1 million jump squats later…and I can barely walk.
Do you guys like being sore? I’m that weird person that loves to hobble around my house, scream when I use my foam roller, or yelp at any unexpected touches after a good workout. To me, being sore means I worked hard and pushed my muscles beyond their limits. Usually that also means that results are on their way.
Yesssss.
The way I workout has changed so many times over the course of my life. I’ve loathed working out, abused working out, enjoyed working out and probably everything in between. I’ve been obsessed with cardio and gone on weight lifting binges. I’ve also had seasons when I’m too injured to do anything but walk. Yet no matter what phase I’m in, working out is just ingrained in my day to day life. Movement just does the body good, ya know?!
However, the older I get, the quicker and more effective I want my workouts to be. Ain’t nobody got 1.5-2 hours a day to exercise! Somedays that means I just walk to and from class (I mean, come on. How much more effective could working out than by just using my body to go from point A to point B?) Somedays I’ll get some fresh air at the lake near our house and go for a jog while doing my Chinese review. Most days, however, I do less than 30 minute HIIT workouts in my house.
Quick and effective.
Speaking of quick and effective workouts, not too long ago I discovered Kayla Itsines (yeah, I live in a cave) and I am SO glad I did. Her workouts are exactly how I like them: quick and dirty. If you’ve never heard of Kayla Itsines, she started the Bikini Body Guide program that alternates between HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workouts and LISS (Low Intensity Steady State) workouts. Don’t let the semi-cheesy name fool you. While I don’t agree with her diet plants, her workouts are HARD! Her HIIT workouts are just 28 minutes long, but they are EFFECTIVE. Let me tell you. There are days when it hurts to lie down because my body weight is pushing on my insanely sore muscles.
In fact, right now I’m having such a hard time walking because of the (what felt like) millions of jump squats her workout called for me to do the other day. Somedays Brett and his friends will even join me and they huff and puff just as much as I do during the workout. While those descriptions might scare you away from checking her out, just remember that the workouts are only 28 minutes long! All the HIIT workouts are all broken up into four 7 minute circuits, which makes the entire workout so manageable. Baby steps.
So, why am I telling you all this? Well, because I seem to tell you guys every random thought I have AND I like to share with you things that I love and work well for me. If you’re in a workout rut, check out Kayla’s workouts.
After just 30 minutes you too can have jelly legs.
But, we all know that while we’re working out we like to think about what we’re gonna EAT! Or is that just me? Either way, let me introduce you to Vegan Pink Pasta Sauce. This sauce is the perfect blend of sweet marinara sauce and rich, creamy white sauce. It comes together in about 20 minutes, is oil-free and made perfectly thick and creamy from blended cashews.
Come to mama!
I hope you all give this recipe a try. If you do, leave me a comment letting me know your thoughts. Or even better take a picture and tag #theconscientiouseater on Instagram so I can see your creation!
- 1 small red onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 14.5 can diced tomatoes (or 2 large/3 medium chopped)
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs
- ¾ teaspoon sugar*
- Salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes to taste
- ¾ cup cashew cream (see below)
- CASHEW CREAM:
- ¾ cup cashews, soaked
- 1 cup water
- TO SERVE:
- Cooked pasta
- Nutritional yeast flakes
- Fresh parsley
- In a saucepan over medium heat, sauté onion and garlic in water until the onion is transparent.
- To the onion add in the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasonings, sugar, salt, pepper and and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 5-10 minutes until tomatoes cook down.
- While your tomatoes are cooking, drain and rinse your soaked cashews and prepare your cashew cream by blending the cashews with 1 cup of water. Pour into a separate cup and rinse out your blender.
- Pour the tomato mixture into your rinsed out blender and blend until fairly smooth.
- Pour to tomato sauce back into your saucepan pot and pour in ¾ cup cashew cream.
- Heat the sauce back up and taste and adjust seasonings.
- Pour the sauce over cooked pasta, garnish and serve.
Eat Consciously,
Faith
Angela
haha, love your post! And My Answer: Yes, I love Being Sore & I have jelly legs today after a hilly 25 mile bike ride yesterday, so I can relate 🙂 This pasta sauce sounds amazing & my “pink-loving” daughter will certainly love it! Thank you so much for sharing at the Sunday Fitness & Food Link-Up. Have a Great Week!!
