What a crazy year it has been. I started off this year with a simple goal: run 1300 miles in 2013. Well, that goal was easily reached because I met yet another goal this year as well…
I ran my first marathon.
And then followed it up with another marathon.
My other goal was to make it through the year uninjured. I almost made it. SO close. The past two weeks I have been going without running due to Achilles tendonitis brought on by refusing to hop on a treadmill and going for a run while there was still ice and snow on the ground. The uneven footing was enough to alter my gait enough to cause this bit of discomfort. I am on the mend though. Not being able to get out and run has been killing me…but I have supplemented spinning classes (I go at least 2 times a week), swimming (once a week) and some weight training in, all of which I intend to keep doing well into next year. Because I love how strong these other activities are making me.
Do I have a goal for this coming year? I haven’t really given it much thought. Miles I always seem to surpass…races I run plenty…I think my main goal is to eat better, train better, remember to cross-train more, take some time to walk and see the sites that I might miss otherwise, work on speed, and just have a great year on the road.
SO much love and thanks to all my friends this year who have seen me through training, traveled to my races, cheered for me, cried with me, and pushed me beyond what I ever thought possible. I have made so many new friends this past year and I know that I’m going to forge new friendships in this coming year.
So…here is to a happy, healthy, and healing New Year.
Thank you, my dearest readers, for sticking with me and offering advice, words of love and encouragement, and for pushing me to aim higher.
2014…I’m on the mend…and I’m ready to hit the road! Let’s do this!
Restaurant: The Village Anchor, Anchorage, Kentucky
Twas the weekend before Christmas and my roommate and I were set to have our official Christmas dinner out at a local restaurant. We started this tradition of a holiday meal a couple years back. It gives me a break from the kitchen, which, no matter how much I love to cook, is always welcome, and gives us a great excuse to try out a restaurant we might not have picked otherwise. It’s usually a little more upscale…a little pricier…but this only happens once a year. The splurge is worth it.
This year, the roomie chose the restaurant. It was one we had visited before, but never had the luxury of eating there. I ran a short mile run there during the summer. In fact, I never had set foot in the restaurant part, only the bar – The Sea Hag – prior to this visit. We chose the earliest dinner seating available, as we knew this was going to be a crazy-busy weekend for dinners out.
The Village Anchor opened at 5 p.m. We were actually there way ahead of schedule, so we took the opportunity to walk up and down the streets of Anchorage. If you’ve never been to Anchorage, Kentucky…it’s gorgeous. Go there and be awed. It was even more beautiful as a lot of the homes and businesses were lit up and decorated for the holidays. I love this time of year for that reason.
At 5 p.m. though, we were both starving and ready to get our meal on. We stepped into the restaurant itself and were immediately greeted by a very friendly hostess. I gave her my name, which the reservation was under, and she picked up a couple of menus and took us through the dining room, sitting us down at a quiet table not too far from the hearth. And that fireplace had a nice fire going in it too. It felt like the perfect winter’s night.
Our server, Alan, came over to introduce himself. Our water glasses were filled and we were asked if we’d like anything else to drink. We both decided to stick with water. He said, “I noticed that we have a vegetarian with a gluten allergy…” I raised my hand. “That would be me!” He gave me a very relaxing smile and said that the chef could do up a great roasted veggie plate for me as an entree. He mentioned Brussels sprouts, asparagus…yeah…he won me over right there.
What this also indicated to me was that The Village Anchor pays attention to the reservations that are made through Open Table. I have made reservations before for so many other places, but this was the first time my food allergies were ever addressed right away without me having to bring them up. I raise a glass and give high kudos to The Village Anchor for this. As always, I get a bit nervous when I try out somewhere new…but this really put my mind at ease and relaxed me for the rest of the meal.
The Village Anchor’s Hummus Trio (top to bottom: Roasted Garlic, Jalapeño-Cilantro, Caramelized Onion-Chipotle) served with fresh veggies for dipping to make it gluten-free
But…we weren’t just here for the entrées. Like I said…this was our holiday meal. And after just taking in a very light breakfast, followed by a movie…we were pretty much famished. So, Cathy already knew she was going to try out a cup of the award-winning Elk Chili ($6.00) as her starter. We inquired what might be a good option for me. Alan said he would recommend the risotto, but it has soy sauce in it so it’s not safe for me. I told him I’d be good with the fresh fruit…but he had other ideas. He sure did. And what I ended up getting for my starter was their Hummus Trio ($11.00), which came with fresh sliced vegetables instead of the pita and the grilled crostini.
