Boyfriend Chili

It's winter in Minnesota and Super Bowl weekend, therefore all signs point to CHILI! Adi and I make chili a few times a month because not only does he love it, but it makes for great leftovers. Also, it can be made in less than 30 minutes...which works great for week nights after the long commute.

I call this "Boyfriend Chili" because I make it the way he likes it. If it were just me, there wouldn't be much meat involved and it would be more soupy. But, I love him...so our chili is very thick and always includes at least a pound of beef.

My favorite seasoning is Carroll Shelby's because you can control the spice level and thickness. Adrian always "pretends" to add a little bit of cayenne and then ends up dumping in the whole packet when I am not looking. Feel free to add your favorites (corn, beans, peppers, etc) to the recipe and make it your own.

Boyfriend Chili

1 package of Carroll Shelby's chili seasoning
1 pound of ground beef (I use 93% lean)
2 16 oz cans of fire roasted diced tomatoes
1  8oz can of tomato sauce
1 cup of water
1 can of kidney beans
1 can of black beans

Brown the beef and drain. Add all the other ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes. I like mine with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt on top. Healthier than sour cream and I like how thick it is. Adrian eats his was a crap ton of cheese (he likes it when you can barely see the chili through the layer of melted cheese on top).

Leftovers are great as is. Otherwise, Adrian would serve it as chili cheese dogs though. ;-) Opposites attract, right?!?

=) Chelsea

PB Cookie Oatmeal

Don't you just love when you find a recipe and you have every ingredient already at home? Well last night I came across a delicious breakfast recipe and discovered I had everything in the pantry. So this morning I got up early to get a run in before the snow and freezing rain. After a 7.5 mile hill route, I was hungry! So I threw together this baked oatmeal dish and I was pretty happy with the results. The other benefit of this warm breakfast was that it takes 18 minutes to bake which was the perfect time for me to clean the kitchen and do the dishes quick before I crawled under a blanket to watch tv and devour this.

Jump over to The Oatmeal Artist for the recipe. Super easy and filling. Plus, I love the fact that it is a single serving so I don't have a heaping amount of leftovers. (I HATE leftovers!)

So go run and then bake yourself up some oatmeal!

=) Chelsea

The best advice I ever received...

When I first started running last spring, I just went to the sporting goods store and bought a pair of shoes that fit well and were listed as running shoes. They were good when I was running but I would have sore knees afterwards. I never thought it was my shoes, but rather contributed it to the fact that I was new to the running world and let's face it...I thought running was suppose to make you feel sore.

Then I started getting blisters on the ends of my toes and I felt it was time to investigate running shoes. So I asked my Facebook friends what shoes they recommended...and I ended up getting the best advice I was ever given! A friend told me that I needed to go to a running store (not a sporting goods store, a small shop dedicated to just runners).

So here's the low-down:
1. Google a local running store.
2. Grab your current running shoes and socks.
3. Go to the store and ask them to evaluate your stride. (FREE!)
4. They will probably ask you to walk and will watch how your feet hit the ground. They might look at the bottoms of your current shoes to see how they wore.
5. They will then show you which shoes are best for you depending on how you run. (Under-pronators and over-pronators...this will probably change your life!)

I tried on no less than one hundred shoes (no joke) that were in my stride's category. There are several big brands and several key differences. To be honest, I felt a little bit like Cinderella with her glass slipper. Nothing made me happy. Too heavy, too hard, too wide, too narrow. But the best part was, the person working was very knowledgeable and patient. Ended up buying a pair, running with them and returning them. No problems!
I finally ended up having to order my shoes online but the experience made all the difference. I never would have been able to find this exact pair of shoes before because I didn't know what I NEEDED.
No more sore knees daily (well, only after a ten mile race!) and they feel great while running. So, take an hour out of your day and go get evaluated at your local running store!

=) Chelsea

Minnesota Running...

It has been hovering around 0 degrees for the last few days. In fact the current temperature is 7 degrees with a windchill of -13. Needless to say, it is hard to find motivation to run with weather like this. I hit the gym this weekend but I would prefer to run outside 10 to 1. So I decided to write my blog today about winter running essentials. Spending a little money now will make you more likely to get out when it is cold (because it won't feel so bad!).

1. Good running leggings. Make sure to get an insulated pair that will keep you warm. This pair is my favorite!

2. A reflective jacket. Running in winter means running in the dark for me since I leave for work in the dark and return as the sun is nearly set. After a few close calls with non-observant drivers, my boyfriend bought me this Asics one. It has a blinking light strip on the shoulder. Rather spendy but when you have a fabulous boyfriend, he doesn't mind. ;-)

3. Cell phone. Not only does it provide good music...but I have had a reoccurring dream that I am going to slip on a piece of ice and break my leg. No joke. So, in case of leg breaking or any other emergency, have a phone on hand!

4. Headband/Hat. I love my headband that I got from the Twin Cities 10K this year but pretty much any hat will do.

5. Running gloves. The cheap ones just don't cut it. They don't wick moisture or keep your hands warm enough. Sorry I have to link you to the men's version but it seems that Target has already sold out of mine for the year online. Check your local store!

Most of all...JUST DO IT. The worst part is just stepping out the front door, then it's all downhill from there.

Momma Louie's Granola

Granola with Greek yogurt is my absolute favorite breakfast. Quick, easy, and full of protein. I sticks with me all morning and is low in fat. Cha-ching!
But...store bought granola can be super unhealthy (think of breaking up a candy bar and eating it for breakfast). I can tried several brands but many times the healthier the granola was, the more it tasted like crap! So my mom sent some of her homemade granola and I haven't eaten anything else since.

This recipe can be used a "base" in which you can add whatever you like after it comes out of the oven. Dried fruits, different nuts, or in my friend Mel's book: chocolate chips. The girl makes a great point, mini-chocolate chips would be fantastic but I am a true purest in the sense that I don't like anything but the plain stuff. It is truly delicious on it's own and a small handful is perfect to curb a sweet tooth!

The recipe is rather simple but I take no credit. This is Momma Louie all the way...

Granola
3 cup oats (old fashioned)
1 cup almonds (slivered or sliced)
1 cup sunflower seeds

1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup honey
1/4 vegetable oil (or sunflower oil)

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine the first three ingredients.

In your blender (or Magic Bullet, as my mom prefers) combine the last three ingredients. Pulse a couple times to mix the liquid into a paste. Pour over dry ingredients and stir well! Spread your granola on the parchment paper and throw it in the oven.

Bake for 1 hour  & 15 minutes...making sure to stir the mixture every 15 minutes. After removing it from the oven, let it completely cool before breaking it up and pouring it into an airtight container for storage.

I use a 1/4 cup as my serving every morning. One tablespoon equals 1 WW Point Plus so enjoy in moderation and eat happy =)

Let's give this a go...

A few days ago, while in the middle of a run, the thought hit me to write about my transformation from the "Cupcake Girl" to half-marathon runner. I didn't change much about my life but overall I am much healthier now than I ever have been and feel the need to share these little hints with other people.
My goal is to share my exercise hints, healthy-eating recipes and encouragement with the world in the hope of inspiring one other person. One. That's it. Just one.
I'm not a personal trainer, dietitian or blogger extraordinaire...nor am I trying to be one. Trust me, I'll stick to teaching 15 year olds. Much easier ;-)

So, let's give this a go...