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My Pick Monday!

Ohhhh hello there, October!  Wow, did you just come out of no where or what?!  Anyone else feeling that way at all?

Fall is officially here in North Dakota, and they are already forecasting our first snow this week. This, paired with today’s cloudy and rainy day, has me thinking about getting serious about organizing my cold weather gear. Apparently it can’t happen soon enough!

I also am working on getting my race report finished from this past weekend’s adventure (the Lemming Loop in Winnipeg, Canada. Hubby and I did the 6 hour event…and it was a blast!  More to come!)  In the meantime, here is a long over due “My Pick Monday” to give you a little peek into what I am crushing on lately!

Gnarly Nutrition

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Mmmmm!  This stuff is the bee’s knees!  I have been on the hunt for a quality and GREAT tasting protein powder, and Gnarly Nutrition is that, and then some!  I have been using their Vegan Feast (my favorite flavor is vanilla) and I can pretty much say I am addicted to the stuff. It’s creamy, thick, blends well, and is SO GOOD.  Not chalky at all. It’s my go-to breakfast and post run meal lately.  And it’s a vegan product which is not hemp based, which is great! (Hubby cannot have hemp based products.) I love having a quality vegan option for protein that I don’t have to choke down.  I have also tried their whey protein (in chocolate) and their BCAA and Hydrate products for pre/during/post training, and they ALL get two enthusiastic thumbs up!  I believe so much in the company and their products that I have paired up with them, which allows me to give YOU a discount!  Yay!  If you want to give it a try, use code GETGNARLY15 to save 15% off.  And of course, let me know if you have any questions about the products!

Core Work

Being a strong and healthy runner isn’t just about running all the time!  Blaspheme, I know!  Lol! But truly, a strong and balanced runner is a healthy and overall less injured runner. I make sure to incorporate core and strength work year round. This is one of my current favorite core routines and consists of 4 rounds of 30 sec each of: Plank Jacks, Knee to Elbows, Plank with Hip Drops, Rocking Plank, Side Plank with Thread the Needle, Side Plank with Hip Drop and Stability Ball Roll Outs. Core was on FIRE by the end!

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Gardein Meatless Meatballs

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Yup.  I am obsessed with these, and not even ashamed of it. We use these several times a week; for meatball sandwiches, meatball veggie soup, and one of my favorites, zucchini boats (see below!)  My hubby is Italian and even HE says these could pass for the real thing!  No joke!

Zucchini Boats

If you’re around me for more than 5 minutes lately you will probably hear me singing the praises of our favorite dinner dish of late. It’s simple, healthy and quick!  Behold the Zucchini Boats! Zucchini’s are always in season it seems, and make for an amazing base for your “boats”; although we’ve made Mexican, lentil or breakfast themed boats, our favorite variation is the one below:

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Italian Zucchini Boats – serves 2

2 Zucchinis, sliced length wise with the inside scooped out to form a boat (save the “meat” from one for later. Excess zucchini can be saved for muffins or bread later – yum!)

1/2 Bell Pepper – chopped

1/2 Onion (red or white)

Garlic, salt and pepper to taste

4 Veggie meatballs (see above for my favorite kind)

1c Spinach, roughly torn

Optional – Mushrooms

1/2c marinara sauce of choice

Cheese or Vegan cheese/Nutritional yeast – desired amount for topping

Preheat oven to 425F.  Grease a small glass casserole dish. Line the hollowed “boats” in the dish and set aside as the over heats.

In a frying pan, heat olive oil and add onion and garlic, salt and pepper.  Saute for 2 mins, add chopped bell peppers and reserved zucchini meat from 1 of the zucchinis, and 4 veggie meatballs and continue to cook until all veggies are tender.  Add the mushrooms if using.  After all veggies are cooked, add the spinach and cooked until reduced and wilted.  Add the marinara and stir until combined.

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Spoon mixture into the boats and top with grated Parmesan and mozzarella, or vegan cheese and nutritional yeast.20161003_173949

Cook for 20 min or until cheese browns.  I like to then turn the oven off and allow the boats to rest in cooling oven for 10-15 min.  Each serving is 2 halves or boats. Serve hot and enjoy!

Those are just a FEW of my favorites things as of late!  What about you?

 

 

 

 

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  1. Those zucchini boats look so good! Do they save good in the fridge for leftovers? (As if there would be any leftovers, LOL)

    1. Hi Jennifer! They actually hold up well as leftovers! The zucchini gets a little softer, but other than that, they taste great! 🙂 We sometimes make extra for lunches the next day!

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