Joshua Tree Winter Adventure December 1st and 2nd 2010

Thank goodness for this man
for agreeing to be at the mercy
of my random plans to take off in the middle of the night.
: )


I love to get away!
I love to go where there is no noise,  plenty of fresh air, amazing sunsets, huge stars in clear evening skies, and amazing sunrises.


I crave views, where I can see forever
where there is no sign city life

This is at the Keyes View Overlook in Joshua Tree National Park

On the evening of December 1st, 2010

I baked a quiche; packed some quinoa, berries, and some water; grabbed all of our down bedding and cozy clothing, and around 8pm, I dragged Andrew to Joshua Tree for his first time.

 I love it out there!

Options for trails are endless

and I couldn’t wait to share this special place with my wonderful man.

If you can handle the cold nights, the days are spectacular

There is almost no one out there at this time of year

so you get the world to yourself.

We arrived around midnight

I did all the driving that evening so I could let Andrew sleep.

 The sky was clear, the stars were bright, it was beautiful.

It was about 30 degrees

when we finally snuggled up to sleep in the back of the 4Runner.

I couldn’t wait to see the sunrise.

This was our little nest for the night

Uh, kinda messy, but boy was it cozy!
It didn't look like this while we were sleeping

Andrew enjoying the super-cold sunrise

About 34 degrees...brrrr!

Good Morning Andrew!

 Joshua Tree's Hidden Valley Campground.

I LOVE the mornings in Joshua Tree!

Had to strike a pose

: )

After watching the sunrise

I couldn't wait to drive Andrew through the park

to see some of the best views, and trail options.

I guess he wants to go that way...

...or he's practicing his best disco moves...

or, it's just...

Andrew, being Andrew...making me smile at

At Hidden Valley Campground.

: )

Andrew's first view

from one of the highest points in Joshua Tree

This is Andrew's "I'm at the Keyes View Overlook" pose

hahaha! I look like I'm in my PJs

wait, I am in my PJs...that's what I slept in : )

This is also at the Keyes View Overlook

Look closely at the trail

there I am

 Near Mt Ryan Trail Head by the Indian Caves

Doing what I do

: )

One thing I will never do
is eat crappy food when in the outdoors
My motto:
if it goes good with champagne, it goes perfectly in a back pack!
: )

About to unpack our morning treats

Caught!

Couldn't resist the raspberries

: )

BREAKFAST!
at Jumbo Rocks in Joshua Tree

On the Menu
Quiche;
Quinoa with lentils, cashews, and dried cherries;
Quinoa with heirloom tomatoes, red onions, and green onions;
Raspberries.
Strawberries.
Shell Beans with red onions.
Baguette for Andrew.
: )

We nibbled on all this throughout the day : )

This man makes me smile!

: )

He really does make me smile...every day! : )

I think he was trying to distract me with his smile...

...so he could snag a treat.

The best part of the treats that I packed

they do not require refrigeration
Even the quiche
(one of my favorite back-packing treats)
: )

This is one of my favorite spots to watch a sunset
Jumbo Rocks Campground

I kick up my heels for happy days in Joshua Tree!

Here are some of the fun things we got to see on our adventure

Cholla 
aka "Jumping Cactus"

Here's the Cholla Garden

Andrew!

Don't touch it!

those little fellas look so cuddly: )

oooh, I want to touch it!

: )

definitely NOT so cuddly

: /

Fine, I wont touch it!

: )

I'm keeping my hands to myself

: )

eeek!

Ocotillo Thorny Branches

Absolutely NOT cuddly!

: /

Andrew getting friendly with an Ocotillo

Getting in touch with nature
at the Cottonwood Canyon Visitor Station
: )

Definitely Cuddly!

: )

A cool grinding stone

along the Lost Palms Oasis Trail

Here's another one

On the Mastodon Peak Trail

Doing what I do

Hey check out my cool top
I love my new long sleeve top from ARC!

Perfect for a chilly morning in Joshua Tree!

: )

I guess it warmed up

Getting some sun while waiting for Andrew to run up the trail

Andrew Doing what he does

Running up the Mastodon Peak Trail in Joshua Tree

Doing what I do

Scampering up the Mastodon Peak Trail in Joshua Tree

: )

to the arms of my wonderful man

There he goes again...

...striking another pose

; )

Doing what we do

smiling together on the Mastodon Peak Trail in Joshua Tree

: )

I cannot wait till our next adventure!

: )

Pre Marathon Carb Loading Meals

Andrew will be running the Malibu Marathon

on Sunday 11/14/2010

I'm only doing the 1/2

so I'm not too concerned with the Carb-Loading

I'm just gonna keep eating good, clean meals,

keeping tabs on my hydration, and making sure I get a bit more rest

so I don't feel as wrecked as I did 2 weeks ago when I did

The Los Angeles Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon

Andrew loves pasta

in any shape, form, and preparation

 

So I decided to make him one of the dishes that my Grandma would make

for my brother when he was in junior high/high school

and participating in every sport that fit into his schedule

Marathon Men and teenage boys have 2 things in common

A never ending appetite

and a never ending pile of sweaty clothes and socks

Luckily

I only have the never ending pile of sweaty clothes and socks

in common with them.

