Turkey Trot & Tasty Treats

What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than with three of the things I'm most thankful for: family, running & pie.

The Bittner family always does an annual turkey trot 5k on Thanksgiving morning. That is, everyone but Johann my lazy brother who sleeps in.  This year, my mom "forgot" to register us. It's rumored that she saw the temperature estimates for this morning and decided it was too cold... Regardless, the women of the Bittner family never let anything stand in the way of this traditional run. I say women because my dad caught my brother's laziness (quite deadly disease) and retired to the kitchen to prepare the meal. 

Advantages of not running in an official, organized turkey trot: (1) you save $30 and (2) you can run whenever you want. Taking full advance of #2, my mom and I ran at 11 am when the temperature warmed up to a scorching 26 degrees. Quite lovely. The colors of the Indiana fall leaves made up for the numbness of my face and ears. Even ran into a few fiends along the 5k path in my neighborhood. Best part? Ran into my mom (quite literally hehe) and we exchanged high-fives. Truly a fun mother-daughter experience. Braving the elements to burn off enough calories to eat multiple helpings of my dad's delicious Thanksgiving meal. 

For dessert, I decided to make a chocolate bourbon pecan pie. For the record, this was my first pie. Ever. Honestly I'm more of a decorator than a baker. I stay away from the wisking and the mixing and the measuring and gravitate towards the frosting and the decorating. But this year was gonna be different. 

I found a recipe online and followed the directions. And guess what? I did it!!  It ended up sweet, savory and breathtaking. The Jim Beam procured a strong scent and flavor even after baking in the oven. Overall, a great recipe to try out. Maybe I can be a baker AND a decorator!

Here's the recipe:

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/bourbon-chocolate-pecan-pie

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Mary

Beautiful Indiana running landscape

Chocolate bourbon pecan pie. Nom. 

My Silent Sunday

The Lakeshore path in Chicago is one of my top ten favorite places to run.  It's peaceful & desolated in the winter yet crowded & filled with excitement in the summer. As soon as it gets above 60 degrees in the spring, Chicagoans rush to the beaches. The crashing waves of the agitated lake soothe the thoughts of many runners, walkers and nature-adventurers alike.

I run by the lake whenever I get stressed or frustrated. I ran by the lake when my grandfather passed away. The path for me is an escape from everyday problems. It's a time to reflect upon mistakes, sorrows & predicaments. 

They say college is a time for finding yourself. The miles between Hyde Park and downtown along the lakefront have helped me grow as a person. Sometimes I stop mid-run and sit on the huge rocks lining the lake. How lucky I am to be living. How lucky I am to be thriving in a world that constantly throws obstacles and negativity into our lives. I'm fortunate to have such a powerful and thought-provoking place to keep me grounded in a world of uncertainty. 

People ask why I enjoy running so much. My run Sunday proved my rationale true, yet once again. Running release all tension. It allows you to relax and feel accomplished. Although I was dreading it, my 6 mile long run Sunday was quiet. I ran without music for the first time in months. I could hear my breathing, my struggle to inhale the cold air. As much as I love running to Taylor Swift and whatever else comes on shuffle, the silence was a new challenge. It was a pleasant break from the typical music blaring from my iPhone headphones, disrupting true self reflection. Try it sometime. You'll never discover what you've been tuning out otherwise. 

Mary

sNOw days off

Can't decide which was worse to run in today: the snow, the wind or the leaves hitting me in the face.. All three really blew.. (Pun intended)

I was motivated, however, by my afternoon plans. A few friends & I had a baking date: Christmas music, cupcakes and lively chatter. We decided upon chocolate cupcakes with peppermint cream cheese frosting. Completely worth the walk to the store in the freshly fallen slow. 

Meanwhile, my friend's roommate was trying a new recipe for a berry cocktail. From what I hear it was amazing.. It contained Bacardi peach rum, strained juice from fresh berries & a mint leaf. 

Cupcakes turned out amazing. We drizzled melted white chocolate peppermint on the tops & adorned them with crushed candy cane. Note to self: make sure frosting is thicker and less runny. Accidentally ended up frosting myself...  

When selecting a cupcake to test try, I like to pick the ugliest ones. Think of it as cupcake natural selection...survival of the prettiest.

Maybe a C+ for presentation but definitely an A+ for taste. Still recovering from my cupcake coma...

Completed my Christmas-themed day with emerald nail polish with gold sparkles, matching the tree in my friend's apartment. Although it's not even Thanksgiving yet, it's never too early to get into the holiday cheer!!

Mary

   

Brrrr-gers: Yelp Chicago Burger Binge Week

25 Degrees: delicious restaurant or temperature during my run on Friday?

Both. 

The cold weather is here once again. Almost impossible to find motivation to brave the frigid weather to run. But anything beats the treadmill.... 

First ice spotted along 56th street underneath the Metra so watch out. Ice is never fun to run in...

In honor of Yelp's Chicago Burger Binge week, a friend and I ventured off to 25 Degrees, near Clark & Chicago. Promised were $12 speciality burgers for $5 with Yelp check-in. We scouted out the menu before and were dying to try their famous spiked milkshakes. 

The decor inside was both fabulous and chic. Velvet patterned wallpaper mixed with dark woods and lovely chandeliers. Very romantic and elegant. We sat down in a booth and were met with friendly service. 

I tried both the #2 and the #3 burgers. (We went halfsies) The #2 was a brilliant combination of ground beef and pesto. I would have never thought of putting pesto on a burger but oh my it was fantastic. The #3 (my personal fav) was a burger topped with chipotle queso and avocado. The bun was toasted yet soft, a combination that meshed well with the fun flavors of the burger. 

