Cooking with Chloe: Avocado Toast
I started a series called “Cooking with Chloe” as I cook through Chloe Coscarelli’s cookbook: I plan on cooking all 125 recipes and using some of them to enhance my meals.
Today’s recipe is Chloe’s Avocado Toast.
My goal is to cook her recipes while the ingredients are in season and since avocados are in season and plentiful right now, this delicious and simple combination hit the spot!
I used my favorite bread, Ezekiel Sesame, and dusted the top with a great olive oil, sea salt, lemon, freshly ground black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
This will be definitely be a new favorite meal in the rotation!
When I saw that Ms. Chloe Coscarelli herself had stumbled over to my blog, I was doing my excited dance!
But I am also quite intimidated because well, she and her cookbook are awesome and I need some knife skills. :D
The Opposite of Loneliness
Marina Keegan was a 22-year-old activist/writer who was killed in a car accident after her graduation from Yale. I am horrified to have to type the words “22-year-old” and “killed” in the same sentence and my heart goes out to her family.
She was on my mind a lot today because I had a happy day and it was inspired by her piece, “The Opposite of Loneliness.”
We don’t have a word for the opposite of loneliness, but if we did, I could say that’s what I want in life.
More than finding the right job or city or spouse – I’m scared of losing this web we’re in. This elusive, indefinable, opposite of loneliness. This feeling I feel right now.
I’ve never read a better descriptor of happiness: the opposite of loneliness.
I felt so grateful for the long list of people and experiences that make up my “opposite of loneliness” today.
{Source}
My legs felt so dead yesterday and today with falling temperatures, they felt much better.
I ran 3.1 miles in 29:14 today and although there is a part of me that wishes I were throwing out 5 and 10 milers like Speedy Gonzalez but heck, when I can’t run right, I’ll run left. :D
I decided to taste-test a new shot - the GU Jet Blackberry - because it seems that GU gels are at more races than Cliff shots.
It tastes like cough syrup and has a very thin consistency so it went down a bit easier than Cliff. No one needs a gel for a three mile run but I find that testing new gels during longer runs is just asking for trouble. :D
My day started with a yummy strawberry-basil smoothie and toast points with almond butter.
I made another round of homemade iced coffee - anytime I make my own iced coffee I want to weild it like a trophy.
Look at me: I’m being frugal and I’m saving the environment by not using a disposable cup - like a motherf*cking adult!
After my workout, my wisdom tooth extraction site started bleeding.
I called my oral surgeon and they said to place a moistened tea bag at the site because the tannins in tea can stop bleeding (the more you know!)
Luckily, it’s not a dry socket because that pain is hellacious. Lunch ended up being soft and quick - a Fage yogurt with a sprinkle of brown sugar blend.
Dinner was a tapas style take-out meal from Sultan’s Market - my favorite little Mediterranean joint: Lebanese spinach pie - different from Greek Spanikopita because it is always made vegan!
A cup of yellow lentil soup with one of my favorite hot sauce bottles from our New Orleans trip stirred in - Bayou Passion, Louisiana Pepper Sauce.
Alligators and crocodiles are awesome. :D
And since I was missing my greens, I also enjoyed a small tabouli salad - finely diced parsley with tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, and cracked wheat dressed in lemon juice and olive oil.
Off to do some hatha yoga then turn in early! Hope you had a great day.
Summer Strawberry and Basil Smoothie
Farmer’s markets are rolling in ripe, juicy strawberries and my basil plants suddenly blossomed overnight and I decided to make this classic combination into a delicious smoothie.
A cup of almond milk (Unsweetened is my preference)
A cup of water
Several handfuls of fresh basil
2 tsp. of honey or sweetener of choice
*Blend the above ingredients first.
Add two cups (or more!) of fresh, ripe strawberries and ice cubes blend to desired consistency.
Refreshing and Summer Sweet!
Did you have a summery breakfast this morning?
I enjoyed my smoothie with a slice of Ezekiel sesame toast points and my favorite new almond butter.
My mom gave us a new china set and the best part about these bowls and plates are the different butterflies in the center of each.
