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Crustless Quiche

CRUSTLESS QUICHE
Serves 6 to 8.

Equipment

9-inch pie plate

small mixing bowl


Ingredients

8 ounces (227 g) cooked ham, cut into bite-size pieces

1 cup (113 g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided

4 eggs, beaten

8 ounces (227 g) cottage cheese



Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375° F/190° C. Spray 9-inch pie plate with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Spread ham on bottom of pie plate and sprinkle with 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3. Mix eggs, cottage cheese, and remaining cheddar cheese and pour over the ham and cheese.

4. Bake for 45 minutes or until slightly golden brown.

Variations

Sauteed Spinach: Use leftover Sauteed Spinach for the bottom layer, then top with chopped ham and proceed with the rest of the recipe.

Spinach: Layer one 10 oz box frozen spinach (thawed and drained) or any other frozen green vegetable in bottom of pan. Mix eggs, cheese, and cottage cheese and pour over vegetables.

Seafood: Substitute 3/4 cup chopped seafood of choice for ham.
Add other vegetables, such as cooked broccoli, onions, or roasted red peppers. You can even use jalapeño peppers for a little spice.

Getting Back to Healthy Eating!

In my last post, I was gearing up to start another 4 month marathon training program. I was all ready to go, then a bout of strep 3 weeks later changed my plans. What first started out as strep throat, turned into a severe intestinal infection from the antibiotics then strep again! I was out of training for almost 5 weeks and realized there was no way I could safely catch up without risking a serious injury. It just wasn't worth it this time around. So after sulking a few days, I realized God obviously had other plans for me and I needed to heal and maybe take a step back for a while. Now after recovering for a few weeks, I am feeling great and even ran 12 miles a few days ago no problem! It felt amazing!

Let me just start by saying I have had a wonderful summer with my family. We've made so many memories and had two awesome vacations, the first to Disney in May and a beach trip to Seaside just a week ago. Many who know me well, know that I have made it a priority to eat well and exercise in the last few years, allowing me to lose weight and keep it off for a while too. Well, as great of a time as I had on my trips, I have completely let my healthy eating habits go out the window and have settled into some not so healthy patterns in my diet. Vacations are meant for having a good time and eating treats and food you may not usually eat at home. But for me, my vacation eating continued from May up until now! Whereas before, I ate very strict (south beach phase 1) 5 days a week and allowed myself two cheat days a week, I more recently have done the opposite and have had 5 cheat days and 2 healthy eating days! lol Those darn Gigis cupcakes and Las Delicias chips and cheese dip have finally caught up with me! So here I am 16 pounds heavier than I was in May and no clothes that fit...time to get back to it!

I completely agree with people out there that claim maintaining weight or losing pounds is 70% diet and 30% exercise. I mean, I run 28-30 miles a week and go to the gym 3 days a week and still gained all those pounds! I will say I am very carb sensitive (anyone with PCOS and insulin resistance like myself with attest to that!), but I also cannot deny that I have eaten way to many desserts and cereal (I could eat a whole box in a day if given to chance!). So here I am, I know what to do, I know how I should eat (and what my body responds best too), and with determination, accountability and some real diet changes, I can get a hold of these annoying pounds that have snuck up on me and be healthy again!

What's my plan?

Well, I know I have to stay away from most all carbs in order for me to lose weight and keep it off. I plan on going back to south beach phase 1, because it is not too drastic and there are so many easy and quick meals and snacks that I love. After a couple weeks on phase 1, I'll carefully go back to my one cheat meal (not cheat day) a week and see what happens from there. This time around, I have joined a fitness group through my gym 24 Fitness and I am so excited to encourage and be encouraged by women who are like minded and wanting to get fit!

As far as working out, I of course will keep my weekly mileage as before and I am training for a very hilly half marathon in NC December 1. I would love to change up my circuit training and weight lifting on my off days though, so I will be adjusting some of my routine after I meet with the girls at the gym.

As always, my main focus is being healthy inside and out and taking care of the body God has graciously blessed me with!

Ok so I'm not so great with updating my blog!

It's been too long since I've posted! My last post was a few days after my marathon race and here we are again, a day away from starting another 4 month training program for the December 1st St Jude Marathon! Wow, time has gotten away from me. I have taken a little break from the high mileage, eaten a few too many desserts, enjoyed so many wonderful experiences with my two beautiful children and I have loved every second. Sometimes you just have to take a break from the training schedules and strict dieting and just enjoy living. Maybe not quite as much as I have the last 8 months lol, but either way I'm ready to get back into the training mode and this time around I've set new goals and have even greater aspirations for this go round!

