Back to the ATL & Fit Fridays

Being home these last few days have been wonderful. We had such a great summer in San Diego and Arnold week with my family in Ohio was awesome!   I think it really makes you appreciate things if you leave for a while.  I guess that is why they say absence makes the heart grow fonder, or that you don't know what you have until it's gone.  

Walking up our stairs with all my plants and beautiful pottery was such a great feeling.  (A few plants did not pull through, but since I have mostly succulents, the garden still looks great) 

{thriving succulents}

{more succulents}

{rosemary and creeping jenny}

Yes, our apartment is only 600 square feet, but I missed our little place.  I missed our cozy living room, the soft sheets on our bed, and our well-equipt kitchen.  Mostly I missed being alone and making dinners with mi amorrrrr.  We jumped right back into cooking and made 2 new recipes this week.  I picked this one, a seared steak and edamame salad, and slightly adapted the recipe.

Ernesto chose this steak with garbanzo and green bean salad, and this ginger cilantro rice. 

{sorry for the horrible picture with flash, it was 10pm and I was hungry}

On to FIT FRIDAYS:

Even though there was a lot going on this week, I managed to squeeze in a few workouts.

Saturday: rest

Sunday: Gillian Michaels DVD (it was tough!)

Monday: Crossfit  10 minutes of non-stop burpees (it doesn't sound hard, but try it!)

Tuesday: rest [in the airport all day]

Wednesday: run to Kroger and walk home with groceries (2.5 miles)

Thursday: rest

Friday: Crossfit  "Fran" pictured below.   3 rounds - 21-15-9 [reps]  of thrusters and pull-ups

One other reason Im happy to be home:  Hi Rare rare...my little ti ti was waiting!

Jalapenos: Stuffed and Grilled!

I didn't always eat spicy foods.  I remember my dad and grandmother loved spicy foods.  My mom grew hot peppers in her garden every year and my dad would sweat while eating them.  Sliced, seeds removed and salted.  I don't know why I never gave spicy a chance back then.  

If you say, "I can't do spicy" I say, "yes you can!"  

A tolerance to spicy foods is built up over time.  I promise you, that when I met Ernesto 11 years ago, I was not eating habanero salsas.  But he kept feeding me, and feeding me. There was no way to avoid spicy.  I didn't want to either.  Some say that burn is addictive, and I concur.  I urge you to try getting addicted.  Not only do "they" say that spicy foods are good for your heart, improving circulation, and aid with digestion,  this article  even suggests that it is a "mood lifter." 

I'm just saying.... my husband is the least moody person I have ever met and at the same eats more spice that anyone I have ever met.  A coincidence?  I think not. 

If you are not convinced, then let me tell you the number one reason to start eating spicy foods.  The TASTE.  They are delicious!  

Back in June we saw Paula Deen  making grilled jalapeno poppers on Food Network.  Last Sunday at the weekly Espinoza cookout, Ernesto tried Paula's recipe, substituting the monterry jack cheese for mozzerella.  We came away with some good pictures, but more importantly some tips on making this recipe even better/easier.  

Stuffed and Grilled Jalapeno Poppers

Adapted from Paula Deen

8-10 medium jalapenos, splice pepper from on side and remove seeds and veins. 

mozzarella cheese, cut into strips the same length as peppers

5-6 pieces of bacon, fried and chopped into small piecesThe pictures here follow Paula Deen's directions, which you are free to try.  However, we have already tested this for you, and found that cooking the bacon on the stove, chopping and stuffing it into the peppers with the cheese before grilling yielded a much more functional appetizer.   After stuffing the peppers  grill until pepper is tender.  Trust me, these pics look good, but eating them wasn't as good looking.  (Bacon comes of on the first bite!)  Still these peppers were delicious and worth the effort. 

Arnold Week Summer 2010

What a great week! My whole family was together in Ohio for the first time in 6 years. We came in from San Diego, Brrrrian from Asheville and Tim and his family from New Mexico. I am biased, I know, but I have the best family EVER! The best!!  We took new family portrait with EVERYONE....all 15 of us!

