tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55008685106440811332024-03-17T01:17:32.887-07:00Subscribe via emailJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-39813614251365374482011-10-24T07:55:00.000-07:002011-10-24T07:55:36.351-07:00Mexican Fall Chili<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://foodday.org/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="http://foodday.org/images/FoodDayLogoLinear2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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First off, I want to thank all of my loyal fans who stuck with me through my drought! It's amazing how time flies when you get busy (and a bit burnt out too). Was I burnt out on cooking? Definitely not. I was stretching myself to post once a week and it just became too much. So instead of scaling back, which would have been the smart thing to do, I took a hiatus.<br />
<br />
What better day to beginning posting again then on <a href="http://foodday.org/">FOOD DAY</a>! Today, October 24th, is FOOD DAY as created by the Center for Science in the Public Interest. It's all about healthy, real food being readily available to every American. I encourage you to do your part and ask congress to support FOOD DAY's goals by signing a letter to congress on their <a href="http://foodday.org/">home page</a>. If you want to check out events in your area, click <a href="http://foodday.org/participate/events/">here</a> to enter your zip code. <br />
<br />
Now onto a new favorite of ours - <a href="http://www.bhg.com/recipe/pork/mexican-winter-chili/">Mexican Winter Chili</a>. I'm cheating a bit since it isn't even close to winter, but I would call this a fall chili more so than winter. Everything about it screams (BOO!) fall, from the color all the way to the ingredients. Another misleading fact is the name...there are actually no beans in this chili at all. The chili-like consistency is created through the use of pureed pumpkin. I look at this dish as jazzed up comfort food to enjoy on a brisk fall day. The addition of a poblano chili pepper (sold in most stores under the incorrect name of a pasilla pepper) gives it a warm spiciness that isn't overbearing but complimentary. You can find the recipe at the link above, but after tasting as I cooked, I upped the amount of all spices (except for the garlic powder and cocoa powder) and made a few adjustments below. The picture does not do this dish justice but it really does look like this (unfortunately). One taste, however, and you'll be hooked.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqMlLErIF7VHmnUk3PgPjhFk5NJ4mgpzKNzH0bKOkl0WufonB-znLK-3U0jb_HPes2EUsmnAH00nB_8DBVebwhe4QB5Aen0MN2fpgBE5n0_yTAGJjyNZbr8lJ1LJ0mghv79rgAJa5ELIc/s1600/01+133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqMlLErIF7VHmnUk3PgPjhFk5NJ4mgpzKNzH0bKOkl0WufonB-znLK-3U0jb_HPes2EUsmnAH00nB_8DBVebwhe4QB5Aen0MN2fpgBE5n0_yTAGJjyNZbr8lJ1LJ0mghv79rgAJa5ELIc/s320/01+133.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Mexican "Fall" Chili<br />
adapted slightly from Better Homes & Gardens<br />
<br />
1<span class="amount"></span><span class="unit"> - 1 1/4 lbs boneless pork shoulder, cut into bit size pieces, or buy pork stew meat if available</span><br />
2 TBL olive oil<br />
1 large onion, chopped<br />
1 large fresh poblano pepper, finely chopped<br />
1 large red pepper, cut into 3/4 inch pieces<br />
2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder<br />
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin<br />
1/2 tsp garlic powder<br />
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon<br />
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper<br />
18 ounces chicken broth<br />
1 15 ounce can pureed pumpkin<br />
1/4 cup whipping cream<br />
Fresh cilantro<br />
(Note: The amounts for the spices is approximate since I didn't exactly measure - taste as you go remembering you can always add more but not less!)<br />
<br />
In a Dutch oven cook and stir pork in hot oil
over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until browned. Stir in onion,
poblano, and sweet pepper. Cook and stir 5 minutes or until tender. Stir
in cocoa powder, cumin, garlic powder, cinnamon, and cayenne. Add broth. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for
30 minutes or until pork is tender.<br />
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Stir in pumpkin, cream, and salt and black pepper
to taste. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer 5 minutes. Top with
fresh cilantro. Makes 4 (1-1/4 cup) servings.</div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-81932442709685248092011-03-07T10:24:00.000-08:002011-03-07T10:24:29.296-08:00The Monday Morsel - Cadbury Creme Eggs and Healthy Recipe Links<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFF7fS0fRsvLUKKonalBcT2lmAntrdkbcHTN-t1fKg9ScJbzXGtubliDZwKCOS3QHtTngH8ARkFM9OI49tgQYRak0_8RxRRY2HZ8aTOWEaDdgn63ie1zTGDJcON5mFjhAZEgYcOLgFRUL/s1600/25+929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFF7fS0fRsvLUKKonalBcT2lmAntrdkbcHTN-t1fKg9ScJbzXGtubliDZwKCOS3QHtTngH8ARkFM9OI49tgQYRak0_8RxRRY2HZ8aTOWEaDdgn63ie1zTGDJcON5mFjhAZEgYcOLgFRUL/s400/25+929.jpg" width="391" /></a></div>Weekly Monday Report:<br />
<br />
Pounds Lost = 0<br />
Total pounds lost =8<br />
# of Diet Cokes Consumed = 4<br />
# of Times Exercised = 0 (except walking the streets of New York)<br />
<br />
Uh-oh. It's that time of year where the stores are filled with one of my archenemies - the <a href="http://www.cadbury.co.uk/home/Pages/home.aspx">Cadbury</a> Creme Egg. My numbers aren't bad due to those sinful chocolate eggs, but rather due to my time in New York. I'm not too disappointed since honestly, I thought it would be worse. I'm back on track this week and hope to make great strides...except for those darn delectable eggs. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaSJhQNnHE4Ambp6MlWSOdJxm_-gAKiiCHyIkUqcsIaXkXhiGErEuju8llaJ65Up5TE_I11i0tFsWWDq0kU-XKvbGxqsom3GcJZsaDMA4BP2b8VUC_311kZFKSHhwS5NB4MCV-g_0EwFj/s1600/25+934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaSJhQNnHE4Ambp6MlWSOdJxm_-gAKiiCHyIkUqcsIaXkXhiGErEuju8llaJ65Up5TE_I11i0tFsWWDq0kU-XKvbGxqsom3GcJZsaDMA4BP2b8VUC_311kZFKSHhwS5NB4MCV-g_0EwFj/s200/25+934.jpg" width="187" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkFJuAGoUe8I40XLx5MsjpOqS9t0sxF9-5vpiYiSvvZK6G0XDvDbBFRNs04B3quStGo8nwr42HOWqgFYHIWDG_4o9nGIrgeQngAArQKuhltfBKRNjdzDG_KueNoAW93xe7XCoe3rZ7MRo/s1600/25+935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkFJuAGoUe8I40XLx5MsjpOqS9t0sxF9-5vpiYiSvvZK6G0XDvDbBFRNs04B3quStGo8nwr42HOWqgFYHIWDG_4o9nGIrgeQngAArQKuhltfBKRNjdzDG_KueNoAW93xe7XCoe3rZ7MRo/s200/25+935.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I'm not sure what it is about them - their milk chocolate exterior, their insanely sweet fondant interior, or their similarity to an actual egg - but they draw me in. It's one of the first signs of spring when I see the colorful foil wrappers calling out to me from the store shelves. I'm glad I live in America. I guess the eggs in the UK are even bigger - 40 grams compared to 34 grams in America and Canada. Less calories = less guilt! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXoAIa_pU4CJ4DnniWwuMAxe6fhVrC97PMT5TdQoDQ4l1mqErvshzV0F9Gcu_S28FHAybUONIA6mt5RZ_jnnt0PU3hiAtwfpkzG4kS0CT_8397Frht_OMyIkisWhTgtcXUP0c4RrWe1Xv/s1600/25+938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXoAIa_pU4CJ4DnniWwuMAxe6fhVrC97PMT5TdQoDQ4l1mqErvshzV0F9Gcu_S28FHAybUONIA6mt5RZ_jnnt0PU3hiAtwfpkzG4kS0CT_8397Frht_OMyIkisWhTgtcXUP0c4RrWe1Xv/s400/25+938.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Last night (after cooking some healthy hard boiled eggs) I introduced the creme egg to Ryan. We each had half and reveled in the art of this chocolate. The thick milk chocolate shell. The fondant filling that oozes when you bite into it. The brightness of the white and yellow center. Maybe I should start counting creme eggs consumed just like I do diet cokes! <br />
