What Kat Ate (#15)! + Music I’ve Been Enjoying!

Hey My Gorgeous Readers!

Thanks for your comments on my post on some of my favorite protein-rich breakfasts. I’ve had fun in the kitchen these past years and I am always excited to share a recipe with you. I haven’t had much time or energy to do much experimenting recently, but in a few weeks I should have some more time on my hands for some fun.

Time for another What Kat Ate (#15)!

Thanks Jenn for hosting this party! I always enjoy joining the fun!

BREAKFAST:

1/3 cup oat bran with 2 tbsp ground flaxseed, 1 tsp cinnamon, and a chopped apple stirred in. Alongside this delight I had 1 full egg + 2 egg whites cooked with no-salt seasoning (the organic kind from Costco) and a little seasoned salt. (I’m not to the point where I can eat 2 full eggs making it myself, as I used to view them as danger foods, but I’m taking it one step at a time.)

LUNCH:

I have to take my own food to my job, so this time I took an apple (or nectarine – I really like those too), ¼ cup almonds, and 1/3 cup soynuts. (I don’t always bring such a boring lunch – the one I brought today involved chickpeas and almond butter and such. But they always have to be something that can last out of a fridge until lunch, since I leave early in the morning to get over there.)

SNACK:

When I get home from my job, I usually am starving and grab a snack. This time I had myself a big delicious bowl of my Cacao Pecan Pumpkin Ice Cream. I absolutely ADORED the crunch the cacao nibs added to the bowl – and they are also high in fiber and include healthy fats for my skin, hair, and nails. Win-win situation.

DINNER:

A Morningstar Chik’n Breast Patty (x2) cut into strips (they are just more fun to eat that way for some reason ) alongside a juicy pear and 3-4 large stalks of celery sliced and frosted with peanut buttah. <3 (This was one of the nights that we fended for ourselves for dinner, if you get what I mean.)

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I have been obsessing over YouTube music videos/songs this summer. I’ve found a few that I thought you might enjoy.

• This is an “Piano Solo for the Pirates of the Caribbean“ – I wish I can play like that some day. One day.
  
• I love One Direction’s song “What Makes You Beautiful” (click here for the original version by One Direction) , so when my friend told me about this version by PianoGuys– it involves 5 Piano Guys and 1 Piano, and I just HAD to check it out. I was stunned. What a beautiful rendition of it.
• “Cowboys and Angels“ by Dustin Lynch
  
• “God Gave Me You“ by Blake Shelton (This is how I feel for my family and my friends – and for you guys! Thank you ALL SO much for always being there for me!)
  
• “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful“ by Kelly Pickler
  
• “Little Moments“ by Brad Paisley (I think this song is just very cute. )
  
• “Give Your Heart A Break“ by Demi Levato (I’m so glad that Demi is turning her life around after having gone through struggles with body image and an eating disorder. It’s so good to see her back in the scene as strong as ever. )
  
• “Footloose“ by Blake Shelton (This one just makes me want to jump up and dance!!, especially since I know a line dance to it!)
  
• “The Trouble With Girls“ by Scotty McCreery
  
• “One Step At A Time“ by Jordin Sparks (I love how this song talks about how life is something we have to take one step at a time. Just like how I mentioned above about how I can’t have 2 full eggs yet — sometimes you just have to take it one step at a time.)
  

Go check them out when you have some free time – they are some of my FAVORITES! <3

I’m going to go do some weights now and finish up a reading assignment for my scripture study class tomorrow night, so I’ll talk with you soon! Thanks for always being there for me!

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Favorite food pictured? I’m really loving my cacao pecan pumpkin soft serve right now – it is SO good and good for you!

What are some of your favorite portable foods to take with you for jobs? I’d love some variety for things to take, but it seems like I’ve run dry of ideas. What are your thoughts??

What are some of the songs you are loving right now? Please feel free to link up some of your favorites in the comments below!

xoxox,

Buttermilk Oatmeal Pancakes!

Hey My Swirly Twirly Flapjacks!

Thanks for all of your comments on my last post about my home gym! I really like that we now have a pretty well-rounded gym here at home, especially since we don’t have a membership to a gym anymore. It also helps that we have five bedrooms in our house with only two kids total. We use one of the two extra rooms as a sewing/guest room and the other as a gym/library.

I asked, and you answered.

Here they are:

My Buttermilk Oatmeal Pancakes!

Combine the almond milk and the distilled vinegar in a medium bowl (or measuring cup like I did). Set it aside to thicken.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

Once the milk mixture has thickened, pour it into a blender/food processor, and add the oatmeal, agave, silken tofu, and applesauce.

Process until the oats are a finely milled.

Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour the oat mixture into the center.

Mix well, but don’t overmix.

Preheat a nonstick or lightly coated with cooking spray griddle.

Use a ¼ cup measurement cup to ladle out the batter for each pancake. Flip pancakes when bubbles rise and break open on the top, or when they’re golden brown on the bottom.

Cook until lightly browned on their reverse side. Repeat with the rest of the batter.

Transfer to a plate, decorate, and devour8!”

Buttermilk Oatmeal Pancakes!

