Chili!

When googling the recovery time for hubby's ankle, I came upon a website that said the Universe would allow it to heal based on previous life experiences. Long story short, bad hubby= longer recovery, good hubby= quick recovery. Simple enough!  While I think it was the MOST absurd information, I couldn't help but giggle when I felt as if the Universe was laughing HARD at me today-I guess since I'm not healing from surgery,  I needed something to remind me where I stand.
Today was BANANAS. I couldn't begin to describe the events leading up to it being "THAT"  day.  When I got home, luckily dinner was working it's magic, on the counter. I set everything up so that I could jump over to the gym tonight- I was draggin'...er draggin' my feet... but reluctantly put on gym clothes. I made the proclamation 3 maybe 4 times that I was leaving... this after a puppy snuggle fest in the bed, an invitation to Steve to come gaze at the moon with me on the front porch, and a sweet Banana Sunflower seed butter snack-  I HAD to go!!!  Armed with H2O, Steve's mp3 player, and enough pent up energy from the day's events, I headed to the gym. I did a quick, intense cardio session on the elliptical and nice long stretch.  It wasn't the heavy hitting time I had hoped for, but I will never regret getting a work out in!

When I made it home, Steve and I chowed down on the Stew!  It was the perfect ending the the perfectly crazy day!

Oh yeah, and Universe if you're reading this.... try harder ;)

Beef and Black Bean Chili Soup
1/2 lb cubed stew beef
1/2 diced white onion
4 cloves chopped garlic
1 diced roasted red pepper
1/2 cup diced green pepper
1 shredded onion
1 can diced tomatoes
1 diced fresh jalapenos- or slices from the jar, if you don't have fresh
1/2 can  tomato soup
4 cups beef broth
2 cups dried black beans
2 Tbsp cumin- I love cumin
2 Tbsp chili powder- I like A LOT
1 Tbsp dried onion
1 Tbsp garlic powder
Cayenne and salt to taste

Start a day early, allow the dried beans to soak overnight, and while your at it get to choppin'!!
Put everything in a slow cooker, and allow to cook on low for 8-10 hours!

We served it with Blue Corn Tortillas, and shredded pepper jack cheese.  Greek yogurt would have been perfect on top too!

c-Rock On!!!

So far so good this morning- no calls yet about delays or closings!  It's a strange feeling having your work week out of sorts until Wednesday- we're halfway to the weekend already. Something tells me this weekend will be a great reward, as shorter weeks are often crazier than their 5 day counterparts. 

To make life easier, and a trip to the gym more feasible this evening, I have dinner in the crockpot- working away already! My crockpot is a standard fixture in my kitchen. I try to use it once a week in making dinner (having that challenge also helps when planning meals throughout the week!). 

A few weeks ago, I was making something- start to finish at 6AM. While the crockpot does all of the work cooking, it seems to forget prepping, and clean up!  What was supposed to take a few minutes ended up taking 40- getting my morning off to a late start.

To make this morning run smoother, I gathered everything the night before. While making last nights dinner {veggified Turkey sloppy joes and broccili slaw} I cut extra onion, peppers, garlic, and set it aside for this morning.  My blackbeans started their overnight soak.  I pulled out the beef broth, and canned tomatoes. All of the veggies and spices were mixed in a bowl, the beef started defrosting in fridge, and I called it a night.  All I needed to do this morning was mix it up in the crockpot.

Doing a few extra steps in the kitchen one evening is like investing in your week. The more effort put forth one evening, the more free time  me time I get later. And while I wanted to park it on the couch right after dinner, I pumped myself up with "If you do THIS now, your whole evening is free tomorrow."  Having 4PM-8PM open is a luxury, I didn't want to pass up!

Assuming our kitchen aroma is a precursor to a satisfying meal, I'll post ingredients this evening- and hopefully snap a few appealing pics of Black Bean and Beef  Chili... er Stew (the jury is still out on which one it will be!) 

Happy Wednesday

 

"Vacation, all I ever wanted..."

For the past 4 1/2 days I have been on vacation- mentally! I LOVE my job, yet there is something about a holiday that helps wash away stress that builds up in the daily routine. We- see my better half here , went on not 1, but 2 trail runs, cooked amazing meals, and shared in some excellent down time... all in all this Fall break has me pumped for the 3 working weeks until Christmas Break... I digress....

Let me rewind this little recap to last night's dinner. We are lucky, very lucky, to have family that will share one of the fruits of the Bay... the Chesapeake Bay...Rockfish!

We grilled up some PRETTY filets, laid it over Quinoa, and made a 'cream' sauce to go on top... by cream I mean fat free milk sauce. Thinner than a cream sauce, but worth it to me!

For the cream sauce I kind of went my own direction.... with no direction...




Serve over Rockfish and Enjoy!



1 Tbsp flour mixed into 1 cup skim milk

make the slurry and put over medium heat- add 1/2 cup white wine

bring to a boil and simmer for roughly 10 minutes- add Crayfish bodies (minus the tails which have been peeled and reserved for later)

Add a dash of Old Bay to sauce

Allow to thicken, strain out Crayfish, careful not to leave any parts... that wouldn't be fun to find!

Add a pinch of Parmesan cheese, crayfish tails and fresh shrimp

This was a figure it out as you go along kind of dinner! It ended up turning out very tasty, and hopefully we will get some more Rockfish Handouts, so we can dish it up again.

So this morning we woke up exhilarated and ready to tackle another run- sans any issues getting out of the driveway. It was too easy to get moving, we figured something was forgotten- but unlike yesterday's pre-run shenanigans today was just easy. We put in 4.3 miles on the trails, the rock and root laden down hills are hell on knees and ankles, so a slower pace was needed to forgo any mishaps... that and I'm still trying to regain my running strength and stamina- lazy bones!

  

Someone is ready for bed!





Dinner was created using.... leftover Turkey... is anyone else over turkey?

I like changing my dinners up, often using different flavors and cultural inspirations, so having SO much turkey to use can get a bit old.... well challenging.

In comes Turkey and White Bean Chili.

It was truly simple to make 1 can of cannelini beans, rinsed and drained, sauteed onion, garlic, cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, carrots (strange yes but it worked), turkey, and canned tomatoes with green chilis.  

Topped with a tiny bit of cheese, and healthy scoop of Greek Yogurt- this bowl satisfied  the post run hunger that creeped up on us!  Now it's off to read the new Fitness magazine, and crash out before getting back into the grind!