26.2 Here I Come!

I am signed up to run the Philadelphia Marathon on November 21st, 2010. There, I said it. I put it out there for all the world to read. Whew... that feels good!

You see, I've been a bit nervous about training for the marathon. 13.1 miles is one thing but 26.2...that scares me a bit. So I'm going to need your support and encouragement. I'll need you to tell me to get my ass out there on rainy days. Please tell me to stop whining and suck it up if I start to complain. But please DO NOT tell me I'm crazy for trying or that I just can't do it. Because I can and I will. Just watch me!

Vegan Cherry Garcia Ice Cream

The beautiful NYC weather has me dreaming of ice cream and I had a bag of frozen cherries in my freezer. Do I need better reasons to make some Cherry Garcia Ice Cream? I think not!

If you have an ice cream maker and have never used it, now would be a great time! This ice cream is so delicious and it took me less than five minutes to put all the ingredients together before pouring them into my ice cream maker. It makes a great treat on its own or sandwiched between two chocolate chocolate chip cookies for the ultimate ice cream sandwich.

I wanted to make vegan ice cream that I could share it with some vegan friends so I used coconut milk as my base, and found a gluten free and vegan dark chocolate bar called NibMor for my chocolate chunks.

To keep this relatively healthy (I said relatively, ok), I used light coconut milk and minimized the added sugar. If you desire sweeter ice cream, you may want to taste the mixture before placing in your ice cream maker and adjust accordingly.

Vegan Cherry Garcia Ice Cream
1 can Light Coconut Milk
1/4 cup agave, or more to taste
2 cups of pitted cherries, divided (I used frozen pitted cherries)
1/2 cup dark chocolate chunks

Combine the coconut milk, agave and 1 1/2 cup of pitted cherries in a blender and puree until smooth. Chop the remaining 1/2 cup of cherries and stir into the ice cream mixture along with the chocolate chunks. Refrigerate the mixture for 2-3 hours and then follow your ice cream maker instructions to make delicious, yummy ice cream.

Do you have a favorite ice cream recipe? I'd love to hear about it so leave a comment!

Race Recap: Run for the Parks 4M

gotta love those pretty race pics ;)

On April 18th, I ran the City Parks Foundation Run for the Parks. It was a 4 mile race on a beautiful crisp morning in NY's Central Park, and it reminded me once again why I love running.

The night before the race, I wasn't feeling too hot. I had spent the wee hours of the morning bowing to the porcelain throne (aka puking) and didn't get much sleep. And although I set my alarm for 6am so that I could wake up, eat & digest, and stretch a bit before leaving for the park, I couldn't drag my butt out of bed until 6:45. So I jumped up, put on my running gear, grabbed a banana and headed out the door. With very little sleep or nourishment, I walked to Central Park in the cold and was cranky as hell. I almost didn't run this race. I almost called my friend Robert, who I was meeting before so that we could start the race together, to tell him I wasn't going to make it. But I was up & out the door, and I told myself "just run and finish, no pressure."

I did a whole lot better than that... I PRd! I started the first mile slow and steady, not worrying about weaving through the other runners, but just enjoyed myself and watched the trees go by. By mile two, I realized I had a lot more energy than I expected and that I felt totally fine. So I went for it. I picked up my pace, ignored the hills, and finished the race in 38:25! Yeah, a 9:36 pace/mile might seem a bit slow to some of you, but it's my fastest pace in Central Park because the hills usually kick my butt, and I am pretty proud of it!

Speaking of the hills.... I noticed this girl running at around the same pace as me, just a few steps ahead for most of the race. Every time we conquered another hill, she fist pumped and cheered herself on. It was awesome! I love that she openly celebrated her accomplishments during the race and once again, I was reminded why running totally rocks.

How cool is it that each run, I get to further challenge myself, see how strong I can be, and then celebrate my success. I love that I get to define my success, my goals. Whether my goal is to PR, get up a hill, run a half marathon, or even just get out there at all, I own my accomplishments. That's pretty awesome, don't you think?

Earth Day 2010

image by Avi & Debby Neuman

Today is the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. What changes will you make in your life to preserve our earth, to keep our air clean and our water safe to drink for our children?

