Tag Archives: oatbran

Tardy with Games

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You all thought WIAW was wrapping up, but I’m just getting started. I will admit, I’m quite late this time around, however I come bearing games.

Or at least throughout my edibles I’m going to share with you some of my favourite games that my family likes to play around this time of year.

I have recently come across a new oat bran combination. It would be an UNDER-exaggeration to say that I am obsessed with it. That being said, I’m going to do a whole post on this scrumptious breakfast.

Phase 10: A rummy style card game that can be enjoyed by everyone. Including smarty pants who like to think strategy, or grandparents who are rather tired and would rather be reading the newspaper.

The making of a Bre-ake

Xactika: This card game is a little less known, but fun all the same.

Blockus: Perfect for when you are tired of cards and want to test your spatial senses

Dill Pickle Popcorn: Melt 1 tsp of margarin (or butter) with a 1/4 tsp of Simply Organic Creamy Dill flavouring (or other dill flavouring). After melting add 1/2 tbsp of white vinegar and mix. Pour over popcorn and sprinkle (generously) with sea salt.

Rummikub: A popular game, but for a good reason. My siblings and I have been entertained by this game as children, and as young adults, so clearly it’s a game for all ages.

Why hasn’t eggplant been a staple of mine?! This purple beast deserves more recognition.

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Have you played any of these games? What are you favourite games to play? Do you like eggplant? What’s your favourite popcorn topping?

Where Did The Color Go?

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Last week due to midterms, I missed WIAW. This has resulted in me being extra excited to participate in the food sharing party!

It seems that all the Tuesday eats I managed to capture are quite bland in the color department. They are all within the tan/orange/neutral color scheme.

Orange White Chocolate Pudding Oats (Pudding Oats with Orange Tea, and white chocolate instant pudding)

Magic Merging Rice Crakes: 2 rice cakes broken up inside a baking dish with 1/3 cup of eggwhites. Let soak for around 5 minutes. Microwave for 3-4 minutes…they magically merge!

I think this is proof that I should stick to the microwave. I made a single serving pumpkin loaf. Unfortunately I burnt it, but that didn’t stop me from devouring every morsel! I will share a recipe when I manage to bake without burning.

Alfalfa Sprouts and tuna. I can’t eat these without thinking of The Little Rascals. If you loved the little rascals as much as I did growing up, be sure to check tomorrow post!

I’ve been a little slow jumping on board the socca bandwagon. It’s a shame because it makes a great snack, especially with laughing cow cheese!

I never manage to snap a picture of my apples along the day. Perhaps that is because you all know what apples look like, but at least they added some color to my day!

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Do you like socca? What do you put on it? Do you eat your baking if it is slightly burnt? What is the best NEUTRAL color thing you’ve eaten in the past week?

An Outsider's Perspective on Halloween

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We are all accustomed to the traditions of carving pumpkins, getting dressed up, and shelling out for candy. Does that mean that these traditions aren’t the least bit out of the ordinary? Think of it this way: If two aliens came to earth on Halloween night, what would they be puzzled about?

1. Carving our Food

At thanksgiving we make pumpkins into pie, and at Christmas we carve our turkey for eating purposes. But on halloween, we carve our pumpkins, put a candle in it, and place it on our porch. Not the most intuitive thing to do with a pumpkin. Did you know the original Jack-o’-lantern was apparently a turnip? (Source) I love turnip, preferably on my plate…

2. Only the kids get the candy

At least on Christmas everyone is getting gifts. What’s with only kids getting to go trick or treating on halloween night? What kind of reaction do you think you would receive if you were in your 20′s and went trick or treating?

Fine, if you won’t give me free candy I will make my own snack. Like layers of pumpkin, peanut butter, and greek yogurt.

3. People are wearing teeny tiny costumes…and it’s cold outside

At Easter you expect to see little girls wearing spring dresses, and at Christmas you expect to see snowsuits. But on Halloween you can expect to see anything at all, including bear arms in chilly night conditions! (I will admit I was one of those little girls who always wanted to dress up as a princess and not wear a sweater, pants or jacket.)

