K.I.S.S. Smoothies

I love smoothies.  Cool, refreshing, and delicious... I don't know anyone who can't get down with that.  I used to be somewhat intimidated by smoothie making... I thought it was only on those days where I had extra time to sit around and sip on a straw while sitting on my porch and reading.  But since then I have realized that it's a great go-to meal on busy days (especially when the heat is so intense that you don't have much of an appetite anyways).

The internet is full of inspiration for recipes for smoothies.  I'm just here to remind you of this concept: K.I.S.S. (keep it simple, stupid)!  Sometimes I am overwhelmed with the list of ingredients in these recipes, and then I discovered that pretty much anything works- so if it's in your fridge and it sounds good, try it!

Here's a general guideline as to what I usually include:

Half a cup of kale
2 teaspoons chia seeds
Plain yogurt
1-2 teaspoons agave nectar
Whatever fruit I have on hand
1/2 cup water

Sometimes I throw in some ice, too.  I usually have bananas since it's so easy to buy a bunch, then freeze them so they keep on hand.  Just make sure you break them up in smaller pieces so they blend easily!  Peanut butter is always a tasty addition to a banana smoothie.

I use a regular-old blender, a cheapie I bought for $20 at Target.  There are many fancy juicers and blenders out there, but don't be afraid to use your regular blender!  The important thing is to just try it!

What do you like to include in your smoothies?  I love hearing other folks' recipes!

Beginning Yoga Series: What Should I Wear to Yoga?

I have practiced yoga for about 6 years.  I remember walking into my first class, unsure of what to wear, what to, where to set up my mat, and what the words or traditions were.  Yoga is meant for everyone, but since it originates from a culture very different than our own, being a beginner yogi can feel very intimidating.  Not to mention the use of an entirely different language (Sanskrit) by some yoga teachers, and some classes that focus on chanting or meditation.  Yoga can feel like a very alienating experience, when it is in fact supposed be a very unifying experience.

I recently began teaching yoga, and through teaching beginners I am reminded of all the emotions I felt at the beginning of my yoga journey.  I wish I had had someone there to guide me through some of the questions I was experiencing in my mind, but did not feel comfortable enough to vocalize immediately.  As a result I will be writing a series of blog posts geared towards those new or newly interested in yoga (or if you just want to learn more).

This post: what to wear to a yoga class.

 Disclaimer: this will surely be geared towards women since I am drawing on first hand experience, and, well, I am a woman.  That being said, men will gain some insight from this post as well.

The first and most important guideline is to be comfortable.  You want to feel confident as much as possible, and what you wear can help your confidence.  Wear clothing that you can move around in, bend over in, and spread apart in where you won't feel overly exposed or restricted.  If you are unsure about an outfit, do these simple tests to see if it will work:

1.) Bend over and touch your toes
2.) Walk around and do a few lunges

How did that work?  Did your pants fall down?  Did your shirt fall up?  Were your pants so tight in the hips that it restricted movement?  [begin radio voice here] If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, this might not be the yoga outfit for you. [end radio voice]

Generally speaking, tighter fitting spandex-type clothing usually works well for yoga (with the popularity of yoga pants today, I am sure all of you had an idea that this was true).  The reason for this is because you can move freely and don't have the problem of shorts exposing your unmentionables as some loose fitting running shorts might do.  A loose shirt may fall up as you bend over in certain poses, and for this reason a tight fitting top may be more comfy (or you could try to tuck in a shirt, but again you likely won't feel as confident like this).  This isn't to say you can't wear running shorts, just make sure YOU feel comfortable in them first.  My first yoga teacher wore running shorts all the time, but I tend to feel uncomfortable and like I might show my undies off at any time... not my idea of confidence.

Yoga pants can be baggy!

If the idea of painted-on-looking yoga pants is repulsive to you, check out some new styles of yoga pants.  I have been seeing a new fad of pants that are very airy and baggy; they kind of look like the pants Aladdin and Jasmine wear.  This might be your cup of tea.  Though, I will say that it is helpful from the teacher's perspective to have students with tight clothing in order to check for proper form.

Secondly, wear shoes that you can slip off easily.  Yoga is done barefoot on a mat.  You can wear any shoes you like, but I like to wear sandals or Tom's so that I can easily slip them off right by my mat.

