Home – Stephanie Fowler

Mindfulness Through Rowing

I’ve used my indoor rowing machine twice in the past week.

It’s not the calories or distance that matter right now. For me, it’s the reality that I’m actually using this machine that we’ve let collect dust for the past two years.

I contribute my motivation to my current reading of the book Atomic Habits by James Clear. It just exudes mindfulness in our habits. My habit being more mindful of my alone time and choosing more productive things to do with what little time alone I have, that I’ll benefit from in the future, that is attracting me the most to reading.

I’ve attempted a few times throughout the year of owning a rowing machine to use it. I’d go through periods of strict planning, like promising myself to workout 3 days a week while still caring for two toddlers. Funny, I know.

Life happened then like it does now. Except, I’ve altered my priorities, self-care being one of them, based on the present and finding time when I see an opportunity.

Take for instance the other night. Greg came home and he beelined it for the girls, they gravitated toward each other and I saw this as the golden opportunity to take some time for myself. I washed my face leisurely, stretched, and did a few bedtime routines given the time I had. And guess what, I was completely satisfied with just doing those few tiny things that to me meant a lot. It’s become more of a habit since I’ve put seen it as more of a healthy priority.

As has rowing. I’ve done it twice this week. I’ve only focused on the 5 minute mind-frame to start this healthy habit. If I am fine after five minutes I keep going, but don’t push myself. I listen to my body.

Listening to my body means also listening to my mind. This week my mind has been telling me to enjoy my alone time more and let Greg help, which is in fact what he is always trying to do. I simply say “I’ve got it”, this is an unhealthy habit. It’s really played a key role in my deep desire to better myself through changing my habits gradually, in more healthy ways.

I enjoy rowing.

Red Pepper Curry w/Jasmine Rice

I’m currently sitting on a park bench at Washington Square Park while Margo sleeps. This kid loves a good Vitamin D walk outside.

I always become very motivated while sitting in the park. Tonight I’ve decided to make Red Pepper Curry with leftover Jasmine Rice.

The best part about this recipe is that I don’t need to buy any ingredients, which means no food waste at home. That sentence just rings harmony to my heart.

Side note: I’ve been working at the same restaurant for 11 years, minus traveling and random moves, I always return to Rose’s Cafe.

The side note being that before I met my boyfriend I was single for many years, which meant takeout boxes from Rose’s dominated my side of the fridge.

I did cook on occasion and did grocery shop regularly enough, but in the end I’d end up wasting a lot of fresh food. Why? Because I worked 36 hours a week & cooking was the last thing on my mind.

Food waste has definitely come more into play since being with Greg. Which I’m thankful for. I no longer just toss something away based on a minute wilting of a green or bruising of an vegetable or fruit. I use what I have until I can’t anymore. Food waste, it’s a big thing in my house.

I believe Margo is a movement sleeper. Amelia was like that too, which made car rides so convenient.

I got this recipe from Nora Cooks Vegan Lentil Curry . I shop my pantry first then move onto a grocery list. With this recipe I added a bell pepper and garlic, which are staple foods we always have on hand.

Margo threw me for a loop when she decided to demolish a mini container of blue play-doh at Olympic Speed.

Due to my daughter’s needing my attention, aka dinner, at the time, I couldn’t take a picture of the final meal. However, Greg said that it was delicious and that he had a few helpings.

General Tso Chicken Tofu

This crispy vegan General Tso chicken was delicious.

I have to honest, it did take about 30 minutes to cook, including prepping the tofu, making the sauce and cooking it in the wok.

30 minutes isn’t a very long time, but when Amelia and Margo and running back and forth through the kitchen, it can get a little time consuming. But, I did it!

Each week I have made it a point to cook a new vegan recipe. I follow many vegan food bloggers, but my favorite is Nora Cooks Vegan. Check her out for inspiration!

I’m already plotting my next food experiment. I think I’ll up my game and do something a little more challenging.

I’ll keep you posted.

Have a great week!

One of Margo’s Favorite Dishes

Margo loves pasta with meat sauce.

My recipe is so simple too.

Onion + Garlic Powder, Thyme + Basil, Pepper

Trader Joe’s groundless beef + pre-diced onions.

This meaty vegan spaghetti is a crowd pleaser.

I used Trader Joe’s Ground Beefless meat. I said in another post and I’ll say it again. This is half the sodium and price of other meat alternatives. I have high blood pressure, so any chance I can of reducing my salt intake and still enjoying some flavor I take it.

I added some diced onions, yes I cut a corner and don’t regret it one bit. Then next I added two cans of organic tomatoes, although I think I’ll attempt to make homemade sauce with real tomatoes.

I did use gluten-free noodles. I’m not gluten intolerant, but I wanted to experiment. This is the one mishaps that I won’t do again. Either I didn’t cook them long enough or they just aren’t as delicious as the real thing, either way lesson learned.

My food critics didn’t mind it however. Phew.

This fed the girls and I all day, which for me is a win!

Thank you for stopping by.

Meaty Vegan Eggplant Boats

Food waste is high priority in our house.

Throwing away food pains me. It’s a waste of money and well, food. Two things that to some people are hard to attain, especially these days.

In the refrigerator I have an eggplant which I plan to make into delicious vegan quinoa boat stuffed with vegetables and topped off with a tahini sauce.

Meaty Eggplant Boats

Side-note: This has definitely allowed me to cut down on buying plastic wrap in bulk and save money too.

I live four blocks from a Trader Joe’s so it’s my go-to grocery store. Margo loves going because she always eats a banana while I shop. It’s a win-win.

She’s in fact napping right now which has allowed me time to prep for dinner. I hope it turns out well.

What I did: used one large eggplant, I had made the filling a few days before for lunch and decided to use the rest of it for these boats. It consisted of Trader Joe’s Groundless Beef, which is half the sodium and price of the Impossible Meat ground beef, arugula, mushrooms and bell pepper.

Already using what we had in the fridge made this dinner very simple and fast. Although the picture before doesn’t do it justice.

Surprisingly, Greg loved these eggplant boats. What I would change however is the cheese. It didn’t melt as I would have wanted it to. Better luck next time.

I’ll definitely make this dish again, as it is good for both the heart and body.