SaffronTurtle

Okay so challenge summary time! This has honestly been a horrible challenge for me. Definitely my worst. Epic fail. All that shiz. While I actualy (surprizingly) did cook every week it was not at the same time and no habit was established. WEEK 1 SUMMARY QUEST 1 – COOK success (bone broth, coconut fudge) QUEST 2 – LEARN success QUEST 3 – DRINK success 7/7 WEEK 2 SUMMARY QUEST 1 – COOK success (dehydrated mangoes) QUEST 2 – LEARN success (chocolate black bean cake, coconut macaroons, kale and sweet potato salad) QUEST 3 – DRINK epic fail 0/7 (I decided to discontinue this quest due to changing circumstances) WEEK 3 SUMMARY QUEST 1 – COOK success (frozen tahini and berry tart) QUEST 2 – LEARN success (frozen tahini and berry tart as above) QUEST 3 – DRINK discontinued Overall Challenge summaryQUEST 1 – COOK 3/3 (But food didn't last all week and wasn't necessarily made on a weekend, hence:) B +2WIS +2STR QUEST 2 – LEARN 3/3 A +3WIS QUEST 3 – DRINK 1/3 Epic Fail Sorry for the disappointing challenge guys! And for the super short post. I'm short on time nowadays.

SaffronTurtle's Recipe #2 Black Bean Chocolate Cake We had black beans leftover from mexican the other night so I MAKE CAKE. Naturally. I scaled the below recipe to suit the amount of beans I had which made a massive cake. Strangely, no-one complained. Recipe was from this website: http://www.somastudio.net/2013/04/black-bean-chocolate-cake-flourless-and-gluten-free/ Copied and pasted from the above website: Ingredients:1-15 ounce can of unseasoned black beans OR 1 1/2 cup cooked beans, any color 5 large eggs 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 6 tablespoons unsalted organic butter OR coconut oil 1/2 cup of honey or other sweetener + 1/2 teaspoon pure stevia extract 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 tablespoon water (omit if using honey) Mint Chocolate variation: 2 teaspoons mint extract (in place of 2 teaspoons vanilla) Preparation:Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9 cake pan with extra virgin olive oil cooking spray, or just grease it with a thin layer of butter. Dust cocoa all over the inside of the pan, tapping to evenly distribute. Cut a round of parchment paper and line the bottom of the pan, then spray the parchment lightly. Drain and rinse beans in a strainer or colander. Shake off excess water. Place beans, 3 of the eggs, vanilla, stevia (if using) and salt into blender. Blend on high until beans are completely liquefied. No lumps! Whisk together cocoa powder, baking soda, and baking powder. Beat butter with sweetener until light and fluffy. Add remaining two eggs, beating for a minute after each addition. Pour bean batter into egg mixture and mix. Finally, stir in cocoa powder and water (if using), and beat the batter on high for one minute, until smooth. Scrape batter into pan and smooth the top. Grip pan firmly by the edges and rap it on the counter a few times to pop any air bubbles. Bake for 40-45 minutes. Cake is done with the top is rounded and firm to the touch. After 10 minutes, turn out cake from pan, and flip over again on to a cooling rack. Let cool until cake reaches room temperature, then cover in plastic wrap or with cake dome (I use an overturned plastic chip bowl). For BEST flavor, let cake sit over night. I promise this cake will not have a hint of beaniness after letting it sit for eight hours! If you are stacking this cake, level the top with a long serrated knife, shaving off layers until it is flat and even. Frost immediately before serving Frosting:1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted organic butter, 1/4 cup sugar 5-6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 2 tablespoons half and half OR coconut milk 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract Pinch of sea salt Good-tasting pure stevia extract, to taste Optional addition for a glossy finish: 1 fresh organic egg yolk Preparation:Cream the butter in a small bowl until fluffy. Stir sweetener into butter with a spatula, then beat until smooth. Slowly blend in the cocoa powder (unless you want to redecorate your kitchen), vanilla, and sea salt. Beat in the half and half and egg yolk, if using. Add stevia, starting with 1/16 teaspoon. You’ll probably use less than 1/4 teaspoon. Just keep tasting and adjust sweetness to your liking. Review: Delicious, dense and rich. Frosting was definitely not healthy but the cake itself can be. I had planned to take a picture but alas, it was devoured by many hungry mouths. I didn't use the stevia but I am quite happy with how it turned out.

