Happy 4th of July, I hope everyone is having a wonderful time with friends and family today. We’re having a relaxing evening with a terrified chihuahua who wants nothing to do with the fireworks outside and sitting in my lap violently shaking. Not a bad way to spend it after a crazy few weeks, we just finished watching Run, Fatboy, Run and it’s a funny comedy that runners will appreciate.

With the heat ragging here, I’ve been craving lots of cold fruits and salads.

Like this kale, cabbage, carrots and zucchini with avocado-tahini dressing salad for lunch yesterday.

And this spinach-carrots-cauliflower-tomato with cilantro hemp seed pesto dressing for dinner last night.

And this one – spinach, carrots, sprouts, tomatoes, red peppers and avocado topped with Ani’s orange-ginger-miso dressing, nooch and hemp seeds for lunch today.

And plenty of fruit-loaded smoothies.

Trader Joe’s had a great price on organic blueberries and kiwis, great smoothie adds. I actually like kiwi with the skin on, it’s not bitter to me at all and I just throw the whole fruit into the Vita-Mix. This mornings smoothie was SunWarrior protein powder, chia seeds, carrots, cabbage, kiwi, blueberries and watermelon – great combo! And great workout fuel.

I’ve been creeping up the time and levels for my elliptical workouts, currently at 45 minutes while rotating directions and burning 300+ calories. I’ve been seeing great cardio progress since picking up running again.

For dinner tonight, I got experimental with red lentils and oranges I needed to use up by blending 3 oranges with thyme and pepper in the Vita-Mix and pouring it over simmering lentils, onions, carrots and zucchini.

Orange flavors go beautifully with red lentils and made the kitchen smell wonderful while simmering with a bay leaf. A recipe I must perfect and post soon! And it paired well with a kale, sauerkraut, sesame salad.