Emmy's Eats: September 29.

Looking over what I ate Monday, I'm somewhat astounded to see how much I've been cooking lately! Preparing my own meals and baking my own treats has always been a priority for me—as it truly is the best (and sometimes only) way to eat healthfully—but I could never seem to pave out enough time in college to make the habit stick. Now that I'm working a full-time job instead, I'm finding it much easier to incorporate some form of cooking into my daily schedule. 

Breakfast || sweet potato crusted spinach quiche + orange juice + coffee with coconut milk creamer.

The best part about cooking your own food? Leftovers! I made this quiche for brunch last weekend after Kristen and Marissa spent the night, and lucky for me, there was one piece left in the fridge when Monday rolled around. I, for one, am a huge fan of traditional quiche (buttery crust and all), but this sweet potato crusted version is just as yummy. Plus, it's super simple to make! Totally beats a Larabar.

Lunch || drunken pumpkin chili topped with nutritional yeast. 

It's pumpkin season, y'all. Be prepared for pumpkin everything from now on, because I'm kind of addicted to the fall fruit. And as far as this hearty chili goes, I'd say I'm starting the season off right. It's all sorts of delicious. (Scott even said this was his favorite meal of mine he's ever tried!) I'll definitely be cooking this dish again.

Snack(s) || almond milk latte + banana with almond butter.

In honor of National Coffee Day, I splurged on an iced latte from my new favorite coffee shop, Amille's Coffee Bar. They serve fresh handmade pastries (instead of frozen) and use milk that comes only from a local family-run farm, making this place a little more appealing than my neighborhood Starbucks. 

Dinner || turkey meatloaf + mashed sweet potatoes + green beans.

A well balanced meal for family night! (The meatloaf may look like a pile of mush, but it was actually really tasty. I'm still working on my presentation skills, obviously.)

Dessert || red wine + a square or two of 88% dark chocolate (not pictured).

Woo antioxidants!

I still consider myself a complete novice in the kitchen (especially when it comes to baking), and I'm quite possibly the slowest cook ever (chopping vegetables should not take twenty minutes), but at least I'm learning and having fun in the meantime. Right?