Crunchy Snack Time! (Reviews)

Posted on June 22, 2013 by kaprise

I’m a huge snack person. Until recently, I was really into chewy and sweet snacks – the kind that put your dentist’s kids through school. All through undergrad I ate jelly beans while I studied, and then through law school I ate gummy bears in the library. However, as I continue to slog through studying, I’ve been more and more attracted to crunchy and savory snacks. So. In light of that change, I’ve been sampling many different kinds of snacks. I really like potato chips. Like… REALLY like them, but since eating mounds of chips is really not too good for your waistline, I’ve been trying to find other delicious and more healthful things to snack on as a study.

Yesterday, I hit on two that I am completely infatuated with!

Turbana Plantain Chips, Lightly Salted – These plantain chips are super, duper thin and crunchy. They are GMO and gluten free. There are a variety of flavors, but this “lightly” salted package is really hitting the spot. Unlike other brands, these are in fact just lightly salted so you don’t walk away with puckered lips from the salt. I found these at a local health food store, but you can also order them online here: http://platanicious.elsstore.com/
Bakery On Main, Extreme Fruit and Nut Gluten Free Granola – I send a packet of this granola in a care package a week or so ago… and I couldn’t get it out of my head so I went back and purchased a bag for myself. I am SO SO thrilled that I did. It is delicious! My mother and I demolished the entire bag in one sitting… all 11 servings of it. It is crunchy and just lightly sweetened. There are a couple things to note: the granola smells mildly of faux maple syrup, contains canola oil, and contains “natural flavors, caramel color.” These aren’t a huge deterrent for me and I will continue to purchase this granola, but they may be of concern for others. The granola, while it does contain corn, is certified GMO free and Gluten and Wheat free. Since I’m not quite over my “sweet and chewy” phase, I added a handful of dried cherries to the mix and it was just perfect! This can be purchased online on Amazon.com and the official website is here: http://www.bakeryonmain.com/

I would definitely recommend both of these snacks for people who are trying to get away from potato chips and other unhealthy snacks. I am really enjoying both of these, so I hope you get a chance to try them also! What are the snacks you are into these days? What else should I try?

Scenes

Posted on June 20, 2013 by kaprise

I just noticed how terribly text heavy my blog has been for the last few posts, and since I am actively procrastinating I find this to be super, duper important to rectify right this very minute. Haha. SO. Here are some pictures!

30 Day Challenge Revisions

Posted on June 17, 2013 by kaprise

So, I challenged myself to 30 days of running/biking at the beginning of the month as a way to kickstart my running again.

Thankfully, the challenge has gotten me back into my shoes and back outside running and running like I have in the past. However, I have had to make revisions to my challenge.

I knew from the start that with my bum knee and my wonky ankle that I wouldn’t be able to run every single day, so I included biking in the challenge. However, I just don’t feel like biking. I don’t care for it much… plus the uber lazy lazy part of me refuses to sack up and get that stupid tire fixed (again… seriously, biking is such a hassle, there are so many moving parts). So… last week I was rounding out a solid 10 days of consecutive running and another 3 days of consecutive running, when I decided I needed to make a change. The challenge is really about getting healthy and enjoying yourself… and when it comes to running, I don’t believe in beating yourself up physically or mentally. Last week was particularly tiring for me, and I spent a good chunk of the afternoons after my runs napping, sipping gatorade, and watching t.v. Behavior that completely defeats the challenge. So I made some revisions.

I will maintain my active 30 days, but on days that I need a break from pavement pounding, I’ll take my dog for an extra walk or chase her around the yard for an extra 15 minutes (she’s a weeny one, so 15 minutes and she’s normally pooped). So… I’m adding “walking” to my challenging. Because… it’s really just about moving your butt. Maybe I should call it the 30 day “Move Your Butt” campaign.

Impending Doom for Xanga

Posted on June 13, 2013 by kaprise

For those of you who have been following me for a while, you know I got my start with online diary, blogging, what have you at Xanga.com. It’s an online community and it will always hold a very special place in my heart.

I have been keeping an online journal on Xanga.com since 2001, and a few years back I move here to kaprise.com. I felt that this was a more appropriate venue for my food-loving self. It was a step in a grown-up direction for me to channel my creativity in a positive way. Xanga had been a place for me to express my feelings, and I wanted to share more than my thoughts with world. I still kept my Xanga profile and continued to update when I needed to. It was a place for me to express my feelings and feel supported by my online friends. I never felt judged, criticized, or discouraged in that online space, instead I felt accepted and loved. It’s an interesting dynamic since so much of the online space outside of Xanga is so negative. Anyway, this is why Xanga has always been special to me, because the friends that I met in that space were kind, thoughtful, and always supportive. They didn’t even know me, but they cared for me and I cared for them.

