The Roastess with the Mostess

on January 22, 2010
in All Posts

I am normally really good at “triaging” To Do Lists and tackling my items in order of importance, but this is freaking me out:

IMG_6076

Two of the five items left of my To Do List (the Healthy Living Summit and the Operation Beautiful redesign) are SO time-consuming and such LARGE projects that I’m literally trembling in my boots!

 

Maybe I need to break down those tasks into smaller tasks to make them seem more manageable?

 

For lunch, I was only craving one thing – roasted vegetables!

IMG_6077

I don’t know what’s come over me, but I’m really obsessed with roasted veggies lately, aren’t I?  I just love how roasting them brings out the flavor instead of hiding it or reducing it (like steaming always does for me).

 

I made a HUGE pan of veggies + an entire package of tofu.

IMG_6075

Chopping and roasting veggies is so tedious, and I hope the leftovers reheat well!

 

I had sweet potatoes, broccoli, parsnips, and carrots.  Plus, corn on the cob:

IMG_6078

IMG_6081

As well as Perfect Baked Tofu (recipe is here).

 

Work It Out…

 

Once I get a hold of my To Do list, I really need to hit the gym or (maybe!) the road for a workout.  My workouts have been lackluster this week, mostly because my bike is in the shop and the car accident.  Time to get my RUN on!  I think my foot is feeling good enough for a real road run.

 

Wish me luck!

 

What’s your favorite meal to make in advance?  I love making quiches or casseroles – they always taste better the second day, anyway. 

{ 71 comments }

 

  • Nicole (dishin') January 22, 2010, 2:40 pm

    I love using my crock pot for make ahead meals…it’s so easy! Your lunch looks super nutritious….yum!

  • Jamie in Arkansas January 22, 2010, 2:45 pm

    Caitlin,
    When is the Healthy Living Summit???

    • Caitlin January 22, 2010, 2:47 pm

      We don’t know the exact location or date yet, but I’m guessing midwest/east coast in August.

  • Sara @ Mastering Public Health January 22, 2010, 2:48 pm

    Already looking forward to attending another Summit! Please, keep us posted on potential dates/locations. 🙂

  • Meg @ Be Fit Be Full January 22, 2010, 2:49 pm

    I love making lasagna or eggplant parm in advance. Those are two dishes I look forward to eating all week!

  • Jess January 22, 2010, 2:50 pm

    I LOVE roasted veggies! My favs are carrots and parsnip! I mix them with 1 tsp oil and 1 tbsp maple syrup and dash of salt and pepper
    SO good!
    Meal in advance – Either bean burgers or pizzas, I can always place them back in the oven:)

  • OurLittleAshley January 22, 2010, 2:51 pm

    I am OBSESSED with roasted veggies. OBSESSED! I roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and carrots the most, but I’ve roasted just about everything. Beets are even good!

    Yuuum.

  • Tonyne @ Unlikely Success Story January 22, 2010, 2:51 pm

    Roasted veggies are my favorite and I make them to put on pizza all the time! My favorite thing is roast kale, you can roast it a little bit and it’s still kinda soft or roast them for 7 minutes and get kale chips! So, so good. I also love the flavor that comes out of onions when you roast them as well, they are so sweet.

  • Island Girl Eats January 22, 2010, 2:52 pm

    I love corn on the cob – it always reminds me of summer when I was a kid!

    Maybe you should think of breaking down the bigger tasks? That way they don’t seem so overwhelming. Sometimes when something overwhelms me, I kind of ignore it! I can be quite good at it!!!!

  • Carolina John January 22, 2010, 2:52 pm

    have a great weekend caitlin! get out there and run some. the to-do list will all get done one item at a time.

  • Erika January 22, 2010, 2:53 pm

    My most favorite meal to make ahead is butternut lasagna – its fast and easy to make, super healthy, and tastes soooooo yummy..paired with roasted veggies 😉 it is divine 🙂

  • Madeline @ greensandjeans January 22, 2010, 2:55 pm

    I’m definitely a fan of breaking down my to do lists to make them as managable as possible. Take your big ticket items and break them down to bite sized chunks, that way you get the satisfaction of checking every little piece off of your list!

  • AlisonJ January 22, 2010, 2:57 pm

    I am totally into roasting vegetables right now. I told my husband that I should just make a huge batch on Sundays to enjoy for the week – some of my faves are broccoli, cauliflower, beets…and don’t even worry about reheating these later. They can be super tasty cold & sometimes I throw them on a salad…or eat them straight from the container in the fridge 😉

  • Stacey January 22, 2010, 3:00 pm

    I love casseroles – I am such a SPINSTER some days! But my husband and I can get several meals out of one and I think they are better leftover.

