Tag Archives: culture

Random Tuesday Thoughts about a Super Sloth with a Cough, a Sociopath, Some Hot Stuff and Track Tuesday

Posted on by Run DMT
2

For the past two weeks, I had been suffering from a really nasty cold that I just couldn’t shake.  One of the fantastic symptoms of my cold was a horrible, wet hacking cough, like a smoker’s cough. No exaggeration, I sounded as though I had been smoking unfiltered Lucky Strikes for 20 years. With the cough, I also had this horrible tightness in my chest, which made it very difficult to breathe.

Despite not being able to breathe, I decided to go ahead and run in the 5 Miles for Moffitt race.  I already had skipped out on the Crazy Sombrero 5K the week before due to my cold and I didn’t want to miss another race.  Besides, my aunt spent the better part of two years fighting lung cancer, the least I could do was suck it up and run with a little chest cold.  Admittedly, that wasn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done.

Just as the experts warn you, you shouldn’t run with a chest cold.  A runny nose or sore throat is a different story.  Limited breathing due to chest congestion is not a good thing and I truly believe running in the race extended the life of my cold.  So, let this be a lesson to you. Learn from my mistake.  Always listen to the Livestrong Gods.

So while I spent the time recovering from my cold, my blog suffered.  Actually, everything suffered.  I didn’t have the energy to do much.  I missed out on the superhero challenge.   I missed out on the Track Tuesday speed work.  I missed out on logging miles for the Joggermom Marathon. It made me sad to miss out on it all.  For almost two weeks, I was a super sloth with a cough.

Then when I woke up on Saturday morning, I could breathe, but I waited a couple more days just to be safe. I started running again on Monday and today it was back to business as usual with my speed work.  I am happy to be back on “track” now.

Now that I’m all healthy again, I’m a #superhero once again doing my Spiderman and Superman sets as well as running and blogging again.  The first half of the month may have been a loss, but next couple of weeks and the Joggermom Marathon will end on a high note.

Although my running may be back to business as usual, my blogging still had a slow start because yesterday, I totally flaked on a Music Monday post, which is a first in almost 3 years.  I’ve been playing catch up now that I’m feeling better and blogging a music post didn’t make the must-do list.  I felt horrible about it too since I’m an honorary co-host this month with Xmas Dolly and 4M crew.  Plus, this week’s theme was a song from a movie and movie soundtracks are my thing, a lesson I learned from the late John Hughes.  And I had such a good one in my head, but it just never made it to the blog.  Aw hell, I’ll share it now.

Is anyone else sad that all the shows are ending?  I am not happy about all these season finales and cliff hangers.  I am completely addicted to Once Upon a Time and that cliff hanger was the worst best.  Of course, if the show is not renewed for another season, I would be happy with the ending, without giving too much away.

Please tell me I’m not alone with my Once Upon a Time obsession!  I can’t wait for the Season 1 DVD to be released (August 28) so I can watch it all over again.  Seriously, it’s that good.

Once Upon a Time: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray]

When I am really into a show, like I am with this one, I visit the show’s website and read all the actors’ bios and watch the interviews.  I love reading where the actors studied and what other shows they’ve done.  Since I’m a bit entranced by the actor who plays Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold, Robert Carlyle was the first I investigated.  Imagine my surprise, when I learned he was the actor who played Begbie in Trainspotting.  Actually, I wasn’t truly surprised, because Rumplestiltskin in pretty creepy as is Begbie.  But Begbie gave me nightmares.

In case you aren’t familiar with it, here’s a glimpse.  Warning: Begbie is a psycho sociopath and these clips are violent and riddled with vulgarities.

Robert Carlyle may be better known for his role as Gaz in The Full Monty. (Be sure to click on that link and watch the movie clip.  Gaz is one sexy thing. lol)  Truthfully, I prefer to remember him as Gaz than Begbie.  It also demonstrates the depth to his acting ability.  Plus, with Donna Summer’s passing over the weekend, this scene and song seem very fitting pretty fitting.

 

So, there you have it. My Music Monday post may be a day late, but Track Tuesday is now literally Track Tuesday.  And now for the sprints…

1.1   Mile

Time 11:05

Ave Pace 10:05

 

Lap 1 –  0.25 mile

Time 1:73

Ave Pace 7:37

 

Lap 2 – 0.25 mile

Time 1:73

Ave Pace 7:37

 

Lap 3 – 0.26 mile

Time 2:01

Ave Pace 7:53

 

Lap 4 0.24

Time 1:52

Ave Pace 7:39

 

1 mile

Time 10:14

Link up and share your speed work and some music for your Track Tuesday/Track Tuesday post.