All the mush aside, I recently learned that Xanga is having some growing pains and without proper funding they will be shutting down in July. This news makes me exceedingly sad because Xanga has been a long standing place for me to be myself! My online journaling started on Xanga when I was just in high school and has continued to this day. For me, this online space where I exist would be completely strange without Xanga!

I’ve made the appropriate financial gesture for my position (unemployed), but now I’m putting the news out there that Xanga is seeking funding for a relaunch. You can find more information at the two links below. It is a long standing blogging community, and the community deserves to continue and support all of the people that use the service to connect, to express themselves, and to be loved by their online peers. I think it would be tragic to let the Xanga community go because of something as silly as money.

http://thexangateam.xanga.com/773587240/relaunching-xanga-a-fundraiser/

https://xanga.crowdhoster.com/relaunch-xanga

How to Pack a Paleo/Primal Friendly Care Package

Posted on June 12, 2013 by kaprise

How many of you have loved ones that are far away? How many of you have loved ones in the military and/or overseas? How many of you believe that FOOD is the best way to express your love? Yes, yes, and yes? Me too.

Since most of my loved ones practice paleo/primal eating habits, my care packages are tailored for their needs. If you’ve read my blog before, you know that I am not, so it makes it a little bit of a challenge since I am not as nearly in tune with paleo/primal dietary restrictions. Plus, there are some things that are just SO good and worth breaking the rules just a little bit.

The most important thing that I do is READ the entire label and check the expiration date. Things that don’t expire until 2030 are OUT and things that expire within the next 6 months are out also. Often times these overseas care packages take over a month to find their destination, so I want to be sure the food lasts long enough.

After I read the entire package, I run through this little list. I try to purchase things that are a perfect fit, but it’s tough. I will purchase things that have the majority of these factors, but if the product only has ONE factor, I’m more hesitant to include it. Okay. Here’s my list:

Made, manufactured, and sourced in the USA. I also try to support smaller companies over conglomerates
Sustainably sourced
Non-GMO
Organic
No added sugar (If the product MUST have sugar, I look for coconut sugar sweetened, agave, or something less toxic that corn syrup)
Only intelligible ingredients (if I don’t recognize the 24 character word, I put it back)
Gluten Free (I’m most on watch for wheat products)
Healthful oils and fats
Fiber content (I’m told that a little fiber is super helpful since many of the armed forces are stuck eating dense baked goods that don’t pass too well… and on that note, I think my list is done)

Occasionally some corn products slip into the boxes, but wheat almost never makes the list. For some reason, I find corn more forgivable than wheat (which may not be your preference). I vary my boxes each time I send them, so this is only ONE of the many boxes I send. I’ll try to post the others as I send them to give you more ideas. As always, I used a USPS Large Square Flat-Rate Box. The box ships to any US address or FPO for $13.95 and for up to 20 pounds.

Alright? Ready? (Also. Please excuse the dark, middle of the night kitchen photos. I was trying to pack this all up and write a card before 11:00pm, but I guess that’s not happening!)

