snow blows. running. oikos greek yogurt.

We’re expecting 6-10 inches here in the Chicagoland area over the next couple of days.  I know this is nothing compared to the crazy white nightmare the east coast has been living, but still….snow blows.

I grew up in a very small town in northwestern Minnesota.  I know what cold, snowy, and windy winters are like.  But just because I lived and breathed them for 22+ years doesn’t mean I like them.  No sirree.  I’m not saying I want to move to Mexico or some other place stuck in perpetual summer.  But a climate where snow was more an aberration than a weekly given? Where one could get away with mere heavy sweaters instead of 6 inch thick parkas?  Where I could actually run outside without fear of slipping on ice or acquiring a frost-bitten nose?

Yes, please.

So, with the threat of being somewhat apartment-bound for the next couple of days I’m thinking about what I should be picking up at the store after my 6 mile post-work run.  With my food processor out of commission (I’m hoping there will be a little extra cash in March’s budget to allow for a replacement…), homemade cream of tomato soup is sadly out of the question.  Though I may give Mark Bittman’s Squash Soup a try.  Yes, it too calls for pureeing – but he says it can be done in a blender.  Plus, I’m much more okay with the idea of having squash chunks in my soup rather than chunks of tomato.

Because I’m still 6 years old like that.

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** Check out my new Geek on the Run page at the top of the website! **

I thought I’d post my training schedule in case anyone was interested.

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And finally…..Oikos

I had read Kath and RhodeyGirl talk about the delicious virtues of Oikos Greek Yogurt for ages.  Since I’m trying to become much more nutritionally aware of what I put into my mouth, I decided to try some.  It is jam-packed with protein (13-15 grams compared to the measly 5 grams in regular yogurt) and probiotics and I knew the plain varieties had the same tangy-ness that I adore in kefir.

Verdict: A.Freakin.Mazing.  Its thick so you won’t gobble it down in two bites like a Yoplait.  Its low calorie at just 80 kcals per 5.3oz serving (which is a nice generous size for this thick of a yogurt).  And it pairs fabulously with fruit, granola, chocolate, peanut butter, jams, flaxseed, nuts, and coconut…..  I even used it as a substitute for creme fraiche in my creamy lemon chicken with good results!

I also tried the Fage 0% and thought that was very good, as well.  But Oikos is my choice of the week since its on sale at Wholefoods for $1 a piece!

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And weekend recipes are soon going to be posted!  I made Coconut Bread (both plain and with bittersweet chocolate) and Creamy Lemon Chicken…