French Pressed
I'm stoked! Dutch and Makeda gave me this awesome new French Press and a big bag of my favorite Starbucks coffee today.
Kashi Oatmeal = Disappointment
I won't be buying instant oatmeal ever again but I've found a way for me to eat my remaining supply without wanting to gag.
1 packet of Kashi gagmeal... I mean oatmeal
1 tablespoon of almond butter
1 fuji apple
Instant gratification is over-rated,
Susan
Birthday Month Aint Over Yet
Happy Monday Bloggers!
I've been a slacker because I've been having way too much fun with my friends. Last week, Adrian (one of my besties of 10 years now, wow), took me to Volt for my birthday dinner. I've been wanting to dine at Volt for months (good luck getting a reservation is all I have to say). Volt is a historic brownstone mansion located in unassuming and charming downtown Frederick, MD. Top Chef Finalist Bryan Voltaggio is the Executive Chef and has a lot to be proud of.
As expected, the restaurant was beeeeautiful. The decor was simple, elegant, and modern.
Fresh breadsticks? Don't mind if I do:
Compliments of the chef - steak tartare:
Vino:
My Cherry Glen Farm goat cheese ravioli (oh.my.God) with roasted butternut squash, shiitake mushrooms, and sage brown butter. I'm not sure what the foam was all about but it only added to the beauty and rarity of this cuisine; the taste and textures sent me into food euphoria:
The highlight of the evening - Border Springs Farm lamb loin with chickpea gnocchi, sautéed spinach, madras curry, soy beans, ras el hanout, and roasted red pepper:
For dessert my taste buds partied with dulce de leche - white chocolate goat cheese cake, Granny Smith apple sorbet, dry caramel.
The chef continued to comp us with small plates of deliciousness. Check out these miniature ice cream cookie sandwiches:
As a take-away treat, they handed out freshly-baked lemon poppyseed muffins, which might as well have been cupcakes. I ate mine for breakfast the next day - they were so buttery and divine:
This is how I looked before/during/after my fantabulous dinner at Volt:
...And then there was Deep Creek. My closest friends and I had a ball in a spacious but cozy cabin on the lake. I took a few pics but I'm not even gonna bother posting them because nothing compares to the rich and engaging images of my best buds Insana and Adrian. What a wonderful weekend - I will treasure these memories for years to come and hope we can make Deep Creek an annual excursion.
Check out the vid (courtesy of AMO Photo & Design):
Water = fluidity = tranquility = freedom = a happy Susan. And to me, that's what March is all about.
Sending you Piscean hugs and kisses,
Susan
Tuesday Greetings
Buon giorno!
I ran after work and man, did I have a horrible time. Hills + rain + wind + hail (that's right - miniature kamikaze ice cubes were landing on my face at one point) had me struggling through the six-miler. Definitely not one of my best runs but I would have felt 10 times worse if I gave into temptation and skipped it altogether.
Laziness = an apple & spinach smoothie for dinner:
Ciao,
Susan
Manic Meatless Monday Eats
Not in the greatest mood today but whatev. We all have our Suck Days.
I renamed my hummus and bell pepper wrap "Ted Bundy" because it murders my breath. Today, I added some tuna for an even deadlier combination. I need to start bringing a toothbrush to work.
I ordered a veggie wrap from my job's cafeteria; it turned out pretty good - cucumber, carrot, squash, lettuce, tomato, spinach, and black beans:
For dinner, I made a spinach salad with feta, dried cherries, and sweet potato:
My teriyaki tilapia was WAY too salty, YUCK!!! I marinated it too long (three days). Live and learn:
Forcing a smile,
Susan
Sunday Funday
Who loves strawberries?!
I made strawberry pancakes with canadian bacon this morning. And no, I didn't burn the pancakes, ha! That deep brown color comes from the whole wheat mix I picked up at Shopper's the other day:
It doesn't have that icky-earthy-Gee, am I eating dirt?-taste that some wheat products have. The recipe tells you to add oil but I omitted it and the pancakes came out fine.
Deanna and I spent most of the day at the mall - she had an Urban Outfitters gift card that was burning a hole in her pocket so she shopped while I sat and read What is Your Pee Telling You and How to Light Your Farts. Riveting reading.
Late lunch at Panera: garden vegetable soup, Smokehouse Turkey, and an apple:
Check out this hot Lamborghini we saw leaving Georgetown. Sick!
We met up with Sana and Mike for some nostalgic Ringling Brothers circus fun. I enjoyed the human acrobatics but cringed when the poor horses were forced to perform an uninspiring and monotonous routine of running around in synchronized circles. I won't be joining the ranks of PETA anytime soon but it really bothered me to see how the animals were exploited. The elephants just looked sad and had those gaudy costumes on. No wonder animals snap on their handlers from time to time - if I were one of those horses or elephants, I'd be disgruntled like a MF. Why am I feeling guilty for owning a dog all of a sudden? Sorry McRib.
Speaking of my dog... Deanna caught him nestled in the sofa which is a big fat NO-NO. The cheeky bastard didn't even attempt to get up until Deanna yelled at him.
Time for bed,
Susan
Stupendous Saturday
Happy weekend, people.
