Dessert/ Dinner

Ready for the Weekend!

Howdy!

Boy, am I EVER glad that it’s finallyyyy Friday night!

I’m so ready for this long weekend…and Monday is Ryan’s birthday! I changed up the big birthday dessert a little bit—now, I’m making a Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse Pie (recipe courtesy of the pastry chef at Roy’s…it’s NOT healthy! haha) to take over to Ryan’s birthday dinner with his family on Sunday night. Guess we all know where I’ll be tomorrow afternoon then! In the kitchen! We were going to go offshore fishing this weekend but those two storms brewin’ in the gulf kind of ruined our plans. I guess we’ll just wait and see…

As for tonight, I took the easy way out for dinner and dug into the depths of my bottomless freezer once again to pull out this fab Amy’s meal!

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After tasting how deeeelicious this one was, I am sort of mad I waited so long to try it! There are big chunks of corn masa (my favorite!), beans, cheese and chili peppers….it tastes really really not so good for you but I love it that it IS! I had this meal with half a sliced mango and some red pepper strips.

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Doused in Texas Pete!

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With one of my chocolate truffles for dessert!

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And……..a pb cookie larabar for a snack later:

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So, in my “free time” this afternoon (I LOVE having free time!!!!!!!) I was of course being a nerd and clicking around Runners World looking at different training methods and such. Has anyone here used Hal Higdon’s plan? I think I actually like this one the best, even over Runner’s World, because it incorporates more running days and also “stretch and strengthen” day.  I don’t think I can only run three times a week and build the type of endurance that I’m looking for. Hal’s method has one running day a week with the option of cross training, which is nice as well. Does anyone have an opinion? 

I’m off to school to play with sugar all night! Pictures to come in the a.m. of course! 🙂  

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  • Alyssa
    August 29, 2008 at 9:13 pm

    Mmmm that dessert sounds so good, even though it isn’t healthy! But hey it’s dessert! I have a questions for everyone. Does anyone know of any good granola bars with milk/yogurt, like the milk n’ cereal bars by Generals Mills? I’m looking for something with a lot of calcium…any suggestions?

  • TanyaT
    August 29, 2008 at 9:18 pm

    I used Hal Higdon’s plan to get ready for my first 10K last year, and upgraded to his 1/2 plan this year. I really liked it for the variety the cross-training days provided.

    I’d also like to thank you to provided the motivation to add strength training to my running routine. What a difference it has made.

  • Ali
    August 29, 2008 at 9:28 pm

    Jenna! I am a long time reader since your switchover to eating meats and some dairy and I LOOOOOVE your blog! This is my first comment tho 🙂

    I use Hal Higdon’s training plan and I love it. It is so useful and the stretch and strength days work so nicely with the running days and rest days. He really has a knack for planning. I thought I wouldnt be able to gain the endurance I wanted for my half ( Sept 21!!!-first timer:)) but it has been such a blessing. I am able to run longer, and now, harder than ever before- I highly suggest it!
    Keep up the good work!
    ps, Have you ever tried Amy’s spinach and feta pockets? DEEEELISH!

  • BethT
    August 29, 2008 at 9:34 pm

    I think many of us (me included) suggested Hal Higdon’s plans last time you asked….they are the best in my opinion.

  • Serena
    August 29, 2008 at 9:43 pm

    I suggested Hal too and love his plans. I trained for 2 marathons and two half marathons using them (beginner and intermediate) and love them!

  • emily
    August 29, 2008 at 10:20 pm

    That is my favorite Amy’s item! Sooo good.

    I know this is the wrong post, but I’m not sure if you backtrack, so I wanted to tell you how impressive that pulled sugar flower was. I cannot believe that was your first try!

  • caroline
    August 29, 2008 at 10:30 pm

    Will you share that dessert recipe????? Sounds delish!!!

  • Christie
    August 29, 2008 at 10:36 pm

    Hal HIgdons training plan is very well known and very good. I would also recomend checking out Furman INstitute of Running and Strength training (FIRST) they have a great training program. BUt Hal HIgdon is very good as well so eaither way!

  • Christie I.
    August 29, 2008 at 10:47 pm

    I have never seen any Amy’s frozen meals that are light in sodium, I need to keep my eyes peeled for those! I love her low sodium soups.

  • Rae
    August 29, 2008 at 11:48 pm

    I’m using Hal Higdon’s marathon training plan…good stuff. Ill let you know in 3 weeks if it “worked” for my race!

