2010 November

Cin Chili and a giveaway!

November 30, 2010 by Marci 34 Comments

1. I have two more stories featured at CultureMap. One is great for ideas about holiday food related gifts that I found while at Foodbuzz Fest, and one is tips to not blow your diet from now until January 1. Make your resolution about something unrelated to food.

Five specialty foods you must try.

Don’t get stuffed. Secrets to staying on track during the holidays.

2. Cin Chili Two Ways

A few weeks ago, we bought a chili pack from a specialty store in Houston called Cin Chili. Cindy was on a Throwdown! with Bobby Flay episode a few years ago and she beat him with her chili! When I went to the Bobby Flay book signing in October, she was there too.

We cooked our chili exactly as the instructions said, and it was very easy. Jeffrey actually did all the work! It uses 2 pounds of ground turkey or beef (we used turkey), one 15 oz can of beef broth, one 8 ounce can of No Salt Added Tomato Sauce, and that’s it. We added one can of corn and let it all cook together.

I put mine over lettuce, and topped it with tomatoes and cheddar cheese.

Jeffrey ate his with onions, cheese, and Fritos.

I thought the turkey meat was very flavorful with a great spicy kick. Jeffrey loved it. I also thought it wasn’t very broth-y and instead seemed like very well seasoned turkey meat that went great on a salad. I guess I am used to a looser chili with some liquid in it. We definitely recommend it!

3. Now for a giveaway!

I haven’t hosted a giveaway in a while, so it’s time to give something away and show appreciation for my loyal readers. In this giveaway, you will receive all of this:

1 free jar of Peanut Butter & Co. peanut butter of your choice
3 $1 dollar off coupons to buy anything by PB & Co.
6 coupons for a free bag of Fresh Express Salads
1 serated knife that is strong enough to cut through a coke can
1 Toss and Chop–a scissors meets salad tosser
1 Nature’s Pride tote bag and a coupon for free loaf of bread

Leave a comment by Thursday night telling me what you’re looking forward to most in December. I’ll announce the winner on Friday morning.

Filed Under: Dinner · Tagged With: culturemap, Dinner Two Ways, giveaway

It’s Half Marathon Week!

November 28, 2010 by Marci 12 Comments

Welcome back from Thanksgiving. I wrote about our trip to San Antonio here and here. It was nice to spend part of the weekend with my family and part with Jeffrey’s back in Houston. And see friends and shop too!

This week is very busy–there’s another holiday! We have Hanukkah, then we’re driving to Dallas for the Dallas Run the Rock Half Marathon! I can’t believe the week is here, and I hope my legs are rested and ready. I am still exercising but not really running. I know my legs can handle it, I just want to keep them happy. Maybe a short 2 miles, we’ll see. I will do two days of Crossfit like normal, then cross training of elliptical and maybe yoga one day. And nothing on Friday and Saturday.

I haven’t been checking the weather forecast yet. It’s too crazy around here between 40s and back to 70s.

I have a new article in CultureMap about local grocery store Rice Epicurean Markets. Check it out:

Rice Epicurean Markets Succeeds by Staying Small and Thinking Big

Squash with Farro and Dried Cranberries

This year I wanted to make something to bring to our family Thanksgiving. I saw a recipe in Everyday With Rachael Ray magazine using squash and farro and wanted to try my own variation on it. I was intrigued by farro, which is a grain that looks like barley and cooks in about 15 minutes on the stove. I heard it’s hard to find in regular groceries, or expensive if you can find it. But I found a large bag for $8 at Costco. I guess you’ll be seeing a lot of farro if we like it!

This dish makes a lot because squash are so big, and is a beautiful side dish, or would be great on top of a bed of spinach. It also is easy to transport because you can put it in a bowl, refrigerate, transport, and serve in the same bowl.

Mixed Squash with Farro and Dried Cranberries

Ingredients

1 1/2 C farro
1 butternut squash, cut in half and seeds scooped out (save them)
1 acorn squash, cut in half and seeds scooped out (save them)
3/4 C craisins
Parsley

Instructions:

For squash: In two oven safe baking dishes, place squash cut side down in 1/4 inch water. Bake on 400* for 40 minutes. They should be fork tender when you take them out.

Rinse and drain the squash seeds then place them on parchment paper lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt. Bake for 10 minutes at 400*. Watch them carefully so they don’t burn. Remove from oven, place in bowl to cool.

For farro: Rinse farro in strainer with water. Add to pot with 4.5 C water (ratio is 1 part grain to 3 parts water). Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes. Should have a little bite. Strain and set aside.

