fun run

Had the most fantastic run this morning - 9 miles that felt like 4, most of which I was literally smiling through because it felt so dang good. Goshen College had their cross country path marked out, so I did a mile on grass, which was new and really good for my hips, knees, and ankles (no injuries, either!). Wanted to keep going and going - 11, 12, 13, whatever! - but held back so I could still run tomorrow. Hooray!

Here is my new favorite morning activity: http://puzzles.usatoday.com/ I love doing the crosswords and word finds. So fun!

I think I might make corn chowder sometime soon. Doesn't that sound delicious right now, with the kind of fall-like weather and fresh sweet corn?

Our friends Mark and Lauren come tomorrow and we're so excited. I'll be making my mom's homemade mac and cheese - Dave's favorite. It's First Fridays in Goshen so we'll walk around downtown, listen to music, come back and hang out at the apartment. We can't wait for them to get here!

For lunch today I skillet-ized corn, black beans, garlic, and zuc with a lot of cumin. Put this over spinach and avacados and crisped tortillas that I made in the oven with olive oil and sea salt. Deliciousness. All I needed were tomatoes for a punch of color and juice... but alas. None.

august round-up

I ran 140 in July, so I decided I wanted to hit 150 in August. My final total was 152 - just over. I really think the fruit has helped these past two days - my legs have felt much much better. Bananas are definitely proven to be great for runners, but I'm building my faith in all fruit for that.

It's incredible to me that what used to be a longer-ish runs for me are now my daily runs. Earlier I commented that the book Born to Run changed my attitude about running and really helped me get to the level of running I'm currently at. And I do believe that. If you like running at all (or just want to read a phenomenal story) get that book. It is so dang worth it. But something else I've learned as I've been running, especially in the past two months, is that the capabilities and desires have always been there, hidden or dormant or trapped. And the book maybe helped me see them, but it was God who really helped me release them. Running has been an incredible way for me to experience the strength of my own body, the possibilities I possess. I run now for positive reasons - its healthy, it feels good to be outside and moving, I like seeing how far I can push myself, pure enjoyment - instead of the old reasons - mainly ones tied to negative self-image and weight issues (neither of which really helped me enjoy running or go very far... and I always quit after a bit). Running has been a way for God to really break down some old lies that I believed about myself and to heal me. I am an incredibly different person mentally in regards to my body and my self-image at the end of these two months than I was at the beginning. Running was definitely the key, but God was the one turning the key. I didn't really want this entry to be a sermon, but I also felt strongly that I needed to give God the credit for what He had done, and not say it was just running or just a book. Both played a large part, but they weren't THE part. September's goal is 175, just to see if I can. I am thankful for new freedom and continued growth.

Egg roll update: couldn't find egg roll wrappers in the grocery store (new leads have suggested the produce section??) so used corn tortillas instead. The filling tasted really good but I thought the tortilla was a bit too much for the filling... so I still want to try it egg-roll style. If all else fails I might get phyllo dough and try it that way. Still, a good recipe. And the filling really was delicious. Would be excellent as a salsa-like dip for tortilla chips.

Also got a new basil plant from Meijer - a bigger one. Trying to grow it indoors and hoping it keeps. I probably need to get it a new pot this week. I should move my oregano now, while it's still alive, and before an early frost comes in (which seems likely considering it's AUGUST and 45 degrees this morning). Our friend Irene gave me a tiny hen and chicks plant. She said the chicks should start coming out in a week. I am very excited about this plant!!

Also. Random: Dave and I have watched the Bourne Trilogy this weekend and in the movies the killer/assassins are called "assets." We have taken to calling Mosie "The Asset" when she is in play mode since she loves to stalk and hunt.

fruit and blisters

My last two runs have been ugly - feeling stiff, tired... just needing more willpower and effort to run than normal. I realized that we haven't had much fruit in the house this week because it's the end of the month and we're trying to stay in our budget... which means we really can't grocery shop til September 1. But I think not having fruit is affecting my legs... it could be completely mental, I know. But I bit the bullet today and got some bananas, grapes, and peaches. We'll see if tomorrow's run is better after a few doses of fruit.

And I have two new blisters - one on the inside side of my right foot, one in the space between the pad of my big toe and the ball of my foot on the right left foot. Strange, because I haven't had blisters in a long time - just calluses. Not sure if it's the extra humidity the past few days - sweatier feet - or maybe my gait is off since my legs have felt off. In any case, not bad enough by far to keep me from running, but annoying all the same.

Friday!

Haven't posted this week... because not much new is going on. Haven't done any new cooking or gardening (my basil and oregano are still looking tenuous). Still running, and getting near the end of August so trying to get in mileage (to beat last month's 140) while not overdoing it so that I end up hating it.

Wednesday I got to go spend the day with Emily and meet her and Derek's new baby. So cute! He slept most of the time, as newborns do, and we hung out and went to lunch and caught up. And last night our small group got together and made plaster masks of our faces. Dorky, but totally fun. Rubbing vaseline all over your face is gross, but the actual plastering part feels kind of good - I fell asleep for a little bit.