Some of My Earth Day Resolutions:

1. Continue using my own shopping bags for food shopping... and start using them for other purchases like toiletries & clothing
2. Use dish towels instead of paper towels in my kitchen
3. Clean my apartment with eco-safe cleaners. I'm amazed at how well a vinegar & water solution works at cleaning my bathroom & kitchen counter tops
4. Continue to reduce the processed food I purchase to reduce trash. I'd rather make my own salad dressing out of lemon juice, olive oil & fresh herbs than use a store bought dressing in a bottle anyway :)
   
5. Carry my cupco for tea & coffee
6. Take shorter showers
7. Turn my lights off when I'm not in a room
8. Ask my restaurants not to include plastic ware or napkins with my takeout or deliveries
   

These are just some ideas that you consider incorporating into your life. For others, check out www.ecostewards.org for an incredible list of ideas and resources for an eco-friendly life.

Drink Your Greens

I've recently introduced Green Smoothies into my life and I must admit, I'm in love! "What's a green smoothie" you ask? Simple. It's a smoothie made with greens like spinach or kale. And before you make a face, trust me, they can be absolutely delicious.

But why drink green smoothies? Well first of all, they are a great source of nutrients. The greens alone can pack up to 18% of your daily value of calcium (2 cups of kale). Green smoothies are also really quick and easy to make since there's hardly any prep work involved. Just throw your liquid, greens and fruits into a high powered blender and puree. Unlike juicing your greens, clean up is really simple and the fiber content of your ingredients is maintained (although I'm not knocking juicing- I LOVE fresh juices and use my juicer every day). And for those of you with kids, they are a great way to get some fresh greens in your childrens' diets.

The basic green smoothie recipe calls for a 60:40 fruit to green veggie ratio. Here are some ingredient ideas:

• Greens: spinach, kale, romaine lettuce, parsley, and fresh mint
• Fruits: ripe bananas, apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, berries, papaya and mangos
• Liquid: water, almond or any type of nut milk, soy milk, rice milk, and coconut water
  

I now make a green smoothie every morning before work. My base recipe is:

• 2 cups of spinach
• 1 large red apple, cored but not peeled, and chopped
  
• 1 cup of almond milk
• 1 cup of water

In addition, I add or more one of the following depending on what I have on hand:

• strawberries
• blackberries
• 1 ripe banana
• mango

Just pour the liquid ingredients in your blender and add the cored and chopped apple and any other fruit. Process for about a minute. Then add your spinach and process for another 90 seconds. I make my smoothies in my Kitchenaid blender which is quite powerful and does a pretty good job of pureeing these ingredients but it's no Vitamix (swoon). The more powerful your blender, the smoother your smoothies will be.

I love the flavor of the red apple combined with the spinach and almond milk in this recipe. I should note that this recipe does make a lot of smoothie for one person but I drink it all anyway :)

Do you drink Green Smoothies and have a favorite recipe? Or have I convinced you to try them? I've love to hear your thoughts so leave a comment below!

Vegan Chocolate Banana Pudding

Lately, I've been trying to stick to a mostly raw diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts and sprouted seeds. I find that I just feel better when I eat this way and have so much more energy. So last night's chocolate craving could have been a bit like torture had I not had avocados, bananas and cocoa powder on hand.

While researching raw and vegan diets these past few weeks, I've come across many recipes using avocados and bananas to create rich and creamy desserts including several for chocolate pudding. Here is my version of Chocolate Banana Pudding. I love this recipe because it's so quick and easy, and even healthy when eaten in moderation.

Now I should warn you, this does not taste like the pudding you buy in those ready snack packs because it's all natural, not full of processed crap. But it is rich, creamy, and extremely satisfying.

Some notes about this recipe:
1. The amount of agave or honey you'll need will depend on your taste buds and the ripeness of your banana. Since I eat very little sugar, I'm more sensitive to sweet tastes and only needed 2 tablespoons. But you may need 3 tablespoons or even a little more if you prefer sweeter pudding.
2.I chose to make this a Chocolate Banana pudding so that I could use the banana's sweetness to reduce the amount of agave I added. If you prefer just Chocolate Pudding, remove the banana and use 1/4 cup of agave.
3. This recipe makes 2 servings and is easily doubled or tripled. You can store leftovers in an airtight container for 3 days in your refrigerator. Leftovers? yeah right!
4. You can also chill the mixture and then freeze in your ice cream maker for a gelato like treat!

