Random Ramblings and Red Soup

I added chia seeds to my oats when cooking them the last couple of days.  

If you are unfamiliar with the health benefits of chia seeds, check here.

Last night I started a 5k training plan.  I enjoyed running outside, with no coat in the 10 C (50 F) weather.  When it gets much warmer than this, I have a hard time staying hydrated and not overheating.

What is your perfect temperature for running outside?

I ate a vegetarian Mexican "lasagna" before leaving for my run (from Looney Spoons cookbook), and I re-hydrated with a fresh juice when I got home.

 

This evening we had a red soup made with beets and red peppers.

Sweet Red Pepper and Beet Soup

(Slightly adapted from: Power Foods Cookbook)

1 T olive oil

2 shallots, coarsley chopped

3 red bell peppers (ribs and seeds removed, cut into bite size pieces)

2 red beets (approx. 1 pound) trimmed, peeled, and cubed

1 cup water

3.5 cups veggie or chicken stock (reduced sodium)

Juice from 1 lemon

Fresh ground S&P

Fresh goat cheese for crumbling on top

Heat oil over med. heat.  Cook shallots, stirring occasionally, until translucent (about 4 minutes).  Add bell peppers and beets and stir.  Add water and broth and bring to a boil. Cover partially and reduce to simmer.  Cook until beets are very tender (about 1 hour).

Let cool slightly.  Stir in lemon juice, 1 tsp fresh ground salt, and pepper to taste.  Puree soup.  Sprinkle with goat cheese before serving.

This soup is intended to be served cold ... but that just sounds narsty to me.  I served it hot.

Have you ever had cold soup?  Could you stomach it?

I like my food to be HOT, unless it is salad, or something that is usually served cold.

Every Once in a While ...

A perfect weekend comes a long ...

I spent the weekend doing things from my (want) to-do list.  The hubby and I went to Chapters/Starbucks where I tried one of their cake pops.  It was nasty.  It tasted waxy, stale, and artificial.  I was right in thinking that my homemade ones would be better.  

I wanted to make a new recipe this weekend, and we found one in the Looney Spoons cookbook. 

About a year ago we had a Saskatchewan themed dinner party and our friends brought us some Saskatchewan grown lentils as a gift.  We cooked them up on Saturday evening with rice, Indian spices and veggies, and topped them with curried sour cream.

The rest of the evening was spent with our little nephew who came to our place for a sleepover.

I love this little guy more than the whole-wide-world :-)

We played.  I made Ruby Red Pound Cake from Christina's blog.

And then we snuggled on the couch with popcorn and a movie.

This morning we shared a fresh juice, before going for brunch with "grandpa" (my dad).

We went to fundraiser dinner with friends tonight where I had a bowl of veggie pasta.  

After dinner we all walked over to DQ where I got a mini blizzard.  

This may or may not have been my second mini blizzard of the day.  I live on the edge.

How was your weekend?  

(Want) To-Do List

esterday I had a headache that would not go away.  It was making me feel sick to my stomach.

Breakfast was a smoothie with: Almond Breeze, 1/2 banana, 1 scoop Amazing Grass, 1 tsp hemp seeds, 1 T cocoa powder. 

I downed this smoothie and then slept until noon, trying to rid myself of the head pain.

Lunch was French onion soup (the frozen kind from Costco, done in the oven).  

In the late afternoon I started feeling some relief, and also started to get my appetite back a bit.  I made a quick and easy snack that I had seen on Kris' blog - Chocolate Orange Slices.  I had all the ingredients (coconut butter, cocoa, maple syrup and an orange) on hand, so this only took a couple minutes to throw together.

By dinner time I needed some fresh air.  The hubby and I went to a restaurant just a couple minutes from our house for won ton soup, which always makes me feel better.  

I had a small bowl of won ton soup with 2 fresh rolls.

This morning I had another smoothie (Almond Breeze, frozen strawberries, grapes and peach, 1 t coconut butter, hemp seeds).

While sitting and sipping my smoothie and reading blogs, I realized that I have absolutely NOTHING on my to-do list!  It is an amazing feeling to know that I have no assignments/readings due, no report cards looming, no reason to procrastinate ... It feels fantastic!

So, in light of my empty to-do list, I feel like I should create a to-do list that is actually full of things I WANT to do this weekend:

My (Want) To-Do List  ... and I am gonna do it!

1. Go for a walk outside and enjoy the spring weather
2. Have my nephew over for a sleepover and PLAY!
3. Daydream about my trip to NY and Google cool restaurants/shops
4. Go shopping ... maybe for fun stuff for my sister's bachelorette or shower!
5. Read for fun
6. Go for coffee with the hubby to the Chapters Starbucks and try a cake pop at Starbucks and then decide that my cake pops are better
7. Make a yummy new recipe
8. Watch music videos on Youtube, and sing along
9. Dance, even if it is around the house and with my 4 year old nephew
10. Grocery shop slowly at local, independent, specialty stores (bakery, fish shop, etc).

