Lesson learned-NEVER leave a knife in the sink!

LOVE "The Box" from Marvin's Produce.  REAL food for $15!!  Check this out www.marvinsproduce.com....look at all this yummy goodness & everything I've tasted so far has been great!

BUT-be sure to wash your knife & put it back in its place when you are finished chopping your veggies or you just might find yourself on a cot @ MD360 or the nearest urgent care facility near you!  I still cringe when I think about it-the knife was in soapy water in the bottom of the sink...

Little shot of lidocaine in the tip of my finger, 3 stitches & tetanus shot!
GREAT DAY!

Getting bandaged up!

BUT my day ended with Trey making me chicken fajitas and I already had these delicious refried  beans in the crockpot.  You have got to try these!!

Crock-pot Refried Beans

2 lbs. dried pinto beans
1 large onion, chopped
4 Tbl. fresh garlic, minced
1 Tbl. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
2 tsp. cumin
10 cups hot water

* You can add more salt if you would like

Rinse the beans in a colander.  Combine all ingredients in the crockpot.  Cover and cook on high for 4 hours and on low for 2 hours.

Uncover and remove any extra liquid.  Leave enough liquid for desired consistency.  Mash beans with potato masher.  Serve warm.

I actually halved this recipe but used the same amount of spices.


SO YUMMY!  Enjoy!

Meatless Monday

Every Monday is not always meatless, but usually at least once a week we try to!  Here's our "go to" recipe:

Roasted Veggie & Black Bean Burritos

2 whole sweet potatoes, peeled & cubed small
2 whole jalapeños, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced small
1 onion, diced small
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 pinch of salt & pepper
1 can black beans, rinsed & drained
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
2 tsp fresh lime juice
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Whole Wheat Tortillas (homemade - recipe previously posted)

In a bowl, toss the raw veggies in olive oil and season with spices.  Line baking sheet with foil and roast veggies in 425 degree oven for 25 minutes.  Let cool.  Then mix veggies, beans and lime juice gently.

Put bean mixture in center of tortilla and top with cheese.  Fold over and place seam side down in baking dish - bake @ 375 degrees for 15 minutes or golden brown.

NOTE:  I do not bake mine since I made the tortillas, I put the burritos back on the cast iron skillet that I used to make the tortillas, and just brown for about a minute...put another pot on top (panini style) to make it a little crunchy.

Serve with your favorite salsa!

SUPER yummy!  Enjoy!

REAL fun

I am back from my cruise and it was REAL fun!!!  It is impossible to keep it REAL on a cruise ship-I'm pretty sure that I did not eat one thing that wasn't processed - except the fruit - & my fitness level was at a minimum but not bad for vacation - dreadmill running (holding on tight at times due to a rocking ship), stationary bike & rock wall climbing!!!

Here's my view from the dreadmill-not too bad!!

It's good to be home!  

Here's a quick simple REAL side dish:

Sweet Potato Fries

2 sweet potatoes, peeled & cut into fries

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp chili powder

1/8 tsp cumin

Olive oil

Toss fries with olive oil.  Mix spices together then toss with fries.  Bake on foiled lined pan @425 for 30 minutes.  I cook mine until they start to crisp.

These are super good!!

Enjoy!

Crock-pot Whole Chicken

I love the convenience of a crock-pot, but I just never really seem to LOVE the meals prepared in one.  I was surprised that this turned out as good as it did & you can use the leftover chicken for later on during the week.

The Best Whole Chicken in a Crock-Pot

2 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 onion
1 whole chicken

Combine spices.  Loosely chop onion and put in the bottom of crock-pot.  Remove giblets from the chicken & then rub the spice mixture on chicken-put some under the skin also.  Put chicken on top of the onions, cover it, and turn it on high.  No need to add any liquid.  Cook 4-5 hours on high (for a 3-4 lb chicken).

Use the leftover bones, skin and cooking juices to make stock in the crock-pot.  Add carrots, bay leaf, fresh thyme and celery (just use whatever you have)...fill water to the top, cover with a lid & cook on low for 8-10 hours.   This can be frozen for later use.


Hope you enjoy:-)

I LOVE TO RUN!!!

This morning was my first Reedy River 10K in many years...WOW!  I've missed it!  When we woke up it was cold, sprinkling/sleeting, and chance of snow...not your ideal weather to lace up and head out for a run, but my thought was how awesome if it started snowing on us during the race.  Sad to say it did not snow, but ended up being PERFECT running weather.

Before the race.  Trey decided he was going to take it
easy today and run with us!

Lisa Payne - cute as always

Ready to RUN!!

Love this course...if you run downtown Greenville there is going to be some HILLS!  This is a challenging 10K.  I must admit it was nice just running 6.2 miles (I hate to say "just") but after half marathon training this was a PERFECT race.  

Trey sped up in front of me to take an action shot!

It was great seeing so many people this morning!  I LOVE TO RUN...

When in doubt - just GO!  What a great day!

"I really regret that workout" - said No One Ever.

Looking forward to my next race which is a 5K in Prentiss, MS - Run for the Roses.  Running with my sister & niece.