Chocolate Banana Pudding
1 very ripe Banana
1 ripe Avocado
3 heaping tablespoons of unsweetened Cocoa Powder
2-3 tablespoons of agave or honey (see note above)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Place all ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth. You may have to scrape down the sides a few times to make sure that everything is incorporated. See, now wasn't that quick & easy!?!

I ate my chocolate pudding plain but it would be delicious topped with fresh berries or bananas. Enjoy!

Petit Cafe, a Gluten Free Cafe

Whenever I tell people that I can't eat gluten, they give me one of those "Oh... I'm so sorry, that must suck" kind of looks. And I usually tell them, no it really doesn't suck all that much. I really love my gluten free diet and I'm happiest eating a giant salad loaded with fresh veggies, herbs, beans and nuts. Of course, there are times that I crave a piece of bread, muffin or some cake. Since I love baking, I'm always happy to whip up a treat and if I'm not in the mood, most stores carry gluten free treats these days. Except for cafes.

And I love cafes. I love the experience of taking a walk to a cafe or coffee shop just to sit with a cup of java and think. Sometimes I'll read, sometimes I'll chat with a friend, and sometimes I'll just sit and watch the people around me. And those are the times that I usually miss gluten because rarely do I find a cafe that serves gluten free muffins or bagels to go with my coffee.

So, I was obviously overjoyed when I spotted Petit Cafe in NYC's West Village while heading to a hair appointment a few weeks ago. I mean look at these signs & the assortment!!! Bagels, Muffins, French Toast, Pancakes, Rolls, ALL Gluten & Dairy Free!
That day, I returned after my haircut and ordered a cup of coffee and a chocolate chip muffin. It was a beautiful Sunday NYC day so I sat by the window and watched people walk by. It was lovely and I couldn't wait to return.

This past Sunday, I made plans to meet a friend in the West Village for brunch and some shopping. I had just completed a 4 mile race in Central Park, ran home to shower and found myself in the West Village a bit early for my plans and completely starving. So I headed over to Petit Cafe and ordered a Berry Muffin to go. It was delicious, light and fluffy! Next time, I'm trying the french toast :)
If you want to check out Petit Cafe for yourself, it's located at 70 Greenwich Ave just east of 7th Avenue. Enjoy!

Cereal Ohs = Brilliant!

In case you haven't already noticed, I love food and I love jewelry. I wake up thinking about what I might find at the grocery store that day or what meals I'll make, and I go to sleep dreaming up new jewelry designs that might put a smile on someone's face.

So naturally I was beyond excited when my old friend, Nathaniel Schoen, combined my two infatuations and introduced his new Cereal Oh jewelry line! Each Cereal Oh is plated with 18kt gold or sterling silver made to order and can be purchased on its own, with the addition of a matching chain, or as set of 3 Ohs. Did I already mention I DIG THESE? They are adorable and make the most unique gift I've seen in a really long time. They are available for purchase on www.humanplayfulness.com

You can also check out more of Nat's food inspired art work on www.humanplayfulness.com. I was fortunate to have attended his Sweet Tooth art exhibit last year and loved his Marshmallow piece.
For even more Nat, visit him at his family store, Garber Hardware & say hello!

Finish Stronger Than You Started

Fighting to the Finish at the NYC Half & Scotland 10k

On April 3rd, I ran the Scotland 10K in Central Park. Although it wasn't the most difficult race for me, it was certainly harder than I expected. I had run the exact same 6.2 miles around the loop just 2 weeks earlier as part of the NYC Half Marathon and felt fine. In fact, I felt better than fine during the Half and remember being amazed that the hills didn't even phase me.

The energy during the 10K was incredible and there were so many spectators along the way cheering us on. At around mile 2, there were two girls totally cheering & screaming "finish stronger than you started!" I remember those two girls and at the time I remember thinking that I would be happy to finish the race at all.

