Meatloaf Cupcakes?!?

Hobby of the Day: Cooking

I am a fan of Skinny Taste's blog.  Healthy eating, yummy recipes and not too difficult to make.  I found a recipe on her site for meatloaf cupcakes with whipped potato frosting. And....since you know I love cupcakes I thought why not try a savory cupcake?! 

We had all the ingredients except for the zucchini.  I actually tweaked the recipe a whole lot.  I also am not a fan of onion unless it is really cooked. If it is crunchy then it's a no go, I guess I just like the flavor of onion, but onion powder just doesn't do it like the real deal sometimes.  

This is her recipe here. This is my alternated version.

1 lb lean ground turkey

1 tsp of coarse salt

1 tsp freshly ground black pepper 

1 1/2 tsp of Italian seasoning

1 egg

1/4 cup ketchup (I added less, next time I will go with BBQ sauce)

1 tsp garlic powder

1 slice of bread chopped up (I used my husband's 15 grain bread, which was healthy and all, but some of the grains added a weird texture) next time I might try Italian bread crumbs- I'll let you know how that goes

* for a few of the little "cupcakes" I added a little heat with some cayenne pepper, you know how I love that spice

Directions:

1) Mix all ingredients up and add to cupcake baking cups

2) Make sure to flatten and not fill higher than the baking cup

3) Bake at 350 degrees uncovered for 18-20 minutes or until done

4) Remove from muffin tin and set aside

* Here's where I cheated (I know, GASP) I didn't make my mashed potatoes from scratch. I just didn't have the energy or time to do it....I know, lame excuse. Next time I promise I will do better.

I did, however pipe my mashed potatoes through my icing bag. I think they looked pretty cute and pretty scrumptious.  And personally, I liked the cayenne ones better. 

Bon Appetit!

Can't run without!

When you run, what's something that you CANNOT run without?

I've answered that question on a few blogs. There are a few things that I feel like I can't run without, ONE being music, I need something to pump me up and inspire me. TWO, a GOOD GREAT sports bra! These are not cheap and yet for a woman they are very important, at least I think so.  I know people are loving the minimalist show, but I can't go minimalist up top. I am a big fan of bright colors and am always drawn to the bright colored Sports Bras.  The problem is you can't really run in one to try it out and then return it if it doesn't support the ladies in.  You often have to go on reviews and descriptions.

There's nothing worse than angry ladies- Can I get a Amen to that?!

What I have experienced with many a sports bra is that they hurt my shoulders.  I've tried Victoria's Secret sports bras (I mean they are the deluxe of all bras, aren't they?). But then again maybe they are meant to be more sexy than practical? I've tried to go the cheaper route and buy Target bras. They have bright colors and fun patterns and SkinnyRunner swears by them.  I like them too and have 2 of my own, the thinner strapped ones.  However, for long distance running they just don't cut it. For spin, yoga, step class and the elliptical they are fine; where bouncing is required, not so great. 

I own Nike sports bras too. It takes me so long to pick out one because again, sports bras are not cheap, so I don't want to just buy just any one. I've tried on Under Armor and Adidas. I'm just so skeptical now, since I've been had so many disappointments.  I also notice that if I wear my sports bra too long my shoulders start to hurt.  I need the SB to be tight enough so I don't bounce like crazy and yet when I get too tight they cut down on my shoulders and then I then my neck starts to hurt too.  My Nike SB was actually doing okay, that is until Gary dried it by accident. Now it feels like my ribs are being squeezed to death and I feel like it's hard to breath when I run. So, now that bra has been retired. As have my VS sports bras.

