Sesame Kale and Tofu Stir-Fry

Hey everyone. It's been a little while. I just want to quickly share with you all a recipe I made that is quite similar to the other stir-fry from my previous post.

This one contains tofu instead of beans, more kale instead of broccoli, and has more of a "cooked flavor."  Enjoy. :)

Sesame Kale and Tofu Stir-Fry
serves 3

1 package extra-firm tofu, diced
1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
1/3 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cups kale, torn
1/2 cup yellow bell pepper, diced
2/3 cup black or forbidden rice, cooked
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
sriracha, to taste (if desired)

1. Marinate the diced tofu in a container for about 30 minutes with the soy sauce, grated ginger, and black pepper. Set aside.
2. In a large frying pan, heat up the olive oil over medium-high heat. Stir in the torn kale and cook, covered, until kale wilts, about 5 minutes. Make sure the kale does not burn. To this, add the bell pepper, marinated tofu, and all of the marinade. Toss in and stir the cooked rice for about 2 minutes.
3. Remove from heat, mix in the sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, and sriracha (if desired) before serving. Serve warm alone or atop more rice with freshly brewed green tea on the side.

The tofu looks like miniature versions of the entire block, LOL

Yummy! The stir-fry made a great dinner after my afternoon workout the other day, as it's delicious and packed with protein, clean carbs, and calcium to aid in healthy muscle contraction.

Nutrition Facts per Serving
Calories: 279
Fat: 13.9g
Carbs: 22.7g
Protein: 16.9g
Fiber: 3.7g
Sugar: 0.8g
Sodium: 1025.2mg (varies on the soy sauce/tamari used)
Calcium: 330.7mg

Tasty, tasty. Below are my latest reasons to be thankful.

Reason #49: I'm thankful for naps.
Let's face it: when a night long (or short!) of sleep just doesn't cut it, power naps save the day. The day I was thankful for napping was when I actually napped for almost four hours! Perhaps I should have been thankful for sleep itself...

Reason #50: I'm thankful for Youtube.
Because finding any video on the Internet is possible.

Reason #51: I'm thankful for poetry.
I love writing a lot and poetry has always been one of my favorite outlets for my self-expression and pent-up emotions.

Reason #52: I'm thankful for family.
My folks and I have been through a lot but, when it comes down to it all, love is what kept and keeps us together.

Reason #53: I'm thankful for performing at shows.
The other day I played a show as session rhythm guitarist for my friend's band. The night went very well and the regulars at the bar loved us. It's always a great time when Rick and I perform for the band!

Reason #54: I'm thankful for love.
The 54th night of the year 2013 I cried before bed because Rick planned to leave to San Jose for a week or two to visit family and friends the next morning. I knew I'd be lonely since he and I have been inseparable since late 2010 but I know, without a doubt, that what he and I have is real and we'll be fine during our long-distancing. As I type this, I miss him dearly!

Reason #55: I'm thankful for personal growth.
This reason, linked to the previous, make complete and total sense; I knew we'd see it coming that spending time apart from one another, Rick and I will grow independent individually. In fact, this is exactly what I need since I am young and in dire need of more personal growth, as tough as it may be in frequent moments of the day. I'm going to turn out all right! =)

Reason #56: I'm thankful for morning workouts.
This morning I worked out my abs and back before I finished off with half an hour of yoga. Morning workouts are lovely for many reasons, one of my favorites being because there are very little to no distractions during the morning as oppose to later in the day. Stress-free workouts are go. ;)

All right, gonna sleep now before I witness midnight. Goodnight!