The Hummus Trio is a plate that contains three different house-made blends of hummus: the roasted garlic, jalapeño-cilantro, and caramelized onion-chipotle. As I said, my version came with sliced carrots, cucumbers, and red bell peppers. SO good. I thought the roasted garlic hummus was really rich. I love roasted garlic…and blending it into the hummus gave it this nice flavor that went so well with the vegetables. This one turned out to be Cathy’s favorite. The jalapeño-cilantro was the next one I sampled. I actually expected this one to be spicy…but it was actually rather mild. Even Cathy thought so when she tried it…and we’re talking about a heat wimp here. The flavors were great and I loved the freshness that came with each dip. This one went really well on the carrots. My personal favorite was the caramelized onion-chipotle hummus. OH MY HUMMUS GODS! I sampled this one ahead of Cathy and knew she’d be fanning her mouth. While not super-hot…it did have a kick to it and a slow burn. The caramelized onion was a brilliant addition, lending a little hint of sweetness to the hummus itself. Needless to say…this met a very messy death. If you love hummus, get this. Just trust me!
It was now time for the entrée round. As this was a pub, Cathy already knew what she was getting…Fish and Chips ($15.00). Her meal also came with house-made tartar sauce and coleslaw. She’s not a coleslaw person normally…but she ate the hell out of that coleslaw. I might need to see if the kitchen will give me the recipe. Red cabbage, raisins, and carrots…but it was the vinaigrette-like dressing that made it. Yes…we asked if it was safe for me to try and after checking with the chef, Alan assured me it was. It was really good.
The Village Anchor’s Chef Creation – Roasted Veggie Plate
The chef got to play around with my dish and what I got was a vegetable plate masterpiece. Perfectly seasoned, perfectly roasted, perfectly perfect vegetables. And what a variety as well. My Roasted Veggie Plate ($16.00) came complete with roasted potatoes, roasted asparagus, roasted Brussels sprouts, and some sauteed spinach that was cooked with garlic and red onion, topped off with tomatoes. It was AMAZING!! I love that the chef included potatoes as well for something more filling. They were cooked to perfection and seasoned with some fresh herbs. Carby goodness. Yum! The asparagus was really done well. It still had a bit of crunch to it, without being raw. I loved the depth of flavor that were drawn from these. The spinach and the Brussels sprouts were my two favorite things on that plate though. The spinach was wilted and cooked to absolute perfection. I loved the hint of garlic, the bite the red onion gave it, and the sweetness of the red tomatoes. I was in heaven. And the Brussels sprouts were roasted to perfection. No burned edges…just flavor and lots of it. I was beyond impressed with this meal. Here I was expecting to get stuck, once again, with a salad. But The Village Anchor totally made my night!! They definitely went above and beyond for me.
With this being a holiday celebration…we managed to save a little room for dessert. The special that night, in honor of the holidays, was a Cranberry Crème Brûlée. Now, more often than not, the crème brûlée is a safe choice for the gluten-free…but I wanted to be certain. Alan was prepared for this and said that he would check with the chef. He returned a few moments later with the word – the Cranberry Crème Brûlée was gluten-free…the only other things on their menu that are gluten-free is the ice cream, which is provided by The Comfy Cow. I get Comfy Cow ice cream a lot…so I decided to give the Cranberry Crème Brûlée ($11.00) a try. It even came with a cinnamon whipped cream. It sounded delicious. Cathy opted for the Granny Smith Apple Crisp, à la mode ($8.00).
When our desserts arrived I was just so happy to be able to enjoy a dessert while eating out at a restaurant. Thrilled. And my Cranberry Crème Brûlée looked beyond amazing. I was ready to dig in…and had to do the thing where I crack the caramelized sugar on top. It shattered and through the custard, I spotted the red cranberries at the bottom. One bite…I was in dessert heaven. SO good. And that spiced cream that was served with it definitely complimented the holiday flavors and added this little hint of spice and warmth to the dish. I polished it off…and was definitely full. But pleasantly so.
Holiday meals are supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable. The Village Anchor not only had a fantastic, cozy dining area, but the food was amazing. The staff was more than prepared to work around my food allergies. And they didn’t act like I was an inconvenience either. I love that the chef prepared a dish specifically for me…taking care to make it beautiful to look at and delicious to eat. Both Cathy and I were beyond impressed with The Village Anchor.
You better believe we’ll be coming back for more in the very near future. My hat is off to the staff, the kitchen, and the owners of this fine restaurant just outside of Louisville, Kentucky. I was immediately made to feel at ease about my food and knew that I was in good hands. They didn’t disappoint. And now…I’m spreading the word as much as I can. Local places are always worth checking out – but this one is something special. This one is a keeper!
Road’s End Organics Gluten-Free and Dairy Free Penne & Chreese
Product: Road’s End Organics Gluten-Free and Dairy Free Penne & Chreese – $3.49+
For the past two weeks…I have been without my CSA bin. It has been…tough. I have been trying to make a point, however, to attempt to use up products/items from my fridge, freezer, and pantry.
Fast forward to Friday night. It was the first full day back in town for me after having flown in the day before after visiting my family for Christmas. Without fresh produce readily available, and a tight, tight budget due to the holidays…it was time to make due with what was in the apartment. No big deal…there is plenty to choose from.
