Steppin' Out

Last night Cassi and I had the night off together. We ran some errands and then decided to do something different for dinner. We ended up going to an Afghan Cuisine restaurant that was truly amazing. I would never pick this kind of cuisine usually but I realized while reading the reviews of this place online, that I really had never tried anything like it. The place is called Kabul and is right in Wallingford. Oh my goodness it was so good.

For Dinner: We started with cardamon hot tea which was their specialty drink as the server explained to us. Then we ordered to appetizers and one entree for us to split. All of it was great.

Bolani -Turnovers filled with scallions, cilantro and potato, served with yogurt-garlic dip.

Shornakhod -A salad composed of chickpeas and kidney beans with a crushed cilantro, lemon and vinegar dressing. 

Badenjan Borani -Eggplant sauteed and simmered in a lightly spiced tomato-based sauce, served on a bed of yogurt garlic sauce, sprinkled with dried mint.

The flavors were so fresh and the atmosphere was great too.

Cassi and I just got back from the gym it is about 1:30 and soon we will both have to get ready for work. We jogged to and from the gym which round trip is 3.22 miles, we tracked it. When we got to the gym we focused on strength building exercises, since we already had the cardio taken care of.

For Lunch: I just made a smoothie for us. frozen berries, flaxseeds, protein powder a touch of cranberry juice concentrate.

Work, working out, my knee, my health, I feel like everything is going pretty well!

Keep Running!

I worked last night and then went to the gym. I jogged two and a half miles and then walked a mile and a half. It felt really good and makes progress for my weight and my knee seem promising. I got home and ate some dinner.

For Dinner: Tuna fish with artichokes capers lemon juice and a touch of olive oil. I also had an apple.

I worked all day today and it was okay. I got a break in the middle of the day and I came home and made myself some lunch and relaxed for a bit.

For Lunch: Broccoli and the same tuna fish with artichokes and capers.

Cassi bought me some Market spice tea yesterday and I haven't been able to get enough! I love it.  I went back to work and just got home. I work all day tomorrow so i am just laying low tonight, I am super tired!

I really want to get back to the gym and keep running!

Sleepy Head

For Breakfast: One piece of dry toast and coffee.

I slept in sooooo late today. almost 11, I really must have needed it because I never sleep that late. A couple hours later, after Cassi got home from volunteering, I made lunch.

For Lunch: Steamed shrimp and broccoli with just a little garlic, salt and pepper.

In a little bit I will have to go to work, fun fun fun!

Night, Night.

I worked at my new job today for the second time. I only worked for a couple hours and then went to the gym. I ran on the treadmill today. I did over a mile and my knee felt great! I also did the stationary bike. I am excited to go back and get into a routine again and with my new work schedule I should be able to get to the gym at least 4-5 times a week, I just have to do it!

Cassi got home from work nice and early tonight, I made dinner for the two of us.

For Dinner: Organic baby greens with red onion, toasted pecans, honey crisp apple. and a homemade balsamic vinaigrette. With chicken breast cooked in a cast iron skillet and roasted brussel sprouts with pecans and garlic. So good, so full.

I am so tired I can hardly keep my eyes open, so I am going to go shut them, night night.

Not Too Shabby!

I woke up Wednesday and spent some good quality time with my kitchen. I roasted some garlic, to make pesto, I made pesto from the ridiculous amount of Basil I bought, and I even roasted a chicken, and I took pictures of everything!

First I roasted garlic:
I just use foil and put peeled garlic in the oven with a bit olive oil and salt. Super simple.

That's it! I put it in the oven at about 375-400 for an hour.

Then I made pesto. I make my pesto vegan. I use raw almonds, salt, pepper, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and fresh basil, with roasted garlic.

First I get my food processor out and chop up my almonds. I buy slivered almonds because I use them for lots of other things.

 

I set the almonds aside and clean my basil. After I food process my basil I add the almonds back and salt and pepper and then slowly add my oil. I don't measure how much I use, everything to taste and consistency.

Quite simple really.

The next thing I did was roast a chicken so I can use it through the work week in sandwiches and for salads. First I prep the bird. Ever since a couple months ago when I halved the bird before I cooked it and had such great results I have done the same thing. So I rinse and dry the bird and then chop it in half removing only the spine. Then I get my pan ready. I slice some carrots and onion and use it as a riser to elevate the bird from the pan. I season the chicken only with my Gullah seasoning and that's it. and then into the oven for 1 1/2 hours at 425 degrees.

See the carrots and onions?

The rub on the chicken

Half way through the cooking I add some chicken stock that has been simmering with the chicken giblets. 

The stock this makes is awesome!

All that cooking and I actually didn't have any of that. I made Cassi and I the tofu cucumber salad that I had for dinner the other night.

