Day 1 of the Fed Up Challenge, and I have faced my sugar demon head on. I made my morning latte without any chocolate syrup. Usually I am a morning mocha person, but in the last few weeks I have been reducing the amount of chocolate syrup in my morning mocha. I have been using either Torani Dark Chocolate Syrup or Trader Joe's Midnight Moo Organic Chocolate Syrup. Neither have High Fructose Corn Syrup, but do have substantial amounts of sugar (organic or not, sugar is sugar).
When I learned that 4 grams of sugar equal 1 teaspoon of sugar, I could clearly visualize how much of the "white stuff" I am putting in my drink, in my body. I do like chocolate, but over the years have cut back to where it flavors my foods, not IS my food (ex. I like mint chocolate chip ice cream better than straight chocolate ice cream and a couple years ago cut my Starbucks' Grande Mochas from 4 pumps of syrup to 2 and recently to 1).
In April, I learned of Eve Schaub's book A Year With No Sugar (based on her blog) and read it, gleaning some insight from her family's experience cutting out added sugars for a year. I watched Dr. Robert Lustig's video on You Tube "Sugar: The Bitter Truth," which enlightened me on the medical and physiological side of sugar and how it affects our bodies. Finally, I saw the documentary Fed Up yesterday. And I am on board with the movie's challenge to go Sugar Free (no added sugars) for 10 days.
I know I can do it. We have been slowly cutting back on sugars anyway, trying to weed out products with lots of added sugars and using sweeteners more sparingly. We cook a lot from scratch and eat out infrequently (and when we do, we choose wisely). I am looking forward to seeing how I feel and what I eat, if I have any cravings, and how my moods are.
I will keep you posted.
Fed Up Challenge
Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts
Monday, May 12, 2014
Sunday, April 22, 2012
An Influential Book
Since I am an avid reader, I could name many books that have influenced me in some way. For this post, however, I will discuss only one. It's Mediterranean Women Stay Slim, Too: Eating to Be Sexy, Fit, and Fabulous! Yes, the title is long, but the book is fairly short and a quick read.
The author is chef and restaurant owner Melissa Kelly. She is from an Italian American family and relates many family stories as well as her experiences as a chef. I have been re-reading this book because it has so many great tips and recipes.
One point she makes is about the social aspect of eating in her family as well as in the Mediterranean culture. When we make meals a social "event" as well as nourishment, the meal is more satisfying and we tend to eat less. I have noticed that is true with me. Even on Thanksgiving, when I cooked for a dozen people and there were so many dishes, I did not eat too much. There was so much energy in the room, so much to talk about and share, I actually ate less. When I eat alone or eat with my husband in front of the TV, I tend to eat more and usually enjoy the meal less.
Melissa makes the point to eat at the table, to turn off the TV or other distractions, focus on the food and the companionship. When I do that, I do have a more enjoyable meal. It's easy to eat on the run, eat in front of the TV or PC or even with my phone in hand.
This book is not a diet book; it's a book about enjoying life, fresh food, family, and friends. It's inspirational. I am going to try to live more like the Mediterranean culture, right here in my Midwestern town.
If you want to see more about this book, go to Amazon. Right now the book is bargain priced and well worth every penny!
The author is chef and restaurant owner Melissa Kelly. She is from an Italian American family and relates many family stories as well as her experiences as a chef. I have been re-reading this book because it has so many great tips and recipes.
One point she makes is about the social aspect of eating in her family as well as in the Mediterranean culture. When we make meals a social "event" as well as nourishment, the meal is more satisfying and we tend to eat less. I have noticed that is true with me. Even on Thanksgiving, when I cooked for a dozen people and there were so many dishes, I did not eat too much. There was so much energy in the room, so much to talk about and share, I actually ate less. When I eat alone or eat with my husband in front of the TV, I tend to eat more and usually enjoy the meal less.
Melissa makes the point to eat at the table, to turn off the TV or other distractions, focus on the food and the companionship. When I do that, I do have a more enjoyable meal. It's easy to eat on the run, eat in front of the TV or PC or even with my phone in hand.
This book is not a diet book; it's a book about enjoying life, fresh food, family, and friends. It's inspirational. I am going to try to live more like the Mediterranean culture, right here in my Midwestern town.