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Moving onto something healthy...the <a href="http://eat.live.be/">Eat.Live.Be</a> topic for this week is Recommended Reading - what resources help with your healthy goals? There are tons of great websites out there but remembering to check them routinely doesn't work for me. Instead, I sign up for their newsletters. I realize people shy away from signing up since it's yet "another email", but that's really the only way I'll read what the website is producing. If I'm not interested in the topic or the recipe, it's a quick and easy delete. So here are some of my favorites and I would love to hear about others, so please do share!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.health.com/health">Health</a> - click the green Newsletter icon in the top right corner<br />
<a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/">My Recipes</a> - click the "subscribe to our newsletters" link on the right hand side<br />
<a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/">Eating Well</a> - click on the check-boxes on the right hand side under "Free Newsletters"<br />
<br />
Please join me and the other ELB bloggers on the journey to better health! <br />
<br />
Sarah at <a href="http://www.sarahscucinabella.com/">Cucina Bella</a><br />
Cate at <a href="http://www.sweetnicks.com/">Sweetnicks</a><br />
Maris at <a href="http://www.ingoodtasteblog.net/">In Good Taste</a><br />
Chris at <a href="http://www.melecotte.com/">Mele Cotte</a><br />
Faith at <a href="http://www.clickblogappetit.com/">Bon Appetit</a><br />
Kristen at <a href="http://www.dineanddish.net/">Dine and Dish</a><br />
Emily at <a href="http://andersonfamilycrew.blogspot.com/">The Anderson Crew</a><br />
Joanne at <a href="http://www.joanne-eatswellwithothers.com/">Eats Well With Others</a><br />
Casey at <a href="http://www.thestarnesfam.com/">The Starnes Family</a><br />
Patsy at <a href="http://www.friendsfamilyandfood.blogspot.com/">Friends, Family and Food</a><br />
Tri-Fit Mom at <a href="http://trifitmom.blogspot.com/">Tri-Fit Mom</a><br />
Claire at <a href="http://cookiedoc.blogspot.com/">Cooking is Medicine</a><br />
Allison at <a href="http://sweetflours.blogspot.com/">Sweet Flours</a><br />
Jen at <a href="http://njepicurean.blogspot.com/">NJ Epicurean</a><br />
Jenna at <a href="http://stopdropandblog.com/">Stop, Drop, and Blog</a> <br />
Rivki at <a href="http://www.healthyeatingforordinarypeople.com/">Healthy Eating for Ordinary People</a><br />
Sarah at <a href="http://sarahssweetcreations.blogspot.com/">Sarah’s Sweet Creations</a><br />
Denise and Lenny at <a href="http://www.chezus.com/">Chez Us</a>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-17792099281248166162011-02-28T18:38:00.000-08:002011-02-28T18:38:38.895-08:00The Monday Morsel - Live from New YorkNo weigh in this week. A girl deserves a break every now and then, right? I'm in New York, my food mecca, and happy there is no scale to be found. This isn't entirely true since there is a scale in the gym, but it's not mine, so I'm not getting on it. If it weighed me more, then I'll just be bummed, and if it weighed me less, then I may take that as a license to eat more! Either way, I can't see it being a good idea. <br />
<br />
Here are some reason's why:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0-pK7dTsIogT_83SHFCgf1UTi-gldo-LEIvpJBRPdW6dGCVRxzSWzEBg6lrDPZlShCfFRt-JHmiSabhDPtZPS9xD_HGnOlmvq8_qXWZnfvPGmeni1AZTKIWHqTOYQgZPPubdhywloGfa/s1600/Tequila+snow+cones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0-pK7dTsIogT_83SHFCgf1UTi-gldo-LEIvpJBRPdW6dGCVRxzSWzEBg6lrDPZlShCfFRt-JHmiSabhDPtZPS9xD_HGnOlmvq8_qXWZnfvPGmeni1AZTKIWHqTOYQgZPPubdhywloGfa/s400/Tequila+snow+cones.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tequila Snowcones (Strawberry, Tamarind, and Hibiscus) at <a href="http://www.richardsandoval.com/zengony/">Zengo</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYaHNDrig-Ht5_BuiSXIdnCsMp2XssVd7BSxs0YE6uE8UH4qeQZgJF_BJVh8SVJdwV7JJzlcQFeEdLKed2kyAbkkB0admF9XKW5-fnYWLbNXQGrnCBa1ADUv3jYwi6fxZeKDZLDieM9eS/s1600/Cask+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYaHNDrig-Ht5_BuiSXIdnCsMp2XssVd7BSxs0YE6uE8UH4qeQZgJF_BJVh8SVJdwV7JJzlcQFeEdLKed2kyAbkkB0admF9XKW5-fnYWLbNXQGrnCBa1ADUv3jYwi6fxZeKDZLDieM9eS/s400/Cask+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prosciutto Wrapped Shrimp "Panzanella" and Steak Flatbread with portabella mushrooms, caramelized onion, red cabbage, and gorgonzola at <a href="http://www.casknyc.com/index.htm">Cask</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_81YQn0IpdxRnt_OpMHVBtFoTsTyvEz-43PqzR820yrlbbVmXThTtRsj4NO1kS2Lt9xIxgmL9uBocsEwRUi95SxFN88a33Xw86gdFNJDrgLtVRsWIF9-9Xn3GUUtf9vN6aQRKkAbskYPd/s1600/Cask+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_81YQn0IpdxRnt_OpMHVBtFoTsTyvEz-43PqzR820yrlbbVmXThTtRsj4NO1kS2Lt9xIxgmL9uBocsEwRUi95SxFN88a33Xw86gdFNJDrgLtVRsWIF9-9Xn3GUUtf9vN6aQRKkAbskYPd/s400/Cask+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Truffle Mac n' Cheese at <a href="http://www.casknyc.com/index.htm">Cask</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/3051245872_db241054e0.jpg?v=0" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/3051245872_db241054e0.jpg?v=0" width="200" /></a>This week's <a href="http://eat.live.be/">Eat.Live.Be</a> topic is about portion control. I didn't think I really used the idea of portion control, but in some round about way, I do. I don't measure each meal I eat, but rather focus on portion control for the entire day. As you may remember, my weight loss technique that works for me is to limit what I eat during the day, so that I can fully enjoy the evening meal. If you would like something more concrete, here's a fun <a href="http://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/100-calories-quiz">quiz</a> from <a href="http://www.womenshealthmag.com/">Women's Health Magazine</a> on portion control! <br />
<br />
<br />
Please join me and the other ELB bloggers on the journey to better health! <br />
<br />
Sarah at <a href="http://www.sarahscucinabella.com/">Cucina Bella</a><br />
Cate at <a href="http://www.sweetnicks.com/">Sweetnicks</a><br />
Maris at <a href="http://www.ingoodtasteblog.net/">In Good Taste</a><br />
Chris at <a href="http://www.melecotte.com/">Mele Cotte</a><br />
Faith at <a href="http://www.clickblogappetit.com/">Bon Appetit</a><br />
Kristen at <a href="http://www.dineanddish.net/">Dine and Dish</a><br />
Emily at <a href="http://andersonfamilycrew.blogspot.com/">The Anderson Crew</a><br />
Joanne at <a href="http://www.joanne-eatswellwithothers.com/">Eats Well With Others</a><br />
Casey at <a href="http://www.thestarnesfam.com/">The Starnes Family</a><br />
Patsy at <a href="http://www.friendsfamilyandfood.blogspot.com/">Friends, Family and Food</a><br />
Tri-Fit Mom at <a href="http://trifitmom.blogspot.com/">Tri-Fit Mom</a><br />
Claire at <a href="http://cookiedoc.blogspot.com/">Cooking is Medicine</a><br />
Allison at <a href="http://sweetflours.blogspot.com/">Sweet Flours</a><br />
Jen at <a href="http://njepicurean.blogspot.com/">NJ Epicurean</a><br />
Jenna at <a href="http://stopdropandblog.com/">Stop, Drop, and Blog</a> <br />
Rivki at <a href="http://www.healthyeatingforordinarypeople.com/">Healthy Eating for Ordinary People</a><br />
Sarah at <a href="http://sarahssweetcreations.blogspot.com/">Sarah’s Sweet Creations</a><br />
Denise and Lenny at <a href="http://www.chezus.com/">Chez Us</a>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-50167819323650841102011-02-21T09:13:00.000-08:002011-02-21T09:13:07.519-08:00The Monday Morsel - TJ's Omega Trek Mix with Cranberries and Carob<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.physicalnutrition.net/image/carob-pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://www.physicalnutrition.net/image/carob-pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carob - a legume from the Ceratonia siliqua tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Weekly Monday Report:<br />
<br />
Pounds Lost = 0<br />
Total pounds lost =8<br />
# of Diet Cokes Consumed = 2<br />
# of Times Exercised = 1 (maybe 2...does dancing all night at a club count?)<br />
<br />
