Thursday, July 22, 2010

Roasted Beets and Best Dessert EVER!

Hi all - I've been a bit MIA this week, and have been pretty busy! I had great bootcamp workouts Monday and Wednesday and some running and yoga on Tuesday. I am feeling pretty beat up, so I've decided to take the day off from working out and get 90 minute massage after work (and a pedicure at my lunch hour!) I love rest days! I do plan to walk to/from the pedicure and massage to get in some activity:)

The other night I decided I wanted to replicate a dish that I often order at restaurants...the beet and goat cheese salad.

Beet & Goat Cheese Salad:
2 small-medium beets, peeled and chopped
2 tsp EVOO, divided
pinch of rosemary, salt & pepper
1-2 TBS pecans
drizzle of maple syrup
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 cups salad greens (I used spinach)
1 oz goat cheese

1. Massage 1 tsp EVOO onto beets, sprinkle with rosemary, salt and pepper. Roast at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes, flipping half-way through. Beets should be a tiny bit crispy at edges.

2. Coat pecans with the maple syrup and cinnamon and place in the oven with beets when there is approximately 10 minutes left.

3. Drizzle remaining EVOO over salad greens and top with roasted beets, candied pecans and goat cheese.

The flavors were so great in this salad, I hadn't made candied pecans before, and they were delicious!

I decided a couple hours later that I was still hungry and wanted something sweet. I've been seeing late-night oat dishes on blogs and since I had an early morning workout planned the next day, I thought I would give it a try. I stocked up on some Trader Joe's supplies that day and picked up some cinnamon grahams and mini peanut butter cups...which became my inspiration!!!

Cinnamon & Peanut Butter Cup Oats:
2 Cinnamon Graham Crackers
1-2 TBS mini peanut butter cups
1/4 cup dry Old Fashioned Oats
1/2 cup water
pinch salt

1. Combine dry oats, water and salt and cook over medium heat until water is absorbed

2. Crush graham crackers

3. Top hot oats with crushed grahams and mini PB cups

4. Devour

These oat were ridiculous! The peanut butter cups melted into the gooey, yummy swirl and it was just an amazing desert...very filling with the oats. Also, this late night desert was great fuel for my early morning workout. I usually have half a bar or a piece of toast in the am, but I didn't need any food...just drank a little coffee and was good to go. This may become routine.

Do you eat before an early morning workout? Do you find it better to eat that morning or the night before? What is your favorite fuel for a workout?

4 comments:

  1. Love the idea of peanut butter cups in oatmeal - yum! Jealous of your massage - I need to book one ASAP.

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  2. I am going to try the Peanut butter cup and Oats . . . it looks wonderful and sooooo sweet.

    I also have to admit that I just tried beets a few weeks ago and LOVED them. I simply shredded them onto my salads - and loved it. I am anxious to try some other recipes. This one with goat cheese looks delish.

    thanks for the great recipes.

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  3. Those oats sound yummy! I try not to eat late at night, but I do eat before I work out. Even if it's just half a banana, I have to have some fuel in me for a morning workout. My favorite pre-run snacks are a piece of toast with almond butter, a banana, or even an apple with peanut butter.

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  4. WOW! That recipe is insane! I want to try it immediately! I usually force myself to eat atleast a piece of toast with pb before a run because usually i'm dying of hunger by the middle. The hunger never kicks in until it's too late. I have tried both methods, and the force myself to eat something small method has always worked wonders!

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