1.) Few things make me feel as ridiculous as the process of taking decent food photos, especially for recipes.
And it was particularly bad for this recipe because bugs like fruit. You’d think that’d be true of any sweet thing, and maybe it is, but they really like fruit. Fortunately, no one was really outside to witness this, but I promise you I was flailing my arms to stop them from flying around me. I also yelled at them to go away.
I’m sure that worked.
2.) I mentioned it Tuesday, but I did a little non-Paleo baking over the weekend. It was honestly so nice to not experiment a bunch. See, butter and all purpose flour are predictable and familiar, and they smell fantastic. I took some of my yield to share with the people I worked with, my dad took some to work, and my parents have enjoyed a bit, too.
If you’re interested, I made these snickerdoodles, these peanut butter oatmeal cookies, this chocolate zucchini bread, and this banana bread. They’re all unfussy and total crowd pleasers.
I also played with a Paleo chocolate zucchini bread based on this one, some super simple zucchini chips, and the killer fruit crisp I showed you above.
So… yeah, I got my time in the kitchen for the weekend.
3.) As I said last week, my dad and I have been running together some. On Sunday, I kind of tricked him into going farther than he intended. He thought going to the end of the trail and back would make 4.5 miles, which is what we agreed upon. I was pretty sure it’d be closer to 5. I was right, and when we went back past the house at 4.85, we kept going to make it even. That was enough to convince him to run a 10k with me this weekend. 😀
4.) I’ve had a ThredUp (referral link) bag and a bag of food to donate to the local food pantry sitting around for way too long. As in, months. It took me all of 15 minutes on Tuesday morning to take care of those. Why did I wait? Pointless procrastination, much?
5.) After my easy errands, I had an appointment with the sports medicine doctor I met at the runner’s clinic to talk about my hip/knee. I can run and walk fine, but any time I shift weight to my right leg or try to twist my hips, it hurts. No bueno. He told me it’s probably IT band syndrome, prescribed a course of physical therapy, and told me to keep running as long as it doesn’t affect my form. Quick and easy, and I’ll start PT next week.
6.) I got home way too late for lunch after my appointment, but also needed lunch ASAP because I was hangry.
I finished off the zucchini chips I made over the weekend, grabbed a handful of carrots, and used a can of tuna to make lettuce wraps with salsa and pickled jalapeños. While insanely messy, it was also insanely delicious and took about five minutes to throw together and will definitely be happening again. It was enough to take the edge off my seemingly endless hunger, and was followed up with a few handfuls of pistachios and some crisp.
7.) I took Pippa on a longer-than-usual morning walk yesterday since I knew it was going to be too hot for a decent walk in the afternoon. I was trying to be nice, and we were outside for about an hour and a half. As we were leaving the park, though, we ran into my mom and one of her friends. Pippa insisted we follow them for a while, and I didn’t want to fight her.
However, I eventually forced her to go home because I wanted breakfast. She continued to pull me in the opposite direction pretty much the entire way home, making me look like a fabulous dog owner as I tried to make her do what I wanted. She’s cute, but her listening skills leave a lot to be desired.
8.) I will always and forever be a fan of snack plates.
{via Snapchat: ? elleneveryday}
And if you’re ever looking to salvage a way-too-ripe banana without baking… nut butter. Always nut butter.
9.) Speaking of Snapchat… WHAT is Instagram doing?! Why are there stories on Instagram? Are you switching? Are you using both? Guys, I just started to love Snapchat… but is it already time to give it up? Help me.
10.) And now I want to leave you with some of my favorite recipes + reads from the week.
- All about the Mexican flavors. –> Easy Sheet Pan Fajitas
- Simple, healthy, flavorful. Yes, please! –> Coconut Milk Chicken with Jalapeño Mango Chutney
- 100% sure I’ll be making these. –> Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
- Are you keeping too much junk in your life? –> 10 Things You Don’t Need Anymore
- I’m realizing how important community is to me. –> The Power of a Fitness Community
Your turn:
Are you procrastinating right now?
What would go on your perfect snack plate?
Anything else I should know?
You know what you are going to hear at PT? STRENGTHEN YOUR GLUTES STRENGTHEN YOUR HIPS. JSYK.
I need to make me some zucchini chips. But usually I just end up consuming them as zoodles #oops
I know! That’s what all my exercises focus on now 😛
I mean, zoodles are pretty darn awesome.
Zucchini chips never last longer than a few minutes in this household! Everyone stands over the oven and demolishes them!
Hahaha my dad and I did that! I saved a few on purpose just to see how they’d hold up (surprisingly well) 🙂
snack plates will always hold a special place in my heart. My fav thing ever is to combine the most random foods!
Sometimes you just need to eat a little bit of EVERYTHING 😀
I never have snack plates :O I guess I’m missing out! (I’ve been craving pistachios though….I’m just waiting for a sale…so expensive….but I may give in!)
I need to donate a bunch of stuff to the food pantry! I think I’ll take some bags to my grocery store tomorrow (they have a drop off there!) So much stuff I don’t need! #bloggerprobs
I eat pistachios just about every day. I adore them!
Snack plates are my favorite! On the weekends I am much more snacky than during the week so I usually make a snack plate for lunch and I love it. I usually have some type of lunch meat, veggies, and some fruit. Super easy & so tasty!
It’s been ages since I bought lunch meat, but now I’m totally craving it. I know what’s on my next snack plate 😀
Snack plates for life, yo. Taking decent food pictures always kills me too. I go out to our picnic table in our back yard and I’m sure my neighbors think I’m insane, taking food outside, standing on the table to take pictures of it while the dog runs around trying to get some, ha!
As for the new IG stuff – I don’t get Snapchat as it is. I do not need this confusion in my lifeeee
Yep. Good food pics involve me standing on bar chairs on the patio. Embarrassing every single time.
Great post! I am a huge fan of Zucchini chips, they are so easy to make and delicious. You can also get creative with seasoning etc 🙂
I was surprised at how easy they are! I had fun making them 🙂
I love love snack plates! And your crisp was the easiest crisp I think I’ve ever made.
Yay! Thanks, Emily! Gotta love a simple sweet treat 🙂
Hey. I’m just visiting from the link-up. I haven’t tried Snapchat myself but now that IG has stories, I guess now I won’t. I’m just a little weary at the thought of one more thing I have to think about using. Does that make me sound old? 🙂
Hey! Thanks for stopping by! NO, that doesn’t make you sound old. It makes you sound sane 😉 I say stick with IG if you never went for Snapchat!
Zucchini chips? How does one go about making those?!?!
My perfect snack plate would include dates, all the almond or cashew butter, and maybe some cherries. YUM!
I’ll try to get a recipe up ASAP, but it was pretty simple! Just some thin slices and seasoning!
Your snack plate sounds utterly amazing. I’m in love with dates and nut butter – separately and together 😀
Ha for once I’m not procrastinating so you didn’t catch me this time! I’m waiting for my dinner to cook so I’m catching up on blogs while I wait.
Thanks for sharing my link, I’m glad you liked my post!
Also aren’t bugs just the worst! Because they are so tiny nobody else can see them and you look like you have lost the plot waving your hands everywhere 😛
Yay for not putting stuff off! Good for you 😀
Hahaha yes. I could do without the bugs. 😛
Oh how I loveee snack plates! I love a mix of sweet and savoury and a heap of different textures!
Yes! Such a good way to eat ALL the things at once 😀