Taste Test

Well, running is in full swing, just hit the half way mark and did 7 miles this Saturday. With the help of an IPod and some cheesey running soudtracks it wasn't that bad.... (Did I really say that)
With that, I have been looking for some fuel/refuel bars to have either on the way to the gym or home from the gym.
With the help of some friends and their suggestions, here are the contenders:

My hiccup with the bars is that they all seem to be high in calorie, which there maybe a reason but after running or excerising and burning it off, it just doesn't seem right to put it all back in....
1st up Zone Perfect Dark (Choc Caramel Pecan)
190 calories 60 of which is fat, 12g of protien, 1 g fiber, 13g sugars
This one was pretty yummy, its base is a crunchy cookie (like in the middle of an ice cream cake) It tasted pretty clean with no powder/chalk taste
2nd Muscle Milk Light (Vanilla Toffee Crunch)
160 calories, 45 of which is fat, 15g protein, 4g fiber, 9g sugar
Pretty good taste, lacked in the crunch department, but had a good gooeyness to make you feel like you had a real candy bar which also made it on the sweeter side.
I am doing a bit more looking into the whole Muscle milk line as well.
3rd Balance Bar (Mocha Chip)
200 Calories 60 of which is fat,15g protien, 1g of fiber,17g sugar.
This one was super yummy, loved the coffee taste to it. It did hold over a craving for something sweet, but as I write all the info down it really does not hold much weight in the health depart.
4thCliff Barr Builder's (chocolate)
270 Calories 70 if which is fat, 20g of protien, 4 g of fiber, 20 sugars.
This was probably the one I wanted to try the most and the most disapointed. I loved the write up-"When life feels like a work out". Don't get me wrong it was good but I would not get excited to eat it.
5thPower Bar Recovery/Rebuild bar PB caramel crisp
260 Calories 90 of which is fat, 12g protien,0g of fiber, 19g of sugar.
This one was high on the yummy scale and really was a nice fix after a work out. I had it about 10pm and it didn't give me an energy charge but did take care of that after work out raid the fridge need (does anyone else get that)Again as I write this the high calorie count hits me with this one
6thLuna Bar Nuts over Chocolate Luna's say they are made just for women...extra calcium and folic acid
180 Calories,50 of which is fat, 9g protien, 4g fiber, 10g of sugar
Kind of in the middle here, I could take it or leave it. Pretty standard bar in everyway

I have one more left but I just needed to post this and toss the wrappers, so I'll add notes in the comments.

So I am still left out in the middle of nowhere as to which one to order in large amounts to get a discount. It seems the one's I really like may not be the best choice as far as good for you factor.
I think it comes down to needing to figure the high calorie count, I am hung up on that like crazy.
Food is always so particular and this is no different.

Do you have any that you love?

Craddlesong

You may not be able to tell but I always feel like I never have the right words to say. I've always defined my days through song lyrics, is that odd? It never fails, when I am going through something or someone close to me is, there is always a song that catches my ear.

(Little snip of my happy place)


Running has been no different. I may feel week in the knees, short of breath or the beat of my heart is a little to loud and sure enough a song comes on and I can go another lap or at least finish out that song. Tonight that song was Craddlesong by Rob Thomas try not to mind the creepy album cover. Lately, He's been on repeat while I run.
It just spoke to me. With each turn of everyday, we take what we are given and we can either embrace it and make it work/fit or let it swallow us whole and eat at a small part of us till there's nothing left. Depending on what day you catch me, I've been privallaged to both. What's your Craddlesong, that get's you through "that" moment?

I leave you with this thought. I'm trying to adopt it, it may take a year or many but, I think it will be a nice moto to adopt, don't you?

Meal Time

Well how did posting on Saturday work for me?
Not well, and here's my reason- We have been redoing our bedroom slowly over the past 2 months (yes, 2 months, with Jeff's work being so physical durring the day, I completly get that he needs a break when he comes home, and he does it all himself so things go very slow)Anyway, most of it was nice and easy until bedding.
I love down comforters and with them come duvet covers. I had always thought they were common but I quickly learned not so much. Over the past 2 weeks, I think I have been to about a dozen places and no such luck. So finally at Macy's beoynd stressed out over this whole thing, I went another route

Our room pretty much looks like this now! Our goal was to get rid of our outdated over done red room. It was suffocating me, and that's not what you want in a bedroom. We still have more to go ( like our carpet that didn't look so bad against the red but now with the pale blue gray, it is just awful. We're hoping a good pass of the rug doctor will give us a little more life out of it) I must say even without being done, it is so nice walking into a peaceful soft room to go to sleep.


