Happy Friday!
It’s been a weird week for me. Anyone else? No real explanation but it wasn’t super productive. It’s ok, these weeks happen. What matters is recognizing the funk and bouncing back.
In the spirit of “spring cleaning” (which I’ve made some progress with!) I’m going to experiment with something I’ve never done. You ready for it? I’m going to create goals for next week and write them on a piece of paper.
Shocking.
But really, I’ve always thought it was kind of cheesy to do this. Why would I have to write something down when I can just remember it? Plus, what if my goals change? (Lame, half-ass justifications). As someone who is a natural self-starter and pretty darn Type-A it’s odd that planning and goal-setting isn’t my forte. I’ve tried to get in the habit of using planner, even buying a super fancy one and trying to write in perfect handwriting with nice pens only. Yet it felt so forced and I ended up using it to doodle and write down random things when I was on the phone. I have to come to terms with the fact that I will never be the owner of a super perfect, organized, legible planner.
Anyway, as this post will publish on a Friday (not the most popular goal-setting date…and I’m just procrastinating) I’m going to give myself until Sunday night to come up with a list of three things to accomplish next week. Then, hopefully I’ll check in early next week with progress.
One thing on the list for sure: make another recipe like this baby.
Coodles and swoodles again (my favorite words). Spiralized carrot and sweet potato noodles with an Asian-almond butter sauce. Almond butter sauce might be served at my wedding in some form….I’m that obsessed.
Creamy yet slightly tangy, it’s my take on a healthier pad-thai. I used Barney Butter because I found it melts easily, but any nut butter of choice would work here, depending on your taste preference.
You might be able to pull off an April Fool’s Day joke by serving this instead of its heavier counterpart.
Not really, but I couldn’t resist that one.
Click To Tweet
- 2 large carrots
- 1 small sweet potato
- 1/4 cup of softened almond butter*
- 2 tbsp of coconut aminos
- 1 tbsp almond milk
- 1 tsp ginger
- 2 tsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Heat skillet over medium heat.
- Wash and peel carrots and sweet potato.
- Spiralize (I used the smaller blade).
- Add half of the spiralized mixture to skillet with 1 tsp of coconut oil. Cover. Let cook for 3-5 minutes (you want it softened but not soggy).
- Meanwhile, mix softened almond butter, coconut aminos, almond milk, ginger and remaining coconut oil until combined.
- Once noodles are soft, remove from heat and place in separate bowl.
- Mix in the other half of the (raw) spiralized mixture. The cooked noodles will heat the raw ones without making the mixture too soggy.
- Mix in almond butter sauce until fully combined.
- Add in sesame seeds and salt and pepper to your liking. Combine.
- Serve warm or cool, whichever you prefer.
- *I placed almond butter in microwavable safe bowl and heated for 30-45 seconds to soften.
PIN FOR LATER
Eh, we all have those weeks. And then we have weeks like this (for me) where I’ve just been exhausted at night. Like, last night, I was “resting my eyes” on the couch at 7, and then Alex finally came home and I was worthless just to talk to him. I’m a great wife, I am.
Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…No Fools Here! The Best Fitness and Running Posts of March
Haha I “rest my eyes” all the time. More often than not it turns into a full blown nap though…
Almond butter sauce? I’m all in! I have a planner and use it all the time. I am old school and still use a notebook planner since I just can’t make the switch to an online planner. I don’t write down goals or anything, but I do write down everything I want to get accomplished that day and work to get it all done.
Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie recently posted…{Friday Favorites} 4/1
I don’t know if I will ever get into online planners. But I do use my phone constantly to write things down!
This sounds so good! I have yet to try an almond butter type sauce, but I can’t imagine NOT liking it. I’m pretty big into planning, but the funny thing is that, even when I write things down in my actual planner, I find myself rewriting them on just a plain piece of paper. Apparently I need to see my to do list in two separate places. Makes sense?
Haha I completely understand what you mean though…I did that all the time in school/when I was busy (not so much at the moment). I used to rewrite my class notes as a way of studying so I guess I did that for to-do lists as a way to better remember them.
I love love asian nut butter sauce. On sweet potato noodles? Brilliant!
I wish sweet potatoes were easier to spiralize because they are so delicious! I might just need to get myself a better spiralizer.
First of all, YUM these look amazing!! And secondly, yesssss! I’m all about writing my goals down! (Just did a post about that)! I love to set goals each month for the month ahead and record them in my journal, so I can look back and see how they’ve come! Good luck girlie! You’ve got this! Also, enjoy your weekend!!
Xoxo Cailee!
Oh I’ll have to check out your post on goals! We must be on the same wavelength :) Have a fabulous weekend!
I’m trying to hop on board the TO DO list/planner train as well. It’s going pretty well and helps when I have a lot on my plate and tend to forget things here and there. Hate that feeling!
I hate the feeling of forgetting things too! I use my reminder app on my phone a lot.
I am SUCH a planner person. I have two, actually. Also, this recipe is GENIUS. I can’t wait to try making this when I’m home!!