Well gosh has this been an interesting week. Apologies for the lack of presence here but a lot of have happened and changed and things will be different from now on. I've been given a fresh slate and a chance to start again at a new university campus and a new degree which I am UBER excited about, on very short notice I have organised and been accepted into the on-campus 'college' so I will moving out of home next week and going to live at the uni. From Monday-Friday anyway so I'm not fully moving out because I'll be visiting most weekends. My lifestyle will obviously change, I will have less time to spend on the forums while trying to balance all the social stuff with study and all the general adulting associated with becoming more autonomous. While I am very very excited about this change, there are challenge I have to admit I will now have to face. I won't be able to cook most of my own meals, I have heard the food provided has improved and there are healthy options so my idea of food goals may be more like, choose the salad over the potato or something like that. My sleep schedule is about to be messed up, the earliest I will ever get to bed will be arounds 11 (which in all fairness would be a massive improvement on where I am now) but I will also have to get up earlier and for classes and exercise. Which reminds me, the college has free gym membership (well not really free because I am paying for it but still) and offers classes. This begs the question, should I give up my established exercise routine of every second day to do these classes, get up way earlier to exercise then or try to do both? Haven't decided yet. I will have to learn very fast things like networking skills and time management, good study habits and budgeting. I also have a week to prepare and pack which is ok because I can always pick something up on a weekend home if I forget it. My mind is a bit scattered, can you tell? On my current challenge, I have all but abandoned the quest about drinking broth. I crashed and burned big time in this challenge, but priorities change. And it's ok to change my plans accordingly. I have been learning some more recipes, we had leftover black beans so I made a chocolate cake with them (which I will post in the mini if there is still time). DAY 11 - Thursday 11th February QUEST 1 – COOK N/A QUEST 2 – LEARN Success Cooked the black bean chocolate cake today. QUEST 3 – DRINK fail DAY 12 - Friday 12th February QUEST 1 – COOK N/A QUEST 2 – LEARN N/A QUEST 3 – DRINK fail DAY 13 - Saturday 13th February QUEST 1 – COOK Success My sister and I dried a whole bunch of mangoes in the dehydrator to make mango chip things which are really tasty and healthy. QUEST 2 – LEARN N/A QUEST 3 – DRINK fail DAY 14 - Sunday 14th February QUEST 1 – COOK N/A QUEST 2 – LEARN N/A QUEST 3 – DRINK fail I was thinking I would end this neatly challenge next week on week 3 so that my new challenge starts when I start living on campus. My goals I will have to simplify the hell out of so that I will actually accomplish them too. ughh. so many things to do. BUT never fear. all will work out. I'm going to go find that recipe and post in on the mini thread. See ya

I've had a very busy couple of days and my goals are suffering...I'm trying to juggle organising changing my uni course, accomodation on campus because I live far away, going for my driving test (which I passed!!), driving solo for the first time, (driving to) visit friends and purchasing a pet snake after waiting 6 months for breeding season. I don't even feel bad because this stuff is top-priority right now and broth can wait until I have time and I am not so stressed. DAY 8 - Monday 8th February QUEST 1 – COOK N/A QUEST 2 – LEARN N/A QUEST 3 – DRINK fail. I still haven't gotten any bones to make stock, I haven't been shopping. DAY 9 - Tuesday 9th February QUEST 1 – COOK N/A QUEST 2 – LEARN N/A QUEST 3 – DRINK fail still not yet.. DAY 10 - Wednesday 10th February QUEST 1 – COOK N/A QUEST 2 – LEARN N/A QUEST 3 – DRINK fail I will be deducting points now because 3 days in a row is not acceptable

