Salsa Salad Stuff

I woke up this morning, and starting going through the same old routine. I woke up, with my responsible side telling me to get up early before the heat of the sun and get ready for my run, (Let's just say my lazy side wins a lot and I end up running in the heat of the day). Then I started planning what run and what workout I was going to do. Is it going to be a normal 5-6 mile day? What about a hill day? Should I work on speed today? Is it time to do a capillary run? Then, once I decided what run I am going to do, I start feeling sorry for myself (stupid, I know. It is. I know...). I start feeling sorry for myself because I have to train alone all summer. Feeling sorry for myself because I am tired. Feeling sorry for myself because I miss my team. Then, I snap out of it and tell myself to stop having a pity party and I realized how blessed I am. And somehow through it all, I get myself out the door and I realize the only reason I manage to run every day is through the Lord. That HAS to be it. I pray for strength and motivation every day because I simply do not have it on my own. That has got to be the ONLY way I am able to do it. At least that is what I conclude. This has been my routine every day that I have visited my dad. But its worth it. I may not be as fast as I could be with the help/motivation of my team and coach, but its worth the sacrifice to be here with my daddy and spend time with him. I know the Lord will help me get stronger this season. I am looking forward to that "pinnacle" point I hit every season, where my legs feel like they can lift the world and I have so much confidence in my racing capabilities. It definitely has not come yet. It usually comes after the first few races though, so I have time.

Anyways, I made this Salad Salsa stuff. I don't know what to call it. Is it a salsa cause it has a whole bunch of salsa-y ingredients? Or is it a salad because I eat it without any chips? I don't know anymore. You call it what you'd like. Well, enjoy this new recipe. Make it for your next BBQ. I dare ya. :D


Ingredients

• 2 roma tomatoes chopped
• 1 red bell pepper chopped
• juice of 1 lime (I had to use 2 because the first one was not very juicy, so buy 2 just in case)
• 1/3 cup black beans
• 2 Tb. chopped onion
• handful of chopped cilantro
• 1-2 small cloves of garlic
• 1 avocado chopped

This is the hard part, are you ready??

1. Mix together

WHOOAAA! I know, I know. You're probably thinking "How do you expect me to be able to make this?" I know its hard, but I have faith in you. You can do it  ;)

E N J O Y .  H E A L T H I N G  .  Y O U R S E L F

French Toast Friday

It's French Toast Friday everyone! I love French toast Friday. Last FTF, my team and I had just gotten done with a fairly hard (in my opinion) run and someone brought up the idea of going to a local breakfast food place for French toast. Then, without thinking, I suggested everyone come to my house for French toast. Then it hit me! What are you thinking?! You do NOT have enough food for 7 hungry teenage runners! (Only 7 because practically everyone on my team had already left practice). I mean let's face it. Cross country runners can eat at least four pieces of French toast each. But by this point, everyone had already gotten excited about the idea, so I just nodded my head and smiled and told them to follow me to my house. I felt relieved when I remembered I had two loafs of bread at my house so bread shouldn't be a problem. But then, I was dismayed to find only five eggs in the fridge. No way was five eggs going to make enough French toast for my hungry friends. So I decided to just start borrowing some my neighbor. I knew that wouldn't even be enough though so I was getting worried. I knocked on her door and asked for two eggs. (Feeling bad already for asking more than one!) Then she asked if I was sure I didn't need more. I was really hesitant to ask for more, but then so kindly, she offered me not one more, not two more, but EIGHTEEN more! Apparently she had over bought eggs and had a whole extra case that she was going to throw away. Talk about generosity and luck! Oh man. So I got back and made tons of French toast. I even entreated my team to my homemade peanut butter which they seemed to enjoy. It was really fun. I truly love my team. Or should I just say my family. One team. One family. It's just how cross country works. :)



This French toast is a little different. Secret ingredient? Greek yogurt. Hmmmm


makes four pieces of French toast

Ingredients

• four pieces of whole wheat bread
• 2 eggs
• 4 Tbs. of plain greek yogurt (total fat or 2%)
• 1-1/2 Tbs. agave nectar or honey
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• dash of cinnamon

1. whisk together all ingredients until thoroughly mixed
2. heat a large frying pan over medium heat
3. dip each side of bread in the mixture so that it is fully dressed in the egg mixture
4. place the bread in the pan
5. cook for about 3-5 minutes on each side, watching to make sure it does not burn
6. top with fruit, agave, honey, or whatever you desire.
7. Enjoy your next French Toast Friday!!

Quinoa Summer Saute

Its, summer, and I have not been posting many recipes consistently. My apologies. Its hard to get cooking in the summer when you're constantly going. I have been on several camping trips, and I have been traveling quite a bit. I have been doing pretty good about eating okay, but let's face it. Its a lot harder and I have definitely been eating junky food. That's okay every once in a while though, so I was not really worried about it. However, it definitely felt good to get home and start eating good food again. I can already feel a difference with my energy, no more headaches, no more stomach aches, and simply all around, I am feeling better with good food in me.

