T-giving recipe radar

Itโ€™s definitely back to the grind over hereโ€ฆ

bfast

[Egg sandwich + Larabar taken to work]

and it feels good ๐Ÿ™‚

I taught two classes (and assisted one) this morning, and am back home for a little lunch break before Zumba and Tubing.

This is what it looks like.. when a refrigerator criessalad

I scraped the topping off the leftover bnut squash pizza in the fridge onto some arugula, added chickpeas (some for Bella- she goes CRAZY for chickpeas), drizzled with balsamic, walnut oil and a sprinkle of sea salt. Considering what I had to work with, it was pretty amazing.

I knew we wouldnโ€™t have time to grocery shop last night, and was very tempted to just get a โ€œcouple of thingsโ€ when we stopped at the San Diego Whole Foods on our way home.

whole foods

But I was good, since I could tell the Pilot was antsy to get on the roadโ€ฆ and Iโ€™m the slowest Whole Foods shopper ever. I like to look at everything just in case they got something new and exciting.

All I picked up was a perfect persimmon

persimmon

[and a Perrier- I love the bubbles]

and the sandwich of my life.

sandwich 

I couldnโ€™t believe that they had a full-up sandwich barโ€ฆ it was a very legit Whole Foods. The Tucson ones hide in embarrassment.

I hid in embarrassment too because I was so distracted by said sandwich bar, I didnโ€™t notice that they were filming a news segment right in front of my face. I quickly ducked awayโ€ฆ and the Pilot made fun of me.

Worth it? 100%

sanwich

Gluten-free bread with Dijon and hummus, romaine, lettuce, olives, jalapenos, roasted veggies, and goat cheese.

So crazy that Thanksgiving is exactly one week from today! Itโ€™s a big deal over here, and Iโ€™m so excited that the Pilot gets to have his first Thanksgiving with my family (heโ€™s usually deployed).

meal

Even though my family goes all out (my nana bakes a ridiculous amount of foodgasmic pies), I always like to contribute to the feast, too.

thanksgiving

This year, weโ€™ll go cheer the Pilot on in the Turkey Trot,

head to madreโ€™s for breakfast

pancakes (2) egg

[pumpkin pancakes and egg casserole!]

to my uncleโ€™s house for lunch/dinner

golf

golf

[the girls will usually follow, chat and take pictures]

poker + cocktails (non-alcoholic wine for me! Iโ€™m so glad you guys let me know they actually make the stuff)

and back to our house for dessert.

I know I definitely want to make my favorite raw chocolate pie and millet stuffing,

but here are some other things I have on my recipe radar:

-Emilyโ€™s sweet and sour Brussels sprouts

Chai-spiked pumpkin shake <โ€”these would be so fun to have at our dessert party

Sweet potato and pomegranate salad {minus the frisee. gag}

Curried pumpkin soup

*I also have a healthified holiday menu on my Food page, and the single-serving pumpkin cheesecakes, too

Now the problem is decidingโ€ฆ

What do you have on your recipe radar right now?

Off to Zumba!

xoxo

Gina

Todayโ€™s workout jam: โ€œPegateโ€ by Fulanito. This is the song I choreographed in the car yesterday, and while Iโ€™ve had it on the iPod for a while, I just love it SO MUCH. Hereโ€™s a snippet if youโ€™d like to dance along ๐Ÿ™‚

[Iโ€™ll try to get my choreo filmed and uploaded for you guys within the next couple of weeks]

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44 Comments

  1. mindy @ just a one girl revolution. on November 17, 2011 at 3:04 pm

    My Zumba instructor has been using Pegate for a bit now and it’s such fun to dance to!

  2. Allie Q @ Fit Geek on November 17, 2011 at 3:06 pm

    Your fridge has some delicious tears.

  3. Amanda on November 17, 2011 at 3:11 pm

    I’m having serious sandwich envy right now. I wish the Whole Foods near me had a sandwich bar! That looks amazing.

    My dog also LOVES chickpeas. We have to be careful she doesn’t eat too many though – they make her kinda gassy. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  4. Lauren @ Sassy Molassy on November 17, 2011 at 3:17 pm

    On my radar is making this gingerbread crust pumpkin cheesecake for Thanksgiving with the fam AND one of the fabulous unique stuffing recipes I saw in the latest Cooking Light. Yuuuum!

  5. Cat @Breakfast to Bed on November 17, 2011 at 3:20 pm

    I am obsessed with orange scented sweet potato, not too sweet casserole. Obsessed.
    http://breakfasttobed.com/2011/10/28/creepy-gingers/

  6. Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie on November 17, 2011 at 3:25 pm

    It sounds like you’re going to have a jam packed Thanksgiving! I hope its a blast! I’m making vegetarian stuffing and green beans and shallots!

