Well – as you know, I’ve been stressing about my decreasing almond butter supply lately. Each time my knife goes into the jar and comes out with less and less almond butter is a little pin prick to my heart.
There is, however, one ray of light at the end of the almond butter jar – and it’s a bright one – it’s Almond Butter Jar Oatmeal!
I used my tried and true stove-top oatmeal recipe, with a banana sliced and cooked in with the oats, then instead of pouring my oats into a bowl, I poured it straight into the almond butter jar!
YES! As soon as the hot, cinnamon-vanilla-banana oatmeal hit the almond butter, the sweet smell of peanut almond butter cookies filled the air. INcredible!
Furious side scraping ensued and I was in AB heaven. This was by far, the best oatmeal batch I’ve ever had.
You must make this the next time you have a nearly empty jar of peanut or almond butter – you will NOT be sorry!
Ok calm down Kristin…
So, King of the Grill night last night was planned so I could not only enjoy a tasty, grilled steak dinner, but also so I could concoct my favorite salad ever: Spinach, Steak, Dried Cranberry & Feta Salad!
Talk about a perfect bite. Savory steak, tart cranberry & salty feta. Served with a balsamic dressing drizzled over the top 
I also packed a Surprise Fruit Salad for lunch. Why a surprise fruit salad? Because…
Surprise! It’s actually a layered salad of tropical pineapple, juicy watermelon and sweet cantaloupe. All my favorite fruits of summer, actually!
Great day of eats today – nutritious, filling and exciting. My kind of meals!
Today’s Running Tips:
While Wednesday’s tip selections come from the Speed Training & Racing portion of the 101 Greatest Running Tips list, I once again found them inspirational and helpful for runners at all levels!
Tip #58. Just "Q" it: "Quality counts, if you want to stay fast. Don’t do all your workouts in the comfort zone." –Ken Sparks, Ph.D., top masters marathoner
- I’ve written about “la di da’ing” my way through runs before. I’m not doing myself any favors by going the same pace and exerting the same amount of energy during every single run. There is absolutely a time and a place for easy, paced runs – but remember to kick it up a notch every once and awhile!
Tip #62. Get over it: "If you have a bad workout or run a bad race, allow yourself exactly 1 hour to stew about it–then move on." –Steve Scott, coach and U.S. record holder in the mile
- Love this one. I’m such a big believer in not beating yourself up for something that’s already happened or beating yourself up for thinking you’ve failed at something. We’re all human and need to be a little nicer to ourselves sometimes!
Tip #72. Don’t dodge the draft: "Occasionally pick up speed–for 2 minutes, tops–then settle back into your former pace. Sometimes this is all you need to snap out of a mental and physical funk. Pick a downhill stretch if you can, and really lengthen your stride." –Mark Plaatjes
- This is a great tip to keep in mind. I’ll definitely try and change up my pace the next time I find myself in a tough or weird spot during my runs!
Oh also – I got a question yesterday about programs I use to track how far I’m running outside. I like to use Map My Run for runs that I do on sidewalks/ in neighborhoods and use Gmaps Pedometer to track how far my runs are when I’m on trails. I think/hope they’re pretty accurate!
FYI – I’m feeling a little sad leaving my old blog behind…it’s like I’m ditching the old, rusty, yet reliable toy for the new, shiny one. What can I say, I get attached easily (obviously…hello almond butter issues) If you’re having any problems viewing the new site, getting re-subscribed, etc – let me know. I’m always available via email @ iowagirleats@hotmail.com!
Have a supah-troopah Wednesday!
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What do you have that’s of sentimental value?
I have a lot of sentimental value for my first chef’s knife. I don’t even use it anymore, but I’ll always keep it because it reminds me of cooking away in my tiny apartment in Minneapolis
I also keep ALL letters, cards and notes given to me. I want to sit back in my rocking chair when I’m 90 and re-read them all. I think that will be a good source of joy when I’m older!
That’s my favorite part of the end of a peanut butter jar as well! When I finished my last jar, the scientist in me got to me and I worried about the BPA leaching out of the plastic due to my hot oatmeal(being too paranoid at the moment, I mean all the years of microwaving I’ve done and will probably still do on occasion). Instead, I made a thicker than usual green monster, poured it into the jar and ate with a spoon. Didn’t have quite the same effect as oatmeal but still tasty.
Congrats on your move!
Great looking fruit!
That stead salad looks great. You’d never know that was leftover from another meal, and that’s when using leftovers is at it’s finest. I definitely think i need to get steak. Sirloin is 6 dollars a pound at Whole Foods starting today too
I’d toss some chopped walnuts and capers in that salad to really push it over the cliff…
And nothing sets off feta and fresh greens like fresh, ripe tomato slices and a few anchovies. They’re the small fish with the big flavor, you know. Aside from the salt, they are packed with all kinds of nutritional goodness.
oatmeal – yum
salad – droooool
running tips – loving them!
thanks
That salad looks colorful and delicious! Congrats on your move, lovin’ it!
I don’t keep much. I go to the opposite extreme and purge things because I do not like stuff just hangin’ around! It’s the OCD in me.
The salad looks yum!
Love oats in a empty jar! I also keep all letters, b-day cards, all my wedding cards, emails (my husband made a book of all the emails he sent me while dating), and hope someday to show them to kids and grandkids!
Girl, you have some serious oatmeal passion goin on…I love it!!! I have yet to try the oats-in-a-jar combo, but honestly, your passion about it all has intrigued me to give it a go. As soon as my next nut butter jar is almost empty, I’m dumping in the oats!
That salad is right up my alley! If only I owned a grill.
I needed to hear #62!
Hi Dear! I seriously am having food envy over all of your eats this week. Can I hire you as my personal chef?
Wellll, if you are that sad about missing your old rusty blow (which I think was still amazing), check back later tonight or tomorrow morning for my nights post. I am going to ask pointers for old rusty blogs, which hopefully you can give some insight.
Can’t wait to see what you cook up tonight!
I almost have a jar thats empty, can’t wait to have my oats that day!
So true that one bad run it just that…ONE bad run
i keep cards & letters too! i love looking through them even now but it is getting to pack rack status times 100 and i dont know where to store them all!!!