Chocolate Granola & SW Couscous Salad

If you would have seen me today, I would have either looked like this...

Putting my apron to use!

Or in some sort of position resembling this...

My day pretty  much consisted of hitting the books and messing around in the kitchen with some new-to-my-kitchen recipes! So what were these new-to-my-kitchen recipes?  Southwest couscous salad which I got from Trading Up Downtown and chocolate granola!

The SW couscous salad is chock full of nutritious vegetables and natural flavors.  To be honest I was surprised by the strength of the natural flavors! I think I was surprised because I am not used to natural flavors with all the artificial flavors that are in so many sauces, crackers, etc. that we all eat now days.  Anyone else feel this way? I made a few changes based on what I had in my refrigerator... I used canned corn and canned tomatoes instead of fresh ones and I accidentally picked up oregano instead of cilantro when I made a special trip to the store for the herbs.  Dang it!  The flavor was still alright (I wouldn't know any better, I'm not good with herbs), I think it was a little too strong for me, I'd like to try cilantro like the recipe calls for.  Overall though, I would recommend the recipe!

As you can see from above, I normally put the name of the website from which I found a recipe in the top right corner if I got it from someone else so that if I make it and want to blog about it, like so, I know who to give credit to.  However, silly me I forgot to put where I got this recipe! So if this is your recipe, please let me know so I can give credit  where credit is due!  For now I will pretend I created this delicious recipe ;)   The flavor in this was awesome!  The perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter to make this a light treat.

The only thing I would change about the recipe is to make a little more "glue" (PB, honey, butter) because my granola did not clumpify (yes, I just made that a word) like I hoped it would.  Not to worry I did not let it go to waste!

I used my granola to make a little dessert following my meal that included the couscous salad and a hummus wrap with ricotta cheese, roasted red pepper hummus, jalapeños, green peppers and ranch dressing.

Other bites include a banana and gluten free hot cereal with 1/2 Tbsp peanut butter, 2 dates cut up and coconut.

Iced coffee with sugar-free almond syrup

Smoothie - plain yogurt, frozen fruit and milk

BBQ sunflower seeds 

3 caramel corn rice cakes 

WORKOUT

2 miles in 16 minutes

30 minutes biking

30 minutes lifting

• Bench press 2 x 15 @ 55 lbs
• Bicep curls 2 x 15 @ 10 lbs DB
• Back squats 2 x 15 @ 65 lbs
• Shoulder circuit (lateral, frontal & shoulder press) 2 x 8 each move @ 5 lbs DB
• Triceps kick backs 2 x 15 @ 10 lbs DB
• SB med ball twists 2 x 8/side
• Declined bench sit ups 2 x 15 @ 10 lbs med ball 

30 minutes BL yoga

I love doing yoga when I get to look out at the sunset while doing it :)

I'm going to miss this apartment when I move out in July :( 

Where do you like to do your yoga?  

I generally do mine right here in my room, looking out over the city!

What is your favorite pose?

I'm a big fan of warrior 2 and downward dog.  When I first start my yoga routine I don't care for downward dog, but then once I keep going I always remember that downward dog is a break from the rest of the routine!