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Learning New Things

June 30, 2010 by 4 Comments

I have been at this blogging thing for two months now! And still haven’t run out of things to write about. I thought this post would be a list of what I’ve learned over the last few months.

1. Knowing I’m going to take pictures of my food makes me more creative! My lunches have never tasted so good. And Sunday night dinners have gotten more exciting.

2. Spinach makes your hair and nails grow. Is it just me? Growing like weeds.

3. Morning exercise is awesome. It has really changed my whole day. That is also my favorite post.

4. There are so many fit bloggers. I learn so much from reading other blogs. Recipes, exercise tips, nutrition info, lifestyles. See my Blogroll for a few to read. It’s fun to read about what people are eating and how they stay fit.

5. Trying new foods makes the days more exciting. New brands for breakfast or opening your lunch to a new food in a salad can be the highlight of my day. I’m being serious! I’ve turned into a food dork.

6. Guest posting is a great way to get new readers. I’m happy to post anytime!

7. Changing it up at the gym also makes indoor workouts more fun. I even started swimming and got tips from my readers!

8. I am stronger than I think I am. I tell myself this all the time! It is easier and sometimes safer to back off weights or mileage, but how do you know what you can do until you try? I can run further, lift more, and have mental toughness with this mantra.

9. I also got my puppy Lily around the same time that the blog started. And I have learned a whole lotta new things from being a new fur mommy! I love my pup.

10. I have learned that I have so much more to learn. Better camera technique, how to make WordPress work best for me, cooking with new foods, and writing entertaining posts.

Here’s to many more blog entries and a growing readership!

Have you learned anything from reading?

Filed Under: Thoughts · Tagged With:

New recipes: Homemade Hummus and Asian Tofu

June 29, 2010 by 2 Comments

I would never have written these words a few years ago! How time changes how I eat! I hope I haven’t lost you yet. These recipes don’t go together, I just made them on the same day.

Also, I won a vegetarian cookbook over on Heather’s blog. Hooray for blogger giveaways. And look for some more veg dishes to come. How fitting on a day I experiment with tofu.

Red Pepper Hummus

I buy hummus every week for my lunches, so I thought I’d try making it for once! Here is a recipe I saw from Dorry that I adapted a little.

1 can garbanzo beans

1 medium fresh red bell pepper (could do roasted from a jar)

2 tsp. tahini

juice of 1 lemon

splash of red wine vinegar

2 cloves garlic

2 T EVOO

generous pour of salt and pepper

Blend in food processor until smooth.

This was very creamy, had a pretty red color, and tasted homemade. There are so many varieties and textures of hummus–and many that are sold in stores seem very processed, but this was a nice consistency. And only one bowl to clean!

The tahini came in a big container, kind of like peanut butter. What else can you make with tahini? I thought it would have been a paste or small tube.

2 Ingredient Asian Tofu


I like to eat tofu, but I have no idea how to cook it. It is great from Whole Foods with Asian flavors or pesto, great at sushi restaurants with stir fry, but I don’t know how to replicate it. I have tried before, but it comes out mushy and tasteless. This time I followed a recipe that had two ingredients and hoped it would be fool-proof. Anne did this for tofu, so I followed her.

Ingredients:

1 pack Extra Firm O Organics Tofu Block

1 tsp Peanut Butter

1 tsp low sodium soy sauce

1 tsp water

Instructions:

Mix peanut butter, soy sauce, and water in a bowl until PB is broken up. I let mine sit for a few minutes to mesh together. Cut tofu block into 5-6 pieces and lay on foil-lined baking sheet. Spoon liquids over tofu and bake on 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

I had 2.5 pieces and served it with steamed snap peas and 1/2 sweet potato.

When the block is split 5 ways, one piece has 80 calories, 4 g fat, 2 g carbs, and 8 g protein.

The marinade was very tasty and simple, and I will try tofu again with similar flavor combinations. I should have let the tofu sit out of the oven for a few minutes after it finished baking because when I went back for another piece, it had hardened a bit more.

How do you cook tofu, and what do you serve it with?

Filed Under: Dinner, Lunch, Recipes · Tagged With:

Houston Restaurant Reviews and Gym Triathlon

June 28, 2010 by Leave a Comment

On Friday night, we tried a new (opened in April) Houston restaurant in the Heights called Zelko Bistro with another couple. Zelko is very small–we counted 12 tables inside and 5 outside. We waited about an hour and it was a hot wait! There was an inside bar, but it was very small too. Small is fine and cozy, but Zelko is so popular that people were standing on the grass in front of the restaurant because the place was so packed. We thought the service was very good, the restaurant was had quaint finishes with mason jar light fixtures, water served out of carafes on the table, and minimalist decor. The menu focused on Southern foods at a very affordable price.