I love butterflies because of their association with change and transitions: can you imagine changing so much that at the end you are someone completely different or even unrecognizable from what you started as?
So beautiful and cool!
WOD: Back to Run, Back to Reality
A little Soul to Soul throwback for you!
I got a face full of bully tongue after workouts today.
I am back to running today with a hot 2.5 miler in 24 minutes.
I ran when it was 78-80 degrees and although I love this hot-as-heck, clothes sticking to your skin temperature, it’s still not something I’m used to when I run.
I was a hit at pacing too: 9:24 for the first mile and 9:47 for the second mile. Quite a disparity, no? ;D
Considering that after the Marine Corps Marathon, I was crying about my knee and couldn’t run for a month, I’m ELATED to be running any distance exactly one week and two days from the Fargo Marathon.
Even though I know it’s only been a week, I didn’t feel super strong during my run and I’m looking forward to that buzz.
My second workout was another Hot Power Fusion yoga class and it felt great because the room feels extra hot with the temperature outside.
I’m going to class every day this week - my greatest hope is that yoga keeps protecting me from being sidelined from an injury as I jump back into marathon training.
I’m experiencing some tension in my left hip and I’m trying to work on fixing this imbalance by holding poses for longer on that side - I feel like a total beginner in my classes again! :)
Happy Tuesday!
Hello Chickadees!
I am in love with this creamy almond butter from Archer Farms, Target’s house brand.
For breakfast, I had a slice of Ezekiel sesame toast with a spoonful of almond butter and it tastes heavenly.
Archer Farms is the only brand of almond butter I will buy. Why?
Apart from the fact that it’s an unhealthy oil, palm oil (click for a great article on the topic!) is an ingredient in both Justin’s Almond Butter and in some flavors of Peanut Butter Company’s offerings and the plantations which grow the trees have contributed to rain forest and wildlife destruction.
I don’t particularly love the taste of Justin’s Almond Butter and really disliked Peanut Butter Company’s Dark Chocolate Dreams Peanut Butter because palm oil has a very particular taste - and to think that it kills adorable animals?
NO FREAKING WAY will I be eating anything that hurts a 1-month old baby elephant.
I washed down my hurt baby-elephant anger with a tall glass of homemade iced coffee.
Lunch was simple and sexy green - avocado with baby spinach and balsamic vinaigrette!
Post-workouts, I enjoyed a strawberry smoothie made with strawberries, almond milk, and ice - perfectly refreshing today!
My dinner was delicious and exactly the same yesterday - garlicky greens (baby spinach), black beans with red onions, and quinoa and brown rice blend.
Dessert was a cup of unsweetened hot cocoa and a side of bully. :D
I hope you had a happy Tuesday!
******
Edited: Thank you to the reader who let me know that Maranatha Almond Butter also contains palm oil!
{Wildlife officials attend to a pygmy elephant calf on Borneo island in Malaysia’s Sabah state. Malaysian wildlife authorities said they had rescued a pygmy elephant calf on Borneo island and expressed hope a planned sanctuary would provide protection for the endangered animals. The male calf, which is less than a month old, was pulled out of a deep moat surrounding a palm oil plantation.}
Picture Credit: MALAYSIA WILDLIFE AUTHORITIES, AFP and Getty Images.
WOD: Marathon Monday
My dental surgeon’s wife is a marathoner who has run the Boston Marathon fifteen times. So I’m obsessed with her. :D
She gave me three pieces of advice that I’m really paying attention to this time around for the Detroit Marathon:
1) Let other people pass you. “Don’t keep up with them because everyone going faster than me at the beginning, I was passing at the end.” She wasn’t referring to the elites in the photo above. :)
2) Learn to love hills. Hill Training will make all the difference. Find a hill and build up to running it 40 times.
3) Work your upper body, core, and back hard. Your upper body carries your lower body during a run.
In an effort to make # 3 on the list come true, I had an extra-long evening workout session which included a hot yoga class and lifting weights with John.
So first, I completed a Hot Power Fusion yoga class and it was refreshing getting back into my yoga routine!
John then had me do the following workout:
Chest and Abs Routine
Standard Push-Ups
Wide Front Pull-Ups
Military Push-Ups
Reverse Grip Chin-Ups
******
Wide Fly Push-Ups
Closed Grip Overhand Pull-Ups
Decline Push-Ups
Back Rows
******
Diamond Push-Ups
Back Row Style 2
Dive Bomber Push-Ups
Back Flys
There’s a special place in Dante’s Inferno where they make you do this workout - and I was SORE SORE SORE.
I did most of the push-ups girl-style, used baby weights, and can’t do a real pull-up yet.
I consider myself a fit runner but there’s always a new challenge out there and this was it! John really encouraged me through this workout because I was a total baby doing it. :D
I asked John to take a picture of my post-workout exhausted face and this is what he shot.
He’s mature. ;D
Face Down, A** Up
My first workout since the Fargo Marathon was a 30 minute session on our new spin bike.
Spin IS SOOOO FUN! You work up a sweat really fast and it challenges your balance.
Good Mother, it was tougher than I expected though.
I held position 2 (from the video) for most of the workout, returning to position 1 for a short breaks. I held a cadence of 50-60 RPM and I can’t wait to get stronger!
My goal will be to cross train 1-2X a week (depending on my running schedule) and build up to 90-120 minutes!
Why Spin? It might make you a faster runner and it’s a great way to increase fitness and endurance while pounding out miles!
- This relationship between spinning and running lies on the hip rotation, specifically the relationship between cadence and the velocity of your hip rotation in degrees per second. For example, an individual pedaling at a cadence of 90 or 90 rpm’s, is rotation his/her hips at a velocity of 220 degrees per second. This is equivalent to a 6:45 per mile running pace. For those of us in the “average” running department, a cadence of 70 is equivalent to about an 8:00 minute per mile pace.
- Cycling will also benefit muscle development in the legs. According to Niles, a pedal stroke rquires more muscle power than a running stride. Thus, if you ride regularly, you will increase the size of your leg muscles…for an average runner, the added strength may increase knee stability without compromising running speed.
- The bottom line: replacing easy running days with cycling can increase your running intensity on your hard running days (such as your speedwork days). Therefore, you will improve your running speed on less mileage. Pretty cool huh?
- Below is a cadence/running equivalency chart. Because everyone’s stride is different, the equivalencies will vary, but the chart is fairly accurate. If you are interested in measuring cadence, you will need to purchase a bike computer that offers this feature.
{Source: Niles, Rick, “Spin Cycle.” Runner’s World (June 1992), p. 33}
Any other spin girls out there? I found this master class video on Spinning really helpful!
Summer Sunday
Happy Memorial Day weekend!
When I raced the Marine Corps Marathon, everything came together - handsome Marines, English Bulldogs, and military history.
I transcribed a history of the English Bulldogs and their “soldier boys” and it puts a smile on my face every time I look at my own little “devil dog.”
If you are obsessed with bulldogs and Marines, have a look. If you are a Marine with a bulldog, call me. :D
Nigel hopes all dogs are snuggling with their soldiers tonight or will get to soon. And for those who made the ultimate sacrifice, our thoughts are with your loved ones today.
Chicago is gorgeous this weekend with temperatures ranging from the low 70’s to the high 90’s!
As you can see from the length of that bully tongue, we are shade seeking during every walk and Nigel is only out for a few minutes at a time - too hot for smoosh faces! :D
We had an exciting weekend and are now the proud owners of a GE-NU-INE spin bike! :D
John and I both wanted to incorporate cross-training into our routines (one to two days for me) but we dislike elliptical machines and recumbent bikes.
They always felt boring and lazy to me no matter how much I increased the resistance and speed.
Enter Le Spin bike!
We went with a model with a console to easily track our efforts and with a 40 lb fly wheel in the front to make sure we got the intense training we wanted.
You can read more about the importance of a weighted flywheel here.
It was hilarious watching John put this together because he is so methodical, doing the completed opposite of what I would do: he lays out all the tools and supplies and actually reads the directions once through.
