Just J.Faye

Hiking & Other Adventures

Beef Jerky & Cherry Trail Mix

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Yeah, you read the title right: beef jerky and cherry trail mix.

beef jerky cherry trail mix

The other day I was walking around the grocery store absent-mindedly wandering up and down the aisles looking at stuff. This happens when I don’t have a list and am not in a hurry. It’s actually quite enjoyable and I end up discovering brands and products I have never heard of.

So anywayssss I walking, stopping, staring, wandering, looking, touching, reading and then I spied this epic hunt and gather mix. And by epic, I mean EPIC. It’s beef jerky combined with trail mix. Brilliant. I was so intrigued that I wanted to try to mix up my own.

So I did. And I’m in love.

beef jerky cherry trail mix

Let me talk about why.

beef jerky cherry trail mix

NUMERO UNO: It is so easy to make.

Simply gather beef jerky, dried cherries, almonds, cashews, and pepitas, shake them up in a jar, and you are all set!

NUMMER ZWEI: It is a super healthy snack.

Each of these simple ingredients pack in a ton of health benefits to make this one powerhouse snack that will keep you energized throughout the day. It’s perfect for all you paleo eaters out there.

  • Almonds, cashews, and pepitas are high in healthy fats and minerals like magnesium, copper, zinc, and potassium.
  • Cherries are packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Beef jerky is full of protein.

NUMÉRO TROIS: It is delicious.

The trail mix is both sweet and savory. The tart cherries perfectly compliment the mesquite flavor of the beef jerky. The nuts and seeds add crunch and texture. Basically, it’s a mouthful of amazing.

beef jerky cherry trail mix

This beef jerky and cherry trail mix is a snack trifecta: simple, healthy, and delicious.

OH, as an extra bonus, it is also super portable and is a great on-the-go snack. Bring some with to work for when those 2:30 hunger pangs hit. Put some in your gym bag for a high protein post-workout snack. Throw them in your purse for when you go on a brewery crawl and don’t want to eat a lot of bar food/food truck food.

Which is what I’m going to do later today… happy Saturday!

beef jerky cherry trail mix

Beef Jerky & Cherry Trail Mix
 
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This healthy snack is a combination of beef jerky, dried cherries, almonds, cashews, and pepitas. It's delicious and packed full of protein to keep you energized throughout the day.
Serves: 3⅓ cups
Ingredients
  • 3.5 ounces beef jerky
  • ¾ cup dried cherries
  • ¾ cup raw almonds
  • ¾ cup raw cashews
  • ⅓ cup pepitas
Instructions
  1. Mix all the ingredients together and store in an air-tight container.

Gimme.

beef jerky cherry trail mix

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Thursday Things 04.09.15

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Thursday Things 04.09.15

When you fly into the Fort Wayne, IN there is a lady at that welcomes you at the gate and then gives you cookie! Is that not the coolest thing?! It was so nice and made me feel really excited to be in Fort Wayne. I was there Monday-Wednesday for work visiting one of our Customer Service Facilities. I learned a ton – it was a great trip.

Know what else is great?! These things:

Almost Friday!

Jenna

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The Fit 5: Chest

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It’s time for another round of The Fit Five! This time we are going to learn about the chest muscle group, which you may refer to as your “pecs” or maybe even your “pectoralis major” and “pectoralis minor”. Whatever you want to call this muscle group, we are going to learn about it.

The Fit 5 Chest

First, let’s clear up a myth for the ladies: Strength training that targets chest muscles will not make your boobs bigger. Also, it will not make your boobs smaller. However, building chest muscles (underneath your boobs) could add a natural lift. So that’s a bonus.

Now, here are some non-myths, also known as facts:

The Fit 5 Chest

It’s good to learn this type of stuff, don’t you think?

Experiment time: Stand up with your arms extended straight out from your sides so that you look like a human “t”. Now move your arms forward so that they are extended straight out in front of you. Clap your hands together. That movement was horizontal adduction of the shoulder and contracting your chest muscles helped make that happen.

The clap was just for fun, because learning is fun.

The next time you do a push up or bench press, think about that movement and contracting those pectoral muscles.

Speaking of push ups and bench presses, below are 5 chest exercises.

The Fit 5 Chest

These are all basic exercises that can be adapted to your needs. Here are some examples:

  • Stagger your hands for the push ups.
  • Place your feet on a stability ball or a bench while doing push ups.
  • Perform the bench press, pullover, and fly while lying on a stability ball rather than a bench.
  • Use a barbell or a smith machine rather than dumbbells for the bench press.
  • Put the bench at an incline while performing the bench press or the flies.
  • Utilize a cable machine and do standing flies.

Those are just a few of the many ways you could adapt these exercises. You can also adjust the acute variables (resistance, tempo, rest, etc) in order to work the muscles differently.

Don’t forget to add in some shoulder, biceps, and triceps exercises for a great upper body workout!