Tanka Bars – These are Buffalo meat and cranberry bars. They’re good, filling, and come in a variety of different flavors. I packed a “HOT” one for fun. They come in the long whip or a bar. (For the skinny ones, $2/each. Bars, $2.89/each)
TrueBar in Cranberry Almond and Hazelnut Chocolate – I haven’t tried these yet, but the ingredients were clean and it’s made in the USA. ($1.69/each)
Coconut Secret – Mint Coconut Bar – This is amazing. It’s minty and coconutty all at the same time. It’s really yummy and a good dessert. (Dammit… now I want one) ($2.89/each)
Artisana Nut Butters in Blue Algae and Phyto Plankton – I’m told that these are amazing despite their very strange physical appearance. I haven’t tried them, but I trust the reviewer. ($2.00-$3.00/each – I think the Phyto Plankton was 75 cents more)
Inca Corn and Inca Chips – I know… I know… corn. However, the plantain chips are paleo! Both of these are crunchy, salty, and delicious. They are on the cleaner sider. The corn is non-GMO and the plantains are gluten free. ($1.49/each on sale)
Bear and Wolf Pink Salmon – I purchased this at Costco so I’m not sure the pricing. This salmon is pretty good for canned, and the cans are one serving size, which I think is good.
Bakery on Main Gluten Free Granola in Extreme Fruit and Nut – Also derived from corn products (since there is no oatmeal or wheat). I haven’t tried this before, but it looks promising. It is filled with delicious looking dried fruit and plenty of nuts. ($5.99/each)
Peeled Dried Apricots and NOW Dried Mango – Just dried fruit. No sulfates or other nastiness, but again, I haven’t tried these two varieties so hopefully they are yummy! (Apricots, $3.99/each. Mangos, $5.49/each)
Seeds of Change Brown Rice and Quinoa – For a little variety, some precooked rice and quinoa. These packets aren’t particularly delicious. They are just plain Jane, but they heat up in the packet in the microwave or on the stove top in less than 5 minutes. For people on the go, I think this is a good option. Definitely needs some protein or flavoring, but it’ll do the trick. I bought these at Costco also, but I think it works out to about $1 a packet.
Traditional Medicinals Organic Peppermint Tea – This brand of tea is consistently good, so I snapped this one. ($3.99/each)
Gingerbon – Seriously. No words. Chewy. Gingery. Delicious. And made with only 3 ingredients – cane sugar, tapioca, ginger. ($1.00/each)
Season Sardines in Olive Oil – Sardines! Good protein and calcium for people who don’t have access to vitamin rich food. Plenty of olive oil to keep you full with good fats. I also bought this at Costco, but I think it works out to about $1.50/box).
Bagged Quinoa – I originally got this HUGE bag of quinoa from my older sister, but then she made the change to be 100% grain free, so I inherited this bag. I’ve been doling it out in 1 cup increments in my care packages, but after the bag is used up I will not be purchasing quinoa unless for very special occasions. More on that decision later (I’m still in the process of doing some research on the quinoa issue). With things that are bagged, I label them with instructions and specific measurements so that whomever receives them won’t have to make the extra step of measuring.
Harry and David Mixed Nuts – I like to pack one serving size of nuts, but I’m an airhead and forgot to pick up extra packets today. I had this one so I’m adding it to the box, but normally I’d have a variety of toasted hazelnuts and lightly salted macadamia nuts.
Good Seasonings Italian Dressing – My older sister will be having a fit when she sees this, but I threw in a packet of salad dressing powder. It’s good to adding to quinoa before it’s cooked through, sprinkling on meat before grilling, and adding a little flavor to otherwise rather bland food. In the future, I’ll be sending Penzy’s Spices, but I didn’t have a chance to nip out there, so this commercial (probably GMO and chemical stuffed) packet has been included.
Finally, my personal favorite!! Chia seeds!! I love these always. I bought a giant bag from Costco for $10 and have been packing 1 cup at a time in my care packages.

So this is my final box: It’s still got some room. I’ll add some samples of cosmetics and other knick knacks before sending it out.

And don’t forget to fill out that awesome Customs Form for things leaving the USA!

I hope this little list helps you pack yummy things for your loved ones!

What do you pack for your loved ones? Any suggestions on things to add or subtract from my box?

Day 11 (minus 1 Day) – Fitness Challenge Update

Posted on June 11, 2013 by kaprise

I ran my usual 3 miles… I’m really having a hard time leaving my comfort zone when it comes to running short distances. I promised to run new routes, but I’ve only run 1 since I started my challenge this month. No matter… it’s more about getting out there anyway!

So yesterday, I woke up and looked out the window and immediately thought “NO.” So I decided not to run. I’ve been really into running everyday, so when I woke up and everything inside of me said “NO” I decided it was best not to. I did think about walking a bit on the treadmill before bed, but I decided against it since No means NO.

In terms of weekly mileage, I haven’t been surpassing anything I’ve done before, but I have been surpassing the number of consecutive days that I run, which has been much more mentally challenging than I anticipated. I have experience with feeling burnt out after running, so I decided that a Day 10 rest would be alright.

So far, I really like running shorter distances every day, but it is quite a bit time consuming. I drive 20 minutes to my running path, run for 27-30 minutes, stretch and bop around for 30 minutes, drive home 20 minutes, shower, unpack my gear, and then get on with my day. It ends up being a 2 to 3 hour commitment depending on how efficient I am with packing my gear the night before and how quickly I get home and into my routine. I know that once I come up with comfortable routes to run closer to home that the everyday running will be less time consuming, but for now I’m finding it difficult to beat the shady, uninterrupted 3 mile loop that I’ve been running.

Anyway – that’s my little running update for today. I think I’m going to finish off my ziti and think about making knock-off Chipotle burrito bowls for the rest of the week.

What do you guys have planned?

