Hello There!
How are you doing now?
As I type this I can barely move my arms after a wicked bicep, tricep & shoulder workout this morning that involved 'drop sets'. Ooff. By this evening I anticipate that I'll have to lower my face to my toothbrush on the counter to clean my teeth, as raising my arms may not be possible. Nice, eh?
Ok, so as you may or may not know, November 1st is World Vegan Day. DON'T STOP READING! PLEASE!
There was a time in the not-so-distant past where I would have stopped reading now too, trust me. If you asked anyone who's known me for more than a year, they would regale you with tales of what a carni-snob I once was. I had only the greatest disdain for Vegans and even a lot of vegetarians. I used to argue that "humans have those two pointy teeth (canines?) for a reason- to eat animals! It's part of our genetic makeup!" I clearly remember celebrating over rare steak when a close friend of mine 'came out of' vegetarianism, applauding her return to the fold. I'm not proud of that at all. But I guess I was coming from a place of misinformation about a lot of things, including what healthful eating really is and as well, I believe that I was part of the Cult of Animal Protein that I think our society is.
Let me be really clear: I am not a vegan or really even a vegetarian. I have no problem with people eating meat (to that end I WILL be making meatballs this afternoon for The Bean & Brad's spaghetti tonight). And I still eat animal protein whenever I want- even a good burger, steak, not to mention my cheese addiction- it's just that these days I don't feel like I want to all that often ('cept for the cheese, that's every day). It is my personal belief that we may not need to eat as much meat as we're being led to believe. I went from eating meat 5-6 nights a week- plus eggs for breakfast and usually something meaty for lunch too a year ago, to now eating meat maybe once a week or every two weeks. And I've never felt better in my life.
When I stopped eating meat every single day and taking in tons of cow's milk dairy, remarkable things happened. I lost a few pounds (and believe me, I wasn't trying because I was already at a healthy weight & body fat percentage, and still am now) my skin became clearer, I started sleeping better, I started having enough energy to qualify as a Bionic-Mom and the best part was that I stopped feeling so 'puffy'. My abdomen is flatter & tighter and my muscle definition all-over is better than ever.
I became interested in vegetarianism/veganism last year when I started reading up on it, as well as the raw-living food movement. Again, I don't eat Raw all the time, not at all. But there's a fair bit of uncooked veg in my life too. The benefits that I listed above from my own experience were reiterated time and again in all the literature that I came across. Lo and behold, those 'veggie granola tree huggers' (as I so diplomatically used to call them) were right! I've learned that you can get all KINDS of protein from plants- and nuts, and seeds, vegan protein powders, you name it. I'm no expert, obviously. I'm just sayin. It made sense to me and it's working out pretty good. I'm always trying to find my way with good health and I certainly don't think I've found the solution for everyone, because I do think that different things work for different folks. Furthermore, trying to completely change the way you eat overnight is a recipe for disaster and dangerous. But baby-steps- we started eating vegetarian a night or two a week and found that there is plenty of yummy food you can make that doesn't involve sausage, which I once considered as integral an ingredient as garlic, salt or pepper. And I promise- it's not all tofu & tvp and soy yoghurt at Camp Veg either. Even going veg for a day or part of the day each week will have a positive effect on how you feel.
People get into vegetarianism & veganism for a variety of different reasons, and I don't pass judgement on what those reasons are. For me, it was less about animal welfare (dont' judge!) and more about wanting to feel healthier & stronger.
Most importantly, check with a doctor, naturopath or nutritionist if you're thinking of making this kind of transition. Just eating veggies does not a healthy vegetarian make, okay? Seriously. I've checked in regularly with my doc & naturopath with a full dietary journal myself to make sure my family and I were on the right track with this stuff. You don't wanna get all anemic or something worse.
So there you have it. I've changed in a lot of ways over the last few years, not least of which the way I eat. Heck, I used to smoke cigarettes like it was my job. Charming, right? And now I'm a personal trainer and reformed carni-snob.
SOOOOO, with my diatribe over, here's what I wanted to say: I am going to give this vegan thing a go for a day, a few days, maybe even a week when World Vegan Day kicks off on November 1. I have a real problem with will-power, I admit it. So I'm gonna eat all the cheese in the house before the Big Day and see if I can stick with it for a day or more. Just a personal challenge to see if I can do it.
Who's with me?! Any takers? Can we build a cheese support group?
Oh, and congratulations if you've read this whole post. I hear I need to 'edit' myself but that's a bit of an issue when I get on my favorite topics of food & excercise, what can I say. Speaking of favorite topics, tonight's vino of choice, to accompany my primavera & spiralized zuke noodles will be one of my all time faves- THE LACKEY Shiraz. NSLC now carries it, it's the bomb. Git yerself some if you like a big, meaty red wine. No pun intended.
xoM
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Planning a Weekly Menu
Sorry Everyone, this was SUPPOSED to go up last night but I was having computer troubles so had to delay until now....
