The Friday Five: Fifty Shades, Bieber, i5K!

1. What I’m Reading: As I said last week, I’ve started Fifty Shades Darker. The second book is much more eventful.  I didn’t think it could be more dramatic.

Who’s started book #2? I’d love to hear what you think.

2. What I’m Listening to: Much later than most hormonal teenagers, I caught the Bieber fever. This song is catchy! Rachel described it perfectly: that Summer song that you want to listen to in the car with your windows rolled down.

3. What I’m Pinning:

4. Where I’m Running: Thursday evening, Steve and I ran the i5K downtown. Night runs are my favorite because it’s much cooler outside. Though it rained the entire race, I was happy with my time. My timer said 25:27 and the official race time said 25:35.  The speed demon to my right finished in 22:44!

Before the race:

I think the Twitpic sticker somebody slapped on me made me speedy.

Oh, and then there was a squirrel at the after party.

I also met two blog readers! Hi to Sarah and Moffett – thanks for introducing yourselves!

5. What I’m Eating: After the race, we went to La Pizzeria. Who doesn’t crave pizza and beer after a run? That crazy boy doesn’t eat crust! I, on the other hand, eat crust first and always request extra red sauce to dip it in. When the server asked if I wanted my leftovers in a box, Steve jokingly told him I loved crust and I might want to save his leftover crust too. The server took him seriously…

HAPPY FRIDAY!!

What I’m Loving Wednesday

1. My friend Steven and I went back to Boone Hall Farms for more strawberry picking. It was kind of funny to see how differently we picked. He stayed in a small area, exhausting his resources, while I walked up and down many different rows. I wonder if this has to do with being male vs. female or being focused vs. unfocused. What do you think? Either way, I caught a ladybug while picking. They’re good luck!

2. Since its opening two weeks ago, I’ve been to Sesame twice. I’m in love! I went with Annabel last weekend, and we split a few different things. The Southwestern Salad  was really fresh, but the dressing made it.

Romaine, chargrilled chicken, roasted corn, black beans, tomato,  and grated cheddar with a chipotle vinaigrette:

We also shared sliders.

• Italian – blue cheese and fresh basil
• Southwestern – guacamole, chipotle sour cream
• Memphis – housemade peanut butter, bacon & banana slices

The Italian was my favorite. The Southwestern was okay. The Memphis was a dessert burger. Different, very different. So far, the Napa Valley (fig & bacon jam, blue cheese, red wine reduction) is my favorite.

3. Pure Barre is kicking my behind and I love it. Since April 1, I’ve completed 15 classes. But I have a confession. Before PB, I never worked on my abs. In each class, we do at least 7 minutes of ab work. 7 minutes x 6 classes per week = 42 minutes of abs that I wasn’t doing before. I see a change!! It’s awesome. PB LOVE!

4. I was laughing hysterically alone in my kitchen while making this.

Yes, that is Zac Efron. Yes, it appears that we are about to kiss. I LOVE IT. Not only is it my new desktop background, but it’s also my facebook profile picture. I just wish I could send it to him so he could see how cute we are together. Crazy?

5. My favorite tweet today:

Who knew this existed? I did not.

Runner up:

Every girl on planet earth can relate to this.

What are your favorite burger toppings?

What body part is your least favorite to work on?

Who is your celebrity crush?

Green Pea Soup with Mint from CSA Week 1

I have been counting down the days.

It’s like Christmas!

Today I picked up my first box from my CSA with Gruber Farm! Included in the box from Week 1:

• strawberries
• kale
• collards
• broccoli
• daikon radish 
• radishes
• mesclun lettuce 
• peas
• sweet onions

I couldn’t believe how much was in the box. A whole pint of strawberries? As if I needed more – I went strawberry picking again yesterday. Thank goodness I can freeze them for smoothies! Needless to say, I was anxious to use my fresh produce in the kitchen.

 

Green Pea Soup with Mint, adapted from New Vegetarian Cooking

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds fresh peas
• 1 large sweet onion, roughly chopped
• 6 garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp. fresh mint, finely chopped
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3-4 tbsp. plain Greek yogurt, for topping
• fresh mint leaves to garnish

Preparation:

Put the peas into a saucepan with 5 cups water, the onion, and garlic. Cover, and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the onion and garlic are tender. Add mint and simmer for an additional minute.

