Thursday, January 21, 2010

Vegan Creamy Tomato Sauce & Body Attack Launch

Thank you all for the awesome chili recipe ideas and links! I am excited to make up another batch of chili incorporating some of your suggestions. How has the week been treating you? How are the workouts coming? My week in workouts is panning out as follows:
  • Monday: Taught Body Pump x’s 2 (AM and PM) plus some running prior to each class (couple miles)
  • Tuesday: Body Attack Launch
  • Wednesday: Ran 6 miles outside! It had been over a month since I had run outside. I also haven’t been able to run over a couple miles at a time due to my teaching schedule. I was super excited to see I hadn’t lost my mojo:


  • Thursday: Off
  • Friday: Teach Body Attack
  • Saturday: Teach Body Step
  • Sunday: Off

I also have another great recipe to share with you all. I saw this fabulous post on Pioneer Woman Cooks and decided to make it vegan with just a small switch in the ingredients. I also made a half batch.

Vegan Creamy Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

  • 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 1-2 cloves Garlic, Minced
  • 1/4 whole Medium Onion, Finely Diced
  • 1 can Artichoke Hearts (14.5 Oz. Quartered Or Whole) Drained
  • 1 can tomato sauce (low sodium-8 Oz.)
  • ½ cup cashew cream
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Salt And Pepper, to taste

Directions:
Place olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and saute for 2 to 3 minutes.

Add artichoke hearts and tomato sauce. Stir and cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Stir in cashew cream. Add cayenne pepper, salt and pepper to taste. Cook over low heat until heated through.

You can place this amazing sauce on top of vegan pasta, mix in additional vegetables, rice, etc, etc!


My husband LOVED this and I did too! So yummy.

I figured I would share with you a few pictures from our Body Attack Launch. This release has a heavy soccer feel to it, so we dressed accordingly. Our one instructor peaking over her shoulder at her silly husband:


Take 2:



Me, in action. Last cardio track! Notice the sweat...


This is a GREAT release. I can't wait to teach it again on Friday.
On a very important side note, Diana is raising money for Haiti through an online Bake Sale, you can read the details here.

Weekend plans??



52 comments:

Britt said...

Great pictures! Looks like it was a fun night and congrats on the run! :-)

That soup/sauce looks amazing. I think I'll have to give it a try!

Yay weekend! Looking forward to a weekend with friends and feeling like a human. Last weekend was so blah recovering from surgery.

Jessie (Vegan-minded) said...

Body attack seems like a great workout! That creamy tomato sauce looks so good, thanks for sharing the recipe. :)

katherine said...

Looks like the launch was a success! You can the big crowd in the reflection of you in action :)

That sauce sounds wonderful! I love reading about ways of making creamy sauce without having to add soy milk. I get enough soy in my diet without making a whole sauce with it!

Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) said...

I love your socks in the last picture! You look so cute!

Anonymous said...

Great pics! Recipe looks awesome, pioneer woman has so many great recipes, great mod's!
You look great, looks like a ton of fun!

Katie said...

I love that action shot! Congrats on a successful launch, and hooray for running outside! I also recently went on my first outdoor run in nearly a month. SO much better than the treadmill!

Loving that creamy sauce :-)

This weekend my parents are having a big brunch, so I'm going to help them cook!

Bridget said...

I wish they'd bring Body Attach to my gym!! Only pump and combat so far..and I love those! Going to Pump tonight actually!! That tomato sauce looks awesome!! I may have to try the cashew cream yet!

Heather @ Get Healthy With Heather said...

Looks like the soccer themed Body Attack worked you good! That's awesome getting an outdoor run in. I love running outside... it's a good thing because I don't really have much access to a treadmill.

Weekend plans for me is the big 1/2 marathon!!!

Abby (Abbys Vegan Eats) said...

Oh my goodness.. you look so cute!! LOVE the t-shirts :)YA for 6 miles.. you rock!

Im also lovin that sauce.. it looks and sounds incredibly flavorful!

Weekend=taking a break from being around germy kiddos and restin up! :)

Trying To Heal said...

i love the action shot! it looks like you're having so much fun!

Esi said...

I love those socks!! Hope you have a great weekend. I have no plans and I like it!

Sarah said...

Your workout schedule is inspiring! I've been learning a hard lesson lately though, that too much exercise can actually have a negative effect on the body. You can never win, right? :-(

I remember that recipe from Pioneer Woman, it sounded so yummy but anything cream-based makes me feel ill. Maybe it's time to try the cashew cream method. I've tried cashew cream at work before, but not for a long time and never at home.

homecookedem said...

Love the pics!! So fun that yall get so into it and dress up!! And way to go on the 6 miles!! :)

That sauce looks great. I bet the artichokes are awesome in it!!

Sarah said...

so after reading Tinas (carrotsncake) post about losing the dough and how BodyPump gives results - I remembered how I used to take the class many years ago (when I first graduated college!) and saw major results........so I took my first class this morning and holy balls it was hard. i'm also used to lifting heavy weights/lower rep but I think taking BodyPump 2x weekly will help me bust through my plateau!!! yayyyyyyy

i'm scared for how sore I might be tomorrow - I used wimpy weights too! like only 10lb bar!!! agh. xoxo

Anonymous said...

Love the pictures - you look fabulous!

You sure are speedy! I'm in serious awe of your workout schedule.

Fun weekend plans here: I'm going to Oklahoma to see my BFF (does anyone over the age of 8 use that acronym anymore?) for her 25th birthday party. It's going to be a blast!

Anonymous said...

YOU ARE THE HOTTEST CLASS TEACHER EVER!!!! whooo!!! GET IT GIRL!!

Lauren said...