And it just so happened I remembered picking up a box of Road’s End Organics Gluten-Free and Diary Free Penne & Chreese (yes…chreese!) when I spotted it on a super closeout at my local grocery store. For fear that I might never try it otherwise or never have the opportunity due to possibly not being able to find it anywhere else…I panicked and purchase one box. Just one. Just to have on hand.
I am so glad I did that, because after a stressful day of travel, a long night, an early morning, a full day at the office, and a lot on my mind…an easy dinner was just what I needed. And this…just sounded good.
If it wasn’t…I had a backup plan. Don’t laugh. I often do this when I try new products.
Anyway…nothing could be more stress-free than this! I came home from work and got a pot of water boiling on the stove. As soon as it had come to a boil, I poured in the noodles and allowed them to cook for about 10-12 minutes. I didn’t want to overcook them, because, let’s face it…pasta, especially brown rice pasta…gets really gummy when it’s overcooked. I wanted that perfect al dente. I managed it too. I drained the noodles just as they reached that perfect state, then…in the same sauce pan…poured in 1/2 cup of almond milk and the powdered chreese packet which came in the box. I stirred them together until they combined and had no clumps. Then, back onto medium heat, and the pasta was added back in. I gave it a stir, and let it cook for another couple of minutes, to thicken the chreeze mixture as it blended with the noodles. Done.
I poured half into a bowl for my roomie and saved the other half for me. Time to dig in.
I was actually a little worried about not liking this one. But…this is definitely one of my favorite boxed gluten-free mac and cheese. Don’t laugh. It’s true. What did I love about it? Aside from noodles that were normal size, and not teensy-tiny, it cooked up perfectly. The dairy-free cheese (chreeze) mixture thickened up beautifully after the noodles were put back in. And the flavor was remarkable. I loved how the cheese sauce clung to the noodles. I love how my noodles weren’t left swimming in sauce, as most gluten-free boxed mac and cheeses do. I loved the thick, rich flavor of the chreese. It had a great balance of flavor…the creamy richness of an Alfredo with the flavor of cheddar. So good. It was major mac and chreeze love.
I love saying chreese!
Anyway…the nitty-gritty basics.
Road’s End Organics Gluten-Free and Dairy Free Penne & Chreese contains a gluten-free rice penne. As for the gluten-free Chreese (vegan cheese), that is a blend of organic brown rice flour, organic tapioca starch, enriched nutritional yeast, organic green lentil flour, salt, organic garlic powder, organic yellow mustard seed, organic onion powder, and annatto powder. The ingredient list is all recognizable…no chemicals, no weird preservatives. Just awesome gluten-free goodness.
Nutritionally speaking, Road’s End Organics Gluten-Free and Dairy Free Penne & Chreese contains 2 servings per box. A serving contains 320 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. That’s not bad for a mac and cheese. And you get a lot. This pasta is cholesterol free, contains only 350 mg sodium, and has less than 1 gram of sugar. Awesome! In addition, a serving provides 6 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protein. See what I mean? You will feel full…and you’re only eating a cup. That’s the serving size! Awesome!
I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed chowing down on this fantastic boxed macaroni and “cheese.” They vegan cheese that is used in place of real cheese doesn’t taste fake at all. I loved the flavor. And it is easy on my tummy…as I am lactose intolerant and cheese can really be an issue at times. So…YAY!! I would definitely recommend this to everyone. Even cheese lovers, like my roommate, will eat it. She loved the richness and the texture. And, yeah…it doesn’t lack in flavor. SO damn good!
Find it. Try it. Love it.
Road’s End Organics Gluten-Free and Dairy Free Penne & Chreese
As much as I love gluten-free waffles made from scratch…these days it seems impossible to find the time to actually make them. Trust me…it is an undertaking and a half. Seriously! And, my favorite homemade gluten-free waffles to prepare are…pumpkin! Yep…pumpkin. Delicious. Tasty. And we all know how much I love pumpkin flavored things. Just…YUM!!
These days, however, I just am never home long enough to actually work through the recipe and get the pumpkin waffles made from scratch. So…waffles have been off the menu. Because, regular waffles can be a task and a half to make as well. So…it’s been pancakes, Greek yogurt parfaits with fruit and gluten-free granola, cereal, and things with roasted potatoes…or just gluten-free bagels. No waffles. Not for a very long time.
But that changed. That changed the moment I stepped into the freezer section of my local Whole Foods and spotted…one of the most wonderful things I have ever encountered in that aisle. Gluten-Free Pumpkin Spice Waffles. YES! GLUTEN-FREE PUMPKIN SPICE WAFFLES!! Shout it from the rooftop friends. I did another happy dance of joy in the aisle. I should really stop doing that…but I just get so excited!
This box of frozen waffles is made by Nature’s Path. I tried one other variety of their gluten-free waffles a year or two ago…but don’t remember too much about them. Other than that Van’s gluten-free versions blew them out of the water. For real!
