12 posts tagged “food”

 

 

Some time ago, my friend, Electric Firefly lamented

about losing her mojo.  Well here I am, just minding

my own business when I found it!  Although she would

probably prefer I hadn't found it for a few more months.

 

 

 

Mojo

A Seasoning Sauce recipe from Cuban Home Cooking by Jane Cossio.

3     tbs pure Spanish olive oil, heated

2     tbs finely chopped onion

2     garlic cloves, minced

1/2   tsp ground oregano

1/4   tsp cumin

       Dash ground bay leaves

       Dash black pepper

1/8  tsp salt

1     tbs orange juice

1     tbs lime juice

2     tbs water

1     tbs Sherry

1/2  tsp vinegar

      Mix the onion and garlic, along with the spices, salt and pepper in a bowl, and then add to a pan with the heated olive oil.  Cook just until the onion becomes translucent and then add juice, water, wine and vinegar and simmer about 5 minutes.  Allow the Mojo to cool slightly before serving.

Yields 1/2 cup

I am assuming that this would be great added to beans and rice or stew or used anywhere you would normally use a hotsauce at the table or as a topper for baked fish or chicken or even a marinade for pork and beef.

.

Sug and I just made some homemade buckwheat groat cereal!  Oh yes oh yes!  The man is officially whipped and I love it.

We have started, once again, our raw lifestyle.  I went raw a couple of years ago and stayed strictly uncooked vegan for almost a year.  I tried to get back on the train this summer, but kept having strange and unexplained cravings for reubens and pizza. Of course the cravings didn't seem that strange when we found out that I had unwittingly undertaken a bipedal development project.

All is well once again and I am trying to get back on the health train - just like every one else.  I think I will spring for some fitness equipment later this week. Mommywarbucks is going to buy a basketball and start hitting the playground halfcourts.  It has been 15 years since I dribbled a basketball.  It will, most of the time, suck royally. But between the sucking, maybe it will be fun (get your mind out of the gutter - KW).

Oh and speaking of the gutter............you should know that Sug isn't entirely whipped.  I just told him the sex would be extra-spectacular without all those fat and cholesterol molecules floating through our veins.

Over and out.......

K

 

I'm trying to work.  Gettin' a little uptight.  So, in that it is almost 9:00pm, I thought I would have a coctail and try to loosen up.  So, I went to my trusty liquor cabinet and found a heretofore unopened bottle of Bacardi rum.  I pulled the bottle from the shelf and noted that it had a suggested consumption tag afixed to the spout.  The tag proclaims:

BACARDI & Diet Cola  0 carbs 0 sugar.

Excuse me?  When did Bacardi become zero calories?  Did I miss something?  Last I knew a jigger of rum had about 100 calories.  So if the calories are not from carbs, from what do they come?  The only sources of calories in foods come from carbs, fat and protein.  Right?  If I recall correctly, carbohydrates have 7 calories per gram, fats have 9 and protein has 4.  Am I drinking straight fat on the rocks?  'Cause I never saw rum as a component in a protein shake, I'm quite sure.  If anyone knows of a protein shake containing rum, let me know and I will add it to my morning regime post haste.

And if, as I suspect, the rum's calories come from carbohydrates and not fat or protein, aren't ALL carbs indeed sugar?

WTF Bacardi?

I'm drinking you, my lovely rum, BUT I'm counting you as 100 - or, the way I pour, 150.

An unexpected phone call and I'm off - to the Firebelly Lounge.........

 

 

No.

 

I cannot be a good girl. 

 

I picked up a friend on the way to the pub.  The ride took about 3.5 minutes, during which I explained that I was going to drink lots of water and not have any pizza.  It was blazin' hot as I parked and we made our way across the parking lot.  I was glad we were there as I was really parched.  Water sounded good. 

We walked in through door and my friend started to head to the bar. Over her shoulder, she asked what I wanted.  "Get me a Corona Light!" I shouted.  Oooops, my willpower lasted approximately 0.2 seconds after we entered the bar.

• The good news is I did manage to consume about 36 ounces of water.  But the bad news is that I ended up with a bar tab.   
• The good news is that the bar tab was only $3.00.  The bad news is that represented 3 Corona Lights. 
• The good news is that I did not eat any pizza while at the bar.  The bad news is that I took one home with me. 
• The good news is that it was thin crust.  The bad news is that it also had pepperoni on it. 
• The good news is that it is relatively medium in size.  The bad news is that it is medium in size.
• The good news is that I only had two pieces last night.  (Hey, it could have been worse.)  The bad news is that it is in my fridge taunting me right now.

 

 

Trying to resist the urge to go out with friends tonight.  Friends who will drink beer.  Friends who will possibly win a free pitcher of beer.  Maybe I'll just go and test my willpower.  Seltzer anyone?

Orrrrrrrrrrr maybe I could just have a gin.  My neighbors have assured me that the caloric content is better than Beer.  Annnnnnd - I just had lunch - wheat pasta - not veggies or fruit and not great for me, but that should keep the pizza at bay.

Oh what's a girl to do?!?  I know, I know, seltzer and tap water.  Deeeelicious!

I'll let you know how I fare.

 

 

The Experiment:

As you will recall, I went to the store last week and spent a fortune on fresh fruits and veggies.  And while I have consumed huge quantities of fresh veggies and fruits the last 10 days, I also ate:

 

 and

 

and

 

and

 

 

and

 

 

and another

 

and even more

 

Finding: I noted that the pizza, cheesesteak, and reuben all followed the consumption of at least two glasses of beer. After eating only veggies and fruits all day, then going out and having beer on an empty stomach, carbs and fat are just tooooooo tempting and necessary.  A salad just doesn't soak up the alcohol swishing in my stomach the way that pizza crust does.

Conclusion:  Beer is my diet devil.  If I am going to have a chance at getting my healthy lifestyle back on track, I have to avoid alcohol - especially my beloved beer.  Which probably means that I also have to quit going out with friends. Which means I will evolve into an agorophobic recluse.  Which means my newly fat free, glowy body will go to waste.

What's a girl to do?

Thought I would pass on this "recipe" (the quotation marks are because I don't have detailed measurements to list) for a great little morning drink.  I call it The K Spot. 

Actually, I ripped the recipe  from Men's Health magazine - once upon a time. You are welcome to search for it on their site if you want more detailed information.  I've been doing it so long that I have no doubt made little or unintentional changes.

You MUST have a blender for this one:

• 1 serving of any protein powder (usually 1 tbs) - make sure it is zero fat, and low carb, you want as much protein as possible...get your healthcare store guide to help you pick the protein source that is best for you. I use Almased, which is a soy based protein, but maybe Caesin or Whey are best for you.
• 1 serving of Greens+ (usually 1 tbs) (this is a dehydrated ground vegetable powder) - this gives you all of your required veggies in one swoop - see www.greensplus.com
• 1 - 2 tbs of ground flax seed - make sure your flax is ground when you buy it - or you WILL be sorry - www.fortifiedflax.com
• Lots of fresh or frozen berries or fruit - I use about 1 cup - sometimes as much as 1.5 cups - I find that raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and the like are best.  Melons are too sweet, peaches too subtle in flavor for me.  I have thrown a banana in with the berries on occassion - the dark berries are full of antioxidants and vitamins
• 1 small handful of nuts - almonds, walnuts, whatever
• 1tsp to 1tbs of honey - depends on your taste and what you choose to use in the next step
• 8oz - water, milk, or juice (like OJ)   : I usually use some light Omega 3 enriched soy milk or half milk/half water, OJ is fine too, unless you are worried about your sugar intake.  You can also use yogurt and water.  Or whatever floats your boat. Decrease the water if you are using frozen fruit.

BLEND until blended

This stuff tastes like a fruit smoothy and packs so much protein, vitamins minerals, and fiber it will keep you full and energized for hours.

Seriously good for you.

I'll see if I can find the Men's Health article I got it from and post a link.

I can't make the link work so here it is copied and pasted: 

The Super Shake;

Your recipe for the healthiest meal replacement on the planet

The metabolism-boosting power of this liquid snack is unrivaled: Substitute it for 2 cups of microwave buttered popcorn and 16 ounces of soda just once a day, and you'll lose weight--without making any other changes to your diet. The bonus: A Super Shake provides you with more nutrition in one gulp than most of your coworkers take in all day. Just blend all the ingredients together for 60 seconds, pour, and drink. (Don't worry; it tastes good.)

 

1 CUP GREEN TEA This no-calorie beverage has been shown to boost metabolism.

1 SCOOP CASEIN PROTEIN Because casein is a type of milk protein that's slow-digesting, it'll provide a steady supply of protein to your muscles for hours. We like Low-Carb Grow MRP ($23 for 2 lb; t-nation.com).

1 TBSP GROUND FLAXSEED Flaxseed is a healthy fat that's been shown to lower LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure in lab animals. Buy it preground at a health-food store.

1/2 CUP FROZEN RASPBERRIES, BLACKBERRIES, OR STRAWBERRIES Packed with disease-fighting anti-oxidants, these fiber-filled fruits are three of the best foods known to man.