  7. Brittany @Little b's healthy habits on November 17, 2011 at 3:30 pm

    Whole Foods can be pretty amazing. There is one in Chandler with a full wine and beer bar in addition to the sandwich bar, salad bar, bakery and deli. Pretty sure I could live there ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat on November 17, 2011 at 3:30 pm

    OMG a Whole Foods with a sandwich bar?! That’s awesome! Trust me, I can probably beat your record for being the slowest WF shopper. The employees there must think I’m very strange, but grocery shopping totally relaxes me and I could walk up and down those aisles for hours! We’ve already had our Canadian Thanksgiving, but that totally is not going to stop me from making some Thanksgiving-inspired recipes next week. Have a great afternoon Gina! ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. Ali on November 17, 2011 at 3:33 pm

    Haha, I totally have the same problem as you, once in Whole Foods it is hard to get out! I am loving the persimmons right now too! So sweet and amazing. Looks like you are in for a real holiday feast my friend!!

  10. Courtney @ Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life on November 17, 2011 at 3:40 pm

    We’re Larabar twins today! ๐Ÿ™‚
    I’m always so jealous of everyone and their Whole Foods rendevous – none of em around here for me to waste all my money at (probably a good thing though).
    This year is my first year cooking Thanksgiving…still working out my final menu. Eeek!

    • Fitnessista on November 17, 2011 at 8:46 pm

      oooh that’s exciting! can’t wait to see pics ๐Ÿ™‚
      xoxo

  11. Ali @ Peaches and Football on November 17, 2011 at 3:41 pm

    Love Thanksgiving eats. Last year I made a to-die-for sweet potato casserole but this year I’m thinking of sweet potato cheesecake. Definitely something new and different to try!

  12. Yes! Please continue to post your Zumba songs! Living in Italy I don’t get enough access to Latin music and iTunes’ Latin charts are never a good way to discover danceable music ๐Ÿ™‚

  13. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga on November 17, 2011 at 3:56 pm

    I live 5 blocks from that WFs!!! I wish I could have seen you!

    And WFs is a total timesuck..even when I want to be in and out, it sucks me in. I try not to set foot in it and go across the street to TJs instead. Also a timesuck but better for my wallet ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Fitnessista on November 17, 2011 at 8:44 pm

      i wish i would have seen you too, friend! our trip was too short :/

  14. Katie on November 17, 2011 at 3:59 pm

    We are going to be down south for Thanksgiving this year and are planning a family golf outing on turkey day morning. ๐Ÿ™‚ And a really nice, long 6-mile walk by the ocean. <3

  15. Heather from NC on November 17, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    I cannot wait to make Alton Brown’s sweet potato pie recipe with pecans on top and drizzled with maple syrup.

    • Fitnessista on November 17, 2011 at 8:44 pm

      yes please!

  16. courtney @ cupcakedynamite on November 17, 2011 at 4:08 pm

    love that the pilot is doing the turkey trot and you guys get to finally have thanksgiving together! that’s something to be thankful for. sounds like you have a fun packed day! I just had a pumpkin cookie my co-worker made… I’m sure you could come up with a Gina-fied version! She used this recipe minus the toffee. http://picky-palate.com/2011/11/14/pumpkin-toffee-chip-and-rolo-chunk-cookies/

  17. Jenny@HealthyMOChick on November 17, 2011 at 4:24 pm

    Thanks for the new song to download ๐Ÿ™‚

  18. Lindsay on November 17, 2011 at 4:33 pm

    The Whole Foods in Cincinnati is hiding in shame too!!! I wish my WF had a sandwich bar with gluten free bread. I’m dying to make gluten free ravioli… it’s been on my recipe radar for forever.

  19. Samantha on November 17, 2011 at 4:45 pm

    We are camping this year for Thanksgiving. It’s the first year living OCONUS that family has flown in for a visit or the husband hasn’t been deployed and we want to do it low key, just have fun with our kids. There’s another section of base housing 30 minutes away with awesome campsites. We’re premaking a few dishes (including whole foods apple/pumpkin combo pie and some sourdough and cornbread stuff with apples and sage sausage) and will cook whatever meats the husband picks over the campfire.

    You’re so lucky to have so much amazing stuff near you! Lululemon won’t even ship here since have to utilize and FPO and I haven’t seen a whole foods or Trader Joe’s in over 3 years!

    • Fitnessista on November 17, 2011 at 8:43 pm

      that sounds like a lovely way to celebrate!

  20. joelle (on a pink typewriter) on November 17, 2011 at 4:56 pm

    I just did a similar post on my blog, and included your invdividual cheesecakes too! They look great! And really- who likes frisee? Ugh.

    That veg sandwich sounds AMAZING.

  21. jen f. on November 17, 2011 at 5:11 pm

    chai spiked pumpkin shake? yes, please! thanks for your awesome meal ideas – i’m such a copycat when it come to your yummy dinners ๐Ÿ™‚
    Smoking Crayolas Blogspot

  22. Sara on November 17, 2011 at 5:14 pm

    That made me laugh so much about how The Pilot hates to grocery shop with you. Mine is the same. If we are out somewhere and I say .. something like ‘I need to pop in to the supermarket and get a few things’, the look of PAIN on his face nearly always makes me change my mind. What can I say? ‘A few things’ usually equals a full basket and I AM very slow in the organics section… I’ve done it to myself.

