The Garden Guided Foodie

The Hiatus

2022-07-05T23:19:00.002-04:00

happens right?

It happens everyday, to everyone. But until it happens to you, you take for granted that people have taken time out of their days to post things for the world to see, or judge or view for entertainment. And then suddenly the stream ends and your left wondering, "What happened?".

I was once silently guilty of those thoughts. And then I had some "life" things happen to me. I had to let go of the guilt from not posting. I had things to do, meals to make, and not a lot of time to write down what I was doing.

I still do.

I can't promise to post regularly, weekly, or monthly.

I can promise that when I do post, I'll be trying something for the first (or second) time and I'll be honest about the experience.

For those of you who also had some "life" happen in recent years and may have let something you loved get covered in the dust and cobwebs of "I just can't right now". Dust it off. Go back to your passion. Use all your hyperlinks and give credit where needed. Someone out there is waiting for you, whenever you're ready.

As of Today, I'm back!

Introducing: my new coffee

2013-10-08T12:16:00.003-04:00

Many of you might recall seeing turmeric on the long list of superfoods making headlines in the last 5 years and counting, but as anyone really dived head first into of to implement the orange rooted, yellow powdered ingredient for a daily consumption?

No....not really.

courtesy of www.TurmericAlive.com

Yes, yogis and raw foodies and vegan alike have already discovered that turmeric is one of those essential foods items that should always be kept in plain site of your stove and blender. But to the rest of the populous, the trendy new spice might just be another reason to try that Indian place around the corner. At least, that's what I thought. Totally oblivious to what the spice is actually doing for my body and why I needed to rethink my spice strategy.

I came across this spice among my food travels, while spying in kitchens and trying new recipes I noticed turmeric in my curry, from all the currying countries, but also the fine yellow powder was in my relish, my mustard and even my rice. I saw turmeric on salad bars for the truly devout turmericers who would sprinkle it on top of leafy greens with lemon juice and cayanne. I've even heard healers say that, as a paste, turmeric can draw the pain out of the body, like IcyHot! (haven't tried this method yet, but I'll keep you posted if I do) But everything involved eating (or addding) turmeric to something I had to chew.

And then I started following the Vegan Zombie on Instagam, where he posted about a bottle of

Turmeric Alive. And so began my journey to the drink-ability Turmeric.

courtesy of www.TurmericAlive.com

Turmeric Elixirs, or "Yoga in a Bottle" according to Daniel Sullivan, are an Ayurvedic practice past through generations of natural and earth bound healing methods.

"As one of the most powerful healing foods on the planet, turmeric (Curcuma longa) has been called the “queen” of medicinal plants. For thousands of years, turmeric held a privileged place in traditional East Asian medicines and rituals. It was said to be used for detoxifying the liver, clearing the skin, purifying blood, relieving pain, improving memory and supporting lightness in the body. And it was believed to possess a spiritual power capable of cleansing negative energy from spaces, people and objects." -TurmericAlive.com

Some of the ingredients of Daniel's elixirs include coconut nectar, vanilla bean and sea salt blended with raw turmeric root juice. Which sound interesting and terrifying at the same time. Personally, I'm not an online shopper when it comes to food items, but TurmericAlive does deliver across the nation in large and small quantities. Unfortunately, most retailers are Yoga studios, which are sparse in my area, so I have not yet had an opportunity to purchase one, but the day I find one....

Until then, I've brewed a turmeric tea, to give me a boost in the morning. Though not raw, even raw foodies believe turmeric does not loose much of its vitality and potency when dried or cooked.

Turmericaholics talk about the brain boosting effects of turmeric in the morning on an empty stomach, and I have to agree. I feel...vitalized after the first sip.

Taking pointers and ingredients from a couple places I took a peppermint bark tea (1 tbsp) and added ground turmeric (2 tbsp), cayenne (dash), fresh ginger (1/2 inch chopped) and a whole sliced lime to a small pot of spring water with some cinnamon (1/2 tsp) and a pinch of salt. At first, it doesn't smell or sound that tasty, but by adding a bit of honey or agave (or both) it rounds out to be a warm spicy tea.

This is officially, my new coffee. In fact, since I started drinking it I don't even crave coffee anymore (with the exception of White Chocolate Mocha craving, those just don't quit). This isn't an everyday drink for me...mostly because I don't do anything everyday, except take vitamins (when I remember) and sleep (when I have time). But for now, twice a week has proved to provide enough natural boost to make it from Monday to Friday without wanting to hide from the world.

Mood and energy boost in a cup without a crash?

When are you brewing your first cup?

Bonus Recipe:

Other receipies for home made turmeric tonics are much simpler requiring only 4 to 5 things. Like on the Delicious Revolution the anti-inflammatory and longevity properties of this turmetic tonic are highlighted in the instructional video.

Turmeric Tonic: Anti-Inflammatory Elixir

4 inch piece fresh turmeric (or two teaspoons organic dried turmeric)
3 inch piece of ginger (or one tablespoon organic powdered ginger)
3 lemons, peeled
Dash cayenne
4 cups young coconut water
Raw honey to desired sweetness

Juice the turmeric, ginger, and lemons. Add the juice to the young coconut water (or spring water). Add the cayenne and stir well to combine. Store in the fridge for up to three days.

Breakfast Smoothie...revisited

2013-08-08T11:30:00.003-04:00

So you all remember the breakfast pudding i blogged about in June. Well, I tried to make it last a few days, but lets just say, the consistency did not improve with time. The decadent blend is full of antioxidants and nutrients... but I forgot about the fact that both flax seeds and chia seeds go all stiff and jello-y when it sits for a while, even in the fridge. So not only did I have a lot of good things packed into that smoothie... I really had too many things pack in there.

So this morning I tried something different. A smoothie.
Same color but not so many ingredients, just not so much jelly. So this one is actually sippable.

Into an empty blender add
2 cups of ice, 3 hand fulls or so
3 tbsp Spectrum Decadent Blend Flax & Chia powder
1 cup rolled oats*
2 dried figs
2 seeded dates
1 tbsp agave nectar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 c coconut milk
Add Oatmilk or almond milk if the mixture is too thick for your blender
*for a raw smoothie, soak steel cut oats in coconut milk over nightBlend until super smooth. Pour into your favorite smoothie glass and enjoy!

This one still gets pretty think, maybe like a milkshake, but you don't have to resort to a spoon or fork with it. If you're feeling really adventurous, add a shot of espresso, or a couple drops of your favorite extract, like peppermint or rum!

This recipe also makes bout 36 oz of smoothie, enough for tomorrow! But I do suggest putting it in the freezer instead of the fridge. The consistency is preserved better when its frozen. I can't vouch for the drinkability if it goes in the fridge.

