Seven miles with four at a steady pace are done and done this morning. 🙂
Boy do I love this weather! I feel so much faster when I’m not sweating like a mad woman. 🙂
I also enjoyed the fact that the sun rose halfway through my run. Watching the sunrise is my favorite part of any morning run and I sure did miss it the past couple of months. There’s something so serene about the sun rising over the horizon. The rest of my day maybe crazy, but in that moment the world is at peace and I’m at peace with it.
For breakfast this morning I toasted a very delicious Pumpkin Waffle that I had frozen a couple of weeks ago.
I went a little crazy with toppings. Starting with a base of homemade apple butter, peanut butter, and ricotta cheese; then finishing with pear slices and granola.
The ricotta may not have been the best choice on here – FYI: Peanut Butter and Ricotta do NOT go well together – but overall it was quite delicious. Toast with PB and Jam always fills me up.
Picnic Help
My company’s picnic is this weekend and I signed up to bring a side dish. Only problem is I have no idea what to bring! It has to be something that can be served cold and I’m looking to ‘think out of the box’ here.
Most picnic dishes I know are summer themed, but I’m looking for something that incorporates Fall flavors.
Any suggestions?
(p.s. yes, I know it’s weird to have a company picnic in November. But, in Florida summertime picnics are 100+ degrees and not very fun to attend. November 70+ degree picnics are so much better!)
What about this Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Quinoa Salad :
http://closetcooking.blogspot.com/2010/10/roasted-red-pepper-and-feta-quinoa.html
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday recently posted..farm
You could also make your own Lox
http://gamereviewwiki.com/bikinibirthday/2010/02/09/day-14/
Or bring baba ghannoush and veggies.
http://gamereviewwiki.com/bikinibirthday/2010/05/13/day-108-baba-ghanoush/
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday recently posted..farm
Side dishes..I struggle with those sometimes as well!
I would maybe do a quinoa/squash/salad type dish. Last week we made quinoa cooked in broth instead of water, then added bite size pieces of roasted butternut squash, a can of black beans drained, a few handfuls of walnuts, plus some cheese of choice. It was light but had an awesome fall twist to it. YUM!
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WHat about a pasta salad but taking a fall kick to it.. Such as nuts and like sweet potato’s.. I have no idea how it would taste but seems really fun// I am jealous of your weather it is starting ot get really really cold here in the city!
Megan @ AVeryMegGirl recently posted..Confession
What about cold roasted veggies? Or a fall fruit salad (cranberries, pears, apples, pom seeds, etc)?
Errign recently posted..lazy & random saturday post
I was also thinking a fall fruit salad would be awesome–most side dishes are savory, and everyone needs some sweet!
Chelsea @ Strawberry Sweat recently posted..Catching Up
Love how much you enjoy your runs! Makes me motivated to finally complete that 7 mile run I’ve been putting off since it’lla PDR for me! 🙂
Carolyn @ Lovin’ Losing recently posted..Butternut Squash Ravioli with Cheese Sauce
Your waffle looks lovely!
I have a few recipes for you to consider for the picnic….
Spiced Sweet Potato Salad: http://eatspinrunrepeat.wordpress.com/2010/03/03/spiced-sweet-potato-salad/
or..
Moroccan Wild Rice Salad (which also contains sweet potato): http://eatspinrunrepeat.wordpress.com/2010/03/03/moroccan-wild-rice-salad/ It can be eaten hot or cold, and vegetarian or non depending on whether you add chicken or beans.
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat recently posted..Blogger Meetup x2
Something that incorporates POM arils, sweet potatoes and cranberries would be my idea – quinoa or bulgar perhaps?
Great job with your run!
Heather recently posted..Computer Screen Crazy
I love this quinoa salad my mom makes – with edamame and tofu. It’s delicious! http://girlevolving.com/2010/04/06/keen-what-quinoa/
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This edamame succotash is great year-round – it always seems seasonal because corn is summer, but soybeans and cranberries are fall. It is delicious. http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/1244
Sounds like a great morning for a run! Hmm what about some cold roasted veggies or something.