This was a new recipe I made tonight. I saw a picture of quinoa, and started craving it. Then, I decided I would try cooking with ginger. Something I haven't tried yet. So, if you get bored on a summer day and want to try some quinoa lovin', then try this recipe. It was really fresh tasting and quite satisfying. D E L E C T A B L E !


serves approx. 3-4 people

Ingredients:

• 2 cup cooked red quinoa
• 2 stalks of celery, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 Tbs. ginger root, skinned & chopped

which looks like this. You will find it in the produce section,typically near the cabbage family.

• 1 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil (possibly more to prevent burning of vegetables, use at own observations)
• sprinkle of onion powder
• dash of parsley
• sea salt and pepper to taste
• dash of cayenne pepper for a little zip!

1. Follow cooking instructions for quinoa as instructed on the package
2. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a medium sized sauce pan
3. Sauté bell pepper, ginger, and celery for approximately 6-8 minutes  
4. Add seasoning 
5. Once the quinoa is cooked, add it to the saucepan with sautéed vegetables

Easy peasy right?!


SIDE NOTE ON QUINOA: Did you know that quinoa is a complete protein. It is also a seed, not a grain. It is gluten free so it is safe for those with celiac disease. YAY FOR QUINOA! :D You can find it at almost ANY local grocery store. It is fairly cheap, but if there is anywhere near you that sells bulk foods, it is nearly almost always cheaper bought bulk.

Protein Pudding

 

Confession time everyone!! As much as I am fairly good about eating healthy, I am weak around chocolate. It is my weakness. After a hard test day, or maybe after a really hard workout, all I want is a little chocolate lovin'. It's so good! (milk chocolate though, not my favorite. I'm a dark chocolate kind of person) So anyways, I try to make chocolate "healthier" because the craving comes up too often for me not to. When I discovered this idea of putting chocolate protein powder in plain Greek yogurt with some agave (thanks for the idea Ally), I fell in love. Now I haven't done my research on protein powder and if it is really all it is cranked out to be, nor do I know if it is all natural, BUT I don't know if I care enough at this moment. Maybe one day I will dig my head into a little research (but where to even begin for reliable sources?! Geesh!). Anyways, if you ever need a little chocolate fix and/or you want something really filling and fairly healthy, then please. Let me lead you to my friend "Protein Pudding"!

Side note: This actually a really good way to snack if you find yourself a little hungry in the middle of the day or at night. It is full of protein from the greek yogurt and the protein powder, and it has a good amount of fat (which is GOOD!  Don't be scared about it!), and some nice carbs from the agave nectar. It is really balanced, therefore, your body will have everything it needs and your brain will detect that you are full! Hurray for feeling satisfied for longer!! :)




Ingredients:

• about 2/3 cup or so of plain Greek Yogurt (my new favorite is Fage Total)
• about 2 tablespoons of chocolate protein powder (I have just been using Shakeology because it has been the only thing in my dad's cupboard...I heard its expensive. Not sure on that one!)
• as much agave as you want to thin it out and sweeten it up a little

1) Mix all the ingredients thoroughly and enjoy!

Haven't Lived Till Now Spaghetti Sauce

K so you know that saying “You haven’t live until you have done [insert amazing thing]”. Well my friends, I have a few of those for ya today. And they all come from my personal experience and expertise. Pretending of course that I have any. ;)

You have not lived until you have…

 1)      eaten stove popped popcorn

       2)      repelled down a cliff
       3)      jumped off a cliff….please oh please make sure there is deep water, free of boulders at the bottom ;)
       4)      ran, simply put
       5)      held a baby 
       6)      held a baby monkey ;)
       7)      watched the Pixar movie "Up"
       8)      snorkeled over the Great Barrier Reef
       9)      had a lemonade stand
     10)   and last but not least…..you have NOT lived until you have tried my homemade spaghetti sauce

Oh and before we go any further, I totally lied about snorkeling over the Great Barrier Reef. Sorry folks. Maybe one day though. :)

Now, now, you may have a pulse and you may be breathing. But I’m not too sure! Now I will make a deal with you. I can pardon the other 9 requirements of living if you simply do the 10^th one. Once you try it, then I will say you have lived. ;) Sound like a deal?

