i need to go to bed
maybe i will get around to more tomorrow
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Fruit Fast
Maybe I have blogged about this on the triathlon site. I guess I should start a food site. This really doesnt do justice to recapturing each year in a few brief blogs. This is an extensive summary of my nutritional intake over the course of the winter. And as always I get obsessed with the concept of a fruit fast. You heard me correctly. Eating fruit and only fruit for a certain number of days. If you break it down, lots qualifies as fruit. And when you challenge yourself to eat only fruit you find ways to be creative.
This is a concoction that I stumbled across last year. You see I don't own a juicer but one of the easiest ways to consume fruit is in juice variety. I also think the pulp helps with fiber intake. So I have resorted to peeling my fruit and pureeing the heck out of it in the blender. This beautiful pink ensemble is grapefruits, raspberries, vanilla, cinamon. I have alos used oranges, strawberries, cantaloupe.
I stay away from bananas.
no pics but...
In my bean/legume quest I did also venture to make my own hummus. And using that as a guide I made black bean dip a week later. Both came out good. I will try them again.
The next attempt will be a multi-bean soup with ham from Easter. It is in the freezer calling my name. I hesitate because if it comes out tasting too much like split pea soup I will be upset.
I will keep you posted.
The next attempt will be a multi-bean soup with ham from Easter. It is in the freezer calling my name. I hesitate because if it comes out tasting too much like split pea soup I will be upset.
I will keep you posted.
Lentils
Definitely going backwards through the pictures. I started with lentils in my bean/legume quest. They are tiny. I suspected as I got back on this dried bean band-wagon I should start with something easy. So lentils it was. PLUS - when in doubt you can pretty much soak/cook to death and they still taste yummy. So I made lentils. Around the same time my friend, Tara, posted a recipe for meatballs. Can't say that I have ever made meatballs. Well I can buy the frozen variety and throw them in the corckpot with jelly and chili sauce but to actually ball them up from raw meat? Can't say I have ever done that. But now meatloaf, I can do. And so I did. It made for a good few days of foods. Almost healthy if that old persons harris teeter (as I like to call it) hadn't gone and had meatloaf mix in the butcher area. Oh well, low fat turkey breast probably wouldnt have been as tasty.
Did somone say soup?
Somewhere in February I decided I would stop buying canned beans/legumes and try to reconstitute them from scratch. I had some success with it at a younger age and then I lost the knack and prepared some really nasty meals with hard/dry/tough beans. This winter I was more successful. I even threw some in my soup.
I think this was navy white beans with chicken and spinach. Would have been wise of me to save the recipe. This isn't the largest pot I own. I inheritted a big yellow pot from my dad. This 5qt deal makes plenty. I could practically wash the dog in the other one.
I also made some brocoli soup. This was towards the end of February. I was getting ready to head out on my first trip of the season. I had a whole lot of brocoli in the fridge and some other veggies. I decided to cook them down, puree and call it soup. This I remember as being YUMMY even without any cream or cheese ingredient like you normally see in brocoli soup.
I also made a tomato soup. That one did not warrant any pictures. I have made it before. I think of it as being healthier than the canned variety. Ironically it is also sweeter. It calls for orange juice. I DO have this recipe. It is in one of my Silver Palate cookbooks. To give it some protein I added some black beans. Overall I would call it belly-fill. Tasty but doesnt really leave you wanting more or overly full. I say all this because I found some of it leftover in the fridge at work yesterday. I hadn't missed it or been tempted to finish it. It's a once a winter type of soup.
Mac N Cheese
Was it the Superbowl that we watched at Robert & Catherine's? I remember I talked to Beto. And he said bring macaroni. And then clarified the macaroni and cheese. So I scrambled on line and found a really good recipe. Again - dont remember it - just google it... It's the one with sour cream in it. How could it be bad.