More on that another day, on to this week in food:

(This was Phi last summer. I love that she loves to be in the kitchen as much as I do!)

Mon-Farmer's Panini's (eggplant, onins, roasted reds), Broccoli on the side
Tue-Breakfast for dinner (egg, potato casserole with morning star sausage)
Wed-Oyster Mushroom Taco's
Thurs-Avocado Pasta
Fri-Broc Cheese soup with kale chips
Sat-We are headed to the Maple fest for Pancakes

I'll be posting the recipes through out the week.

I have been taste testing Energy Bars and I have about 4 more so by the end of the week the results should be in..

Till then keep your belly happy

Sneak Peek

So what's this all about? 2 Large bottles of stout beer and JD (which at 34, I was asked for proof and told "huh, I would not have thought you were that old...)




Well, maybe this will help

These pretty little cakes caught my eye and I was waiting for the perfect moment to bake them. Well thanks to my very good friend for having a birthday in a few days, I have a reason..
They are from Chef Chole, who won Cupcake wars and just so happens to be a vegan chef. I have used her recipes in the past and have always been very happy with the results, so I can't wait for this one.

And for a few other sneek peeks...
I'm doing a taste test on "energy bars" and can't wait to share the results. I hope to post that by the weekend.
I have had some emails, regarding posting my weekly meals and grocery list as well. I'll try to get them up on Saturday so you have Sunday to shop and get your goodies. Hopefully this helps take some guess work out of what to eat without meat...

Wish me luck on the cupcakes and keep your belly happy..

Shrooms, Shakes and Shamrocks..

As promised here are 3 yuumy new recipe's for you to give a whirl
Mushroom Storganoff

You'll need (roughly)
Smart Balance
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 large sweet onion, chopped
1 package of slice mini bella mushrooms
about a cup of frozen peas
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 cup sour cream
1/2 lb of fettuine or linguine, cooked
How to
Melt butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and saute 30 seconds.
Add onion and saute another 2 minutes or so.
Then add mushrooms and saute until tender, about 10 minutes.
Reduce heat to medium, then add flour and stir another minute. Add white wine and cook until mixture thickens, stirring frequently--about another 2-3 minutes.
Mix in sour cream, remember to season to taste with salt and pepper. Let that cook on low for a minute or 2, if you'd like you can add some fresh romano and a pinch of nutmeg to richen it up
Cook the pasta about 2 minute before its ready add peas, you can even add some shredded carrots here too.
Toss cooked pasta to blend with sauce

Now on to the Shake
Vegan Cake Batter Milkshake

In a bullet or blender
1 frozen, large banana, as ripe as possible
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2-3 tsp melted virgin coconut oil (I used 2)
1/2 to 2/3 cup coconut milk
A handful of sprinkles

Yummo and your butt still likes you after its all gone!

And surely I couldn't forget about St. Pat's...

I love making little holiday snacks for Sophia to bring to her playgroup. I saw this one in Disney Family Fun magazine and had to try it. I had a hard time finding yogurt covered pretzels so I went with Synder's white chocolate covered pretzels.
Or how about this for dinner

So for now its off to bed for me. Have a great St. Paddy's Day, of course keep your belly happy too

Way tooo busy

I can't believe its been over 2 weeks since I have had a minute to post.

Over that 2 weeks, I actually made a promise to Jeff to not book our weekends, go figure.
I have 2 big hiccups that leave me unsettled
*1 My fridge needs to be jammed full or I have a sick feeling that I am not prepared for something... Not sure where this came from. Hoping I don't pass this one down either.
*2 I like to book things 4 weeks in advance. This one comes from an etiqutte book I once read. Why it stuck, not too sure about that. But I try to use it as a rule. Its not to say I don't enjoy picking up and running out in a minutes notice because I really do which is so wierd.
Both of these are the oppisite of Jeff, so in a conversation a few weeks ago, I made the promise to go easy on both of them.
Wish me luck.
Training update-
Running is going good. Our trainging schudele was set 16 weeks out and typically most "real runners" start 12 weeks out. For me this is good and bad news. I am behind our pace, but on track for the others. When I started, I had to make sure I had clearence from my doctor, due to a few major health complications. My dr. was excited for me but cautioned that I needed to listen to my body and keep focused its not worth a heart attack.
With that I say watch this
(a bit of insight on the "runners high") My favorite is I have to believe, even if they don't..... My father.... and (ad lib here - my daughter)
I am at 4.5, this Saturday I should be at 7. So that means, this week, the mission is to get my fanny movin.................
I have some yummy recipes to post too, Stay tuned