Yo Yo!
What a day today! Thank you to Fabia, the Evil, Evil Fabia, for her insane spin class this morning...that girl is a MACHINE. And she makes you love the pain, let me tell ya. I'm going to be in rough shape tomorrow, but I love it! The Bean rounded out her weekend with a second birthday party today after one yesterday and is now in a princess cake coma on the couch. She gets treats at home, don't get me wrong. But for the most part they're pretty healthy (raw organic macaroons, chocolate almond milk, coconut butter fudge, etc). So you get a little cake, cheezies & fruit punch into her and it's game ovah. Yikes. Oh well, a little unhealthy stuff every once in a while is fine as far as I'm concerned- the Middle Path, people. I believe in taking the Middle Path, most things in moderation. I've been known to put away some junk from time to time too, trust me...
With that said, what I wanted to talk about today was how to plan a weekly menu so that the temptation to eat crap when you get home from work (and time is short)is reduced. Yes, I AM one of those people who has learned to plan things out in advance so that there's no guesswork when it's time to start making supper. I was inspired by my friend A.H. to start with this idea...so I totally copied her and hauled out a little chalkboard that I had, and every weekend I plan for the week ahead, and doodle the menu on the chalkboard in the kitchen. That way we all know what's on the agenda. I may not stick to it 100% of the time, especially if I get a hankering for takeout Thai Food from Thai Ivory in Bedford (highly recommended!)...but for the most part I like knowing what's going on and not stressing about healthy meals. Here's what I have on the go for the next few days.
Menu:
1. Roasted Veggies with Balsamic Dressing & Goat Cheese, Brown Rice
2. Soba Noodles w/ Meatballs & Tomato Sauce for The Bean and the Young Fella, Spiralized Zukes & Carrots with Primavera Sauce for meself (google 'Benriner Spiralizer', transform your life with this gadget)
3. Stuffed Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Kale Salad
4. Black Bean & Brown Rice Burgers, Oven Fries
5. Leftovaaaahhhhhs. A week of large meals means a real buffet of yummy things to choose from for sure.
Weekends are a bit of a wildcard. More time on weekends means that I can indulge and take more time to make fancier stuph, maybe a little West African Poulet Yassa? Moroccan-inspired veggie phylo rolls from 'Eat, Drink & Be Vegan? We'll see....In the meantime, a lot of the time what I make on one night can be used for another night. Take brown rice for example- you serve it steamed one night, and the next you can use the leftovers for a yummy fried rice and veg dish (never use freshly cooked rice for fried rice, leftover rice is drier and works better), or use the rice to make black bean & rice burgers, topped with the cheese of your choice, salsa & cilantro. Or a bit of primavera sauce- either home-made or a low sodium organic brand- can double as pizza sauce for a grilled veggie pizza on spelt crust. If you have a bit of time on the weekends, plan ahead and make your spaghetti sauce or veggie burgers or rice. It takes a few seconds to heat them up while the water boils for your noodles.
Whatever you choose to set as your menu, get your shopping done when you have the time- like the weekend. MAKE A LIST, then the likelihood of just grabbing whatever catches your eye at the cottage/grocery store is lower. I have been notorious for buying all kinds of stuff I don't need/want at the store if I don't have a list.
For me personally, it's important that my suppers are delicious, fairly healthy, and attractive- even if the other two don't care how the food looks, I do. I haven't had a Delicio Pizza or Fish Finger in forever...because I know I can do it better myself. I KNOW how lucky I am to not have a 9-5 or 7-9 with my darling in daycare after school, where getting home at 6 or later means rushing to get some food into the fam is part and parcel of the 'Witching Hour'. So I know I have a bit of luxury there....but even if that is your reality, there's the slow cooker, or a healthy casserole, or a stir fry, if you just consider a bit of planning in advance. If you have time to throw a frozen pizza in the oven, you have time to throw some fresh veggies drizzled with EVOO, balsamic, sea salt, pepper & garlic in the oven to roast...just because things sound fancy doesn't mean they are.
I hope this doesn't come across as condescending or anything, because that certainly isn't my intention. I'm just sharing what works for me, maybe you'll find it useful as well. Have a great day!
xoM
Yo Yo!
What a day today! Thank you to Fabia, the Evil, Evil Fabia, for her insane spin class this morning...that girl is a MACHINE. And she makes you love the pain, let me tell ya. I'm going to be in rough shape tomorrow, but I love it! The Bean rounded out her weekend with a second birthday party today after one yesterday and is now in a princess cake coma on the couch. She gets treats at home, don't get me wrong. But for the most part they're pretty healthy (raw organic macaroons, chocolate almond milk, coconut butter fudge, etc). So you get a little cake, cheezies & fruit punch into her and it's game ovah. Yikes. Oh well, a little unhealthy stuff every once in a while is fine as far as I'm concerned- the Middle Path, people. I believe in taking the Middle Path, most things in moderation. I've been known to put away some junk from time to time too, trust me...
With that said, what I wanted to talk about today was how to plan a weekly menu so that the temptation to eat crap when you get home from work (and time is short)is reduced. Yes, I AM one of those people who has learned to plan things out in advance so that there's no guesswork when it's time to start making supper. I was inspired by my friend A.H. to start with this idea...so I totally copied her and hauled out a little chalkboard that I had, and every weekend I plan for the week ahead, and doodle the menu on the chalkboard in the kitchen. That way we all know what's on the agenda. I may not stick to it 100% of the time, especially if I get a hankering for takeout Thai Food from Thai Ivory in Bedford (highly recommended!)...but for the most part I like knowing what's going on and not stressing about healthy meals. Here's what I have on the go for the next few days.
Menu:
1. Roasted Veggies with Balsamic Dressing & Goat Cheese, Brown Rice
2. Soba Noodles w/ Meatballs & Tomato Sauce for The Bean and the Young Fella, Spiralized Zukes & Carrots with Primavera Sauce for meself (google 'Benriner Spiralizer', transform your life with this gadget)
3. Stuffed Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Kale Salad
4. Black Bean & Brown Rice Burgers, Oven Fries
5. Leftovaaaahhhhhs. A week of large meals means a real buffet of yummy things to choose from for sure.
Weekends are a bit of a wildcard. More time on weekends means that I can indulge and take more time to make fancier stuph, maybe a little West African Poulet Yassa? Moroccan-inspired veggie phylo rolls from 'Eat, Drink & Be Vegan? We'll see....In the meantime, a lot of the time what I make on one night can be used for another night. Take brown rice for example- you serve it steamed one night, and the next you can use the leftovers for a yummy fried rice and veg dish (never use freshly cooked rice for fried rice, leftover rice is drier and works better), or use the rice to make black bean & rice burgers, topped with the cheese of your choice, salsa & cilantro. Or a bit of primavera sauce- either home-made or a low sodium organic brand- can double as pizza sauce for a grilled veggie pizza on spelt crust. If you have a bit of time on the weekends, plan ahead and make your spaghetti sauce or veggie burgers or rice. It takes a few seconds to heat them up while the water boils for your noodles.
Whatever you choose to set as your menu, get your shopping done when you have the time- like the weekend. MAKE A LIST, then the likelihood of just grabbing whatever catches your eye at the cottage/grocery store is lower. I have been notorious for buying all kinds of stuff I don't need/want at the store if I don't have a list.
For me personally, it's important that my suppers are delicious, fairly healthy, and attractive- even if the other two don't care how the food looks, I do. I haven't had a Delicio Pizza or Fish Finger in forever...because I know I can do it better myself. I KNOW how lucky I am to not have a 9-5 or 7-9 with my darling in daycare after school, where getting home at 6 or later means rushing to get some food into the fam is part and parcel of the 'Witching Hour'. So I know I have a bit of luxury there....but even if that is your reality, there's the slow cooker, or a healthy casserole, or a stir fry, if you just consider a bit of planning in advance. If you have time to throw a frozen pizza in the oven, you have time to throw some fresh veggies drizzled with EVOO, balsamic, sea salt, pepper & garlic in the oven to roast...just because things sound fancy doesn't mean they are.
I hope this doesn't come across as condescending or anything, because that certainly isn't my intention. I'm just sharing what works for me, maybe you'll find it useful as well. Have a great day!
xoM
Saturday, October 23, 2010
OMG (Oh, My, Glutes) & Tex Mex Chicken
Well Hello There!
OMG, as in, Oh, My (achin') Glutes from my lower body & cardio workout this morning. Reading the new issue of Oxygen has reinvigorated me, especially as far as getting back into HIIT- High Intensity Interval Training. Ever heard of it? It's a great way to take the intensity of your cardio workout up, while saving time. So rather than slogging it out on the elliptical for 30-40 minutes (lame), you can accomplish more calorie & fat burning in a shorter period of time. It's not exactly for the beginner excerciser, but once you've established a decent cardio baseline, HIIT might be something to try. This morning I chose the stairclimber for my intervals- I warmed up for 5 minutes at level 5-6 for 5 minutes, then did 45 seconds of maximum effort (level 14 on the stairclimber, which is max) followed by 1.5 minutes of recovery at a slower pace of between 6-8. I repeated it 6 times then cooled down for a few minutes before ending the session. Judging from the fact that even my earlobes were sweating, I would say it was effective....As you know I'm a trainer, but I'm not your trainer. So I'm not giving you personal advice here, just saying what I did today. Always check with a health care practitioner before you get into any kind of excercise program, mmmkay?