1 TBSP MIXED NUTS Research shows that adding one or two handfuls of nuts to your daily diet reduces your risk of heart disease without leading to weight gain.

1 TBSP GREENS+ The nutrient equivalent of six servings of fruits and vegetables a day, it's the best-kept secret in supplements ($19 for 4.7 oz; greensplus.com).

As many of you will recall, I was a practicing vegan (except for alcohol, of course) until just after I started my blog last September.  I didn't eat anything that had been cooked or overly processed or preserved (except for martini olives and tofu).  I ate organic raw nuts, veggies and fruits.  I made my own salad dressings from organic cold-pressed olive oil.  I made side salads from seaweed and raw yams.  I grew my own sprouts.  This lifestyle involves lots of planning and effort to maintain.

I did it for almost a year. 

And then, one day, I had a dolma, and then I had a tiny nugget of grilled chicken, then I had some tuna, then some cow's milk, then a big-assed buffalo burger.  Of course french fries weren't far behind.  And bring on the cheese. Before I knew it I was scarfing down a chocolate shake.  My diet was snowballing into hell.  My energy level avalanched in tandem with the crap I consumed.  Mysteriously.  All of that affected my drive to climb back on the wagon.  I told myself that eating right didn't make THAT much difference to my body, mind, and spirit.    Over the last few months, I have had to admit as I look in the mirror at my naked body that it does.  I am starting to roll out of bed in the morning instead of leaping.

But today I turn the leaf over again.  Today, I return to my all-day crunching and munching of raw veggies and lovely fruit.  In fact, I just went to the grocery store to stock up for the week.  It took me four trips to the car to get all the bags of fruit and veggies in.  Plums and Mangos and Peaches, Oh my!  I also got yellow squash, zuccini, avacados, red leaf and grean leaf lettuce, broccoli sprouts, clover sprouts, cabbage, peppers, snap peas, yam, pears, apples, grapefruits, rasberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, onions, broccoli, mache, chickpeas, corn, etc. etc. etc.   I etcetered myself right into a $200.00 tab for one person.  I forgot how expensive it is to eat raw food.  Crazy and counterintuitive, isn't it?

Because I am only eating raw fruits and veggies, it is really important that I make them interesting and filling enough to keep me going through the night.  I have found that if I chop raw cabbage (don't sliver or shred it) into my salad and mix it with the lettuce, herbs and sprouts, my salad feels heartier and keeps me going longer.  Of course, I also add lots of squash and other veggies or fruits, nuts and wildflowers too.

Alright - gotta get moving - I have lettuce to sort, wash, and tear.  AND I have to "get myself up to go out"...for a walk. (<extremely obscure movie reference)

 

Oh - and NO MORE BEER!  (Except for the 12 I have in my fridge now.) 

Now taking your wagers on how long this promise lasts....

 

Christmas Brunch came off without a hitch.  I took some "before" pics:

 

The final menu consisted of sugar caned ham with apples and pears, shrimp and grits, andouille sausage, white cheddar eggs with scallions and parsley over potato pancakes, and good southern biscuits.  Later we had Brie with hot pepper jelly and caviar.  Lots of mimosas (4 bottles of champagne), spiked eggnog, and Christmas cookies were consumed too.

It was quite successful and everyone had a good time - or it seemed as if they had a good time.

I did - but then 4 bottles of champagne virtually ensures a good time, doesn't it?

 

The 'rents came through this year.  They sent me a Sandisk Sansa 200ER 6 GB MP3.  Oh my God I love this thing.  It does everything except dishes.  It plays movies, music, has a voice recorder and expandable memory. 

It is really scary that my father picked this present out for me.  He has never been one to pick out presents or one for technology.  I called to thank him and he went on and on about how he is "ripping CD's" and creating playlists.  He also went into detail about how it uses a flash drive instead of a hard drive so there is no skipping whilst jogging.  Then he provided details on accessories, specs, etc. and told me to call him if I had any problems figuring it out.

 

WHAT?  This from the man who used to have to call me to help him open Windows or shut down his computer?  Am I in the twilight zone? 

I spent several hours yesterday uploading my music and searching Rhapsody.  I absolutely love Rhapsody.  It, of course, automatically imported all of my Itunes and other music files and then made suggestions based on the music I already had on my computer.  Rhapsody told me that I am a Punk.  I didn't know and now feel quite justified in dying my hair hot pink and piercing my face and other nibbley bits.  And I get to wear black and pull my Doc Martins out of the closet.  Finally, someone - or something - "gets" me!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and aren't having as much trouble getting back to work as I am.

Peace!