Don't Mind the Mess

I'm doing some behind the scenes blog work today. I now have a page called The Grazer as well as a Recipes tab up top.

(If there are a ton of recipe posts that randomly post in Reader, it's just the process of me adding them to my page.)

My Stash

I came home the other day to a large envelope sitting on my front porch. Odd, because we have a mailbox. I quickly glanced at it and saw the return address - it was from Deb, my favorite smoothie expert!

This sticker cracked me up.

Look! My stash has been replenished. Kidding, but seriously look how incriminating the contents of this envelope appear.

First off, we have some lovely white powder - I'm sure if anyone but me opened this envelope I would have quite a bit of explaining to do. What's inside this mystery baggie? Well, xanathan gum of course. Geez.

As well as two individual packets of homemade nut butter. Being who I am, I grabbed a butter knife and immediately tasted a dab from each packet. Deb, can I come live with you?? This stuff is fantastic.

For those of you who are confused about the use of xanathan gum - let me show you. It turns an ordinary green monster into a thick and creamy delight.

• 1 frozen banana
• 1 C soy milk
• splash of vanilla extract
• 1 scoop Biochem chocolate fudge protein powder
• tons of spinach
• ice
• 1/4 tsp of xanathan gum

How amazing does that look?? I could tell the difference the second I sprinkled it into the blender - the texture changed dramatically. But, one thing that did surprise me was the fact that I couldn't even finish half this glass! I also had a ton leftover in the blender so I did what any frugal smoothie-lover does. Put the rest in the freezer for another day.

For my dinner last night I finally made a recipe I've been saving for a rainy day (although it wasn't raining...). Egg and turkey mini quiche. :) The original idea for these came from Diana from My Marble Rye. Just a simple combo of turkey deli meat, scrambled eggs, shredded zucchini and pepper. Some just had egg whites and turkey.

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Spray non-stick spray into muffin tins
• Line with deli meat
• Fill about halfway (I did 2/3, it was messy) with egg/veggie mixture (you can use whatever mix-ins you prefer)
• Cook for about 20-25 minutes, or until eggs fluff up and run all over the bottom of your oven.... Grr.

Workout: Level 3 of the 30 Day Shred. Yikes - this level makes me feel so out of shape....

Tables Restaurant

After our first day of Management Success! classes in Denver my husband treated us to a nice and relaxing dinner out at Tables.

From the website: "Tables' owners, chefs Amy Vitale and Dustin Barrett, transformed this Park Hill spot from bland storefront to cozy, eclectic restaurant. Attention to all the wicked little details - mismatched, salvaged tables and chairs, charming picket fence enclosing the patio, discrete signage, the screen door at the entry that could have been swiped from a southern bungalow's back porch - give the place an aura of comfort and charm."
I spotted this restaurant and it's stellar reviews on Yelp, Saturday afternoon. I called ahead to make reservations and they were able to fit us in right away. We were seated at a small table with mismatched chairs, which I thought was cute and eclectic. The husband, however, did not.

Immediately after being seated the friendly and attentive waitress brought out a chilled bottle of water, two glasses as well as a pail of sliced fresh bread and a small Mason jar with creamy, soft butter. I quickly devoured two pieces.

My drink of choice came from their "Tiny Bubbles" menu - I ordered the Domaine St. from Michelle, Wa.

For an appetizer we split the Tuna Tartar, Avocado, Scallions, Ginger-Soy Vinaigrette & Wonton Crisps which was incredible. If you like avocado and sushi-grade tuna, I highly recommend this dish. The ginger-soy vinaigrette added the perfect touch.

For my entrée I ordered the Pan Seared Jumbo Scallops, Basil-Mint Risotto, Mushroom Medley, Peppers & Arugula. It was small but incredibly flavorful. I'm always a bit apprehensive about arugula but it really made the dish. I ate the whole portion and left feeling content and not overly stuffed.

