That, with leftover pork, cheese, avocado, salsa, and sour cream (you can see my packed up lunch leftovers here) was DELICIOUS!! Good lord, I forgot how good rice and a little meat can taste. Especially Mexican flavors.
Pork and Rice
One of the leftover dinner nights was the pork chile verde over rice. When we finished the chile verde in the crockpot, it was very wet. I separated it into the "meat" and the "juice/sauce". When I made the rice tonight, I used half water and half "juice/sauce".
That, with leftover pork, cheese, avocado, salsa, and sour cream (you can see my packed up lunch leftovers here) was DELICIOUS!! Good lord, I forgot how good rice and a little meat can taste. Especially Mexican flavors.
That, with leftover pork, cheese, avocado, salsa, and sour cream (you can see my packed up lunch leftovers here) was DELICIOUS!! Good lord, I forgot how good rice and a little meat can taste. Especially Mexican flavors.
Are Salads a Big Part of Your Life? and a Roasted Kabocha Squash, Dried Fig and Walnut Salad
I make an effort to eat at least one huge salad just about every day. Besides finding them delicious (and you will too if you know how to make a kick arse salad!), they provide an endless variety of low calorie, high volume food for me to enjoy. Since I have never eaten like a bird, it is very important for me to eat “volumetrically.” Like Doug Lisle says, eat your raw veggies first (the salad!), your cooked veggies next, and then your whole grains third. It’s almost impossible to over consume calories that way!
A salad can be a feast. A meal. Dinner. Not just a side dish or an appetizer or, heaven forbid, a garnish. Unfortunately, for many, the word salad conjures up visions of limp lettuce on a plate with nothing but a slice of tomato, a slice of cucumber and a white goopy dressing. And given what is typically served as a salad in a restaurant, I can hardly blame them!
Salads can be extremely quick to prepare and relatively economical. They can become one of your favorite meals, if you learn the basics of building a nutrient dense salad.
There are 4 major components to building a meal sized salad. You cannot mess this up. Use whatever you like or whatever you want to experiment with. It’s all good! The four components are: the greens, the other vegetables and fresh fruit, the beans, and the dressing.
The Greens
Romaine lettuce, green and red leaf lettuces, butter lettuce, spinach, arugula, spring mix or bibb lettuce. Choose one or a mix of two. This is the largest component of the salad, so fill the bowl at least ¾ full of raw leafy greens.
The Other Veggies/Fruit/Herbs
Raw or cooked, throw handfuls of them on top of the greens. Raw vegetables include, but are not limited to shredded green or red cabbage, mushrooms, scallions, red onion, carrots, tomato, radishes, chopped cauliflower, broccoli, finely chopped kale, celery, cucumber, hearts of palm and bean sprouts. Whatever you like!
Cooked and roasted vegetables of all varieties are also wonderful in salads. You can prepare them especially for use in your salad or just use up whatever happens to be in your refrigerator that day! Great examples are roasted cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, beets, carrots and onions. Roasted sweet potato or butternut squash or frozen corn that has been defrosted can be tossed in. Artichoke hearts packed in water are also scrumptious.
Even fresh fruit like diced apple, diced pear, orange segments, blueberries, and strawberries and/or chopped fresh herbs can take a salad from “so-so” to “oh wow!
The Beans
Black beans, edamame, garbanzo beans (chick peas), cannellini beans, pinto beans and kidney beans are all great in salads. Beans can be purchased canned, you just need to drain and rinse them before tossing them in. If you are ambitious, you can buy dried beans and cook them yourself in larger batches. This saves mucho dinero but involves planning and time that I rarely have.
The Dressing
So many amazing no-oil salad dressing recipes are now at your fingertips. Many do include nuts or tahini, so watch out for those ingredients if you need to. My blog readers and I compiled “The Big List of No-oil Salad Dressings” a few months ago. I recommend printing that list out and inserting the pages into plastic page protectors (available at office supply stores). Maybe put them into a small binder. Keep these pages handy in your kitchen so you are never at a loss for a new and exciting dressing recipe.
Link to The Big List of No-oil Salad Dressings
A word about salad “indulgences” like dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, currants, etc), seeds and/or nuts: use these very sparingly or not at all if you would like to lose weight or have chronic disease.
Time Saving Tips
Storage
I like to wash and store a lot of lettuce at a time. I don’t buy pre-washed or cut lettuce, I think it’s treated with chemicals and it’s way to expensive. I use a Progressive Lettuce Keeper to store washed and torn lettuce and green bags to store all of my other vegetables. These newfangled storage products have worked amazingly well for me to extend the life of my vegetables.
Pre-washed baby spinach and spring mix can be purchased in large boxes–no chopping involved or storage issues, just grab and go.
Purchase pre-cut items
Every grocery store is different, but I’ll give you an example of what I picked up at a recent Trader Joe’s trip: shredded carrots, shredded green cabbage, cooked beets, cauliflower florets, and broccoli florets.
Own at least one very large salad bowl
My everyday bowl is very large ceramic bowl that I threw myself when I was a potter (another lifetime ago!). I own another humongous one for serving a crowd. These bowls can be plastic or ceramic.
My very large salad bowl holds enough salad for my husband and I for one dinner if all we are eating is salad. If a soup, stew, sauteed greens dish or casserole is also on the menu, that same salad would last us for two nights.
Salad is a great make ahead meal
Don’t dress all of your salad unless you are sure you are going to eat it. My undressed salads last for days in it’s big bowl in the refrigerator, which means you can prepare a lot of salad and not have to worry about it for days. Oftentimes I will make salad in the morning before leaving for work so that my evenings are more relaxed. Plus I’m usually extremely hungry when I walk in the door and having healthy food at the ready means that I am far more likely to make good choices.
Prepare Dressing in Advance (and a lot of it)
Consider making a double batch of no-oil salad dressing. You could store it in the refrigerator in a big canning jar and feel so hip. Use it up until it’s gone and then make another. Not only will this save you oodles of time, it will save you oodles of money on bottled dressings that don’t taste one iota as good as the dressings on The Big List of No-oil Salad Dressing.
Chop it if you Wanna
Have you ever had one of those wonderful chopped salads in a restaurant? If you don’t like the idea of doing all that chewing every day, simply take all of your salad bowl ingredients (before the dressing) and lay them onto a large cutting board. Dice and chop your heart out, scoop the salad back into the bowl and dress it. Viola! A wonderful meal sized chopped salad.
Some great salads:
Roasted Beet and Cranberry Salad
Outside In Salad
Mexican Jicama and Orange Salad
Chinese No Chicken Salad
Roasted Kabocha Squash, Dried Fig and Walnut Salad
serves 3 for dinner, 6 as a starter
Print me!
1 large head romaine lettuce or two small heads green leaf or red leaf lettuce, washed and chopped
1 large kabocha squash, roasted, cut into bite sized pieces
6 large stalks celery, cut into 1" thick slices on a diagonal
1/2 cup dried figs, sliced thin
1/4-1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
Chef Aj's house dressing (get that recipe below) or dressing of your choice
To roast your kabocha squash:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Wash the exterior of the squash and cut in half. Remove seeds. Do not remove the skin of kabocha squash, it's perfectly edible!
Cut squash into even slices (they will look like half-moons) about 1" thick. Spray two cookie sheets with cooking spray and arrange squash slices in one layer onto cookie sheets. Spray squash lightly with cooking spray and sprinkle with a touch of salt and pepper. Roast for 30 minutes.
Let squash cool a bit and then cut into bite sized pieces. Place lettuce, roasted squash, figs and walnuts into a large salad bowl. Dress with Chef Aj's House dressing or dressing of your choice. Enjoy!
Chef Aj's House Dressing
1 Tbsp maple syrup or 2 small dates
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
1/4 cup tahini
1/2 cup water
6 Tbsp lemon or lime juice
1/4 cup stone ground mustard
1/4 cup low sodium Tamari or low sodium soy sauce
Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
So, how often are you eating a big salad?
