Blog Neglect + Running

Dear Blog,

Sorry to have neglected you since I started grad school. You see, I’ve been quite busy with classes and my assistantship. Grad school is awesome, by the way. Anyhow, I’m ready to get back on the wagon in terms of working out and making meals worth telling the world about. Don’t worry, though, it’s not like I’ve been a lazy couch potato during my absence. I didn’t really even fall off the wagon, I just wanted to use that phrase. In fact, I’m going to end this letter to you and just write a blog entry.

xoxo, Laura

Hmm, where to start. I’ve been running with some regularity, which has actually become my focus. It’s free, it can be done inside or outside, and I can easily set goals around it. Remember when I talked about running with hills? Well, Burlington certainly is not short on them, so I’m getting that practice I talked about. Let’s get to the good part, though. I just registered my for my first 5k race! It’s coming up this Saturday. It was a bit whimsical of me – I just decided about 2 days ago to search upcoming 5ks in Burlington. I picked this date so Brendon could run it with me since he’ll be in town. (There are also several events with free food next weekend… so it will keep me in check! haha!) I think running between a 9:30 – 10:00 minute pace is a realistic goal based on our previous runs. I’m really excited for it! I’ve had running a race in the back of my mind for some time, but my dad and I recently started throwing around the idea of running a marathon together. How amazing would that be? Thinking about that as a real possibility is what finally motivated me to commit to a race.

Wish me luck! I’ll update later with results =)

Dining Out

I recently made a big move from NY to VT. We’ve all been there – moving can be hectic, and it doesn’t leave you a lot of time to cook your own meals. Lately, I have been eating out a lot. Between getting a drink or a bite to eat with friends before leaving and checking out new restaurants here, I have dined (or imbibed) in a fair share of restaurants (or bars) within the last two weeks. With all of the delicious choices on the menus, it’s tough to stay on top of your dietary guidelines – and no, you don’t always have to have a salad to do so.

Here’s a sampling of my recent menu choices:

• Veggie Wrap (avocado, lettuce, carrots, red peppers, etc) with side garden salad (sun dried tomato dressing)
• Tuna Bowl (garden salad with tuna salad on it – forgot how rich restaurants make tuna salad… tons of mayo isn’t really my style)
• Assorted Chinese food at a family style Chinese restaurant
• BBQ – pasta salad, tofu (funny – I was surprised when I bit into it. It was grilling – I think – and looked just like zucchini!), veggie burger
• Eggplant and mushroom ravioli with crab and a tomato basil sauce, appetizer of veggie spring rolls… dessert of chocolate mouse (so rich. so delicious. mmmm.)
• Phat Se Eau (sp) – Thai dish
• Black bean burger with French fries (should have gotten the mixed greens!)

When dining out, the biggest thing I try to keep in mind is the portion size. Restaurants often serve enough food in one entree to make up 2 or 3 meals. It can be hard to stop eating when it all tastes and looks so good, but listen to your body! Stop eating when you’re full. Remember, if you take home some leftovers, you get to enjoy it all over again. Drinks are another thing to keep in check – are you going to regret the amount of calories in your pina colada with whipped cream and a cherry during your next trip to the gym? I did not but it is a question to ask yourself.

And there is more to come! I am beginning grad school and a new job, and the department that I work for is gracious enough to feed us frequently during training. Additionally, I’m sure there will be nights on the town with both old and new friends. While my taste buds are screaming out in joy, my waistline is telling me to control myself – and I think that’s what I’ll do! It’s all about balance!

How often do you go out to eat? Do you totally indulge, or try to scale back?

Red Velvet Birthday Cake

This post is exactly one month overdue. Better late than never?

Brendon’s birthday was a month ago, so of course I made him a cake. I felt that I needed to go big or go home on this one. Having not baked a cake n 2 years (yikes!) I was in need of some cake-baking materials. Newly armed with cake pans, a cake caddy, and an offset spatula, I was ready to go. (sidenote: the previous cake was box mix baked in a 13×9 pan… sorry Rach, I owe ya!) I know, poor me, shopping for baking equipment. It was tough (as in tough to not buy more goodies).

The cake I wanted to make was a red velvet cake because Brendon’s favorite color is red.  I visited the trusty blog Bakerella in search of a recipe for the cake and cream cheese frosting. Baking the cake itself was simple enough, but frosting was a challenge. I was happy with the end result, but I got there with a lot of tweaking and smoothing out some rough spots. When I was reasonably satisfied with the frosting, I put the finishing touches on it with “Happy Birthday” in red icing and some raspberries (another one of his favorites).

It takes 2oz of food dye to make the cake this deep shade of red!

the finished product

Overall I’d say it was a success! I had so much fun with this project, and a large part of that was because I was heading into uncharted territory. I think my next baking projects will have to include the same element of newness to them so I can expand my baking skill set. Any requests or ideas (or anyone with a birthday coming up)?

Summer Salsa

In preparation for a cookout later today, I made some of my favorite salsa! Salsa is becoming one of my new favorite snacks because it is versatile and low-cal. You could probably make about 6 million different types of salsa, and if you don’t add salt, it is pretty healthy for you as well. Even if you do add salt, I wouldn’t exactly describe it as sinful. I particularly enjoy this mango salsa recipe that I modified from a Whole Foods recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups chopped plum tomato
• 1/2 cup chopped mango
• 1/3 cup chopped white or yellow onion
• 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
• 2 tbsp lime juice

Chop everything, then mix together. Enjoy with your favorite tortilla chip. I may or may not eat it straight out of the bowl. Hint: I do.

Delicious, beautiful, and full of summer flavor

Run, Forest, run

I’m happy to report that I’ve kicked my running up a notch the last few days. On Tuesday, I went on a trail run, something that I have not ever done seriously before. It was tough… but I enjoyed it! Usually I find running hard to get into mentally, but I guess putting more obstacles in my way made it fun. I’m not sure how far the run was, because the trail map was about as useless as it gets.

Thanks, I think I know my colors. How about some distances or trail info?

I estimate that we ran for about half an hour. I loved the shade from running in the woods and the interesting terrain mixed it up. I liked having to be on my toes and be constantly aware of my surrounds and next step – much more exciting than running on a sidewalk. I found the downhills the most difficult, oddly enough. On the steep declines, I was having trouble regulating my speed while still controlling where my feet were going. Any advice? Going uphill was also less than enjoyable . I literally thought I was going to die on the last hill. It was a freakin’ monster – steep and long. I will admit, I walked up the end. I know, I know! I could have just made it those for more steps, right? I did try to psych myself up for it, but my battery was drained. I will just have to keep running up (and down)  those hills so I can get better at them. Perhaps I shall revisit my brother’s middle school football days for hill-inspiration; the coach would make them yell “I love the hill!” while sprinting up a massive incline. We’ll see…

Overall, the run was a success! I felt pretty good afterward.

sweaty after our run

Upon arriving home, I was feeling rather famished, so I made myself a big salad with avocado, tomatoes, garbanzo beans,mushrooms, fontanella cheese, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. It hit the spot!

delish.

Yesterday, I went on a regular road run. It was a major success for two main reasons: 1) I ran 3.5 miles without stopping, which is a new record for me; 2) I felt like I could keep going by the time I was done. When I finished my originally planned loop, I didn’t really want to stop, so I decided to add an extra few blocks around my neighborhood. I don’t remember ever wanting to do that before! It was very Forest Gump of me.

Tonight I’m heading to a spinning class, but my next goal for running is 4 miles. Any tips for a newbie runner – especially trail running tips?

Fourth of July

For fourth of July, I spent the long weekend at Brendon’s family’s cottage in PA. What a great way to relax and unplug. We spent tons of time outside doing fun things like swimming, boating, hiking, and grilling – how does it get any better?

view of the lake from the cottage

Of course I also brought a tasty treat along… I like to call them “Firecracker Strawberries.” This is a simple one – strawberries dipped in white chocolate and blue sprinkles. I wish I could take credit for this idea, but I saw a picture on the Internet somewhere

strawberries!

How did you spend the fourth of July weekend?

The hardest step…

“The hardest step a runner takes is the first one out the door.”

I’m not sure who to credit that one to, but over the last week I have been reminded about how fickle motivation is. It waxes and wanes, comes and goes. Recently I have been preparing for a big move, and the change and commotion has caused to me to feel “too busy” to work out. Last week, I woke up at 5:15 and was at the gym by 5:45 two mornings in a row. I was so impressed with myself and thought that I might be turning over a new leaf… until the third morning. I could not get out of bed to save my life. Well, that isn’t entirely accurate – I did get out of bed, but I got right back in it. The thought of physically exerting myself was doing nothing for me. How could I be so jazzed about exercising one day, only to be a sluggish mess the next?

To be honest, I think I was plain old tired. I’m not used to waking up so early and I have been pushing myself pretty hard lately. Normally, thinking about my goals motivates me. It can be hard sometimes to lace up your sneakers and take that first and ever so crucial step out the door. Next time I’m having that paralysis, I’m going to remind myself of WHY I’m taking that first step. I have goals for my health and my body and the only way to meet and maintain those goals is to get out of the door. For me, working out with friends and being realistic with myself helps keep my motivation level high. Taking classes at the gym with my best friend not only gets my butt to the gym, but it is so much fun! Working out is a great way to spend time with a friend, especially if you have similar goals. You can help each other to stay on track. Knowing your limits and knowing what works for you is also important. I’m not a morning person, so forcing myself to get up at the crack of dawn is probably not the best strategy for me. When I plan my workouts for right after work, I tend to the the most productive and focused – why fight that?

This week, I’ve committed myself to healthy eating and fitness by scheduling my workouts and loading up on fruits and veggies at the grocery store. Now the hard part: sticking to the plan! What strategies do you use to stay motivated and make sure you reach your goals?

Food Fiesta

This weekend was a food fiesta. I got off to wonderful start at the Rochester Public Market. With desire to beat the crowds, I arrived before 6am. Let’s just say my goal was accomplished – many of the farmers were still setting up and the customers were few and far between! It was truly a peaceful shopping experience. I was able to peruse at my leisure and not worry about bumping into other shoppers. It can get packed there before 7:00am!

My early start to the day was quite fruitful (pun intended!). I came home with fresh veggies, fruits, and mozzarella cheese. Shopping at the public market makes me feel great for a number of reasons. Taking myself away from the “norm” of shopping at Wegmans has renewed my desire to try new things and break away from a routine. It also feels great to support the local economy while saving myself a few bucks… I only paid $1 for both of those peppers!

My bounty from the public market

I then made an omelette with peppers, tomato, green onion, and cheese. Then, I went back to bed. Hey, I did get up at 5:30!

I wasn’t the only one on the “hunt” for fresh food this weekend. My boyfriend went on a fishing trip and came back with some tasty looking salmon. We cooked up quite the feast when he came home on Sunday night! Our meal consisted of gnocchi with a creamy white wine sauce and sauteed mushrooms, all along side the salmon, of course.

I had decided to get a little fancy (extreme) and make the gnocchi from scratch. With inspiration and direction from one of my favorite food blogs, Closet Cooking, I gave it a go. The process of making gnocchi is relatively simple, but a little tedious. I started by boiling a few potatoes (I used Yukon gold, but I’ve read that russet potatoes may have been a better choice). Next, I mixed them with some flour to create a dough that could be molded. After some sculpting, they were ready to be tossed into the pot. They only needed to be boiled for about 3 minutes before done.

My first attempt at gnocchi

In my opinion, the white wine sauce really pulled the meal together. I slightly modified the sauce from a recipe out of my favorite magazines, Real Simple. Here’s the recipe if you want to try it yourself! (I use the word “recipe” lightly… I tend to not measure things like green onions. I will do my best to approximate.)