{from back left: Bill, Barbie, Scott, Jenny, Tim, Michelle, Ernesto, Cindy, Brrrian

middle: my parents: Elaine with baby Eleanor, and Paul

front row: Noah, Kelli, and Tyler}

I could tell you all about how we sat around the table laughing for hours, went to Cedar Point, played cards, enjoyed cookouts, went swimming, played tosticle, drank a lot of good [and bad] beer, attended the prettiest birthday party ever (you rock Barbie!), ate homemade pies, and did some crossfit with an inspiration [my bro] Tim.....BUT I would rather show you.  Here is 'Arnold week' in pictures:

ps. no Fit Fridays last week, only two workouts:(  Back to Atlanta tomorrow to get back on a schedule. haha, yeah right. No really, I have much to do when I get back.  I'll tell you all about it...... later!

40th Birthday Party

Ernesto's brother Tavo turned 40 on August 2.  It was a surprise (I hope it was tavo!) and Erin did a great job of organizing a beautiful cookout, complete with taqueros (taco stand) serving food.  It was a quaint little get together with family and a few friends. 

That was.....until the mariachis came in the door.  There was a lot of dancing and singing. Ernesto's dad joined the mariachi's in entertaining us.  His voice is beautiful and controlled.  

He could've been a star.  I took a short video so you can see what I mean. 

{Ernesto and his niece Alex dancing}

{Ernesto and I showed them how it's done, haha}

Here is the birthday boy with his wife Erin.  It seems like he had a great time.  He and Ernesto even sang, which never happens.  It was a great time.  

Here is the proof:

And Ernesto says he can't sing...yeah right!

It was also a nice way to end our long stay in San Diego.  On to my family in Ohio!

Pollo Asado y Pico de Gallo

Ernesto and I have been in San Diego for the last month staying with mis suegros.  The summer weather here has been strange.  It's not sunny and warm everyday like it usually is, but I am happy to be out of the GA humidity.  We have been hiking, biking, kayaking, lobster eating in Mexico, watching horse races, and of course cooking lots of Mexican food. 

Although I haven't posted since last month, do not fear!  I have several great recipes to share with you on VLC.   When mi suegra is cooking, I have to be right there with a pen and paper to capture everything.  She cooks from memory so I am constantly asking questions, "What did you just add there? How much of that?"  I really appreciate her taking the time to pass these recipes on to me [and you]. 

On some nights we cook dinner and give everyone else the night off.  Back in Atlanta, Ernesto got addicted to grilling whole chickens.  

It's so simple too.  You will just need a whole chicken, five cloves of garlic (chopped), olive oil and salt and pepper.  Rub oil on outside of chicken and under skin.  Rub garlic under skin.

Place chicken on hot grill for 45 minutes, flipping it over several times.  

Every time this chicken comes out flavorful and so juicy. 

One chicken does not a meal make? Agreed.

My favorite way to serve this, is to make a quick pico de gallo to go on top and refried beans on the side.

Pico de Gallo

5 roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1/2 white onion, chopped

4 serrano peppers, chopped (less if you don't like it spicy)

handful of cilantro, chopped

1 squeeze of lime juice

salt and pepper to taste

Pico de gallo

Fit Fridays: San Diego Part 5

Well, we are on our last full week here in San Diego.  I wish I could say it was a fit one, but alas the entertaining, the beers.....The below picture is from a bar called Toronado in North Park, a cool little neighborhood just north east of downtown.  I sampled a few local beers which were to my liking, unfortunately I forget the names. 

 I have not always been a beer snob, but long gone are the days that I drink any 'ol beer just to drink.  It seems in the last year I have really zeroed in on my favorite type:  IPA's.  (more hops please, I like it bitter)
Our Atlanta friends left Wednesday night, so we are trying to get back to our "regular schedule" (haha..like there is such a thing)  Entertaining all week left us no time to work out.  That sounds so believable, doesn't it?  Truth is, we didn't even leave the house before 2pm any of the days they were here, so there was plenty of time to work out.  I will just say what I always say when we skip workouts, "it's good to give your body a rest now and again." 


Since both of our friends has already been to San Diego, we didn't have a long list of "must see-and-do's."  And despite never leaving the house early, we had quite a busy week.

Hiking Cowles Mountain this morning, is about the only thing I would qualify as a workout, but....

Here is the week in pictures:

{hanging out at Balboa Park}

{visiting sea lions and seals in La Jolla}

{making a friend at Torrey Pines}

{hiking Cowles Mountain}

{cochinita pibil tacos}

{watching los Padres at Petco Park)

{kayaking La Jolla caves}

First Time This Year....A Mexico!

Last week I went to Mexico twice.   It was the first time I left the country ALL YEAR.  Big deal you say? Maybe not to you......but I haven't gone this long without an international trip in 10 YEARS!  It's a hard thing to let go of I tell you.......