Do you have a favorite group of ingredients in your salad? If so, what is the combination of things that sends you to the moon?
Should we as a group create The Big List of Salad Ideas just like we created The Big List of No-oil Salad Dressings and the Big List of Green Smoothies?
W.O.W.: Staying motivated
44 degrees. At 6 a.m. This morning. January 31.
Days like today are made for running. Even though I didn't have any miles on tap because parent-teacher conferences are shaking up my schedule, I found myself digging out the capris and lacing up my sneakers. It would be a shame to squander such a gift, I thought to myself.
Not every day is like today, where I find myself genuinely excited to run and so antsy to get out there that I can't even wait until Mark leaves for work. There are days I have to fight like hell to live the life I've created. The life I want to live.
When I went through the comments for Words of Wisdom (W.O.W.) week, I was surprised to see just how many were related to motivation.You wanted to know how I got motivated and stay motivated. You wanted the key.
An annoying dog. I know I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again: the thought of wearing the crap out of Denali is enough to make me want to run a marathon some mornings.
Set new goals. Maybe you wanted to run 3 miles and now you can. Think about running a 10K. Maybe you have hit your goal weight. Think about toning or taking on a new workout challenge or lifting more weights. After running my second half marathon, I set a goal to run a third and do it in less than 2 hours. Always having something to work toward gives me a reason to keep going.
If all else fails, give yourself a good talking to. I was reading Runner's World in the bath after my run this morning, and I was struck by something Kate Gosselin said. The mother of 8, who was this month's "I'm a Runner" feature, said, "If I say to myself, 'I don't feel like running today,' I'll say out loud, 'Are you a quitter? No. Are you a champion? Yes! Then why are you thinking about quitting? I'm not.' I'll say this over and over."
What are your tricks for staying motivated?
Tomorrow: How I got motivated.
Days like today are made for running. Even though I didn't have any miles on tap because parent-teacher conferences are shaking up my schedule, I found myself digging out the capris and lacing up my sneakers. It would be a shame to squander such a gift, I thought to myself.
Not every day is like today, where I find myself genuinely excited to run and so antsy to get out there that I can't even wait until Mark leaves for work. There are days I have to fight like hell to live the life I've created. The life I want to live.
When I went through the comments for Words of Wisdom (W.O.W.) week, I was surprised to see just how many were related to motivation.You wanted to know how I got motivated and stay motivated. You wanted the key.
The truth is: I’m not sure I have one. It's just that I've assembled a powerful arsenal, if you will, to keep me going.
Fear. No matter how much I’ve tried, I cannot shake the fat girl. I worry that I will gain back the weight I lost or slip in terms of eating and exercise. I don’t want to lose who I have become and the pride I feel in her just because “I don’t feel like it” or “I can’t take it anymore.” When I was training for my first half marathon, I was so scared that I wouldn't finish that I wouldn't dare run even tenth of a mile less than the plan dictated.
Accountability. It’s not so much about motivation but learning to be accountable to yourself. If I choose not to work out, it is me making the decision. If I order a large chocolate malt, it’s my decision. And to flip that reasoning on the side, it’s not Mother Nature dropping a thunderstorm on your area the day of a run just to ruin your run. Your husband wasn’t acting like an asshole so you’d eat a pint of Ben & Jerry’s. OK. Maybe he was but then he wasn’t acting like an asshole – he is an asshole (another topic all together).
Passion. I personally like to run. I like the challenge, seeing myself get better and the structure of a training plan. If someone told me that the only way to lose weight was to swim, I’d be a million pounds because swimming is very often a suckfest for me.
Tangible ways to measure success. For the past two years, I have tracked nearly every mile and recorded my pace in an Excel spreadsheet. It's not only useful for training purposes but for motivation. When I get down on myself for not running the way I did pre-Miles, I can look back and see how far I've come since my first brutal post-baby run. Carrie just posted about being frustrated with the scale and then saw a pleasant surprise when she took her measurements. This works, too, with a weight tracker. You might have had a bad week but how has the scale looked over the course of a month?
Treat yourself. And don't forget to celebrate the gains you see when tracking. There's nothing like new gear to make you want to workout.My very generous BFF sent me a pair of running sleeves and a running skirt for Christmas, and I've been dying to wear them ever since. This morning's mild weather was just what I needed to try them out. On the other side of things, I remember the first time I tried a pair of size 10 jeans and they fit. A new pair of jeans was just what I needed in the middle of my journey.
Treat yourself. And don't forget to celebrate the gains you see when tracking. There's nothing like new gear to make you want to workout.My very generous BFF sent me a pair of running sleeves and a running skirt for Christmas, and I've been dying to wear them ever since. This morning's mild weather was just what I needed to try them out. On the other side of things, I remember the first time I tried a pair of size 10 jeans and they fit. A new pair of jeans was just what I needed in the middle of my journey.
Friendly competition. Enlist a friend in your efforts … and then try to beat her. When BFF and I were doing WW, and her success helped motivate me to do what I needed. The desire to beat her at the weigh-in (sorry, love) helped motivate me to do more. I find the same thing in terms of running.I have a co-worker who is a lifelong runner and goes out 5 to 6 days a week. On the days he runs, he will walk past me and quote his mileage. I love being able to “one up” him.
An annoying dog. I know I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again: the thought of wearing the crap out of Denali is enough to make me want to run a marathon some mornings.
Set new goals. Maybe you wanted to run 3 miles and now you can. Think about running a 10K. Maybe you have hit your goal weight. Think about toning or taking on a new workout challenge or lifting more weights. After running my second half marathon, I set a goal to run a third and do it in less than 2 hours. Always having something to work toward gives me a reason to keep going.
If all else fails, give yourself a good talking to. I was reading Runner's World in the bath after my run this morning, and I was struck by something Kate Gosselin said. The mother of 8, who was this month's "I'm a Runner" feature, said, "If I say to myself, 'I don't feel like running today,' I'll say out loud, 'Are you a quitter? No. Are you a champion? Yes! Then why are you thinking about quitting? I'm not.' I'll say this over and over."
What are your tricks for staying motivated?
Tomorrow: How I got motivated.
Roast Vegetables and Stir-Fry Asian Greens and COOKIES!!
I love vegetables. I bet you didn't know that. :)
This week from the CSA we got some baby beets, baby scarlet turnips, and cauliflower. I decided it would be tasty to roast them all in olive oil with some onions and garlic. But the baby beets were so...baby...I mean, they were all beet greens, that I was perplexed. So. I composted them. The remaining veggies were great! I roasted for about 40 minutes at 400F.
We also got some great Asian greens. Kale, baby bok choy, tatsoi. I love baby bok choi and tatsoi. I stir-fried them quickly and put some of Trader Joe's Island Soyaki sauce on them delish! And in the same Trader Joe's vein, we had breaded chicken cutlets.
I was also craving something sweet yesterday. Bad me. I thought about cookies, and where better to look than Love Veggies and Yoga. I mean, all the desserts Averie makes - she's a pro. I found her recipe for Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip cookies, and the rest was history! I cooked mine a little longer than she did, but they were still tasty. My only regret is that I made bagels on Saturday and needed only egg white for that, but I needed an extra yolk on Sunday for the cookies. Next time, I'll make them on the same day.
This week from the CSA we got some baby beets, baby scarlet turnips, and cauliflower. I decided it would be tasty to roast them all in olive oil with some onions and garlic. But the baby beets were so...baby...I mean, they were all beet greens, that I was perplexed. So. I composted them. The remaining veggies were great! I roasted for about 40 minutes at 400F.
We also got some great Asian greens. Kale, baby bok choy, tatsoi. I love baby bok choi and tatsoi. I stir-fried them quickly and put some of Trader Joe's Island Soyaki sauce on them delish! And in the same Trader Joe's vein, we had breaded chicken cutlets.