Blend in a food processor until pureed, then return to the saucepan. Thin, if necessary, with a little more water and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Reheat, then ladle into bowls, top with a swirl of yogurt, a grinding of black pepper, and mint leaves, and serve.

Of course I had to eat this with my favorite green spoon.  Not only does recipe require very few ingredients, it’s easy to make! I couldn’t believe how good it was for such a simple recipe. You can serve the soup warm, but it would also be delicious chilled. The Charleston weather is so warm already, and a chilled soup would be quite refreshing.

Let’s talk about the nutritional perks of peas! According to The Food Doctor (one of my favorite books), peas contain calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, B vitamins, folic acid, potassium, zinc, and iron. They’re a good source of vegetable protein, tone the stomach, and aid liver function.

Another favorite pea recipe of mine is Shrimp & Sweet Pea Risotto. Or, check out a bunch of Peas Recipes from my idol, Martha Stewart.

Do you like peas? Do you prefer fresh, frozen, or canned? They all taste different, I swear!

How often do you make your own soup? I’m always so impressed with how much better fresh, homemade soups are. It’s worth the work!

White Chocolate Cherry Scones

During my last mini vacation to NYC in March, I had an incredible cherry cream scone from Amy’s Bread in Chelsea Market. For a scone, the texture was incredible. Rather than dry and crumbly, it was soft, and more cookie-like. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t daydreamed about it a couple times since my return.

I was overjoyed when I found out that many of Amy’s recipes are published, and that particular scone recipe is found in the book The Sweeter Side of Amy's Bread: Cakes, Cookies, Bars, Pastries and More from New York City's Favorite Bakery. I immediately put the book on hold at the library and patiently waited about 3 days until I could pick it up.

I flipped back the pages until I found the scone recipe. To my dismay, I realized why this scone was so damn good: heavy cream and sugar. 2 1/3 cups of heavy cream and 1 cup of brown sugar. Thanks, but no thanks. There had to be a healthier recipe out there.

Like magic, the next day, my aunt Kelly posted on my facebook wall that she had just made Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Scones from Skinny Taste. My prayers had been answered. I put the two recipes together to make a healthier version of my beloved cherry scone from NYC.

White Chocolate Cherry Scones, adapted from Skinny Taste

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup cold skim milk + 1 tbsp. of lemon juice 
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tbsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 tbsp. chilled butter  cut into small pieces
• 3/4 cup white chocolate chips (I used Ghirardelli, the best!)
• 1/2 cup dried cherries
• 1 large egg white, lightly beaten
• 1-2 tbsp. sugar, for topping

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Combine the first four ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk.
2. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray or line with a Silpat baking mat.
3. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Cut in chilled butter with a pastry blender, or using 2 knives, until mixture resembles a coarse meal. Mix in chocolate chips and cherries.
4. Add milk mixture, stirring just until moist.
5. Place dough onto a floured surface and knead lightly until a dough is formed.
6. Form dough into an onto baking sheet, about 3/4" thick. Using a knife, cut dough into 12 separate wedges.
7. Brush egg white over dough and sprinkle evenly with sugar. Bake until golden, 20 minutes.

These scones are sweet from the white chocolate and a bit tart from the cherries. The texture is more like a biscuit than a scone and would be best served with a cup of hot tea or coffee.

Right before baking these, I took a Pure Barre class with my friend Annabel. She told me she had just made strawberry shortcakes and that we should trade treats. Once I was done baking, I brought a couple of warm scones to her. In return, she plated me a delicious shortcake with fresh whipped cream, strawberries from Boone Hall farms, and mint from her garden. That’s what I call a fair trade and a good friend!

In other news, it was time for me to pick the winner of the Wine Sippin’ Socks giveaway. Via gchat, I asked Kaye pick a random name. She picked:

Congrats, Amber! Please send your shipping information to christinaorso @ gmail dot com.

Do you like scones or do you prefer other baked goods? Favorite kind?

