Summer Reading

I have been feeling a little slacker-ly. My bathrooms haven't been cleaned in nearly a week, the floor has not been vacuumed in longer, and my clothes and laundry still need to be folded and put away. On top of all that, even with the free time that my half-day summer school job affords, I skipped a day of blogging.

Still, I think I have some leverage for my recent lack of accomplishments. Last week saw me cleaning the house like a dervish, and I was only prevented from finishing the carpets by the vacuuming overheating due to an improperly installed bag (oops). Also, yesterday's weather was something less than summery. The morning started off with a 7:00 AM thunderstorm (which I loved) but then petered out into tepid rain and unimpressive gray clouds. I think my energy and motivation were sapped by the tired weather.

Besides, it's not like my days are empty. They are quite full, actually -- of biking, cooking, reading, yoga, gardening, and walking with the Best Husband Ever. Take today, for example. I got up early (although not early enough -- more on that later) and did a cardio workout. After work, I biked home for lunch, which is a four mile trip, the last third consisting of a major hill. The very hill pictured over on the right side of this post, in fact, which looks a whole lot kinder in a photograph than it is in real life.

I planned to make a green smoothie for lunch (recipe below!), explore an alternate route down the hill that is less steep than the ascents I've been climbing, then trade my bike for my car (still parked at school), go home for the pups, and head to the park. Whew! Lots of steps, to be sure, but it seemed like a good plan nonetheless. Unfortunately, my quick "explore alternate route" theory turned into a twelve mile trek over windy, hilly roads, not helped by the jeans I had most misguidedly donned and an increasing need to pee. So maybe you can understand why I didn't get much accomplished today. Ah, well.

Still, despite my poor wardrobe choice and hummingbird-sized bladder, the biking continues to be fun. I'm quite proud of myself for being able to crank out that kind of a ride in less than optimal conditions. However, that's not the biggest goal I've set for myself this week. Nor are the gargantuan mountains of laundry lurking about the house or the dog-hairy carpet. Instead, the task I've set for myself is to read more.

I'm an avid reader. I have been since I can remember, a fact for which I am very grateful. I read every night before bed, and love chilling out on the YMCA's stepmill with a book. (In fact, I read almost the entirety of Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar while elliptical-ing!) At the moment, I'm engrossed in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. That's right -- zombies. Apparently, a man named Seth Grahame-Smith decided to insert segments of zombie-related material straight into Austen's original text. My assessment so far? I am thoroughly enjoying it, which comes as a surprise since I despised reading Pride and Prejudice for my high school literature class. I mean, how can you not love a book that starts like this?:

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains. Never was this truth more plain than during the recent attacks at Netherfield Park, in which a household of eighteen was slaughtered and consumed by a horde of the living dead.

I devoured some more of the zombie-fied novel as I drank this green monster:

Double Apple Green Monster

1-2 handfuls spinach
1 small apple, diced and unpeeled
1/2 cup pineapple
1/2 cup skim milk
1 cyrstallized ginger medallion
1 handful ice cubes
juice of 1 lime
fresh stevia and cinnamon basil to taste

Blend all of the ingredients together in a blender or food processor until smooth. If you don't have crystallized ginger, just substitute 1/4 tsp ground ginger. Also, a half packet of stevia powder or 1 T honey can stand in for the fresh leaves, and 1/4 tsp cinnamon can replace the cinnamon basil.

Serves 1.

But as wonderful as fiction reading is, that's not exactly the bookish goal I've set for myself. It doesn't even really have to do with books. More like Book, actually. My God-time has slipped severely since the start of summer, probably due to my less structured schedule. That's no excuse, though, and it's not okay. I've been feeling some emotional and definitely spiritual fall-out as a result and am determined to get back on track.

The plan? Get up thirty minutes earlier in the morning and read some of the Bible, pray, journal, and maybe even sing a little. I started yesterday morning, and so far my record is zero for two. I'm determined, though, to spend some precious time with the Creator who made me, and made me what I am even as I type this. Repairing my relationship with God is more important than working out, doing the laundry, or grocery shopping. Besides, I miss Him.

A Green Smoothie Kind of Sunday

This afternoon I had some fun with my blender. After hacking up a ripe honeydew melon, I decided to create another green monster! I love coming up with new smoothie concoctions. Not only are green smoothies healthy and refreshing (especially on a day like today, when temperatures neared 90*F), but it's just plain fun to play around with different taste and texture combos.

