Friday, January 29, 2010

Apple Crisp

Hello! Last night we ran 33 laps around an asphalt track in North Van.  That's all I want to say about that.

Today I made some apple crisp.  And ate over half of it.  I'll make more tomorrow to share with friends.
Recipe thanks to my Mommy, who found the recipe somewhere but still hopes to patent it, as it is "so damn good":

6 cups sliced apples
1/3 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup of butter/margarine
1 tbsp. lemon juice
2/3 cup rolled oats
1 cup brown sugar
 
Arrange apples in greased dish and sprinkle with lemon juice. Mix flour, oats, and sugar. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs. Sprinkle over apples. Bake in 350 F. until apples are tender and topping lightly browned (35-40 mins) Can sprinkle apples with cinnamon.

Pleased with the outcome. I used organic gala apples and one red delicious... I don't know if the apple choice contributes to the result, or if the sweetness was thanks to the brown sugar.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010


One of the sandwiches I made this week: aged white cheddar (evil, I know -- I felt the spawn try to break through my stomach a la Alien (1979)); red bell pepper, green leaf lettuce, sweet cocktail tomato and avocado.

 

Then I ran out of avocado, so started making salads instead.

Tonight's post-yoga smoothie (frozen strawberries, a handful of spinach and two medium-sized bananas) hit the spot.  I made it home just in time (well, 19 minutes into the drama) for The Biggest Loser.  Going to North Van for a few days starting tomorrow morning.

And yes, yoga was fun.  My core feels it. Today we did some exercises for stimulating the heart chakra.  Other than my brief yet periodic laughing fit(s) during the mantra "Ong sohung", all went well.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010


Yesterday, in addition to my usual smoothie and banana-with-peanut-butter, I made a sandwich with sweet red peppers, lettuce, cucumber and old white cheese.  I snacked on that "sweet protein mix" in the background (dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, raisins).

Last night I did kundalini yoga for the first time; I was sweating within the first 5 minutes and we weren't doing anything too intense.  Or maybe I was, haha.  Today my muscles are sore.  Everyone else (ahem, Michelle) seems to be fine.  I enjoyed the class; the instructor is awesome and considerate, the people are fit, the kriyas are done with eyes closed (major plus), the atmosphere is warm and accepting, and the experience is personal.  Two thumbs up (held over the head, palms turned forward -- now inhale through the nose...).


Sunday, January 17, 2010





Still doing the daily spinach-banana-frozen strawberry smoothies.  I'm leaving this photo sideways to illustrate how smoothies offer you a new perspective on life, or something.

Today we ran 5 km at a faster pace and my legs are feeling okay with that, as opposed to the soreness from going the longer distances at a slower pace.  Fueled by two Costco muffins left on the table for me by my thoughtful roommate, I was hurting right away.  I can tell when I'm suffering on a run because I can hear myself breathing harder and people look at me with concern.  Their concerned looks serve only to make me suck it up and suffer more greatly in silence.  I also put on a front of serenity and poise when I run near attractive people, or near children that look admiringly at us as ideals of human achievement.  Gotta do it for the kids.  Then collapse around the corner.

So, yeah; I ate muffins for breakfast.  They were the sugar kind.  Maple-flavoured, perhaps.

I also gave myself water.

After the run, my magical running buddy (yes I said buddy) treated me to some chocolate frozen yogurt with pistachio nuts.  Thank-you!  Tomorrow, we do Steamrollers.

I feel well.

Previous night: Last night I ate mainly cashews from the Superstore and bananas with peanut butter (peanuts and nothing else in the ingredient list).

Night before that: We shared a large Flying Wedge Broken Hearts pizza with Caribbean dipping sauce.  On a dare, we each had a large hazelnut chocolate bar to see who could eat more of it before feeling sick.  I won!  I out-ate Lori!


Wednesday, January 13, 2010


The people at Thai Away home are starting to look for me several times a week, as did my friends at Steamrollers.  So many commitments; I feel like I'm dating two great people and I can't imagine being with either one forever.  Anyway, I mixed it up and opted for the red curry with green peppers, broccoli, red peppers, spinach and cauliflower special this week, which came with rice, veggie wontons and a side salad.
 
My other meals of the week: Veggie steamrollers, veggie subs on honey oat, banana-strawberry-spinach-ice cube smoothies, peanut butter (only roasted peanuts) and bananas, cucumber and avocado sandwiches, carrots, carrot juice and two apples... oh, and frozen yogurt once... I'm sure some morsels escape me at the moment.

After our run tonight, I loaded up on spaghetti gamberetti, house salad and some really good yet thick-as-a-brick bread.

Sunday, January 3, 2010


It's the season for frozen strawberry smoothies.

 
Bananas and peanut butter at 4:30 a.m. hold me for the day.
Or until 10:30 a.m., at which point water and willpower sustain me.