← coming home last weekend to a surprise package from my mom →
← nailing food prep and having ready made meals all week →
← feeling very confused at the We Can’t Stop/Blurred Lines VMA performance →
←Tuna being my running buddy on Wednesday →
← finding a ton of gourmet snacks at a huge discount →
Hope you have an awesome three-day-weekend!
For the past year, I’ve been running on the same trail. I run past the same trees, see the same people, and run over (and under) the same bridges day after day.
I always walk to the trail, turn right and start running. I even know how the landmarks coordinate with the mileage: if I need to do 3 miles, I run to such and such bench, 5 miles, to a particular fence.
It was only recently that I realized – I’ve been running in one direction.
Ummm….why have I never run the other way?
Last week I almost did, but after a long day, I needed my comforting trees and bridges to zone out and get some stress relief.
On Monday, I finally got the balls to turn left.
With the new scenery, my senses were stimulated and the miles flew by. I’m still loyal to my usual way, but I was definitely in need of a different route to occasionally run.
It was the perf change up for the very first day of this half marathon training cycle.
How often do you change up your running route?
This is officially the best burger I’ve ever eaten.
Okay, I admit: I think I’ve had about two hamburgers in my whole life (I’m not a huge ground beef fan). But this meal may have changed my whole outlook on burgers.
I found the recipe in the most recent edition of Runner’s World and switched up the flavoring from curry to Old Bay.
The article explained that crab has a lot of vitamin b12, which apparently helps with red blood cell production, therefore carrying more oxygen to your muscles.
Not going to lie – this dinner seriously tasted like it was from a restaurant!
Makes 2 burger patties.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Mix together ingredients in large bowl.
Form into 2 burger patties with hands.
Grease large skillet and grill about 5 minutes on each side.
******
We gobbled our burgers down on toasted whole wheat sandwich rolls and topped them with homemade guacamole. Omg.
Tuna got a whole photo flip book of the tasting.
Thanks as always to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons for hosting What I Ate Wednesday!
← noshing on a giant homemade crab burger →
← getting sups excited that a friend registered for the same half as me →
← being lucky that nothing was ruined when my closet flooded AGAIN →
← loving some of the tricks in THIS article that my bffl Nancy sent me →
← heading back to my old stompin’ grounds for the weekend →
It’s Friday, woohooo!
What are you doing this weekend?
When Tuna woke up on Saturday morning and wanted to make pancakes, I wasn’t about to try and change his mind.
Because it meant I would get pancakes too.
Tunes got even more points for makin’ them right – i.e., with chocolate chips.
He based his healthy chocolate chip pancakes off of THIS recipe.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, oil, and milk.
Stir wet ingredients into dry (keep batter a little lumpy).
Grease a skillet (I used Pam) and heat on medium.
Pour 1/2 cup of batter at a time onto skillet.
Let cook for several minutes and flip when bubbles start to appear on top of the dough. Cook on second side for several minutes until golden brown.
Thanks as always to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons for hosting What I Ate Wednesday!
← using a mani/pedi gift certificate →
←snippin’ a free herb garden from my dad’s front yard →
← hosting my very first grown-up dinner party →
← baking the healthiest blondies ever →
← style trolling on Pinterest in preparation for the end of tax-free week in MD→
Happy Friday!
Sooooo…..about that baked vegetable pilaf.
Making it was fun and it tasted amazing. But it was during the part in between that disaster struck.
As I went to put the dish in the oven, I glanced at the recipe instructions one last time and realized I needed a lid for the casserole dish (the directions called for one).
Welp, I didn’t have a lid, so I made a makeshift one using two glass lids for the 9x13in dish. One was from a smaller casserole dish and the other was my crock-pot lid.
35 minutes later, I took the pilaf out of the oven and squinted in confusion.
The handle on the crock-pot lid had melted.
In a huff, I grabbed the other glass lid with my non-mitted hand and immediately felt the shock of HOT. I quickly threw the glass down into the sink and turned on the cold cold water to run my burned fingers under.
Then I heard a large SNAP.
Maybe I need to go back and read Cooking For Dummies.
Lesson learned: always read ALL of the directions before you start a recipe.
Have you ever had a baking or cooking fail? What happened?
I know for a fact that this main dish/side dish is super healthy because I found it in my Eat-Clean Diet book.
I’m so glad I did because it is most definitely delish. Did I mention this recipe is also sups easy to make?
The perfect trio.
I am really liking these quinoa bakes, if you can’t tell!
Ingredients:
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray casserole dish with olive oil.
Cook couscous and the quinoa.
While the grains are cooking, heat olive oil in a medium skillet. Add onion, carrot, celery, pepper, and corn. Cook until onion is translucent.
In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked grains and veggies. Stir in vegetable stock and salt. Pour mixture into casserole dish.
Cover casserole dish with lid. Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes. Grains are cooked when all water has been absorbed.
Thanks as always to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons for hosting What I Ate Wednesday!
I think my allegiance has officially shifted from Whole Foods to Trader Joe’s.
A year and a half ago, I used to do my weekly grocery shopping at Giant. I would get golfish and diet coke and call it a day.
When I started eating clean in January 2012, I started shopping at Whole Foods – meaning I was spoiled with ridiculously nice looking produce while simultaneously spending a small fortune.
Talking with friends last week brought me back down to Earth that people my age should be shopping a little more $$ conscious wise, and Trader Joe’s is the perfect compromise. Foodie and organic, but waaay more affordable.
I’m glad I used Whole Foods during the time that I was really figuring out how to eat healthily, and now that I know what shit like agave nectar is I’m more comfortable with choosing what to buy in a jumbled assortment of food.
With everything costing about half of what it would cost at Whole Foods, I am able to simply buy more at Trader Joe’s. I have enough room in my budget to try new flavors that I may not like or buy fruit that I normally wouldn’t buy, like tomato and basil hummus.
And there are awesome Trader Joe’s brand items that are not only cheap, but utterly delicious. This pecan praline granola is seriously the best granola I’ve ever had.
Chia seeds at Whole Foods = $9.99. Chia seeds at Trader Joe’s = $4.99.
Wanna know why I never went to the Trader Joe’s near me and opted for the more expensive Whole Foods? I thought you had to pay for parking in the nearby garage to park at the Trader Joe’s.
Turns out parking is free.
Where do you grocery shop?
Are you on team Whole Foods or team Trader Joe’s?
← buying all of my groceries this week at Trader Joe’s and saving some moolah →
← finding out one of my friends works at lululemon and gets a 40% discount →
← inheriting a free set of dumbells →
← trying a trendy new restaurant that grows its own herbs →
← braving swampy DC and sweaty myself silly on an evening run →
Woohoo, it’s Friday!
Chicken Nugget Girl 