lunch - Balance & Spice

Buried Treasure Tuna

Did I tell you that Anthony and I started Crossfit?

No, I didn’t. We decided we really wanted to branch out and find a like-minded social network, and additionally, get strong and fit. What better way than CrossFit Northside? It’s a big, friendly box, with the most charming and attentive coaches and cross fitters you can imagine. I know everyone thinks their box is the best, but after just the foundation coach and our first real WOD, I know ours is. Speaking of our first WOD…

WOD

results

By the way, that weight is in kilos. It took me a while to realize that I front-squatted 99 lbs! I really appreciate our coach, James. He spent a lot of time with me making sure my elbows were lifted high enough and my form was accurate. It makes a big difference when you’re a frightened newbie to have a watchful coach.

After CrossFit, we came home, quickly showered, and Ant said “can you do lunch?” I said sure, and went to the kitchen to start preparing. After our WOD, I needed protein, and quick. So, I grabbed some tuna and some sardines. Anthony put a pot of water on to boil, and tossed a few pasture-raised eggs in there. I went to our garden and chopped some fresh chives. Some salt, pepper, lemon juice and olive oil, and Buried Treasure Tuna was born.

buried treasure tuna

Buried Treasure Tuna

primal, paleo, gluten-free, grain-free

Ingredients:

1 large can tuna (ours served four)
2 eggs, just hard boiled
1 can sardines
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp chopped fresh chives
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

Combine all ingredients, mashing the eggs well. Enjoy on a beautiful salad, and dig for the buried treasure – succulent pieces of egg, or some gorgeous sardines. Top with some salsa for a kick.

Buried Treasure Tuna

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: fish, gluten-free, grain-free, lunch, paleo, primal, recipes

Show Your Underwear to The Neighbors

22 Dec By Kat Reiner 2 Comments

Do you guys know about the Hills Hoist?

It’s kind of amazing. But more on that soon.

My tummy was not happy this morning, so I had to cancel my free personal training session last minute. So ironic – as a former personal trainer, when people cancelled their free sessions, I would get so mad. Here I was, unable to leave the en suite, and feeling so guilty. I guess everyone has sick days. So, for today’s workout, I sat around (and did a 30 minute speed walk in the afternoon when I was feeling better.) Even on days when I’m not feeling great, I still try to get some form of movement in, and almost always find that I feel better afterwards.

Breakfast:

rice cakes and cucumber

To keep it easy on the tummy, I had two rice cakes, one with homemade hummus and one with a bit of butter. I also had a cucumber with sliced green pepper, and a few tablespoons of plain greek yogurt that went unphotographed.

The morning was spent mainly cooking for Christmas (which is going to be huge here – 30 people! It will be such a new experience, though it sounds a bit overwhelming) and finishing up some household errands. I also got a pedicure, and now have sparkly silver toes.

Lunch:

Moussaka

I had a beautiful plate of left-over frozen moussaka. Ant’s mom didn’t want me to post the photo as she said it looked like “dog’s breakfast” but I assure you it was amazing, and based on soy-milk and gluten-free flour, it was easy on my tummy as well.

Now, on to today’s post topic – the Hills Hoist, an incredible Australian invention that I’m totally obsessed with.

As a New Yorker, I’m used to fighting with my neighbors to do my laundry in the basement, tossing it in the dryer the second it’s done if I don’t want it removed for me, and always, ALWAYS loosing a sock or two somewhere along the way. Not to mention something always shrinks or rips or tears no matter what I do.

The amazing and humble Hills Hoist

So, imagine my geeky glee to discover the Hills Hoist.

The Hills Hoist is a clothes drying mechanism that is eco-friendly, cost-effective, and totally amazing. It’s basically a four-sided umbrella clothes line, and it holds a ridiculous amount of clothes. I have to say, there is something incredibly meditative about taking wet clothes out on a sunny day and hanging each piece carefully with clothes pins. It’s yet another Australian mechanism to force you to slow down, breathe, and take in the sunshine. They’re really good at that.

The only problem with it is, everyone sees your stuff on the line. Including, ya know, your partner’s mother. Which is only embarrassing when she decides to be lovely, take down the laundry from the said Hills Hoist, and fold it for you.

It’s only slightly mortifying to know that your boyfriend’s mum has carefully folded your lacy, miniscule hanky pankies.

And I still loose my bloody socks. Every darn time.

Filed Under: Balance & Spice, Food, Recipes, and More! Tagged With: Australia, breakfast, lunch, Travel

Did it for the smoothie.

30 Nov By Kat Reiner 2 Comments

As some of my tweeps saw today, I didn’t want to work out.

First, I said I’d do it before lunch.

Then noon rolled around, and ~~I didn’t want to move anymore than I had at 11:00~~ was legitimately hungry.

Lunch

Lunch was leftovers, part two, and even better than breakfast, as my dad made it for dinner and left it for me in the fridge.

Sword fish with lemon-citrus cauliflower

Swordfish with roasted cauliflower with citrus vinigrette – tres fancy, non?

I felt tired, blah and immobile, and the couch was so inviting and warm. I pulled out all the stops – I looked at Julie’s workout mantras, checked out carrots ‘n’ cakes workouts and reached out to twitter for help. Eventually, there was only one thing that would get me on that freakin’ machine – a smoothie.

Workout of the Day:

30 minutes elliptical
3 minute seltzer break (yeah, yeah, I’m lame)
30 minutes elliptical, including 10 second “New Years Eve” countdown at the end…)

Ahhh, the smoothie.

SUPER FANCY SMOOTHIE!

It was magnificent. For some reason, after working out, my fancy smoothie (I added fitnutz to it, to make it doubly fancy) tasted sweeter than ever, even though I only used half a banana and half the normal sweetener. I have a feeling that this is because in the 30 minutes after exercise, your insulin response is doubled, which results in extra stored gylcogen for future workouts. I imagine your tastebuds know this, and make things taste sweeter so you consume more complex carbs. Just a theory. Well, whatever the reason, it got me through the workout and I enjoyed every last slurp.

(Side note: Do you find that straws make everything better? I think they make me feel five again, which is such a good thing.)

On schedule for tonight is my last yoga lesson with Maya before heading off to Australia in six days!

Dinner

Chicken with mushrooms, zucchini and onions, and wine

Dinner was with the family. I can’t tell you how amazing it is to be able to eat a beautiful home cooked meal with my incredible parents and love. Life is good, kids. Life is good.

Desert was a macoun apple bowl with a cinnamon-vanilla goat yogurt dipping sauce. So delicious.