Yesterday's scale was much kinder. For some reason, I was down 2 pounds yesterday compared to today. The numbers would make you think I gorged myself on Sunday, but honestly I didn't! Exercise-wise, not so great either, but I failed to actually schedule it in my calendar. That seemed to work the week prior, so I'm going to attempt to do that again this week. Although, with a sprained ankle, some exercise components may have to take a back seat for a bit.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNs2Db2kSZ4jAHNr-egJnENwErH2wouxzh6r_f3Ot8NjOVi8VxBkhuLRXP8i8wdFrYGPPzs8yr7oX3lmesBij9m1xYRzXvdPJsg_DoXjCC9OSSlGW2PhzqW3_-sU_8XMUA7RlL1vtIPMy4/s1600/25+926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNs2Db2kSZ4jAHNr-egJnENwErH2wouxzh6r_f3Ot8NjOVi8VxBkhuLRXP8i8wdFrYGPPzs8yr7oX3lmesBij9m1xYRzXvdPJsg_DoXjCC9OSSlGW2PhzqW3_-sU_8XMUA7RlL1vtIPMy4/s400/25+926.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The <a href="http://eat.live.be./">Eat.Live.Be.</a> topic for this week is a "Healthy Grab-and-Go Snack". I have so many, but my favorite at the moment is <a href="http://www.traderjoes.com/index.asp">Trader Joe's</a> Omega Trek Mix with Omega Fortified Cranberries. It is scrumptious. I realize any trail mix isn't necessarily low in calories, but just a handful is so filling, that it ties me over for a good amount of time. The way the package comes, it includes almonds, walnuts, pepitas (pumpkin seeds), pecans, pistachios, and cranberries. It's not all that heavy on the walnuts or pecans, but more so on the pepitas and pistachios. Perfect for me...well, almost.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.buzzle.com/img/articleImages/316167-4614-40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.buzzle.com/img/articleImages/316167-4614-40.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>When I want to take it up a notch, I add carob chips. Carob comes from an evergreen shrub and is a member of the pea family. Carob chips are healthier than chocolate chips in that they have more dietary fiber and more protein. In addition, they are higher in calcium, lower in fat, and high in potassium. Carob has a lot of claims to fame, but I tend to wonder how much you need to eat in order to reap theses benefits:<br />
<ul><li>Improves digestion and lowers cholesterol levels in the blood </li>
<li>Treats dirarrhea</li>
<li>Does not contain caffiene, so better than chocolate for people with high blood pressure</li>
<li>Regular consumption helps in the prevention of lung cancer</li>
<li>Vitamin E in carob helps in treating cough, flu, and anemia</li>
<li>Carob pod husks are chewed by singers to clear the voice and throat</li>
</ul>If memory serves me correctly, I first encountered carob chips at a young age during a trip to our local frozen yogurt shop. As for yogurt flavors, although I would try their latest and greatest, I routinely ended up with vanilla yogurt (I know, boring) and topped it with crunchy carob chips. I've never been a huge chocolate fan. Carob is like my own private, chocolate-like indulgence since I seem to be alone in my appreciation of carob. The Omega Trek Mix is wonderful all on it's own, but to also satisfy a sweet tooth every now and then, the addition of carob is a perfect match. <br />
<br />
Please join me and the other ELB bloggers on the journey to better health! <br />
<br />
Sarah at <a href="http://www.sarahscucinabella.com/">Cucina Bella</a><br />
Cate at <a href="http://www.sweetnicks.com/">Sweetnicks</a><br />
Maris at <a href="http://www.ingoodtasteblog.net/">In Good Taste</a><br />
Chris at <a href="http://www.melecotte.com/">Mele Cotte</a><br />
Faith at <a href="http://www.clickblogappetit.com/">Bon Appetit</a><br />
Kristen at <a href="http://www.dineanddish.net/">Dine and Dish</a><br />
Emily at <a href="http://andersonfamilycrew.blogspot.com/">The Anderson Crew</a><br />
Joanne at <a href="http://www.joanne-eatswellwithothers.com/">Eats Well With Others</a><br />
Casey at <a href="http://www.thestarnesfam.com/">The Starnes Family</a><br />
Patsy at <a href="http://www.friendsfamilyandfood.blogspot.com/">Friends, Family and Food</a><br />
Tri-Fit Mom at <a href="http://trifitmom.blogspot.com/">Tri-Fit Mom</a><br />
Claire at <a href="http://cookiedoc.blogspot.com/">Cooking is Medicine</a><br />
Allison at <a href="http://sweetflours.blogspot.com/">Sweet Flours</a><br />
Jen at <a href="http://njepicurean.blogspot.com/">NJ Epicurean</a><br />
Jenna at <a href="http://stopdropandblog.com/">Stop, Drop, and Blog</a> <br />
Rivki at <a href="http://www.healthyeatingforordinarypeople.com/">Healthy Eating for Ordinary People</a><br />
Sarah at <a href="http://sarahssweetcreations.blogspot.com/">Sarah’s Sweet Creations</a><br />
Denise and Lenny at <a href="http://www.chezus.com/">Chez Us</a>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-2236765314354725862011-02-14T07:54:00.000-08:002011-02-14T07:54:15.195-08:00The Monday Morsel - Tips from Experts and Horseradish Crusted Salmon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.butlerwebs.com/jokes/images/Little_Girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="http://www.butlerwebs.com/jokes/images/Little_Girls.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Weekly Monday Report:<br />
<br />
Pounds Lost = 2<br />
Total pounds lost = 8 <br />
# of Diet Cokes Consumed = 1<br />
# of Times Exercised =4<br />
<br />
The numbers are all going in the right direction! I'm truly proud of myself for my (lack of) diet coke consumption and really think I've found the answer, albeit a simple one - just don't buy diet coke. It works, so I'm sticking with it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnVzlYYS_b2yFcVWsxBOWrkZLvH2nUupxfylgirYzXmPp87oFRl-KBlHqkg2i0IO69cohv5zGpZK_AHOeM2OSx6TpEBkNqGunhB9cniibX3BG8XM70npbKarMy-xwflrFbTr_NwLG3Z2k/s1600/Eat.Be.Live.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnVzlYYS_b2yFcVWsxBOWrkZLvH2nUupxfylgirYzXmPp87oFRl-KBlHqkg2i0IO69cohv5zGpZK_AHOeM2OSx6TpEBkNqGunhB9cniibX3BG8XM70npbKarMy-xwflrFbTr_NwLG3Z2k/s1600/Eat.Be.Live.jpg" /></a></div>The <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2076533&id=1378845476#%21/pages/Eat-Live-Be-For-a-Better-2011/139076222815807">Eat.Live.Be.</a> topic for this week, "Straight from the Experts", really had me drawing a blank. There are so many diet tips, dos and don'ts, latest fads and trends, that I wasn't sure what I wanted to focus on. I Googled for a few days and came up with some gems.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul><li>"The second day of a diet is always easier than the first. By the second day, you're off it." Jackie Gleason</li>
<li>"A diet is the penalty we pay for exceeding the feed limit." Author Unknown</li>
<li> "The cardiologist's diet: if it tastes good, spit it out." Author Unknown</li>
<li>"In the Middle Ages, they had guillotines, stretch racks, whips and chains. Nowadays, we have a much more effective torture device called the bathroom scale." Stephen Phillips</li>
</ul>Everything I found had a common theme that I was all too used to: Dieting is bad...we have to deny our selves of what we want in order to loose weight...the number on the scale tells us how bad or good we've been. Then it hit me. Just keep it simple - <b>Eat Less, Move More</b>. This isn't some sort of revelation, but more of a scientific principal. Many people have come up with this philosophy on dieting, so it's hard to say the idea came from one particular expert or another. <br />
<br />
I no longer subscribe to any dieting principals that have to do with denying yourself. Not that my way of dieting is the healthiest, but it fits my lifestyle and I loose weight when I adhere to it - a small, healthy breakfast, snacking on nuts, fruit, vegetables during the day, and enjoying my evening dining experience with family and friends. I will be the first one to say that I love food, but I love it immensely more when I'm sharing it with those I love. <br />
<br />
To quote an expert, I choose <a href="http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/">Roger Ebert</a>; a man who can no longer eat, drink, or speak. He provided me with a wealth of inspiration for my <a href="http://lick-a-plate.blogspot.com/2010/09/once-upon-year.html">1st anniversary blog post</a>, and I'm determined to keep his sentiment alive by sharing it with as many people that I can.<br />
<br />
