Good good links #96

Summer is here! Or at least it finally feels like it after weeks or rain and a drop in temperatures. Now we’re anxiously awaiting that 30+ °C heatwave … and while you’re waiting why not check out some great posts from the past week? Yes, I’m short here again because I didn’t get a chance to read a lot of posts lately but came across some that I found definitely worth mentioning.

Happy Monday!

 

Good good [food for thought]

Enough Whole Food Hating via Clean Eats, Fast Feets

An answer to weight loss advice gone way too far. Dropping a few pounds shouldn’t come at the expense of health [and sanity].

Bikini Acceptance via girl meets life

Being okay with the way we look and think we should look like isn’t easy.

 

Good good [advice and inspiration]

How Wide Is Your Circle? via Danielle Dowling

Are you interacting with enough people to broaden your mindset?

10 Instant Ways to Create Charisma via Pick the Brain

Great tips everybody should follow.

20 Books You Can’t Put Down For Summer Reading via Live bold and bloom

It’s the season for time on the beach [or balcony] with a great book in hand.

 

Blogging

My five favorite free photo apps and websites via A Lady Goes West

 

 

Health and Fitness

5 Nutrition Myths DEBUNKED! via Green Mountain at Fox Run

Not everything we hear is actually true.

 

Recovery

What Undernourishment Does, and Why You Should Wait to Exercise [PART 1] and [Part 2] via Balanced not Clean

Logic beats ED thoughts: a thorough explanation of what happens in our bodies and why working out is a bad idea.

 

 

Good good [posts to make you smile]

If the Exercise Class Descriptions From My Gym Were Honest via The Everywhereist

I’m not sure I’d still consider trying Body Pump or Mat Pilates after reading this …

 

 

Good good [food]

Adventures in Aquafaba: Making Vegan Chocolate Mousse, Mayonnaise, & Marshmallow Fluff via food 52

Possibly the one thing I’m most excited about lately. Experimenting is going to start in my kitchen very soon!

16 Unbelievable Vegan Recipes You Can Make With Canned Bean Juice (Aquafaba) via Peta

Latte froth. ice cream, fluffernutter sandwiches – are you getting excited yet?

Magic Chocolate Mousse via Food to Glow

This has to happen. Absolutely.

Cheesy Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce via Eats well with others

A simple meal with all the right ingredients for instant comfort.

 

 

Happiness-inducing today: My mum finding just the right words to break a funky mood I’d gotten stuck in for too long.

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Of evil laptops, Greek yogurt secrets and kitten

There was once a girl called Amanda

who made it part of her agenda

to turn Thursday into a time of Thinking  out loud

and joined by many,  this invention can make her proud.

While I think we don’t need to discuss why I’m not writing poems for a living it’s a fact Amanda was onto somethi ng when coming up with her link-up so without further ado …

It’s called thinking out loud but we need to get some rambling out loud first. Sometimes blunt statements are best: my laptop hates me. No, I’m not making things up. It might be time to bite the bullet and invest in a new one …

Exhibit A: It took me almost an hour to get this post up. No, not write this post but upload the pictures and get it ready to publish.

Exhibit B: Do you remember me jumping back on the wagon of people watching TV shows or better yet DVDs? That turned out to be less fun than expected. Gilmore Girls is still a fantastic show but: I’m watching season five now though I actually have several episodes of the second and fourth left. The reason? My lovely laptop flat-out refusing to play certain discs – temporarily or at all. It’s a smidgen frustrating to say the least. Especially when you’ve never watched those very episodes on TV before [because you weren’t aware of the existence of this show for the longest time while it was still on TV].