Leg warmers and other layers can be helpful

Thirdly, wear layers.  This tip is somewhat dependent on where your class is at and what type it is.  For example, if you are taking hot yoga, well, it's going to be hot.  Don't really need layers in that case.  The important thing to remember is that you ideally don't want to be cold since your goal is to warm up your muscles sufficiently so they aren't injured during any pose.  If you get cold easily, wear a sweater that's easy to zip off.  I teach outdoor classes, so this point especially applies when there is no climate control.  If in doubt, it's always easier to take a layer off rather than not have a layer to put on.  I really like the style of legwarmers and arm warmers, and they are really practical in this setting.  It's easy to wear capris with legwarmers until you move around and warm up, and then take the legwarmers off.  For outdoor yoga, you may even like to wear a tight-fitting hat to keep the sun off your face.

Fourthly, were your hair off your face.  Like with any exercise, those with long hair will likely find it more comfortable to have it out of your way.

And that's it!  You should be stylin' at your first yoga class!  Really, wear whatever you have and get started on your own personal yoga journey.  You shouldn't feel as if you need to go out and spend money on specific yoga clothing.  Wear what you have that you will feel the most comfortable in.  All I have provided you with are some guidelines that may help you feel more confident in those clothing choices you make.

As a side note, most of these suggestions will work great for when you try rock climbing, as well!

If you live near Wrightwood, California, I want to invite you to attend one of my outdoor yoga classes.  We have a lot of fun out in the mountains together, and I hope you can be a part of it!  Here is my website for more information: http://ceoverduin.wix.com/outdooryoga 

If you have any questions on what to wear, or any specific yoga questions, please leave me a comment below.

Namaste!

Local Hikes: Observatory Road

My knee has been giving me trouble lately, and as a result I have needed to take it easy on hiking.  Yesterday I felt up to trying something easy, so my husband and I opted to "hike" Observatory Road (Or, at least this is what I have always heard it called.  I am not sure if this is the real name).  I use the term hike sparingly; it's more like a meandering walk with rolling hills, and just a couple steep portions.  We usually use this road when we feel like running (something my knee definitely can't take right now), and I have had friends who like it to run with a jogging stroller since it is paved and wide.  It's also a great trail for mountain biking.  In all honesty, I am not sure as to what the rules are for being on this trail since it is there for access to JPL Observatory.  If there were ever issues with using this trail there are several hiking trails that intersect the road anyways, so it would be easy to enjoy the area but just avoid the paved road.

Paved path, wide and open, sweeping vistas; what more could you ask for?

The walk to the top from the turnout is 3 miles.  Once at the top, there is a radio tower and an observatory building.  Please do not mess with these buildings!  I want to continue to enjoy the area, and I would hate for access to be shut down due to irresponsible visitors.  {rant now over}

The trail provides 360 degree views.  In the beginning of the walk, there are views of Mountain High East ski resort, and as you continue there are views of the San Gabriels to the South.  Once you meander away from this (and are almost to the top), you will find views of the desert to the North, including portions of the San Bernardino Mountains.  Something that my husband pointed out as being interesting is that you are in a Yellow Pine Forest most of the walk (you know- Jeffery Pines, Ponderosa Pines- basically all the trees you find in the town of Wrightwood), but as you reach the top (and are at a higher elevation) you find yourself among Pinion Pines.  The desert really does meet the mountains at this point, and with views of the desert for miles, you really feel you are indeed on the edge of these two plant communities.  {botany rant now over}

During the summers we like to use this trail for a night hike on a full moon.  There is less chance of tripping over a root, etc. on this smooth trail.  During the day, bring plenty of water since there is a fair amount of sun exposure on this trail.

To get to this road/trail, drive up Table Mountain Road from Highway 2 (this is where there is a fork in the road at Mountain High West; Table Mountain Road is the fork on the right).  Wind up this road, once you have a good view of Mountain High West, pull over in the large turnout.  Park here and walk on the gated road to the East.

Overall, this is a great trail if you would rather "take it easy," or if you want to bike or run it.  The elevation is pretty high (about 8,000 feet), so its great for training for 5k's or 10k's.  Keep your eye out for wildlife!  We always see at least some red-tailed hawks flying around our heads.

Happy trails!

Local Hikes: Mt. Baden-Powell

The term "local" can be very relative.  If you live within an hour's drive... I am going to say that you're a local.  Wrightwoodians may disagree, but how about I call you the "local locals."  Maybe it's the Southern Californian in me, but I think if you can drive to a place in an hour (including traffic!), then you're a local.  But, I digress!