Ingredients:

  · 5 medium/large tomatoes

      · 2 cloves of garlic
      · 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
      · 2-3 tablespoons of agave nectar (depending on how much sweetness you want to taste)
      ·  1 tsp. dried basil
      ·  ½ tsp. onion powder
      ·  ½ tsp. oregano
      · Sprinkle of black pepper
      · Sprinkle of cayenne pepper
      · Sea salt to taste
      · About 4 oz. of Ground turkey  (I like to use 93/7 lean turkey)

1.Finely chop the tomatoes and place them in a medium sized sauce pan over med-high heat

 2. Mince the garlic and throw them in with the tomatoes

 3. Tomatoes should start to bubble, once this occurs, pour in vinegar and agave nectar

 4. Once vinegar and agave are stirred in, stir in all your seasonings

 5. Wait for approximately 10 minutes

 6. While you are waiting, brown your turkey in a frying pan

 7. Once turkey is cooked thoroughly and most of the liquid in the spaghetti sauce has evaporated, mix turkey in with the spaghetti sauce.

 8. Wait till is has come to the consistency you like

 9. Pour over wheat noodles or spaghetti squash or rice or whatever your pretty little mind desires. :)

"Tour de Colorado" Whole Wheat Bread

Today was just one of those days. Those beautiful days. Visiting my dad, we went for a 12 mile bike ride. I like to call it the Tour de Colorado.  {eh? eh? See what I did there?} It was so beautiful outside and such a good activity that not only exercises your body, but exercises your mind. Riding a bike is such a perfect time to think. The trail we rode is so beautiful and feels so secluded from the world. My favorite part by far was the people we saw along the way. They never failed to smile or wave or say "hi there" when we passed. It just made me think, wouldn't the world be so great if everyone just loved everyone? We really have no reason not love everyone. So let's start! Yeah? Me and You. Here we go. Let's just love everyone. Let's not be afraid to say "hi" to those strangers we pass everyday. Let's not hold back from a harmless conversation with a person we have never met. You never know how far that little act can go. That's gonna be my goal. After all, we are all sent here to live a life of our own. We were all nervous to leave our heavenly home and come to create our own story. So why not reach out to each other a little? These were just some thoughts strolling through the beautiful countryside today. And I just know I surely need to work on reaching out.

Hey! Remember that bread recipe I got you all excited about in my Divine PB & Blackberry Sandwich post?! Well, hopefully you don't remember how long ago that was because let's just say, I slacked off on posting that as quickly as I hope. I apologize! But here it is. It is sooooo delicious. Please try it if you want to be happy in life. Yep, that's right. I'm giving you the key to happiness right here in this recipe. {Okay so maybe it isn't the key to happiness, but its gotta be pretty close!}

Oh and this is one recipe that I did not create. I got it from a woman in my church ward. So don't give me credit.   :)




Ingredients

*Makes either 2 large loaves, or 3 small-med. loaves*

• 5 cups hot water
• 1 cup grapeseed oil
• 1 cup honey
• 4 Tb. yeast
• 12 cups whole wheat flour (be brave and grind some hard wheat yourself. It is too good not to)
• 2 Tb. sea salt

1. Dissolve the honey in the hot water and mix in the oil
2. Once the mixture has cooled to a warm temperature, sprinkle the yeast gently on top
3. Mix the flour and salt
4. Once the yeast mixture has foamed, about 8 minutes, pour it into the flour
5. In a bread machine and or in a kitchen-aid, knead on medium speed for three minutes(If you don't have either, just knead really well for about 3-5 minutes)
6. Let the dough rise for 30 minutes
7. On an oiled counter surface, roll out dough and form the loaves (to avoid creating air bubbles, fold in the sides of the rolled dough to the middle, and then throw it hard onto the counter a few times)
8. Press the dough into the corners of a bread pan
9. Bake on 200 degrees until the bread has sufficiently reached the top of the pan
10. Once it has reached the top, turn up the heat to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 30 minutes (I found that to be not quite enough, so I would suggest 38-40 minutes)
11. Remove and let the loaves cool before you take out of the pan
12. Enjoy the happiness that will flood over you the second you take the first bite!!

Greek Pasta Salad

Lately I have been looking into my family history and it has been really fun! I's really interesting looking at old profiles, old immigrant records, and especially old photos. Old historical photos are hard to find, especially when they are your own family. But guess what? I found some! My dad practically has a whole family history museum in a chest in his house. It is full of records of my grandparents and great-great grandparents. There are plenty of pictures and I got glued to the floor for a good half hour just flipping through them. So interesting! I love it! I can't wait to look farther back in history and start discovering some mysterious family stories!

Anyways, on the topic of food, let me introduce to you a pretty stinkin' delicious pasta salad recipe. It is really refreshing and light. It is a Greek style salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, feta cheese, and kalamata olives. Great for a light lunch! Here you go my friends. Try it out....





Ingredients

• roughly 8 oz. dry whole wheat noodles, cooked
• 2 Tb. extra virgin olive oil
• 20 sweet golden cherry tomatoes, chopped
• 1 large cucumber, chopped
• 20 kalamata olives, seeded, chopped
• 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
• sea salt to taste
• drizzle of agave (optional)

1. Mix all ingredients in a tupper-ware container
2. Refrigerate
3. Serve when desired
4. Enjoy