Dear Mexico, 

Thank you for speaking Spanish, thank you for having such a beautiful coastline, thank you for selling seafood on the beach for such reasonable prices,  and thank you for being just a 15 minute drive from la casa de mis suegros.  

When we came to San Diego in March, Ernesto and I forgot our passports, and since the days of crossing the border with just a drivers license are gone, we weren't able to go into mexico.  We have been looking forward to eating lobster on the beach ever since.  

Puerto Nuevo is located just south of Tijuana and Rosarito and is well known for seafood.  Only a few square blocks, this little pueblo relies on tourists, which Im sure has really been slow lately.  Needless to say,  they were happy to see us and fighting for our business.  

{Jason and I munching on candied almonds and coco}

All the restaurants prices are the same, you really just pick for ambiance.  My only criteria was a great view, and that is just what we got at Olas del Mar.

Four plates of shrimp and fish ceviche started us off while the lobsters were being steamed or grilled.  Although prices have gone up since last time (I think they were $12 in 2007) they were still only $20 and come with beans freshly made tortillas and salsas. 

Ernesto's cousin Victor  met us to hang out.  He is a great guy and an AWESOME artist.

While perusing through his portfolio, I came across this masterpiece.  He painted this wall [and many other rooms in a house] for a movie set.  I am in LOVE with it and have already asked him if he can recreate it in my [future] house.  It will go perfectly in our old Spanish style house. 

After lunch/dinner, we cruised on down the coast [another 40 minutes] to Ensenada where we visited the famous Cantina Hussongs.  Supposedly the margarita was invented here back in October 1941.  Im not sure about that, but it was definitely an authentic Mexican cantina complete with mariachis and locals singing along.  

It was a long drive back to the US.  We were so tired and pleasantly surprised when the border crossing only took us 20 minutes! 

Fit Fridays: San Diego Part 4

{Visiting with the sea lions in La Jolla}

Another great workout week.  Are you guys keeping up with workout goals?


Saturday: bike to Coronado (30 miles rt)
Sunday: run 3 miles, run 10 flights of stairs
Monday: rest
Tuesday: Crossfit: 5 rounds of 20 pull-ups, 30 push-ups, 40 sit-ups, 50 squats
Wednesday: run one "fast" mile (just under 8 minutes)
Thursday: walk Torrey Pines trail and beach
Friday:  hike Cowles Mountain

Opening Day at Del Mar 2010

I like the idea of making traditions.  Isn't it cool when you ALWAYS do a certain thing on a certain day?
We are only on year number 2 in making this a tradition, but the Opening Day at Del Mar horse track is something I would like to continue.

The best part of opening day is, hands down,  the people watching.  Outfits and hats are out of control. Some good, and a lot of bad.  I learned my lesson from last year and didn't wear high heels this year. It was a good choice, although I had lower back pain from standing all day in flats (girls just can't win) ha!

I think last year was more fun for some reason.  Maybe it was because we won $300, or that we snuck into good seats, or because it was sunny out.  The overcast weather yesterday took away from the event.  Sunny = happy.

Our friends Jason and Monica flew in from Atlanta the night before.  We told them to be ready for a fun [long] day. Traffic was horrible getting to the park, and due to the several stops we had to make on the way, we were already running late.  The "line" (if that's what you want to call it) was crazy to get in the park.

We missed betting on the first few races due to lines and running back and forth.  Jason was betting for himself and a friend.  Monica was picking horses by "best name" which is what I do too. 

By race #5 we had a winner!  Monica picked Lion's Story "to win" and he came in first!

There were several friends that Ernesto was trying to meet up with, but with all the noise and crowds it is almost impossible. While Ernesto was talking to Freddy on the phone,  he happened to walk right in front of us.  

Freddy's wife Raylene lent me a hat this year which was great, because there were none to be found (at my store at least)  It was a huge floppy hat, striped black and natural straw.  I wore a simple black dress some rubies by Zafiro  and metallic gladiators.  My hot hubby found some awesome [red and tan] plaid pants.  He said he bought them because he know I would love them. So sweet!

Del Mar is a great day out with friends, just be prepared to be surrounded by drunk-a$$es.   I always find it easier to deal with that situation if I drink myself.  To wait for traffic to die down after the races we headed to Brigantine and sat outside at a garden table for some appetizers and drinks.  

GOOD TIMES!