I wish I had/needed two planners! I use my phone more than anything for note taking, but it’s not a consistent habit.
This looks delish! I’ve never spiralized with carrots or sweet potatoes yet.. only zucchini! I gotta step up my spiralizing game haha. I use a paper planner and love it! It’s weird.. in college I used mostly my Outlook calendar and calendar on my phone has a planner. Since graduating I’ve gone back to the paper planner. I feel like it should be the other way around! Haha. I’m just weird though and I like looking back on what I’ve done throughout the year.
Amanda @ ExploringLifeAndThings recently posted…6 books I read in March
I have to admit, I think zoodles are still my favorite (partially because they are easier to spiralize…much softer). I used my phone calendar a lot in school, especially for meetings. I typically like using paper (for class note taking and such) so I’m surprised I haven’t gravitated toward until now.
This sounds delish, but is there something you could substitute for the coconut aminos? I have never used them before and hesitate to spend the money on an ingredient I might never use again.
Bethany recently posted…An Enduring Hunger
I should have mentioned that! Thanks for the reminder. Yes, coconut aminos is (are?) just a substitute for soy sauce so you can use regular or GF soy sauce, whichever you prefer.
I need to get on to that planner life, I am so unorganized and it’s driving me crazy! Also been so obsessed with ALL the spiralized veggies right now so this could not be more perfect especially with that almond butter sauce!
rachel @ athleticavocado recently posted…Friday Favorites + Vitamin Pit Stop Giveaway!
I’m oddly organized but it’s my own method (not traditional planner, I just have a good memory I guess). Ah I’m on such a spiralized kick too!
I go in and out of using a planner, and I’ve found that jus having a to-do list is all I really need. On my desk, I have three post it note. Daily goals, weekly goals, and monthly goals. It keeps me organized and I love the feelings of crossing an item off!
Julia @ Lord Still Loves Me recently posted…Hi hi hi!
I love that you separate them into daily, weekly and monthly goals! I would eventually like the get there.
OMG could you use Nuttzo with this recipe??? I have HAD to get better about planning and writing things down, because I have so many projects going on…I put things into my computer calendar, I have post-its everywhere, and then I have my notebook that is always by my computer with notes EVERYWHERE…I wish I was big enough to hire an assistant. LOL!
ACKTIVE LIFE recently posted…STRONG Legs Are BEAUTIFUL
I’m sure any nut butter would work, it would just change the taste a bit. I used to have post-its everywhere on my desk at school but now that I don’t have many projects I’m out of the habit of planning!
Let’s keep creating recipes like this so we can keep saying swoodles and coodles, because it’s so much fun. I get really stressed if I don’t write down all my plans and ideas. I’m not a major goal-setter though. I’ll be interested to see how you go.
Megan recently posted…How to use up spotty bananas
Right? They are the best words to say (and some of the best foods to eat). I guess I’ve been so out of the habit of having deadlines from school so I need a little motivation from goal setting to get back into some productivity :)
Don’t worry, we all have those weeks! My week has felt a little “off” this week as it was a short one so I don’t feel like I achieved as much as I wanted to – but that just means I’ve gotta make next week extra awesome.
In the meantime, I need a giant bowl of this.. STAT! Holy yum! xo
Kristy @ Southern In Law recently posted…Recent Things: A Jam Packed Week Full of Fun (and Chocolate)
I feel you! This coming week is bound to be great for both of us :)
Is it weird if I totally want to chow on this for breakfast?! Looks SO SO SO good!
Chrissa – Physical Kitchness recently posted…Paleo Zucchini Brownie Biscotti
Sweet potatoes and carrots are vegetables so they should be encouraged at breakfast, right?!
How many times can I say “YUMMMM!!!!!” about this dish?
Hi! This looks yummy – I’m a recent spiralizing convert and totally up for trying my first swoodles with this recipe! I have a question though: if I’m reading it right (quite possibly, I’m not!) you only cook half the noodles, is that right? Have I missed something, or do the rest of them go in raw?
Hi Jo! I’ve found that by only sautéing half the noodles and then mixing with the raw batch, the noodles are less soggy overall. The heat from the sautéed noodles warms the raw ones up without making the whole bowl soggy. Hope that makes sense :)
Yes, absolutely! Thank you!
Jo recently posted…Summit solace pyjamas
Great read! Now I have a way to trick my 3-year-old nephew into eating his vegetables since he’s obsessed with spaghetti, My sister will thank me for this. lol. I’m looking forward to read more of your blogs. Thank you very much. :)
Is it just me or did anyone else miss what happens with the other half of the noodles? The instructions say to put half the carrot/sweet potato mixture in the pan with the coconut oil and soften, but never mentions the other half still uncooked. Please, enlighten me! thanks!
Hi Lisa! Thanks for pointing that out, I went back and edited the recipe. I should have clarified to cook half of the mixture and then mix that with the raw half. This way prevents the noodles from getting too soggy because the cooked noodles heat the raw ones. Does that make more sense? You can definitely cook them all at once but I’ve found this method helps prevent overcooking.