October Goals

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I just realized I forgot all about updating you on my September goals and blogging about my October so here we go!

Review of September 2011 Goals

1. Start Training for my first half-marathon.  Two 30-45 minute runs and one mileage run per week PLUS two days of cross training and at least one day of yoga. <—I started this but it was abruptly cut short due to Neil’s biking accident.  In other news thought Neil and I have signed up for a new half marathon for February!

2. Meal Plan.  Neil and I are both training for our first half marathon and part of training is eating well and learning what our bodies need.  Additionally, we have 4 months to figure out what the best fuel for us is when it comes to long run days. In order to keep on track we need to continue to improve our diet and incorporate new healthy foods that are good for runners. <–This is going really well

3. Organize my kitchen. <—–Did not complete last month. My kitchen is by no means a mess but it just isn’t in top order as I would like it to be.  I actually cleaned out my fridge this morning and it felt great.  Looking forward to doing more.<—I started!

4. Early to bed, Early to Rise.  <—–Still need to work on. Lately we have been more like Late to Bed, Early to Rise and it is starting to wear on me.  My goal is to be in bed by 9:30pm with my book and read until I fall asleep.  Then up by 5am to work, stretch and/or workout (not necessarily in that order). <–Going really well! 

5. Read two new books. I haven’t decided which ones yet but I need to read more. I only read one book last month and again did not achieve my goal.<–Did not happen.

October Goals

1. Run 3 days per week and start my half marathon training (again).  Since Neil got in his bike accident our dreams of doing the Disney Half have been put on hold so we decided to sign up for a new half marathon! This time it is in New Hampshire and well in February- but it’s going to be so much fun!

2. Improve my photo taking. Since I am spending more time in the kitchen creating recipes again I need to take more time to improve my photos.  I had been doing well at that and then my blog worthy recipe creating was limited so I got out of practice and now it’s time to get back into it.

3. Finish the giant book I started.  I just started Paul Pitchford Healing With Whole Foods, it’s a huge book and I’m really excited to finish it this month.

4. Do yoga twice per week.  I miss yoga and have not been doing enough at all and it’s time to commit and get back into it.

5. Drink more water. It’s funny how I can drink tons of water some weeks and others not enough.  I notice a huge difference and that means I need to drink more.

What are you October Goals? 

 

Care Package Swap Goodies

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It’s that time of year again! The Care Package Swap is in full swing and I just received my package from Kaycee of Vegan Machine. Kaycee sent me an amazing package of wonderful goodies take a look.

Homemade Bath Salts and Some really amazing soap with flower petals

Spices, Stuffing and Tea

Ginger Slices

Dr. Bronner's

Fruit bars and Lara bars

Measuring spoons, rosemary, mini-colander and CVL little frame

Chocolate PB, Chocolate Mint "Chips" and Chocolate Tea

Sweet Potato Tortilla Chips and Homemade Salsa- BOTH SO GOOD

I want to thank Kaycee for all the wonderful goodies and if you ever have the opportunity to try her salsa do so it is amazing!

Recipe: Giant Beans in Tomato Oregano Sauce

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Last week during my Eating for Energy workshop a few participants got to talking about their favorite beans and one gentleman said how much he loved to make his beans in his slow cooker.  I thought that this sounded like a really great idea and decided to try it out myself.  I picked up these giant organic dried fava beans at the market on Saturday and decided to make a dish inspired by this dish Neil and I had a few years ago at a tasty Greek restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.  The dish was made with giant white fava beans and had a tomato sauce with spices.  My recreation may not have been authentic but it sure was tasty!

Giant Beans in Tomato Oregano Sauce

Ingredients

Yields 6-8 Servings

  • 1.5 cups dried fava beans
  • 2 cups water plus more for soaking
  • 1-28oz can of crushed tomatoes
  • 2-3 garlic, sliced
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • salt and pepper to taste
Soak the fava beans for 8-12 hours, changing the water once. Once they a finished soaking drain and rinse; place in a slow cooker with the 2 cups of water and the crushed tomatoes.  Cover and turn onto low for 6 hours.  After 6 hours, add the garlic, onion, oregano, salt and pepper; stir and cover and allow to slow cook for 2 more hours or until the beans are tender.  Serve with your favorite whole grain or with whole wheat pita.

