Sprint 2 the Table

Appetites and Adventures

BENGAY Zero Degrees + Lots ‘o Legs

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Injuries and soreness aren’t fun.

Lately it seems like I can’t stay well (thank you, knees), so I was particularly excited when BENGAY contacted me to review their new Zero Degrees product.

What makes it so cool?  It literally IS cool.  According to their literature it is “the first and only topical pain reliever tha can be stored in the freezer, combining the instant sensation of ice with the long-lasting, trusted pain relief of BENGAY GEL.”

This weekend was fun, but pretty strenuous on my body.  If you’ve been reading for a while, you may know that I’ve had some trouble with my knee for the past few months.  I was in serious need of BENGAY Zero Degrees after a 7 mile hike Saturday followed up by a 3 mile run and 2 softball games on Sunday… and one lovely strawberry on my toosh:

No, I didn’t put BENGAY on my open wound (NOT a good idea).  I DID slather it all over my aching knees after spending some QT with bags of frozen peas.

I loved that BENGAY Zero Degrees comes in a deoderant-like stick, making it easy to apply – no sticky hands or pain when you forget and stick you finger in your eye.  Another plus is that it doesn’t stink like most other products out there.  My knees may make me feel like a granny, but I don’t need to smell like a granny too!

BENGAY has offered to send one of these cool Zero Degrees sticks along with some other fun goodies (I received a tote bag, hair ties, a workout towel, and Karina Smirnoff’s dance-inspired workout DVD) to TWO readers!

Receive up to 4 entries by:

  1. Subscribe to the Sprint 2 the Table RSS feed or email
  2. Tweet: You could say something like: I entered to win 1 of 2 BENGAY Zero Degrees prize bags in the @sprint2thetable giveaway: http://wp.me/p16jDn-1hS  #giveaway #fitness
  3. Be Social: Twitter Follow me, Pinterest Follow Me and/or Pin Something of Mine, Instagram Follow Me
  4. Comment: What do you do to help your body recover?

 

Please leave a *separate comment* for each entry!

Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Thursday, May 24th.  The winner will be announced on Friday, May 25th.

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This week’s recap should explain why I need that BENGAY!  🙂

I’ve been incorporating more plyo/active rest into my weight workouts.  It’s made a big difference in my appetite!  I feel like I’m getting more out of my workouts and I’m craving protein like a caveman.  Still not going too big on the meat, but I’m killin’ some protein shake creations.  After Sundays games in 85 degree temps and direct sunlight I couldn’t get to the blender fast enough!

Put me in coach!

Workout Recap (5/7 – 5/13):

***

I just realized this post is filled with pics of my legs from various angles.  I love an unexpected “leg day.”

What is the last injury you had?

What is the best workout you’ve had lately?

Five is for Friday

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It’s been a crazy, crazy week. 

Here are 5 things I’ve been meaning to share with you, but just ran outta time…

1. Blend Retreat Recap Round-Up

The hardworking organizers have collected all of our recaps (click here for mine) on the Blend Retreat in Boulder, CO!  Check them all out by clicking here.  There are some great ladies in this group  you might just discover a new favorite blog. 🙂

2. Protein Peanut Butter Sauce

I’ve been using peanut flour to slather my baked (errr… frozen….) goods lately.  It’s also good by the spoonful.  Not that I would know.

Protein Peanut Butter Sauce

  • 1 T peanut flour
  • 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
  • 1/4 C almond milk
  • 1/4 tsp maple extract (or syrup, to your liking)
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon (optional, I just love cinnamon)
  • 1-2 drops liquid Stevia
  • Shake of salt
Mix it together and pour it over the treat of your choice!

3. Coconut Noodles

One more Food & Wine Festival mention then I swear I’ll shut up.

Saturday I attended a session with Bryan Voltaggio (remember Bryan and his brother, Micheal, from Top Chef?).  they have a restaurant in Maryland called Volt.  If I’m ever in the ‘hood, I will be sure to stop by this place.  Dude made a funked-up version of strawberry short-cake.  He MICROWAVED the cake (I thought only bloggers did that?!).  Then he made a granola with strawberry puree and a mini ice cream-coconut doughnut with dry ice… but the coolest part…

He made noodles from coconut and agar agar using syringe and a piece of piping!  Check out the noodle-pushing-through-a-syringe shot in the top right pic below.

It’s things like this that warrant the glowing praise our fest received from Josh Ozersky of TIME and Every Day with Rachel Ray:

“There are a lot of food festivals these days. There is a very classy one in Aspen; there is a rocking one in South Beach… having just got back from Atlanta, I am ready to say that there is only one indispensable event, and that is it. The reason is obvious: the south is the new capital of gastronomy in America.”

