Lotoja - The Calm Before the Storm

If you have been a devotee to this blog then you are familiar with my 'doom and gloom' attitude toward any of my athletic events. You where with me when I did my first marathon...then my second...then again when I did the half iron man....and during all those events I was sure I was going to die each time. This next race is no exception...no exception indeed! Saturday I am going to do Lotoja it's a local bike race with just about 1000 riders. It starts in Logan Utah and finishes in Jackson Hole Wyoming, that's right Wyoming the Cowboy state...tough mothers come from Wyoming - watch out for them cowboys. It's going to be about 206 miles on a bicycle. I am thinking it may take me about 11-12 hours...I know for those of you that have done it already it's no big deal...but for me it's a big deal...so big in fact that I don't even think about it. Thats right I try not to think about it at all. I do have a simple game plan...it's as follows; Wake up early Saturday morning...eat breakfast...get dressed for a normal Saturday bike ride...start biking...don't get off 'til it's dark. That's all I have for now. Yeah if I think about it then I start to get an ulcer. All and all it should be fun.

Native American Fry Bread

I just made this for dinner tonight and it was so good.

3 cups flour
1 T b powder
1t salt
3 T butter
about 1 cup warm milk or water (I used milk)
vegetable oil for frying

1. In a food processor, combine the flour, b powder, and salt. Pulse a few times to mix. Add butter and pulse. With the motor running, slowly pour in the warm milk through the feed tube, adding only enough liquid and processing only long enough for the dough to come together into a ball.

2. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Shape into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and let rest for 20 minutes.

3. Divide the dough into 6 equal portions. On the lightly floured surface, roll out each portion into a round about 1/4 inch think. In a heavy sauce pan or a deep , heavy frying pan, pour in vegetable oil to a depth of 3-4 inches and heat to 365 degrees or so. Add a dough round and fry, turning once, until puffed and golden, about 1 minute on each side. Using tongs, transfer to paper towels to drain; keep warm. Serve warm.

After all of that I top with taco goodies. Enjoy.

Life Aquatic

Here is the story of our lives.

Official Pose

Five Years

Today Seth and I have been married for 5 years. We have been having a fabulous time making a beautiful life together. My life is good, but with him it is so much better.

Home

We are slowing making this house a home.

California Trip

Check out Seth's blog for details here

Tour de California Pirate Edition

My hubby and I are heading out to California to go road biking up along the coast of Nor Cal. First we are going to stop in Panguich Utah for a 100 mile bike ride. Then we will drive out to California, and there the riding will begin. Since I am in ultra crunch time to get in shape for Lotoja I better get on my bike and stay on my bike. I am not allowing myself to bail on any ride...even if it takes me all day to finish some of these rides. All and all I am really excited to go on this trip...so I better go and start packing.

Moots Moots Moots

I am now going to begin my initiation to be apart of the illustrious exclusive forcible Salt Sea Pirate Team. It's a pretty hard team to get into, so for the next month I am going to be out though a series of 'tests' aka 'rides'. In the next 8 days I will be riding more than 500 miles...2 of those days I won't even be riding. Then a few weeks after that I will have the ultimate test to see if I am worthy to be on the team. I will ride a 204 miles bike race in one day at high altitude, climbing over three mountain passes all the while being chased by rabid dogs who shoot bees out of their mouths when they bark. It will be very intense to say the least. I am not in the best biking shape at the moment...I am very nervous about all of this, but one of the teams motto is 'never show weakness' that and 'don't come in last place', so no matter what my physical condition may be I will finish that race and I won't be the last one to cross the finish line. Why do all of this for some team...well I do it for the shwag. Check 'er out;

Fresh Corn with Parmesan Cheese

Since Corn is in season right now I thought you may want to try this recipe. Enjoy, but really nothing beats fresh corn with nothing on it.

1/2 cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 ears yellow corn, husked, halved crosswise
Heat the oil in a heavy small skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute until tender and fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove the skillet from the heat and cool. Set aside 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese and stir the rest into the garlic mixture, along with the parsley and salt.

Cook the corn in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Using tongs, transfer the corn to a platter. Brush the cheese mixture over the hot corn and serve. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of cheese on top of the corn.

Flight Of The Conchords - The Humans Are Dead

Vino

Vino crashed today, but it does not keep him down. He's still going to win.

Pirates Plunder and Pillage the Roads of California

This August the Salt Sea Pirates from all over the nation will gather in San Jose to begin their epic journey through space and time to find the true meaning of the pirate code - ayarrg. Yup the pirates are gathering to form a pace line in their awesome baby-blue Lycra cycling kits. If you are living in Northern California keep an eye out for us. We have a week long biking trip planned out for August we are going to be riding about 400 miles in 5 days. The best part and absolute worse part about this week will be that the rides are mostly vertical. Oh yeah we are climbing California. We are going to be Climbing Sierra Road in San Jose, Mt. Diablo in Walnut Creek, The Wall in Peoria, Panther's Gap in Weott...oh my goodness just writing all this down is making my body reach lactic threshold....it's going to be an amazing grueling adventure. I can't wait!