[source][source]

Pocket

Enter my wonder SB.  
Last year I went to my first runners Expo and was overwhelmed with all the running gear. I pretty much wanted to buy everything(maybe I'm a closet shopaholic). Thankfully I had dragged along my husband so he kept me grounded. While I was there, I saw a booth for Sports Bras, Coco Designs.  I was a little apprehensive to try it out, but I decided it didn't hurt to try.  I felt like it was a little loose around the elastic band and asked the owner, Nicole, if that was normal, or if I needed a smaller size. She said that once I started working out that it would tighten up.  She also pulled down the back of the sports bra so that it was lower on the back.  They offer black and white SB right now, but I'm really hoping that they will have some new colors coming soon.  I bought the Bra*Kette black SB and I LOVE IT! I also love that it has a pocket on the left side. That has come in handy on many an occasion.  For keys, credit cards, chap stick and of course my iPhone. It DOES NOT hurt my shoulders and it does tighten up when I run.  It is also not ridiculously restrictive so that I can't get it off after a long workout. 
From their website:

[Coco Designs works to achieve a simple idea-that fitness and exercise should be fun, effective and worry free. The Bra*Kette is made to do just that. When wearing the Bra*Kette you can work out without having to worry about being uncomfortable or suffocated by your sports bra, as well as listen to your favorite music without the music player being in the way. The Bra*Kette which is made of nylon, lycra and spandex is cut in the United States and sewn in Costa Rica. The mission of Coco Designs is to provide Smart Apparel to Active Women.] [source]

[source]

I would have taken a picture of mine, but it's in the wash....

It's the only SB I wear now, I either need to find another Expo stat, or order online.  Ask my husband, he knows the SB pain that I've gone through although he doesn't really understand it. 

Thank you Coco- Designs for making my SB wearing experience amazingly so MUCH better!

Here's for you Daddy!

Hobby of the Day: Running

Sooooo this is Meg and T's first run/race ever.  They have been super nervous. These are some things I heard this weekend:

 "My run is basically a walk."  "What if I pass out?"  "If I fall down, just keep going." 

"I only ran a mile recently."  

However, my ladies did GREAT! We ended up leaving around 8:20 metro tends to run super slow on race days and the metro did not disappoint. We ended up with a 15 minute wait and of course we had a bag to check and didn't know where that was. 

 We were sporting our homemade t's, purple nail polish and purple bows.

Pre-Race: Smiling So far

 All the runners started had already started before we made it up to the line and then we had to dodge all the walkers, dogs, children and strollers.  I will say that many a stroller ran past me.  Gary took off and we never saw him again, until the end. T, Meg and I stayed together in the beginning. T took off maybe a little faster than she should have, could have been the adrenaline.  You do also seem to use a lot more energy dodging around people.  We stayed together for a little over a mile and then we lost Meg.  I felt bad because I was supposed to be pacing them, have NEVER done that before. It's kinda hard to pace two people at the same time when they don't run the same pace.  I ended up sticking with T. At about 2 miles there was a water station, I didn't really need it, but I grabbed a cup, pinched it and drank down a few sips.  Right around the Capital T kind of hit her wall, but she never stopped running.  I kept looking back and asking her if she was ok.  We hit mile 3 and we had .1 left. I told her we were gonna "push" it to the end, sprint it out for the last tenth.  SO proud of her! Once I crossed the line Gary was waiting there for us,  I sprinted back over the railing to go back and find Meg.  She really wasn't all that far behind us.  I found her and we sprinted over the finish line together! 

Still Smiling even After.....

We didn't get timing chips for this race.  Gary ran about a 27 and T and I did around 33/34 and Meg did 37.  This was their first PR which means next time they will do even better.  It means so much to me that they all ran this with me, especially since Gary and T have never met my dad.  I hope I am making him proud!

Then we got some nummies, Pop chips, water, bagels, banana, Dole yogurt/fruit bites and popsicles.  I think we forgot that we had brunch reservations.  We hung out for a little while and then we headed up to The Hamilton for brunch.  

Cheers to our Victory!

Fried Chicken with bacon and sausage gravy on a biscuit

Quiche with asparagus and mushrooms

Breakfast burrito

If you pace, do you run in front of them or behind? Isn't their job to try and keep up with you, or do you push them from behind?