Website Suggestion: The Earth Diet

2013-06-25T11:38:00.000-04:00

Create your own earth diet lifestyle and listen and feel your body

I tumbled across this page on Facebook. Now I do not like the "suggested" pages most times because a lot of them are mainstream, QVC, infomercial type pages where the first thing they ask for is your credit card. Yes, there is a "Paypal available" segment of the website where you can purchase reading materials and diet guides. But you don't have to pay to see the recipes, research and testimonials.

Why do I not think this is a gimmick?
The programs. Let me walk you through the site (there's a tab that will help you on the home page as well):

After you "log in" (all they ask for is an e-mail, any other information is optional) you have free range to look at the recipes under Vegan, Vegetarian. Raw, Meat Eaters, Sweet Eaters, Juices & Smoothies, Fruitarian (first time I heard this one), Seafood, Chocolate (Detox, Natural Alternatives, and Classic Favorites coming soon).
And then you have the programs, which have several testimonials and success stories to refer back too. Weight Loss, Nourishment, Juice Cleanse and Personalized. All except the personalized can be applied to a 7 to 21 day diet. AND...its only $10 to purchase the materials for these diets.
Why is this important? Because knowledge shouldn't cost a fortune if its meant to help people, and the help is being provided honestly for the betterment of humanity.
There's a blog, and a Facebook.
And a Free 3 Day Trial!

Liana Werner-Gray, Miss Earth Australia 2009 started this program as a blog and it evolved to a lifestyle website that I can stand behind.

www.theEarthDiet.org

I'm not a breakfast person

2013-06-22T11:11:00.001-04:00

So the pudding made it two days. My mother walked past my bowl on day three and said "it looks like muck". Needless to say I couldn't bring myself to eat the rest of it.

I have a mind/matter philosophy on healthy food that doesn't look tasty, but I now realize that I need a "speak no evil" environment to stick to it.

I also need to simplify the recipe some. I think that will help. Also, getting rid of the golden berries will keep it from going bitter with the chocolate powder.

But today my mother got up and made a cup of oatmeal.... We've had this discussion.

So I'd needed to find something for myself, to satisfy my savory craving. So I pulled out the noodle bag and came up with this.

Green Tea Soba Noodles with Sesame sauce.

1 roll of soba noodles, cooked till aldente

1/4 tsp garlic

1/4 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp sesame seeds

1/2 tsp sesame oil

1/2 tsp tahini butter (not the oil)

1/2 tsp Siracha sauce

1/2 tsp agave

1 tsp lime juice

1 tsp liquid aminos or soy sauce

Mix the sauce while the noodles are cooking. Add the hot noodles to melt the sauce down. You can add cilantro or thai basil and chopped green onions for crunch. (I had none of those things this morning.)

If you want a more authentic flavor, add a couple drops of fish sauce or shrimp paste to the sauce, but taste it! Fish sauce a shrimp paste can go from salty to nasty in one shake. I'm not doing the fermented fish for the moment, otherwise I would add it. Another good flavor is curry, but I think I'll do a separate post for that.

Breakfast is good.

It's tangy, really sesame. And hot. I like meals to have flavor so this is definitely waking me up!

Serve with your favorite beverage. This is a very Thai/Lao/Vietnamese meal because of the fresh coconut juice and sesame ingredients.

Sabai dee!

Breakfast Pudding.

2013-06-18T10:42:00.001-04:00

I'm non-traditional.

....but you should know this already.

I'm not a big hot oatmeal person. My sister tells me this stems from a bad experience when I was a child. But from what I can remember from my few experiences this "oatmeal" our ancestors grew up on went from hot & messy to brown glue in under 8 minutes. Who would want to eat that? Didn't they tell you in kindergarten not to eat paste? Maybe some kids just thought the oatmeal had gotten cold.

So I embarked on a way to eat oats without actually eating the oats.

First I tried my original fruit smoothie with rolled oats added to the blender....yum! It's like a milk shake in consistency, but healthy!

Then I had a customer show me oat milk; all the rave in Europe. Tastes like oaty almond or rice milk. But is as thick as whole milk, and froths up for a perfect cappuccino!

Needless to say, once I made a hot chocolate with it I was hooked. I now keep oat milk on hand for EVERYTHING.

So this morning after my run I knew I needed something fast and filling for breakfast, but I'm not an eggs and bacon girl. My mother wanted a smoothie so I whipped up these few things for her:

Mom's Breakfast Smoothie:

1 mango

1 cup strawberries

1/2 cup blueberries

2 dates

Ice

Pinch of cinnamon

Squeeze of agave

1-1/2 cup of unsweetened almond milk

~blend away~

I accidentally read the side of the blender wrong (not my blender). I wanted to put in 8 oz of almond milk and ended up with 16...oops! So I had a little extra after filling her 32 ounce travel container.

Not wanting to waste the remainder, and not wanting to clean the blender between smoothies, I decided to add a few more things from the cabinet for myself.

Pantry Additions:

1/2 cup rolled oats

1 tbsp cocoa nibs

1 date

2 tbsp hemp powder

1 tbsp super greens powder

2 tbsp decedent flax/chia/coconut blend powder

Pinch cayenne

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup blueberries

1 tbsp slivered almonds

6 golden berries

1 dried fig

(Decided against peanut butter today but otherwise there'd be a tbsp or two in there)

1 cup oatmeal

1/4 unsweetened almond milk

1 apricot

1 banana (optional)

1 Bosc pear

~blend until smooth-ish~

Yes it's thick! And I can eat it with a spoon. But it's awesome! Its chocolate and fruity. A little fruity, a tad nutty. But it satisfies the "oh, i miss pancakes" and "man i want a slice of cake" craving i usually have in the morning. (No, i have never had a slice of cake fore breakfast, but I've thought about it!) All I'd need to add to make a drinkable is some rice milk or water. But I think breakfast pudding is a good start to the Vegan breakfast recipe section.

My Original Smoothie:

1 bag of strawberries

1 bag blueberries

1 quart vanilla rice milk

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cayenne

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp flax seeds

1/2 tsp chia seeds

2 tbsp peanut or cashew butter

1 tbsp coconut oil

1/2 rolled oats or pre-soaked steel cut oats

16 oz coconut water

~blend until really smooth. You may have to split the recipe because it will be bigger than one blender bowl. Usually makes a little over a 1/2 gal.

Happy Blending!

This was a bad idea...(bad chip flavors)

2013-06-11T16:07:00.002-04:00

I am such an adventurous spirit. I will try anything once, and whenever I'm out I am glued to the snack shelves looking for something different to try. The package was what got me. The box, like a take-out container of Popeye's or KFC. I was hooked. $2 later I am cracking into the plastic package and picking up the mini drumstick crunchies that remind me of Barbie kitchen sets and Kitchen Littles.

But this....was a bad idea.

