Thanks Nike....

So, as you may have seen, my spiffy new mini-me on the side of my page has been harrassing me for the last couple of weeks. And every time I log onto my page, I can't help but be amused at her comments. Nike really didn't hold back when they programmed the mini-me's to kick people into gear. Here are some of my favorite comments from Mini-Surfrunner:
"I'm stuck in a rut! What I wouldn't give for a run!"
"I've turned into a couch potato. I need to run."
and my all-time favorite:
"This ball is getting more exercise than I am", whilst playing with a paddleboard ball. This particular comment is even enhanced, because Mini-Surfrunner is wearing a loose-fitting shirt and is slightly sticking her tummy out. So, she looks fatter. Good Job Nike, that's pretty effective.

The funniest part of this situation is that I've been running like a madwoman with a vengeance. I've started hard-core training for the winter since before Christmas. I'm just too lazy to plug my iPod into my laptop to upload all my runs to the server. Thus, poor Mini-Surfrunner is stuck in limbo. If I were to give Nike any kind of technical recommendation, it would be that runs were automatically uploaded to the server wirelessly after every run. We're tired enough already from the run, you can't ask us to fiddle with our equipment when all we want to do is fuel up with chocolate milk and food, then sleep after a run.

But, since they haven't made that particular technological enhancement yet, I promise to upload my runs tonight. Mini-Surfrunner is probably hoarse from the whining.

Happy New Year!

Raquel and I ended up celebrating our New Year's by throwing a party. Well, that and of course going for some runs and climbs. But, for this post I don't have any fun photos to go along with the runs or the climbs, so you're going to get pics of the party food instead. Happy New Year!!

This has got to be one of my favorite xmas gifts: a brand new chocolate fountain.

Steamed Mussels in White Wine

Grilled Habanero Shrimp in Cilantro Sauce

Goat Cheese and Asparagus Tarts

Paella

More Tweaks

As you can see from the new addition on my right sidebar, I've successfully been able to attach my Nike+ Mini-me to my blog! I've also removed my "last run" feature, because it already displays that info in the mini-me feature, as well as my running statistics and history. It still kind of blows my mind that I've run 800+ miles since I've gotten this system. It's amazing what the human body can accomplish.

But, while the statistics and animated mini-me are cute, I have to admit that the things coming out of her mouth can be a tad obnoxious and annoying. So please don't mind what she says because I'm not the one that programmed her to do that.

Mexican/Cuban Fried Rice

I love "work from home" days. I get to be relatively productive while the TV is on in the background. But, my favorite part is that I can play in the kitchen for lunch. Today I was unwilling to eat a bunch of yesterday's leftovers, so I decided to make a different meal from it. Here's what I came up with:

Ingredients
2 cups chicken stock (I used the leftover broth from yesterday)
5 stalks celery, minced
1 small yellow onion, minced
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 can of black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup of uncooked rice
1 cup of shredded cooked chicken (leftovers from yesterday)
pinch of Hawaiian Sea Salt
1 tablespoon of cumin
1/4 bunch of fresh thyme
1/4 cup of chopped cilantro

Saute the garlic, onions, and jalapenos in extra virgin olive oil on medium high heat. When the onions are translucent, toss in the chicken, salt, cumin, celery, and black beans. Stir fry for 5 minutes. Stir in rice. After rice has been coated with all ingredients, pour in the stock. Turn down the heat to medium and simmer covered for 15-20 minutes. Stir in cilantro before serving.

Mexican Tortilla Chicken Soup

I was cold...
So I made soup....Thanks Tyler Florence!

Mexican Tortilla Chicken Soup

Well, soup and chicken quesadillas, but the quesadillas don't make an exciting pic. As for the soup, don't ever underestimate the power of making your own chicken stock! Also, I baked the tortilla chips instead of frying them. They tend to hold up better in the soup.

Stay warm out there folks.

Tis the Season..

I've decided to take another approach to describe the events of what happened yesterday by modifying "The Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clark Moore.

Twas the day before monday, and all through the apartment
we were itching to hike, even though it was foggy;
We found a short route, close to SF,
not knowing St. Nicholas soon would be there;
We wrapped ourselves up all snug in our coats,
While visions of the Bay Area danced in our heads;
Raquel with the Nalgene, and I with the pack,
set out on Mussel Rock Trail to a paragliding camp,
When out on the cliff there arose such a clatter,
I sprinted towards the beach to see what was the matter.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a little old paraglider, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
He jumped off the cliff, to his team gave a whistle,
and paraglided down like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night".

It was definitely one of our more exciting hikes. I still have no idea how that paraglider manuevered the equipment with the entire costume, the fat suit, AND the hair/beard on. But then again, Santa is magic. So maybe he is just getting some relaxation time before the big night. That's my kind of Santa.

Thanksgiving Vegetarian Loco Moco

This morning, Raquel and I woke up completely sore and beat up from our Thanksgiving workouts. Apparently, Raquel biked 18 miles and I hiked a collective 12 miles over the weekend. So we were looking for a little treat for breakfast, when Raquel had an ingenious idea to make a unique loco moco. She suggested that we use the Mashed Potato Polpetti and gravy from the Thanksgiving leftovers. Then, fry up some sunny-side up eggs to assemble the loco moco. I'm sure that meal completely negated our workouts, but it was sooo worth it.