I was also craving something sweet yesterday. Bad me. I thought about cookies, and where better to look than Love Veggies and Yoga. I mean, all the desserts Averie makes - she's a pro. I found her recipe for Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip cookies, and the rest was history! I cooked mine a little longer than she did, but they were still tasty. My only regret is that I made bagels on Saturday and needed only egg white for that, but I needed an extra yolk on Sunday for the cookies. Next time, I'll make them on the same day.
Lemon Coconut Chia Seed Muffins
Lately I've been really into making muffins. For one thing, I feel like they are a no-so-bad-in-the-scheme-of-things treat for my kids. They work really well in a lunch box, and I am filling up three of those every morning. And they provide a way of satisfying my sweet tooth without going overboard.
I'm a big fan of the Lemon Poppyseed muffin from way back. You know, those big over sized muffins that we thought were healthy when we were really eating the equivalent of a big hunk of birthday cake?
So when a recipe for Lemon Chia Seed muffins came to my attention while I was on vacation at the end of last year, I immediately put it on my list of must-makes. Plus I'm on a chia seed mission these days. Inspiration came in the form of this recipe from the blog Peas and Thank You (thanks Sarah for recommending them!). I have become a master at eliminating the added fat in my baked goods, so I knew I could give this one a shot.
The last remaining no-no in my baked goods is the sugar. These muffins have a scant tsp and a third of maple syrup per muffin. Not bad! I didn't have any lemon extract in the house, but no biggie! I used my trusty coconut extract instead for a more tropical effect. This one's a keeper!
Lemon Coconut Chia Seed Muffins
makes 12 muffins
adapted from this recipe from Peas and Thank You
Print me!
dry ingredients:
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour or white whole wheat flour
3/4 cup barley flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup chia seeds
wet ingredients:
1/2 cup unsweetened almond or soy milk
1 1/2 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
2/3 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp coconut extract
1 Tbsp lemon zest (or zest of 1 small lemon)
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.
In a large bowl, place all dry ingredients and stir to combine well.
In a medium bowl, place all wet ingredients and whisk to combine well.
Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
Fill each well of a muffin tin that has been lined with cupcake liners 2/3 of the way full. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until slightly golden in color and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Want more muffin recipes? Check out these HGK muffin recipes:
I love muffins! What varieties am I missing? Let me know and I will make 'em!
1. Discover that the White Chicken Chili that you put in the slow cooker is still there ... completely uncooked. I swear that I turned it on - I heard the beep-beep-beep as I set it - yet the chicken showed no signs of being cooked. I guess I won't be following my menu this week. Thank goodness I had a serving of Daily Garnish's Indian-Spiced Chili and a stockpile of Smart Ones in the freezer to get me through the week.
2. Learn that your dog has found the hole in the fence again. There is one spot where Denali can sneak through some brush and get out. And that's just what he did at 5:30 this morning. I had to go over into the neighbor's yard in my bath robe and Mark's sneakers with some vanilla wafers to lure him back home.
3. Have your hands full with an inconsolable baby. Miles didn't want to eat. He didn't want to be held. He didn't want to watch "Sesame Streets" on DVD. All he wanted to do was scream and writhe. And, before you ask, yes. Yes, he's teething. He has two little sharp ones poking through the gums but they aren't all the way in. Thank heavens I found thewhiskey Baby Orajel. After 45 minutes, I got him to take a bottle and a short nap.
Side note: When I came down from putting Miles in his crib, I found Denali chewing the Orajel I guess I no longer have that in my arsenal.
4. Find that your legs rival that of your dog's in terms of fuzziness. Not so much a problem unless you are planning to wear a skirt to work. Which I was. I considered throwing on some tights and letting the itchy hair poke through but Miles' nap (albeit brief) gave me just enough time to bathe and shave.
5. Realize that you'll get nothing accomplished on your rest day because the morning rivals the weekend's Mizpah Shrine Circus. Really, who needs a tiger jumping through flaming hoops when you have a fiery red head spewing oatmeal across the room?
2. Learn that your dog has found the hole in the fence again. There is one spot where Denali can sneak through some brush and get out. And that's just what he did at 5:30 this morning. I had to go over into the neighbor's yard in my bath robe and Mark's sneakers with some vanilla wafers to lure him back home.
3. Have your hands full with an inconsolable baby. Miles didn't want to eat. He didn't want to be held. He didn't want to watch "Sesame Streets" on DVD. All he wanted to do was scream and writhe. And, before you ask, yes. Yes, he's teething. He has two little sharp ones poking through the gums but they aren't all the way in. Thank heavens I found the
Side note: When I came down from putting Miles in his crib, I found Denali chewing the Orajel I guess I no longer have that in my arsenal.
4. Find that your legs rival that of your dog's in terms of fuzziness. Not so much a problem unless you are planning to wear a skirt to work. Which I was. I considered throwing on some tights and letting the itchy hair poke through but Miles' nap (albeit brief) gave me just enough time to bathe and shave.
5. Realize that you'll get nothing accomplished on your rest day because the morning rivals the weekend's Mizpah Shrine Circus. Really, who needs a tiger jumping through flaming hoops when you have a fiery red head spewing oatmeal across the room?
A good run and celebrity sighting
There are two things you should know about this weekend.
No. 1: I ran 9 miles (9.2, actually) for the "fun" of it.
No. 2: I met the winner of the marathon Olympic Trials, Shalane Flanagan.
Which do you want to hear about first? Did I hear the batch of White Chicken Chili that I just threw in the slow cooker?
Sorry. You'll have to check out my new menu page.
So back to my weekend. I ran 9.2 miles and met Shalane Flanagan. Since I ran first, let me chat about that. OK? OK!
I had 8 miles on the schedule for today, and I was counting on the run going as my Sunday runs have for the past few weeks - Mark joins me for the first few miles, shares stroller pushing duties and then baby wrangles while I finish up. However, Mr. Mark woke up with a 101 degree fever and running was out of the question. I was already feeling pangs of mother's guilt for leaving Miles all afternoon so I thought I'd take him and Denali for all 8 miles.
Of course, I was naive in this plan because I assumed that Miles would sleep for the entire run. Yeah. Not so much. I noticed that he was awake at 3.75 and at 4.5 miles in, he let me know that he was not happy and was not going to be a part of an 8-mile run. Thankfully, I was relatively close to home and I was able to drop him off just after 6 miles.
I feared that the last two miles would be difficult. My legs, already tired from Body Pump, would be fatigued from the stroller's resistance (+pushing it in the snow) and my mental game would not be there. However, as I set off alone, I had one of those rare moments in running. I felt like I could run forever. I was enjoying the activity so much that I missed my turnaround and ended up at 9 miles.
Crazy, right?
Onto No. 2. I met Shalane Flanagan.
She was the keynote speaker at the track club banquet and my new BFF. I mean, it was written in the stars - we have the same shirt from Target.
Shalane had a lot of great things to say, and she is very much a testament to hard work and believing in yourself. I took notes on the things she said but I'm too tired to go get them. It's not like you need a book report, though - just look at those arms!
How was your weekend?
No. 1: I ran 9 miles (9.2, actually) for the "fun" of it.
No. 2: I met the winner of the marathon Olympic Trials, Shalane Flanagan.
Which do you want to hear about first? Did I hear the batch of White Chicken Chili that I just threw in the slow cooker?
Sorry. You'll have to check out my new menu page.
So back to my weekend. I ran 9.2 miles and met Shalane Flanagan. Since I ran first, let me chat about that. OK? OK!
I had 8 miles on the schedule for today, and I was counting on the run going as my Sunday runs have for the past few weeks - Mark joins me for the first few miles, shares stroller pushing duties and then baby wrangles while I finish up. However, Mr. Mark woke up with a 101 degree fever and running was out of the question. I was already feeling pangs of mother's guilt for leaving Miles all afternoon so I thought I'd take him and Denali for all 8 miles.
Of course, I was naive in this plan because I assumed that Miles would sleep for the entire run. Yeah. Not so much. I noticed that he was awake at 3.75 and at 4.5 miles in, he let me know that he was not happy and was not going to be a part of an 8-mile run. Thankfully, I was relatively close to home and I was able to drop him off just after 6 miles.