Other bad ideas include the "chicken & waffles" flavor from Lays that was the craze of spring 2013.

If memory serves me correctly this was not the first time these flavors have been attempted in chip form by a national brand. And the fact that you can't run out an get them off the shelf today proves they weren't able to make the flavors stick.

I didn't try the cheesy bread, cause I'm not a cheese person. and the Siriacha was grossly disappointing.

The drumsticks were cool looking and the concept is eyes catching. But if I'm going to get the sodium and calories, I'll stick to the real stuff. The taste of beer drowned out the failure of experimental snacking.

My favorite non-traditional flavor....

Thank you UTZ!

Honorable Mention: The Creamy Dill.

This is definitely an acquired taste, and you REALLY have to love pickles. But I didn't throw them away.

New year, new name....newness

2013-01-06T17:07:00.001-05:00

I am seriously considering changing the name of this food blog. I'm feeling that the year 2013 is going to bring freshness to this blog (new posts are coming soon, promise!). But in breathing new life into the blog I need to bring the newness to the site as well.

Yes, I will be adding wellness and lifestyle tidbits to the blog stream. But I'm having serious brain static on the title.

One suggestion was : "Eat Bitch Eat"

However eye-catching, I don't want to alienate those who are offended by the use of "bitch" in common conversation. And knowing that "bitch" is not the same five-letter curse word that it used to be, I still don approve of the connotation.
Besides, my mother reads this blog. (For those of you who know my mother, you understand)

I thought about creating a lifestyle "consulting" biz under the name "sun style". I picked it up from the holistics, sun signs, live foods, chakras and everything in between that I've been reading about.

But somehow I'm not in love with that as a blog title.

Help Followers!
I know I've been MIA, but it's a new year, and there is no time to waste!

Until next post, Live Full!

So I got and iPhone

2012-02-09T01:31:00.003-05:00

Hello fellow Foodies!

I know I've been gone for a while. First the computer crashed, then I moved, then I lost my camera charger, then I lost my computer, then I lost access to

the Internet, then my phone died, then my replacement phone died, then the replacement's replacement died... And now I have an iPhone.

Now that I have access to the cyber community again, I can share with you my god thoughts and experiences...when I learn how to use this thing.

You'd think loading a photo blog or video to YouTube would be one finger slide away, and it probably is, I just know where to put my finger yet. But thank god for auto correct and google.

Every day I learn new things about the "i" world of Apple. So for now I'll be posting things without photos, but as soon as I get every app figured out you all will be viewing some of my new food knowledge and trust me when I say I've had plenty of time to read and try some great foods, albeit on a budget, that you all are going to love!

So get ready Foodies, I'm back!

The Eternal Foodie is Moving!

2011-05-11T17:52:00.000-04:00

To destinations unknown. But in the process of packing/moving, I seem to have misplaced my camera cord :(
Therefore I can't take pictures of all this wonderful food I've been making :(
I promise to buy a new camera, one that is more compatible with my computer, and I promise to update you all on the new cuisines I've been testing out. But until the day I have new flash capabilities...I must put all foodie news on hold.

Love you all for following, I hope to be back operational within the month, but I can't make any promises.

Happy eating.

A very Green Salad

2011-04-29T22:00:00.004-04:00

Sliced and Seeded cucumber
+

Cilantro
+

Chopped Broccoli
+

Sprouts
+

Green Onion
+

Flax Seeds
+

Sesame Seeds
+

Lemon Juice
= Dinner!

Giving Raw Food Another Look

2011-04-23T05:22:00.002-04:00

Healthful Essence 875 York Ave in the West End.

Avocado food allergy asside, this is a good look!

Guy Food-The Pizza Dog

2011-03-05T19:09:00.003-05:00

No I had thought the Super Bowl was going to be my opportunity to make the best "Guy Food" since getting the extra time to cook. And it didn't quite work out. I did manage to make some very delicious wings, but they were not the ones I wanted. So I've moved on.

But keeping in the spirit of feeding men and their cravings, here's a new one that I didn't come up with myself. I actually watched a guy make, eat, and savor... a pizza dog.

Essentially, this is exactly what the name says it is. A hot dog, with pizza toppings. The perfect balance of two guys foods in one. Hot dogs have been known to have cheese on them, an pizzas are nothing more than bread and toppings.

Now for those of you who cant' conceptualize how one is constructed, here's my simple recipe.

1. take bun, stand it on a baking sheet, split side up. (I use foil to hold the bun upright)
2. place cooked hot dog in bun. precooking the hot dog reduces cooking time
3. add pepperoni. I think two even layers stuffed down one side of the bun gets the best results you can also take this step to add other toppings like peppers or olives or mushrooms. but don't fall victim to the taco mistake and over-top your hot dog.
4. pour over sauce. canned or bottled sauce works fine for this.
5. pre-bake. set the oven to 350 or so and let the sauce and bun warm though, about 10 mins
6. add cheese. your supermarket pizza blend or just some mozzarella will do. adding italian herbs is always a nice touch
7. second bake. this is just to melt the cheese, nothing more, so don't burn your dogs
8. eat. like pizza you may want to let the dogs cool some so the cheese doesn't burn your mouth.

Real simple, right?

I'll admit I've never actually ate one. But I feel it necessary to point out this simple concoction can be very satisfying. Plus they smell really, really good!

Food I Dream About Pt.1

2011-03-04T09:11:00.004-05:00

The Delicious Life

The Delicious Life is a blog written by a woman much like myself, who finds solace and therapeutic release in food. No matter where you turn in this blog you find fabulous foods and intriguing anecdotes that make you smile and make your mouth water.

She inspired this series of blog entries, "Food I Dream About". I'm basically just going to list photos of food that have caused me to pause on other blogs and follow other bloggers.

So without any more explanation, Sarah, these are the foods I dream about that you've written about!

Restaurant: Son of a Gun
8370 West 3rd Street
West Hollywood, CA 90048
323.782.9033
www.sonofagunrestaurant.com

Lobster Roll with celery and lemon aioli

Restaurant: Lukshon
3239 Helms Ave.
Culver City, CA
310.202.6808
www.lukshon.com

Lamb Sausage Roti Canai-chana dal, cumin, mint, pickled cauliflower

Restaurant: Slaw Dogs
720 North Lake Ave. #8
Pasadena, CA 91104
626.808.9777
www.theslawdogs.com
twitter.com/theslawdogs

Thai Slaw Dog - chicken sausage with spicy peanut-coconut satay dressing, cilantro carrot slaw, crushed peanuts and sriracha aioli

Beer and Pretzels Caramels
by Liddabit Sweets (NYC)
at Cube Marketplace + Café (LA)

Thanks for the inspiration Sarah!

My Engagement Cake

2011-02-13T13:06:00.006-05:00

Ok, I'm not a Sarah Jessica Parker fan, nor have I watch Sex in the City, the series, nor was I in line for either of the movies.
But the CAKE!