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Let me be clear here: I don’t have anything against Halloween, in reality I think aliens would be confused at just about every human tradition we have here on earth. For instance having another post with a picture of oat bran…
…strangely obsessive! Another breakfast of pudding oats, this time cooked with cinnamon plum green tea, and cheesecake instant pudding.

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What are some things you think are strange about halloween? What are you dressing up as for halloween?

You Know You Are Best Friends With Your Microwave When…

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I will admit it: I’m a microwave addict. Here is my “how to know” when you use your microwave too much…

1. You make french toast in the microwave

Piece of bread soaked in 1 egg and cinnamon, then microwave for 1:45 flip and re-microwave for 1:45

2. It gets so much use the handle breaks off

It now gets opened with a fork.

3. You use it to make your oats rather then cooking them on the stove

Pudding Oats with Earl Grey Tea and white chocolate pudding

4. You’ve made so many variations of microwaved protein cakes you could fill a whole recipe book.

Protein Study Bites

Edible Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup pumpkin
  • 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
  • 1 full egg
  • 2-3 tbsp of liquid (I usually use some cold tea)

Engineering instructions:

  1. Mix. Then microwave for 8 minutes power level 6.

Pretty simple engineering instructions. How about enjoy it in my office studying some real engineering concepts?
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Are you best friends with your microwave? What do you make most often in it?

Last Working WIAW

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Isn’t it amazing we can be so far away yet experience the same earthquake? First of all, I feel so close to all of you. I thought my afternoon Kombucha was making me tipsy, until I realized that my chair was shaking on its own. I’m all the way up here in Canada yet I still went on the same ride as many of you in the eastern states.

Speaking of being at work…I’m half way done my last week of work! I’ve enjoyed my summer job, and learned a lot. This post is dedicated to a summer of lessons, and I will share it at the WIAW party hosted by Peas and Crayons!

Breakfast:

Lesson 1: Old tricks can always have a new spin
I was using old skills I learned in courses but applying them to new technologies. It makes all that hard term work pay off

Same old Oat bran trick with a nutty twist (Forever nuts tea used as liquid, and almond extract added)

Snack:

Lesson 2: Try new things, you may just be missing out
If I listed all the new things I tried at work I would loose you. So I will keep it at one: asking coworkers for help when your stuck on how to do something. I’ve lost a lot of time in the past trying to figure out things myself!

I’ve seen these in the store before, but haven’t tried them until now. I’ve been missing out, I loved them. They had an intriguing fishy taste (in a good way), but that could be a result from reading they have 6 times the omega 3 then salmon. The tricks the brain plays…

Lunch:

Lesson 3: Accidents happen, that doesn’t mean all is waste.
Computer programming can be like a hard boiled egg. If the shell cracks the insides don’t fall apart. For non-programmers, what I mean is most mistakes aren’t irreversible.

You didn’t think I only had an egg for lunch did you? Caramel pudding mixed with greek yogurt and chia seeds. Then layered with hemp hearts. So thick, creamy and pillow-y.

Snack:

Lesson 4: If your heads spinning, take a break
I’ve realized that taking a short water break, when the computer screen is spinning before your eyes does not make you less efficient. While I’m at it, I enjoy spinning my snacks:

Ironically I wrote this spinning analogy BEFORE the earthquake, little did I know that dizziness would be upon me again shortly…
Recently I tried Kombusha and fell in love.
Recently I tried Puffins and fell in love.
This goes hand in hand with Lesson 2.

Dinner:

Lesson 5: Some things don’t mix
I don’t mix well with a day completely full of people. I need to clear my hear and get some alone time at some point.

I made tempeh in peanut sauce and broccoli slaw. It was alright, but I wouldn’t mix these two together again.

