The Bears say hello! With a shout out to their Montana Man, whom they miss : )
Runs always make me late! I thought I had plenty of time to run, shower, eat and blog before I left on my date with Karen tonight but turns out I didn’t.
4.5 knocked me out! I felt as wiped as I used to with 10 miles all afternoon. Guess it’s been a while since I’ve ran outside! It was a strong + hard run.
When I returned and showered, I put together a quick lunch that got eaten way faster than I would have liked
I heated up our leftover Tofu Parm from the other night and had it with a salad made of spinach, red pepper, figs, apricot stilton (leftover from Xmas parties!), wheatberries and the other half of my giant pear.
It was delicious and super filling!
After lunch I met Karen and her friends Tracy and Clayton to see “The King’s Speech”!
Karen says hi!
I thought the movie was great. Really well acted and a good story.
Afterwards we went for coffee and I had a peppermint tea with steamed milk on top
For maximum outdoor enjoyment, I decided to walk home while Karen went walking at the gym. I witnessed a gorgeous sunset!
And the beautiful mountainscape of Virginia
Karen came back to my place for dinner, and we made leftover chili that she froze while I was gone
We were going to have a kale salad on the side (she’s on a kale kick!) but we decided after lightly steaming it in a pot with a few tablespoons of water to pour the chili on top.
It turned out to bed a fabulous idea!! I LOVED being able to eat the chili with a fork – it was more like a lasagna/pasta bake dish.
Topped with cheese, sour cream and the very last of a chip bag
We also had some leftover slices of cornbread, but I didn’t have more than a bite – it didn’t taste that great to me.
This chocolate did though! We each had a few squares after dinner.
Tomorrow I have an exciting giveaway to announce that involves peanut butter making!! And expect the next Home Neat Home post [Clothes + Closets] on Tuesday!
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
Yikes I haven’t run outside in awhile. I have a feeling it’s gonna be a toughie. I SO wanna see The King’s Speech. Beautiful sunset photo!!
Kristy @ KristyRuns says
Hazelnut praline chocolate? Yes, please! 😉
Looks like a good Sunday with good company.
Chelsey (Cookteen) says
that chocolate sounds amazing!!!
Bronwyn Coyne says
Hmmm yummy, I’ve been looking to make some chili for awhile now. Mostly because I want an excuse to try and make some cornbread. 😀 Having it on kale looks like an awesome idea. Can’t wait for the rest of your organization tips!
andrea says
The King’s Speech was so good!! I wish I lived in a town where i could walk places!!
Emily (Savory and Savage) says
I have a bunch of kale sitting in my refrigerator and I have been wondering what to do with it. The kale with chili on top looks delicious – I will have to try that one out.
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Dontcha just love having a great mother-in-law? I am so glad you two have each other. I love mine and would love to be able to do more things like that with her. I think I may make a date with her soon! Have a great night Kath!
Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine says
Ooooh I’ve never tried that dark chocolate, but it sounds heavenly. Need to get on it- I consider myself a chocolate connoisseur!
Masha says
I love the relationship you have with Karen! So nice to see 🙂
Lauren at KeepItSweet says
can’t wait for that giveaway!!!
Leila @ Spinach and Skittles says
Hazelnut praline chocolate? Yum. Good idea the kale+chili, sounds tasty!
Alaina says
Can’t wait for the peanut butter giveaway!
Kings Speech is on my list of movies. That and “No Strings Attached”. 🙂
Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) says
I like pouring chilis and stews onto salad – it totally changes up the meal, especially for leftovers.
Courtney @ the granola chronicles says
Oh that chocolate bar looks so good! Enjoy your Sunday night.
Kat @ Cupcake Kat says
That looks delcious for such a quickly made lunch.
Dinner looks great too.
Sounds like you had an awesome day
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
Your meals are always so colorful! Colorful = healthy 🙂
Kelley says
Sounds like the perfect sunday! I love Lake Champlain chocolate. It rivals European Chocolate for sure! I went to their factory last year and had tons of free samples! http://kelocity.com/2010/07/24/anniversary-trip-part-6-burlington-and-stowe/
Blog is the New Black says
That tofu parm sounds awesome! I am trying to ease my way into tofu- not there yet!