  • Tracy January 22, 2010, 3:03 pm

    I have at least half of a ten pound bag of carrots from Costco to finish up, and roasting them seems like a delicious idea!! Along with some other veggies of course. Thanks!

  • Gracie @ Girl Meets Health January 22, 2010, 3:13 pm

    I loveeee roasted veggies. They’re probably my favorite thing to make in advance because I can easily throw them into any dish. And, for someone like myself who is kind of picky about how my vegetables are cooked, that’s always a good thing =)

  • Sam January 22, 2010, 3:15 pm

    on a totally unrelated note, i had a baked sweet potato and baked beans for dinner after an intense workout last night. i died and went to heaven…….so good.

  • Jessica @ How Sweet January 22, 2010, 3:15 pm

    Mac and cheese! I love it the next day. 🙂

  • Lauren @ Eater not a runner January 22, 2010, 3:18 pm

    Roasted veggies are definitely my go-to meal right now! And eggplant parm is my favorite dish to save…always tastes better the next day 😉

  • brandi January 22, 2010, 3:19 pm

    roasted veggies are GREAT leftover! you can always reheat them in the oven/toaster to keep that crispy edge, too.

    I love casseroles, soups, and pasta leftover – they always taste better the day after you make them.

  • Heather (Heather's Dish) January 22, 2010, 3:23 pm

    casseroles and soups are my faves…once they’re all put together you can eat off of them for a while! plus, they usually freeze well 🙂

    hope you don’t get too stressed with all that stuff to do!

  • ashleigh January 22, 2010, 3:25 pm

    Your lunch looks so yummy! I like to make chili and soups in advance because they are easy and taste better the day after 🙂

  • Ashley @ Good Taste. Healthy Me January 22, 2010, 3:26 pm

    ooo is the Summit going to be in Boston again? I’m dying to go to this! 🙂

    • Caitlin January 22, 2010, 3:26 pm

      Sorry 🙁 It definitely will not be in Boston again.

  • Julie @savvyeats January 22, 2010, 3:27 pm

    Definitely break the big projects down into little pieces. That way, you’ll get to cross things off your ‘to-do’ list and actually see your progress.

    I SO hope I get to come to HLS!

  • megan January 22, 2010, 3:29 pm

    i hope the summit is near michigan 🙂 ha, michigan could really any extra business we could give it right about now 😉

    i love to reheat soup. it always tastes better the next day

  • Haleigh January 22, 2010, 3:31 pm

    Lovin’ all the roasted veggies as of late. Soup and chili taste much better a few days after you make it.

    I can’t wait to hear about the Summit details, I am hoping to make it this year.

  • alli January 22, 2010, 3:31 pm

    so glad to see you enjoying your veggies. roasting is the only way to go with veggies, i think 🙂
    okay, something in that 3rd picture in the top left corner looks like a cute little mouse face….a blender maybe? i think he’s eyeing your veggies 😉

  • Morgan @ Life After Bagels January 22, 2010, 3:34 pm

    I like to make sheppard’s pie ahead.

    Looking forward to the Summit, I’m hoping to attend this year

  • Heather @ Side of Sneakers January 22, 2010, 3:38 pm

    Anything Italian!!

  • Jen January 22, 2010, 3:47 pm

    Wow, those veggies do look great! What is your secret? Do you add any seasoning or olive oil? How long do you roast, and at what temp? Mine never look so good!

    • Caitlin January 22, 2010, 3:51 pm

      i do toss everything in a little extra virgin olive oil and put some pepper on it. i roast it at 425 for about 25 – 30 minutes (make sure you stir!)

  • LindsayRuns January 22, 2010, 3:49 pm

    Make ahead? I like pastas and casseroles and crock pots. Oh my goodness, I would not be able to survive with your checklist! Everything on there is so huge! I break mine into chunks like crazy, even “clean” is waaaay too big for me, let alone “plan massive weekend conference”. 😉 break it down and enjoy the box checking!

    • Caitlin January 22, 2010, 3:50 pm

      hahah this comment made me LOL. yea, i kind of felt overwhelmed when i had ‘write a book’ on my list, too. but it felt sooo good to check it off.

  • The Paris Food Blague January 22, 2010, 3:49 pm

    what a great idea…I never cook tofu because when I attempt to it always tastes…meh. I will have to try this.

    beautiful pictures!

    a tres bientot!
    -The Paris Food Blague

  • The Paris Food Blague January 22, 2010, 3:49 pm

    haha, just noticed the title of this post. cute!

  • Jill January 22, 2010, 3:54 pm

    I like to drizzle some honey on my roasted veggies along with the olive oil. It seems to really bring out the flavors of the dish and couples really well with the general cold weather vibe of this wintertime treat. Yum!

