After rain there is sunshine so lets make dinner outside!

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Malin

I think this is honestly the roughest winter I ever experienced, even for a swede! So when I woke up to a coldish gloomy day I never thought I would make dinner outside but I guess behind the clouds the sun is always lurking. So the I whipped the together some delicious beef patties filled with sundered tomatoes served with a basil and feta cheese spread.

I think Gary-Taser was the happiest of all not being stuck inside 😉

Beef Patties

1 pound of organic minced beef

1 chopped garlic clove

1-2 tablespoons of chopped sun dried tomatoes in oil

1/4 cup chopped basil

1 egg

salt and pepper

Mix everything together and make small patties ready to put on the grill

Grilled Vegetables

Asparagus

Mushrooms

Bell pepper

Red onion

Squash

Unflavored coconut oil

salt

I used whatever vegetables I had in the fridge and I am so happy that Heinen’s, our new grocery store has unflavored coconut oil as it is so good for you.

Basil and feta cheese Spread

1/2 cup sour cream or greek yogurt

1 Crushed Garlic clove

feta cheese (to you liking)

1/4 cup chopped basil

chopped sun dried tomatoes

salt and pepper

Mix everything together and store in a cool place until it is time to serve dinner and when you do…I guess the summer is back!

What is your goal!

Posted on March 27, 2014 by Malin

LowCarb Nasi Goreng

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Malin

I always have my freezer stocked with meat or fish but when I opened it up today I realized the only thing left was a piece of pork tenderloin. Not knowing what I was going to do with it I started to unfreeze it and pulling out whatever we had in the fridge…and this is what it turned into 😉

1/2 shredded Cabbage
Sesame Oil
chopped Garlic
fresh grated Ginger
Soy Sauce
1 tablespoon tomato pure
1 teaspoon Sambal Oelek
Fish sauce (I used touch of taste)
apple cider vinegar
splash of Worcestershire Sauce
1-2 teaspoons Hoisin Sauce
leek
Cilantro
2 egg
Salt
Edamame Beans
Pork Tenderloin
Salt and Pepper

Direction: Start by shredding the cabbage and fry it in the sesame oil. Add the garlic, ginger, soy sauce, hoisin, sambal oelek, tomato pure, fish sauce, vinegar, worcestershire sauce and let it cook or simmer until dry. What you will find is all the spices will really infuse into the cabbage.

Whisk the two egg with some salt and fry in sesame oil. Slice into smaller pieces add into the cabbage together with the edamame beans and the chopped leek.

I used the grill to cook the pork tenderloin. I love to use the grill, less mess and the meat taste 100 times better!

Serve the meat on top of the cabbage with some fresh cilantro. The kids loved it and so did the grown up…so tumps up!

Unfortunately I did not keep track of the measurement but I think with common sense it will be ok 😉

That is how a recovery run should go down!

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Malin

Oh gosh, this weekend has been really busy with one thing after another. The premier of “The Ghost Pirates” was at seven o’clock friday evening, all the kids had practice really hard and did an amazing job and Mira was really buzzing when she got off stage. She though it was so much fun so the next morning I found her totally dressed up with bright red lipstick and a pair of my highest heels on ready to bring on the world.

But in-between all the birthday parties, hockey and theater I managed to get my 7 miler in and it is amazing how your mind works. I mentioned my 4 mile recovery last Wednesday and it was sooo hard and I was disappointed because half way through it felt like it was never coming to an end.

This time around, I knew I was “turning” around at 3.5 mile and was running “home”. The only thing that gets me is the “sprint session” in the middle of the run, they are truly killers for the legs so for the rest of the afternoon it looked like I had **** in my pants…haha.

So when Sunday morning came around I had a choice to make…the 3 optional miles. The thing is optional is not really optional unless you hanging on by thread so I decided I was not going crazy. I took it nice and easy and I really enjoyed the brisk sunny morning not meeting a single soul on my first run of the season through the forest preserve! My legs were a bit stiff as expected but I went straight to a well deserved hot yoga session and what can be better for both the soul and the muscles to reach for your fullest potential to complete the workout week…this is truly how a recovery run should be like!

What’s in your cupboard?

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Malin

I know it is only Thursday night and Taco Night is sort of reserved for Fridays but what the heck. This is what I found in my cupboards, so tonight we’ll have Taco Pie!

