Early Everything
Happy Saturday, folks! 
It’s not even noon yet, but I feel like it should be the middle of the afternoon. I woke up bright and early and busted out my Health post, then made breakfast, did 2 loads of laundry, and took a quick trip to the gym with Marie. We only spent about 45 minutes there, but I’m glad that we went first thing in the morning instead putting it off until the afternoon.
Breakfast
For breakfast, I made a big bowl of banana oat bran.
In the mix:
- 1/3 cup oat bran
- 1 banana
- 2/3 cup water
- 1/3 cup hazelnut milk
- 1/2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed meal
- 2 scoops of Nuttzo
And, I had a glass of iced coffee with hazelnut milk.
Lunch
Around 11:00, my stomach started to grumble. I considered having a snack, but instead, I made myself an early lunch. I threw together a big salad with arugula, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, sprouts, chickpeas, leftover barley salad, and balsamic vinegar.
I love big salads! They’re so satisfying!
On the side, I had a few extra dark Uncle Jerry’s pretzels.
With bottle-o-water…
And, of course, I wanted something sweet after lunch, so I whipped up a batch of Almond Joy “Ice Cream.” So yum!
I must say, peeling a frozen banana is NOT easy. Next time, I plan to slice the banana and then freeze it in a Ziplock bag. It’s gotta make it easier! Jeez, Louise!
I have an exciting afternoon ahead. Mal and I are doing our taxes and then we are cleaning our apartment. Don’t be jealous! 
We’re also hosting a pre-race pasta party tonight at our apartment, so I’m really looking forward to that.
Enjoy the day! 
Posted by: Tina 51 comments
Posted in: Uncategorized
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
I need to try my chia seeds in oats; they look so much more thick and filling!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
That oatbran looks so thick and fluffy – very satisfying!
An afternoon of taxes….poor you, that does not a wild afternoon make! At least you’re with Mal
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
I usually peel bananas and wrap them in foil when I freeze them. It always does the trick!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
I love your placemats! Have fun at the party tonight!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
hmm yea..i never freeze bananas with the peel on?… Chop em when they are ripe and stick em in a freezer baggie1
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Agreed! I hate peeling frozen bananas. I’ve learned my lesson.
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
tina, girl! save yourself some trouble, peel those ‘naners BEFORE you stash em in a ziptop freezer bag. it’s gonna change your life! : )
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
I peel a bunch of bananas, cut them up, and store them in a big ziplock bag. Works like a charm!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
I always just throw the bananas in the freezer with the peel on. All you do is run them under warm water for a minute or so and the peel comes right off…
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Wow and I thought my morning was busy! All I did was run a 5K, do some yoga, a load of dishes and then catch up on TV!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Slicing off the frozen banana peel is the hardest and most hand-freezing task ever. I seem to always forget to pre-slice though.
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
I remember you saying that you liked Alex Lambert. He was my absolute favorite! What did you think about the eliminations? I just now watched the results show.
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
I always just freeze bananas in ziplocs without the peel! its sooo much easier!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
THe party does sound fun!!!!
And wow girl, you’ve had a full day so far!! I love how voluminous (is that a word?) that oat bran is..yum!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
hahaa i made the frozen banana mistake the very first time i tried it too. then i learned to peel it, cut into chunks, and freeze in tupperware. SO much easier.
i see other readers store them in ziplock freezer bags… maybe i should try that? not sure if it’s necessarily better than tupperware, but tupperware is reusable! 
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Oh man…those oats looks great! I have got to get my hands on some Nutzo!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
Sounds like a very productive Saturday! can’t wait to see your pictures and race recap tomorrow! Have fun! Hope your weather is better than ours here in NYC!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
Have a great day. I am definitely picking up some sprouts today.
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
haha, the banana at the end. I actually just saw an episode of Alton Brown’s “Good Eats’ And he had 2 big freezer bags full of peeled bananas that he stores for morning smoothies. I personally have never frozen a banana before, but that almond “ice cream” keeps looking better and better. So I plan on pre-peeling them nanners, I think Alton wrapped them, then freezing a bunch of ‘em.
Your blog is more than awesome! Thanks for the inspiration, the motivation, and for being the reason I started my own little blog.
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
I need to try this Nutzo…it’s everywhere in blog land right now.
Your morning oatbran looks awesome! I’m on such an oatbran kick lately. It’s super voluminous and creamy…yum!
