Cauliflower Pizza

They say that the holidays is a time to take a break from our usual try-hard-to-be-healthy diet; to binge and allow ourselves to become a little less "sinful" and to feast on sumptuous food and drinks with family and friends. 

We're licensed to forget about calorie count and ingredient check.

While we partly agree and are guilty of doing those, we thought that there is still value in careful when it comes to health; that we can still keep a healthy diet without being the party killer.

Tricia and I tried this recipe several times and loved it no less every time.



Recipes are available online but we tweaked it a bit to suit our taste. We thought this is the best time to share it as we all prepare for the New Year's Eve.

It's not only delicious and healthy, it's also easy to prepare and cheap.

It's something that even kids can enjoy because it's really like your usual pizza only the healthier version.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Ingredients:

½ large head of cauliflower (or 2+ cups shredded cauliflower)

1 large egg

1 cup finely shredded mozzarella cheese

1 tsp dried oregano

½ tsp dried minced garlic

½ tsp onion powder

slices of chorizo/ tuna
1 medium can of mushrooms
1 medium can of tomato paste and/ or pizza sauce

Here are the simple steps of preparing your cauliflower pizza:

1. Shred your head of cauliflower with a grater or with a food processor. Make sure that the cauliflower is not pureed.

2. Place the shredded cauliflower into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for about 8 minutes until cauliflower is soft.

3. Allow the cauliflower to cool.

4. Preheat the oven to 450° and prepare a baking sheet or pizza pan for the crust. Lightly spray the sheet or pan with cooking spray.

5. Mix about 1.5 cups of your cauliflower crumbles with egg, cheese, and spices.

6. When the mixture is thoroughly combined, pour onto baking sheet and “pat” into a round/ rectangle crust. Lightly spray crust with cooking spray.

7. Place crust in oven for about 15 minutes until golden and edges have become crispy.

8. Remove the crust from oven, top it with sauce and your favorite toppings.

9. Turn oven to broil and bake for about five minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Because I am a pescatarian, I only, as much as possible, eat fish and no other meat, Tricia placed tuna on the other half of the pizza and her chorizo on the other. As you can see, we both love mushrooms. 

The cool thing is you're free to choose 
your toppings.

We had it with red wine. YUMMY!

Try it!

Where's Reylynne while Tricia's cooking? Hmmm..




Note: Some photos were downloaded.

Looking back, looking forward

Before the year ends, the crazy duo shares with you the year that was for us hoping it would resonate in some ways with yours and encourage you to also pause, look back and look forward.

Hope you had a merry Christmas and wishing you an xPAIRified New Year! 

Tricia's

With just about a few days left till the year ends, I am pausing to think about how my great Lord blessed me and made my life more than awesome this year.

I am grateful that I have a job that challenges me to strive for excellence and make other other people's  crazy lives a bit  sane. I am grateful for the chance to challenge my self and get into a new sport- running.I am grateful for God's goodness that he has enable me to finish my two marathons, 50km trail run and my first road ultra marathon, I am 100% sure that without him, I would have not been able to finish those races.

I am grateful to rediscover rowing and had the chance to compete again.

I am grateful for the victories I had this year- truly they are cherries on my ice cream.

I am grateful for all the DNF, failures and defeats I had this year which allowed me to think about my goal and reminded me that I need to work a whole lot more.  I value such experiences as they allow me to challenge myself more and toughen me.

I am grateful for the experience to go and see different places, experience their culture and most of all, experience God’s wonderful creation.

I am grateful for the injuries that I had to go thru this year – indeed, my God was reminding me that I am not superman and that I need to take care of my body.

I am grateful for vacations which allowed me to rest and recharge.

I am grateful for opportunities that has come my way which has allowed me to pause and reflect which path the Lord was directing me to go.

I am grateful for friends – the new ones that I’ve met this year and whose company I am enjoying and learning. Also, for the friends that I have since way back – they are angels sent by God.  We may have different likes, schedules, etc. but we all know that we have each other’s back covered at all times.

I am grateful for all my aunts, uncles, cousins as they are always a joy to be with.

I am grateful for my brothers.  We hardly see each other but we all know that we have each other – always! 

God knew from the beginning that if I had a sister, I wouldn’t be as mentally tough, responsible and independent as I am now.

I am grateful for Nanny.  Though, I hardly see her as she’s in the province she still checks on me and makes sure I eat right and get enough sleep (plus the reminder to not get fat!)

