Everyday pleasures

Remember this handsome plate of fries from brunch on Sunday?  These pesto brie french fries were the muse for my dinner last night,  but we’ll get to that in minute.

Yesterday was the first day of my new marathon training plan and the first day called for…wait for it….

No running.  A little anti-climatic don’t you think?

The plan called for cross-training actually.  So after work I did 30 minutes on the elliptical on the random hill setting at level 10.  I also did some strength training, which included 2 sets of each of the following:

-40 walking lunches with 10 lb. dumbbells (20 each leg)
-20 sumo squat + bicep curls with 10 lb. dumbbells
-Body weight bench dips (15 first set, 20 second set)
-20 dead lifts with 20 lb. dumbbells
-20 upright rows with 10 lb. dumbbells
-20 body weight bench lunges

I was pretty drenched in sweat at this point.  When I look around at the other women in the gym, no one is sweating quite like I am.  I have beads of perspiration on every exposed inch of me.  I’m not sure if this means I’m exerting myself more than most of the women I workout near or if I just tend to sweat more.  I’m betting on the latter.

Now, back to dinner.

I’ve been mulling over those fries from Sunday and thinking about the pesto paste and brie in my fridge.  How could I take something so delicious, what I consider a treat, and make it a bit healthier, an everyday pleasure?

Pesto brie baked home fries were born.

Pesto brie baked home fries (serves 2)

1 large russet potato, cubed
3 Tbsp. pesto (I used my pesto paste, but you could use pre-made pesto from a store)
1 1/2 oz. Brie
10 cherry tomatoes, halved
salt to taste
extra virgin olive oil

Toss cubed potato in a bit of evoo and place on a baking sheet (I sprayed mine with the Misto and covered the pan with aluminum foil for easy clean up).  Bake at 450 degrees until potatoes are starting to brown, flipping potatoes half way through the cooking process (total cooking time ~20 minutes).  Remove from oven and place in a bowl.  Add pesto and brie and heat in microwave for about 30 seconds to soften.  Toss potatoes in pesto and brie until distributed evenly.  Plate and garnish with tomatoes.

This knocked my shoes and socks off.  I’ve found another avenue of pesto to my mouth. 🙂

I had some leftover Nutty Spicy Tofu along with my home fries.

As you can see, I ate dinner all by my lonesome since Brad isn’t in town.  I miss him but I’m looking on the bright side: that second serving of home fries has my name all over it later this week. 🙂

I spent the night reading blogs and folding laundry, but also saved time and room for dessert.  I’ve been craving a glass of red wine consistently over the past week and last night was no exception.  It went perfectly with a piece of 70% cacao Lindt chocolate.  Yum.

And then it was time for Rascal’s favorite time of the day: bed time.  Seriously, just ask him “Rascal, do you want to go get in the bed?”.  You’ve never seen a dog get so excited over the prospect of sleeping.  I think snuggling with me has something to do with it too.

We have a little ritual when Brad isn’t home.  I put him in the bed and then go to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth.  He sits on the edge of the bed watching me, patiently waiting until I join him.  He refuses to get under the covers until I get in and make room for him next to me.

Dogs are truly entertained by life’s everyday pleasures.

Ingredients
Directions