If you want to see more about this book, go to Amazon. Right now the book is bargain priced and well worth every penny!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Food & the Fox
For the past few years, my husband and I have had season tickets to the Broadway Series at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis. It's been a great way to have "date nights" and sometimes "double date nights" with friends.
Usually, we go out to dinner before the Saturday night shows. When we are pressed for time, we have gone to The Best Steak House (located right across from the Fox on Grand Ave.). It's a cafeteria-style steak place, with very reasonable prices, good portions and fine food. However, I prefer the dinners at "nicer" places that take reservations. One such place is Kota Wood Fire Grill (next door to The Best Steak House). Their food is excellent, with fabulous appetizers (stuffed mushrooms) and desserts (a cupcake in a coffee cup w/ an espresso and chocolate ganache). We've been there twice, and all the food I've sampled has been above average. We tried the City Diner, near the Fox, with mixed results. I got the pecan banana pancakes (yummy) but my husband did not care for his chicken fried steak. A year or so ago, we went to the Grand Buffet at the Fox. That was very good, too.
The shows at the Fox are entertaining. Most of the Broadway Series shows are musicals, but we did see a drama, August: Osage County, last year. My favorite musicals seen at the Fox are Jersey Boys (which we are seeing again in May), Mamma Mia (seen twice), The Drowsy Chaperone, Grease, The Lion King, Shrek, and The Light in the Piazza. Few shows have been disappointing, but the ones least liked have been The Wedding Singer and Legally Blonde (but I like the movie versions). Just this past Saturday, we saw 9 to 5: The Musical. It had some great music and was well done. Diane DeGarmo (American Idol season 3) did great as Doralee (Dolly Parton's role). Last year Grease had idol alums Taylor Hicks and Ace Young).
If you have not been to the Fox, you should take in a show or concert. It's a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening. And you will be mesmerized by the architecture and design of the theatre as well as the performances.
Usually, we go out to dinner before the Saturday night shows. When we are pressed for time, we have gone to The Best Steak House (located right across from the Fox on Grand Ave.). It's a cafeteria-style steak place, with very reasonable prices, good portions and fine food. However, I prefer the dinners at "nicer" places that take reservations. One such place is Kota Wood Fire Grill (next door to The Best Steak House). Their food is excellent, with fabulous appetizers (stuffed mushrooms) and desserts (a cupcake in a coffee cup w/ an espresso and chocolate ganache). We've been there twice, and all the food I've sampled has been above average. We tried the City Diner, near the Fox, with mixed results. I got the pecan banana pancakes (yummy) but my husband did not care for his chicken fried steak. A year or so ago, we went to the Grand Buffet at the Fox. That was very good, too.
The shows at the Fox are entertaining. Most of the Broadway Series shows are musicals, but we did see a drama, August: Osage County, last year. My favorite musicals seen at the Fox are Jersey Boys (which we are seeing again in May), Mamma Mia (seen twice), The Drowsy Chaperone, Grease, The Lion King, Shrek, and The Light in the Piazza. Few shows have been disappointing, but the ones least liked have been The Wedding Singer and Legally Blonde (but I like the movie versions). Just this past Saturday, we saw 9 to 5: The Musical. It had some great music and was well done. Diane DeGarmo (American Idol season 3) did great as Doralee (Dolly Parton's role). Last year Grease had idol alums Taylor Hicks and Ace Young).
If you have not been to the Fox, you should take in a show or concert. It's a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening. And you will be mesmerized by the architecture and design of the theatre as well as the performances.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
produce from the Co-op
After reading an article in the O'Fallon Progress about Community Helpings Co-op, I decided to try it out. For $23, I was supposed to get about $50 worth of fruits and veggies. I pre-ordered and pre-paid through their website http://www.communityhelpingscoop.com/ (I used my debit card, but also accepted are credit cards and payment through PayPal. I think orders need to be placed by the Friday before the pick up date (may depend on the location).
They have a pick up at a church near me every other Tuesday (yesterday, Aug. 17 was in O'Fallon, IL). The website lists the locations and days for pick ups.
I took my son Andrew with me in case I needed an extra hand. Pick up was 5-5:30 p.m. I waited in line (lots of others were doing this--a good sign). My name was checked off, and my bag of goodies was waiting for me (a really big bag with my name on it). Andrew and I transferred the items from the bag into a box and smaller bags.