From Roger Ebert's <a href="http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/">blog</a> post titled <a href="http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2010/01/nil_by_mouth.html"><i>Nil by mouth</i></a>:<br />
<br />
"So that's what sad about not eating. The loss of dining, not the loss of food. It may be personal, but for, unless I'm alone, it doesn't involve dinner if it doesn't involve talking. The food and drink I can do without easily. The jokes, gossip, laughs, arguments and shared memories I miss. Sentences beginning with the words, "Remember that time?"...So yes, it's sad. Maybe that's why I enjoy this blog. You don't realize it, but we're at dinner right now." <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuPhPSb0GRdAgPcqAt-7vo2gpO44Ws7rsPoeNN9uShd2T05FwG1Xyxd7z7D7o_F864w6kyibUAs8pOKEAtovn1gGNTM5mqxrHamx9FTKoBciCYyt4pXmccmLG-2OXY6LuENNINaOcQvik/s1600/25+854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuPhPSb0GRdAgPcqAt-7vo2gpO44Ws7rsPoeNN9uShd2T05FwG1Xyxd7z7D7o_F864w6kyibUAs8pOKEAtovn1gGNTM5mqxrHamx9FTKoBciCYyt4pXmccmLG-2OXY6LuENNINaOcQvik/s400/25+854.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBujnMFnQzA39zOeUKUhGclqDDqwvKMJeQxNKw8471nF8tC2wMWJvnEkCAnnueHZ3UbfGZ16TALSZL0W-vLIgytYi9Y73IUq3s1t0p_zGR1oax65c0s6ah9fM-Fg5xfs9EUVM3w99chPY/s1600/Picture+826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBujnMFnQzA39zOeUKUhGclqDDqwvKMJeQxNKw8471nF8tC2wMWJvnEkCAnnueHZ3UbfGZ16TALSZL0W-vLIgytYi9Y73IUq3s1t0p_zGR1oax65c0s6ah9fM-Fg5xfs9EUVM3w99chPY/s200/Picture+826.jpg" width="200" /></a>I want to end by sharing a much-loved recipe in our household. Its low on ingredients but high in flavor. Horseradish, thyme and parsley, mixed with panko breadcrumbs that encrust a simple piece of salmon. It's a perfect package since the crusty exterior wonderfully compliments the soft and moist salmon interior. I came across this <a href="http://www.savoringthethyme.com/2010/03/horseradish-crusted-salmon/">Horseradish Crusted Salmon recipe</a> on Jennifer's blog, <a href="http://www.savoringthethyme.com/">Savoring the Thyme</a>. She references her recipe back to a <a href="http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipefinder/horseradish-salmon-recipe">Good Housekeeping recipe</a> which also includes a refreshing vinegar-based salad of English cucumbers and spinach. I've tried that as well, and it compliments the salmon beautifully. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-agvl-ojl1Ay6hyldpjYdgNtXuISprIDUlESaZm8OFHvRz_KfAjCR3R7Dh9n28EdxiGO34zKAaAfhq-WcVdnWtyBFvNf9y29-MPn_ctbunYko9NfRUSfPQyLYTXPiT21SBACDkmaiBPx/s1600/25+859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-agvl-ojl1Ay6hyldpjYdgNtXuISprIDUlESaZm8OFHvRz_KfAjCR3R7Dh9n28EdxiGO34zKAaAfhq-WcVdnWtyBFvNf9y29-MPn_ctbunYko9NfRUSfPQyLYTXPiT21SBACDkmaiBPx/s200/25+859.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I hope you enjoy this dish as much as we do but more importantly, enjoy the company you are sharing it with. Please join me and the other ELB bloggers on the journey to better health! <br />
<br />
<br />
Sarah at <a href="http://www.sarahscucinabella.com/">Cucina Bella</a><br />
Cate at <a href="http://www.sweetnicks.com/">Sweetnicks</a><br />
Maris at <a href="http://www.ingoodtasteblog.net/">In Good Taste</a><br />
Chris at <a href="http://www.melecotte.com/">Mele Cotte</a><br />
Faith at <a href="http://www.clickblogappetit.com/">Bon Appetit</a><br />
Kristen at <a href="http://www.dineanddish.net/">Dine and Dish</a><br />
Emily at <a href="http://andersonfamilycrew.blogspot.com/">The Anderson Crew</a><br />
Joanne at <a href="http://www.joanne-eatswellwithothers.com/">Eats Well With Others</a><br />
Casey at <a href="http://www.thestarnesfam.com/">The Starnes Family</a><br />
Patsy at <a href="http://www.friendsfamilyandfood.blogspot.com/">Friends, Family and Food</a><br />
Tri-Fit Mom at <a href="http://trifitmom.blogspot.com/">Tri-Fit Mom</a><br />
Claire at <a href="http://cookiedoc.blogspot.com/">Cooking is Medicine</a><br />
Allison at <a href="http://sweetflours.blogspot.com/">Sweet Flours</a><br />
Jen at <a href="http://njepicurean.blogspot.com/">NJ Epicurean</a><br />
Jenna at <a href="http://stopdropandblog.com/">Stop, Drop, and Blog</a> <br />
Rivki at <a href="http://www.healthyeatingforordinarypeople.com/">Healthy Eating for Ordinary People</a><br />
Sarah at <a href="http://sarahssweetcreations.blogspot.com/">Sarah’s Sweet Creations</a><br />
Denise and Lenny at <a href="http://www.chezus.com/">Chez Us</a>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-23037024456501383132011-02-07T20:56:00.000-08:002011-02-07T20:56:07.612-08:00The Monday Morsel - Bison<!--[if !mso]> <style>
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<div align="center" class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://buffalo-meat.info/slike/American_bison_k5680-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://buffalo-meat.info/slike/American_bison_k5680-1.JPG" width="346" /></a></div>Weekly Monday Report:<br />
<br />
Pounds Lost = 0 (damn Super Bowl)<br />
Total pounds lost = 6 <br />
# of Diet Cokes Consumed = 2<br />
# of Times Exercised = 3<br />
<br />
Can you believe it? Only 2 diet cokes! I honestly don't care that much about not loosing any weight this week since I really did well, minus the Super Bowl feast. I couldn't be happier with myself for not buying any diet cokes. The only 2 I had were fountain diet cokes from a store. It is like a glorious treat to me since I actually prefer fountain diet coke over cans or bottles. The perfect way to still enjoy my non-healthy indulgence and keep my consumption in check. Still drinking the tea as well so all is good on that front.<br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bison</b></div>The North American Buffalo. Otherwise known as bison. Not the prettiest-looking animals, but definitely one of the tastiest. And with a mighty fine nutritional profile. Believe it or not, it can be the leanest meat out there, as long as you buy grass-fed bison. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bisoncentral.com/image_lib/Nutrition-Chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://www.bisoncentral.com/image_lib/Nutrition-Chart.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span></span></span></div> A lot of people say that bison has a richer flavor than beef, which I think tends to scare people off. Richer tends to equate to "gamey-er", which is totally not where the taste is at. It's actually a clean and sweeter version of beef. One of those things you just have to try and then you'll understand. <br />
<br />
I have so much I want to share on the topic of buffalo, that I've decided to break it down into bullets (hopefully this doesn't remind you too much of a corporate presentation):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://0.tqn.com/d/coins/1/0/_/1/-/-/buffalo-nickel-values.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/coins/1/0/_/1/-/-/buffalo-nickel-values.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/2/24/20060326034247%21United_States_2005_bison_nickel,_reverse.jpg"><br />
</a></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><b>Indian Head Buffalo Nickels</b>. I've always had an affinity for buffalo nickels. Not really sure why, but I do keep them should they cross my path. Supposedly there are some 3-legged buffalo, circa 1937, coins out there, but I've heard they are quite rare. I'm still on the lookout. </li>
