Weekly Goal Update: Running (August 5th to 11th)

I ran three times this week - Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I was away during the weekend and had grand plans to run while in Calgary, but hotel beds make it difficult to start early in the morning (even if they are uncomfortable!).

A disclaimer: I live on top of a mountain, and I don't think there is a single flat street to be found in town. I feel like I get a small pass for having to run uphill for multiple portions of my run! I'm confident that I wouldn't have to stop and walk as much, if at all, if I were running in say... Saskatchewan!

Mondays run was kind of a mess, which I expected as it was my first time out. I ran 1.34 km without stopping and had to walk twice.

Tuesdays run was a little bit better. I did the same route, but backwards and it was a little bit easier. I ran 1.38 km without stopping and only had to walk once, up the really big hill near the end of my route. I improved my pace by 0.03 seconds.

Wednesdays run included a new route, with more uphill sections (though they were smaller). I ran 1.39 km without stopping, and only had to walk once (though I did walk for awhile). I improved my pace significantly, but I would say the increase of downhill sections (to counter the uphill) helped with that.

All in all, I'm very pleased that I managed to get out three times during the week. My goal is to get out six of the seven days, but would be happy with at least four. 

Sew much fun?

I have to admit, I'm jealous of people who can sew. I mean, it seems like such a simple task that almost always creates something spectacular.

Combine that jealousy with the fact that I cannot find a single pair of curtains that I like for my living room, and this goal of learning to sew was born. My list for this goal is small:

1. Sew lined curtains for our living room.
2. Sew complimentary throw pillow covers for our living room.
3. Attempt an apron for myself.
4. Attempt a basic tote bag.

I'll update once I've ordered my fabric. I've been scouring the internet for the perfect choices, and found one that I love for our curtains. Now I just have to find a couple options for throw pillows and I'll be set!

To read is to live.

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body." - Sir Richard Steele

What? That's not an iPad!

My reading goal is simple: to read twenty books by the end of the year. I love reading, so the goal as written shouldn't be very hard for me to accomplish. I have decided to create a list of the twenty books I want to read, in order to give me some direction. It isn't complete, so if you have any suggestions please post in the comments section!

1. The Outsiders - S.E. Hinton
2. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey
3. Lord of the Flies - William Golding
4. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling
6. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling
7. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling
8. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Secrets - J.K Rowling
9. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling
10. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling
11. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling
12. Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
13. Lamb - Christopher Moore
14. The Book of Negroes - Lawrence Hill
15. A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini

What books would you recommend I fill my final five spots with? Or maybe there is one on my list that shouldn't be? I'd love your opinions!



Super Easy Soft Pretzels

I love soft pretzels. Love. They are my favourite treat when shopping in the States, and I've been known to have more then one before leaving the mall. But, the one time I've made them was such a mess (the boiling in baking soda thing wasn't my cup of tea) that I haven't made them at home since.

Then, I saw this recipe from Canadian chef Stefano Faita (thanks again for the link, K!) and I was intrigued. No boiling? No baking soda? Sold!

They aren't as good as an authentic soft pretzel, but they are a fast and easy alternative that taste great! I served mine with a cheddar cheese sauce, because cheese makes everything that much better. I'm going to try a boiled pretzel recipe at some point before my challenge is over, so stay tuned for that recipe sometime soon.

Pretzel Dough Ingredients

water, active dry yeast, all-purpose flour, salt, sugar

All ready for the oven

Yum!

For the pretzels:

1 1/3 cup warm water

1 tbsp. active dry yeast

2 3/4 to 3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tbsp. sugar

1 tsp salt, for dough

1 egg + 1 tbsp. water, for egg wash

Coarse salt, to taste (I used kosher)

Cheddar cheese sauce, optional (recipe below)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Combine warm water with yeast in a small bowl. Let stand 5 minutes.

Combine 2 3/4 cups flour with sugar and salt in a large bowl.

Add yeast mixture to flour mixture. Using your hands, bring the dough together adding more flour as needed.

Sprinkle work surface with flour and knead dough until smooth and elastic.

Divide dough into 12 equal pieces (mine obviously weren't equal!) and roll into 15-inch long ropes. Shape as desired (the traditional knot, sticks, or bites).

Brush each pretzel with egg wash and sprinkle liberally with coarse salt.

Bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with cheddar cheese sauce, mustard, or any other dipping sauce of your choosing.

Source: In The Kitchen with Stefano Faita

For the cheddar cheese sauce:

2 tbsp. butter

2 tbsp. flour

1 cup milk (I used 1%)

~1 cup cheddar cheese 

Pinches of salt, pepper, and cayenne, optional

In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the butter and flour and cook for approximately two minutes (you want to make sure the flour taste has been cooked out).

Slowly whisk in milk and cook until milk has thickened, approximately five minutes. Add seasoning, if using.

Whisk in cheddar cheese, one handful at a time, until completely melted. Cook, whisking constantly, under desired consistency is reached. Serve warm.

Source: KD original

26x26 : 1 / 26

Run Kelsey, Run!

Let me preface this post by saying that running and I do not get along. I hate the way my butt jiggles, and I'm constantly thinking about how dorky I must look! But, I need to get in shape and running seems like the best "beginning" step in doing that. 

I have two major running goals:

1. Run 5K by September 1st.
2. Run 10K by November 13th (which just happens to be my twenty-sixth birthday).

Seems simple enough, right? We'll see.

26 X 26

In ninety-nine days, I will be turning twenty-six. So, I decided to give myself the task of making twenty-six new, different, or complicated recipes between now and then. I love to cook and I love to bake even more, so I am thrilled to be challenging myself a little more in the space I love most in my home! 

My list is pretty random, but full of things I've wanted to try or have been to scared to try. I hope to give you all inspiration to try those things that have always intimidated you, to wonderful results!

1. pie crust
2. lemon meringue pie
3. puff pastry
4. beef wellington
5. souffle
6. hollandaise
7. jam and/or jelly
8. dill pickles
9. chicken kiev
10. croissants
11. macarons
12. baked Alaska
13. sausage patties
14. New York cheesecake
15. tortillas
16. french bread
17. ricotta cheese
18. donuts 
19. marshmallows
20. pudding
21. crock pot roast chicken
22. yogurt
23. sugar cookies with royal icing
24. the perfect vanilla cupcake
25. mozzarella
26. pretzels 

Plus one bonus recipe - cake batter bread. Wish me luck!!

My Goals

Something that has been very hard for me to admit, in this time of self-reflection, is that I don't have any goals. I'm not striving towards anything, content with moseying through life without a sense of purpose.

Well, that all changes now.

This list is not exclusive. It will change. A lot. But, I'm okay with that. As long as I keep building upon what I've set out to do, I'll be happy. Mostly, I'm hoping that accomplishing these goals will lead to me discovering new things that I'm passionate about and those things will then lead to new goals. 

So, here is a quick overview of the goals I've come up with as of right now. I will go into more detail about each goal in their own posts.

1. Make 26 new, different, or challenging recipes before I turn 26.

This is the main reason for my starting a blog, other then the whole accountability thing. I want a place to post the recipes I've tried, the changes I've made, and the successes (or failures) I've had. I love to cook and bake, so I know I am going to have a lot of fun during this process. 

2. Running! 

My 26x26 list is chalk-full of ridiculous recipes, from puff pastry to baked Alaska to the perfect vanilla cupcake. I need to keep active during this process and I've decided that running is what I'm going to do (along with some supplementation, but I don't know what that will be yet). A loves to run and I love discovering things that we can do together, so running it is!

3. Reading.

I love to read, but find myself picking up my laptop or the TV remote more often then my Kobo. So, I'm challenging myself to make reading my first choice instead of something I only do in the bathtub!

4. Learning to sew.

Pretty self-explanatory, but something I've been "meaning to do" for quite awhile. My mother-in-law (MIL) gave me a sewing machine two years ago, and beyond the short tutorial she gave me I have never used it. 

This is where I sit so far. Like I said, I hope to gradually add more things to the list but I'm happy with where I sit right now. It's going to be an adventure, and I hope that you'll all be along for the ride!

Welcome!

Welcome to Running In An Apron, a lifestyle slash food blog, with a little bit of fitness thrown in (emphasis on the "little"). 

This year has been extremely tough for A, my husband, and I, so I decided that in order to return the focus to me I would come up with a number of goals to strive towards. I'm hoping this blog will help to keep me accountable!

Please follow along while I post yummy recipes, updates on my goals, and everything in between!