Oh My Sweet Baby Jesus!

Ron Ben-Israel is a retired ballet dancer turned wedding cake designer and has been featured on Martha and Oprah. So he's pretty much a big deal. I suggest goggling him right now. No, stop reading and Goggle him NOW! You can come back to me later!

For this cake Swarovski sent over $25,000.00 in crystal just for the the decorations. It's like an edible chandelier! It's sparkly, and girly and oh so jaw dropping.

If and when I get engaged, this is the cake I want at the party.

Gorgeous!

K Thweatt Sweets, I CHALLENGE you to this cake!

Not a real in depth post, but I did want to share!

Men and Ice Cream

2011-02-06T12:36:00.001-05:00

So the two greatest spoilers to my diet are, you guessed it, men and ice cream.

How do these two things make for unavoidable diet spoilers when I have such resilience against everything else? It's simple really.

Men are natural carnivorous. I'm a firm believer that is takes a very special man to give up meat all together. And there are very few that I know of. Yes, men will give up pork, some beef, and occasionally you'll find someone who won't ever touch the stuff again. But how about asking a man, especially a black man, to give up chicken? And if you live on the coast, how many men do you know will give up fish, or seafood? There is something in their testosterone that will not let them give up the muscle tissue. And inevitably, if you eat with these men, specifically the ones who cook, you'll find yourself eating more meat than you bargained for.

So my diet was spoiled by eating with men who love their poultry and fish on a daily basis. But since these are the two meats I allowed myself to eat anyway, I only needed a few days off the stuff to feel brand new again.

Ice Cream

Ice Cream

Ice Cream

No matter how many times I tell myself I don't need it or I can live without it, I always find myself walking into the freezer section and reaching for a bucket of Edy's. There's no stopping me. I do it subconsciously, not realizing my mistake until I've made it all the way home with my purchases. And then I crack open the carton and dig in. I don't feel guilty about it, and I eat my ice cream with the broadest smile on my face because it makes me feel good.

I'm not an emotional eater, in fact when I'm upset I lose my appetite, but there's something about ice cream that makes me feel all warm and girly on the inside. And since my brain tells my body to go get it and my hands to pay for it. I've given myself these rules to eat by, just so we don't completely undo all the work we've gained so far.

Every three days. Enough time for my body to process the sugar and dairy, while not too long so I'm not taking the entire carton to my bed with a spoon to appease my craving.

But I'm not complaining. I'm sticking very close to my original diet, and following my own advice on being "flexible".

A Kinder Look at Food

2011-02-04T07:55:00.006-05:00

Who would think I would be taking foodie advice from Alicia Silverstone?
I sure didn't.
Not that I don't respect Cher's eating potential, in fact, Clueless was always a favorite of mine, but you hardly saw them eat....anything.

The Kind Diet is Alicia's diet and eating guide to being vegetarian, or at least flirting like one.

As you all know, I've embarked on a new dieting trend this year, which includes lots and lots of meatless times. So what better place to pull my dieting tips from than those who don't eat the meaty stuff at all?

Recipes

Not to be one-sided, I also looked into some of the vegan and raw food books, but let's just say the idea of dehydrating my pancakes overnight for breakfast, did not sound appetizing.

Sure the food looks pretty and tempting, but really, I think heat is a wonderful inventions created by primordial man, that should be used for more than just winter survival.

Raw foodism (or rawism) is a lifestyle promoting the consumption of uncooked, unprocessed, and often organic foods as a large percentage of the diet.

(Thanks Wikipedia!)

Raw foodism can include any diet of primarily unheated food, or food cooked to a temperature less than 40 °C (104 °F) to 46 °C °F). The most popular raw food diet is a raw vegan diet, but other forms may include animal products and/or meat. Raw foodists can be divided between those that advocate raw veganism vegetarianism, those that advocate a raw omnivorous diet, and those that advocate a 100% raw carnivorous diet. (115 or

In other words, room temperature is good! Seared, baked, braised, grilled, broiled or sauted, bad.
I like my veggies with a little heat transfer. But to each their own.

Back to The Kind Diet:
My favorite parts of this book have got to be Alicia's insider hints. Each holds knowledge about food groups and food processes that only a vegetarian/vegan would take the time to find out, but it's written in her ham-eater-friendly voice of bubbly reason.

How many people would know that some white sugar is processed to the point that it takes nutriments away from your body instead of giving it natural energy? Did you know that some vegans won't eat honey because they feel bees are a living creature and the honey is their "mother's milk"? And don't think your coffee goes unscathed in this process either! Caffeine damages your youthful appearance and makes procreation difficult. (No babies!) The fountain of youth didn't arise via Starbucks, although productivity may have in its place. Teeccino is a decaf herbal coffee alternative that can replace your venti double shot espresso with whip.

Teeccino Caffeine-free Herbal Coffee is a delicious blend of herbs, grains, fruits and nuts that are roasted and ground to brew and taste just like coffee.

There was one entitled "Is Wheat Bad?"
Alicia goes on to say that , like corn (and its syrup) and soy, wheat has been packed into foods were we wouldn't normaly have them, causing us humans to have adverse reactions to high wheat content diets. The intolerance of said content being celiac disease, which is genetic. But you may have symptoms similar to the disease if you find yourself eating too much white flour and white wheat flour, which has been processed the point that you might as well eat sawdust if you're looking for real nutritional value.

Personally, I haven't had white bread in years, my only exceptions being buns for burgers (when wheat isn't available), and the occasional garlic bread or bruschetta. But what do I always preach in my dieting tips? Moderation.

Fun facts: Food: Milligrams of Calcium (per 100 gram serving)
Butter: 20
Whole Milk: 118
Chickpeas: 150
Collard Greens: 203
Parsley: 203
Soybeans: 226
Almonds: 234 (almond milk anyone?)
Sesame Seeds: 1,160
Hijiki Sea Vegetable (right): 1,400
Think of the Hijiki as the Rosemary or seaweed, and then it's not so ominous.

Most people who have allergies and asthma, can probably credit them to the dairy in their diet. Don't believe me? Are you allergic to your cat? The Spring pollen? Your husband? Cut back on dairy for a few months and see if your symptoms ease a little. I won't go into the deal about hormones and how cow's milk is meant for cows. I won't go into how milk studies in children have shown that the use of cow's milk in formula has increased the number of children born with diabetes. Nor will we talk about how much it costs the country to run the dairy industry. It's better that we just say that dairy is bad for you in many many ways, and really if the only reason you drink it is for calcium and soggy cereal, there are kinder ways to accomplish that.

