Weekly Recipe: Appetizers

As many of you know I'm in the middle of an important move. So instead of Weekly Recipe Thursdays, we have Weekly Recipe Friday this week. I didn't actually make any of these recipes, but they were so good I had to share. Wednesday Chema and I had lunch with his aunt and uncle (he has 3 aunts and 2 uncles) as a sort of farewell. Here's a sample of some of the things we ate.

Bottled artichoke hearts with a spread of some type of homemade sauce (I forgot to ask what it was) and an anchovie. The sauce didn't have much of a taste but it didn't need to since anchovies have a strong flavor. Don't sleep on anchovies! They are so good!

Salad: Your preferred lettuce or field greens, tomato, pineapple pieces, tuna fish and shrimp. You can season this with any kind of salad dressing you like. This one was creamy, very similar to Thousand Island. I don't like shrimp. So I picked mine off and gave them to my husband!

Strangely, this was my favorite appetizer and I don't typically like blue cheese. Just cut up some tomatoes in thin wedges, drizzle with some extra virgin olive oil, and top with slices of blue cheese. Super easy and super delicious! I think I ate up half of the plate all by myself.

We also had huevos rellenos, a Spanish version of deviled eggs, but I didn't get to take any pics of that. Chema's aunt also served pork chops (I don't eat meat much, maybe chicken once in awhile) as well as homemade french fries. I don't eat fried foods often but I had a couple. They were good!

So nice not to have to cook!

Marathon Training: Updates

How I map my routes sometimes. I ran to the end and back for a total of 14 miles.

I know I said that I would start giving updates weekly with my training but I just found that it would be kind of boring. 

I also lost track of the weeks and just realized that this Saturday, August 27th 2011 marks Month 2. Incredible.

Sunday, August 21st: I ran 14 miles, which is the longest run (not counting Day 1 where I ran 16 miles) I've done since starting training. I ran it in 1 hour and 52 minutes.

I've been trying to run my long runs slower. I didn't feel burnt out or anything during my run. I just want to try and run slower so I can focus more on my running form and my breathing.

Sunday, August 14th: I ran 8 miles in 1 hour and 6 minutes. 

I really tried hard to run slower and it worked out. I typically run at a pace of 8 minutes per mile. So I should have run it in 1 hour and 4 minutes. That's my steady, not even trying pace. 

When I do shorter runs I try to run a bit faster (avg. 7 minutes/mile) and Fartlek I sprint.

The 14 miles I ran 8 minutes/mile so I didn't really accomplish what I wanted. 

This Sunday, August 28th: I have 5 miles to run. Since it is a distance I can run easily, I figure it'll be no problem running at a slower pace.

Last week and this week I've been incorporating Fartlek into my routine. I did 20 minute circuits last week and 25 minute circuits this week. I still have the last one to do on Friday. I like them because it breaks up the monotony of running for distance. Plus they are an incredible workout!

Tuesday, August 30th: My last day of training until the move. 

I'm a bit nervous about it because I have to miss a week. I get to the States on Thursday, September 1st but I can't exactly start running right away. I have to map out another route. 

My goal is to continue my training Sunday, September 4th.

All in all I feel great and can't wait until my half marathon in November. (I plan to talk more about my half marathon once the date is closer but I am not aiming for a PR.)

I ran my first half marathon in 1 hour 36 minutes and I was happy with that. This race is just preparation for the marathon in February where my goal is simply to finish.

To eat sweets, or not to eat sweets...?

Googleimages

I decided a few days after my birthday that I would  

cut out all sweets for the entire month of August.  

I did it because I felt I had been eating too many lately, and to give myself a challenge. 

I say "too many" but I guess everything is relative. No one I know thinks I eat "too many." 

However, I felt I was indulging too much so I wanted to make myself more aware of what I was eating.

Today marks 2 weeks and 4 days. 

Last night I had a small ice cream bar. So yea, I cheated. I'm not beating myself up about it because I know it's not the end of the world. It just got me thinking.

These two weeks have been long! I haven't craved sweets exactly, but I feel like I've been doing this for at least a month already! 

The good thing is that I have super strong willpower. 

It's also good that I don't like candy, cake, pie, cupcakes, donuts, cheesecake, cream-filled things...I'm picky. I stick mostly to ice cream and cookies. (Spain doesn't produce any quality cookies, in my opinion.)

However, there are a million and one opportunities to binge on sweets at the in laws. They love sugar!