  • Evan Thomas January 22, 2010, 3:59 pm

    After much self-convincing, I just threw a vegan meatloaf in the oven. I’d have to say that’s my answer, though it’s a lot of preparation(and when I say a lot, I mean more than heating up tofu and broccoli in the microwave :-)) BUT it will definitely be worth it I’m thinking

  • Katie@ Two Lives, One Lifestyle January 22, 2010, 3:59 pm

    Agreed, casseroles, soups, chili… it all tastes better the second day and reheat well.

  • Amanda January 22, 2010, 4:03 pm

    I was just thinking that you’ve been on a roasted veggie kick lately, and then you said that. LOL

    My favorite meal to make in advance is chili, it always tastes better the second day. I’ve found that to be true with most things that are tomato based.

    I’ve never cooked with Tofu before. I might give your recipe a try.

  • Freya @ foodfitnessandfreya.wordpress.com January 22, 2010, 4:06 pm

    I hardly ever make meals in advance cos I just love cooking and eating them fresh! But I do bake lots and freeze the results, if that counts 🙂 cake and cookies and muffins and cinnamon bread always on hand lol!

  • Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg January 22, 2010, 4:08 pm

    I DEFINITELY have to break down large tasks into more manageable mini-tasks…otherwise, I’ll just freak out about them and ignore them out of pure terror!

    My favorite make ahead dishes are soups and stews– so much better after sitting around for a while!

  • Melissa January 22, 2010, 4:12 pm

    Hi Caitlin,
    I am so excited that you and Jenna are doing the Echelon Gran Fondo! Being an avid cyclist, I am jealous… I just wanted to give you a “heads up” though (and I am sure that your dad has probably mentioned this to you), but you should buy clip in pedals and shoes ASAP. In order to do a ride that long, you need to mazamize the power that you generate from each rotation. This way, you can push the pedal down and pull it back up. Trust me, it will save you.
    Have fun!

    • Laura January 22, 2010, 9:38 pm

      Hi Melissa – I was just wondering, do you think pedals with toe straps would be sufficient for a ride like that? Or are the “clipless” pedals plus shoes the only real way to go? Thanks! Laura

      • Melissa January 22, 2010, 10:02 pm

        Laura- With a toe strap pedal, the cyclists foot is able to bend while riding. This reduces the amount of energy transfered from the leg and foot to the pedal itself. It also allows the cyclist to lift their heal, when you want to keep your heal down creating a ninety degree angle from knee to the middle of foot while at the top of the rotation.
        While toe straps are sufficient for a casual cyclist, a 100 mile ride definitely does not constitute “casual” riding. I would say clipless is the only way to go. Yes, they are a little intimidating at first, but I learned by putting my bike in a doorway and clipping and unclipping. If I was about to fall over, I would grab the door frame. I did take a couple of falls at first, typically at street lights when I would forget that I was clipped in, but I was already slowed down and would literally just tip over. It was never painful, just funny and slightly embarasing. Everyone in the cycling world does it on occasion.
        I hope that this helps!
        -Melissa

        • caitlin January 23, 2010, 8:12 am

          Yes…. I rode my metric without clips and lets just say… I think I had to work 50% harder than everyone else. So clip ins are definitely something I need to get before May.

        • Laura @ Strong and Steady January 23, 2010, 9:04 pm

          ok ok i’m convinced 🙂 guess i’ll be hitting the bike shop…

        • Laura @ Strong and Steady January 23, 2010, 9:05 pm

          (ps thanks melissa!)

  • Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) January 22, 2010, 4:34 pm

    East Coast! I want to attend this year now that I’m finally back in America. 😀

    I looove roasted veggies. My family thinks it’s strange that I’m satisfied with a big plate of them and always think I’ll be hungry but they don’t realize how satisfying (and filling) veggies are.

  • Laura T. January 22, 2010, 4:35 pm

    dont worry about how the veggies will reheat…they taste fantastic cold 🙂 thats how i always eat mine.

  • Karla January 22, 2010, 4:36 pm

    I love making spaghetti squash and enjoying it for pretty much an entire week! That was lunch today 🙂
    Yesterday, I made a Peruvian Chickpea Stew that will be tonight’s dinner. I kind of love leftovers 🙂 I intentionally made extra!

  • Amanda @ Cakes and Ale January 22, 2010, 4:54 pm

    Definitely break it in to more manageable tasks. I like to do major to do lists (like yours) but then also to do lists by the week. You get to cross off more stuff that way, which is psychologically satisfying!