And how about protein? Beans have 5% more protein than steak, 1/16 of the calories, they are 70% complex carbohydrates (the good kind), they help rid your body of unwanted hormones, lower cholesterol, are high in fiber and help revitalize soil for healthy gardening and crops. Plus, beans are cheap! I bought a bag of white beans for $1! I can get at least 4 servings from that one bag, while your $1 whopper Jr. will only get you to 2pm.

Afraid to get the farts after some bean eating? First, you must properly cook your beans. It is not the bean's fault that you get gassy! Its the sugar in the bean fighting with the bacteria in our belly that adds to the post dinning air bombs. So what do you do? 1. Don't cooking your beans in the soaking liquid. 2. Add a bay leaf to your beans when their cooking. 3. Skim the foam off beans when their cooking. 4. Eat them more often so your body can get used to breaking down this protein. (Also, Alicia says if you chew deliberately, with your mouth closed you swallow less air, which also adds to gas.)

And what about iron! Lets talk beans and brussels! Just because you didn't eat them when you were 5, doesn't mean you can't eat them at 25 or 35! Also eat your broccoli, asparagus, spinach, chick peas, parsely and pumpkin seeds.

Chapter 7 "Flirting" is also a favorite of mine. It talks directly to the reader about simply trying a new diet addition, or subtraction, just to see if you like it, before putting it into permanent practice. Alicia even offers a list of veggie/vegan alternatives and brands that you can try (not going to copy it here, you'll have to get the book for those) and see if you like them.

Personally, nothing can replace cheese. And the cheese alternatives will not make me change my mind. I just won't eat cheese.

She even hits the basics, recipes included, for basic meal composition and ways to make food seam hearty without looking like "rabbit food". Whenever I'm eating totally veggie, I give myself permission to have seconds, and sometimes thirds, because as long as it's low in fat and high in nutrients, there's more good in seconds, than there is bad in overeating. At least that's my logic.

Now if you didn't think vegans were extreme enough, some even avoid nightshade veggies which contain alkaloids that attribute to inflammation of the joints arthritis. What are these nightshade veggies you ask? Potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants and pepper. All things I love, but I will take the arthritis thing into consideration the next time I make veggie lasagna.

So now that you know a little about what to eat, what should you have in your pantry?

Whole grains (not white)
Grains
Beans
Vegetables (duh)
Sea Vegetables
Oils,
Sweeteners
Fruit
Natural juices
Nuts and seeds

Fun Fact* Pickles help with digestion! Ever have a heavy meal and crave that dill gerkin? Maybe it's just your body asking for help before the heartburn can kick in. This doesn't mean you can clean out a jar a week of kosher dills, think about your salt and/or sugar intake and make your own less indulgent pickle from scratch (recipe coming soon).

The Kind Diet was packed with know-how and facts as well as helpful suggestions base on Alicia's personal journey to becoming a vegetarian. Her approach to food is honest and innocent, which makes this book more of a conversation about food and less of a lecture on how so many things are bad for you.

So read on and eat on young foodies!

Dieting is hard to write about

2011-01-20T21:08:00.002-05:00

The hardest part about being on a diet, is writing about the diet.
You don't want to think about it, much less tell other people how hard it is to pass up the cheeseburger when you just passed the fried chicken and pizza parlor for a salad with no croutons and no bread sticks.

So far, I've made it into week 3.

Week 2 was the week of consessions. And mostly because of necessity. Like the fact that the entire city of Atlanta was paralyzed by a layer of ice so thick you could skate on it.

Having run out of options in the vegetable and fruit department I had to resort to the frozen foods still lurking in the freezer. Therefore I had to break my meatless clause.

So now the diet has evolved to having a meat product, preferable poultry or fish, every other day. This only recently included eggs, an item I neglected to purchase before the storm.

So in holding onto my will power and refusing the full fat cheeses and medium-rare steaks, my diet continues in the hopes that it will become a lifestyle and life long change.

Here's to rabbit food.

Here's looking at Job Opportunities

2011-01-18T20:05:00.002-05:00

A good friend of my sent me a job to apply for. Think I qualify?

Position Overview:

The Healthy Eating Specialist trains and educates Team Members and Customers in Whole Foods Markets healthy eating programs and initiatives through the use of Global and Regional resources. This will include facilitating structured trainings in the areas of making healthy choices in cooking, shopping, eating and menu planning. All Specialists must successfully complete and maintain Whole Foods Market recognized certifications and trainings. In addition, they must stay current on all Global and Regional initiatives and programs. This Team Member will not be a dietary coach, but a point of contact

which directs Team Members and Customers to the appropriate resources that empower them to make their own best decisions.

Responsibilities & Qualifications:

Principle Duties and Responsibilities:

Serve as a passionate advocate for the Company’s vision and program for healthy eating & lifestyle.
Bring a high level of energy to the store/facilities to accurately educate our customers and team members about healthy eating.
Educates shoppers on healthy choices in cooking, shopping, eating and menu planning.
Supply cooking tips, and simple cooking classes and demonstrations, featuring vegan, vegetarian, fish, and meat–based options that support the approved Healthy Eating program as set by the Global Healthy Eating Team.
Serve as the store’s healthy eating specialist, spokesperson, and demonstration cook in support of these programs.
Distributes educational materials provided by our global quality standards team and provides guests with additional resources from the Whole Foods Market website.
Provide our Customers with exceptional Customer service.
Maintain a well-stocked and well-merchandised Healthy Eating area.
Assist in the training and development of Team Members on Healthy Eating, as assigned.
Work an extremely flexible schedule, including nights and weekends.
Maintain safe, clean and well-organized working and shopping environment, comply with all regulatory rules and regulations including HACCP, OSHA, Dept. of Labor, Weights and Measures and local food and sanitation laws.
Complete special projects and other duties as assigned by Store/Facility Leadership.
Network with other regional and store Healthy Eating teams to collect and promote approved healthy eating program activities and features.
Appears, as needed, as a spokesperson/demonstration cook for community and store events.
Organizes lectures and hosts educational tours and seminars.
Help develop and facilitate approved healthy eating initiatives and groups within the store.
Successfully complete required continuing education health and wellness courses, required by the Global Healthy Eating Team.
Be a passionate supporter and participant of the Company’s healthy eating programs, providing motivation and inspiration.
Ability to understand, be abreast of and in compliance with all Federal, State, and local ordinances in regards to the manner in which our message is delivered.

Other Duties:

Set, and achieve, the highest standards in retail execution.
Take responsibility for the complete maintenance of the department.
Order product from vendors as appropriate.
Achieve required margin targets for department.
Support all regional and global programs and policies.
Work all inventories as required, and monitor inventory levels and purchase journals.
Meet all accounting deadlines.
Uphold all standards pertaining to cleanliness and HACCP programs.
Maintain a safe and sanitary department.
Report all life safety and fire hazards to your Team Leader for correction.
Comply with all occupational safety and health regulations.
Report all accidents and injuries to your Team Leader or Store Leadership immediately.