I feared that the last two miles would be difficult. My legs, already tired from Body Pump, would be fatigued from the stroller's resistance (+pushing it in the snow) and my mental game would not be there. However, as I set off alone, I had one of those rare moments in running. I felt like I could run forever. I was enjoying the activity so much that I missed my turnaround and ended up at 9 miles.
Crazy, right?
Onto No. 2. I met Shalane Flanagan.
She was the keynote speaker at the track club banquet and my new BFF. I mean, it was written in the stars - we have the same shirt from Target.
Shalane had a lot of great things to say, and she is very much a testament to hard work and believing in yourself. I took notes on the things she said but I'm too tired to go get them. It's not like you need a book report, though - just look at those arms!
How was your weekend?
And the Winner of The Vegan Slow Cooker is . . .
Thank you to everyone who left a comment and entered my blogger giveaway for a copy of Kathy Hester's The Vegan Slow Cooker. I've got Kathy's Carrot Cake and Zucchini Bread Oatmeal in my slow cooker right now and I can't wait for tomorrow morning.
The winner is entry number 79, Sara, who made the following comment:
"1) I use mine to cook a batch of dried beans every week. After cooking, I put it in pyrex, and then use the beans all week. Sometimes in the winter, I use it to cook a single serving of steel-cut oats (using this method:http://annkroeker.com/2008/03/25/overnight-crockp... overnight for me to eat before work. I also use mine as an "air freshener" in the kitchen, often after cooking the beans! Basically, fill your crockpot with water, baking soda, and a bit of an extract (I usually use peppermint extract), turn on low (WITHOUT the cover on), and allow it to rid your kitchen of cooking smells.
2) I'm pretty confident in modification, but not so much in developing my own recipes. Creating my own recipes is something I'd like to work more on. I always stir-fry with vegetable
So Sara, please e-mail me at healthygirlskitchen@gmail.com to claim your prize!
Have an excellent week everybody. Back tomorrow with another muffin recipe to go with all of these soups and stews we're all making.
Have an excellent week everybody. Back tomorrow with another muffin recipe to go with all of these soups and stews we're all making.
Pork Chile Verde Tacos and Refreshing Salad
I used this recipe, edited a bit. I only had 2 lbs of pork, and I used a full can of enchilada sauce. So I ended up omitting the beer, the salsa verde, and the green chiles and tomatoes. I think it would have been spicier with all of that, but the family likes it mild. Gotta figure out how to spice things up on the side for me. Even though it was 75F today, I enjoyed using my crockpot.
I was on fire today, with grocery shopping, making chile verde, making bagels, doing a ton of quilting, and walking 2 miles to the park so my son could play. Yay for me!
The cost of the chile verde was about $14.50 (filling only). $12 for the pork loin, $2 for the enchilada sauce, about $0.50 for the spices. I topped it with sliced green onions, sliced radishes from the CSA, cheese, and guacamole. I estimate it will be about 4 or 5 meals (lunches/dinners). I saved the meat in one container and the juices in another to use to flavor cooked rice. My boss and my coworker brought me avocados 2 weeks ago, and darn it if they all didn't ripen on exactly the same day. So I have 5 ripe avos in the fridge, and hope they last for the next 5 days.
The refreshing salad had lettuce, arugula, macadamia nuts, tangerines from our tree, carrots, and a rice-wine vinaigrette dressing (vinegar, oil, pepper, garlic powder).
Go random or go home
I think I'm a little late to the party but I was tagged by a lovely gal to share 11 random things about myself. As there's a lot of new followers out there, I thought this would be a great way to share more of myself. (Sorry, no bikini pictures!)
1. I spent my entire pregnancy worried that I wouldn't know I was in labor and, as it turns out, I still don't know what labor feels like. The doctors decided to induce me at 39 weeks because they thought Miles was too small but we had some heart rate issues and I had a C-section.
2. I keep a pair of tweezers in my car so that I can pluck stray eyebrow hairs at stop lights. I find the visor mirror and natural light create the optimal environment for grooming.
3. I had a benign tumor in my foot when I was 13. When they did the biopsy, the doctors found a small piece of a toothpick.
4. I know there are built in undies but I always were undergarments with running shorts.
5. I have never been to Las Vegas and, to be honest, the idea of spending a trip gambling bores me to tears.
6. I have watched every episode of "Sex and the City" more times than I can count and I often find myself referencing the show at very random times. Also, I recognized the one chick from "Two Broke Girls" because of a guest appearance on SATC.
7. I hate winter. The cold temperatures, winter coats and snow.
8. But I kind of like shoveling snow. Maybe because I know it's a good workout?
9. I did not brush my hair before Body Pump this morning. I did, however, brush my teeth.
10. My BP pants were far too long and I spent the entire class (+Zumba) rolling them up. I really should hem them ... and I can. My grandma taught me how to sew when I was young, and I have made all sorts of things - dresses, skirts, curtains, pillow cases.
11. I went shopping this afternoon at Marshall's and picked up two dresses, a tank, a chiffon open cardigan thingy, an Asics short-sleeve running top and a pair of Steve Madden wedges - all for $50. Holla.
As part of this dealeyo, I'm supposed to answer some questions from Lisa.
I'm supposed to tag people but Miles is getting squirmy and I'm hoping I can shove some sweet potatoes down his throat.
And a random question for the moms out there, any tips on getting a little guy to eat solids? Miles could care less about cereal, fruit or veggies. He just wants formula, which is so awesome because it's so affordable. Not. Maybe I shouldn't have quit breast feeding ... ARG.
1. I spent my entire pregnancy worried that I wouldn't know I was in labor and, as it turns out, I still don't know what labor feels like. The doctors decided to induce me at 39 weeks because they thought Miles was too small but we had some heart rate issues and I had a C-section.
2. I keep a pair of tweezers in my car so that I can pluck stray eyebrow hairs at stop lights. I find the visor mirror and natural light create the optimal environment for grooming.
3. I had a benign tumor in my foot when I was 13. When they did the biopsy, the doctors found a small piece of a toothpick.
4. I know there are built in undies but I always were undergarments with running shorts.
5. I have never been to Las Vegas and, to be honest, the idea of spending a trip gambling bores me to tears.
6. I have watched every episode of "Sex and the City" more times than I can count and I often find myself referencing the show at very random times. Also, I recognized the one chick from "Two Broke Girls" because of a guest appearance on SATC.
7. I hate winter. The cold temperatures, winter coats and snow.
8. But I kind of like shoveling snow. Maybe because I know it's a good workout?
9. I did not brush my hair before Body Pump this morning. I did, however, brush my teeth.
10. My BP pants were far too long and I spent the entire class (+Zumba) rolling them up. I really should hem them ... and I can. My grandma taught me how to sew when I was young, and I have made all sorts of things - dresses, skirts, curtains, pillow cases.
11. I went shopping this afternoon at Marshall's and picked up two dresses, a tank, a chiffon open cardigan thingy, an Asics short-sleeve running top and a pair of Steve Madden wedges - all for $50. Holla.
As part of this dealeyo, I'm supposed to answer some questions from Lisa.
1. If you could change your first name, what name would you choose? Umm ... I have no idea. Maybe Stella.
2. Do you have siblings? If so, how many? One brother. Jim. Or Bubba. Or Van Halen.
3. What's your favorite flavor of ice cream? All of them. More specifically, anything from Graeter's in Cincinnati. Still not good enough, pumpkin from Graeter's.
4. Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Milk
5. What's your dream job? Working in the marketing department for a race group.
6. Do you take compliments well? NO.
7. What is your favorite physical attribute? My fingernail. The right pinky one.
8. Which article of clothing do you own that always makes you feel beautiful? I always feel fantastic in a good pair of heels.
