Good morning.
I hope your Friday is off to a great start and that you have fun things planned for the weekend. After spending the last few months training for the Thunder Road Half Marathon, I will not be lining up for tomorrow’s race. Thankfully, it’s not due to injury – I’m 100% healthy. Instead, I have been in Georgia all week helping take care of some family stuff.
I’ll tell you one thing, the older you get the more you realize that family comes first. Above any classes you have to teach or clients to train or races to run. Work will always be there and there will always be another race, I will never have this opportunity again to support my family in this way.
Here’s a look at all the things I’ve been cooking and eating at my grandmother’s house.
Most mornings have looked like greek yogurt, granola, bananas and peanut butter.
Oatmeal and cream of wheat mix with pumpkin, egg whites, bananas, raisins and peanut butter.
Mix of pumpkin pie greek yogurt with plain greek yogurt and pumpkin puree (to cut down on sweetness) topped with bananas, granola and peanut butter.
This is the quintessential “Mema’s House” lunch. Chicken salad, Ritz crackers, raspberries and a salad.
Turkey sandwich on a sandwich thin with Duke’s mayo, avocado and hoop cheese (<– my grandmother’s favorite). Raspberries and sweet pickles on the side.
Vegetable beef soup with a buttery sourdough roll on the side (<– from the freezer, made by my dad).
Leftover Mexican chopped salad with chicken salad, crackers and raspberries. Note on the raspberries: I guess they are in season because they’ve been on sale everywhere and they are SO GOOD. Sweet and actually taste like a raspberry. I know that sounds crazy but fruit tends to look pretty and taste like nothing more often than not.
I stopped at Whole Foods in Augusta to pick up some groceries for the week on my way down.When I arrived on Sunday night I whipped up this quick dinner. Butternut squash risotto (from a mix) with soy ginger Alaskan salmon and roasted broccoli.
On Monday night I made my grandmother chicken parmesan because it’s her favorite! It was so good. Green beans with a little butter and salt on the side.
Leftover salmon with more roasted broccoli and roasted sweet potatoes. I posted this one on Instagram with commentary about how easy it is to eat a whole pan of roasted broccoli and judging by the responses, I’m not alone.
My parents got here on Wednesday night and I made a big pan of “The Best Homemade Chicken Enchiladas” along with a chopped Mexican salad that had romaine, corn, red pepper, black beans, feta, avocado and jicima.
I also made my Maple Apple Spice Bundt Cake.
Last night we went out for Thai. We started with fresh rolls.
And I had red curry with tofu and extra veggies for my entree. It was wonderful.
Off to tackle the day! (With the help of these two! <3)
Have you ever had to skip a race you were fully trained for?
Did you cook or bake anything “Fall-ish” this week?
So sorry you won’t get to run your race, but yes family always comes before everything else! Have a great weekend!
Thanks!
I hope everything is ok with your family! I made slow cooker steel cut oats for the first time this week. So easy/delicious!
Thank you! Yum!!
I have pulled out of halfs that were coming up because I realized they really didn’t work in my schedule and have not registered for races for the same reason. As a mom, it’s not always feasible because like you say, family comes first! It’s not your training went to waste either – you run because you like it and it leaves you even more prepared for another race another time! And yes, totally can eat pans and pans of roasted vegetables!
Exactly! That was definitely my approach to training for this race. Run it just to run it.
I hope everything is okay dear 🙁
I have been doing tons of baking! two new fall/winter cookie recipes!
All is well, thanks! Yum!
Family does come first. I hope everyone is ok. A race is just a race and there will be another one.
Looks like a week of good eats. Good luck!
There’s always good food to be had at my grandmother’s! Thank you!
Good for you! No doubt, family is the most important- and I really appreciate you sharing this…
I like the story that you might have been training physically and mentally for a marathon— but maybe mentally, you were being trained for something else. Xo – Sending only my best!
Dana
I love it. Thank you for sharing this!
Prayers to you and your family, hope everything is ok.
How do you make all your food look so delicious?! I’ve snap-shot some breakfast ideas- now Im craving yogurt, granola and banana!
Ha! Thank you!
Family first. I dropped out three days before Boston marathon because my son was hospitalized. That was the year of the bomb. I ran the next year and cried happy tears the first mile. I hope your problems are resolved soon.
Wow, this gave me chills!
That is such an incredible story. I’m so glad you were there with your son when you needed to be.
ive never dropped a race but ive not really raced a ton. there was one i should have dropped do to feeling no good and i didnt and it was no good. i hope everything goes well for you in GA. sending prayers. also..our raspberries in ohio just now seem to be tasting non fruit like. so enjoy it while it lasts down there ! i smell the package. if they dont smell much usually they taste weird. if they smell super raspberry-y then they usually taste great. that’s my non scientific method !
Do you have a link to the chicken parm recipe? Searched your site, but couldn’t find it. Thank you.
I’m sorry you won’t be running tomorrow, but I’m happy that you are with your family and hope that everything is ok! You are doing the right thing, there are many other races!
Sending thoughts your way and hoping for the best. Family first, always.
Hope everything is ok!!
I hope all is well (or getting better) with your family! You are absolutely right that family always comes first. There will be plenty of finish lines to cross later on!
And everything you made looks delicious!! Your family is lucky to have you! I have not gotten in any fall baking but contemplating whipping up some pumpkin inspired treats today. Ran 15 miles this morning + Watching the Food Network = Nonstop thoughts about everything I want to eat.
I’ve never dropped out of a race because I’m not a runner and have never signed up for one… but I 1000000% agree with family first! Which is why after 4.5 years of living in NYC, I made the move to Colorado to live closer to my family. It just makes so much sense. Hope all is well with your family this week, sending lots of thoughts!
Family first always. What a great post about perspective! My prayers are with you and your family, I hope everything is ok.
This post was really touching to me. First, I’ve been struggling but telling myself that yes indeed, it’s family family family then everything else. I was thinking of you all morning wondering if you were running and sending you positive vibes :). But reading this, I’m so happy for you to have the gift to help your grandmother and be with family. All of my grandparents were in India (now passed away) and it truly wasn’t feasible to help out. Yes, I’ve been baking & making for fall too!
Hoop cheese sounds so yummy — ditto on the sour dough roll. Your dinners always look so balanced and I love how you incorporate all types of foods!