This is post two in a series of local (or local local) Wrightwood hikes.  If you are in the Southern California area, a drive to Wrightwood is among one of the easiest mountain drives since it is pretty straightforward for a mountain road; no major twists or turns, no incredibly steep drop-offs (until you get past the town), and less chance that you will hit fog on the drive up (especially if you're driving up in the summer... then I would say your chances are pretty dang good that you won't hit fog...).  After this laid-back drive up, you can tackle a pretty serious mountain climb.  Mt. Baden-Powell is 9,399 feet tall, with an elevation gain of 2,807 feet in four miles if you climb it from Vincent Gap trail head.  This trail head is about 8 miles or so West of the town of Wrightwood on Highway 2.  Keep going past Inspiration Point, and the next large parking lot you see immediately off the highway is Vincent Gap trail head.

There's the summit!  And the plaque to prove it.

Named for Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts, at the summit you will find a plaque in his honor.  Near the summit there are a few Limber Pines, which are 1,500 years old and related to the oldest tree in the world, the Bristle Cone Pine.  The hike up is strenuous, but is only four miles, so it's not too difficult for someone who is in decent shape.  At about 3 miles, I can usually start feeling the effect of the high elevation (even though I live at about 5,800 feet).  This is not only a good hike unto itself, but it's great to train here for other high elevation hikes.  This hike really helped me prepare for Mt. San Gorgonio and backpacking in the Sierra Nevada, where I was at elevations of 10,000-11,000 feet.

At 1.5 miles up the trail, you will find Lamel Spring as a short detour.  The term spring is used somewhat sparingly, as I have only seen a trickle of water here.  However, in our dry mountains this is a great spot to scout out wildlife.  I have seen deer and other animals (birds, squirrels, etc.) here, and there are also some beautiful vegetation that you would only find around water.  I would say that it isn't something you must see as a hiker, but its worth seeing if you have never been, or if you really want to try to find some wildlife.  As a PCT-er, I wouldn't recommend depending on this source for water after late May, especially if its a dry year.

On average, the hike usually takes us 4.5 hours round-trip (though I have friends who have done it in 2.5 hours!).  I would recommend planning 5-6 hours for your first trip up, just in case.  The trail is fairly steep and full of switch-backs.  Not so easy on the joints coming down (I'm weird- downhill is my least favorite because of the aches in my knees and hips).  If you also have joint pain, I would recommend trekking poles for this hike.

Bring plenty of water in the summer (though most of it is in the shade), and at least one snack.  If you're hiking in the spring or fall, be wary of ice chutes and snow conditions.  It may be warm and sunny where you're from, but full of snow at the summit.  I have had one personal friend fall down an ice chute, and it can be very dangerous (not to scare anyone out of this hike, just be careful!).  The San Gabriel Mountains are known for being underestimated, so please give them the respect they deserve.

If you're looking for something different, you can continue on the Silver Moccasin Trail towards Dawson Saddle, which connects to Highway 2.  It's a 4.3 mile hike from Mt. Baden-Powell to Dawson Saddle, so the total hike would be 8.3 miles, which is just three-tenths of a mile longer than if you went back to Vincent Gap parking lot.  If you go this way with a group, you could potentially stage a car at either trail head.  I have never gone this way for a day hike, so if you have, please leave me a comment to tell me how it went!

And, after your hike, you have a nice easy drive off the mountain.  (Maybe just stop in town for some grub first!)

Views of the desert to the North are visible once you reach about 8,500 feet.

My husband on the trail.  Like I said, pretty steep!

Feel free to comment if you hiked Baden-Powell recently.  You can let others know about current conditions, etc.

Weekend Getaway: Zion National Park

I love to travel.  I love to get outside.  I really, really love to get outside when I travel.  I was blessed with the opportunity to get away for the weekend recently and enjoy Zion National Park with my family.  For those who live in Southern California, driving to Zion is possible in a weekend.  We went during a holiday weekend, but we wanted to avoid the traffic, so we went for three days (which you could do on a regular weekend).  You have the option of camping in the park, staying in a hotel in Springdale (which is right outside of the park), or in a nearby surrounding area.  We stayed in St. George this time, which was a great option.  We rented a cabin from the KOA which was very reasonable, and about a 40 minute drive to the National Park.  There are a lot of services and restaurants in St. George (though some of my favorite places to eat are in Springdale).