4. I have an addiction.  

I wasn’t home long enough to warrant a full grocery store trip (I’m actually writing this from the Sky Club right now), but I HAD to stop to buy this mid-week: 

 

Green smoothies are my crack.  And that’s not whack.

5. Stand up and WALK!

Lastly, this is the article I will use to convince my boss I need a walking desk.

Source: Treatment Online

Gretchen Reynolds, the New York Times Phys Ed columnist recently published a book, The First 20 Minutes, about the effects of a sedentary lifestyle.

The previously recommend 30 minutes of exercise per day may not be enough to ward off the dangers of sitting on your arse at a desk all day.

Reynolds says “Sitting for long periods of time… tends to cause changes physiologically within your muscles.  You stop breaking up fat in your bloodstream, you start getting accumulations of fat.”

She suggests that you make it a goal to stand for two minutes every 20 minutes that you’re chained to a desk.  Studies have shown that merely standing can have an impact on how your body responds physiologically, even decreasing your chances of getting diabetes!

***

I’m excited for sleeping in, a hike date, and 2 softball games this weekend!

What are you looking forward to this weekend?

Do you have a sedentary job?  How do you combat the effects?

Italian Baked Broccoli Slaw

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Procrastination is a vice.

 

Unfortunately, it’s a vice that I possess.  I procrastinate at work (I am the queen of working until 2am), with cleaning (my BFF finally told me I had to clean my shower because “that’s disgusting”), and with certain type of shopping (I’ve gone through every moisturizer sample in the house – it’s time to hit up Sephora).

 

 

If you look at my recipes marked “to try,” you know I procrastinate at that too.  I get distracted by other ideas, go out to eat too much, or just straight-up give in to $10 Whole Foods hot bar cravings.

This vice is the only excuse I have for not trying Kristin’s Broccoli Slaw.  I’m ashamed it took so long ’cause this easy dish was AWESOME.

 

I hate to dub it a recipe since I literally just cleaned out my veggie drawer into a Pyrex.  In the break down below I barely include measurements.  Adjust everything to your liking!

My version was loaded with flavorful items like roasted artichokes, capers, and lemon-pepper tempeh.  I topped it off with a garlic marinara sauce, extra basil, and red pepper flakes.  Talk about a meal… I am calling it 2 servings, but I could have sat there and demolished the whole thing.

 

 

There are a million possibilities for variations.  Kristin makes a BBQ version.  Next up for me will be a Mexican riff.

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Italian Baked Broccoli Slaw

  • 1/2 package broccoli slaw
  • 1/2 head cauliflower, chopped
  • Sliced mushrooms (I used a mix of cremini and shiitake)
  • Lemon-Pepper Tempeh
  • Roasted artichokes
  • Capers
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Basil
  • 1 C marinara sauce

 

Pre-heat oven to 375.

Toss everything into a 8×8 pyrex dish and top with sauce.

Bake for 20-25 mins.

Serves 2.

***

After all the Food & Wine festivities, meals like this vegan dish and a lot of green smoothies have been in my life this week!

What have you been procrastinating on lately?

Have you tried broccoli slaw before? (You can find it at any major grocery store!)

 

What I Tasted Wednesday (Food & Wine Edition)

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So. Much. Food.

Atlanta’s Food & Wine Festival may be pricey, but you definitely get your money’s worth.  3 days of education followed by tasting tents.

What’s more is that the restaurants rotate – so all 3 days of tasting are different!  Gluttony ensued.  Seriously – I still had a food baby until this morning.

Corinne, Adam from UVA Imports, and me

It’s only natural that I do a final (maybe… there’s so much to share!) recap of the festival for What I Ate Wednesday this week.

Though it might be shorter to write a “what I didn’t eat” post. 😉

 

Check out my eats below; then click here to hope on over to our host – Jenn @ Peas and Crayons – to see the tasty treats everyone else in blog-land has been noshing on lately.

 

Tasting Tents, Day 1:

Clockwise, from the top left:

  • Delta wine tasting and a bacon brownie
  • Balcones whiskey samples (from an amazing Texas distillery – new favorite!)
  • Paco’s Tacos from Charlotte, NC – their Ghost Pepper Salsa almost made me cry
  • High Cotton from Greenville, SC brought a delicious chilled English pea soup with citrus-cured smoked salmon and almond brittle
  • Harvest on Main from Blue Ridge, GA impressed me with the ramp biscuit they served alongside Applewood smoked BBQ

Clockwise, from the top left:

Tasting Tents, Day 2:

I woke up still full after the tents and the Pig Out dinner… but I powered through like a fat kid champ.

