Danskos

On the menu last night:

Curried Tofu with Israeli Couscous

(Adapted from the February/March 2011 issue of Taste of Home Healthy Cooking Magazine.)

Ingredients

Yield: 2 small servings or 1 large serving

1/2 package (6 oz.) extra-firm tofu, drained and cubed

1 teaspoon (total) of the following seasonings: salt, sugar, garlic powder, paprika

1/2 Tablespoon olive oil

1/2 onion, chopped

1 large garlic clove, minced

1/4 cup light coconut milk

1/8 minced fresh cilantro

1/2 teaspoon curry powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 cup cooked Israeli couscous

Directions

1. Sprinkle tofu with 1 teaspoon of seasonings. In a large non-stick skillet coated with olive oil, saute tofu in oil until lightly browned. Remove and keep warm.

2. In the same skillet, saute onion and garlic for 1-2 minutes or until crisp-tender. Stir in the coconut milk, cilantro, curry powder, salt, and pepper. Simmer until the sauce is slightly thickened. Stir in tofu and heat through. Serve over Israeli couscous.


I loved the combination of curry seasoning with the cilantro! Simple and delicious! An 8/10!!

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Yesterday I posted on how to “take a picture” of a web page–or portion of a web page for a Mac.

MM commented on how to do this same thing on a PC.

Ha! Ha! Love being able to do that now! πŸ™‚

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Today was day #2 of “half-days,” so once again I taught half the day, and then worked in my office the remainder of the day.

Tomorrow the students don’t have school, but the teachers have in-service. I am super excited to be able to wear jeans and Danskos tomorrow and not althletic pants, sweatpants (although I rarely do), and tennis shoes! πŸ™‚

Since I am no fashion expert, I need to know if Dansko shoes are popular elsewhere in this country.

Until moving to Alaska, I had never heard of Danskos, but everyone up here wears them!!

If you know anything about Alaskan fashion, practicality reigns over fashion. People up here don’t necessarily care if they are fashionable, but they need to be comfortable! And by golly, these shoes are definitely the most comfortable “dress” shoes I’ve ever owned! (Feel free to laugh at their geeky-ness; I’m sure I did!)

Workout

Despite not going to bed until 11 p.m. last night, (Craig and I were up talking about saving money, buying a home, our future, etc.) I somehow managed to wake up before my 5:00 a.m. alarm and not feel extremely tired. However, my blood-shot, twitching eyes are telling a different story today!

I got up, pulled on 3 layers of clothing for my run this morning, and headed out to a frigid 5 degrees! NOT enjoyable!!

My legs felt great during my 8 mile run that I completed in 1:09.

One of my favorite speed workouts to do in the winter, when I don’t have access to a track (since it is covered in snow), is to pick an “out-and-back” route and run “easy” (at my normal/comfortable pace) on the way “out” and then come back “hard”–at more of a tempo pace.

I love being able to push myself on the way back home knowing that the “the faster I run, the faster I’m done.” (When I was coaching, I would tell my athletes this all the time.)

I’m heading to the gym tonight for another 3 miles on the treadmill plus some weight lifting!

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Question

If you are a runner, how do you get your “speed” workouts in during the winter? Do you use the treadmill or do you have other things you do outside on the roads?

Hi, I'm Michelle

I love running around the lakes of Minnesota, running after my two boys, and racing anything from the 5K to the marathon. I have been blogging here since 2010 when I ran my first marathon. I finally secured my sub-3 hour marathon after trying for 8 years.

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19 Comments

  1. 2.17.11
    Megan (Running Foodie) said:

    AH! You have leopard-print Danskos! I am not a Dansko wearer myself, but I know plenty of teachers who are (mostly for practical reasons). The librarian at my previous school had leopard-print Danskos. I think they are ADORABLE.

    Last weekend I went to Sacramento for an English teaching conference and the American Indian author, Sherman Alexie, spoke at one of our events. He said he felt right at home in the room full of English teachers because he loves “nearsighted women who wear Danskos” (his wife is one too!). πŸ™‚

    • 2.17.11
      Michelle said:

      Phew! I am glad others outside of Alaska wear Danskos too! I really love wearing my leopard-print ones; they are a lot of fun!

  2. 2.17.11
    Lisa (Dishes of Mrs. Fish) said:

    I’ve been wanting to try tofu for awhile, this looks like a great recipe to start with!

    • 2.17.11
      Michelle said:

      Most definitely–plus it was easy!

  3. 2.17.11
    mm said:

    That tofu looks awesome! And I also had never heard of Danskos prior to moving to Alaska and had no idea why anyone would wear them… of course, I now own a pair of black ones that I wear ALL the time in the winter! πŸ™‚

  4. 2.17.11
    mapollard said:

    That dish is right up my alley- tofu plus coconut, count me in! πŸ˜€

  5. 2.17.11
    Allison @ PickyEatingRD said:

    I have never heard of those shoes before but hey whatever works! I unfortunately use the treadmill for sped workouts in the winter. The last thing I want to do is run outside and kill myself on the ice!

  6. 2.17.11
    Jenn said:

    Hi Amanda!!
    I was dying over your hands in the past post!! Sooo cold and they look so painful!
    I dont think Ive seen those shoes but they look fun!! Your a rockstar for running in such cold weather!!
    πŸ™‚

    • 2.17.11
      Jenn said:

      Oops, Im so sorry Michelle!! I was just reading Amanda’s blog and then read yours and was so anxious to write you a message… sorry!!

      I swear im not a complete idiot… πŸ™‚ haha

  7. 2.18.11
    Rosie said:

    I see those shoes all the time here at Mayo, it seems like all the nurses wear them for work! I have a pair of danskos, they are a different style than the picture you posted (they look more like dress shoes than clogs). They are sooo comfy!

  8. 2.18.11
    Craig Baxter said:

    mmmm! that israeli cus cus and tofu was so good. too bad there are no left overs for lunch.

  9. 2.18.11
    Sarah said:

    oooh looks like a yummy dinner! i purposely do my speedwork on milder winter days and in places that the roads will be in better shape (i.e. for me, its neighborhoods over the bike path…). as a last resort i use a treadmill.

  10. 2.18.11
    M said:

    I grew up in Anchorage and had 3 different pairs of Danskos: black, brown and patent blue. I went to college in New york and never, ever wore them…I think I brought them home after the first semester because they took up too much room in my tiny dorm room! Now I’ve graduated and moved home, and I’m wearing my high school Danskos again!

  11. 2.19.11
    Emily said:

    Hi Michelle!

    Danskos are super popular in Bozeman. Even guys wear them! I use them as my “dress” shoes for work and court.

    As for speed work, I don’t start till March. And then, we do it outside. Where we do it depends on ice. If the track is pretty gnarly, we do it on the road.

    Hope your training is going well!
    Emily

    • 2.19.11
      Michelle said:

      I often think Montana and Alaska are very similar, so it makes sense. I do see a few guys wear them up here as well.