Arch at the top of Hidden Canyon Trail in Zion

Over the weekend we went on several hikes.  The highlight for me was hiking up Angels Landing.  For those unfamiliar with this hike, it entails a portion with very high drop-offs on either side (there are nothing but chains protecting you in some portions).  Like I mentioned, we went on a holiday weekend and the hike was extremely CROWDED!  This was a little disappointing to someone like me who isn't particularly fond of large crowds, especially when I am out in nature, but it had the benefit of an added challenge and was a very interesting experience.  That being said, I wouldn't recommend this hike on a busy holiday weekend if possible.  It was certainly more dangerous had there not have been so many hikers, and it took much longer.  Now I have a clearer vision of what it would be like on Everest as climbers bottleneck at fixed ropes (minus the extreme cold... and altitude... and bottled oxygen... OK, maybe I just have a clearer idea of what it's like to wait a long time for other hikers to pass while on a steep, one-way trail).  All in all, I would highly recommend this hike to those without a debilitating fear of heights.  Definitely one of the classics.

View from the top of Angel's Landing

Look at all the people!  It was impossible to get a photo without a human being in it!

What's great about a day full of hiking is the guilt-free dining that follows.  Springdale, Utah is full of delicious, hip restaurants to fulfill all those downhill cravings, and many with a view to die for.  One of my husband and my favorites is Oscar's (make sure you order the homemade carrot cake).  Sitting outside on the patio with a view of the red rocks basking in the sunset glow is an experience of luxury, especially while sipping on a Margarita!

View of Zion from Springdale, Utah

Besides places to fill your belly, Springdale also has some lovely shops.  Artist galleries, guide services, and souvenir shops make a great cap off to the night, and may help burn any lingering calories from dinner.

On our last day in Utah, we checked out St. George.  We explored Snow Canyon State Park on Sunday morning for a few hours.  It's a great little park, and there were less crowds there than Zion on a busy holiday weekend.  I would love to come back and spend some more time there, especially to try some of their sport climbing routes.

Snow Canyon State Park, St. George, Utah

After mostly driving through Snow Canyon (except for a little 1 mile hiking loop), we headed over to the Mormon temple in St. George.  We couldn't go inside the actual temple, but we were tourists and checked out the exterior and explored the visitor's center.  It was very interesting to see, and learn about the history of building the temple.  I learned about what goes on inside the temple as well, which I found fascinating.

St. George Mormon temple.  Apparently they paint it every year so it stays dazzling white!

I hope those who live near enough to drive to Zion don't hesitate to visit in a weekend.  The drive isn't as far as you might think, and IMHO it is well worth it.

Cheers!

Acorn Trail

I would like to start a series of blog posts about hikes in and around my hometown of Wrightwood, California.  Nestled in the San Gabriel Mountains above L.A., we are blessed to be surrounded by fantastic hiking.  My hope is that this will be beneficial to both local residents, and visitors.  I am going to start with a somewhat lesser-known trail called Acorn Trail since my husband and I just hiked it today.

The trail head is accessible from a residential area at the top of Acorn Drive.  The very top part of Acorn Drive is private, and there are signs posted that parking is not allowed on this portion of the road.  It is advised to park on the street below these signs (which are around Camp Mariastella).  Click here for a link to more trail info and map.

Acorn Trail is about 4 miles round trip (depending on where you park your car), and relatively steep.  From the actual trail head, it is 2.1 miles to the top.  Remember that it will be a bit longer, however, to walk from where you park (The sign at the bottom of the trail says that there is an elevation gain of 1,500 feet).  I would rate the trail moderate in difficulty.  There are lovely views of the desert to the North, the crest of the surrounding mountains, and the landslide area.  All in all, we REALLY enjoyed this hike.  It's not too long, so I think we may hike this trail more often in the afternoon.  It took us about 2.5 hours round trip, and we were taking it easy.

If you would like to use the Acorn Trail but are interested in getting more miles in, it would be simple to either continue on the Pacific Crest Trail, or hike up Pine Mountain.  Once you reach the top of Acorn Trail, you could head either east or west on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), depending on if you want to go to Mexico or Canada ;)  If you walk along east along the dirt road at the top of the Acorn Trail, you will connect to Pine Mountain Trail shortly.  We will be hiking this trail soon, so stay tuned for a report!

One reason we hiked the Acorn Trail today is because it was so windy.  For the most part, we weren't exposed on a ridge line.  We had planned on hiking Pine Mountain, but the last time I hiked that trail it was very windy, so much so that my foot flew with the wind with each step!  We decided to save that hike for a calmer day.

If you have any questions about Acorn Trail, be sure to leave me a comment!

Yoga Selfies

I have discovered a new fad... the Yoga Selfie.  At first I was resistant to any and all selfies, but I started following yogis on my Instagram, and discovered I was inspired and learning more about yoga poses and yoga in general.  In my book, anything that inspires and teaches is a good thing; hence, my standpoint on Yoga Selfies (and selfies in general, I suppose) was forced to shift.