What did I get for my $23? Glad you asked. Here is the list:
Now I have to build meals around this bounty so I can used everything up. It bothers me to waste any food, no matter the cost. Tonight I will be making something with the spinach and mushrooms, along with a BIG salad. They will go along with the grilled chicken thighs I bought at Trader Joe's.
They have a pick up at a church near me every other Tuesday (yesterday, Aug. 17 was in O'Fallon, IL). The website lists the locations and days for pick ups.
I took my son Andrew with me in case I needed an extra hand. Pick up was 5-5:30 p.m. I waited in line (lots of others were doing this--a good sign). My name was checked off, and my bag of goodies was waiting for me (a really big bag with my name on it). Andrew and I transferred the items from the bag into a box and smaller bags.
What did I get for my $23? Glad you asked. Here is the list:
- 1 large head broccoli
- 2 bunches celery
- 1 head lettuce (butter lettuce)
- 3 tomatoes
- 1 small paper bag of fresh spinach leaves
- 7 small-medium cucumbers
- 4 heads garlic
- 3 red bell peppers
- 1 16-oz. bag babty carrots
- 1 8 oz. package white mushrooms
- 1 large melon
- 4 "doughnut" peaches
- 8 apples
- 4 pears
- 3 large plums
- 3 grapefruit
- 5 lemons
Now I have to build meals around this bounty so I can used everything up. It bothers me to waste any food, no matter the cost. Tonight I will be making something with the spinach and mushrooms, along with a BIG salad. They will go along with the grilled chicken thighs I bought at Trader Joe's.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Basil = Better Dishes
Well, much of the lettuce was munched by a visiting rabbit, most of the red peppers rotted (I think from too much rain), and most of the orange peppers have been very small (and some turned red instead of orange). The cherry tomatoes have been steadily producing, giving us bruschetta, roasted tomatoes, and salads. The eggplant has produced 3 eggplants, not yet ready to pick. The herbs overall have been fantastic, giving us more than enough to add to and garnish our food.
If I had to pick only 3 items to grow, I would limit myself to basil, tomatoes and parsley. It's been great not having to buy these products at the market. As much as I use basil and parsley, I have recouped my full garden investment (pots, soil, plants). I love being about to step outside to get the fresh herbs.
So many dishes can use a little (or a lot of) basil. Thinking back over what I have been making this summer, I realize many of my favorites used basil. Some of these dishes include the following:
- couscous stuffed peppers with basil sauce
- caprese salad
- caprese pasta
- spaghetti with beef, smoked almonds, and basil
- homemade pizza
- roasted garlic pesto cream pasta
- mini Italian pub burgers
- black bean, corn, and tomato salad
- orzo with roasted veggies
- penne with sun-dried tomato pesto
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Spring Break 2010: top 6
Although I had work to catch up on during my break, I made a little time for fun. Here are my Top 6 activities/events from break.
1. August:Osage County at the Fox Theatre. What an awesome play. It lasted nearly 3 1/2 hours (with 2 intermissions), but what an experience. It was powerful, funny, and had a couple recognizable actors.
2. Up in the Air on DVD. My husband and I watch this movie last Friday night. Very well done, fun to see St. Louis places. I like quirky, unpredictable movies. Great blend of comedy and drama.
3. Eating lunch at a new restaurant. My friend Kelly and I went to a new Vietnamese/Chinese place in Brentwood (behind Best Buy off Hanley). The name was Mei "something" (my mind has lost it....). Great food. It was so fresh and tasty. The egg roll was delicious as was the noodle bowl and hot green tea. I will definitely go back.
4. Food, Inc. on DVD. I have been wanting to see this documentary since it came out last fall. After watching Fast Food Nation and Super Size Me, I thought I knew a lot about our food supply and production practices. However, parts of this movie were VERY difficult to watch. If you have read anything by Michael Pollan, you will want to see this (he is in it). I have a new outlook on the meat I eat.
5. Sleeping in. A couple days I got to sleep past 7 a.m. That may not seem late to you, but I am usually up no later than 6 a.m. on weekdays. It was a treat to wake up w/o an alarm, drink my cafe mocha leisurely while doing the Sudoku and reading the comics.
6. Walking and working out. I finally got back to the YMCA after months away. I also walked around the neighborhood, even one day walking in the rain. I am determined to make exercise a regular activity once again (it's so easy to get out of the routine). I feel more energetic and can focus better when I have taken time to walk, cross train and lift a few weights.
I hope all of you had a good break, even if you just had a break from the routine of school. I feel a little more caught up and ready to tackle classes again.
1. August:Osage County at the Fox Theatre. What an awesome play. It lasted nearly 3 1/2 hours (with 2 intermissions), but what an experience. It was powerful, funny, and had a couple recognizable actors.
2. Up in the Air on DVD. My husband and I watch this movie last Friday night. Very well done, fun to see St. Louis places. I like quirky, unpredictable movies. Great blend of comedy and drama.
3. Eating lunch at a new restaurant. My friend Kelly and I went to a new Vietnamese/Chinese place in Brentwood (behind Best Buy off Hanley). The name was Mei "something" (my mind has lost it....). Great food. It was so fresh and tasty. The egg roll was delicious as was the noodle bowl and hot green tea. I will definitely go back.
4. Food, Inc. on DVD. I have been wanting to see this documentary since it came out last fall. After watching Fast Food Nation and Super Size Me, I thought I knew a lot about our food supply and production practices. However, parts of this movie were VERY difficult to watch. If you have read anything by Michael Pollan, you will want to see this (he is in it). I have a new outlook on the meat I eat.
5. Sleeping in. A couple days I got to sleep past 7 a.m. That may not seem late to you, but I am usually up no later than 6 a.m. on weekdays. It was a treat to wake up w/o an alarm, drink my cafe mocha leisurely while doing the Sudoku and reading the comics.
6. Walking and working out. I finally got back to the YMCA after months away. I also walked around the neighborhood, even one day walking in the rain. I am determined to make exercise a regular activity once again (it's so easy to get out of the routine). I feel more energetic and can focus better when I have taken time to walk, cross train and lift a few weights.
I hope all of you had a good break, even if you just had a break from the routine of school. I feel a little more caught up and ready to tackle classes again.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Soup, Soup, and more Soup
What's your favorite soup? Do you make it yourself? If not, who makes it?
With the cooler weather, I have been on a soup craze. Every weekend, I make another pot of soup. Sometimes it's a creamy soup, a chowder, a chili, or even a chunky soup that's closer to stew. I have a few favorites, but I also am trying new recipes.
One of the first fall soups I made was Chunky Chicken and Chorizo Chili. It's got ground chicken, cooked (smoked) chorizo, peppers, onions, beans, tomatoes, and a bottle of beer. I don't even like to drink beer, but it adds a great flavor to the chili.
A favorite soup is Stuffed Pepper Stoup (named by Rachael Ray--thicker than a soup, thinner than a stew). I use 3 peppers of various colors (bell peppers, not spicy ones). Instead of rice (that you might use in stuffed peppers), the recipe calls for orzo, rice-shaped pasta. And there is ground beef, a large can of crushed tomatoes. Top each bowl with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
Another soup I made I wrote about in an earlier blog--harvest creamy corn choup. It was fantastic. I will make that again soon. And I also shared about making Caldo Verde, the Portuguese soup. That was an experience because I had to use 2 pots. Most of it then fit into the crock pot to keep warm, but there was enough for a crowd plus leftovers.
This past Friday I made Creamy Chicken and Dumpling Soup. What's great is the chicken pieces are put in near the end, so they cook gently in the broth (and don't get tough). And the dumplings are potato gnocchi (not the frozen kind; look for packaged), so I did not have to make them myself. My husband loved this soup. It was so quick and easy to make and very tasty.
I can't wait to make more soup, but I'll be out of town this weekend. I guess Monday night I will have to get my "soup fix." Which one to make? I'll think about it and let you know.
By the way, I am not a Soup Nazi. Have another bowl. Here's some bread. There's plenty of soup for you!
With the cooler weather, I have been on a soup craze. Every weekend, I make another pot of soup. Sometimes it's a creamy soup, a chowder, a chili, or even a chunky soup that's closer to stew. I have a few favorites, but I also am trying new recipes.
