Quinoa recipe - I am feeling the love - about my cooking!

So my last post, I am so bummed out with wearing this boot for the big part of the day. My understanding was  that I was allow to do weight training as long as I do not put impact on it - my take is no sprinting, running, jumping, jump rope, or box jumps which I have done none of those. So I am hoping I get a good clean bill of health on Monday.

This past week, I went all out and made me some baked stuffed lobster tails which is time consuming and I must say, I was pretty pleased with myself that it tasted as good as can be. I had to do a lot of modifications to it - since I cannot have dairy or gluten - so usually it is cream, bread crumbs, so I used coconut milk and gluten free bread.

Today, I wanted something simple but yet nutritional and a power house recipe. I made quinoa - Here is what I did: Mind you  - when I cook - I don't follow any recipe book or measure anything, so it is up to what you want it to taste like- I know it is a cop out but best I can do.

Quinoa Salad

- I cooked the quinoa with chicken broth  - you can use vegetable broth or just water- 1 c quinoa to 2 c liquid - medium heat - 20 mins - let it cool
- cut and diced onions, peppers, artichoke hearts, olives
- 1 can of diced tomatoes
- 1 can of black beans
- grapeseed oil
- sesame oil
- garlic
- salt
- pepper
- lemon juice
- red wine vinegar
- dash of bragg's aminos

ta da!

Pain in the foot and boot driving me crazy!

So from running a lousy 4 miles gave me a pain on the top of the foot. Ortho guy said no broken bones or stressed fracture but big time pain. Finally went to the podiatrist with xrays and MRI done - it was bone poking at a nerve causing the pain. So wearing this stupid boot for 3 weeks - I guess it is a way to not put impact and pain to subside and also inflammation to die down. What I don't get is that the bone spurs don't go away, so then what? I really don't want surgery - but I need to keep positive when I go back Monday. I would definitely seek a 2nd opinion if surgery is needed.

Meanwhile I went to an accupuncturist to see if she can help me with issues. I truly believe that the body when out of balance, something needs to be done. So I am seeking her help with my sleep problems, the pain in the foot and my allergies. I've only started seeing her this week. Even though it is too early to tell, I feel better, the foot pain is better and my sleep, amazingly, not cured but feel my sleep is more rested. So we shall see.

Meanwhile it has indeed been a long time since I cooked anything gourmet. So last night, I made stuffed lobster tails. I call it gourmet since the preparation time is more involved. Here is how i did the stuffing:

- cube the lobster tail meat
- cook diced onions, rosemary, garlic, parsley, white pepper,oregano, basil, with coconut oil
- Add marsala, nutritional yeast, coconut milk, gluten free bread breaked into cubes

Stuffed the tails and at 450 bake the tails-

Most stuffing uses cream, breadcrumbs and cheese in which I cannot have so I did some modification. I made it slightly spicy.

My trainer loves my cooking and I love the challenge. I try real hard to come up with ways to cook with not a lot of oil, salt, fat - and coconut oil is good fat so I think I am OK

This week, my training I felt sluggish and tired and I am thinking the boot is making my body so misaligned and hurt

Next week is the start of the 30 day Challenge at Arrichion Hot Yoga- time to get the game face on. Hot yoga is good for me I need to remember that.

I made a couple of goals for myself - to do a pull up without the bands, to do a rope climb, to do a snatch

That's it for now!

Enjoy!

BTW if you want me to come up with a recipe for you, let me know- A friend told me that I am not a cook but a chef. A cook is someone who follows instructions to recipes and a chef creates. I like that

Started off a sucky week but ended with lots of laughs, fun times and great cooking on my part - hee hee

So my last post I was so overwhelmed and besides myself with all the shit going on in my life. Sorry, did not want to post stuff like that and bored you with my life and details. But at times venting is your best friend and fortunately I can do that.

Since I have to wear this stupid boot to take care of the bone spurs in my foot, I cannot go run with the Galloway group. I really don't like the running but I like the friendship and the fact running is quite boring so to run it with others seems less torturous. I don't think I will be doing a half marathon this year as I do every year but I will still go to OBX and cheer people on and spent some quality time with friends.

So instead Sat I went to a yoga class at Athletica at the Crabtree Mall. I have never been there since those clothes are expensive and they would never fit me anyways. It is Nationa Yoga month and Arrichion is doing their duty of promoting yoga. It was the first time I went to an event like this. I thorougly enjoyed it. Some of the yogis from Arrichion were there, the teachers were there and some others. Hopefully, they will come join us at the studio. Cindy as always led a fantastic yoga class.  I am so glad my friend Jean was able to go, we had lots of fun being side by side.