Love this recipe and since my diet has forced me to go pretty much vegan these days, it's perfect for me! :) I was actually craving some pasta with tomato sauce so I think I might just try this.

You are so cute teaching! I so wish that I lived near you so that I could take one of your classes. I was just looking for some classes to start taking around here. I need to switch things up a bit and I am really dying to take a class.

Hope you are having a great week girl!

I Run for Fun said...

You look great in the pics! I need to take your class some time. And way to go on the pace. You go, girl!

Averie @ Averie Cooks said...

what a great recipe for the sauce. of all people, oprah is your link for cashew cream. the height of raw vegan goddessness. kidding. But seriously, i love cashew cream, such a versatile thing...that's the base for my raw vegan cheezecake i just reposted on sunday. love cashews!

you in action = awesome, fit, hot. nuff said.

The Purple Carrot said...

I love that action shot of you, Erica!! ;)

The Healthy Hostess said...

That recipe looks amazing! I can't wait to try it! Love the pics of your classes!

Stephanie @ cookinfanatic said...

I am so curious to try cashew cream, this dish looks great!

Love the body attack pics, sounds like a crazy awesome workout!

~M~ said...

I am totally making that recipe! Looks so good! Love the soccer outfits!

Jessica @ How Sweet said...

I love watching you in action girl!! :) And your tomato sauce sounds delish!

Beans said...

i'm in charge of cooking for the next few weeks...gonna make your artichoke heart cashew cream pasta on monday...thanks!

Veggies, Cake & Cocktails said...

That class looks like soooo much fun!

Julie said...

ah! what an AWESOME action shot! so intense haha. i love the soccer feel to it.

that tomato sauce sounds so good! except i'm not reallllly a fan of artichoke hearts so hmm but i think if you made it i would eaat.

hmmmmm this weekend? JETSSSSSSSSSSS hahaha ;)

Angelalovesfood said...

work it!

That pasta dish looks so creamy and good. I might need two ingredients in order to make it! I'll save the recipe. Plus my onions are going to go bad soon I think. SO I should make it soon.

lizzy said...

cute pics!! love the action shot! and this delicious recipe looks like a must try, thanks for sharing!! Have a great friday!

teresa said...

such cute pictures, and i love the tomato soup! have a wonderful weekend!

CaSaundraLeigh said...

That sauce sounds amazing! I love making homemade sauces because you can always tweak them and add different things--plus I kind of like knowing exactly what goes into my food!
So cool you love to teach your classes and really get into em'--I think it would be torture for me to even attempt one. Lol!

Deva (Voracious Vorilee) said...

That sauce looks absolutely delicious, and it looks like you were having a blast in body attack!

I get to see the eye doctor this weekend for some new glasses :-)

Anonymous said...

Isn't running outside so much nicer? I was so psyched to be able to last weekend.

Pining for Pinterest said...

Great action shot! My weekend plans are my son's birthday party and wine night with a friend :-)

K from ksgoodeats said...

I love the action shot!! I wish you were in Dtown so then I could take your classes. They sound like killer work outs!

What a wonderful sauce - it looks perfect! This weekend I'm going to be getting ready for my out of town work trip. Lots to do between now and when I leave!

Happy Friday :)

Maria said...

Looks like a fun class! I am doing Combat today:) Have a fun weekend! Josh is still gone on his work trip. He gets back tomorrow night and I can't wait!

Krista said...

LOVE that action shot!! And what a great idea to pop artichokes into a tomato sauce. I'll have to remember that one.

No plans this weekend except for a "real" hockey game tonight! Can't wait for the r&r!! ;)

Samma said...

I love Body Attack so much. I am so depressed because my gym that I took Les Mills classes at has been foreclosed on (?!?) so I haven't been to Body Attack in ages. You look so cute teaching!

Anonymous said...

The sauce looks fantastic! I don't have many plans for the weekend, but I will be spending time with the family, which is always fun!

Holly said...

I luuuuurve Pioneer Woman! I wish I could "healthify" some of her recipes....you know she loves her butter. :-) That looks amazing!!

AWEsome job on the run - you definitely haven't lost your mojo! And you so cute teaching. I cannot WAIT to try that class!

HEAB said...

Erica,
You are so cute. I loved your soccer socks.

I bet the cashew cream added so much to the marinara. You know how CD and I love putting nuts in our marinara. :)

I'm on an artichoke heart kick lately, and so that bowl is screaming eat me HEAB, eat me!!!!

Weekend plans...nada. SO EXCITED!

Diana said...

Look at you go! I love that shot of you. :) I definitely love the sound of that tomato soup. I'm all for an upgrade from Campbell's!

Weekend plans = blogger dinner tonight! Then nothing. :D

Jocelyn said...

I love Pioneer Woman Cooks!

That sauce looks amazing and loved that you made it vegan :)

Great body attack pics! Looks like a great workout

Molly said...

Looks like so much fun!
That creamy pasta sauce looks genius - I love the idea of adding cashew cream! Yum!

Anonymous said...

you look so cute in action!!

Low key this weekend - a lot of year end cleaning of files - but I have a blogger meet up for lunch on Sunday that should be fun!

kilax said...

I saw a another recipe this week that calls for cashew cream. I wonder if I would like that!

Holly said...

you look so cute in your outfits! i bet you are the most energetic, fun teacher ever. seriously.

and that sauce looks amazing. definitely bookmarked.

Kerstin said...

What cute action shots - love you socks too :)

Aggie said...

Love the pics!!

That sauce sounds amazing...I tried a cashew cream sauce once and it was awesome! Love your pasta, yum yum.

Tracy said...

I love this Body Attack release!!! I can't get that "number 1" song out of my head! Our girls dressed up in matching soccer tank tops. So cute!

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