Regulatory Compliance:

Maintain comprehensive knowledge of, and ensure compliance with relevant regularity rules and standards, including:

OSHA
Department of Labor
Health and Sanitation
FDA
Department of Agriculture
Weights and Measures
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Other Duties

Maintains medical supplies, office supplies, and office equipment.
Assists in hiring by placing employment ads, arranging job fairs, setting up interviews, and screening applicants.
Maintains Team Member forms and files.

Knowledge, skills and abilities required:

A working understanding of food knowledge and experience in healthy eating, cooking and menu planning that span the range of diets including vegan, vegetarian, fish, and meat and poultry.
Health-supportive nutrition/health and wellness education, a plus.
Passion for natural/organic foods.
Avid Healthy Lifestyle advocate and enthusiast.
Demonstrated ability to train small and large groups in various venues.
Excellent verbal communication and writing skills.
Proven ability to synthesize and convey complex information to Team Members and customers in a way that is appropriate for varied audiences.
Ability to work successfully without supervision, and as a self-directed, yet collaborative, team player.
Strong demonstrated Customer Service skills.
Good computer proficiency skills, including Microsoft office and presentation software.
Demonstrated time management and organizational skills.
Ability to work well under pressure of tight deadlines and changing demands and/or directions.
Able to perform physical requirements of position, as listed below.
Ability to travel as needed.
Flexibility for all shifts, days, and schedules. Hours may vary, including a combination of both weekdays and weekends.

About Us:

At Whole Foods Market, we empower our Team Members to make their own decisions, thus creating an environment where people are treated with respect and are highly motivated to excel. We mentor Team Members through education and on-the-job experience. As a result, we are able to fill a majority of leadership roles from our existing team member base. We also recognize that there are individuals with talent outside of Whole Foods Market, and have training programs to bring those new leaders into the company.

Our Team Members represent over 50 different nations. We are people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, yet all work together to meet the needs of our customers.

Another step back in time (Jell-o pt. 2)

2011-01-12T02:30:00.006-05:00

When was the last time you had jell-o? Really?

How about jell-o jigglers? Or the Jelly candies in the mini containers that you see in the Asian store?

How about jell-o from a brass mold?

For me, it was about 4 months ago at a local Vietnamese resturant, the jell-o (layered in green, and diamond shaped with a sword style toothpick) was "dessert" after a long meal with friends. The green was from Pandan Leaves which are used a lot in South Asian cuisine, mostly for the vibrant green color and for its unique flavor. The layers, like stripes were jell-o and coconut jell-o. All green.

Now because I'm not afraid of food, I tried the very vibrant dessert hoping first that I wouldn't be put off by the coconut, and second that I would miraculously fall in love with the pandan flavor.

Neither happened.

For the record, pandan doesn't have that much of a flavor. I think of it like green tea. Yes green tea has a flavor, but when you add orange zest to the tea leave and brew a cup you taste the orange and not the green tea. In my research I've discovered that many things use pandan for color but the flavor is then masked by something, usually coconut, and is no longer identifiable in the final dish.

Since this experience I've seen many different versions of pandan layered jelly desserts, all vibrant and interesting and it reminded me of my grandmother's jell-o molds. The one that were always so perfectly displayed on the walls, but never actually used to make jell-o.

Now the Food Librarian know how to wield her jell-o. Her layered jell-o is very similar to the pandan jelly recipe, but her Broken Glass Jello says "to hell with molds!"

Food Librarian's Flicker Photo Stream

Many interesting and...exotic things have been done with molded jell-o in the world of the bored housewife. And may recipes have revolved around new and interedting ways to entertain you guests with edible centerpieces. But who really eats jell-o molds anymore? It is going to be my personal project to come up with a molded jell-o idea that my friends will actually eat, and that I would actually. Something that's impressive to look at and will 'wow' the flavor skeptics of the kitchen. Like those people who believe aspics went out of style before the rein of bell bottom jeans.
All I need now are taste testers, and a lot of jell-o. Any volunteers?

Jell-o Mold Competition Flicker Stream
Thanks to Frozen Wings for recipe and picture of the Pandan Jelly.
Thanks to Stella Was A Diver for the exotic molded meal.

Cravings

2011-01-07T06:11:00.004-05:00

So I decided to follow my own diet advice this week, with a few modifications.

As many fruits and veggies as I want (my personal favorite is always a big, huge, ridiculous salad)
1 starch per day (I had pasta on Sunday, pancakes on Tuesday and toast yesterday)
1 cup of coffee allowed per day (because of sugar)
1 cup of tea allowed per day (because of sugar)
I'm allowed eggs, although breakfast yesterday was the first egg all week
1 sweet per day ( 2 cookies, or a scoop of ice cream)
Beans and nuts allowed for protein (there has been a lot of peanut butter)
No alcohol (not even in my coffee)
No other dairy (no cheese, milk, but that's a norm for me)
No meat, or chicken, or fish.
Easy on the oils and the salts.

This all stemmed from my week log vacay at home were I ate salty and sugary foods, high in cheese and carnivorous items I don't have on a regular. At one point I looked down and didn't recognize my own arm I was retaining so much water. This was simply to jump start my year by cleaning out everything from Christmas and New Year's.

I was okay up until yesterday. I had made an Asian Peanut salad on Sunday, and repeated said salad on Monday and Tuesday. It was good enough that I wasn't board. Then I had my eggplant/tofu disaster on Wednesday, won't be doing that again. Then there was yesterday's Garlic and Orange braised Brussels (VERY good).

But in anticipation of an outing where there would be buffalo wings and beer (I was going to get fries and a water, honest!) I didn't eat a heavy lunch and I held off on dinner. Well the plans fell through around 8pm and I was starving. I made a bowl of popcorn, hoping that my mother's trick of snacking my way out of hungry would help till I fell asleep.

Uh Huh.

I was back in the kitchen at 10pm making another salad when all I wanted was a Red Robin Burger. Once covered in pepper jack cheese and deep fried jalapenos.
I still want a burger. And a taco, and pizza, and Chicken Parm, and a big scoop of triple chocolate ice cream.

I thought I'd be able to make it a whole two weeks on this things, but the closer I get to Sunday, the more I think it's not going to last. I told myself at the end of this I could bake a chocolate cake, my other craving, but I can taste the butter cream already.

If I write in tomorrow that I ate a rack of ribs with a pitch of Blue Moon and a side of whole milk whipped potatoes, don't judge me.

Tof-yuck!

2011-01-05T16:02:00.002-05:00

Okay, it's official.
I am not meant to cook/eat tofu.
I tried, yet again, to make a tofu dish. Even going as far as to pre-fry the pieces last night, seasoning them first, and then marinating the cooked pieces in a sweet sauce. This technique I picked up from a vegetarian.
I even went so far as to mix in actual vegetables to round out the dish.
I even made a sauce!