Kelly recently posted..Professional Wedding Guest
I like running on winter mornings with the sunrise because it’s like your secret with the world. It’s neat to leave when it’s still dark out and get back when it’s light. I live in Pennsylvania and it’s C-O-L-D on those winter month mornings too but I’d rather see the sunrise than be stuck on a treadmill later.
PS: I love your blog and been a dedicated reader for about a year! You’re very motivational.
Lindsey recently posted..Because youre amazing-just the way you are
Maybe instead of a potato salad, you could do a butternut squash salad. Picnic fare, but fall inspired!
I love watching the sunrise. Its like there is nothing else going on, everything is still. Its amazing.
and I NEED to make me some pumpkin waffles/pancakes. Its a must.
xo-Molly
Molly recently posted..Easy come…easy go
I have an awesome recipe for cold lentil salad. It’s delicious, very picnic-ish, and super easy to make! (And vegetarian, which is always an added bonus!)
1 cup brown lentils, picked over and rinsed
5 cups water
1 bay leaf
1-2 celery ribs, finely diced
1-2 carrots, minced
1/4 cup finely minced red onion
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley (I often don’t have this and it’s fine without it)
1/4 olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 garlic clove, pressed or minced
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
salt and pepper to taste
In medium saucepan, combine lentils, water and bay leaf. Bring to a boil and cook, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until the lentils are tender but still crunchy. Stir occasionally. Pour into colander and discard the bay leaf. Drain the lentils very well, and let them sit 5 mins or so to be sure all the water has drained out.
Please the lentils in serving bowl and gently stir in the carrot, celery, onion and parsley.
Mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, thyme, cumin, salt and pepper. Pour onto the lentil mixture and carefully toss. Serve at room temperature (or fine cold as far as I am concerned.)
I frequently double the recipe to make a good amount for parties.
Do some sort of cold quinoa salad with butternut squash or other fall veggies. One of my favorite salads I make is a cold salad with Israeli couscous, beets and feta with a light vinaigrette. It’s always a hit.
http://www.ERtraumamama.blogspot.com
Danielle recently posted..And theyre off
I would go back and look at the project food blog entries for the Road Trip challenge (I forget what number it was). There were some delicious looking portable ideas there.
I agree with all the quinoa suggestions. Or a cold salad of beets with blue cheese, or maybe a slaw of grated apples and celery with pistachios or walnut with a dressing?
katie recently posted..Positivity
This Brie En Croute from Paula Deen is simple and delicious! Just bring along some dippers and you’re good to go!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/brie-en-croute-recipe/index.html
Amanda (Eating Up) recently posted..Save Up- Buy Wine in the Fall
Not to toot my own horn, but I think this is pretty tasty –
http://eatingchalk.com/eats/sides/fall-fruit-panzanella/
how about this? http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/10/spicy-squash-salad-with-lentils-and-goat-cheese/
perfect for fall, totally beautiful, and the “spicy” part is optional. it’s been at the top of my “to make” list for a while now. smitten kitchen has a ton of great ideas.
What about. pasta salad that uses sweet potatoes?
Wild rice with cranberries, walnuts and goat cheese!
Pumpkin Pie Bites?
(I am thinking pumpkin pie made into mini-muffins).
Oh wait – do desserts count as side dishes?
Alina (Duty Free Foodie) recently posted..Oh My Ganache
This recipe is served cold and a perfect autumn treat: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pumpkin-Dip/Detail.aspx
I also made this super tasty fall dish 2 days ago – I cut the sugar to only 2 T. and probably could have pulled off just 1 T. which kept it pretty healthy!
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Smushed-Apples-and-Sweet-Potatoes/Detail.aspx
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There’s something so calming and special about being outdoors….especially at sunrise and sunset. I’m sure whatever you come up with for the picnic will be a huge hit!
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun recently posted..so much fun! & posting what i eat Q A
How about a sweet potato salad?
I just had a kidney bean salad last night for the first time, but it has mayo in it, so no go – how about this one?
A 3 bean salad with kidney beans, garbanzo beans and baked beans. Served hot as a vegetarian and vegan side dish or cold as a salad for a luncheon or a picnic, this three bean side is full of healthy protein and fiber and is very low in fat. Recipe courtesy of Bush’s® Beans.
