Weekend Stars

June 27, 2011 By Laura

Every once in a while, the stars align just right…

and a perfect Saturday is born.

This Saturday began with the 21st Annual Pride Run at the park across from my condo.

There was a special buzz in the air following the news that New York joined a growing number of states extending the basic right of marriage to all of its citizens.

I’ve run this race 3x so far and it continues to be one of my favorites. The course is great, it’s well-organized, the runners are friendly, and it gets strong crowd support. Even the police blocking off the streets cheer the runners on!

This year’s race solidified the event’s place in my heart… it marks the first time I placed in the Top 3 Females Overall!

I earned 3rd place overall and 1st in my division!!!

Stats:

Distance – 3.14 miles
Time – 23:41 mins
Pace – 7:45 mins

I have NO idea where that came from, but OMG I was thrilled!!!

Post-race I walked across the park for some raw milk (I know it’s controversial… but it does have benefits and it tastes like a milkshake!), farm eggs, and peaches. There is nothing more delicious than local, fresh food.

The afternoon was filled with softball and some quick pre-reunion weight lifting.

At the reunion I saw some people I was looking forward to reconnecting with, which was nice. Overall… I don’t know what I expected, but was just ok. High school seems like a lifetime ago, and it wasn’t the best of times for me.

In true foodie fashion, dinner was the best part of the night.

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A small group of old classmates (we are now good friends) – myself, Mallory (my BFF), Greg (her husband), and Laura (another friend) – all met for a pre-reunion dinner at Bocado (887 Howell Mill Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30318, 404-815-1399).

~~Thank god because the only food they served at the event was a cold tray of chicken nuggets.~~

Bocado has been on my “to try” list for far too long. Several have contended that they serve the best burger in Atlanta; however, the other menus items are the real standouts.

My jalapeno-infused tequila cucumber martini was light and clean tasting. The flavors were perfectly balanced – a great start to dinner on this hot day.

We enjoyed our drinks with a cheese plate made up of:

Purple Haze (goat, California)
Humboldt (goat, California)
Ewephoria (sheep, Holland)

The Ewephoria took the prize as the favorite, and the best named.

Our cheeses were served with radishes, cranberries, honey, and perfect crusty bread slices. I say perfect because often toasted bread is so saturated in olive oil or butter that it becomes a chewy, greasy mess. These slices were brushed with just enough olive oil to compliment the flavors.

For dinner Laura and I ordered small plates to share.

These were the best Fried Green Tomatoes I have EVER had. Normally I’m not a huge fan due the the soggy, greasy nature of the dish.

The chef’s interpretation of the dish did not suffer from this affliction. The tomatoes were cut into spears and battered in corn meal, leaving them crisp and relatively light. They were served over a bed of greens and radishes with hot sauce and a buttermilk herb dressing.

Our Beet Salad was served in a bowl with farro, orange segments, fennel, toasted hazelnuts, avocado, and goat cheese. The flavors played together quite well.

Toasted hazelnuts added a dimension to the more typical beet-orange-goat cheese combo. I especially enjoyed the different textures – the crunch of the nuts with the slightly chewy farro and creamy avocado and goat cheese.

The Burrata was the one dish that I wasn’t impressed with. The eggplant caponata on top was great, but the burrata itself was a bit too rubbery. It was the only dish we didn’t finish. However, it was served with a kalamata olive country toast that was delicious.

Our waiter highly recommended the Summer Squash Salad. As advertised, it was very good. My only complaint is the heavy hand on the olive oil. The squash was delicious and the cherry tomatoes were some of the best I’ve had this season.

Mallory and Greg both ordered the infamous burger. It was quite good. As good as Holeman & Finch? My vote is YES… but it’s very close.

The burger is served with house-made herbed french fries and a side of a buttermilk herb sauce. I’m not a HUGE french fry eater and I could have eaten an entire plate of these.

For dessert we chose a Banana Bread Cake layered with chocolate ganache and cinnamon icing.

We hated it.

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Several other bloggers have begun posting recaps of the previous week’s workouts. I love the idea – if for no other ~~selfish~~ reason than to have a reference for myself to look back at.

