Recipes & Food

Nov 7, 2012

30th Birthday Recap- Days 1-3

So I tried to let it pass softly on the blog… by giving it a one liner on THIS POST at the very end. I’m sure some of you are happy you don’t have the pleasure of seeing me everyday and hearing about my 30th birthday. Because if you did, you would probably do something like this:

Yes. That would be a ‘Tired Old Piece’ basket. Otherwise known as the TOP goodie basket. So if you need to check if you are in menopause, let me know…. I can hook you up Thanks to my friends at work for the endless laughs for this!

But before my actual birthday (Monday), my dad treated the hubs and I to dinner at a place I have been wanting to go to for a long time. Surprisingly, I haven’t had a client dinner there.

Alligator Soul is an exquisite restaurant that changes their menu seasonally to reflect local flavors and flare. They also have an exotic meat of the day. On Sunday, it was kangaroo. Since it was prepared shepards pie style, I opted to not dine on it and go with the vegetarian meal (and I have had the ‘roo before while in Australia before, so I wasn’t missing out!).

Before we dined on our entree, we chose the Artisan Cheese Platter which was spot on. I loved the array of cheeses and accoutrements that went along with them. Pairing that with my Riesling from the Mosel region of Germany and I was one happy {almost} 30 year old.

I must say that I was highly impressed with the Chef’s choice for the vegetarian meal. Usually its just a plate of pasta and veggies. OH NO! They created a masterpiece of lentils, flaky pastry filled with tempeh, veggies, and spices. It was all presented like a painting.

A painting I didn’t take a photo of for evidence.

And for dessert, I had the Banana Beignets with the most amazing soft vanilla bean ice cream. While my dad had locally made truffles from Chocolat by Adam Turoni on Broughton St.

I can’t say enough about Alligator Soul! Our waitress was knowledgeable and remembered my dad’s food allergy the whole way through our dining experience. I can’t wait until my mom is able to come back with my dad, so we can all go back. Who knows what the exotic meat of the day will be next time?

{and transition back to a normal blogger and not a ‘food’ blogger. whew.}

And then on Monday, my 30th happened…. hubs cooked a fabulous dinner which I requested (spaghetti squash with marina & mozzarella) and I got to open presents!! Not only are presents that are thoughtful great, but useful presents are even better. I ran out of my perfume months ago… so I have been hinting about it for a while. I guess he picked up what I have been laying down Plus my Oakleys bit the dust. Never fear, Ray Bans are here!! And no birthday is complete without something fun, right? So the big box is a ‘create your own gingerbread house’. And anyone that knows me, knows I am cray cray about Christmas. More on that later….

So there I was last night eating a caramel apple, drinking wine and watching the Election results…

Counting down the hours until Saturday night when it will be the OFFICIAL 30th Celebration. So yes, this will be a 7 day celebration.

How do you celebrate a big birthday?

Filed Under: Recipes & Food, Savannah ·

Aug 21, 2012

Italian Styled Portobellos Stuffed with Lentils

By Victoria Runs · 8 Comments

Happy Transformation Tuesday!

So today I am bringing you a new recipe with a little background story. You may remember a few months ago I had surgery. My adhesions are gone, but still some tummy issues which are not connected. Before I had my fourth surgery, I had every test imaginable to rule out other issues: colonoscopy, endoscopy, test for celiac, things with barium, tables that lean back and they watch stuff go down your throat, tests to watch the emptying of your ‘xyz’ organ. Quite fascinating! Good news is, I am 100% fine. But I still have this when “I eat certain foods and my stomach feels like it might erupt” thing.

Enter the elimination diet.

I have been tracking what I eat in my handy iPhone (so cool, aren’t I?!) and keeping a log of how I feel after I eat certain meals. I started to notice a trend over the past few months. And then I really got to thinking, I pretty much have never craved this particular type of food anyways. Even on big holidays (ask my Mama- she got so frustrated after preparing 4 or 5 different types) and I would fill up my plate with everything else!).

And it would be….

Meat.

My tummy does back flips after eating eat. Not seafood and not if it’s a Turkey Sub from Subway. But anything else. And Lord, don’t put anything fried in front of me.

Ok, so long story short: I have started a 30-Day Vegetarian Challenge for myself to see if it in fact it is meat that my body has an issue processing. I’ve been keeping notes and zoning in on how I feel. Since I track with a handy app, I am making sure that my protein is where it needs to be. I started on August 16th and will check back in with y’all at the end!

So that brings us to a YUMMY, Filling Vegetarian Dinner Recipe!

So good! Plus, 1/2 cup of cooked lentils have 9 grams of protein! Enjoy!

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So did you take the survey yesterday on if you brushed your teeth or showered before a run? It stemmed from one person mentioning they don’t brush the fuzzy slippers off their teeth before a run. I kind of stared at him perplexed that I needed to find out if others did the same.

So based on 37 responses, here are the results:

So 95% of the 37 (meaning 35 people) brush their teeth before they run. Whew! Thank y’all. Because I do talk to people before a run

I am in the 14% that shower before a race, especially if it’s an early start time. Gotta wake up if coffee won’t do the trick!

Happy Tuesday, y’all!

Filed Under: Recipes & Food, Transformation Tuesday ·

Jul 2, 2012

‘Mounds’ or ‘Almond Joy’ Oatmeal

By Victoria Runs · 14 Comments

So the other day I had an epiphany.

Coach’s Oats + Unsweetened Coconut Shreds + Chocolate Chips

Like a ‘Mounds Bar’ for breakfast but healthier!

Or throw in some almond slivers and you got yourself an ‘Almond Joy’!

Easy peasy and totally a treat for Sunday Brunch for the whole family or a weekday pick up!

I made the “Mounds” version yesterday morning then spent the rest of the day on the couch battling a migraine with a dog that had diarrhea. Yep. Such a pleasant day.

But at least my Saturday was amazing! A great run with Fleet Feet’s CREW followed by a healthy breakfast at iHop with some of the ladies from the group. Yes, it can be done. 5 egg whites, dry english muffin and a side of fruit. So much more fun having someone else make eggs

Then we went to the beach with Madeline and her family.

Yep. You can be jealous that I get to hang out with Emmie. And I’ll see her on Wednesday for 4th of July!

Have a great Monday…. by now our run group will know what their little surprise is!!

xoxo

Filed Under: Fleet Feet, Recipes & Food ·

May 31, 2012

Mexican Couscous Skillet

By Victoria Runs · 2 Comments

Here in our household we have two types of eaters: meat/potatoes and ‘trying to be a health nut’.

So sometimes my meals that use tofu, garbanzo bean flour, or nutritional yeast go slightly untouched by the hubby. So the other day I was browsing recipes online and stumbled across one on the Five Dollar Meals site. It sounded scrumptious, plus easy & cheap.

Sign. Me. Up.

So right after work, I drove to Publix and gathered the few items I would need to recreate this dish.