My husband ordered the Colorado Lamb Loin, Grilled Ciabatta, Almond-Pesto, Manchego, Fava Bean, Bacon & Spring Herbs & Lamb Jus. I didn't get a photo but I did taste it. The flavors were outstanding, really rich. He was a tad nervous as he had no idea what to expect (manchego? fava bean?) but he was very impressed. Even though the portion was smaller than he expected, he found it very filling and even left a few bites on the plate.

Tables is a great new addition to Denver and though the atmosphere was a bit too "picnic" for a romantic night out, the food was fabulous, the wait staff friendly and accommodating and the service quick and efficient.

Body Types

As some of you may know, there are three dominant body types: ectomorph, mesomorph and endomorph. These are not all encompassing, many people are a combination of two types depending on their genetic makeup. (Ecto-mesomorph, endo-mesomorph, etc.)

The Ectomorph has a fragile, delicate physique with light bones, small joints and minimal muscle mass. Their limbs are relatively long in proportion to their body and they are very lean. They have small shoulders and a very thin neck. The ectomorph is a very “hard gainer” and must work extremely hard to earn and maintain every ounce of muscle mass. Ectomorphs also tend to suffer from extreme temperatures. They suffer in high heat as well as cold climates due to their lack of muscle mass in relation to their body size. Building large muscles is nearly impossible but overall health and fitness should be the real goal anyway. When choosing an exercise routine, the ectomorph will get better results by concentrating more of their efforts on strength building than cardio, bearing in mind that both are necessary but an educated balance is essential.

Famous ectomorphs are Angelina Jolie, Kate Moss and Edward Norton.

The Mesomorph is extremely athletic, has a great amount of muscle mass and tends to have a larger bone structure. This is the body type most people strive for. Known for their excellent posture, their arms and legs are well developed and they tend to have heavily muscled hands and feet. With a naturally narrow waist female mesomorphs are known for their hourglass figures while male mesomorphs have a hard, rectangular shape. Being blessed with genetic perfection still has some downfalls if a proper balance of nutrition and exercise is not maintained. The beauty of this body type is that it responds more readily to diet and nutrition than the other two types. Balance is still the key ingredient, but many small meals is still the best bet (grazing). An even balance of cardio and strength training will serve the mesomorph well.

Famous mesomorphs are Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jillian Michaels.

The Endomorph has a round, soft body with underdeveloped muscles. They can gain muscle just as easily as the mesomorph can but they also gain fat easily and have a hard time losing weight. They tend to carry a lot of weight in their upper arms and thighs which gives them a stocky appearance. Endomorphs have a high degree of body fat, especially around the midsection. They should focus on cardio as their main form of exercise and should balance a healthy diet with a focus on small meals, high amounts of protein and a low fat intake (20%) to lose weight.

Famous endomorphs are Jack Black, John Goodman and Roseanne.

Many people are not 100% one body type. As our society grows, so do the blend of shapes and sizes that we encompass. So why am I talking about this on a food blog? Simple, the foods we eat and the exercises we perform affect each of us differently depending on our body type/s.

I am an ectomorph. 100%. I am 5’8”, 120 pounds and have one hell of a time building muscle. My foods of choice are fruit, veggies, complex carbohydrates, nuts and low-fat meat & dairy. I eat multiple times per day, usually 5, and try to balance all my food groups as much as possible. I focus on both cardio and strength training in my workouts but strength training yields more results. This is what works for me . 

However, if I let myself slack in the healthy eats department I gain fat.

Ectomorphs are not generally known for fat gain but any body type WILL gain fat if the caloric intake is higher than the caloric burn. Simple science. Not that I need to remind any of you, I’m sure many of you know what your own body requires from you in order to stay fit.

Needless to say, what works for you may be completely different than what works for anyone else. Some people swear by low-fat diets while some claim that vast amounts of good and healthy fats are the best way to maintain a healthy weight without feeling deprived. I think as long as you feel good about your food choices and are happy with your workout routine, that should be all that matters.

I love how different we all are and I think that in our society we need to be reminded of that. So many people try to change their body types in order to fit that mold they deem “perfect”. It’s not healthy to compare ourselves to someone with a completely different shape and size because sometimes it’s just not possible to look like them. As much as I want to look ripped and toned like Jillian, it’s never going to happen! :) As much as I want to be a “runner” and train for marathons, it’s just not in me to do so. I accept that.