Besties Part 2

Cinco de Mayo vs. Avengers

Saturday was a ridiculously fun filled packed day from the time we woke up until the time we got home at around 1 am! I know, for some of you 1 is nothing, for this chica it's crazy. I am usually a 9:00-9:30 during the week and 11:00-12:00 on the weekends. If Gary is playing hockey and I don't go I'm in bed by 11 or earlier depending on how I'm feeling.

We got up Saturday and immediately started to make our t-shirts for Race for Hope. The Race for Hope is to raise money for Brain Cancer Research.  This is a race near and dear to my heart since my father passed away from one when I was 15.  T and I had bought pink sparkly iron on numbers for the back of our shirts. We bought purple puffy paint and additional iron on paper.  Purple was one of my dad's favorite colors.  I ironed on all the numbers, 19 for T, 83 for Meg, 2 for Gary and 97 for me, the year my father passed.  I wrote my maiden name at the top of the numbers, Maxwell.  Gary made breakfast while all this hulabaloo was going on. He made pancakes and Meg made the sausages, while T cut out all the numbers for me.  

We had planned on going to the phillies game. Go PHILS! They were playing that Washington Nationals, who are doing surprisingly well this season, so far.  I should have bought the tickets earlier, stupid me, we got to the ticket window and the guy goes I have a nice boxed air conditioned seat for y'all.  Cost=$540....um, NO Thanks! There was nothing for less than 100 and while I love my Phils, I don't love them THAT much....so off to a bar. This was ok because the Capitals were playing the Rangers too at the same time, so this made Gary happy and we were among fans.  The results- Phils lost and Caps won, so I guess it was good that we didn't go to the game, plus we saved a lot more money too.

Dinner was at Lola's another Barracks Row favorite. We had wanted to go to a Mexican Restaurant, after all it was Cinco de Mayo.  There was a great Mariachi band playing on the street at the two Mexican Restaurants, but the wait was waaay too long. Instead we got cupcakes and macarons at The Sweet Lobby, if you watch Cupcake Wars you will know this name because they won that episode!  I got the salted caramel macaron (melts in your mouth yummy!) and the spicy chili chocolate (the spice gave it some extra heat but it worked so well together-as if they would sell something that didn't). T got the pear and goat cheese (I did not get to sample this).  Meg got a s'mores cupcake, me hazelnut and T got the Asian Spice that had a chocolate surprise in the middle and also won on Cupcake Wars.  While I LOVE their macarons, I am not 100% sold on their cupcakes, I guess I will just have to try them all:-)

We had had margaritas at Lola's, can you guess which one is mine? 

Then after we headed to see the Avengers. If you haven't seen it, GO! While I don't really follow comics I do enjoy the super hero movies.  I don't really like Spiderman, but maybe that's because I didn't like who starred in the movie. The new one does look a little interesting, but not necessarily movie worthy.  Movies are so expensive, we have to be very selective.  The teens there and some of the adults spend some serious money though, snacks, drinks, hot food, candy, it's super crazy.  There were some very humorous parts in that movie. I guess I can do a movie review later.  

When we got home at like 11:45 we still had to finish our t-shirts. Add something to the fronts and finish our iron ons.  I ironed on a picture of my dad and black eyed susans (what he used to call me "his little black eyed susan"), T ironed on cherry pie, one of my dad's favorites, Gary ironed on a fractal (he was a physics teacher) and Meg ironed on an ice cream cone (because he took us out for ice cream) and a skink (because he taught her about them) if you don't know what that is, look it up.   

We also added the verse: Isaiah 45:5

We ended up going to bed around 1:30-2:00 which is crazy if you have a run the next day and have to be up at like 7:30, but since it wasn't a long run and it wasn't supposed to be too hot and I wasn't going for a PR, I guess it was ok.  Was I tired the next day? HECK YES! 

