All week long when I have a free evening or afternoon I dream about it and all the things I’m going to do. But SOMEHOW my time gets suck away by some massive vacuum and I never know where it goes!!
Today’s responsible party:
The great news!? We think it’s fixed!! All the troubleshooting was a waste. Turns out there was some update to the Uverse software 3 weeks ago and our system was so old (we were one of their first Charlotte customers) that it wasn’t compatible. And something about a spliced wire. The guy seemed pretty knowledgeable and the internet has been working since he left. KNOCK ON WOOD!
Around 4 I had an awesome snack. I twist on a PB&J! Chopped apple heated till it was soft in the microwave and topped with Crofter’s (also heated) and Naturally Nutty Vanilla PB. The toppings got all saucy. Yum!
At 6 (when AT&T finally left), Matt and I walked to Harris Teeter for some groceries. I usually go on Sat or Sun, but we were out of important things (milk!) and decided to just do the whole trip tonight.
Wild Alaskan sockeye salmon was on sale and we spontaneously bought some!
Grillmaster has been SO helpful tonight and basically cooked and cleaned dinner while I caught up on the Internet.
Almost time for lawnmower season!
Our salmon was spiced by a rub he brought home from the Great Harvest convention
We also grilled eggplant in wasabi powder and tamari, which wasn’t as flavorful as we had hoped, but anything grilled is always good!
Before dinner we did a Moose Drool home brew tasting – one from each of his batches.
Guess who got which portion!
Check out the dog fish in the Dog Fish glass!!!!!!!!!!
Dinner was great!!
You know though, I don’t think I like sockeye salmon! Well, I take that back. I do like it, but it’s not nearly as succulent as other salmons I’ve had. I usually get salmon in restaurants and I’m beginning to wonder if I actually prefer farmed (a.k.a. Atlantic) salmon, which I know is nowhere near as nutritious or environmentally friendly as wild salmon. I would never choose it just because of my taste preference, but I"m wondering if that’s why I never like it as much at home (because I also always buy wild Pacific salmon). Or perhaps sockeye is just tougher than the rest!?
This was still tasty and definitely not overcooked – nice and rare in the middle.
I added a half slice of Flax Oat Bran to ensure my glycogen stores wake up full. Little butter goes a long way!
Last on the menu: easy kale chips!
This afternoon I successfully cooked chickpeas in my crockpot. It took about 4 hours on high and an overnight soak, but they finally got tender and are SO GOOD! Just had a handful for dessert!
Going to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate – I have a BIG run tomorrow AM!!!
Poor, poor Emily has been benched for the run 🙁 She went to the doctor and has chest inflammation and will be on drugs. Running would not be the best choice. I’ll be tackling my run solo – wish me luck! I’m going first thing in the AM to practice race day breakfast, so expect a later-than-normal post.
GOSSIP GIRL TIME – FINALLY!
Emily @ The Front Burner Blog says
I will miss you tomorrow more than you know! Can’t wait to hear how it goes. Perhaps I will pop up along the way? 🙂
Food Makes Fun Fuel says
Yum on the sockeye!
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
ha ha – chickpeas for dessert….
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
Evenings are big time sucks especially now that it stays later longer and and it doesn’t really feel like evening until 7. Today my time suck was a hair cut.
christina cadden says
I hate when we have internet problems.
Ameena says
Dinner looks very gourmet…I am so impressed with your cooking and presentation.
Have a great weekend!
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
Good luck on the run girl!!! I know how hard it is to go at it alone!!
Your dinner sounds absolutely amazing. Yay for grilling weather!!
Lauren @ A Fit Foodie says
Dinner looks delicious. I’m a huge salmon fan and I have to agree, wild salmon is the absolute best of perfection.
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
It’s like a mommy and baby beer!! 🙂
Heather says
Your veggies look so delicious – I wish we had a grill for summer!
Glad your internet is finally fixed – I hope that was the last time you have any troubles.
