I think we need to extend the name of this Holiday. Instead of just Labor Day, it needs to be FRUITS of OUR LABOR Day.
Let’s face it. Most of us will still be laboring on Labor day. If you’re a mom, you’ll be taking care of your kiddos. If your self employed (like us), you usually still work holidays. If you’re an athlete, you probably are still training (laboring). If you are a bum, well, good job, you’ve mastered your laboring by just sitting there. 
Anyway, my point is this. Today we need to RECOGNIZE the FRUIT of our LABOR. Be thankful for it. And as corny as it sounds, EMBRACE it.
You’re probably better at this LABOR than you think. In fact, your fruit is probably EXQUISITE! Can I get a slice of that? hahahaha.
So here goes. I’ll start.
Today I walked in the gym for yoga and ended up having to sub a strength class. Improv outdoor strength is what I like to call it. LOL.
I labored. I had fun. I was silly.
And the fruit? Well, it came from the ladies who showed up and accepted this challenge. They showed such strength, motivation, and just plain FUN-NESS. No that’s not a word, but I am going to make it one.
Today I will also be in the kitchen. Laboring some Healthy Bites that need to be sent out tomorrow. The fruit?
Getting to share my passion. Getting to feed good food to others. Heck, even FRUIT based Healthy Bites. If that’s not some fruits of labor than I don’t know what is. Clever, I know. 
And when the day is almost done, I’ll labor a little more. Making a meal for us to enjoy. Maybe I’ll get crafty in the kitchen. Maybe I’ll keep it simple. Either way, the fruit comes when the hubs and I get to sit down and share a meal together. Fruitful conversation (well, most of the time), fruitful quality time together, fruitful appreciation of each.
Hearts of Palm Red Pepper Pasta Carbonara (GF)
- Yield: 1-2 1x
Ingredients
- I can heart of palm
- 1 egg
- oil
- red pepper flakes
- 1 cup diced red bell pepper
- ½ tsp minced garlic
- Canadian bacon/turkey bacon/tempeh/etc. (about 1 cup chopped)
- basil (½ cup chopped)
- optional cream cheese or butter
Instructions
- Slice your hearts of palm into think noodle like strips. Wash then boil in hot water for about 5 minutes. I like mine a little al dente so it boiled a little less.
- In a separate pan, combine your oil, peppers, basil, pepper, garlic, and bacon. Saute until pepper is tender.
- Drain your “noodles”, rinse, then place back in pot. Add your pan of peppers, bacon, oil, etc. Mix thoroughly. Keep the pot on low and add in your egg. Mix again and let the egg cook.
- For more creaminess, add in some full fat cream cheese, butter, ghee, or sour cream.
- For vegans, use nutritional yeast, cashew cheese or daiya instead of the butter and egg.
- Top your pasta with more red pepper flakes if desired. Or sriracha sauce.
What fruits of your labor are you enjoying today?
Cheers,
LC
There’s nothing like going into the gym with a yoga mindset and doing strength training : )~ I’m glad you adapted so well!
I added that delicious looking recipe to my Plan To Eat. I can’t wait to make it as well as my version of Healthy Bites : ) Thanks for the inspiration!!
Nicole
oh let me know how it turns it nicole! I love your tweaking!
that pic of you having fun and being silly is priceless – laboring need not be done with a heavy heart! you put the heart in that palm! 🙂 couldn’t help it.
i just love your PUN. And i love you for encouraging my silliness.
I’m really enjoying the painting and decorating we did in the house this weekend… Nothing better than some fruitful quality time!!!!!
fruitful indeed. wanna come paint ours next? you can bring the dogs!
We worked, but Tony and I got to enjoy a little time together at the con…even if it was between fans stopping by. We never truly get time off, but I am thankful for that in so many ways! I’m glad you two enjoy some time together even if there was some work involved!
i feel ya. at least you were together. we’re working next weekend too, so today , we kinda chilled.
Great way to look at it… your healthy bites always looks so yummy.
hmm, maybe healthy bites needs to visit your fridge soon. just sayin
That handstand is awesome girl! Yesterday, we rested and enjoyed a quiet day before heading back to work. Today, I’m paying for that rest day… lol!
oh boo. well at least you only have a few more days of work, yes?
