Another thing that makes a plan hard to follow is that Bobby and I are rarely in the mood for the same thing.  Tonight we lucked out – both of us were craving pho, so we went for it.  But take this morning for instance -

That’s a bowl of green oat bran for me (oat bran, raisins, vanilla, salt, spinach) and a ham sandwich for Bobby (kaiser roll, mustard and a little bit of mayo, spinach, tomato, honey ham) + his calcium chew in orange flavor (I had mine when I woke up).  We wanted totally different things, but we happily ate them together.  I think improvisation and eating what you crave is important, so I don’t always stick to what I have written down.  As long as I use up what I have in the fridge and I don’t waste much, I’m happy.  How about you?  Do you stick to the plan (if you plan) or do you play it by ear?

Menu for the Week of April 26 – May 2

Sunday – dinner at Pho Little Saigon (pho)

Other Dinners -

• squid sauteed with leeks (monday i think) & rices
• leftovers (tuesday)
• stuffed portobellos, steamed kabocha & a protein (chicken/tofu/fish)
• hugh jass salad & a carb
• make your own spring rolls (with shrimp) & peanut dipping sauce
• salad with burdock kinpira & a protein (tofu, chicken, or seafood)
• eating out one night

Lunches - Big salads (romaine, spinach base; kabocha & random veggies for topping; parmesan & bacon bits; various dressings), tortillas, brown rice & butter, omelettes, burdock kinpira

Breakfasts - green oat bran, brown rice mixes, yogurt cake (for Bobby; I need to use up the yogurt that I bought before it goes bad)

Desserts – fruit, milk ice pops, possibly some tofu pudding (silken tofu blended with sweet things), maybe a white fungus dessert (I’ll do a post soon on white fungus since so many of you are curious!)

If you ever have questions about anything that I post about, PLEASE ask!  I love answering questions and I try to respond to every one.  I’m going to update my FAQ page, so this is an open call for anything you want me to talk about – advice (health, yoga, life, whatever), things that I eat (like white fungus or kabocha), exercise (walking, yoga, etc…), my past, my future plans, my jobs (tutoring, teaching, blogging, and some other randoms), my cat (Couscous the tabby), my boyfriend (Bobby; we’re about to hit 3.5 years in a month), my family, ANYTHING!  Just ask  I’ll keep reminding you because I want to get lots of questions.

Like this post? Check out...

• December 4, 2008 -- I’m having a love affair with my dessert.
• February 22, 2008 -- NYC food
• October 2, 2009 -- Dragon fruit! Roasted Seaweed! Friends!
• October 26, 2009 -- Pancake Circus
• May 20, 2011 -- Flashback Friday and Spring Cleaning

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Menu for the Week of April 12 – April 18

Sunday dinner – kabocha w/parm, butter, brown sugar + salad for Leng’s salad challenge (spinach, tomato, sauteed corn + onions, parmesan, Newman’s Own lowfat sesame ginger dressing); dessert – rice cakes spread with Greek yogurt + brown sugar, grapes, + a little bit of raw cookie dough (nom)

Dinner ideas

• steamed kabocha with parmesan + brown sugar + butter (it’s good, I swear)
• zucchini quiche/frittata
• salads (greens + a topping + a protein + dressing optional)
• egg scramble (using up groceries)
• moving day! (lease starts Friday; probably will eat out)
• YogaFit day! (eating out – too tired to cook!)
• sushi?

Lunch ideas

• salads (greens + a topping + a protein + dressing optional)
• tuna salad
• egg white omelettes
• peanut butter sandwiches

Breakfast ideas

• fruit + yogurt + granola parfaits
• oatmeal/oat bran/wheat bran
• toast (my new love)
• cold cereal (bran cereal + new wheatabix) with fruit

Dessert ideas

• fruit (duh)
• milk ice pops (from the Japanese market – I had one on Saturday and it was so good!)
• no more cookie dough!  (just kidding… this is a new favorite.)
• rice cakes with yummies on top (Greek yogurt + sugar, peanut butter, jelly, whipped butter, etc…)

I’ve been trying to stick with Ashley’s after dinner challenge, but have been failing miserably.  I’m still trying though!  Fortunately every day can be a fresh start.  Do you have something that you’re trying to change, or a habit you want to break?  What’s your approach?