Stuffed Mushrooms
I remember these were good. I dont remember why I cooked them. Maybe I brought them to someone's house for something? Damn - what was in them? I think it was a type of cheese.
and then there are all these food pictures
i have been cooking a lot over the winter and taking lots of picutes of what i have been cooking
if only i had thought to write down the recipes as well
if only i had thought to write down the recipes as well
Just found more snow pics... thinking I am going backwards through the file.
It was a nice quiet morning. The little guy got up early that day. And it was so quiet and peaceful. The hush in the snow.
There was that girls day out for wine tasting
I took pictures there as well. Oh and they were on the camera. This stop was at Shelton.
Pansies in the Snow
Oh look at that..
I am filtering through the pictures that so easily were transferred from the camera...
Let's see what that last few months included...
Let's see what that last few months included...
Monday, April 19, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Last of the travel...
Today begins the last of my travel for work. Most of the ramblings (or as Tara calls them - rantings) will be on the beach... because by Friday evening that is my objective - the beach... In the interim I am here for work.
So this afternoon MGV dropped me off at Hertz to pick up my rental car. We both chuckled as Andrew wa there already. He was on the phone, eating his lunch. She got fed up with Andrew months ago. I am a die hard as I like the corporate discount and the Continental miles... Today he told his buddy (I cant imagine it was work related) on the phone to hold on. Proceeded to act like he was pulling up my reservation to tell me they had no cars. HUH!? Oh and we tried to call you but there wasn't a number on file. BULLSHIT (profanity is for Neil's benefit) They called me the last time I rented to double check everything is OK. You mean to tell me my info is not on a old file somewhere? What about teh email confirmation? That comes via email.. you couldn't try to reach me by email? They were going to try to get me a car within the next few hours.... So I walked out and walked back to the office. Oh I should thank Andrew on the triahtlon blog for helping me get a small workout in this evening...
MGV put me in touch with Enterprise and they put me in a sportin' Hyundai Tiburon (doesnt that mean shark? ugh)... I will be doing some additional research and I beleive I will be using Enterprise from now on. Not as convenient but I am just fed up...
Did you know for every good experience people tell 2 or 3 people... But in a bad experience they tell 11 to 12.... this is my attempt to apply that theory.
Made it here in good time. Ironically the hotel has me named as "Guest of the day" Name on a plaque in the lobby and candy in my room. And I made it in time for the Carrabas Manager Reception....
Work will be nice... hanging with KP even better....
So this afternoon MGV dropped me off at Hertz to pick up my rental car. We both chuckled as Andrew wa there already. He was on the phone, eating his lunch. She got fed up with Andrew months ago. I am a die hard as I like the corporate discount and the Continental miles... Today he told his buddy (I cant imagine it was work related) on the phone to hold on. Proceeded to act like he was pulling up my reservation to tell me they had no cars. HUH!? Oh and we tried to call you but there wasn't a number on file. BULLSHIT (profanity is for Neil's benefit) They called me the last time I rented to double check everything is OK. You mean to tell me my info is not on a old file somewhere? What about teh email confirmation? That comes via email.. you couldn't try to reach me by email? They were going to try to get me a car within the next few hours.... So I walked out and walked back to the office. Oh I should thank Andrew on the triahtlon blog for helping me get a small workout in this evening...
MGV put me in touch with Enterprise and they put me in a sportin' Hyundai Tiburon (doesnt that mean shark? ugh)... I will be doing some additional research and I beleive I will be using Enterprise from now on. Not as convenient but I am just fed up...
Did you know for every good experience people tell 2 or 3 people... But in a bad experience they tell 11 to 12.... this is my attempt to apply that theory.
Made it here in good time. Ironically the hotel has me named as "Guest of the day" Name on a plaque in the lobby and candy in my room. And I made it in time for the Carrabas Manager Reception....
Work will be nice... hanging with KP even better....
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Quick bread
I made a whole grain buttermilk quick bread last night with dinner. It was really good. I used caraway seeds instead of the other spices/herbs suggested. It was really easy and tasty.
