Get yo soup on

Did you know you can make piping HOT soup in the Vitamix?

Sweet potater soup:

1 baked sweet potato (I just popped it into the microwave for 4 minutes) and 1 tomato (the recipe called for a roma tomato but I just used what we had- a beefsteak tomato)

 1 medium carrot

 

1/2 of a large apple

2 tablespoons of tomato paste

1 vegetable bouillon cube

 

1 1/2 cups of water

Blend for 5 minutes and VOILA!

It was a bit tooo tomatoey for my taste so next time I'll use a smaller tomato. 

My crackers are a bit of a mess today. I tried spreading the laughing cow cheese but my hands couldn't stop shaking so all the crackers fell apart! 

Baking sesh:

http://eatliverun.com/cinnamon-toast-muffins/

Stirring w. whatever works. I like to forgo traditional baking techniques :P

Mixing wet ingredients separately from dry

Still haven't gotten the oven timing down.

The muffins were a taaaaad overdone but that's just my style isn't it. One of these days I'll get it down.

Did some laundry today while waiting for my muffins to rise. Where do all the lonely socks go?

Sock heaven of course!

Next on the agenda:
Prepare butternut squash for the first time for dinner. When growing up, I always thought of these things as fall decoration. Such an interestingly shaped vegetable wouldn't ya say..

Case of the Monday's

Instructor: "Hi ya, my name's Alex, what's your name"
Me: "Hi, I'm Hanna"
Instructor: "Welcome Hanna, I'll be your partner today since there aren't that many people"
Hanna: "oh darn, I was going to try and hide in the back of the room" (as I silently think to myself, that's weird why would we be partnering up if this is a dance type class?)
Instructor: "No, you can't hide but don't worry, I'll talk you through everything"

Midway through the class, after we've only done a few rounds of circuit training, the instructor asks us to put on some boxing gloves. Wondering when the urban dance moves will come into play, I start a jab, cross, hook, and upper cut combo with Alex. I take a break for water and look across to the other room and it finally dawns on me that I've entered the wrong studio! I'm taking the class Box Fit instead of MTV Urban Workout. Don't ask me why it took me seeing girls dancing in the other studio to realize that I wasn't in the right class!! Case of the Monday's I tell ya!

Regardless, the class was extremely difficult. You can't beat having one on one attention. It's like having your own personal trainer. My hands are still shaking from all the punching!
SMOOTHIE TIME!

 Into the Vitamix:

handful of frozen berries

a cup of soya milk

spoonful of greek yogurt

scoop of protein powder

whole banana for extra potassium

three cubes of ice and give it a go

One heck of a thick smoothie. Perfect spooning consistency

Sunflower seeds, coconut, raisins, cacao nibs, goji berries

Song of the day: Cheryl Cole "Promise this"- I think I have a crush on Cheryl Cole. Is that allowed? What a hottie! :o)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVd_-inKQQI

Pop, lock, and drop it.

That's my Zumba instructor  from my former gym!

I'm trying a new workout this morning called MTV Urban Workout based on the hit show "America's Best Dance Crew."

BoDy FuEl:

blacker than black coffee

The cookie fairy brought me some buttery cranberry cookies. I ate half with my coffee.  Cranberry is considered a fruit group right?

Bring out the PJ's...

with the elastic waist! It's just one of dem Sundays.

Dinner:

who wears pink polka dot pj's? ME! ME!

Leftovers from last night. Mixed meats of chicken, lamb, and beef. All the meats were so tender and delicious even the day after. A side of fluffy basmati rice and veggies w. ranch dip.

How do you peel a mango without getting your hands all slimy?

 To heck if I know!

A bowl of sweet mango mush

I have a date w. the most comfortable couch ever!!

an episode of the Ghost Whisperer and some kooky gingerbread cookies!

Dorkus porkus.

American Football

Tell me something good baby! http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=302960142
What an exciting game!! I couldn't watch it due to the time difference but thankfully, I saw all the good highlights online.

Hearty breakfast after a night of entertaining guests: scrambled eggs w. smoked salmon on whole wheat toast.

 

We cut up this smoked salmon last night. I have a feeling I won't be craving smoked salmon anytime soon.

I also snuck in a donut while cleaning. What can I say.. I crave sweets after a late night of uhm.. indulgences :o).

Sprinkled donuts, my fav!!

And.. maybe some Belgium chocolates

Almost too pretty to eat!

Nom nom nom...

These hazelnut center chocolates are so addictive!! 

Sunday Funday at Camden Market

It's about a 20 minute walk from our flat. There are so many different open air stalls that sell just about anything from clothes to bags, vintage clothing, and accessories. There are also a bunch of tattoo and piercing shops. It's got a bit of an indie/ punk rocker vibe to it. 

Lunch:

We stopped into this Vietnamese restaurant because soup on a chilly day sounded comforting.

How do you pronounce "Pho"?

I love adding in the herbs and veggies to the soup. You can't beat the fresh cilantro taste. Yum!

Zumba update: I'm enrolled in a Zumba instructor course on November 26th. Woo hoo! Hopefully by next year I can join the "real world " again!!