One of the first fall soups I made was Chunky Chicken and Chorizo Chili. It's got ground chicken, cooked (smoked) chorizo, peppers, onions, beans, tomatoes, and a bottle of beer. I don't even like to drink beer, but it adds a great flavor to the chili.
A favorite soup is Stuffed Pepper Stoup (named by Rachael Ray--thicker than a soup, thinner than a stew). I use 3 peppers of various colors (bell peppers, not spicy ones). Instead of rice (that you might use in stuffed peppers), the recipe calls for orzo, rice-shaped pasta. And there is ground beef, a large can of crushed tomatoes. Top each bowl with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
Another soup I made I wrote about in an earlier blog--harvest creamy corn choup. It was fantastic. I will make that again soon. And I also shared about making Caldo Verde, the Portuguese soup. That was an experience because I had to use 2 pots. Most of it then fit into the crock pot to keep warm, but there was enough for a crowd plus leftovers.
This past Friday I made Creamy Chicken and Dumpling Soup. What's great is the chicken pieces are put in near the end, so they cook gently in the broth (and don't get tough). And the dumplings are potato gnocchi (not the frozen kind; look for packaged), so I did not have to make them myself. My husband loved this soup. It was so quick and easy to make and very tasty.
I can't wait to make more soup, but I'll be out of town this weekend. I guess Monday night I will have to get my "soup fix." Which one to make? I'll think about it and let you know.
By the way, I am not a Soup Nazi. Have another bowl. Here's some bread. There's plenty of soup for you!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Beautiful Azores
One place I have lived before I would like to go back to is Terceira Island, Azores. The island is one of 9 in a chain about 900 miles west of Portugal. The climate is mild--it rarely gets above 80 degrees and rarely drops below 50 degrees. There is some humidity, but the ocean breezes and mild climate made it comfortable most of the time. Terceira is about 10 miles by 20 miles, a rocky, volcanic island with beautiful flowers, lots of cows, and miles of ocean.
On the left is a picture taken from our front yard. The ocean was about 100 yards away. Rainbows were a common sight after rain. Can you see why I miss this place?
We lived there for 2 years (2000-2002) when my husband was stationed at Lajes Field, a Portuguese air base that had an American presence too. We lived in base housing, which was a small 3-bedroom unit of a quadplex. That was the only down side to living there. The house could have been a little bigger.
Some of our favorite activities were finding new cafes and restaurants, exploring the island, golfing (beautiful course, inexpensive to play), and enjoying the view from our front porch.
What brought back some of these memories is I made Steve a birthday dinner Sat. night. The theme was Portuguese food, and we had some friends over. I made Caldo Verde (green soup), Alcatra (pot roast cooked in wine and seasonings), and bought Portuguese rolls (from the commissary) as well as Vinho Verde (green grape wine from Portugal) at Trader Joe's. Everything tasted good and we had a super time with our friends. After dinner, before the traditional cake and ice cream, I made Portuguese style coffee drinks. My favorite is the Galao, steamed and foamed milk with a shot of espresso poured over. The coffee and milk form layers that are pretty. It is topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Food Glorious Food
The last few days I had plenty of school work to do. I made progress reading papers and doing some prep. However, as a reprieve from work and a reward for my efforts, I spent time in the kitchen. Everything I made was fairly easy but very yummy.
Friday afternoon my husband and I went to the commissary (on base grocery store) to stock up on a few essentials and buy items needed to cook over the weekend. Luckily, everything on the "must have" list were available. When we got home, we put the food away, then opened a bottle of wine and started dinner. I made Harvest Creamy Corn Choup (a Rachael Ray recipe--a choup is a cross between a chowder and a soup). With bacon and corn and cream, it warmed the bellies. I did substitute carrots for the zucchini. I thought they would hold up better. It turned out very well. I could have eaten half the pot, but I got too full. Here's the link to the recipe: http://www.rachaelray.com/recipe.php?recipe_id=612
For Saturday I had planned a seafood dinner. Luckily, my younger son Eric decided to come home from college--we really needed his help eating the pan of Crab and Ricotta Cannelloni. Wow, was that rich and tasty. The recipe called for a pound of crab plus two kinds of cheese and made 12 stuffed (and I mean stuffed) pasta shells. Then a creamy white sauce was pored over them and more Parmesan was sprinkled on top. For an appetizer I made prosciutto wrapped scallops. They were good, but not as good as the main dish. These are recipes from Giada De Laurentis. Here are the links: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/crab-and-ricotta-cannelloni-recipe/index.html and http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/prosciutto-wrapped-scallops-recipe/index.html
Sunday Eric wanted pizza before he returned to Carbondale, so I used Pillsbury pizza dough (I can make it myself but didn't this time), and we topped it with Trader Joe's pizza sauce, lots of cheese (mozzarella and a a cheese blend) as well as pepperoni and spinach. It was cheesy and yummy too. Sorry, no real recipe, just roll the dough out (I put on a large cookie sheet--I like a thinner crust), then top as desired and bake around 12 min. on 425 degrees.