Today's smoothie was extra green. Not only did it incorporate spinach (the essential green ingredient in any green monster) but I of course had to throw in some freshly cut honeydew melon. Toss in a few more fruits and flavors, including even more green elements, and you have my Sunday lunch! I used some fresh stevia leaves to add a light sweetness, but feel free to substitute the stevia with your favorite sweetener.

GreenGreenGreen Monster

1 cup fresh spinach
1 banana, broken into pieces
1/2 whole lime, peel removed
3/4 cup honeydew melon, diced
4-5 freshly-picked stevia leaves

1/2 cup skim milk
1-2 handfuls ice cubes

Put all of the ingredients into a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, or the monster has reached your desired texture. Pour, drink, and feel the extra green-iness refresh you.

Serves 1.

This smoothie really did give me a second wind this afternoon. I was dragging big time -- almost more than my sister-in-law, who was quite rightfully tired after finishing a half-marathon this morning before I even left the house. But after I drank my green monster, sweet from the honeydew and tangy from the lime and super-energizing due to the spinach, I felt revved up! So much so that I set out on a glorious nearly 16 mile bike ride.

Not only did I knock out an incredible ride, but I conquered a huge inspiration of terror -- our hill. I wrote earlier this week about how I tried biking up the incredibly steep hill that the Best Husband Ever and I live near the top of -- and made it! Although the climb is fairly brutal, that's not the most challenging part for me. Instead, it's the downhill that strikes icy fear into my heart. Yesterday I tried biking down and had to hop off and walk a part of the way. Today, however, I made it the whole way down on my bike! Now I just have to work up to getting some speed and I'll be an unflappable bicycle commuter. And I don't know if I would have had the energy or guts to try it in the first place if I hadn't fueled up with the green monster. I guess Popeye knew what he was doing when it came to spinach!

Silly Saturday

I suppose we were feeling a a little wacky this morning. We started out with our usual, non-silly farmer's market treat devoured over a game of Scrabble. But of course, we couldn't resist hamming it up a bit, and so the silliness ensued.

I had a Black Cat Bake Shop banana muffin with cream cheese frosting (yum).


The Best Husband Ever switched up his routine a bit, and instead of getting a Bernice's caramel roll he got a pecan caramel roll from another market vendor.

After finishing up our Scrabble game and wandering the farmer's market, we biked over to visit our friend's garage sale. She offered some good finds. I wonder if anyone gave the Seabiscuit costume a home. It needs some love, I think. Don't you?


We followed our garage sale-ing via bicycle with a Costco trip (my top picks from today's samples included Kashi bars, teriyaki salmon, and animal crackers), a quick quasi-nap time, then a twelve mile bike ride for me. The day rounded up with an awesome dinner with some old and new friends at a make-your-own-stir-fry restaurant. The afternoon was decidedly less silly than the morning, but every bit as delicious.

Enjoy your weekend!

Busty Pasta

It's tempting to describe this product as "for adults only," but I'm not sure how grown-up it really is. . . .

I'm a Winner!

But then, I already knew that. Why am I a winner? Well, to name just a few small blessings, because I am a much-loved child of God, miracle of miracles . . . I'm married to the best husband ever . . . I'm no longer enslaved to the horrible lie that is anorexia . . . am loved by -- and love in return -- my family and friends . . . I have the pleasure of working with some great teachers helping out wonderful kiddos . . . I live in a beautiful house, have more than enough to eat, and can read, write, work, and run.

I think you know, however, that those amazing privileges are not exactly what I was referring to with this post's title. So what I'm I a winner of, then? Not only am I the overall winner of the July 2009 Royal Foodie Joust, but I also won for the best photo! My dolce estivo Italian-themeed creation (otherwise described as ricotta cream parfait with balsamic strawberries) apparently looked as good as it tasted and won out against some stiff competition. I'm so honored! Of the other entries, I was particularly wowed by the strawberry oat basil smoothie, a strawberry basil sorbet served in a sweet rice ring, and the strawberry shrimp ceviche with popcorn (which won for the most unique interpretation). Check out the other tasties made with the required strawberries, basil, and whole grains here.

As the overall winner of the Joust, I have the happy task of picking the three required ingredients for the next round. I always knew that I wanted bananas to be one of my ingredients should I ever win, and that I'd like to see some Indian-inspired recipes. As a result, in addition to bananas, the ingredients for the August Joust are turmeric and honey. I hope folks will submit both sweet and savory dishes that I can add to my recipe collection.

