Suburban Lush

Run Forrest Run

So, I've taken up running. Just after Christmas this year a friend and I signed on for a 10k race in May, and we've been training. Neither of us are natural runners, and we both find it hard to drag ourselves out every week. Particularly in the rain.

I'm slowly getting better and, much to my surprise, beginning to enjoy it a little. I run with a friend twice a week (well, two friends once a week each) and try to go for one run by myself although I'm not so motivated for that. I enjoy the company of running with a friend and the sense of accomplishment when I'm finished rather than the actual running, and I'm ok with that.

Last week I ran my first 10k race. It was actually my first 10k run ever! It was hard. Slow going and a hard slog. The course was dull and doubled back on itself which I found disheartening. But the weather was ok (warm with a couple of showers) and I'd put my goal as just running the whole thing. I didn't care how long it took me, but I refused to walk a single step. And in the end I did well, completing the race in 1:03.

It's now exactly 3 weeks until the charity run we originally signed up and I know I'll make it. 

The Little Things

John and I work pretty close to each other. We almost always have. Even so, we rarely meet up during the day - maybe only once every couple of years. John goes to the gym at lunchtime and is reluctant to miss a day unless it's for something special - usually lunch with a friend that he doesn't often get to see. So when I got an IM this morning saying 'It's too sunny to go to the gym - fancy lunch and a walk?' I jumped at the opportunity.

We see each other every morning and evening, but there is something special about taking extra time out just the two of us. I love it when we go out for dinner - no tv, no distractions - which we do fairly frequently. We rarely go anywhere fancy, but it's the time together rather than the quality of food which we relish. We have no kids, but still strongly embrace that theory that 'date night' is good for a relationship, even if technically we could sit and talk any night of the week. 

With Valentines coming up, I know a lot of couples that feel the pressure to do something big. We don't celebrate Valentines day, not because we don't think it is important to celebrate our relationship, but more because we feel we're good enough at celebrating our relationship year-round so don't need a culturally mandated day to do so.

There's no doubt in my mind: an unexpected lunchdate is far better than an expensive dinner and bunch of flowers on a day that everyone else sees as 'special'. It's the little things that count.

Light Lunches - Aubergine Parmigiana

Well, it's back to real life after all of the eating (and drinking) of the last few weeks. I've found in the past that I'm not great at putting together lunches for work each morning, but if I make a big pot or bowl of something on Sunday, I don't mind doing some quick assembly each evening. Nor do I really mind eating the same lunch every day, as long as it is (1) tasty and (2) only for a week at a time. So, this January, I'm making it my mission to cook up a big serving delicious and healthy lunches to last me for the week.

This week's lunch: Aubergine Parmigiana

Well, it's been a whole month of healthy lunches, and this week I've been eating Jamie Oliver's Aubergine Parmigiana. I can definitely recommend it. I followed the recipe pretty exactly, just reducing the quantities (I only wanted 4 servings) and reducing the amount of olive oil significantly. The dish is tasty and filling, perfect with a side salad or slice of crusty bread, and re-heats brilliantly in the microwave. It the future I may even consider making it for dinner, omitting the breadcrumbs and spooning it over fresh linguine. Either way, I'm pretty sure it will make my regular rotation.

Light Lunches - Zucchini Fritters

Well, it's back to real life after all of the eating (and drinking) of the last few weeks. I've found in the past that I'm not great at putting together lunches for work each morning, but if I make a big pot or bowl of something on Sunday, I don't mind doing some quick assembly each evening. Nor do I really mind eating the same lunch every day, as long as it is (1) tasty and (2) only for a week at a time. So, this January, I'm making it my mission to cook up a big serving delicious and healthy lunches to last me for the week.

This week's lunch: Zucchini fritters

I'm afraid this weeks lunch was a bit of a disappointment. I made these Zucchini fritters, and found them to be rather bland. They were ok when dipped into a bowl of hot soup, or when covered in tzatziki, but I won't be making them again. Fingers crossed for more success next week!

Snow day!

We've had snow here in Belfast, which is fun as it generally happens only about once a year. And while it's tempting to sit inside all snuggly and warm on a snowy day, myself and a few friends decided to make the most of it by climbing Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland's highest mountain.

We chose the route via Bloody Bridge, and set off. The mountains were stunning and the snow was deep. We threw snowballs and slid down mountains on our bums. Brilliant fun!