Clockwise, from the top left:

  • Canoe was up first with scallops over an edamame corn salad (the first scallop I have ever liked!)
  • I wish I could remember whose this was – the tuna tartar was perfect with that sauce and foam
  • Crook’s Corner from Chapel Hill, NC surprised me with a schnitzel with a perfectly crisp yet cheesy crust; the tamale wasn’t the best I’ve had, but certainly the prettiest
  • The star of the day – a terrine smorgasbord from Kevin Outzs and The Spotted Trotter (this alone made a temporary return to meat-eating worth it).

Update: I found Kevin’s list of the 7 terrines served on their site: (1) ChiChili Pork Belly with Calabrian Pancetta; (2) Rabbit and Pork Belly with Lardo and Pistachios with Aspic Blanc d’Apple; (3) Leek with Rabbit and Pork Belly & Black & Pink Pepper Creme; (4) Pork Belly with Mayhaw and Mayhaw Aspic; (5) Pork Belly and Rabbit with Apple and Fresh Sage; (6) Pork Belly Champagne Wrapped in Coppa; and (7) Cheeky Belly ~ Beef Cheek with Pork Belly and Rabbit Liver. #2 was my fav – nom.

Tasting Tents, Day 3:

By now I had slowed down a lot.  Mom and I went together for Mother’s Day… the thought of food was almost too much to take so I did a tasting of her tastes.  In fact, I didn’t take a single picture until we were half way through.

Clockwise, from the top left

  • Sliders from Bocado (this place serves the best burger in ATL)
  • Some sort of ham deliciousness served with socca (I’ve never seen that out of a Southern cook before!)
  • Bistro AIX from Jacksonville, FL offered a Moroccan spice-rubbed pork shoulder with harissa-marinated watermelon salad and crispy pappadam (this may sound weird, but that flavorful cracker was one of the best things I ate that day)
  • A rare find – white wine that I loved
  • Crispy pig ears from The Spotted Trotter (really good, but I was too freaked out to take more than a bite).

And…

…scene:

***

And that, my friends, is how you become impregnated with a 3 day food baby.

Would you have tried the crispy pig’s ear?

Has anyone else had a 3 day food baby?  Moderation who?!

Pigging Out

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Literally.

The first day of the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival ended with a party called “Pig Out” at local restaurant, JCT Kitchen.

We were greeted by a lovely lady from Delta who was handing out Mason jars for the special cocktails crafted for the event: the Island Mule and the Heritage Punch.  Both were delish, but I settled on the slightly-less-sweet punch.

The outdoor space was decorated beautifully – lights were strung up every where and there were candles in Mason jars in every available nook.  The hour-long line to get food was made more bearable by the gorgeous surroundings… and the guy walking around with a tray of tomato sandwiches.

Once we reached the buffet line, we were blown away.  Everyone received 2 plates piled high with food!

I wish I’d written down everything… The top plate on the left in the pic below contained cole slaw, perfectly-crisp fried chicken, and a tamale covered with the best mole I’ve had in a long time.  The boat of BBQ (top right) had brisket, ribs with a delicious sauce, and pulled pork.  It was all very good, but I only had a bite of each meat.  I was nervous about my stomach not being used to it and I was still full from the tasting tents!

Besides, I had to make room for the mini-desert pies!  The chocolate with peanut butter icing was my favorite, followed closely by the key lime… and the crust from the coconut.

We pigged out under the stars while listening to music from a live band playing one well-timed cover after another.  *Bliss*

Normally I am not a fan of buffets…  or of any food prepared in mass quantity.

My hat goes off to everyone involved with this meal.  There wasn’t one thing I wouldn’t have recommended to a friend!  And I am picky.

Alas, gluttony has taken its toll on my body (not that I’m complaining… I made my bed!).  The past couple of days there has been a lot quality time in the gym (bring it, Tony Horton!) and some awesomely-funky colored liquids going on:

***

One… maybe two… more posts and then I’ll put this festival to rest.  Until next year. 🙂

What are your thoughts on buffets/food prepared for the masses?

What are your go-to recovery foods/drinks when you need to reset?

Wining and Dining at Food & Wine

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Sometimes you throw it all out the window.

The Food & Wine Festival coming to your town is one of those times.  I ate red meat for the first time since October, inhaled sweets, and sampled more bourbon than I knew existed.  Needless to say it was quite the weekend!

Yup – I brought a snack to a food festival.

When I picked up my schwag, I was excited to see that I made the brochure!  This pic is from a volunteer opportunity at a local farm during last year’s festival.

Can you tell which one is me?

I remembered why I quit eating red meat (omg – the tummy ache!), and why I quit eating so much sugar (my sleep quality was soooo bad).  Not that I’m complaining.  I loved every moment of it… but I look forward to returning to clean eating this week!!

I took full advantage of the education opportunities and the ridiculously expensive 3 day pass.