Vegan, Whole Grain, Sugar-Free option*

Makes 4 servings, with about 3 pancakes per serving (depending on the size of the pancakes)

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
  
• 1 cup old-fashioned (or quick) rolled oats
  
• 1 tsp. salt
  
• 1 Tbsp. baking powder
  
• 1 Tbsp. agave nectar or honey
  
• 1 ¾ cup buttermilk: [1-2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk + 1 ½ Tbsp distilled vinegar]
  
• 1/3 cup silken or soft tofu
  
• 2 Tbsp. applesauce or oil**
  

Directions

Combine the almond milk and the distilled vinegar in a medium bowl (or measuring cup like I did). Set it aside to thicken. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Once the milk mixture has thickened, pour it into a blender/food processor, and add the oatmeal, agave, silken tofu, and applesauce. Blend it all up until the oats are a finely milled. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour the oat mixture into the center. Mix well, but don’t overmix.

Preheat a nonstick or lightly coated with cooking spray griddle. Use a ¼ cup measurement cup to ladle out the batter for each pancake. Flip pancakes when bubbles rise and break open on the top, or when they are golden brown on their bottoms. Cook until lightly browned on their reverse side.

Transfer to a plate, decorate, and devour8!”

Print This Recipe

*To make sugar-free, in place of the agave use 2 packets of stevia. (Or you can even just replace the agave with 1 Tbsp. more of applesauce.)

**I like using applesauce when I plan to top my pancakes with nut butter, and oil when I plan to top them with fruit, like jam, preserves, or applesauce.

I topped mine with my Homemade Sun Butter and some fresh blackberries (which were on sale — score!).

I really love how healthy, filling, and satisfying these are! We all (as in, each of my family members) topped our pancakes differently, with a variety of things, which included: sun butter, preserves, maple syrup, smart balance lite buttery spread, applesauce, berries, etc! We DEVOURED these in two seconds flat!

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What is your favorite pancake topper? I really like to use nut/seed butters and applesauce (or preserves to make PB&J pancakes).

Do you like breakfast for dinner? I think breakfast for dinner is the BEST! My whole family enjoys it, so I made these for dinner tonight!

How do you keep organized? I like to use lists and schedules/calendars to keep my day organized. I list down what I want to get done that day, and I love being able to cross things off as I do them: a fully crossed off list at the end of the day is something I really like seeing! I’ve also been recently scheduling my day. I had been falling behind in my schoolwork, and so for this past week I’ve really scheduled myself (practically minute by minute; not quite, but close) so I could focus and plan in the time to get some things I’ve-been-needing-to-get-done done. It worked! I’m all caught up. The schedule isn’t restrictive: things come up and it has to change a lot, but I still like to write it up because it helps me stay focused. It gives me a visualization for my day. For the rest of the stuff I have, I use bins, shelves, labels, folders, dividers, assigned places, etc. to keep things organized.

xoxox,

P.S. Sun Butter Recipe coming soon! I made it today and have it all ready for you!

What Kat Ate #4 + Single-Serving “Lasagna”

Hey my Cutie Fruities!

Thanks for all of your comments on my chocolate chip pecan butter. Pecans are now one of my official favorite nuts to make nut butter out of. (My other favorite is walnuts; I’ve yet to try cashew butter, but I hope to make it soon!) I also really loved reading your thoughts on jean shopping. Jean shopping can be a really stressful experience, so I loved reading your ideas on it.

Her’es my first What Kat Ate of this year! 

Breakfast:

Chocolate spiced oatmeal topped with vanilla protein power, red raspberries, and mixed-nut butter!

Lunch:

A big mixed green salad with lite Italian dressing and edamame on the side.

I also had some cauliflower and a frozen banana frosted with peanut butter.

Snack:

I had a sliced pear. Yum yum yum.

Dinner:

The combination of the cannellini beans and the whole-grain pasta with tomato sauce tastes like lasagna! I took my fork, scooped up some beans, then stabbed on some pasta with tomato sauce, and devoured it! IT IS SO GOOD!!! This is the easiest lasagna I have EVER made! Sadly, I’m all out of cannellini beans now, so I’ll have to get some more. I will definitely be having this up at college: it’s such an easy way to make it!

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I went to bed last night at 9:56pm! I have never seen a 3-digit number when I go to bed! I was still tired this morning, which tells me that even though I got more sleep last night than most on school days, it’s still not as much as I truly need. Maybe for adults, but I’m still an active teenager. I’m focusing on going to bed by 10pm. I don’t think I’ll be able to go to bed at 9pm yet (I don’t think I could mentally handle that), but I hope I’ll get to that point over time.

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How would you describe the way you eat? I don’t like to “name” myself (as it gives me restrictive thoughts), but I do strive to eat a plant-based diet.

Favorite food pictured? I love the nut butter! I also REALLY loved the cannellini beans with pasta/tomato sauce! <3

Have you ever woken from a dream, then gone back to sleep, and continued the dream right where it had left off? I was VERY happy that happened the other night. I also woke up at like 5am the other day, and fell back to sleep for only 20 minutes and I had a dream within those 20 minutes! It was weird, but nice nonetheless.

xoxox,