Chemistry was PAINFUL tonight. Unbearably painful. This man is nuts. I wanted to scream when he started lecturing to us a third time about all the bad things he would do if we were 2 minutes late to lab.
Then a boy got yelled at for not having his syllabus with him.
Then a girl for having a graphing calculator.
Then I got sternly reprimanded for working ahead on a problem when I was supposed to be reading the handout, which I had already read!!!
UGGGG. I just have to suck it up and get through it. I am powerless to him and need to just smile and do as he says. I can’t drop this class. But ohhhh the torture this summer will be!
Packed Dinner
I noticed yesterday that there were a bunch of tables outside of my building so my plan today was to take dinner to campus and buy another 30 minutes of time until eating. Well, I ended up being pretty rushed to eat and it was definitely more complicated to pack, so I need to just eat at 4:30 and get over it. Somehow 5:00 seems just a little more like dinner hour, but for the next 2 months I need to just settle into the 4:30 schedule.
Tonight’s packed dinner was a simple and kind of boring Peanut Tofu Stir-Fry. I promise it tasted better than it looked! (Another reason to eat at home on pretty plates when I can 🙂 )
The combo:
- Nasoya Extra Firm Cubed Tofu
- 3/4 a package of broccoli slaw
- 1/2 a small zucchini
- Handful baby spinach
- Homemade peanut sauce (2/3 tbsp peanut butter, 1/2 tbsp tamari, 1/4 tsp cornstarch, 2 tbsp water, 1 tsp sriracha hot sauce)
- Olive oil
- 1 tbsp prepared pad thai sauce
First I pressed the tofu in a bowl with some paper towels. Then browned it in 1 tsp olive oil. Then removed tofu and added broccoli slaw + zucchini and cooked until done. Then added spinach until wilted. Then added tofu and sauce. I decided I didn’t have enough peanut sauce and added a tbsp of the pad thai from the fridge at the last minute.
On the side – Kashi crackers. I was too lazy to make some rice.
From above –
For snacktime I packed a Homemade Samoa Cookie and needed something filling to go with it. After last night’s eating difficulties, I decided yogurt would be too complicated. I was hunting through the kitchen for the perfect accompaniment and spotted none other than the bananas! Perfect! It was so tasty during our 5 minute break 🙂
Coconut-Almond Granola
With all the muesli I’ve been eating, I thought it was finally time to make a homemade granola. I used this recipe from blog reader Sarah of Suite Apple Pie, although I substituted honey for maple syrup because it’s much less expensive to use up 🙂 And I added a bit of brown sugar as well.
The Mix:
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp canola oil
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
Preheat oven to 300*. Heat honey until thin. Add other coatings. Mix well. Add coconut, almonds and oats and stir to coat well. Spread onto a well greased with cooking spray non-stick cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Stir mixture. Bake for another 5 minutes. Stir again. Bake 2-7 minutes more, until mixture is golden brown.
Makes about 4.5 cups. Each 1/4 cup is about 100 calories.
It’s delicious!!
Goodnight!
Oh goodness, that chemistry class sounds absolutely BRUTAL, with the professor – hang in there, Kath!! I know you’ll get through it!!
Mmm, that Coconut-Almond granola sounds WONDERFUL!! Yum.
Just remind yourself that your time with him is only temporary-at least he’s not your boss!
After seeing your cute dresses and getting a coupon in the mail today, I went to AT Loft tonight. They had so much new cute stuff!
Hi Kath-
Don’t know if you ever checked out my blog but I know exactly what you are going through with the eating schedule as starting next week I will be working from 7:45 – 3:45 and going to class from 5-9. So I too will be eating dinner at 4:30 and will have to bring a substantial snack to class! It does seem really early for dinner but I am looking at it the same way you are – just have to suck it up and get through it! It’s nice to know I am not the only one out there going through this.
Do you have class every night? I will have it Mon-Thurs.
Good luck with that professor too – just keep a smile on your face and do the best you can do – the rest is out of your hands.
Have a good night!
So sorry to hear about your class:(
I’m sure i’ll get better. Thanks for the recipes!
Don’t know if anyone brought this up yet, but did anyone see the recent article in US magazine (with Reese Witherspoon on the cover)? They mentioned that Reese and Jake were eating at HOMINY GRILL! Even mentioned what they ate! Kind of cool. Saw it at the gym this morning!
okay i can’t wait i’m making the granola right now haha 🙂
LoL, my granola! Thanks so much for being the first blogger to post one of my recipes- I’m honored! It looks yummy. I make it a little more brown and toasty for more flavor, if you want give it a try next time. I already can’t wait to have it on my oatmeal in the morning. Same as every day, but why mess with a good thing?
Dinner looked tasty, I have to try the broccoli slaw with my peanut sauce recipe.