Yuck.....
Yuck-o...
Yuck-ish....
Yuck-yuck!

So now I'm snacking on peanut butter and crackers.
I'll fish the tofu out of the dish and eat the veggies later.
For those of you who actually like tofu, go ahead, be bold! But you won't be getting any recipes out of me!

Feeling a bit like Julie

2011-01-04T07:04:00.003-05:00

In the movie Julie & Julia, Julia Powell is overcome with frustration about balancing her life through cooking and proceeds to fight with her husband. At the end of said argument he leaves and she loses the urge to cook. The line in the movie that sums up the 'I don't care anymore' attitude is "Yogurt for dinner."

Now other than the dairy reference I can relate the the notion of "I don't feel like cooking". Those are the days that I stair passionately at Papa John's and Nam Phong and my mouth begins to water just imagining the flavors. But then I reflect inward and remember that the best cure for these types of feelings is comfort food.

No, not fried chicken and macaroni and cheese, although if this is your comfort food, by all means, have at it! But I'm talking about the comfort of cooking food in your own kitchen, a recipe that is uniquely yours, and always comes out the way you like it. A food that nurtures your soul, and body, and always tastes good no matter what hour of the day of what happened previously to bring on the "I need you (insert food here)" feeling.

For me, a combination of a bad dream with bad connotations, and a message from an unwanted person. I couldn't go back to sleep. So I decided on pancakes.

Blueberry White Chocolate Pancakes

Buttermilk Pancake mix (yeah, I could make it from scratch, but until I get a bigger kitchen, we're sticking to the box stuff)
Vanilla Almond Milk, I prefer Silk Pure Almond cause it's thicker, and the vanilla flavor means you don't then have to add vanilla later.

Mix these two until "pancake mix" consistency, which happens to be a lot like thin yogurt.

Add butter or oil to a frying pan set to medium.
Pour 1/2 of mix into the pan (or as much/little as you want for small/huge pancakes)
Sprinkle whole blueberries (fresh is better, but frozen doesn't taste any different)
Sprinkle white chocolate chips.
Wait until cake bubbles
Flip and let brown on the opposite side. (Note: because of the fruit you may not get a "brown" on the opposite side just cook until done.

Serve with or without syrup, with or without butter, with or without bacon, with or without eggs.

I prefer mine...on a plate.

Veggie-Vegan After Christmas Diet

2010-12-27T14:05:00.003-05:00

Let's start with the basics:

what is a VEGAN? A vegan (pronounced VEE-gun) is someone who, for various reasons, chooses to avoid using or consuming animal products. While vegetarians choose not to use flesh foods, vegans also avoid dairy and eggs, as well as fur, leather, wool, down, and cosmetics or chemical products tested on animals.

Pretty extreme for you meat eaters, I know. But listen to my logic.

Most of us, me especially, have eaten our way through the last 3 months.

October: Candy and junk food. Pizza, burgers, chocolate, caramel, lollipops, brownies, chips
November: Roast Turkey, cornbread stuffing, buttered potatoes, macaroni and cheese
December: Ham, hoppin john, rice, pies and cakes, cookies, ice cream, hot cocoa, antipasto, bacon, lamb

I've even broken my no ham/turkey/red meat/dairy rule, just for the holiday. Its so easy to just get out of bed and eat a piece of bacon with breakfast then have a club sandwich for lunch then have a cheesy casserole for dinner then get back into bed. I've also noticed that this is easier considering I don't have to go to work on top of all this heavy food. Cutting those things out of my diet gave me more energy to get up and go, but since I'm not going anywhere I'm digesting everything just fine.

But then after a week of eating non-stop, following a three month food binge, your bikini body is less bikini and more body. For those people who like the voluptuousness of two sides of fat on each hip, by all means continue to eat heavy into the new year. I'm not suggesting you give it all up. On the contrary I, as always, think you should eat till your hearts content. But be mindful of what you put into your body, and the rate at which it comes back out.

All the holiday foods are high in fat and choletarol, things that cause gout, gallstones, kidney stones, bladder infections, constipation and other uncomfortable health issues that could compound upon the ones you already have. One way to purify your body, aside from chewing a lot of fiber, is to do cleanse diets.

I am not now going to go into a long blog about vinegar and cayenne pepper. I don't feel that fully liquid diets work, I think they're quick fixes for people trying to drop a lot of weight too quickly (insert picture of 50 cent) and it's not a healthy way to clean your system. I suggest you wait until you've gotten through ALL the leftovers, that way you won't be tempted but the side of bacon in the back of the fridge, or have to watch your kids eat the last candy cane in bliss.

So lets start with the basics of Veganism.

No meat, at all, what so ever.
No Dairy, at all what so ever.
No meat or dairy byproducts, at all, what so ever.
No shellfish or seafood, at all, what so ever.

Sound easy enough?

Substitutions
Breakfast and Baking:
I've been playing with these alternatives for a bit and these are my suggestions. If you don't like banana, don't sub it. If you don't like that powdered egg taste, don't use it. If you don't much like tofu, don't use it. I'd stick with the flavorless odorless starches in your baked goods just to be safe. And unless you have a high protein diet because you're gaining weight, just skip the eggs altogether.

FOR REPLACING EGGS, there are several options, depending on what they are needed for. You may want to experiment. Here are some possibilities (each quantity is equivalent to 1 egg):

•	Ener-G Egg Replacer (follow directions on box)
•	1 banana (for cake recipies)
•	2 Tbsp corn starch
•	2 Tbsp arrowroot flour
•	2 Tbsp potato starch
•	2 Tbsp soy milk powder & 2 Tbsp water
•	2 Tbsp mashed silken tofu

Just about every food has some vegan/vegetarian substitute that you can go to Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Fresh Market or some other health food store to get. I don't feel you need to purchase these usually expensive supermarket finds just for this cleanse. But if you do this in phases, I promise you won't miss anything.

Phase 1 - Just planted.
Everything you eat in phase 1 has to be out of the ground. This includes any and every fruit, vegetable, herb, and spice known to you side whatever state you live in. This phase does not include starches and carbs. No bread, no butter, no cereal, no beans, no grains, no cookies, no breakfast bars. YOU CAN COOK! This is not a raw diet, just veggie friendly.

No SODA! (Sugar)
No Alcohol! (Carbs)
I know, I know...harsh!

But think about it, these things are almost entirely made of water, so you can make smoothies and soups for days, perfect for after holiday colds and on the go style meals. The key to this is prep. Think of all the veggies and fruits you actually like to eat. Put those in front of you at all times. I love carrot sticks and celery and tomatoes. So that's what I eat for my snacks. I'll make a salad for dinner or stir fry. But remember, no tofu, no cheese, no sauces, no pickles, no preservatives, no jarred foods (like marinated artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil are okay), no dips, no dressings!

