Eat, Drink and Be Aware: Spring Shower brings Spring Salads + ...

Good Afternoon and Happy Friday!!

I have lots to report this afternoon and am so happy that it is Friday.? I briefly need to interrupt this post to give you a weather report- it is a gorgeous sunny day and 74 degrees in Portland, OR.??I?ran 7 miles and then caught up with my husband?and dog, Gumbo for an additional 3 mile walk.?I mowed the lawn, whipped up a batch of Triple Chocolate Silk Pudding and am now officially starting my weekend.? Yah!

I also found out that my recipe for Vegan Rhubarb Apple Crisp is on the Living Harvest Foods?Facebook Page today- check it out here?and give a big LIKE.

On the job front, I am now an official 24 Hour Fitness Personal Trainer at the Hollywood Super Sport location.? I am super excited about the opportunity because this is my home gym that I?belong to and love and it happens to literally be 2 minutes from my house!!? I have been waiting for an opportunity to open up at the Hollywood location because it has always been my dream to be able to walk to work.? I don't think I could have done any better than this and I will be working in the mornings so it works with my other job of being a MOM.? I also love the?clientele at the?24 Hour Fitness Hollywood location and am?looking forward to expanding my client base. If any of you locals are looking for a trainer, you know where to find me starting this Monday!

I don't know whether to talk about my salad first or the Triple Chocolate Silk Pudding.... they are both AMAZING.

I will start with this gorgeous spring salad since I just got done enjoying eating it.? This is a perfect Spring Salad made with crisp romaine lettuce, spring peas, yellow carrots, thinly sliced red onions and Fuji apple slices dressed with a nice dijon vinagrette.

Recently, I picked up an inexpensive?Progressive Adjust-A-Slice Mandoline to make dehydrated apples but find myself using it all the time.? The thinly sliced apples and red onion make a big?difference in the salad and I also have enjoyed using it to slice potatoes for frittatas.? It is one of those kitchen gadgets that I don't know how I ever lived without before.

Progressive Adjust-A-Slice Mandoline

Fresh Spring Apple and Pea Salad

2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped into bite-size pieces

5 yellow carrots, chopped

1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion

1/2 cup fresh spring peas

1/2 cup thinly sliced Fuji apple

Dressed with 1 tbsp dijon mustard, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil and?dash of sea salt and lemon pepper.

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I ate this delightful lunch outside in the warmth of the sun.? Gotta get my vitamin D in!

On Day 2 of the Silk for Milk Challenge, I decided to make a batch of Triple Chocolate Silk Pudding.? My husband loves chocolate pudding and I thought this would be a good use of the Silk Pure Almond Dark Chocolate Milk.? This dessert is super simple to make and you can eat it warm or chilled.? I think I have made my husband's day by making this dessert.? You can also make this recipe Vegan by using Vegan Chocolate Chips.? I ended up using Trader Joe's Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips which I believe are vegan by default but not positive.

Triple Chocolate Silk Pudding

(Vegan)

Ingredients:

?1/4 cup?sugar
?1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
?1/4 cup cornstarch
?1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips(or vegan chocolate chips)
?2 cups Silk Pure Almond Dark Chocolate Milk
?2 tbsp brewed espresso
?1 tsp vanilla extract

Preparation:

Whisk sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch and chocolate chips in a small saucepan. Add Silk Pure Almond Dark Chocolate?milk and bring to a boil on medium heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat, and stir until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in espresso and vanilla. Pour into four 4-ounce ramekins. Serve warm or cover with plastic wrap and chill.

Serves 4.

Silk Pure Almond Dark Chocolate Milk

50% more calcium than dairy milk

120 scrumptious calories per serving

An excellent source of antioxidant vitamins C and E

Absolutely no saturated fat or cholesterol

100% free of lactose and dairy

If any of you would like a good laugh today you are welcome to take a look at my Mutual of Omaha Aha Moment.? I received an email today that they have posted my moment here and I ended up watching it again.? You will now realize why I don't post many videos of myself and I seriously need some help with my hair!!!? I am nervous as you will see and a bit dorky but believe in what I said.??The good thing is that I can laugh at myself.

http://ahamoment.com/moments/181

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We have a busy weekend coming up complete with double soccer games, music lessons and birthday parties but?am looking forward to spending time with the family.? The weather is so nice that we are going to bike to some of the Portland Food Carts.? That should be a fun post.
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I am off for now but enjoy the rest of your Friday afternoon!

Source: http://eatdrinkandbeaware.blogspot.com/2011/05/spring-shower-brings-spring-salads.html

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