Canola oil spray
1 cup whole-wheat flour, sifted
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
1/2 cup cornmeal
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. finely minced fresh oregano, basil or thyme leaves
1 1/4 cups fat-free buttermilk
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 Tbsp. honey
2 Tbsp. canola oil
1 Tbsp. sesame seeds
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray the interior of an 8-x-4-inch loaf pan with oil spray.
In bowl, combine all dry ingredients and fresh herbs, but save the sesame seeds for later.
In separate bowl, combine buttermilk, egg, honey and oil. Stir into flour mixture until just blended. Spoon batter into baking pan. Sprinkle sesame seeds over top.
Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool slightly on rack. Turn out bread and cool completely on wire rack. Serve immediately or store wrapped in plastic wrap or foil.
Makes one loaf of about 12 slices.
Per slice: 129 calories, 3 g. total fat (<1 g. saturated fat), 21 g. carbohydrate, 4 g. protein, 2 g. dietary fiber, 250 mg. sodium
Canola oil spray
1 cup whole-wheat flour, sifted
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
1/2 cup cornmeal
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. finely minced fresh oregano, basil or thyme leaves
1 1/4 cups fat-free buttermilk
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 Tbsp. honey
2 Tbsp. canola oil
1 Tbsp. sesame seeds
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray the interior of an 8-x-4-inch loaf pan with oil spray.
In bowl, combine all dry ingredients and fresh herbs, but save the sesame seeds for later.
In separate bowl, combine buttermilk, egg, honey and oil. Stir into flour mixture until just blended. Spoon batter into baking pan. Sprinkle sesame seeds over top.
Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool slightly on rack. Turn out bread and cool completely on wire rack. Serve immediately or store wrapped in plastic wrap or foil.
Makes one loaf of about 12 slices.
Per slice: 129 calories, 3 g. total fat (<1 g. saturated fat), 21 g. carbohydrate, 4 g. protein, 2 g. dietary fiber, 250 mg. sodium
pictures
today's goal is to try to get all the pics on my camera on to my external hard drive using my new computer and ultimately posting some to the blog... i got a funny pic last night that needs to not stay on the computer
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Leek and Brie Tart
I used brie instead of camembert. Probably a lot more than the suggested recipe...
Leek and Camembert Tart Bon Appétit
April 2003
This beautiful appetizer boasts a delicate balance of leek and cheese flavor.
Yield: Makes 8 first-course servings
1 17.3-ounce package frozen puff pastry (2 sheets), thawed
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
4 leeks (white and pale green parts only), sliced (about 4 cups)
1/4 cup water
2/3 cup whipping cream
4 ounces Camembert cheese, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 large egg
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Pinch of ground nutmeg
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 400°F. Roll out each pastry sheet on lightly floured surface to 12-inch square. Stack squares and roll to 15-inch square. Using 14-inch pizza pan as guide, cut stacked dough into 14-inch round. Crimp edge of dough to form 1/4-inch rim. Transfer to pizza pan or baking sheet. Freeze 10 minutes.
Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add leeks and 1/4 cup water; cook until leeks are tender, about 15 minutes. Season leeks with salt; set aside to cool. Bring cream to simmer in medium saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat to low; add Camembert and stir until melted. Remove from heat and cool 5 minutes. Whisk in egg, cayenne, and nutmeg. Set custard aside.
Sprinkle Parmesan over crust. Spread leeks over. Drizzle custard over. Bake until bottom is golden, about 20 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/printerfriendly/Leek-and-Camembert-Tart-107902#ixzz0kN46eWHd
Leek and Camembert Tart Bon Appétit
April 2003
This beautiful appetizer boasts a delicate balance of leek and cheese flavor.
