Running on Shoesday!

It's Tuesday Shoesday!  Look at these gorgeous stunners!!  Sometimes you find some "drop-dead" fabulous shoes but...you must ask yourself...What the heck are you going to wear them with?  When are you going to wear them?  I haven't quite answered these questions yet...it's enough to just put them on and dream...

 Enjoy your Tuesday!

Drop in with the Shoe Obsessed One and see what kind of "stunners" she has today!

Thanks for dropping by!

Running with deliciousness...

I love fall!  My favorite fall things?  Cooler days and evenings, beautiful fall colors, and warm soups and stews.  We made this delicious soup last week.  It's Posole - not the traditional recipe, but still very yummy!

My mother in law is a wonderful cook.  She's the kind of cook that just knows how much of every ingredient to include.  She makes the most wonderful Spanish rice and her most requested dish is Tacos Margarita!  Yum!


When we told her about this soup she wanted the recipe, so...here it is!

Ingredients

• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, diced
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 large white onion, diced
• 1 jalapeno pepper, chopped (remove seeds for less heat)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 6-ounce cans whole green chiles, drained
• 1 cup fresh cilantro
• 4 cups low-fat, low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 15-ounce cans hominy, drained
• Sliced avocado and radishes and/or baked corn chips, for garnish (optional)

Directions

Season the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon thyme, and salt and pepper to taste; set aside.  Heat the vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, jalapeno and garlic and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a blender, then add the chiles, cilantro and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon thyme and puree until smooth. 

Return to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring, until the sauce thickens and turns deep green, about 5 minutes.
Add the broth, hominy and chicken to the saucepan. Cover and simmer until the chicken is tender, about 10 minutes. Garnish with avocado, radishes and/or corn chips, if desired.

This soup actually tastes better a couple days after you make it - all the flavors meld together!  

If you love soup, you need to check out Sweet Bee Cottage (this is a shameless plug for my cousin).  Over at the Cottage they have made some fabulous soups - made my  mouth water just reading about it!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Tell me, are you making anything delicious for the cold weather?

Running...without water!

Water...it covers at least 70 percent of the earth - too bad some races aren't covered wtih 70 percent water! 

I feel so stupid!!  I always wear my water belt...always...even for 5Ks!  But when Baby Boy and I ran the Cross City Race recently, I felt so (over)confident that I wanted to run as free as I could.  So I left my water in the car.  I knew they'd have water at every mile...right?  WRONG!!  I even remember my trainer, Kyle, warning everyone to NOT rely on the race for water! 

So, Baby Boy and I started at a really great pace...9:28 for our first mile!  I started looking for the water tables...none appeared.  Second mile...9:30...again, I looked for the water tables...I even heard other people asking the volunteers on the side streets - "Where's the water?" and I saw the volunteers point forward!  Mile 3...starting to feel my extreme lack of water...finally a water table...but alas...too late for me.  Mile 4,5,and 6...averaged 10:20...must have water...

So, my goal had been to beat last year's time of 58 minutes, but instead I ran 59:46.  Disappointing.  Lesson learned - always take water.

Up next - Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K...I'm feeling fast...and I'll have water!!

Running...recaps!

Smokey the Bear, Smokey the Bear...howlin' and a growlin' and a sniffin' the air...anyone remember that tune?  Well, Smokey gave us a great day at the Smokey Bear run.

Gorgeous day, gorgeous views, and a good time with Baby Boy!

 
Our time was good, (1:00:47) considering the many slight hills...more hills that I had anticipated.  I was sore for about 3 days! Baby Boy stayed right with me - I even told him to run ahead of me at the end so he could beat me...he didn't.  Sweet, huh!

Baby Boy and I have been dealing with his "D" in Algebra...it hasn't been too pleasant...so it was very nice to get out and run with him.

Up next...another 6 mile race on Sunday!  Last year my time in the Cross City race was below 1:00...so excited to see if I can better my time!  I'll keep you updated!


Thanks for stopping by!

Running and Racing...finally!

I'm so excited - I've got a race this weekend!  It has been 4 months since my last race - I'm going through withdrawls!

Baby Boy and I signed up for a race that I've never run before - The Smokey Bear Run!  Sounds fun - huh?  It's a 10K held in Bass Lake.  The race photos I've seen are just gorgeous.  It's got a few hills, but I'm feeling good about it!

 The best part is that Baby Boy won't be yelling at me from 100 feet back, "Mummy...Mummy...wait up...Mummy...Mummy...wait up!"  He does that all the time when we run around the neighborhood, but I know he won't do it in front of a crowd.  

Oh, yes...my 13 year old, who could run me down in seconds...who runs a 7 minute mile with his cross country team...did I mention he's 13?


I'll let you know how it goes!  I'm so excited!!!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Running with Martha!

I love Martha Stewart!  I love cupcakes!  However, I'm not sure if I love Martha Stewart's cupcakes!

 I received this book as a birthday gift last year.  I just started using it a few months ago.  The first recipe I tried was for Mocha Cupcakes.  They were very yummy!  Even put chocolate covered espresso beans on top - just like Martha!

Next, I tried the peanut butter and chocolate cupcakes.  Not such a winner these!  I think I baked them too long, as they came out very dry!  So dry, in fact, that I ended up throwing out the last 4 cupcakes - it should be a crime - I know!!

 So, this past weekend I tried a chocolate mint cupcake - with a real chocolate peppermint inside!!

Dry...that's all I can say.  They are supposed to be "brownie" cupcakes, but I think I'm having issues with the baking time.  Martha...give me a little help here - really, how long should these yummy things bake?  Sorry, Martha, I'm going to have to second guess you from now on when I make cupcakes - I still love you though!

Running Outdoors!

I'm celebrating Outdoor Wednesday with a special highlighting of my son's collection.  Baby Boy is a collector.  He began collecting freeway signs and street signs several years ago.  He's only 13, but can navigate and bid on eBay like no one I know!

He actually found this sign at a local antique/collectables store.  I told him we could put it in the backyard, but I got to pick the location.  So, we ended up putting it at the end of the walkway to the backyard.  I thought it was funny that the arrow points to the fence - not the way to the backyard.  Baby Boy doesn't share my humor (sadly) and he wondered why we didn't make the arrow point the other way.  Having to explain my humor is complicated, so I just quietly walked away.

I think it's fun.  Not your traditional backyard accessory.

Thanks for visiting today!  Be sure to check out Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer!