Bonjour =)
I’m loving the discussion going on in the Daily Glow Graduation Fears…it’s honest, real, and inspiring.
On Friday, I was feeling extra motivated (which doesn’t happen much in the Winter!), so I decided to get my long run completed a couple days early.
[I was also tickled pink when I found my workout tank that was missing for months!]
I’m up to 8 miles for my long run this week and it felt so nice to check it off the list. I ran the 8 miles at incline 1% in 78 minutes.
Unfortunately, some of the miles ticked by ever so slowly…and I concluded that a long run on the treadmill is a test of mental strength more than anything. I had to convince myself that I could do it over and over and over again. I know I have the physical stamina, I just need to work on my mental stamina while running indoors. And I remind myself that cursing is sometimes necessary.
To help beat the boredom, I watched The Devil Wears Prada and I also did mini-tempo intervals during the run. I started at 6.0 mph and with each 400 metres, I increased the speed by 0.1 mph until I reached 6.6 mph, and then I repeated the interval. It helped for the first few miles, but then I got tired and said to hell with it and ran at 6.0 mph for the rest of the way. lol.
After the run, I was craving a cold, satisfying smoothie.
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Carrot Cake Smoothie
Yield: 2 cups
Ingredients:
- 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped into chunks (~1 cup)* see note
- 1 cup almond milk or coconut milk
- 1 large frozen banana
- 2 large ice cubes
- 1 tbsp chia seeds (or ground flax)
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- Small pinch of cinnamon
- 1 tbsp vanilla protein powder
- Toppings: Shredded Coconut, coconut butter, cinnamon
Directions. Throw all ingredients into the blender, starting with the almond milk and blend until smooth. Sprinkle on some coconut, cinnamon, and a dollop of coconut butter if desired. Makes 2 cups.
Note: This recipe works best with a high speed blender as the carrot is difficult to process.
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Do you notice anything sad about this picture below?
What about now?
That would be the end of My Favourite Granola stash! Tragic….just tragic, my friends.
I really enjoyed this Carrot Cake smoothie! It has a yummy carrot cake flavour while packing in 2 servings of veggies. Just make sure you blend it until fully smooth– you don’t want a grainy texture from the carrots.
Slurp.
Shower.
My post-run fuel usually looks something like this….
I love open-faced, toasted sandwiches on sprouted grain bread. Did I mention I pretty much only eat my bread toasted? Weird eh? The only time I do not toast bread is when it is fresh baked bread, otherwise I find that sprouted grain bread is wonderful toasted.
I’m currently crazy about Silver Hills Bakery Sprouted grain bread. Anyone tried this brand before? I buy it at my wholesaler, Ontario Natural Food Coop.
I made some quick homemade guacamole (mashed 1 avocado, squirt of lime, red onion, olive oil, & kosher salt) with some protein-packed lentils and tomato sauce. It was a random, yet incredible combo!
I had it with a sliced apple and the dangerously delicious Chocolate Pecan Butter.
5 minutes to prepare or less. You really can’t beat that when you are about to chew your arm off.
One of our dinners last week was this Roasted Sweet Potato and Black Bean Warm Salad, inspired by the amazing (and increasingly veggie-loving!) Mark Bittman.
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Roasted Sweet Potato and Black Bean Warm Salad
Inspired by Mark Bittman.
Yield: ~4 servings
Ingredients:
- 3 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1 large onion, preferably red, chopped (1.5 cups chopped)
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- 3-4 tbsp fresh lime juice (Juice of 2 limes), to TASTE!
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 2 cups cooked black beans, drained (14-15oz can)
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, minced (made about 3 tablespoons minced)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment or non-stick mat. Place chopped sweet potato and onion onto baking sheet and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Mix to coat. Season with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, remove and toss veggies to ensure even cooking. Bake for another 20-25 minutes until veggies are tender and slightly brown around the edges. Remove and set aside. The total time I roasted the veggies was about 37 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, prepare the dressing by mixing the following ingredients together in a bowl: 2 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp kosher salt, 2 minced garlic cloves, 3-4 tbsp fresh lime juice (to taste), minced cilantro, and 1/2 tsp cumin. Now mix in the drained and rinsed black beans and stir well.
3. When the veggies are done cooking, place them into a large bowl. Pour on the dressing and mix well. Serve immediately, warm. Makes about 4 servings.
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These are the changes I made to the original recipe:
- I cut down the oil from 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil to just 3 tbsp (and it still tasted amazing!).
- I added ground cumin as this goes well with anything lime flavoured
- I used 2 garlic cloves instead of 1
- I used a yellow onion because I did not have a red onion
- I used 1/2 cup of Cilantro because that was all I had (instead of 1 cup)
It still turned out INCREDIBLE!
First, roast the sweet potato and onion…
Meanwhile, make the dressing.
Mix together the lime juice, garlic, minced Cilantro, kosher salt, pepper, and oil.
Stir in the drained and rinsed black beans.
When the veggies are done, mix it all together!
