Bite me

There are no words.

Just a recipe.

Slow Cooker Caramelized Onion Pasta

1 tablespoon olive oil
3 pounds yellow onions, thinly sliced
1 bag baby spinach
4 Laughing Cow Swiss wedges
4 Laughing Cow Garlic & Herb wedges
1 teaspoon salt, more or less to taste
1/4 teaspoon pepper, more or less to taste
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 pound linguini, wheat or otherwise
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

Drizzle olive oil on the bottom of slow cooker and add onions. Cook for 8 hours on low. During the last half hour of cooking, add baby spinach, Laughing Cow wedges, salt and pepper. Meanwhile, prepare the pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Add cooked pasta and Greek yogurt. If necessary, thin out sauce with cooking liquid. Serve with fresh Parmesan.

For a non-vegetarian option, add sliced sweet Italian turkey sausage (cooked, obviously).

Disclosure: I was provided with free Laughing Cow wedges as part of the company's Snacking Into the Right Swimsuit State of Mind summer campaign but I was under no requirement to write about the product or create recipes. I did not receive any compensation for this post.

Three Things Thursday: Munchkin linkup

I think I'm raising a vegetarian.

While it would be a grand idea to think that I'm doing it purposefully, I'm not. Miles just won't eat meat. I gave him a mini cheeseburger on Saturday and he ate the bun but left the patty. Grilled chicken on Sunday went untouched. And I don't ever attempt fish unless it's in the form of tuna casserole.

It's a bit disconcerting because I want him to be a well-rounded, adventurous eater ... and I have failed to make appropriate adjustments for his preferences. I'm in no way saying I'm going to be a short order cook but I want to make sure that there are convenient, non-meat protein sources offered at meals.

Here's what goes down.

1. Breakfast. Miles' breakfasts vary from homemade pancakes to oatmeal to the oh-so-convenient frozen waffle. I also like to offer an egg scrambled with cheese, which he loves, to give him some protein and also hold him over as one of his favorite phrases is, "I hungry."

2. Lunch. Five days a week, Miles is at day care and his meal options are out of my hands. Our provider noticed he didn't eat the beef offered earlier in the week. However, she frequently offers vegetarian protein sources in the form of lentil sloppy Joes, bean burritos and vegetarian chili. The weekends prove harder but it's sometimes a peanut butter sandwich or - gasp - an all beef hot dog, which he will eat. I also try to include some cottage cheese or yogurt in the event he doesn't eat the other proteins, along with a raw vegetable and a cooked vegetable.

3. Dinner. The fight. Every single night it seems. I almost died last night when Miles happily gobbled up sloppy Joes made with ground turkey. It was more than likely a result of the cheese I put on top but it went down the hatch. I'm also making it a habit of offering edamame with dinner, and I have kidney and black beans on the grocery list as they are all on his top food list. Not only will it fill his nutritional needs but hopefully avoid some of the hangry tantrums we get come 5:50 and I'm still coking dinner/

I'm not hoping to raise a prefect eater but a good eater. I just came across this post from Mel's Kitchen Cafe that offered some great tips. My favorite was having the kids count the colors on the plate. Not only will it be fun for Miles as he learns the colors but it will be a good challenge for me to include more in my cooking.

Tips. I'l take them. Or feel free to share your misery!

Celebrate good times

It's a sad day as a runner when you realize that you only have one pair of usable shoes.

For the better part of six months, I alternated between two pairs - Nike Structure Triax and Nike Lunar Flys - in addition to a few old pair of Triax that I could throw in the mix if I was on the treadmill and forgot to bring my shoes to the basement. Since ditching the Triax in April, I've been rocking the Brooks Ravennas exclusively.

I do have some miles remaining on the Lunar Flys but I have a sinking suspicion that the lighter pair of sneaks are related to some IT tenderness I was experiencing after Run the Bluegrass in March. No bueno.

And though I laced up the Ravennas yesterday for a short 3-miler, I slipped them on again this morning for 5 miles on June 5 in honor of National Running Day.

The run was pleasant. The oppressive humidity that hung in the air for the past two weeks has dissipated and the sun is beginning to rise just a bit earlier, with the light peaking out over the horizon before I finish. It's cool and bright, a rare combination. I took an out-and-back route that keeps me from bailing before 5, and I was able to catch one of the last whiffs of the lilac bushes for the season.

The gratuitous watch shot is not nearly as cute with the Motoactv as it is with a Garmin model. Womp, womp.

My legs were a bit sore from yesterday's double (or triple if you count the a.m. 3-miler) - teaching Piloxing and BODYPUMP last night - but the pace felt nice  and my body thanked me for moving. It was a run that made me glad I do it. Reminded me of why.

According to a Brooks Running survey, runners participate in the sport for exercise, enjoyment, health and mental health (in that order). I'd probably put mental health a little higher, especially after having such a clear head this morning.

The survey also said 57 percent of runners buy two or more pairs of shoes a year and since I'm only at one six months in, I think I have earned a new pair. For alternating sake, at the least.

Happy National Running Day! How did you celebrate?