My husband and I went out with two of our friends last week. We went to my favorite ice cream shop (Piamonte) in Córdoba. A few days later we went with my mother-in-law, brother-in-law and his girlfriend. 

Tons of ice cream in my face and I wasn't tempted once. 

Last night I just felt like treating myself. So I said, what the heck, and enjoyed my ice cream.

Last year, when I was training, it was a lot easier. I would only eat sweets once a week: either Friday or Saturday. I scheduled them in! When I did eat something I would respect portion sizes. 

I was a no-sweet nazi! (That's what my husband liked to call me).

I mention it because I'm not even sure why I did it. It didn't help me run faster, or better, or longer. I have maintained my weight for two years now and have no problem doing it. I'm not on any kind of diet whatsoever.

Sweets are "bad", we should only eat them in moderation, some sweets are worse than others... 

We hear this all the time...maybe that's why I did it?

What would happen if I ate sweets everyday? 

I, personally, prefer to leave room in my daily caloric intake for something sweet. (Although I don't even pay attention to calories). Not to binge but to have an ice cream, or a baked good or some pudding or whatever I want.

I read a lot of blogs about people who make their own sweets or are really conscious about what sweets they eat. I definitely want to start making my own if just to know what I'm putting in my body. I also enjoy stores like Trader Jo's that have all-natural goodies.

In summary: I'm not sure whether to continue on my no sweet quest, schedule in sweets (meaning once or twice a week allotments), or have something small everyday. 

What is the magic answer?

On a side note I got this wine as a going away gift:

Pedro Ximénez: vino dulce de pasas

It's a sweet, after dinner wine, made from raisins.

We already have a lot of luggage so there's no way I can bring it with me. It's my favorite Spanish wine, period. So I have about (counting today) 6 days to drink it. 

Does that count as a sweet?

Week 13 Hair

You can't see it well because of the lighting and the angle. But my hair is clipped with a banana clip and then twisted in individual twists. I pinned the ends under the clip to make it look like a bun.

 The edges are gelled and pulled back.

I gave myself a bang. It's nice and crinkly from my twist out and gives the front some volume so my hair doesn't look flat.

Nothing too interesting to update about my hair this week. I didn't change a thing. I am really 

LOVING my hair! 

I hope I can keep up this rhythm once I start working a 9-5 and have things to do like decorate an apartment, buy a car and get my driving license!

Week 14 Hair

• Shampoo
• Detangle with conditioner
• Deep condition
• Kimmaytube leave in
• Twists

Set in my ways

Typically this is something said about old people (whoever in your life you think is really old):

They are so set in their ways! They won't try new things or compromise or admit they're wrong...

I do like to try new things and I'm really not stubborn but... 

I have a teensy, weensy, problem with compromise.

As many of you know, my husband and I are in the process of leaving the country (check out Unforeseen Circumstances for more details).

So we've been at my in laws' house since the beginning of August and leave on the 31st. Being here has made me more aware of how uncompromising I am with certain things.


Food

I am not on a diet or anything of the sort. However, I like to eat healthy, well and when I want. In Spain there is this (silly) custom where everyone eats at 2pm. My mother-in-law even stretches it until 3pm!

Ok fine. But after a long run, even when I eat a balanced breakfast, I'm starving well before 2pm! When I do eat, I don't want to eat white bread (another custom), meat or fried foods.

I don't want to eat the same thing day after day, week after week. I want to have my whole grains, fruits, vegetables plus some kind of protein like beans or fish.

What I eat is NOT weird! No, I don't want seconds and no, I don't want dessert!

Is that so much to ask?

Schedules

Spaniards are night owls. I, also, like to have a good time and stay up late and go to a bar or two.
 

But not on days that I have a run the next morning. 

I run on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. So that means that Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings are off limits!

I will have to eat before 11pm (no carbs, thanks) and no, I can't go to the aunt's country house.

I wake up at the crack of dawn to run and don't sleep siesta so I can go to bed on time. It's natural and normal that I will be tired around 12am.

I'm not being the weird American.

 
Working out

I sweat a lot. More so when it's hot and when I'm exercising. I need to wash my workout gear immediately after working out. If not, they will smell and get those little moldy black spots on them. I can't wait until next week or the next day or whenever the wash day is. I need to do it NOW!

I don't go to a gym to do my weight training because I have all the gear I need at home. Now all of this gear is at the in laws' house. It may seem weird for me to be squating and lunging and flexing at 7am in the morning but I have to do it.

Stop looking at me like I'm a weirdo!

