Call me a nerd, but I always aim to get ahead of my school work 1-2 weeks in advance of when things are due – or more when I can! This week I was finally able to catch up from the first day of classes, which started with a bang and a huge pile of busy work in my lap. I finished 2 short papers due in November this afternoon, started studying for Thursday’s test, and did what I could of my Chapter 4 Organic homework that’s not due until next Monday. I did enough that I felt good breaking for a walk and a glass of wine at 5:30!
This spring and in years past I used to go on walks ALL the time, but somehow they escaped me this summer. I guess it had something to do with my night school that got me out of the habit, but I decided to take a walk with Everyday Rachel Ray and had so much fun. I just love walking in our neighborhood on pretty days.
I had a handful of the last bit of trail mix before I left – lunch held me over well.
Once back, I poured a little of Saturday night’s leftover wine. It wasn’t that great to begin with and it was feeling its age already. Some heavier wines get better with a few days of air, but this one was not on that list.
I waited and waited to get hungry for dinner, but I guess my stomach thought I was having wine for dinner! I had NO idea what I was in the mood for. I thought about pasta dishes, smoked salmon creations, a big salad with beans on top, a bowl of cereal (!) – nothing was that appealing. The husband finally arrived home at 8pm and I just started cooking what we needed to use up with no recipe in mind. The end result was quite good!!
BBQ Tempeh with Eggplant, Tomato, and Goat Cheese
I started with a package of tempeh I got at Trader Joe’s. Made with soybeans, millet, brown rice and barley, this 3 grain tempeh is kind of like wheatberries meet tofu. It comes in a thick compacted slab that you cut into pieces and do whatever you like with (since it’s basically already cooked).
I put some in a pan with some canola oil, a chopped CSA eggplant, and about 5 CSA green tomatoes.
On the side I had a quick craving for BBQ sauce (probably after reading Rachel’s article on it) and put in a pot:
- 1 can tomato paste
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 3-4 tbsp cider vinegar
- 4 glugs wocestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- S+P
The BBQ sauce went on top of the stir-fry and it was all topped with some goat cheese. Yum-O!
On the side I had 2 small slices of baguette that the husband brought home plus a spread of broccoli pesto –
And for dessert – chocolate chips, which always remind me of Carrots ‘n Cake! (Check out Tina’s new site design! I realized she was missing from my Google Reader and had to go hunt her down. I like it!)
I am off to get a good night’s sleep before another early workout day and a full day of class.
VeggieGirl says
Since my schedule is über-busy, I too get waaaaay far ahead in my schoolwork; so you and I are both nerds, haha 😉
Looove Everyday with Rachel Ray magazine!!
Mmm, BBQ sauce & broccoli pesto are AMAZING condiments!!
Have a great evening!
Biz319 says
Anything with goat cheese is awesome!
Laura says
There’s something about the fall air that just draws you outside. I’ve been wanting to take my dog on much longer walks these past few days.
What a great last minute dinner! Tempeh is one of those things I often buy and then don’t know what to do with.
Meghann says
SOme of the best creations are when you just rhow things in a pan. I’ve heard misec reviews on Tempah, but I guess the only way I’m going to find out if its good or not is just tro try it myself.
Megan says
Way to go with your school work! Your dinner looks delicious. Broccoli pesto!! I must try it!
daphna says
OMG, I’m taking o-chem too and I really need to follow your lead with the advance studying. Any tips would be MUCH appreciated. 🙂
CHristie says
I cant call you a nerd because I am the same way.. althougth this semester I cant seem to work that far ahead since most of what I have to do is large papers and projects, but i love checking the stuff off the sylabbus!
Jessica says
I always did the exact same thing Kath and worked atleast a couple weeks ahead, I have never been a procrastinator. Youget a big pay off at the end of the semester when you’ve completed it all ahead of time and it allows flexibility for busy weekends.
I bought that same tempeh the other day, glad you had success with it, that makes me feel more confident to try mine. I’ve NEVER made a dish with it before :o)
lexi says
i was wondering if anyone wanted to support me on my blog!? i really need some (or a bunch) support with the recovery process!
Eliza says
wow you guys are lucky you aren’t in law school. actually impossible to get ahead and barely possible to even keep up. i’m jealous 🙂
kwaze says
I have been reading this blog for a while now…and I am hooked! Kath’s meals always look so good…and fairly simple to make. However, I am so stuck in my stupid diet mind set that I am afraid to eat “normal” meals like these. I end up picking on little bits of food all day…including a good amount of caffeine and candy…gross I know……and the evenings are generally no better. I rarely eat any normal meals throughout the day(except breakfast isn’t too bad). My workout routine is pretty good…no problems with that…and my weight is fine, I guess?? Sorry to ramble on…but I wish that I could eat like this…..fear is stopping me. Has anyone out there gone from eating skimpy little meals to actually enjoying a NORMAL healthy diet? I am sick of how I eat but feel stuck. Any suggestions would be appreciated!!!! Thanks:)
mh says
Eliza, I’m in law school and I’m lucky to finish my nightly work! haha! it’s one thing after the next (or more like 5 things all at the same time!!) what year are you? I’m a 1 L !
Mel
Cassidy says
I am the same way. I do assignments as I get them. I have to stay on top of them or I get stressed. I have no Friday classes and I wake up and work all day on homework untill I have all my weekend work done. So I guess Im a nerd too but it definitely pays off!
Amber says
Wow I have never seen tempeh at my (CA) Trader Joes. I know sometimes they carry different thing regionally but I must ask my local one about this!