Workout Recap (6/20-26)

Monday – 4 mile run, 84 push-ups
Tuesday – P90X Ab Ripper X, 84 push-ups
Wednesday – Triceps/Chest, 3.5 mile run
Thursday – 4.5 mile run, 84 push-ups
Friday – P90X Ab Ripper X, 15 mile bike ride, 84 push-ups
Saturday – 5K, softball, 30 mins upper body weights, 84 push-ups
Sunday – Softball, P90X Ab Ripper X, 84 push-ups

***

I never was a cornflake girl…

Was high school a good experience for you?

Do you like when bloggers post workout recaps?

Breakfast Apple Cupcakes (Recipe)

June 25, 2011 By Laura

Bicycling seems to be the next big thing.

Safety first!

Bloggers are into it, cyclists are rampant on Atlanta streets, and my friends all seem to have taken up the sport.

Naturally, I had to try it.

My friend Summer agreed to lend me a bike (along with a helmet and padded shorts) and take me out for a trial ~~run~~ ride. I was really nervous because my Achilles was killing me and I’m running a 5K this morning… followed by a softball tournament and then my high school reunion.

Definitely don’t want to be too injured/sore to run/play/party! But I broke out the KT tape and away we went!

It was the only color left in the store.

~~Pedaling~~ Cycling is much harder than I expected. Summer did say this was a hilly course, but whoa. Thank god I’m not new to exercising – I refused to walk the bike up a hill!

You can’t tell me this isn’t hilarious.

What I should have been more nervous about was the storm! We made it 11 miles and realized we were about to get hit.

That last 4 miles we were going as fast as we could into the wind. I literally almost got blown over! Lightening, tree debris hitting us in the head and littering the path, crazy temperature changes… I was running on nothing but adrenaline at the end.

Recap:

15 hilly miles
1.5 hours
Near death experience
Celebration beer and a sandwich

I’d totally do it again.

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After a long week I like to “treat” myself with a fun breakfast. Nothing says fun like cupcakes!

These are so easy to make – simply core an apple and top with your choice of deliciousness. Choosing your ~~icing~~ topping is the best part.

I iced mine 2 ways:

Mixture of Greek yogurt, almond butter, and chia seeds, topped with chocolate cookie crumbles
Vanilla whipped cottage cheese (see recipe below), with chia seed sprinkles

Yes, I picked the cookie off and ate it first like an impatient 5 year old.

Fun fact: My mom used to call me Tinkerbell… hence the mug. 🙂

Both were fantastic, but I think the whipped cottage cheese was my favorite. It was almost cheesecake-like!

The vanilla and apple sweetness was perfect with the tangy cheese and lemon combo.

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Vanilla Whipped Cottage Cheese

1/2 C cottage cheese
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp lemon zest
1/4 packet of Stevia
1/2 T chia seeds

In a blender (I used the Magic Bullet short container) combine all ingredients.

Blend until the cottage cheese becomes smooth (you may need to stop and scrape down the sides).

Enjoy as a snack or as icing on your favorite treat!

***

This may be TMI… but my butt is SORE. And now I must go run. Wish me luck!

What is your favorite “treat” breakfast?

Do you bike? Any tips for a novice?!

Protein Lassi

June 24, 2011 By Laura

Is everyone else getting all of this rain?!

I got all dressed to run this morning and realized it was POURING. #fail

It did eventually let up and I headed out… only to realize that my Achilles is not totally healed. Oops. So I’m writing this with my trusty bag of frozen peas. 🙂

Stats:

Distance – 4.5 miles
Time – 38:01 mins
Pace – 8:45 mins

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Post-run I enjoyed a savory Protein Lassi that was an appropriate pre-cursor to dinner.

A lassi is simply a yogurt-based Indian drink. They can be savory, salted, or sweet.

They have green smoothies in India too!

Lassi’s are the perfect compliment or end to an Indian meal since the yogurt (and fruit if using) calm your palate after all the spicy, strong flavors.

It seems that everyone has been making them lately! My Protein Lassi isn’t as sweet as the commonly-seen mango, but I loved the savory flavors and the lightness of it (recipe at the end).

