Yumtastic dinner, plump girl!

First off, let me tell you that I have already been to the gym today! Early, too! People, I work at 6:00 AM and I was at the gym by 5:20 this morning.To avoid any grouchy side effects, I was sure to go to bed earlier than usual but there seems to be something inherently wrong with getting up early to sweat. In my opinion, sweat should only happen after 2:00 PM.

I decided I probably should eat a little something before going so I slowly nibbled on a medium banana. I don't know about you, but I am not big into eating anything that early in the morning, especially after I'd just brushed my pearly whites. I was on the treadmill only about 25 minutes but I am planning on going back to the gym (which should known as "the place where fat goes to die") after work this afternoon.

Now, I do not like working out inside or even walking outside...walking in general is not my idea of a rockin' good time. Typically, when I'm at the gym in the afternoon, I watch Paula Dean on the television while I'm working out. While I'm doing this, I think to myself, "Self, is it contradictory to watch Paula Dean while on the treadmill? Will I actually gain weight?" Then I look around at my fellow exercisers and realize I'm not the only one watching the southern belle cook up delicious-looking, calorie-laden meals. Butter.


After a two-night camping trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, I was feeling tired but excited to make a good dinner for my husband and myself. For Sunday's dinner, I made  grilled flank steak and a farro salad. Apparently, farro is somewhat of a specialty item so I turned it into a barley salad as suggested in the recipe. The recipe site listed below was shared with me by a work friend who, hopefully will be my yoga buddy in the next few weeks. This site seems to have a huge array of meal, snack, and dessert, etc. recipes all on the lighter side.

Farro salad recipe:
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/05/farro-with-feta-cucumbers-and-sun-dried.html

This salad has a distinctly Greek flare to it which is good because my husband and I enjoy Greek food. He taste tested it right out of the pan and said "Wow, that is SO good!" Now, ladies, I'm sure you can relate: typically I get a "yeah, good" out of my husband, if I'm lucky, when he tries my cooking. He's a dude and dudes eat anything and usually enjoy food put in front of them. So, to get that response, not only at the beginning of the meal, but throughout AND at the end, was a delight to my cooking ego!

I bought a fairly large flank steak at the store and when I got home I cut it in half and put one half in the freezer for a later meal. I marinated the flank steak in olive oil, low sodium soy sauce, crushed garlic and seasoned with salt and pepper. I'm not much of a steak eater but this steak was very good. It was tender and I only ate a few ounces so I didn't feel full but was certainly satisfied.


I also made a "peach sauce" in the crock pot yesterday. Basically, the idea was to go for an applesauce type consistency but I didn't think things all the way through (shocker). Peaches are much juicier and stinger, duh, than apples. The peach sauce, while extremely tasty and will be consumed with no problem, turned out a bit runnier than I had anticipated.

 I pitted and sliced about 7 very large peaches; I left the skins on. Threw those in the slow cooker along with one cup of water (I shouldn't have used more than 1/2 a cup, if that), one tablespoon of light brown sugar, a bunch of freshly ground nutmeg and one cinnamon stick. I did end up putting in about a tablespoon of cornstarch just to thicken it up a bit. Who doesn't love eating peaches this time of year because they're so sweet and juicy but I also enjoy finding new ways to incorporate fruit into my diet.

 

Plump Girl problem #2:

Not being able to see your toes

and more importantly, your cute shoes!

 

.