Yield: Makes 8 first-course servings
1 17.3-ounce package frozen puff pastry (2 sheets), thawed
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
4 leeks (white and pale green parts only), sliced (about 4 cups)
1/4 cup water
2/3 cup whipping cream
4 ounces Camembert cheese, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 large egg
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Pinch of ground nutmeg
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 400°F. Roll out each pastry sheet on lightly floured surface to 12-inch square. Stack squares and roll to 15-inch square. Using 14-inch pizza pan as guide, cut stacked dough into 14-inch round. Crimp edge of dough to form 1/4-inch rim. Transfer to pizza pan or baking sheet. Freeze 10 minutes.
Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add leeks and 1/4 cup water; cook until leeks are tender, about 15 minutes. Season leeks with salt; set aside to cool. Bring cream to simmer in medium saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat to low; add Camembert and stir until melted. Remove from heat and cool 5 minutes. Whisk in egg, cayenne, and nutmeg. Set custard aside.
Sprinkle Parmesan over crust. Spread leeks over. Drizzle custard over. Bake until bottom is golden, about 20 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/printerfriendly/Leek-and-Camembert-Tart-107902#ixzz0kN46eWHd
Monday, April 5, 2010
Third Times a Charm
So my mom left for AZ yesterday morning. When she got to the airport her flight was delayed due to the fog. It wasnt the first time in the pat few months where the weather has interferred with her travels.
At Christmas she had to deal with some snow on her way here for a visit. As I recall she got as far as NC when it started to snow pretty bad and ended up staying just in the south of the border instead of making the trip in one day. Truth be told the two day trip does seem far more appealing these days.
Her trip tp FLA was the same. Snow storm.
And then this time the fog. Funny thing about this trip. Her flight to Houston was cancelled. She ended up on a flight to Dallas. Then her new flight from Dallas to Tuscon was cancelled. She ended up on another flight at the other end of Dallas airport to get to Tuscon.
I am thankful that my trips have not been that eventful this year.
I am home for another 10 days. I am going to try to make the most out of it.
At Christmas she had to deal with some snow on her way here for a visit. As I recall she got as far as NC when it started to snow pretty bad and ended up staying just in the south of the border instead of making the trip in one day. Truth be told the two day trip does seem far more appealing these days.
Her trip tp FLA was the same. Snow storm.
And then this time the fog. Funny thing about this trip. Her flight to Houston was cancelled. She ended up on a flight to Dallas. Then her new flight from Dallas to Tuscon was cancelled. She ended up on another flight at the other end of Dallas airport to get to Tuscon.
I am thankful that my trips have not been that eventful this year.
I am home for another 10 days. I am going to try to make the most out of it.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Happy Easter
When I first made the plans to be in MKE this past week I had also looked into flying to NJ. I have done that in the past and it wasn't a bad round trip way to travel for work and go to NJ for a few days. Unfortunately over the years the flights changed and I didn't find anything convenient. So instead I will be hostessing Easter dinner here this afternoon for a few friends. My mom is on her way to AZ. That is if the fog ever clears at the airport.
I was thinking back over other Easters in the process. Aaah, the luxury of the new laptop to sit off and just purge the brain for a little bit. What's the Story Morning Glory playing on Grooveshark helps as well....
Shall we go to St. Thomas for Easter? Actually we did this a few times when I was younger. Second grade... was that the year I got swimmer's ear? I still religiously use ear drops whenever I swim. It is an odd step in transition. I think that was the year I got a hollow chocolate easter egg from one of the stores on the island. The Easter bunny shopped locally instead of packing it ahead of time. The next year we left on Easter. I got a stuffed lamb in my basket and it came along for the trip with us. I beleive "Lamby" is still upstairs in a bag with some other stuffed animals. That was the year I got sun poisoning. And then there was the high school trip to Puerto Rico. We took a day trip to St. Thomas. No ailments that time. But I did make up for it with some mono when we went over Christmas a few years later.... Let's change venues...