Angela recently posted…Sunday Fitness & Food Link-Up: Gluten-Free Pasta Primavera
Faith
Thanks Angela! And wow, a 25 mile hill ride?! I don’t think I could do that and I would definitely have jelly legs:) I hope you can make this for you daughter!
Miss Polkadot
Food is great but I like bloggers sharing random thoughts and experiences as well so keep it up! Especially since Kayla’s workouts sound like something I’d enjoy, too. Fellow fan of feeling sore …
This sauce sounds really delicious, too, and when it’s pink at that?! It also reminds me to prepare cashew cream again soon.
Miss Polkadot recently posted…No-bake Vegan Chocolate Fudge Brownies
Faith
Yay for soreness lovers! 🙂 glad you like the thought of this sauce too! Thanks miss Polkadot:)
Erin
Love the color of this sauce! The addition of cashew cream is simply brilliant! I sit here wondering why I have never thought of it 😉 Thanks for the recipe xx
Faith
Thanks so much Erin! Glad you like the recipe and I hope you can give it a try!
Thomas Watt
Just looking at it makes me drool. Yum!
Thomas Watt recently posted…Ipad Video Lessons From Tablet Training
Faith
My job here is done;) Thanks Thomas!
Lee
Let’s hear it for jelly legs! Also, I live under a rock too apparently, because I’ve never heard of Kayla Itsines. 😉 I’ve also never tried HIIT, so I’m going to check out Kayla’s workout plans! I definitely need to kick it up from walking and lifting for my arms a couple of times a week. (Side note: I can totally relate to having whole seasons where I’m too injured to do much of anything–that’s where swimming comes in for me.)
Anyhow, I’m so glad you stopped by Veggie Quest, because I followed you back here and I love your blog!! Can’t wait to check out some of your other posts.
Oh, and the pasta sauce looks divine!
Lee recently posted…7 Hilariously Bad Nutrition Tips from Yesteryear
Faith
Hey Lee! Thanks so much for your kind words! I’m so glad you commented so I could meet you. Yes, definitely check out her workouts and give them a try! Her workouts start “easier” (although I was still so sore after a week 1 workout) and get harder and harder. But they’re so quick and effective so I love them! Let me know if you try one out and what you think!
Liz
Loving this sauce! Cashew cream making everything ten times better!
Liz recently posted…Lemon Rosemary Hummus
Faith
Thanks Liz! And I agree completely!
Natalie | Feasting on Fruit
All this time I’ve been eating tomato sauce when this pretty pink pasta dish was just a little cashew cream away! This is beautiful, very spring-y 🙂
Natalie | Feasting on Fruit recently posted…Frosted Lemon Poppy Seed Mug Cake
Faith
Haha!! Me to Natalie:) thanks!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
O this looks lovely!! A pretty creamy sauce <3
I've never checked out her workouts, but I'm a longer workout person. I do HIIT things for cardio, but I really like longer workouts much better!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken
Faith
Thanks Rebecca!! And I’m so glad you’ve found exercise you enjoy! I love long workouts too when I have time!
Alyssa @ renaissancerunnergirl
I love everything pink, but not the typically heavy creamy pasta sauces. This looks like a perfect solution!
Faith
Me too Alyssa! Thanks!
Leah M @ love me, feed me
I’ve been considering doing the Kayla Itsines workout program, but haven’t taken the plunge yet. I did the free week of workouts you can get from subscribing to her mailing list and I seriously underestimated those workouts, I was DYING after one round!! I love how quick they are too. Do you think her workouts would be worth doing even without any weights??
Okay now this food <3 <3 rosé pasta sauce used to be my favourite and this reminds me so much of that, but 432743982 times better!!
Leah M @ love me, feed me recently posted…wiaw #46
Faith
I guess I haven’t technically taken the plunge yet either (financially) cause I just look for her workouts on line. And definitely!! I still do her workouts when I travel and just adapt the exercises when I need to. Weights definitely heighten the challenge, but I think both are good:) and so glad you like this pasta sauce!!