But…let bygones be bygones…and…Van’s doesn’t make pumpkin spice waffles…so…HA! These were in my basket and at the register before my roomie or I could talk ourselves out of the purchase. The deed was done.
And with me taking an early morning spin class a couple mornings a week…these are the perfect thing to throw in the oven to toast while I shower off before work. And that’s exactly what I did on Friday. Friday was already crazy. I had just gotten back in town from my Christmas trip to see my family. My luggage had gone missing and was returned late that night. I was worn out…but really wanted to get a little activity in before settling back into my routine for one day. Spinning did that. And I just happen to get home right as my roomie is waking up. So, I put these waffles in the oven and went to shower. They were done just as I finished off dressing. I warmed up some of my agave maple syrup to pour over them and…just like that…brekkies was served.
Oh…these definitely made an impression on me. The pumpkin spice flavor is there…but not overpowering. There is pumpkin and then there is PUMPKIN. I love pumpkin flavors…but I want to taste the other spices too. In this case…cinnamon and nutmeg. Perfect compliments. The waffles toasted up beautifully…their orange color turning a deep golden as they reached the perfect level of toastiness. This gave them this great crunch on the outside, but that soft, steamy center that make every waffle perfect. Oh…it was bliss. Bliss in a pumpkin-y waffle-y form. These made my hectic morning easy…and super delicious. I hope these aren’t a seasonal thing because I really want to stock up!
Nature’s Path Gluten-Free Pumpkin Spice Waffles are made from water, organic pumpkin puree, organic brown rice flour, organic potato starch, organic yellow corn flour, organic soy oil, organic tapioca starch, organic cane sugar, organic potato flour, baking powder, organic flax seeds, organic soy lecithin, organic pear and/or grape juice concentrate, organic quinoa, organic amaranth, organic spices, and sea salt. Whew. It seems like a lot of ingredients, but I recognize every single one of them. That’s something. And I love how a majority of the ingredients are also organic.
So, let’s talk nutrition. A serving of Nature’s Path Gluten-Free Pumpkin Spice Waffles is 2 waffles. This pair of pumpkin waffle yumminess will serve you up 210 calories and 7 grams of fat. These waffles contain no cholesterol, have only 385 mg sodium, and 6 grams of sugar. Not too bad. They also have 2 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein…so not too filling…but I wasn’t starving all morning either. Definitely a healthier choice for breakfast if you have to do the “from-the-freezer” grab on a busy morning. Seriously…worth it.
These waffles are amazing. I love the pumpkin flavor. I loved the texture and taste. The crunch with the warm, soft center. Oh yeah. Perfect for those busy mornings…and always good drizzled with syrup. Makes these winter mornings cozy and warm. Let me tell you…I think I’m in love with a new gluten-free waffle.
No…honestly…one of my favorite things in life is a delicious slice of pizza. You get the right crust, the right sauce, and the right toppings…and you create a meal of perfection.
I was elated when I heard that Udi’s Gluten-Free was introducing gluten-free frozen pizzas to their already epic and delicious line-up of products. I already am a huge fan of their readily available gluten-free pizza crusts…so…take that and top it, box it up, and it’s one more way to make life a little easier on you. Udi’s has four different flavors of gluten-free pizzas: Three Cheese, Margherita, Spinach & Feta, and Uncured Pepperoni. I can eat three of the four, as I am a vegetarian. Although I may pick up the pepperoni version for my roommate to give a taste sometime.
Since this was my first foray with the Udi’s Gluten-Free frozen pizzas, I opted for one that wasn’t just cheese…and chose the Margherita Pizza. I mean…you can’t go wrong with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil. Anyone who has eaten a caprese salad can tell you that! I felt good about my decision, and gifted my freezer with one box for starters. It took a couple of weeks to find the perfect evening for a pizza, but as the holidays were approaching and the CSA bins were cancelled due to neither my roommate or I being around…we had to make use of whatever is in our freezer, fridge and pantry. So, after going to the gym one evening (yes…instead of first thing in the morning…blame the Trans-Siberian Orchestra), it was necessary to do something simple for dinner. What better than a frozen pizza, right?
Udi’s Gluten-Free Margherita Pizza (frozen)
RIGHT!
I was quite excited as I pulled this box out of my freezer and began to preheat my oven to 400°F. I opened up the pizza and peeled away the plastic. Once the oven was heated, I popped the pizza in and let it cook for about 15 minutes.When I removed it from the oven, the crust was crisp and golden, the cheese melted, and it smelled beyond fantastic.
Now, I’ve been underwhelmed by previous frozen (and restaurant) gluten-free pizzas. But I trust Udi’s Gluten-Free…because their gluten-free pizza crust is THE BOMB!! Honestly. If you don’t want to make your own gluten-free crust…reach for one of these. It’s the only one I can find in this area in every grocery store.
So, how did this pizza stack up? I have no words beyond OMG…MMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!
