Earlier this week Paul asked me did I want to go biking on Sunday (today). Of course! The weather was supposed to be beautiful and after the freezing cold bike ride last time I was looking forward to going for a ride in nice weather. The day after I agreed to the bike ride I read on Paul's blog that we would be doing 30-40 miles. WHAT! The furthest I had done at this point was 21 miles. I was a little nervous about attempting this distance but I figured that I'm in shape so I can do it. And guess what??? I DID!!!
We ended up doing 42 miles and at least 20 of those were uphill. Some were up very long and steep hills. I think I need to do a little more hill work on the bike before I go for a ride in the mountains. The hills today were kicking my butt. Towards the end of the ride I was strongly considering stopping and calling Paul on his cell phone to let him know to keep going and just come back with the car to get me. However, my pride wouldn't let me do that so I just dug in and kept going. If I have real aspirations of doing an Ironman then I'm going to have to learn to keep going when I want to stop.
Overall the ride wasn't that difficult but I did realize that Paul and Susan have it a little bit easier because they coast a lot faster and further than I do. After every downhill I had to push it to catch back up with them. They were nice enough to slow down and/or stop so that I wouldn't fall too far behind. I promise I'll get faster!!
The only negative part about the ride was all the dang dogs that tried to eat us. I understand that dogs like to chase things but I would really like for them not to chase me! I'm not scared of dogs (well, most of them anyway) but I am scared of a dog causing me to fall and then mauling me to death or deformity. There were several instances where dogs came out and ran along with us, some seemed friendly while some seemed like they were craving some people meat. Susan and I found that the best way to handle this was to put Paul between us and the dogs. He's pretty good at scaring them off by yelling at them and kicking his foot at them. If I tried to kick while riding I'd probably fall over and then get mauled. I might have to invest in some pepper spray, that will teach them!
I can't wait for my next ride!!!!!!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Recipe of the Week: Flank Steak with Red Wine & Oven Fries
Went on a wonderful 6 mile run to day with Amy R. and one of her good friends, the weather was perfect! I just wanted to make that statement for the record.
The other night I made a dinner and it was delicious.
Ingredients:
-3 med russet (baking) potatoes (8 0z each)
-3 tsp olive oil
-1 1/4 lbs. beef flank steak, trimmed of fat
-1/2 tsp dried tarragon
-1 med. shallot, minced
-3/4 c. dry red wine
-1 bag microwave-in-the-bag baby spinach
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 450F. Cut each unpeeled potato crosswise in half, then cut each half lengthwise into 8 wedges.
2. Spray 15 1/2 by 10 1/2 jelly-roll pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place potatoes in pan and toss with 2 teaspoons oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper. Roast potatoes in oven 25 minutes or until fork-tender and beginning to brown, stirring once halfway through roasting.
3. Meanwhile, rub steak with tarragon and 1/4 teaspoon salt to season both sides. Heat 12-inch cast-iron or other heavy skillet on medium-high. Add 1 teaspoon oil and steak; cook 12 minutes for medium, turning over once. Transfer steak to cutting board. To same skillet, add shallot and cook 1 minutes, stirring. Add wine and heat to boiling, boil 2 minutes or until reduced to 1/3 cup.
4. Cook spinach in microwave as label directs. Thinly slice steak and serve with wine sauce, potatoes, and spinach.
Nutritional Info: About 415 calories, 35 g protein, 37 g carbohydrates, 14 g total fat
Tamara's Tips
- I followed the directions as written and it turned out great. The meat was a little more medium-rare than medium so if you may want to cook it a few more minutes if you don't like it that rare.
Final Verdict: 8.5 - It was delicious, I have been on a roll lately!
The other night I made a dinner and it was delicious.
Ingredients:
-3 med russet (baking) potatoes (8 0z each)
-3 tsp olive oil
-1 1/4 lbs. beef flank steak, trimmed of fat
-1/2 tsp dried tarragon
-1 med. shallot, minced
-3/4 c. dry red wine
-1 bag microwave-in-the-bag baby spinach
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 450F. Cut each unpeeled potato crosswise in half, then cut each half lengthwise into 8 wedges.
2. Spray 15 1/2 by 10 1/2 jelly-roll pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place potatoes in pan and toss with 2 teaspoons oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper. Roast potatoes in oven 25 minutes or until fork-tender and beginning to brown, stirring once halfway through roasting.