Growing Strong

Conquering Monsters

I feel so proud of myself! Not to mention tough, sexy, fit, and all-around awesome. Let me tell you why. As you may remember, a few months ago the Best Husband Ever and I purchased and moved into our very first home. We absolutely love it, and the dogs are huge fans of the gorgeous yard, but there's one small drawback to our new digs -- the house is located near the top of a [very steep] hill. This isn't too much of a big deal, but the hubby and I both miss biking as our mode of transportation as the hill is pretty much a soul-killer at the end of a stressful day of work . . . or even a happy, I-got-promoted-with-a-raise kind of day. The climb up our hill via bicycle is a grind.

But we're stubborn folk. Upon hearing that one of his coworkers bikes up and down the hill at least once a day, the Best Husband Ever decided that he had to try. He rode up at the end of last week, on a very hot day, and he made it up! I was duly amazed, although he was bummed because he had to get off his bike and walk for 50 feet, and then he ran for another 50 before hopping back on and pedaling away. I'd say that's nothing less than impressive. Like I already mentioned, this hill is hard.

Well, one things leads to another, and so once the hubby made it up the hill unscathed, I knew that I had to at least try. I felt nervous, though. Check out the view from our front window -- you can't see how steep the ascent is, but it's obvious how high we are above the city in the valley:

Yep. It would be a grueling bike ride. But for some reason, I woke up this morning committed. Today, I told myself, I'm biking home. And, wonder of wonders . . . I did.

I know. I'm as amazed as you. But I'm also incredibly proud of myself. Not just for making it all the way up the hill without stopping (although that's quite an accomplishment in its own right), but for trying to ride the hill in the first place. I was quaking on my pedals, as it were, when I set out from work this afternoon, but in spite of my fears, the accumulating rain clouds, and my bike's dubious gear shifting abilities, I tried. And, secondarily, I made it . . . but only because the trying came first.

After setting my glorious personal record, I felt like treating myself to a special lunch. No, I didn't go out for lunch (for that I'd have to bike down the hill, the thought of which inspires pure terror in me), but I tried out a new smoothie concoction. Since I conquered a monster of a hill this afternoon, I decided to celebrate by blending up a green monster. (And no, I'm not talking about the mascot for the Boston Red Sox.)

Have you seen these green smoothies around the internet? They're becoming quite popular, especially in my neck of the blogosphere. I know I've read about them in posts from Jenna, Heather, Meghann, and Angela. Angel even created the Green Monster Movement with the sole purpose of collecting green monster recipes. So you can see that green smoothies (which are smoothies which incorporate some sort of leafy green like kale or spinach) are quite the rage! With all this blending going on, I just had to join in. I haven't had a green smoothie in over a year, so I figure that it's about time. (Check out my first green smoothie recipe here!)

You're probably thinking that a spinach smoothie sounds pretty gross. I suppose that you'd be right, if spinach was the only ingredient. However, that is not the case with green monsters. Favorite components of green monsters, in addition to the greens, include bananas, nut butters, yogurt, protein powders, and fruit of all kinds. What's more, once you've got everything combined and liquefied, you can't taste the spinach -- although you can certainly see how green your smoothie is as a result!

Not only are green monsters delicious and refreshing, but a fabulous and filling to incorporate more leafy greens into your diet. One cup of spinach contains tons of vitamins A, C, and K, iron, calcium and potassium, and 25% of your recommended daily value for fiber. Plus, it only has 41 calories! So spinach and other dark leafy greens can provide a whole lot of nutrition for a small amount of calories. Read more about spinach's amazing qualities at The World's Healthiest Foods.

Want to try a green monster for yourself? Start by checking out the recipe for today's post-hill success smoothie below. Also head over to the Green Monster Movement to get more green inspiration as well as submit your own green monster concoctions.

It's-Easy-Being-Green Monster Smoothie

1 banana, broken into bits
6-8 small strawberries, chopped
1/4 cup mango chunks
2 cups spinach
1/2 cup skim milk
1-2 handfuls ice cubes

Pile all of the ingredients into your blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, or the liquid reaches your desired consistency. Add more strawberries or a bit of honey if the smoothie needs a little sweetness. Pour into a glass that allows to you gaze with appropriate awe at the smoothie's emerald hue. Sip and sigh with satisfaction.

Serves 1.