Sprint 2 the Table

Appetites and Adventures

Peanut Butter Prices Increasing

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PSA: The price of peanut butter is rising.

 

 

The dry weather and ridiculous heat this summer has affected peanut production.  You can expect to see the price of peanut butter to increase as much as 30%, according to this article on Cleveland.com.

Farmers are prediction a 50% drop in yield for the year.  70% of the peanuts in my state of Georgia go into peanut butter.

 

The Executive Director of the Georgia Peanut Commission (who know there was such a thing?!), Don Koehler, says supplies are “plunging” and demand has reached new heights.

Why the increased demand?  Koehler credit the “Choosy Moms Choose JIF” ad campaign.  Advertising dollars at work – love it.

 

Can you imagine that clean up?!

 

Moral of the story: Stock up on peanut butter/flour/nuts NOW!  Also, don’t leave kids unattended with jars of PB.

I wonder if this means Delta will increase fares to cover the cost of the free inflight peanuts…

 

 

In honor of peanuts, I made a peanut sauce to go with my baked sweet potato tonight.  It turns out that peanut flour, coconut oil, and chili powder is an incredible combo.  I’m single-handedly supporting the peanut flour industry.

Get your peanut flour here.

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Baked Sweet Potato with Coconut Chili Peanut Sauce

  • 1 sweet potato
  • 1 T peanut flour
  • 1 tsp coconut oil
  • 1/2 tsp unsweetened almond milk
  • 1/4 tsp chili powder
  • Shake of salt

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  

Lightly rub sweet potato with olive oil.  Wrap in foil and bake ~45-60 mins, or until tender and cooked through.

Mix the flour, oil, milk, chili powder, and salt together in a small bowl.   Top on your sweet potato, wait a minute for the sauce to get nice and melty, and enjoy!

***

As much as I love almonds, I think peanut products are my favorite.

Will you stock up on peanut butter for the winter?

What other food shortages/price increases are you seeing?

 

Give Yourself the Shakes

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Normally having the shakes is a bad thing.

 

Last week I got them in a good way (as opposed to the “Imma kill Mr. Cuervo” way) from a weight routine.

 

It’s no secret that arms are my love.  Biceps used to be my favorite part to work, but recently I’m really into triceps.

Particularly this workout.  The best part?  You can do it anywhere that has free weights and a bench.  Translation: I can do this in basically any hotel across America.

 

Don’t be afraid to push yourself on the amount of weight you lift.  Don’t hurt yourself, but you do need to challenge your muscles in order to gain.  No, you won’t end up looking like Hulk… people spend YEARS trying.

 

I’ve also been more vigilant about rest time between moves.  I was a skeptic, but I’ve honestly noticed a difference since taking the proper break time between sets – both in form and development.

 

As you do the bench exercises, make sure to keep your back straight and feet firmly planted on the floor.  Also be sure to keep your core tight.  This will keep it engaged, giving you added benefit.

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Chest

1. Plyometric Push-Ups

 

Do a regular push-up (be sure to use proper form), but when you lower to the ground explode back up so that your hands leave the ground.  Bonus points if you can clap in between.

Don’t be afraid to do these from your knees if you need to.

  • Sets: 2
  • Reps: 5-8
  • Rest: 30 seconds

 

2. Bench Press with Dumbbells*

Be sure to bring the dumbbells down low, concentrating on the bottom portion of the movement and then come up hard.

 

 

*I did these as a rest-pause on the last set.  Meaning, I did the max reps I could, rested the weights on my chest for ~20 seconds, then did as many additional reps as I could.

  • Sets: 2
  • Reps: 8-10
  • Rest: 1 minute

 

3. Incline Bench Press with Dumbbells**

Be sure to push the dumbbells straight up until your arms are fully extended (without locking elbows).  Fully lower weights back to the start position to complete each rep.

**You will do these as supersets with the next move.  Superset means you do NOT rest between the two moves.  Yuo rest after completing 1 set of BOTH.

  • Sets: 3
  • Reps: 6-8
  • Rest: Superset

 

**Superset**

 

4. Incline Flye

Keep your elbows bent slightly to avoid stressing your shoulders.  Slowly bring the weights down to your sides to complete a rep.

These are especially good for increasing range of motion and shaping pectorals (which makes your chest look.. ahem… nicer).

