Good evening!
Brrrrr…..it is FREEZING outside again today! The winds were super high (40-50 km/hr) and it was just blistery outside. I think it only got to 5C today. Eric and I bundled up and braved the cold for a quick bike ride.
It sure looked nice outside though…
We both had to wear two sweaters and a jacket and we were still freezing!
We managed to squeak out a speedy bike ride, despite wanting to turn back several times.
The bike ride:
- Time: 26:20 mins
- Distance: 4.40 miles
- Avg speed: 10 mph
- Max speed: 17.4 mph
- Ascent: 301 feet
We did a combo of road and trail once again. The trail was fun and it blocked the wind a bit, but it also blocked the sun!
Our hands were FROZEN and red and my toes were starting to go numb when we returned!
Crazy, that just a few days ago it was 26C.
However, it was energizing (once it was all over!), so I am glad we stuck it out. :)
I forgot to mention to you guys, I have been using a new mantra when I swim lately! Sometimes, I jinx myself and start thinking negative thoughts about my performance when I am in the pool. If I have a few bad laps and I am not ‘in the zone’, I find that it is a slippery slope. Once I start thinking I am doing bad, that leads to more bad laps…
So lately I have been repeating a mantra in my head:
‘You are strong, you are powerful, you are capable. You are stronger than you know.”
I repeat it over and over and over and it really makes me perform better. I used to use mantras when running, but it can apply to anything in your life.
Delicious Vegan Chili
Adapted from Maintenance with Ashley.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1-3 cloves garlic, minced (I used 1)
- 2 bell peppers, chopped
- 1 sweet onion, chopped
- 3 carrots, chopped
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 3 tbsp chili powder
- pinch sea salt
- pinch cayenne
- 1 can each: black beans, white kidney beans, red kidney beans (rinsed) (I used 1 large mixed can)
- 1 can diced tomatoes with juice
- 2 tsp oregano
- 1 can organic mushrooms, drained
- 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- juice of 1 lime (optional, I didn’t include)
- Secret Ingredient –> 2 tbsp CHIA SEEDS (it thickens up the sauce soooo much!)
Directions: In a large pot, add the EVOO and heat over medium. Add garlic, peppers, onion, carrot and sauté until everything is soft, approximately 5 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients, cover, and cook for about 30-40 minutes on low to medium heat.
It was amazing!! Check out this video of our meal. (Edit: Video seems to be taking a while to load?)
I loved how much the chia seeds bulked up the sauce…
I made this a ‘low bean’ chili because Eric is not a bean fan. So I just used 1 large can of mixed beans.
Thanks to everyone who sent me a chili recipe on twitter today! Now I have enough recipes to make for the rest of my days. ;)
I’m off for a hot bath. Here’s to a warmer start to the week!
Love that you added chias! I just made chili last weekend because it was so rainy and dull here. I have some left for lunches/dinners this week and I am going to try adding some chias.
Glad you enjoyed it! I’ll have to try the secret chia trick the next time I make it :)
Your mantra is wonderful – definitely a great attitude to take!
Mmmm I love vegan chili! So versatile!
I also love your new blog header, gorgeous!
Yum-o! This chili recipe sounds delicious. I can’t wait to try it. I’ve tried so many of the other recipes, and so far, everything is amazingly good! Thanks for sharing. :)
I read that ingrediant list and I was surprised to see cocoa in the mix. Struck me as strange ;) but it looks and sounds delicious! I’ve been craving chili for a while, I’ll probably be making some this week.
As a former swimmer, I found my best way to get into the “zone” was to sing to myself. I would sing things like “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” in my head on repeat! I would just swim and swim, and never realized how far I had gone!
Once you relax, you can really get some of your best thinking done in the pool. Just try not to think about the swimming. I’ve written whole papers in my head, planned weekends and thought some weird things (like if fish die when whales pee…no, seriously). Just relax and enjoy it!
Great tips!
That chili looks delicious, perfect for a chilly evening like tonight. I can’t believe that I was in a sundress yesterday and a sweater today!
yep, freezing alright. i avoid the outdoors cuz of it :)
nice chilli recipe…i am on the fence on chia seeds..not sure if its worth the costly buy and stuff…maybe sometime!
find a grocery store (here in Texas it’s Whole Foods and HEB) that sells in bulk. that way you can buy a little to try it out. buying in bulk is cheaper anyway. like for that seasoning you use once a year. i paid $.05 for something i needed just the other day, instead of buying the whole jar for 4 to 6 bucks.
Must tell you that this morning, I made the spelt pancakes that you have been taunting me with. I am so glad that I did. Ah-mazing. Heaven. My DH said they were awesome. Thanks!
This morning I bailed on Tri-training to sleep in. This afternoon though, I made up for it in the pool and a run. During long sessions in the pool I like to count my sets. I count off the 25 m and it helps me zone out. I also try to keep in my mind that my arms are low and shoot forward from the shoulder. I like to do drills that keep my form in check….all about efficiency! Well, trying to be efficient….I am sure from the deck I still look like I’m just spashing to water to make bubbles!!
haha this made me giggle. I sound a lot like you! I always wish I could see my form on video.
YUM! That sounds delicious! Do the chia seeds blend into the chilly or do they stay kind of crunchy?
They blend! :)
Hi Angela! ( luv your name,same as my best friend and I call her Anj!)
thanks for sharing your mantra!
a mantra that my fiance shared with me the night before my 2nd marathon (i wanted to break 4 hrs and i was super nervous!)
” one moment, one minute, one sec, one time. no one in front. no one behind”.
He then said, “Just run your game, not someone else’s!” ANd I ran a 3:53 at the pittsburgh marathon.
This was the same mantra his father told him during his wrestling matches in high school!
u sure chose the best remedy for the cold!!! <3 xoxo
I made veggie chili once but I added ground turkey to it ;)…but I’ll master it yet…I do love beans, but I’m probably with your boyfriend on avoiding anymore than 1 or 2 cans :)
I used to add ground turkey too!
That chili looks awesome! I am loving experimenting with the Chia Seeds.
I just made your VOO’s and cannot WAIT to have them tomororw! I might even do them with the banana soft serve…. very exciting.
Oh you MUST have them with BSS! :)
Hello! :-). We LOVE your recipes! Thank you SO much for sharing them!
I would like to make this recipe, but in the directions it says to add the EVOO. What is this? Also, in the comments, it says “you must try it with BSS..”. What is this? :-)
Thank you!
I wasn’t sure either, so I looked it up and EVOO stands for Extra Virgin Olive Oil. BSS is Banana Soft Serve. :-)
You wouldn’t think chili could be made vegan and good, but this looks great. I’m not even completely vegetarian and I want to try it.
And I have noted I need to stop complaining about our 55F temps here….5C is much worse!
What’s with this weather?! it’s freezing in NYC also! i hate it– silly me wore flip flops to walk around with my family all day and I couldn’t feel my feet by 12pm! Hope is warms up again asap!!
OH MAN. I totally know how you feel. Right now, it’s only 49 degrees here! I don’t know what that translates into in Celcius, but I can tell you it’s unpleasant. >.< Come back, warm weather! I can't believe it was over 74 degrees here on Friday!
That chili looks delicious! Would have been perfect for the cold weather we had here too :-)
That is a great quote, and it’s amazing that you say it to yourself! I love that:)
It’s freezing here today too. Hunni and I skipped our outdoor workout in favor of the gym because the winds were just too much. I hope the weather fixes itself soon.