Did anyone else get some excercise today or was it a rest day?
That kind of workout left me absolutely ravenous, so I planned ahead and brought my lunch with me to the gym so I can scarf it down asap. Ezekiel wrap filled with hummus, brocoli sprouts, spinach, cukes, red peppers & goat cheese. Three bites, gone. So good. Ezekiels are hearty and delicious, made from sprouted grains, super healthy. Also they do well when you make quesadillas...which is what I plan to have as an accompaniment to our Tex Mex slow cooker chicken on Sunday! Here's the recipe:
Tex Mex Chicken
Ingredients:
-2-3 bnls skinless chicken breasts, halved
-1 cup dried, rinsed kidney beans
-1 large yellow onion, slice thinly
-2 large peppers (red or yellow or one of each), sliced
-1 jar of salsa (or about 1.5 cups of salsa)
-1 TBS flour
-salt & pepper
-1.5 cups of broth (veg or chicken)
-Sliced jarred jalapenos (optional)
Directions:
Lightly spray your slow cooker with olive oil, so thing won't stick. In the bottom of the slow cooker, spread the dried beans and sprinkle with the flour. Layer the onions on top, followed by the chicken breast halves. Add salt and pepper to your taste. Top chicken with sliced peppers, then dump the salsa over it all. Add the broth,(and jalapenos, if you desire)then put the lid on the slow cooker, and cook on low for 6-8 hrs, checking occasionaly to stir it up and make sure the beans aren't sticking to the crock. The thing with skinless boneless chicken breasts is that they have a bit of a propensity to dry out in a slow cooker, so check it after 6 hrs and if it's ready, remove the chicken, shred with a fork, then place back in with the rest of the ingredients and stir it up. Alternatively, you could use bone in, but I don't usually choose to go that route. Serve shredded cheese, sour cream and chopped cilantro on the side. Brown rice or quesadillas go well with it!
Let me know how you make out with it. I'm a little new to writing recipes down as I am a notorious eye-baller when it comes to ingredient amounts, etc...so if you think something could have been done differently, I welcome your feedback!
Tonight I think we'll have some vegetarian peanut curry, quinoa & chutney...and my Magic 8ball says that the outlook is good that there will be Chardonnay involved too...yum!
Hope your weekend is going well!
TTFN
xoM
OMG, as in, Oh, My (achin') Glutes from my lower body & cardio workout this morning. Reading the new issue of Oxygen has reinvigorated me, especially as far as getting back into HIIT- High Intensity Interval Training. Ever heard of it? It's a great way to take the intensity of your cardio workout up, while saving time. So rather than slogging it out on the elliptical for 30-40 minutes (lame), you can accomplish more calorie & fat burning in a shorter period of time. It's not exactly for the beginner excerciser, but once you've established a decent cardio baseline, HIIT might be something to try. This morning I chose the stairclimber for my intervals- I warmed up for 5 minutes at level 5-6 for 5 minutes, then did 45 seconds of maximum effort (level 14 on the stairclimber, which is max) followed by 1.5 minutes of recovery at a slower pace of between 6-8. I repeated it 6 times then cooled down for a few minutes before ending the session. Judging from the fact that even my earlobes were sweating, I would say it was effective....As you know I'm a trainer, but I'm not your trainer. So I'm not giving you personal advice here, just saying what I did today. Always check with a health care practitioner before you get into any kind of excercise program, mmmkay?
Did anyone else get some excercise today or was it a rest day?
That kind of workout left me absolutely ravenous, so I planned ahead and brought my lunch with me to the gym so I can scarf it down asap. Ezekiel wrap filled with hummus, brocoli sprouts, spinach, cukes, red peppers & goat cheese. Three bites, gone. So good. Ezekiels are hearty and delicious, made from sprouted grains, super healthy. Also they do well when you make quesadillas...which is what I plan to have as an accompaniment to our Tex Mex slow cooker chicken on Sunday! Here's the recipe:
Tex Mex Chicken
Ingredients:
-2-3 bnls skinless chicken breasts, halved
-1 cup dried, rinsed kidney beans
-1 large yellow onion, slice thinly
-2 large peppers (red or yellow or one of each), sliced
-1 jar of salsa (or about 1.5 cups of salsa)
-1 TBS flour
-salt & pepper
-1.5 cups of broth (veg or chicken)
-Sliced jarred jalapenos (optional)
Directions:
Lightly spray your slow cooker with olive oil, so thing won't stick. In the bottom of the slow cooker, spread the dried beans and sprinkle with the flour. Layer the onions on top, followed by the chicken breast halves. Add salt and pepper to your taste. Top chicken with sliced peppers, then dump the salsa over it all. Add the broth,(and jalapenos, if you desire)then put the lid on the slow cooker, and cook on low for 6-8 hrs, checking occasionaly to stir it up and make sure the beans aren't sticking to the crock. The thing with skinless boneless chicken breasts is that they have a bit of a propensity to dry out in a slow cooker, so check it after 6 hrs and if it's ready, remove the chicken, shred with a fork, then place back in with the rest of the ingredients and stir it up. Alternatively, you could use bone in, but I don't usually choose to go that route. Serve shredded cheese, sour cream and chopped cilantro on the side. Brown rice or quesadillas go well with it!
