Nutrition Nut on the Run

Cookie Friday: Triple Threats

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Three cheers for Cookie Friday!

Three cheers for finishing my 3rd week!

Three cheers for running 3 speedy miles!

I’ve been itching to make this recipe since it made an appearance at In Praise of Leftovers. After all, they include three of my favorite things: 1) apricots, 2) dark chocolate, and 3) espresso. I finally had an excuse – and the time! – to bake a batch today. After my final class for the week, I made a quick 3-minute stop at the store to buy a bag of $3 choco chips. I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night, so I was tempted to take an afternoon siesta, but boy am I glad I decided to turn on the oven and make these babies instead. The recipe was so simple; I had bakery-worthy cookies and washed dishes in <30 minutes.

As Tina would say, “holy yummm!”.

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Apricot Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • 1 c. all-purpose flour + 3/4 c. whole wheat flour
  • 1 3/4 c. rolled oats
  • 1 c. brown sugar
  • 1/2 c. white sugar
  • 1 T baking powder
  • 1 T instant espresso powder
  • pinch of salt
  • 3/4 c. unsalted butter, melted and cooled*
  • 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla
  • 2 c. chocolate chips
  • 1 c. coarsely chopped dried apricots

In a medium bowl, combine flour, oats, sugars, salt, baking powder, and espresso powder.

Add egg, egg yolk, melted butter, and vanilla – stir once or twice, then add chocolate chips and dried apricots.

Refrigerate dough for 10-20 minutes as you clean up the kitchen.

Place balls of cookie dough [small or large – you chose!] onto cookie sheets.

Bake @ 350* for 12-14 minutes.

*Note: I reduced the amount of butter from the original recipe from 2 cups to less than 1 1/2 cups. Though, when combining the wet ingredients with the dry, I decided the dough needed a bit more moisture, so I added 2 T of canola oil – perfect! [You could just as easily add more buttah.]

Make these please please please… and then eat three!

* * *

So, like I said, I decided to forgo my nap and instead, I drank a 24oz. Ball jar of green tea and ate a warm, homemade cookie. Caffeine + glucose and I was ready to run into the weekend! My roommate and I headed to The Resort for some exercise around 5:00pm – what exciting Friday night lives we have, huh? I wasn’t intending to have a great workout [my legs were throbbing last night], but my body surprised me.

Unplanned Speed Workout:
  • Mile 1: 9:00
  • Strength Training:
    • 3 planks @ 1 min.
    • random arm exercises + squats
  • Mile 2: 8:30
  • Mile 3: 7:30!

If all this speed and strength training doesn’t pay off, I’m going to be quite disappointed. Do you think I should be worrying about neglecting my long runs!?

Gotta get back to my exciting [wink wink] Friday night.

xo Hill

 

 

I’ll leave you with three:

1) Three things that made you happy today…

1) Braided Hair 2) Cute Boys 3) Sunshine

2) Three favorite cookie ingredients…

1) Chocolate – duh! 2) Oats – yes please! 3) NUTS

3) Three things you’re looking forward to…

1) Pumpkins 2) The Holidays 3) Running Half Marathon #3

Can’t Complain

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There aren’t too many things I can complain about right now. Well, maybe the wind. I’m not a fan of windy weather. I suppose it’s another excuse to wear my cozy Uggs in the middle of June though. Despite the less than ideal climate, home life is pretty plush; the eats are particularly superb.

Waffle Wednesday

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Van’s Organic – wahoo! – Flax Waffles

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Half 1: Dad’s Homemade 0% Yogurt, S + B Berries, Organic Agave

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Half 2: Flax P.nut Buttah + 1/2 Organic Banana

The following meal might be one of my very favorite dishes… ever! That’s huge, folks. I made this once last summer, and I’ve been anxiously awaiting peach season ever since.

Summer Salmon with Apricot Peach Salsa

[original recipe @ In Praise of Leftovers]

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Life is tough.

Want to make the most-delicious tasting Omega 3’s?

Salsa:

Chop 2 small ripe peaches and 3-4 ripe apricots and place in a small mixing bowl. Add ~1/2 c. chopped onion, 1/3 c. chiffonade of fresh basil, and 1/2 – 1 whole [red or green] jalapeno pepper – finely chopped. Sprinkle with a couple teaspoons of sugar, a pinch of salt, and drizzle of olive oil.

