I’m in Towson this morning visiting my grandmother, so I’m in to say hello, share a few recent dinners and talk about my 10 miler training.
HELLO!
In my efforts to get back to daily blogging, sharing dinners at they happen is a bit hard. Mazen goes to bed quite late these days, and I don’t have much time in the evenings to decompress, so I hope you are still liking the breakfast + lunches live and will be cool with me sharing dinners in a “Lately” style.
Here’s a simple dinner we had – roasted sweet potatoes (Mazen’s favorite!) with roasted eggplant and a side of BBQ chicken that’s hidden in the back there! A little red wine to make the food taste better ; )
Next up: a mix of beans tossed in BBQ sauce, sauteed peppers, black wild rice, cheese, mashed avocado, plain yogurt and hot sauce! Mexi-nights are the best.
When Matt was out of town a little bit ago, Mazen and I had Sarah and Sylvia over for dinner. I had made the Cook Smarts slow cooker chicken noodle soup in the crockpot, and Sarah brought over ingredients for salads – topped with avocados, hearts of palm, olive oil and black pepper. Toasted rolls on the side and a little leftover wine for me. Epic salad!
I think I mentioned that I’m selecting one or two vegetarian meals from Cook Smarts during the week to save a few $ on meat. This one was really different and very healthy! It was a Black Bean and Corn Salad with red cabbage and a cumin vinaigrette. I used pinto beans instead of black, and loved the avocados!
And finally – a big salad topped with leftover chicken, corn, parsley and lots of blue cheese. I used a Cook Smarts recipe for the dressing which was made with yogurt and lime – loved that!
I can’t wait for summer dinner photos!! The dark winter ones are so depressing, and I can never get the color quite right! Long gone are the days where I set up my umbrella lights on a weeknight : )
So about my 10 miler training! It’s ….going!
On the plus side, I’ve covered up to 7 miles and have 8.5 scheduled for next weekend. The long runs are going well, and podcasts are keeping me going. I think all my cross-training and soccer has kept me pretty well in shape so that the long runs aren’t killing me as much as they might if I was going from couch to 10 miles. I had about 60 minutes of hard workout base to build upon, so I think the 8.5 run is going to be my hardest to date by far. I’m crossing over my threshold.
But on the minus side, I have done ZERO speedwork. I also am only running 1-2 times a week, so I’m just not getting in enough runs to really take this race by the horns. I’m still glad I’m doing it because it’s been a fun challenge to increase my distance a bit from my comfortable 4 miles, but between this snow and cold and loving my group ex classes, I just haven’t gotten in a lot of runs in general. I’m much more of an outdoor runner when it’s 100* outside!
Outdoor soccer season starts up in 2 weeks, so I hope it’s not going to overload my legs. I have done a few runs during preschool instead of on the weekends so my legs have had more chance to rest, and that has gone well.
So that’s my update – things are going smoothly but I’m not exceeding expectations : )
Hi Kath–I don’t mean to be picky, but you might want to reread the paragraph after “HELLO!” for typos. I found quite a few mistakes. I’m sure it’s just a case of writing too quickly!
Always too quickly! Thanks. ..fixed! And thanks for being nice : )
I’m sorry…li don’t understand why people feel the need to correct typos! Who cares? Post something constructive…just a waste of time in my opinion.
Would love to know what podcasts you are listening to. Ever since Serial, I’ve had a hard time finding something!
Just This American Life. I need some recommendations!
Throwing Shade is an amazing one! They discuss feminist and homosexual issues with a little sassy twist. The language can be a little R rated at times but I have had some serious laughs from that show!
Cool! Thanks for the rec!
I also love Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me … fun way to get in the weekly news!
America’s Test Kitchen!
Invisilbilia is a great one by the makers of This American Life. Super intriguing!
Cool what’s it about?
Well, according to the website, it “explores the intangible forces that shape human behavior – things like ideas, beliefs, assumptions and emotions”. I just really love it for the story telling! One of the first episodes I listened to talked about how people’s expectations can shape another life. So it’s about a man who’s blind and has been that way since birth (if I remember correctly!) and his mother decided to raise him no differently than able sighted kids. So he climbed trees, did chores, rode bicycles(!) and developed his own way to SEE the world around him and was successful at it! I wouldn’t be to do the story justice by paraphrasing it but trust me it’s great!
Cool! Thank you!
Another This America Life producer started a podcast called “Start Up.” You don’t have to be a fan of business-type podcasts (I know I’m not). But I love it. It’s done in the same storytelling fashion as TAL and Serial and it totally captivating. It follows his as he begins a brand new start up company and is extremely entertaining!
Thanks!
I really enjoy The Moth podcast. Different person telling the story each podcast. Based on real life experiences. They can be kind of short but about once a week or maybe every other, they do round-up so it’s like 55 minutes long.
Kath, that salad looks amazing. Which cooksmarts recipe is the “Black Bean and Corn Salad with red cabbage”? I looked through some of the archives but couldn’t find it. Thanks.
It was the first veg meal in the 2/02 week!
Oh, I see it now! Yum, I’m going to try that soon!