  • Sets: 3
  • Reps: 20
  • Rest: 1 minute

 

Triceps

1. Lying Extension with Dumbbells**

When above your head, the dumbbells should be positions such that your palms facing each other. As you bend your elbows to lower the weights, your upper arms should not move.  Lower the dumbbells until they are at either side of your head, pausing for a moment.  Lift weights back to the starting position to complete a rep.

  • Sets: 3
  • Reps: 15
  • Rest: Superset

 

**Superset**

 

2. Tri Pressdown

 

These are  my favorite.  Really focus on keeping your abs contracted here for a little extra core benefit.  Keep your elbows in toward your torso and really press palms down toward your thighs as you squeeze the triceps.

  • Sets: 3
  • Reps: 20
  • Rest: 30 seconds

 

3. One-Arm Dumbbell Overhead Extension***

 

This is one of the best ways to tone arm “flab.”  Be sure to keep your upper arm stabilized as you bend at elbow to lower weight behind head.  As you straighten your arm to bring the weight back up,  squeeze back of arm to really work the muscle.

***These were done as drop sets.  I did the 15 reps, then dropped the weight by 5 lbs and did more rep until failure.  Then dropped the weight by another 5 lbs and completed reps until muscle failure again.

  • Sets: 3
  • Reps: 15
  • Rest: 1 minute

 

Post-arms I finished up with 15 minutes of ab work.  Adding P90X Ab Ripper X and hanging leg lifts gave me a solid hour workout… and left me shaking.  In a good way.

Don’t forget your 20g of protein post-workout!

 

Check out my Fitness page for more workouts and tips. 🙂

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This was Thursday’s workout.  Here’s rest of what I did on the road last week:

 

Workout Recap (9/5-9/11)

  • Monday – 6.5 mile run, Shoulders, 100 push-ups
  • Tuesday – Biceps/Back, 6 min plank sequence, 100 push-ups
  • Wednesday – 4 mile run, 100 push-ups
  • Thursday – Tris/Chest, Ab Ripper X
  • Friday – 4.5 mile run, 100 push-ups
  • Saturday – Kickboxing
  • Sunday – 4 mile run, 3 mile run/walk, 6 min plank sequence, 100 push-ups

***

 2 days after doing this workout, my kickboxing instructor complimented my arms.  It made my day.

What’s your favorite way to exercise?

Do you have a favorite body part to work?  (Keep it clean! 😉 )

 

Skinny Girl Thai Greek Sauce

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Do you enjoy Skinnygirl Margaritas?

 

 

Apparently they are in hot water (as opposed to frosty boozy deliciousness).  According to TMZ, there has been a class action lawsuit filed against the and Whole Foods has removed the products from the shelf.

The drink claims to be “all-natural” right on the bottle… yet it has a preservative called sodium benzoate in it.  Alone it’s not so bad… but when combined vitamin C  (absorbic acid) it forms a carcinogen.  I couldn’t find an ingredient list online to determine if the Skinnygirl Margarita contains vitamin C.

 

Creator Bethenny Frankel released the following statement:

I wouldn’t sell anything that I don’t drink myself.

 

I don’t actually like these.  What I do like is that they inspired restaurants to make their own “skinny” margaritas using agave and fresh lime juice.  They are SO much better than the sour mix ickiness!

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I’m happy to report that my dinner was natural and had a generous helping of a skinny sauce.

 

It was intended to be a wrap… then I got carried away with the greens!

After a travel-heavy week I always crave fresh, raw food.  I topped an Ezekial 4:9 Sprouted Grain Tortilla with plenty of it!

 

My pile of raw greens:

  • Spinach
  • French green beans
  • Sprouts
  • Zucchini
  • Cucumber
  • Broccoli

 

The secret’s in the sauce.  Thai Greek Sauce.  Thai because of the curry paste and peanut flavor. Greek thanks to the yogurt and lemon.  With basil for good measure.

Tangy, spicy, and a little nutty.  Like your favorite aunt.

 

This tasty sauce made the perfect spread for my open-faced wrap.  Is there such a thing as an open-faced wrap?  There is now!

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Thai Greek Sauce

  • 1/4 C Greek yogurt
  • Juice of 1/4 small lemon
  • 5-6 basil leaves, chopped
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tsp peanut flour
  • 1/8 tsp red curry paste
  • shake of cumin
  • S+P, to taste

 

Mix together in small bowl, spread on the nearest victim item, and devour!

***

I just realized there’s no point in unpacking from this week’s travels before I head out next week.  Lovely.