Time for milkshakes. We split an Irish Car Bomb milkshake: chocolate ice cream with Baileys. Indescribable. Breathtaking. 

I will definitely be making a return to 25 Degrees. As far as good burger places go, it's a bit more expensive but I've also heard great things about their #4 yellow-tail burger. The shakes are to-die for and I am considering attempting to make my own rendition. Overall, a cool burger restaurant to dine at when in the loop!

Mary

Keep Calm & Grill On

Sometimes life doesn't go the way we want it to go. I'm convinced that's why we have exercise and barbecue.

Take for instance how I discovered my absolute favorite restaurant in Chicago: Lillie's Q. A friend of mine took me on a first date there. We didn't work out. Perhaps because my heart was stolen by another: their pulled-pork sandwich topped with assorted BBQ sauces. I was awed by appetizers of oysters & hush puppies, cooked to perfection. Was I impressed? Absolutely. Any guy who takes me to a delicious, authentic BBQ restaurant automatically wins my heart. 

This was Saturday. The following Thursday, the water heater exploded and the place burnt down...

I was deeply-troubled. What a tease my visit had been! I would have to wait weeks (even months!!) until it reopened. 

After I returned to Chicago in August (was in Manhattan this summer), I was delighted to hear that Lillie's Q was finally reopened. I ventured off to Wicker Park the first opportunity I had. I was met with the fantastic flavors of the slow-roasted pork between the toasted buns that had haunted my dreams for oh so long. I tried the mac & cheese, the speciality fries and even the cornbread. A few friends accompanied me on the expedition, soon becoming as obsessed as I am with Lillie's Q. 

My parents came to visit 6 weeks later and I knew where I had to take them. I got to sample a few of my dad's slow-roasted ribs. One word: Amazing. 

That was the night I also had three of the best dessert dishes I have ever tried in my life:

- Drunken Pumpkin Ice Cream: pumpkin ice cream with bourbon

- Bread pudding with warm chocolate bourbon sauce

- Shortcake with cranberry red wine toppings

On that day in February, I was dining with the love of my life for the first time. I'm not talking about the guy. If you want the best barbecue place in Chicago (if not the Midwest) you need to stop by Lillie's Q in Wicker Park. We aren't exclusive so I'm happy to share. Life never seems to work out perfectly but you'll never know who (or what) you'll miss out on when you aren't looking. 

Keep calm & grill on. 

Mary

Pictured are the three unbelievable desserts mentioned above. 

Adventure Awaits

Last Tuesday, I decided I would go on an adventure. I hopped on my bike, pedaled out of Hyde Park and was soon cruising along the lake shore. Had no plan on how far I was going. That would lead to some difficulties later on...

I parked my bike by Grant Park, right near the boat dock and began running. Soon I was flying by tourists braving the cold weather at Navy Pier. Took the underground tunnel onto Oak Street and ventured into Old Town. Few things are more enjoyable than multi-tasking. Accomplished a lot of window-shopping while on my run! The high-end stores, like Harry Winston's & Prada, were tastefully decorated for the holiday season. Overall, a very enjoyable run which is arguably why I accidentally ended up running more than I wanted to. Five miles later I was back to my bike. 

I, unfortunately, forgot to account for the early sunset. The sun set around 4 and I was left to ride back in the dark. Luckily, my bike is equipped with a light (fun fact: Chicago law requires a light-device on all bicycles after dusk). Although it was a bit chilly, the ride was fairly pleasant. Not a lot of people on the path after October..

Highly recommend taking an "adventure run" sometime. I love Old Town but got to explore so much more on my run. Colorful leaves adorn the quaint townhouses, a true depiction of the beauty of fall. Plus a little window-shopping never hurt anyone..

Stretching view from Ohio Street Beach, just north of Navy Pier

Love at First Bite

They say the first mile is always the hardest.  The effort exerted into dragging yourself outside to run when you could easily fall back upon the lazy, idle state that is oh so comforting.  The first bite, however, is a much easier task.  Whether it is out of hunger or mere excitement, the first bite comes naturally.  I find myself eager to taste new dishes, yet also resistant to steer away from favorites.  Fascinating how two of my favorite past times (yes, eating is one of them) have completely separate motivating factors.  I'm not quite sure whether I run so I can eat or if I eat so I can run.  In a roundabout way, my workouts motivate my consumption as much as my consumption motivates my workouts.

It is for this relationship that I have decided to start this blog.  Although I have to admit, like the first mile, the first blog post is seemingly the hardest.  But I'm confident that it will get easier.  It's quite simple: write fairly regularly about my two favorite things, food and exercise. I hope out of my blog you will find at least one of three things:
    (1) Motivation to start running or to continue if you have already become addicted (like myself)
    (2) Inspiration to try new restaurants in the city you reside
    (3) A laugh & light read that brightens your day

I understand running isn't for everyone.  People often ask me how I find motivation to run.  In part, I love the therapeutic aspect.  Runs along the lake provide me with crucial time to think about life or escape stress.  It doesn't matter how fast or how slow you are, the benefits are universal.  I hope that reading about my adventures, whether exercise or food-based, will motivate you to venture out as well.  I've found that my favorite restaurants have come from others' recommendations.  (At least one good thing came out of that crush..HA) I hope that you will also enjoy my restaurant suggestions and find them useful.

And so the journey begins..

Mary

Oh and PS: feel free to follow/friend me on Yelp at http://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=C5wDD_M3Lnv-alQwLxRGPQ