  23. Hillary on November 17, 2011 at 5:52 pm

    I’m in charge of Thanksgiving knishes (we spice up our feast with some traditional Jewish goodies), pumpkin trifle, and stuffing. Can’t. Freaking. Wait.

  24. Aud on November 17, 2011 at 5:58 pm

    I’m glad you, the Pilot and the baby will all finally be together for Thanksgiving!

  25. Allison on November 17, 2011 at 6:30 pm

    i need to eat a larabar! i haven’t had one in forever.
    As for thanksgiving, ours has pasted, but i would love to celebrate again with lots of food… if only ๐Ÿ˜›

  26. Alicia @ This Organic Body on November 17, 2011 at 7:05 pm

    That is a great Whole Foods, the one in Tustin, CA is AMAZING!!! It even puts the new Flagship in Salt Lake to shame! I have heard that Tucson is getting a new Whole Foods so fingers crossed it will be Epic too. The best part of CA Whole Foods it the organic artisan bread they make… sooo good! I just bought my Thanksgiving things from Whole Foods today, all organic, the usual turkey, sweet potatoes (I make them sweet and savory with a cinnamon sugar butter with garlic salt and paprika and add sour cream and green onion), dressing (stuffing), cranberry sauce, and make spiced cider with vodka for the adults and non spiked for our son. For dessert pumpkin cheesecake, not a pie fan over here.

  27. Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin on November 17, 2011 at 7:14 pm

    My WF doesn’t have a sandwich bar either! Why does California always get all the perks? ๐Ÿ˜›

  28. Elizabeth on November 17, 2011 at 7:43 pm

    Woot, that was some ghetto NASTY merengue! ๐Ÿ˜‰ Can’t wait to see your choreo!

    I’ve tired the non-alcoholic wine… I just want to caution you… have very low expectations. It’s nothing like the real stuff. Think of it like diet soda compared to the real stuff and your heart will not cry.

    This is what it sounds like… when hearts cry…

    Now THAT would be some awesome Zumba. I wonder if anyone has ever done it?

  29. Army Amy* on November 17, 2011 at 8:25 pm

    There’s a Whole Foods near me, but I’m scared to go in. I think I’ll get hooked! Judging by the looks of that sandwhich, I definitely would!*

  30. Tina on November 17, 2011 at 9:04 pm

    uummmm. what does one DO with a persimmon? i would have NO clue how to eat one.

    • Fitnessista on November 17, 2011 at 9:12 pm

      you eat it exactly like an apple! so good

  31. Kaolee Hoyle on November 17, 2011 at 9:16 pm

    I love persimmons!!!

  32. Brittany on November 17, 2011 at 9:25 pm

    I’ve been doing the same thing this week, trying to plan out what I want to make for Thanksgiving. There’s so many good recipes out there – is hard to decide what to make. I’m going to do a post tomorrow featuring some of my ideas.

    You will love the curried pumpkin soup if you try it – it’s super creamy and delicious. ๐Ÿ™‚

    I like fresh persimmons, but I LOVE dried persimmons. You have to try the “Just Persimmons” if you haven’t before, they look like mini sweet potato fries and they are so good.

  33. Colleen on November 17, 2011 at 10:03 pm

    A recipe I’m planning on bringing to the Tgiving feast this year is Smitten Kitchen’s Sweet Potato Medallions with Pecans and Goat Cheese. http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/11/sweet-potatoes-with-pecans-and-goat-cheese/
    It sounds like it would be right up your alley, and it is soooooo easy and deliciious! I usually make a double batch of the filling and then stuff it into baked sweet potatoes, but the medallions look fancier for a party.

  34. Dominique on November 17, 2011 at 11:30 pm

    I can’t believe there’s a Whole Foods with a sandwich bar. That’s crazy! Over here, in Canada, one loaf of gluten-free bread can set you back almost $7. I bought a loaf of Udi’s, which really was like real bread, for $6.49.

    Our Thanksgiving was a month ago and while it’s just me and my family, we like to go all out too. This year we had a giant turkey with all the trimmings along with a pumpkin pie and apple crumble. I absolutely love Thanksgiving, it’s right up there with my birthday and Halloween.

  35. Dee on November 19, 2011 at 12:25 am

    I love that song! ๐Ÿ™‚

  36. Ilana on November 19, 2011 at 8:05 pm

    I would really really like a sandwich bar in one of my WFs. My roommate and I have noticed we both submit to a phenomenon of winding up at Whole Foods for no reason. I used to shop for shoes, now I find myself scanning nut butter aisles and comparing vegan ice cream labels, I need an intervention!!

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2011 at 8:07 pm

      hahah! i will not be the person to give you that intervention ๐Ÿ˜‰

  37. Brittany Sanders on November 21, 2011 at 1:57 pm

    Hi Gina – just started reading your blog and love it… my dad used to be an A-10 pilot so I know the life well and have a special place in my heart for the Warthog! I might have missed it, but will you be posting the millet stuffing recipe (or even just some of the ingredients)? Thanks!

    • Fitnessista on November 21, 2011 at 5:44 pm

      aww i love that your dad was an a-10 pilot!
      will definitely post the recipe ๐Ÿ™‚

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