  • Carrie @ I See Monsters January 22, 2010, 4:59 pm

    Roasted veggies reheat great! This past summer I would make a huge batch each Sunday or Monday and then throw them into all of my dinners for the rest of the week (either hot or cold) and they would still taste fantastic. I never appreciated veggies like broccoli until I started roasting them in EVOO/salt/pepper. Steamed veggies are the pits. I think a lot of people who say they hate veggies have only had them steamed! 😉

  • Tracey @ TropicalHappiness January 22, 2010, 5:49 pm

    I actually posted about to-do lists earlier this morning, with a second to-do/organization post coming next week.
    I realize that I absolutely HAVE to have lists to help me stay organized. I break them down in smaller tasks and assign a little bit each day to make it work.

  • Tyler Ramey January 22, 2010, 6:13 pm

    Caitlin!!!! Now that I have a blog of my own and have become a “blog boy” I wanted to start posting on all my fav blogs! Thanks so much for sharing your life with everyone, and all the inspiration you give on a daily basis! I think I am one of the few boys in this blog field, but if you ever get bored, check my blog out! 🙂 http://www.healthyandfun.wordpress.com I hope I can live up to the standards of my favorite bloggies! Have a great weekend!

  • Morgan @ Healthy Happy Place January 22, 2010, 6:24 pm

    I haven’t had roasted veggies in a while, but yours look awesome!

    My favorite meal to make in advance is a crock pot! Anything I put in there always tastes so delicious

  • Matt January 22, 2010, 6:24 pm

    I like leftover pizza!

  • Cynthia (It All Changes) January 22, 2010, 6:25 pm

    I love roasting red peppers because it makes them so sweet.

    I think you need to make seperate lists for the summit and redesign so you can cross things off instead of staring at the list thinking you can’t accomplish it.

  • Julie January 22, 2010, 6:32 pm

    i always make separate lists .. of need to do today! .. need to do hopefully today .. and a its okay if I can’t ge to this tomorrow .. haha 3 lists .. but easier to get through!

  • Laura January 22, 2010, 7:03 pm

    I love roasted veggies too, i’m completely obsessed at the moment.

  • Lauren January 22, 2010, 7:32 pm

    Love roasted vegetables! I don’t think I could ever get sick of them…especially carrots and parsnips. So good!

    My favorite make ahead meal is polenta “lasagna” (I substitute thin polenta medallions for noodles). It tastes amazing the next day. I’m going to argue that it’s even good cold 😉

  • Katie January 22, 2010, 7:36 pm

    The roasted veggies look so good!

    Casseroles are my favorite make-ahead meals, too. They always taste better once the flavors have a chance to marry.

  • Laura January 22, 2010, 9:43 pm

    Caitlin, I make EVERYTHING in advance! I cook 2 giant batches of food (one lunches one dinners) on the weekend and tupperware it all into instant microwavable meals…

    In my experience, your roasted veggies will reheat well – the flavors will still be there, even though the texture might be a little off. They won’t have that “crispy on the outside, soft on the inside” thing anymore. The crispy part might just be a tad rubberier (but still most definitely palatable).

    All your roasting has seriously made me crave roasted brussels sprouts, mushrooms, and carrots! What other veggies are good to roast? Turnips? I definitely plan to buy a ton of veg this weekend to roast for my dinners next week 🙂

  • Julie @ Pickley Pear January 22, 2010, 9:58 pm

    Anything italian – 2nd, 3rd day leftovers are great!!

  • Jennie January 22, 2010, 11:11 pm

    I’ve never had a turnip. What do they taste like? Can you compare them to something?

  • Jenna January 23, 2010, 8:24 am

    LAsagna! Leftovers are perfect!

  • Jenny January 23, 2010, 9:19 am

    I definitely know what you mean about feeling overwhelmed with your to do list. I’ve found that the “broader” the things on my list are (i.e. “read for class”) the more stressful they appear. I think it would be a great idea to set mini-goals up for each thing, and then set deadlines by which to tackle those. good luck! 🙂

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing January 23, 2010, 10:02 am

    Chili and other soups are even better after they are reheated and flavors blend together..yum!

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) January 23, 2010, 11:39 am

    Stew, soup, chili, and lasagna are all better the next day. I am so happy to see that you have found a way to enjoy veggies!! Roasted veggies are super healthy – healthier than steaming I believe. Another good way to eat them is to put them on skewers and throw them on the bbq!

  • Jamie January 23, 2010, 4:44 pm

    Your roasted veggies look delicious and I would definitely recommend breaking down your huge tasks into much smaller ones. IT is sooo daunting to have such big tasks on your to do list but it feels so good when you can cross little things off!

Previous post:

Next post:

Search The Blog

Read by Month:

Read by Topic:

Healthy Tipping Point