Let me know how you make out with it. I'm a little new to writing recipes down as I am a notorious eye-baller when it comes to ingredient amounts, etc...so if you think something could have been done differently, I welcome your feedback!
Tonight I think we'll have some vegetarian peanut curry, quinoa & chutney...and my Magic 8ball says that the outlook is good that there will be Chardonnay involved too...yum!
Hope your weekend is going well!
TTFN
xoM
Friday, October 22, 2010
No School = Shopping & Sushi! And Mexican Hummus
OOOOOfffff....
I am writing to you today from the murky depths of my sushi coma. Hope I make some sense because I'm feeling half-lobotomized from the lovely carb-y lunch I just had. There was no school today, so the original plan was to hit the gym with my little one- she loves the daycare there and practically grew up in it. But now that she goes to school, rarely gets to go anymore. Needless to say things did not go according to plan! Woke up in pain, verrrrry sore (in a good way though) from a week of pretty Large Workouts, and I haven't had a break in 6 days...so I thought maybe now would be a good day to listen to what my body was saying and just take a break. Done.
What better thing to do on a no-school, windy, rainy Nova Scotia day? Go shopping of course! The Bean has a full social calendar this weekend with 2 birthday parties, so we decided to take care of the presents (and a Bench hoodie for you know who- no comment on the fact that I may or may not be too old to be wearing Bench but guess what, Mama no care so there) and do some errand running to boot (quick trip to the Cottage/Superstore). I have to say, going out with my girl, listening to tunes on the way into the city (is there anything sweeter than a clear, high, pitch-perfect 5 year old voice singing over Pink's 'So What'? I think not), shopping, going out for lunch is pretty well my idea of a perfect day. And luckily for me, my daughter loves to eat as much as I do! I've been grooming her on sushi since day one, muah ha ha, my evil plan to have a perpetual lunch date partner has come together nicely. Although our most favorite sushi spot is closed -Minato Sushi, why you do this to me?!- we went to our second fave, Fujiyama, which I highly recommend. Unless you have claustrophobia, in which case I might recommend somewhere else as it might remind you of a coffin where they serve sushi. The restaurant is underground in an old excavated building basement, and the tables are arranged in nooks and crannies throughout- today The Bean and I were lucky enough to have our own private cave to eat in, it was awesome. This girl is so well behaved in restaurants, I am so fortunate...she's happy to sit and 'cheers' water glasses, chit chat about stuph. Not that hearing about which little boy at school picked his nose and ate it is the height of high communication, but whatever, it's conversation! We each mowed on miso soup, mixed tempura (like buttah, melted in our mouths), cucumber rolls and sweet-potato & avocado rolls...it was complete sushi debauchery and now I feel like I need a nap.....
Anyone else like sushi? What do you like to order, and where do you go for good Sushi? I could eat it almost every day, but I'll be honest, I'm not really into the eel, roe, and raw fish stuff. Tried it, it's not for me. I envy those of you who do care for it...
So what about some Mexican Hummus, ol(eh?) I'll be honest, this recipe is one I sort of stole and reworked from my friend E.M, who is a very talented home Chef. I love eating lunch at her house....
Get your food processor and fit it with the S blade. Then put in:
-1 can of drained, rinsed chick peas
-2-3 tsp minced garlic (less or more according to your taste)
-a few quick glugs of Olive Oil
-1/4 cup of your favorite tomato salsa
-1/2 tsp ground Cumin (or more, to your taste)
-1/4 tsp ground Chili powder
-a few splashes of fresh or bottled lime juice
-Salt & Pepper to taste
-1 TBS chopped jalapenos (the nacho kind you get in a can) This part optional, it gives it some zing so if you no likey too spicey just forget about it.
Blend er up till it looks like a red-tinged version of the hummus you always see. Taste it, and adjust spices as needed. Hope you like it.