Lauren says
Yay Lake Champlain Chocolate! I love seeing Vermont products on people’s blogs, and their chocolate is so good!
Jess @ atasteofconfidence says
I loved the King’s Speech. Great acting!
bitt says
lake champlain makes a good chocolate.
Karen is so pretty. Hope she is doing OK.
Jil @ Big City, Lil Kitchen says
Glad to see Karen looking so great!!
Sandy says
Sunshine in Charlottesville – YAY! Chili is on the menu tomorrow night and I have kale in my fridge so Tuesday will be chili on kale. Thanks for helping me plan to use that kale. Glad to see Karen looking so good.
Ann @ Day by Day says
I loved the King’s Speech too!! It’s so cool that the current Queen Elizabeth was one of the little girls.
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) says
can’t wait for Tuesday’s post. i am LOVING your home organization posts…like, totally. Like food is fine, but talking about clutter and making everything seem prettier…is just what I am lovin’ lately 🙂
Meagan says
I love to do that with soups too! I haven’t gotten into Kale yet though! It might be really hard to digest on my stomach :/
jen @ taste life says
That cornbread looks very tasty.
Kath says
It tasted like chemicals 🙁
Aimee says
Sometimes the baking soda in quickbreads can taste aluminum-y. Maybe that was the culprit?
Aimee says
Or maybe the powder? Unfortunately for my baked goods I oftentimes get the two confused.
Amy at TheSceneFromMe says
Glad Karen is feeling better!
Kale is something I have yet to try. I really want to make kale chips!
My girlfriends and I went to the movies last night to see Country Strong. It was great!
Mmm, chocolate prailine hazelnut!
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
loved the kings speech – on my top 10 of the year for sure!
Lily's Health Pad says
My mom and dad just saw The King’s Speech. They loved it too.
Can’t wait for the Neat Home post.
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
That lunch and dinner is right up my alley! It looks great!
sarah (sarah learns) says
mmm, i love putting greens in the bottom of my bowl for dinner. almost anything goes well on greens! tonight was spinach under mac & cheese w/ roasted veggies. mmm.
Kelsey @ Clean Teen Kelsey says
I’m on a kale kick myself! Of course, I kind of have to be. We obtained BUNCHES of organic red and green kale from our friend’s CSA bunch cause they had too many. Now we’re overflowing with kale and are unsure of what to do with it all, haha.
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
I really want to see the King’s Speech!
Jasmine @ Eat Move Write says
I love your relationship with your mother-in-law. That’s so cool.
I like chili on top of kale. I’d much rather eat chili with a fork actually.
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) says
I had some kale today after neglecting it for a while. I forgot how much I love it!
[email protected] says
Peanut butter making and giveaway?! Can’t wait!
Valerie @ City|Life|Eats says
Hearty stews on top of kale or spinach is definitely a favorite of mine. 🙂
rebecca lustig says
my parents have not been able to stop talking about the kings speech!! i feel left out ha
Eileen says
Aww, Karen looks great! I hope she’s doing really well!
caryn says
ditto to this comment! i hope she feels as wonderful as she looks!
M says
Hello to Karen who looks fantastic.
Mest wishes to her for the very best of health –
we readers enjoy Karen on the blog and are “fans” of hers!! 🙂
How does Karen like her fame?!
M says
“Mest” = best …..typo!
Kath says
She thinks it’s fun!
foodandfarm says
Ooooo how did you like cafe cubano?
Kath says
I only got a tea, but it was very cute in there!
Laura (On the Threshold of Greatness) says
I’ve heard that’s an excellent movie! Glad you had a good time with Karen, and glad to see she’s doing well! 🙂
You know the Virginia mountains make my heart smile!
Sana says
I love that you spend lots of time with your MIL!
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
Definitely making that tofu parm! It looks sooo YUMMY! 🙂
Amy says
loooved The King’s Speech!
Kelly says
That’s nice that you and Karen are keeping each other company while Matt is out of town. I lucked out and got a great MIL too! 🙂
Hannah says
Aww, snuggling bears! I almost jumpe din shock when you said you had milk with your peppermint tea. I’ve never, ever considered that, so it sounds really weird to me! 😛
Kath says
It’s like an after dinner mint!