I am grateful for my parents who love me unconditionally and accepts that their only daughter is one who loves to live her life a little bit on the edge. 

Life has been great because of what my savior, Jesus has done. I am looking forward with great anticipation for the coming year knowing He is with me and will never leave my side.

----------------------------

Reylynne's

2014 has been one of the most challenging years for me.

The organization that I worked for suffered from 

shortage of funds that left me with no salary for months which meant a lot for my family since I was one of the bread winners. 

It happened at the same time when I had to look for another place. I had to give up my space in the house where I used to live in for the family of my housemate and good friend because they were severely affected by Yolanda.

It happened at the same time when I discovered I was suffering from a chronic disease called hypothyroidism that caused me to gain weight, feel fatigue and palpitations, experience insomnia and everything that a passionate runner and struggling breadwinner would need.

It happened at the same time when running, the only paradise left in my gloomy world, began to mess up and I had back to back DNFs (did not finish) and bad races.

It felt like hell.

So is there anything I should be grateful for?

YES! A LOT..

Because all these happened at the same time when my friends stood beside me, supported and loved me in ways I never imagined they would; when I learned to be humble and receive help from people around me; when my family understood my situation and loved me just the same; when I was told that I could still run; when I was led to another advocacy and job; when I met an unbelievably generous, kind, supportive, loving and amazing friend who patiently journeyed with me; and the same time when I experienced how God has been there for me, loving me, embracing me, healing me, teaching me - all those time, all the time.

I never felt more loved than when I was in 2014. I had the best birthday party ever- a surprise birthday party planned and set up by a very dear friend with many of my good friends as her cohorts. It was the brightest night I've had in a while. It made me feel alive again.

So yes, 2014 was a year of blessings wrapped in a unique way; a year of discovery- of my vulnerabilities and abilities; of my weaknesses and strengths; of darkness and light; of my self and the people around me; of an angel; of God; of that hope and faith that 2015 would be better.

Soleus 50K

My alarm went crazy at 12midnight of June 29 – time to get out of bed (but I just closed my eyes a few minutes ago to sleep). Switched on the television to watch the World Cup Brazil vs. Chile football match only to be told by Rey to hurry up and eat breakfast as we (Rey, Alfred and I) were supposed to leave the house at 1:00 am to meet with our other friends who were also joining the race, Lynchai, Toto, and Van. 

We got to Nuvali about an hour less than gun start and got ready as soon as we got down from the car. 

A few minutes later and we were off.  Rey and I were running together.  Game plan that day was to stick with her no matter what happens as she is the experienced and champion runner.

(Rey: Experienced, yes. Champion? Hmm..???)

  

1st aid station to 3rd water station- Easy pace, meet and greet

Less than an hour after the start of the race, we’ve reached water station 1.  We were both good except for dysmenorrhoea on my part.  We’ve refilled our water bottles and Rey grabbed some Fitbar and then we were off again.  At this time she was telling me that we needed to increase our pace.  I was telling her that she could do that but I would not as I was trying to conserve whatever energy I had to sustain me until the end. 

(Rey: She’s more matured than me in managing pace, among other things)

We’ve decided to maintain our run / walk pace while munching some of the food that we have in our day packs.It was near sunrise when we got to water station 2.  This time we stayed a bit longer as Rey had to greet all her friends and fans after we refilled our water bottles.

(Rey: I have no fans, just friends! Haha! :D)

We left the second aid station around sunrise and to my delight the hills were not at all painful to my feet and to my knees. This was the part where we managed to over-take some of the runners.  It was at this part of the course, where we got to see the sunrise (finally!!! No need for me to put up a brave front that I was not afraid of the dark). We managed to run / jog and walk a few parts till the next aid station.

As soon as we got to the third station, we refilled our water and grabbed some fruits.  As usual, when you are with a champion runner like Rey, you would have to stop as a lot of her friends and fans were happy to see her back. 

(Rey: Champion?! Who were you with? ;) Since I could not keep up to your pang- beauty queen stance, I settle for being the Ms. Congeniality!)

To the turn-around and back to the 2nd water station- The hills were alive!

(Rey: Substitute title should be: The runner turns around most of the time since the hills were alive but the pacer was dead!)

We left the third water station while Rey was munching on apples and watermelons while I had one block of energy chews as we tackled the paved road ahead of us.  After a few minutes, we were back to the grassy area and Rey, the tormentor was back giving me an order to run again. 