Why was my lassi a good pre-cursor to dinner? I went to see Avenue Q (HILARIOUS!) last night, but prior to the play we hit up a local Indian restaurant called Planet Bombay (451 Moreland Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30307; 404-688-0005).

Funniest. Play. Ever.

If you haven’t seen this play (and aren’t easily offended), I highly recommend it! Do not take your grandparents.

Back to the Planet Bombay…

My friend got the meat combo plate:

It cane with spring rolls, rice, naan, Chicken Saag, Chicken Tikka Massala, and some sort of beef dish (maybe Bhuna?).

The spring rolls and rice were boring, but the Saag and Tikka were really good! The naan was on with right track with a bit of char, but it didn’t quite get to the point of awesome with the texture.

I chose a Tofu Tandoori:

The tofu itself was delicious. It was done in a marinade of yogurt, lemon juice, and “special” tandoori sauce and was served on a sizzling hot plate with onions (side note: I love burnt onions… these made me happy). The texture of the tofu was amazingly fluffy and the spice-level was just right for me.

It came with a side of rice, cucumber-yogurt dip, and roasted eggplant and zucchini in a tomato sauce. They were just ok.

What was really, really good was the side of spinach rice (the green and white mound behind the tofu pictured above). It was a Basmati rice cooked with a lot of spinach, onions, and butter. Delish.

At the end of the meal they brought out a bowl of fennel seeds that appeared to have Nerds sprinkled in it:

We couldn’t figure out what to do with it! Does anyone know?!

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Savory Protein Lassi

1/4 C Greek-style yogurt
1 C ice water
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 C spinach
1/2 tsp coriander
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp rosemary

Put it all in the blender and mix until smooth!

Note: I would have added cardamon too if I’d had it on-hand.

***

Avenue Q is my new favorite play. Those Bad Idea Bears had me rolling with laughter!

Have you seen Avenue Q? Did you love it?

Are you a fan in Indian food? (Clearly, I cannot get enough.)

Japanese-ish Hummus

June 23, 2011 By Laura

It’s New Hair Thursday! 🙂

I love my stylist even more than I love chocolate cake (translation: love her a lot).

Karen worked in my old neighborhood salon, but moved to North Georgia. I now drive an hour to go see her at her own salon called Lava Hair Studio. Check our her new ad:

Karen and I have been together since I was 15. It was only fitting that I go see her right before my high school reunion this weekend. I cannot believe it has been 10 years!

Always have to have some red in it. Somethings never change.

Today was especially good because I feel SO much more human. Thank you all so much for the get-well wishes!

I busted out a easy run during lunch to sweat out the rest of my sick germs.

Stats:

Distance – 3.5 miles
Time – 28:55 mins
Pace – 8.16 mins

Delicious food made things brighter as well. I wish today’s eats could have been featured on WIAW!

Brussel sprout porn

Sweet Potato Praline Cheesecake @ Apres Diem

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When I saw this recipe for Caesar Hummus at Healthy Exposures I was intrigued. Then I saw Jess continue to mention how good/addicting it was… I knew I had to try it for myself.

Jess is right. This may be the best hummus ever. Seriously – I don’t use extremes often.

Once I began tasting and mixing, I determined that this had a decidedly Asian taste to it. So I went with that and added soy sauce and Japanese red pepper blend called Shichimi Togarashi.

This farmer’s market-find is a blend of: red pepper, sesame seed, orange peel, Japanese pepper, seaweed, and rapeseeed (<– I have NO idea what that is and I’m too scared to google it).

I added 1/4 – 1/2 tsp of this and then sprinkled it on top of the final product. Heat is my BFF, so be sure to adjust to your preference!

You know those sauces they bring out at Japanese restaurants? I’m going to start bringing this instead.

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Japanese-ish Hummus

1 C garbanzo beans
1 T tahini
1 T capers + brine
1/2 tsp herbed dijon mustard
1 garlic clove
Juice of 1/2 a medium lemon
Liberal drizzles of soy sauce
Shichimi Togarashi (or red pepper flakes/cayenne/paprika), to taste
Olive oil and/or water

If using dried chickpeas: soak chickpeas overnight (or 12 hours) at room temp (water should just over top of chickpeas). Rinse and place in a large pot with 3-4 garlic cloves and salted water. Water should cover chickpeas. Bring to a boil and them simmer for 50-60 mins. You may need to add water to keep peas covered. When desired tenderness is reached, remove from heat and allow to cool in cooking water. Drain and rinse before using.

