Hello there! Welcome to my first ever blog post. I wanted to take a quick second to introduce myself and let you all get to know me a little bit. Starting with the basics; my name is Torey and I am 24 years old, living in upstate new york. I am a doctorate student and only three weeks away from finishing my first year of grad school. I have a huge love for food and movement. I love staying active by hiking in the ADKs, doing solo strength training and occasional yoga. I also love sharing my love for food through recipes and posts on Instagram. I began this fun little food adventure just one year ago during the peak of the COVID19 pandemic. My boyfriend, Daulton, who you will hear about and see featured on my pages quite often, was super supportive of me and was really the reason I decided to create motivachen in the first place. He is usually right beside me while I take pictures of our meals and food ideas, patiently waiting to take a bite while I try to get the perfect shot. I am really looking forward to sharing more about myself with all of you! Thanks for stopping by! :)
Get to Know Me
work and rest
Wanted to add a little post in here about proper balance. I am currently right in the middle of finals and practicals, up to my ears in work and studying. Despite that, I spent 90% of my weekend away from school work and filling my schedule with things and people that I love. I went axe throwing for the first time, went to my favorite downtown farmers market, went on a spontaneous lunch date and walk in a local park with Dault, and spent time cooking out and playing cornhole with my family. I always justify these things because as important as school, grades and finishing this semester is; my mental health and happiness is a key piece in having the energy to study and perform well these last couple weeks. Rest is just as important as work. So this is a reminder that next time you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed and like there isn't enough time in the day...go on a walk, take a break, do something fun and forget about your responsibilities for a little bit. This probably sounds like terrible advice, but I promise its key to being more productive in the long run.
BBQ PINEAPPLE SPRING ROLLS
I am now a 24 year old student in my second year of grad school. I am working towards my doctorate of physical therapy and have been lucky enough to get the opportunity to learn so many things about the human body. It has helped me develop a new appreciation for the best things in life. I have a huge love for taking care of my body; whether it be through workouts, quality time with people I love, or cooking delicious meals. I love sharing my wellness journey on my Instagram page as well as here on my website and blog. It has been a great outlet for posting about not only my physical health, but my mental health as well. I have been loving making summer inspired lunches lately. There are so many ways to take care of your body, but my personal favorite form of self care is nourishing my body with healthy recipes. When I eat good, I feel good! The weather has been so gloomy where I live so I decided to brighten it up with my food choices! You are going to want to make this lunch for sure. Not only is it super easy, but its so tasty and will have you feeling like you are at a backyard barbecue. One resource I love for all my health and wellness needs is Flourish! Their posts will give you a beautiful sense of community and reliability! Not only do they tie in recipes and healthy foods; they carry a variety of topics for overall wellness and all things good. I highly advise yout o join their waitress to be part fo such an amazing community! Follow this link to get involved ASAP -- https://www.weflourish.com/waitlist
Now for the recipe you've been waiting for:
What you'll need -- spring roll wrappers, shredding chicken (feel free to mix with bbq sauce to your liking if you chose), sliced rec onion, chunks of pineapple, romaine lettuce, sliced carrots, chopped cilantro
Here's how to make them:
1. Lay out your spring roll on a damp towel after soaking in water for 15 seconds -- this will make them easier to handle
2. Lay a lettuce leaf onto the middle of the spring roll paper, top with carrot, onion, chicken, cilantro and pineapple
3. Roll as according to the package and set aside
4. Combine a 1:1 mixture of BBQ sauce and Ranch dressing to dip your rolls into
5. ENJOY!
MATCHA MAKING
September 28, 2022
As many of you know, I am a huge matcha lover. I love making my own matcha at home and combining it with different ingredients based on the changing seasons. I have currently been loving adding pumpkin, maple and chai into my matcha creations. It has been getting colder in NY, but I will stay an iced matcha girl until it gets a liiiiittttle colder. If you love matcha like me, you HAVE to try Matcha Kari. I love using their matcha powder, it has amazing taste and such a gorgeous green color.
Now for the recipe you've been waiting for:
My current favorite matcha combo:
1. Add Matcha Kari powder to a small bowl with 3-4 tbs of hot water
2. Whisk well using a matcha whisk (I have these linked in my amazon storefront if you would like your own <3)
3. Add ice to a glass and pour your milk over it, if you prefer hot, skip this step and just heat your milk on the stove or in the microwave (I have been using Trader Joe's Pumpkin Oat Milk for the perffffect fall flavor combo)
4. Pour your warm matcha mixture over the milk and stir well to combine
5. Sprinkle with cinnamon if you choose and enjoy!