I love the fruits of your labor of LOVE over dinner with the hubs. It’s honestly the best part of my day (other than our training time that is!) — we get to take time to be fully present, enjoying a great meal together and talking about anything and everything and nothing at all, all rolled into one. The best kind of ‘labor’ of all. 🙂
agreed! now, if only we could all enjoy that together some day. ahhh sigh.
Your Healthy Bites always look so tasty, but the ones on the right look especially delicious today!
I didn’t labor too much yesterday! We tried to go for a laborous hike up a mountain but got stopped by a bear in our path. But then again, when we got home I had all the post-camping laundry to do.
Have a great week!
A bear?!!!! Oh my goodness. what did you do? p.s. Happy post ironman recovery!
Happy belated Labor Day! Here’s to the short week.
Every time I see those nomnom healthy bites, I want coffee to dip them in for some reason. They look like delish/healthy munchkins to me, mwhaha.
i wish i could fly them over and have coffee with you, or tea, or whatever!
Hearts of Palm are my Best 2012 Food Discovery. I buy them in bulk from amazon now.
you can buy them in bulk? Get out!
I love this message, and your quiet happiness you bring forth in everything you do. It makes me smile, it is contagious!! That recipe looks awesome, I must try it!!
I hope you had a relaxing holiday weekend friend, even with the fun laboring that took place. I worked as well… laboring on labor day seems wrong but gotta do what you gotta do!
at least we were doing what we love, yes?
Oh girl. That recipe looks FANTASTIC! I love LOVE hearts of palm!! And BACON. Say no more.
I am enjoying the fruits of my labor (of teaching super early morning classes) by getting a deep tissue massage in an hour. YES.
it taste like a fettuccine. I was in heaven! enjoy your heaven (massage!)
Fruits of our Labor Day..I love it! Also love your attitude toward teaching an unexpected class 😉 🙂
gotta go with the flow sometimes, yes?
That recipe sounds amazing!!! I had a bunch of veggies yesterday! Trying to get them all in before all the awesome summer produce is gone!
i hear ya! a good excuse to eat more veggies too!
IT WAS A DAY HERE!!
I enjoyed the fruits of my PREVIOUS labors in changing my attitude 🙂
that’s some good fruit MIZ!
That post made me laugh! Have a great day and don’t labor too hard!!!
don’t worry, i’m unlaboring right now. LOL
Just got home from a weekend at the beach in California! It’s back to laboring tomorrow, but it was worth it for a wonderful vacation with my family!
oh i am so glad you got away! how FUN! And beautiful!
yep, technically Jason and I both had the day off… we spent the morning together, went out to lunch, long walk with Basil… then came home and we each SCRUBBED the inside of our cars… then I SCRUBBED the kitchen completely while Jason SCRUBBED the outside of our cars! 😀
now I am writing a freelance article while Jason does some ‘real’ work preparing for tomorrow… back to real life!
those days feel so good though, ya know? productive but a day spent together. Just doing “things.” real life, boo.
Hearts of palm carbonara?! What a cool idea! Definitely going to have to try this one out soon. How in the world did you think of this?? haha
haha, i got the idea from another gal and the combination of zucchini noodles. It was fun!
No work today YAY!! But I labored running errands and having fun shopping, which I really enjoyed doing. And the fruit of that is me having a good time and enjoying the fresh air and solace of just doing those simple tasks. I also labored in talking with friends and trying to cheer them up and the fruit of that labor is… it kind of worked :-D. Hope you had an enjoyable Labor Day and I’ll definitely be requesting more Healthy Bites soon… so I can enjoy the fruits of YOUR labor HAHA!! 😛
kinda is better than nothing, right? I am sure they were very thankful for YOU!
That is one impressive handstand! I can’t for the life of me do one, maybe because I’m afraid of falling over and breaking something important… I was planning on doing some work in the kitchen today, but things got in the way and it never happened. It’s too bad because I was really looking forward to enjoying some homemade cookies. But no labor = no fruits, unfortunately.
ya, so i have fallen several times. My bum hit hard. LOL. But i finally found my balance. Embrace the fall, right? ha.