What is on your (want) to-do list?

Full

The past couple of days I have had no appetite.  I don't think I am getting sick, but I have basically just felt perpetually full, and so I haven't been eating much.  I honestly think my body is in shock from the sudden sunshine and warmth that we are being blessed with!  It must have shocked my system.  I usually eat a lot lighter in the summer, so it could be that my body is preparing for that.  Whatever it is, I try to listen to my bodies cues, and eat when I am hungry and stop when I am full.

I did manage to sneak in a slice of pizza for the hubby's 30th birthday dinner yesterday, and a few nibbles at my class last night (last day of class for the semester).  Breakfast yesterday was good, although I had a really hard time finishing it due to waking up full:

Vanilla oats with blackberries, choc. chips and coconut.

 I have also been drinking fresh juices loaded with fruits and veggies:

This evening I had plans to go for dinner with two of my girlfriends that I have been friends with since I was a kid.  We stopped at a restaurant called Bitten, but weren't impressed with the menu, so we left after 1 drink and went to Table 10, the same place we were at on Saturday for the hubby's party.

I had 2 appetizers: Black truffle mushroom risotto croquettes (again) and a 3 cheese and red ale soup.

I was impressed again.  

In my last post I mentioned that I am going to New York this month, and a few people asked if it was for a vacation or work.  It is for a VACATION!  I only travel for fun :-)  

One year ago today I was in NY and we were spending our last full day there before having to head home from a vacation of a lifetime.  The hubby and I and will be going back again in two weeks for another week long stay.  I cannot wait!

 

What are you currently looking forward to?

Lists

Reasons why I am Happy:

(1) Tomorrow is the last day of class for the semester.

(2) The snow is starting to melt.

(3) Tomorrow is the hubby's 30th birthday (and I can bug him because I am only 28).

(4) We will be in NY in less than 3 weeks.

(5) We booked a trip to Vegas for September.

Eats for today:

Breakfast: 

(1) Smoothie: 1 c almond milk, 1/2 banana, 1/2 cup blackberries, wheat grass

(2) 1 egg

Lunch:

(1) Edamame

(2) Orange

Dinner:

(1) Halibut

(2) Asparagus

Snack:

(1) Pear

(2) 2 ounces of imitation crab with a few crackers

Tell me some reasons why you are happy!

Are you a list maker?  What types of things do you usually make lists about/for?

Winding Down

 

chool is winding down for the semester, and I will  soon be able to check another grad class off my list. 

This semester has been pretty slack, but the last couple of days have been filled with poster making!  The hubby was nice enough to do all the gluing for me with liquid cement, a job that was very meticulous and time consuming, especially the letters. Thanks hubby!

We have also been busy playing with our new camera, using it to take portraits of each other rather than just food.

But of course I have still been busy taking pictures of food ...

Raisin Bran & Apple with Almond Butter

Brown rice with deconstructed pico de gallo & steel head trout

I am loving steel head trout these days. 
It is very similar in taste to salmon, but I think it is actually better than salmon.  

Do you eat fish?  What is your favourite kind?
What has been keeping you busy lately?

Chain Restaurants vs Local Gems

On Friday evening the hubby and I used some gift certificates that we had to The Keg.  We shared some bruschetta, and then I ordered the crab legs.  

I was soon reminded why we avoid chain restaurants like the plague.  

The food was terrible.

We much prefer to eat at local restaurants that have unique menus and menus that change on a chef`s whim.  Last night we went out with a bunch of friends to celebrate the hubby`s 30th birthday (that is on Wednesday).  We went to a new restaurant in town called Table 10.

We started with the risotto croquettes.

My main course was a steak with truffle butter, and potatoes with bacon and beets.  

My steak was perfectly cooked and full of flavour.  I enjoyed every mouthwatering morsel.

My other eats yesterday were good too, but didn`t compare to the dinner.

This morning I juiced 3 apples, 2 oranges, 1/4 cantaloupe and 1/2 beet.  

It turned out a beautiful red colour. 

My dad took us out for breakfast where I had a poached egg, 1 slice of rye toast, some hash-browns and bacon.  

I snacked on blackberries in the afternoon while doing homework, and then dinner was at the in-laws, where we had steak dinner again.

 

I had a couple of these guys for dessert:

 

We got a new DSLR camera the other day, and a new lens too:

Canon EOS REBEL T1i

The criminal stole our old DSLR, so this was our replacement.  

I love new toys!

Do you eat at chain restaurants?  Do you try to eat at non-chain restaurants and support your local businesses?  What type of restaurants do you frequent the most?