P.S.  Run like Grl is giving away Aspaeris Pivot Shorts which are AMAZING! Check out her site and enter!

Besties Weekend Part 1

This past weekend I was blessed to have my two best friends come and visit.

My one bestie, Teresa, came in on Wednesday and my other bestie, Meg, came in Friday afternoon. Both of these girls were in my wedding and I have known them for like EVER and they mean the world to me!  I wish that we lived closer together, but am thankful for all the times that we do get to spend together. Because Teresa came so early it meant that she would get to come into my school and meet my kiddos and help out and also teach a lesson!  So exciting! 

Gary made dinner for us Wednesday night, grilled chicken and avocado lettuce wraps (my idea) with a side of quinoa- my new favorite food! Then T and I went off to step class.  We sweated and stepped and "Around the Worlded."

Thursday T and I went to school and she hopefully enjoyed it. I hope that I looked the part of a good teacher. LOL.  T is a dietitian and so she taught the kiddos a nutrition lesson.  Apparently the food pyramid is no longer in use, it is now myplate.gov.  She read the story, Vegetable Soup, by Lois Ehlert and then we made a nutritious snack. We called it, "Eating a Rainbow." Not to get mistaken with the skittles commercial "Taste the Rainbow." T had pre-bagged up, chopped red peppers, carrots, corn, cucumber and chopped red cabbage.  We spread cream cheese on whole wheat wraps and then gave each student a task, to add salt, pepper, Italian spices and veggies.  Then we rolled it all up- RAINBOW! Some of my kiddos loved it, some didn't like it, but at least they tried it which was the important part. Some asked for seconds. I know that it made T happy and I was so pleased with their behavior and willingness to try!

 

I Love to be organized!

We came home and just chilaxed and talked- something the two of us are great at.  Then we went to a Tupperware party at my good friend Jenna's house. I know what you're thinking, Tupperware? But really it's not the same as it used to be. There are fun bright colors and you can cook in a lot of them and they have a lifetime guarantee.  We got play money for different things that we did, which we could use to buy auctioned off freebies at the end. You know teacher's love freebies! Tupperware is not cheap stuff, but neither is Pampered Chef, but at least they have some good deals.  I purchased the yellow topped vegetable and fruit containers that help to lengthen the life of my products so that they don't go to waste.  It was a lot of fun. Jenna was the hostess with the "mostess." She served wine, cheese, crackers, veggies and strawberries. And for those of you who read me, You know I LOVE cheese!

One of our MANY snacks!

Friday- I took off from work and T and I ran some errands, picked up t-shirts and materials to make shirts for the 5K run on Sunday.  Then we went to lunch at Shawafel down on H street. So yummy. I got my usually, spit roasted chicken with coleslaw, garlic toum, french fries and pickles.  The fries are on the wrap, if you haven't been, GO! 

Meg arrived at 5:30 so we went to pick her up.  Then we hung out before dinner and then walked down to H street again and Gary went to Shawafel and us girlies went to Rita's Water Ice.....Gelati? Yes Please!

Cheers to the Girls- Drinking the hubbies Beer

Cookie Time!

Hobby of the Day:  Baking

I promised I would try to make my way through both the Martha Stewart Cupcake book and Cookie book.  This might take me a few years people.  I didn't realize how MANY cookies Martha has crammed into her cookbook.  

Cookie: Chocolate Crackles pg. 68

Recipe: 

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate finally chopped (in list husband to chop)

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon coarse salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/3 cup whole milk (I used 1% because that's what I had)

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup confectioners sugar

Directions:

1. Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan on simmering water, stirring.  Set aside and let cool. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.

 I have a double boiler which makes it pretty easy, but you don't have to have one obviously.

2. With an electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar on a medium speed until pale and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Mix in eggs and vanilla, and then melted chocolate. Reduce speed to low; mix in flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the milk. Divide dough into four equal pieces. Wrap each in plastic; refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.