Salmon:

Rinse and pat dry a filet of wild salmon. Brush meat with olive oil and place in a glass baking dish. In a small bowl, combine a few tablespoons of light brown sugar, salt and a pinch each of oregano and thyme. Rub onto oiled filet. Bake @ 450* until fish is opaque, approx. 12 minutes [depending on thickness].

Meanwhile, cook a pot of quinoa [or brown rice] for the whole grain base. Then assemble your summery salmon + salsa and enjoy by candlelight sunset.

Speaking of summer and salsa… College Lifestyles Post #3: CLassy Sassy Summer Salsas.

* * *

Other good things:

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Buckwheat Crepe + Apple [subbed for chicken], Pear, Jack & Chevre Cheese, Onion, Chiffonade of Fresh Basil, Honey + Crème Fraiche

  • Jitter Bean daily.

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I love lattes & they love me.

  • Sweet Tater Fries + Homegrown Arugula Salads.

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Enough said.

  • Much-needed haircuts.

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Hair is a serious matter.

Not only do I strive to keep my insides at their healthiest, but I also believe maintaining your outer beauty health is important too. I like to give my mane a healthy trim every 3-4 months. How important is skin/hair care to you? How often do you get your hairs trimmed?

XOXO,

Hillary

Cookie Crumbs & Carrying On

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Hellooo and hooray for the weekend! I hope ya’ll have something exciting and/or enjoyable planned. Whatever you do, don’t forget to enter my Greek GIVEAWAY by Sunday @ 12:00pm. You’ve got three chances to win! …and speaking of Greek, I had my free honey Oikos for breakfast today with the last of my homemade granola and half of a crunchy pear. This was too sweet for my a.m. taste buds. It seems as though most of you prefer Plain Jane style when in comes to Greek, too.

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After class this afternoon, I attempted to run outside. Key word: afternoon. I should have known…exercise in the middle of day is rarely a success for me. I gave it another shot though, and ran for 20 minutes around campus and our track until I finally listened to the throbbing pain in my upper back and gave in to walking. I added another 10 minutes to my watch as I made my way back to the gym where I did a thorough stretch. My legs are still unusually sore from Tuesday – what the heck! Hello, off week. You’re excused to leave now.

Lunch was an exact repeat of Wednesday’s eats, because 1) today was a lazy day, and 2) why wouldn’t I want a very berry Green Monster & jam-cheddar sandwich again?

Then I turned on Food Network – which I haven’t watched in ages! – while I winded down from the week with cookie baking. I think many of you would agree that the kitchen can often be a place to destress [ahem, Allie & Jenna]. So, I got to making Pioneer Woman’s “Good Ol’ Basic Chocolate Chip Cookies”. [Before you read on, go check out this amazing blog!]

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I made a couple tweaks to the original recipe:

1 cup real butter

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. pure vanilla

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour & 1 cup + 2 T whole wheat flour

1 tsp. instant coffee granules

1/2 T baking powder

1/2 T salt

2 T ground flax

~2/3 bag Guittard semisweet chocolate chips

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Note to self: Do not make cookies while home alone, and there isn’t anyone with whom to share 3 dozen cookies. I ended up eating more cookies than I deserved, but then I thought about Allie and Tina who have admitted to eating 4 1/2 granola bars or half a dozen cookies themselves; then I didn’t feel so bad. How do you handle food guilt?

***

I was surprised that I never got hungry for dinner, but when 8 o’clock rolled around I finally decided to eat something. I threw together a salad [basically a repeat from last night plus a bit a creamy chevre]. I made a smart choice in eating dinner [like I would miss a meal!] because it was nothing short of scrumptious!

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I have a quiet, yet BUSY weekend planned. I’m hoping to tackle a few lingering items on my to-do list, fit in a couple worthwhile workouts, and pick up the slack with my studies.

“See you” soon!

Hillary

Silver Medal for Me

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Hey there!

Wow, I can’t believe there are just a few more minutes until we can turn the calendar to April 2010. This year isn’t taking it’s time…that’s for sure. Have any tricks up your sleeve for tomorrow? =]

Today California honored Cesar Chavez with a holiday. No school para me. I slept in way past my scheduled alarm, and then made a bowl of latte oatmeal:

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1 1/4 c. water

2/3 c. rolled oats

1/2 T instant espresso powder

1/2 T ground flax

1/2 tsp. pure vanilla

bittersweet chocolate chips, almonds & a splash of 1% milk

It gave me that little buzz I needed to get pumped up about my final workout of my Move It in March Challenge. My roommates and I decided on a spin class to take together. Usually we have to leave extra early in order to get a bike…but that wasn’t the case this afternoon. It seems as though everyone else was taking a vacation from exercise.