Not Too Shabby!

Tuesday, my day off.

I woke up pretty late this morning which felt fantastic because I was tired and it was my day off today.

For Breakfast: Coffee. Two eggs , over hard.

I paid bills, cleaned the apartment and organized the kitchen during the morning and then set out to runs lots of errands.

For Lunch: I just grabbed a handful of raw almonds.

I went to target and then to Trader Joe's and to Cash 'n' Carry. I bought just a few things, enough to fill in the gaps at home. I stopped by the Biosonics office and said hi to Mom and Dad and then came home and made myself dinner.

For Dinner: I have a julienne peeler so I took it to some English cucumber and some carrot and tossed it with lemon zest a touch of lemon juice, ground ginger, sesame seeds, sesame oil, white rice vinegar, a little salt and pepper. I sliced some firm tofu and browned it in my cast iron skillet. I laid down a bed of organic mixed greens and topped it with my tofu and cucumber sesame salad. It was awesome!!!!

I just packed a goodie bag and I am about to go meet Jules for a movie. I packed some dried cranberries, raw almonds and walnuts.

Merry Christmas!

I had a fantastic Christmas. I hope yours was great too. I am so sorry I haven't blogged in so long. Besides Christmas day I haven't had a day off in since last time I blogged. I will try to get back on track. Work has been crazy! I started at Serious Pie too. Crazy busy. I have to get ready for work now, but I will post laster!

Relax, just do it.

Well yesterday was my day off. It came and went so quickly. I did some Christmas shopping and finished up for my family. I had about a minute to relax but then got to the shopping. So much to do, so little time to do it, no time to relax!

For Lunch: Salmon Nicoise Salad from Nordstrom Cafe. It's so so good. I met Cassi there for lunch.

I called Josh later and asked him to come to this party with me. Linette and Matt, friends from work have that new game thing: Kinect. They had some people over to play! It was so cool. It uses no controllers just senses your body. What a workout.

For Dinner: Josh and I walked up to Pazzo's Pizza to have some dinner before we went to Linette's. I had a Caesar salad with no cheese and I watched Josh devour a Calzone.

I had one beer while I was at Linette's.

Today I woke up and got ready for another double at work. It was decent, not super busy not slow either. I wore my fit bit today for the first time in a long time, I had misplaced it. It tells me how many steps I took during the day, how many calories I have burned, the distance I have gone. Pretty amazing.

Today just being at work I walked:
25085 steps
10.33 miles
and burned 3112 calories. Pretty crazy huh?

I had a large meal in between my shifts but didn't get to eat much during the day.

For Lunch/Dinner: Grilled salmon with sauteed spinach and steamed broccoli. Yummy.

Now I am home and absolutely beat! Goodnight.

Shop Before I Drop.

Well I finished me string of 5 doubles today and I am now at home relaxing. I had a couple of hours off today in-between my lunch shift and my dinner shift. It was one of the first times I have been able to think about what I am going to get everybody. I have been so tired from working I literally felt like I had to shop before I was going to collapse. Speaking of collapsing, I will tell you now that my knee is doing great and I think all this work is just making my leg stronger.

I wanted to share some pictures of the last week that I haven't had time to post.

First, the pictures of Cassi and I with out Tree:

Loaded up on our car, big tree!

 What a beauty!

Every year we get these singing christmas animals from Aunt Lisa. It may sound silly but we LOVE them and we look forward to them every year!!!!

I love our tree this year!

I also took a couple pictures when Cassi found out she got into UW School of Nursing!

So Excited!!!!

Well I guess I'll wrap it up and report of food for the day . . .

For Breakfast: Well I got to work and Ziro made this awesome salad with mixed greens a balsamic vinaigrette with all kinds of berries and fruits.

I worked then did some shopping and then ate lunch with Cassi before we headed back to work.

For Lunch: Chicken Chop Chop Salad with romaine, chicken, garbanzo beans, onion, basil, cucumber with a vinaigrette. 

So glad to be home and done with work!

Sunday, Sunday Sunday!

Cassi and I slept out in our living room last night because we wanted to be by out fantastic christmas tree. We got and on Wednesday and I haven't had a chance to write anything because I have been working non-stop. I am about to go in for another double today but I had to post real quick. As I said I have been working like a crazy person, so I am tired but the money has been pretty good, definitely paying some bills.

Last night Cassi and I got home and got the mail. Big, BIG news folks. Cassi got her acceptance letter to the School of Nursing at University of Washington!!!!! We literally jumped around our apartment! We are so excited and I am so proud of her!

We had a celebratory drink and I heated up some leftover roasted veggies for dinner. What a night!

I will write more later, gotta get to work!