I want to be like Vino

I haven't written much on my blog since the crash. That crashed did something to my biking psyche. I am having a hard time getting back on my bike. I have tried a few times but since the crash I think I have put in maybe 80 miles. Yeah that was a month ago. My goal is that this week I will get over any hang up I have about the bike. I don't really know what's going on with me...I am just maybe a little burnt out. Well that was June and June is over. We are going to be all about biking in July...come on it's the tour month! Vive Le Tour!!! This is the best month out of the year. Each morning is filled with cycling. We watch cycling, then we talk to our friends about the cycling we just watched. Then we all go riding together, but this talk is a little different everyone ponies up their own predictions about the next day of racing. July is great. I am so going to tear it up on my bike. I will start tearing it up like Levi, George, but when I get serious and crazy I will tear the roads up like Vino! If you don't follow cycling like most people let me tell you about Alexandre Vinokourov who everyone calls Vino. He is possessed - he attacks when he's tired, when his hungry, when he's full, while he's eating, he attacks on the uphill, on the flats, he attacks his own team mates. He is out of control and we love him for it. It because of riders like him that make the tour what it is.

I want to be like Vino.

The picture above is of Vino courtesy of Graham Watson.

Swim Bike Crash Run Quit

This past weekend I competed in my first Half Iron Man in Burley Idaho. This race was specifically chosen for me because the swim was in a river...yes a nice moving on it's own river. Since the swim is my weakest link I need all the help I can get. On the morning of the race they bus you a mile plus up river, then you jump in and swim to the first transition area where you hop on your bike and ride into the sunset...or to transition 2 where you drop the bike grab your running shoes and you are now running your way to the finish. That is how most triathlons work...well mine was a little different than ideal. I did the whole swim portion, then I hopped on that bike just like I was told...I rode as hard as I could for 55.94 miles...unfortunately the course was 56 miles long. I crashed like .06 miles from the transition area. Let me back track this crash about 15 yards before I crashed I hit a ditch/gutter something that was crossing an intersection...I didn't see it coming - so I hit it hard, I think I hit it so hard I pinch flatted my front tire. Since this all happened so quickly I didn't even noticed I flatted. To get to transition 2 you make a small right turn...when I went in for this turn I was slowing down and turning just then my tire rolled off my front wheel rim. Yeah talk about Joseba Beloki 2003 tour injury...I slammed down on the ground pretty hard...I cracked my helmet and hit my face on the ground then I left a lot of skin on the road. If you know me you know how stubborn I can be so I grabbed my running shoes and tried to go for the run...well I made it about .5 miles before I turned back...my body was hurting...and mentally I'm not sure I was all there. So that pretty much sucked in a big way. I'm still shocked I went there to finish and I left as a 2/3rd winner. I'm pretty anti triathlons right now...so in a week or so I am thinking if I want to try again later in the summer.

Panna Cotta with Fresh Berries

This is a very tasty treat. With berry season coming up I thought it may be a good recipe to have around.

1 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon unflavored powdered gelatin
3 cups whipping cream
1/3 cup honey 1 tablespoon sugar
Pinch salt
2 cups assorted fresh berries

Place the milk in a small bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin over. Let stand for 3 to 5 minutes to soften the gelatin. Pour milk mixture into a heavy saucepan and stir over medium heat just until the gelatin dissolves but the milk does not boil, about 5 minutes. Add the cream, honey, sugar, and salt. Stir until the sugar dissolves, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat. Pour into 6 wine glasses so that they are 1/2 full. Cool slightly. Refrigerate until set, at least 6 hours.
Spoon the berries atop the panna cotta and serve.

Shrimp Fra Diavolo and Lemon Spaghetti

This dish is a fabulous summer time dish. I mix the Shrimp Fra Diavolo and Lemon Spaghetti together for a get combination.

1 pound large shrimp, peeled, deveined
1 teaspoon salt, plus additional as needed
1 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons olive oil, plus 1 to 2 tablespoons
1 medium onion, sliced
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 cup dry white wine
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
3 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
3 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leavesToss the shrimp in a medium bowl with 1 teaspoon of salt and red pepper flakes. Heat the 3 tablespoons oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and saute for about a minute, toss, and continue cooking until just cooked through, about 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the shrimp to a large plate; set aside. Add the onion to the same skillet, adding 1 to 2 teaspoons of olive oil to the pan, if necessary, and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes with their juices, wine, garlic, and oregano. Simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 10 minutes. Return the shrimp and any accumulated juices to the tomato mixture; toss to coat, and cook for about a minute so the flavors meld together. Stir in the parsley and basil. Season with more salt, to taste, and serve.

Lemon Spaghetti 1 pound spaghetti 2/3 cup olive oil 2/3 cup grated Parmesan 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 3 lemons) Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon lemon zest 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil leavesCook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk the oil, Parmesan, and lemon juice in a large bowl to blend. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Toss the pasta with the lemon sauce, and the reserved cooking liquid, adding 1/4 cup at a time as needed to moisten. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with lemon zest and chopped basil.

Swimming in a River

As many of you know I am training for a Half Iron Man. On Saturday I had a great day full of Biking and Running, we even went kayaking. While we were kayaking I decided to hop out and swim a bit in the open water. Yikes! I hated it. When I swim in the open water I don't know where I am or how far I've gone...it is a miserable experience. Swimming is my weakness in all triathlons - it's a huge weakness. So with 19 days left until my race I am going to go swim in the lake everyother day. It's a good thing I found a triathlon that will let me do the swim portion in a slow moving river.

This Last Year Will be Pretty Hard to Top

I would have named you KingsleyMe Warming up for the Louisville Marathon

Me - BritBrit - Niknik at the Finish Line

Potato Gun

Snow Biking

Duathalon Pre-race

Moab, Utah