</ul><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><b>The buffalo of Catalina Island</b>. Another area of fascination for me, I've always found it intriguing that they are roaming bison on Santa Catalina Island, California. Given that I've grown up in SoCal, I've visited these buffaloes a few times now. I wouldn't think an animal so unattractive could be so majestic, but in person, they really are. So how did bison end up on an island in the Pacific Ocean? Pretty simple answer, actually. They (14 in total) were brought there in 1924 for the filming of a silent movie, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0016480/"><i>The Vanishing American</i></a>. The buffalo were allowed to remain and flourished. Due to some in-breeding, they have introduced more buffalo to the existing herd and they now comprise an important role in the cultural fabric of the island. </li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjws62Hv3N4augZnSLZZKktUMg-06xx6jFvqoGXyEIfstdqnNf2vY5v16rg3euxbXfmcn1TaIpGD6APUfvOgyfnE-JDYesFBN_8qpB8RCnQCq3R-dCE6HWxnS3CI4Rt4210cmI9JQQ9n6OY/s1600/25+838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjws62Hv3N4augZnSLZZKktUMg-06xx6jFvqoGXyEIfstdqnNf2vY5v16rg3euxbXfmcn1TaIpGD6APUfvOgyfnE-JDYesFBN_8qpB8RCnQCq3R-dCE6HWxnS3CI4Rt4210cmI9JQQ9n6OY/s200/25+838.jpg" width="119" /></a></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://bisonbrew.com/"><b>Bison Brew</b></a>. In my search for everything buffalo, I happened upon a brewery in Berkeley, CA that delivers a mighty fine product. Luckily, we live in a craft beer mecca, and Mark was able to go out that same day and locate Bison Brew beer at our <a href="http://bestdamnbeershop.com/">Best Damn Beer Shop</a> in San Diego. Bison Brewery concocts certified organic beer with tantalizing flavor profiles. <a href="http://bisonbrew.com/product/Honey-Basil-Ale">Honey Basil Ale</a>? Wow. I actually think I saw a green tinge on the top layer when the sunlight hit it. As I write this, I'm exciting my palate with their <a href="http://bisonbrew.com/product/Imperial-Brown-Ale">Imperial Brown Ale</a>. Many more I have to try...</li>
</ul>Must move onto food now.<br />
<div align="center" class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhux5-ldxMbEdKNYeeWhGU5igZx8b1fBqsvwqnG9nYB8YkFQSXSOrqxCQ7nBfI-OWyLiTNA3_KfQfMuaUA5Jcclz4J-9YUofazGYNhcEXdN6_s4H_DMcRJDryTmaDljRLX66BxMpi9xvQdp/s1600/25+821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhux5-ldxMbEdKNYeeWhGU5igZx8b1fBqsvwqnG9nYB8YkFQSXSOrqxCQ7nBfI-OWyLiTNA3_KfQfMuaUA5Jcclz4J-9YUofazGYNhcEXdN6_s4H_DMcRJDryTmaDljRLX66BxMpi9xvQdp/s400/25+821.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFtg3Q7ieQmMK9YSKycX31myHOsvGAxRBRao2UutW2XEhhOGlW1A4ipook7zzg1VnSb73hJMD6z-wzTF5FSQ-sKbSf1IOnmLcQUwd_EzndMYXVOcpYx60FBVuCQwXh-9fhqcTPKc0pukb/s1600/25+822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFtg3Q7ieQmMK9YSKycX31myHOsvGAxRBRao2UutW2XEhhOGlW1A4ipook7zzg1VnSb73hJMD6z-wzTF5FSQ-sKbSf1IOnmLcQUwd_EzndMYXVOcpYx60FBVuCQwXh-9fhqcTPKc0pukb/s200/25+822.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/turkish_pasta_with_bison_sauce.html"><b>Turkish Pasta with Bison Sauce</b></a>. What a beautiful combination of flavors. Between the aromatic spices such as coriander, cumin, paprika, and cinnamon, combined with pungent pomegranate juice and the sweetness of carrots, this sauce marries perfectly with our much-loved ground bison meat. Stir in a full cup of chopped cilantro and top with Greek yogurt. This is a great "beginner bison dish" since the flavor of the meat isn't as pronounced as it would be with a simple bison steak.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b>Bison steak</b>. True red meat bliss. We've bought grass-fed bison steaks at Costco (2 per pack and not all too cheap, but big enough to split one for 2 people). After sprinkling them with a bit of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, I sear the steak in a cast iron skillet, just until rare. I really encourage you to try this meat on the rare side so you can enjoy it's full flavor. The buffalo is naturally resistant to disease and grow faster than other animals so antibiotics and hormones aren't part of their regimen. </li>
</ul>I definitely have a passion for all things bison. However, I have my limits, but if you have a daring palate and an adventurous spirit, you can check out <a href="http://www.grubgrade.com/">GrubGrade</a>'s post on <a href="http://www.grubgrade.com/2010/08/19/homemade-grilled-bison-balls/">Bison Mountain Oysters</a>. Yeah...no thanks...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrWr9uQnm1LbCLXJjuXw-acT9iFpKx-xUjyDtQbe1homzmMHoLHygwiH8WXm3NHMBRO2AOrIjkieiG_T4woi_3Rrhsprd2GvieotQ6Pj3pOC0WdptX-1wBudRzaik5mexpNXDZ1dpHp82/s1600/Eat.Be.Live.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrWr9uQnm1LbCLXJjuXw-acT9iFpKx-xUjyDtQbe1homzmMHoLHygwiH8WXm3NHMBRO2AOrIjkieiG_T4woi_3Rrhsprd2GvieotQ6Pj3pOC0WdptX-1wBudRzaik5mexpNXDZ1dpHp82/s1600/Eat.Be.Live.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span></span></span></div> Moving on to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/Eat-Live-Be-For-a-Better-2011/139076222815807">Eat. Live. Be.</a>, the topic for this week is "Rut Rescue 101". What do I do to pull myself out of a rut? A few main things come to mind, but not as many as I hoped. Please do share yours since I would like to add them to my repertoire! <br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">1. Don't let an off day get me down. For this reason (and this reason only), I love the mornings. I like the focused feeling I have when I wake up to start a brand new day. If I've had an over the top eating episode the day prior, I focus on getting back on track the following day. The thought of a new day keeps me motivated on the goal at hand.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">2. I research healthy food options. I like to eat and I won't deny that. So if I am in a rut, I search out new healthy items to try. Trade Joe's, Henry's, and Whole Foods are a good places for that. In fact, in an upcoming post, I must share with you all the glorious snack bar, Larabar. :)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">3. My closet. Honestly, this is quite a good tactic. Don't we all have articles of clothing hanging in our closet that we either can't or won't wear right now due to how we look in it? When I'm in a rut or down on my progress, I head into my closet for a look-see. Oh look, that cute top that I've only worn ONCE because now I'm too heavy to wear it. Oh and those jeans! I can't seem to button them anymore, but I'm holding onto them since they are such great jeans! Yep, that does it for me. </div><br />
Please join me and the other ELB bloggers on the journey to better health!<br />
<br />
Sarah at <a href="http://www.sarahscucinabella.com/">Cucina Bella</a><br />
Cate at <a href="http://www.sweetnicks.com/">Sweetnicks</a><br />
Maris at <a href="http://www.ingoodtasteblog.net/">In Good Taste</a><br />
Chris at <a href="http://www.melecotte.com/">Mele Cotte</a><br />
Faith at <a href="http://www.clickblogappetit.com/">Bon Appetit</a><br />
Kristen at <a href="http://www.dineanddish.net/">Dine and Dish</a><br />
Emily at <a href="http://andersonfamilycrew.blogspot.com/">The Anderson Crew</a><br />
Joanne at <a href="http://www.joanne-eatswellwithothers.com/">Eats Well With Others</a><br />
Casey at <a href="http://www.thestarnesfam.com/">The Starnes Family</a><br />
Patsy at <a href="http://www.friendsfamilyandfood.blogspot.com/">Friends, Family and Food</a><br />
Tri-Fit Mom at <a href="http://trifitmom.blogspot.com/">Tri-Fit Mom</a><br />
Claire at <a href="http://cookiedoc.blogspot.com/">Cooking is Medicine</a><br />
Allison at <a href="http://sweetflours.blogspot.com/">Sweet Flours</a><br />
Jen at <a href="http://njepicurean.blogspot.com/">NJ Epicurean</a><br />
Jenna at <a href="http://stopdropandblog.com/">Stop, Drop, and Blog</a> <br />
Rivki at <a href="http://www.healthyeatingforordinarypeople.com/">Healthy Eating for Ordinary People</a><br />
Sarah at <a href="http://sarahssweetcreations.blogspot.com/">Sarah’s Sweet Creations</a><br />
Denise and Lenny at <a href="http://www.chezus.com/">Chez Us</a>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-81198998662088801172011-01-31T10:30:00.000-08:002011-01-31T10:30:27.826-08:00The Monday Morsel - Tea Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.stashtea.com/assets/products/green-chai-tea-med.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.stashtea.com/assets/products/green-chai-tea-med.png" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">Weekly Monday Report:<br />
<br />
Pounds Lost = 3</span> <span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Total pounds lost = 6<br />