And if that doesn’t sum it up, let me say this…this is one stellar pizza. The crust crisped up beautifully…not one part of it was soggy or limp in the middle. It was perfect. The cheese melted and spread out across the tomato sauce. The Italian spices gave it really good flavor. The dollops of mozzarella cheese really helped make this pizza. So packed with flavor. And, honestly, better than most restaurant pizzas (my local gluten-free bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Café still makes my absolute favorite pizza crust). Flaky, golden, crunchy, and a perfect mix with the toppings. It was perfection!
This frozen pizza is made from an Udi’s Gluten-Free Pizza Crust (water, brown rice flour, rice starch, potato starch, olive oil, dried cane syrup, tapioca starch, yeast, salt, xanthan gum, calcium sulfate (for freshness)), a tomato sauce (made simply from tomato paste, water, sugar, salt, olive oil, canola oil, granulated garlic, spices, citric acid), low moisture mozzarella cheese, mozzarella cheese, tomato, parmesan cheese, basil and spices. For the most part…all ingredients that are natural and recognizable.
Nutritionally speaking, a serving of Udi’s Gluten-Free Margherita Pizza is 1/2 of the pizza. This half will provide you with 300 calories and 11 grams of fat. Most of that fat is from the cheese that comes on the pizza. This pizza only has 320 mg of sodium and 3 grams of sugar. It has 25 grams of cholesterol. It also has 2 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protein. So, yes…it is filling. Even with the thin crust. Trust me.
I love, love, LOVE, Udi’s Gluten-Free. The products the company puts out is amazing and always delicious. The taste, texture, and flavors all matter and they really focus on that when they introduce an item to the market. The frozen pizzas are a very welcome addition. And I highly recommend this vegetarian option…because I was beyond impressed with Udi’s Gluten-Free Margherita Pizza.
Pick one up from your grocer’s freezer section and see for yourself.
Product: Garden Lites Veggie Chili & Cornbread Melt – $3.49+
It was getting so close to Christmas and the nights after work were hectic and frantic. Lots to do…so little time to actually do it in. And that’s when you need something quick, simple, and still nutritious. It’s not always feasible to cook up a meal after a long day at the office or being on the go. Thankfully, there is this great company called Garden Lites, and they make fantastic vegetarian and gluten-free dishes.
Some of my favorites happen to be their amazing soufflés.
There was something really intriguing and different about this soufflé, however. It was one of their newer flavors, which had actually been out for awhile, but was only now turning up in my local natural food stores. I had to purchase it (along with the previously mentioned Southwestern Soufflé) and try it out for myself. I’ve loved most of the Garden Lites soufflés that I’ve eaten previously. And with one that included chili and cornbread…well…this was awesomesauce waiting to happen.
Garden Lites Veggie Chili & Cornbread Melt (cooked)
Sure enough…I popped open the package, tossed the wrapped tray into the microwave for about 3 minutes. Then, I removed the plastic wrap and gave another microwave session for 2 minutes…and viola…dinner was served. My roommate and I were going to split this little dish, so I served it up with some hand-cut, homemade sweet potato fries…which I baked in the oven.
How was this little dish? Well, all I can say is that Garden Lites really, really outdid themselves with this one. The base is a cornbread soufflé, which is light, not dense, and really delicious. Sitting on top of that is this healthy helping of veggie chili, which is packed with veggies and beans. And then, on top…some cheese. Just like the good, old-fashioned classic…but with a healthy twist. The cheese is just an added touch that doesn’t overwhelm the dish at all. The star is that cornbread base. Light and airy…and a perfect match for that chili top. So good.
So…now we get down to the science of this dish…mainly the ingredients and nutrition. What I love about these soufflés is that they are so good…and good for you. The Garden Lites Veggie Chili & Cornbread Melt contains diced tomatoes, fire roasted corn, pasteurized egg whites, black beans, onion, low fat milk, crushed tomatoes, zucchini, broccoli, evaporated cane juice, brown rice flower, red pepper, green pepper, corn starch, corn meal, cheddar cheese, baking powder, canola oil, lemon juice, sea salt, garlic, ancho pepper, cumin, chili powder, chipotle pepper, a blend of locust bean gum, guar gum, and xanthan gum, annatto extract (for color), and black pepper. It sounds like a lot of ingredients, I know, but they are all ingredients I recognize by name…and not one single chemical. Loving it. It is gluten-free and nut-free.
As for nutrition, the Garden Lites Veggie Chili & Cornbread Melt contains 200 calories for the entire soufflé. Loving it. The entire soufflé will also serve you up 4.5 grams of fat. This one has 10 grams of cholesterol, 650 mg sodium, and 10 grams of sugar. Finally, you will be devouring 4 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protein. You will not feel hungry after eating this. Trust me.
Once again Garden Lites and served up a nutritious, easy-to-prepare, delicious little treat that goes from the freezer to the microwave. It’s perfect for these cold nights. And it’s so fast to prepare, and still so delicious. This is, by far, my favorite one I have eaten so far. A little bit of comfort food without the guilt.