Good luck training! I just started getting back into running myself about a month ago (after taking almost a year off because of problems with my lungs). So far I’ve only done treadmill runs (the cold air here in CO exacerbates my lung problems) but it’s so nice to enjoy it without the pain! Good luck conquering 8.5! Have a great weekend!
Those meals look awesome! Cook Smart has some really fantastic recipes. I am also loving all the avocado eating! They are so amazing right now.
When is your 10 miler?? I have my first half marathon coming up in Nashville at the end of April and the weather has definitely been affecting my training! Hard to run far distances on a treadmill 🙂
End of March
Your meals never fail to look amazing!
Ha, ive never seen a little boy so happy to eat his veggies, but that’s no surprise with a chef as good as you, Kath.
What is the receipe for the yogurt and lime dressing please?
Mazen is co cute 🙂
I meant SO cute 😀
Good for you for sticking with it, especially when it’s so cold!
C.
As much as I love the live updates, I completely understand life with a toddler! Do what works for you. What about live Instagram shots of dinner? I love Instagram and would find that just as exciting as reading your posts.
Good luck on the 10 miler!
Insta dinners would be great!
Such yummy food!
Love this <3
https://aspoonfulofnature.wordpress.com/
I love the look of that bean and corn salad, my kinda meal for sure!
I’m doing the same with Cook Smarts and subbing in a few vegetarian meals. Our family is loving the variety!
On another note, it’s probably good that you aren’t doing speedwork. Only running a few times a weeks isn’t a very good base to add speedwork to… it’s recipe for injury and it would be awfult to train for a race and end up injured. BTDT
I love these – such great vegetarian dinner ideas too. I love seeing your food because it encourages me to make things and lets me know it’s okay to be a little simple (and throw wine in) sometimes too.
I am definitely itching to run again. All of this walking during pregnancy has been great but I am ready for a bit speed. Not too much longer…I just keep thinking it doesn’t matter anyway with all of the snow we have in New England. Once I can run again the weather will be ready too.
Crock pot chicken noodle soup sounds heavenly during all of this cold weather!
Your food always looks beautiful!!! But bright nights are the best!
yum! I’ve been trying to cook more vegetarian throughout the week as well, with 4 kids (3 being boys!) I’m a little nervous about grocery bills in the future! Better get some practice with beans and rice now!
Kath, I’m curious what time Mazen is going to bed these days, as you mentioned it was later than usual. My little guy is about his age and his sleep patterns have been changing. Hope you’re staying warm!
9 to 10 some nights! But he’s sleeping in and napping ok so were rolling with it
Wow that is late! Definitely a sign that he is getting ready to drop his nap altogether.
Speed work is def important but dont sweat your lack there of. Something about race day seems to bring out the untapped speed in you. You will be fine.
That black bean and corn salad looks delicious! I need to make that soon!
Love the new format,
At least soccer is great speed work! I usually just run distancey-type runs, and my muscles get used to it and are hardly ever sore, but soccer really challenges my sprinting muscles and I get sore quads and glutes, which makes it feel very productive 🙂
Good point! Indoor isn’t quite as good but better than nothing!
Glad to read this. So much better for your health, the environment and the animals 😉
>>>>I think I mentioned that I’m selecting one or two vegetarian meals from Cook Smarts during the week to save a few $ on meat
Better that it’s all going smoothly than that it’s not going at all, right?
The winter dinner photos are still pretty 🙂 And it all looks very tasty!
Cook Smarts always looks so delicious, I need to try it!
http://www.rosesfromjulia.com
Looks amazing!
I totally agree on the photos– bring on the summer light, I hate taking my pictures with overhead lighting!
Have you given the Another Mother Runner podcast a go? What about the Satellite Sisters podcast? On the Tuesday show they a do a recap commentary on Downtown Abbey, which they call Downtown Gabbey, as you are such a fan I’m sure you would like that segment. I have started to pick and choose some of the Here’s the Thing episodes by Alec Baldwin. You would love the Meal Make Over Moms podcast. I’m from Australia and have got into Mamamia Outloud – worth a try. Of course there are the Manic Mommies who sadly just wrapped up but there old episodes are worth a listen to whilst running. And of course, KCRW food podcast is awesome! I hope these suggestions help – they certainly keep me entertained whilst exercising 🙂
Thank you! !!
I’ve been doing Cook Smarts based on your recommendation, and I love it! So fun to have variety in our meals each week. But I have found that our grocery bill is much, much higher! I thought it would be lower because I am buying specific quantities and having leftovers for lunch. Have you noticed that too? I like your idea of doing some vegetarian meals to keep costs down, but just wondering if I’m alone here.
You are not alone. We never used to have leftovers and now we always do. That’s good for lunches and a fifth meal or two but we are spending more too. I think a few vegetarian meals are key. And making just 2 servings if you have more expensive ingredients.
Hello! I’m amazed by the variety of meals that you make! How do you do it? I feel like I am too uninspired (or lazy) to cook anything but four or 5 different things 🙂
Cook Smarts! Otherwise I’d make the same things over and over : )