To combine: When everything has cooked and cooled, add squash to a large mixing bowl. Add farro, craisins, squash seeds, and parsley. Stir to combine. Add in salt and pepper (about 1 tsp each).

What’s your favorite song to run to?

Filed Under: Half Marathon, Thanksgiving, Vegetarian · Tagged With: culturemap, Half Marathon, Thanksgiving, vegetables

Thanksgiving in San Antonio

November 26, 2010 by Marci 8 Comments

Welcome to San Antonio for Thanksgiving 2010!

Here’s how the day went:

First, the weather was 85 degrees in the morning and I ran 4 (pain free) miles outside with my dad. It was hot and that’s not fun at the end of November! But I was very THANKFUL on this day for no pain. The half marathon is next Sunday!

Then later in the day, the temperature dropped in the 40s and the boots and sweaters went on!

We have Gogo dressed as a pilgrim (sorry for the blur), and Rome in her cute outfit.

Bananas and prunes for Rome. Doggies look on in wonder.

Lindsey and I play with Rome, new Longhorn hat for her.

Rome gets intrigued by Lily, they are about the same size and Lily is so soft.

Girl cousins. We currently live in Houston, Chapel Hill, Austin, and Los Angeles.

Appetizers on the couch. Football on TV.

Table decorations. It says “I am thankful for my sister Reagan.”

We almost had more pie than people. Apple, cherry, lemon, pumpkin, chocolate. Plus cookies, jello, fruit.

For dinner, we had salad, cranberry sauce, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, spinach casserole, turkey, meatballs, rolls, squash, mashed potatoes. Maybe something else? Don’t remember!

And butter in the shape of a turkey.

All the girls.

The dogs get turkey too. It was Lily’s first Thanksgiving.

Cousins.

That’s all for Thanksgiving 2010! We won’t be back in San Antonio for this holiday for two years. Sad. But have to switch off next time.

Filed Under: Thanksgiving, Travel · Tagged With: Thanksgiving, Travel

Decorating Cookies

November 26, 2010 by Marci 2 Comments

One of our family’s biggest traditions of the whole year is decorating cookies the night before Thanksgiving. First, we eat Rudy’s BBQ, then we decorate cookies, then we celebrate the 5 birthdays in November. We take it very seriously.

Here is the table spread, and me with my sister Shelley. We use sugar cookies in different shapes, icing, sugar candies, squirt icing and cake decorations, and sprinkles. Good for all ages!

8 cousins plus Rome the baby top left. We range from ages 6 months to 26 years old.

I made the longhorn, top left. Also a football and two I can not decipher. Do not know the artists of these.

I also made a turkey with candy corn feathers.

And this pretty circle. I was going for some swirly piping.

Jeffrey tries too. He makes a Black and White Cookie. That’s all.

And then he gets distracted by this cute little 6 month old girl.

And this is sugar overload. We are so creative and colorful.

If that isn’t enough sugar, we also indulge in this chocolate cake for the birthdays. It was once devoured in one day by four cousins. No names named here.

The birthdays minus one.

And then we rest to get ready for the next day of eating. Lily too.

Filed Under: Thanksgiving, Travel · Tagged With: Thanksgiving, Travel

Thanks and Giving

November 24, 2010 by Marci 6 Comments

To grandmother’s house we go…

The blog is taking a rest for the long weekend to spend time with friends and family and collect some stories and pictures to write about. My leg is hopefully also going to come back from the holiday rested and ready for the big run a week later!

Here are some Thanksgiving recipes and pictures if you need a last minute something to bring or keep at home.

Then it’s on to Hanukkah and December food flavors!

Pecan Raisin Pumpkin Muffins

Caramelized Onion Mashed Potatoes, Oven Roasted Green Beans

Grilled Banana Sandwich with Pumpkin on top

Pumpkin Apple Muffins

Cranberry Pumpkin Bread

Cranberry Orange Sauce

Crunchy Pumpkin Granola

Roasted Acorn Squash

Butternut Squash Soup

Filed Under: Recipes, Thanksgiving · Tagged With: Holidays, Thanksgiving

Volunteering on Thanksgiving Week

November 23, 2010 by Marci 5 Comments

On Sunday, Jeffrey and I spent our afternoon volunteering with the Jewish Federation of Houston for Mitzvah Day.

Before I get to that, I created the best oats–so thick with perfect flavor and few ingredients.

Cinnamon Raisin Scottish Oats

This bowl was different than previous ones by using less water and a lot of cinnamon. The cinnamon was kind of an accident, but it was really good. It turned the bowl a beautiful brown color. You can see the specks in the picture.