Rumor has it [almost] every blogger is singing the praises of Greek yogurt [and willing to pay a small fortune for a tiny cup]. Over here, though, it’s a true rarity to find actual Greek yogurt so I’m usually opting for a more wallet-friendly option. Something else said about us bloggers, though, is that we can’t resist new products appearing on shelves …

Source

I’ve seen this on Instagram beforeit’s only made its way into a few stores around here recently. Any opinions? So far I’ve been able to resist the allurance [though I should probably mention it’s only been a few days since I first spotted it]. I’m a little turned off by the fact it’s almost fat-free, though.Fat is a friend, not foe and I’m not willing to wrangle my wallet for fat-free dairy.

Yet there’s something I can’t resist …

And no, it’s actually not about the yogurt. That is obviously delicious. But here’s the true secret: I’m after the jam. Trust me: whatever Fage adds to that ‘fruit preparation’ [why not call it crack to begin with?!]: it’s addictive. Why not call it crack in a cup to begin with? Or better yet: start selling it separately?! Hm … do you think I should mail Fage and propose my idea?

Completely unrelated but too cute not to share and a surefire mood booster if you’re feeling down:

Instagram.com/foster_kittens

View this post on Instagram

Piper: equal parts sweetness and sass.

A post shared by Cindy in Seattle (@foster_kittens) on Jun 24, 2015 at 6:45pm PDT

I know at least one girl will be all over these. How could you not? And now I want a cat.

 

Happiness-inducing today: Taking a spontaneous late bike ride despite the grey clouds and not getting caught by the rain.

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No questions on a Thursday so just get random in the comments!

Food Talk Wednesday #3

You know you’re a blogger if you take pictures of your food with every intetion to share them on your social media outlets of choice.

You know you’re a blogger who needs to post about food if said pictures take up too much space on your phone/camera memory card.

All that being said it’s definitely time for another Food Talk Wednesday. In hopes that will reduce the backlog of pictures at least ever so slightly [who exactly am I kidding?!]. What can I say? Flowers [just wait for the bazillion of pictures I’ve been taking] and food – I can’t resist taking pictues of them.

Today’s theme – you didn’t think I’d pass a chance to give rhyme and reason to a post, did you? – are meals eaten out. I could pretend I was a lazy lady unwilling to cook.  Or fantasize about summertime heat [which Germany sadly isn’t blessed with at the moment] making me dread turning on the stove. But I’d rather go with telling the tale of living up to the goal I set myself. I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t add some of the recovery lessons learned here. While I don’t want this to turn into a recovery[-only] blog I’ve been inspired, reassured and encouraged by others doing so I’m hoping I might be able to do the same in  a way.

[Sorry for the phone camera pictures in advance. Sometimes I’m just not feeling the workout that is lugging around a DSLR at all times 😉 .]

The oldest of these pictures – no surprise my phone’s memory card is filling up fast – is of this lovely asparagus risotto I ate way back. I’d dare to say I still remember its taste, though. Risotto – another dish I hadn’t had in quite a while. Mostly for the reason I usually cook for myself only and it’s not really worth the effort for a single serving. This Asparagus Risotto with Cherry Tomatoes was just perfect. The lovely staff at the café knows me and always finds a way to accomodate my vegan preferences even if their regular menu doesn’t offer anything suitable.

One of my favourite dishes was enjoyed at a festival [it’s not actually a festival but the concept would take too long to explain here]. Its name can’t be properly translated but it’s basically a stir-fry of brown rice, speltberries and lots of vegetables with a delicious fresh peanut sauce. Maybe it was the fact I only get the chance to eat this dish once a year but for once I actually finished the whole plate – and was still hungry. That’s something I’m still adapting to but baby steps …

Pizza! Probably sad to admit but I didn’t remember the last time I’d had pizza prior to this one. At that, recovery is a blessing because you get to rediscover the joy in eating a food others have on the regular.  The additional challenges for me: most of my family had been cycling all day while I – then still being cautious because of my injury – had joined my uncle and wife in taking the car. Aside from missing the extra fresh air lack of movement still makes me anxious. Either way, I enjoyed a few slices of this made-to-order brick oven pizza with spinach, mushrooms and vegan cheese sauce. There couldn’t have been a better way of welcoming pizza back in my life.