Simple salad dressing:
2stp olive oil
2 tsp red wine vinegar
2 tbsp fresh herbs
PINCH of salt
pepper

Remember that Salt doesn't make things taste better. Yes it seasons, but if you put two teaspoons of salt on everything, you're just going to run up your blood pressure.

The great thing about this phase, you can eat as much of it as you want.

I suggest you make this a 1 week diet. 7 days. You can do it. And your food will taste better when you add them back.

Phase 2 - Stiff not bored.
Now you can add starches. But don't go running out for 6 cups of white rice. Add oats, wheat, complex grains that are good for your heart and digestion. Try not to add your creamy grits and your soupy oatmeal, most of these recipes include dairy, and we haven't added that back yet! Brown rice, whole grain pastas, couscous even. BUT, only 2 servings per meal. That's 6 servings per day.

Grains, Beans, and Starchy Vegetables (6 or more servings)

Choose whole-grain foods such as whole-grain bread or crackers, tortillas, bran cereal, brown rice, or bulgar. They're nutritious and high in fiber.
Choose beans as a good source of fiber.
Use whole-wheat or other whole-grain flours in cooking and baking.
Eat more low-fat breads such as wheat bagels, tortillas, and pita bread.
For snacks, try pretzels or wheat crackers.

A serving can be:

1 slice bread
1/2 small bagel, English muffin, or pita bread
1/2 hamburger or hot dog bun
1 6-inch tortilla
4 to 6 crackers
1/2 cup cooked cereal, pasta, or bulgur
1/3 cup cooked rice
3/4 cup dry cereal
1/2 cup cooked beans, lentils, peas, or corn
1 small potato
1 cup winter squash
1/2 cup sweet potato or yam

Still try to keep your sugars to a minimum, yes this phase allows you to eat cereal, but choose Regular Cheerios over Honey Nut.

14 days. 2 weeks. Yes, you can do this.

Phase 3 - Swim with this fishes and only the white meat
Now we add some lively protein to your diet. Fish, the kind with fins no the kind with shells. No clams, no shrimp, no crabs, no crawfish, no oysters, just fin-fish. And here you can add chicken and turkey, but only the white meat. AND, you have to pick one. Either you're having fish, or you're having chicken. Once you've chosen your meat for the day you can't switch. No fatty foul. No duck, no goose, no turduken, no livers, no gizzards, no innards. Just the white meat. Only red meat allowed, salmon.

3 weeks. 21 days.
Week 4- you only have fish at dinner
Week 5 - you only have a meat (poultry or fish) at dinner
Week 6 - you have a meat at dinner and lunch

Phase 4 - Sugar

Have a drink. Get a glass of wine, a cocktail, a coke-a-cola if you want! Choose wisely. Because you only get one! 2 days a week only.
1 serving of sweets. read the back of the packaging carefully, some servings, like girl scout cookies, have a 2 cookie serving. No ice cream, no frozen yogurt, no cheesecake.

Week 7 - 1 drink, 2 days, for the whole week, for the rest of the diet
Week 8 - 1 sweet every other day, for the rest of the diet

Phase 5 - Okay Dairy
Milk, cheese, eggs, yogurt, tofu. Tofu is not a dairy product, but I add it here because many times tofu is a substitute ingredient for dairy products. The food pyramid says 2-3 servings a day. I'll probably skip the milk and cheese and simply add eggs back. But feel free to add it all, just keep it within the daily servings.

Week 9 - 2-3 servings a day.

Phase 6 - Meat Me
If you are itching for meat, this is your week. Pork, beef, lamb, dark meat poultry, bacon, liver, shellfish, whatever. Add 1 serving of meat to your dinner or lunch. But only one per day. Ease your body back into meat, you may find that you don't want a big steak, but might settle for a pork chop instead.

Week 10 - 1 serving at one meal per day.

Phase 7 - Heaven
You can have whatever you want. You're diet is officially over. You can go back to eating the way you did for Christmas and Thanksgiving. Eat a pint of icecream. Have a big bowl of Fruity Loops. Get a 6-pack and sit in front of the tv. Buy a box of oreos and a can of whipped cream. Take a trip to McDonald's if you must.

Right about now you system has been cleaned, and weened off of some of the worst foods for your body. You can go back to eating the transfat and bad carbs, or you can keep a few of the practices around for the future. You're choice.

As always, no one is perfect, so don't knock your head against the wall for eating a bowl of cereal on week 3. Depending on when you start your diet, you could be sitting at your valentine's dinner with your sweetie unable to pick up your fork at the filet mignon stuffed with lobster and parmesean cheese. Followed by a Triple Chocolate Cheesecake and a glass of red wine.

My advice....EAT IT! Treat yourself well, indulge, don't deprive yourself of the pleasure of eating in good company. When the big meal and the great day is over, go back to your diet. You could start over, or not. Who's to know? I won't!

Always Eat Well!

My 2010 Exit Burgers

2010-12-27T13:18:00.007-05:00

The Food Network has this show called "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" where chefs from all over list the best thing they ever ate in a particular food category. Eggs, brunch, fried, cheese, Mexican, everything.

Well My entry for "the best thing I ever ate : burgers" would be this:
Silver Diner's Grilled Wasabi Salmon Slider Basket
Teriyaki glazed salomn, pickled ginger, wasabi mayo, on oat wheat buns, served with a side Summer Citrus Salad (I chose a reg side salad). $10.99 (price may vary)

This was the surprise basket of sliders of my life. At first I'm just going to the diner for a meal with a friends, I don't expect anything more than a greasy burger and fries, maybe a soda, basically a meal I'm going to regret when I get back to my hotel room (at the time I was implementing my diet changes). And then I open up the menu and there are all these choices and combination that weren't there 6 years ago when I was in college/high school. I see the Salmon Slider Basket picture on the menu and I'm immediately intrigued. Before I even order I'm already picking a second option in case I absolutely hate it. I mean this is the Silver Diner I'm talking about, this is a place that I went to a total of 6 times when I was a kid and I was NEVER impressed! I'd come just because it would be the only thing open at 10 o'clock in Montgomery County, Maryland.

So I get the platter and at first I order it with no Mayo, but like most places with short order cooks my request went unheeded. I would have usually made a big deal about it, but in diners you never know who pissed off your waitress, so I sucked it up and started eating.

Whoa!

The salmon was juicy and sweet, the ginger had this bite to it that cut the buttery fat of the fish and the Wasabi Mayo had the perfect amount of heat without the yucky mayo flavor I was expecting. This was a Great Burger! I almost ordered a second helping but I would have had no where to put it.

I now have a reason to return to Silver Diner