Apologies for the blur, it's hard to pour and take a non-shaky photo.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Divide each piece into sixteen 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar to coat, then in confectioners' sugar to coat. Space 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. (If you don't have, just spray baking sheet)

4. Bake until surfaces crack, about 14 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through.  Let cool on wire rack.  Cookies can be stored between layers of parchment in airtight containers at room temperature up to 3 days. (mine didn't last that long. Thankfully we had guests for the weekend and they all disappeared!)

Voila!

I froze the left over dough, that way I can have cookies anytime.

Belated Birthday

Who doesn't like celebrations, late or not?!

I love them, even if I have to pay.  

One of my super good friends down in DC, Jenna, turned a whooping 26 several weeks ago, but  because of commitments and being out of town we really didn't get to celebrate.

She is drinking one of my favorite drinks- Dragon fruit Strawberry Mojito!

Thus, the belated.  I took her to one of my FAVORITE happy hour places, Gordon Biersch.  They do HH from 4:00-7:00 normal times and then like 10:30 to close. So you could technically go to HH twice in one day, which given their selection of amazing mixed drinks would be right up my alley.  And....don't judge but that might just happen this summer....might. Ok, who are we kidding, I will MAKE it happen! Anyway, all cocktails and mixed drinks are $5, not too shabby when they are typically $10, it's half price, or 2 for the price of 1. They also have great appetizers and those of you who read my blog know I heart garlic, so of course I CANNOT pass up on the garlic fries. Freshly chopped, sometimes larger than chopped pieces of fresh garlic- mmmm.....(currently salivating)

Then we walked over to Graffiato. Those of you who follow(ed) Top Chef know that is Mike Isabella's restaurant. It's know for it's "tapas" like dishes, order a few, share a few.  That way you can get a taste of a little bit of everything. They also have pizza's which can easily be shared among multiple people.  

The seated us immediately.  There are always seasoned pistachios on the table, which do not sit there after you leave for you germaphobs:-)  We of course started off with his famous PEPPERONI SAUCE- be jealous, and bread, which was basically pizza crust.  

There it is !!!------------->

 Then we ordered broccolini, which I have never had before. It came with topped with chopped walnuts, feta and a spicy pepper relish. Usually when I eat broccoli I don't eat the stems of the veggie, I tend to prefer the florets.  Broccolini however has mostly stem and tiny little florets.  I give this dish a B+, only because I am not a huge fan of crunchy cooked veggies.  Flavor wise I give it an A! 


Next up, asparagus with pancetta (Italian style bacon) and egg.  There was also a creamy sauce beneath the asparagus, but was not labeled on the menu.  The asparagus was cooked perfectly. I haven't eaten asparagus until recently, but Jenna said it was fabulous and she eats it a lot.  Flavor A and overall, A+!

For our "mainish" dish we had crispy potato gnocchi with wild mushrooms, favas and stracciattela (a mozzarella cheese).   I'm not sure what kind of mushrooms they were maybe morels or chanterelles, again I'm not very brushed up on the mushrooms.  I thought they were sightly salty which balanced the whole dish out.  It's amazing to me how balanced everything was. I guess I shouldn't really be all that amazed seeing as I am eating at a Top Chef restaurant. Flavor A and overall A

And....what's a wonderful dinner without a amazing dessert.  We had tossed around the idea of getting more pepperoni sauce, but we wanted to try something new.  Enter chocolate tart with salted caramel gelato and zeppoles with strawberry.  Six tiny little donuts fried and rolled in powdered sugar MTO.  Warm right out of the oven. Mmmmm.....

 I really cold have taken home a container of that caramel.

   Sugar covered goodness. Desserts=A Caramel=A+
Sorry that there aren't more pictures of me. I figured you would be more interested in the food, I am. Don't worry, my narcissism will come out in one of these posts:-)