First they brought little bread bites that looked like scraps. A little strange, but we were hungry! Then we started with the fried pickles and parmesan french fries. Delicious and crispy! The pickles were spears, not just little bites.

Then I ordered the crabcake as my dinner. It would have been better with a little more salad under the cake, but the crabcake itself was very good and sauce was too. Two others ordered the fried chicken (two large chicken breasts with mashed potatoes and green beans)–excellent and an obvious menu favorite, and one ordered a cheeseburger.

Dessert was a lemon icebox pie and funnel cake. The pie was creamy, pretty, and tasty since we were still hot! And the funnel cake with a side of honey was tasty too.

We will come back on a weeknight or wait until the Fall to dodge the wait and the heat.

Saturday started with a delicious breakfast for me. I had a piece of my Blueberry Orange loaf (this is so good, one of my new favorite recipes) with a two egg white omelet and fruit. The eggs were literally just two egg whites with salt and pepper. A fast and easy way to add protein to any breakfast.

It must have been a good breakfast, because then I did a Treadmill 10K at the gym. I ran 6.2 great miles with varying speeds between 5.2 to 6.0. Ended up taking 1 hr 8 minutes, which is two minutes faster than my race 10K from May. A success in my book! I know treadmill does not equal road, but we’ll work on that later.

On Saturday night we went to Grotto with family for Amy G’s birthday. Grotto is always crowded with friendly service, and consistently good food. A tip about Grotto is that you can order any pasta dish with spinach instead of pasta, and order half instead of the full order. Not on the menu, but they welcome that accomodation. Thanks, Julia, for the tip!

I had the Pasta Grotto with the modification–calamari, shrimp with pesto sauce over spinach. Delicious!

Subbing spinach doesn’t even start to make up for the rest of the carb loading you eat here–great bread basket, pizzas, and desserts. Happy birthday Amy!

On Sunday, I had another gym workout but tried something new. I went to the pool before spin class and swam for about 15 minutes. Since I knew I had a short time, I made it speedy and did front stroke the whole time trying to minimize my breaks. It was very crowded, I shared a lane for the first time, but definitely thought it was a good, fast sprint workout.

Then was an hour of spin. So I did my own little gym triathlon throughout the weekend!

And two more cute pictures from the weekend.

Filed Under: Breakfast, Daily Update, Dinner, Exercise, Houston, Lily, Restaurants, Running, Swimming · Tagged With: , , , , ,

New Recipes and a Burrito Review

June 25, 2010 by 1 Comment

Before  I tell you about the beautiful picture above, let me tell you about my Thursday! I went home at lunch to walk my puppy, and found ants attacking my cake topper from my wedding cake almost two years ago (very top part below, preserved in a sealed dome)!

 

The short version of the story is that I cleaned the ants I could find (inside the dome, outside the dome, on the table it was sitting on, on the couch, on the floor, inside the couch, etc. etc.) and then scheduled an exterminator to meet me after work. When he came, there were no more ants, and he sealed my cake back into it’s Raid sprayed wooden base, and sprayed the house. One minute after he left, my poor puppy exploded all over our white rug. Twice. And then threw up 30 minutes later. and then exploded again. :( I was so sad for her, and think she must have gotten a scent or lick of whatever was being sprayed in our house, even thought pest control said it’s not toxic for pets.

She is ok now, slept great, and ate breakfast this morning on her own. That was a long Thursday, and I hope the ants know that Lily and I do not welcome them back to our house. And my cake topper is not to be messed with!

Now read about this tasty bread recipe, a tuna concoction for lunch, and a frozen dinner review. Enjoy!

Blueberry Orange Loaf:

At the grocery store last week, a big carton of blueberries was buy one get one free. I jumped on that and then thought of what I could do with my extra blueberries. I was also hosting poker this week, so I decided on a blueberry orange loaf. This is delicious, and looks so pretty too! Great for breakfast or dessert.

Ingredients:

2 T butter

1/4 C boiling water

1 T grated orange peel

1/2 C orange juice

1 egg

1 C sugar

2 C flour (I used whole wheat, could do all-purpose, or half of each)

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 C fresh blueberries (can use frozen)

1/2 C chopped pecans (can be excluded)

Instructions:

Combine butter and boiling water in small bowl. Add orange peel and orange juice.

In mixing bowl, beat egg and sugar with electric hand mixer until light and fluffy. In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add to egg mxiture alternating orange juice mixture, ending with flour mixture.