Ingredients:

somewhere between 1/4 C and 1/3 C Scottish Oats
3/4 C water
1/4 C almond milk
3/4 tsp cinnamon (I had meant to do 1/2 tsp but used the wrong spoon and did just under 1 tsp)
1/2 banana thinly sliced
3/4 tsp chia seeds
2 T black raisins
Kashi Go Lean Crunch for sprinkling on top

I cook all the bowls the same way:

Boil water, add oats, whisk. Add almond milk, whisk. Let cook for 3-4 minutes. Add banana, cinnamon, chia, raisins, let thicken for 5 minutes.
Pour in bowl and sprinkle with cereal on top.

Red, orange, green

I also wanted to show you this pretty combo of colors. It is 2 slices of Ezekiel cinnamon raisin bread, toasted. One side has Crofter’s Four Fruit jam, and one has Stonemill Kitchen Pumpkin Butter. I really like pumpkin butter–it has calories similar to jam, but is kind of thicker like peanut butter.

And then a 3-ingredient green monster. I loved how all the colors looked and tasted.

Volunteering my cooking skills:

On Sunday, we volunteered at a place called Aishel House in Houston. The name is a Hebrew acronym for Food, Drink, Lodging. This is a place for people who come to one of the nearby hospitals for their own treatments like chemotherapy or radiation, or to care for someone else in the hospital. They aren’t from Houston (some are international visitors) and need a long-term place to stay that is affordable and close. The Aishel House has 18 apartments, and they also help with meals, transportation and counseling.

We volunteered to cook a kosher meal for the people staying in the apartments and for others in the hospital. Our group made Garlic Knots (picture above), Minestrone Soup (below, adapted from my recipe), and Libby’s Pumpkin Pie (I forgot a picture, but it was classic pumpkin pie!).

I suggested the soup and contributed my recipe (link above), but I have never multiplied a recipe to make so much soup. We way overestimated, but that is better than under. The soup had carrots, onions, celery, zucchini and noodles. The broth was water, tomato sauce, and stock seasoning. My original recipe uses chicken or vegetable stock.

It takes a very long time to boil three gigantic pots of water.

It’s really nice to spend some time helping others by doing something you enjoy. Cooking is fun and always appreciated, and also nice to give back on Thanksgiving week.

Do you volunteer on Thanksgiving week?

Filed Under: Breakfast, Lunch, Recipes, Thanksgiving, Thoughts, Vegetarian · Tagged With: Thanksgiving, Thoughts, vegetables

My Pesky IT Band

November 21, 2010 by Marci 4 Comments

It’s the week of Thanksgiving, hooray! Lots of cooking, baking, and crowded grocery stores now through December 31. I really liked the comments from Friday’s post about what we’re thankful for. Read it here and leave a comment.

CultureMap story:

I had another piece published over the weekend on CultureMap. If you’re in Houston and not cooking for Thanksgiving, check out the story to see who you can call to make your meal for you.

On the blog:

I played with my blog pages and made the text easier to read. On my About Me page, view my completed published work. The Exercise/Race Recap page has a link to some of my favorite fitness related posts. The Houston page has reviews separated by food or fitness, and the Recipes page has links to all of my all star meals.

Cupping and the Pesky IT Band:

Back story: Two Sundays ago, I ran 10 miles as my last long run for the Dallas Half Marathon in two weeks. My left IT Band was aggravated at Mile 9, and then I took a lot of days off from running and trying to rest the muscle.

The same weekend, Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point hurt her IT Band too. Her husband owns a holistic wellness center and is a doctor of oriental medicine and recommended cupping on her leg. See her posts here and here to read her explanation of cupping. It’s much more detailed.

Cupping is not a practice by TSA security employees at large airports…it is an ancient practice of placing bulbs on irritated areas on the body to break up the “junk” under the skin. I went to a normal day spa in Houston where they do facials, massages, etc. and also offer cupping as an added service. It was not painful at all, did not involve fire or bruising. The bulbs looked like glass candle votives, and they were moved around my left knee area, above and below the area that it hurt. It felt like a small vacuum was pulling on my skin. It lasted for about 30 minutes.

I won’t say that it didn’t work, because I didn’t think it would be a quick fix, but I was hoping to feel a little release or relaxed muscle. I didn’t feel any different at all. It definitely didn’t hurt anything, but I think the pressure from a deep tissue massage would have felt better and more intense.