Oh and I start school tomorrow and I plan to use you as my motivation to get my papers done as soon as they are assigned. 😉
emmy says
That looks yummy. Has anyone hear tried cooking with seitan? I’ve only had it in Thai restaurants (and I adored it) but I’m not sure where to find it or how to approach it. Which give me an idea to suggest: Kath, it might be fun to do a foodie take on the human guinea pig (http://www.slate.com/id/2103509/), people could send in idea they want to try and you could try them out. I’m sure you’re too busy, but that might be a fun feature someday!
emmy says
holy moly I’m tired. My long day as an English teacher has left me leaving posts I want to take my red pen too!
Andrea says
that’s my FAV brand of Tempeh. SO GOOD! i cook it on my george forman with some Soyaki sauce. PERFECTION!!!!
so jealous you finished work due in NOVEMBER. i’m still working on something due tomorrow… in 9 hours! eeek
MKM says
Finished with an assignment due in NoVeMbEr?!?!?
WOW! That’s awesome!
My professors haven’t even told me what is due in November yet!!
Meghan says
Kwaze (#12), I used to be the exact same way, and came to realize by picking at random small things all day and eating miniature “meals” for breakfast, lunch and dinner, I was eating the exact same amount as if I had eaten 3 regular meals and a snack. It took some courage but I now enjoy good size meals 3 times a day with a few snacks depending on how hungry I am. It’s difficult to begin but after you’ve made yourself stick to it for a couple of days it’s hard to go back. I actually ended up losing weight after I upped my meals and snacks. Now when I see food I ask myself: “Do I really want that? Like….really?” and if I do, I have a small serving, and if I don’t, then I don’t even pick at it! Why taste it if you already know that you don’t want it?? Hope I helped!
madison (follow my weigh) says
i want to be a nerd!
M says
Eliza, mh, it only gets worse after school!
You plan what you’re going to work on each day, but “emergencies” pop up and you end up not being able to get a single thing from your list accomplished, so those things become emergencies, too.
It’s really difficult for people (like me) who wrote their papers a month in advance for college. Blech. It’s like you never have a handle on anything.
sarah says
i wish i could have done that work-ahead strategy but i was much more the ‘motivated by deadlines!’ type. i wonder if i’d be the same way now — who knows!
kath i got my race for the cure shirt in the mail! it’s cute 🙂 i am getting excited!
EllCee says
Emmy,
Capitalization, incorrect spacing, and misuse of “too.”
I weep for our children. 🙂 Hehe.
Katie says
Looks like a great dinner! i’ve been craving eggplant lately!
Christie i. says
Creative dinner!
Sonia says
thanks so much for the help kath! 🙂
i’ll make sure to fuel myself better.
it’s just I’m trying to lose weight at the same time. i guess I wasn’t consuming enough calories. sigh. haha.
your food looks amazing as always!
& i also like to get ahead of work. it’s a lot better than doing things last minute. i hate feeling rushed. which i often do @[email protected]
SmA033 says
kwaze, i used to be the same way. I battled obesity as a child. A couple of years ago, i lost the bulk of my weight (approx. 30 lbs) and was a “normal” size. However, i always felt (& still sometimes feel) that i could afford to lose another 10 lbs or so. And for that reason, i was always dieting. it became even worse when i went to college– i survived all four years on salads (which were not as creative as kath’s) and cereal (b/c i thought it was a low-caloric option). Needless to say, i not only wasn’t losing any weight but i was feeding myself food that wasn’t necessarily nutritional. And i definitely wasn’t happy. After college, i slowwwwwly began eating “normal” meals. It started with making myself eat a sandwich for lunch vs. cereal. Soon enough, i found i WANTED to incorporate more healthy options which would suffice more as a “meal” rather than nimbles. It takes a while, but it is sooo worth it! i’m much happier now and i love planning out my meals in advance, just so i don’t have the temptation to eat “junk.”
I hope that helps!
Kristie says
Wow, I have to admit I am pretty darn jealous of your work-ahead studying habits. I’m currently not nearly caught up on my readings. But now I’m feeling pretty inspired. Thanks. Hopefully I can get down to it and work a little bit harder today instead of being such a darn slacker. 😛
Kath says
kwaze ,
Don’t be scared – I am proof, along with millions of other people, that you can live a healthy life and maintain your weight eating large, filling meals. You’d be surprised at how satisfied they will make you feel. Perhaps you could switch to 6 structured mini meals as a first step?
emmy ,
I would like to try seitan too – if you send me a handful of recipes by email ([email protected]) then I’ll see if I can try it out.
sarah ,
I’m excited too!!
Kath
mh says
wow M, thanks for the warning! haha!What kind of law do you practice? Well i’m off to take my first midterm (shoot me! haha)
runjess says
That looks good. I have not tried tempeh. I think I should try to finally cook tofu correctly before I move on to tempeh.
CourtneyS says
Lexi, I wish you well with your recovery, but frankly I find your blog rather disturbing. I think the time you spend blogging would be better spent working with a qualified recovery team to really deal with your eating disorder head-on. Accountability and honesty with your eating habits is important and I applaud you effort, but it seems like you need more structured help than the Internet can provide. Again, I wish you well and hope for your recovery.
ppp says
cool to see all the lawyers/law students representing on Kath’s blog! I just graduated law school in May and started working 3 weeks ago – i thought law school was stressful? Hah! now i wish i could go back!
For you 1Ls, though – I PROMISE it gets easier!! 🙂
M says
mh, I’m not sure whether you’ll check back here, but:
I am a civil litigator. (“Daddy’s a litigator. Those are the scariest kind of lawyer.”)
Heh.
zestycook says
WOW – great pictures. I can’t wait to try the broccoli pesto and that bbq sauce looks yummy too… Great work.
Good luck with your school work!
Zesty