9. Dogs or cats? Dogs
10. Have you broken any bones? Which ones and how old were you? Nope
11. Absolute favorite vacation spot (or dream vacation spot)? Savannah, Georgia
I'm supposed to tag people but Miles is getting squirmy and I'm hoping I can shove some sweet potatoes down his throat.
And a random question for the moms out there, any tips on getting a little guy to eat solids? Miles could care less about cereal, fruit or veggies. He just wants formula, which is so awesome because it's so affordable. Not. Maybe I shouldn't have quit breast feeding ... ARG.
Healthy Spirits: New Arrivals
Lots of good stuff today!
1. Brasserie DuPont Posca Rustica
2. Brasserie DuPont Monk's Stout
3. Jester King Black Metal Imperial Stout
4. Jester King Wytchmaker Rye IPA
5. Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere
6. Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca
7. Hogan's Dry Cider
8. Bayrischer Banhof Berliner Weisse with Brettanomyces Lambicus (Special Limited Edition!)
9. Leipziger Gose
10. Dieu Du Ciel Peche Mortel Imperial Coffee Stout
cheers,
dave hauslein
beer manager
415-255-0610
Perks of being married to a teacher
1. You can say things like, "This summer, I think you and Miles should take a 'Mommy & Me' swim class," and the response you get is: Will we need water wings?
2. Early dismissal times mean he has time to go to the grocery and pick up lettuce, tomatoes, Diet Coke and sweet potato fries.
3. You still get to go shopping for school supplies. Lisa Frank folders for everyone!
4. You can feel good knowing that he is shaping the minds of young children ... by assigning "The Hunger Games."
5. You finally get to fill that longing to be a teacher's assistant and help grade papers with an iron red pen. You used the wrong form of "it's"? No points for you!
6. Two-hour delays offer a break for you (and not for him). After ice prompted the district to call a delay yesterday, I got to get in my interval workout on the treadmill, shower in peace and get dressed - all without worrying that Miles was going to fall of the bed.
7. When a 2-hour delay turns into a day off, you find yourself with a lunch date with Mark, Jimmy and John.
As I'm a lady, I first greeted Mark.
And then ravaged Jimmy & John.
I was feeling particularly healthy so I ordered some paper ... err ... a #12 Beach Body Unwich.
Turkey, provolone, avocado spread, cucumbers, sprouts and tomato (hold the mayo) - OH YEAH. This baby clocked in at 199 calories and 9.78 grams of fat (healthy fats, mind you). I would be lying if I said that I didn't miss the bread but I got the things I love most at Jimmy John's - sprouts and avocado spread.
I also had a giant pickle (no, I'm not pregnant) and split a bag of Thinny Chips with my main man, Mark. By the way, those sneaky guys at Jimmy John's should be reprimanded. The bag of Thinny Chips was actually two servings. Had I eaten the entire bag, which would have left no room for the cookie we split, I would have eaten more calories in chips than I did unwich.
What do you get when you go out for a workweek lunch date? Do you have a favorite place?
2. Early dismissal times mean he has time to go to the grocery and pick up lettuce, tomatoes, Diet Coke and sweet potato fries.
3. You still get to go shopping for school supplies. Lisa Frank folders for everyone!
4. You can feel good knowing that he is shaping the minds of young children ... by assigning "The Hunger Games."
5. You finally get to fill that longing to be a teacher's assistant and help grade papers with an iron red pen. You used the wrong form of "it's"? No points for you!
6. Two-hour delays offer a break for you (and not for him). After ice prompted the district to call a delay yesterday, I got to get in my interval workout on the treadmill, shower in peace and get dressed - all without worrying that Miles was going to fall of the bed.
7. When a 2-hour delay turns into a day off, you find yourself with a lunch date with Mark, Jimmy and John.
As I'm a lady, I first greeted Mark.
And then ravaged Jimmy & John.
I was feeling particularly healthy so I ordered some paper ... err ... a #12 Beach Body Unwich.
Turkey, provolone, avocado spread, cucumbers, sprouts and tomato (hold the mayo) - OH YEAH. This baby clocked in at 199 calories and 9.78 grams of fat (healthy fats, mind you). I would be lying if I said that I didn't miss the bread but I got the things I love most at Jimmy John's - sprouts and avocado spread.
I also had a giant pickle (no, I'm not pregnant) and split a bag of Thinny Chips with my main man, Mark. By the way, those sneaky guys at Jimmy John's should be reprimanded. The bag of Thinny Chips was actually two servings. Had I eaten the entire bag, which would have left no room for the cookie we split, I would have eaten more calories in chips than I did unwich.
What do you get when you go out for a workweek lunch date? Do you have a favorite place?
Planning an invasion
It was the "no plan" plan.
For weeks - really since the December Huff, I've been following a very loose training plan. The goal was to keep a respectable base and (hopefully) pick up some speed as I looked toward the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans half marathon relay. As I'm doing an 8-mile leg, I needed to keep up my Sunday long runs but didn't have to fret too much about weekday mileage.
After the March race, it was my plan to train for a spring half marathon. I had set my sights on Cincinnati's Flying Pig, which was my first half, but found myself less than thrilled by the $80 entry free. Nevertheless, I set a loose schedule based on the May race date. I planned for three days a week running, per my "survive winter" plan, and I would keep up with the twice weekly strength sessions.
Of course, that all changed when I registered for the Martian Invasion of the Races half marathon on Tuesday. The Martian race is April 14, nearly a full month before the Flying Pig.
Some things would stay the same - the three days a week running and my scheduled runs ahead of RnR NOLA - but I would have to redo the long run schedule. Based on plans by Hal Higdon and one I found on RunnersWorld.com, I came up with something that will get me to the starting line strong.
As I'm running just three days a week, it's important to have quality runs so I'll be incorporating one speed day. The Runners World three-day plan had one tempo run and one interval run each week but I don't think that's feasible for me fitness-wise nor schedule-wise. Seriously, who wants to push a jogging stroller for 8x400? Not me.
I kept the strength training and Zumba, as well. I find that resistance workouts build muscle and help reduce weak joints thus reducing the risk of injury. Zumba ... well, it's just fun. (I never thought I'd say that!) I think that explosive-type cardio, like Zumba, should help work different muscle fibers and maybe ones that help with speed. Of course, I'm more than likely just making that up and the statement has no basis in reality.
I do have Fridays open in the event that I decide to add a fourth run during the week. I know a fourth run will do a lot to improve my base, stamina and speed but I felt overwhelmed running four times a week when I was training for the Huff. I'm sort of going to see when spring arrives and what sort of schedule Miles is on.
What is your preference when training - 3 days of running or 4? Or, are you crazy and do 5?
For weeks - really since the December Huff, I've been following a very loose training plan. The goal was to keep a respectable base and (hopefully) pick up some speed as I looked toward the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans half marathon relay. As I'm doing an 8-mile leg, I needed to keep up my Sunday long runs but didn't have to fret too much about weekday mileage.
After the March race, it was my plan to train for a spring half marathon. I had set my sights on Cincinnati's Flying Pig, which was my first half, but found myself less than thrilled by the $80 entry free. Nevertheless, I set a loose schedule based on the May race date. I planned for three days a week running, per my "survive winter" plan, and I would keep up with the twice weekly strength sessions.
Of course, that all changed when I registered for the Martian Invasion of the Races half marathon on Tuesday. The Martian race is April 14, nearly a full month before the Flying Pig.
Some things would stay the same - the three days a week running and my scheduled runs ahead of RnR NOLA - but I would have to redo the long run schedule. Based on plans by Hal Higdon and one I found on RunnersWorld.com, I came up with something that will get me to the starting line strong.
*Note: I totally flipped a week. My Fanny Freezer 5K is Feb. 11 - not Feb. 4.
As I'm running just three days a week, it's important to have quality runs so I'll be incorporating one speed day. The Runners World three-day plan had one tempo run and one interval run each week but I don't think that's feasible for me fitness-wise nor schedule-wise. Seriously, who wants to push a jogging stroller for 8x400? Not me.
