Running!!

Well... I guess I can consider my hobby to be Running!! I have been signing up for 5k's, 10k's, and half marathons to keep my butt moving in order to lose weight. I am aiming to do at least one a month. My main goal when starting was to lose weight but now I'm getting sort of addicted to it. It's like a gamble to see how long or how fast I can finish 3, 4, or even 13.1 miles. I would love to improve my time to 10 minute miles. Right now I am averaging 12 minute miles. After running/walking the 13.1 miles I realized quick my shoes are in no shape to carry me 13.1 miles with out resting so last night I made it official and was fitted for running shoes.

The people of Fleet Feet were Amazing!! The store has an AWESOME vibe about it. The whole fitting process is a science. First they study your bare feet. Then they ask you to walk for them. Tiff and I were acting as if we were on the runway LOL!!  My sales man was telling me things about my feet I never knew like: "Your left foot rolls in but only at the toes and your right foot arch is very strong unlike your left". Then the shoe fitting process began. Let's try this one b/c it has better arch support for your left foot etc... After each shoe you try on they take you out side to run for them and so you can tell a difference in the different types of shoes. I could really tell a HUGE difference in one in particular. Asics... Of course they were one of the pricier ones but it's all worth it when I get them out on the pavement.  

Now I just hope with these I can set new Personal Records and they will take me to the 500 mile mark when it will be time to trade them in for new ones :))

Best One Yet!!

In the Kitchen..

This week my new recipe was Baked Ziti. This has been the best one yet!!! The entire family LOVED it. It was a little bit more complex then the rest I have tried but well worth it. It made a ton... We only ate 1/2 and that says a lot when your feeding my husband. 6'4" and 240lbs... This man can EAT. The recipe did take me about an hour to prepare and then 30 minutes to bake. We served salad and Garlic bread made at Publix deli. YUMMY!! If you haven't tried a new recipe yet... This is the one to try!!

BAKED ZITI

ingredients:

* 1lb. Ziti, cooked (according to pkg)

* 12 oz. of your Fav. Marinara

* 8 oz. mozzarella cheese

* 1 cup grated parmesan cheese

* 8 oz. ricotta cheese

* 1 egg

* 1/4 cup olive oil

* 1/4 cup green bell peppers chopped

* 1/4 cup onion chopped

* 1 Tbsp oregano

* 1 Tbsp parsley

* 1 tsp salt

* 1 tsp pepper

* 1 tsp garlic powder

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. Cook Ziti in large pot according to pkg.

3. Put 1/4 cup olive oil in pan and saute, bell peppers, onions, garlic powder, oregano, parsley, salt, and pepper.

3. Cook until onions are soft

4. Mix with Marinara Sauce

5. Mix Ricotta cheese and egg together

6. Combine and mix with only 1/2 of marinara sauce

7. Mix in Ziti with the ricotta cheese marinara 

8. Spread in 9x13 baking dish

9. Pour rest of sauce on top

10. Pour grated parmesan on top of sauce

11. Sprinkle Mozzarella cheese on top ( You can add more according to your desire!!!)

12. Bake for 30 min. or until cheese is melted

13. Let stand about 10 min... ENJOY!!!

Running!!

I've been running a lot here lately, trying to train for a half marathon...Well I have some news to brag on myself. This past Saturday seven of us decided to try our feet at the half marathon track for training purposes. Only 5 of us crossed the finish line. We originally told ourselves we would just walk to get the mileage in. We ended up run/walking it. I COMPLETED a half marathon. To Qualify for the race you have to complete it in 4 hours: 50 minutes. I am proud to say I finished it in  3 hours and 47 minutes!!! I have Accomplished 13.1 miles. 

This is my running buddy. She is my neighbor, My friend, And my daughter's BFF Mommy!! We have been spending a ton of time together between the girls and school. Shopping, Running, and Grill Outs!!! Thank you so much Tina for being my motivation, inspiration, and ass kicker. Tee Hee!!