In middle school I think we stayed home more often. My mom (or should I say the Easter bunny) took to creating scavenger hunts for Easter morning. There would be a clue in my basket and all sorts of good things hidden around the house. It must have pissed my dad off that she spent a good bit of money on Easter presents. Just saying mom.... After that there is a bit of a void... I do remember making an egg shaped cake one year to take to my Uncle's. I suspect I celebrated Easter with Jen when I was in Bermuda. And then that brings us to the Charlotte years.
The first year here in Charlotte. I just moved here. I just met Maya and her friends. Angie & I decorated eggs. Oh that reminds me I have some Easter decorations in the closet that she gave me all those years ago. Hmmm - wonder if I can yuck them out before company arrives. We went to that restaurant that is now Cantina over on East for dinner. Z was working there. And then he and I went to a party at a friend's parent's house. Although I think the true scenario was the parents were away and their home was far more condusive to entertaining with a pool table, pool and hot tub than anyone's apartment at the time.
Year two - that was the pot luck year. And I think it has been odd varieties of here and there every since.
I was thinking back over other Easters in the process. Aaah, the luxury of the new laptop to sit off and just purge the brain for a little bit. What's the Story Morning Glory playing on Grooveshark helps as well....
Shall we go to St. Thomas for Easter? Actually we did this a few times when I was younger. Second grade... was that the year I got swimmer's ear? I still religiously use ear drops whenever I swim. It is an odd step in transition. I think that was the year I got a hollow chocolate easter egg from one of the stores on the island. The Easter bunny shopped locally instead of packing it ahead of time. The next year we left on Easter. I got a stuffed lamb in my basket and it came along for the trip with us. I beleive "Lamby" is still upstairs in a bag with some other stuffed animals. That was the year I got sun poisoning. And then there was the high school trip to Puerto Rico. We took a day trip to St. Thomas. No ailments that time. But I did make up for it with some mono when we went over Christmas a few years later.... Let's change venues...
In middle school I think we stayed home more often. My mom (or should I say the Easter bunny) took to creating scavenger hunts for Easter morning. There would be a clue in my basket and all sorts of good things hidden around the house. It must have pissed my dad off that she spent a good bit of money on Easter presents. Just saying mom.... After that there is a bit of a void... I do remember making an egg shaped cake one year to take to my Uncle's. I suspect I celebrated Easter with Jen when I was in Bermuda. And then that brings us to the Charlotte years.
The first year here in Charlotte. I just moved here. I just met Maya and her friends. Angie & I decorated eggs. Oh that reminds me I have some Easter decorations in the closet that she gave me all those years ago. Hmmm - wonder if I can yuck them out before company arrives. We went to that restaurant that is now Cantina over on East for dinner. Z was working there. And then he and I went to a party at a friend's parent's house. Although I think the true scenario was the parents were away and their home was far more condusive to entertaining with a pool table, pool and hot tub than anyone's apartment at the time.
Year two - that was the pot luck year. And I think it has been odd varieties of here and there every since.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Happy Kite Day
Every year I say I am going to make a kite. I never do.
I always say I am going to get some friends together and celebrate with a tall black and coke. I never do.
So happy kite day anyways.
http://www.markcarey.com/bermuda/bermuda-kite-flying-on-good-friday.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bermuda_kite
I always say I am going to get some friends together and celebrate with a tall black and coke. I never do.
So happy kite day anyways.
http://www.markcarey.com/bermuda/bermuda-kite-flying-on-good-friday.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bermuda_kite
March Madness #4
Welcome to Milwaukee. Note to self - keep late March as the "ideal calendar" date for this visit. I know it was unseasonably warm at almost 80d this past week but it was so much nicer than the Winter visits where it is dark and cold!
Besides the warm temps there really isnt anything too exciting to say about the visit. Nothing out of the ordinary. Oh well...
Now on to April. I am home (well at least no overnight trips) for 14 days. Best make the most of it.
Besides the warm temps there really isnt anything too exciting to say about the visit. Nothing out of the ordinary. Oh well...
Now on to April. I am home (well at least no overnight trips) for 14 days. Best make the most of it.
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