This is food love…and it will love you back.
Half of a Garden Lites Veggie Chili & Cornbread Melt
That’s all I’ve been feeling toward myself these days. While so many of my running friends are posting better times and new PRs…I feel like I’m in a slump. I feel like…things are just…getting worse for me. And all of this leads to a lot of self doubt and a lot of low self-esteem. Yes…I am so very proud of my friends for their accomplishments. But it’s only natural for me to look at what they are managing and wonder…why am I slowing down? Why is the weight piling on? Why…just why?
I try to keep my thoughts positive, but when you feel like your fitness is suffering…well…it’s hard to keep that good attitude.
Let’s start with the first thing. I’ve put on about 10 pounds since I ran the Chicago Marathon. I haven’t changed my eating routines. I’m not loading up on junk food. I’m still eating clean. I still treat myself. But…the weight just won’t come off. In fact, I just seem to add to it. And that just sucks…mightily. When you no longer feel as light as a feather…you don’t feel like you’re running as fast or capable of running as fast as you did when you were at your prime fitness. This is me. And it is really messing with my mind. I hear about all my friends losing weight, dieting, all this stuff. I don’t diet…I just eat clean and I workout. And somehow this has brought on weight. I don’t eat a lot of crap. Yes…I treat myself to ice cream on the weekend…but I’ve always done that. Even back during my marathon training. UGH! The biggest insult happened this past weekend when I went to the pool to swim some laps…and my bathing suit was tight. Uncomfortably…not fitting me right…tight.
Now, allow me to follow this paragraph up with the fact that I am not working out to lose weight. I don’t run to lose weight. Nor do I run so I can eat a lot of crap and not feel guilty about it. I run and I go to the gym because I love how it makes me feel. I don’t need to lose weight. BUT…I don’t want to gain it either. And despite my workouts and my runs…that scale keeps creeping up…and with it…my self-doubt.
It sucks having low self-esteem!
Secondly…
Ow.
Yep. Ow.
Achilles tendonitis. Brought on from…ironically…avoiding the treadmill and going out to run on those icy and snowy days. Landing on uneven icy and snow altered my gait…and with it…put some strain and stress on my Achilles. What has this brought on? Slower runs. No long runs. And a lot of very mixed emotions from me. I hate cutting my mileage. If there is one run I look forward to every week it’s my long run. I love going long. I love the distance. I don’t care how fast I run or how slow…I just want to get that distance. I love the time with others…or the time alone. I love talking or sometimes just letting my thoughts take over. This past weekend I was supposed to run 2 long runs…but…I ran a total of 4 miles. FOUR MILES!! And not even at speed. I can’t. Not with this ankle/Achilles issue. It is so aggravating. I can still run…but the intensity isn’t there. The distance is definitely not happening. And it just tears me up inside. I know it’s for the best…not to put added strain/stress on the problem area…but…I get so cranky when my runs get messed with. And this has definitely left me feeling insignificant. Especially when the miles are turned down and so is the speed. I feel like I should be turning up the intensity if the mileage is not there…but I can’t even do that. And it’s beyond bumming me out. It’s making me second guess everything. And then I read about everyone else who is running long, setting new PRs, and just getting so much stronger and faster…and here I am…slowing down…feeling like I’m reverting back…feeling…SO DAMN SLOW!! IT SUCKS!!
I know it’s for the best, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck.
What I have been doing is taking my runs inside…to the dreadmill…and running at a very deliberate, easy pace. The soft belt is a lot kinder to my joints than the hard pavement right now. Oh…and I’ve now officially taken two spinning classes (and totally intend to keep going to them!!) and have added more weights for some strength training. I’ve only learned the machines…so I haven’t officially added that back in. I’m going to get back into the habit of my circuit training. I fell off it when my roommate went into the hospital. Then it was too close to my marathon to really want to hop back in. After that…probably sheer lack of motivation…and the fact that the roomie can’t turn it up and dial it in like I can while on her current meds. BUT…that changes when I get back from my Christmas vacation. Dialing back into those weights, the core, the strength training. Hopefully the ankle/Achilles will be further on the mend. I also went swimming on Sunday. Yep. Swimming for a whole 45 minutes. I love to swim, and definitely should incorporate it more. Or else I’ll never get any better. Not that I’m a horrible swimmer, I’m just not very fast. I don’t have that strength behind it yet. But that comes with time and training. Time to just hop in and DO IT!
