Clean!

on April 19, 2010
in All Posts

So CLEAN!  My apartment smells so fresh and tidy, I just want to roll around on the (vacuumed) carpets!

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James says hello!

 

Does cleaning count as cardio?  Because it should!  I was dripping in sweat after tackling the two bathrooms.  :)  And in addition to cleaning, I got a lot of writing/book work done today.  Three cheers for being productive! 

 

Snacks included Pumpkin Yogurt.  It’s baaaaack!  (I am very stingy with my cans of pumpkin… You can’t buy the conventional kind [AKA the good kind] year-around in Florida and I stocked up on a dozen cans in January.)  With 1/2 a cup of raw oatmeal:

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And some dried plums (prunes?):

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Dinner:

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As I twittered earlier, if you have not had the sweet potato and baked bean combo yet, you are not living.  It literally takes 7 minutes to prepare and tastes great.

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To prepare:

 

  • Wash sweet potato.
  • Stab with fork.
  • Wrap in wet paper towel.
  • Microwave for 5 – 6 minutes.
  • Remove from microwave, slice open.
  • Put canned baked beans (I like Bush’s vegetarian) in microwave-safe bowl and heat for 1 minute.
  • Pour over sweet potato.
  • Chow down.

 

Added to the recipe page.  🙂

 

Plus, burnt roasted Brussel sprouts and parsnip fries on the side.

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Dessert was just as epic!

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I had a serving of coconut ice cream and a glass of red wine.  Be still my heart.  The Purely Decadent Coconut Milk coconut flavor is the BEST – and hey, it’s dairy free!

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The clean carpet calls!  🙂 🙂 🙂

{ 95 comments }

 

  • Jessica @ WHY DONTCHA RUN April 19, 2010, 7:57 pm

    Ah, yes. There’s nothing like the smell and feel of a freshly cleaned house! Mind could sooooo use a deep cleaning. I swear as soon as I get it “under control” and back to tidy, it gets out of control again! Argh….

    Great inspiration though… I think I might go clean something. 😉

  • Sarah April 19, 2010, 7:59 pm

    You are such a good writer. You always leave me wanting more!

    Also, I came on to your page specifically to tell you how grateful I am that you shared your “drink wine while writing” tip. It had really never occurred to me that drinking a small amount of wine could improve my performance (rather, I thought it would have the opposite effect) but last fall I was taking biostatistics. It was the hardest class I’ve ever taken and I would get nervous and anxious before even starting the homework or viewing the online lectures. On a whim, I tried your suggestion about having a little bit of wine while you sit down and do something that is making you feel “blocked.” It made a huge difference. I’m currently having a glass while I work on a project for my evaluation class. It’s really just a little bit but it makes a big difference–and red wine is good for my health, so there we go 🙂 Thanks Caitlin!

    • Caitlin April 19, 2010, 8:00 pm

      hahah this comment cracked me up! i love it! a little bit of wine goes a lonnnnng way. 🙂 good luck in biostat!

  • Heather (Heather's Dish) April 19, 2010, 8:01 pm

    can i have everything you ate today? i want it all 🙂

  • Lindsey April 19, 2010, 8:06 pm

    Your apartment looks great! Soo clean! I love that feeling as well…after you deep clean. What I don’t like is sitting around thinking about how I have to clean..but once I start, I’m on a roll! haha

  • Jenn (from j3nn.net) April 19, 2010, 8:10 pm

    Yes, cleaning is definitely cardio. It’s a form of NEAT (Non-exercise activity thermogenesis)

    Baked beans sound so good!! 😀

    Jenn

  • Jenny April 19, 2010, 8:11 pm

    That is an EPIC dessert, and an equally epic ice cream scoop!

  • Marissa April 19, 2010, 8:15 pm

    I need to try the sweet potato + black bean combo! It sounds really good! I was going to try it last week but I bought a yam by mistake. Oops!

    The feeling of a newly cleaned room is awesome!

  • Marissa April 19, 2010, 8:16 pm

    I mean baked beans…whoops!

  • Ashley M. [at] (never home)maker April 19, 2010, 8:16 pm

    Oh. That coconut vegan ice cream is THE BEST! But my favorite is the cookie dough kind. I don’t know how they did it — but with dessert like that, there’s no need to go for the non-vegan alternative 🙂

  • Tonyne @ The Unlikely Success Story April 19, 2010, 8:20 pm

    I am enjoying a glass of wine for dessert too!!! It IS epic! 🙂 Oh and I’m trying parsnip fries tomorrow night!