I’m a strong believer in moderation. Moderate your food, fun and exercise and you can achieve anything you wish.

Giant Scissors

You are so fantastic, truly. Yes, you! All my readers, please give yourself a pat on the back. I'll wait.

Good?? Ok.

It's such a great feeling knowing that no matter how vulnerable my posts are or if I feel the need to rant about something, I can. It's nice to say what I need to say. Even though I've never met 99% of you & probably never will, I really do appreciate every single comment I receive. Just another thing that I am thankful for.

It seems like a lot of us require a certain amount of alone time to maintain our sanity. I think that being able to sit with your own thoughts is extremely important. Maybe it's a female thing because my husband seems to have trouble with being alone. The week I went to Hawaii in Jan/Feb? He went crazy. The guy does not like to be alone in our house at all.

Anywho.

Yesterday I had a near-empty almond butter jar that needed attention so I warmed up an apple with a sprinkle of cinnamon for 90 seconds in the microwave & dumped it into the jar. Topped with some plain Greek yogurt & a few sliced strawberries.

Right after I took this photo I switched the camera to the hand holding the jar & promptly dumped almost all the strawberries onto the floor. Klutz.

I went to work for a couple hours & then to my husband's automotive shop where he was being honored by the Red Carpet Committee from the Chamber of Commerce. There was a speech, a little bit of mingling & then he & I had to talk about the business. Um, say what?? I have to talk too?? I thought I was just supposed to be here for support. ACK.

Thankfully it went smoothly, he did the ribbon cutting ceremony & we all posed for pictures.

I want those scissors. They're 100% real too - they weigh about 6 pounds.

Notice he dressed up?? Score one for the persuasive wife!

After the ceremony I drove back to work & snacked on a Clif Mojo.

For lunch I brought a turkey & cheese sandwich on spelt bread - which I toasted in our little toaster oven at work.

I also added a wedge of laughing cow cheese & some lettuce.

After work the hubs asked if I wanted to go out for dinner to celebrate so I ran home, got in a quick workout (Level 2 of the 30-Day Shred) & ate a cookie dough Luna protein bar (no pic). But not before I split my knee open on a 25 lb tub of cat litter - klutz again.

