I can’t stay away

So, I know it is exam time and you probably all think I’ve gone under in light of that, but I could not stay away. I’ve got too much to say! Not regularly, since most days these days consist of….revising ALL DAY intermixed with some time on facebook and eating and pinterest and skyping my mom and trying to figure out internships and my Fulbright.

I’ve been out a few times with friends. Don’t hate me, but I actually really like clubbing?

Hear me out. As someone recovering, drinking still means calories for me, but on the one hand, I’ve learned that a night out here and there does not automatically make me unhealthy, and on the other, I can go out and still have fun without drinking. Both of these facts are reassuring, although it only decreases my irrational fears somewhat. I’m working on this. I’m sure this is relatable.

I’ve been a bit lonely since everyone has been revising. Not to mention that everyone who wasn’t was off traveling. How they’ve got the time to do so, is beyond me. Some other international students are on programmes, but I’m here for the full year, directly enrolled in uni, so I’ve got to stay until I’ve gotten the exams sorted.

So what have I been doing with myself? Besides revising, that is. My friend D and I went to see the London Marathon last sunday, which I’ve been waiting for literally all year. I don’t know what I was expecting but it was a lot of this :

Run!

It was actually really emotional. Having only run two 5ks, I cannot imagine how it would feel to conquer the beast that is 26.6 miles, but watching this made me tear up. Notwithstanding the physical triumph, but some people were running for others. Could I ever set this as the ultimate goal? To show my body that I care for it and trust it to care for me as I challenge it?

Grass skirt guy!

I said to D, as we were watching, that I’d enther be crying the entire time (that’s a long time, folks) or stopping to help everyone who stopped or looked ill. Yeah. I’d better get a grip first haha.

The sky over by Blackfrier’s Bridge was beautiful and baby blue at around half 12 when we were there.

Crystal clear.

So we walked around a bit and D taught me how to use a film camera while we had tea by St. Paul’s.

St. Paul's. Favourite of London.

You have no idea how many pictures I have of St. Paul’s.

Roofs and Sky. Classic Hannah.

This one especially. How can you not love the rooftops?

Perfection.

We soon relocated to Sainsbury’s where D bought a baguette which I stuck in my bag.

I had to get this classic picture. It isn't in the 'bean' but it's close.

Not knowing what to do, we decided to check out the Tate Modern, which I haven’t been to yet. Don’t hate on my lack of tourist capabilities. I’ve got a lot on my mind.

Recognise this bridge?

We crossed the Millinnium Bridge, like the one from Harry Potter.

Hey....that is NOT what is on the other side...

Except the real one crossed to the Tate, where we were going.

Check out that sky.

The Tate Modern is WEIRD. I shall confess to being more of a classic art girl, so this was a bit odd, but it’s so close so I had to go.

Book art? I can go for that.

Luckily, there was something on the wall near most of the art that gave you the ‘bigger picture’ in case modern art wasn’t your thing. Or you weren’t feeling especially sharp that day in terms of abstract applicatoin.

I'm in the art. This was actually a piece of art.

Some of them were just like….hm…..

All I can think of is jabba the hut, but that isn't what this is at all.

When we finally left the Tate, it was pouring. I went over to D’s flat for a bit where I had some ginger tea while D ate baguette and cheese. Then we watched My Drunk Kitchen (if you haven’t seen this DO IT) and some Feminist videos and chatted about intellectual things.

In terms of food, I’ve been trying to save money/eat everything in my room so I don’t end up with things to take home with me. It is actually kind of fun because it forces new combinations into things.

First attempt at overnight oats.....barley flakes....

This was my first attempt at overnight oats. 1/4 cup barley flakes, 1/4 cup yogurt, 1 tsp maca, 6 strawberries, 1 tbsp coconut flour, 1/4 cup soy milk. Left overnight. Hm. It was….I don’t know how I felt about it. Perhaps it was the barley flakes, but they just felt a bit soggy. And the yogurt was almost off (which is why I used it) so I think I’ll try it again. In general, I’m certain that I prefer oats to barley flakes, so I’m not sure I”ll try them again.

I’ve been making lots of spreads (and eating them, obviously) lately. I finally put tahini in hummus (I used to be scared to do so because of extra calories- PSSSH) and it tastes so good! I’ve also been experimenting with different beans and different mix-ins. This certain one had peanut butter in.

I didn’t take this picture at night, but rather in bad lighting on a brown scarf. Yes, I know you’re all jealous of my photography skills. But fear not, I’m taking photography in the fall!

Peanut Butter Hummus

I broke my blue plate, so there will be no more blue plate special (aka: every single meal on that blue plate) but now we’re working with boring white plate. Sorry. 2 months guys, two months. Then I get my gnome plate back!

The market is my love. Last week I bought 2 large square punnets of Strawberries for £1.50. They’ve been eaten. Oh yes.

1/2 giant tub Alpro soy yogurt (favourite), 2 tbsp peanut flour, basically like 16 strawberries

I love strawberries. They are also the most beautiful fruit to photograph.

Since I have basically no food left in my fridge, I had to improvise. I looked around my room and saw that I had some things. 3 eggs, coconut flour, leftover peanut butter hummus. Hm…thought I, what can I make with these? I hopped online and found this recipe

I love Leanne’s recipes and her photography is phenominal. Where do you live Leanne, that you get such great light???? Obviously not London with its relentless rain….

crusty but moist inside.

Chocolate Coconut Protein Bread
Adapted from THIS

makes 1 small loaf, serves 4!

