Check out my progress on It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas…
Cue the Johnny Mathis music, and bring on the fruit cake! It’s September 16th, which can only mean one thing in Caroline-land: it’s 100 days until Christmas! I have been conducting an annual 100-day countdown since my early elementary years– despite my family’s earnest wishes that I would grow out of this infatuation, I continue to fixate on the yuletide season with ever-growing fervor, year after year. For those of you new to the Broccoli Hut, part (but certainly not all) of my passion for the holidays derives from my birthdate; I was blessed enough to arrive into this world on December 24th. Accordingly, I have the double the fun awaiting me in just a few short months. How do you feel about the holidays? Don’t worry, you won’t offend me if you’re apathetic or even resentful toward the season–I have more than enough holiday spirit for the both of us:)
Aside from delighting in the approaching holiday season, I did manage to chow down on some tasty eats:
Tuesday
The perfect choco-berry shake, garnished with an equally perfect topping. Yeah, I ate far more of those chocolate chips than is pictured…
choco-berry shake with strawberries, chocolate HempShake, soymilk, & vegan chocolate chips
Wednesday
This morning, I had to go introduce myself to the writing class I am tutoring this semester. While I enjoy the tutoring experience, I did not enjoy the fact that the class meets at 8:30 AM…on a different campus. Accordingly, I awoke at 6:30 this morning to squeeze in my run. Anyway, let’s just say that time still got away from me, and I ended up sprinting out of the apartment, without makeup or breakfast. Tragic. Fortunately, I had enough time before my later class to sneak in some bagel action.
whole wheat bagel with Trader Joe's cottage cheese, olives & oregano; grapes
Lunch was inspired by my beloved Thai Chick Un Pizza from Eat, Drink, and Be Vegan. I used all the same flavors and ingredients (chickpeas, peanut butter, pineapple, etc.) but transformed it into a salad. For the peanut sauce, I used the Heat Is On PB that I received a few weeks ago and thinned it out with a little vinegar and agave nectar. It was delish, but that PB really is packed with heat.
Thai-Chick Un Salad: broccoli slaw with chickpeas, mushrooms, pineapple, & spicy PB dressing; Ak Maks
Dinner was another rendition of pretzel-crusted tofu. To make, I simply coated tofu in a combination of dijon mustard and agave nectar, then dredged in (unsalted) crushed pretzels. After 20 minutes in a 375-degree oven, I had dinner!
pretzel-crusted tofu; zucchini; apple; spinach with Annie's Woodstock dressing
mustard + agave="glue"
Now, I think a Christmas-themed dance party is in order. Ciao for now…
Filed under: Meals
Caroline Yoder, dietitian-to-be and all-around foodie.
Don’t worry–you’re not alone about the Christmas thing! I start getting psyched out every year about this time; I have to physically force myself to not get TOO overhyperly Christmasy until at least Halloween… more for my family’s sanity than mine.
Christmas is the best time of the year–my rule is that I can’t listen to Christmas tunes until after Thanksgiving…although I’ll admit I’ve played some in the middle of summer before.
Woohoo broccoli slaw!!!
I love the holidays, and I think it’s hysterical that you keep a countdown to Christmas/am slightly jealous that in my 18 years of life I’ve never done that besides your average advent calender. I’m so looking forward to being home for the holidays, sleeping in my own bed, and waking up every morning to snow(I can hope at least)
HELLLLL YES for the Christmas countdown!! We need to have a party
Christmas is my favorite holiday as well – I would like to get through Halloween first though!
I am intrigued by the tofu you made – is it kinda like a honey-mustard pretzel? Is it sweet?
your countdown is adorable!!! i used to always have advent calendars!!
I love Christmas so much! It’s also my birthday (December 25th) so that’s a double plus!
And I love your smoothie concoctions! The problem with them is they make me cold!
And to answer your question I only eat 1 Heart Thrive at a time.. I was just too lazy so I took a picture of the whole package
Oh my God, how cute are you?! A 100 days to Christmas!!!! WOO!
Love that salad!
I really like the holidays too. I love christmas (although it’s less of a thing here in Europe), but I don’t really like New Years Eve.
xxx Julia (Taste of Living)
Pretzel crusted tofu!! I love it! So inventive. Sorry to bust your holiday bubble, but I’m a giant scrooge
However, I might not be if my birthday was on Christmas Eve. I hope you don’t get gypped out of presents that way! 