Fold in blueberries and pecans. Pour batter into greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean from center. Cool, remove to wire rack.

 

Tuna Salad Sandwich

I am still perfecting the tuna sandwich, getting closer! Love the celery and avocado in this version. It is also amazing how 4 oz tuna gets beefed up with add ins.

4 oz tuna in a cup

1/2 celery spear

1/2 small avocado

1 hard boiled egg white

blob yellow mustard

2 slices of pickle

salt and pepper

served over spinach and tomato, carrots on side, cup of fruit

 

Review: Amy’s Burrito (Bean, Rice, Cheese):

I had this burrito with a side of roasted vegetables (snap peas, carrots, asparagus), and the burrito was really good. The insides were definitely real–could see the rice, beans, and cheese, and didn’t taste processed. The tortilla was not soggy when microwaved, or too tough. I would definitely buy it again. It has 310 calories, 9 g fat,  11 g protein, 7 g carbs.

Filed Under: Breakfast, Dessert, Dinner, Lunch, Product Reviews, Recipes ·

Swimming, Rachael Ray, and Bottom of the Jar Recipe

June 24, 2010 by 3 Comments

I started my Thursday off with an hour of swimming in the rain! It was great. I am very sore from my earlier workouts this week, and I was looking forward to swimming. From the tips I got last week in the comments after writing about swimming, I structured the hour rotating kicking with the armboard (don’t know what it’s called), arm strokes with the buoy between my legs, front stroke, and breast stroke. I repeated that series over and over. It was really nice to have a good workout that was not hard on my body, and not be dripping in sweat at the end. Just dripping in pool water. Then I spent 5 minutes in the outdoor jacuzzi watching it rain. A great start to the morning!

Next up–Rachael Ray and food inspirations

I used to be a big fan of Rachael Ray way back in the bad hairdo, bad outfit 30 Minute Meal days. I would watch her at 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. during college, print recipes, and then recreate them in my kitchen. I really learned how to cut properly, put food flavors together, and use normal ingredients by watching her show. I was definitely on the Rachael Ray bandwagon from the start!

Then I taped every single one of her daily talk show episodes, and I was an inaugural subscriber to her magazine. I dog eared pages and added them to my recipe book, and got ideas all along the way to answer “what’s for dinner?” Now I have less time to watch her daily show, but I still use lessons I learned before she became a food brand powerhouse.

I write about Rachael because she was the first Food Network chef I started to watch, and because her menus are simple, easy to replicate, and crowd pleasers. I particularly like her 5 ingredient recipe page in her magazine, and her bottom of the jar recipes from her talk show. Long ingredient recipes are a big turnoff for me!

Anyway, Oats in a Jar recipes are so popular in the food blogging world, and are exactly what RR does for bottom of the jar recipes. Here is a recipe that I created with the last bit from the bottom of a peanut butter jar.

Overnight Bottom of the Jar Oats:

1/3 C Old Fashioned Oats

1/2 C Vanilla Oikos Yogurt

1/3 C Milk

pinch chia seeds

~1T remainder of Maranatha Peanut Butter Jar

Stir above together to get PB off of the bottom, let refrigerate overnight.

Add blueberries in morning

Here’s what I like about this:

You prep the night before

Super portable and no cleanup–no extra bowls for prep like for hot oats

High in protein (milk and yogurt), simple ingredients I always have, good calories for after workout–(~325 for mine), good fats, good carbs

Super tasty with blueberries and refreshing to have cold oats.

I am taking my jar home to clean it out and use again! So many variations you can do. And I can’t wait to do this again with the remainder of my Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter!

Have you tried any Bottom of the Jar recipes (think salad dressings, sauces, olive oil bottles)?

Filed Under: Breakfast, Exercise, Recipes, Swimming ·

New (to me) Product Reviews

June 23, 2010 by 2 Comments

i’ve been trying new products, all for you! Here are a few reviews of some foods I’ve tried lately. If you have your own opinion, leave it in the comments!

Lucy’s Cookies–I saw this on the shelf at the grocery store while looking for a new cookie. I thought the packaging was pretty so I bought Chocolate Chip and decided to try it because I can be a chocolate chip cookie connoisseur. Here are the facts: 3 cookies have 130 calories, 5 g fat, 12 g sugar. They are gluten free too.

Here are the opinions: They were very crunchy and crumbly, and the first few I had were already broken in the package. It reminded me of Chips Ahoy cookies (remember those?!). I tend to like softer cookies. I guess the best way to get those is to bake them at home. They tasted good, and also weren’t too flat. I’d give it a B.

