I genuinely have nothing to write about today. I feel like the stress of the past 7 days has coalesced into a giant, raging ball, rolling around in my brain, knocking over everything important in there.
I am doing everything I can to keep my mind off of it. I’m running more miles than what I put on my car. I’m baking up a storm, reading books, watching every single “True Blood” preview there is on YouTube, reading 19 gajillion blogs.
I am still not handling the stress as well as I would like. I know it’s only a matter of time before the stress starts making me do things like eat potato chips and ice cream or watch “The Bachelor”. (the horror!)
In order to combat the tazmanian devil who is spinning inside me, tying me up in knots, I am going to do something tonight I NEVER do. Honestly, I NEVER do it. I am going to………yoga. Ninety minutes of straight silence. I am not even 100% sure they’ll let me in. I am pretty sure yogis have a “disruptive person” detector, and can see me approach from a mile away. Some inner zen alarm will go off, and they’ll kindly tell me to go back to spin where I belong. Maybe I shouldn’t wear the “yogis do it on the mat” tee shirt.
I have zilch-o idea what I’m getting myself into. I can tell you what I’m not getting myself into–a human pretzel. The only way I am putting my legs behind my head is to…well, let’s say to “do a flip off of a diving board”.
I’m taking a hatha yoga class tonight which is featuring dance music. If they don’t play Ace of Base, I’m taking my business elsewhere. There has to be a yoga studio that plays 90’s Swedish pop/dance music somewhere, right? I mean, I live in NYC, I’ll bet there’s a yoga studio that plays nothing but Marilyn Manson/Barry Manilow megamixes. What I wouldn’t give to see the goth singer play “Copacabana”!!!
In order to power up for tonight’s exercise in flexible stupidity, I have a healthy, vegetarian recipe for you!!
Yesterday was “meatless monday” and to celebrate, I made a delicious, healthy, Tex-Mex mac and cheese. It was sooo good. I baked them in halved bell peppers, and topped them with yummy whole wheat panko bread crumbs.
Tex-Mex Mac and cheese
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Keywords: appetizer entree side vegetarian
Ingredients
- 2 cups skim milk
- 6 oz 2% milk mexican shredded cheese blend+2 more oz for topping
- 4 tbsp whole wheat panko bread crumbs
- 4-6 chopped roma tomatoes or 2 chopped beefsteak tomatoes RIPE
- 2-4 bell peppers, halved and seeded
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 tbsp earth balance spread
- 1-2 tbsp salt free fajita or taco seasoning
- 1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 8 oz whole wheat penne, fusilli, rotini, or macaroni
Instructions
preheat oven to 375F
boil pasta to package directions and drain
melt butter in large saucepan
add in garlic and onion and gently saute for 1 minute
add in flour and stir
whisk in milk and whisk until milk starts to thicken
stir in 6 oz of cheese and continue to whisk
stir in tomatoes, taco seasoning, chili powder, salt and pepper
stir in macaroni
pour into prepared bell peppers and top with breadcrumbs and remaining cheese
bake until brown and bubbly.
Do you do yoga?
Do you like macaroni and cheese?
ahh i haven’t done yoga in months. For a good 2 years I did it 1-2x a week. I need to get back there. Can’t wait to hear about how you like it and hope your stress levels calm down soon.
thanks, Nic.
I have really sore muscles today from yesterday’s upper body workout … so I was actually thinking about taking a yoga class tonight to streeeeeetch out.
How can you NOT like mac and cheese?!
if you hate puppies and everything good.
I promise you that once I’m certified, I will be playing Ace of Base during my vinyasa flows!!
Love the idea to stuff the peppers with the mac & cheese: I’m going to have to try this for my husband very soon!
then I am THERE when I visit my home state. don’t kick me out, please.
You are so freaking clever in the kitchen!!
Yoga–I have only consistently gone to Bikram, because I feel like the sweat is so worth it. It sounds like you are more cognizant than ever about how to deal with your stress–effectively!!
I still think they’re going to kick me out.
I love me some yoga – and Hatha is my favorite style. I can guarantee you that no one will give you side eyes if you don’t put your legs behind your head. In fact, if you’re in a class where anyone is putting their legs behind their head, you might have missed the yoga studio & ended up in lap-dancing 305.
(Or a very, very advanced yoga class.)
Just remember that you don’t have to get into every single pose the instructor demos – it’s all about what your body will do. Push, but not even to your limit. Yoga is awesome – especially for those who prefer a faster pace. Forced relaxation is good for the body AND brain.
I want to know what you learn in lapdancing 101 and 202.
I so need to try yoga! I keep saying I will but have not yet… I need it more for stress AND flexibility with age. I am pretty flexible but age takes on another dimension!
What a creative way to smash some veggies into a mac cheese dish.
I am glad I am not in that yoga class with you, because that would be trouble.
spoken like a woman who knows how disruptive I can be and can herself be challenged with fits of giggles.
I used to do Yoga years ago…there was a 5am yoga class at my gym when I was in the military. I loved it b/c my husband (then bf) and two best friends would all do it together before working out. It was the perfect start to the day.
Mac and cheese – yes, please!!
I’ve been meaning to reach out to you – I’m so sorry to hear about your loss – I can’t imagine how much stress it must be for you right now. If you need a babysitter or a friend, let me know. I can be in Brooklyn in no time!!
thank you so much. It’s been challenging, that is for sure.
I don’t do yoga. I have tried it on the Wii Fit a few times, but my balance is WAY off! I have many friends that absolutely love it and swear by it, though. I’m more of a dance, cardio kind of girl…anything that doesn’t really require balance…LOL! I LOVE mac and cheese…but I can’t eat it. I just have to stay away from the carbs, although I know your meal is healthy and looks delish! I’ve never had panko bread crumbs before.