 

 

 

 

 

Light Lunches - Vegetable barley soup

Well, it's back to real life after all of the eating (and drinking) of the last few weeks. I've found in the past that I'm not great at putting together lunches for work each morning, but if I make a big pot or bowl of something on Sunday, I don't mind doing some quick assembly each evening. Nor do I really mind eating the same lunch every day, as long as it is (1) tasty and (2) only for a week at a time. So, this January, I'm making it my mission to cook up a big serving delicious and healthy lunches to last me for the week.

This week's lunch: Vegetable barley soup

The temperature has dropped this week and the sky's been grey, so a big bowl of hearty soup has been the perfect lunch. Made with chicken stock, barley and loads of veges, this soup is both healthy and filling. I based it around this recipe, but reduced the amount of barley by half (I didn't need 8 portions). I forgot to add my can of tomatoes - oops - and since I find it hard to get good stock here I used my own chicken stock.

I've found the trick to transporting soup in a tupperware container is to either freeze individual portions, or to make the soup extra thick and then thin it out with a bit of water when reheating it. With this soup I chose the second option, reducing the amount of stock used but keeping the quantities of everything else the same. 

You could serve it with some bread, but I find it's enough on it's own. Either way, it's an excellent lunch on a cold day and packed full of veges so it must be good for you!

Silent Sunday - Pancakes & Tollymore Forest Park

Light Lunches - Thai salad with peanut dressing

Well, it's back to real life after all all of the eating (and drinking) of the last few weeks. I've found in the past that I'm not great at putting together lunches for work each morning, but if I make a big pot or bowl of something on Sunday, I don't mind doing some quick assembly each evening. Nor do I really mind eating the same lunch every day, as long as it is (1) tasty and (2) only for a week at a time. So, this January, I'm making it my mission to cook up a big serving delicious and healthy lunches to last me for the week.

This week's lunch: Thai noodle salad with peanut dressing

I've been enjoying a big bowl of healthy greens, buckwheat soba noodles and spicy peanut dressing for lunch this week. I made this on Sunday night, adapting this recipe from Can You Stay For Dinner: substituting buckwheat soba for rice noodles, omitting the tofu and broccoli, adding a little sesame oil to stop the noodles sticking together, using handfuls of fresh cilantro.

I've stored it in the fridge in four separate lots: the dressing, the noodles (lightly coated with sesame oil), the blanched veg, and the lettuce and cilantro. Each evening I combine a handful of noodles and lots of greens in a large tupperware container. Then spoon some of the dressing into a smaller container. All that's left to do is remember to put the tupperware in my bag before heading to work, and adding the dressing to the salad at lunchtime.

Spicy, crunchy, satisfying and healthy. Plus it's now Thursday and everything still tastes crisp and fresh.

Silent Sunday - North Down Coastal Path

Light Lunches - Spinach, roasted pepper and tomato roulade

Well, it's back to real life after all all of the eating (and drinking) of the last few weeks. I've found in the past that I'm not great at puting together lunches for work each morning, but if I make a big pot or bowl of something on Sunday, I don't mind doing some quick assembly each evening. Nor do I really mind eating the same lunch every day, as long as it is (1) tasty and (2) only for a week at a time. So, this January, I'm making it my mission to cook up a big serving delicious and healthy lunches to last me for the week.

This week's lunch: Spinach, roasted pepper and tomato roulade from the Avoca Cafe Cookbook.

Avoca is a lovely chain of Irish shops and cafes. The cafes emphasise freshness and flavour, and use local ingredients whenever possible. I was (or rather, we were) given the cookbook as an engagement gift. I highly recommend it.

Since it is a new cookbook I had trouble narrowing down exactly what I wanted to make, but this roulade sounded perfect. Light yet still filling (my stomach is, after all, currently very used to feeling full and I knew that something too light would leave me wanting to snack in the afternoon), healthy (I cut down slightly on the recipe's butter and oil), tasty, and full of veges. Plus easy to transport and requiring very little effort after the first cooking. In fact, all I needed to do was take a slice out of the fridge in the morning, and then pop it in the microwave for 2 1/2 minutes at lunchtime - perfect!

This week is a short one, only 3 days. The roulade could easily have been stretched to 4 days' worth of lunches by serving it with a handful of salad leaves on the side, but in this case I just sliced it into 3 individual portions. And yes, I'm aware that my roulade isn't the prettiest in the world (I failed miserably at rolling it) but trust me, it tasted great!

Go buy the book and make it yourself!