# of Diet Cokes Consumed = 5 (pretty good, right?)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> # of Times Exercised = 0 :(</span> <br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">5 diet cokes in 7 days is quite impressive for me. How did I do it?! Well, basically I ran out and just didn't bother to buy any more at the store. Amazing how that works, isn't it? It actually reminds me of when my son was potty trained. Noticed I didn't say when "I" potty trained my son, but it was when the preschool did it for me. In the morning, I dropped him off in diapers and when I picked him up, he was in underwear! Yeah, it was some other kids underwear, but I tried not to focus on that in the moment. They simply told him they ran out of diapers in his size so he would have to wear underwear. He said okay and voila, Ryan was potty trained (minus a few accidents here and there). We learn a lot from preschool and kindergarten - tools for the rest of our life! I didn't realize that preschool teachings would work on me, but alas, they did. At least so far. I just wish I was three years old and not able to buy diet coke on my own : ) </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Tea</b> </span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I needed to replace the caffeine ladened diet coke with something. My answer was tea. I've never been a coffee drinker and I care not to start, so tea it would be. I have enjoyed some tea in the past, but I'm rather partial to cold drinks. When that hankering comes, I may have to try iced tea. For now, I'm drinking what we have in the house, which is quite a wide variety of teas. Why? Because I've tried this tactic before. I've read about the health benefits of tea, so of course I tried to be a regular consumer. Whose to say it won't work this time?! I don't believe I've ever made this much of a conscious effort to not buy diet coke, so hopefully I'll have several more tea drinking days ahead of me. I'm really enjoying <a href="http://www.stashtea.com/products/Chai+Green+Tea.aspx">STASH Chai Green Tea</a> right now. It has such a clean taste and flavorful aroma. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuxdu1TbHVuhpTf7iwTcUKNXfEeXN6pzCzdDUZzmRn2STQbB1eOJUGlmKOBo0xlEwOS1jpuQyr6nQPis-tSeFlz4d1eaFQvNSfYcrlzqs8CxGgfFDutHHzCK97oeIWsE3_aHFN9JA5mc/s400/green-tea-ice-cream-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuxdu1TbHVuhpTf7iwTcUKNXfEeXN6pzCzdDUZzmRn2STQbB1eOJUGlmKOBo0xlEwOS1jpuQyr6nQPis-tSeFlz4d1eaFQvNSfYcrlzqs8CxGgfFDutHHzCK97oeIWsE3_aHFN9JA5mc/s320/green-tea-ice-cream-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">Of course I have mention a bit about foods made with green tea. Green tea ice cream is fairly common, but I've never been much of a fan. With my renewed appreciation for green tea, I will make a point to try some again. </span>But what about KitKat made with Green Tea? Only in Japan, I'm afraid. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mikesblender.com/kit%20kat%20green%20tea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.mikesblender.com/kit%20kat%20green%20tea.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This cake is just too beautiful not to share. Some people might not like the idea of eating green cake, but the shade of green is so impressive and without any food coloring! I've never purchased <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matcha">matcha</a> (the green tea powder responsible for this), but I'm on a mission to find it. Henry's or WholeFoods maybe? I bet if Kermit tried this cake, he may find it easier bein' green. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.greenteatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/green-tea-cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://www.greenteatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/green-tea-cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.japanprobe.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/green-tea-coke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.japanprobe.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/green-tea-coke.jpg" width="128" /></a></div><br />
Let's just hope they don't start marketing this in the US or I might give in to temptation (yes, it's no calorie coke with green tea flavor). I know there are a lot of tea connoisseurs out there, so please share with me your favorite teas! I need to keep this new found healthy habit going. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The topic this week for <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/Eat-Live-Be-For-a-Better-2011/139076222815807">Eat. Live. Be.</a> is "What is your favorite healthy change?". It's a change I'm going to make right now. I'm sure you all noticed my big fat zero for exercise this week. It has to change. I actually enjoy exercising, but just don't make the time for it. Starting today, I'm scheduling exercise into my weekly calendar, just as I would any other meeting. Working from home, I never take a true lunch break, so this will be my break - a one hour time slot for exercise. Let's see if next week's exercise count goes up! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrWr9uQnm1LbCLXJjuXw-acT9iFpKx-xUjyDtQbe1homzmMHoLHygwiH8WXm3NHMBRO2AOrIjkieiG_T4woi_3Rrhsprd2GvieotQ6Pj3pOC0WdptX-1wBudRzaik5mexpNXDZ1dpHp82/s1600/Eat.Be.Live.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrWr9uQnm1LbCLXJjuXw-acT9iFpKx-xUjyDtQbe1homzmMHoLHygwiH8WXm3NHMBRO2AOrIjkieiG_T4woi_3Rrhsprd2GvieotQ6Pj3pOC0WdptX-1wBudRzaik5mexpNXDZ1dpHp82/s1600/Eat.Be.Live.jpg" /></a></div>Please join me and the other ELB bloggers on the journey to better health!<br />
<br />
Sarah at <a href="http://www.sarahscucinabella.com/">Cucina Bella</a><br />
Cate at <a href="http://www.sweetnicks.com/">Sweetnicks</a><br />
Maris at <a href="http://www.ingoodtasteblog.net/">In Good Taste</a><br />
Chris at <a href="http://www.melecotte.com/">Mele Cotte</a><br />
Faith at <a href="http://www.clickblogappetit.com/">Bon Appetit</a><br />
Kristen at <a href="http://www.dineanddish.net/">Dine and Dish</a><br />
Emily at <a href="http://andersonfamilycrew.blogspot.com/">The Anderson Crew</a><br />
Joanne at <a href="http://www.joanne-eatswellwithothers.com/">Eats Well With Others</a><br />
Casey at <a href="http://www.thestarnesfam.com/">The Starnes Family</a><br />
Patsy at <a href="http://www.friendsfamilyandfood.blogspot.com/">Friends, Family and Food</a><br />
Tri-Fit Mom at <a href="http://trifitmom.blogspot.com/">Tri-Fit Mom</a><br />
Claire at <a href="http://cookiedoc.blogspot.com/">Cooking is Medicine</a><br />
Allison at <a href="http://sweetflours.blogspot.com/">Sweet Flours</a><br />
Jen at <a href="http://njepicurean.blogspot.com/">NJ Epicurean</a><br />
Jenna at <a href="http://stopdropandblog.com/">Stop, Drop, and Blog</a> <br />
Rivki at <a href="http://www.healthyeatingforordinarypeople.com/">Healthy Eating for Ordinary People</a><br />
Sarah at <a href="http://sarahssweetcreations.blogspot.com/">Sarah’s Sweet Creations</a><br />
Denise and Lenny at <a href="http://www.chezus.com/">Chez Us</a>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-74169877321799495982011-01-24T10:50:00.000-08:002011-01-24T10:50:41.387-08:00The Monday Morsel - Garlic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAVsmU5i3cqGaknLq_qjf8RKkGYRMxeWAPCK3YBg8uFchZbFLnAFB0tUwBh6p9nXzcZX7eN0dzGZl2T2JWnmKlXC9zsS_3TeyZPz8IXzC0VyPUQn82GerynT-XfA8XJR2GpY361Zjmq9w/s1600/2010-06-05+13.33.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAVsmU5i3cqGaknLq_qjf8RKkGYRMxeWAPCK3YBg8uFchZbFLnAFB0tUwBh6p9nXzcZX7eN0dzGZl2T2JWnmKlXC9zsS_3TeyZPz8IXzC0VyPUQn82GerynT-XfA8XJR2GpY361Zjmq9w/s400/2010-06-05+13.33.30.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Weekly Monday Report:<br />
<br />
Pounds Lost = 0 (ouch)<br />
Total pounds lost = 3<br />
# of Diet Cokes Consumed = 8<br />
# of Times Exercised = 3<br />
<br />
