UPC Code

The week has been stressful busy, but luckily the ladies called and we did a happy hour/dinner (we try for one each month). It was very refreshing just to go out for a few hours and have that girl talk time. Where you just lay every problem out on the table, you don't expect it will be solved and it gets to be a nice vent session with the added bonus of beer! Then from there you may get feedback, laughed at or the shot of reality you needed to get over it. Always a good time and pooling of ideas.

Lately I have been trying to organize myself for the farmer's market trips or to join a CSA group (Community Supported Agriculture). In Phoenix I also have the option to have fresh veggies/fruit delivered to my door every Thursday morning before 7AM...it would be like Christmas once a week! And I wouldn't have to fight the grocery store crowd as often.

Most of the ladies commented they could never go through that much fresh anything in a week. Believe me, I have also had fresh food turn into fuzz balls in my forgotten crisper drawers. Well, I told them of my recent diet endeavors and whew! It is the same question--so are you vegetarian now or something?!? (It never has a fully encouraging tone) For Pete's sake I am eating at Buffalo Wild Wings...does this look like I have gone full veggie yet? Grrr. Then the next question proceeds (from any group, not just my gal pals) of what am I then? Really, do I require a label?!?

I like the idea of turning veg, but for now I could be called "flexitarian" ...maybe 3 small servings of meat find their way into my diet per week. Normally when I go out to a restaurant and for now I am still a confused cook who will soon reinvent my pantry staples for most of the recipes I would like to try. Flexitarian just seems like a cop out...maybe I should go with a classic label...something like "Omnivore Light." Whatever you want to call it...I feel alert and light and am loving it!

My Lungs Still Work...

...and my dog is still cute.

After more than a week, I went back to the gym...and by no miracle. My work out buddy went home to walk her husband and I still went! Now it's not to say that I didn't have some prodding or a gym bag already packed in the back seat of my car....but it was a cardio-rific 25 intense minutes later I was seen fleeing the institution. I beat traffic to get home to my Lenny.

We played fetch...and then I made a fetching meal:
Zucchini (1) , yellow squash (1), mushrooms, tomato (2), fresh basil, onion, garlic chopped and everyday seasoning (herb grinder from TD). Sauteed in a pan with some olive oil. Then placed on a bed of brown rice.

"Mad props" C says for the Matthew idea of frozen banana introduced to the food processor with some soy milk. Then topped with chopped pecans...and we couldn't resist adding vanilla wafers (not Matthew approved). It was a yummy, creamy dessert!

Meat Free Monday

I have just celebrated my first Meat Free Monday and I encourage you to join me next week. Sir Paul McCartney says you should. :)

Here's the website with recipes: http://www.supportmfm.org/getinvolved/

The Open Road Calls...

My moto has been sad for a whole week now. She sits in the garage waiting patiently to be taken out onto the open road. When I leave in the morning to go to/from work I apologize for not taking her out and hop into my mini-SUV. I really wish I could ride every day...Gracie's shiny, chrome-y self calls to me and I have to leave her behind. Well, this Friday that wasn't the case. I got to wear jeans to work (instead of the traditional suit and heels) and that means I am riding in!

Love it! The mornings are now cool (but not cold) and the evenings are so nice to cruise around. To add an extra bonus of riding the motorcycle in, it means I get to take the carpool lane home and save at least 10 minutes on my return commute at rush hour. Once home, I was welcomed by my hubby and his freshly washed moto in the driveway. Both handsome devils edging to get going somewhere out and about that night. Ab-so-lutely.

We decided to go up to Fountain Hills so we could enjoy a ride without much traffic. We didn't even stop for dinner...just all riding. A quick 50 mile jaunt up north and back was exactly what we needed to kick off the weekend right. We chased each other like little kids on an asphalt playground. It gives me such a feeling of pride to be my own driver, to have my own Harley and to see C looking studly on his own hog. We let out the throttles on the highway, putted around in a neighboring town, then a quick stroll around the park before we headed back home to get Lenny his dinner.

Being pup parents sure can be easy and spontaneous. Better enjoy these simple times of life now...before they get even better later!

Noms

So have you been curious what I've been eating this week? Well there is still meat in my diet for the time being. I am phasing it out of my house, going out for sushi b-day celebrations and integrating vegetarian-ish meals.

The "-ish" comes from last night's dinner of Mushroom & Herb Risotto from Trader Joe's (the ingredients include chicken stock from the box). Other than that it is pretty friendly. To make it a meal I added fresh portabella mushrooms (2 large/chopped), broccoli (2+ cups), roasted red bell pepper and grated parmesan to our box-of-yum:


Earlier in the week I made a favorite of Curtis' --this one's shocking cause he is not a fish fanatic. Mahi-Mahi tuna steaks dipped in a pistachio breading (crushed nuts, salt & pepper) over romaine lettuce, tomatoes and an avocado dressing.
Rough recipe:
Chop nuts (1/2 cup) combine with spices (1/4 tsp), bread fish, pan fry in olive oil to brown each side, 1-2 min each side. Then cook for remainder of time in oven (appx 10 min).

