A New Twist

More often than not, I end up buying the same things at the grocery store.  They are my staples. They make me happy. And until they don’t, I’ll continue to buy them.

That’s just how I roll.

However, I do like to mix up how they end up on my plate. It at least makes me feel like I’m doing something different…

So say hello to veggie flatbread:The differences between this and pizza are minimal. But still exist.

For one, it’s a new shape. Woooaaaahhh… way outside the comfort zone!

Also, it includes broccoli and chickpeas but not cheese. And I don’t care what people say. You may even like it. But I just don’t really feel right putting broccoli/chickpeas on pizza. Or ever calling it pizza if it doesn’t include cheese.  So that’s why this definitely couldn’t be called pizza… right?

The crust was yet again the pizza dough crust made with beer that Holly created. I made a half recipe. It still gave me 3 good-sized flatbreads.  Plus, on a Tuesday (yuck!), I didn’t mind being able to finish the other half of the beer. ;)

And yes, for those of you who asked yesterday, a Tuesday is still a Tuesday. Even if you have Monday off.  It just may not be the most “extreme” of the yucky Tuesdays… Tuesday Light?

Either way, the drunken flatbread (oooh… maybe that’s a good name for it?) hit the spot after a long day. After Monday’s long run and 5 hours of running errands, I was less than enthusiastic about getting up early to hit the gym. But as usual, I would have just been upset with myself if I really had to trudge to the gym after getting home from work late. And I felt great after the workout.  21 minutes on the elliptical- had only planned to go to 20, but when I checked the time, I had already passed it (weird!).

Then 20 minutes on the stairs. I will have to say, after the Hustle Up the Hancock, I’ll be ready to give the stairs a rest. Or at least back off of them a little. 

That was yesterday’s workout. This morning’s workout? The 4 miles I was supposed to run? Um….

I didn’t sleep in or anything. Made it to the gym. Stepped on the treadmill. And thought, “woah, this really isn’t going to happen today.”

Have you had a moment like that recently?  Had I started running, it wouldn’t have gone for very long. So I walked- for 30 minutes (2 miles) and did some serious ab work for the rest of the time there. I haven’t focused solely on that area lately. And there was no reason to waste my time since I was already up.

So now I have this 4 miles to make up at some point. A new twist got thrown into my normal routine! Not sure if I’ll work them in when I get home?  Or maybe I’ll call this my “relaxed” day for the week and do it tomorrow morning (my actual rest day) instead? Decisions, decisions…

Pizza and Pancakes- But Not All At Once

Aaaaahhhh… vacation.

Yes, I did get to leave a little early from work yesterday.  But no, it was not a good day.

Which would explain why I’m sitting on my couch right now, staring at empty wine bottles.

Don’t worry- my friend Mon came over to help with that.  I bribed her to come hang out.  With food.  Pizza, actually. I did the beer pizza dough again.Fun fact- I cannot, for the life of me, pronounce the name of this beer. So I just call it “Liney’s”. 

Toppings for the pizza was a matter of what I had on hand.This time, it was mushrooms, red onion, chicken sausage, spinach, cheddar, mozzarella and chili pepper flakes.  A mess of goodness.  Fo’ sho.

Good thing we carb loaded with the pizza.  Because otherwise, after watching The Kids Are All Right(Fantastic movie, by the way), we would have never had the energy to go out to a local bar to meet up with some of our guy friends.

Geared up in our hoodies and sweat pants.  Because we’re classy like that.

Thank goodness they love us.  And don’t judge.

I’m not a big believer in taking advil/tylenol.  I try to avoid it at all costs.  This started last year when I was recovering from the stress reaction in my femur.  I was VERY careful to not overdo it, and questioned every little ache or pain.  So I wouldn’t take any pain meds for it, because I didn’t want to make it feel better, think it could handle running on it, and actually make it worse.  Is that weird logic?  Maybe.

Point of the story- no advil to be found in the house this morning.  When I really really wanted it.

There’s some around here somewhere. Surely.  But it was giving me a bigger headache out of frustration, so I gave up and just started coffee instead. 

Surprisingly, I didn’t wake up starving (which is normal).  But knowing myself, it was only a matter of time.  So the breakfast process was put into motion anyway.In the mix was approximately 1 cup of pancake mix made as directed (I say approximately because I ran out), 1/3 cup of oatmeal, and a handful of walnuts.  Add some brown sugar because you’re feeling “kicky”. Pour into a ramekin. Then throw it in the oven to bake for about 25-30 minutes. Perfect- by the time the pancake came out of the oven, it was time to chow down.

Top with peanut butter and chocolate chips- because what else would you put on it?It’s like a walnut oatmeal cookie pancake?

Normally, I think this would serve two people just fine.

Normally.  Told you that “wake up starving” thing would hit eventually.

I should probably get off my bum now. There are errands to attend to and I don’t want to run into the “closing early for the holidays” issue.  So I’m up and at them… riiiiiigggghhhtttt….. now.

Or I’ll finish this cup of coffee first.  Either/or.