Pictured below is what sadly fell into the category of ‘looks better than it tastes’: Tomato and olive ragout with pan-fried polenta slices. Eaten on a day trip to meet my sister this was another reminder that sometimes a meal isn’t about the food. Did I fully enjoy the dish? No. It wasn’t awful but didn’t hit the spot or satisfy me [a little TMI: my stomach let me know it didn’t approve of this in terms of digestion later, too …]. Did I enjoy the company? Absolutely. Would I do it again? Sure. One meal isn’t worth making a fuss about and much less if it comes with a side of quality time with somebody you don’t see often enough.

Something I’ve noticed overall and hadn’t expected, though, is that eating out is actually easier than challenging myself at home. It’s one of the many surprising experiences I’ve made. First traveling as the one thing I was afraid of turning into a great way to free my mind. Then meals eaten out in general as a way to broaden my palate and delve into unknown calorie territory. At home, I’m more often than not stuck in repetition of ‘safe’ meals but handing over control to somebody else in a place different from home somehow works a little magic. Also good for anybody struggling with serving sizes: what is given to you at restaurant’s is considered the ‘right’ amount for a normal eater. As in: what we’re striving to turn into. Unless you’re faced with a pizza larger than the plate it’s served on – yes, this has happened to me before.

In short: if you can’t seem to challenge yourself food-wise at home, either, try eating out. It takes pushing past your comfort zone a lot at first but is rewarding.

 

Happiness-inducing today: Helping one of my sister’s friends editing a paper she had to write for university. Did I mention I enjoy editing a LOT?!

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Are you guilty of taking way too many pictures of food [or flowers], too?

When was your last time eating out and what did you get?

 

 

 

 

 

Good good links #94

Another week is over and summer is finally there! Or, well, at least meteorologically because the weather’s not telling it today. Though as I’m typing this the sun is peeking through the clouds so I’d better keep this short and then head outside to catch some Vitamin D.  Not before sharing some great posts I read this past week with you, though. Just as a heads up: I’ll add more to the list tomorrow as I have a few more open tabs I wanted to read but haven’t yet and marked some recipes I meant to include. The reason I’m already sharing this unfinished list now is that a) I want to keep Sunday as my time to share Good good links and b) I’m able to use the internet for an hour or so right now. Enough rambles, though. Happy reading and …

Happy Sunday/Father’s Day!

 

Good good [food for thought]

You Are Enough via Erin’s Inside Job

 A wonderful and important reminder everybody needs to read. Maybe twice.

I tried to run away from my eating disorder via The Mindful Maritimer

Recovery is a much longer process than it might look like on the outside. We need to walk the whole way – no matter how long it takes.

Why the Food Babe Takedowns Are What Our Society Needs via BostInno

Scientifically proven or fearmongering? Something to keep in mind whenever you read the latest nutrition advice.

Expectations via Peace, Love and Oats

The tricky balance we need to find when approaching friendships and the relationship with ourselves.

 

Good good [advice and inspiration]

Want to Stop Dieting? Put Down the Nutrition Facts via in My Skinny Genes

Only when we stop listening to meals plans, nutritional advice [also see the third post in the first category!] and any other outside sources are we able to listen to our own voice.

 

 

 

Blogging

5 Easy Food Photography Tips Using Your Smartphone via Danielle Zeigler

Taking good pictures with a phone can be much harder than with a DSLR [or am I the only one?] – here’s how to improve.

How to Drive Traffic Back to Old Blog Posts via I Can Build a Blog

Don’t let those oldies but goodies collect dust in your archives.

 

 

Health and Fitness

 

 

Recovery

From Restricting to Obsessing Over Getting ‘Enough’ via Full of Life

This. When the obsession to stay below a certain number of calories switches to stressing over eating enough – a struggle for many.

 

 

Good good [food]

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Fudgesicles via love me, feed me

Say goodbye to nasty chemical-filled fudgesicles and hello to these filled with all things good.