While baking, prep bed of romaine lettuce, cut tomatoes and make the dressing. Puree avocado (1), grated sweet onion (1T), add olive oil (1-2T), water (1T), lime juice (1T) and mix to desired consistency.

Combine and enjoy!

If you want a meatless alternative - last week I used seasoned bread crumbs, sliced egg plant and baked in my new (mini) convection oven till GBD.

Young and Dumb

I tell you this epic error so you do not do the same...and BTW don't read this while eating.

Almost three years ago I was still looking for the quick fix way to lose weight. I just had a co-worker and some of her family members go through the "Lemonade Diet" and look amazing for it. It was explained to me that it was a fasting, but you were still drinking in all your "proper nutrients" while detoxifying [shudder at the memory]. Really it is a colon cleanse and I bought the book: The Master Cleanser by Stanley Burrough

Okay, like I said the WRONG thing to do and I learned my lesson the hard way. You will probably get it from these ingredients mixed up and chugged downed all day; lemon juice, Grade B maple syrup, cayenne pepper and water. Then laxatives in the form of a tea called the punny name: Smooth Move (at night) and then in the morning you drink QUART of warm water and sea salt to push whatever is left--> out [vile]. The objective is to do this for minimum of 10 days! INSANITY.

I can tell you that it did not work for me and I in no way advocate this cleanse. I have flash backs of this horrific choice and I had to throw away the containers I made the liquid-death in. I started on a Thursday night (had Friday off for some reason--planned to be at home for the literal sh*t storm that was going to happen). By Sunday/Day-3 I was so weak. I had gone for ground, I had zero energy and all I could do was poo mucus out my anus and lay back down on the couch in exhaustion. Supposedly the point, but I had nothing left to give...and for this project I was going to be a quitter.

Moral?
- When life gives you lemons? --Do not make this lemonade.
- Still had a supportive husband back then (why he can live his life with crazy is sometimes a mystery)
- My butt was not happy...however this is why I believe that dairy is a mucus producing food. I have seen my own evidence. Graphic I know--not sorry.
- If you want to do a cleanse, then do the purest raw food diet --that will get you pooping!
- Pooping is essential (if you've ever had surgery, you know it is really life or death to start that process again if you ever want to eat solid foods)
- There is never a quick fix
- Eat stupid, don't starve yourself
- Eat the right things and be active/exercise
- Stop making excuses, everyone can do it.

Ever feel like you know too much?!? It's like you know you got to this earth cause your parents did the biological tango one night and *poof* you are here. Then it is a whole 'nother thing to walk into the house and your parents are getting it on. TMI --I have heard your horror stories and I am thankful to have not had my eyes scarred by this actual event.

We've gotten the same way about our food. We don't see how 'A' (our food) got to 'B' (us/the consumers) and there is a LOT of production into making 'A' happen! Now I am warning you that I am going to stay on my soap box...so decide if you are in this with me...cause I am going to be talking a TON about what I am finding out and henceforth blurting out my thoughts here. You've been warned.

I don't want to be scarred into not eating foods, but wow. Knowledge is power and I can't ignore the overwhelming amount of science, documentation and results that are getting our food made/to the grocery store. Scoring out my own sugar/process food intake creeped me out and I eliminated "white" food from my house (marshmallows, you can stay for Lenny's benefit). I watched Food Inc. and thought, okay...buy local. I read The China Study and went whoa, okay I guess I will eat the highest quality of meat in extreme moderation, I read the Skinny Bitch series and that is the smack in the face I needed. Someone asking...are you stupid--why haven't you changed your ways already?!? [sigh] Life is on it's head and the transition begins.

Also it begins with a jolt. I watched Our Daily Bread last night and I recommend you see this artsy-fartsy film at home on Play x2 speed. Go normal rate to hear the beginning sounds of each scene (mostly the machinery parts) and hold your jaw up (if you can) while you watch the chickens and cows go through their "process" in real time. It still goes disturbingly fast and I was appalled. I have watched exposes' before and shrugged them off...now with part of the knowledge behind the industry---I am so turned off by meat. And I was really affected, the slaughter and inhumane treatment is extreme...but really I am more disgusted in myself that I have supported this maximized industry. Tsk, tsk...another shame ribbon for me.

The only so called "luxury" that I can inflict upon myself is my cherished sashimi and the naughty white rice bundled in little deliciousness of sushi. (BTW - I switched my house to brown rice only and have totally confused my mom...I haven't even "written home" to let her know I am thinking of eliminating meat...or at least eliminating it as much as they do in traditional Japanese cooking).

I still don't know where exactly I will go with this, but I know that I have my best friend at my side. My Irish, meat-and-potato loving husband is on board with me and is totally supporting my choices. [*glowing * proud *] I cook, so to a certain degree he is subject to it. However, there is more to it and he is not forced to do anything. Just as he supports me, I am not scandalized that he will choose to enjoy meaty treats outside of my kitchen. Hell, I am not opposed to cooking him meat and then I don't eat it. Sunday I did that exact thing for him as I had hummus and a salad with sunflower seeds. I also added to his plate a grilled chicken breast, the smell of chicken really threw my tummy for a flip --but I haven't been eating much (if any) meat and I feel great.