Dinner

Sweet potato…it’s what’s for dinner!

March 7, 2011
By

I never know what to expect the day after long run.  Sometimes I want to eat my right arm off.  Sometimes I feel like I don’t want to eat a thing.  After yesterday’s race, I experienced a little bit of both.

Those post-race pancakes definitely filled me up and I kept munching throughout the day, but when I woke up this morning, nothing appealed to me.  Honestly, all I could think about was falling back into my bed.  So I packed my lunchbox and went off to work!

By 3:15, I was in that bed I’d been thinking about all day.  I rarely take naps on weekdays, but today warranted a nap.  Adrenaline + running = exhaustion. I didn’t budge for two solid hours and I’m sure I’ll have no trouble sleeping tonight.

The only reason I budged at all…the hunger!  Once rested, my body NEEDED food.  There was no time for dilly-dallying.  I whipped up the quickest, tastiest dinner I could come up with.

Savory Twice-Baked Sweet Potato

Ingredients (single serving):

  • 1 medium sweet potato
  • 1/2 c. black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 3 T. salsa
  • 1/4 tsp. chili powder
  • 1/4 tsp. cumin
  • 2 T. shredded cheese (I used a taco blend.)

This meal came together in minutes and it was a delicious.

The mashed sweet potato combined with the savory beans and salsa to form a flavorful filling.

Topped with some yummy cheese…because cheese works on everything!

And baked until piping hot and bursting with goodness!

Directions:

  1. Wash sweet potato, pierce with a fork, and microwave until tender (~8-10 minutes).
  2. In a small bowl, combine beans, salsa, chili powder, and cumin and microwave until heated through (~2 minutes).
  3. When sweet potato is cool enough to handle, slice down the center and remove the insides.  Combine the sweet potato and black bean mixture to form the filling.
  4. Stuff the shell of the potato with filling, top with cheese, and bake for 15 minutes at 350*.
  5. Eat and enjoy!

…with a side of crunchy kale for good measure!

This dinner had a little bit of everything I wanted – sweet, salty, and spicy.  It was a comforting meal for a hungry, tired lady.  For dessert, I’ll take some trashy TV with a side of puggle.

Hope you had a lovely Monday!

What’s your favorite single-serving meal? I usually cook big, family-sized dinners, but sometimes it’s nice to whip something up just for me.  I usually enjoy veggie burgers and tofu on my own, but tonight’s dinner might be a new favorite.

A Stay-cation Day

February 24, 2011
By

When my alarm went off at 5:45 AM, I rolled over.  I cringed.  Why would I agree to meet someone at the gym so early during my vacation?

Because morning workouts are awesome, that’s why!  For most of the winter, I’ve been retreating to the gym in the late afternoon/evening.  I had myself convinced that I liked working out later in the day, clearing my head after work.  Today I remembered why I prefer morning workouts.

A morning run gives me energy to begin the day. I completed 5.5 miles in 51 minutes (9:16/mi) with a .5% incline.  I was home by 7:30 AM and rearing to go.

Taxes? Refund will be here soon.  Thank you, Uncle Sam!

Laundry? Done, folded, and put away.

Cleaning? Those dust bunnies got nothin’ on me!  I found each and every one of ‘em.

Dog? She got her exercise, too.  A refreshing neighborhood jaunt was the perfect afternoon pick-me-up.

Dinner? Mastered!

Two delicious meals in two days.  It’s a BOTR record.  Tonight’s dinner was better than pizza…and pizza is my favorite food.  I had Indian food on Monday night and got struck with inspiration.  I needed to make my own channa masala. Well, not really my own, per se.  I needed to make this channa masala.  Jenna’s recipes make my mouth water everyday, so I was a conscientious student and followed her every instruction.  Chop, melt, caramelize, pince, simmer. I listened.  It worked like a charm!

Chickpeas have never tasted better.  I had a hearty scoop of channa masala atop a bed of tender brown rice.

Jenna stressed the importance of the pince (pinc-AY).  I don’t even know what pince means, but I must have done it right.  I pince’d the heck out of that stuff because it was unbelievable!  The spices – garam masala, coriander, cumin, tumeric, and cayenne – along with the fresh ginger, loaded the dish with layers of robust flavors.  I can only imagine the flavor explosion it will bring to tomorrow’s lunch.

P.S.  – Thank you for all the great recipe suggestions.  The week is only half over.  I can’t wait to try some of your favorites!

The night is young.  I still have plenty of time to do nothing!

How do you spend “stay-cations?” Most of the time, my school vacations are spent at home.  I like to catch up on things and relax.  I’d much prefer a tropical location, but time off is time off.  No complaints here!

Foodbuzz
Quantcast

Tags

almond butter apple banana beach beans bloggers books cake chicken cookie Dessert farmer's market fries frozen yogurt fruit fuel Green Monster grilling healthy living summit holidays larabar Lucy Luna bar marathon training oatmeal OIAJ pancake pasta peanut butter pizza race Recipe restaurants Running salad shoes Snacks strength training sweet potato treadmill veggies winter Yoga yoga bread yogurt