Speaking of Mexi-type foods, I have another one for tomorrow that you may enjoy; Tex Mex Chicken in the slow cooker. Even though I'm not eating a ton of meat these days this recipe popped into my head the other day and I thought I'd haul it out bc it's so yummy. So dust off the slow cooker if you haven't already. I'll post the recipe tomorrow but for now I must go and digest and enjoy the afternoon with the little one...
Thank you for reading and for all of your positive support, it sure means a lot to me!
xoMelissa
I am writing to you today from the murky depths of my sushi coma. Hope I make some sense because I'm feeling half-lobotomized from the lovely carb-y lunch I just had. There was no school today, so the original plan was to hit the gym with my little one- she loves the daycare there and practically grew up in it. But now that she goes to school, rarely gets to go anymore. Needless to say things did not go according to plan! Woke up in pain, verrrrry sore (in a good way though) from a week of pretty Large Workouts, and I haven't had a break in 6 days...so I thought maybe now would be a good day to listen to what my body was saying and just take a break. Done.
What better thing to do on a no-school, windy, rainy Nova Scotia day? Go shopping of course! The Bean has a full social calendar this weekend with 2 birthday parties, so we decided to take care of the presents (and a Bench hoodie for you know who- no comment on the fact that I may or may not be too old to be wearing Bench but guess what, Mama no care so there) and do some errand running to boot (quick trip to the Cottage/Superstore). I have to say, going out with my girl, listening to tunes on the way into the city (is there anything sweeter than a clear, high, pitch-perfect 5 year old voice singing over Pink's 'So What'? I think not), shopping, going out for lunch is pretty well my idea of a perfect day. And luckily for me, my daughter loves to eat as much as I do! I've been grooming her on sushi since day one, muah ha ha, my evil plan to have a perpetual lunch date partner has come together nicely. Although our most favorite sushi spot is closed -Minato Sushi, why you do this to me?!- we went to our second fave, Fujiyama, which I highly recommend. Unless you have claustrophobia, in which case I might recommend somewhere else as it might remind you of a coffin where they serve sushi. The restaurant is underground in an old excavated building basement, and the tables are arranged in nooks and crannies throughout- today The Bean and I were lucky enough to have our own private cave to eat in, it was awesome. This girl is so well behaved in restaurants, I am so fortunate...she's happy to sit and 'cheers' water glasses, chit chat about stuph. Not that hearing about which little boy at school picked his nose and ate it is the height of high communication, but whatever, it's conversation! We each mowed on miso soup, mixed tempura (like buttah, melted in our mouths), cucumber rolls and sweet-potato & avocado rolls...it was complete sushi debauchery and now I feel like I need a nap.....
Anyone else like sushi? What do you like to order, and where do you go for good Sushi? I could eat it almost every day, but I'll be honest, I'm not really into the eel, roe, and raw fish stuff. Tried it, it's not for me. I envy those of you who do care for it...
So what about some Mexican Hummus, ol(eh?) I'll be honest, this recipe is one I sort of stole and reworked from my friend E.M, who is a very talented home Chef. I love eating lunch at her house....
Get your food processor and fit it with the S blade. Then put in:
-1 can of drained, rinsed chick peas
-2-3 tsp minced garlic (less or more according to your taste)
-a few quick glugs of Olive Oil
-1/4 cup of your favorite tomato salsa
-1/2 tsp ground Cumin (or more, to your taste)
-1/4 tsp ground Chili powder
-a few splashes of fresh or bottled lime juice
-Salt & Pepper to taste
-1 TBS chopped jalapenos (the nacho kind you get in a can) This part optional, it gives it some zing so if you no likey too spicey just forget about it.
Blend er up till it looks like a red-tinged version of the hummus you always see. Taste it, and adjust spices as needed. Hope you like it.
Speaking of Mexi-type foods, I have another one for tomorrow that you may enjoy; Tex Mex Chicken in the slow cooker. Even though I'm not eating a ton of meat these days this recipe popped into my head the other day and I thought I'd haul it out bc it's so yummy. So dust off the slow cooker if you haven't already. I'll post the recipe tomorrow but for now I must go and digest and enjoy the afternoon with the little one...
Thank you for reading and for all of your positive support, it sure means a lot to me!
xoMelissa
Thursday, October 21, 2010
One. Hungry. Motha.
Heyyyy!
How are ya now?
I'm great! Just home from a wicked chest, back, ab & cardio workout and thought I would do a quick post before lunch. I woke up this morning as One Hungry Motha. Doesn't happen very often- I have my green juice and that keeps me going for my a.m. workout. But this morning I was a hungry beast, and I knew the juice wasn't going to cut it. I considered an egg with toast, goat cheese & salsa, but experience has taught me that for me, PERSONALLY, that kind of breakfast doesn't make my body happy before I excercise (though I know plenty of folks who thrive on a more substantial breakfast, it's just not usually for me).
Time was getting short before we had to head out the door, and I needed something quick & easy but filling, so I decided to have....a monster chocolate-banana-chia protein smoothie. And that's when things got crazy. When I added to the blender a chunk of my home-made coconut oil chocolate fudge. Holy decadent, delicious and healthy brekkie, it was awesome. Here's what I put into the blender:
-1 Banana
-1 scoop Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein powder (any protein powder would do)
-1 TBS Chia seeds
-1 cup chocolate Almond Milk (any chocolate or regular milk would be fine)
-1/2 tsp Maca powder
-2 little pucks of my favorite frozen wheatgrass juice
-1 ounce of coconut oil chocolate fudge
You could add a little water if it's too thick...blend and drink. Don't let it sit too long after you blend because the Chia seeds will thicken the smoothie into a pudding. Unless you want to eat it with a spoon. Yumptious, as The Bean would say.
If you're not on the Coconut Oil bandwagon yet, you should hop on. Check the article link at the bottom of the page to learn more...
My Mom loves to tell the stories about how when I was a baby, and started eating solid food, my parents had to literally feed me with 2 spoons going at once. Or I'd freak out. Guess I was a Hungry Motha back then too, seems very little has changed!
Now if you'll excuse me I must go and feast on a toasted potato-chive bread sandwich filled with hummus, spinach, goat cheese, cukes, and sprouts. Raar.
Think tomorrow I'll post a simple Mexican Hummus recipe that we have on hand almost all the time....Have a great day!
xoMelissa
How are ya now?
I'm great! Just home from a wicked chest, back, ab & cardio workout and thought I would do a quick post before lunch. I woke up this morning as One Hungry Motha. Doesn't happen very often- I have my green juice and that keeps me going for my a.m. workout. But this morning I was a hungry beast, and I knew the juice wasn't going to cut it. I considered an egg with toast, goat cheese & salsa, but experience has taught me that for me, PERSONALLY, that kind of breakfast doesn't make my body happy before I excercise (though I know plenty of folks who thrive on a more substantial breakfast, it's just not usually for me).
Time was getting short before we had to head out the door, and I needed something quick & easy but filling, so I decided to have....a monster chocolate-banana-chia protein smoothie. And that's when things got crazy. When I added to the blender a chunk of my home-made coconut oil chocolate fudge. Holy decadent, delicious and healthy brekkie, it was awesome. Here's what I put into the blender:
-1 Banana
-1 scoop Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein powder (any protein powder would do)
-1 TBS Chia seeds
-1 cup chocolate Almond Milk (any chocolate or regular milk would be fine)
-1/2 tsp Maca powder
-2 little pucks of my favorite frozen wheatgrass juice
-1 ounce of coconut oil chocolate fudge
You could add a little water if it's too thick...blend and drink. Don't let it sit too long after you blend because the Chia seeds will thicken the smoothie into a pudding. Unless you want to eat it with a spoon. Yumptious, as The Bean would say.
If you're not on the Coconut Oil bandwagon yet, you should hop on. Check the article link at the bottom of the page to learn more...
My Mom loves to tell the stories about how when I was a baby, and started eating solid food, my parents had to literally feed me with 2 spoons going at once. Or I'd freak out. Guess I was a Hungry Motha back then too, seems very little has changed!
Now if you'll excuse me I must go and feast on a toasted potato-chive bread sandwich filled with hummus, spinach, goat cheese, cukes, and sprouts. Raar.
Think tomorrow I'll post a simple Mexican Hummus recipe that we have on hand almost all the time....Have a great day!
xoMelissa
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Is There Anybody Out There?
Helllooooo?
Is there anybody out there? No, this is not Roger Waters by the way....My first blog post, and I am drawing a complete blank! Must be stage fright. For someone who seems to have something to say all the time, I feel a bit weird. Ok, bear with me. I feel like I need to find my 'blog voice'. It'll come. Then I won't be able to shut up.
Today has so far been a great day! Up bright and early, a bit of quiet time with my almond-milk laced coffee before the rest of the house was awake, my favorite way to start the day. Made pancakes with organic berries for my little sweetie pie (The Bean, as I'll call her here, I don't know if I want everyone to know too much about her) and a massive Green Juice for myself. Wheatgrass, maca, chlorella, kale, chard, celery, cuke, lemon and the sweetest Honey Crisp Apple all went into the Breville, resulting in what I believe is crack for juice lovers. It gave me so much energy I felt like I could have run the 17 km to the gym, all with my daughter on my back. Yah! One little girl off to school and I made short work of that weightroom with a lower body & abs workout. Lower body is usually the stuff I hate to do, but right now it needs to be done since my lower body no matchy my upper body (booooo), so I cranked the Ipod up and powered through. I must have listened to Pink's new song 'Raise Your Glass' oh, I dunno, 7 times??? I'm a dork, I know. But it gets the job done!