Like this post? Check out...

• February 21, 2011 -- Weekend Link Love – 02.21.2011
• May 5, 2011 -- Microwave Free? We shall see…
• December 11, 2008 -- Lara… balls!
• August 30, 2008 -- Goodeats for 8/29/2008
• February 28, 2010 -- Souen Macrobiotic Restaurant: The Best Lunch Ever

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Today I woke up early, but lounged around until I walked to the farmers’ market and back.

Here’s what I have planned for the week…

Menu for the Week of April 05 – April 11

Sunday night – okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake).  inspiration from here, but nothing like that recipe at all.  to be posted soon.

Dinners -

• return to Homma’s Brown Rice Sushi
• stuffed portobello mushrooms & tomato-ey pasta (both inspired by Naturally Thin)
• Vietnamese – Pho Vi Hoa (see here and here)
• eating out with cousins (don’t know where yet; saw them at the farmers’ market this morning!)
• stir-fries to use up extra veggies

Lunches -

• scrambles/omelettes with fresh veggies & toast
• tuna sandwiches & salad
• sushi & salad
• Chipotle with Bobby

Breakfasts -

• fruit, yogurt, & granola/cereal parfaits
• scrambles/omelettes & toast
• toast with butter & jelly, fresh fruit
• french toast

Desserts – trying for fruit this week, as well as faux cheesecake and these cookies that were on sale at whole foods.

Happy New Week!  Is anything exciting happening for you?

Like this post? Check out...

• October 13, 2009 -- Recipe: Goji Nut Biscotti
• August 18, 2008 -- Dad’s Buttermilk Pancakes
• September 13, 2008 -- Breakfast for 9/13/2008
• January 7, 2008 -- How to Make Tortellini – Italy Day 4
• October 12, 2009 -- Day of Eats & TOMATOES. TWSS.

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This week’s menu planning was easy – we’re going on a cruise that begins Friday, and we’re heading to LA on Thursday.  I forgot that vacationing means using up produce, so I have to eat about a bajillion pounds of fruit this week.

Menu for the Week of March 22 – March 28

Sunday

dinner – okonomiyaki (Japanese fritatta – eggs, cabbage, leeks mainly)

dessert – “carb watch” pitas with peanut butter OR fruit

Monday

dinner – sweet & sour stir-fry to use up veggies & kabocha

dessert – fruit!

Tuesday

dinner - sushi (probably?) with a former roommate & Bobby

dessert - fruit!

Wednesday

dinner - either eating out or using up veggies in a stir-fry, depending on what is left

dessert - fruit!

Thursday

dinner & dessert - restaurant in LA (to be determined)

Friday & Saturday – cruise food!

Lunches – pitas, peanut butter, kabocha, lots of veggies, & hummus

Breakfasts – miso soup, oats, pitas, fruit (so much to use up!), leftover okonomiyaki

Like this post? Check out...

• November 25, 2009 -- Thanks!
• September 30, 2009 -- Recipe: Rice Cooker Oatmeal
• May 29, 2011 -- You know you’re blogging too much when…
• September 16, 2008 -- Birthday Eats for 9/15/2008
• August 19, 2009 -- Raw-kin’ Exercise

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Menu for the Week of March 08 – March 14

Sunday

dinner - at Sprout Cafe in Palo Alto (salads, soups, sandwiches)

dessert - at Fraiche in Palo Alto (soy frozen yogurt for me)