Monday (technically it was a holiday, so I'll include it) I decided to use the boneless chicken thighs from the freezer. I had watched Rachael Ray's 30 minute meals on Saturday morning, and she had made orange-balsamic glazed chicken. I had all the ingredients to make it, and it looked good, something different too. Wow--what flavor, a little tangy, a little sweet, and the sauce kept the chicken moist. The recipe is here: http://www.rachaelray.com/recipe.php?recipe_id=2965
Along with chicken we made rice (with sauteed onions, cooked in chicken stock, not water) and oven-roasted grape tomatoes (from the garden) and zucchini. The dinner was balanced, nutritious and delicious as well as quick cooking.
Now it's back to the work-week routine. What's for dinner tonight? I don't know yet, but it has to be good. I can't eat take-out or drive thru much anymore. Freshly cooked is where it's at.
Friday afternoon my husband and I went to the commissary (on base grocery store) to stock up on a few essentials and buy items needed to cook over the weekend. Luckily, everything on the "must have" list were available. When we got home, we put the food away, then opened a bottle of wine and started dinner. I made Harvest Creamy Corn Choup (a Rachael Ray recipe--a choup is a cross between a chowder and a soup). With bacon and corn and cream, it warmed the bellies. I did substitute carrots for the zucchini. I thought they would hold up better. It turned out very well. I could have eaten half the pot, but I got too full. Here's the link to the recipe: http://www.rachaelray.com/recipe.php?recipe_id=612
For Saturday I had planned a seafood dinner. Luckily, my younger son Eric decided to come home from college--we really needed his help eating the pan of Crab and Ricotta Cannelloni. Wow, was that rich and tasty. The recipe called for a pound of crab plus two kinds of cheese and made 12 stuffed (and I mean stuffed) pasta shells. Then a creamy white sauce was pored over them and more Parmesan was sprinkled on top. For an appetizer I made prosciutto wrapped scallops. They were good, but not as good as the main dish. These are recipes from Giada De Laurentis. Here are the links: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/crab-and-ricotta-cannelloni-recipe/index.html and http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/prosciutto-wrapped-scallops-recipe/index.html
Sunday Eric wanted pizza before he returned to Carbondale, so I used Pillsbury pizza dough (I can make it myself but didn't this time), and we topped it with Trader Joe's pizza sauce, lots of cheese (mozzarella and a a cheese blend) as well as pepperoni and spinach. It was cheesy and yummy too. Sorry, no real recipe, just roll the dough out (I put on a large cookie sheet--I like a thinner crust), then top as desired and bake around 12 min. on 425 degrees.
Monday (technically it was a holiday, so I'll include it) I decided to use the boneless chicken thighs from the freezer. I had watched Rachael Ray's 30 minute meals on Saturday morning, and she had made orange-balsamic glazed chicken. I had all the ingredients to make it, and it looked good, something different too. Wow--what flavor, a little tangy, a little sweet, and the sauce kept the chicken moist. The recipe is here: http://www.rachaelray.com/recipe.php?recipe_id=2965
Along with chicken we made rice (with sauteed onions, cooked in chicken stock, not water) and oven-roasted grape tomatoes (from the garden) and zucchini. The dinner was balanced, nutritious and delicious as well as quick cooking.