Post workout was a quick water & vanilla Sun Warrior protein shake, a quick trip to the 'cottage' (I spend so much time at grocery stores I call them the cottage now) and home to stuff my face with some veggie california rolls, and a nice dessert of home-made hemp & seed crackers and goat's milk Gouda....
I've been plugging away at getting my new business up & running: in-home Personal Training for clients in the little town where I live. It's all coming together, and my ad will be out later this week, can't wait to get a response! And then I figured I should probably bite the bullet and finally get this blog on the road too. My goal will be to talk a lot more about food, excercise, maybe a little vino, recipes, that sort of thing. So just give me a few postings and I'll have some recipes to share as well. In the meantime, I foresee a little Fat Bastard Shiraz in my future with dinner tonight- Veggie Roll Bake (kinda like a deconstructed cabbage roll-ey type dish baked in the oven and topped with le fromage). If it sounds like something you might like to eat let me know and I'll pass along a recipe....
What are you having for din-din tonight, hmmmm?
When I was pregnant with my daughter, I was obsessed with those pregnancy books that give you a week by week/month by month run down of what is happening with your baby, and how they are developing. Early on, and I don't remember what exact month, the book said something like: 'Your baby is now the size of a kidney bean', and the nick-name stuck. We actually do call her The Bean to her face, she loves it and sometimes refers to herself that way. Not in a weird way. She doesn't speak about herself in the third person, or legume, all the time... Wonder if that'll still work when she's 17? "Mom, THE BEAN needs your car keys", "Dad, THE BEAN wants to go a date"..."THE BEAN is getting her belly button pierced"....hmmmm.
Okay, I gotta run so ttfn and more latah!
xoM
Is there anybody out there? No, this is not Roger Waters by the way....My first blog post, and I am drawing a complete blank! Must be stage fright. For someone who seems to have something to say all the time, I feel a bit weird. Ok, bear with me. I feel like I need to find my 'blog voice'. It'll come. Then I won't be able to shut up.
Today has so far been a great day! Up bright and early, a bit of quiet time with my almond-milk laced coffee before the rest of the house was awake, my favorite way to start the day. Made pancakes with organic berries for my little sweetie pie (The Bean, as I'll call her here, I don't know if I want everyone to know too much about her) and a massive Green Juice for myself. Wheatgrass, maca, chlorella, kale, chard, celery, cuke, lemon and the sweetest Honey Crisp Apple all went into the Breville, resulting in what I believe is crack for juice lovers. It gave me so much energy I felt like I could have run the 17 km to the gym, all with my daughter on my back. Yah! One little girl off to school and I made short work of that weightroom with a lower body & abs workout. Lower body is usually the stuff I hate to do, but right now it needs to be done since my lower body no matchy my upper body (booooo), so I cranked the Ipod up and powered through. I must have listened to Pink's new song 'Raise Your Glass' oh, I dunno, 7 times??? I'm a dork, I know. But it gets the job done!
Post workout was a quick water & vanilla Sun Warrior protein shake, a quick trip to the 'cottage' (I spend so much time at grocery stores I call them the cottage now) and home to stuff my face with some veggie california rolls, and a nice dessert of home-made hemp & seed crackers and goat's milk Gouda....
I've been plugging away at getting my new business up & running: in-home Personal Training for clients in the little town where I live. It's all coming together, and my ad will be out later this week, can't wait to get a response! And then I figured I should probably bite the bullet and finally get this blog on the road too. My goal will be to talk a lot more about food, excercise, maybe a little vino, recipes, that sort of thing. So just give me a few postings and I'll have some recipes to share as well. In the meantime, I foresee a little Fat Bastard Shiraz in my future with dinner tonight- Veggie Roll Bake (kinda like a deconstructed cabbage roll-ey type dish baked in the oven and topped with le fromage). If it sounds like something you might like to eat let me know and I'll pass along a recipe....
What are you having for din-din tonight, hmmmm?
When I was pregnant with my daughter, I was obsessed with those pregnancy books that give you a week by week/month by month run down of what is happening with your baby, and how they are developing. Early on, and I don't remember what exact month, the book said something like: 'Your baby is now the size of a kidney bean', and the nick-name stuck. We actually do call her The Bean to her face, she loves it and sometimes refers to herself that way. Not in a weird way. She doesn't speak about herself in the third person, or legume, all the time... Wonder if that'll still work when she's 17? "Mom, THE BEAN needs your car keys", "Dad, THE BEAN wants to go a date"..."THE BEAN is getting her belly button pierced"....hmmmm.
Okay, I gotta run so ttfn and more latah!
xoM
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