I have decided to stick with worked great for me last year, Hal Higdon Novice 2. The mileage works great for busy working moms like myself, and I can do all my long runs while the kids are at MDO on Thursdays. Schedule check, new shoes check (Brooks new Ravenna 3s!!), updated music on the iPod check, and rested knees and hips check (something I failed to start out with last yr!). The only thing missing here are the cooler temps, but I guess I'll have to just wait another 6 weeks or so for that one…just in time for the 14+ milers thank the Lord.

This time around I know what's coming. Now there is good and bad to that. Last year, it was new and the idea of running a marathon seemed so magical but so scary at the same time. I had no idea what to expect and honestly had no clue what I was doing, but I think that worked to my advantage to a point. This year, I know the good, the bad and the ugly…and of course the undeniably most amazing feeling that comes with crossing the 26.2 mile finish line. I also know the pain that comes, both mental and physical. I didn't plan for that last year but this time around I pray I'll be more aware of how to maybe avoid the PT visits and Cortisone shots by hopefully resting more and stretching/strengthening my weak areas. IT Band issues are my downfall, unfortunately…

2012 goals…

-Treat my body well by eating healthy and training wisely
-Complete my race injury free
-Encourage other runners along the way
-And finally, to finish well and hopefully in under the 4:09 time I did last year…(4:00 is the time goal but I'll be happy with whatever time honestly)


So here we go, 4 months of fun is about to begin!!!

My First Marathon Race Experience

Marathon race day finally arrived. 0430 wake time and I was ready. My nerves had calmed immensely from what they were the day prior and I was feeling pretty good. My legs were fresh, I stretched, prayed and tried to focus on all my previous months of training and long runs, which had brought me to this moment. I packed up my bag, drank my required amount of Powerade and lets not forget the Body Glide! I felt confident and felt this was going to be a day I'd never forget. My bag was checked at 0630, more stretching and another round of Body Glide for good measure! The nerves were creeping back in along with the adrenaline I could feel pumping through my body.

Now I'd gone back and forth between where to place myself within the wave start. Of course my first goal initially was to just finish the race, but as my pace picked up in the last 6 weeks I began setting time goals. My first goal was a 4:10 finish (9.30 minute/mile). After a few long runs at a 9.05 minute/mile pace my goal then again changed to possibly a 4hr finish time. The pace team leaders at the Expo of course tried to talk me into the 4hr group, but still I was unsure.

So there I was making my way to the starting line, still unsure of which corral to place myself. Should I run in Corral #6, the 9 to 9.20 min/mile pace runners, or do I start in the front of corral #7, the 9.20 to 9.40 runners and start off slow. It was the difference between the 4hr and the 4:10 finish time. I am caught between the two with 15 mins till start and I see my dad making his way to me! Finally someone to help me make what I thought was such a crucial decision lol. We decided together, for me to start in the front of #7 and be ahead of the traffic, instead of the back of #6 where I would be crowded around ton of people making it harder to pass people, if I needed to do so.

I took my place at the front of the line, retied my shoes, pulled out my lucky chewing gum, and my ipod was set to go with Kings of Leon first in the shuffle! The race began and the corrals were started in 2 minute increments. At about 12 minutes passed 8am the horn sounded and I was off! I set my pace early and stayed ahead of the of the 4:10 pace leader (my initial goal from the start). I didn't want to start off too fast and burn out but I wanted to maintain a goal pace of 9.10 for my first 13 miles.

The miles went by quickly in the beginning. The crowd was great, music, cheering and signs all over. The first few miles were a bit of a blur, just trying to stay on pace and not trip over the person in front and behind me! There were runners everywhere! Even if I had wanted to pass, it was not going to happen at this stage in the game because there was no room to do so! Mile 5 is quickly approaching and the St Jude campus was in site! What an amazing and just awing experience this was. I high fived excited little children, some even patients and it just blew me away! Signs of appreciation and of encouragement to press on were all over the streets, as these precious children cheered and clapped as I ran by. I was choked up to say the least! And I knew at that moment this was not just about finishing a race, but it was about supporting these sweet children, who were fighting for their lives...

What else along the course could top that experience? I would say nothing...except for the finish of course, but I'll get to that. The miles went flew by, one by one and I was feeling great. I stayed focused and even when my feet began to slightly ache by mile 8 I pressed on. I was well ahead of the 4:10 pacer and to my surprise, by mile 9, I see the 4hr sign in clear view. Could it be that I caught up to the front of the corral #6 group? I tried to not get too excited, but instead remained focused and decided to scale back a bit and save my energy for the last 13.

The half and full runners split just at the 12th mile. The crowds thinned significantly but my energy and excitement picked up greatly. By this time I had passed the 4hr pacer and I felt like I could fly! Just past mile 13 I see Matt, my dad and some friends! That just gave me the extra push. Halfway done and let's go! Ironically the next song I hear is Fly by Rhianna and I am getting pumped. The hills are coming more frequently and staying longer and by mile 16 I am a little tired but still staying strong. I planned out my strategy for my last 10 and knew I had it in me to finish this race.

