sweet potatoes and poodles

Right now, I am:

eating my delicious sweet potato crispies (recipe below)

drinking a coca-cola classic (only on the weekends!)

researching how to make my website better (www.fitwithkenda.com)

and, of course....

missing my husband! 

Mark left for a week in San Diego yesterday. He had some vacation time that needed to be used before it vanished into the point of no return. I did not have any vacation time to spend, which leaves me here...in Waco...updating the blog about how much I miss my husband. It has been quiet around the house today. My day started with a road ride with my friend Sarah. Actually, it was a bit eventful beforehand. I snoozed my alarm a little too long and soon enough I was supposed to be meeting her at our pre-planned meeting point and I was just getting my bike out of the garage....and then I had to change my tire. I have to remember that when I am finished airing up my tires, it is ALWAYS important to fully unlock the air compressor before yanking it off of the valve. You can imagine what is next. I quickly changed my tube and put my tire back on...with the help of Sarah. Unfortunately, my bike mechanic is not here. 

We had a great ride even with the wind against us coming back. It was the first ride of the Fall and with that, jackets (or arm warmers) were required. We rode 30 miles and finished on University Parks. I am convinced that University Parks is a wind tunnel. Regardless of which way you ride, it always seems that you are riding into to the wind. After the ride, I have been enjoying Sunday. Usually I feel overwhelmed and pressured with the week ahead, but today seems to be different. 

Last weekend, Mark and I - with some good friends - rode in the Waco Wild West Century Ride. We decided to ride the 50 mile route and it proved to be a fun yet challenging ride! We saw a few funny riders that included a man riding with his poodle attached to his chest (allowing it's paws to rest on the top tube), a family of 4 on a tandem bike, and of course the riders with helmets with a mohawk on it. Our next race is on October 25 - Bear Downs. Last year it was quite the event and hopefully it will turn out better. (long story, another post). This race is composed of a team of 4 riders, 1 bike, and 40 laps around Baylor's campus...all at night. It was a blast last year and we hope to take 1st this year. 

Mark and I continue to eat healthy, the best that we can. We are still cooking our meals at home and enjoy doing so! Mark cooked a really yummy meal the other day that included: couscous, chicken, black beans, red bell peppers, and onions. This week I am trying a new Salmon recipe, which I hope I like so I can cook it for Mark when he returns. As for my sweet potatoes: did you know that sweet potatoes were just declared the healthiest food! The Center for Science in the Public Interest (a well-respected health watchdog in Washington DC) rates foods for the maximum amount of nutrients. Sweet Potatoes are roughly 130 calories a pop, give off 2x the daily recommended amount of Vitamin A, offers tons of Vitamin C, lots of potassium (can you say, "goodbye charlie horses" and sore muscles) and provides slow burning sugars which keeps you full longer. You can imagine how much I love sweet potatoes. Here is how I prepared mine this afternoon:

How to make the best sweet potato crispies ever:

1. Slice the sweet potato into slices (about 1/4 of an inch or thinner), then cut in half. (they should be half-circles)
2. Warm up your cast iron skillet (or regular skillet) with grapeseed oil or other (go for canola or olive) on medium-low
3. put your sweet potatoes inside the skillet and stir, making sure both side of the potatoes have oil covering it
4. pour 1/8 of a cup of water into your skillet and cover for 5-10 minutes. This allows the sweet potatoes to soften before you cook them
5. remove lid and finish cooking - you may need to add a bit more oil just in case. Don't allow your potatoes to stick to the skillet
6. they're done when you say they are! I like mine soft and crispy, but you may like them more crispy then soft.
7. enjoy!