Yesterday, I posted about using the fresh ingredients that are produced in the summer. One of the meals that I planned to make this week was using the two delicious, ripe mangoes that I found at the store. When I cut them, they were juicy and sweet and just absolutely sinful.
Mango and Peach Salsa with Grilled Chicken
Ingredients: 2 ripe mangoes, diced 2 ripe peaches, diced 1/2 medium red onion, diced {about 1/2 cup} 1/2 Jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped {use a whole one for more heat} 1/2 cup chopped cilantro 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper Zest and juice of 1 lime
Combine all of the above ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Adjust seasonings to your taste. Initially, I wasn't going to add the peaches, but I thought the salsa needed a little something extra. The slight tartness of the peaches and lime combined with the sweetness of the mangoes makes this salsa divine. It is also great served with tortilla chips!
Salsa can be made using just about any fresh ingredients you have on hand..tomatoes, fruits, peppers {both roasted or not}, etc. I like to top my grilled meats with homemade fresh salsas to give them extra flavor. Today for lunch, Fred and I finished the rest of the salsa with a few chips beside our sandwiches. It was just as good the next day.
As for running, I got in 5 miles this morning. I don't know about you, but the humidity is killing me! The last few days, I just haven't felt myself on my runs and I am wondering if it is the thick air that is causing my issue. Oh well, at least I got myself out there. Tonight I am meeting Jesse and a few other runners to film some short video clips of local running hot spots. He has mapped out seven spots for us to test out. These video clips will be posted on the Moravian College website for prospective recruits to view all of the cool places to run here in the Lehigh Valley. It should be a good time!
What ingredients do you like to use in your homemade salsas?
7 miles. Done. I love running in the morning and getting it out of the way because it's a great way to start my day. On my run this morning, I decided to incorporate some more hills, grass and trails. It was a nice change of pace from my flatter, more road-type courses, and I also wanted to explore a bit. I covered areas that I haven't been in a while, like the Monocacy Park course where we used to do intervals in college. With the alumni meet coming up in a few weeks, I wanted to get a little grass running in before I ran a cross-country course. The grass kind of slowed me down a bit, as well as the rolling hills, but in the end...I had a solid seven under my belt.
As for today's post, it was inspired by the lovely fruits and veggies that are available in the summer. Some of them are from the produce stand just around the corner from my home, and some are from Wegman's...my favorite grocery store in the whole wide world. Come summer, my menus always tend to lean heavy on the colorful side...bright tomatoes, green and yellow squash, salads tossed with vibrant and crispy vegetables, and much more. The girls know, lunch isn't complete without a fruit and a veggie, so they don't even argue anymore.
Here's what I am thinking for the week:
Bunless burgers with an Heirloom tomato, fresh mozzarella cheese and basil salad using these...
Heirloom tomatoes are rich
in color and flavor. I love all of the hues in this bowl...reds,
yellows, and oranges. Can you just imagine them in a salad tossed with a
light vinaigrette? My basil is looking might fine too...
Also on the menu for this week, Marinated chicken breasts topped with a Mango, Cilantro and Jalapeno Salsa using these...
I'm thinking that a light, lime dressing will be the perfect touch for this combination. Another find at the stand were these fresh flowers. I couldn't resist!
And last night, I marinated pork tenderloin in a homemade concoction of olive oil, rice wine vinegar, OJ, garlic, soy sauce and lime juice. On the side, I tried Giada's Quinoa Pilaf.
It was simple and delicious. I can't wait to dig in to all of the freshness to create healthy and satisfying meals for me and my family.
We got home late last night from the beach and even though I like to travel...it is always great to be in my own house. I spent the morning unpacking, doing laundry, grocery shopping, and just straightening up. I decided, too, that this would be a day off from running, but I kind of feel like doing something. So, I may head out the door if the spirit moves me. We'll see...
Yesterday I headed out for my last run at the beach. It was very humid, yet again, and I told myself if I just did three miles, I would be happy. I ended up doing a little over 4 miles.
On the way home last night, we decided to stop for dinner. I had heard of this little place on the bay in North Cape May called Harpoon Henry's. Apparently, they have over 150 frozen drinks!
We were loving the outdoor deck area. All umbrella tables are dog-friendly eating areas.
The girls and me....
Fred and I before the food came.
I ordered their Rosemary-infused Chicken with Honey Mustard on a Ciabatta roll. It was yummy!
Just around the corner was the dock for the Cape May, NJ~Lewes, DE ferry. Cars can board this boat and can be taken back and forth from these two shore point destinations. The girls never saw a boat that was actually BIG enough to haul cars, so we took a quick peek. It was huge!
And...although you wouldn't know it by looking at this picture from today, Willsey was super excited when we arrived home!
Well, that's about it for today...enjoy your afternoon!
Besides it being about a million degrees, it was humid and muggy today at the beach. I began my day with an easy three mile run followed by some time in the fitness center.
In the weight room, I did some arm moves with dumbbells and machines. In addition, I also did some squats and lunges in between intervals to mix it up a bit.
After my run, we spent a few hours at the pool before heading to lunch and the boardwalk. For lunch, we stopped at this neat little place called Marvis Diner By The Sea.
The place had a vintage vibe, with a modern feeling, if that makes any sense! There were a ton of Greek-inspired dishes on the menu like gyros, stuffed grape leaves, Mediterranean salad, and fried feta with tomatoes. I went with a standard classic...the Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Wrap.
It was quite good...the chicken was marinated and juicy, rather than dripping with a creamy dressing. The place was a hit with the entire fam!
As I said before, I am not a Boardwalk fan, but we promised the kids some rides and we thought that daytime would be our best bet since the lines are crazy at night. So, that is exactly where we headed after lunch. I tried to find every patch of shade on the pier while the girls hit the rides with a vengeance. Here I am {old lady hat and all} with Payton.
Call me a Scrooge, but I was ready to head back to the hotel after about an hour...but the girls loved it and we created memories that will last forever.
Last night, I took a few photos, one of our hotel sign as we walked back from getting ice cream and the other is the view of the pools from our balcony. They light up and change colors at night. In my opinion, the pools have been the front runner as far as entertainment for our beach week.
Well, that about does it for today. I am about to settle in and read my book while hoping to catch glimpses from London. Can't wait for track and field to start!!!
I'm still having fun in the sun down here in Diamond Beach, New Jersey with my husband and two girls. Yesterday, we took a trip to the Cape May County Zoo. What was especially amazing about this zoo was that is was free to enter {donations accepted}. They had picnic pavilions, parks and of course, the beautiful zoo filled with tons of animals.
We saw the baby snow leopards...
This giraffe killed me...He looked like he was posing for photo ops...
Here are some other cuties....
Look at the size of his paw!
Fred and I as we wait for the kids to take a few minutes on the playground...
After the zoo, we stopped for lunch at one of our favorite places in Cape May, Lucky Bones.
First, Fred and I shared their Rocket Salad, which was a combination of arugula, shaved fennel, roasted veggies, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and figs topped with a green vinaigrette dressing.
Then, we also shared a margarita brick oven pizza with fresh mozzarella and basil. It was delicious! The crust was thin and crispy...yum!
Last night, we hit the beach for a little photo shoot. This is a tradition we do every year and it is something I can't miss. For the shoot, I buy the girls a dress to wear and we choose a pleasant evening to shower up, get dressed and smile!
Once we got back from the beach, we hung out by the fire pit at our resort. It was incredibly relaxing and cozy.
This morning, I ran another 5 mile loop ~ out to the boardwalk and back. It always feels good to get a workout in before hitting the beach or pool.
Followed by a breakfast of Greek yogurt, peanut butter and bananas. Oh, and coffee of course!
Ok, it's time to relax before heading to the beach! Enjoy your day!