I read an article this morning that criticized the Yoga Selfie fad.  It claimed that it was creating a shift in yoga that was too far away from yoga's original purpose.  It claimed That the Yoga Selfie encourages the ego and hence it is B-A-D, bad.  I liked the article; I thought it was balanced and had a good point.  But it doesn't mean I am going to stop participating in challenges and posting Yoga Selfies.  Why?  Because I believe in my life, the benefit of these yoga photos outweighs the negatives.  And, let's face it: we do live in a technological age.  In fact, my New Year's Resolution was to stop being so dang technologically resistant!! (Which is why I started writing a blog, and opened a Twitter and Instagram account).  I came to the realization that if I don't hop on this technology bandwagon, I am going to be left in the dust!

All this is not to say that Yoga Selfies may have the potential to encourage the ego.  I think that if you are posting these photos in order to increase your self-worth, then that is the incorrect motivation.  But, if you are doing it in search of a community and a place to learn new things and go deeper in your practice, then why the heck not?!  I can tell you that this has opened me up to a whole new sense of community, challenged me like I have not been challenged, and taught me new concepts (i.e.- I have found this is a great way to learn the Sanskrit names of the yoga poses).

All of this may be true especially for me and those like me who do not belong to a yoga studio.  I practice at home through my yogatoday.com membership.  I am already connecting through technology via streaming videos in a way that yogis have not for thousands of years.  It makes sense to find community in a new way as well.  And really, all this does is make yoga more accessible to everyone, everywhere.  And that, is never a bad thing.

Namaste

Hiking in my Hometown

My first love for the outdoors came through hiking.  I remember being about seven years old and hiking out my backyard with my brother and my dad had a blast (minus the fact that my brother managed to accrue a tick inside his belly button).  I now participate in many other outdoor activities, but hiking remains one of my favorites.  It's so accessible, easy, and fun.  All you really need is a decent pair of shoes and some water, and you're set to go!

Now that the weather has warmed and there are longer days it's easy to go for a quick hike after work.  Recently some friends and I did just that.  We set out for a popular local trail called Blue Ridge Trail in seek of a beautiful sunset location. We found just that!

My Experience with Minimalist Shoes

In light of the recent court decision for Vibram FiveFinger shoes, I thought it timely to talk about my personal experience with minimalist shoes. My hope is that this would start a discussion with other folk's personal experiences.  Granted, all these testimonies would be anecdotal, and not scientifically-backed (which is why Vibram lost the court case, they did not have scientific research to back up their claims).  But, that being said, in my personal opinion, I do not think personal testimonies should be discounted.  We live in a world that puts science above all else, and I question that approach in our society.  Not to say that I don't love science (I am becoming a science teacher, after all), I just think we should take a moment to step back and admit that we may not see the whole picture all the time.  There are, after all, many contradicting studies out there.  All this to say, take what you read here, and elsewhere with a grain of salt.  But, I digress...

I bought my one and only pair of minimalist running shoes a little over a year ago today.  I didn't go for the Vibram Five Fingers, because they felt odd on my feet (I believe my toes are just not made for that kind of shoe).  Instead, I splurged for the Merrel Dash Glove.  It took some getting-used to, and I had to return my original pair for a larger size because I found that when I ran, my feet felt squished, though they felt great just for walking.  They are the most expensive running shoes I have bought to date, and so they felt like quite a gamble.  I wasn't sure how I would adjust to having no padding under my feet, what's more, I wasn't sure if that was even a good idea.

The only reason I ventured to give them a try was the vast amount of personal testimonies I heard that praised the wonders of minimalist running shoes.  When the trend began, I (along with the vast majority of folks) thought the concept and look was ridiculous.  But I worked as a canopy tour guide, and people came on the tour wearing these shoes in droves.  Out of sheer search for conversation, I would ask these trend-followers how they liked their shoes.  The answer always gave praise to the wonders of the minimalist shoe.  Back problems were better, knees stopped aching, ankles became strong, balance increased.  After hearing enough of these stories, I was convinced enough to give them a try.  I figured I didn't have anything to loose, since was purchasing them at REI (I could always return them).