We warmed up by running 1/2 mile together around the track before the 30-minute class. Then I ran on the treadmill for another 20 afterwards [2.2 mi.] + 1/2 mile cool down around the track.

Move It In March Results

Days of Exercise: 24/31

Run: 14.0 hrs. [~91 miles]

Spin: 5.0 hrs.

Other: 4.25 hrs.

Looking at the results, I am pretty pleased with how much I moved. I am a little disappointed about the 7 rest days [1 entire week], but think that I worked pretty hard during the three weeks I did exercise. My goal was to move more during the month of March. I didn’t have anything to measure my results against, so that would be something I would change if I do such a challenge again. I am proud of myself for pushing myself to run faster, as that is something I haven’t concentrated on in the past; I have certainly witnessed my strength – especially in regards to speed – increase this past month.

Are you working on any fitness goals currently?

* * *

An hour later, after picking up paperwork for a prospective new condo, I came home starving. Enter lunch:

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Wrap a la Homemade Hummus, Cucumber, Tomato & Baby Spinach

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0% Greek a la Homemade Granola & Strawberries

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…and cookies [x2].

Have you had Lu European Biscuits? They are a favorite of my family. We prefer the darkest of the dark, of course =]

After my late lunch, I got ready and joined the masses in the streets downtown “celebrating Cesar”. It felt odd lettin’ loose on a Wednesday afternoon, but what the heck. The rest was history…

Tasty Saturday Eats

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Saturday, why do you always zoom by? How cool would a 48-hour Saturday be? I don’t know about you all, but my Saturday to-do lists are always a mile long and rarely do I ever get everything done, leaving me one more thing for Sunday: stress.

– EATS –

Every single bite of food I ate today was entirely delicious, starting with my last two Cappuccino Chip Muffins. It’s kind of ironic that I happened to have these particular muffins today because this weekend is the annual Super Sale at my dad’s bike store, and my mom originally made these for the customers way back when in 1992. What a coincidence.

I’ll definitely be baking another batch of these soon!

I went to The Resort in the a.m. for day 5 of my challenge. My [other] roommate joined me for my usual 1-hour Saturday spin class. I did not have a terrific workout; though, perspired enough to call it exercise.

Lunch was KERF-inspired:

1/2 Sandwich on Toasted Whole Wheat with Raspberry Preserves, Sharp White Cheddar & Organic Baby Spinach

Mini Green Monster: 1 Huge Handful of Spinach, 1/2 Frozen Banana & 1/2 cup Almond Milk

The sandwich combo was to die for. Thanks for the jam & cheddar idea, Kath!

***

Then it was back to campus. School on a Saturday – ewww.


After two hours of carbon, carbon, and more carbon, I refueled my brain with the snack of all snacks.

I bought 1 6-oz. container of Fage yesterday – such a treat!

Add 3T Humboldt Honey Granola & 1T raisins and you’ve made magic.

***

My roommate and I picked up Chipotle for dindin. My second experience was just as tasty as the first! I ordered a Veggie Fajita Burrito Bowl. I had mine piled high with: black beans, cilantro-lime rice, fajita veggies, cheese [jack + white cheddar], lettuce, roasted chile-corn salsa, fresh tomato salsa & guac! I seriously have a Chipotle baby in my belly at the moment – so full!

Well, I’m off to cram cram cram…and find a recipe for a scrumptious Sunday breakfast. Good night!

Oatmeal Observations

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Don’t you just love how making one thing in the kitchen can lead to creating another thing, and another…? I do! Well, case in point, yesterday’s successful batch of Cappuccino Chip Muffins got my mind in a coffee-chocolate fix. What else could I concoct with my favorite flavors? Yep…oatmeal! In my mind, oatmeal is a blank canvas – there are endless possibilities…except, I think I’ll stay away from the savory side.

Besides adding espresso and chocolate to my oats today, I also wanted to add another variable to my Sunday science experiment. My dad suggested that I try rinsing my rolled oats before cooking them. Alright, sure…that’s not too difficult. So, I rinsed my 2/3 cup of rolled oats and then cooked them per usual in 1 cup of water.

Oatmeal Observations: The oats did not absorb the water as quickly, resulting in a little bit longer cooking time, and a creamier result. I tend to like my oatmeal thicker than not, but today it just worked.