Well maybe those baking skills can be put to use tomorrow, perhaps??
as usually you are quite right when it comes to your posts! love the laboring you did today and love that the ladies enjoyed it. also i am quite sure my sis is going to love her handmade treats when she gets them.
tomorrow is the first day of school so i am resting to get ready to labor 🙂
oh happy first day of school! i will be thinking about you. rest up!
I don’t think I’ve ever had hearts of palms, but will def look into it when I get back to the mainland. I think one of my goals for this fall is to start adding more variety to my eats. I’m a little bored with things. 😉 Love that handstand! xoxo
★★★★★
this might be your new addiction, like peas. it’s that good!
The reason for this holiday is very under played. This is the first time today I have even thought about the reason! I did do some labour today in the form of baking and preparing lunches/snacks for the rest of the work week. My fruits will be enjoyed during the week when I can save time by just grabbing my prepared foods 🙂
now that’s some good fruit Sarah. Hope you had some down time too. <3
I give you lots of kudos! I can not do a hand stand, I hope to one day!
We chilled today, took a nice long walk, and just cleaned up! Not too much crazy stuff going on today!
Love ya girl!
enjoy those walks. Simple yet enjoyable, ya know? Looks like you had a MARVELOUS weekend too friend. love ya.
Yeah! Hand stands! I can’t do them 🙁 BUT Viper can, and he can walk around – it’s his party trick 😉
oh lou, you are bendy, you so can! i want to see viper walk though. Can misty?
Did you know I have NEVER been able to do a cart-wheel either? Viper needs a few beers before he cracks out the hand-stand-walk (!) Misty is pretty good at downward dog and crow pose, but he hasn’t ventured into hand stands yet 😉
Yep I labored – first the gym for a sweat drenching workout then had to show some houses – but I’m thankful I’m able to go to the gym (had it ALL to myself!!! well the weights at least) and I’m thankful I have clients to show houses too!!!
Now it’s 4:30 and I’m starved, think I’ll have an old lady dinner and eat by 5pm!! Hatch green chili meatballs!
did you get in some yoga? Hope you labor a little more and make me some banana bread woman!
love you.
No I ended up deciding I’d rather do strength training because I knew I’d probably have the gym to myself, such a luxury I had to take it! Ok that banana bread is GOOD!!! I’ll make it again – I posted the recipe on FB and tagged you – if you make it it’s better cold rather than hot.
bites, pasta, and a handstand in one post? so overwhelmingly GOOD!
i know i know, i am overwhelmed myself. LOL.
Hugs!
Definitely pinning this recipe! I’m all about recipes with short, non-complicated ingredient lists!
oh do it! and let me know how it turns out Erica.
That is a kick butt handstand! I want to work on mine more. Enjoy the fruit of your labors today!! Enjoy every moment today, I’ll be doing the same!
headstand contest, ready? Go! hehe. Love ya.
Dang I’m jealous of your handstand skills girl! I should start practicing…maybe with a mound of pillows nearby though haha 😉
Enjoy your fruits of labor today and for the rest of this week my friend, you deserve it! 🙂
oh you are super strong, i bet you could!!
I never would have thought to use hearts of palm as a pasta replacement… I’d love to give it a try!
do it and then report back! it’s tasty!
Nice post! Husband and I went for a 2 hour super hilly walk. Now taking the time to enjoy reading blog posts (like yours!). Have a great day!
oh those are the best. relaxing yet productive, right?
Enjoy you fruits and labor! 😉 I can’t think of a better way to look at not just today but everyday.
Trying the recipe! Sounds like it needs to GET IN MY BELLY!
i know, i think i need to look at life like this everyday! agreed!
Oh the handstand pic… so jealous. I am working on that!!!
oh i bet you can and will master it!!
Try not to labor too much today my friend. But I know you’re pretty good about taking time to enjoy the moment!
oh you know i did. Just waited for the hubs to get home to do so. YEA!
You’re right- my work does not end today (caring for L) but it helps to have dad around, so I am getting a bit of a break. 🙂 I guess that makes the fruit of my labor L’s willingness to share her grapes with me this morning, her belting out “Do, Re Mi” and finding her falsetto to reach those high notes, and her ability to make me smile. I’m thankful for this stage where I’m getting so much more back than the first year of her life!
and if she shared her grapes, then that’s some good fruit! <3