*Also linking up at*

Stacy

Denise Mestanza-Taylor+

Chicken and Chorizo Paella

Posted on by Run DMT
4

PhotobucketI seriously love Spanish food.  For me, Spanish food is comfort food, like someone’s else mac and cheese.  Throw a bunch of ingredients together and it’s like a latino’s version of a casserole.  Not to mention, there’s just something about the saffron that just makes me happy.

I’m just mad about Saffron. 

So when I found this easy, low-fat version of a Spanish classic, I had to give it a whirl.  Thankfully, my family loved it and now this meal is a regular on our weekly dinner menu.

Now, if I was a better latina, I would go to the bodega to buy my chorizo, but I’m too lazy for that, which is just sad really because there’s a bodega on every corner in Tampa.  However, there is really no need for me to make an extra trip to the bodega, except to support small business owners which I really should instead of giving money to big corporation.

But in one weekly shopping trip to my local Target, I can buy MSG-free Archer Farms Chorizo Sausage as well as pick up a allergy medication, tampons, a cute sundress, some new sandals for my kids and deeply discounted running clothes.  See how I save money shopping at Target?

But this post is about paella not summer deals at Target.

Chicken and Chorizo Paella (Pollo y Chorizo Paella)

(Borrowed from So Easy by Ellie Krieger)

Ingredients

1 Tbsp olive oil

3 chorizo sausage links

1 lb skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes

1 medium onion, chopped

1 garlic cloves, minced

2 cups low-sodium free range chicken broth

½ cup frozen peas

1 cup uncooked white rice

1 ripe tomato, chopped

¼ sliced green Spanish olives with pimentos

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp ground black pepper

¼ tsp turmeric

Pinch of Saffron threads

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 375.

Using a large, heavy skillet with lid, heat olive oil in skillet on a medium heat.  Add chorizo links and cook for about 3 minutes on each side or until brown.  Remove links from skillet and slice into ½ inch round slices.  Return chorizo to skillet and add chicken.  Cook both meats together for about 5 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink on outside.  Transfer chicken and chorizo to a plate.

Add onions to skillet and cook, stirring often until softened, about 3-5 minutes.  (There should be enough oil in the pan left from the chorizo, but if need be, add 1 Tbsp olive oil to skillet.)  Add garlic and cook for about a minute.  Return chicken and chorizo to skillet and add chicken broth, peas, rice, tomato, olives, salt, pepper, turmeric and saffron.  Bring to a boil, cover and transfer to oven.  Cook until rice is tender and the liquid is completely absorbed, 25-45 minutes*.

*Time may vary depending on oven.  This dish takes closer to 45 minutes in my oven.

Thanks for joining our weekly Friday Food Fight! Can’t wait to see what everyone is flinging this week!



*Also submitted at*

Denise Mestanza-Taylor+

Motherhood Makes Beautiful Things

Posted on by Run DMT
8

In recent months, there has been a resurgence on  “war on women”.  I’m not referring to the “war on women” that has been happening for centuries in the Middle East or the heinous atrocities happening to women in Africa or even the verbal attacks in the U.S. political arena. Instead, I’m referring to the age old war of working moms vs. stay at home moms and the other ugly battle, attachment parenting vs. traditional parenting.  First, it was the ridiculous comments made by Hilary Rosen about Ann Romney.  Then, there was an uproar in response to the Time magazine cover.

Why do we allow society or the media to flame these feuds?

If you work outside the home and still have the strength to raise a family, then you should be applauded.  If your job is a full time mom trying to juggling it all without losing your mind or yourself trapped between a world of toddlerese and Lori Berkner, then your efforts should be applauded as well.  Neither job is easy.  Motherhood no matter how it’s dressed up, be it a corporate suit or yoga pants, requires sacrifice and that sacrifice should be praised not ridiculed.

And yet, somehow that sacrifice opens the door for ridicule or judgment rather than praise.

