Why Crossfit?
If you’ve been following me over on Twitter, you may have noticed that I wrote a series about Crossfit for Skiers on Ski Magazines site. The comments section is a continuous debate about the pros and cons of Crossfit, and the ability to use Crossfit to train specifically for skiing. It got me thinking about what Crossfit means to me, and the smaller audience of elite athletes that use sport-specific training.
The effectiveness of Crossfit is often debated; injuries, competitive training, the zone diet, paleo. My very first WOD had me left thinking “that was fun, but is it really as effective as they say?” I even called my old trainer, Nate Green, and asked his opinion. ”Crossfit can be great,” he said, “if you’re smart.” That “if” holds true today, for me as an athlete, as a trainer, as a friend cheering on another gym member. Yes, it can be effective, but you have to be smart.
B’sprout Deliciousness
I made Brussel sprouts last night, and Thursday night, and last Sunday. And its not because they are the least expensive vegetable on the shelf. They are just too delicious to ignore.
Now before you start calling me weird, think about the last time you had Brussel sprouts. Were you 10 and forcing them down as your pinched your nose, the promise of dessert so close you could taste it? Try them again. After all, you’re a big kid now and they are o-so-good for you. Make them with this marinade and you’ll never hold your nose again. But don’t plan on having any leftovers.
Snow!!!
Finally, it snowed in the wasatch. I haven’t even looked at snow totals yet, quite frankly, I don’t even care. I’m just happy that is finally snowed! The only bad thing is that we’re currently sitting in the red snake trying to get up llc.
The good news? I’ve got great company….
yeah, it is so bright out.
And the sun is shining!!!
Comfort Food: Smoothered Shrimp and Okra
Jamon loves okra. The first time I ever tried it was in Vegas last year, it was only an appetizer, but at first bite I knew that I could just eat a bowl of it and be happy. O man. It was so yummy. We licked the plate clean. Since then, I’ve been on the hunt for Okra. Apparently, it’s not too common in UT, because last night was the first time I’ve seen it fresh at the store. Why now? When Okra is definitely not in season? I’m not too sure, but I went against all my normal rules and bought it. Just because Jamon loves it. and I love a new challenge.
People are opinionated about their okra. It’s a bit like brussel sprouts. You either love it or hate it. Despite my love at first taste, all the blogs and recipes I read about the slim and the stringiness intimidated me. You have to make sure you cook it long enough, you have to make sure you get rid of the slim. Blah blah blah. Jesus, it’s cooking a vegetable, it can’t be rocket science. I’m not going to let a little stable of the south scare me. I’m going to cook okra, and it will be delicious!
The zucchini soldiers come marching in
I woke up this morning tired, sad, and stuffy. What I really wanted was my mum to make me eggs and soldiers, but since that is hardly whole30 compliant, and I’m a little low on veggies varieties I made this:
What are eggs and soldiers I hear you ask? Does you spoon make airplane noises?
Soft boiled eggs and slices of buttered toast, sliced just thing enough to dip into the yummy, runny yolks. The toast comes marching in to ahem, *rescue* humpty dumpty. I guess you could see it as a sort of upcycling too.
2010 Powder Day: Rage Productions Bonus
One snowy April day, Angeli, Hennie, Giray and I shuffled up Catherine’s Pass for a little storm shooting. It was hilarious. Not only did I fully shave all the branches off a pine tree attempting to “tap” it, we also crashed, swam, and swallowed the deep fluffy snow. This season, I’ve almost forgot what it feels like to float through the snow. Almost.
Just a reminder. Hopefully this storm will pan out for the Wasatch next week!!
Dinner on the fly: A Quick and Easy Curry
I love experimenting in the kitchen. Sometimes it’s a slow, multi-step process; a dance through the silence of my house, no music, no tv, no roommate. I can revel in the stillness and silence. My only company is the chop, chop, chop of my knife, the bubble of the pot, the sizzle of onions carmelizing in the pan. It’s the one moment in my day where there is silence. No tap, tap, tap of the keyboards at work, the bass grinding at the gym or the chatter on the train. Just silence.
But other times, I walk in the door so famished I’m ready to chew my arm off rip the lid of the jar of almond butter and inhale every last, creamy, delicious bite. On these nights, it’s a good thing I have most of my veggies pre-chopped and the protein already cooked, waiting to be recreated into the flavor of the evening. 
A life lived with passion is never wasted
Sometimes it feels like all the sadness is compressed into one tiny instant. One space. Even your tears can’t fit. Only nausea, shock; a squeezing choking feeling that starts in your stomach and moves its way up. It’s been 5 years since Asher passed, and yet the shocking, choking feeling can still hit. It’s less often now than it used to be, but it’s still there. I still miss him, feel the emptiness he filled with laughter, hugs, and reeses. Brownie sundaes at the avalanche, pizza at the Stash, Ben and Jerry’s, Dr. Pepper; such a sweet tooth for such a sweet, wonderful boy. It’s been a long 5 years without you, realizing dreams, and still searching for others. But one thing is for sure, I wouldn’t be a professional skier if it wasn’t for you. I wouldn’t have joined the ski team if you hadn’t begged me, chairlift ride after chairlift ride, or watched Session 1242 day after day in 2004. I wouldn’t have dreamed that big, or laughed and cried so hard over one silly, life changing sport.
Dinner with friends: Chicken Paprikash
I don’t even know what we were laughing about but the feeling lingered and I thought, “when was the last time I laughed that hard?”. Laughter used to be synonymous with life. But the last couple years, I don’ t think I laugh as often or as hard as I used to. It made me wonder, why is that so? Then I thought “just stop. Stop wondering, stop thinking, just enjoy this moment.” That’s what I did. There is nothing like a deep, belly laugh with good friends.
Salmon Burgers
I had never thought about making salmon burgers till I saw a recipe for them on Elana’s blog over the summer. I made the recipe from her blog (without adding or substituting anything!) and it was absolutely delicious. I rarely find myself in a pinch for meal ideas, but after working the 9-5 and coaching at the gym last night, I was spent for ideas and had no desire to go to the store and pick anything “extra” up. There is more than enough food to whip something up in my fridge! I checked the pantry and found the can of salmon, eggs, sesame seeds, but *gasp* I was OUT of almond meal!
Time to get creative: Whole30 salmon burgers, sans almond meal and tamari. Turns out, they were YUMMY!
salmon burger, avocado, salad, and pan fried eggplant
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