How NOT to Fuel for a Workout (and a High Tea adventure!)

Yesterday, I ate leftover chili for a late lunch.  As I was sitting at home working (and drinking mug-fuls of tea), I realized it was pretty nice out and I wanted to go trail run.  I had just bought new trail running shoes (since my regular running shoes wanted to slip right off my feet the last time...) and I wanted to test them out!  So, I hopped out of my chair, changed and was ready to run in 30 minutes, on a trail in the foothills (Mt. Falcon, once again!).  My time to the hiker/biker crossing: 24:10 (round trip in 40:00).

However, there were several things, I noted very quickly, that 'ruined' my run! Here is my list so that you don't make my same mistakes!

1.   Don't eat anything with beans before you run.  Just don't!

2.  Don't eat something that is heavy, hard to digest, and protein heavy either (just DON'T go for chili...).  This is a great example of how QUICK carbs like a banana, apple, piece of toast, and some protein, is a much smarter choice.  I like banana and nut butter in a mug.

3.  Don't drink 3+ cups of tea.  I definitely had to use some boulders to shield myself...TMI, I know!

4.  DO workout (especially cardio) even when you are sore, you can do it, even though you feel like you SUCK!  You feel better after...

5.  DO fit in a run outdoors with ensuing weather, unless you think you hear thunder...it sure got close to a downpour on me!  Here is a 'view' of the foothills (basically, it got so windy, the dust covered any mountain view...)

Here are my new shoes!

I'm a happy camper after I run.

Today, I went to High Tea at the Brown Palace Hotel, the oldest hotel in Denver!  It is very famous and beautiful.  I have had high tea two times before, but I was able to enjoy it with my mom and best friends' Vince and Victor's mother, Melinda.  How wonderful was our time together and delicious the scones, sandwiches, and desserts!  So filling!

 **Note our personal pianist behind us!  He was wonderful to listen to :)

**I chose the Black Currant tea, full of dark and fruity flavors!

I'm off to do my 'cardio', SALSA DANCING!  Have a fabulous weekend!

Party Weekend!

An excuse for a party is always fun, especially if it is for your own birthday!  My parents and two brothers (and family friend, Frances!) came up from the Springs, and joined my dearest friends who are living in Denver!  This small house packed plenty of people. Me and the brothers at the party:

Since Saturdays are my days off any sort of diet plan, it was easy to enjoy the day of good eatin' and boozin', but I have to tell you, I felt pretty awful by the end of the night, and I feel like I didn't eat much of anything 'bad'!  I started my morning before work with pumpkin pancakes as a birthday treat, packing in a full 20 grams of protein from greek yogurt and egg.  I was filled for a while!  At the party, caprese salad, cheese, wine, and chicken with ginger were all great.  The beer, chips, and brownies were the wreckers...but soooo tasty!

Today,  I got back on the wagon (after more pancakes for breakfast, oops!) with this WONDERFUL lentil soup I made up.  Lemony AND spicy, who would have thought!  Here it is:

Spicy Lemon Lentil Soup

1 cup lentils, cooked in 2 1/2 cups water
2 cups sauteed kale
1 serrano pepper
1 red pepper
1/2 habanero pepper
1 tsp bouillon paste (may need more, or just swap water for veggie/chicken stock)
1 can kidney beans
1 tsp lemon flavored olive oil (1 fresh squeezed lemon will work!)
lemon pepper (spice combo from Savory Spice Shop)

Saute kale and peppers in a pan with olive oil.  Cook lentils, then add to a big pot.  Add veggies, kidney beans, and bouillon with water (at least three cups**).  Add lemon (oil/juice/pepper).   Let it simmer over medium heat for 30 minutes, then serve!
** I did not add enough water, hence the stew look...

Also, this doesn't LOOK tasty, but nothing with lentils looks good to me.  The flavor is so worth it!

SO many layers of flavor.  The spice + lemon was a great combo and it was very clean and light beyond that.  I am pretty good at adding everything in my fridge, but I think the simplicity of the ingredients made it uncomplicated so that the spice and lemon was not understated.  If I had yellow onion, that would be my only amendment.  Try it out!  Would be great with some warm sourdough bread :)

Later, I tried out my new teapot and Earl Grey Lavender tea, a birthday gift from dear friends Sarah and Chris.  Thanks you two!

Pickling, Best Tea Factory, and Mexican Fare...

Lots has happened in the past few days, including dog sitting, so needless to say, I've been busy!

Here are the highlights:

Celestial Seasonings Tour:

If you have never been to this factory, its no brewery, but it is a close favorite!  Over 100 teas and herbal blends to choose from and a great tour, I learned so much and tasted so many new teas I've never heard CS make before.  Thoroughly impressed...I think my favorite were Sweet Harvest Pumpkin and Morning Thunder (a black tea and mate blend!).  I learned more than I knew about tea and was able to appreciate the great business Celestial Seasonings provides with their partnership in other countries (from when they started in 1969).  My brother and I with our hair nets:

El Centro:

I think this is the best Mexican (flare) food I've had.  Not traditional, by any means, but a fun environment and great fresh food.  Their happy hour is exceptional, and as a margarita snob, their margs were delicious!  It might be on the pricey side, but worth it with fun friends or great celebration.

Pickling:

This was my very first endeavor in pickling!  I helped can pie filling last year, but I have been wanting to learn more so that I can pass on the tradition and live off of my garden longer in the year.  Here are the basic steps:

You need to follow a recipe from a canning book, but you mix vinegar, sugar, water, and salt together to form the brine with which you can the pickles.  We cut up pickles (both dill and sweet style, although they were both dill flavored...):

While you chop, heat up the cans:

Here are the jars filled with pepper corns, mustard seed, dill, and pickles:

Me pouring brine:

But DO be careful that the glass doesn't cool off too fast, because to cook in a water bath, transferring cool jars to boiling water can crack, as shown here:

I will let you know how the rest turn out!!!

Cycle class at 24 Hour Fitness followed by Boot Camp tomorrow in the park...be there or miss out on a fun workout!