I hope you are enjoying these Fit Five posts and are learning some new things. I personally gain a lot from writing them.

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Food & Fitness – 03.29.15 Weekly Recap

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food & fitness recap 03.29.15

This is a new type of weekly series that I will be posting that will recap my workouts, food, and any other fun things to note about the previous week. These will be a bit more personal, but maybe you will find it interesting?

Maybe you won’t. You can give me your honest feedback. Either way, it’ll be like an online journal for me to keep track of my training and recipes that I made and liked.

So round 1, here we go! Things from the week of March 29:

WORKOUTS:

  • Sunday: Core Power Hot Yoga Fusion. Super sweaty and awesome.
  • Monday: Hill workout! 2 mile warm-up + 5 rounds of hills + 2 mile cool down. Total = 8.0 miles; 9:11 min/mi pace. I ran into (figuratively, not literally) my little brother during my cool down. He was going for a stroll around Lake of the Isles. We set up happy hour for the next night.
  • Tuesday: Core Power Yoga Sculpt. I got there late (as in, a few minutes before class started), so I was stuck right next to the heater in a super crowded space. It was a good workout, but I essentially had to run out of the room for fresh air afterwards. The picture above is from my refreshing walk back home.
  • Wednesday: Tempo workout! 2 mile warm-up (~9:20 min/mi) + 2.5 x 10-minute tempo intervals (~8:20 min/mi) with 1-minute rest in between + 2.25 mile cool down (10:00 min/mi). Total = 7.5 miles; 9:15 min/mi pace. I was really soaking up that cool down (AKA: going slow), not my strongest performance.
  • Thursday: 45 minute elliptical. I didn’t know I was doing my long run on Friday night until later on Thursday evening; otherwise I’m not sure I would have done this.
  • Friday: Long run! 17.0 miles; 9:20 min/mi pace. This run felt great! I could have gone a few extra miles if I needed to, but I was glad I didn’t have to.
  • Saturday: Core Power Heated Power Yoga. Perfection.

I have been feeling some pain in my left foot and ankle during my runs recently, so I have been limiting my running to workouts and long runs only during the last few weeks. It felt much better this last week, so I’m hoping to increase the frequency this coming week. I didn’t get as much strength training in as I would typically like (just the sculpt class), but did get some great yoga sessions in. Overall, a good set of workouts this week.

FOOD:

I tend to have the same skeleton of meals – smoothies for breakfast, fruit for morning snacks, salads or soups for lunches, vegetables for snacks, and vegetables with eggs for dinner. I just make sure to switch up the fruit, vegetables, and protein from week-to-week. Sometimes I’ll get inspired by a new recipe and make that, but the variety in fruits and vegetables keeps me interested.

With that said I usually eat the same thing everyday throughout the week, but I really don’t mind because everything tastes good.

  • Breakfasts: Smoothies consisting of 1 cup unsweetened almond coconut milk, 1 scoop Sunwarrior vanilla protein powder, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, 2 handfuls kale, 1 frozen banana, and ¼ frozen avocado.
  • Mid-Morning Snacks: 1 navel orange.
  • Lunches: This paleo detox salad with some quinoa added in.
  • Afternoon Snacks: Sugar snap peas, mini sweet bell peppers, and hummus.
  • Dinners: A mixed bag this week depending on what my plans were. The majority consisted of sautéed vegetables (cabbage, kale, mushrooms, broccoli, and peppers) with poached eggs, but then there were some happy hours in place of dinners too.
  • Indulgences:
    • Tuesday night happy hour at Lago Tacos (chips & dips with a carnitas taco) on a patio!
    • Wednesday night wine and appetizers at La Grolla (Carpaccio di Manzo and Capesante) on another patio!
    • Some post-dinner molten fudge cake filled cookies. I got the cookie dough free at work and then stored the package in my freezer. I sneak them for dessert every so often. You’re not supposed to eat them raw, so don’t do that. Ummm… don’t judge me.
    • My brother’s 30th birthday celebration on Saturday night that consisted of smoked pork sandwiches, German potato salad, baked beans, and tres leches cake. So, so, so, so, soooo good. Everything.

OTHER THINGS:

My aunt Linda is doing a 30-day Just J.Faye challenge where she is doing a workout from the blog everyday! This makes me so happy. She started with the burpee run, which is (in my opinion) one of the hardest ones. I’m excited to hear about all her experiences.

I hope you are all having a lovely Easter!

Did you get to any patios this week? Have you run outside in shorts yet?

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Coconut Quinoa Matcha Parfaits + My 1-Year Blogiversary!

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It has been one year (ONE YEAR!!) since I have launched Just J.Faye. It’s just insane. What an incredible year it has been.

But more on that later, first these coconut quinoa matcha parfaits.

Coconut Quinoa Matcha Parfaits

These parfaits are just little jars of happiness – delicious, healthy, easy, pretty. The whole package, right here.