SaffronTurtle's #1 Recipe Kale and Sweet Potato Salad Ingredients Salad 2 pounds sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks 2 cups finely chopped kale leaves, washed 1/2 cup thinly sliced scallions/spring onion substitute 2 medium celery stalks finely chopped 1/4 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley 1/4 cup pepitas or sunflower seeds, toasted 1/3 cup dried currants, raisins or chopped dried apricots 1 medium ripe avocado, pitted and diced Dressing 2tbs olive oil 2tbs apple cider vinegar 1tbs dijon mustard 1tbs maple syrup or honey 1tsp ground cumin <--- teaspoon not like the tablespoon I accidentally put in... 1/2tsp garlic powder sea salt to taste Instructions Boil diced sweet potato until tender but not falling apart, then roast in oven until delicious (about 40mins @160oC or 320oF for the metrics among us). (I experimented with microwaving them and the boiled ones were much more gooey in the middle and crunchy on the outside) In a large bowl toss to combine kale, scallions, celery, parsley, seeds, and dried currants. In a small bowl whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, mustard, maple syrup, cumin and garlic powder until smooth. Pour dressing over salad, season with salt. Add avocado just before serving. Taste Review This is my most favourite salad recipe usually reserved for Christmas dinner, mostly because it takes longer to prepare, I mean, it takes about 40mins to cook the potato, aint nobody got time for that. I used dried cranberries in this one and no avocado because I detest the stuff. I would also recommend cooking more sweet potato than the recipe says because if you are like me you will eat a third of the potato before it makes it into the salad bowl. Because delicious potato is delicious.

DAY 6 - Saturday 6th February QUEST 1 – COOK Success Made some paleo banana bread today, it had almond meal as a base and roasted walnuts throughout, it is SO nice. I don't however think it will last me the week when I live with four other people who also enjoy banana bread. QUEST 2 – LEARN Sucess In addition to banana bread I have procured a recipe for coconut macaroons today, haven't tried it yet though. I should really need to find some recipes other than sweets... QUEST 3 – DRINK Fail OOps. I ran out of broth and bones to make more today. DAY 7 - Sunday 7th February QUEST 1 – COOK N/A Didn't cook anything today. QUEST 2 – LEARN N/A No new recipes learnt today but I am reading some more of that book on the GAPS diet. QUEST 3 – DRINK Success I must have frozen some leftover soup with the chicken broth/stock because I found some and had that for lunch.

DAY 4 - Thursday 4th February QUEST 1 – COOK N/A Found a good butcher and bought some chicken frames to make so more broth! It's brewing now. QUEST 2 – LEARN N/A No new recipes learnt today. QUEST 3 – DRINK Success Had a mug of broth in the evening. DAY 5 - Friday 5th February QUEST 1 – COOK N/A Turned the broth from yesterday into a soup which I hope is nice. We didn't have carrots or celery but it's got onion, garlic and zucchini in it. QUEST 2 – LEARN N/A No new recipes learnt today but I am reading some more of that book on the GAPS diet. QUEST 3 – DRINK Success Will get in the equivalent of a cup of broth in the soup. I will be modifying this challenge a wee bit so that I can have broth in other forms because drinking it straight is going to get old real fast. Unrelated to this challenge but I've joined the Assassins mini as an acolyte and as part of the first task I made a new PB of 9 pullups. I'm so proud of myself, one of my epic-er goals over on my NF character profile is to do 10 pullups, I am so close!!

I heard Disney owns Starwars now, it's a pity they didn't chuck a few of these badboys into the Force Awakens

Holy moley Asa!! Congrats on the epic PB!

Roasted pumpkin and sweet potato also is DIVINE. *salivating* I didn't find that salad recipe with them in so I will have to ask my mum, the keeper of all recipes. Hey Asa! Thanks, Glad to have you along this challenge DAY 3 - Tuesday 3rd February QUEST 1 – COOK N/A Did make some jelly with some good gelatin and that cranberry juice. Tastes awful itself still but quite edible with honey. QUEST 2 – LEARN N/A No new recipes learnt today. QUEST 3 – DRINK Success I had an unexpected overnight stay at my grandma's house (husband's in hospital after complications with a recent operation) to keep her company so diet was eh but I managed to get my broth in this evening.

Sorry to hear about your chicken It's really hard not to get attached to them when they have such unique personalities.