3. Meanwhile, rub steak with tarragon and 1/4 teaspoon salt to season both sides. Heat 12-inch cast-iron or other heavy skillet on medium-high. Add 1 teaspoon oil and steak; cook 12 minutes for medium, turning over once. Transfer steak to cutting board. To same skillet, add shallot and cook 1 minutes, stirring. Add wine and heat to boiling, boil 2 minutes or until reduced to 1/3 cup.
4. Cook spinach in microwave as label directs. Thinly slice steak and serve with wine sauce, potatoes, and spinach.
Nutritional Info: About 415 calories, 35 g protein, 37 g carbohydrates, 14 g total fat
Tamara's Tips
- I followed the directions as written and it turned out great. The meat was a little more medium-rare than medium so if you may want to cook it a few more minutes if you don't like it that rare.
Final Verdict: 8.5 - It was delicious, I have been on a roll lately!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
It Was a Clear and Cold Night
I went for a run today! I really needed today's run. It has been a hectic and somewhat stressful week and due to weather and laziness I hadn't run all week. I am glad that I decided to run today because it was worth it. It was just Amy R. and I out there running in the dark and cold night. I was concerned it would be too cold but it wasn't, it ended up being a fairly pleasant run. I am happy that it will be warmer this weekend, I have a run and a long bike ride scheduled.
After the run I came home and I made a delicious dinner. I will make sure to post the recipe tomorrow, right now I am tired and need to get some rest.
After the run I came home and I made a delicious dinner. I will make sure to post the recipe tomorrow, right now I am tired and need to get some rest.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Ready for Spring
I am SO over this cold weather. It isn't like I was ever really into the cold weather to begin with but now I am even more so ready for it to pass.
I planned to run yesterday evening but it started snowing. Now, I barely will run in the cold so you know I am not going to run in snow. Maybe if I were training for a specific event I would run in the snow but that is exactly why I don't schedule any big events that would require me to train in the winter. I should have braved the weather and went for the run anyway because my stress level has been high lately so I did need the run. Good thing it won't be snowing tomorrow so I will be able to get my run in.
I have been in a slump lately and I need to figure out a way to get out of it. It is going to take my on strength and dedication, which I know I have. I promise to get it together really soon so I can stop boring y'all with post about how I'm such a big slacker!
I planned to run yesterday evening but it started snowing. Now, I barely will run in the cold so you know I am not going to run in snow. Maybe if I were training for a specific event I would run in the snow but that is exactly why I don't schedule any big events that would require me to train in the winter. I should have braved the weather and went for the run anyway because my stress level has been high lately so I did need the run. Good thing it won't be snowing tomorrow so I will be able to get my run in.
I have been in a slump lately and I need to figure out a way to get out of it. It is going to take my on strength and dedication, which I know I have. I promise to get it together really soon so I can stop boring y'all with post about how I'm such a big slacker!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Recipe of the Week: Zesty Crab Cakes
Last night I made some delicious crab cakes from a recipe I found in Martha Stewart Living. Say what you will about that woman, she knows how to cook her @ss off!
Ingredients:
1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
2 tablespoons unsalted better, melted and cooled
2 large eggs
3 tablespoons sour cream (I used light sour cream)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, plus wedges for serving (I used bottled lemon juice)
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (reduce this if you don't like your food spicy)
1/2 tsp coarse salt
1 lb lump crabmeat, picked over (I used a blend of lump and claw meat, we're in a recession!)
3 hot picked peppers, such as Peppadew, coarsely chopped (I don't know what a Peppadew is so I used habeneros)
3/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Instructions:
1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of cornmeal. Whisk next 8 ingredients in a large bowl. Gently mix in crab, peppers and breadcrumbs.
2. For each crab cake, shape 1/3 cup crab mixture into a patty; place on prepared sheet. Sprinkle with remaining cornmeal. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate 15 minutes.
3. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook crab cakes in batches, 4 to 5 minutes per side. (It turned out to make 8 crab cakes for me)
Tamara's Tips:
- If you aren't used to very spicy food, you may want to choose a milder pepper.
- I served this with boiled potatoes and coleslaw which made for a delicious meal.