Enjoy Gossip Girl!
sarah @ syrupandhoney says
in my experience wild salmon varies widely, but generally i think wild salmon is firmer than farmed. i didn’t like it at first but now i MUCH prefer it; i guess it’s what you’re used to. wild salmon to me has a cleaner salmon flavor.
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
Keeping my fingers crossed about the internet! And who doesn’t love a Friday night grill out? 🙂
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen says
FINALLY getting to gossip girl….can’t wait to hear your thoughts 🙂
Lisa (bakebikeblog) says
Good luck on the run! You will kick butt I am sure 🙂
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
I want me some of that eggplant!!! I’m allergic to raw apples so I hafta eat ’em microwaved—they’re tasty though, huh??
Leslie@Chomp says
thank you for introducing me to kale chips. THEY ARE EPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CHOMP!
Jen says
Good luck on your run! It’s so important to practice race day!
Katherine says
You might like King (chinook) or Coho (silver) salmon. Fresh salmon is one of the things I love about living in the Pacific Northwest.
Wendy says
Good luck on your run tomorrow! Solo long runs are fun every once in a while. It may also be good race-day practice, if you end up running the race “alone”, like I always seem to end up doing!
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
Glad your internet is fixed!!!
I love salmon, that looks so delicious. 😀
Jenn
Stacey@http://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ says
You should try some other wild salmons. I can’t remember what we get, but probably if you look at the most expensive, with salmon that’s usually the best one.
Jessie says
I feel like I have been in some massive time warp that has been sucking my time for the past 2 weeks. I just don’t know where my evenings and weekends are going!
Mama Pea says
Finally…AT&T comes through. I can freely love Luke Wilson once again.
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Chickpeas will help everything!!! Dinner looks delicious and I am glad they finally fixed your internet problems. Good luck in the morning and have fun!
Mara @ What's for Dinner? says
Wild Sockeye Salmon is definitely chewier/drier than its farmed equivalent… but Norwegian and other Atlantic salmon is closer to the texture of farmed. I love smoked Sockeye, but its too chewy for plain ol’ eating!
Natalie says
I second the recommendation for Norwegian Salmon. It is super fatty and practically melts in your mouth.
eatdrinkandbemerrynyc says
The salmon looks DELICIOUS. I love wild fish, you really can ‘tell’ in my opinion!
S
Janet (Pantry Bites) says
Chickpeas also make a great snack roasted with the right flavoring. They’re a good substitute for potato chips.
Kate says
The Alaskan in me is very sad you prefer farmed salmon to wild salmon. I do wonder if you are just used to eating Atlantic salmon, so the taste/texture of the wild salmon wasn’t what you are used to and therefore not as enjoyable. I can’t remember eating a lot of sockeye fillets growing up. When my family prepared salmon on the BBQ it was a couple fillets of chinook (King) salmon. The sockeye was sold or probably canned or smoked. So maybe try a few other types to see if you like taste/texture better.
Carlyn says
Kath, I was wondering what your standpoint is about FULLY hydrogenated oil. It’s in the JIF peanut butter my mom gets that i never eat from because I thought it contained trans fats (I eat the natural kind with only peanuts and salt) but just the other day i realized on the ingredient list that it said fully instead of partially, and when I did some online research, I got conflicting views. Just wondering your standpoint on the issue!
Kath says
Fully hydrogenated is still hydrogenated and still trans-fat 🙁
Maggie @ Fit.Fun.Food says
Ooh! Salmon! My mom used to make it a couple times a week when i was in highschool, but now that I live by myself I never but it because it’s so expensive! Gotta change that. Great post, girl!
Eva says
I would try Coho (I buy it at TJs) — I like it much much better than Sockeye. Honestly, though, it might just be the preparation because I can’t believe farmed >>> wild. Wild always tastes better!!
clay says
Good luck on the long run! That dinner sounds delish sans the ketchup lol
Christina says
Looks like a delicious meal!
I want to ask you something. Do you think you need to eat red meat every so often (or take a supplement) for the iron? I’ve read that even though veggies like spinach have lots of iron it’s not absorbed as easily by our bodies. I make it a point to eat a good serving of red meat once a week for that reason- but I thought I’d get a nutritionist athlete’s perspective!
Kath says
I personally think so. I think it’s good to have red meat a few times a month. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get everything you need from veggies and plant sources. I think you just have to be more mindful about how and with what you eat iron-rich foods (like spinach + citrus and not with dairy). And a supplement in a multi vitamin always helps.
Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) says
That salmon looks delicious — what a delicious Friday night meal. Hope you have a lovely weekend. 😀
Lyn says
Usually in restaurants, I believe they baste the salmon with oil which keeps it more moist and tender. Olive oil works well for me, or I steam (or poach) the fish and it is delicious. My son catches salmon for us to eat so I have lots of practice making it 🙂
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
i adore salmon…yours looks amazing! there’s really nothing i look forward to more in the summer than a really awesome backyard bbq 🙂 i also really like baked salmon in the winter…or just fish in general!
Ashley says
How funny! I cooked chickpeas this week too and they were so good! I boiled them then let them soak for 4hrs, then simmered them for 3hrs, with kombu. No gas!! haha 🙂
Sarah-Mae says
Apples and peanut butter will definitely be going into my morning oatmeal now that I’ve been drooling over your PB and apple concoction!!!
Freya @ Brit Chick Runs says
Good luck on the run, you’ll do great!
I love how tinged that aubergine is, it looks absolutly gorgeous – I wish I had a proper grill like that!
*Phew* about the internet – you must be so releived..!
sarah (the SHU box) says
have a fabulous run!!
i wonder if you might prefer coho salmon? it’s milder and also wild. i jump on it when i see it available at WF, but i think it is somewhat seasonal . . .
Heather @ Side of Sneakers says
Nothing better than outdoor grilling!!! Hello spring! 🙂
Jessie says
That’s a lot of moose drool :O Yay for grilling weather again! I think we’re going to break out the smoker.
Chickpeas taste almost sweet, don’t they? I can imagine they were a delicious, fiber-riffic dessert. Enjoy your run tomorrow!
christie @ honoring health says
I also don’t like sockeye salmon but for me it is more of a flavor thing. I prefer wild Alaskan salmon. Last night, I bought some farmed from Whole Foods who’s farming practices are more eco friendly so we will see how I like that.
Andrea says
Great meals today! I love the grilling that you’ve been doing! Have a great run and a happy Saturday!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
I adore wild caught salmon, but they definitely vary in flavor and texture depending on the *type*. Try a couple of other brands or toppings (an orange marmalade marinade is awesome on wildcaught!) and you might find that you like it more.
GOOD LUCK on the run today! You’ll be great! 😀
megan says
Spotted your Magic Hat glass! I live in Vermont (which has the most microbreweries per capita in the US) and my husband and I visited the Magic Hat brewery recently. Lots of fun! You guys would love visiting.
Lee says
Look at those cherry blossoms! Pretty.
Lauren @ eater not a runner says
Looks like a delicious dinner! Wild salmon is definitely VERY different and isn’t the norm in restaurants. I think I like it because it has a stronger flavor!
Annie@stronghealthyfit says
I had sockeye salmon the other night, and found that it was a little tough, too. But i definitely prefer to eat wild fish over farmed.
Foy Update - Cook. Garden. Write. Repeat. says
You have a pink flowering crab apple (or cherry) in your parking lot! It’s still a little early for us up hear in the midwest. We’ve got another couple weeks togo. However the creeping jenny is already up in our yard too! The weeds always get a head start.
Eve (Nutrition by Eve) says
I actually agree, farmed often tastes better from my experience. But the sockeye is definitely the chewiest of all and my least favorite!
Kalli@fitandfortysomething says
First of all the Internet/cable people always suck massive amounts of time. Secondy, I totally agree about the salmon. I love farm raised even though I know I should not. Glad your Internet is back to normal:)
Monica (Musings of The Granola Girl) says
chickpeas for dessert? delish!!