By mile 18, I am slightly behind the 4hr pacer, but still under a projected 4hr finish time since I started in corral #7, putting them 2 full minutes ahead of me at the start. I am keeping hydrated, checking my form, but I am definitely feeling it by mile 19 and 20.

6 more to go I tell myself! That is an easy day run that I do all the time! Anything to keep my eye on the finish. Another Powerade at mile 21 and I am down to 5 miles! What could go wrong, right? Ha! My mind should have communicated a bit more with the stomach, because apparently he didn't get the memo, like the rest of my body that I was about to finish my marathon in under 4 hours and it was time to focus here!

Mile 22 I knew something was not quite right. Now, for the sake of my full embarrassment and just to spare you some not so pleasant details, we will just say that halfway into mile 22 an unforeseen bowel problem occurred, which forced me to pull over at the next porta-potty for 14 entire minutes! And let me add that the poor girl (and let's not forget the only girl working the water station!) that helped me in my time of need is probably scarred for life and for that I feel terrible! Time was ticking (literally) and I realized the awesome pace I had maintained throughout the race was crushed and I was not going to make the 4hr mark. Now some have told me they would have quit, giving the circumstances. But that was not an option for me! 4 months of training, time, energy, injury, money and my hope of running a marathon meant too much to just say forget it. I was going to finish this race, no matter what!

I take care of business, drink a cup of Powerade and press on! At this point, I have no idea what pace I am at and where the 4:10 group is, but who cares I have got to get to work. I just keep running, keep moving. My mind is hurting but my heart is making me keep going. I keep telling myself, I've got this. I can finish, I will finish. One more drink at mile 24 and here we go. No sign of hitting a wall, but my legs are getting heavy. I make my way back through downtown and all I can see is my sweet baby girls face pictured in my mind (and Matt too lol, but I really wanted to see Maddy!). It was almost over, the pain would be worth it. And as I make my way to mile 26 my heart sores and I know I have got this! My heart is pounding, my aching legs are crying out but I know, they know what is coming. I turn in to enter the stadium and my dad is waiting right before I enter the last leg! We high five and it was over for my emotions! I fought back tears as I made my way to the finish and as I come to the last few strides I see my brother and other family with signs cheering for me and with the greatest feeling of joy I crossed that finish line! I did it!

I finished in 4hr 9min and even beat the 4:10 pace group I started with in corral #7!

I made my way through the crowd and met up with the very people who made that finishing moment possible. They got me through the rough times and even in what could have been a very devastating turn of events at mile 23, seeing their faces that very moment in my mind allowed me to continue on and finish the race. Many pictures and hugs later, I was elated and just taking it all in. That day will forever be one of the greatest of my life.

26.2 miles...The Making of a Marathoner

Wow where do I start!? Just a few days ago I finished a marathon...26.2 miles! Seems so surreal but so amazing all at the same time. Considering where I was 2 years ago, not running at all, it seems crazy to think about how it all came to be. I had a dream, made a goal, found a plan and just went for it. I won't say it was easy, far from that if anything. But all the obstacles, all the hard training days, life stresses and even injuries were so worth the end result. It has made me stronger and has proven to myself and a few others that if you truly want something in life, you have to be brave, believe in yourself, trust God and know that with Him you will have the ability to make it happen.

I will never forget the week I decided to change my status from the half to the full race. Several things happened, but the one thing I remember most vividly is running through the rain one evening and wondering if I really could do this. I was coming into mile 7 of a 10 mile run( my first 10 mile run), my ipod went out (and those who know me well know I have to run with music!), and I look up into the sky and see a rainbow appearing and all of sudden I felt God saying to me, "You can do this Sarah, it won't be easy and there will be hard times ahead, but you can do this." In that moment, I felt God carrying me those last 3 miles, and I believed he would do the same for 26.2....

In the week I decided to do the full, I got some funny looks, and a few comments questioning my sanity! Why in the world would you want to run 26 miles?! I heard that A LOT! lol I began to ask myself why in the world I felt compelled to put myself through the vigorous training that was coming my way. Here it is. I love to run. I am passionate about it. Some like painting, crafts, decorating, party planning, weight lifting and the list could go on. Me, I want to run. What do I want to do when I am stressed, mad, sad, angry, happy, excited or just to pass time? Run. When do I have my best thinking and best prayer time? When I am running! Preferably outside, although I am starting to love the treadmill on these cold rainy days we've had here lately! Running is my thing, and when I am needing a break from the world, from work, and being a wife and mother (which I love dearly!), just give me my running shoes, ipod and the open road and I will be one happy lady. You have to have YOU time and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! Your family and your sanity will be better for it...

I will post about the race experience soon...

Sugar Free Peppermint Mocha Creamer is here!

For those of us counting carbs this holiday season, here is some yummy low carb creamer with only 2g carbs and 15 calories!