A Saturday jog:

Last week I was excited to run for two hours, this weekend I was excited to run for 20 minutes. It is amazing how views change! On Saturday morning, I ran on the treadmill for 20 minutes and didn’t have any pain. Then I did a 60 minute wonderful yoga stretch class with the same instructor that I wrote about here. It was 60 minutes of stretching with a lot of focus on hips, hamstrings and other leg muscles that had no vinyasas or warriors. It’s been really nice to get a great stretch in a different type of class than I’m used to. And I love it when the focus is on leg muscles.

I was very happy for a 20 minute pain free jog, but I am not optimistic that the pain won’t come back. :/ It has been a real bummer.

However, I have realized that the IT Band is not the worst injury you can have. Well it is when you want to run your first half marathon in two weeks that has been on the calendar for 6 months and is something I never thought I’d be able to do…But I can walk, lift weights, do yoga and move without a limp or pain. I promised my legs that I will be nicer to them after the half marathon, but I really want to run this thing.

What is your favorite Thanksgiving week ritual?

We decorate cookies on Wednesday night with the whole family and I can’t wait!

Filed Under: Exercise, Half Marathon, Injuries, Running, Thanksgiving, Thoughts · Tagged With: culturemap, Half Marathon, Injuries, Running, Thanksgiving, Thoughts

Week in Review

November 20, 2010 by Marci 3 Comments

I hope you enjoy your weekend. The weather is cold here and we are going to enjoy not sweating when we walk the dog. Here are the posts from the week in case you missed something. Lots of great recipes you can make for Thanksgiving to have around the house for a few days. See you back on Monday!

Monday: An Unperfect 10. I ran my longest distance (10.1 miles) but had IT Band pain at Mile 9. Read about it here. And I interviewed Tyler Florence about baking a faster turkey.

Tuesday: Duhhlicious Pecan Raisin Pumpkin Muffins.

Wednesday: My favorite Green Monster recipe, Cookie Dough Ball Bites, and a 3-ingredient soup.

Thursday: Three Things Thursday of Strawberry Oatmeal, a great yoga class, and Caramelized Onion Mashed Potatoes…mmm.

Friday: 8 Things I’m Thankful For. There are great things to be thankful for in the comments too.

Filed Under: Uncategorized ·

8 Things I’m Thankful For

November 19, 2010 by Marci 11 Comments

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. I like that it’s right in the middle of the Fall/Winter holiday season, it’s all about home cooked food, family, and being thankful. I also like that there isn’t stress of gift buying or funky religious foods like on Passover.

It’s also fun to be a blogger so I can create recipes to share with my readers and write lists like this one and hopefully hear what you’re thankful for this year too.

8. I am thankful that I will be in San Antonio with my whole family this year. Jeffrey and I rotate families for Thanksgiving, and this year it’s San Antonio. We even have a new cousin addition to the table this year. And everyone will be there.

(my grandmother dresses up as a pilgrim)

(all the “kids” –ages 6 to 27–decorate cookies the night before Thanksgiving)

7. I am thankful for our loving recent addition to our family this year, Lily the dog. She is so much fun, so cute, and so full of love to give. I am happy she is part of our family now too.

6. I am thankful that three things I love to do (writing, blogging, and social media) have become a big part of my life this year.

5. I am thankful that I have traveled to some great places since the last Thanksgiving: Paris (pre-blog days), Austin a lot, Dallas a lot, San Antonio, Los Angeles (pre-blog days), San Francisco, North Carolina (pre-blog days), Cabo San Lucas, Florida, Alabama, Las Vegas.

4. I am thankful that my body has allowed me to run a few races (Houston Rodeo Run 10K, Dallas Bagel Run 10K, a Splash n’ Dash, Health Museum 5K, and hopefully a Half Marathon on Dec. 5). All recaps of those here. And get stronger at non-race things too. Like deadlifting 145 pounds.

3. I am thankful that my cooking skills are improving and that I am more comfortable creating my own recipes and trying new ingredients. Cooking and baking are fun, creative, calming, and exciting all at once. Try any of these this week: Triple Pumpkin Scottish Oatmeal, Pumpkin Granola, Butternut Squash Soup, Fall Salad, Roasted Fall Vegetables, or Cranberry Apricot Sauce, Pecan Raisin Pumpkin Muffins.

2. I am thankful for my parents and sister, who I talk to multiple times each day (well not sister, she asks if I needed something when I call to say hi).

1. I am thankful for my husband who is my travel buddy, dinner guest, taste tester (sometimes) and editor. He is also the rational voice to my quirks.

What are you thankful for? Tell me one thing, I really want to know!