Sweet or savory? As I was baking these, a friend told me he had recently tried a ham, cheese and chive scone that he really enjoyed. It sounded divine!

10 to 1 Survey

Enjoy a survey! Steal it! Blog it!

10 favorite musical artists:

• sia
• jem
• radiohead
• coldplay
• kings of leon
• britney spears
• the bird and the bee
• the xx
• regina spektor
• damien rice

9 things in your purse:

• wallet
• phone
• debit card
• sunglasses
• gum
• makeup bag
• receipts
• candy/snacks
• keys

8 places you want to visit:

• austin
• chicago
• san fran
• san diego
• honolulu (again)
• southern italy
• greece
• holland (the netherlands? w/e)

7 movies you love:

• Grandma’s Boy
• Office Space
• Man on Fire
• Love Actually
• Remember Me
• The Little Mermaid
• Can I count all the Golden Girls on DVD? Yes, I own them.

6 favorite hobbies:

• blogging (!!)
• cooking/baking
• working out
• reading
• crossword puzzles
• shopping at Target (ha!)

5 favorite fruits/vegetables:

• peas
• beets
• brussels sprouts
• strawberries
• bananas

4 favorite colors to wear:

• green
• teal
• blue
• orange

3 things that stress you out:

• having/making plans (unless it’s for a vacation)
• cleaning
• dentists

2 things you say too much:

• oh my gosh
• holy crap

1 favorite dessert:

• CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

The Friday Five

1. What I’m Listening to: I really like this song. The video might make you gag, but it’s worth a watch. Just be careful if you’re at work – a couple parts are kind of racy. Meow.

And speaking of racy…

2. What I’m Reading: I finished Fifty Shades of Grey. It’s good, but doesn’t have any depth to it.  And I thought I’d throw the book if I had to read about Anastasia biting her lip one more time. Other than the randomly placed “SAT words,” it was a very easy read. Regardless of my mixed feelings, I couldn’t help but immediately start the second book, Fifty Shades Darker.

3. What I’m Downloading: I finally downloaded Instagram. Add me: christinaorso

4. Tweets I’m loving:

I find the Men’s Humor tweets much funnier than those from Women’s Humor. Anyone with me, or am I secretly a boy?

5. Memes I’m Bookmarking:

WHEN SOMEONE ASKS IF I’M HUNGRY:

WHEN A GUY FLIRTS WITH ME AT THE GYM:

WHEN I GET HOME FROM THE GYM:

Hope those made you laugh!

Have a wonderful Friday and please enjoy your weekend!

Get outside and DO SOMETHING!! xo

Thoughts on Thursday

I told you I was going to abuse the list format!

1. I wouldn’t call myself unfriendly, but I realize that I don’t always reach out/introduce myself to people before they do. Maybe it’s an insecurity, maybe I’m just distracted. Regardless, I want to work on this. There is a girl who goes to the same Pure Barre classes as me, and she always says hi and asks how I’m doing. Today she even remembered that I was going to the farmer’s market after Tuesday’s class and asked me what I bought. Be friendly to everyone. Say hi to people. Put yourself out there. You can make friends wherever you go. The person sitting right beside you could be your new best friend…

2. I have very little self control around chocolate. I don’t just have a sweet tooth, I have sweet teeth. My eyeballs almost popped out of their sockets when I found out that Chick-fil-A is launching new dessert items:

• chocolate chunk cookies (!!)
• fudge brownies
• sundaes

3. For the past couple of months, I’ve been considering getting a dog. The only reason I’m holding back is that I’m always busy and worry that I wouldn’t have enough time to devote to a puppy. Plus, just like with men, I’m picky. I want a small to medium-sized dog, who doesn’t shed, doesn’t bark loudly, is able to run with me, and will snuggle at all times. Too much to ask? What do you guys think?

4. Rachel sent me a very exciting text message on Sunday.

My lookalike + Ryan Gosling? I won’t mind watching that. I’m halfway through the book and it’s getting more intense. Unfortunately it’s giving me unrealistic expectations for my future boyfriend.