Add chickpeas, tahini, capers, mustard, garlic, and lemon juice. Pulse until beginning to come together. Taste and add soy sauce and spice to taste, processing again to combine. With processor running, drizzle in olive oil and/or water (I used ~2 tsp oilve oil and ~1/8 C water). Continue processing until smooth.

Makes 3/4 cup.

***

I can’t stop eating this hummus. Is it too abnormal to eat an entire cup of it in one sitting..?

Have you been to your high school reunion? How was it?

Spinach-Walnut Pesto + WIAW

June 22, 2011 By Laura

It’s cherry season!

Cherries are one of my favorite grab-and-go snacks, as well as a favorite dessert addition.

Apparently they have a ton of health benefits too!

High in anti-oxidants
Act as anti-inflammatories
May help fight cancer
Loaded with minerals (potassium, iron, zinc, copper and manganese)

It’s also WIAW! This is one of my favorite “events” (Jenn @ Peas & Crayons is a genius for thinking this up) because I love getting inspiration from what others are creating/eating, and I love finding new blogs to read ~~in all my spare time~~.

You know when you’re sick, have no appetite, and nothing sounds good? This lead to a day full of eclectic snacks and small meals.

Why did my immune system miss the memo that it’s 90 flippin’ degrees outside?!

Breakfast

Sick –> comfort food –> oatmeal.

Sweet berries + salty cottage cheese = oatmeal deliciousness

Cherry oatmeal! I made this the old-fashioned way on the stove top. In my comfort oats:

Almond milk
Cottage cheese
Cherries
Blueberries
Cinnamon

Lunch

Salad on the road:

Spinach
Orange sections
Edamame (which sunk to the bottom)
Liquid aminos

To dress this salad, I used the orange juice and Bragg’s Liquid Aminos.

If you haven’t tried this yet, I highly recommend doing so. Liquid Aminos are NON-GMO soybeans and purified water. The taste is similar to soy sauce, though its much more mild and less salty. Added bonus: it comes in a spray bottle!

Snacks

Brazil Nuts

Think Thin Chocolate Toffee Bar

with…

New PB! Sunland Almond and Roasted Valencia

I added sriracha

Dinner

My spaghetti squash with it’s leeks and lovely Spinach-Walnut Pesto looked like this when I started:

Then I attacked it! Mmmmm…

I love spaghetti squash to begin with, but adding a bright, lemon-y, flavorful pesto made it amazing. I also tossed it with some sautéed leeks. Topped off with freshly ground pepper to set it all off.

Never tried spaghetti squash? It’s mild flavor and spaghetti-like texture means you can use it in place of pasta in virtually anything. Click here for a “how to.”

Perfect welcome for Summer on the solstice. 🙂

Spinach-Walnut Pesto

2 C fresh spinach
1/4 C fresh basil
1/4 C walnuts
1 T extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves
1 jalapeno, seeds removed
Juice from 1/2 a small lemon
S+P, to taste

Toss all ingredients into a food processor and pulse until mixed. You may need to stop and scrape down the sides occasionally.

Makes 9-10 tablespoons.

***

Master sommelier Andrea Robinson says the perfect solstice pairing is a glass of champagne. Had I felt better, I would have indulged!

Did you do anything to celebrate the solstice?

What are your favorite comfort foods with you don’t feel well?

Cottage Cheese and Egg Herb Bake

June 21, 2011 By Laura

Welcome New Readers!

I woke up yesterday to an awesome surprise – I made the Food Buzz Top 9 for the first time!!! Not only that, but I was #2!

If that doesn’t make your Monday morning a happy one, I don’t know what will!

Thank you to anyone who buzzed my Rosemary Lemon Shortbread Cookies, and to those who left the nicest comments I have ever received. You guys made my day. 🙂

Inspired by the Buzz, I ended up running 5 miles – 2 miles more than I promised myself I would.