Amanda (The Nutritionist Reviews) says
What an awesome idea to put the chili on top of kale! Looks awesome.
Jessica says
I made BBQ Tofu tonight, which is awesome as leftovers, so I can just imagine how good tofu parm is re-heated.
Jessica
Katy (The Singing Runner) says
Good to see Karen! She looks great! 😀
[email protected] says
Speaking of Kale, have you ever made the raw-vegan-cheesy Kale chips in the dehydrator? They are amazing. I thought the wet mixture in the blender quite honestly didn’t smell that good, but they wound up being fantastic. I am pretty sure you would love them.
Kath says
I’ve had them but not made them since I don’t have a dehydrator
Maddie (Healthy Maddie) says
Your lunch looks great!
Katelyn says
If there was one bread I would take on a desert island, it would be cornbread.
Slash I am on SUCH a kale kick, I have kale green smoothies at least once a day! Gettin in my greens:)
Emily says
I ran 7 miles outside today. It was -11! I was seriously picking ice off my eyelashes! We really warmed up after a mile though 🙂
That chili looks GOOD!
Kristen @ Kristen, Sweetly says
The sign for that theater is amazing… Yogi bear and tangled are in 2d. What are your other movies in, single points?? :-p I heard great things about the King’s Speech. Glad you liked it!
Eating Bird Food says
Karen’s definitely on to something with the kale. I’ve been on a kale kick as well.
Namaste Gurl says
Depending on my energy, mood and previous day exercise, my runs are always different. Some days I can run 7-8 miles no problem, others it’s hard to get 3 or 4 miles done! Respecting and listening to my body is the best motive, I’ve found. 🙂
Camille says
I’m glad to hear that the movie was good! It keeps winning awards and I really didn’t know much about it 🙂
[email protected] Have Roses says
Hopefully Karen is feeling better! The bears are my favorite part about this blog. 🙂
Justeen @ Blissful Baking says
The hazelnut praline dark chocolate sounds divine! I definitely don’t have as much self-control as you, and I’d probably devour the whole bar by myself!
Karen looks like she’s doing really well!
Gill (snaxandthecity) says
glad you enjoyed the movie – i’m yet to see it. that praline looks buff 🙂
Lauren says
I am so scared to start running outside again. It’s been months (everything has been on a treadmill lately) and I know its going to kill me (or my lungs).
Sounds like a great day! Glad Karen can keep you company.
Marina says
your dinner looks amazing!
I’m glad Karen is well, it’s great how you get along with your MIL
michelle says
I took my fam to see The King’s Speech yesterday and everyone from my 12 year old to my mom loved it. I have been scared to try kale as a basis for a steamed dish. I put warm veggies and cheese on spinach all the time- but I have never been tempted to with Kale. I just chop it up and “hide” it in food. But I am going to try steaming it and see what happens! Thanks!!
Hope says
That chocolate looks delicious! It’s so good that you have a such a great relationship with your mother in law. I think that is really important. I have a really good relationship with my boyfriend’s mother and I am so thankful for that. 🙂
kate says
We have some apricot stilton in the fridge and it is fabulous! My new favorite by far.
Michele @ Healthy Cultivations says
What a great makeshift taco salad. I love the contrast of the raw greens with the hot chili.
brightbakes says
I love this combination of textures/flavors.. I used to not be a big fan of kale (other than chips or in smoothies), but over the past year I've come to love it's "pillowy" texture when it gets gently warmed.. 🙂
love,
cathy b.
Kiran says
What a fun outing! Wished we had places to visit during our walks. Well, at least our community parks are gorgeous 🙂
Lu says
That looks amazing. One of my favorite things to do is to put chili or lentils over a bed of greens and let them wilt. I bet this was wonderful!
Anneke says
I like to put kale (chopped up) in my chili. It gives it more of a nutritional kick, and thickens it up!
Maria @ The Fitted Apron says
The food looks amazing as always. Congrats on your outside run! It was 35 degrees this evening, warm enought to run outside, but I was already on the treadmill.
Susan Mc says
Great to see Karen out and about!
I loved “King’s Speech” too.. Colin Firth = dreamy