I spent last week at home since I am in between jobs…I was able to get my kids to the bus, come home, and….DO WHATEVER I WANTED!!! Wow, I can see why stay at home Mom’s choose this profession, because although of course it is HARD work to keep up with the kids and maintain a household, you have a glorious freedom while you are kids are at school. As someone who has worked my entire adult life, I have always had to juggle career along WITH the kids and house…so this mini-break has truly renewed me. I kept up with the house work, cooking, kids, and even was able to run 3 times last week. YES!!!
My longest run of the week was on Friday, where we here in the Chicago land area were BLESSED with true spring temps of high 50’s…I couldn’t pass up squeezing in my longish run of 6.2 miles for the week. It was a tough run, but I pushed myself hard and didn’t quit…
The rest of our weekend was quite busy, trying to squeeze in overdue dental appointments, getting things organized around the house, and honestly just spending time together as a family unit. I’ve truly been blessed through difficult times to have a family that has been close knit.
So tonight I decided to cook my husband’s favorite for dinner, pork crown roast…
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and pre-heat a cast iron skillet over high heat. Season your roast with kosher salt, pepper, hickory salt, and season salt. Add a few tablespoons of grape seed oil to your skillet, and sear the roast on all sides. Transfer to a baking sheet that has been lined with aluminum foil, and bake at 350 degrees until the core temp reaches 150 degrees. Let rest for 15 minutes once done, covering with foil, until core temp reaches 160 degrees.
While your roast is cooking, it’s time to prepare your reduction. In a wide sauce pan, add in 2 cups of veggie stock with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Combine well with a whisk, and set your heat to medium high. Bring to a slow boil, add salt, pepper, half of an onion diced, 2 cloves of garlic, smashed, and a pinch of cayenne pepper and lemon grass. Add in 2 cups of red wine and a cup of black berries – let simmer, reducing by half – about 30 minutes. Strain the mixture, reserving all the liquid and discarding the onions, garlic, berries…add in one more cup of red wine, and let simmer another 30 minutes, stirring often. To finish, add in one pat of butter, and whisk thoroughly.
I served our roast with sautéed asparagus and mushrooms and along with roasted garlic quinoa!
Hope you are all having a great weekend.
Question-how many days per week do you run? (Me, typically 3-4 max to save my knees)
Question-what are your favorite side dishes?
❤ Michelle
Movin' it with Michelle 
Sounds like a great week. You probably needed to relax a bit and then you had a great run. I am so proud of you and your new job. Your dinner looks amazing! Looking forward to nicer weather when I can see you and run with you out on the path. xoxo
LikeLike
Karen, thank you so much!!!! We need to run together soon!
LikeLike
So happy you got to enjoy the spring time temps this week! And nice 10k too 🙂 those capris are pretty snazzy 🙂
I run 5 days a week, no cross training and feel so good that I want to try 6 days a week. I find when I have more than 1 rest day in a row I feel super rusty- but I wouldn’t have said that 2 years ago because I was so injury prone (and didn’t do strength training..)
LikeLike
Seems my knees and Achilles just get so angry with me. Wish I could run more often. Thanks!!
LikeLike
I also run no more than 3-4 days per week (except for an occasional monthly streak). I love running, but I need the variety of “other things physical,” and my body loves me for it (most days). My latest favorite side dish is a mashed sweet potato 😉
LikeLike
Ahhhhhh. Just remembered I forgot sweet potatoes at the store today lol!
LikeLike
My favorite side dish is garlic mashed potatoes. As I am a vegan, we make it with soy milk and vegan margarine. Delicious doesn’t even begin to describe it!
LikeLike
I’ll have to try it that way!!! Thanks!
LikeLike
Great week!! I only run 3x a week and cross train 3x, that is the only way my legs like me. My favorite side dish is balsamic veggies over quinoa!! YUM!
LikeLike
Thanks! Same here, my legs feel like bricks if I run 2 days in a row!
LikeLike
I run 3-4 times a week too. I’m a bit older so I need extra time for recovery and if I run over 5 times a week I end up exhausted.
LikeLike
I agree, Char….my legs thank me for sticking to 3-4 days per week, LOL!
LikeLike
I usually run 4 days/week…one long run and 3 whatever I can get in! That pork crown roast looks good! My husband loves that too.
Wendy@TakingtheLongWayHome
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by, Wendy!!! That roast is my hubby’s favorite!!!
LikeLike
Michelle, this post you sound so much more like you are finally able to take a few more deep breaths. And so glad you were able to enjoy doing whatever you wanted. When do you start your new job?
LikeLike
Monday!!! Thanks hon!
LikeLike
Hi thanks forr sharing this
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike