Scary Seminar Food

Sorry, I’ve been quiet for a while……. Life gets busy.
I’ve officially been a vegetarian for over 6 months now…..and quite frankly, it’s easy as pie.
I know just about what to order at what restaurants/where to buy my veggie meal stuffs/and how to cook for both me and my carnivorous husband. I’ve only found myself craving meat on 2 occasions. Thankfully, the thought of my stomach’s reaction to “giving in” kept me on track. I would be as sick as a dog if I attempted a meaty concoction.

I recently went to a seminar and was asked in the application if I had any special dietary needs. I submitted that I was a vegetarian. I was pleased that they did indeed have a special meal for me……..however, the selection seemed “challenged” at best.

One meal included a pimento & cheese sandwich (I think they freaked on this one & ran to the gas station & grabbed the only thing they could find)
Another a salad with what seemed to be the leftover sandwich trimmings… yet tossed on steamed broccoli & cauliflower….(yeah, that one confused me too)..
The last meal….I guess was too forgettable for me to even recall….

Thankfully, I was prepared with a few granola bars stuffed in my bag to save the day.

While some places/people have caught on to this new wave, it seems there is still a big learning curve for a vast majority.

5k

Well, we did it…… we finished our Valentines 5k.
It was a perfect day for a fun run. There was a nice breeze, a slight chill in the air, and the sun was shining brightly. As a plus, everyone was given sweatshirts to commemorate the event. David ran in his…….and then, we both wore them around town. There is an unwritten rule that says: “you can only wear race paraphernalia while running/on race days”…We looked like the huge dorks that we are….wearing matching sweatshirts around Memphis all day.

Thankfully, we were able to hit up some of our favorite places. Of course, Whole Foods is a must. I load up on foods that aren’t available in our one horse town. The best part was spending some quality time with our friend, Anna. She’s an accountant……so, leaving town right now is not an option. Since we were there, she took Saturday afternoon off & goofed around with us. It was fabulous. We had already had a special dinner together last Thursday…..so, we passed on the crazy crowded restaurants.

Never underestimate what exercise, good food, and great friends can do for the soul.

Superbowl Cookout

We went over to some friends for some Superbowl entertainment Sunday night. We had a blast just laughing & munching on some food. Sadly, the guys had some issues with the grill & my veggie burger paid the burnt price.

I think next time... the girls are doing the cooking!!

Running/Blogging Hiatus

Well, I was doing good with my running.......until the crud hit me at Christmas. I took nearly a month off of running. It's easy to forget how the asthma makes you so vulnerable to lung infections. It's been well over a year since I've even had to use my inhaler. Well, for the last two weeks, I have started back. It was not fun, but I'm glad I pushed through it. I ran 35 minutes last night. I need to bump it up to 45 by next week. David & I are doing a 5k for Valentines. I missed my first 5k goal for January (for above reasons). So, I'm kicking my butt in gear to get ready for it.

My running partner, Debi, has taken a running break because of some knee problems. Faithfully though, she pushed through it & ran with me last Monday. That helped start the week off on a good note. So, the self-motivation is the hardest part. It's easy when you're keeping yourself accountable to someone else. David has continued to run with me on the weekends. It's nice to get outside & breathe in the frosty air. While running is still not "fun," I do enjoy the social aspects of it. I enjoy being silly & venting with a girlfriend.....or just spending time with my goofy husband.

New Running Shoes

I got a new pair of running shoes last week. We were able to go by Run Tex while out in Texas.

They did a whole analysis test on me. They measured my feet……had me walk & run……to analyze my gait, foot pattern……and a lot of other things that I’ve never heard before. Then they had me run in every shoe. They had half of the store dedicated to track space. All that is free……they want you to have the best shoe for you. It was really cool. My feet are an entire size & a half different. Who knew?! That’s why I wear shoes from a size 8-91/2!! LOL……I don’t think I’ve had my feet measured since I was a kid.

1st Veggie Christmas

I must admit, I was weary of what I would be dining on for Christmas. Thankfully, it was pretty easy. I just avoided the main meaty dishes & made a separate pan of stuffing for me.

Although, I did make a ham for our family gathering. It looked divine!!

Recipe: Vegetarian Refried Beans

Anne, Thanks for this recipe!! I will try this ASAP!!
Elizabeth, thanks for sharing that El Paso© makes a vegetarian alternative!!

Ask & you shall receive!!!

Ingredients

1 (32-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cups water
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
I small onion, diced
1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 tablespoon cumin

Directions

Puree 1 cans of black beans in 1 cups water in food processor. Sauté the onions in oil over medium heat, with the salt and cumin until golden, about 10 minutes. Add the beans and continue cooking over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the liquid evaporates and the beans form a creamy mass that pulls away from the bottom and sides of the pan, about 15 minutes.