April Run-and it's a big one!!!!

I ran the Go! St. Louis half marathon this morning.  I can't deny it, it was hard!!!  My goal was to be under 3 hours and I made it, so I'm happy....

March run

After sitting on the beach on Wednesday, we came back to run 7 K in 34 degree weather and snow!!!!

Busy Sunday cooking

My Sundays are usually full of cooking for the coming week. I have been so busy at work recently that I really haven't had enough time to cook in the week, so I make enough food that we can eat out of the refrigerator all week.  This works better for Sam and me than it does for the kids.  Ben is so picky with everything he eats and will eat whatever is the worst food for him that's in the house.
Maggie went to church with Jan and Julie, so I made her eggs and hash browns before she left.  Then, I made pancakes for Ben.  I made them thicker than usual and made these small ones.  I wasn't sure if he would like them, but he loved them and there were a few left over.

I made muffins for in the week (background), I eat them every morning and never get tired of them.  Then I made two kinds of sausage (sometimes I make three!).  Sam loves the chorizo sausage from Whole foods.  Maggie likes the mild Italian, but hasn't been eating them recently so I have held off cooking them for a while.

I'm completely addicted to these blueberry breakfast sausage from Whole Foods.  I eat them every day.  The kids love them too.  If I'm lucky, they last all week.  If the kids find them, not so much....

I cooked a batch of rice in the steamer to go with a lamb curry that I made.  Then I steamed some cauliflower and broccoli for Maggie.

Finally, I made a beef stew in the crockpot that we ate for dinner.  There are lots of leftovers though.

Yoga

I love yoga.  I'm sorry I didn't find it until recently.  It is so relaxing and a great exercise.  I saw this picture the other day and I think it's so funny!!!!  However, one of the things that I like about yoga is that I do so much with my eyes closed and I really don't care what I look like or what anyone else is doing.  Does that make my warrior pose a worrier pose?  I hope so!!!!

Last of the Snowball Series

The snowball series is done. I was pretty slow yesterday, but the course was not completely flat and that really makes me struggle.  I need to work on running uphill.  It was a beautiful day and a great run.

At the end of the series, I did pretty well, at least I was the fastest 57 year old woman doing the runs!!!  We will definitely be doing these runs next year.

Paleo "goat cheese"

For Nut Cheese:

1/2 c. raw cashews, soaked for 2-3 hours, drained
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/3 c. water
1 Tb coconut oil
1 tsp raw apple cider vinegar
pinch of salt
In a food processor, combine all ingredients together.

For Basil Pesto:

1 c. basil leaves
2 garlic cloves
1/3 c. pine nuts
olive oil
1 tsp salt

1/2 c. sun-dried tomatoes
extra pine nuts to top with

Take a small glass ramekin and line with plastic wrap.
In a high-speed blender, blend all of the nut cheese ingredients until smooth. Place part of the mixture into lined ramekin.
Add pesto layer on top. Top with sun-dried tomatoes. Layer with remaining cheese.
Refrigerate for several hours until set. You can also freeze it.
Line a small appetizer plate with olive oil and dust with dried basil. Set 1 cheese block onto place, take off plastic wrap carefully, drizzle with oil and herbs, and top with pine nuts.
Pairs perfectly with rice crackers.

Coconut pancakes

Ingredients
6 dates, pitted
3 eggs
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1/3 cup coconut milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup coconut flour
pinch of baking soda
pinch of salt

Directions
Soak the dates in boiling water for about 5 minutes. Puree to make a smooth, slightly liquid paste. Add water as needed.
In a bowl, combine the coconut flour, baking soda, and salt.
Whisk the eggs.
Add in the coconut oil, date paste, and vanilla. Whisk well.
Whisk in the coconut milk.
Fold the dry ingredients into the liquid mixture. Mix well, but not so much that it’s over-blended.
Add coconut oil  to a hot skillet and portion out the pancake batter.