Thanks for all your kind words about my new blog layout!! It feels so naked without a header image though. It’s funny how one static image can make such a difference.
I’m afraid my days have been a little too relaxed lately. I roll out of bed at a frighteningly late time, dilly dally around, eat, dilly dally some more and all of a sudden it’s time for bed again. I know it’s winter break and I need to de-stress but I’ve been feeling like blob.
[Note to self: this is why you need to find a job. Doing nothing will eventually get boring. It's only been a week and a half and you are already feeling like a waste of space.]
Now, someone remind me of that when I’m pulling out my hair back at school 
Look out for a holigoals (midterm) reflection post soon!
***
Lunch (I’m not even gonna try and call these breakfasts anymore).
- Kefir+Greek Yogurt
- Kashi Puffs
- Nuked Apple
- Pecans
It doesn’t get much better than this! Especially when you eat it with a side of Key Lime Mousse Cake
My calves were too tight to go to the gym just yet, so I channeled my frustration at the oven!
Have you ever started with a recipe, made a complete 180, and came out with something totally different?
I set out to make raspberry coconut bars but realized I only had about 1/6 of the amount of coconut I needed! So these will be called CocOATnut Fig Bars.
I need to make these again to work out the ingredient measurements but here’s a sneak peak.
The crust was made up primarily of oat flour, shredded coconut and agave nectar.
Then I spread a layer of ficoco spread that I found at TJ Maxx the other day.
It’s made out of figs, cocoa, and sugar…and it’s delicious. I love fig seeds
Note: I used a loaf pan rather than a bars/brownies pan because I’m trying to save energy by using the toaster oven. Since I just wanted to try out the recipe, I figured making a smaller batch would be ideal.
Then I totally improvised a crumbly topping.
The result was pretty tasty!! The crust ended up soft yet crumbly. It’s vegan and gluten free. Coolio!
Now I just need to play around some more with the ingredients. I had to eat half the pan to get a good taste of this one though, hehe.
I definitely want to add some bulk to them so they are thicker ‘bars’.
Since I had already pulled out my Magic Bullet, I decided to make some Pecan Butter!! I put in 1 cup of pecans and about 1 TBSP of pumpkin butter to give it some sweet. Plus I needed some moisture to get it to meld together. Looks like a blob but it’s a mighty tasty blob.
Mmmmmm. Pecans=Allie’s favorite nut. Just stating the obvious here.
What’s your favorite nut?! (I used to ask everyone this question when I was little because I wasn’t able to eat any nuts and I was so curious as to why people liked them).
***
I ate a small dinner in preparation for Gossip Girl at the gym. It happened again. I looked up the episode that was going to be on and it was coincidentally the episode I needed to see next! I am a die hard watch-in-order kind of gal. No skipping episodes for me! This was too perfect.
I didn’t want to fill my belly too much to avoid cramps. Plus, I knew I would need to eat afterwards as well.
So I broke out a carton of soup I got at Trader Joe’s last week. Organic Butternut Squash Soup.
The soup was slightly sweet and perfectly creamy.
I added some avocado chunks and had a side salad with baby spinach, cinnamon cranberry goat cheese, more avocado and a pita point with goat cheese inside.
I did a light 60 min. on the elliptical. My calves were mighty tighty but it felt good to let them move around.
At the gym I found an issue of Southern Living. I’ve never read this magazine before but boy was it FUN!!
Hey Pioneer Woman!!!
Dream KITCH!!! I spot Murphy
Did someone say pecans!?
Happy Tuesday!! What are your plans for Christmas (if you celebrate)? Home or away?
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
I love your new layout–thought I was lost for a second! lol
That fig and cocoa spread looks and sounds incredible. I always see stuff like that @ TJ Maxx and am so tempted to pick them up–I think next time I just need to go for it!
Fig and cocoa?!?! OMG!! Figs are my favorite foods. How wonderfu!
Ok, the fig bars look so good. Yum. I enjoy Southern Living from time-to-time. They don’t always have the healthiest recipes, but most you can modify. And for decorating, great ideas!
ahh Im totally late on this BUT I LOVE LOVE LOVE The new layout. Such a pretty color and very easy to navigate!
Pecans and cashews are def my favorite nuts.. everything looks delicious, Allie!
those bars look delish girl!
hahah you and your pecans!! Lucky you finding great magazines at the gym…I always get stuck with like…”more” or “Time”…i dono, i can read that when i’m working or feeling intellectual, but NOT when i’m working out. Gimmeee a food magazine! muahhaha
I’ll be home! Well my parents’ home, which is only 7 minutes away! I love the Pioneer Woman! I recently started reading her blog and would love to see the article about her. We used to get Southern Living for YEARS and I loved it. I haven’t read it in awhile, though! I love how you just create these awesome baking experiments. I’d be like, wait, do I use baking soda, or powder? I can adapt baking recipes but not just wing ‘em like you do! Cooking is so different!
I LOVE looking at dream kitchens, hehe– something is terribly comforting about it!!
You shouldn’t feel like a blog, though I understand the feeling (Ive been sick in bed for the past 4 days).. Indulge in this time off.. and in that delicious treat you made. email me the recipe??