The race began at Country Music Hall of Fame. We ran all over Nashville from the heart of Downtown to Centennial Park to Belmont to Music Row to even the Titan's Stadium. Finishing off back at The Country Music Hall of Fame. 

Now that I have the running down. I need to focus on my diet. You see you do all that running then your starving... I tell myself it's ok to have this piece of cake cause I'm running 13.1 miles tomorrow. Well I burned 1792 calories during my run. Took 22,000 steps and did Vigorous exercise for 3 hours and 47 minutes but yet I'm not losing weight. I've actually gained some. So this is my Vow to myself that from today til December 31, 2010 I am going to watch my food and actually lose while I'm putting my body through the pain. 

In the Crock Pot Now...

SMELLS SO YUMMY!!! 

This recipe is also from my "Cooking with Grace" Cookbook. I am loving all the recipes in it because they are just so dang good and easy to cook. The best thing about cooking a roast is the leftovers the next day are great for sandwiches. This recipe I have not tried but the smell coming from the crock pot smells so delicious I went and ahead and posted it. 

Almost Done!!

This is the home made BBQ sauce to over pork.

CROCKPOT PORK ROAST TENDERLOIN

Ingredients:

* 1 &1/2 lb. pork tenderloin or pork roast

* 14.5 oz. can beef broth

* 1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce

* 1/3 cup Frank's red hot sauce 

Sauce: 

* 1/2 cup ketchup

* 1/2 cup molasses 

* 1/4 cup mustard

* 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

* 2 tbsp. Frank's red hot sauce

Directions:

1. Place roast in Crockpot and add the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, & hot sauce

2. Cook on high for 5 hours

3. Combine ingredients for sauce

4. Heat in saucepan then serve over pork

In the kitchen!!

Mexican food is my FAVORITE!!!! With that said I have found the best Guacamole recipe. I made a huge bowl on Monday night and have just about ate the entire bowl all on my own (besides sharing a little with my favorite neighbor and friend) I hope anyone who LOVES Mexican food as much as I do can truly enjoy this recipe...

My lil Man helped with the mashing and mixing 

This is the final outcome... Yummy!!! I need to go eat some more

GUAC OHHHHH MOLE HEY!!!

Ingredients:

*  1 bunch of Cilantro

*  1 lime

*  1/2 tsp. kosher salt

*  1/2 purple onion

*  2 cloves of garlic

*  2 plum tomatoes, roughly chopped and seeded

*  1 Serrano chile pepper, finely diced and seeds removed

*  1 jalapeno pepper, finely diced and seeds removed

*  7 avocados, Ripe

Directions:

1. Press cilantro, garlic, onions, peppers, 1/2 tsp salt, and the lime juicein a bowl with the back of a spoon

2. Add tomatoes and stir

3. Add avocados and mash together until smooth (You can use an avocado smasher or even a potato smasher)

4. Add additional cilantro, salt, pepper, or lime juice to taste. (I didn't add anything)

Tip: To keep you Guac fresh through the night and into the next day, take the pit of one of the avocados and bury it in the Guac. It's a nice little TX trick....

In the kitchen!!

I have recently started a new tradition in my house. Once a week I vow to cook a new recipe. I am always looking for new recipes and cookbooks so I thought I would share our new favorites!!!

The first week I started I cooked out of my Cookbook "Cooking with Grace". Written by Point of Grace themselves. I love this cookbook first of all because I got it for $10. Second of all because these recipes are perfect for Family dinners or Dinner Parties. Some of the recipes are easy (like the first one we tried) and  some are more complex. 

The first recipe was called : Easy Crockpot Chicken

Ingredients:

* 4-6 frozen chicken breasts

* 1 Pkg. of dry Italian dressing mix

* 1 cup of warm water or chicken broth 

Direction:

1. Stick the frozen chicken breast in the crock pot

2. Pour in the dressing mix and then the water/broth on top of the chicken.

3. You can cook the chicken on low up to 10 hours. 

My chicken turned out so tender. It's one of our family favorites!!