March 1, 2010

Low-Key Cooking and Cleaning

While my weekend was low-key, it was pretty darn fantastic, and I feel great about getting this week kicked off right. This weekend marks the start of the spring marathoning season for me – only one week’s break from now until I finish my 50 states!!! Crazy. Now I just have to hope I don’t get injured…

On Friday, my mom came down from Albany (yes, in the midst of the big snowstorm). She took the Megabus so she wouldn’t have to drive, and apparently had a very nice trip without the roads being bad. After a quick shopping expedition to look for a new comforter for me (we gave up but later ordered this set online – I’m excited for it to come!), we headed back to my apartment. My mom had made homemade pizza dough that morning, and after picking up a few more veggies at the grocery store, we made four different types of pizza:



1. Fresh tomato slices, basil, and mozzarella
2. Homemade pineapple salsa, turkey bacon, and romano
3. Tomato sauce, turkey sausage, sauteed peppers and onions, and mozzarella
4. Tomato sauce, broccoli, mushrooms, and mozzarella

Our favorite was actually the simplest – the one with tomato slices instead of sauce. The sausage one was my next favorite, but my mom thought it was too spicy and preferred the broccoli/mushroom. But both of us agreed that the Mexican/Hawaiian hybrid was our least favorite (though still perfectly good). Once our pizzas were all set, we settled in for a night of catch up on the Olympic ladies’ figure skating. So fun! We used to watch every year (the US/World championships that is; I know the Olympics aren’t every year) when I was younger, and we used to make pizza a lot of weekends then too (though usually just the plain variety – I’m so gourmet now!), so it was fun to do those things now and feel like a kid again 🙂 Funny how the little things take you back!

On Saturday, we woke up to eat leftover pizza and finish watching the figure skating, and then my mom was awesome enough to spend the day helping me deep clean the kitchen. My old roommate just moved out and my new one is moving in next week, so there was a lot to do! In addition to cleaning out Liz’s cupboards (she left some stuff behind in case I wanted it), I went through my own pantry and consolidated/got rid of old stuff/took stock of what I had. Most importantly, I made a list of all the fish/meat I have in the freezer and saved it to my phone. SO many times I am at the grocery and think I don’t have pork or salmon or whatever so I get more, and the stuff in the freezer never gets used up. It is definitely time to clean house!

After a full day of cleaning/relaxing, I headed off to dinner with some of my sorority sisters. My best friend in my sorority, Julie, was in town for the weekend and I was so excited to get to see her! She graduates law school this year and I can’t believe how different she even looks from the last time I saw her. We had dinner at a pretty nice (white tablecloths, maitre d’, candlelight, etc) restaurant, and where Julie in the past always used to have wild curly hair, a nose piercing, and tons of eyeliner, she traded that all in for a bob haircut, pearl earrings, and a cute flowered dress. She looks absolutely fantastic, but it’s so funny to see how we change as we get older. I feel like I look pretty much the same as I did years ago, but you be the judge. Here’s my high school senior photo and a recent shot of me from Christmas:



Aside from the better hairstyling now, I think I look pretty much the same. Darn it! Anyway, it’s probably for this reason that I have trouble with every bar I go to (they think my ID is fake and I can’t possibly be 21, let alone 24). Fortunately, I was able to enjoy myself and get plenty to drink on Saturday night!

On Sunday, I woke up really early (ah, the benefits of my never-get-hungover superpower!) and my mom and I went to Le Pain Quotidien for breakfast at 8 AM. Though it’s a chain, it has this really country-ish feel (the floors and tables are unfinished wood), and the food is all organic and healthy and delicious. I opted for steel cut oats with organic milk and berries, and my mom got the hazelnut flûte with a trio of spreads including amazing praline butter and four berry preserves. Though I had chosen a healthful option on purpose, I totally admit to swiping some of hers 🙂

(Note: pic not mine, but I wanted to illustrate the flûte)

We spent most of the rest of the day cleaning and doing laundry (I tell you, my mom is the greatest for helping me with that! Totally made it so much easier to have a partner). However, we did take a break in the afternoon to take advantage of the now-super-clean kitchen and bake these delicious cheddar zucchini biscuits.


My goodness, they were phenomenal! I ate two when they were fresh out of the oven and then forced myself to stop so I didn’t gorge myself and/or completely burn my mouth off. We spent the rest of the day/night lying around, reading, and watching more TV (does anyone else watch “Undercover Boss”? It’s pretty inspiring!) and eating takeout (to go with our homemade-from-scratch biscuits, of course). I also got a lot accomplished on the cleaning-out-my-closets front (though still plenty more to go), which made me feel super accomplished despite all the rest and relaxation.

This morning, I was even feeling jazzed enough by my super clean apartment to do a quick 8 Minute Abs when I woke up. Who knows? Maybe this is the start of me turning over a new leaf (on the workout front at least… I think making all that bread-y food on a regular basis would be awful for my figure!).

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15 thoughts on “Low-Key Cooking and Cleaning”

  1. Just wanted to de-lurk and wish you luck on finishing the 50 states this year! I’ve been reading your blog for awhile and am glad to see you back to it!

    I just moved to NYC (not from too far away, I used to live in CT) so it’s fun to read about your running routes…I need some ideas for when it gets warmer out over the next couple months!

    I ran a half marathon last yr and am doing another one this year. I entered the lottery for the 2010 NYC marathon but am not getting my hopes up. I didn’t sign up for NYRR in time to do the races in 2010 to qualify for 2011, but I am planning to do so in 2011 so I can qualify for 2012! Phew!

    PS is the dress you are wearing in your Xmas pic from Express? If so I believe I have the same one! So cute!

  2. Yeah I look pretty much the same as I did when I was in middle school! And I am basically the same height too! Those pizzas look so yummy!

  3. I’m glad you’re back to posting more regularly. Good luck in your last race – how exciting and what an amazing accomplishment!

    Isn’t Undercover Boss addicting? Love it.

  4. Haha you haven’t changed much at all! I look different I think, I’ve lost weight and I have a much different hair cut now. Other then that I guess I pretty much look the same as I did four years ago!

    Those pizza’s look DELISH!

  5. Weekends with my mamma is the best, too! You were busy ladies! Those biscuits look tasty!
    Thanks for the well-wishes, it means a lot! He is in the air now and on his way home!

  6. I agree with Karen. I missed the blog a bit too!

    So, i’ll make the total guy comment and say that your snr pic and your FB pic do look similar – and I would say that your hair DOES look a bit better. But, I’m a total hair guy and notice those types of things

  7. Wow can’t believe you’re so close to accomplishing the 50 states. Crazy, completely crazy. Good luck and wishing you an injury free spring!

  8. No we probbbbb won’t be at the 50-staters club. New city and warm weather– Im going to take complete advantage!!! If the great weather and outdoors become too much we may try and make the meeting. I feel like I should go since I’ve yet to be to one. Ah well!

  9. I’ll be honest, I’m totally jealous of your daughter-mother time!!! Sounds like so much fun! My mom is living abroad right now so I only see her about 3 times a year 🙁 Your post made me miss her lol 🙂

    Love all the pizzas! I also prefer the simple ones – pizza sauce, buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil!

    ps: I want your superpower lol!

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