We're a fun, fit group of Triathletes based out of Vancouver. We'll help you achieve your peak fitness while having fun!
Far be-it for me to be a poor daughter-in-law and ignore the sage advice of a mother-in-law who also dubs as a professional chef and baker!
So it is my pleasure to have my fine Irish (trust me, that's relevant) Mother-in-Law, Fionnuala Sarsfield offer up this Mole Recipe... Let the cook-off begin!
1 1/2 lbs. boneless chicken
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp.cinnamon
1 - 14.5 oz.can diced tomatoes
1 1/2 oz. bittersweet chocolate (I used semi sweet)
1 tsp. oregano
Salt and pepper
1 chicken bouillon cube
1/2 cup water (or you could just sub 1/2 cup chicken broth)
Put chicken breasts into slow cooker, turn on low. Mine were breast tenders and they were frozen.
Saute onion in a bit of cooking spray for a couple of minutes. Add almonds and cook for a few more minutes, stirring often as not to burn the almonds. Add in chili powder, cumin and cinnamon, stir in for a minute. Add diced tomatoes with the liquid, chocolate, oregano, salt, pepper, bouillon cube and water (or chicken broth). Stir around and let it simmer for a couple of minutes.
Carefully place into a blender or use an immersion blender to blend together to make a smoother sauce. I left mine a bit chunky. Continue to cook until slightly thickened, you don't want to put it in the slow cooker too thin. When sauce is done, pour over chicken in slow cooker. Cook on low for 5 - 7 hours or until done. Shred chicken and mix in with the sauce. Serve over pasta, rice or baked potatoes. We ate ours over baked potatoes and broccoli.
For my birthday last year my kind and loving athletes got me "The Feed Zone Cookbook" by Allen Lim and Biju Thomas. I LOVE it, full stop! (And them for graciously giving me such a rad present!)
I wanted this cookbook because it provided nutritious ideas "for athletes" specifically. They provide yummy ideas for "portable food" that you can take with you on a ride, like "Cashew and Bacon Rice Cakes".... Right? OMG let me tell you how your taste buds will thank you when you add bacon to your next ride :)
Anyway, they also inspire great ideas for every meal and even provide quick "Apres" mini meals for after a ride or hard training sesh.
These guys are the whole package- They're smart, well-educated dudes, they ride, they know delicious food and they deliver it with a delightful reminder that mindfulness plays a big role in what we feed our bodies.
Yup, I'm a lover of this cookbook, and I'm going to share a quick and easy breakfast recipe with you... But you should go buy this book for yourself because I won't be spilling all the beans here ;)
Quinoa and Berries:
1 cup Quinoa, rinsed and drained
1 cup water
1 cup milk
dash of salt
1-2 tbsp honey
1/2 cup fresh or frozen berries
chopped walnuts or pecans
Combine water, milk, quinoa and salt in a saucepan and bring to a gentle boil. Turn the heat down and let simmer until most of the liquid is evaporated (I like mine a little more runny so I cook for less time).
Add honey while it's still in the pot and let sit a few minutes with the lid on
Top with berries and nuts of your choice. This is also delicious topped with yoghurt and cinnamon!
Enjoy
This dish was inspired by a trip to Mount Baker with my friends and I was asked to make a vegetarian dish. I had no recipe and the basis was "Casserole". Here's what I came up with!
Quinoa Mushroom Casserole
2 cups dry Quinoa
2 stock cubes
Coconut oil
1 lrg onion
1 lb mushrooms (any variety - cut into chunky pieces)
1 small broccoli head (cut small)
1/2 cup raisins
Season with salt, pepper, dash of nutmeg and cloves
Smashed Sweet Potato topping
3 lrg Yams cut and boiled (if you're up to it you can roast them for uber awesome tasty-ness!!!)
1 cup of chopped walnuts
Crumbled blue cheese
Instructions:
Cook Quinoa as per directions adding both stock cubes to the pot. Set aside when done cooking.
Saute onion until soft then add mushrooms being careful not to cook too long so they lose their plumpness. Shitake, Portabello and oyster mushrooms will have to cook a little longer.