In a medium sized pan, heat 1-2 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat. Add ~2 cloves of finely sliced garlic, a handful of chopped green onions, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook until fragrant, approximately 2-3 minutes. Next, add 1/2 cup of dry white wine and let simmer. I used Monkey Bay Sauvingnon Blanc. After 4-5 minutes, add 3/4cup heavy cream.
I let Brendon do the honors of cooking up the salmon. He pan-fried it in a little bit of olive oil with sea salt and black peppercorns – YUM! Meanwhile, I sauteed up some baby ‘bella mushrooms.

Once everything was cooked, we combined it all on the plate and poured a glass a wine. Delish! I forgot to take a picture before I started eating… so excuse the bite marks

yum.

I <3 Yoga

Yoga. Full of poses with funny names and hard to pronounce words (can you Salamba Sarvangasana three times fast??), it can seem like a daunting task. That being said, I have absolutely fallen in love with yoga over the past few months. I began taking classes because I was curious about it. How often in magazines or elsewhere do you see phrases like “get a yoga body!” or claims about finding your inner peace?

Well, so far I have found yoga to be good for both. In yoga, your focus is on your breath and your movements, hopefully syncing the two together. Achieving this synchronization seems to have both an energizing and calming effect. What I enjoy most about yoga is that it is a very personal practice. There is no competition in yoga. Have you ever seen a yoga race or a panel judging someone on how deep they get into their pose? Me either, and I think that is the most beautiful thing about yoga. Your practice is only yours – always. Through the vinyasa classes that I have been taking, I have been able to “fine tune” my body, if you will. I have definitely strengthened my arms and improved my balance. I usually leave class feeling rejuvenated. There is something about the studio and practice that allows me to concentrate for an hour on what I am actually doing in the moment – imagine that?!

In addition to the classes that I have been taking at a local studio (Prana Yoga  – if you’re in the ROC, check it out!), I’ve been taking advantage of the complimentary (aka FREE) classes offered every Saturday at Lululemon. Lululemon is a company who not only sells yoga and running gear, but encourages a holistic approach to happiness, fitness, and life in general. No wonder I like them so much! For anyone interested in learning more, they have a helpful Yoga 101 page.

Because I’m all about yoga, I’m always encouraging others to give it a shot. I have even convinced my boyfriend, who is a rower and cyclist, to join me in practicing yoga regularly. Maybe he is being a good sport, but I think he actually likes it! Last weekend, the we were able to ride our bikes there thanks to the beautiful weather now that summer has shown up. What a fantastic start to the day! (Sidenote: exercising together makes for inexpensive, fun, and healthy dates – sounds like a win to me.)

And on that note, I’m off to go stand on my head. Just kidding… I’m still working towards that one

“Simple but Good”

My mom often responds to compliments of her meals with the phrase, “it’s simple but good.” I have taken a liking to this philosophy – simple definitely IS good. It doesn’t take years of culinary school or top chef expertise to craft a tasty meal. With mom’s advice in mind, I created a simple but good meal for dinner tonight.

I started with some pasta – the Wegmans Smart Pasta variety. What makes this pasta so smart, you ask? It includes a full serving of whole grains, some protein, fiber, calcium, vitamin D, and omega-3s (check out the Wegmans press release if your dying to read more about it). Wanting to give my meal some life, I tossed in some sprouts, chopped onion, and a handful of Greek olives. I bought the olives with the pits still in them, and let’s just say that pitting olives is more difficult than I imagined.

Misshapen but still tasty!

Although my olives looked slightly mangled, they still tasted the same, so I’m calling it alright for now…  I’ll definitely have to work on my technique! After tossing all of my ingredients together with olive oil, I decided to add just a sprinkle of one of my favorite ingredients: cheese (just your garden variety Parmesan – and just a dash!).

The finished product

I was totally satisfied with the mix of (slightly random) flavors that I decided to toss together. This meal took about 15 minutes to prepare – perfect for a weeknight dinner. What quick and easy meals are your favorite?