Homemade granola is the best, and so much more affordable than the premade stuff! I really like adding unsweetened cocoa and cinnamon to the mix as well, and then using the finished granola in trail mix combined with almonds, dried cherries, dried apricots, etc.
Good luck with the class! Unfortunately my experience with summer classes has also been that they’re less than stellar, but hopefully it’ll go fast and you’ll come away maybe even liking chemistry. 😉
isnt it great that you can be in your mid 20’s and power hungry folk will still treat you like a child?
Wow, so sorry to hear that your prof is a complete jerk. But try to be optimistic, maybe he’s just trying to scare people at the beginning so you’ll all start off with the right habits, and then he’ll relax a little ways in… I find I’ve had teachers in the past who do that. Or he could just be completely insane. But you can only hope it’s the former!
Too bad about the early dinner you’ll have to adopt but I’m sure it’ll be pretty quick to get used to, and at least 4:30 is still a relatively decent time to eat, even though it is pretty early.
i hate people who feel the need to treat others like that. bummer that you’re on the receiving side of that situation.
i’ve been thinking about making my own granola for such a long time! yours looks so yummy i think i’m going to finally have to do it!
Wow…your professor sounds like one of those teachers who really doesn’t like teaching the summer sessions, but does it anyway, and totally takes it out of the students. Like Kristie said, maybe he’s just trying to scare your class into working hard, but to get upset that you read ahead on a worksheet…well that’s just a little nuts. I don’t even get upset at my 10th graders for that!
You dinner didn’t look boring at all. In fact, it looked quite delicious, although I hear you about the eating at 4:30 thing. Just for a few weeks, right?
boo to a grouchy professor! Your dinner sounds awesome, love the brocco-slaw idea with all of those mixed veggies and tofu!
SO excited about your/Sarah’s granola recipe, it looks fabulous!
I don’t think I’m your typical reader. I’m a 41 yo housewife, expecting our 8th baby! I just wanted to say thanks for the blog – it has helped me so much. I had almost given up healthy eating because I was always hungry. Now you are teaching me what to fill up on. I miss your calorie counts but I understand you are in a different place now.
Thanks again!
So sorry to hear class was tough :(. I hope it gets better and goes by quickly. Good luck!
aw, poor Kath! That chemistry class does NOT sound fun. I’m glad you can vent to us though – just let it out! We all have to do things we don’t want to do – but HAVE to do. So we’re here for you.
On a more pleasant note – you are rocking the food choices! I loved all the food you ate today – and want to try all the recipes. I been feeling burnt out lately – work has been insanely busy, then I have to come home and feed the husband and myself, then i’m off to kickboxing or the trainer. And the weekends have been nothing but errands. I can’t catch my breath!
So it’s comforting to see that you are just as busy but manage to handle everything so well! Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂
Happy hump day everyone! The holiday weekend is looming in the near distance. hooray!
Cassie ,
Your blog looks good! I’ll have to compare your meals for ideas 🙂 My class is Mon-Thurs, so thankfully I have the weekends to eat normally.
Kathryn,
You must have missed the post – I saw Reese and Jake at Hominy Grill with my own eyes! https://www.katheats.com/?p=3762
ArdenLynn ,
WOW 8 children! How fun! Welcome to KERF 🙂
Suzanne ,
I feel your burn out just reading your comment – I had that “can’t breathe” feeling when I was slammed at work and planning my wedding this time last year. But keep up the good work! Do what you can when you do have the time to make your busy times good smoother so you’ll be a little more relaxed all of the time.
Kath
Thanks for your support, Kath! I know it’s just part of life…I’m trying to be a trooper and just plow through it. I love the feeling of getting stuff down and checking off my lists (just like you!) so I’m sure I’ll be fine. 🙂
Maybe you posted the answer to this already, but what are your plans for Memorial Day weeken?
How about everyone else?
I am definitely making that granola, it looks delish!
I also wanted to tell you that yesterday I followed your advice and cooked a bag of black beans and a bag of white beans. I can’t believe how much food I made out of those beans with minimal additions! This will definitely be a budgeting trick that I continue to follow. Thanks for all the good tips you share with us Kath 🙂
Or he could be trying to scare people into dropping 🙂
But I know I’m that I’m always a lot tougher at first, and then ease off as the semester goes along. In fact, all of my friends try to do the same. You can be strict and then ease up, but if you’re easy and then get strict students freak out. Better to be on the safe side.
ArdenLynn – My mom is 42 with 7 kids…thank goodness she’s done! I’m 22 and I love having a young Mom.
Kath- I find chem, bio, science etc teachers to be so cocky and unapproachable. It’s so frustrating to have to sit in a class like that! At least it will be over quick and I’m sure you’ll do great.
I was re-reading that issue of Cooking Light last night too!
Your professor is probably just pissed he’s stuck teaching an almost nightly summer course.
Bring a larabar in a baggie for less nice?