Dave surprised me this morning with breakfast in bed - scrambled eggs, toast, coffee. Good husband and friend, that one.

A pretty empty weekend ahead, which I'm looking forward to. The house could use a good cleaning and I have a few errands to run, and Stephanie is coming over from Mishawaka to hang out for a bit, but other than that, not much. Maybe some reading and movies. Maybe I'll find a new recipe to try, too.

Maybe this one, from Rachel H.:

Spinach, Black Bean and Corn Egg Rolls

Adapted from Melanie Scott (Simple and Delicious)

Makes 20 egg rolls

Note: This was designed as a low-fat recipe, but if you’re looking for something closer to a restaurant-style Southwestern egg roll, double the amount of cheese from 1 cup to 2, and use a full-fat variety.

• 2 cups frozen corn, thawed
• 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend
• 1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chiles, drained
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon.pepper
• Dash of cayenne
• 20 egg roll wrappers

1. In a large bowl, combine everything but the egg roll wrappers. Place 1/4 cup mixture in the center of one egg roll wrapper. Fold bottom corner over filling. Fold sides toward center over filling. Moisten remaining corner with water; roll up tightly to seal. Repeat.

2. Place seam-side down on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Spray tops of egg rolls with cooking spray. Bake at 425 degrees F for 10-15 minutes until lightly brown. Turn them halfway through baking.

3. Serve warm with salsa and/or guacamole.

winner weekend

Had a fantastic weekend with Rachel, Bec, and Peter. Spent lots of time reading, looking at some bridesmaid dresses, playing games, walking in the rain, and, of course, eating. The most delicious part was probably the ice cream Saturday night - reese's pb ice cream with mocha moaner cookie crumbles (made by Rachel). So good! And Sunday lunch we had a hot chicken couscous salad with zuc and onions and peppers in a red wine vinegar and cumin dressing. Really good!

In Marion now after a fortunate skip week last week. Ugh. Started a new Janet Evanovich book on CD today - Four to Score. Jill introduced me to Janet E.'s series. Funny, entertaining murder mysteries. Not your great literary achievements, but decently written and can certainly hold your attention for a few hours early in the morning.

Random: decided this morning that instead of a pb breakfast sandwich (I eat on the road) I wanted a ham and red pepper hummus sandwich. It was delicious, if a bit odd to eat at 6:40AM.

So now that my gardening season is officially over (or at least has been relegated to desperately trying to keep my on-the-edge oregano and basil still alive) I need a new hobby or effort to try. Any ideas?

And lastly, a pic from the weekend, and another irresistible one of Mosie, sleeping belly-up.

pics and frittatas

I told Kel I was making macaroni and cheese frittatas tonight and she asked for a picture. So here it is!

I got these from - who else? - Camilla. Aren't they cute? She intended them as a way to get her toddler to eat vegetables. I think when I make them again I'll "adult" them a bit - maybe add some onion, more garlic, some spices. They were pretty good though, and a really fun and different recipe to try! Dave is looking forward to having them for breakfast tomorrow.

And while I'm doing pictures, here is one of Amanda and I with Erin, our soon-due friend! And our first picture with the coming baby! Hooray!

muffins and meatloaf

Tried some new muffins today, from Camilla - love them!!!

Dave requested meatloaf for dinner and I had some extra spinach I wanted to use before it spoiled, so I found a simple recipe on allrecipes.com. I made some additions of garlic, onion, and herbs to up the flavor, and it came out great!

Superfood Super Muffins

3c. wheat flour

4T. ground flaxseed

2t. baking powder

3t. ground ginger

2t. cinnamon

1t. salt

1/2c. sugar

2c. pumpkin

1 1/2c. vanilla yogurt (recipe called for plain but I only had vanilla so I used that and then halved the sugar. turned out really well!)

3/4c. oil (I didn't have applesauce but next time I'm trying it that way)

2 eggs

1/2c. dried fruit (the recipe called for 1c. but I only had 1/2, and this seemed to suffice. The batter is moist and delicious enough you only need the fruit to complement, not carry it.)

Mix dry ingredients. Mix wet. Combine until just mixed. Drop in greased muffin tin. Bake 25 minutes at 350. Makes about 20. About 150 cals/muffin (will be less with applesauce sub)

Spinach Mozzarella Meatloaf

1.5lb. gr. beef

1 (10oz.) pkg. frozzen chopped spinach, thawed and drained (I used fresh, wilted in the skillet with the onion)

1 1/2c. bread crumbs

1 1/2c. mozzarella cheese

2 eggs

onion, diced and slightly browned

garlic

basil (fresh)

Combine. Bake at 350 for an hour in a greased pan.

Stopped at the farmer's market today and got green beans, fingerling potatoes, and 2 dozen corn. We had some corn and potatoes with the meatloaf, and I just finished boiling the other 20 ears for freezing! Hooray!!