Ten in 2010: Week Five

What to say ... I'm definitely slipping on the exercise portion of this challenge. For some reason I'm having a really hard time getting back into the groove when it comes to training for this half marathon. Aside from the fact that I'm a little lazy, the biggest problem is that the kid's activities are all taking place on the same days that out training group does it's group runs. That leave hubby and I to run (a.k.a. slogging) through the ice and snow and frigid winds all by our lonesome ... and that isn't happening as often as it should. The threat of getting left behind during a Saturday long run used to spur us into action (a.k.a. actually following our training schedule.) Without the fear it's way to easy to talk yourself out of going out there when the temperatures are low and the snow is piled high. 

Luckily, one basketball team's season is over. Unfortunately it's not the one causing the problem! LOL! Still it does provide a little more time in the schedule for hubby and I to buck up and get out there and just do it.

Blogging is going a bit better. Our internet finally works! (And that is a major plus to blogging. LOL!) Our new line-of-sight sattelite internet is ever so much better than our old Wild Blue.

I'm eating quite a few more servings of veggies every day and while I can't say the same about the rest of the family, I figure slow and steady will win the race. I'm drinking more water and *loving* the fish oil supplement I started taking. Warning: TMI moment ahead! No more hot flashes! Like within the first day. All gone. A whole night's sleep. Woohoo! When I forgot one once, they were back within a day. Needless to say, I'll be taking these *regularly* from now on.

Cooking has been going well. I can't remember the last time we got take-out and I managed to find an excellent crockpot recipe this week: Slowcooker Chicken Parmesan. Perfect for those hectic evenings, this dish actually looked great (something you can't always say about crockpot meals), tasted great and was super easy to throw together. Unfortunately, it tasted so great that we'd eaten it up before I realized I'd forgotten to take a picture! If you want to see what it looks like, head on over to Creatively Domestic and check out her pics.

Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan
Recipe courtesy of Creatively Domestic

2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1/2 cup bread crumbs

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoon Italian Seasoning

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 egg, beaten

sliced mozzarella cheese

Jar of marinara sauce

Spread the 1 T of olive oil into the bottom of your crockpot stoneware insert.

Beat the egg in a bowl. Combine the bread crumbs with the seasonings and Parmesan cheese in another separate shallow bowl or plate. Dip the chicken into the egg, then into the bread crumb mixture, coating both sides with crumb mixture. Place the chicken breast pieces in the bottom of the crock. Layer 2-3 slices of mozzarella cheese on top. Cover with entire jar of marinara sauce.

Close lid and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4. If your chicken is still frozen, it will take longer. Mine was 3 thawed chicken breasts and took about 5 hours on low.