April challenge April 7, 2011

Paper. Done. Turned in.

 

 

 

 

Home Run it most definitely was not. I’ll take a fielding error to get me on base.

In all the busyness I haven’t told you about my April challenge. I’m already 6 days in. So far so good.

 

The April Challenge:
Eat only from what’s already in the freezer and pantry.
Buy ONLY milk and fresh produce that is necessary.
(Ex: Taylortot needed milk and I bought onioins & garlic to have to cook with and spinach for smoothies)

Why? The freezer is overfilled. When you open the door you have to hope that nothing falls on your feet! The pantry has plenty of beans, can tuna, rice and pasta for at least a month.

 

*** Updated***

I thought I clicked publish on this in class yesterday morning. I guess not.

The Rangers are now 6-0!!!

history made April 4, 2011

I’m still in the middle of writing writing writing for class.

Will be done soon. Has to be turned in in 34 hours.

source

 

Nelly was hard at work again tonight, first American leaguer ever to hit a home run in the first 4 games of a season.

The only other players to do it? Willie Mays and Mark McGwire (he doesn’t count)

 

 

The Rangers are now 4-0.

2 more homers tonight, 2 doubles and a triple.

{thats 13 homers and 23 extra base hits for the season}

 

 

Gotta get back to the paper writing, wish me luck that I get it finished!

i LOVE this team April 3, 2011

3-0!!

3-0!!

The Rangers are undefeated.

Ian Kinsler hit walk off homers to start both game 1 and 2. Boston walked him in the first today. Then when he came up in the 3rd.. he hit it out again.

Nelly hit homers in all 3 games too.

Game 2

Game 3

Harrison did some serious work.

So far this season….

11 homers.

1 grand slam.

20 extra base hits.

3 wins.

I LOVE this team!!

I’ll be back soon with the April challenge details, and more food.

Right after I write 20 pages on high cholesterol and eczema.

….. 159 games to go.
#throwstrikes

1-0, 161 to go April 1, 2011

 

Bluebonnets are in bloom.

The sun is shining.

 

It’s Spring Time in Texas.

Just one thing was missing… until today.

 

 

It’s Opening Day!!

It’s Opening Day!!

It’s OPENING DAY!!!

BASEBALL SEASON is here.

 

CJ was ready to #dowork.

Work he did.

1-0, 161 games to go

And now another reason why Texas is better than Boston.

90 degrees at the ballpark today for the first pitch.

 

 

 

Coooold rain and Snow in Boston!

I’ll take 90 degrees any day!

 

I’m also thinking a challenge for April is a good idea, more info on that tomorrow.

P and I are having a sleep over.

With this girl.

#fail March 30, 2011

elvis bread March 29, 2011

I’m not a huge bread eater.

{ironically there are 3 different loaves of bread in my kitchen right now}

Homemade sourdough bread that my grandma makes yes.

Olive Garden bread sticks. Absolutely.

And sure I eat a slice or two of toast every morning, Orowheat healthfull nuttygrain or 10 grain is my preference.

But Mrs Baird’s bread not so much.

I like my daily morning toast with jelly or peanut butter. Never both. PB and jelly do not go together. Peanut butter goes with honey. Or bananas. Not strawberry jelly.

The best bread to have for breakfast?

Pumpkin bread. Banana bread. Zucchini bread.

or even better

Banana bread. With. Peanut butter.

Adapted from this recipe.

The line up:

• 6 very ripe bananas (I have a friend that calls these dead bananas)
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup + 1 Tbsp  brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 4oz applesauce cup (no sugar added)
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup yogurt (I use Chobani – either plain or vanilla will work)
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup AP flour
• 1/4 tsp sea salt

Play-by-play

• Preheat oven to 350*, spray muffin pans with non-stick cooking spray.

• To a large bowl add bananas and sugars, mix with a hand mixer until bananas are almost completely broken down
• Add eggs, applesauce, oil, yogurt, cinnamon and vanilla. Mix until well combined.
• Sprinkle in baking soda, let dissolve in wet mixture for a few minutes before moving on.
• Add flours and salt. Combine, then mix on high speed for 3-5 minutes.
• Add batter to pans, bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 18-20 minutes for regular size muffins.

These are good warm, room temp or even cold.

But, my favorite way to eat them is warm, sliced in half with PB to make a banana muffin PB sandwich. Yummm.