And broccoli & raisins and cook for a minute or two more, just to coat them with the oil and seasoning.
Mix sauteed veggies with cooked quinoa and place at the bottom of a glass 8x11'' dish.
In a bowl smash yams and walnuts together with a fork. Spread the mixture over top of the veggie / quinoa base and then top with the stinkiest, bluest, rank blue cheese you can find!
Bake @ 425 F for 10-15min to warm it all up then broil it for a minute or so to crisp the cheese crumbly goodness on top.
Serve it up with a balsamic topped side salad and a glass of red wine, preferably with friends :)
Enjoy xx
As promised this Blog will exist as a medium for all things I am passionate about; food, training, mindfulness, strength training etc....
This one combines my love of Food and Chocolate, you're welcome ;)
Quinoa Chocolate Cake (with ganache topping):
2 cups cooked Quinoa (cook Quinoa as directed )
1/2 cup Milk
4 Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla
3/4 cup melted Butter
1 cup Sugar
1 1/2 cups unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 tbsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
Bake at 350 F for 30-40 mins depending on size of cake pan!
Ganache Topping:
1/2 cup Whipping Cream
4 oz Bittersweet Chocolate
Bring Whipping Cream to a bare boil, turn off and add chocolate pieces. Stir until they melt, let cool slightly then top cake with it or save it and drizzle on as much or little as you like.
Here is the original site I got this gem from: http://wheatfreemom.com/blog/recipe-quinoa-chocolate-cake/
| Strength training | Injury prevention and force production |
| Neuromuscular System | Skill & efficiency drills (also strength training) |
| Aerobic endurance | Efficient use of Oxygen and fuel to create energy Increased capillary density around muscles Greater stroke volume (capacity for your heart to pump blood) Enhanced enzymatic conversion of fat to energy. |
| Developing sport specific strength | Hills, low cadence etc. |
| Building muscular endurance | The ability to maintain high exertion levels for extended periods |
I'm not one for "New Years Resolution" type stuff but there is something I want to see myself do more of this year and that is to write. I want to reach a wider audience with the things am passionate about and teach my athletes and clients. You will find information here about the sport of Triathlon, Mountain biking, Strength & Conditioning, Nutrition and Mindfulness.
My motto is: Fitness is for the mind, body and soul
Coach Lynne
Christmas Bake-your-face-off Part II
Yesterday was our last group training session of the 2011 season and I took the liberty of sending everyone off with sweet memories! They worked their butts off yesterday so these treats were well-deserved folks :)
My friend Mé came over yesterday and helped me make these two recipes.... It reminded me that the only thing better than baking is baking with friends!
Thanks Mé xxxooo
Chewy Gingersnaps
3/4 cup soft butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp salt
Roll into a big ball and refrigerate the whole thing for an hour (or just keep the dough in the fridge and bake individual cookies when you want them so they're always fresh!).
Roll into 1'' balls and roll them into sugar (optional) and place on cookie sheet. Squish em down a bit with either a fork or your thumb.
Bake at 350F for 10min
Enjoy-Mmmmmmm
Pumpkin Nut Bread
1 cup fresh or canned pumpkin
2 cups flour (Whole or mix of both... whatever you prefer)
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
1 cup chopped nuts or raisins (I use walnuts if I'm using nuts!)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
Put the batter into a nice big bread pan and bake at 350F for about 45min
Enjoy with nice hot gingerbread latte - aMAZing!!!!
I like to Bake... A LOT! And Christmas time is no exception to this and at a time when people are racking their brains to find that ''prefect'' gift I simply give the gift of ''Deliciousness"!!!
Tune in to this Blog for all things Triathlon related!!! We'll use is to update you on events, races, rides and runs all the things we'll get up to during this upcoming training season! We look forward to telling stories of hard workouts, fun and sometimes debaucherous events (St. Paddy's day, Hmmmm?!!?) and generally all the things Switching Gears Tri Club do to stay fit, have fun and rip it up on race day! We look forward to enlightening you, meeting you and maybe even training with you :)
Coach Lynne!