As moms, we make decisions every day about child-rearing with the sole purpose to do what’s best for our children.  Therefore, how can any reasonable child-rearing choice be wrong?  If you choose to breastfeed your child until school-age, who are we to judge?  If you choose to bottle feed your baby over breastfeeding, who are we to judge?  And if your child stays on the bottle, boob or binky until kindergarten, then that’s also a parenting choice and no one should judge.

No matter which avenue we choose to get there, we all want a stress-free existence with confident, well-adjusted children.  Our ultimate goal is the same.  So why not build a society that mirrors the one created when we cradle infants in our arms, be it on the breast or on a bottle?

Acceptance and support starts with each of us.  As mothers, we need to stop criticizing each other and start supporting one another.  We can’t allow magazine images and political sound bites to open the door to criticism and attacks.

Motherhood makes beautiful things.  Society needs to stop turning into something ugly.

With yesterday being Mother’s Day, I felt compelled to share my thoughts about moms supporting other moms and what better way than incorporating it into a Music Monday post.  What topics and tunes are moving you?

I’m still co-hosting with Xmas Dolly and her Monday’s Music Moves Me crew (Lorie, Stacy, Callie and Cathy), so link up and share.

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

Photobucket

Denise Mestanza-Taylor+

Aunt June’s Struffoli (Honey Balls)

Posted on by Run DMT
7

PhotobucketI don’t know what my obsession with balls is lately.  First my MIL’s potato balls and now I can’t get my Aunt June’s sticky balls out of my brain.

Aunt June would make her famous honey balls for every special occasion and they were always a hit.  (Since my mom and her sister are NYC girls, you have to respect the ball and pronounce it as “bawls”.)  Basically, Struffoli consists of small dough balls fried and slathered in honey.  So simple and yet something about these balls always made mouths happy.

I have such fond memories of holidays gathered around Aunt June’s dining table and everyone huddling over a large bowl of honey balls.  My sister and I would always scrape extra honey off the bottom of the bowl before popping a ball into our mouths, which of course, is the proper way to handle my aunt’s balls.

Aunt June passed away two years ago this September after a battle with lung cancer.  Tomorrow I run 5 Miles for Moffitt in her memory.  Today, I share her Struffoli recipe with you in her memory.

Aunt June’s Struffoli (Honey Balls )

Ingredients

2 cups flour

3 tablespoons sugar

¼  tsp salt

¼ teaspoon baking powder

½ stick unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch pieces

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

Canola oil for frying

1 ½ cups honey

Multi-colored sprinkles (Rainbow colored nonpareils)

Directions

In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder.  Add the butter and pulse  a few times until crumbly. Add the eggs and vanilla.  Pulse until sticky.

Remove and form into a ball.  Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough until ¼ inch thick. Using a knife, cut each piece of dough into ½ inch wide strips.

Then cut each strip into ½ inch squares. Roll each piece of dough into a small ball about ½ inch in size.   Lightly dredge the dough balls in flour, shaking off any excess.

Using a small fryer, pour enough oil to fill about a third of the way and heat oil to 375°. Fry the dough in batches until lightly golden, about 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate line with paper towels to drain excess oil. Once cooled, transfer balls to a large bowl.

In a large saucepan, heat honey over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally (about 3 minutes). Remove the pan from the heat. Pour the honey on top of the fried dough.  Stir until evenly coated in the honey. Allow the mixture to cool for 2 minutes.

Serve in family style in a large bowl or scoop a few honey balls into cupcake liners. Decorate with sugar sprinkles and allow to set for 2 hours. Struffoli can be stored in an air-tight container at room temperature for at least a week.

Thanks for joining our weekly Friday Food Fight! Can’t wait to see what everyone is flinging this week!

*Also submitted at*

Sweet Tooth Friday

Denise Mestanza-Taylor+

If I Catch You (Panties May Peel Off)

Posted on by Run DMT
13

PhotobucketFor this week’s Music Monday, I’m co-hosting with Xmas Dolly and her Monday’s Music Moves Me crew: Lorie, Stacy, Callie and Cathy.  These ladies are such wonderful, supportive people and I am THRILLED to be part of the MMMM team again for the next month!

The MMMM gang love their themes and this week’s theme is songs from other countries.  Since I love Latin music, I chose to share the number one hit on the Latin charts, Ai Se Eu Pego by a Brazilian artist, Michel Telo (pronounced mee-sell tay-lo) .