  • Wendy April 19, 2010, 8:20 pm

    Love the clean house feeling! I need to get on that myself, ASAP.

    Actually, I can’t find canned pumpkin here in the midwest, either. There was apparently a pumpkin shortage last fall!

  • Madison April 19, 2010, 8:23 pm

    I LOVE coconut milk ice cream. I am lactose intolerant and thought that I would never be able to have an “ice cream” treat ever again until this came along. I love coconut milk like nobody’s business. I am going to try your baked beans and sweet potato recipe soon. Looks like something right up my alley!

    Yay to your clean apt. I love clean.

  • Evan Thomas April 19, 2010, 8:24 pm

    I LOVE that brand coconut milk yogurt, but I haven’t had the coconut flavor. I can speak for the vanilla bean, chocolate, chocolate peanut butter swirl, cherry amaretto, and mocha almond fudge that they’re all FANTASTIC(and, yes, I have eaten that much and more coconut milk ice cream and all within recent).

    Also, apparently I haven’t lived if I haven’t had that combination. But now it will be high on my to-make list for the Summer.

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing April 19, 2010, 8:26 pm

    Yeah so like all of your dinner sounds AMAZING!!!! I love love love the sweet potato/baked beans combo, it really is out of this world!! And the coconut milk ice cream as well! Have you tried the mini ice cream sandwiches made with coconut milk? The bomb!

  • Nicole of Raspberry Stethoscope April 19, 2010, 8:28 pm

    I LOVEE that ice cream!!

  • Courtney April 19, 2010, 8:29 pm

    Last time I started cleaning, I was dripping sweat by the time I got done washing my living room floors. So I stopped. Sounds like you didn’t, thereby making you awesome. Baked sweet potato and baked beans has become a serious staple for me – and burnt brussel sprouts are really the only way to eat them!

  • katie April 19, 2010, 8:29 pm

    girl i have never had baked beans and a sweet tater together!!!!! i need to try it! youve convinced me!

  • Kristina April 19, 2010, 8:30 pm

    ha! 🙂 I’ve been eating pumpkin yogurt for years, and the past couple years have had a hard time finding pumpkin regularly stocked in stores… I stock up around the holidays also, and when that runs out, I order it online by the case! 🙂

    Again, I am still full from your Baked Polenta Pie for lunch today, but next I may have to try the sweet potato & baked bean… that looks super yum!

  • Laura Georgina April 19, 2010, 8:31 pm

    Love the ice cream scoop! I need to hunt down some coconut ice cream because it’s a sad, dairy-free life for me and a girl needs her ice cream 🙂

  • Therese April 19, 2010, 8:36 pm

    I do love a freshly cleaned house! Makes me feel very responsible and relaxed! 😀

    And you were totally productive today which is ANOTHER awesome feeling! Geez, I like the day you had! Have an even better evening!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is April 19, 2010, 8:36 pm

    Please come clean for me now. I am surprised that my husband hasn’t left me yet with what a disaster this house is.

  • Jessica April 19, 2010, 8:38 pm

    I have almost bought that ice cream twice…is it really good…

    I LOVE the potato and baked beans, I tried it to with black beans…just not the same.

    • Caitlin April 19, 2010, 8:39 pm

      it is good! the coconut flavor is way better than chocolate flavor.

  • Katie @ Two Lives, One Lifestyle April 19, 2010, 8:39 pm

    An intense cleaning sesh is definitely a good workout! I get so sweaty whenever I vacuum, no clue why. Enjoy the carpets and all those roasted veggies.

  • J April 19, 2010, 8:46 pm

    You really should try slow-roasting your sweet potato in the oven if you ever have time…for some reason it tastes sooo much better roasted than microwaved (though I always nuke it in the microwave if I’m crunched for time)!

  • courtney April 19, 2010, 8:53 pm

    http://www.amazon.com/Farmers-Market-Foods-Organic-15-Ounce/dp/B000HDI5O8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1271724717&sr=1-1

  • Lauren April 19, 2010, 8:55 pm

    Few things…

    1. Cleaning is most definitely cardio!!! Try wearing your HRM next time and I’d bet you’d be surprised to see you probably burned more calories than some of your shorter runs! 🙂

    2. Beans and Sweet Potatoes are amazing!!!

    3. That Coconut Ice Cream saved and changed my life. When I had to go dairy free, I almost died because I was unwilling to give up my love for ice cream. But when I tasted this, my life was renewed and all hope was restored! I really don’t seem to mind spending a small fortune on something this good! 🙂

    have a wonderful night girl.

