I'M OBSESSED.

Up and Down the Street

Dude. So, last night I decided that the ten pounds I've gained since the wedding are going to have to come off. My pants don't fit to the point that I've had to start buying new ones...and I like my old pants just the way they are.

So, I went to the L.A. Fitness website and printed off the class schedules for a couple of gyms in the area - whoever had a fun-looking step class scheduled for this morning, that's where I was headed. I settled on a "Step Circuit" class at 9:45 this morning. I hadn't taken a step class in probably nine months, so I was a little nervous, but I figured I would just suffer through and be sore for the next few days.

Since it was a mid-morning class, only a few people showed - seven, I think. The instructor then decided to take it upon herself to change "Step Circuit" to "Boot Camp." At that point, I was actually excited. I've wanted to sign up for one of those 30-day boot camp at the park programs, but I haven't been willing to shell out the $300 to do so. This would be the next best thing, right?

OH. MY. GOD.

I made it 30 minutes before I had to leave the room, because I thought I was going to puke. Seriously. This woman kicked oy ass UP and DOWN the street so completely, I thought my legs might fall off. And my arms, for good measure.

Wow. The entire episode made me feel ridiculously out of shape, which is kind of miserable. However, I did finish the class. And afterward, I walked another mile on the treadmill. And I'm planning to go back tomorrow for a Step + Abs class. Yes, I will be over-the-top sore for Thanksgiving, but it's a start, right? I've got to get some of this cushion off, or soon my entire wardrobe will be moot!

Sausage & Peppers

This recipe has become one of my absolute favorites lately. As far as I'm concerned, the best part of cooking is the prep - chopping vegetables, separating them into different containers in advance of throwing them all together...it's cathartic for me. There's not a ton of prep that goes into this dish, but I so enjoy it!

Sausage & Peppers (adapted from here)

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons olive oil
2-3 pounds Hot Italian Sausage
5 bell peppers, sliced (for variety, use red, green and yellow)
2 large red onions, sliced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 (12 fluid ounce) bottles beer
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
2 tablespoons oregano
2 tablespoons hot sauce
salt and pepper to taste

Heat olive oil in a large heavy skillet over medium high heat. Cook sausage links until browned on all sides. Generally, I also add whatever leftover sausage products I may have in the refrigerator - keilbasa, salami, etc. Remove sausage from pan, and set aside. Pour in 1 bottle of beer to deglaze the pan, scraping up any blackened bits from the bottom. Add the peppers, onions and garlic to the pan. Stir in the remaining beer and the tomato paste. Season with oregano, hot sauce, salt and pepper. Cover, and simmer until onions and peppers are tender.

Slice the sausage into bite size pieces, and add to the peppers. Cover, and simmer until sausage is cooked through.

Serve over egg noodles with crusty bread.

This is great comfort food, and it's perfect for this time of year when it's so frequently cold and rainy!

Testing, testing...

And so it begins!

I've blogged before, specifically as a wedding blogger here. However, as I approach our one-year anniversary, I realize that the topics on my mind have changed, and I think I need a new blog to represent that.

Topics will most likely range from nesting to food and cooking to general venting...and maybe eventually pregnancy/baby thrown in for good measure. (I'm not pregnant yet, but I'd like to be sometime this year.)

So, here goes!