Do you like Skinnygirl Margaritas?  Do you care about the inclusion of a preservative?

What’s everyone getting into this weekend?

 

Creative or Crazy?

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Go Packers!

I’m happen to be in Milwaukee for work while the Packers open again the Saints.  All of this is lost on me – I prefer college ball.

I had quite the view!  People in Milwaukee are incredibly nice.  They also really like Bud Light and Riesling (as evidenced by the patrons at the bar last night).

No, I wasn’t out partying.  But how could I pass up eating dinner at the hotel bar while watching this shenanigans go down?!

Plus, I was in need of a treat after a workout so awesome it left me shaking.  That one will be posted ASAP.  🙂

To entertain myself between work and the NFL, I researched fried foods.  Apparently one can fry anything.

They claim everything is bigger in Texas.  If bigger = fried, then “they” might be right!  The prize for the Most Creative State Fair Food in Texas went to the Fried Bubble Gum.

Source: inquisitr.com

It wasn’t really fried gum – it was fried bubble gum-flavored marshmallows.  That actually doesn’t sound so bad…

Last year’s winner was fried beer ravioli.  Homer Simpson’s favorite dinner.

Click for source

But that’s nothing compared to Iowa’s Fried Butter on a stick.  Seriously.

Who could even take one bite of that?!

Source: Iowa State Fair/ Steve Pope Photography

And we wonder why half of America will be obese by 2030?

Moo-ving on to ice cream, Ben & Jerry have finally outdone themselves.  Coming soon to a store near you…

Schweddy Balls Ice Cream will consist of vanilla ice cream with a hint of rum and is loaded with fudge covered rum balls and milk chocolate malt balls.  Schweddy balls on ice.  

Please tell me Betty White’s muffin is next.

I love crazy, creative non-fried, non-ice cream combos too!

***

I once had a fried Snickers.  Not gonna lie – it was good.

What’s the weirdest fried food you’ve ever seen/tried?

Do you get into the NFL?  College football?  Nothing?

Eggplant Lentil Indian Stew

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Fall is in the air!

Despite the rainy weather, I’m excited for the fall/winter season.

It certainly makes running easier!  It could also be that the rain helped wash away the smog.  Either way, yesterday’s run was a fast one.

Stats:

  • Distance – 4 miles
  • Time – 30:33
  • Avg. Pace – 7:38

There is something so comforting about the chill in the air… it brings thoughts of curling up under blankets with a good book (holla at the single ladies) and hearty bowls of soup.

On the stormy end to the long weekend, I made an Eggplant Lentil Indian Stew.  Lots of spices made this dish special.

Preparing the eggplant by cooking it together stew-style (as opposed to roasting or sauteing it separately) allowed it to soak in the flavors and develop a wonderful texture.

Apparently a broken camera, yet another attempt at making brown food look appetizing, and new Picnik options resulted in photo-editing gone wild.

Don’t forget all the benefits lentils offer (in addition to being cheap).  This filling meal satisfied me for dinner and then again as leftovers at lunch.  I hardly needed my afternoon snack!

Eggplant Lentil Indian Stew

  • 1 tsp grape seed oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 3 large cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 T fresh ginger, minced
  • 1 T fresh thyme
  • 1 + 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp cardamom
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 cup dried French green lentils
  • 2 C vegetable broth
  • 2 C water
  • 1 large eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 2 C fresh spinach
  • S+P, to taste

Warm oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Sauté onion in the oil until translucent (5-6 mins).  Add garlic and sauté for another minute.  Mix in the spices.

Add 1 cup of the vegetable broth, stirring to combine.  Cook for another minute to allow flavored to combine.

Add the lentils, remaining broth, water, and eggplant.  Cover the pot, bringing the mixture to a boil.  Lower the heat to a simmer and cook for ~20 minutes, until lentils are tender and eggplant is soft.  

Add spinach allowing to cook until just wilted.  Adjust spices, adding salt and pepper to taste.

Ladle into bowls, top with red pepper flakes and fresh thyme, and enjoy!

Serves 4.

***

I have a feeling it’s going to be a soup/stew-filled winter.

What is your favorite soup?

Do you re-read books or always choose something new?

Chilly Weather Eats + WIAW

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Wednesday comes quickly on short weeks!

Short weeks are good and bad.  I love the extra weekend time… but I was at work until 8p last night paying for it.

