Packing It In

Hello my favorite foodies! Can I get a T.G.I.F up in here?!

With my super early work schedule this week and meetings for various things involving the new Casa de Broccoli, I have to say this week has really flown by! Did it go by quickly for you? Any exciting plans for this weekend?

Move Day is officially two weeks away (eek!), so I guess now would be a good time to start packing, huh? I actually don’t mind packing…it can be somewhat therapeutic, if you will, especially with the right tunes to get your booty shaking. C’mon, don’t tell me you’ve never used a tape gun as a microphone!

Though, I will say:

PACKING > UNPACKING!

I don’t know what it is, but I hate unpacking boxes and trying to figure out where everything goes! It seems like it takes me forever! Am I alone on this one?

This morning…or I guess I should say last night…I practiced some packing skills on a waning jar of MaraNatha dark chocolate almond butter for some OOIAJ (overnight oats in a jar)!

Check out that marbley goodness!

What’s in the Jar:

  • 1/2 cup oats
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 cup non-fat plain yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • about 1 1/2 tablespoons dark chocolate almond butter leftover in jar

This jar was PACKED full! All of the mix didn’t actually fit in the jar, so I had a couple of spoonfuls as a breakfast “appetizer”! 😉

Topped with one chopped TJ’s semi-sweet chocolate disc

Nanner that wouldn’t fit and a Cuppa 1/2 Caff Joe!

After breakfast, my belly was the one that was PACKED full! I didn’t get hungry again for almost 5 hours…I swear overnight oats fill me up more so than cooked ones!

When I got home from work today, I went straight home (first time all week that’s happened). And guess what! The sun was out! There hasn’t been anything but gray skies around here in over a week! Needless to say, I took the opportunity to soak up some good ol’ vitamin D and went for a light jog around the neighborhood which I followed by a leg workout that took me a few minutes to throw together. It actually kicked my butt pretty good…like seriously, my butt is going to be crying tomorrow!

Dinner tonight wasn’t necessary intended to be breakfasty, but for some reason, I cannot resist the urge to grab the cinnamon any time pumpkin is involved!

A Taste of Fall Quinoa Breakfast Bowl: (serves 1)

  • 1/2 cup cooked quinoa (cook according to package instructions)
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup raisins
  • 1 small apple, diced
  • 1 oz walnuts, toasted*

1. After the quinoa has cooked, stir in pumpkin puree, almond milk, and cinnamon.
2. Cook over medium heat until thickened a bit and heated through.
3. Stir in raisins, apples, and walnuts.
4. Enjoy!

* To toast walnuts: Place in a skillet over medium-high heat, stirring or shaking                    constantly for 5-7 minutes or until fragrant.  Toasting nuts brings out a deeper more          concentrated flavor.

I know, I know, it’s almost Spring and I’m posting a Fall-type recipe, but I just couldn’t help but think of falling leaves and cool breezes while savoring this creamy bowl of goodness! The contrast of the warm pumpkin mixture with the cool crunch of the apples and the toasty walnuts was absolutely perfect!

Well, I’m off here…gotta rest up before my “performance” tomorrow! 😉

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29 Responses to Packing It In

  1. Mowenackie says:

    Lovely! I adore pumpkin and quinoa, so sounds like a good match. Thanks for the idea!

  2. yesss for the TGIF. last firday of the quarter what whaaat.

    now about studying for those 4 finals next week.. hmm… haha.

    I’m lusting over that almond butter. and that quinoa, actually. I’ve never made quinoa as breakfast-type cereal… I should change that 😉

    <3
    n

  3. I want to weep with happiness when I see your dinner. Fall-type foods are the best! And as usual, your breakfast looks amazing. Forget buying your own house- you can move in with me and be my personal chef 🙂

  4. Priyanka says:

    Moving is so stressful but I cannot imagine the excitement you must be feeling to get into your new home!

  5. Ohmygosh girl!!! I have got to make your “Taste of Fall Quinoa Breakfast Bowl!!!” I have an entire bag of Quinoa that’s calling my name, and now I know what I am going to make with it!! 😀

    Bookmarked! 😀
    xoxo

    Kathleen

  6. I’m glad you are enjoying your packing!!! 😀 Congrats on your house again! 😀

    xoxo
    Kathleen

  7. caitlinoco says:

    I completely agree about packing vs. unpacking! In unpacking I always realize stuff that I need and end up going shopping!

  8. Matt says:

    I think unpacking > packing. At least the end is in sight!

  9. love this breakki bowl!! and YAY for nice weather- its nice here too!!finally ill get my vit D ! AHHH YOUR OATS LOOK FAB

  10. lindsay says:

    autumn flavors are year round in our house too! Can’t beat them!

  11. Katie says:

    protein Frosting is yummy!!!!

    U know I drooled over your OIAJ, I tweeted you that ; )

    Happy Saturday! xoxo

  12. I always put cold crunchy apples on my oats! I love the contrast in flavors and textures. Good luck with the packing. I normally use that time to clean things out and get rid of things I really don’t need or want to move. I am so excited for you!

  13. Jenny says:

    Love the quinoa breakfast bowl, I have yet to have quinoa sweet. And yes I hate having to unpack everything and put it in its place, plus I think the pure fun of packing and knowing your going somewhere new makes it more interesting and less of a drag. Love your ooiaj!!! Mine do not looks that ginormous!!

  14. Kayla says:

    Heather! Those overnight oats look SPLENDID! Love all the “marbley” action!! 🙂

    Love your fall inspired quinoa, too. Such a good idea!

  15. ahhh I made quinoa just like this a few weeks ago! I keep meaning to post it… but how do you post a recipe you don’t like but know everyone else would like? I don’t like sweet.. and the quinoa I made was super sweet without a drop of added sugar even! Hmm… what do you think? how do I approach this one?

    yayyyy packing + moving on uuupppppp! <3

    • Well, first of all your pictures speak volumes for themselves, but how about also focussing on the description of the ingredients/spices and the feedback you got from others? Did P like it?

  16. I wanted to respond to you about the bean burgers, but couldn’t find an email. I think they firm up more when they are baked. I have done them both ways (baked and fried) in the past, but baking them makes them more sturdy (in my opinion). I think it gives the oats more time to soak up the juices. I also think oats make the best binder since they have some chew to them.

  17. oh my! Those OIAJ look so delicious : )
    I don’t think I’ve ever packed a jar that full, but it looks so good!! OIAJ seems to have endless combos.
    packing sure is better than unpacking. I can never seem to get things as organized when I unpack them; somehow I’ve packed everything in the wrong place. Although I do find that repacking gets me reorganized

    • I’m the SAME way! I’m a little OCD when it comes to organization so I always get overwhelmed with the unpacking/putting away process! Haha!

      Yeah, I think I got a little carried away adding my yogurt to the mix…they’re not usually so stuffed that I can’t add some fruit! But I made do alternating a bite of banana with a bite of oats…YUM!

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  19. Sweet Cheeks says:

    great use for quinoa!! I will have to remember that one!

  20. I have it in my head that I’m going to start packing this week (even though we’re not moving till June!) while I have some extra time during Spring Break, but we’ll see about that! 😉

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  22. elise says:

    unpacking is THE worst activity ever known to man. thats gotta be a verified fact. im particularly bad at leaving things in bags forever, but im happy to say all my expo swag is now finally put away.

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