Lucy’s has four varieties–sugar, chocolate chip, cinnamon thin, and oatmeal.

Mary’s Gone Crackers–I also saw these crackers and read about them on other blogs. I have tried the Herb variety. They go great with cheese. Don’t all crackers? Facts: They are wheat free and gluten free, have 140 calories and 5 g fat for 13 crackers.

Opinions: They are very crunchy–like loud crunchy, have a cute round shape, and are very flat. If you are used to TLC Crackers or even Saltines, they are nothing like that. They are very grainy. Depends what kind of cracker you’re looking for. As far as taste, I think also a B.

Boca Veggie Burgers–I have a continuous challenge to find a protein to eat for dinner when I don’t prepare ahead of time or have leftovers. So I thought I’d buy veggie burgers for the freezer. Facts: They have 12 g protein per burger at 80 calories. These were very flat, and microwaved fast. Opinions: Hard to stomach. I gave it two tries. I have two left in my freezer and it will probably be left for a desperate dinner. I am still on the lookout for easy protein at dinnertime! This gets a C+.

Wholly Guacamole 100 Calorie Packs–Credit for finding this one goes to my sister. These packs are great. 3 packets per package, and they aren’t skimpy on the amount! The ingredients are familiar–avocado, jalapeno puree, onion, salt, garlic. I know all those words and no chemicals or additives included. Facts: One packet has 100 calories, 8 g fat, 4 g fiber, 1 g protein. You obviously know that avocados will have fat, but a little packet with controlled serving size is very helpful! These also freeze well. Opinions: I love this product! Simple and short ingredient list, good serving size, easy to open and spread. Freezes and defrosts well for lunchtime. I took one out of the freezer to have on a sandwich and let it defrost in the refrigerator overnight. Then spread on at lunchtime. A+ for Wholly Guacamole.

Filed Under: Dessert, Dinner, Lunch, Product Reviews, Snacks · Tagged With: ,

My Official Half Marathon Training Program

June 22, 2010 by 6 Comments

First, this morning I ran a very sweaty and humid 5 miles around the neighborhood. Barely 80 degrees but humidity is out of control. I hope running is easier in cooler temperatures! I don’t think I could have done more than that today, but was happy with that distance on hard pavement. I know I need more practice there. It is so nice and peaceful to get outside early when the streets are quiet and the sun is just starting to come up. And my route through River Oaks makes for pretty scenery.

Next, let’s talk about training! I recently signed up for the Rock Run Rock Dallas Half Marathon on December 5. Some days I think this distance is scary, and some days I’m ready to tackle it. As a reminder, my longest race distance is 10K., and I am prone to leg injuries–(IT band and shin, hip pains).   

I have been reading some professional training programs, and also some other blogger’s training tales to decide the best way for me to approach this race. And let’s also clarify the purpose of signing up for this race–I am running this race for a personal challenge, to set a goal and figure out how to get there, and it’s not about speed…but I don’t want to run forever!

The things I am taking into consideration when reading programs are the number of days running, total training weeks, and mileage increases. I am starting with Hal Higdon’s Novice Half Training Program and will adapt from there. He recommends 3-4 days of running, but I honestly think I can only handle 2-3. His program also peaks at 10 miles and doesn’t hit 7 miles until one month out, and I think I need more assurance that I can run closer to 13.1. I am also planning to leave a little more time to taper. So my program really doesn’t resemble his at all! Don’t know if that’s good or bad.

I value the importance of strength training and cross training, so those need to be incorporated into  my program.

So here is an Excel document of how I have decided to train for the race.  It starts the weekend of August 14, which is about 6 weeks earlier than Hal’s program starts. My program assumes that I will run sporadically throughout the summer up to 6 miles indoors and will pick up with longer distances, then taper, then pick up again.

Marci’s Half Marathon Training Program

I welcome your comments!

Filed Under: Dallas, Exercise, Half Marathon, Injuries, Running · Tagged With: , , ,

Turkey Sloppy Jo’s and Cupcake Battle

June 21, 2010 by 6 Comments

Even after coming home from out of town, Jeffrey and I still try to cook dinner together on Sundays. Last night we made Turkey Sloppy Jo’s sans bun, with Alexia potato wedges and roasted asparagus. Take out isn’t an option when you can pull out some quick meal ideas.

Turkey Sloppy Jo’s:

Ingredients

1.5 packs Jenny O Lean Ground Turkey (I think 2 lbs?)