Fig and Date Compote with Greek Yoghurt via Chelsea’s Healthy Kitchen

Honey-sweetened and cinnamon-scented this looks like a snack the Greek gods would approve of.

PB Popcorn Squares via Marfigs’ Munchies

Peanut butter. Popcorn. Chocolate coating. This is pretty much the equation of awesome.

Cinnamon Sugar Banana Coffee Cake via Running with Spoons

I’m by no means a cake person but this could totally be an exception.

Gin’s Portobello Chana Masala via eat healthy, eat happy

This peanut butter-y Indian chickpea masala is pretty much made for me.

 

 

Happiness-inducing today: Celebrating my sister’s birthday with friends and relatives.

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Quick Cauliflower Chickpea Curry [vegan]

Quick, easy and nutrient-filled this warming and satisfying curry makes the perfect weekday meal. Vegan, naturally gluten-free and packed with nutrients and flavour.

More often than not my recipe posts turn into confessional ones. I figure everybody’s got a way to rid themselves of their sins so if mine’s a way of producing content: two birds with one stone, right? And if it means you’re getting a recipe that way maybe three birds? Oh well, I honestly don’t know where I’m getting here. A little birdy told me to …? Okay, moving onto food. Or: confessions. And delicious curries that don’t require you to stock up on every spice available at the Indian grocery.

You might remember I’m a produce overbuyer in rehab. Only rehab means trying to stop the habit, it working for some time – and then going downwards again. Once more, a recent grocery store trip ended with me carrying home a monstrous head of cauliflower with no intention on how to use it. I know … Typical. Despite having a million ideas on how to turn cauliflower from bland into absolutely amazing  Plus, it’s a nutritional powerhouse so maybe that’s why it lures me in time and time again?!

I’m more often than not too overwhelmed to decide on a recipe. Add to the dilemma that I somehow manage to ignore the cauliflower’s existence [as if that was possible with a huge head staring at you every time you open your vegetable drawyer …] until it’s on its last legs. And it was one of those situations when this recipe came about. I was hungry. I had cauliflower to use. Indian food sounded good so Cauliflower Chickpea Curry it was. Though you obviously know I’m not guaranteeing any authenticity with my recipes. Indian-inspired curry.

Whenever I cook brown rice I immediately think of Lee. Why? Because some time last year she posted a delicious-looking recipe calling for it and I lamented the fact I was unable to locate short-grain brown rice [still living in the middle of nowhere then]. Imagine my delight – heureka! – when I finally found a bag back then. The obsession is back again at the moment and this curry just calls for brown rice as a side. Or your favourite grain, really. But bonus points for brown rice. And coconut chips that I only thought of adding post photo. Blogger fail. Oh well, that’s another confession on my part so we’d better fet onto the recipe now.

 

Quick Cauliflower Chickpea Curry

• 200 g cauliflower [2 cups, chopped into small florets]
• 1 small tomato, chopped
• 1 medium red onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• ¾ cup chickpeas (125 g)
• ¼ cup passata/tomato sauce
• ½ tsp turmeric
• ¼ tsp ground ginger
• 3/4-1 tsp cumin seeds [I always use the larger amount]
• ½ tsp ground coriander
• Coconut chips [not shredded coconut!] for topping
• cooked [short-grain] brown rice to serve

 

1. Start by sautéing the onion until lightly browned. Add the garlic and fry for another minute.
2. While it’s cooking mix the spices to keep at hand when ready. Add to the onion mixture and toast the spices for about two minutes on medium heat, stirring frequently to avoid burning them.
3. Add the cauliflower florets, stir well to combine them with the onions and cover the pot. Let cook for around five minutes.
4. Mix in the bok choy stems, stir and cover again for a minute. Add the chopped tomato, chickpeas and tomato sauce.
   Just before turning off the heat, stir in the bok choy leaves and let them wilt.
5. To serve, plate with some the brown rice cooked/reheated with coconut milk/soy creamer and some coconut chips.

