pan fried curry zucchini fritters + yeeeee-haw! Rodeo Run 5k

the response from my last post was incredibly overwhelming.  i'm already hormonal yall, jeez!!!! some of you even shared your heartfelt, REAL life preggo journeys with me.  it just reaffirms the fact that all women have a story to tell.  we all jump through, over, and under hoops all day, every day.  that's life.  God is true to His word though!  i'm honored and elated that women were able to connect with me on a more personal level and get encouragement and inspiration to keep pressing through their own struggles.  we all need it.  anytime you ever feel the need to share with me or ask any particular question about my journey, do so without hesitation!  le@fitfoodiele.com.  again, thank you all for reading and commenting openly and privately.  to God be the glory.

the Rodeo Run went down yesterday morning!  i picked up my race packet Friday and brought along a list of 3-year-old b-day party locations to check in the area.  yep, Chiso's getting a birthday party this year.  we did a small gathering at the house last year for his 2nd and remember i went batty for his 1st  so now it's time to venture out.  i think. suggestions? email me.

i broke my 'no oats pre-race' rule and had big bowl of them topped with bananas, blueberries, and some coconut crystals before we hit the road.

i walked/ran with a friend of mine, Krystal, and Chiso got to play and hangout with her son, Max.  Krystal is in FAB shape, right!? that's her 9 month old daughter in her arms.  she is such a big fitsporation to me!

 grateful to still be moving and shaking at 25 weeks now. my next race is the Bayou City Classic, and the link is over there in the events side bar!  strollers are welcome, so moms, let's do this!  email me if you'll be there; i'd love to meet up at the post-race party.  and if you see me running, SAY HAY!!!!!

   

so about that zucchini fritter recipe i own ya.... ugh, they are so incredibly tasty.  Sonny took a bite of one and was like, 'there's no meat in this?'

nope.

pan fried curry zucchini fritters

the stuff: (source)

• 3 large zucchini, shredded/grated
• 3 green onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup almond meal or flour
• 1/2 cup light parmesan cheese, shredded
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 egg white, beaten
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp curry powder
• 1-2 tbsp liquid aminos
• 1 tsp cracked black pepper

do this:

1. use the larger holes when grating zucchini and shred them onto a dry cup towel.
2. use those muscles and squeeze out all the liquid possible.
3.  add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl and incorporate well.
4. heat a pan on HIGH coated with nonstick cooking spray (or pour a tsp of olive oil into the pan and spread it around)
5. place heaping tbsp size scoopfuls of mixture onto hot skillet and press down flat.
6. convert heat to LOW and cook for approx. 5 minutes on each side until golden brown and done. be patient.

makes 20 small-medium cakes!  for 1:

i have the patience of Chiso sometimes when i'm cooking and i often end up with a scramble instead of a perfect patty or cake.  i am sooooo dang proud of how these turned out!  best ones yet and so much savory deliciousness in every bite. please enjoy them as much as we have.  i got some garlic & herb goat cheese from HEB after the race that i have been spreading on them and, well,

i really need to go to bed. now.

le

run ON! Bayou City Classic 10k '13

pre-race breakfast was 2 egg whites and a big bowl of expanding oats (1/2 cup rolled oats cooked in 1 cup water and 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk) topped with frozen blueberries, banana chunks and cinnamon!  i normally don't eat THAT much before a long run, but i woke up so hungry that i had to put something in my system that would stick.

walking to the start line  with no rain this time!  last year it rained the entire race AND during the post-race party, boooo.

 traditional feet pic :lol:

52-53 min and some change later,

DONEZO! the route was a tad bit different this year and there were hills, hill, and mo hills, whew.  that Allen Parkway is a beast.

oh how i wish i could have taken pics of all the inspirational and funny things i saw:

1. i had just made it to the halfway point when a woman on a bike heading the opposite way yelled out 'it's fit foodie!!!' are you kidding me!? if you could have SEEN my face light the heck UP as i cheesed, waved, and yelled hello back! i could not see you very well at ALL but THANK YOU FOR MAKING MY YEAR, LADY!!  XOXO!

2.  spectator sign: 'don't stop! ain't nobody got time fo dat!'

3.  people often run in teams or 'centipedes' and are linked together by a rope of some sort so that they can finish together. teamwork at its finest!   i passed a team with a gentleman running alongside his IV.  i did a double take for sure!  yes, the stand with the wheels, the fluid bag, the WHOLE NINE.  he was out there doing his thing.  if he can....

4. one thing i did NOT witness was someone biting the dust, hard.  happens every year.  people, you gotta watch where you are going, especially running in the streets of downtown Houston. *knocks on wood*

ran into a college buddy of mine just before hitting up the post-race party.  amazing run, Warren!

first things first, had to get my t-shirt before the line got too crazy. this was nothin.

i tucked it away in my bag cause i needed two free hands for all the samples i was about to acquire!! here we go:

could it be?  yep, Blue Bell ice cream sandwiches and fruit pops.

stopped by the Clif Bar sample station,

peanut butter chocolate something!

the My Fit Foods associate called this mixture 'Morning Glory'.  it's brown rice, eggs, lean ground turkey, and cheese all mixed together. it was good and something i'd throw together at home for sure.

fresh fruit (bananas and oranges), cereal bars, and scones were provided by Whole Foods,

and Fuel Kitchen supplied the breakfast tacos this year, not HEB.  they were delicious though- i had eggs and chorizo in mine.  a friend has been raving about the Philadelphia location to me and i can finally go experience the food for myself, sweet! great turn out again this year!  always a pleasure and honor to participate in helping preserve Houston's bayous, trees, and the environment :)

goodie bag, food, coupons, t-shirt. it's a wrap. time for a nap.

there were tons more sponsors there, check out the ones i didn't mention.

4 years running and counting!

Q: have you eaten at Fuel Kitchen & Health Bar? is there one in your city?

le

Bayou City Classic 10K 2012

light energy snack on the way to the race in the car- pistachiooooos.

*flashback* this is my awesome friend Krystal and i with our baby bumps exactly one year ago at the Bayou City Classic 10K 2011!  we were both expecting boys and finally met them about two months later.

 i couldn't tell ya what our time was cause we talked about baby stuff the whole way and didn't even pay attention. great times.

this year,

it rained the entire time!!!

i threw my shoes into the washing machine along with my soaked clothes afterwards- the rain did not let up. steady drizzle from start to finish.

making my way through the rainy downtown streets to the start line.

first time for everything!  put a towel over my head, secured it with my visor, turned on my ipod, and just ran.  i finished around 54 minutes.  this race had THE best post race food yet- breakfast tacos, chicken breast / fresh fruit bowls, and protein bars galore.

i even saw made-to-order toastadas!! i didn't get one though cause i already had waaaay too much crap in my hands.

they upgraded from regular cotton t-shirts to the jersey/mesh-like material this year.

i cleaned up, huh!

i saw spindletop (one of our anniversary dinner spots) in the distance and took one last shot before heading home.

my first and only niece is having her 1st birthday party today!  i sped home and got ready for the festivities.  i kept my hair wrapped and pinned underneath that towel during my run.  even though it was completely soaked through, my hair didn't look half bad after i let it air dry.  which is great cause i sure didn't feel like flat ironing it.

my sis-in-law and i at her daughter's party:)

i will be well prepared for a day full of screaming kiddos as my son's 1st b-day approaches, whew.  i sure could use that extra hour of sleep we are losing tonight!!

le