Filed Under: Thanksgiving, Thoughts · Tagged With: Thanksgiving

Three Things Thursday

November 18, 2010 by Marci 6 Comments

1. Strawberry Oatmeal with a Muffin on top

I have been seeing a lot of oatmeal variations where people crumble a muffin on top. I happened to have just made pumpkin muffins and decided it would be tasty to break on top of my morning oatmeal. However, I didn’t like it. It was like a soggy muffin. Won’t do that again. I realized that I like crunchy on top of oats.

The oatmeal was good and similar to this one.

2. Yog-aaah

Since my IT Band has been acting funny, I have been spending more time stretching and trying to focus on other muscles like quads, hamstrings, and hips. I went to a yoga class on Wednesday morning and it was one of the best classes I’ve done. There wasn’t one sun salutation or warrior pose, but I still broke a sweat and did some new stretch movements.

It was really great to change up a yoga class and still get a good workout. My muscles that I neglect say thanks.

3. The FrontBurner’s Caramelized Onion Mashed Potatoes

This dinner was made around mashed potatoes. First let me tell you about Emily, a.k.a. The FrontBurner. I found Emily’s blog over the summer when I was looking for a better way to make tofu (read the link, it’s the best method). Emily is a trained chef, vegetarian and marathoner. (read her blog for the story of why she had to postpone this year’s Marine Corps Marathon because she got hit by a car crossing the street.) Always take cooking lessons on vegetables and alternative protein from vegetarian chefs! You know it will taste good because they live off of it.

I love her writing style and the stories she tells, and then I met her in San Francisco at Foodbuzz Fest (below left, Anne is on the right). One of my food blogger favorite people to meet. If we lived in the same city, we would probably be friends in real life.

I learn so many tips from her like adding lemon juice to milk makes it taste like buttermilk when you don’t have any on hand.

Back to the mashed potatoes…in addition to centering the meal around mashed potatoes, I made stove grilled chicken and oven roasted green beans too.

Read here for the whole mashed potato recipe. I was excited to try it with the onions because Jeffrey loves onions for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, raw or cooked, and I love all things sweet. When onions caramelize, they become sweet and we both win.

Using a stand mixer to mix them was so easy and effortless. The mashed potatoes mixed down instantly and adding the onions was easy.

It was the boiling that took a really long time.

Onions before caramelizing

Onions after

The grilled chicken tenders were seasoned with Worchestershire sauce, lemon juice, paprika, black pepper, and olive oil and then it marinated in the refrigerator for a few hours (could be just 30 minutes). Then I cooked them on a hot grill pan for a few minutes on each side. Quick and easy.

The green beans were roasted on 450* for 20 minutes, shaking halfway through. Seasoned before they went in the oven with olive oil, salt and pepper. I also cooked them on a foil lined baking sheet to minimize mess.

For once, we both ate the same dinner, no modifications for two people. And I know when a dinner is a winner because Jeffrey goes back for more.

Filed Under: Breakfast, Dinner, Exercise, Recipes · Tagged With: yoga

Cin Chili and a giveaway!

2. Cin Chili Two Ways

3. Now for a giveaway!

It’s Half Marathon Week!

Squash with Farro and Dried Cranberries

Mixed Squash with Farro and Dried Cranberries

Thanksgiving in San Antonio

Decorating Cookies

Thanks and Giving

Volunteering on Thanksgiving Week

Cinnamon Raisin Scottish Oats

Red, orange, green

Volunteering my cooking skills:

My Pesky IT Band

CultureMap story:

On the blog:

Cupping and the Pesky IT Band:

A Saturday jog:

Week in Review

8 Things I’m Thankful For

Three Things Thursday

1. Strawberry Oatmeal with a Muffin on top

2. Yog-aaah

3. The FrontBurner’s Caramelized Onion Mashed Potatoes

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November 2010
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2. Cin Chili Two Ways

3. Now for a giveaway!

Squash with Farro and Dried Cranberries

Mixed Squash with Farro and Dried Cranberries

Cinnamon Raisin Scottish Oats

Red, orange, green

Volunteering my cooking skills:

CultureMap story:

On the blog:

Cupping and the Pesky IT Band:

A Saturday jog:

1. Strawberry Oatmeal with a Muffin on top

2. Yog-aaah

3. The FrontBurner’s Caramelized Onion Mashed Potatoes

Subscribe

@marcigilbert

Favorite Things

Archives

Recent Posts

Popular Searches

Tags

Categories

Photos on Food Gawker

Sponsors

Recent Comments

Blogs I Like