I have a difficult time wrapping my head around slower running times. I’m built for distance…that much I know. But I also like to prove that I am swift. I’m speedy. Sometimes I feel that way. But ever since the cold weather hit, my times have been so much slower than what I could master in the heat of summer. I run better in heat than cold. Cold burns my lungs, makes it hard to breathe, therefore…I never quite find my rhythm. Some people run better and faster in colder temperatures. I am not one of those people. Slowing down scares me. I am not ready to slow down. I want to find that strength to push a little harder, fight to get a little faster, and outrun all my doubts and limits. And I have yet to do just that. I feel like I’m failing…
Cold weather creeps in and so does my self-doubt. I am my own worst critic and my harshest competition. I don’t feel like I’m running up to par and that gets stuck in my head. I get aggravated when I fail to nail a time on a distance that felt so easy during the warmer days. I know it’s natural. I know it’s normal. But I’m competitive…and when I feel like I’m sliding backwards instead of moving ahead…I get into this tug-of-war with myself and my emotions…my expectations…
And yeah…that sucks too.
My competition is not my friends I run with…nor is it those who are out there making progress. My competition is myself. I look in the mirror…and those extra pounds, those slower times, the lack of long runs, the self-doubt…that is my competition. And until I get get over this hump…it’s the fight of my life right now. Because until I believe that I can run faster in the cold, that my ankle won’t hurt, that my body isn’t failing me or trying to slow me down…then I’m not making progress. And I won’t. Words have power…even the unspoken ones inside my head.
Time to find my strong…again.
It’s a battle I’m willing to fight. I just have to be smart about it. My competition…is all in my head…and it’s time to show it who is boss.
Awhile back, I stumbled upon Garden Lites products. And I mean…this was a good while back. Back when really all they were offering were their soufflés. Well…their product line-up has expanded. And yes…they even added some different soufflé flavors.
This isn’t something new. This actually happened quite a bit ago. I just never could find the new flavors. And when I finally did…they sat in my freezer. I just sort of got on this cooking thing and never turned back. I love cooking up something fresh.
But with the holidays in full swing…sometimes it’s too hectic after a long day to start something from scratch. That’s why I was so thankful to have a couple of Garden Lites soufflés kicking around in my freezer.
Forreals!
With being out of town the past couple of weekends, the CSA bin has been on hold. So, no fresh fruits and vegetables delivered to my door. Not until after Christmas when things aren’t as crazy and I’m traveling less. So, after a long day at the office and not much energy to spare the other night…I came home and my roommate and I decided to split a Garden Lites soufflé and enjoy that with some baked, hand-cut shoe-string fries. Always baked…never fried in my home. Just as my mom always did it. That’s how I was raised, peeps!
Anyway…we had two choices for the soufflé, so I just grabbed the one on top. The choice: Garden Lites Southwestern Soufflé.
It sounded amazing, combining seasonings with vegetables like tomatoes, broccoli, zucchini, black beans, corn, red pepper, green pepper, and even brown rice! Once my potatoes were cut into shoestrings (yes…I do that by hand!), I got them in the oven and then had to wait in order to start the main dish.
Garden Lites Southwestern Soufflé (cooked)
Garden Lites soufflés are so easy to cook up. As the potatoes were finishing up, I popped the Southwestern Soufflé into the microwave and gave it a little burst of heat for 3-1/2 minutes. I left it to stand for about a minute before removing the plastic wrapper and then microwaving it again for another full minute.
That’s it. SO easy!
I’ll be honest…I thought it made the apartment smell like Taco Bell…and it has been ages since I’ve even set foot in a Taco Bell. So…that was interesting. I sliced the fluffy soufflé in half and dinner was served.
Tasty!! That’s the best way to describe this soufflé. I loved the fluffiness the egg whites bring to the actual product. The veggies and spices are evenly incorporated and chopped so they aren’t awkward. In fact, bite-for-bite, I loved the variety of flavors and textures. It was a perfect bite…and it even tasted like a taco. Go figure. My roommate loved it too.
So, ingredient wise, the Garden Lites Southwestern Soufflé contains pasteurized egg whites, onion, crushed tomatoes, broccoli, zucchini, black beans, corn, brown rice, red pepper, green pepper, corn starch, evaporated cane juice, canola oil, lemon juice, sea salt, garlic, chipotle pepper, chili powder, ancho pepper, and cumin. All real ingredients…all real food. Nothing fake or processed here. This dish is gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free and nut-free. Love it.
As for nutrition…the Southwestern Soufflé is actually a really healthy choice. The entire soufflé is the serving and that one item is only 180 calories and contains only 2.5 grams of fat. This soufflé also will serve you up 4 grams of sugar and 650 mg of sodium. The sodium does seem a bit high…but it is a prepackaged food. Not only that, the Southwestern Soufflé provides 4 grams of filling fiber and 9 grams of amazing protein. So good. And good for you!
I loved the Southwestern flair that this souffle carried with it. Loved every bit of it. And every bite for that matter. Looking to add a little spice to your menu on a hectic day? Keep Garden Lites in your freezer and you’ll have an easy meal in less than 5 minutes. And…you’ll love every bite of it. I know I sure did! I’ve always loved Mexican and Southwest flavors…so this souffle was made for me. And I devoured it in kind.