Ingredients:
•1 28 ounce can vegetarian baked beans
•1 16 ounce can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
•1 16 ounce can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), rinsed and drained
•1 15.2 ounce can corn kernels, drained
•1/2 cup pineapple juice
•2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
•Pinch of cinnamon
Preparation:
Mix all ingredients including beans in large saucepan. Cook until warm, stirring occasionally. Serve as a side with your favorite grilled dish, warm or at room temperature.
Biz recently posted..No More Food TV!!
It got light half way through my run this morning and I was thrilled!!!! It helped considering it was 40 degrees and rainy, seeing the sun made it feel like cold and damp even though it really wasn’t. I am not thrilled, however, that it is dark when I leave work at 5pm.
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I would suggest a quinoa salad too. It’s great cold. The red pepper and feta recipe in the first comment sounds good. I’ve also had tabouli made with quinoa that was really good.
You could make a “traditional” pasta salad using fall flavors. Incorporating apple or roasted squash would be wonderful!
Amanda recently posted..Raising your own chickens
I have a great roasted red pepper and artichoke heart hummus recipe (It’s Kath approved too! LOL!)
http://littletower31.blogspot.com/2010/06/blogger-meet-up-run-and-lunch.html
Brittney recently posted..Losing Phones Is My Husbands Thing
A cranberry salad would be so good. It could be sweet or savory, but cranberries are my favorite thing ever this time of year!
A breakfast with multiple toppings make it even better. To shame in that! Nice work with your am run today 🙂
Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather recently posted..Wednesday’s Weekly Workout Mini-Challenge- Doubles
I recently went to a potluck wedding that plagued me with the same question! I wanted something ‘fall-ish’ but I didn’t want to worry about keeping it warm..so I made a fall inspired couscous with lemon, dates, cranberries, almonds…I forget the rest, there were tons of recipes online..so I ended up just mixing and matching to find something I wanted. The best part was the couscous could be served warm, cold or room temperature…the bowl was empty before I got through the line! 🙂
Good luck!
How about a roasted pumpkin, black bean, and quinoa dish?
Matt recently posted..Black Bean Pumpkin Burgers
I’d say go with Quinoa! You can serve it cold, use the red quinoa so it’s fall appropriate, plus it’s healthy and a great grain that not a ton of people use.
Here’s a one that is delicious, easy, healthy, and filled with fall goodness!
http://www.macheesmo.com/2010/04/quinoa-salad/ << not a ton of ingredients, quick, and has sweet potato, pumpkin seeds, and cranberries for more fall color!
There’s a quinoa salad I made for my dad’s birthday with red quinoa, toasted cashews and basil. Simple, really yummy and flavorful and healthy!! Or cold pesto pasta salad is always a hit too!
Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine recently posted..So Long- San Francisco
I made a Red Quinoa Salad with Feta and Sundried Tomatoes for a party I went to last weekend. It was a hit! You can find the recipe here: http://en.petitchef.com/recipes/red-quinoa-with-feta-sundried-tomatoes-fid-1056519
Sarah recently posted..November First
This is a sweet potato salad–it’s cold and has basil so to me that’s still summery, but it’s perfect for a picnic and it’s delicious! (FYI–I grilled the potatoes the first time I made it, but roasted them the second–just as delicious!)
http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com/2010/06/recipe-for-grilled-sweet-potato-salad.html
Allison recently posted..In Pictures
I made a Red Quinoa with Feta and Sundried Tomatoes salad for a party last weekend. It was a hit! You can find the recipe here: http://en.petitchef.com/recipes/red-quinoa-with-feta-sundried-tomatoes-fid-1056519
Sarah recently posted..November First
I would definitely do something with squash! Maybe a frittata, or a salad, or maybe some dish with grains and fall veggies.
I can’t imagine going on a run outside, it’s so cold and rainy over here. I envy your weather 🙁
I would say a simple salad (maybe spinach salad) with autumn-y fruits like pears or apples and some type of strong cheese and maybe candied walnuts..