The pre-race pasta party sounds like FUN! Have a great weekend!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
Unpeeled frozen bananas are the worst! A trick I learned is to freeze the sliced bananas on some plastic wrap on a cookie sheet in a single layer for the first hour or two then put them into a freezer bag. That way you don’t have banana pieces that are frozen together in a big chunk!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
i’ve never tried to peel a frozen banana! i have always just kept them peeled a freezer-ready…i use them for oatmeal, and also, to stuff my dog’s kong! (i bet murphy would like that too!)
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
That’s so funny about the banana. The first time I froze a banana I did the same thing and had to laugh at myself that I didn’t peel it first.
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
can’t wait to hear about the pasta party!!
Jenna
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
That’s a really cute placemat! Very meditteranean!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Wow! I just woke up! I feel so lazy but have to remember the time change!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
I’ve never frozen banana before, but now I’ll know to peel it first
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
ive tried to peel frozen bananas before too, definitely not easy! have a great weekend!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Nuttzo looks amazing! When I am lazy and dont pre-peel my bananas before freezing I regret it – such a hassle.
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
such a fruitful day! i totally slept in for the first time in a long time, but i’m thinking i probably needed that
frozen bananas are a beast to peel, it’s definitely easier to pre-cut them!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
I love productive mornings! Funny about the banana! I think you are supposed to peel first then freeze? Enjoy the rest of your day:)
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
hehe…I remember the first time I froze bananas I didn’t peel them. When I tried to peel the frozen version, I gave up and threw it out! :/ Now I peel the banana pre-freezing and just stash it in a ziplock bag. Pre-cutting them is an even better idea!
Sounds like you’re having a productive Saturday. Isn’t that the best?
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
I totally have to knock out gym trips first thing in the morning on weekends too! Otherwise I won’t go. Oh, and with the frozen bananas, it definitely is way easier if you peel em, cut em into chunks and then freeze. Good luck
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
ha ha…have fun! I should have given you a heads up on the peeling frozen bananas thing
sorry!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
Hazelnut milk?! Yum.
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
i’ve been a lurker of your blog & others for quite some time but i’ve finally decided to join the world of commenting because it seems so fun!
so question… how do you avoid your oatmeal spilling over while cooking? it seems even when i stay and watch the pot my oatmeal always cooks over making a huge mess on the stove!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
@Toni: Maybe use a bigger pot? I’ve never actually had that problem!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
I learned about peeling frozen bananas the hard way, too…it’s impossible! Now I peel them, chop them into big chunks, and freeze them in tupperware. Much easier (and much quicker)!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Tina peel the naner pre-freeze first! Sooo much easier
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Tina, you MUST try these pretzels. http://www.tellcitypretzel.com/
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
I love the look of Nuttzo, I still haven’t tried it yet though! Have a fun night at your pre-race pasta party!!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
I learned a really great trick for peeling frozen bananas from my dad! He always stuck them in the freezer without peeling or packaging them. When he takes them out, he just submerged the frozen banana in a bowl of warm water for 2-3 minutes. The peel slips right off after that!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
BIG salads are the best! thats the one thing my school’s dining hall is good for.. the salad bar! i raid it like it’s my job for lunch
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
yeah I agree with above commenter ^ that trick should work for the ‘naner. but you could try peeling first then freezing, barring it didn’t stay in there too long (and get all frost-coated) that should work too.
and oat bran….what is that? is it similar to oats? I feel like a newb but I’ve never seen it on here before (maybe I just assumed it was oatmeal)..
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Productive day! I need to get on the frozen banana train. Your “ice cream” looks so good, but I never put bananas in the freezer, so I can’t make it. Boo…time to change that!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
I always peel my bananas before freezing, then I store them in freezer bags. I need to try the “almond joy” recipe!
Jenn
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
This oat bran look so creamy… almost like a cloud!! Phenomenal pic!!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 5:57 pm
here’s a little tip for freezing bananas: peel the banana(s), cut into 1-2″ chunks, place on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer overnight. since bananas are squishy, freezing them when they’re not touching makes them easier grab cause they don’t stick together. I usually freeze them overnight and then put them in plastic freezer bags. trust me, the extra cookie sheet step is worth it!
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
I freeze them post peeling because I’ve had so much trouble and frozen thumbs freezing the with the peel. I love all the tips to pre freeze to prevent the chunks.
on Mar 13th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
I peel them and then freeze them whole and cut ‘em up later with a big kitchen knife. That way the pieces don’t freeze together.
on Mar 14th, 2010 at 10:02 am
I make banana ‘ice cream’ all the time. cut em up and stick em in a ziploc. Or, better yet, mash them a little bit.