Meaghan says
Hey Kath, I was just going through some of your videos and had no idea you went to Kenya. How amazing! What a trip that must have been. I’ve always wanted to go to Africa. I am thinking about going to South Africa with my family this summer. Well I love the blog. Great work!
Kath says
It was totally amazing!! Feels like it was a dream!
Heather (runningwithsass.com) says
the apples chopped up you had for a snack look great!
Nicole, RD says
I love sockeye! But rare in the middle – that I would not enjoy. I over-cook (by standards) most seafood, especially fish and scallops. I hate that rubbery texture. Dinner looks wonderful, though…and home-brewed beer! I should suggest that as a hobby for my husband!
Casey says
That dinner looks sooo good!!!
Nora@LiveLifeEatRight says
Looks like a FANTASTIC dinner! I’m so glad that AT&T came! I’m also very jealous of your nice weather! It was 19 here yesterday BURRR!
Deva (Voracious Vorilee) says
I enjoy salmon a lot, but am not sure if I’ve done wild or farmed – I tend to only get it when we eat out, as The Boy doesn’t like it.
Love that you’re grilling out – I’m excited to fire ours up!
Rose-Anne says
Nice photo of Matt at the grill–an action shot!
If you ever figure out where your missing time goes, please let me know. I’m looking for mine too! I’m pretty sure it gets spent in front of the computer, reading blogs 🙂
jaclyn@todays lady says
I love the idea of the pb & j apple concoction! So glad your internet is working again!!! Yay for grilling outside!!!!
CG the Foodie says
I’ve been reading awhile but this is my first comment. I am just amazed you still have local fresh kale? We haven’t had any in weeks and living in California, I am used to having produce stick around for awhile. Where is your kale grown?
Kath says
I’m not sure – I buy it at Harris Teeter and it has the “local” tag on it.
Emily says
glad the internet is fixed!!!
hope your run went well, too, and that your running buddy is back up to speed soon.
i thought you (as a fellow coffee lover) might be interested in my latest post about coffee + a giveaway! hope you have a great weekend, kath!
http://healthnut-em.blogspot.com/2010/03/guest-post-coffee-revolution-giveaway.html
Cole says
Mmm…dinner. Hopefully the internet continues to cooperate!
Hannah says
Or maybe, in restaurants, they put a lot more butter/oil/salt on the salmon? 😛 I find that’s usually why restaurant dishes taste better than homecooked, though of course restaurant food isn’t always better! And hurrah for internet fixingness – hope it holds out!
Suzanne says
Don’t worry, Kath! I don’t like sockeye salmon either. I’m not sure why – it just doesn’t have an appealing flavor. Love the wild caught salmon so much better! The Coho salmon at Trader Joe’s (frozen section) is pretty good too.
Erin @ The Houndstooth Apron says
I don’t like sockeye salmon either – but I really like other salmon. To me it tastes like regular salmon gone bad?
Linda says
wow! that dinner looks great! ESP the salmon..mmmm
cara says
I have been trying to incorporate more omega 3 fish into my diet. I love seeing the new ways you do it. I can’t wait to hear more about your adventures with finding the best salmon.
Susan says
Hi Kathy- My boyfriend and I are thinking about buying an outside gas grill, but recently read some negative reports about it increasing the risk for colon cancer. Now I’m unsure what to think. I knew charcoal grills were (sorta) bad, but gas grills, too? Is it any worse than cooking indoors? Just wondered what you knew about it. Any advice you can pass my way (or reading material) would be greatly appreciated!
Love your blog! And good luck with your race!
Kath says
Susan,
I have no reason to believe that grilling is harmful to health. I’ve read that if you super char things there can be carcinogens, so I’d just make sure you aren’t using too high of a heat. And apparently adding herbs helps counter that effect. Grilling is awesome and humans have been grilling food for eons!
Kath