Lo and behold, I was soon among those proclaiming the miracles of the minimalist shoe.  It took me a while to work back up to the mileage I was at before the shoe.  I went from running four miles comfortably, to not being able to run 3/4 of a mile without my calves being on FIRE!  But once I worked my way back up, I noticed that I was having less knee problems, better balance, and most importantly, my hips have not giving me problems since strapping on my Merrels.  I have always had issues with my hips hurting when I run, or even when I go on long hikes.  This issue has all but disappeared, except for on exceptionally long hikes.  I don't know exactly how it happened, but I believe the the minimalists have strengthened muscles I didn't use with a traditional shoe.  Additionally, my yoga practice has seen benefits from my minimalists.  My balance has increased, undoubtedly due to the muscles in my ankles, calves, and thighs improving.

As a disclaimer, I am not a hard-core runner.  I don't know if I would recommend minimalists to marathoners, for example.  I only run to ensure that I have done some cardio, and to tire out my energetic Siberian Husky.  I wouldn't call myself an expert in the field, but I do know what minimalist shoes have done for me.  I am curious, what are your experiences with minimalists?

How to Clean Wood Walls (AKA- How to Make Your House Not Smell Like "Old Cabin")

We live in a lovely cabin in the woods.  It was built in 1958, so as you can imagine, it has tons of charm... (I have come to find the word "charm" often is a euphemism which means "older").  I love having a home that is full of charm, however, the trade-off is that there are often more challenges when it comes to caring and updating the home.

Sometimes we come home in the evening and are surprised that our house smells like an old cabin.  You know what I mean-remember when you were a kid and you went to summer camp, and the dining hall either smelled like food, or like "old cabin"...its that slightly dusty, warm smell.  Well, needless to say, I really didn't want my home smelling this way.  So I began with scented candles.  Then Febreze.  Then more candles.  Then some insence (which I will say works the best in covering up smells... but that may just be my inner hippie talking).  But it still wasn't solving the problem.

When we first moved in, I cleaned the walls with a damp rag since I didn't know what else to use on the knotty pine wood walls.  I am pleased to say that I have found the solution to "old cabin" smell!  I cleaned the walls with Murphy Oil Soap Clean and Shine Spray- and viola- the smell has gone away and not come back!  Not to mention, my walls look fantastic.  I didn't even notice any dirt on them before, but once I cleaned them, I could really tell the difference.

Hizzah to beating old cabin smell!!

Friendcation in Yosemite

For three blissful days seven friends and I went on a trip to Yosemite National Park. The trip was filled with lots of laughter, strenuous and rewardingly beautiful hikes, and more than a few new inside jokes (among which include the time we tried to fit all eight of us in a jacuzzi made for about four people. Half the water overflowed onto the porch and the heater kept turning off. We ended up in a luke warm squished situation we lovingly termed "friend soup.")

It was such a blast and very affordable to split a cabin from groupon among all eight if us.  We had time for one big hike up to Vernal and Nevada Falls. It was such a beautiful day. We went to bed tired, and we're all surprised to wake up to snow the following morning!

We were glad we could still drive around in the snow, but managed to pick up a chain link in our tire (FYI that is not where they are not supposed to go). After a quick repair in Oakhurst, we went onward to stay with friends in Visalia. It was a joy to stay with such a gracious family and enjoy their little boy (I think some if the boys in our group had more fun playing with his toys than we did). 

Don't Run it Alone

Exercise is so much more enjoyable when you don't do it alone.  That is one reason I enjoy always having my dog with me on running adventures.  But it gets even better when I have a human companion to join me.  For one, humans speak English, and can actually talk back to me.  That really helps.

My brother and I have been running together once a week lately.  It has really helped me push myself to be consistent in running, and to go further and further.  My brother is a great coach!

Do you find exercising with someone helps out?  I think making a date to meet up ensures that you stay active.

Chicken Salad

I am not really sure that a salad deserves a recipe- but you might not eat one for dinner regularly.  If not, I highly recommend you do!  So yummy and you can pretty much top it with whatever veggies you have on hand.  As a treat, I will buy chicken tenders to put on my chicken salad.  This one has mushrooms, cheese, hard boiled egg, cucumbers, and carrots.  Great for a mid-week meal!

Enjoy!

Mushroom Chicken and Rice Bake

We had some of my husband's friends over for dinner the other night.  I had no idea what to make, but after scrounging around, I adapted this recipe.  It didn't change much from the original recipe which was given to me by a friend, however was forced to become a little more healthy since I had only healthier alternatives on hand.  I think the single best secret towards eating better is to keep only healthy options on hand.  Then when you have a craving, you have the option of either learning to love alternatives, or going out of your way to pick up something else.

