Spinach and penne pasta...

I don't usually have a refrigerator full of food but a trip to the grocery on Tuesday provided me with a number of choices. Tonight a bundle of spinach caught my attention and I decided to make one of my favorite meals, sauteed spinach and garlic on whole wheat pasta.

The is a quick meal, cook the pasta while sauteing spinach, big chunks of garlic and a little salt in hot olive oil. When done, drain the pasta, top with the spinach mixture and add whatever protein you want. I added chicken (grilled last night) a little pepper and a small amount of grated Romano cheese. Perfect comfort food on a dreary, rainy day.

Why is it that a big pan of spinach reduces down to a fist full of cooked spinach? Spinach in hot olive oil just beginning to cook. The chunks of garlic will be added in a few minutes, I don't like overcooked garlic.

The final product

Running has been good of late and I have been steady with my core exercises. Although the runs are short, only 3 miles, and on a treadmill, I am pushing myself to be faster. I have thrown out my 2008 mindset to hold back till the end of a run and started dialing up the pace with each mile. I love the feeling of freedom as my arms and legs move through the motions, running is exciting again. My goal is to see a significant improvement in my time for the New Year's Day 5k with an eye toward a faster time in the Straw Plains 10k.