I kept the strength training and Zumba, as well. I find that resistance workouts build muscle and help reduce weak joints thus reducing the risk of injury. Zumba ... well, it's just fun. (I never thought I'd say that!) I think that explosive-type cardio, like Zumba, should help work different muscle fibers and maybe ones that help with speed. Of course, I'm more than likely just making that up and the statement has no basis in reality.
I do have Fridays open in the event that I decide to add a fourth run during the week. I know a fourth run will do a lot to improve my base, stamina and speed but I felt overwhelmed running four times a week when I was training for the Huff. I'm sort of going to see when spring arrives and what sort of schedule Miles is on.
What is your preference when training - 3 days of running or 4? Or, are you crazy and do 5?
Healthy Spirits: SF BEER WEEK EVENTS
Our SF Beer Week events will go live on thier website as of February 6, but you can start planning for them now! We hope to see you all there!
-02/11/12: Exclusive Barrel Aged Ale Industries bottle release: “Someone Talked” Imperial Stout aged in our Elijah Craig 18 Barrel with Blue Bottle coffee. Bottle sales begin at 11 am. Club members may reserve by phone once the event begins. No advance reservations accepted.
-02/14/12: Bottle Signing Event and Vintage Bottle Release with Firestone Walker’s David Walker. He will be in the shop from 3 to 5 PM answering your questions and signing bottles. We will have a limited number of vintage bottles of various Firestone Walker releases behind the counter for purchase. This is one of VERY few instances in which we WILL NOT be accepting bottle reservations from club members. We only place this restriction to ensure there are enough bottles for the duration of the event. Bottles for sale will include Firestone Walker Anniversary XIII, XIV and XV, Abacus, Parabola, and Sucaba. Limited stock, so get there early. Bottle limits will apply. -02/15/12: Exclusive Barrel Aged High Water bottle release: Old & In The Way Barley Wine aged in our Buffalo Trace barrel. Bottle sales begin at 11AM. Club members may reserve by phone once the event begins. No advance reservations will be accepted.
Falafel and Homemade French Fries
And I sliced up potatoes and made homemade oven fries.
Vegan meal, at least until I dipped the fries in ranch.
There's a distinct lack of green on the plate, but I did have cole slaw for lunch and sugar snap peas for lunch also. It was a really long day yesterday, culminating with my work computer getting a virus. So I left with no email account and no computer. I ended up going back in for 2 hours using someone else's computer, but I only had access to about 1/2 of the programs that I needed.
Working out with Miles
Go for a barefoot run.
Do some core work, starting with side planks.
Move onto traditional planks, downward facing dogs and pushups.
Boot scootin' boogie to finish up.
Monkey leotards coming soon.
The Vegan Slow Cooker: Review and Blogger Giveaway!
A few weeks ago I contacted cookbook author Kathy Hester and asked her for a review copy of her new book The Vegan Slow Cooker. I was very intrigued at the concept of this book and even purchased it as a birthday present for a Vegan friend a few months ago. I mean, who doesn't want delicious meals that magically appear at the end of a long day?
Kathy also has a very active blog, Healthy Slow Cooking, with loads of slow cooker recipes. She graciously agreed to do a blogger giveaway of The Vegan Slow Cooker, so make sure you enter by leaving a comment on this post. Thank you Kathy!
Little did I know that Kathy uses the slow cooker for far more than soups and stews. Oatmeal, seitan, bread, sandwich fillings, sauces, and on and on. Kathy is one very creative slow cooking chef!
Once receiving the book, I quickly set out to test a few recipes. Her Soy Chorizo Black Bean Stew was absolutely delicious, with my addition of a head of Swiss chard at the end to get some greens in. And her Chick'n Mushroom Casserole was the thing that finally got me to make homemade seitan. Although I opted for a quicker method than the one she outlines in the book, I used my seitan in Kathy's casserole recipe and the results were outstanding. Total comfort food.
Kathy even got me back to eating oatmeal in the morning. Just hearing that you could make oatmeal in a crock pot was intriguing to me, and I followed Debby's, The Healthy Librarian's, recipe for "Heart-saving" Chocolate Oatmeal. Next on my list? A modified version of Kathy's Carrot Cake and Zucchini Bread Oatmeal.
But a word of caution about this cookbook. I'm not sure anyone would be able to lose weight eating these recipes (look, the book doesn't say anything about being low calorie, it just promises deliciousness and it does deliver). They are, as Chef Aj likes to say, rather "plant indulgent." Do you need to make a meal that is going to wow the Vegan skeptics in your life? This is the book to turn to. Fun, creative, delicious slow cooked Vegan fare is Kathy's specialty. But as a daily source of low calorie, high volume food? Not so much. To be totally fair, the book never promises to be low calorie/high volume. That's just our schtick!
But that's no different than the vast majority of Vegan cookbooks on bookstore shelves right now. So I hope you are becoming good at modifying recipes to make them far more Nutritarian. I think I have become a master at this, so The Vegan Slow Cooker will have a prominent spot on my bookshelf for years to come. It serves as wonderful inspiration for some really Plant-strong food I hope to slow cook up this winter.
Thanks again Kathy!
Would you like to win a copy of The Vegan Slow Cooker? Just leave a comment here answering the following questions:
(1) What's your slow cooker story? Do you own one, does it sit on your shelf or do you use it frequently? Do you want to use it more?
(2) How comfortable are you at modifying recipes to make a non-Nutritarian Vegan recipe into a keeper? Do you automatically eliminate the oil and up the vegetable content? Or are you less confident in your abilities as a Plant-strong cook and stick to already perfected Nutritarian recipes?
Have fun! Contest closes at midnight on Friday night, January 27, 2012. Winner will be selected at random and announced on Monday, January 30th.
Outside the gym
I guess I just can’t stop believing in Santa.
Or maybe I just can’t stand someone as good looking as Dolvett not to come out on top.
Either way, I found myself rooting for the red team to win last night’s weigh in when, in fact, I was really hoping for the black team. I wanted them to prove to America that you don’t need a fancy gym to lose weight.
And I’m proof.
I haven’t had a gym membership for going on three years. Initially, it was a financial decision. Mark and I weren’t visiting the YMCA enough to justify the $60 monthly fee. Later, it was because of Denali. I didn’t want to pay to walk on a treadmill when I would only have to go home and walk the dog, too. Now, it’s both. Denali still needs a walk, Miles needs a nap and the $60 would be better spent on diapers.
It is true that my passion for running helps me forgo the gym but that’s only three days a week.
Here are my tips for gym-free workouts:
Scope out your local library. My library has TONS of exercise DVDS, and it’s a great way to try out a disc before you even buy it. I’ve found plenty of Jillian Michaels, “Biggest Loser,” Denise Austin and Firm workouts. I found the library particularly helpful when it came to yoga DVDs because I’m not one who enjoys the spiritual side of practice and dislike 90 percent of the workouts. I got to play Goldilocks until I found the one that was just right for me. (I am a fan of the Crunch DVDs with Sara Ivanhoe.)
Trade off. After two months of Yoga Booty Ballet, you find yourself ready to throw a ball through the TV at that stupid drummer. Well, your friend feels the same way at Billy Blanks. So why don’t you trade?
Make a small investment in you. For less than $20, you can get everything you need for a heart-pumping circuit workout. I have a jump rope and hand weights – all from Target – that I like to use if I only have 15 minutes to exercise. Jump rope one minute, perform an upper body exercise for one minute and follow up with one minute of squats or lunges. Repeat five times. This workout is great, too, if you want something to do during commercial breaks.
Don’t be shy. Everyone (well, except for me) seems to have an exercise bike or elliptical that is only collecting dust. Tell co-workers, family, friends that you are in the market for some exercise equipment and you might be surprised what turns up. Our treadmill was a hand-me-down from my in-laws.
Project analysis. Maybe you have a bedroom that’s more storage locker than guest room/office or a basement stacked with storage boxes. Take an afternoon and tackle a project – whether it’s painting, moving boxes or building furniture.