Without further ado, Mushroom Chicken and Rice Bake:

2 cups uncooked brown rice
2 cups water
2 cans cream of mushroom soup*
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast (or whatever is on sale will work well enough, too)
1/4 tsp Lawry's seasoning salt (or use [sea] salt, garlic, onion, and paprika.  Or whatever you have on hand.)
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 cup fresh sliced mushrooms

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.  In a 9x13 inch baking dish, combine rice, water, soup, and seasonings, and stir.  Place chicken breasts on top.  Sprinkle additional seasoning salt and pepper, and top with sliced mushrooms.  Cover with aluminum foil and bake for about an hour and a half, or until rice is tender and cooked through.

*I realize that I am not making the healthiest choice here with canned cream of mushroom soup.  Next time, I am going to try this recipe for making my own, using coconut oil.  I just haven't been convinced until seeing this recipe that I could make a healthy enough alternative, one that was worth the time spent making it from scratch.  I am glad to have finally found one that seems simple AND healthy (not using pure cream, butter, etc.).

I recently learned how healthy mushrooms really are.  They boost your immune system and have high levels of vitamin D.  In researching, I found out that they absorb and concentrate whatever they grow in.  Learning this, I am going to make more of an effort to buy organic mushrooms.  I don't buy all organic produce, but try to pick and choose where I will get the most bang for my buck.

Guinness Fish Tacos

We looove fish tacos in this household.  When I received Sunset in the mail this month, it seemed I magically flipped to the page with a delicious recipe for fish tacos.  I pretty much followed their recipe, except I substituted plain yogurt for mayo for the sauce, and held out on some of the cabbage but added more cilantro.  Oh- and we used Guinness for the "dark beer," hence the name I have given it.  Guinness has become another favorite in our household, and I must say, I would not have thought of using it for a Mexican dish.  I am sure glad I did!  We loved it!

On that note- if you know how to make beer batter, you can fry up just about anything and call it delicious.  Easiest recipe to remember, too: 1 cup flour, 1 cup beer, 1 tsp salt.  And Bob's your uncle!

Dog Running Bliss

I cannot tell you how much I love running with my dog.  I pretty much hate running by myself, but if I run with my dog, my whole perspective is transformed.  Perhaps some of the joy lies in the fact that he has not always been easy to run with, or even to walk with, for that matter.  My Siberian husky, Shadow Fax, is large for a husky and a very strong puller.  Combined with the fact that he still acts like a puppy, despite him being almost five, and it can make for some stressful moments when I am out in public.

We rescued Shadow when he was about two.  If you didn't know, huskies are often abandoned when they are no longer oh-so-cute puppies, and turn into full-grown crazy balls of energy.  The name "Shadow Fax" we thought was perfect for our grey and white boy, who looked so majestic.  He seemed to be the Lord of all the Dogs (LOTR reference for all you nerds out there), and we thought his original name, Marley, just didn't fit him.  We soon found out that his bad habits were very Marley-esque, as were his amazing lovable moments.  Still, he didn't respond to Marley, so changing his name was easy.  Any-who, I believe I am getting off-track...

The bliss of running with Shadow Fax lies in how he has transformed into a dog who trusts me, and whom I have come to trust.  After running with him on a leash for a mile, I successfully took him off-leash, which I have not been able to do for about 6 months after some bad experiences.  The joy of having one of your best friends (choosing to) run beside you, challenging you, and inspiring you is wonderful!  Not to mention that he looks like a wolf!

For those who have huskies, or other dogs that are difficult to take off-leash to enjoy the outdoors, perhaps this will work for you.  I weighted him down with a dog pack full of some water bottles for weight.  Then, I ran with him for a mile on-leash to help calm him down so he would listen to my commands.  When I could tell that he wasn't interested in going off the trail, but focused on running straight ahead, I took him off-leash.  There were a couple moments when I could feel he was starting to get interested in exploring the mountains away from the trail.  At these times, I told him, "no," firmly.  Twice he didn't come back right away, but explored further out of my sight.  When he did this, to get him to come back I ran on ahead of him since he is driven to be in front (the only thing that works for me if he isn't listening to come is to actually run in the opposite direction so he will chase me).  Then, once he came back I put him back on the leash.  The leash I was using was retractable up to 15 feet or so.  I think that this showed him how far was OK to wander.  We will see how he progresses, but I am always trying to find what works for us.  Hopefully this helps anyone who is having the same issues.

After my run yesterday, I am considering training for a 10k.  I would love to run it with my dog.  Does anyone have experience racing with a dog?

