A Little Late Post, But Delicious Asparagus & Cod

After a work out at the gym, I was craving some fish and asparagus. The two go very well together. Asparagus is loaded with B Vitamins such as B-12 & 6 (Cobalamin & Pyridoxine). These provide energy to help burn more fat. B vitamins can be found in your dark leafy greens such as Kale, Spinach, and of course asparagus. It's very important that you get enough B-Vitamins because they are also bone builders. Dark leafy greens are also a great source of Calcium.
I seasoned my Cod with salt, pepper, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, and some parsley. I drizzled it with olive oil and stuck in in the oven at 400 for about 15 minutes. (It was really really good). I used to not be a big fish fan, but since I don't eat much chicken or beef, unless I'm out at a restaurant, fish & shrimp is all I buy. I've learned ways to make fish taste delicious but I've also had some bad experiences. When it comes to nutrition, I try to substitute seasonings. With meat I ALWAYS salt and pepper, with veggies it depends. I try using a little bit of garlic powder or the usual red pepper flakes. 

For my asparagus I tossed it with some olive oil, sprinkled salt and threw it in the oven with my fish. You will hear the asparagus sizzle as the oil heats up. The oil also helps them not stick to the baking sheet. You don't want to put asparagus in without any type of liquid- oil, butter. You'll come out with very dry, tasteless food. Healthy fats such as olive oil and coconut oil enhance flavor and give the food that beautiful brown, attractive look. 
When you see your asparagus turn a bright green color, take one out and test it. I like mine still crunchy, not soggy. I always look for that beautiful bright green color. I take them out and squeeze a whole lemon over top. 
You can fix asparagus many ways. Another favorite way is to sprinkle Parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar and bake. mmmm, that IS really good with chicken or even a steak.   

For desert I had a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter, banana, and dark chocolate chips. YUM!

The best thing about fixing asparagus... is you can't eat all of it in one setting. I always save mine and plop it over a salad or grill it with some veggies for a stir fry the next day. The next day I made a spinach and kale salad with garbanzo beans, cauliflower, broccoli and sweet peppers on the side. Those round orange looking things are dried apricots. These are great addition to a salad or I just love snacking on them. It's the only dried fruit that I actually care for. 

Bolthouse Farms make the best fruit & protein drinks without all of the extra sugar. It's all sugar that comes from the fruit. Berry Boost is one of my favorites. I had it with my salad. 

My New Babies: Saucony's!

I've been needing a new pair of running shoes for a while now. Sorry Nike, but you are just not cutting it. This year for Christmas my parents agreed to buy me a pair. As you know, when you are a runner, you go through shoes like there is no tomorrow, especially when you run 15-20 miles a week. That's a lot of wear and tear on your shoes...not to mention your feet. I'll talk about runner's feet later on and what helps me to overcome sore, dry, and achy feet. (Who knew when you run you are use your feet 100% of the time). 

Anyways, the day after Christmas I went on my first run in a week and boy am I glad I had my Saucony's to back me up. It's difficult to maintain a running schedule 24/7, but when you do, it's seriously the best thing for your body. Because once you fall of the track, it is hard to start where you left off. The holidays are the worst for me. All of the junk food, shopping, and spending time with family, it can be hard to run everyday.

Oh man, I'm in heaven! These lovely things could take me anywhere. If you want to pick up running, please please... if you haven't learned anything else, make sure you have an excellent pair of shoes. If you don't, it can result in injuries and cause you to not be able to  run in general. It is so important to run with a great pair, even though they can be costly. Try to find the deals, order online, or shop the stores like Marshall's. 

Now that we are talking about running, I am pretty disappointed. Like I said in my last post I've come down with the nasty flu. When I'm sick, my life is a disaster. I don't clean, I lay in bed, I want to hire a maid or a cook. I'm just lazy. Last night I crawled in bed and instead of watching the ball drop, I put Aladdin on and waited for Joe to come check on me after work. He didn't get out of the restaurant until after 1am. You know I love him when I wait up for him, even if I'm sickly. I AM looking forward to the soup he is making! If anything, the orange juice and soup will cure me ;)

Right now, green tea with honey and lemon will have to do.

My wonderful roommate Rachel brought me orange juice. 

It's not cool being sick. You miss out on all the fun. When I get sick, I always do around an important time of the year or a holiday. This year I just missed out on all the fun, dressy parties and music, and the ball dropping. Well, maybe next year! 

Happy New Year everyone! Here's to 2014!