Experiment:

1 cup water

2/3 cup rolled oats, rinsed

1/2 T ground flax

1/2 T instant espresso powder

1 tsp. pure vanilla

1 T mini chocolate chips

1 T chopped walnuts

+ 1/4 cup 1% milk

Results: A very satisfied scientist with a full belly and espresso buzzzz!

***

Today’s Agenda: MORE studying, LESS blogging! I’m even bribing myself with coffee by studying at Starbucks this afternoon. Whatever works : ) I hope you have a fabulous Sunday!

Always,

~ The Nutrition Nut

Real Food Reigns Supreme

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Evening Readers!

Hope you had a refreshing Saturday. I sure did. I whizzed through my to-do list, and somehow skimmed over my homework ; ) After our last “chat”, I got to baking — my favorite way to procrastinate. I asked my mom to send me her recipe for Cappuccino Chip Muffins that I’ve grown up on. She started making these in 1992! This is the first time I’ve actually made them; they are super simple and definitely a crowd pleaser.

espresso

semisweet chocolate morsels

a hint of cinnamon

I most certainly ate not one, but two warm muffins & a homemade iced latte for an afternoon snack…you betcha! Not long after, I was back in the kitchen attacking the monster of a butternut squash that I brought home in my backpack Thursday. This is what it turned into:

Not bad, eh? It was scrumptious with a capital S.

I roasted the squash with olive oil, real maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt & pepper at 400* for approximately 30 minutes, until the edges were caramelized and the house was saturated with sweet air. Then baby spinach was washed, creamy avocado was chopped, chevre was crumbled, and pepitas were sprinkled on top…a drizzle of balsamic was the finishing touch. I definitely need to thank my teacher for this one.

Overall, I had a very scrumptious Saturday! I am so thankful to be able to fill my belly with nutritious and delicious eats. I really, really am.

Check It Out: My Green Monster recipe is featured on Green Monster Movement. Thanks, Angela!

Take it easy,

~ Hillary

Soy Power

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Hey there,

Happy (almost) Friday! I get really excited when I think about only having 1 week of classes remaining for the semester – woohoo!

Today got off to a great start with this delicious bowl of pumpkin oats. I used to think that pumpkin shouldn’t be allowed post-Thanksgiving, but it’s just too hard to resist.

  • 1 cup water
  • 2/3 cup rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup organic pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 banana
  • 1 T walnuts
  • 1/2 T brown sugar
  • cinnamon

After determining the number of microorganisms in unwashed fruit and unpasteurized juice in biology lab, I walked to Starbucks to catch-up on my reading for my next class. I sipped on a lovely half-caf soy latte. The soy coated my tummy for a little while, but I needed to put something more substantial in my mouth before my next set of afternoon classes. I decided on a Pluto’s salad: mixed greens, roasted fennel, beets, oranges, red onion, pumpkin seeds & a balsamic vinaigrette + 1 piece of focaccia bread.

[My camera missed the memo this morning before heading out the door – sorry!]

On my walk back to campus, I stopped inside a store downtown that I’d been admiring, but had yet to visit – Zucchini & Vine. Making a quick tour around the premises, I came across a deli case displaying the most beautiful chocolates. Just at the time of my discovery, one of the sales clerk exclaims, “You look like you’re seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time”. I immediately replied, “Well, I do love chocolate!” She continued to ask me if I liked dark chocolate…duh…and offered me a tasting of some special chocolate chips that were stationed on top of the case. How did she know that just minutes before I was day-dreaming about a piece of chocolate to polish off my lunch? Ha…too funny!

Unfortunately the salad wasn’t substantial enough, so between round 2 and 3 of classes I put a little spring back into my step with one of these:

Uh-mazing!

  • 8 oz. chocolate soy milk
  • 1 frozen banana
  • 6 dark chocolate espresso beans

Normally I do not exercise Tuesdays & Thursdays because my schedule is packed with academics, but either the double dose of espresso and/or soy protein was screaming at me to let out some E (energy)!

When my fourth and final class ended, I briskly walked on over to the gym, slipped into my running shoes and shorts and sprinted 1.5 miles around the track, followed by 15-30 minutes of weights, and another 1.5 miles around the track – feeling good!

Dinner was simple. I didn’t want anything too heavy since the clock was nearing 8:00pm. I warmed up some TJ’s Butternut Squash soup with chevre and pumpkin seeds:

and to go along…

O.M.G…This was the first time I’ve had these tortilla chips (crackers?), and they are awesome. Give ’em a try!

Well, there ya have it…my day in a nutshell.

To healthy eating,

~ Hillary

P.S. That chocolate bar no longer exists…what did I tell ya? : )

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