This is what we have going on in these jars:

  • Layer 1 = quinoa cooked with coconut milk.
  • Layer 2 = coconut Greek yogurt mixed with matcha powder and chopped banana.
  • Layer 3 = whipped coconut cream.
  • Layer 4 = sprinkles of flaked coconut and chopped pistachios.

Prepare each layer then go ahead and assemble! You can even make everything in advance the night before, store in the refrigerator in separate containers, and then put them together in the morning. Easy!

Coconut Quinoa Matcha Parfaits

Plus, things just taste better in jars, don’t they?

No, it’ll taste the same in a bowl, but jars are fun.

Coconut Quinoa Matcha Parfaits

By the way, did you notice all the ingredients? Quinoa and Greek yogurt for protein, matcha powder for energy and antioxidants, and coconut for healthy fats. Isn’t it just the best when delicious and pretty food is good for you?! Kinda like this salad.

Coconut Quinoa Matcha Parfaits

Oddly enough my first recipe way back 1 year ago also included quinoa, bananas, nuts, and coconut. Coincidence? Sort of. I was dreaming up these little parfaits for a few weeks and once I realized the similarities between the two recipes, I knew it would be perfect to post as my 1-year “blogiversary” recipe.

I have learned SO MUCH in the past year – about photography (ummm… have you noticed here to here), recipe development, exercise, SEO (I know what it means now), work/life/blog balance, blogging in general, etc. It’s just been so much fun. I still have a lot to learn, but I’m pretty excited about it.

Thank you to everyone who has been following along from the start, to everyone who has picked up along the way, to everyone who has made a recipe or tried a workout, to everyone who has commented on/pinned/linked/shared posts, to everyone who just stopped by that one time for 5 seconds. I love you all.

I’m looking forward to a great Year 2 here on Just J.Faye and I hope you are too!

Coconut Quinoa Matcha Parfaits

Let’s go make ourselves a happy, healthy little breakfast treat, pour a cup of coffee, and be glad.

Coconut Quinoa Matcha Parfaits + My 1-Year Blogiversary!
 
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These Coconut Quinoa Matcha Parfaits are layers of coconut quinoa, matcha coconut Greek yogurt, and whipped coconut cream - a healthy and delicious breakfast!
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Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • ½ cup quinoa, rinsed
  • ¾ cup + ¼ cup lite coconut milk, divided
  • 5.3 oz coconut Greek yogurt
  • 1 banana, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon matcha powder
  • 1 can full fat coconut milk, chilled overnight
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • Additional toppings: unsweetened coconut flakes and chopped pistachios
Instructions
  1. For the coconut quinoa: In a small saucepot stir together the quinoa and ¾ cup of lite coconut milk. Bring to a boil, decrease to simmer, cover, and let sit for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to use.
  2. For the matcha Greek yogurt: In a small bowl stir together the coconut Greek yogurt, chopped banana, and matcha powder until well combined. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to use.
  3. For the coconut whipped cream: Flip the can of chilled coconut milk upside-down. Open the can and pour the water out to another container. Save for another use. Place the cream in the bowl of an electric mixer. Mix with a hand blender or a stand-up mixer until it reaches the consistency of whipped cream. Add the vanilla extract and mix until combined. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to use.
  4. To assemble: Split the coconut quinoa into two bowls (or mason jars!), then divide the matcha Greek yogurt between the two. Top with coconut whipped cream, coconut flakes, and chopped pistachios.
Notes
Everything can be prepared the night before, stored separately in the fridge, and then assembled in the morning!

To make this vegan, use almond or coconut yogurt instead of Greek yogurt.

If you are not a coconut fan, feel free to use almond milk instead of coconut milk in the quinoa, vanilla or plain Greek yogurt instead of coconut Greek yogurt, and regular whipped cream instead of coconut whipped cream. It will still taste delicious!

As if my 1-year blogiversary wasn’t enough to celebrate today, it’s also my big brother’s birthday. He’s one of the most intelligent and frustrating people I know. His hobbies, drive, and sense of humor never cease to surprise me. Today he turns 30.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JON! I’m excited to celebrate later today.

happy birthday jon

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Thursday Things 04.02.15

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Thursday Things 04.02.15

I have great news: patio season has officially begun! I took my little brother out for happy hour at Lago’s Tacos to celebrate the 60-degree weather. Amazing. Then last night it was 70 (!!!) and I made my way to another patio. It got cut a little bit short because of the rain and lightning. But still, patio! I just want to be outside every second of the day – running, drinking, sitting, walking, it doesn’t matter. Just give me that warmth and sunshine.

In other great news: these links are pretty cool.

AND! Make sure to read this post about City Running Tours. And then sign up for one. It’s fun, I promise.

I hope you make it to a patio ASAP, especially before it dips back to the 40s.

<3Jenna

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