After that, I had to do some major food shopping, over $200 worth of food. I went on a marathon cooking as I always do on a Sunday. I prepared everything and then went out and met up with Ivy at Starbucks so we can vent to each other. Lots of wierdos out on a Sunday but great people watching. I had her come over the house and she loved everything I cooked including fish, since she is not a fish person. So here is what I cooked and some of the spices and condiments I used

Fish Marinade - I used salmon and snapper - nice texture and cooks real good on the grill
- tahini
- cooking wine
- rosemary, garlic, onions, cumin, coriander, ginger,cinammon, white pepper, sesame seeds, asian seasoning mix, coconut oil, braggs aminos, honey or maple syrup, sesame oil, oregano , basil, seafood seasoning

Portabella mushrooms - stuffed
- stuffing - took the stems out and chopped it up with avocado, onions, carrots, spinach, artichoke hearts, kalmata olives, mustard, sesame oil, salt , pepper, tahini,nutritional yeast, marsala
-cooked the mushroom with olive oil, added to oil is garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil

Spinach and Aspargus - stir fry with garlic and just added a pinch of salt and pepper for taste - add sesame seeds to asparagus for finishing touches

Sweet potatoes - grilled

Everything tasted great. Thanks to hubby for grilling - he is the grill master. Ivy thinks I should do this on the beach trip.

Sucky week but things started to get better

As many of you know, I have trouble with sleep and the sleep dr was going to put me on anti-depressants for anxiety, or stress. And some of you may know I have some personal issues with my life that I am trying to figure out what to do. Then my sister emails me that she was in a car accident. I just felt my life fell apart and just started crying. Good thing my friend Ivy called so she vent I vent and we felt better. So lucky to have her. I think I started to feel a lot better when I met up with my trainer. She has a way to make you feel safe and feel better. So lucky to have her too.

Now, the big thing that is eating at me is this bone spur hitting nerve in my foot that is causing pain.Went for MRI and that is all was said and that I needed to wear this stupid boot and see what happens. Nothing conclusive. I need more answers. So what this means, I am not allow to run, do high impact to my foot so it means I cannot finish my training for doing my half marathon this year. I am a little bummed out but more so because I was making progress with my running and now will need to start all over again.


So good news is that my sister is OK, a little sore from the car being rammed from behind. And another good news, that I am not the only one suffering from who I am and fighting with my obesity. So I am not alone so at least something we can relate.

So today I went to Sparta and it is a Sat- I actually enjoyed this class a lot - but then people are Arrichion are the best people around....no judgment, very encouraging, and has the best interest in your goals. I am not strong there but I am trying. So today , I wore a pair of running shorts and a red tighter tech shirt. After that, I went to bootcamp class run by my trainer. She comes up with the most unusual ways to make you bleed. It is never the same. That is a true sign of a great trainer. She complimented on my outfit. I am still trying to get used to this...I will keep trying to.

So tomorrow I will doing some cooking - Fish probably since it is hardest to make so it is a good challenge for me.

So more blogging to do

Sue

Holiday weekend rest and litle timeoff to regroup

I have not taken a long vacation with work projects being so busy. I suppose I can just go ahead and plan and just go and let others taken over and figure it out. But I guess I am not like that! Oh well, so I planned to take Fri and Tues off. I had to log into work to help out but fortunately all was good and I was done.

Having a busy week so far! Ran some errands on Fri. Foot was shouting at me but I felt responsible to show up at our Galloway run on Sat morning. I ran/walk/shuffle with the group and my buddy Crystal. We did 6+ miles and my foot said that is enough. Foot pain kept me up but also I guess I was so utterly tired that even though I toss and turn, I did not wake up until 8:30am this morning. I actually felt OK!

I went to a Sunday Sparta class which I try to do every Sunday. People there are intense but also friendly, helpful and full of life and smiles. In as much the class is hard, I would leave there utterly exhausted but sense of happiness.

Today I partnered with Kristine and Mary - (don't like using full names here since I do not know how people feel since this blog is public). These 2 ladies are very strong but a delight. They helped me out with my form, help me out with my mental being - that I can do this, push my limits a little bit. I actually got to do one chin up without bands - woo hoo! I can think back when I first started going - I could not even lift myself up on the orange band which was the heaviest and easiest to get up.

Sunday is also my day to creative in the kitchen. We after a while eat the same foods: chicken, fish, veggies, etc...but I try very hard to come up with different spices combined to create a different taste experience.

Today on the menu was:

- Mahi mahi - this is totally a different kind of fish - I had it the first time on my visit to Hawaii. In as much it was freshly caught, and done nicely, it was sorta bland.This is what I did -
- Marinade for fish - dash of grapeseed oil, coconut oil, rosemary, garlic, sesame seeds, tahini, ginger, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, sesame oil, maple syrup , tamari , black pepper. The fish was grilled and then I topped it with a fruit reduction of:
-Fruit reduction - fresh mango, fresh pineapple, onions - I carmalized the onions then add the fruit, added some marsale and cooked it down - this goes on top of the fish

Stuffed Portabella mushrooms-

- chopped up mushroom stems, avoacado, onions, mustard, wine,
- Brush mushrooms with oil, garlic pepper and salt
top each of the mushroom with mixture - 2 of them I threw feta cheese
and other two I put artichoke hearts, peppers and tomatoes

Brown rice- long and short grain and beans cooked in chicken broth

I surprised myself but I think it went ok

Enjoy!

Sue