I think its so awesome that you count down to Christmas! Probably makes you enjoy the season even more! Your lunch combo looks great- I am peanut sauce obsessed! I want that the heat is on nut butter! Love the idea of pretzel crusted tofu too- a nice crunch!
wooooo!!!! You were borned on december 24th? I was on december 25th! hahaha……. I guess both of us are super excited about the holidays.
I love that you have a countdown! Christmas is one of my top three holidays – I start listening to a local radio station November 1st because they play Christmas music from then until the big day
LOL you are too funny with your Christmas countdowns!
I was so excited when I saw the title of your post. I LOVE CHRISTMAS. I’ve never had a countdown like that, but let’s just say during the summer I made Christmas ornaments, worked on a winter/snowman cross-stitch, and listened to Christmas music online…
I keep it to myself though (like have headphones on when I listen to the music) soooo my family doesn’t get bothered by it. Sometimes my dad even likes to hear the music too
Sometimes I ask him to watch Elf with me (like we did this summer haha).
For some reason I think we are supposed to feel embarrassed by this love for Christmas? But it’s such a cheerful time, I want to keep the spirit all year!
Yay for Christmas! I’m just as excited as you are – I need a countdown sheet! I usually just get the cheap chocolate calendar in December that has the really bad chocolates in it. I think this year I may splurge and get a Godiva one
I appreciate your spirit!
I have mixed feelings…I love being with family, eating good food, having some time off work, and of course celebrating the birth of Jesus.
But I do tend to get annoyed by all those other things that come along with the holidays, like the busy malls, crazy people running each other over to get a sale at Walmart, etc. People forgetting what it’s really all about.
I will try to stay positive though
omg, all your meals look amazing!!! total foodie inspiration
i LOVE the holidays. i always have. but right now i’m focusing on halloween. lol, one step at a time gurl.
Hooray for the holidays!! I’m a fan….. I had no idea we are (today) 99 days away! Awesome! Also, I love the idea of pretzel crusted tofu! Yum!
-A
LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE the holidays
i agree with everything you said about this time of the year. im a fall lover. and that countdown is totally something i would do 
Christmas is my #1 favorite holiday, so I’m with ya there. The coundown doesn’t start in my head until Thanksgiving though. Btw the Thai chick-un salad looks delish. Have a great day!
mybiteoflife.wordpress.com
Christmas is my Favorite holiday too! I love the holidays! I start preparing for them at the beginning of October! The minute that there is a chill in the air is when I start getting that tingly its almost Christmas feeling.
I love your tofu, what a great creation, it looks so tasty.
Sophia,
http://whatyourmommadidntknow.blogspot.com/
I love all things christmas and Im glad Im not the only one getting excited already
Oooh, a Christmas Eve baby! Haha, that would definitely make the holiday’s more fun
I absolutely love the holidays–I dislike this time of the year because of the weather, but the holiday spirit completely makes up for it!
oooo yes for christmas countdowns! I LOVE the holidays because people are usually so much happier, friendlier, doing goodwill and cozying up as much as they can. add in extra family time – super awesome time.
[...] a few TJ peanut butter filled pretzels left and some tofu begging to be eaten. I remembered that Caroline posted a recipe for pretzel coated tofu. It involves coating sliced tofu in a dijon mustard/agave [...]
[...] so I can finally show my enthusiasm for Christmas with no shame…well almost no shame. My annual countdown is nearing the halfway mark, so I seized the opportunity to listen to a little holiday music today [...]
I cant wait till Christmas we have been counting down the days too.. This year we are planning to spend Christmas New Years on a local break in Europe, we have a two week holiday booked off work, but have not bought any tickets yet. With so much happening in the different regions we don’t know where to start. We are planning to take the train and leave the car at Ebbsfleet. We understand that if we get a Euro pass we would be able to visit several locations on the same pass/ticket, so I hope that we get to taste different food from each location, all seem really great. Think I will take some photos and post when I get back. I love the home triditional christmas cooking for the hole family its nice to get a brake this christmas,i have a very sweet tooth so the choco-berry shake sounds realy nice ill have to try that one. sarah x
So excited to find a tofu pretzel recipe out there in the blog world! I just got a major craving for some and had no idea how to get the pretzels to stick. Glad I googled and found this one. Love your mustard/agave tip! Thanks!