The first class was the “History of the Southern Cocktail.”  The panel was impressive and I learned a lot.  For instance, ice was actually a sign of aristocracy in the South in the 1800s.   Due to the heat and the fact that freezers weren’t yet invented, ice was more expensive than meat or dairy.  It had to be transported from the North!

The traditional drink of the Kentucky Derby, the Mint Julep, was packed to the brim with ice to ensure Derby attendees knew who was part of the upper crust.

We sampled two drinks:

  • Chatham Artillery Punch – lemon, sugar, bourbon, Cognac, Jamaican rum, and sparkling wine
  • Crusta – bourbon, Cointreau, Angoustura bitters, Marischino liqueur, and lemon (SO good!)

My second class of the day was “How to Taste Blind.”  The two sommeliers in the session picked out the wines perfectly!  I proved  – once again – that I have a terrible palate.

I picked the Sauvignon Blanc, but didn’t get the region or year (FYI – a greener color to a white wine indicated a younger age).  This was a 2009 from France. The reds were a 2007 Syrah from France and a 2008 Camenere from Chile.  I was way off on both!

This was just the first part of day 1!  I have lots more to share throughout the week!

Despite the indulgence, I did have a good workout week.  Post-Blend I took Monday off before diving into it.  It must have done my body good because I was able to run 3 miles straight through for the first time since January!  I have an appointment with an ortho to have my knee looked at next week… part of me thinks I could cancel, but better safe than sorry.

Saturday morning I knocked out a P90X Plyo workout… it left me a sweaty mess, but was the perfect thing to do before heading back to F&W Festival for day 2!

Workout Recap (5/7 – 5/13):

  • Monday – REST
  • Tuesday – This Pinned workout, Bis/Back, 100 push-ups
  • Wednesday – Shoulders w/ plyo, 3 mi run, P90X Ab Ripper X, 100 push-ups
  • Thursday – This Under 10 Legs workout, 2 mi walk, Legs/Core
  • Friday – Tris/Chest w/ plyo, 100 push-ups
  • Saturday – P90X Plyo, 100 push-ups
  • Sunday –  3 mile run

***

Rainy mornings should mandate a work from home day.

Have you ever done a blind wine tasting?

Have you ever thrown any food “rules” out the window for a big event?

Blueberry-Green Tea Bulgur Antioxidant Bowl

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Because breakfast is the most important meal of the day…

 

I bring you an antioxidant-rich breakfast bowl!  This RAW Blueberry-Green Tea Bulgur Bowl will help you start the day out right.

Seriously – this thing kept me energized and full until lunch.

 

 

Curious for the recipe?  Click here to check out my guest post today over on A Dash of Meg!

***

I’m headed to the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival this weekend.  Can’t wait to recap for you next week!

What are you looking forward to this weekend?

Does Food & wine hold a festival where you live?  I would love to attend the one in Aspen!

 

I’m a Brewer

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True, a fair amount of this happened last weekend:

 

Heather and me at Avery Brewing

Source: Heather

 

However, the brewing I’ve been doing doesn’t involve beer.

I bit the bullet and decided to brew my own kombucha!  There are “how tos” all over the web for starting from scratch and growing your own scoby (the bacterial component you need to start the process).  While that seems very noble, I took a short cut and purchased a starter kit from Kombucha Brooklyn.

 

 

The kit came with everything I needed – a jar, tea bags, sugar, and a baby scoby.  All I has to do was follow their simple instructions, cover the jar, and wait 14-28 days.

For the record, mine took 20 days.  I’m not exactly sure how to tell when it’s ready… I just got bored with waiting.

 

 

The process was fun to watch.  It bubbled a little and my scoby-starter grew huge!  It covered the top of the ‘buch and was about 1/3 inch thick.

Once it’s done, you remove the scoby, saving it along with 1.5 cups of the brew to start your next batch.

 

 

Warning: The scoby is a little gross looking.  Don’t be scared.  It won’t hurt you.

 

Next I bottled my ‘buch in old GT’s Kombucha bottles and a Bragg’s bottle.  Then I added flavors to two of them – one ginger and one cinnamon.  The others I left plain.

 

 

They are all pretty tasty, but next time I’d add more flavor.  I’d also remember to let it sit on the counter bottled for a few days.  That apparently adds more effervescence and allows the flavors to develop as it continues to ferment.  Someone didn’t read all the directions…

 

I immediately started round 2.  This time I used pomegranate green tea in the brew.  I’ll let you know how it is in 14-28 days! 🙂

 

 

***

Not to get too political, but I can’t begin to express how awesome it was to see a sitting president endorse marriage equality. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Did anyone else wake up this morning thinking it was Friday?

What is your favorite Kombucha flavor? I need ideas!

 

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