  • eatdrinkandbemerrynyc April 19, 2010, 8:55 pm

    Haaa the drinking while writing cracked me up!!! Amazing 🙂 Do you think that can be your new claim to fame/watch out Operation Beautiful 😉 KIDDING OF COURSE 🙂 I am DEF trying to the sweet potato recipe. Would LOVE a couple of ‘quick and dirty’ recipes like that (especially vegetarian!!) in a post!! “reader request”!
    Sara

  • Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) April 19, 2010, 8:56 pm

    I finally got around to cleaning my bathroom today too — what a chore! Glad that’s out of the way for a while… 😉

    I’ve been obsessed with sweet potato for the past few months. Microwaved, baked… it’s all good.

  • Caroline April 19, 2010, 8:57 pm

    Yea I love the sweet potato/baked bean combo. basically any excuse to eat either of those two foods I am all for! Kudos on a clean house and a productive day!

  • Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin April 19, 2010, 8:59 pm

    I love that ice cream scoop. so cute!

    Also, I was reading in Women’s Health today and it says the average american watches 5 hours of TV a day (!!!) and that cutting that in half helps a lot with obesity because people do things like clean more instead of watch TV… so i think it counts!!

  • Heather @ Side of Sneakers April 19, 2010, 9:00 pm

    Clean totally counts as cardio! I figured out the hard way last weekend that yardwork counts as strength training haha 🙂

  • Alison April 19, 2010, 9:02 pm

    Hi – I found your blog from Two Runners and a Brown Dog. I’m an RD and I LOVE your food suggestions! That sweet potato with baked beans sounds awesome! My sister would love it (she only eats fish, no chicken or beef). And those burnt Brussels Sprouts look great too – I actually love burnt food 🙂 Glad I found your blog!

    • Caitlin April 19, 2010, 9:04 pm

      im glad you found my blog, too! 🙂

  • Matt April 19, 2010, 9:05 pm

    I LOVE coconut milk ice cream! SO GOOD.

  • Kelly (the Running Phoodie) April 19, 2010, 9:11 pm

    I beg to differ- have you tried the Purely Decadent Mocha Almond Fudge flavor? It’s ‘gasmic 😉

  • Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg April 19, 2010, 9:11 pm

    Ahhhh, I LOVE a clean house!

  • Kelly April 19, 2010, 9:13 pm

    I stocked up on pumpkin in January too and it seems to have disappeared in grocery stores around me now. I’ve been trying to put butternut squash instead of pumpkin in my oatmeal, but it’s a little more of a process than just opening a can and not quite as yummy…

  • Julia April 19, 2010, 9:18 pm

    Have you ever tried crispy (aka fried) brussel sprouts?
    I had some this weekend at a blogger meet up and they were FANTASTIC! If you ever get the opportunity, you should try them!

    • Caitlin April 19, 2010, 9:36 pm

      oooo that sounds great!

  • Teacherwoman April 19, 2010, 9:21 pm

    Okay, so I am a firm believer that cleaning counts as cardio/cross training! Especially considering the fact that one sweats! LOL

  • Kim B April 19, 2010, 9:22 pm

    After seeing the sweet potato/baked beans combo on your blog a few weeks ago I tried it. HEAVEN! One of my favorite meals now! I’ll admit, I eat it about every other day (at least)!

  • Stephanie April 19, 2010, 9:25 pm

    coconut milk ice cream = heaven. better than the real stuff if you ask me, so glad you discovered it too 🙂

  • Lex @ sweettoothlex April 19, 2010, 9:34 pm

    There’s nothing like a freshly cleaned room!! It’s such a spirit-booster!!

    That S.Potato/beans is on my must try list! I just tried your grilled strawberry sammie and blogged about it today. Perfection on a plate!!

  • Ashley April 19, 2010, 9:38 pm

    Hey!! I wanted to tell you I got riding shorts, a helmet, gloves and got fitted on my bike today [that we bought yesterday]. Chris + I went out for my first road-bike ride ever!! We rode up to a park that’s about .5m away with a huge loop that people walk/bike/run/etc. on and we went for a total of 10m in about 35min. I was completely scared because I haven’t been on a bike in YEARS. I got comfortable pretty quickly but still have a long way to go. I’m super excited and can’t wait for more!!! 🙂

    • Caitlin April 19, 2010, 9:42 pm

      yay how exciting!!!

  • emptynutjar April 19, 2010, 9:39 pm

    u must eat more ice cream then that Caitlin! I could eat entire pints + a few more 🙂

    beautiful apartment…unimaginable to me…it looks like a hotel!