Ready to Rock? The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series is offering the biggest discount of the year with $20 off any race in the series domestically today only in celebration of National Running Day. Join the ranks of Will Ferrell, Sheryl Crow, Bachelor Sean Lowe, James Marsden, Jennifer Love Hewitt and others who have participated in the races. I stood next to Guiliana Rancic and totally talked to her when I did RnR Chicago and got to split 13.1 with my BFF in New Orleans.

Weekly Training Update: 5/27-6/2

The week, in training:

Monday: Rest (sick)
Tuesday: Piloxing (taught) +  BODYPUMP (taught)
Wednesday: 3.5-mile run (still sick)
Thursday: Trampoline fitness class
Friday: 4 miles + 30-minute YMCA audition
Saturday: BODYPUMP (taught)
Sunday: 7.15 miles (a.m.) + 3 miles (p.m.)

◊ ◊ ◊

Crouching in the woods along an unmentionable section of trail, I struggled to find a sliver of myself. I was on day four of some sort of stomach ailment/intestinal issue - my co-worker deemed it norovirus - and I struggled with cramping, bloating, other things and ridiculous fatigue. I was hoping to find some semblance of normalcy on that 3.5-mile run but all I found was a lack of stamina, frustration and a well-hidden spot over a guard rail and behind some trees.

I was fairly certain, in those miles, that I was going to be sick forever ... or need to take a pregnancy test.

By some higher power, though, I woke up Thursday morning full of spunk and ready to take on the day - and a trampoline fitness class for work. I don't want to say too much here since I don't know how my piece will develop but it was the most fun I've had in a long time. The class, which was more than just jumping around, incorporating intervals, resistance work and core training. The class was full of young people - think early 20s - who came with friends, and it created a far different dynamic than the group fitness classes I teach. And it didn't hurt that the instructor was not bad to look at. The class was exactly what I needed - a fun experience without expectations (and nausea).

And I think the illness-force rest was just as important. My legs felt fresh on Friday and even fresher on Sunday when I hit some crazy paces for both runs. More importantly, my mind was ready and excited to run.

The Better Burger

There are three things that make a good burger - quality beef, flavorful cheese and a cold beer.

Or hard cider as the case might be but all the while still necessary after a day when a certain toddler wakes up on the wrong side of the bed. Twice. And then does it again the next day.

My friends at Laura's Lean Beef agree - at least on the beef part. As you break out the grill this summer, they advise using lean beef to reduce cooking time; avoiding excessive amounts of sodium by using healthy seasonings; and using whole-grain bread, as whole-grains are absorbed slower by the body and help you to eat less, yet feel full.

Feeling inspired (and hungry), I built a better burger that combines the bright, fresh flavors of summer with a hint of guilt-free indulgence.

Laughing Cow Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil wedges are sandwiched between two thin patties of Laura's Lean Beef, and a layer of thinly sliced part skim mozzarella tops the cooked burger. Serve on a whole wheat sandwich thin or bread with fresh tomato and arugula. And if you're feeling saucy - which I always am - a simple aioli with roasted red peppers, garlic and low-fat mayonnaise is a wonderful complement.

Laugh & Lean Double Cheese Stuffed Burgers

For the burgers:
1.5 pounds Laura's Lean Beef ground beef, or other lean ground meat
1 clove garlic, minced
Pepper, to taste
4 wedges Laughing Cow Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil
4 slices mozzarella cheese or mini Babybel Mozzarella rounds, sliced
Vine ripe tomato, sliced
Pre-washed baby arugula
4 sandwich thins
For the aioli:
1/4 cup roasted red peppers, draind
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise

For the burgers: Season ground beef with garlic and pepper, gently combining. Form meat into eight thin patties. Place Laughing Cow wedge on a patty and top with another, crimping the edges. Repeat with remaining beef. Cook burgers on a grill 5 to 6 minutes; flip. Top the burgers with mozzarella cheese and cook until medium well; about five more minutes.

For the aioli: Put all ingredients in food processor; pulse until smooth. Refrigerate sauce until ready to use.

Assembly: On the bottom of sandwich thin, add arugula and tomato. Place patty on top and drizzle aioli over burger. Then eat it. You will like it.

Feeling green? Laura’s Lean Beef and Big Green Egg are once again hosting their Summer Grilling Sweepstakes. From May 27 through Sept. 2, 2013, one winner will be randomly selected each week to receive a summer grilling prize package including a Big Green Egg ceramic outdoor cooker, Laura’s Lean Beef products and an assortment of grilling accessories. You can enter by “liking” the Laura’s Facebook page, by scanning an on-package QR code or by registering at www.LaurasLeanBeef.com.

Disclaimer: While I have previously received free product from both Laura's Lean Beef and Laughing Cow, all ingredients for this recipe were purchased by me because I buy them regularly. I was not compensated to write this post or eat the cheeseburger, which was effing fantastic by the way. I wrote everything myself, too. Except for the part about the contest because I'm lazy. Mark did buy the hard cider for me but it was probably to take the edge off since Miles slapped me in the face 300 times this weekend.