**To make peanut butter banana bread, add 1/2 to 1 full cup PB to batter with wet ingredients, allow 5-8 minutes additional baking time.

sleep deprived March 28, 2011

44 hours spent held hostage at work.
2.5 hours in a work meeting.
18 hours driving… sitting in traffic.
5 hours spent in class.
3.5 hours in the sun not really working.
3 dinners with friends.
1 failed run with P.
3 crazy circuit workouts.
4 dinners cooked.
Lots of hours spent for Relay.

I need sleep. The past week has been crazy.

Caffeine can only do so much.

Sleep. A lot of sleep. Is what I need.

It was after midnight when I got in bed every.night. And up early every.morning.

Caffeine can only do so much.

I need more sleep.

P sleeps plenty, exercise is what he needs.

Last weekend, P and I went out for a run/walk [mostly walk]. About 3/4 of a mile in he dropped to the ground. Started wheezing really loudly. I thought I might have to give him doggy CPR. And carry him home.

Eventually we made it home. P drank a ton of water, and then laid on the couch and didn’t move for hours. I went to the gym, clearly my dog is not a good workout partner. iPod is a much better one.

At the gym I did a “crazy circuit” The best thing about working out is it gives me more energy.

Energy to get through the week.

Energy for when there just isn’t enough time to sleep.

Crazy circuit #3

10 min easy elliptical warmup

1 set hip adduction
1 set calf extensions
1 set hip abduction
{repeat x2}

5 mile bike ride – hills, level 9

1 set pull backs
1 set twist crunches
1 set ball squats
{repeat x2}

5 mile bike ride – level 12

1 set leg curls
1 set leg presses – 2 leg
1 set leg extensions
1 set leg presses – 1 leg release
{repeat x2}

10 min elliptical
cool down
ssstttttrrrrreeeeeeccccchhhhhhhh

mushroom addiction March 24, 2011

It’s 11pm on Thursday.

I’m eating dinner. a portobello burger. Portobello mushroom, bun, cheese, spinach. Nothing special. I’ve had mushrooms for dinner every night since Sunday. That’s 5 nights. In.A.Row.

It’s Thursday?

When did that happen? Yesterday was only Wednesday.

Wednesday I didn’t have to work.
I went to class, then the gym, then had lunch, then sat outside and worked for a few hours, went to another class, came home, ate dinner, made cupcakes, watched Top Chef.

Yesterday was busy but relaxing, productive but lazy.

Then I went to bed, and it was Thursday when I woke up.

Thursday means work. All day. Wake up, finish cupcakes, cupcakes picked-up for delivery, get ready for work, go to work, work, work, work, come home from work, cook dinner – at 10pm.

Last night’s portobello dinner.

Portobello topped with roasted brussels and onion. Covered in melty gooey cheese. Roasted potatoes served on the side.

The Line-Up

• Portobello cap
• handful of brussels sprouts
• 1/4 small onion
• garlic
• 2 small red skinned potatoes
• Olive oil
• Salt & pepper

Play-by-Play

1. Preheat oven to 400*, scrape gills out of mushroom cap, smash garlic, cut onion into large pieces, halve brussels, chop potatoes into large bite-sized chunks
2. Place mushroom cap, gill side down in a baking dish; toss remaining veg with olive oil, s&p and spread into a single layer in a second baking pan. Place both pans in the oven, roast for about 15-20 minutes.
3. Remove from over, turn cap over. Top with onions and brussels.
4. Return to oven until mushroom is soft. (Use a foil ring to help hold brussels in portobello cap.)
5. Top with cheese, return to oven just long enough to melt the cheese.

24 hours [wordless wednesday] March 23, 2011

10 days March 22, 2011

Some days I just can’t decide what to make for dinner.

And other days I know exactly what I want.

Since Meredith posted her egg in a bread bowl on Facebook, I haven’t been able to get enough of it. Of course I made mine without meat. And full of veggies.

So. When in doubt, make a dinner that you know is delicious, fast, easy, and did I say delicious.

Only problem. No roll to fill with mushrooms and spinach, cheese and egg.

Enter … I don’t know what to call this creation.

Roasted portobello topped with sauteed spinach, melted cheese and an egg to top it all off.

Yep, I ate that. And. It was good.

Line up

• Portobello mushroom cap
• Baby spinach
• Cheese, grated – I used Monterey Jack
• Egg
• Salt & pepper
• Toast – not required but recommended

Play-by-play

1. Roast mushroom cap in a 350 degree oven until soft
2. While mushroom is roasting, sauté spinach
3. Top shroom with spinach and cheese, return to oven
4. While cheese melts, cook egg
5. Place egg on top of melted cheese
6. Eat up!

I am exhausted, Good Night!!

[10 days til opening day!!!!!]