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Two Delicious Recipes

Happy Monday! It feels so wonderful to be back in Geneva! Check out the gorgeous sunrise that I was privy to this morning when my flight was approaching the city. 2014-01-06 08.11.40-1A few days ago I didn’t think I’d utter words of excitement upon stepping back onto European soil as I had such a wonderful time with our friends and family in both Savannah and New York. But it became clear this morning that right now, this is where we are meant to be in our life and I have a renewed sense of excitement. This year is going to certainly have it’s share of challenges professionally but personally I know it’s going to be filled with fun weekends away and traveling.

As my friend Ranald said, skiing is the perfect Winter weekend activity as you always have something to look forward to, even on Monday! 2013-12-01 14.23.27This weekend our same group is heading back up to Verbier for a weekend of skiing and fun. It will be even more fun as some of my co-workers from New York our joining us for the weekend before our semi-annual strategy meetings begin in Geneva on Monday.

I have found that in order to keep a positive outlook and manage stress I need to focus on what I put in my body. For this reason I’ve been spending a lot of time on Pinterest and talking with friends about their favorite healthy recipes. Over the past month I discovered two kale recipes which are totally different yet both are packed with flavor and can serve as either a side dish or a main dish if some protein is added. One of them was a Pinterest discovery and the other was served at a dinner party I attended. Enjoy!

Recipe #1: Warm Balsalmic Kale Salad: This recipe says it serves 2 but if served as a side it definitely makes 4 servings. The flavors are incredible thanks to the balsamic paired with the richness of the mushrooms sautéed in a little butter. The only change I made to this recipe was using 1/2 the butter. Bo loved this dish so much that he asked me to Pin it to my Pinterest board and then insisted that it becomes a regular standby.

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Recipe #2: Kale and Avocado Salad My friend Lauren served this at our December girls night dinner and none of us could stop commenting on how delicious it was. Asian inspired, this is the perfect compliment to teriyaki chicken or even a lighter Asian inspired dish such as a soup as the use of avocado, hemp seeds and olive oil give it satiating staying power. As you can see by the Instagram post, Lauren served it alongside homemade Viatnamese Beef Noodle soup which was a perfect meal for a cold December night. (picture source)

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I hope you enjoy these two recipes as much as I have. These are two easy and flavorful ways to squeeze in some extra nutrients to your next lunch or dinner!

Have you hopped on the kale train? If so what is your favorite recipe or way to enjoy it?

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Run, Work, Greens & Repeat

Happy Tuesday!

I hope you all had a good day. Instead of taking this week as vacation, I am working from my old office until Friday when we head up to Saratoga Springs for Melissa and Frank’s wedding weekend.

Before heading to the office I headed out to the streets for my first run since the marathon. I headed up Third Avenue and ran 3 miles at a relaxed pace while zoning out. I definitely don’t miss the smell of city garbage piled up on the sidewalks or crowded sidewalks as even at 6am I was dodging in and out of people and trash piles. My legs were a little tight, especially my right hamstring, but otherwise the run felt easy.

IMG_3252_thumb.jpgIt felt so surreal taking the 6 train and my old commute to work this morning. I’m so thankful for this experience to live abroad but I do miss New York City.

I left the office for a quick lunch around 1pm, eager to try Organic Avenue’s new fall menu items. I follow them on social media and immediately added their roasted squash and beet salad to my list of things to try this week. It exceeded my expectations! Per the suggestion of the staff, I drizzled the dressing on my salad as soon as I returned to the office but let it marinate for 10-15 minutes before eating. While the salad is definitely an expensive lunch option, it was a nutritious and filling treat.

IMG_3258Roasted Squash & Beet Salad

Golden beets, roasted shallots, and aromatic fennel come together to create a perfect flavor combination. Hearty kabocha squash, thought to be a good source of beta-carotene, rounds out this salad that captures the essence of the cooler months.

Calories 260    Sat Fat 2.5g    Sugars 10g

After work I met Jen for another run. Our schedules are a bit different this week and the only time we could manage to meet up was this evening. Since she is a busy mom who fits running and training in between her busy family and work life, I thought that running her plan’s easy 4 miles with her was a perfect way to catch up. It also gave us a chance to enjoy some evening views along the Hudson River and perfect 55 degree weather.

IMG_3263IMG_3261We talked non-stop which made the miles fly! We had so much to catch up on including her marathon training, Staten Island Half Marathon and upcoming travel. I can’t believe that it’s almost been a year since we met! While a great deal has changed over the past year, she is still just as strong and inspiring as ever before. Whether she realized it or not, she gave me some great words of advice today during our run and I’m so thankful for this one on one time we had together.

After the run I spent the next 90 minutes on the massage table at 21st Street Equinox. I hadn’t booked any type of post marathon massage and after today’s 7 miles I knew that my legs would appreciate it and it would help with recovery. Luckily Carlos Blain had a last minute opening. This man worked magic on my legs and back by using a combination of massage therapy, physical therapy stretches and professional strength icy hot. He is a certified physical therapist by training but as his certification from Argentina didn’t transfer when he moved, he is practicing massage therapy in NYC.

IMG_3270Last but not least, I finally tried Juice Press! After hearing about their delicious juices and smoothies from Gia and Theodora this was another item on my list this week. A Turmeric Sports Tonic and The Love of Kale Salad was the perfect dinner tonight while catching up on this week’s Homeland. The turmeric has healing effects while also being a natural immune booster, perfect for my body post marathon. The manager suggested that this would help with my muscle repair and hydration after the deep tissue massage as well. The salad consisted of kale, arugula, tomatoes, raisins, carrots, and quinoa along with a garlic and tahini dressing which also included a hint of mint. Delicious! Why did this open just 3 blocks from our old apartment AFTER we moved?

Overall, today was a pretty perfect day. I hope I continue to have opportunities that bring me back to New York City a few times a year as it’s nice to reconnect with good friends and colleagues while also trying some new restaurants and workouts.

Are you a kale fan? If so, how do you prepare it at home? I need some recipe suggestions so I can keep the love alive in Geneva!

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