  • Lisa @ Early Morning Run April 19, 2010, 9:40 pm

    cleaning definitely counts as cardio!

  • Kelly April 19, 2010, 9:42 pm

    Cleaning definitely counts as cardio! Nice work and good job being productive!

  • Megan April 19, 2010, 9:50 pm

    You have found my obsession– 1 serving size packets of prunes. As you may have seen, I eat one pack every morning with breky 🙂 They have cherry essence flavored ones too, which are a nice change of pace…

  • Shawna @ Balancing Me April 19, 2010, 9:53 pm

    Yum! I bought a couple cans of the Bush’s baked beans today after learning that the B&M Vegetarian had HFCS yesterday – thanks for that!

    I find it so odd that some of you can’t find pumpkin year-round at your grocer. I wonder why? I know most people use it as a seasonal item, but I’ve never had a problem finding it. Silly suppliers – don’t they know we eat pumpkin year-round??

    I’m just about ready to get my bike out after a long winter break. Hopefully, it doesn’t rain again this weekend.

  • katie April 19, 2010, 9:53 pm

    Yay for a clean apartment!! (I’m jealous! Mine is super messy right now)

  • Lisa (bakebikeblog) April 19, 2010, 9:58 pm

    oooooh that looks so good! And yay for clean houses – I always feel so much better 🙂

  • Amanda April 19, 2010, 10:14 pm

    Totally off topic, but … I think I remember you talking about in the past a child that you sponsor. I’m doing some research into charity organizations to choose one or a couple to contribute to that I feel strongly about and children are definitely on the top of my list. What organization do you go through to sponsor your child?

    • Caitlin April 20, 2010, 7:37 am

      Children International 🙂 My girl just had her birthday! I love getting cards from her.

  • Jenna April 19, 2010, 10:14 pm

    I really should try the brand and sweet potato
    combo! Looks great!!

  • maria @ Chasing the Now April 19, 2010, 10:37 pm

    I hate cleaning, but it always makes me feel so accomplished to look around at our nice clean apartment. It’s worth it!

  • Deva (Voracious Vorilee) April 19, 2010, 10:39 pm

    I scrubbed our apartment top to bottom this week – we have a two bedroom townhouse – two stories! I was dripping sweat when I finished vacuuming the carpets downstairs, and ready for a shower after I scrubbed it clean with bleach.. I LOVE spring cleaning!

  • Shelly April 19, 2010, 10:57 pm

    I really love putting Amy’s vegetarian chili on top of a baked sweet potato!
    As for the baked beans, I love pouring them over sandwich thins topped with tomatoes and cheese. Random, but amazing.

  • Katherine April 19, 2010, 10:59 pm

    wine and coconut ice cream may just be the next rootbeer float

  • Camille April 19, 2010, 11:23 pm

    Your apartment is adorable!

  • Me-Linh @ Sweet and Sweat April 19, 2010, 11:42 pm

    I like the handle on the ice cream scooper! It’s like the scooper is saying “I CAN ONLY BE USED FOR ICE CREAM AND NOTHING ELSE”

  • Run Sarah April 19, 2010, 11:55 pm

    Love your apartment! I love So Delicious but actually have yet to try the coconut ice creams!

  • Becka April 19, 2010, 11:57 pm

    Sweet potatoes are really good with vegetarian chili on top too! Or seasoned black beans. The mix of salty and sweet is ohhhh sooooo goood. And the coconut milk ice creams are my FAVORITE! They are so decadent, even more than regular ice cream. Plus, I love coconut and every flavor seems to have a tiny hint of coconut flavor in it. Great, now I want some. HAHA. 😉

  • Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter April 20, 2010, 12:28 am

    I absolutely love the feeling of having everything clean 🙂 I have a carton of So Delicious Mint Chocolate Chip to go through, but I’m excited to try different flavors!

  • Rachel April 20, 2010, 12:43 am

    Baked sweet potatoes are one of my favorites foods! I will have to try them with baked beans.. i’ve never thought of that combo before. also, love that coconut milk ice cream!

  • Erin April 20, 2010, 12:55 am

    I love brussels, but one of my fave ways to have them is a little burnt. They get kind of caramelized and are so yummy!

  • Rika April 20, 2010, 1:13 am

    more pictures of James and Maggie pwease? 😀

  • Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] April 20, 2010, 1:32 am

    Thanks for the official bean and tater recipe – it’s a winner!

    Your ice cream scoop is too cute!