Warming Fall Coffee

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Lately I have been cutting back dramatically on coffee but when I received my Godiva  Pumpkin Spice and Caramel Pecan Bark from the Foodbuzz: Tastemakers Program I was delighted to indulge.

I was slightly apprehensive at first because I’m not a huge fan of flavored coffees and since I am not drinking  very much coffee I have been choosing my favorites but I decided to give these two flavors a chance. The results: I love them both.  Now I might not be buying these all the time but they are really tasty and perfect for fall.  I love the Pumpkin Spice, it is so warming with the cinnamon and nutmeg and the Caramel Pecan Bark is delicious, smooth and “creamy”.  I brewed up a cup and brought it with me to the fall farms market; the perfect drink to have with the cool crisp air and changing leaves.

I am not much for coffee drinks so just adding a little almond milk to mine was indulgent enough. I do think that either would be wonderful cold and blended into a smoothie though…hmmm I just might have to try that sometime!

 

Am I FitFlutential?

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FitFluential Ambassador Entry Post

I have decided to enter to be a FitFluential Ambassador.  Over the past year fitness has become a big part of this blog because it is part of how I live a healthy life.  I love to post about what I am doing to stay fit, about my training for races and other fun things I like to do to stay fit such as hiking and yoga.  I am always finding new ways to stay fit and stay motivated.

Below are photos of how I stay fit and how I have fun in Vermont; don’t get me wrong I have fun staying fit as well.

  • Where do you cook? I cook mostly at home in my kitchen.  I love to cook and do so for almost all our meals, although if you have been following my posts I will be cooking all my meals at home this month.  I love to create recipes and have two e-books available.  I also just started working with a company to create recipes for their line of cookware- I’ll blog more about this later on in the month.
  • Where do you workout? I workout in the living room or office when I workout at home.  I run on the roads and bike path near my house and I do other cardio, weights, swimming and classes at the YMCA in Burlington.  I also take yoga classes at local yoga studios and at the YMCA.
  • What’s your favorite restaurant? My favorite restaurant is A Single Pebble because it has really delicious family style authentic Chinese food and tons of vegan options.  I also love American Flatbread.
  • What would we do when we host a FitFluential bash in YOUR town: I would love to have a FitFluential bash in my town and include a 5k charity race, yoga at Shelburne Vineyard (Lululemon had one there last summer) or yoga on the waterfront.  I would love to do a food and drink tour around Church Street as well.

Dining Out: A Single Pebble

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Whenever fellow vegans are visiting Vermont I always suggest my favorite vegan friendly restaurant-A Single Pebble. The Hubz and I went for a Saturday lunch a few weeks ago and it was just as good as I remember (it’s been a few months since we last went). The other thing I love is that at lunch everything is less expensive but you still get a ton of food- we ended up taking half of ours home with us.

Our favorite dishes: Vegan Buddha’s Beef (request vegan), Mock Eel, Double Garlic Broccoli, Vegan Dry Fried Green Beans (request vegan) and Vegan Dan Dan Noodles (request vegan).

Chrysanthemum Tea

Vegetable Potstickers

Vegan Chow Fun Noodles

Mushrooms with Sesame Sauce

Double Garlic Broccoli

Recipe: Wasabi Shoyu Almonds

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One of my favorite snacks are almonds but not just any almonds, I love tamari almonds. As much as I enjoy them I don’t purchase them often because they are pretty expensive per pound so I usually just get regular almonds. Finally I decided that instead of spending $4 more per pound I’d make my own.

Wasabi Shoyu (Tamari) Almonds

  • 2 cups raw almonds
  • 1/4 cup shoyu or tamari
  • 1/2 teaspoon wasabi powder
Pre-heat oven to 250F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a bowl mix the shoyu with the wasabi powder; toss with the almonds and spread in one layer on the baking sheet.
Bake for 25-30 minutes; tossing half way through. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet.  Once cooled store in an air tight container.