We wound up at the Rio where I ordered one of their famous margaritas on the rocks & the steak quesadilla. I forgot my camera - bad blogger. I ate about 2/3 of the quesadilla & of course finished the marg. :)

~~~

Friday started off with a simple cup of coffee with cream & an almond butter/plum jam sandwich on spelt bread. I took it to eat in the car but this bread is ridiculously crumbly. I was covered by the time I got to work. Fail.

I also sipped on some POM Wonderful juice.

My packed lunch/snacks for the day are snap peas, a peanut butter perfect foods bar (!!), pink lady apple, spelt English muffin with laughing cow & a couple of hard boiled eggs.
I received a box full of these bars yesterday free from Leigh at the Perfect Foods company. I gave the Peanut Butter flavor to Dave this morning for breakfast (have yet to hear his review) and I also grabbed one for my afternoon snack. Full review to come once I've had all the flavors.

This weekend Dave and I are going to Denver for a two-day training for automotive business owners. I'm sure it will be just as exciting as it sounds. :( Especially since I'll be completely confused the whole time....BUT I was promised two nights in a hotel & a fun night out on Saturday.

Wanna bribe a foodie to give up her weekend? Offer her a free dinner out in a big city. Works every time.

Enjoy your weekend!

Thankful

When was the last time you sat down alone with your thoughts? No TV in the background, music turned off, no book to distract you or a child/husband (same thing, really) to entertain you or talk with.

I don't do this often enough - I'm one of those people who need that fuzzy background noise, whatever it may be. I don't like to cook, bake or even do laundry without the TV on the background. It makes my skin crawl if I have to ride in a vehicle with no music. Even if I snuggle under a blanket with my laptop I still turn the TV on for 'company'.

Despite my need for distraction and company in the form of fictional characters, I am also a person who requires a set amount of alone time. Thank goodness Dave has hobbies because if I had to spend every moment of each weekend with him I might just kill him. As far back as I can remember I have always been this way. Maybe it's because I'm an only child who grew up 10 miles outside of a town of 1,200 people? Or perhaps it's just a common trait that all Cancer's share. Any other Cancer's out there?

Lately I've been attempting to let it all go & bask in silence for a minimum of 10 minutes each day. No TV, no books, nothing. Just a time to sit and reflect in order to determine where my life is now and where I want it to go. This usually happens right before I fall asleep most days. I find myself grateful for all I have accomplished and the privileges I have grown accustomed to. I've always said that my favorite part of each day is when I crawl into my cozy, warm bed after a hot shower. It's so relaxing.

Now this is a little deep for a food blog, I know. So let me list some of the things that I am thankful for and that make me smile - food included. :) Sometimes it's the little things that count.

• I'm thankful to be able to prepare and eat a healthy breakfast each day and that I don't have to worry about where my next meal will come from.

• The ability to drive myself to work every day, to be able to afford fuel and new tires so I don't have to worry about the horrible road conditions. (Who am I kidding? I was panicking...)
• Leftovers (smothered in Sriracha)- I know some of you don't like them but they make my life easier.

• Chocolate makes me happy. Yup, raise your hand if you knew that one was coming.

• Protein bars (Luna cookie dough) masquerading as candy always put a smile on my face.

• Fresh healthy foods are a staple of my diet. I'm lucky to live in an area where they are in abundance and reasonably priced. Also, I'm thankful for the resources to buy food for my household whenever I need to.

$ .99 pineapples

Fresh organic, wheat-free breads.

Vegetables that are actually fun to eat and appetizing.

Giant strawberries.

• I'm also thankful when my favorite almond butter goes on sale.

• Sandwiches that stick their tongues out at you. Like I said, it's the little things...

• I'm happy to have the option and ability to exercise daily. Even though on days when I'm going on 5 hours of sleep I choose to hit the hay early instead of getting in a sweat session.

What are you thankful for?

I've had enough

Looks like the split between those who crave change and those who work best with a set routine is pretty even. I'm excited to get a move on with my new attitude - and I think my dad said it best in an email I received early this morning, "The only constant in the universe is change...stagnation is extinction, and anyone who says"but we have always done it that way" is a dinosaur, or soon will be."

Love you, Dad!!

My husband always claims to hate change but he's constantly trying new things, especially when it comes to his automotive business. In fact, tomorrow morning his business is being honored by the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce. There will even be a red carpet and ribbon cutting ceremony! I'll be taking a couple hours off work to go watch, I'm so proud of my hubby. Now if I could only get him to dress up for it!!

The food highlights of my Tuesday were:

Breakfast: Spelt English muffin with hummus, fried egg, sliced turkey and Sriracha. With a too-ripe banana on the side - way too sweet, I prefer green bananas.

In my effort to warm up after work I made a cup of peppermint tea to honor one of my favorite eclectic bloggers, Heather.
Paired with a cool mint chocolate Clif bar, it was the perfect snack for a snowy winter afternoon.
Another highlight of my day was the warm & comforting dinner I threw together without any prior preparation or planning. Chicken stir-fry with peanut sauce over brown basmati rice.

I cubed and marinated two chicken breasts in tamari, toasted sesame oil and (bottled) spicy peanut sauce for 30 minutes.

My serving (there is rice under there) with a hefty dose of Sriracha.

Workout: 2 miles on treadmill and a 25 minute ab workout on the balance ball.

Remember when I mentioned that we got a bit of snow last week? Well, it melted quickly & then Monday was back to 68 degrees and sunny.

I should have done my much-needed grocery shop then because Tuesday after work the town looked like this:

According to the radio this morning, we are expecting anything between 16 to 20 inches of snow by 6 o'clock this evening. Frick.

To quote my nephew, who was the ring-bearer at my wedding,

"I've had just about enough of this!!"