Now it's back to the work-week routine. What's for dinner tonight? I don't know yet, but it has to be good. I can't eat take-out or drive thru much anymore. Freshly cooked is where it's at.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Quote Response
"You write in order to change the world, knowing perfectly well that you probably can't, but also knowing that literature is indispensable to the world. . . . The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you alter, even a millimeter, the way people look at reality, then you can change it." -- James Baldwin (24)
This quote makes sense to me. When we write, we write for a reason. Maybe we "have" to (it's assigned or a grade or a task at work). Maybe we want to share our day with friends on Facebook or in an email or text. Maybe we are inspired to write a song or a poem. With most writing, someone will read it, think about it, be affected by it. Will that change the reader? Will it change the writer?
In some small way, it usually does. It could be a temporary change (wow, nice wording. Cool. Interesting.) It could influence someone to visit the place you wrote about or avoid a restaurant with bad service.
I like that I could affect someone, my writing could change someone, even for the brief moment he or she is reading my work. It matters. My time and energy were not wasted. I have thoughts, feelings, and experiences others care to read about.
My writing does not have to be "literature" meant to be read for the next 50-100 or more years by academics. It will not be made into a movie or book. Those are not my expectations. And that's okay. Considering the number of poorly written books and scripts, I would not want my blogging especially to be turned into something like that.
What have you read lately that has changed you in some way?
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Shopping & Eating Local
An unusual but wonderful summer day. Sunny and in the mid-70s, a great day for being outdoors. After hubby Steve did a 50 mile bike ride on the trails, we ventured out to St. Louis. We first went to the Farmers' Market at Tower Grove Park. We had been to Soulard Farmers' Market a few times, so we were interested in what this one would have.
The market had a variety of vendors, including meat (grass-fed beef, pork and lamb), chocolate, pasta, and coffee and tea vendors in addition to the expected fruit, veggie and plant vendors. We picked up some great veggies to grill tonight plus peaches. All looked yummy and fresh.
The park was impressive too. Walking paths, plenty of grass, dog-friendly. They also have a pavilion and wading pool w/ fountains. Plenty of kids were playing in the pool.
After enjoying the market and fresh air, we were hungry. We then took a short drive (maybe 1/2 mile from the park) to Local Harvest Cafe at 3137 Morgan Ford Road. The web site is http://www.localharvestcafe.com/ There was a nearly full restaurant and most outside tables were occupied too. A good sign. I had read about this place and liked that they used as much locally grown food as possible and prepared everything fresh.
We each ordered a "mix & match" lunch. Steve chose the Mediterranean salad and cucumber bisque while I decided on the Italian Stallion sandwich and the chilled borscht. We sampled each other's food and decided the two best items were the cucumber bisque (fresh, creamy, with a zippy garlic flavor) and the sandwich. The bread was fresh and soft and the combination of Cappicola, salami, roasted red peppers, and other veggies was delicious.
This place is definitely one to visit again. We want to try their dinner specials as well as their breakfast and espresso drinks.
If anyone has restaurant recommendations, please let me know. We love to try new places.
The market had a variety of vendors, including meat (grass-fed beef, pork and lamb), chocolate, pasta, and coffee and tea vendors in addition to the expected fruit, veggie and plant vendors. We picked up some great veggies to grill tonight plus peaches. All looked yummy and fresh.
The park was impressive too. Walking paths, plenty of grass, dog-friendly. They also have a pavilion and wading pool w/ fountains. Plenty of kids were playing in the pool.
After enjoying the market and fresh air, we were hungry. We then took a short drive (maybe 1/2 mile from the park) to Local Harvest Cafe at 3137 Morgan Ford Road. The web site is http://www.localharvestcafe.com/ There was a nearly full restaurant and most outside tables were occupied too. A good sign. I had read about this place and liked that they used as much locally grown food as possible and prepared everything fresh.
We each ordered a "mix & match" lunch. Steve chose the Mediterranean salad and cucumber bisque while I decided on the Italian Stallion sandwich and the chilled borscht. We sampled each other's food and decided the two best items were the cucumber bisque (fresh, creamy, with a zippy garlic flavor) and the sandwich. The bread was fresh and soft and the combination of Cappicola, salami, roasted red peppers, and other veggies was delicious.
This place is definitely one to visit again. We want to try their dinner specials as well as their breakfast and espresso drinks.
If anyone has restaurant recommendations, please let me know. We love to try new places.
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