Stats:

Distance – 5 miles
Time – 41:15
Pace – 8:23

Equally exciting is a guest post! Cait @ Beyond Bananas is in San Fran (lucky girl!), and yesterday she allowed me the honor of writing a guest post for her. Ever the awesome blogger, she even gave my post a fantabulous title: Sprinting to Laura’s Table. (Love it!)

I contributed a Cottage Cheese and Egg Bake recipe that uses garlic scapes (scapes are really cool – click here for more).

Fascinated by my new-found breakfast treat, I decided grab my carton of eggs and experiment with other flavors.

In this version I used fresh tomatoes, spinach, and Herbs de Provence. The sweet French herbs combined with the floral lavender and classic Italian flavors gave this dish a great “pop.” It left me greedily scraping the sides of my ramekin.

For those who aren’t familiar, Herbs de Provence is a mixture of herbs commonly used in France. You can purchase this mix in your grocer’s spice section or make your own from herbs you may already have. There are a million different versions out there. Most commonly they consist of: savory, thyme, rosemary, basil, marjoram, fennel seed, and lavender*.

*I just read on Wikipedia that lavender is only used in the ~~bastardized~~ Americanized version.

Speaking of dried herbs… did you know that you aren’t supposed to keep them more than 6 months? It’s a shame since many are so costly. I began buying them at the farmer’s market where they are cheaper and sold is (slightly) smaller quantities. They don’t go make-you-sick bad, but they do lose their flavor.

Herbs aside, one of the best things about the recipe is it’s ability to conform to your morning routine. Allow me to explain.

Practical Guide to Making Egg Bake During the Morning Rush:

Stumble out of bed
Start coffee
Allow oven to preheat while showering
Mix ingredients and pour in ramekin
Put in oven to bake
Apply make-up/blow dry hair (if you’re a guy, do whatever guys do in the morning)
Remove from oven
Allow to cool while getting dressed
Eat
Run out door without forgetting to turn off oven

Cottage Cheese and Egg Herb Bake

1/4 C cottage cheese
1 egg
1 egg white
1/2 tsp Herbs de Provence
1/2 medium tomato, diced
1/2 C spinach
2-3 basil leaves, chiffonade
S+P, to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat the eggs and cottage cheese together until well-combined and beginning to fluff. Add remaining ingredients and beat again to combine.

Pour into a ramekin and bake for 35-40 mins.

Note: You may need to broil for 1-2 mins at the end to finish off the top. Be sure to watch closely so it doesn’t get too browned.

***

I’m seriously still grinning from all of these comments. Give me a day or so, but I will visit your blogs – love discovering new blogs/allowing my Reader to continue growing out of control! 🙂

Do you eat a hot breakfast on work days?

Are weekend breakfasts different/special treats in your house?

Ode to Lemons

June 20, 2011 By Laura

Did you know…

Lemons are really good for you? A single lemon satisfies your daily intake of Vitamin C (strong bones, people!). They also are a good anti-inflammatory.

The taste of water isn’t my favorite. I keep a lemon in my fridge at all times and squeeze slices into my water. Adding lemon encourages me to drink more by masking the flavor of Atlanta’s finest tap water. I drink A LOT of water.

Other Lemon Uses:

Use the juice to make a simple dressing for salads. A french green bean salad was delicious with this Lemon-Tahini Dressing.

Sauté them for to serves with pasta or chicken. Check out this pasta dish I made with Meyer Lemons and asparagus (yes, you can eat the whole thing).

Bring out flavors in dips or sauces with lemon. I used both lemon juice and zest to highlight the roasted red pepper and spices in this Muhammara (Red Pepper and Walnut Dip).

Lemon can add an extra dimension to desserts. This weekend’s Rosemary-Lemon Shortbread Cookies would have been missing something without the citrusy zest.

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Why the lemon plug? It’s HOT outside.

I did a 4 mile run this morning and by the time I was done it had almost hit 90 degrees outside.

This is run #3 since I pulled my achilles. Post-run I was chugging lemon water to rehydrate and reap the benefits of the anti-inflammatory.