1/4 cup chocolate protein powder ( I used GoTein, since that’s what I’ve got on hand)
1/4 cup coconut flour
3 eggs
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup hummus (I used PB hummus, but you could also use some other puree like carrot, prune, pumpkin, or applesauce)
1 tsp almond extract
1/2 cup wheat bran

Literally had to stop myself from just eating the batter.

1. Combine protein powder, coconut flour, baking soda. Set aside.
2. In a small bowl, mix eggs, puree, and vanilla until incorporated.
3. Pour the wet mixture into the dry and mix with a wooden spoon or spatula until just mixed.
put in greased bread pan
4. Bake on the middle rack for 23-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely (about 1 hour) before serving. <– that didn’t happen, I ate it.

Look at how moisttttt

Seriously so much protein in this bread- 10g per slice!

topped with coconut flour spread- since that is literlaly ALL I had to put on top.

Sliced into 1/4′ths they are pretty thick slices, so I sliced one slice in half and ate it open faced. Enough slice?

The last bite.

 I had another slice for breakfast this morning, sans topping at all, since I was in a rush to get to the library to revise. Speaking of which, did you guys hear about the guy who threatened to blow himself up on Tottenham Court Road today? That’s near where I was, I tried to go buy nut butter there, but the police had cordoned it off. 

If you know me, I’m as stingy as they come. Not only because I like to save, but because I’m literally petrified of spending. I have a credit card, but I never use it. I never take money out of the bankomat, and I always use cash.

Take today, for instance. I am utterly out of nut butter. I’ve been making it for myself since peanuts are only £0.56 at Sainsbury’s and my flat mate has a mini food processor. But lately I’ve been going through it quicker (yay me!) so it’s gone and gone. I decided to challenge myself and get something that came in a jar. Product of choice?

Apricot Kernel Butter!

I’ve seen this on some blogs and know they don’t sell it in the US so I had to give it a try.

But it wasn’t as easy as all that. I’d prepped myself and even asked my mom if I coud justify buying it rather than making it for cheap. I’d been at the library for a couple hours and then at a revising session. I headed to one store, as  I mentioned above, but was turned away because of the hostige situation. ‘Could this be a sign that I shouldn’t spend money?’ I thought as I walked to the other more local natural foods shop. In I walked, surveying the nut butters. They all looked delicious and I imediately saw the one that was the most “interesting” and yet the one that cost £5.39. Yes my friends, that would be how much I’d spend on about 6 packages of peanuts at Sainsbury’s which would last me until I go home, and then some.

I walked out of the store.

I walked around the block. I thought I lost my oyster card. It was in my bag.

I walked back into the store and bought the damn thing.

And friends, it tasted good.

I had to add a bit of salt, because I couldn’t taste it that much, but that could be because I was just hungry. Or perhaps I didn’t know what it SHOULD taste like. Definitately realy mild, and not very nutty, but distinct. The texture was the same, quite drippy with a lovely flecked almost rosy colour. High in protein too, which you’d never know. Oh the things you can make into nut butter these days.

Already spooned into....forked, rather

The next challenge will be to actually fill my fridge this weekend, for I cannot live on plums and nut butter alone. Well I could….but….

Love, Hannah

 

Let’s see then

So this is an experiment. I’ve been using Picassa to upload my pictures to the web and although it’s slower, it seems to work. I’m still in the process of figuring out how to self host or do something that allows me to upload in large batches, but for now, this will do, eh? At least I get to post!

I'm back!

Yes, Mom and Dad came back through London and we hit up the National Gallery. I wasn’t in the mood, but I’ll post about that soon. This was me trying to have a bit of fun, despite having pretty negative feelings, but not wanting to ruin our only day together.

So…after a major

this was actually a sign! I picniked it though

I’m back and ready to rock! I’ve been running around here and there, so I think I’m going to have to focus my posts a bit more. Sometimes I think I just sort of get so busy that when I get to blogging it’s like a mind and picture dump, which might not be the best and most interesting thing to read. Let me know! Would you like to see more focused posts based on days of the week or just day to day recaps of everything as a mish mosh?

The day after Mom and Dad were here I was feeling really down. I’ll do a post about this soon, but let’s say I spent the morning in a state. Finally I hoisted myself out of my room and went to the Community Garden opening day event, which luckily is right behind my Hall!!

Beautiful in the middle of London

This got my mind off of feeling alone and allowed me to start meeting people. We made some veg skewers

Yum!

and had some homemade beetroot hummus (I miss my food processor already!)

People brought things to share, it was quite the event. 

and I even got into some artsy stuff, appropriately for a community garden, I’d say

This came off later though when I washed my hands

I’ve been wandering around a bunch as well, taking long walks and sort of just losing myself. 

I was crossing the street when I glimpsed this beauty:

Elliptical bike!

He was riding and I was walking, which explains the horrible photo quality, but seriously? An elliptical and a bike in one? Score!

I’ve been enjoying the last of the wasa crackers I brought from the states with the plums I bought and some laughing cow cheese. Love that stuff but I can’t wait to run out so I can make yogurt cheese!

I already bit in and then took a picture. typical.

Found a 4 pack of Soya puds at Whole Foods for £0.99- score!

nomz

I tried a bit on top of a spaghetti squash I’d bought at WF as well. This with more of Lizi’s Treacle Pecan granola. Seriously guys, try this stuff. Yum!

delicous combo. Try sweet spaghetti squash- do it! Rawr. left some seeds in.

I think this new picassa thing is going to work just fine

Love, Hannah