Free pass. The yoga studio where I went for a month or two when I was pregnant offers a free class one Saturday a month. Some gyms offer one-week passes. You can use these when the weather outside is frightful or you need some motivation via friendly competition from other people working out.
Drop on by. I do take two group exercise classes a week on a drop-in basis at a tumbling gym in town. In the past, I also got a punch card via Groupon.
Friendly competition. People always say to exercise during commercial breaks, which can be boring. Mark and I have been known to challenge each other to push-up and crunch competitions.
Explore the outdoors. Many cities have fantastic trails and greenways. Get an upclose look at how your taxpayer dollars are being enjoyed.
Get dirty. It might not be the right time of year but tackle your yard. This summer, I worked up a sweat hacking at an invasive honeysuckle. It might have been because I was 9 months pregnant (I didn’t nest in the traditional way) but I don’t think so.
No excuses. It’ so easy this time of year to want to stay inside and drink hot chocolate on the couch. And I do. Sometimes. I also walk the dog and baby as long as it’s 25 degrees or warmer, and I’m willing to run as long as it’s in the double digits.
What are your tips for living without a gym membership?
"Soft & Bouncy" -Another satisfied reader shares her KeraPro experience (Pics Included)
Not long after I posted my comparison review post on KeraPro, the low cost version of Kerastase, I received the following email from a reader.
When I received her email and pics, I couldn't help but to reply back wanting to learn more about her gorgeous tresses. She was gracious enough to reply back with some details of how she cares for her perfect relaxed hair.
"I've had a relaxer since I was 5 when my mother decided enough was enough. I've always had long thick hair and washing it as a child wasn't a fun experience for either of us. I've only had 2 stylists in my life, I'm very particular as to who touches my hair. I only went to a new person when my first passed away. I do tend to stretch out my relaxers not for any particular reason other than because I just do. My stylist, Jo, teases that she'd never make any money relying on me as her only client.
She uses a Mizani mild relaxer every 6-7 months. Last year was the first time I'd ever had any color process in my hair. I do get highlights but even that is once a year. I get jumpy whenever scissors are around but I do get trims when I go to the salon. Every so often I will snip the ends myself at home. I will say the more often I trim the more growth I notice.
My hair is very thick, but rather fine. I do have Jo layer my hair these days to remove some of the bulk. I know...people want thick but for me it's just a little too much. I usually roller set my hair with the big hard rollers and it takes about 2 hours or more to dry it all.
On occasion I will flat iron it but usually if I want it straight I will just wrap it after the roller set. Sadly, I don't do anything preventive to it at night other than put it in a loose bun.
I usually wash once a week (depending on weather and exercise) unless it's summer when I like to just wash and go since it's wavy when wet (just tried Uncle Funky's Daughter for wash and go. I do have a ridiculous amount of hair products, but lately I love Mixed Chicks shampoo and deep conditioner. I still love the KeraPro restorative intense treatment. Usually add the conditioners and let it work for at least 30 minutes or overnight when I have time."
I also like as my staples:
- olive oil,
-Patene's relaxed and natural daily oil cream moisturizer,
-KeraCare high sheen glossifer (used as an oil),
-KeraCare oil sheen with humidity block,
Mixed Chicks straightening serum (even when I roller set)
I'm always trying new things and love to experiment, which I think is why I follow you. I've always had long thick hair so I don't really think I do anything special to keep it that way. My "mane" thing is to keep it healthy. But this year I am going to eat healthier and see what effect it has on my hair."
"Hi,
I've followed your blog for the last few months and have really enjoyed it. Someone who has a whole beauty shops worth of hair care products in her bathroom just like me. I never send comments but after reading your blog on Kera Pro I had to.
I had read your raves about Kerastase and decided to try it...only I couldn't find it in any local stores. Since I had to try it I wasn't going to be happy until it was in my hands, I hate to wait for shipping. Just when I was wondering how far I'd have to drive to find it, I looked on the Sally website and saw Kera Pro. I wondered if I should try it and then i went to your blog and what was on it but Kera Pro vs Kerastase!
How funny is that, you read my mind. I ran out and purchased the Kera Pro Intense treatment. I'm very funny about what i put on my hair and if it makes my hair feel dry while I'm washing or conditioning...its out. I've used Mixed Chicks shampoo and deep conditioner for about a year with great results. I shampoo with MC and then tried Kera Pro, left it on about an hour and roller set on Sunday. I have to say I'm very impressed with it and will use it again. My hair is soft and bouncy anyway but I feel like I could be in a commercial after using Kera Pro.
I just thought I'd say thank you for your thoughts on Kera Pro, which was my deciding factor in trying it. I will try Kerastase now and see what its like also. I attached a pic of my hair after using Kera Pro"...
When I received her email and pics, I couldn't help but to reply back wanting to learn more about her gorgeous tresses. She was gracious enough to reply back with some details of how she cares for her perfect relaxed hair.
"I've had a relaxer since I was 5 when my mother decided enough was enough. I've always had long thick hair and washing it as a child wasn't a fun experience for either of us. I've only had 2 stylists in my life, I'm very particular as to who touches my hair. I only went to a new person when my first passed away. I do tend to stretch out my relaxers not for any particular reason other than because I just do. My stylist, Jo, teases that she'd never make any money relying on me as her only client.
She uses a Mizani mild relaxer every 6-7 months. Last year was the first time I'd ever had any color process in my hair. I do get highlights but even that is once a year. I get jumpy whenever scissors are around but I do get trims when I go to the salon. Every so often I will snip the ends myself at home. I will say the more often I trim the more growth I notice.
My hair is very thick, but rather fine. I do have Jo layer my hair these days to remove some of the bulk. I know...people want thick but for me it's just a little too much. I usually roller set my hair with the big hard rollers and it takes about 2 hours or more to dry it all.
On occasion I will flat iron it but usually if I want it straight I will just wrap it after the roller set. Sadly, I don't do anything preventive to it at night other than put it in a loose bun.
I usually wash once a week (depending on weather and exercise) unless it's summer when I like to just wash and go since it's wavy when wet (just tried Uncle Funky's Daughter for wash and go. I do have a ridiculous amount of hair products, but lately I love Mixed Chicks shampoo and deep conditioner. I still love the KeraPro restorative intense treatment. Usually add the conditioners and let it work for at least 30 minutes or overnight when I have time."
I also like as my staples:
- olive oil,
-Patene's relaxed and natural daily oil cream moisturizer,
-KeraCare high sheen glossifer (used as an oil),
-KeraCare oil sheen with humidity block,
Mixed Chicks straightening serum (even when I roller set)
I'm always trying new things and love to experiment, which I think is why I follow you. I've always had long thick hair so I don't really think I do anything special to keep it that way. My "mane" thing is to keep it healthy. But this year I am going to eat healthier and see what effect it has on my hair."
Chickpea Curry (Aarti Party) and...when you have energy - GO FOR IT
So, I taped an episode of Aarti Party this weekend and enjoyed watching her make Chickpea and Artichoke Masala. I was inspired and bought artichokes and dried chickpeas to make on Sunday. Except I didn't have the energy on Sunday, and went to a friend's house for dinner. So I postponed it to Monday. It was very easy. I love Indian food and was happy to see an Indian show on the Food Network.
The only things that I changed were: I used a can of tomatoes (it's not tomato season), used lemon juice instead of lime juice, and I omitted the yogurt (making it vegan). Not because I wanted to make it vegan, but because I took my plain yogurt to work, and I didn't think that vanilla would taste right. With the beans, tomatoes, and vegetables, it's a pretty frugal meal for sure.
I did, however, take the time to cook up a pound of chickpeas on Sunday. I used to be in the habit of cooking a pound of beans a week. According to the USDA, they're good for you! (1/2 cup a day is recommended!) When I was doing the paleo/primal thing, I gave up beans. I still try to avoid them at lunch (too many carbs), but I just love beans. And chickpeas are versatile. I used some in the masala, then I used some in falafel. I froze the rest. I probably should have saved the cooking water for some chickpea gravy ala Cook for Good or Wildly Affordable Organic (I can't remember where I read it, but I'm pretty sure it was from Linda Watson!), but I didn't.