Fly, fly precious one Your endless journey has begun Take your gentle happiness Far too beautiful for this Cross over to the other shore There is peace forevermore…
As you might recall from my previous post on the Fast Freddie Five Mile Foot Feast, I ran that race for a little 12 year old girl, who I was connected to via a group called Brain Cancer Share Your Shirts. Her name was Trinitie and in 2012, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor known as Glioblastoma Multiforme Stage 4.
The concept was simple…run a race and send your race shirt, race bib, and a little note to the child you are connected with via the program. So, on a bitterly cold Thanksgiving morning, I hauled out to my five mile race and battled the cold temperatures to churn out my best 5 mile race to date. It was by no means fast…but it was fast enough. And I did it for Trinitie. I boxed up my race shirt (a beautiful long sleeve tech shirt), my race bib, enclosed a card, and threw in the signs I made for the occasion, a ribbon, and a few extras because, without having even met Trinitie…she touched my life. The box was sent off to the address provided.
And then…Trinitie took a turn for the worse. But it seemed she was going to bounce back. That’s what kids do, right? They bounce.
Then yesterday…the most heartbreaking message was posted on Trinitie’s page as I was getting ready to leave work. Her mom wrote that Trinitie had a massive brain hemorrhage and was unresponsive. She was being airlifted to Children’s Hospital. She asked for strength…and prayers.
Strength. Prayers.
So simple…yet I know every person reading that status felt so helpless and powerless.
This morning…the news I read on Trinitie brought me to tears. The Brain Cancer Share Your Shirts page stated:
Miss Trinitie earned wings a few hours ago. She’s now flying high with the rest of the angels. To those who supported her during her fight, know you touched the life of a child. Please join me in prayer/positive thoughts for her Mom & family. Fly high Trinitie!
I was brought to tears. It seems foolish, perhaps, since I never personally met Trinitie. But I felt so connected to her. I ran a race for her. I thought of her through each cold, hilly mile. She provided inspiration and strength. It is hard to believe such a beautiful and brave girl was now gone.
Her fight was not in vain. She touched so many people with her story. She touched my life…and never even knew it. Which is why I sit here, crying, because I feel like I lost a part of myself. That’s what running for someone does to you. It connects you in ways you never even realize. I am heartbroken at the loss of such a young life. But Trinitie was a fighter. And she went to battle each day, brave, relentless, and she did it all with a smile. She never lost her spirit.
I hope that her fighting spirit and courage continue to live on in each of us…and that her soul watches over all the other children in this world who are fighting the battle she fought. Her strength, her courage, her grace live on in a beautiful soul that went to fly with the angels last night.
Fly high, Trinitie! Thank you for letting me be a small part of your inspirational life.
This one time I went to an Indian restaurant…and got the Broccoli Masala. It was something that I hadn’t seen on any other Indian restaurant menu in the area. It intrigued me. I took one bite and declared it the best thing I have ever eaten…which may or may not be true. HA!
But, it was really, really damn good.
And during these cold winter months, I see a ton…and I mean a ton of broccoli. For real. Like…every week. Last year my freezer was filled with broccoli. But not this year. Not this time. I’ve gotten more than a little creative with the use of broccoli in the past few months. And I’m proud of that.
But, instead of turning to a pizza crust…or some other culinary magic skill…this time…I attempted to recreate that dish for that local Indian restaurant. Because, yes…I was craving and didn’t want to drive into Louisville.
With the guidance of the blog Spicy Treats, I did an oven-baked version of this meal, adding it to caramelized shallots (which caramelized down to this beautiful sweet jam) and some Indian-spiced basmati rice. The results…while not the same as the restaurant…were a very close alternative. And I was quite happy with it. I may or may not have hoovered this meal down in record time.
2 medium-sized crowns of broccoli
1-2 teaspoons olive oil
salt (to taste)
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon cumin powder
1/4 teaspoon garam masala
Pinch turmeric powder
Squeeze of lime juice
2 teaspoons finely chopped parsley/cilantro (optional)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350° F.
Wash and cut broccoli in to small florets. Drain well and keep ready.
In a large bowl, add broccoli and salt and toss well. Then add the other spice powders and lime juice and toss everything well. Finally, add the olive oil and stir well, making sure everything is covered with the spices and oil.
Sprinkle cilantro over the top and mix everything well.
Line a baking tray with aluminum foil and grease it with a few drops of olive oil. Spread the prepared broccoli florets on the baking sheet and bake it for 15-20 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes.
ENJOY!!
~*~*~
As I said above, I served mine with caramelized thinly sliced shallots (almost made a shallot chutney) and some Indian-spiced basmati rice. The meal was amazing and the flavors were really good. Nothing overpowered. And it was still mild (because my roomie is a heat wimp), yet had just a little spice to keep each bite interesting. While it is nothing like the dish I have every time I go to my favorite Indian restaurant…it was close enough and simply delicious.
The Celiathlete 