Monday

dinner - on my own (Bobby has band); veggie stirfry with kabocha fries

dessert - fresh fruit salad

Tuesday

dinner – Sushi night (not sure which restaurant yet)

dessert – frozen grapes

Wednesday

dinner – Blue Mango in Santa Clara

dessert – VitaTop/Muffin with peanut butter

Thursday

dinner - Cheesecake Factory (I always get the chopped salad & I love their brown bread)

dessert - minneola oranges

Friday

dinner - nectarine & tofu stirfry

dessert - apples and peanut butter

Saturday

dinner - maybe out with Bobby’s cousins?  we haven’t seen them in a few months…

dessert - fruit! (major theme this week in dessert-land)

Breakfasts – oats, oat bran, wheat bran, bananas, peanut butter, miso soup, nectarines, oranges, kashi waffles

Lunches – leftovers, kabocha, pitas with peanut butter, pitas with avocado blends (like the chocolate thing I put on my oats), lots of spinach-ey things (I bought a 2 pound bag that I need to use up)

MPM is usually hosted by Organizing Junkie, but this week it’s being guest-hosted at $5 Dinners. Check out more great menus there!

Like this post? Check out...

• May 22, 2009 -- Sprouting!
• November 22, 2009 -- A Wedding & A Move
• August 22, 2011 -- When Life Hands You Lemons…
• July 7, 2009 -- Celebration Dinner & A cute lunch
• September 16, 2010 -- Thankful Thursday & Happiness

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At the entrance were some flowers…

So many fresh nuts…

So hard to choose!…Fresh catches of the day…

Mushrooms are delicious…
And lots of cheese options…

These were gorgeous.  I miss having a garden…Possibly the best honey ever!

Freshly grown herbs…And lots of potatoes…

And my favorite… the samples!

Menu Plan for the Week of March 01 – March 07

Dinner ideas

• kabocha, bean, tomato, and swiss chard soup (recipe to come); farmers’ market bread and ezekiel pitas for carbs
• teriyaki tofu; balsamic red swiss chard and onions
• use up the leftover wontons
• kabocha fries (duh! always!)
• homemade pizza
• roasted squash, carrots, and onion with herbs
• going out!

Lunch ideas

• ezekiel pitas with nut butter/homemade hummus
• veggies and hummus
• baked kabocha fries
• grains!  with nut butter, pumpkin, tofu…
• for Bobby - leftover wontons, various chicken and rice dishes, turkey dogs

Breakfast ideas

• fruit by itself
• whipped banana oat bran
• miso soup
• tofu yogurt

Dessert ideas

• one of Chocolate Covered Katie‘s desserts
• fruit
• vitatops/vitamuffins
• grilled cinnamon oranges

More great menus can be found at Organizing Junkie!

I’ve pretty much given up on dairy.  It makes my stomach churn and I broke out for the first time in 3 weeks after having yogurt yesterday.  Oh, well.  I can find lots of things without it!  And they are all delicious.

Around the blogs:

• For my first day of Tina’s 31-Day Yoga Challenge I did Tom Morley’s “Buns and Thighs Yoga” on Exercise TV (20 minutes).  I plan on doing a YogaDownload.com gentle hatha session (20 minutes) later tonight as well.
• Coco is coming up with an Exotic Foods Challenge – what are your thoughts?
• Jenna’s going Meatless in March – are you up for it?

Like this post? Check out...

• September 24, 2010 -- I Can’t Budget
• March 28, 2010 -- Another Perfect (Souen) Sunday
• January 30, 2012 -- I’m Still a Salad Loving Yogi
• January 10, 2012 -- Veggie Sushi and Resolutions 2012
• November 5, 2010 -- Flashback Friday: Does Cooking Make Us Human

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Post tags: farmers market, macrobiotic, menu plan monday, mountain view, vegan, vegetarian, yoga

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Menu Plan for the Week of February 22 – February 28

Dinner ideas: (some are recycled from last week; when I was sick I got lazy and didn’t make everything I’d planned on)