It’s chilly and drizzling rain here, so I had planned to go to kickboxing for a good, mindless workout.  The last class starts at 730p.

On the bright side, I hit the gym in my building and tried out a new back/bicep workout that I’ll be sharing soon. 🙂

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On such a short week I nearly forgot to take pics for WIAW!

 

I did remember nearly everything in the nick of time.  Mas importante because I had a special treat for breakfast.

 

Breakfast:

I pre-gamed breakfast with some cantaloupe because it was going to take a minute before I picked up the main show.

 

FREE Chick-fil-A!!!  It is free breakfast entrée week (with a reservation).  I was pumped to try out their new oatmeal.

I came prepared with my own peanut butter (I never said I was normal).  They provided brown sugar, nuts, and dried fruit as toppings, but I’m not a dried fruit fan and the nuts were all sugar-coated.  Too much sugar in the morning!

The oatmeal itself was pretty good.  The fact that it’s multi-grain gave it a good texture.  It was cooked well – not watery, which I generally find to be the problem.  Only 120 calories and 5g of sugar, but I liked that it had 3g of fiber and 4g of protein.  That said, the serving was fairly small and I was really glad for the peanut butter!

 

Lunch:

Inspired by the cool, rainy weather I made a delicious Indian Eggplant Lentil Stew Monday night and thoroughly enjoyed the leftovers for lunch today.

Side note: Tech wont their first game against Western Carolina Girl’s School Saturday!!!

 

Lentils have many benefits.  They are:

  • High in protein an fiber = filling
  • Good source of iron and magnesium
  • Take on virtually any flavor from other foods/seasonings
  • Low-cost
  • Good left-over!

 

This recipe will be up tomorrow!!!

 

 

Snacks:

Not pictured, but I am pretty predictable consistent:

  • Chocolate-Toffee Think Thin bar
  • Nuts – I caved and ate the Chick-fil-A sugar-coated.  They were good.  🙂
  • Kombucha Green Tea
  • Broccoli and carrot sticks dipped in my new find: Spinach-Artichoke Hummus

 

This hummus is a new Whole Foods find by Nature’s Healthy Gourmet.  You really get the good artichoke flavor in it!

Nature’s Healthy Gourmet is a small company based out of Florida that specializes in vegetarian and Kosher foods.  Nature’s hummus is also dairy- and gluten-free.  If you can find it, this hummus is worth a try!

 

Dinner:

Since I got home from work so late I opted for a lighter dinner.  A salad with raw french green beans, sprouts, and mission figs.

 

Did you really think that’s all I ate?  Bwhahahaha!

 

That salad was protein’d up with sriracha-marinated tempeh and hummus dressing (the aforementioned hummus mixed with a bit of apple cider vinaigrette).

I finally learned how to spell sriracha!!!  Gotta celebrate the small victories. 😉

 

For a more delicious eats, check out the round up at Peas and Crayons!

***

Please excuse the grainy iPhone pics for the next few days… my camera is broken!

It seems that every fast food place offers oatmeal now – do you ever purchase it in a crunch?

Is is getting cooler where you are?  Bring on the fall weather!

 

Long Weekend Butterflies

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In honor of the long weekend I took a little break.

 

Not from activity, just blogging.  Of course lots happened in the meantime!

 

1. I made it back from a whirlwind tour of the country.

 

2. As soon as I located my car at the airport (harder than it sounds when you leave if for a week), I was on my way to pick up my BFF for a post-baby “date” at one of Atlanta’s best restaurants – Restaurant Eugene.

Liquid deliciousness

 

3. After a morning run, I spent some QT with Mom.  Poolside.

 

4. Did a little shopping and went to dinner with the girls.  We shared everything – my favorite way to dine!

Appetizers

 

5. The next day I woke up to find that my PB&J Pancakes made the FoodBuzz Top 9!  Thanks to all who “buzz’d!!!”

 

 

6. I met my Italy travel companion and foodie friend for a little tennis before lunch… and we saw a pirate along the way.

 

7. After another epic trip to the Dekalb Farmer’s Market (a.k.a. Cook’s Heaven), we reconvened to grill up a tasty dinner.

 

8. No pics today… but I did get in a great 6.5 mile run.  70 degrees and drizzling rain – bad for my tan, perfect for my run.

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I was also honored by TWO fabulous ladies – Haley @ Oat Couture and Lisa @ Healthful Sense – with the Butterfly Award!

 

Check out their blogs if you don’t already!

