attend a class on the other side of the country, which meant I had to leave home before 11 am, I wasn't back home until 7 pm. The class itself lasted only 1h and 45 minutes by the way..

Sprouts and sausages

All I seem to think about all day is food and travelling.. Honestly, sometimes it's driving me crazy!
My mind always wanders off to one of these topics. 'Where should I travel next?' and, and this is what pops up into my mind most often 'What should I eat tonight?'. And when I've already decided about that, I think of other meals or make up recipes in my mind. Of course those don't always work out as well as I imagined them, but the ideas keep popping up.
It's hard for me to understand why some people don't like to cook. Where's their inspiration? Or are they insecure or afraid to try something new? I don't know..

Colourful salmon stir-fry

And here's my second recipe for today. The savoy cabbage I'd bought didn't look good enough to keep too long in my fridge, and I had some leftover purple cabbage that still needed to be used. Add to that an onion, salmon fillets and some curry pasta and you've got yourself a tasty meal. So as you probably understand, making this dish was pretty easy!
I love how simple it is to make a curry, and how tasty the result can be!

Asian mackerel and cabbage salad

Today I found some wonderful organic, smoked pepper mackerel fillet at my local supermarket. It wasn't all that expensive (about the same price as canned mackerel) and it had been a while since I had good mackerel, so I figured I should make a nice dish with it today.
I came up with an Asian salad, which I just had for lunch, and loved it. I'm sure it'll keep me full all afternoon.

Spinach egg muffins

Yesterday's breakfast inspired me to make these muffins. They're really easy to take with you as a snack or to use them as a part of any meal. Together with some leftover chicken and veggies they will make a great breakfast, lunch or even dinner.
Another option is to serve these to your guests as a small snack mid afternoon or in the evening.
Myself, I'm mostly going to make these a part of my breakfast, and I might take some with me for lunch at work too.

Cajun chicken and red cabbage

This afternoon I made myself some red cabbage for lunch, topped with cajun chicken. Over the weekend, I usually cook 3 times a day and I love it!
I simply fried the red cabbage for a few minutes, added a diced apple and some ginger and cinnamon, stirred well and finally I added some water and covered the pan with a lid. Really easy, and while that was simmering I prepared my cajun chicken which I wanted to have with it.
Of course you can basically serve this chicken dish with any veggies of your choice. They're probably really good when added to a salad too.

Cardamom spinach omelet

I can hardly believe it myself, but today's only the second day I'm having eggs for breakfast. Which means I drastically reduced my egg intake from 14 a week to only 6. Not that I don't like them anymore, but as I've said before, I like having some chicken or meat better. And I figured a person could also eat too many eggs..
Today I didn't have any leftovers I could have for breakfast however, and I thought a big omelet would be nice.
This spinach omelet has a bit of an Indian flavour by using cardamom.
I had it together with some fresh coconut to keep me full a little longer. Fresh coconut is one of my favourite comfort foods, and it's very nutritional as well.

Apple cinnamon cookies

I'm so glad these cookies worked out well! They're really tasty and nutty, especially because of the walnuts, but the apples make them taste refreshing too. I really enjoyed having one after breakfast this morning, together with my morning cup of jasmine green tea.
There's no need to add any agave or other sweetener to these cookies, because the apples make them sweet enough.
So if anyone's looking for a paleo snack, you could try these!

Flaxseed bread

First of all, I'll give you all a small update regarding my diet. I've lost 2kg already, without feeling hungry throughout the day. I found out I love having meat for breakfast, and I even prefer it over eggs now, because it keeps me feeling full much longer.
In the evening, about an hour after dinner, I still feel like snacking and stuffing myself with carbs. I guess that's just a withdrawal symptom, or it has something to do with my thyroid.
At work, I make sure I eat something mid-morning and mid-afternoon, I've mostly been having pumpkin cookies (still had those in my freezer) or an apple with some nuts. I found out having nuts with a piece of fruit helps keep my blood sugar under control.
So I'm pretty happy with the results so far and I'll keep going!

Cranberry kale stew

The recipe below is what I had for breakfast today. I've been having different kinds of beef stew for breakfast for 3 days now and I love it. It fills me up pretty well and keeps me going for quite a long time.
I decided to use the cranberry sauce I still had in my freezer from Christmas time and it combined really well. Cranberries are really healthy, especially for your bladder, and they don't contain much carbs at all. And they make a tasty combination with beef and kale too!
I'm aware that this dish doesn't look tasty at all, but just give it a try, it certainly tastes good!