I am so glad John had it delivered on Saturday and was home to put it together. The bike weighs 120 lbs and he had to help the delivery man carry it in - and Nigel was not volunteering. :D
John had to use his bitching tool set which he got as a groomsman gift a few years ago - BEST GROOMSMAN GIFT EVER!
John’s super excited - he’s placing it in front if his big screen and planning on getting through seasons of t.v. shows he never has time to watch.
We’re off to a neighbor’s BBQ in our courtyard and since I’ve been eating nothing but veggie broth and frozen yogurt because of my wisdom tooth, I’m excited to try some of the soft BBQ foods. ;D
Hope everyone is having a great hot weekend!
A New Smile
I took my lunchtime salad for yesterday for granted.
I can’t enjoy it’s beautiful deliciousness today because I got my fourth wisdom tooth pulled and as the surgeon described it - “this was a colossus!”
This smooth and cool frozen yogurt and an iced coffee (without a straw) was my first meal today and will probably be what I eat for the rest of the day.
I love having an excuse to eat frozen yogurt three times a day. :D
Hopefully, I will heal quickly and since I will be base-building next week for our next marathon, this was a perfect time to sneak in this procedure.
I came home early and got up to get a blanket and someone took my spot on the couch. I get no sympathy from this one. :)
A Running Sabbatical
Nigel “makes” his bed by pawing at sheets or blankets before he plops down - somehow this afternoon he managed to wrap himself up into a bully burrito.
Some dogs ride skateboards and surfboard and rocking horses - my baby winks at you. :)
This ridiculous sweet pup. I will be joining Nigel in supreme laziness for the rest of the week while I take a one week sabbatical from running.
Frankly, I’m itching to run again. After the Marine Corps Marathon, I had a lingering knee injury that didn’t go away and a lot of pain - this Monday, I was walking funny but I was shocked by how quickly my body was healing.
I wanted to go to hot yoga today. I wanted to start a new exercise regimen.
I wanted to start base-building for my next marathon - but I don’t fear rest even if it’s hard for me to take this week off.
Highlights from my training plan for the Fargo Marathon:
- I ran a total of 370.68 miles starting right after the Goofy Challenge (including races).
- I completed a total of 47 hours of hot yoga.
- I completed two 20 mile long runs.
- I did a ton of speed work which showed up during the training cycle: I completed a 5 mile race in a little over 45 minutes, finished the half portion of the Fargo Marathon in 2:06 and finished my fastest 18 miler ever - in 2 hours 58 seconds.
I am happy with an adaptive plan - it let me build my endurance and increase speed without being completely run down, burnt out, or injured.
I wanted to run four days a week the entire time but during long run weeks (especially over 15 miles), my plan let me ratchet down to three runs a week - which saved my legs for the race.
I’m excited about this one week sabbatical because of the concept of periodization of training cycles.
It’s easy for me to sign up for race after race because there are so many fun races out there but I don’t want to run a bunch of mediocre races and I have a hard time using races as training runs.
I see a lot written about the love for running and the love for racing - and I love both.
But I love racing fast and getting faster with each passing year - it makes me so happy.
So what’s our next adventure?
We are running the Detroit Free Press Marathon in October. It will be my third racing marathon and my fifth one completed!
For John it will be his fourth racing marathon and his sixth one completed.
My goal is simple: I will hit 26.2 miles in 4 hours.
I write that with so much nervousness - I went from a 4:32 at the Marine Corps Marathon to 4:14 at Fargo. Does my body have those 14 extra speedy minutes in my legs?
Well, I’d rather dream big than dream small. And I’d rather try and fail then not try at all.
You can track my training here. In the following weeks you will see:
- More Mileage! I’ll be running 4X a week still with a plan that starts at 15 miles and peaks at 55 miles.
- Two twenty milers again - but this time a 22 and a 23 miler!
- A lot of hot yoga, as usual. :D
- Kicking or screaming, John will have me lifting weights.
- And cross-training with a new activity for me - Spinning!
Nigel Bear always approves of rest days.
Always.