Haley posts some of the best workouts I’ve seen yet.  Her stories are also fantastic – every time she recaps a night out with friends I’m convinced we were meant to be BFFs.

Lisa come up with some of the best “healthy” recipes on the web.  I recently made her Vegan Fudge Brownies and loved every bite!  She also has a beautiful family that I love reading about.

 

1. Name your favourite colour: Call me boring, but black is my favorite color.  Look in my closet if you don’t believe me.

 

2. Name your favourite song: I love music, so this is really hard.  I’m going to go with a stand by – Rhiannon by Stevie Nicks (of Fleetwood Mac fame).  Check her out in 1976:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py3w5fttedA

 

3. Name your favourite dessert: Anything chocolate and cake-like.  Like the S’mores Brownies I made.  Pass the fork and don’t even think about trying to steal a bite.

 

4. What wizzes you off:  Unsolicited opinions.  If I want your opinion, I’ll give it to you.

 

5. When you’re upset you: I get mad – I’m not a crier.

 

6. Your favourite pet: Growing up we had a cat named Twinkle.  This cat was the best cat in the world.  As a kitten she would patiently let my sisters and me dress her in doll clothes.  As a grown cat who was introduced to the new dog she was tolerant and even shared a squirrel or two.  In college I cried like a small child when mom called to tell me she had to be put down. 🙁

 

7. Black or white:  See question #1

 

8. Your biggest fear:  Throwing up.  I had a phobia as a child and would call mom begging her to get me from school because I thought I’d be sick in public.  I’m not sure where that came from, but to this day I refuse to get sick.

 

9. Best feature:  I like my arms.  Thank you, push-ups.  I’m up to 100 now!

 

10. Everyday attitude: I’m echoing Haley… totally sarcastic, can get a little bitchy… but in a way that has a touch of humor.  I’m generally happy, but have little patience (hence, I can NEVER reproduce).  It’s possible that I annoy everyone around me with my enthusiasm for food.

 

 

11. What is perfection:  Perfection… no worries, total freedom to travel and explore different cultures.  Tasting menus.  Good friends.  Good wine.  Constant adventure and growth.

Food and wine while planning a food and wine trip.

 

12. Guilty pleasure:  Waffle House.  I have a love for chocolate chip waffles, hash browns (well-done), and the patrons of this fine establishment.

 

Now I have the honor of tagging 7 other people to share the same fun facts for the Butterfly Award!  In no particular order:

 

  1. Holly @ Healthy Everythingtarian
  2. Lee @ In My Tummy
  3. Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
  4. Sarah @ Smart Kitchen
  5. Parita @ My Inner Shakti
  6. Mary @ Bites and Bliss
  7. Corey @ Learning Patience

 

***

I’m enjoying my free Chick-fil-a breakfast this morning.  Mmmmm…

What was your favorite part of the long weekend?

Do you have a little shock when you have to return to work after 3 days off?  I do!

 

Free Chick-fil-A Breakfast!

By

I was going to take the entire long weekend off from blogging…

…but THIS I had to share.

This week (8/6-8/10) Chick-fil-A will be giving away a FREE BREAKFAST entree to those with reservations.

 

Don’t eat fried chicken before noon?  No worries – you have options:

  • Spicy Chicken Biscuit
  • Sausage Biscuit
  • Chick-n-Minis
  • Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit
  • Chicken, Egg, and Cheese on a Sunflower Multigrain Bagel
  • Multigrain Oatmeal


To make a reservation, click here.

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Since I’m posting… here’s the weekly recap.  I was in 5 cities in 5 days this week and managed to workout every day (except Friday, which was a planned rest).  It wasn’t easy, but it can be done!

 

Workout Recap (8/29-9/4)

  • Monday – Biceps/Back, 2 mile walk, 100 push-ups
  • Tuesday – 45 mins elliptical, 6 min plank sequence, 100 push-ups
  • Wednesday – 4 mile run, 30 mins legs, Ab Ripper X, 100 push-ups
  • Thursday – Tris/Chest, 6 min plank sequence, 100 push-ups
  • Friday – Rest
  • Saturday – 4 mile run, short swim, 100 push-ups 
  • Sunday – Tennis, Ab Ripper X, 100 push-ups

***

If I have to go back to work tomorrow, at least there’s free breakfast!  So. Excited.

What was the best part of your long weekend?

Have you tried Chick-fil-A’s oatmeal yet?

 

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