• Homemade pizza – pick your own toppings (mushrooms, tomatoes, olives, cheese optional)
• Kabocha fries with homemade ketchup
• Eggplant with Ginger and Garlic (from the Asian Vegan Kitchen)
• Chickpea curry (also from the Asian Vegan Kitchen)
• Mabu Tofu (Chinese dish of tofu and veggies in a spicy sauce)
• Jap Chae (Korean noodle dish with veggies)
• Leftovers
• Going out (at least once – we haven’t been out in a while because things keep coming up when we plan to)

Lunches:

• Whole wheat pitas with nut butter
• Brown Rice Tortillas with cheddar
• Salads
• Grainy blends – oat bran, or whipped wheat berries

Breakfasts:

• Oat bran or oatmeal with cinnamon, banana & nut butter
• Kamut puffs, almond milk, and fruit
• Miso Soup (1 cup boiling water, 2 teaspoons miso, handful of wakame)

Desserts:

• Banana dessert (veganized)
• Healthified version of Apple Cranberry Bread Pudding (by Aaron McCargo, Jr)
• Fruits (apples, Asian pears) with PB2
• Tofu yogurt with brown rice syrup

More great menus can be found at Organizing Junkie!

I ate some Greek yogurt at midnight last night when the macrobiotic experiment was over… but I woke up bloated and full-feeling.  I think I might have to try staying away from my beloved yogurt for a while longer.

Enjoy the Oscars and have a great night.  What’s on your menu plan this week?  Anything new?

Like this post? Check out...

• February 13, 2009 -- Secret Cupid!
• February 15, 2010 -- Long Busy Day + Cake
• October 2, 2010 -- What’s Up Saturday – 10.2.10
• October 15, 2008 -- Tuneful Tuesday
• March 27, 2009 -- Guest Post – Caroline Bee!

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Menu Plan for the Week of February 14 – February 21

Sunday Dinner - kabocha squash “fries” with unsweetened organic ketchup; red swiss chard & green beans

Monday Dinner - make your own salads – romaine, sprouts, carrots, tofu, jicama, apples, celery, chicken for Bobby; some kind of bread on the side

Tuesday Dinner - Masoor ki dal (red lentil Indian dish), brown rice, greens

Wednesday Dinner - Chickpea curry (chana masala) with homemade naan and potato oven fries (for Bobby)

Thursday Dinner - Jap chae (Korean noodle dish) with rice

Friday/Saturday Dinner - one night out; one night veggie/tofu stir-fry with leftovers from the week plus rice

Desserts: apples, jicama, tofu yogurt, oranges, oat bran mini-scones

Breakfasts: miso soup, oatmeal/oat bran with dried fruit and nut butters, steamed greens, fruit

Lunches: kabocha fries, greens, salads, sandwiches on homemade bread, leftovers

More great menus can be found at Organizing Junkie!

This is my second week of macrobiotic eating and I’m loving it so far.  My secret cupid sent me the most amazing gift (The Asian Vegan Kitchen) so I used that for most of my menu planning this week.  Thanks again Olga!

This was my dinner tonight (Bobby got Domino’s takeout) -

This was breakfast -

Bobby had cheesy grits (on the left; 1 serving grits, 1/4 cup cheese mixed in, plus cheese on top).  (On the right) I had 3/4 cup oat bran with cinnamon and 1 tablespoon of peanut butter mixed in while cooking.  I think I like keeping the peanut butter on the spoon though; I couldn’t taste it much.

Like this post? Check out...

• December 6, 2008 -- Happy Weekend!
• January 10, 2010 -- Miami: Christmas in Miami (only 2 weeks late…)
• December 1, 2009 -- Mee’s Noodles For Me!
• October 27, 2008 -- Hip hip hooray for PB&J
• January 20, 2009 -- Peanut butter scandal got you down?

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Menu Plan for the Week of February 8 – February 14

Sunday Dinner - Golden beets with ginger (fresh from the farmers’ market!), wheatberries, and sprouts.  (Recipe coming!)

Monday Dinner - Carrot soup, rice/couscous with beans.