The greatest thing about this dish

is that it's inexpensive

and can be made with wonderful ingredients

to ensure the best of both worlds

Nutritional Value and Flavor

As always

start with fresh, high quality ingredients

In the cast iron skillet

fresh red and green bell peppers; fresh yellow onions; fresh green onions, fresh garlic, fresh shallots, fresh sage, fresh, oregano, some cumin, salt, and pepper.

Add

The House Burger Blend from McCall's

to the veggies once they are almost beyond al dente

Add

2 cans of tomato paste, and some more herbs and seasoning to taste

Mix

with some enriched elbow macaroni

and you've got yourself a whole heck of a lot of

delicious carb-loading goodness

that tastes even better the next day

*******

Here's another Excellent way to carb load

while still incorporating fresh ingredients

that also ensures some nutritional value and comfort-factor flavor

Tuna Casserole

White Trash Done Right

Along with the usual suspects (white trash ingredients),

I use fresh, chopped spinach, fresh mushrooms, peas

and freshly grated Parmesan

I'm sure you know the drill

Mix ingredients, stick in Pyrex Dish, Bake,

Serve

Eat

Not exactly photogenic

but it sure does taste good

and it's pretty inexpensive

and, a little goes a long way.

I would love to hear about your favorite

Carb-Loading Meals.

Wishing You a Happy and Healthy Day!

Melissa Adylia Gutierrez

Owner/Personal Trainer

Controlled Burn Fitness

Beautiful Bird

When the weather cools down

I love to turn on the oven and cook amazing meals

Lately, the weather has been hit or miss

One day it's freezing

(by my SoCal standards, anything below 70 should be against the law)

the next day,over 80 degrees

I love a perfectly cooked chicken

Paired with roasted veggies and a glass of bubbly

Last Friday,

The weather was in my favor!

: )

First Step

Start with the best ingredients

I Grabbed this beautiful bird at my favorite Butcher Shop

McCalls Meat and Fish Company

in Los Feliz, CA

Simply, Cut up some veggies and aromatics

Throw in a Pyrex dish

Place birdie on top after stuffing it with some of the veggies and aromatics

Smear the skin with delicious butter, salt, pepper, and garlic

Top with herbs

Put in oven

Take your time preparing your side dishes

and cleaning the kitchen

Here is your reward

A Beautiful Bird!

I could stare at this all day

but I'd prefer eating it

Crispy Skin

Juicy Meat

A Perfect plate of dark meat

Served with rice, roasted carrots and garlic, and steamed spinach

A Perfect plate of white meat

Served with rice, roasted carrots and garlic, and steamed spinach

I love adding roasted Shallots, yellow onions, thyme, and sage

Served up with my favorite view

Mister Andrew C enjoying one of my home cooked meals

along with his favorite garnishes

Slowly toasted green onions, garlic, shallots, and yellow onions

Dinner was amazing

Had to make a plate for Andrew to take for lunch the next day.

Thank you McCalls for another perfect bird.

Can't wait to rock the chicken stock I made with the bones and make some risotto this week!

I welcome everyone to share your favorite way of preparing a chicken.

Cheers!

: )

Post 1/2 Marathon Disciplined Indulgent Treat

Sunday, October 24th

I "ran"

The Los Angeles Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon

I Love this pic!

This pic was Courtesy of Louis Kwan.

You can view a ton more pics from the Los Angeles Rock n Roll 1/2

here

I was craving something super delicious

as a treat to celebrate a few long weeks of training clients and completing this 1/2 Marathon, completely unprepared, over trained, and utterly exhausted.

Sometimes I crave some "interesting" things after a long run

Cold pizza and beer

really hit the spot after the

San Diego Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon

(June 2010)

After this 1/2 Marathon, I was craving something a little more indulgent.

Marrow Bones!

But first, I had to make a quick pit stop to one of my all time favorite places 

Best Fish Taco in Ensenada

for a shrimp taco before heading to my other post-run-standby

Chi Dynasty in Los Feliz

for a large order of Sizzling Rice Soup!

After taking care of serious business

Saying hello to the most wonderful fish taco stand owner, Joseph Cordova, and eating my favorite immediate-post-run-snack

and heading to Chi Dynasty for my Sizzling Rice Soup

I headed towards

My Meaty Mecca

McCall's Meat and Fish

to grab some

BONES!!!

Placed them atop some foil on a baking sheet,

sprinkled them with flake salt and some freshly ground pepper

and surrounded them with fresh sage from my garden

and let them get all toasty

Served them with toasted whole grain bread

and a bottle of bubbly

What more could a gal ask for?

Toasted Shallots, Garlic, and Onions!

...for the amazing Cod

Also picked up from McCall's!

Of course, I had to throw in some pretty heirloom tomatoes

for color, flavor, texture, and nutritional value

All served up with my favorite view

Mister Andrew C, enjoying a meal cooked up by little ol' me

: )

He loved the bones

and the pretty fish as much as I did!

What do you enjoy after a run?