I was also supposed to make Cole Slaw on Sunday for Monday's dinner, but didn't have the energy for that either. So I made it last night (with much help from spouse) and we ate it tonight. Plus lunch tomorrow. And the next day. I rounded out tonight's dinner with more potato and kale soup and some baked chicken fingers from TJ's.
After all that dinner tonight though, I had some energy. So while my family was occupied with finding a camera for my son's photography class tomorrow (I know, he's 5. Weird. Maybe soon he'll be taking my food photos. Nowhere to go but up!) - I got busy making the falafel in the food processor. It will be nice and cold and ready to shape for dinner tomorrow. And that's my lesson - when you've got the energy, go with it! 'Cuz you never know when you'll get home without even the desire to face the microwave, much less the food processor, knife, or stove.
We ate the last of the bagels today for breakfast, so here's to hoping my energy stays high enough to throw some bread into the bread machine.
Oh, and Friday night's dinner, I made nachos.
The only things that I changed were: I used a can of tomatoes (it's not tomato season), used lemon juice instead of lime juice, and I omitted the yogurt (making it vegan). Not because I wanted to make it vegan, but because I took my plain yogurt to work, and I didn't think that vanilla would taste right. With the beans, tomatoes, and vegetables, it's a pretty frugal meal for sure.
I did, however, take the time to cook up a pound of chickpeas on Sunday. I used to be in the habit of cooking a pound of beans a week. According to the USDA, they're good for you! (1/2 cup a day is recommended!) When I was doing the paleo/primal thing, I gave up beans. I still try to avoid them at lunch (too many carbs), but I just love beans. And chickpeas are versatile. I used some in the masala, then I used some in falafel. I froze the rest. I probably should have saved the cooking water for some chickpea gravy ala Cook for Good or Wildly Affordable Organic (I can't remember where I read it, but I'm pretty sure it was from Linda Watson!), but I didn't.
I was also supposed to make Cole Slaw on Sunday for Monday's dinner, but didn't have the energy for that either. So I made it last night (with much help from spouse) and we ate it tonight. Plus lunch tomorrow. And the next day. I rounded out tonight's dinner with more potato and kale soup and some baked chicken fingers from TJ's.
After all that dinner tonight though, I had some energy. So while my family was occupied with finding a camera for my son's photography class tomorrow (I know, he's 5. Weird. Maybe soon he'll be taking my food photos. Nowhere to go but up!) - I got busy making the falafel in the food processor. It will be nice and cold and ready to shape for dinner tomorrow. And that's my lesson - when you've got the energy, go with it! 'Cuz you never know when you'll get home without even the desire to face the microwave, much less the food processor, knife, or stove.
We ate the last of the bagels today for breakfast, so here's to hoping my energy stays high enough to throw some bread into the bread machine.
Oh, and Friday night's dinner, I made nachos.
Favorite Soups: Split Pea and Barley Soup and Some More
Hence the new meal planning for the kids, grocery shopping and salad prep systems. And this all got me thinking, a few years ago, when I turned my life around and got really healthy for the first time in my life, I used to make a gigantic pot of soup every weekend. At least half of the soup would go into two serving (4 cup) deli containers in a big case freezer in my basement that my dear hubby bought me for the storage of all of this soup. And that went on for months, so by the time winter hit, I had squirreled away a lot of soup that kept us eating uber healthy through the winter.
The next summer, I did the same thing, but not as frequently.
This past summer, not at all. Whatever soup I made got eaten and I just wasn't making huge pots of soup like I used to.
But in thinking about this whole menu planning and making life easier in general, I'm wondering whether I should go back to the weekly huge pot of soup. I know I'm going to do it this coming up weekend and I've already planned what I'm making. It's a recipe that Chris-Anna told me about. Seems it's a relatively healthy favorite of hers from the restaurant chain California Pizza Kitchen. But of course, we had to make it even healthier!
serves 6-8
adapted from California Pizza Kitchen's Pea and Barley Soup
print me!
1/2 cup pearl barley
1 3/4 cups water
1 pound dried green split peas
2 quarts water
2 bay leaves
2 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce or Tamari
1/2 Tbsp dried thyme
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp dried sage
1/4 tsp cumin
2 cups diced carrots (3 medium carrots)
3 cups diced onion (1 large onion)
1 1/4 cups diced celery (3 large stalks)
Place barley and 1 3/4 water into a sauce pot and bring to a boil. Turn heat down to low and simmer for 45 minutes, until barley is cooked and water is absorbed.
Meanwhile, in a large soup pot or dutch oven, combine peas, 2 quarts water, bay leaves, soy sauce or tamari, thyme, garlic, sage and cumin. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to a low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in carrots, onions and celery. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, another 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, check to see if peas are completely soft, if not continue to simmer until they are soft.
Turn heat off. Remove bay leaves and discard. Using a hand-held immersion blender, puree soup, leaving it as chunky you prefer or puree completely. Stir in barley and serve.
Here's some other soups that rock that I plan on making double batches of in the upcoming weeks:
Red Lentil Soup with Cauliflower and Indian Spice
HGK's Energy Soup
Chaya's Carrot Soup
Coconut Curry Kale, Chick Pea and Sweet Potato Stoup
What's your favorite soup?
Healthy Spirits: New Arrivals
1. Anchorage "The Tide and its Takers (Belgian Style Triple brewed with Sorachi Ace and Styrian Goldings hops and aged in French oak chardonnay barrels with brettanomyces)
2. Palo Alto Brewing Company Hoppy Ending Pale Ale 6 packs
3. Palo Alto Brewing Company Atlas DIPA
cheers,
dave hauslein
beer manager
415-255-0610
Coming up short
You know what the problem is with owning just one pair of running tights?
You own just one pair of running tights. And sometimes (but only sometimes) you discover that said tights are in the laundry basket and smell like ... you know ... and you only make that discovery minutes before you hope to be out the door.
Or does this only happen to me?
I had 4 miles planned for today, and I did not want to cop out just because of something so minor as a pair of pants. Not that pants are minor but ... you know what I mean. So I did what anyone would do - made do with what I had.
You own just one pair of running tights. And sometimes (but only sometimes) you discover that said tights are in the laundry basket and smell like ... you know ... and you only make that discovery minutes before you hope to be out the door.
Or does this only happen to me?
I had 4 miles planned for today, and I did not want to cop out just because of something so minor as a pair of pants. Not that pants are minor but ... you know what I mean. So I did what anyone would do - made do with what I had.
A pair of Old Navy active capris paired with a pair of knee socks = makeshift running tights.
Note: I had a pair of running socks underneath so as to not get any blisters.
As it turned out, my haphazard outfit was the least of my worries. The temperature was an acceptable 31 degrees but the wind ... oh, the wind. Weather.com, which I looked at more closely after my run (doh!), said there were gusts from 15 to 25 mph. Eek! Factor in that I was pushing the stroller through a hilly-ish area, and it is undeniable that I had my work cut out for me.
I paused when I could, catching my breath at street crossings and when Denali had to pee, and I made no bones about not running as fast as I could. Even still, as reached my second neighborhood, I had to summon every ounce of #OpHardcoreFit I could and not cut the run short. I knew that if I could push through that I would feel better about the day and myself.
Oh and a little better about this.
After months of "researching" spring half marathons, I finally put my money where my training plan is and signed up for the Martian half marathon on April 14. Maybe it's the awesome medal or the chance to maybe meet the Megans, but I'm super stoked.
What are you looking forward to? Any spring races?
P.S. I'm deeming next week W.O.W. (Words of Wisdom) Week. I saw a lot of questions in comments after the Yahoo! story so I thought it might be good timing. I'll answer any questions you might have - whether it's weight loss, my eating habits, running, etc. Just leave me a comment or shoot me an email!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)