DAY 0 - Sunday 31st January QUEST 1 – COOK Success 1/4 Made a batch of bone broth and also some coconut chocolate fudge that taste like strangely salty coconut rough chocolate. Funny that no-one has touched my broth but the family has devoured half the batch of fudge I will have to bake more next time. QUEST 2 – LEARN N/A Quest hasn't commenced yet QUEST 3 – DRINK N/A Quest hasn't commenced yet DAY 1 - Monday 1st February QUEST 1 – COOK N/A Not Sunday, didn't cook anything unless you count my tastebuds from drinking concentrated cranberry juice with breakfast. QUEST 2 – LEARN Success I'm going to count the fudge and bone broth as part of this week's recipes, but today I am looking for a favourite salad recipe of mine with kale, pepitas and roasted pumpkin. Its hiding somewhere in the cookbooks. QUEST 3 – DRINK Success Drank a mug of bone broth for brunch this morning. DAY 2 - Tuesday 2nd February (today) QUEST 1 – COOK N/A Not Sunday, didn't cook anything unless you count my tastebuds from drinking straight cranberry juice with breakfast. QUEST 2 – LEARN N/A My goal today is to find a favourite salad recipe of mine with kale, pepitas and roasted pumpkin. Its hiding somewhere in the cookbooks. I want to try it once I get the ingredients. QUEST 3 – DRINK Success Defrosting some now so I should get this one done very soon. Also guys, If you find random grammatically incorrect dates like 2th or the 18nd of Feb please feel free to laugh at me because neither word nor my brain picked them up. I copy and paste the structure from earlier days and sometimes forget to check they are the right endings...

*Reserved for challenge summary and progress reports* WEEK 1 SUMMARY QUEST 1 – COOK success (bone broth, coconut fudge) QUEST 2 – LEARN success QUEST 3 – DRINK success 7/7 WEEK 2 SUMMARY QUEST 1 – COOK success (dehydrated mangoes) QUEST 2 – LEARN success (chocolate black bean cake, coconut macaroons, kale and sweet potato salad) QUEST 3 – DRINK epic fail 0/7 (I decided to discontinue this quest due to changing circumstances) WEEK 3 SUMMARY QUEST 1 – COOK in progress QUEST 2 – LEARN in progress QUEST 3 – DRINK discontinued

[saffronTurtle] Learns to Cook [February 1st to February 28th] Hello and welcome! In this challenge SaffronTurtle will attempt (with varying degrees of success) to get her diet squeaky clean. Or at least start down that path anyways. MAIN QUEST This quest is all about food; (hopefully) delicious paleo-esque food. Food has been a tough one for me in the past and I haven’t quite figured out a way to fix it yet. I hope that by cooking my own food I can control the amount of chemicals, sugar, wheat and dairy that goes into my system. I eat what I eat because it is easily accessible, therefore if I make and have healthier options on hand I can choose them instead. QUEST 1 – COOK A. +3WIS +3STR B. +2WIS +2STR C. +1WIS +1STR Cook a week’s supply of food each weekend. On either Saturday or Sunday cook something, whether it be a batch of healthy sugary treat substitute or a motherload of butter chicken to freeze and last me a week of dinners. Maybe both. I have to refine this quest but the idea is to have options there so that I can turn to them instead of unhealthy alternatives. Success/Failure will be measure weekly, ie. Did I cook this week's food? Yes/No. Score is out of 4 for the 4 weeks. QUEST 2 – LEARN A. +3WIS B. +2WIS C. +1WIS Find and make 1 new recipe each week. Bonus points if more than one recipe. The key here is actually making them; I have oodles of recipes on my computer and in books that I have just never made. The recipes must be dairy, wheat and sugar free. Suck. But not suck because my body will love me for all eternity. Scoring will be as with quest 1. QUEST 3 – DRINK A. +3CON +3STR B. +2CON +2STR C. +1CON +1STR I have recently been informed that calcium stops depositing in your bones at age 21, I’m 19 this year so I have a two/three year window of opportunity to pump myself full of as much calcium as I can so that my bones are nice and strong and don’t break when I’m out doing kickass things like parkour in the near future. So, as part of this challenge I will drink homemade bone broth every day. It’s not as bad as I thought, really. If I’ve learned anything food wise from the walking dead or any other apocalypse movie it’s that I need to a) learn how to hunt and skin/butcher, which I have plans to do, and b ) get used to eating parts of animals that people don’t normally eat. Including the bones. Waste not want not. Scoring for this quest will be marked daily and out of 28. EDIT: Now includes stat points! Max of 15 if I get all As.