and to be honest, I really didn’t mind that much. It’s no secret I’ll take winter running over summer any day, and even when going for a walk, it’s more tolerable.
That said, I did move some runs around and enjoy a lie-in Tuesday morning rather than a morning walk. I regret nothing.
Meal Prep!
just add rice. There are three more thighs hiding
accidentally testing the smoke detector
it was still delicious
This week also featured the return of #CariCooks. There’s something about winter that just lends itself to it even though I hadn’t used my new Instant Pot much. After making Mississippi Chicken a lot, I pivoted to pork, which I liked much better and then didn’t make it much. I did a Peapod order last week and they didn’t have pork shoulder, so chicken it was. First time I made it in the instant pot and found the jasmine rice worked well. Made for four wonderful lunches, just wasn’t feeling it Thursday and got poke instead.
The accidental smoke detector test? Spaghetti carbonara of course. I did so well the first time, but August was an adventure and Saturday? Well open window at 8 degrees to blow the smoke out. Luckily it was lunch and not breakfast so I didn’t wake any neighbors. Most importantly, it was delicious even if I’m no risk of ever becoming a professional chef.
Weekly Run Down with Kim and Deborah:
nobody puts Olaf in jail!
- never miss a Monday: I blame the cold snap on my neighbors who tried to jail a snow man. I remember not much about this run, but it was a good way to start the week with some fresh river air.
- Tuesday: single digit wind chills. Could have gotten up early and done a strength class, but lay in bed reading Rebecca Serle’s In Five Years (so good! Has anyone else besides Melissa read it?) Full body Peloton strength after work and am enjoying the longer strength on non running days.
is my run trying to kill me?
- Wednesday: milder, wind chill in mid teens. Really beautiful run aside from the icicles giving me some definite pause.
I love the Park Avenue Malls
- Thursday: office run group. 40 felt like 70 after the wind chills in the teens. Really pretty sight as I crossed Park Avenue on my return home and always good to wind down the week with a colleague.
incognito Cari
- Friday: I saw that Saturday was going to be unrunnable and took advantage of the afternoon before the wind kicked up. It was an absolutely gorgeous walk through Central Park with watercolor skies. Topped that off with a Peloton Barre class, which I always enjoy. Barre v bar, life in your 40s? Never was much of a bar person, even in my 20s.
- Saturday: -4 wind chill when I woke up, which was an excellent reason to have a lie-in and read. I did leave the apartment to attempt some errands once the wind chill hit double digits. I was glad I wasn’t outside long term (and had warm gloves!) but it wasn’t as bad as I feared. I don’t think I’d have enjoyed running in it though and know I made the right decision. I also think I needed a break from “have to” after a good long week.
- Sunday: running 8ish miles. I still haven’t figured out if I’m training for February 27, but it’s time to get the miles up again.
For the week, definitely looking forward to some David Bowie in my Pelolife and work being .01% less crazy. I love what I do, but last week was intense.
Good luck with work this week!! It seems so be a crazy time for a lot of people. And your cooking looks great!! Yummm!
I think post-holiday reentry and new year goals mean chaos. Thank you!
Congrats on making it through an intense week! I did some meal prep last week, which is very rare. Having the Caveman gone meant I could make what I want so soup and slow cooker meals it was. So good in winter.
Sorry about the smoke fiasco. Haha!
Slow cookers are just magic. I’ve never made soup. One day, when my cooking skills progress. Maybe. Yay for your preferred meals
Feel the same. I get out and it’s never as bad as I thought. But yesterday too windy.
8 today. It’s -3 but no wind.
See you next Sunday. More excited about that than the race lol. Hope it’s a little warmer.
It looks like you’re going to luck out, weather wise. The wind always sounds worse five flights up
It sure looks like you’re training — you’re getting in solid workouts anyway. LOL on the smoke detector going off. I haven’t done that in a while, but our hood fan goes on automatically if things are boiling too vigorously ….
Poor Olaf!
Doing the distance – we’ll see about speed work.
I think we landed on a theory — old apartment kitchens don’t have hoods. I never thought about it until comparing notes with a friend who has similar adventures.
Poor Olaf indeed – he didn’t deserve that
I do smile when I read about your cooking adventures! Don’t give up 🙂 It was a challenging week weather wise for sure. It was not as cold as I imagined when I bundled up and got out. I am always glad I did. Have a great week ahead! Stay warm
Mom sent me a recipe, my answer was “hi, I’m the person who just burned a wooden spoon”. But now I laugh and write it off as an adventure. Certainly better than boring.