  • Evey
    August 30, 2008 at 12:00 am

    I totally understand your fascination with corn masa, isn’t it just the best??

    MMmm.. please do enjoy that PB larabar for both of us! Yum-yum! Have a great weekend!

  • blueberrybabe
    August 30, 2008 at 12:17 am

    what is corn masa?!

  • VeggieGirl
    August 30, 2008 at 1:11 am

    Oh man, that Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse Pie will for sure be a hit for Ryan’s birthday!! Great choice!!

    **Drum roll please, for my upcoming usual comment….**

    PB COOKIE LARABAR!!! VEGGIEGIRL’S #1 FAVORITE FLAVOR!!!!!! 😀

    Have fun at school!

  • Elina
    August 30, 2008 at 1:46 am

    I’ve been using Hal’s training programs for a while too, and I really like them!

  • Monica
    August 30, 2008 at 2:03 am

    Hey Jenna! My friend and I used Hal’s plan to train for our first half marathons and I found it very easy to follow. I really liked it and highly recommend it!

  • jenna
    August 30, 2008 at 2:38 am

    caroline,

    Unfortunately I won’t be able to publicly share her dessert recipe since Stella (the executive pastry chef at Roy’s) came up with it on her own and it’s on the menu there right now…I will tell you this: it is a three layer pie with two layers of peanut butter mousse (whipped cream, peanut butter, cream cheese, sugar, eggs…) and a layer of chocolate in the middle (mix of different chocolates with whipped cream). There’s a faaantastic black bottom peanut butter mousse pie available from http://www.gourmet.com (just search black bottom peanut butter pie) that I made for thanksgiving dinner last year and everyone went crazy over!!

  • Rose
    August 30, 2008 at 2:44 am

    Love that Amy’s bowl… yum!

    Can I just ask what was in the air 9 months prior to September 1? My b-day is Aug. 31, and this weekend I have FOUR friends who share birthdays on Sept. 1. I almost died when I read it was Ryan’s birthday too. I do realize everyone has a birthday, and there are a lot of people in the world – but still random!

  • zoe
    August 30, 2008 at 6:39 am

    Hey Jenna I was just wondering what you are planning for strength workouts once you move? I don’t have enough money for a gym membership right now and I’m sort of at a loss for strength training at home right now. I’ve been doing lots of at home yoga and exercises with a ball and band but I don’t feel like I’m getting what I need to keep my bones strong. Any ideas? 🙂

  • Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food)
    August 30, 2008 at 10:07 am

    I haven’t tried that Amy’s meal before, but I really like the enchilada meals are really good!

  • Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food)
    August 30, 2008 at 10:09 am

    Whoops! My sentence didn’t make sense, but here is what I meant to say:

    *I haven’t tried that Amy’s meal before, but the enchilada meals are really good!*

  • jenna
    August 30, 2008 at 11:37 am

    zoe,

    I have totally been in your situation for the past year! I have a gym at the apartment but its more like a closet and I can’t afford a gym…when I move to Vero beach there’s a slim chance the yacht club I’m going to be working at will let me have access to the fitness center there because I’m an employee…but I might just go ahead and join a gym for 3 months since I’ll have extra money from working full time and not having to pay rent (score!). What you could do though is go buy some workout dvds…they have a “boot camp” one among others that actually give you a great workout. Resistance bands are great although I have never personally worked out with them….a video would give you a great how-to. And buying a couple cheap dumbbell weights from somewhere like target or wal mart might not be a bad idea. they are only like 10 bucks but you could use them in a variety of ways!

  • sarah
    August 30, 2008 at 4:03 pm

    rose — maybe they are all thanksgiving babies!

  • Caroline
    August 30, 2008 at 4:14 pm

    Jenna … I love Hal Higdon’s training plans. Definitely give them a try. And if you are training for a marathon, then you may want to check out his book “Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide.” Very cool book…. have a great weekend!

  • Natalie
    August 30, 2008 at 8:48 pm

    I have used Hal Higdon’s plan to train for my first half in June, and I really liked it. The only thing that I do like about the runner’s world training plan that I’m using is that it incorporates speedwork, tempo runs, easy runs, and long runs. If you go to the personal trainer and click on hard for the intensity of training, you will be running 5 days per week, using different days for different training methods. Also, you would get two days to do either stretch and strengthen or cross training. I have decided to use the runner’s world and Hal Higdon’s mixed so that I can put some tempo and speedwork in. I think that everyone just has to pick what they like.
    Hope this helps!