Pie Shell

3 deciliter Almond Flour

1/2 deciliter Sesame Seed

1 egg

1 teaspoon Salt

1 teaspoon Coconut Oil.

1 lb minced Beef

Garlic…a lot

Cumin

Paprika Powder

Chili flakes

Oregano

Salt and Pepper

(I added a touch of bong but it’s ok to use beef bouillon, make sure you mix it in well)

Egg Royal

2 Eggs

1 deciliter cream

1 deciliter milk

Oregano

Cumin

Salt & Pepper

Direction: Add all the ingredients for the pie shell in a food processor and mix it together until it becomes a smooth paste. In a oven proof dish press the paste and prick it with a fork. Pre-bake it in the oven for about 10 minutes at 350 F.

Fry the minced beef and drain any fat or liquid that comes from the beef. Add garlic and the spices (touch of taste) and fry for another couple of minutes. When done add it into the pie shell and lay out the chopped tomatoes.

Whisk the egg, milk, cream together with the spices and pour over the pie. Sprinkle over the cheese and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes.

A recovery run should be easy, right?!

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Malin

This morning the alarm went off at 4.45, I was taking Knut to his early morning skate and although I was tired I knew what I had to do. I went down in the kitchen brewed my coffee, that is a must for me in the mornings and boiled my eggs. I was running around the house getting everything together and before I knew it I grabbed my coffee and it was time to leave. So I thought I have my eggs when I got home, no big deal.

But for all the parents out there you know how it goes when you are about to send the kids off to school. They need to get dressed, you have to pack their lunch, homework and so on, once again time slipped between my fingers and it was time to go to the bus. I had a busy morning in front of me so I put my head down and got to my business and it was not until my way to the gym I realized how hungry I was. It was just so odd because my egg breakfast normally last me until lunch and I remembered I had not yet eaten, the eggs was still in the pot on the stove…haha, what can you do?

I had to run and I was so excited knowing it was my 4 mile recovery run, I told Megan (my trainer) that this was going to be a walk in the park! I knew it was my own fault being so forgetful and I could blame no one. Also I have my pride to protect, right? So all I could do was to make the best out of it and pretend it was a recovery run knowing I had an amazing yoga session in front of me to stretch me out!

This is how it was supposed to feel like…

…but this is how it really felt…haha

Lets make oatmeal…hmm, delightful?!

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Malin

In our family it’s just Knut and me that really likes oatmeal and this was often on the menu as both my parents were working and would not have time to spend an hour in the kitchen.

Although oatmeal is not really a low-carb alternative it has a fairly low Glycemic Index and when adding flax seeds reduces the effect on blood sugar. So today after working out a fair amount and rushing out to fit the kids activities in this was a perfect alternative.

Oatmeal

1 cup oatmeal
2 tablespoons flaxseed
2 cups water
a pinch of salt
Milk

Strawberry jumminess

4-5 sliced fresh strawberries
a splash of water
a pinch of stevia

Directions: Bring oatmeal, flaxseed, salt and water to simmer and stir occasionally for about 2-5 minutes. In a different pot add strawberries, stevia and water and simmer for the same amount of time. Serve the oatmeal hot with strawberries and cold milk…you will be surprised!

This is why I’m running the Chicago 1/2 marathon!

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Malin

I will never forget when my friend told me that she was suffering from Lam or its real name “Lymphangioleiomyomatosis”

We stood on the shore of Lake Michigan a warm summer evening of 2010. I was about to travel back to Sweden for 4 weeks when she explained she suffered from LAM, a rare type of lung cancer that destroys the lungs and makes it harder for the oxygen to enter into the blood stream. Oxygen therapy will help stabilizing the oxygen-blood levels although eventually a lung transplant is evident.

I was heartbroken, confused and angry and there was nothing I could do so this is why I am running the 1/2 marathon…I’m running for my friend and her life!

This is her story!

The year was 2004 and she just had her first son and had decide to get back to exercising. This was nothing new to her as she had always played soccer and always been living a healthy lifestyle. You know, that comes with being an athlete.

