Some resourceful eats/more running

Its a bright day in London today and it smells a bit like spring - I know its still feb but a bit of optimism int a bad thing. Have been running this great loop from my house to and along the river and back via Waterloo bridge. Which, by the way is a great bridge to run over. It makes me feel quite epic and smug and thats quite enjoyable. Think its something about the view/people/up and down nature of bridges in general... Anyway its about 4.5 miles and is a lovely run to start the day, have definitely got running bug back with a vengeance and looking for  a club/ a buddy and a race to join / find / sign up to.

Anyway i've also found some nice recipes as i've been on my own in the flat this week, which makes me more resourceful and go to tescos less - so have discovered some yumsa eats.

Tasty sweet potato and bean bake.

• Small sweet potato
• 1/2 tin of baked beans
• bit of: onion, chilli, garlic, any other veggies you have.
• feta cheese
• seasoning, cumin.

Slice the sweet potatoes and bake in the oven with a drizzle of olive oil and sliced onions. Meanwhile fry up chilli, garlic and your other veg - I used a bit of courgette, peppers, aubergine. Then add a bit of cumin and fry for a few more mins. Then add your 1/2 tin of beans and cook all together till warm through. When the sweet pots are soft and cooked through pour your bean mixture on top and sprinkle with a cheese of your choice, I used feta. Pop back into oven for a few min. Delicious and nutritious and cheap and yum. 

Fishy salad. This was all I had left in fridge....

• piece of white fish
• courgette, peppers, onion, garlic, chilli.
• lime juice
• red pesto
• black pepper
• Leaves
• balsamic vinegar, wholegrain mustard and olive oil.

Fry up veggies then add seasoned fish to pan, add a few splashes of water and pop lid on until fish cooks through. Arrange some dressed leaves on a plate - dress with some olive oil, balsamic vinegar and whole grain mustard. When the fish is flaky and cooked though gently flake it up with a bit of red pesto. Pour the mixture onto leave and EAT. 

Using up stuff in the fridge is really satisfying and (often) well tasty so don't shy away from it be creative.... 

On another note - i tided my wardrobe LOOK: 

                                                     (Argh before)                      

                                                    (After... a bit nicer)

Phew Sunday has been quite productive. Time to roast and eat, eat and roast a chicken. woohoo.

Running again and delicious Moroccan stew

So its good news all round today...After months of frustration I am finally back in the game of running (if it was a game). I've had about 2 happy weeks now of no pain running and it feels brilliant. It started after a conversation about how many squats i'd been doing and seeing no improvement with a relative stranger, who, I think, I have to thank for being back on track. He, although possibly slightly alarmed about being engaged in a rambled discussed about my knee..( I don't know his name, but I knew he was a marathon runner so figured we were practically best pals) anyway he told me to stretch my hamstring 3 times a day - thats it, that simple... Im not sure if it was this or in fact the months of squats, bikram yoga, foam rolling i'd been doing but the next day - having stretched fanatically -  I apprehensively set off. Nervous, from repeated disappointment in my unworn snazzy running gear and I ran around the park - 2 laps, 20 minutes no pain. HORAY.

Although injury has been a massive pain and frustration and at times, my somewhat melodramatic self has despaired, i'm still glad it all happened as I now appreciate it more than ever. There is nothing like not being able to do something to make you really want it! So i'm being super careful and taking it slow but today I had a glorious 4-mile run along the South Bank and felt free and happy again.

Ok enough of that, I don't want you to vomit but there is another purpose of this post: to give you the recipe of the lovely veggie morrocaney stew I made on return. I didn't know what to make for lunch so I knocked this up based on what I had in the fridge/cupboard and it works so well...if i may say so myself.

Ingredients: (serves about 2)

• 1 onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 carrots
• 1 medium sweet potato
• any other veg you fancy (I used a few mushrooms and cherry tomatoes)
• 1/3 cup puy lentils
• 1/2- teaspoon of: coriander, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon and a splash of all spice. 
• Fresh corriander

Fry up onion and garlic in a bit of olive oil then add the spices and fry for a few more mins, (add spices to your own preferences). Add chopped up sweet potato, carrots and any other veggies your using - stir well then add your lentils. Cover will boiled water and leave to simmer with the lid on until lentils and vegetables are soft, add some fresh coriander Serve with cous cous. 

To make cous cous: 

Cook your plain cous cous, meanwhile chop up a small bunch of mint and coriander. Mix the herbs into the cous cous along with seasoning and tomato puree. Add some chopped up sun dried tomatoes or olives if you have any (or any other additions you fancy).

 *This is so tasty/warming and nutritious and goes down a treat.