Michel’s sounds very similar to David Barnes or Jason Mraz mixed with accordion.  And look at how cute he is! His smile is adorable.  I just want to keep him in my pocket.

Michel also sings the song in English in case you were wondering what this cutie pie was singing.

If you like Michel, but thought he lacked some sex appeal or a beat that was easy to dance to, not to worry, because he has teamed up with Mr. Worldwide.

Pitbull music and remixes should come with a warning.  Once you mix a song with Pitbull, it prompts panties to fall to the floor.  Although panties peeling off are spontaneous and animalistic reaction to the music, it could also have something to do with Pitbull wanting to play with a woman’s maracas.

I’ve downloaded the song and added it to my running playlist to investigate this maraca matter further. I just hope I don’t lose my panties while I’m running.

I could trip.

What International songs have your panties falling off this week? Link up and share.

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

Denise Mestanza-Taylor+

Merriest Christmas Moments

Posted on by Run DMT
6

Beautifully set tables with a bit of bokeh ready for loved ones to gather ’round.

Hubby preparing Christmas dinner while wearing his presents.

Grandma Mestanza proudly posing with her almost-as-tall-as-her grandchildren

Little Lion Man giggling on his granny’s knee.

One tired little boy tucking into Grandpa to sleep.

Cousins cuddling.

Sisters striking a pose.

Happy children loving most of their presents…

and exclaiming, “This was the best Christmas ever!”

Live, Love, TRAVEL

A Christmas Calm (with a little Pink Martini)

Posted on by Run DMT
6

On Christmas Eve, a calm feeling came over me.  Although I still had the entire house to clean for company while Allan prepared a huge Italian feat for my family, I felt like it was no big deal.

Since Halloween, life has been pretty chaotic from birthday celebrations, school projects, races and then the holidays came.  For months, I’ve felt like I was drowning.  But for the first time in months, I felt like I could finally catch my breath and I enjoyed the moment with a few more cleansing breaths while I cleaned.

I suppose I felt calm because this was it.  The last big thing I had been stressing over was now coming to a close.  The presents had been bought and wrapped.  Most of my Christmas cards had been mailed.  All that was left was to enjoy Christmas and I was truly enjoying it, ironically while I scrubbed toilets.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were perfect.  The kids were so excited about all of their presents.  The food was fantastic and we shared lots of laughs and good cheer with our families.  And it felt so good not to worry about anything (school projects, races, blogging) for a little while.


 
With today being Boxing Day, we’ll spend a quiet day at home cleaning out closets and cupboards to find space for all our lovely new things we received from Christmas and then we’ll donate all our old gently used toys and clothes to charity in the spirit of Boxing Day.  Today could be another calming, therapeutic cleansing day for me in many ways.  At least that’s what I’m hoping it to be.

Although I’m enjoying my Christmas calming and cleansing moments, it leaves room for some new goals and plans for the New Year.  But that’s another post.


 
What are your plans and goals for the New Year?   

Next week for Music Monday, I would love for you to share a song that captures your plans for the New Year. Will 2012 be more of the same or are you taking on new endeavors? Tell us your thoughts with a tune.


Visit Xmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.

Holiday Inn Captured My Heart

Posted on by Run DMT
9

I took my best girl to the cinema yesterday.  Just me and my gal catching a show and we had a swell time, see.  A real swank time, I tell you.

It’s hard to shake the circa 1940s slang after being immersed in it for a couple hours.  As an early Christmas present, I bought tickets for Holiday Inn for my sister since it’s her favorite Christmas movie.  She was surprised to learn that I had never seen it so she asked me to join her rather than her hubby.

With its old world charm, the Tampa Theatre is the perfect cinema for a showing of a classic film and I loved watching the movie for the first time on the big screen as it was intended.  The larger than life dance numbers and set designs help your appreciate the art of film-making in a time before CGI and green screens.

 

Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby’s characters were delightful and endearing, like the way you want to remember these classic Hollywood film stars.  Although as beloved as they are, it’s the songs and the dancing that truly steal the show, of course.

The song, White Christmas, makes its debut in Holiday Inn, however, most people know it as the theme song for White Christmas, which will also be showing this holiday season at the Tampa Theatre on December 23.

Much like my sister, Holiday Inn captured my heart with singing and dancing.  I enjoyed watching this classic Christmas movie on the big screen so much that I plan to make this a new holiday tradition for us.