Number-wise, not too impressive, I guess. Funny thing is, I actually feel in better shape this week, but the pounds lost sure don't show it. I'm sure yesterday morning's breakfast of <a href="http://thecookingguy.com/cookbook/recipe.php?id=601">Sam The Cooking Guy's Pizza Eggs</a> topped with <a href="http://www.hormelfoods.com/brands/worldFood/bufalo.aspx">Bufalo Chipotle hot sauce</a> didn't help either. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNxVj8Dzv1eGgAP3oIqTNGncXq9L6zjm3v4lTQy8h0N3lVpzwLMJvbXVWFXEyGwk95PmSHo6wtUEb4H_iA3q3EsxIPsIMEZR75b0OGDlG_Sp8THF3-AasQClqoqIftwAcyHqpGasPN8s_/s1600/25+830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNxVj8Dzv1eGgAP3oIqTNGncXq9L6zjm3v4lTQy8h0N3lVpzwLMJvbXVWFXEyGwk95PmSHo6wtUEb4H_iA3q3EsxIPsIMEZR75b0OGDlG_Sp8THF3-AasQClqoqIftwAcyHqpGasPN8s_/s320/25+830.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I did a few exercise videos (streamed from Netflix - love that capability!) that worked some muscle groups I forgot I had. "<a href="http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Crunch_Super_SlimDown/70044451?trkid=496624#height1154">Crunch: Super SlimDown</a>", "<a href="http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Crunch_Fat_Burning_Dance_Party/70003946?trkid=496624#height1419">Crunch: Fat Burning Dance Party</a>", and "<a href="http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Crunch_Candlelight_Yoga/70025006?trkid=496624#height1576">Crunch: Candlelight Yoga</a>". Mind you, I had never done yoga or Pilates before (I know, I'm probably the only 38 year old woman in La Jolla who's never done either) and from this, I've concluded the following:<br />
<ol><li>Yoga and Pilates seem like good ol' stretching exercises - totally beneficial, but can't they just call it stretching?</li>
<li>I love to dance (well, I knew this before) and the Fat Burning Dance Party video was my favorite.</li>
<li>I need to do more, most likely live and in-person, yoga and Pilates classes to understand and appreciate the full experience. </li>
</ol>Back in college, my roommate and I used to turn down the lights, burn candles, and do our own stretches while listening to <a href="http://www.yanni.com/">Yanni</a>. Did I really just admit that? That's what yoga reminds me of, but I actually enjoyed those late night college sessions more than the Candlelight Yoga video. Next up to try...power yoga or weight loss Pilates. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrWr9uQnm1LbCLXJjuXw-acT9iFpKx-xUjyDtQbe1homzmMHoLHygwiH8WXm3NHMBRO2AOrIjkieiG_T4woi_3Rrhsprd2GvieotQ6Pj3pOC0WdptX-1wBudRzaik5mexpNXDZ1dpHp82/s1600/Eat.Be.Live.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrWr9uQnm1LbCLXJjuXw-acT9iFpKx-xUjyDtQbe1homzmMHoLHygwiH8WXm3NHMBRO2AOrIjkieiG_T4woi_3Rrhsprd2GvieotQ6Pj3pOC0WdptX-1wBudRzaik5mexpNXDZ1dpHp82/s1600/Eat.Be.Live.jpg" /></a></div>The topic this week for <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/Eat-Live-Be-For-a-Better-2011/139076222815807">Eat. Live. Be.</a> is "What is your biggest challenge?" Oh, where to start...I have a few, but I really put some thought into this and honed in on my biggest - <b>Portion Control</b>. I eat healthy. I eat a variety of foods. I eat fruits and vegetables. I don't routinely eat processed or fried foods. I'm not addicted to sweets. I cook most meals. If I could only get this last aspect, portion control, in check, I would be much better off and several pounds lighter. So my dieting technique takes this into account. Some may say this isn't the best way to go, but it works for me. I eat a light breakfast and lunch and save most of my calories for the evening since that is when I want to enjoy my food, the company, and the whole dining experience.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Garlic</span></b></div>Probably one of nature's most beneficial foods and I can't say enough about how much I love <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garlic">garlic</a>. Mark can tell from my breath and others by how much I cook with it! Whenever a recipe calls for garlic cloves, I pretty much double the amount. Most people already know the health benefits of this well-known member of the onion family, so instead, I want to share with you a few things you may not know about.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8crB-6iYC_LAeKSMb8M5w4lzSrBeq4-TbwBkrN2aCvLnuXPFzf0oeC0nvBpxoUydy-49JKU9T9OzS5RWw6Pl6bAm2NOI4Fgk5CBtkVAfUJyvqheOx65ulZYg17LJ_1LdO-W4K-06E3VI/s1600/2010-06-05+13.36.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8crB-6iYC_LAeKSMb8M5w4lzSrBeq4-TbwBkrN2aCvLnuXPFzf0oeC0nvBpxoUydy-49JKU9T9OzS5RWw6Pl6bAm2NOI4Fgk5CBtkVAfUJyvqheOx65ulZYg17LJ_1LdO-W4K-06E3VI/s200/2010-06-05+13.36.21.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Scapes</b>. The immature flower stalks of the garlic plant. Scapes are normally in season around the summer months and can be a bit hard to find. I've never seen them at a grocery store, but they may just pop up in a farmer's market in June. Last year was the first time I tried them and I am hooked! Let alone their beautiful gracefulness as they curl into themselves, their flavor is amazing. I simply tossed them in olive oil and laid them on the bbq. Sprinkled with a little salt, they were divine. The <a href="http://www.veganappetite.com/2009/06/garlic-scape-season.html">Vegan Appetite</a> blog has some great recipes for incorporating garlic scapes into everyday foods. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://thelovingspoonful.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/garlicfest_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://thelovingspoonful.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/garlicfest_logo.jpg" width="151" /></a><b>Gilroy Garlic Festival</b>! For all of those in California, you most likely have heard of, if not been to the annual <a href="http://www.gilroygarlicfestival.com/index.html">Gilroy Garlic Festival</a>. Gilroy, CA is fondly known as "The Garlic Capitol of the World". Unfortunately, I've never been to the festival, but I'm going to make it a point to go this year. Garlic ice cream...I'm so there. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.majesticgarlic.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://www.majesticgarlic.com/images/logo.gif" /></a></div>Lastly, I want to share with you a delicious find - <a href="https://www.majesticgarlic.com/index.php">Majestic Garlic Creamy Garlic Paste</a>. This spread is made of pure garlic, perfectly creamed with safflower oil, flax seed oil, lemon juice, and sea salt. The result is an amazing, versatile, and healthy condiment. They have many flavors, all of which I've tried at the <a href="http://www.lajollamarket.com/">La Jolla Open Aire Market</a>, but I always get the original, plain flavor. It is pure garlic perfection and I want to enjoy it as such. Their website lists a few recipes to try as well as serving tips. I enjoy it routinely as a dip for broccoli and cauliflower, and also spread on a piece of whole wheat toast. Last night, however, I went with one of their suggestions and tried it on a baked potato (that was all I had for dinner due to my Pizza Eggs splurge earlier in the day). In my pursuit to be healthier, I've tried several different baked potato toppings attempting to move away from my much loved butter and chives, only to be severely disappointed. I can now say, that I've successfully found my replacement! I'm so excited since I hardly ever eat baked potatoes anymore since I know I can't control myself from dousing it in butter, but now things can change. A healthy change for the better.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PS175PMOqSG5MTKO0FwJanhLY-t5ZP0YJbevnntExuvdiz0nYr78u81CDrtSqAvxurlXyOkjXBItm0g8uSpUxCK8QVM3H3fiyQvr9R9JbHm3TGkygNiHY4-IAkGz3L3QRmeKp31yzpj3/s1600/25+834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PS175PMOqSG5MTKO0FwJanhLY-t5ZP0YJbevnntExuvdiz0nYr78u81CDrtSqAvxurlXyOkjXBItm0g8uSpUxCK8QVM3H3fiyQvr9R9JbHm3TGkygNiHY4-IAkGz3L3QRmeKp31yzpj3/s320/25+834.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>Do you have any amazing garlic finds? Please do share since I need to feed this healthy addiction! Next week's topic is "What is your favorite healthy change". Please join me and the other ELB bloggers on the journey to better health!<br />
<br />
Sarah at <a href="http://www.sarahscucinabella.com/">Cucina Bella</a><br />
Cate at <a href="http://www.sweetnicks.com/">Sweetnicks</a><br />
Maris at <a href="http://www.ingoodtasteblog.net/">In Good Taste</a><br />
Chris at <a href="http://www.melecotte.com/">Mele Cotte</a><br />
Faith at <a href="http://www.clickblogappetit.com/">Bon Appetit</a><br />
Kristen at <a href="http://www.dineanddish.net/">Dine and Dish</a><br />
Emily at <a href="http://andersonfamilycrew.blogspot.com/">The Anderson Crew</a><br />