Easy Coconut Green Curry

Just got back from a weekend in Las Vegas, where we hiked during the day and dined at night.  We went away for our two year wedding anniversary, and had the fanciest meal we have ever had.  It was a great celebration!  We were both feeling the effects of eating so much rich food, however, so I was happy to return home and cook one of my go-to meals: easy coconut green curry.  What follows is the recipe I used tonight, but feel free to add whatever veggies or meat (or even tofu) sound good to you.  What's really great is fresh sweet basil, of which I usually do not have on hand (regrettably).  My husband loves it when I add bamboo shoots, which my local grocery store sells canned.  I eat it covered in Sriracha and sea salt.

Ingredients:

3 Tablespoons Thai Kitchen Green Curry Paste (or other curry paste)
1 can coconut milk
1 garlic clove, diced
1 carrot, chopped
2 medium potatoes, chopped
1/2 cup frozen vegetable mix
1 orange bell pepper
Dash of basil
3 chicken breasts

Simmer the coconut milk in a pan.  Add the curry paste, basil, and garlic and simmer for about 5 minutes.  Then add the potatoes and veggies, and then everything else.  Allow to cook until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are soft.  Serve over brown rice.

I haven't tried it yet in a crock pot, but I have been meaning to try.  Does anyone have a recipe they like for curry in the crock pot?

Vegan Pancakes

I am not going to sugar coat it... my favorite all-time pancakes are buttermilk pancakes.  But, being that there is not much else I use fresh buttermilk for, and that my delicious buttermilk pancake recipe is not the lowest calorie breakfast, I have been in search of a good substitute for "everyday" use.

I like to make a large batch of pancakes on the weekend, then freeze what I don't eat so I can grab it during the work-week, place it in the toaster (Eggo-style!), and eat it on the run if necessary.  Another favorite way to eat a pancake during the week is to replace syrup with yogurt.  It can still have a sweet fruit flavor, if you like, but with added protein and good bacteria (something my household is always in search of more of.. more good bacteria!).

This morning I tried Hidden Fruits and Veggies' recipe for Chia Seed Pancakes.  This recipe is vegan (chia seeds provide a great substitute for eggs), and quite good!

For those of you who haven't yet heard of chia seeds, they are essentially a super food, my favorite aspects being their high protein and antioxidant levels.  The best part (in my opinion) is that in my area, they grow wild and can be gathered.  Native American Indians in southern California gathered them for centuries.  They gathered them by using a traditional seed-beater and basket to collect the seeds.  I stumbled upon Deborah Small's blog, which I immediately fell in love with.  You can view how the chia seeds were collected by some modern-day ethnobotanists (apparently a fly swatter will get the job done about as well as a seed-beater, though perhaps without the same ambiance), and glimpse what the chia plant in southern California looks like.

I love making food that comes from the natural landscape.  It gives me confidence that when the zombie apocalypse happens, at least we will be able to eat some buttermilk pancakes.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Comfort Food Becomes Healthy

With a name like "Broccoli Puff," how can you not expect some comfort food goodness?  I don't know where the recipe originated in my family, but it sure does sound like something that came from the Midwest... complete with a crispy, buttery baked topping and full of rich and creamy insides that make my mouth water just thinking about it.  Broccoli Puff is a staple at every family holiday gathering, and I was sure to eat my share this holiday season.

Now that the holidays are over, I have found myself craving to indulge in this dish just one more time... BUT I am trying to keep with my "Life Resolution" (since we all know New Year's Resolution's don't typically stick) to eat more healthfully.  Let me define "healthfully" since it seems there are a million opinions as to what really is healthy.  For me, healthy eating means getting back to the most natural and basic foods possible.  Organic, un-messed around with, and full of nutrients.

In line with this, I have decided to substitute a little of this and lessened a little of that to make a more natural, healthy version of good 'ol Broccoli Puff.  Maybe I should start brainstorming a new name for it now...

Here's how I did it:

One head of fresh, broccoli, cooked (organic and local are always the best)
1/4 Cup plain yogurt
1 Teaspoon corn starch (you can use flour as well, just double the amount)
1 can cream of mushroom soup (follow link for a healthier, scratch alternative)
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup milk
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup bread whole wheat bread crumbs
1 tablespoon butter, melted

Place the cooked broccoli in a baking dish (about a 9x9 size).  In a mixing bowl, combine yogurt, corn starch, soup, cheese, milk, and egg.  Top with bread crumbs and melted butter.

Cook at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for about an hour, or until top is bubbly and edges are golden brown.