That’d be swell, I tell ya.  A real hot dog!


 

Visit Xmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.

Peppermint Shortbread

Posted on by Run DMT
7

Photobucket

Last Sunday, my mom, my sister and I held our annual Christmas cookie baking day.  For our annual cookie challenge, my electric mixer churns all day long to produce dozens of delightful treats and every year I surprise myself.

My baking has come a long way since the days of slice and bake cookies.  My friend, Chrissy, still teases me about the time I tried to pull off store-bought Snickerdoodle break-apart cookies as my own at a cookie swap.  Yep, I used to be that person.

But not these days!  Now, I’m like Betty Crocker whipping out batches of cookies and I’m certainly not intimidated to try new cookie recipes.    No more break-apart necessary!

Plus, the best part about making my own from scratch is that I know exactly what ingredients are in each batch.  There’s no hydrogenated oil or artificial flavor.  Just some sticks of good ol’ fashion butter!

Since I’m not scared to try new cookie recipes, I decided to give Publix’s Peppermint Shortbread a whirl.  This recipe was featured in the Publix’s Grape Winter 2011 magazine, which is currently on display on the kiosk at the front of the store.

Of course, Publix’s recipe called for 1 cup (2 sticks) butter because every good shortbread needs lots of butter.  However the recipe didn’t call for salt, which I thought was odd since cookies are typically made with unsalted butter.  So, I consulted Iron Chef Allan the Joy of Cooking to compare shortbread recipes.  Sure enough, Joy’s recipe stated unsalted butter and ¼ tsp of salt.

Not a difficult recipe by any means and the results are delicious!  And look at the presentation!  How pretty and festive!  I impress myself sometimes!

 

Peppermint Shortbread

Ingredients

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

¼ cup sugar

¼ tsp salt

¼ cup crushed peppermint candies

1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut up

½ tsp peppermint extract

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 325.

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking sheets.

In a large bowl, lightly combine the flour, sugar, salt and crushed candies.  Then, pour dry ingredients in electric mixer.  Add cut up butter and peppermint extract.  Combine on a low speed until mixture resembles fine crumbs.

Remove bowl from mixer.  Use your hands to bring mixture together and shape into a ball. (The warmth of your hands will soften the butter and help mixture come together.)

Divide dough into half.  On the prepared baking sheet pat each dough half into 6-inch circles about ½ inch thick.  If desired, flute the edges with a fork and prick each dough circle several times with prongs.  Cut each dough circle into 8 wedges (like a pizza) but do not separate the wedges.

Bake about 20 minutes or center appears set.  Cool on baking sheet on a wire cooling rack for 5 minutes.  Slice wedges again while warm.  Remove wedges from baking sheet and place on wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 16 wedges.

Note: The next time I make these cookies, I’ll split the dough into two loaves instead of two circles and then cut 2 inch bars into the loaves prior to baking.  By doing this, it will offer more than 16 servings, which is necessary for a Christmas cookie swap.  And speaking of Christmas cookie recipe swaps, don’t miss this one!

Photobucket

Now link up and see what If I Could Escape and Gone Bananas are flinging for this week’s Friday Food Fight.  



*Also submitted at*

Fat Camp Friday ButtonSweet Tooth Friday

A Christmas Flop

Posted on by Run DMT
15

Our Christmas tree is up.  Well, it’s standing.  The lights have been hung and the garland has been festooned.  That’s it.

Our Christmas tree enthusiasm and skills seem to be lacking this year.  Typically, our tree is up before Thanksgiving, but not this year which just goes to show you how crazy busy we’ve been.  There is some serious Christmas procrastination going on in this house.

But a busy schedule and a missing tree didn’t stop me from ornament shopping because I bought this ornament just before Thanksgiving.  Originally I bought it for my online Xmas Ornament Xchange, but I found a better one so I decided to keep it.  Besides, flip-flops are so me since I wear them all the time outside of my running shoes.  It’s a Florida thing.

I suppose I should hang it on the tree instead of snapping bokeh photos and blogging about it.

I’ll do it later.  First, I have run.

Don’t miss out on this ornament exchange!  The linky party closes Sunday!

Photobucket

“Have you decorated your Christmas tree? Share a favorite Christmas ornament.”

Mama's Losin' Itholiday bokeh party 2011 my3boybarians.comPhotography

Live, Love, TRAVEL