The result is an array of savoury and tangy flavours. It is warm and comforting from the soft bites of sweet potato while the dressing gives it such a fresh and unexpected kick. We just loved it.
Now if you’ll excuse me, it appears I have a little granola issue to address. ;)
I agree, running on the treadmill is definitely a test of mental strength! Don’t know how you did 8 miles! I can barely eek out 3 on a treadmill. Painful! Smoothie looks delish by the way!
Hey.
In Norway you can get studded trainers for outdoor winter runs. I am not much of a runner myself but quite a few of my friends use them and tell me they are incredible as they allow for outdoor running all year. Indoor exercise is boring if that’s all you do all winter and motivation suffers…
Icebug is a great shoe reccomended for winter runs
(Norwegian site….http://www.xxl.no/sko/damesko/vinterstoevler/attla-l-bugrip-1066360?searchWord=icebug)
And Sarva Xero is supposed to be a superb running shoe with fab grip…
(again in norwegian…http://www.oslosportslager.no/produkt/sarva-xero-lopesko-med-pigg-dame-22616.aspx?utm_source=Kelkoo&utm_medium=Oppf%C3%B8ring&utm_campaign=Kelkoo)
Why not see if you can get something like it in Canada?
You might get past your mental hinder if you get out?
I will definatelly try your dinner recipe… it looks deelish!
I do not understand how you can run for 8 miles on a treadmill! You are awesome! Meanwhile that sweet potato and black bean salad looks delightful! Thanks for sharing!
Oh my! I made the carrot cake smoothie this morning and it delicious! My 5 yr old & 3 yr old loved it too! Thanks for sharing all your wonderful recipes!
i love silver hills bread! but only get to have it about once a year because they don’t sell it in new york :(! anyone for a bread exchange lol? it is so light and delish for being a sprouted wheat bread! And that black bean sweet potato salad looks awesome….those two foods are one of the best combos in my opinion!
I just got my first blender over the weekend and this recipe looks incredible. Can’t wait to try it!
I am looking for a Carrot Cake Recipe that includes sweet potatoes as a ingredient, (that may be used to substiute suger). Not even sure that sweet potatoes CAN be a sub for suger in recipes but I am in learning mode!
Made the black bean and sweet potato salad tonight… it was FANTASTIC!! Your recipes never steer me wrong!
Hey Angela,
I just made the sweet potato slad. It turned out amazing! Thanks!
I made this for dinner tonight with the leftover black beans I had from making your butternut squash and black bean burritos… Two hit recipes in one day. The tang from the lime juice and slight kick from the cumin paired beautifully with the sweet potato – just as you outlined in the post! And almost anything with cilantro is bound to be awesome.
As for bread and toast… I’ve been eating Silver Hills bread for over a year – love the stuff! I’m a little bit peeved by how they reduced the mass per loaf but didn’t change the price… but that was a while ago, and for making such awesome bread, it’s hard not to forgive the company. (Especially when they use organic ingredients, and GMO wheat is set to enter the Canadian food industry this year. :( )
I just made the sweet potato salad last night and LOVED it. Thank you for this recipe. I substituted parsley for cilantro and added wheatberries to it. FABULOUS. Would definitely make this again!
Once again, daughter loves another of your recipes. What a great mix of flavors!
Thanks so much, Nina
I love your blog and as I am literally eating it this minute, I had to comment on this amazing Roasted Sweet Potato and Black Bean Warm Salad. It is one of my favorites! The flavor is just perfect and it is also good as leftovers. Thank you for sharing this!
If i could suggest…………for the Carrot Cake Smoothie………try carrot pulp from your juicer. No worries about little carrot bits not getting blended! Btw — can’t wait to have another one of these – thanks for sharing!
I was wondering what type of protein powder you use. I’m having trouble finding a vegan one that I like!
I don’t use protein powder that often, but when I do I use the raw sunwarrior protein powder. there is a new blend of pea protein that I enjoy.
It’s like you’re my own personal chef except I do the cooking! it is just as enjoyable and appreciated when the food is on the table. The recipes never disappoint and are easy beautiful creations.
I just love you and your story and am reminded of that every time I see another post on the blog.
K
I am 13 years old and I LOVE your blog!!
I have already made so many of your other recipes. :)
Your Vegan Overnight Oats have become something I enjoy so much that I make it often!
I have made dinner for my family several times with many of your delicious recipes and when I saw this Sweet Potato and Black Bean Yumminess…I knew I had to make it! My parents LOVED it and said it was AMAZING! It was a bonus that my mom didn’t have to cook at all, as I made it all by myself! I also cooked extra black beans and made some brownies with them.. Also delicious by the way. :)
Your blog has inspired me, as I love to eat healthy food that nourishes my body..I can’t wait to try out more of your delicous recipes! Thank you for writing this blog! You are Awesome!
Oh my gosh the sweet potato with black bean salad was soooooo delicious, loved the dressing, the flavors just burst out, they are amazing!!!!!! I served them plain also on polenta, oh simply wonderful.
Thanks for the recipe love, Claire! So happy you enjoyed it.