Final Verdict: 9 - I will definitely make this again! It was simple and delicious. I would like to try it with only using lump crab meat but I will have to wait for it to go on sale or for a special occasion because that stuff is over twice the cost of the mixed crab meat.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
2 tablespoons unsalted better, melted and cooled
2 large eggs
3 tablespoons sour cream (I used light sour cream)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, plus wedges for serving (I used bottled lemon juice)
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (reduce this if you don't like your food spicy)
1/2 tsp coarse salt
1 lb lump crabmeat, picked over (I used a blend of lump and claw meat, we're in a recession!)
3 hot picked peppers, such as Peppadew, coarsely chopped (I don't know what a Peppadew is so I used habeneros)
3/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Instructions:
1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of cornmeal. Whisk next 8 ingredients in a large bowl. Gently mix in crab, peppers and breadcrumbs.
2. For each crab cake, shape 1/3 cup crab mixture into a patty; place on prepared sheet. Sprinkle with remaining cornmeal. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate 15 minutes.
3. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook crab cakes in batches, 4 to 5 minutes per side. (It turned out to make 8 crab cakes for me)
Tamara's Tips:
- If you aren't used to very spicy food, you may want to choose a milder pepper.
- I served this with boiled potatoes and coleslaw which made for a delicious meal.
Final Verdict: 9 - I will definitely make this again! It was simple and delicious. I would like to try it with only using lump crab meat but I will have to wait for it to go on sale or for a special occasion because that stuff is over twice the cost of the mixed crab meat.
Monday, February 2, 2009
To-Do List
I need to get back on task with making lists. I need to make a list for all the things I need to do around the house and start checking them off. The first thing that needs to be done is conquering clean clothes mountain and then washing the pile of dirty clothes so that I can finally implement my clothes washing plan. I don't understand how two people can generate so many dirty clothes.
I'm also planning to make two new recipes this week so I need to go to the grocery store to get some supplies. Be on the look out for those posts later this week - they should be really good!
I'm tired, I attempted to go for a swim at lunch....I say attempted because I only managed to do 250 meters before I felt completely drained and decided to stop and go back in the locker room. I was contemplating getting in the hot tub however it was full of naked old women so I took a pass on that idea. I guess I'm tired from staying up late to watch the Superbowl (really the Superbowl commercials). I posted my thoughts on the commercials on my other blog, "Because I Said SO!"
OK, enough rambling for one post......
I'm also planning to make two new recipes this week so I need to go to the grocery store to get some supplies. Be on the look out for those posts later this week - they should be really good!
I'm tired, I attempted to go for a swim at lunch....I say attempted because I only managed to do 250 meters before I felt completely drained and decided to stop and go back in the locker room. I was contemplating getting in the hot tub however it was full of naked old women so I took a pass on that idea. I guess I'm tired from staying up late to watch the Superbowl (really the Superbowl commercials). I posted my thoughts on the commercials on my other blog, "Because I Said SO!"
OK, enough rambling for one post......
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Saturday Morning Run
Amy R. told me it was going to be cold on Saturday but I didn't really pay it any attention until I woke up and looked at the temperature and it said 25 degrees! Luckily it was sunny outside so after a few miles it warmed up enough to be bearable.
We ended up doing about 6 miles although it wasn't a particularly successful run (we walked some towards the end). I guess that's what happens when you skip 2 long runs. I don't plan on skipping anymore so hopefully my future runs will be much better. I'm still contemplating what my running goal is for this year. Part of me wants to do another marathon but another part of me wants to focus on speed and perhaps completing a half-marathon at a significantly faster time than last year. I guess I have a little bit more time to decide but not too much because I don't want the marathon I might choose to fill up before I get the chance to sign-up.
The run ended on a weird note....clearly I watch too many crime dramas.....
We ended up doing about 6 miles although it wasn't a particularly successful run (we walked some towards the end). I guess that's what happens when you skip 2 long runs. I don't plan on skipping anymore so hopefully my future runs will be much better. I'm still contemplating what my running goal is for this year. Part of me wants to do another marathon but another part of me wants to focus on speed and perhaps completing a half-marathon at a significantly faster time than last year. I guess I have a little bit more time to decide but not too much because I don't want the marathon I might choose to fill up before I get the chance to sign-up.
The run ended on a weird note....clearly I watch too many crime dramas.....
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