Saturday was kinda crazy but I had a productive and fun day. Woke up around 6 a.m. to meet up with my running crew for our long run. Morning fuel: 1/2 whole wheat bagel with peanut butter and a banana.
We ran the first seven miles together and then I split off from the group when they turned around to run back up the trail; I couldn't bear the thought of doing and out-and-back (it's a psychological struggle for me). It was a beautiful day to run in DC. I love this city and really appreciated the awesomeness of it today. As I neared the end of my 12-miler I stumbled upon the National Marathon runners as they were reaching their 16 mile point. I overheard someone jokingly yell "You're almost there, only 10 more miles to go." What an asshole. Just an FYI - never ever... EVAH EVAH EVAH say that to someone who is running a marathon unless they can actually see the finish line.
I made it! Destination: Union Station. I grabbed a bottle of chocolate milk and hopped on the metro to get back to my car.
Raina hired me to bake two dozen cupcakes for Kennedy's first birthday party so I rushed home and put the finishing touches on the goods. Raina's flavor choices were perfect for the first day of spring - strawberry cake with strawberry butter cream frosting and lemon cake with lemon butter/whipped cream frosting. Check out the strawberry K's I made for toppers:
The party food was delish. I pigged out on two plates:
Raina made some incredible salsa. Normally, I avoid avocado (guacamole is the exception) but this stuff was amazing:
Here's Kennedy, the birthday girl and her proud momma:
Will was stopping by for dinner so after the party, I went by Shopper's to pick up some rib eye steak. I've been experimenting with various steak recipes/preparation methods - I really like how the reverse sear turned out. Instead of searing the steak first to lock in the juices, you broil it and then pan-sear the meat. I don't believe any flavor or juices were lost with this approach. Will's rib eye broiled and then seared:
I had some tenderloin in the freezer so I made that for me and Deanna. Rib eye has too much marbeled fat for my liking:
Dessert was fantastic. Will brought some root beer and Haagen Dazs vanilla ice cream for root beer floats. They were deeeeelicious:
Spring has sprung,
Susan
2010 Spirit Banquet
Cheerleading season is officially over. Seneca Valley's pom squad, junior varsity cheerleaders, and varsity cheerleaders broke bread and celebrated another year of hard work, camaraderie, and good sportsmanship.
I had every intention of taking some quality pics but forgot my memory card so I used my phone cam.
The food was blah but I've had worse:
There were cool miniature gum ball machines for the girls to take home - green and gold are Seneca's colors:
Goofy Deanna:
The varsity girls took home a picture collage, highlighting the good times they had during the season. I thought it was a very thoughtful gift:
Deanna wants to join poms for her senior year and I have no doubt in my mind that she will make the squad.
Let's go Eagles!
Susan
Come ON 4:30
I have bloggarrhea this week so bear with me.
Got my car washed on my lunch break - it's all sparkly and stuff. Ever notice how you drive better when your car is clean? Maybe it's just me.
Stopped by Whole Foods to grab a salad and didn't have to wait on any long lines. Going to lunch after 1:00 is so much better. I used to go at noon - never again.
Sippin' on some lemon tea. I dig this brand because it's never too sweet.
Back to work,
Susan
Spring Fever
Happy Friday! It's going to be a great weekend and rumor has it - Mother Nature will be gifting us with 70+ degree weather and plenty of sunshine. I woke up feeling rested and alert (I think I have finally recovered from the late night fun with Goodie Mob and Janelle Monáe).
Breakfast: mini whole wheat bagel with a tablespoon of peanut butter & a smoothie.
I made the smoothie using an apple, raw spinach, cinnamon, and flax seed. My mom gave me this recipe a few years ago. I used to cringe as I watched her prepare it because how could something that looks like that be drinkable? I got brave one day and gave it a try; while it looks like a green glass of barf, it tastes like cinnamon-apple sauce. It's awesome and packs a powerful punch of fiber, vitamins A & C, iron, and calcium.
Never judge a drink by it's color,
Susan
This Little Piggy Went To...
My mileage is beginning to climb again. So is my appetite. I swear, I'm such a friggin' pig. I'm convinced there is a 487-pound woman living inside of me.
For breakfast, I had a banana and some grapefruit juice before I left the house; then I stopped at Starbucks and picked up an egg white wrap with spinach and feta:
I started feeling creeper hunger pains around 10:30 so I ate a 1/2 cup of cantaloupe. By 11:00, I was hungry again so I devoured some red and green bell pepper with hummus in a wheat pita. It was a yummy snack but the spicy, garlicky hummus took a toll on my breath, egads:
For lunch, I enjoyed honey smoked turkey, rosemary ham, baby lettuce, and a schmear of Laughing Cow swiss cheese on quinoa bread with an apple for dessert:
For a pre-run snack, I had 1/2 of a banana and a swig of Powerade. Here's me glistening after my six-miler. The weather is absolutely gorgeous right now and I was basking in the beauty of it as I ran. Check out my little photo bomber:
Thank goodness dinner was a cinch because I was starving. I heated up some leftover whole wheat spaghetti marinara with chicken breast, spinach, and asparagus.
A day without chocolate is like ... well... for me it's just blasphemous. I had a few squares of my favorite for dessert: Chocolove's hazelnuts in milk chocolate. What a perfect way to end the day!
Oink,
Susan
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