How to cut a pomegranate!

Pomegranate seeds and juice are so expensive to buy! But I never thought of buying the real actual pomegranate and cutting it up. Normally they run about $1.50-$3 per fruit. Still undeniably cheaper than the packaged seeds and juice! Right now the fruit is in season! September – January so eat your heart out! 🙂 When you cut one up, it definitely gives you almost 2 cups full. And eating as much pomegranate as you can is good for you! Tons of antioxidants that help with fighting heart disease and cancer! And it has more than your typical blueberries and cranberries!

Here is how you cut one up!

1. Cut about an inch from the top. Peel back the skin.

2. Then you will see some seeds show. Cut through the skin, top to bottom, in between the clusters. Using your hands, break apart the sections.

3. Scoop out the seeds into a bowl with a spoon! This step takes awhile, but totally worth it!

Pumpkin Bread with Chocolate Chips

I used to make this all the time, almost twice a month because I would bring it to work! But since I am not working this semester really that much and I don’t have an office to go to, I have delayed making this. I finally was like I’m craving chocolate and my roomies will eat it, so Sunday night baking commenced! This pumpkin bread is super easy. I can’t stress how something so delicious can be so easy to make! You can add the chocolate chips if you want, or not. I was craving chocolate at the moment. Ever since my epic half marathon, I have basically eaten everything in sight. I need to go on a cleanse ASAP. I keep delaying it, but I think I will do one after the holidays. In the meantime, get fat! hehe

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Turkey White Bean Pumpkin Chili!

Soooo I am going to PORTLAND this weekend!!! SOO excited! Anyone have any good suggestions on places to go/eat?! I am totally guilty of procrastination and have a large 20 page paper looming over me that I haven’t started. Oops. It doesn’t help when Halloween is fast approaching and since this weekend I am celebrating it 2 weekends in a row, ain’t nobody got time for a paper! hahah It started raining today in SD and so I wanted something thick and warm and with pumpkin. Chili sounded like a good idea and so you have it! Delicious and healthy turkey white bean pumpkin chili. Such a mouthful. See my 2 sad lonely corn tortillas? Well they were supposed to be cheese quesadillas but I forgot the cheese…

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Chicken Noodle Soup!!!

Ahh the clouds have settled in. I am freezing cold. My body hates me. I need to recuperate. And fast because Halloween is fast approaching! I am so excited this year!!! Even though my favorite Halloween has got to be Halloween 2011 where I spent one night in Vegas with the girls and had an amazing time hahaha. Also because I made my favorite costume. normally I don’t like Halloween- it comes at such an inconvenient time, especially when you are in school, this is when shit gets real, the holidays are fast approaching, deadlines come and go, and finals are creepin. This year I plan to go to A&B Halloween Therapy and then straight to Portland for a weekend trip with the best friend. This year, I plan to be a cat, a rose, and a mermaid. Although I am not excited about my costume choices this year, the memories I will make this Halloween weekend (2 weekends hell yah!) will be worth it. Hehe I will do a Halloween costume post later. 🙂 What are your plans for Halloween?

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Soy Ginger Scallion Turkey Meatballs

I’ve never really played with ground turkey because I prefer beef and pork. But I came across this recipe and couldn’t help but try it out! Ground turkey has much less fat than ground beef so a lot of people use it as an alternative to beef in things like bolognese and meatballs. I think this recipe is perfect for an appetizer or a quick snack or dinner. So tasty and addicting!

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Chicken Alfredo with Bowties

I was carbo-loading for my big run yesterday all last week! I had pasta everyday and welp I think it helped with my energy levels on race day. I have no idea if there is any scientific truth to it, but I mean I felt good running and had the best race and mileage time in my life! So exciting! Here is a lovely, hearty chicken alfredo recipe I wanted to share. I am SO addicted to the creamy sauce and I know you will too! It is actually super simple!

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Chicken Veggie Wrap

This is another treat I discovered at OB People’s Market…a local heaven for vegetarians and vegans! And carnivores like me who love veggies in her life! I like how light this wrap is and packed with veggies. With the right sauces, such as Cilantro&Chive Yogurt Dip and Tahini with the chicken, it keeps this wrap fresh and delightful! I ate this prior to my first 5k!!! The Color Run!!! And felt the energy from it without feeling weighed down. Perfect!

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Vegan Parmesan Cheese!

I don’t like 99% of cheeses out there. I only like the ones with extremely mild in taste like cheddar, mozz, muenster, and occasionally gouda. Not a brie fan or feta fan. And the other numerous stinky cheeses out there! Lately I have been interested in the vegan diet, and vegan recipes. I like to eat healthy, with lots of veggies incorporated in my diet, so naturally I was curious of vegan-ism. I have absolutely no intentions to become vegan, but some of the stuff that they create are astounding and delicious. Vegans don’t eat cheese, so I’m curious to try vegan cheeses because I know the cheeses they make have the look and feel of it, but it may not taste exactly like regular cheese. This intrigues me because I can add substance and aesthetics to things that require cheese, but the dish doesn’t have to taste like it. I ran across this Vegan Parmesan Cheese on the blog Oh She Glows and decided to give it a try. It definitely doesn’t come close to tasting or smelling like parmesan cheese, but it gives my pasta (or anything) the added fluff and great nutrition. Plus, I don’t have to feel guilty eating it!!! Vegan cheeses, and vegan dishes that require a cheesy flavor, use this thing called nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast contains B12 vitamins (which plant foods do not have) that a lot of vegans lack if they don’t take supplements for it. I buy it at the OB People’s Market where they have bins of it- I use the regular nutritional yeast and isn’t expensive.

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DIY Chalkboard Bucket List

October 1/2, 2013. One of the best days of my life! I did a slash because one of the greatest moments of my life happened on October 1, and then was confirmed October 2. I have been so fortunate to get the support of my favorite company ever, and have been offered a job post-grad! I am so unbelievably thankful for all they have given me, and am so so SO thankful for my family, friends, and mentors for supporting me all along the way. To that I am truly blessed.

Funny thing, I finished this chalkboard last Friday night because I had my heart set on finally leaving SD after 8 years (next year). I am sure I still have not done a lot of things in SD, but that was all I could come up with on Friday. If anyone wants to join me in doing any of those activities, let me know!!! 😀

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