Oh, and I wanted to thank you for your comments and support. I genuinely appreciate and value your genuine words.
Stay strong, stay positive- it’s the most wonderful time of the year. And if it’s not, let’s make it one.
bec xo
i am mimicking your breakfasts asap! & that dessert looks fabulouss
hahaha OH MY GOSH IM SO GLAD YOU WAKE UP LATE TOO! for real-i feel like so many bloggers get up at the crack of dawn!! amen about your “breakfast/lunches” haha i call my breakfast brunch!!
Hey, Allie. I feel like wasted space all the time
, no joke though! I love all kinds of nuts. You are so crafty with the blog and so goal-oriented. I always feel like a “mess”, just distracted so easily…stuff to do, like clean, etc…but i just ignore it…hard to be motivated sometimes…well , all the time 
I love it when you comment on my blog – i know its probably not your thing, but i love your blog – if u ever wanna add me to your blogroll that is cool..i am so random though,…so blog is real interesting though. You are so accomplished and always striving for more. Admirable.
My favorite nut? That’s tough! It’s a close call between almonds & walnuts =)
I love the new layout Allie! Super cute.
Love the new layout Allie! Super cute.
My favourite nut = walnuts!
So, fig AND cocoa? Mixed together???? OMG…heavenly! Your bars look fab. Can’t wait until you pot the recipe!
I love your red plate, it’s so beautiful
My favorite nuts are pecans. I don’t like walnuts. I always use pecans instead of walnuts. Tomorrow morning we’re going to my parents until Sunday. It’s going to be fun 
My favorite nuts are peanuts/cashews…yummy!
I know how you feel…we think we are so lazy now, but lets just try and remember what it feels like when school is in full force!!
haha I love that the name of your, er, “lunch” finally evolved
And nice baking!! My favorite nut(s) include walnuts, almonds, and cashews. New cashew obsession, I need to try the cashew butter next!
My mom is obsessed with Southern Living! It is definitely a fun mag to read.
oh yum! everything looks delicious! i too get bored and stir-crazy if I sit around for too long – I think it’s good though to want to be productive, as long as you’re still taking some time to relax!
The fig and cocoa sounds so good! My favorite nuts are almonds any which way love um! x
i am totally and completely obsessed with the new layout girlie!!
I say you deserve some time just to dilly dally – you work so hard!
Those bars look fantastic! I’ve just started playing with figs, they’re such a wonderful substitute for standard sugar.
Don’t feel bad at all about being lazy during break. Just think of how hard you work in the semester and how much you put your body and mind through. You deserve a few weeks to be a “waste of space!” And by the way, you are in no means a waste at all!!!!! You are a gift to this earth!!!
Plus, you are not doing nothing. Just look at all of the amazing baked goods you’ve been making!!!! I’m drooling once again on my brand new Mac! 
Mmmm the figcocoa spread and those bars sound amazing! Way to improvise the recipe
I think my favorite nut are almonds, especially in the form of butter or roasted is yummy too!
I’ll be going over to my aunt’s house for Christmas, like every year, with a whole bunch of relatives. I can’t wait!
Almonds, definitely…preferably bought fresh (and eaten raw) from an Italian market. Yum! Brilliantly sustaining, easily-portable, super-healthy snack! Happy Christmas – enjoy your relaxation!
Almonds and cashews are definitely my favorites. I have almost no control with them!
It’s ok if it’s naked—it’s what’s on the INSIDE that counts.
I end up feeling like a blob over winter break, too, but I still have homework, so if I’m productive in the morning, the rest of the day spent in blobland isn’t so bad. Replace that “b” with a “g” and you get HA. AHA. I’m going to try to keep myself occupied with cooking and baking and camera-ing :]
Ahaha, look at that name. I’m glad I’m not the only punny one
I’ve never heard of “ficoco” before, but it sure looks scrumptious! Figs + cocoa sounds brilliant. And oh, I roasted pecans yesterday JUST to make pecan butter sometime!
I love your CocOATnut Fig bars or whatever you call them! They look beyong AMAZING! You are so freaking talented!! I actually think I drooled looking at them. No jokes. Girl, I am all over ANY layout you do! It’s just a garnish to such wonderful content. The ‘main dish’ (ie your blog) is what it’s all about!
Barbara
I am obsesseddddd with Pioneer Woman. She is so cool and funny (or so she seems via the internet).
Let’s tweet/email each other so we can not be holi-blobs! I went to the doctor this AM and I have a lumbar/disc sprain (i.e no intense working out) but I refuse to be a bum! My goals for tomorrow:
1. Wake up at 8:30
2. NOT eat breakfast, forget to each lunch, and proceed to eat 4000 pieces of chocolate for dinner.
3. Walk with Dad for exercise.
Woo hoo holigoals!
awww, the reason for you asking everyone why they ate nuts as a kid is so cute!
I seriously feel like a blob too, and have been waking up embarassingly late as well..:(
I can see that you’ve kept you “busy” with baking/cooking/eating! good job!
I don’t mind being extremely leisure at all, I think I might adopt this life style as job 
TOTALLY hear you on feeling like a waste of space. I need something to do!
Love that TJ’s soup!
This looks fantastic! I love figs too!
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