1 white onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 can any brand, any flavor tomato sauce (we did Italian seasoned)

1 red bell pepper

basil

1 bunch asparagus

1 package Alexia any flavor potatoes

Instructions:

Heat pan with olive oil, add onion and garlic and let cook. Then add ground turkey and cook until browned. Drain liquids. Add red bell pepper and let soften.

Add tomato sauce to pan. Let simmer over medium heat. When bubbling, turn heat to low until potatoes and asparagus are ready. Add basil at end.

At same time, on cookie sheet bake asparagus (with olive oil, sea salt, and pepper) on one side and potato wedges on the other. Follow instructions on package. I let the asparagus cook at same temperature and cook time.

Houston Cupcake Battle–

Today, Houston is getting its first Sprinkles Cupcake store. I am from Dallas, and Sprinkles came there a few years ago. Yes, they are pretty and have great flavors to try, but seriously, a line around the block?!

Having a sweet tooth, I have tasted many different cupcakes throughout both Dallas and Houston. My favorite cupcake shop in Houston is Crave Cupcakes. I realize that Crave most likely was modeled after Sprinkles with their decorative dots, calendar of what flavors are served on what days, creative flavors (Candy Bar! Cranberry Orange!), and beautiful decor of the store. But in a non-scientific taste test, I go with Crave. Try their Strawberry or Cinnamon. Melt in your mouth good.

They, too, are expanding to a second location this year ready to rival nearby Sprinkles. Who will win? Do you have a favorite cupcake shop in Houston? As for me, I will try to be Crave loyal, but if a Sprinkles cupcake ended up in my office or house, I am sure I would give it another taste test.

Sprinkles Cupcakes

Sprinkles

Crave

Filed Under: Dinner, Houston, Recipes · Tagged With:

Wedding in Alabama

June 21, 2010 by 1 Comment

This past weekend, Jeffrey and I went to a wedding in Birmingham, AL for a friend from college, and also spent time with his extended family. We did get a short chance to go for a walk through Birmingham’s major hills compared to flat Houston. They are tough. Can’t help but think how their locals are in such great shape from just walking the dog! We love visiting Birmingham and their cute neighborhoods.

Here are some pictures from the wedding. I love weddings. Stacy looked beautiful all weekend, and her wedding dress was stunning!

Congrats to Stacy and Justin and thank you for letting us be part of your weekend!!

Phi Phi AEPhi!

Phi Phi AEPhi!

My handsome husband

My handsome husband

Snagged a picture with the bride

Snagged a picture with the bride

Lauren from Atlanta's The Quick and Dirty Dirty Blog

Lauren from Atlanta's The Quick and Dirty Dirty Blog

Happy honeymooning!

Filed Under: Travel · Tagged With:

How to Pack Foods for Work…

June 18, 2010 by 2 Comments

and not get bored with them.

This “How To” post is something I think about every day when I’m eating what I packed the night before, and every night when I look in my refrigerator and ask myself what’s for lunch the next day.

Since starting the blog, I pay more attention to what I bring with me to feed me after a workout (breakfast), tame my hunger (lunch and snack), and keep me away from sweets or packaged foods (noshes).

So here are some tips for packing foods that are good for you, and that you’ll want to eat.

1. Plan your breakfast, lunch, and snack to include protein and carbs. This was a big “aha” moment for me when I realized I need that combination everytime I eat, with some fats during the day but not all day!

2. I also like my meals to take time to eat, and I eat at a table, not in the car on the run. A smoothie for a meal, or just one dense sandwich doesn’t work for me. I like to draw it out.

3. Plan your weekend grocery list to add a new food each week. It makes your meals more fun. Try a new dip, a different bread or cracker variety, or a seasonal fruit or vegetable.

4. Plan your dinner to have leftovers. An extra piece of chicken or cold pasta will make a salad more enjoyable.

5. Keep some foods at work for emergencies (yogurt was moldy, lunch didn’t do the trick, hungry at 11 a.m., etc) like crackers, granola bars, peanut butter packs, or nuts. If you can keep things in a refrigerator all week, pack yogurts, cheese wedges, hummus, or a container of fruit.

6. Don’t keep foods at work that you know you will eat even when you aren’t hungry, like candy, granola bars if you can’t say no, or nuts if you can’t just have a handful. (this is why I do not keep trail mix or dried fruit at work–I can’t just eat a little! )

7. Make your food choices easy to transport. No saucy dishes, salad dressings that may leak, or smelly meals. Use tupperware, and make your dishes ready to eat without at-work prep. i.e. Don’t smell up the kitchen heating up your leftovers.

What are your tips?

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Filed Under: Breakfast, How To, Lunch, Snacks · Tagged With:
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