After forty five minutes or so we got to the turn-around / fourth water station where we refilled our water bottles (Rey: again!!!), grabbed some more fruits to munch, I started to start the long way back while Rey was busy talking to her friends and fans. (Rey: AGAIN?!?!)

On our way back, we did a jog / walk—Rey jogged while I walked until we got past the cemented road.  On the way back to the next station, we decided to run all the downhill areas and walk the uphill areas.

And then we got separated..

When we got back to the second station, Rey and I ate half of a banana and decided that we would go slower as her heart was pumping really hard (a symptom of her condition) while my right knee was beginning to hurt like hell again. We decided that I would walk and only jog when I could bear the pain while Rey would jog slowly.

At first, I would stop after a couple of steps to wait for Rey then she told me to just go ahead as she will catch up with me.   For the first time, I didn’t want to argue with my tormentor, I obediently followed her instructions and would look back every couple of meters to see if she was at my back.

Our plan was working for a few meters or so until I could no longer see her.  I was trying to wait for her in some of the shaded areas but was also scared to be alone in the trail.  I decided to just continue and wait for her at the last water station.

(Rey: The pacer was left behind because she could not keep up with her runner anymore. Confession, Tricia’s walk pace requires me to jog.)

On the way to the last water station, I noticed my fingers were swollen and the hair tie I had on my right wrist was getting really tight so I decided to start drinking Gatorade instead of water.

Finally, I reached the last water station. I refilled my bottles of water and Gatorade and had two pieces of watermelon while waiting for Rey.  After a couple of minutes with no sign of Rey, I decided to start walking. 

Last 6km.. Alone along the trails

I called Rey while walking but she wasn’t picking her phone.  I felt really worried of what could have happened to her.  I was already thinking that it was really a bad idea for me not to wait for her especially with her condition.  A few minutes after, I got a text message from Rey to call her phone again.

(Rey: Since I ran out of load, I had to request one marshall to lend me his phone and send a text message. #desperatemove)

After a few rings, Rey answered my call only to tell me that she was on the way to the last aid station and I should not wait for her anymore.  I was trying to give her all the reasons I could think of why I should wait for her but all I got from her was, “mauna ka na!!!  Magkita na lang tayo sa finish line.” Then without even saying goodbye, she just put down the phone.  I told myself that I should start walking again if I didn’t want to be left in the trails alone (Yes, I was scared of being alone in the middle of nowhere).  

(Rey: I sounded mad since the last thing I’d like to happen was for me to slow her down as she was still very strong and able to finish the race faster. Although I was worried she’d be left along the trails by herself, I was also confident, she’d be with other runners and could protect herself well. My palpitation continued. I was still trying to run or atleast jog but my heart could no longer push harder, I should give in but not give up.)

Being the stubborn person that I am, I would stop every few meters for a few minutes to see if Rey would appear as I really thought that we were supposed to finish the race together just like what we planned.  I even managed to answer phone calls and text messages from my family and friends while walking / waiting for Rey.

(Rey: You could have done faster!)

To the finish line of my first ultra.

I continued my walk/wait for Rey until I found myself on the road near the starting line.  A few steps and I saw our friend, Alfred who was telling me to hurry up and start running fast to the finish line.  After 7 hours and 41 minutes, I finally crossed the finished line and was able to do my first ultra marathon and first trail race.  Not to mention, this was my first run race after my first marathon where I tore my meniscus mid-race.

As soon as I crossed the finish line, I went to look for Alfred, Toto, and Van.  I was trying to call Rey but to no avail she could not be reached until a runner came to tell us that Rey was about 2km away from the finish line and is walking with a 30km runner whom she saw suffering from cramps. 

(Rey: CONGRATULATIONS!!! Super proud of you! :D Welcome to the crazy and fun world of ultra marathon! You rocked!)

Tricia's Morton's Toe

Morton’s What?!?

After Milo, I’ve observed that I cannot run more than 8km without feeling sharp pain on the soles of my feet.   When we climbed Pico, I was sobbing on the way back to the jump-off point as my feet were painful and I noticed my ankle was swollen.  Friends told me it might be plantar fasciitis, some said it might be because I’m not used to running and stressing my feet.

One Friday afternoon, I got out of work early to have it confirmed by the ortho.  After an intial check, he ordered me to have my feet x-rayed to see if there are any stress fractures.  Upon checking my x-ray results, he saw that I have a bad case of Morton’s toe...umm, make that Morton’s toes for me (both of my big toes are diagonal according to the x-ray).

Morton’s toe as explained by Wikipedia is the condition of a shortened first metatarsal in relation to the second metatarsal.  The most common symptom experienced due to Morton’s toe is callusing and/or discomfort of the ball of the foot at the base of the second toe.  Mortonstoe.com even mentioned a number of musculoskeletal problems that is known to be caused by having such condition.  Examples are metatarsalgia (ball-of-foot pain), plantar fasciitis, metatarsal stress fractures, calluses, bunion, hammer, claw and mallet toes, ankle pain / weak ankles, shin splints, knee pain, sciatica pain, arthritis, back and neck pain.

                                                            Not my foot but close 

                                                     photo credit: https://thereflexologist.wordpress.com/tag/mortons-toe/

The ortho told me that my condition isn’t serious but can be very painful especially if I am on my feet most of the times.  He said that he would recommend I do sprints so that my feet would get used to the pounding, wear in-soles, take a mild pain killer, and rest (if it really hurts).

I don’t have any success formula as to what works and what doesn’t.  I’m trying out taping my feet and I’m hoping it works.  As for now, I need to endure the pain if I want to run. 

For more information about Morton's Toe, visit: http://www.mortonstoe.com/

Rey: Trivia! Michael Phelps, one of the best swimmers of all time also has a Morton's toe which according to this link (http://www.footcare4u.com/the-mortons-toe-and-michael-phelps/#more-2592) could help him in the pool. Incidentally, Tricia is a strong swimmer too. Hmm.. ;)

Who are we?

Pat, Tricia, Pats, are some of the names that she is called.  She describes herself as an ex-athlete having been part of the swim team when she was in grade school till college and is passionate about living life to the fullest.  She likes anything fitness related, challenges, ice cream, steaks, fried chicken, potato chips and coffee.  She’s a full-time employee in an international firm but would rather spend her time working-out / training for that next competition and catching up on sleep

She's got a rugged exterior, a tender heart, a happy soul.

Rey/ Reynalyn/ Kulit is a dedicated ultra runner, passionate advocate, aspiring rower, part time vegan, seasonal insomniac, spontaneous traveller, weird eater, most hyper hypothyroid patient ;)

She loves staying in a room sipping cups of good coffee or enjoying a glass or two of wine with some cheese and her trail mix, reading a book, watching a movie, writing and listening to music or podcasts; she also loves being outdoors whether on top of a mountain or just running anywhere under the scorching heat of the sun or strong rains. 

She likes taking risks and facing challenges; she feels uncomfortable the moment a place becomes her comfort zone. 

She loves adventures. She hates regrets. 

Another blog?!?!

So there are already probably more than a thousand blog sites out there. I bet that anyone who has any presence online has encountered at least three of them; ether you like the blogger and consistently subscribe to the site or you just stumbled into it in your search for more information about various topics that range from as serious as politics or religion or philosophy; health and sports to as trivial as showbiz updates and just anything else.

So why are we here? Why are we adding up to the already populated world of bloggers? Is there anyting else we can talk about that hasn't been discussed by others yet?

Maybe none.

Maybe there’s not much we can offer that can surprise you or get your attention.

Maybe you’ll see us as one of those who feel that the world can be interested in what we talk about.

Maybe sports like road and trail running, rowing, swimming are no longer exciting; same with food reviews, recipes, restaurants; as well as places and destinations; movies and books.

..but that MAYBE is what we would like to embrace and share with you. That uncertainty of whether it can be boring or fun; monotonous or spontaneous are what we’d like to take on.

Yes, we hope to try and talk about the things that a lot of bloggers already talked about but we hope to add new flavor, spice, texture and color to these topics.

Each adventurer, wanderer, traveler, athlete, cook, eater is different; our experiences are distinct, just like yours, so we thought that it’s still worth exploring. We take this chance and I hope you give that chance too.

We go so well even if we are worlds apart- from our heights, lifestyle, exposure, views on some issues, fashion, etc.

In our site, you will not only get to read and interact with the perspectives of one person but of two very different individuals which should be more fun.

And then we hope to hear from you too.

That DIFFERENCE is another thing that we’d like to take advantage of.

So yes.. let's blog!