Spring in the Air

and back in my step!  I told you I’d be in a MUCH better mood when I next wrote to you guys!

I don’t know if it’s the weather, the weekend, or that I had some great workout-time these past couple days, but I feel SO much better.  I love when that happens. 

It all started Saturday morning when I took a 90min Body Combat class at 7:30AM!  It was a little rough getting up early, but SO worth it.  This was a special Combat class with 2 instructors.  It was AWESOME!!  Halfway through I didn’t know how I was going to be able to finish, but I did and was dripping sweat and felt like my butt was thoroughly kicked!  The usual 1 hour classes are tough, but this was killer…I hope they do the 90min super Combat class again soon!

Of course, I was immediately starving when I walked in the door and couldn’t think of anything that would taste better than a cold creamy protein shake at that moment!

• 1/2 cup skim milk
• 1/2 container of organic fat free vanilla yogurt
• 2/3 scoop Amazing Grass/Meal
• 2/3 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 1/3 banana
• 4 frozen strawberries
• BLEND

SOOOO good!  I usually crave these more in the warmer weather, but it was in  the 50’s all weekend!!!  SPRING IS AROUND THE CORNER!

After that, I got showered, dressed, and we headed north for a gathering of Brian’s side of the family. 

Conveniently I started getting hungry for lunch just as we were heading through Portsmouth…weird how that happened ;)

I picked up an iced hazelnut coffee at Breaking New Grounds, then we headed to The Works for sandwiches.  I was craving chicken salad…which I ordered on multi-grain with:

• baby spinach
• cucumber
• tomato
• red onion
• carrots
• sprouts
• think that’s it?

We had planned to get our food to-go, but since it would be messy we opted to stay, and I’m SO happy we did because we sat outside and the sun felt glorious.

Moving on to Sunday…

Got up a little early and I was craving breakfast.

Half of a grapefruit while I thought.

I was thinking oatmeal, but then remembered that I wanted to try Kath’s Oatmeal Pancake

Mine contained:

• 1/3 cup quick oats
• 1/3 cup egg whites
• 1/3 smashed banana
• cinnamon
• 1/2 t. baking powder
• 1/2 t. vanilla
• pinch salt
• 1 Tbsp ricotta cheese

1 pancake!

The flip didn’t go too smoothly though…

Topped with a couple chocolate chips, some almond butter on 1 side, and peanut butter on the other with syrup to dip.

I will say I was expecting more of a “pancake-y” taste but with the banana so prominent, it reminded me more of an oatmeal bowl…not that there’s anything wrong with that :)  I think next time I’d try it without banana in the batter and just add a little agave for sweetness…maybe a little flour too? 

Iced Cappuccino of course.

The smell of my pancake woke Brian up :)  He requested his own.

He loved it!

Later that day, Brian and I went for a quick 3mile run!  We have a 5k next weekend, and I can only hope its this nice out again.  It felt faster than usual for me, but after calculating…it wasn't.  Oh well.  I’d love to break 30min for my 5k… baby steps :) 

One thing we had been planning all weekend…because of the nice weather was firing up the grill!!

We had a DE-LICIOUS dinner!

I marinated a flank steak in:

• olive oil
• white balsamic vinegar
• lemon juice
• garlic
• chopped parsley
• salt and pepper

Quick cucumber + tomato salad:  chopped with salt, herbs, and a drizzle of olive oil

Broccoli

• chopped broccoli
• garlic
• crushed red pepper
• salt
• olive oil
• in a foil “pouch” (I made a foil “cover” too)
• on the grill!

Red pepper + red onion, olive oil + salt + pepper

a fresh olive baguette

with feta + Greek olive oil + dried oregano for dipping :)

Mmmmm the fresh bread and that olive oil is SOOOO good. 

Perfect “Summer” meal!!  Everything tasted amazing.                          

Dessert:  yeah I replenished my stock of Malted Milk Ball gelato!

Feeling good, time for bed!

How do you bounce back from a “blah” week?