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!
What a great mantra! I love having a mantra and using it in all areas in my life.
I just want to say that you have been such an inspiration to me as of late. I’m a fairly long time reader of your blog, but I’m on the edge of taking some risks with my professional life and your story lights a fire under me. Thanks for putting yourself out there for other people.
And I totally feel your pain about the cold weather. Our weather has turned chilly here in Oklahoma as well (not as cold as Canada, though:) and I miss warmth!
That is a very beautiful mantra Angela. I am going to use that in an Operation Beautiful note to inspire other women :)
It’s one of the reasons I dislike spring. Summer one day, WINTER the next! D: Perfect day for chili, though… :D
I love your mantra. Mind if I steal? ;)
Wei-Wei
I’d go crazy if it were still cold at home. It was a COLD winter and I need SUN!!!
Wish I could get the hubby to eat beans as well. I love meatless chili but I don’t make it because the hubby won’t eat it because of the beans….ugh!!!
Suggestion when cycling in the cold, we wear balaklavas under our helmets to cover our face and neck from the cold wind and also gloves. When I became hooked to cycling, I bought cycling cleat covers so my toes wouldn’t freeze too. Way to go sticking with it!
WEll done on what seemed to be a FREEZING ride!
oooh and that chilli looks like the perfect way to warm up :)
I love chili but all recipes seem to call for meat! I am going to have to try yours, thanks!
UM YUM. chili actually sounds really great right now, even though it was 75 here today! i feel like vegetarian and vegan chilis have a lot more flavor and great texture :)
Mmmm, I love chili!!! It looks so good!
i was outside ALL day long today selling flowers for mother’s day!! BRUTAL winds!! just terrible..definitely wind-burned my face, and also was exhausted by day’s end, just from shivering (despite wearing layers, winter coat, gloves, hat) and putting up with the stupid wind! Well, I learned my lesson to say the least! Last year’s mother’s day was cold too!! brrrrr
Maybe I’m the last person to see this, but I LOVE the new look! It’s so much cleaner and easier to navigate.
It’s been a while since I’ve checked in, so seeing the new look of OSG was a surprise! It looks fabulous! Much better! Good job!
chia seeds in chilli sounds like such a good idea!
That is a great mantra! I might have to start doing that during particularly tough workouts.
I’m going back to my hometown in a few weeks and staying with my mom who loves eating healthy but has no idea how to cook/make anything.
I just spent about 2 hours picking and choosing breakfasts, lunches, dinners and desserts from your recipe page and I can’t WAITTTT to make it all =). PARSNIP FRIES!! and tons of GMs =).
Cant believe how cold it is out East!! Love the idea of adding chia seeds to thicken up chili, I cant wait to try it!
Hi Andrea!
I have been adding chia seeds [ground] into my green monsters, but that is the only way that I can stomach them. Anything else, the taste makes me NAUSEOUS! Actually, flax does the same thing… ANyways! I noticed you usually use them whole. I was wondering if you can’t taste them if they are whole seeds? Just curious! I love to add them to GMs, especially with their amazing nutrtion content! :)
How much zucchini goes in it? It’s not in the ingredient list. :)
Oops…that was in the original recipe, but I didnt use it because I didn’t have any. I think it was 1/2 cup.
It was SO cold!! Today is cold too, no fun at all! Where did spring go??
That chili looks great- I love chili, but I have yet to find an easy vegan one! I think I need to try this now :)
xo
K
Good job on toughing it out in the cold yesterday! I was thinking about going for a run, but I decided staying inside in my sweatpants was much more appealing. :D
That chili looks awesome!