So when she started working-out she noticed a strange cough during exertion, she dismissed it as being out of shape after the pregnancy and went along with her normal life. Shortly after, she was excited to learn that she was pregnant again. When she tried to return to normal activity after the birth of her second son, she developed shortness of breath, coughing that produced blood, and severe abdominal pain just like a knife was stabbing her over and over again. One of these episodes landed her in the Emergency Room six months after her second son was born.

She was told she had LAM and leaving the doctor’s office, the first thing she did was google LAM. She learned that her “new disease – LAM” had a life expectancy of 8-10 years with no treatment or cure and she had a new born and a toddler at home! It was then that she was faced with the fact that she had a rare disease and that it would be a rough road ahead.

I’ve seen my friend doing really well but I have also seen her really sick and this is nothing I would wish upon anyone. The LAM foundation has done an amazing job researching and have come a long way since I met my her. They have found a drug that stabilizes LAM but it is not a treatment.

As scientists continue to find similarities between unconnected diseases, we know that successful research in LAM has led to discoveries that impact diabetes, heart disease and other cancers. I am raising money to increase awareness for LAM and to support the successful and tireless efforts of the LAM Foundation. I am running this marathon for my friend and for the over 3,000 women worldwide who have LAM and can’t run their own race.

Here is the link to support the cause every penny, krona, pesos counts, thank you!

http://thelamfoundation.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1103979

It doesn’t have to be “Chicken Fried” to be fast food…or a friday night!

Posted on March 11, 2014 by Malin

What a gorgeous day it was yesterday and when I got back from the gym I had my lunch and drank my coffee in the sun while watching Gary running around in the deep wet snow having the time of his life. After getting some stuff done around the house life happened and the kids came back from school with homework and activities to attend. So being a little rushed between figure skating and making it to my “new passion” I had to come up with something quick and fast for dinner and that was not a bucket of fried chicken from KFC!

4 Chicken Tenderloin cut into smaller pieces to shorten the time spent on the bbq.

Grated fresh Ginger

Minced Garlic

Splash of Soy Sauce (gluten-free)

1-2 tbsp Sesame Oil

Salt and Pepper

I threw everything in a big bowl to marinate while I cut the vegetables and that was what I could find in the fridge. A good way to make them roast beautifully in the oven is to mix a little canola oil, garlic and salt together and blend in with the vegetables and not overcooking them.

Normally I make my own mayonnaise but yesterday I was just a little to rushed so I used the ready-made and mix it with chili sauce and sesame oil.

Dinner was ready in 20 minutes, delicious, yummy and healthy and I made it to class!

Gary, my Co-Pilot!

Teriyaki salmon and Asian Ceviche

Posted on March 9, 2014 by Malin

Yesterday was Knuts “end of the year” hockey party, the kids vs. the parents and as much I wanted to go I knew it was not happening as we were expecting dinner guests. So Knut and Freddie went along bringing their skates and stick and I told them to get home at 6.30 because I was taught a good host should be home when the guests arrive. I know sometimes its hard to leave a good party so I thought I give Freddie a call and sure enough he is not picking up. I call again and get straight to voicemail so after some angry faced texts messages the two of them rocks up 15 minutes after Laura and her family arrived. I am not the one to hold grudges so after a peck on the cheek we were good to enjoy the Asian Ceviche before we got to the Teriyaki salmon served with a pinot noir… but most of all, enjoying the company of very good friends.

Teriyaki Salmon

1 lb. salmon filet
¼ cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp. water
1 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil
1 inch fresh ginger
1 clove minced garlic
2 Tbsp. agave nectar
2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
¼ cup mayonnaise
2 Tbsp. sriracha hot sauce

Make the teriyaki marinade by whisking together the soy sauce, water, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, nectar, white wine vinegar.
Cut the salmon filet into four equal sized portions and place in a large zip top bag. Pour the marinade over top, remove as much air as possible and close up the bag. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, mixing the bag occasionally to redistribute the marinade.
Grill it but make sure not to over cook it.
In a small bowl, mix together the sriracha hot sauce and mayonnaise. Serve the fish with a dollop of sriracha mayo on top!
I served this with oven garlic roasted vegetables.

Asian Ceviche

Prawns
1 Mango
1 avocado
red Onion
1 lime
Chiliflakes
1 tablespoon sesame oil
cilantro

Chop mango, avocado and onion and mix together with the prawns.
Squeeze the lime juice and blend together with sesame oil, chili and cilantro and keep cool until serving.