My Achilles was ok. I could feel the strain, but it wasn’t painful enough to slow me down. Flat land is hard to find in Atlanta, but I managed to ~~more or less~~ keep away from hills to avoid stressing it too much.

Stats:

Distance – 4 miles
Time – 32:23
Pace – 8:06

***

Thank you to everyone for the warm comments about my dad on Father’s Day. You all definitely brightened my weekend. 🙂

How do you stay strong during/after working out in the heat?

Do you have a “secret” for adding a little something special to dishes?

Rosemary-Lemon Shortbread Cookies

June 18, 2011 By Laura

Father’s Day Weekend.

What to do…

Cookies are in order. Girls without their daddies most certainly deserve treats. Definitely a few glasses of wine (which will no doubt be blamed for any tears). Not to worry, I’ll strive for balance.

My dad would have LOVED to see this

There will be time spent simply remembering my dad and try to concentrate on the fact that I was lucky to have such a great man as a father for 25 years of my life (cliche… but look at all the jerks out there!).

My dad loved to laugh. He was so smart – loved learning more than anyone I’ve ever known. Enjoyed good wine, food, football, and hanging out with his “girls” (Mom, me, and my 2 sisters).

To those of you whose fathers are still with you, give them an extra hug today. Or at least don’t forget to call! Maybe buy a present or two. Ties, socks, chocolate-covered cherries (those were my dad’s favorite).

To those who are in the unfortunate situation of being without a father on Father’s Day weekend, my thoughts are with you. I can’t say it gets easier… but it doesn’t get worse. That’s something, right?

Treat yourself to cookies. The kind your dad would have liked, or the kind that are most comforting to you. Maybe they are just fun to make. Light, buttery, summery cookies like these Rosemary Lemon Shortbread Cookies:

Some people are intimidated by baking.

One of the secrets to doing it well is measuring flour properly. It can make the difference between fluffy, delectable treats and dense failures. “Real” bakers will argue that the only way to measure is by weight. However, more often than not, I use a simple measuring cup. I’m a lazy baker.

To me, the important thing to do is to fluff the flour. When it sits in your pantry, it settles. This compacting can result in the addition of 25% more flour than the recipe calls for.

Solution: Take a fork and fluff it up before diving in with your measuring cup (please tell me you’re using a dry ingredient cup already). Then use a knife to sweep off the excess flour. Do NOT shake, tap, or compact the flour down.

Once you have the shortbread base, this is an easy recipe to take in many directions. You could change it up with some basil or thyme!

Rosemary Lemon Shortbread Cookies

by Laura Hall

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Keywords: bake dessert Rosemary Lemon cookie spring

Ingredients (20 cookies)

1 1/4 C all-purpose flour
3/4 C white whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 T chopped fresh rosemary
2 tsp lemon zest
3/4 C salted butter, softened
1 T light agave nectar
1/2 C confectioners (powdered) sugar

Instructions

In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, salt, baking powder, rosemary, and lemon zest.

In a large bowl using an electric mixer (I used a hand-held), mix together butter, agave, and confectioners sugar at a low speed. Gradually add flour mixture and mix until dough produces small butter lumps.

Using your hands, make a ball with the dough and transfer to a lightly floured surface. (Lightly flour your hand to make this easier!) Knead dough until it just comes together (5-6 times). Roll into a log (like the cut and bake cookie dough)and cover in parchment paper. Refrigerate 1-2 hours, until hardened.

Preheat oven to 300° F.

Remove from fridge and cut into small (~1/2 in thick) disks, arranging on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake shortbread in middle of oven until golden brown, ~20 mins.

***

Happy Father’s Day!

What is your favorite way to celebrate life well-lived?

Weekend Stars

Workout Recap (6/20-26)

Breakfast Apple Cupcakes (Recipe)

Vanilla Whipped Cottage Cheese

Protein Lassi

Savory Protein Lassi

Japanese-ish Hummus

Japanese-ish Hummus

Spinach-Walnut Pesto + WIAW

Lunch

Snacks

Dinner

Spinach-Walnut Pesto

Cottage Cheese and Egg Herb Bake

Cottage Cheese and Egg Herb Bake

Ode to Lemons

Rosemary-Lemon Shortbread Cookies

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