HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

This post isn't really about Valentines day...it is more about food than anything! (you may find this ironic following fridays post about leaning down to speed up...but if you pay close attention you will see the caloric balance that is between the lines...)

Starting with my cooking class at Beyond the Kitchen door. Guest Chef Wes Erickson owner of Sushi Mon and commercial fisherman spoiled us with a seafood feast. Yes, folks, this is what I consider quality Friday night leisure time...I don't get out much but when I do I really go hard! I ate my first RAW oyster! I almost chickened out...but dug deep trying to swallow my fear and step up to the plate...and...it was actually really nice! So I had 2 more:) They were extra small and in a beautiful soysauce with a slice of lemon...

The feast went on from there with cold smoked white spring salmon...ceviche halibut cheeks...orange and terriyaki glazed salmon...and tempura fried strawberries for dessert. I was so done after that. ... and...

SO ready for a 2hour run Z1 at Seal Bay Park this morning! (AHR 160bpm) You had better believe I had lots of energy to burn this morning after last nights feast...and running with superstar Audrey sure made the time fly by:)

We talked about lots of great things and she distracted me with tales from her childhood...check out Audreys 'top 40 memories' on her blog...http://www.audreyerlandson.blogspot.com/ as she celebrates the big 40! The best part of the run was when Audrey showed me her new bike! She is sponsored by tuperware now so that is how she got that great rat trap set up...

Climbing on the new rig...
Showing me how the aerobars work...
Look at that! What a pro! I wish I had a BUSH PILOT sponsorship! Or was it a rockhopper?

After the run I was stoked to find Brads sauna all fired up and ready for a post run stretch and sweat! So I climbed in with my fresh baked banana bread, a litre of water and a copy of Westworld ( I learned the hard way not to take Runners World or any mag that is glued together into the sauna). 30 minutes later I caught myself snoring and decided to head inside for lunch...

WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE BEST VEGGIE BURGER EVER.

Just look at that! I tell you it is good enough to turn a carnivore into a veg head! I was getting tired of paying $12 for a box of veggie burgers so I decided to do what the hippies do and make my own. And it was a huge success. I thought it would take forever and be super complicated but it wasn't!! I divided this recipe into 3 from the ReBar bible and it made 3 huge patties...

Saute the following:

2tbs veg oil

1 onion chopped

1tsp salt

4 garlic cloves minced

2tbs thyme , 1/2 tsp chile flakes(I went with chipotle)

6 cups sliced mushrooms

Then when they are all cooked down, splash in 2tbsp balsamic vinegar (I used dark beer). Set aside then combine with:

1.5 cups cooked brown rice

1.5 cups grated carrot

1 cup toasted pecans

Pulse all of this in a food processor ... should be combined but still coarse in texture.

Mix in a bowl with 2 cups of breadcrumbs

1/2tsp pepper, 1/4 tsp tobasco, 2tbs soy sauce

Shape into patties and cook like burgers! I did mine up with old white cheddar, avocado, tomato and spinach...unreal!

YUMMY

S