(Oh… did I mention I had some AMAZING wine the other night? I took pictures of the label, so I’ll put up a review tomorrow)

Listen When I Sing This Song (+ the BEST Baked Ziti)

Posted on June 9, 2013 by kaprise

Today… Today I was ravenous… After my run, I demolished an entire tray of sliced carrots and hummus. Then I ate a cheeseburger. Then I spent three hours thinking about how I was SO hungry. Clearly, my body was telling me to eat something! But then I got super, uber fixated on cheesy pasta. So. I made it.

The first time I had baked ziti was at my friend Deirdre’s house. Her mom asked me to come over to play, and I was SO excited. I shouldn’t have been so excited, the minute I arrived Deirdre and I were planted firmly at the kitchen table and told to work on Algebra together while Deirdre’s mother whipped up dinner. Despite being forced to do homework on my “play” date, I was thrilled because Deirdre’s mother made us this thing called “baked ziti.” I distinctly remember wolfing down more than my fair share. It was hot, cheesey, and absolutely amazing. I loved it.

I made baked ziti for years, and it has always been one of my favorites. I made it for my 16th birthday celebration, but I can’t remember having made it since (… seriously?!). Anyway, I read a couple recipes on my phone before running through the grocery and grabbing the ingredients. From start to finish it took me about an hour and 15 minutes, but it was an active 1 hour and 15 minutes. Either way, baked ziti is always worth the elbow grease!

Kaprise Kitchen’s So-Hungry-I-Can’t-Focus-On-Anything-But-Food Ziti (inspired by several different recipes online, and Deirdre’s mom)

28 oz can of whole tomatoes (you may choose to use more tomatoes if you like to keep extra sauce for rainy days. I did!!!)
1 bunch of basil
1 bunch of parsley
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons of chopped garlic
1 yellow onion, minced
2 tablespoons of olive oil
salt/pepper
1 pound of uncooked pasta
15 oz of full fat ricotta cheese
12 to 16 oz of full fat mozzarella, shredded (also. seriously. NEVER buy that preshredded stuff. It’s bad. VERY bad)

If your oven takes 10000000 years to preheat, now is the time to fire up that babd boy. 375 degrees F.
In a large pot, bring a large quantity (enough for 1 pound of pasta) to boil. Salt lightly.
In another large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat
Mince the onion (really more of a petit dice) and add to the olive oil.
While your onion is softening, peel and smash about 3-4 cloves of garlic. Chop finely and add to onions. Continue to cook gently, be sure not to let the garlic or onion brown. You just want them to be nice and translucent.
Add tomatoes to the garlic/onion. Break apart the whole tomatoes with a fork. Continue on medium/high heat
While your tomato mixture is heating up, your water should boil. Add your pasta and cook for 2 minutes less than al dente. Set a timer so you don’t forget!
As your tomatoes heat, finely chop your fresh basil and parsley. I added a very generous 1/4 cup of chopped herbs, but feel free to adjust based on your preferences.
Add the herbs to the tomatoes, cover and bring the tomato sauce to a boil. I don’t like to cook the heck out of the sauce, so just as it gets to a boil, I turn the heat off.
Now… your pasta timer should have beeped, so drain your pasta in a colander. Shake the excess water from the pasta and return to the pot.
In the pot, add the ricotta cheese and 1/2 of the shredded mozzarella (I added some more chopped herbs too) and 1/2 of the tomato sauce. Stir until the noodles are evenly coated.
Spread your pasta into a large casserole dish (or two separate ones like I did). Dot the top of the pasta with the remaining tomato sauce. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella.
Pop into the over for 20 minutes, or until the cheese has bubbled a bit.
ENJOY!

Leftovers keep well for up to 4 days in a tightly sealed container. When reheating, add a little extra tomato sauce to the pan/plate/whatever to help the pasta perk up a bit.

I would have taken pictures, but I was so busy burning my tongue and wolfing this down that I didn’t. Also. Baked ziti photographs pretty terribly, so I doubt you’re missing much.

What did you eat for dinner?

Picking Up the Pace

Posted on June 9, 2013 by kaprise

Yesterday and today I picked up the pace for my runs. I’ve been running the same 3 mile loop around a nearby lake, but I can’t seem to drag myself to run anywhere else. The path is partially shaded, by the water, and easy to access from my home – so I naturally gravitate to the path.

Normally, I run with my Sony headset, my Nike watch, and occasionally I’ll drag my cellphone along with me… but I’ve really been enjoying the “electronic” free running. I stopped using my GPS watch a few months ago, instead choosing paths that I knew the mileage for so I wouldn’t drive myself INSANE looking at my watch. Since, I’ve been a little scattered and have been forgetting my music too… and that has been surprisingly nice. It’s nice to hear my breath and my feet on the pavement.