Now, don't get me wrong: I appreciate my mother-in-law letting us stay with her until we move. I really, really do. I just get frustrated sometimes because I'm so set in my ways, I guess.

• I don't like to have to explain myself to anyone. 

• I want to eat what I want and when I want. 

• I want to do my exercises without getting a million stares and wash my clothes when I want.

In general: I WANT MY OWN SPACE BACK!!

Is that wrong?

Butternut Squash Lasagna

Butternut Squash Lasagna

 
1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 (1 1/2 to 2-pound) butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes

Salt and pepper

1/2 cup water

3 amaretti cookies, crumbled

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

3 1/2 cups whole milk

Pinch nutmeg

3/4 cup (lightly packed) fresh basil leaves

12 no-boil lasagna noodles

2 1/2 cups shredded whole-milk mozzarella cheese

1/3 cup grated Parmesan

Heat the oil in a pan and add the squash. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add the water and simmer until the squash is tender. Cool and then blend the squash until smooth. Add the amaretti cookies and blend again until smooth. 

Melt the butter in a pan and then add the flour, whisk for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the milk. Be patient with this step because you don't want your sauce to have lumps in it. Bring the sauce to a boil so it thickens slightly. Add nutmeg and cool  just enough so you can blend it. Put half the sauce in a blender and add the basil. Blend until smooth. Then add it back to the rest of the sauce. Season to taste.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees (190C)

Lightly butter a 13 by 9 by 2 inch pan. Spread some sauce on the bottom of the dish then add 3 lasagna noodles. Spread the squash over the noodles and then sprinkle with mozarella cheese. Pour more of the sauce over the noodles. Repeat layering 3 more times.

Tightly cover dish with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes. Take it out and add more mozarrella cheese and the parmesan cheese. Continue to cook 15 more minutes uncovered until golden brown. Cool 15 minutes before serving.

Now, this is definitely one of my INDULGENT recipes! I found it a few years ago on Foodnetwork.com and made it when I was living in England. My husband loved it and from then on wanted me to make it everyday! (I didn't of course). 

TIP: If you can't find amaretti cookies add a pinch or two of cinnamon and a little brown sugar. I did that this time around because I couldn't find the cookies here in Córdoba.

This is the first time I've made it since then. I made it for an inlaw gathering. It was a sort of farewell party since we're leaving the country in September. So I wanted to make them something "American" and different.

I'm sure you can lighten up this recipe by adding skim milk and low fat cheese, possibly less butter, but I didn't. Instead I just tried it, meaning ate a miniscule piece. But, hey, you have to indulge sometimes!

Debate/Discussion: Cardio vs. strength training

Womens Health Magazine

When I first realized the importance of a healthy lifestyle combined with eating right and exercising:  

I was a cardio fiend! 

I'd go to the gym and spend hours on the elliptical trainer, the static bike, the treadmill, the stair stepper...anything cardio related really.

Not until I lost some weight did I venture into the weight room. In my mind:

cardio was for losing weight and strength training was for toning muscles. 

Once I had burned the fat hiding these areas I then started toning them. Sounds logical right?

Fast forward 8 years and I would say that the information out there isn't definitive one way or the other. Personally, I'm no longer one of those people who only goes to the gym for the cardio machines. I also have a real interest in strength training.

I use them both as part of my exercise routine and value them both. 

However, after a snacking binge, I think first about running to burn off some of those calories and not about pumping iron.

Is this from fact or fiction?

Last week, while browinsg twitter, I came across an interesting tweet from @WomensHealthMag. The article gave a breakdown (based on your needs) on whether cardio or strength training was "better".

• To burn fat and keep it off = strength training
• Combat stress = cardio
• Increase self-confidence = strength
• Reduce exercise related injuries = strength
• Live longer = cardio
• Increase your speed = it was a tie

Yesterday, I read another tweet posted by @katieRUNSthis. She wanted to know how much strength training we runners incorporate into our routines. As well as how much we think we should be doing. So, maybe we only do strength training twice a week but think the magical number is three times a week.

Honestly, I don't know how much I should be doing.

Is there a magical number? 

All I know is that I need both to be a stronger and more efficient runner. Even when I wasn't training I would do both cardio and strength everytime I hit the gym.  I felt I couldn't have one without the other. Yet, in the past I was convinced that cardio was the answer to my healthier lifestyle goals.

What do you think? Which is "better", cardio or strength training? Do you agree with Women's Health Magazine? As a runner, if you do incorporate strength training into your routine, why? If not, why not?