I ended up completing the 10k in 1:03:39 at a 10:17 pace, missing my goal by just 39 seconds, but still happy to have completed another great race. I took the next day off to rest, and set out for another run on Monday night.... and completed 3.61 miles at a 9:22 pace! I couldn't believe it. I had run my fastest for that distance ever. Then on Wednesday night, I ran 3.75 miles at a 9:11 pace in 90 degree weather! Another fast one for me!

And then it hit me: Finish Stronger Than You Started. You know those races or runs that kick your butt? Those are the runs that make you stronger and although they may not feel like it at the time, they will bring you closer and closer to your goals.

My next race is a 4 miler in Central Park this weekend and I can't wait to rock it!

Current Craving: Anthropologie

Sometimes I dream that I live in an Anthropologie catalogue. Can you blame me?

Turquoise Drop Earrings

It's going to be 80 degrees in NYC today! Perfect day to wear Turquoise drop earrings ;)

Erica Sara Photoshoot

Sienna, Judy & Netivyah necklaces

Dani & Emma necklaces

I recently spent a few hours in Central Park enjoying this incredibly beautiful weather & taking some new shots of my gemstone jewelry. A huge thanks to my friend Dani for being my gorgeous neck model. Here are just a few of the shots I took and that I'll be posting on Etsy in the coming days. What do you think?

TheJudy ($28) & Emma ($36) necklaces are already available in my Etsy shop! Stay tuned for Sienna, Netivyah & Dani...

Lentil Sprouts

If you've read some of my recent posts, you probably already know that I've been on a Gluten Free Veggie Sandwich mission. Having eaten the most delicious sandwich at NYC's Friedman's Lunch, I've become obsessed with recreating it for a quick, healthy & affordable meal. So I baked some gluten free bread, whipped together delicious Meyer Lemon Hummus, and set out to the grocery store to pick up carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, avocados and lettuce. But the final ingredient I needed was sprouts. I know I could easily buy some sprouts in the store but I just find it much more rewarding to grow my own. And since I found a bag of lentils in my pantry, lentil sprouts it would be.

Why eat sprouts? Because as seeds sprout, their protein, enzymes vitamins and other nutrients increase and become more bioavailable and more digestible. And since the seeds are so inexpensive, they are an incredibly affordable source of nutrients.

Sprouting is so easy! I've sprouted buckwheat, lentils, mung and adzuki beans in the past, all in my tiny little NYC kitchen. The only supplies I need are the seeds, water, cheesecloth and a mason canning jar. Here are the steps I took to sprout these adorable edible nutrient powerhouses. I started with 1/2 cup of dried lentils and ended up with 2 cups of sprouts.

1. Rinse 1/2 cup of lentils well
2. Place the rinsed lentils in a large mason jar (mine was 1 quart) and cover with 2 cups of water.
3. Cut a piece of cheesecloth large enough to cover the mouth of the jar, place over the mouth & secure using the outer ring of the jar lid.
4. Let the lentils soak for about 12 hours or over night. You'll notice that the lentils will swell in size
5. Once soaked, turn the jar upside down over your sink to drain. Then refill the jar with water, shake to rinse, and again empty into your sink. I don't bother taking the lid off at all during this process. I simply let the water drain out through the cheesecloth.
6. Find a place in your kitchen, or any other spot where you'd like to grow your sprouts, that you can let your jar rest upside down but slightly tilted. Please note that draining will continue so make sure you put your jar in a place you don't mind getting wet. As you can see, I place on my stove.
7. Every few hours, you'll want to refill the jar with water, shake around a bit, and then drain. Again, place it upside down in your spot. I did this about 3 times a day: when I woke up in the morning before work, when I got home from work, and before I went to sleep.
It took me 3 days to grow my cute little sprouts. Once they are ready, drain them well & store them in the refrigerator. I've been enjoying them in salads and using them on sandwiches for great flavor and crunch.

Next on my list are chickpeas and buckwheat!

For more information on sprouting, check out the Living-Foods or Primal Seeds websites. So, what do you think? Will you try it?

Runners, Yeah We're Different

I'm so digging these Adidas ads I recently stumbled upon from their 1999 campaign. Too funny... and so true!