Since I am planning on running/biking every single day for 30 days straight, my priorities have shifted. I know that I can’t just decide to run 12 miles one day because it’s nice out, I have to weigh whether or not I’ll be able to run the next day. So… I’ve been strategically running low mileage every day and resisting the urge to just keep on going when the weather is agreeable. It has been an interesting challenge, and I have to have a certain degree of self control over my running whims. I’m often tempted to run extra mileage, but I have been resisting so that I can continue my 30 days of running. However, since I have been keeping low mileage, I have decided to pick up the pace on the days where I’m tempted to run more. Yesterday and today were absolutely gorgeous out and I knew that I would be tempted to do extra mileage, so I simply picked up the pace so I would be ready to be “done” at the end of my runs. It’s been a good exercise, since for the last 3 years I’ve been more interested in the number of miles instead of the speed.

Anyway – that is my update for the day. For some pictures of my gorgeous runs and the beautiful lake I run by, check out my instagram. I post the temperature, my shoes, and a scenic shot after each of my runs!

xoxo!

Gingery Tea Jello

Posted on June 8, 2013 by kaprise

There was a period in time where I made and consumed jello ALL the time. I used to put 7-Up in it to make it bubbly… like champagne! I’d always leave a little water out because I liked my jello firm and bouncy so I could play with it before gulping it down.

Anyway, I was thinking about jello yesterday, and after doing a little digging I decided I wanted to make my jello with tea like I saw here. I’ve been thinking of ways to get rid of the extra Camomile Citrus tea from Mighty Leaf that I bought when I was sick a couple months back, and this seemed like the perfect idea. You guys also know I’m “kinda” obsessed with ginger these days, so I added that and some good raw honey I had. Seriously… AMAZING. They are just lightly scented with tea and have an awesome kick of spicy ginger and just a bit of sweetness from the honey. I definitely recommend brewing the tea, ginger, and honey together so you can adjust depending on your person preferences, but here is the formula I used for my little blocks of jello.

Oh… Did I mention that you can look at a ton of super awesome jello ideas here?? And, Victoria is SUPER nice and helpful. She even gave me awesome tips of how to use that Nordic Ware pan I’ve had for months and only used once.

Oh… (2x) did you know that jello is paleo friendly??

Gingery Tea Jello (Inspired by the Domestocrat and Victoria)

0.75 ounces of powdered gelatin
2 cups of boiling water
1 cup of room temperature water
2 tea bags
2 tablespoons of grated ginger
2 tablespoons of raw honey

Bring a pot/kettle of water to boil. You need 2 cups, so make sure to boil enough
In a large heatproof bowl, add one cup of room temperature and 0.75 ounces of powdered gelatin. Stir.
In a teapot, combine two cups of boiling water with your tea bags of choice, raw honey, and grated ginger. Allow the tea and ginger to steep for 5 minutes. Stirring occasionally to break up the raw honey. Taste the mixture and adjust sweetness and ginger accordingly.
Strain the hot tea to remove the grated ginger, and whisk the hot tea into the bowl with the gelatin.Make sure all of the gelatin is completely dissolved.
Pour into molds or into a glass Pyrex (like I did)
Chill for a couple hours, until set, and enjoy!!!

What about you? Do you like jello?? What do you think about this kind of jello?

Week 1 Mileage Break Down (Fitness Fridays)

Posted on June 7, 2013 by kaprise

I know this is me procrastinating, but I figured I’d give mileage break downs for the week. I don’t normally concern myself with the speed that I run, but instead keep track of mileage and where I run. I tend to prefer paved running paths or packed dirt. The trail I run is covered in gravel, which I find is a little slippery for me. I have weak knees so it aggravates them if I run more than a few miles on the gravel paths.

June 1- 2 miles, evening neighborhood run (sun setting, humid)
June 2- 2 miles, 11:00am trail run (sunny, hot)
June 3 – 3 miles, morning lake run (sunny)
June 4 – 1.5 miles, mid morning trail run (sunny)
June 5 – 3 miles, morning lake run (sunny)
June 6 – 3 miles, morning lake run (sunny)
June 7 – 3 miles, morning lake run (rainy)

Week 1 total: 17.5 miles

This week the weather was quite mild. The first two days were in the 80s and humid, but nothing terrible. I wore my Brooks PureFlow running shoes. I recently purchased the PureGrit in green and another in bright orange, so we’ll see how those work out. So far, these Brooks have been awesome so I’m excited to try more in the Pure Project.

For this coming week, I’m thinking about upping my mileage on at least one run during the week. Maybe swapping out one lake run for a longer 6 mile road run. We’ll see how I feel.

Hope you all are having a wonderful Friday!! What are your goals for the coming week??