Life Lately and Make-Ahead Meals!

Hidy-ho friendly friends and Happy SUNDAY!!

Sundays for most might mean a bit more of a sleep-in followed by an easy-going restful day... for others it might mean running 17km before 8am, like I did, today :P

 This is my, I'm finally home face!! ^^

 And this is my; did I actually just do that?? What kind of crazy person am I, face ^^

And these are my legs... they don't really show too much emotion.

Anywho, it was a lovely run, running against the wind was a bit of a battle at times, but luckily the last few km's back were with the wind (honestly, when I was running against it I almost couldn't move!!)

Refueling after my fasted cardio with:

 Utter deliciousness.

 This was the creamiest of creamy green cherry and banana smoothie with a side of warm, crunchy, straight-from-the-oven PB granola :D

 The smoothie was simply chucking a handful frozen cherries, 1 large frozen banana, 3 big scoops greek yoghurt, 1 handful frozen zucchini, 4 chunks frozen spinach and splash of water into the Vitamix and whazzing until smoothie-smoooooth! Into the freezer until required.

And the granola? around 1/2 heaped cup rolled oats, 1 handful wholemeal reduced-sugar cheerios, 1 teaspoon maca powder, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 heaped tablespoon smooth PB with 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk, heated up in the microwave until warmed through and then mixed into dry mix until combined and sticky- onto baking tray and into the oven at 200 degrees celsius for 15-20mins or until golden brown, crunchy and fragrant- nom!

So that was this morning, but what else has been crack-a-lacking in the life of Steph-2-Chef??

Working.

Lots and lots of working.

Because it is holidays and uni break I have been rostered on almost every single day and whilst I'm definitely not complaining (getting paid definitely makes it worth it) I have had to get a little more creative and organised with planning my meals and creating dishes that can be eaten hot/ cold and made-ahead to sit in the fridge.

Majority of said meals have been dinners but I did have an early shift on one of the days and also wanted to get in a good arm workout that morning...

 Which I totally smashed by the way!

 The baby biceps are growwwwiiinnnggg!!

 Yes.

So, I whipped up a batch of rich, dark choc granola to make a killer yoghurt bowl that could be thrown together in two minutes after I finished assassinating my arms:

 Enjoyed with a frozen banana, greek yoghurt and almond milk- this was so so good!

 To make the make-ahead granola I simply placed 1/2 cup muesli + 2 heaped tablespoons rolled oats + 1 heaped tablespoon raw cacao powder + 1 teaspoon cinnamon  into a bowl and then stir to combine then + 1 tablespoon almond butter warmed up with 1/2 cup almond milk, stirred into the dry mix and baked in the oven at 180 degrees celsius for 20-25 mins or until crunchy and golden!

 Then I just left it to cool and popped it into an airtight container in the fridge until the next morning when I just popped it into a bowl with all the other goodies!!

 Let it soak in the almond milk a little and hey-presto! The besto!!

 And the frozen banana is a must. Because then it tastes like ice cream. Rich chococlate granola ice cream.

 Happiness.

 But mainly, dinners:

 Simple-pimple make-ahead meals that literally have less than 5 ingredients!

 This bad boy was roasted broccoli, purple cauli, brussels and cheese-y baked tofu (hard tofu mixed with garlic, nutritional yeast and water- baked in oven for 15-20mins until puffed and golden)

 And this one was simply steamed greens and curried pumpkin and corn falafel- nom!

 And last but not least... but definitely ugliest! This whole baked sweet potato (so good eaten cold!!) with a side of mixed veggie chili:

Which was basically just sauteed and then bubbled away zucchini, eggplant, tinned tomatoes, mushrooms, blackbeans, mixed four beans, mixed dried herbs and turmeric

Eating healthy doesn't have to be complex and by the looks of these meals- super easy when super busy!! I definitely have a heck of a lot more make-ahead meal recipes so just let me know if you want more ideas folks!

Your turn:
Are you a rester on Sunday or is it just the same daily crushing it??
What's your favourite breakfast of recently?
Best make-ahead meal that saves the hanrgy monster??

I hope, once again, you have a lovely Sunday, do all the things you love, spend time with those you love and as always; EAT SOMETHING DELICIOUS!! Bye for now friendly friends! :D