Jessica @ The Process of Healing recently posted..Picture- Picture
Some sort of salad with the grain being the main focus. Wholefoods has this delicious wheatberry salad with pecans and dried cranberries. That would make for a great cold side salad!
Fallon recently posted..Trying tempeh for the first time…
My favorite fall dish is to layer sliced sweet potatoes, tart apples (granny smith) and some unsweetened applesauce in alternating layers in a baking dish. Sprinkle each apple layer with cinnamon. Bake covered at 350 until the potatoes are soft and the whole thing is bubbling. Its amazing!
My favorite cold side-dish to bring to parties is taffy apple salad – it’s always a huge hit and it’s super easy! I just take 8-10 medium size apples (any kind) and chop them up. Then I chop up a bag of fun-size snickers bars and then mix them all together with the apples, a container of coolwhip, a bag of mini marshmallows, and a can of crushed pineapple without draining the juices. Every time I bring it somewhere it gets demolished 🙂
Jessica@tastyandtrim recently posted..La Festa di Pizza
Yay for Waffle Wednesday!!
What about taking a sweet potato salad of some sort?
Becca recently posted..Exposing Myself
mmm my cranberry bruschetta that i presented at fb. it’d be perfect bc you can assemble ahead of time. you could just skip the balsamic drizzle (tho i love that part) or add it just before serving!
natalie (the sweets life) recently posted..10 Lessons Learned at the Foodbuzz Festival
I’m not just hawking the magazine I work for, but these two salad recipes are great for fall, and picnicky, too.
Beet Salad with Oregano, Pecans and Goat Cheese
http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/beet-salad-oregano-pecans-goat-cheese.aspx
Roasted Broccoli and Farro Salad with Feta
http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/roasted-broccoli-farro-salad-feta.aspx?nterms=50074,53248
Especially the broccoli one – I can’t stop eating it when it’s around. 🙂
My favorite side is Ina Garten’s Panzanella salad. It does not need to be refrigerated and can be changed easily. I have added small pieces of fresh mozzarella and if your people don’t like capers you can leave them out. It is so good and always a hit. I love it and could eat the whole bowl myself.
And the Panzanella is very colorful and beautiful to look at.
An autumn salad with apples, pears, seeds, nuts – or – a quinoa and bean salad with goat cheese!
J3nn (Jenn’s Menu and Lifestyle Blog) recently posted..Head’s Up Hannaford Shoppers
I have been thinking about this and something I made awhile back just popped into my head. It kind of seems like there is a them going on in the comments of quinoa and veggies. I am a little on those same lines in my thinking…I would make Israeli couscous (the kind you toast and then cook) let cool and then add roasted veggies. Any kind of veggies would work I would think. Then cool, toss together, add some balsamic and olive oil. Or even make a balsamic reduction…
How about a fall salad? This is basically coleslaw for the fall and one of my favorite salads ever. But it doesn’t take a lot to sell me on anything that has cabbage in it.
http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/11/cabbage-apple-and-walnut-salad/
i know something with pumpkin would be good!
katie recently posted..What day is it
I know whatcha mean about running in the cooler weather… it feels so good sometimes! Try an autumn couscous salad?! Yuummm 🙂
Allie recently posted..Cozy Night
i made this red cabbage slaw with mango that was a hit and can sit out for a while:
http://theactorsdiet.wordpress.com/2010/05/09/christy-and-lynn-ocho-de-mayo/
so bummed i never got a chance to meet you! i kept trying to but it got crazy there. hopefully one day!
I bet you could serve this dish cold as long as you cut the squash of smaller and cooked it so it was a little more tender.
http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&productId=348355
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katie recently posted..What day is it
Seeing the sunrise while running in the morning is the absolute best thing. So true. Glad you enjoyed your run!
Alison (Ali on the Run) recently posted..Let Christmas Shiiiine!
Giadia De Laurentis’ tri colore orzo salad
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/tri-colore-orzo-recipe/index.html
I like the stacked salad idea, it looks pretty and is very portable!
http://ohsheglows.com/2010/10/24/project-food-blog-6-going-the-distance/
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