Archive for March, 2013
Posted by terrepruitt on March 19, 2013
So here it is day nineteen. Where are you? You can add time any day, it doesn’t have to be Sunday? Have you decided to add some time? Have you tried the stopwatch duration?
As I mentioned on my Sunday comment, planking before planking (as in doing another workout be it yoga or Nia) is a bit easier so I am shooting for a big jump this week. Again, I have my goal duration, but I am letting my stopwatch go to see how far I can comfortable get!
How are you doing? Do you have a goal duration you want to be at when the month is up?
Posted in Planking | Tagged: Nia, Plank A Day For A Month Challenge, planking, stopwatch, Yoga | 5 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 18, 2013
Here we are on our Plank A Day For A Month Challenge post. So really, it is not easy coming up with titles for a challenge for thirty one days. I could just keep it at “Day XXXXX Of Plank A Day For A Month Challenge” but I get bored with that. So . . . I make titles up, as you can tell.
Here is your Monday Plank Post to check in on. How are you feeling today about your planks?
Posted in Planking | Tagged: Plank A Day For A Month Challenge, planking, planks | 3 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 17, 2013
Wow! We are on day seventeen of our Plank A Day For A Month Challenge. Pretty good.
I am always hoping that many people will participate and comment, but my one good friend is good enough for me. We are having a good time, right, Dear Friend?
I am trying to decide whether to add time today or to keep it at my present duration. I just use the stopwatch feature on my phone. I make certain I plank until my “prescribed time” then I let it run until I am “done”.
Ok, as I typed this I decide what I am going to do. I am going to change my present goal time/”prescribed time” to what has been my “done” time. And then see how far past that my “done time” becomes.
Does that makes sense to you?
Posted in Planking | Tagged: Day seventeen of challenge, plank a day, Plank A Day For A Month Challenge | 5 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 16, 2013
My last post was about how I have two late Nia classes in San Jose so I use my “Time Bake” feature on my oven. I think something that would be GREAT to put in the oven to have ready when I get home is the Rantings of an Amateur Chef’s Crispy Smashed Roasted Potatoes. I made these this week for the first time and I don’t think I will make potatoes any other way again.
Basically you boil the little red potatoes in salted water. Then you drain them and let them cool. Then you smash each one individually only so much as to make them a bit flat, but not so much they break apart and end up mashed. Then you put them on a pan that is covered in aluminum foil AND parchment paper. Oil and salt each potato and bake them.
I only used 8 potatoes. The recipe instructions include placing the potatoes on a towel to dry and covering the potato with a towel for smashing, but I am not sure that is necessary. I did it that way because I was thinking the towel helps soak up some of that water and less water makes for a crispier potato. Plus I usually follow instructions when trying a recipe for the first time. I will try it without the towel next time because I don’t need the extra laundry. I will let you know if the towel is imperative.
The initial cooking time (boiling) was longer for me and I didn’t turn it to simmer. “Simmer” on my stove is almost off so I left it a little below medium and boiled them for about 40 minutes. I used the foil and the parchment paper as per the recipe. But my potatoes took a bit longer than 30 to 40 minutes. BUT . . . . I also put asparagus on my pan. The pan I was using is so large it takes up an entire rack in my oven and I didn’t want to put another pan on the rack above or below, so I decided my asparagus and potatoes could share a pan. They both came out GREAT. But the potatoes needed a few more minutes than the asparagus.
I was so excited to eat the piping hot crispy gems that I forgot to take a picture of them once fully cooked. Not taking a picture was due to my excitement AND the fact that we were already eating the rest of dinner and so I was in a rush to get them from pan to plate! But they were delicious.
The smashed potatoes would be a perfect thing to put in the oven on Time Bake. But . . . . maybe not, huh? Parchment paper. That stuff kind of freaks me out in the first place. I mean it is PAPER in the oven. I don’t know that I would want that baking with me not home . . . . .
If you like potatoes these little smashed potatoes are GREAT.
Do you like potatoes? Can you imagine these little crispy nuggets on your plate?
See comment below for an alternative way to make these — all bake, no boil!
Posted in "Recipes", Food | Tagged: Amateur Chef, Crispy Smashed Roasted Potatoes, Nia, Nia at night in San Jose, Nia class, Nia San Jose, oven baked potatoes, parchment paper, roasted vegetables, San Jose Nia, Smashed potatoes, The Foodie Smash | 15 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 16, 2013
I am calling today, the 16th of March, our half way point. There are 31 days in March so it makes it kinda not even, but that is ok. Today, we are done with the first half of the month and on our way to the last.