5. I fully support marriage equality for all. I’m straight, but I watched my parents’ marriage fail and am in no rush to get married. That doesn’t mean I don’t want others who are in love to be happy. Fiona Apple summed it up perfectly in her letter to a gay teen: "A person who loves is a righteous person, and if someone has the ability and desire to show love to another — to someone willing to receive it, then for goodness’ sake, let them do it. Hate has no place in the equation; there is no function for it to perform. Love is love, and there will never be too much."

Good grief this post was serious.

To recap: Smile at everyone, try the new cookie at Chick-fil-A, tell me if I should get a dog, start reading Fifty Shades of Grey, and wave your rainbow flag.

What I’m Loving Wednesday

1. I haven’t found these yet, but when I do…

I’ll be opening them up before I can make it to the register. I promise to pay.

2. I reserved all of these books at the library…

but they’re all waiting for me to finish Fifty Shades of Grey. My (new) book club girls and I decided to make this our first book and boy, oh, boy, our first meeting will be interesting. I raised my hand to host this month’s book and come up with discussion questions. I feel like it’s going to be a game of “Never Have I Ever…”

3. On Easter Sunday, my family and I played the game Apples for Apples. Of course I was dealt the beets card.

It was destiny. However, I don’t agree that beets beat Brussels sprouts. I like them equally.

4.  The Mount Pleasant Farmer’s Market started yesterday! For a mere $9, I got a bunch of beets, sweet potatatoes, cucumbers, yellow corn, and a 1/2 pound of local shrimp.

5. Do you guys remember when I posted about the Foodie Terms That Make Me Cringe? It’s a funny post – check it out asap. Well, Serious Eats just posted their own list: Our Secret List of Banned Words. My favorite? Mouthfeel. That word is awful.

6. One of my new favorites from What Should We Call Me:

MY MAIN PROBLEM WITH DIETING:

7.  This dress.

And this dress.

Oh, and this dress too.

My bank account doesn’t get upset with me when I find dresses that are each under $30.

Now tell me what you love! xo

My Top 10 Must Haves for Healthy Living

This girl loves writing in list format. They’re fun for me to write, easy for you to read, and they look more organized. Sorry if this blog turns into a list  blog. With that said, here are the top 10 things I find necessary for me to live a healthy lifestyle.

1. A schedule/plan. I actually despise making plans, but when it comes to fitting workouts into my life, a schedule is necessary. I typically have a good idea of what my week looks like as far as when I’ll run, which classes I’ll go to, what part of the body I’m strength training, and when my rest days are. I don’t always stick to the schedule, but having an idea of what I want to do prevents me from slacking off.

2. Cute workout clothes. Yes, this motivates me. They don’t even have to be expensive. I haven’t jumped on the Lululemon bandwagon yet. I’m fine with the following.

Favorite top from Target:

Favorite jacket from Gap:

These shorts are necessary in the SC heat.

And these pants? I could wear them every single day.

3. Workouts I really love. Some people love yoga. I hate it. Some people like team sports. I’m too distracted and clumsy. What works for me? Running, kickboxing, and Pure Barre.

4. Stocking my pantry with fruits and vegetables. When grocery shopping, I make sure my basket is full of mostly produce. Always having fresh produce on hand makes me less apt to reach for the packaged crap.

5. My water bottle. It’s rare that I go anywhere without a giant bottle. I’m a huge fan of the Camelbak water bottle. Sometimes biting the nipple hurts my teeth and I’d really like to chug. I just bought this Nalgene bottle from Pure Barre and am loving it.

6. Phone apps. I use IMapMyRun,

I <3 Veggies,

and Pandora because there’s no way I’d exercise without tunes.

7. SLEEP! Although getting enough hours is difficult for me, sleep is necessary for my sanity. Plus, who wants to work out when they’re tired? Not me.

8. Reading materials. The Eat This, Not That series is my favorite to recommend. After years of owning them, I still occasionally use them as reference.

I also love magazines.

9. Blogs for healthy recipe ideas. My favorites are:

• Eat, Live, Run
• 101 Cookbooks
• Fit Sugar

10. Rewards! This is my favorite must-have item. I would go absolutely insane if I didn’t treat myself for all the hard work. Whether it’s a giant glass of wine or a handful of chocolate, I’m indulging. Everything in moderation!

What are YOUR healthy living must haves?