Tuesday Dinner - Tempeh Tuna from Becoming Whole, baked kabocha, sauteed veggies, rice for Bobby.

Wednesday Dinner - Jerk Seitan from Vegan With a Vengeance, baked potato fries, sauteed greens.

Thursday Dinner - Tofu scrambles with leftover veggies.

Friday/Saturday Dinner - one night out; one night chickpea burgers (Becoming Whole) with homemade biscuits and some type of seaweed salad (TBD).

Desserts: Fruit, tofu yogurt & granola, oranges, vanilla soy ice cream, and Fraiche in Palo Alto (they have soy!).

Breakfasts: miso soup, oatmeal with dried fruit, rice porridge with fruit, steamed greens, Asian pears, oranges, tofu yogurt.

Lunches: wheatberry salads, seaweed salads, fruit and soy yogurt parfaits, nut butter sammies on homemade biscuits, hummus sammies, rice and chicken dishes for Bobby, veggies, fruit, and leftovers.

More great menus can be found at Organizing Junkie!

This is my first week of macrobiotic eating and I’m very excited for it.  I will be sure to keep you updated on my progress.  What is your favorite cookbook?  I think mine is this huge book called The Complete Asian Cooking Companion.  That’s where I get all the ideas for my Asian meals.

Like this post? Check out...

• September 12, 2010 -- What’s Up Sunday – 9.12.10
• October 30, 2008 -- The Creamiest Oats
• November 11, 2009 -- Moving Day
• June 28, 2010 -- Homemade Ketchup Fun & Nature’s Pride Bread
• August 27, 2008 -- Goodeats for 8/26/2008

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Menu Plan for the Week of February 1 – February 7

Sunday Dinner - Homemade pizzas, superbowl snacks (homemade hummus, celery, crackers).

Monday Dinner - Vietnamese Mixed Vegetable Soup (onion, tofu, greens, sprouts, tomatoes) with rice or couscous.

Tuesday Dinner - Soba noodle sushi!  Cucumber, tofu, avocado, sprouts, & soba noodles wrapped in seaweed.  Wasabi and soy sauce for dipping on the side.

Wednesday Dinner – Steamed mushrooms, tofu, and rice or couscous (plus chicken for Bobby).

Thursday Dinner – Tofu scrambles with leftover veggies.

Friday/Saturday Dinner – one night out; one night Curry (pineapple, tofu, water chestnuts, red pepper, onions, etc…) served over rice or couscous. If it’s good I’ll post the recipe. (This was planned for last week but I didn’t get to it.)

Desserts: Gliding Calm’s crazy cake (had this tonight, it was awesome, I’ll write about it tomorrow because I changed the recipe), fruit, yogurts & granola, oranges, vanilla soy ice cream, and Fraiche in Palo Alto.

Lunches: omelettes, fruit and yogurt parfaits, nut butter sammies, hummus sammies, lunch meat sammies for Bobby, veggies, fruit, and leftovers. (Pretty much the same each week, but sometimes I get creative at the last minute.)

More great menus can be found at Organizing Junkie!

I will try to get up as many of these recipes as I can; sometimes it just doesn’t happen!  I stuck to my menu plan from last week pretty well, but we ended up eating leftovers one night and then omelettes instead of the curry.  I love curry so I hope that I get to make it this week.  I’m also trying to use up some stuff in the freezer (most of it seafood/meat that Bobby needs to eat) so I may try to throw some of those things into his lunches (if he’ll let me).

What are you most excited about eating this week? I loved the crazy cake tonight and I’ll definitely be making it again.

Like this post? Check out...

• March 30, 2008 -- Menu Plan Monday
• September 18, 2010 -- What’s Up Saturday – 9.18.10
• October 18, 2009 -- I’m lazy when I’m lovin’, I’m lazy when I play
• May 21, 2009 -- BSI Update & A Whole Life Challenge
• July 30, 2009 -- Snacky snack snack

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