I really like daily challenges because it helps motivate me. Plus I like the daily contact with my friend. 🙂
Are you still with us?
Posted in Planking | Tagged: 31 days in March, half way point, month of planking, planking challenge | 5 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 15, 2013
We are into our third month of the year 2013. I hope you are still finding good things to put in your good things jar. Remember that everyone has different things that they like. Everyone has different things that they would like to be reminded of at the end of the year. Those are the things you want to put in your jar.
A good thing might seem silly at the moment, but I bet when you read about it at the end of the year you will be glad you put it down on paper and put it in your container. Don’t be shy, put anything and everything you want in your jar. That in itself is a good thing.
How is your good jar/good thing jar looking?
Posted in Good Things in the Goodie Jar | Tagged: good things, Good Think Jar, Goodie Jar, Year 2013 | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 15, 2013
FIFTEENTH DAY OF PLANKING! Wahoo! Getting better? Added time? Where you at?
Here is where we talked about the month of planking every day: A Few Seconds CAN Make A Difference
Posted in Planking | Tagged: A Few Seconds CAN Make A Difference, month of planking, planking | 3 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 14, 2013
Since my current Nia class schedule has me teaching at dinner time on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I have been using the “Time Bake” setting on my oven. When talking about using this feature with some of my Nia students one student commented that her oven is really old and must not have that feature. I confirmed with my mom that our oven had that feature and my husband’s childhood home oven has that feature too. Both of those ovens are almost 50 years old. So it could just be that the “Time Bake” feature is not something my student needed to use so was unaware of it. Does your oven have a “Time Bake” setting? I often use mine to cook dinner (meat), but I could understand if someone is going to be gone all day long they might not want to leave meat in the oven all day. I am not gone that long so I don’t worry about leaving meat in the oven for it to start cooking while I am gone. Also the oven isn’t on that long before I’m back to check on it. The oven’s time bake feature is perfect for vegetables or potatoes, ya know, something you would feel comfortable not being refrigerated all day if that is what your schedule requires. Time bake might be something you have on your oven and have not thought of using. It really comes in handy.
On the days I have a 
late Nia class we end up eating dinner really late. I would rather eat late with my hubby than eat early without him. It really helps me get dinner on the table faster when I have it cooking while I am gone. Depending on what I am cooking there might be some partial cooking before I leave. Lately I have been roasting eggplant and I roast it a bit on both sides before I leave. Then put onions and cheese on it and leave it in the oven. I have it start baking before I get home then when I arrive home it is done.
As you know if you’ve read a post or two of mine, I love having leftovers. I try to plan it so that on my late nights I will have a left over protein (pork, chicken, steak) so I only have to cook a veggie. Also, if you’ve read a post or two of mine you know I love to roast my veggies, so there you go; Time Bake is perfect. I can prepare my veggies for roasting and leave them in the oven and it turns on and roasts them while I am gone. When I get home I can heat the meat quickly and have fresh hot veggies. LOVE IT!
But there are other things that “Time Bake” has helped me cook. Pizza, chicken, casseroles, you name it. It is a great feature on my oven. It helps me cook and get dinner on the table.
What about you? Does your oven have Time Bake? Do you use the Time Bake feature on your oven?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: casseroles, Nia, Nia class, Nia Class Schedule, Nia student, oven settings, roasted vegetables, Thursday night Nia, Time Bake, time bake oven feature, time bake setting, Tuesday night Nia | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 14, 2013
Hey, it is Thursday, March 14, 2013! It is our fourteenth day of planking! So glad you are still here doing our plank challenge.
I’m going to get my plank in before I teach Nia tonight!
Tell me how it is going for you?
Posted in Planking | Tagged: Nia, Nia at night, plank challenge, planking | 3 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on March 13, 2013
So here it is Wednesday. For many it is the middle of the work week. It is not quite the middle of our month of planking a day. Keep up the good work. You can do it!
Have you added more time? Adding time does not have to be in any specific increments. It could be even just a second more.
Posted in Planking | Tagged: day thriteen, month of planking a day, Plank A Day For A Month Challenge | 3 Comments »
Terre Pruitt's Blog 