And yes, always better once i’ve gone out even if it feels too far/cold.
Brr! I would have stayed in bed Tuesday morning as well- but you did a strength class after work to make up for it!
Sounds like you’re enjoying the winter weather. I love the photos from your runs- they really are beautiful.
Thank you!
I’m trying to get strength in daily this year. Fun challenge on slug days
I’m a good cook, but can’t tell you how often I set off the fire alarm. Often when overheating a cast iron pan. Smoky house, hello! Glad it still tasted good.
I went grocery shopping early yesterday morning (feels like -18), but then, I only had to walk from my car to the store & back again. Big difference!
I always worry about an icicle taking Bandit out (or a tree toppling on him in an ice storm). Glad you escaped alive. 🙂
Good luck on that run today! I’m sure you’re done!
Yes, very different going to/from car. It’s like Florida in summer with central air everywhere.
I got out for my run. It was cold, but like so many — fine once you take the first step.
We’re just flavoring our houses, right?
Me! Me! I read In Five Years a few years ago and yes, I loved it. It was a good one.
I’m not the best cook and my hubs is, so he’s always rescuing me. Last week it was the spinach I was attempting to add to the quiche. He ‘wilted’ it in the skillet and yeah, it fit nicely in the pie. Ooops. He does most of the cooking because, yeah.
I hope you got your miles in today! Stay warm.
I wonder if it was your blog I found it on. I didn’t remember adding it to my wishlist but then saw the price drop and figured why not. So glad I read it.
Quiche is way beyond me.
In those what would you marry for if love weren’t an option, I always said someone who can cook. I don’t enjoy it even though I’ ve learned I can. Sort of.
I got in 7.5 which was fine for 8 ish. Bad math and to get the last half mile would have been headwind off the river. No thanks.
I had to laugh at the smoke alarm test 😉 We’ve had some adventures, here, with a different stove (glass cook top). The burners heat up differently, and trying to make grilled cheese (yesterday) was a fail (but no smoke alarm…but lots of burnt bread). I may have had a sleep-in morning (almost 7:30!) today…obviously I was tired (maybe yesterday’s virtual 13.1 was a factor?).
I think our brains just need to rest sometimes even though we’re morning people. Mom & Bob’s condo has an electric stove when we’re used to gas. That definitely took some adjusting. This? Just my usual kitchen uselessness
Barre over bar for me 🙂 Esp right now, ha! I like the Peloton barre classes and plan to do more.
I bought an insta-pot about two months ago and am really enjoying it! SO fast. I still use my crockpot sometimes too though.
Glad you were able to get out and enjoy some fresh air before the cold spell!
I still have my crockpot, but now that I have the larger size Instant Pot it may get rehomed. I just don’t have the space for all the things, much as I’d like.
If you can handle country, there’s a lot of good barre. And nice to be at home where we’re not llooking weird.
Solid week – it looks like you’re training for 2/27 to me 🙂
Happy to see your cooking adventures – you had me chuckling with the smoke alarm. The end product looks yummy. I love to cook and spent most of the day prepping food for my mom – a great distraction for me.
I did hills, I still haven’t done speed. I most definitely do not love to cook. I don’t even think I intended to share that in the group chat, but glad I gave everyone a laugh. Hope she’s home and enjoying your hard work.
HaHa, “lie-in” is the perfect description for staying cozy in bed while reading rather than dealing with the cold to run or walk.
I agree that winter is the perfect time to cook. I made a yummy beef stew yesterday in the crock pot. It smelled so good when I got back inside from my snowy run. During the summer I tend to make a lot more dinner salads and roasted veggies, but the winter is for stews, chili, chicken parm, braciole, etc.
I think I learned the phrase from my Kiwi roommate while I lived in Japan, or one of our Australian colleagues. And yes, totally agree re: cooking smell. Chicken dishes, or even homemade hot chocolate which was not at all healthy but so delicious on a snow day.
I am sorry about the smoke detector thing. That’s rough.
Carbonara is always the answer.
yes. No matter the question.
Given the scary fires of late, I’m so glad to have it reinforced that it works
Totally agree with you about Winter cooking. I don’t hate cooking but I don’t love it either, but when it’s cold outside, I find myself wanting to stay home and cook more. I’ve set off my share of smoke detectors over the years – I think it’s a right of passage, lol.
I swear it’s our inner hibernation gene!
Adventurous cookers unite.