Because I know everybody appreciates some quick and easy dishes I’m sharing this recipe with Gluten-Free Tuesdays, Strange but good, RecipeFriday, Gluten-Free Wednesdays, Recipe of the Week, Allergy-Free Wednesdays and Tasty Tuesdays.

 

Happiness-inducing today: An interesting conversation with a ‘colleague’ at the kids’ book club I’m currently assisting at.

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Your turn: Share a [kitchen] confession!

What is one vegetable you’re constantly buying too much of? Don’t pretend I was the only one doing it!

 

Good good links #94

Okay, first things first: I’m honestly sorry for not following up the promise I made on Wednesday. I had every intention and just as I was uploading the pictures for my post I had a … well, internet incident. Due to my dad working all weekend I didn’t get a chance to post my Good good links yesterday, either, so here they are today. And yes, the recipe will follow tomorrow.

For now: enjoy the links and stock up on cauliflower already …

Happy Monday!

 

 

Good good [advice and inspiration]

5 Steps to A Happy Life via Beets per Minute

Because don’t we all want to be happier?

Why I Stock My Kitchen With ‘Unhealthy’ Foods via Better with Sprinkles

Do you struggle with ‘off limit’ or fear foods? Here’s how to overcome the anxiety and make the foods loose their constant temptation.

What Diet Should You Be On? via Brittany Lesser

Read this and you’ll know which one will work best for you.

 

10 Ways to Improve Your Mental Wellbeing via Adios Barbie

Do these as often as possible to keep up your happiness level.

 

Blogging

Are you using social media as validation of your worth? via Danielle Zeigler

While rather addressing entrepreneurs this is an important reminder for ‘small’ bloggers, too.

Über das Privatleben und wie viel ich davon preisgeben möchte. via Mädchen mit Herz [German]

The constant struggle of what and how much to share to get personal but still keep your privacy.

 

 

Health and Fitness

Thoughts On Exercise and Listening to My Body via Dani California Cooks

Choosing the type and amount of exercise your body ‘craves’ is the best way to make working out fun, not forced.

So You Want to Start…Fitness Walking via hello healthy

Walking is a great way to stay fit while not straining your body too much [good when injured].

 

Recovery

Things NOT to Say to Someone With an Eating Disorder via Lord Still Loves Me

Comments might not be intended that way can do more harm than good – I know from experience.

Why you shouldn’t only focus on the scale via A Life without Anorexia

An issue that bears repeating: This post makes a great point in why the number on the scale says little about you and your life.

Weight restored: What Now? via Oatmeal and Optimism

Common questions people who reach their target weight in recovery wonder: a great reassuring post.

 

Good good [posts to make you smile]Things in Women’s Magazines that Make Me Stabby via The Everywhereist

 Because sometimes you really don’t know why you bought them in the first place …

 

Good good [food]

Apple Cinnamon Roll Porridge with Coconut Butter Drizzle via Foraged Dish

Vegan, paleo, refined sugar-free and all around wonderful: a breakfast dreams are made of and easy enough to prepare in half-asleep state.

Cantaloupe and Raspberry Yogurt Parfait via The Almond Eater

Simple and refreshing this makes the perfect snack on a hot day. Bonus points for looking really amazing.

Chocolate Pecan Crumble Bars via The Detoxinista

Just six ingredients, an easy preparation and packed with nutrients: goodness galore.

Vegan Cheese Grits and Barbecue Beans via Avocado a Day Nutrition

Creamy grits with a smooky-sweet beans – a Southern classic gone vegan. [not like I had any experiences with classic Southern food, though …]

Greek Yogurt Guacamole via Popsugar

For those days when you want tyour guac with a little protein kick.

 

 

 

Happiness-inducing today: Heading out for a walk despite clouds hanging on the horizon and then all of the sudden being surprised by the sun breaking through. It was gorgeous.

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