Snack:

Lesson 6: If you don’t have the resources make due with something else.
I was lacking time to add some additions to my project, but I made due with what I completed. I’m the type of person the strives to go above and beyond, but sometimes above is all that’s required to make a good impression.

I didn’t have the craving for my usual nightly greek yogurt bowl (maybe because of all the greek yogurt at lunch), so I opted for something else: a pumpkin protein microwaved pudding topped with apple and peanut flour sauce

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What have you learned this summer? Have you tried savi seeds?

A Definetly Delisious and Voluptuous Oatbran Trick

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I have a few confessions to make…

  • I can’t spell definetly
  • I can’t spell sandwhich
  • I can’t spell delisious
  •  I take all my photos on my Blackberry Torch
  • When I read/write that something is voluminous…I read/write voluptuous! Oops

Honestly I make those spelling mistakes EVERY TIME, I never learn. In lieu of those confessions I’ve decided to share my voluptuous oat bran trick, that is definetly delisious!

**NOTE: Hover over photos for extra captions, although most are self explanatory**

When I first started making oat bran, I was using Katie’s Voluminous oat trick but I soon learned a few chia and egg white tricks of my own to add to Katie’s wonderful discovery.

  • mix ⅓ oatbran, stevia packet, dash of salt and ¼ cup egg whites. Stir well

  • add 1.5 cup almond breeze or other liquid, add tablespoon of chia seeds mix well. mix well
  • let sit for at least 5 minutes. This is important I’ve found

  • microwave for 2 minutes
  • stir, microwave for 1 minute
  • let sit in microwave for 5 minutes

  • Let sit uncovered overnight
I’ve found significant consistency differences if I switch up the order of the eggwhites/chia seed addition. And I’ve found ENORMOUS differences if I’m inpatient and don’t let the chia sit before microwaving. Usually I clean up while I’m waiting, or pack my lunch. That way I don’t feel like I’m wasting time.

I always dress my oat bran up, because oats aren’t meant to be naked in my kitchen.

I almost always top my oatmeal with the same thing: a layer of greek yogurt, and a layer of runny peanut flour sauce. Of course I always enjoy my oatbran bowls with a big side of fruit, and hot mug of coffee. Because my morning would just not be complete without.

I’m pretty sure oat eaters have all adapted their OWN method for making oats just the way they like THEY like them. But I figured I would post my method just in case there is someone out there who hasn’t discovered the awesomeness of oats! I always use it to make my oat bran or rolled spelt, and I’m never disappointed with the outcome.

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Do you have a set way you always make your oats, or do you change it all the time? What type of oats do you prefer? (oat bran, rolled, steal cut…the possibilities are endless)

Strawberry Chocolate Cheesecake Oatbran

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I hope all of your weekends were as great as mine. The sun was shining and it was hot, it’s hard to believe that it was only two months ago when it was 8 degrees.

 

Just goes to show that we Canadians really don’t live in Igloos, otherwise my house would be a melted puddle

What made my weekend great? Family time, friend time, and alone time. My alone time usually comes along with breakfast, since I’m the early bird in the family.

Strawberry Chocolate Cheesecake Oatbran

It was my first time making oatbran but it turned out to be satisfying and…slimy. It was only slimy because I added chia seeds. The night before I used Katie’s method for volumptious oats using:

  • oatbran
  • cocoa powder
  • cold strawberry tea
  • egg whites
  • chia seeds
  • sweetener, and a pinch of salt
I tried to follow the volumptious oats trick as closely as possible, but I think I may have left it in the microwave a bit too long because most of the water was already evaporated by the time I put it in the fridge.
In the morning I melted two laughing cow cheeses on top… …and dug in.
Devoured while reading blogs. Two blog posts you should be sure to check if…
  1. …you are feeling burdened: A Burden Lifted… at Cotter Crunch
  2. …you are a planner: Thoughts: Advanced Notice No Longer Necessary at Salt Water Coffee
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To you what makes the perfect weekend? Do you have your meals alone or with the company of others?
CyberChimps