  • Leah @ Simply Fabulous April 20, 2010, 2:07 am

    I love the sweet potato and baked bean combo. When the hubs and I make it we cook the potato in the microwave for 10 mins, then put it in the oven for 20 mins.. then top with the beans. It makes the potato slightly crispy.. just the way we like it!

  • Freya @ Brit Chick Runs April 20, 2010, 3:00 am

    The smell and look of a freshly cleaned house almost makes the tremdously boring effor of cleaning it worthwhile…haha, my mum has a picture frame thing in our house which says ‘boring women have immaculate houses’ – I love it lol!

  • Julia @ British Bride April 20, 2010, 4:23 am

    Wow! I had NO IDEA you could make sweet potato so quickly in the microwave. I am going to have it for dinner tonight with beans – its literally my favourite food!

    Thanks Caitlin, I will let you know how it turns out.

    Julia

  • Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) April 20, 2010, 7:31 am

    I just read an article on how they’re changing the name of prunes over to dried plums because it sounds more appealing to the “new generation.” People equate prunes with getting things moving, which I guess isn’t as cool as simply eating dried plums because they taste good. :mrgreen:

    Love your icecream scooper! 😀

  • Diana (Mymarblerye) April 20, 2010, 7:38 am

    grrr I bought stuff to spring clean and now your photos are making me feel guilty for not doing it yet…GRRRRRRRRR.

  • Amanda (Amanda "runs") April 20, 2010, 7:39 am

    Yay! that sounds soooo good! (Love the scooper!!) I ate prunes when I was little b/c I …well, I dunno!

    Starting c25k this weekend!

  • rachael April 20, 2010, 8:04 am

    Cleaning definitely counts as cardio! I’ve even injured myself cleaning before.

    Sweet potatoes, red wine, and coconut milk ice-cream are 3 of my top ten foods:)

  • Kristin (Cook, Bake and Nibble) April 20, 2010, 8:19 am

    I love the feeling of a clean apartment! And the ice cream… droooool. 🙂

    xo
    K

  • Hilary April 20, 2010, 8:24 am

    Hi! I just stumbled across your blog the other day and I love it. I have to ask- did you get into baked beans because of your husband?! I have been dating an Englishman for 2 1/2 years and he’s got me hooked on Heinz baked beans! I never thought I’d like them but now I’m all about beans on toast and beans on potatoes! Have to try a sweet potato now!

    • Caitlin April 20, 2010, 8:26 am

      🙂 thanks for reading. these are the sugary american baked beans not the british ketchup ones. i dont like theirs! 🙂 but yes he tries to make me eat them. three cheers for british boys!

  • Lacey @ Lake Life April 20, 2010, 8:37 am

    LOVE your ice cream spoon! I also love the use of the word “roasted” instead of burnt. I do the same thing, as well as using the word “blackened”. Lol!

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) April 20, 2010, 9:02 am

    I love that coconut ice cream!!!! I would love it even more if I had it with red wine – I must do that next time!

  • Sami April 20, 2010, 9:22 am

    Cait! Your ice cream scooper is stinking adorable. 🙂 I’ve been dying to try that coconut ice cream, but I like a REAL strong coconut taste. Does this one make the cut in your book?

    • Caitlin April 20, 2010, 10:40 am

      it actually had chunks of coconut in it! i liked it a lot. very coconutty.

      • Sami April 20, 2010, 12:02 pm

        mmm!!! sounds perfect for me!!! thanks! xo.

  • Ashley April 20, 2010, 9:38 am

    FYI, I saw canned organic pumpkin at the Super Target in Jax on Sunday … maybe try them?

  • Teri [a foodie stays fit] April 20, 2010, 9:38 am

    I swear that prunes are trying to rebrand themselves by calling them dried plums. 🙂

    I LOVE the coconut milk ice cream but I’ve never tried the coconut flavor (silly huh!). I love the chocolate flavor though. YUM.

  • Amber K @ sparkpeople April 20, 2010, 10:40 am

    I feel like I don’t appreciate how lucky I am to always have access to canned pumpkin! I guess we like pumpkin more in Oregon? I don’t know how that works!

    And cleaning absolutely counts as cardio. I can get my heart rate to soar with a good scrubbing!

  • Diana @ frontyardfoodie April 20, 2010, 12:36 pm

    OH I LOVE cleaning the house thoroughly. Totally makes my day.

    Also, I’m often more sore from cleaning than my work out because it uses such random muscles!

  • Rose April 20, 2010, 1:55 pm

    I wore my HRM one time when I was cleaning and burned 300 calories. It can be hard work!

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