Joanne at <a href="http://www.joanne-eatswellwithothers.com/">Eats Well With Others</a><br />
Casey at <a href="http://www.thestarnesfam.com/">The Starnes Family</a><br />
Patsy at <a href="http://www.friendsfamilyandfood.blogspot.com/">Friends, Family and Food</a><br />
Tri-Fit Mom at <a href="http://trifitmom.blogspot.com/">Tri-Fit Mom</a><br />
Claire at <a href="http://cookiedoc.blogspot.com/">Cooking is Medicine</a><br />
Allison at <a href="http://sweetflours.blogspot.com/">Sweet Flours</a><br />
Jen at <a href="http://njepicurean.blogspot.com/">NJ Epicurean</a><br />
Jenna at <a href="http://stopdropandblog.com/">Stop, Drop, and Blog</a> <br />
Rivki at <a href="http://www.healthyeatingforordinarypeople.com/">Healthy Eating for Ordinary People</a><br />
Sarah at <a href="http://sarahssweetcreations.blogspot.com/">Sarah’s Sweet Creations</a><br />
Denise and Lenny at <a href="http://www.chezus.com/">Chez Us</a>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-72691009066735317792011-01-17T10:21:00.000-08:002011-01-17T10:21:42.844-08:00The Monday Morsel - Massaged Kale Salad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupZtN5ZoHz7o8JXViG6YpDRaUAOeVgeOR-71yXS5dQftttEOwqUnwvXunGszKiFvQbKVOV09Z2AIuKtSnCKAYSybOMkMdFvUC6c-j8GTDCNAzTsCA9Mlshj766h8lPKiRg9qQV7LQ38uC/s1600/25+539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupZtN5ZoHz7o8JXViG6YpDRaUAOeVgeOR-71yXS5dQftttEOwqUnwvXunGszKiFvQbKVOV09Z2AIuKtSnCKAYSybOMkMdFvUC6c-j8GTDCNAzTsCA9Mlshj766h8lPKiRg9qQV7LQ38uC/s400/25+539.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Weekly Monday Report:<br />
<br />
Pounds Lost = 3<br />
<br />
# of Diet Cokes Consumed = 11<br />
<br />
# of Times Exercised = 2 (1 Zumba, 1 walk)<br />
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Pounds lost is exciting; diet cokes and exercise, not so much. I had previously commented that my brain and life can only handle 3 goals at this time, but maybe I need to adjust that to 1! If I can flip the exercise and diet coke numbers, I would be in great shape, but that's probably a bit unrealistic. Baby steps. I was a bit bummed about the pounds lost this morning, since throughout the week, I had actually lost more than 3 pounds, but obviously one's weight fluctuates on a day to day basis. Must keep motivation high, so I've decided to be proud of the 3 pounds I lost and move forward! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrWr9uQnm1LbCLXJjuXw-acT9iFpKx-xUjyDtQbe1homzmMHoLHygwiH8WXm3NHMBRO2AOrIjkieiG_T4woi_3Rrhsprd2GvieotQ6Pj3pOC0WdptX-1wBudRzaik5mexpNXDZ1dpHp82/s1600/Eat.Be.Live.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrWr9uQnm1LbCLXJjuXw-acT9iFpKx-xUjyDtQbe1homzmMHoLHygwiH8WXm3NHMBRO2AOrIjkieiG_T4woi_3Rrhsprd2GvieotQ6Pj3pOC0WdptX-1wBudRzaik5mexpNXDZ1dpHp82/s1600/Eat.Be.Live.jpg" /></a></div>Our topic this week for <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/Eat-Live-Be-For-a-Better-2011/139076222815807">Eat. Live. Be.</a> is "Baby, It's Cold Outside". Well, not really in San Diego. Yesterday, my husband and I enjoyed a beautifully warm walk to our local farmers market at a glorious 75 degrees. Before you get upset, I'll just say that we don't have that every day in January and I'm sure sometime soon it will drop back down to the 60's.<br />
<br />
Fighting off the winter blues is hard at times, even in San Diego. I like to conquer the doldrums with a bright, refreshing salad, complete with fruit and citrus notes. <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/aarti-sequeira/index.html">Aarti Sequeira</a> from <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/aarti-party/index.html">Aarti Party</a> on the Food Network has an amazing kale salad recipe, <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/aarti-sequeira/massaged-kale-salad-recipe/index.html">Massaged Kale Salad</a>. I'm not a big fan of the show, but her recipes are unique and flavorful.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdWB79f62sWsGX-t3iPc-TGqPCtYL3XCUaCgzSMi321Dl_dGLWUfCXrME7hZXNwNBXhfY4k4ErACn_I5VBpt7pu6_zWyIwl4fOsQixnPPIZfRut57Mzb7LmaOyNK7PSFZkOchzJ5OhuVX/s1600/25+541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdWB79f62sWsGX-t3iPc-TGqPCtYL3XCUaCgzSMi321Dl_dGLWUfCXrME7hZXNwNBXhfY4k4ErACn_I5VBpt7pu6_zWyIwl4fOsQixnPPIZfRut57Mzb7LmaOyNK7PSFZkOchzJ5OhuVX/s320/25+541.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I've never liked kale. My iguana (from years past) would eat kale, but after him, my kale purchasing ceased. That is, until this salad. It's called <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/aarti-sequeira/massaged-kale-salad-recipe/index.html">Massaged Kale Salad</a> because after drizzling the kale with a bit of olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and salt, you massage the kale with your hand until it wilts slightly. There are only two other components to the salad - mangoes and pepitas (pumpkin seeds). The minimal ingredients allow them all to be shining stars in this salad. The simple dressing is a perfect complement of lemon juice, honey, freshly ground pepper, and oil. If the fruit and citrus flavors bursting in your mouth doesn't remind you of warm weather, then just move to San Diego :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoH96ajVZo-Iygb5HjjFMUJZhHQxdi-SeZLFL2IajRe_ucDp835IzWB8ucQ4iAaAkfPuSE0UJWwvFm4GBoB4BRGQN4Fnmjzuqa9kaE2b4lQchfHVBUKx6qwKa3bJzRaveP9NkGkEewy0y/s1600/25+543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoH96ajVZo-Iygb5HjjFMUJZhHQxdi-SeZLFL2IajRe_ucDp835IzWB8ucQ4iAaAkfPuSE0UJWwvFm4GBoB4BRGQN4Fnmjzuqa9kaE2b4lQchfHVBUKx6qwKa3bJzRaveP9NkGkEewy0y/s400/25+543.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Next week's topic is "What is your biggest challenge?" where I'll be sharing one of my biggest challenges and how to tackle it. Please join me and the other ELB bloggers on the journey to better health!<br />
<br />
Sarah at <a href="http://www.sarahscucinabella.com/">Cucina Bella</a><br />
Cate at <a href="http://www.sweetnicks.com/">Sweetnicks</a><br />
Maris at <a href="http://www.ingoodtasteblog.net/">In Good Taste</a><br />
Chris at <a href="http://www.melecotte.com/">Mele Cotte</a><br />
Faith at <a href="http://www.clickblogappetit.com/">Bon Appetit</a><br />
Kristen at <a href="http://www.dineanddish.net/">Dine and Dish</a><br />
Emily at <a href="http://andersonfamilycrew.blogspot.com/">The Anderson Crew</a><br />
Joanne at <a href="http://www.joanne-eatswellwithothers.com/">Eats Well With Others</a><br />
Casey at <a href="http://www.thestarnesfam.com/">The Starnes Family</a><br />
Patsy at <a href="http://www.friendsfamilyandfood.blogspot.com/">Friends, Family and Food</a><br />
Tri-Fit Mom at <a href="http://trifitmom.blogspot.com/">Tri-Fit Mom</a><br />
Claire at <a href="http://cookiedoc.blogspot.com/">Cooking is Medicine</a><br />
Allison at <a href="http://sweetflours.blogspot.com/">Sweet Flours</a><br />
Jen at <a href="http://njepicurean.blogspot.com/">NJ Epicurean</a><br />
Jenna at <a href="http://stopdropandblog.com/">Stop, Drop, and Blog</a> <br />
Rivki at <a href="http://www.healthyeatingforordinarypeople.com/">Healthy Eating for Ordinary People</a><br />
Sarah at <a href="http://sarahssweetcreations.blogspot.com/">Sarah’s Sweet Creations</a><br />
Denise and Lenny at <a href="http://www.chezus.com/">Chez Us</a>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-36597867940593112732011-01-10T20:54:00.000-08:002011-01-16T17:07:49.698-08:00The Monday Morsel - Eat. Live. Be.<span style="font-size: small;">Goal - Lose 30lbs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">There, I said it. My hope is that putting it out there for the world to see will help me hold myself accountable for what I want to accomplish. I also have a support group - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/Eat-Live-Be-For-a-Better-2011/139076222815807">Eat. Live. Be</a>. Through Kristen's <a href="http://dineanddish.net/">Dine & Dish blog</a>, I stumbled upon <a href="http://sarahscucinabella.com/">Sarah</a> and <a href="http://sweetnicks.com/weblog/">Cate</a> who started a 2011 Challenge called Eat. Live. Be. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrWr9uQnm1LbCLXJjuXw-acT9iFpKx-xUjyDtQbe1homzmMHoLHygwiH8WXm3NHMBRO2AOrIjkieiG_T4woi_3Rrhsprd2GvieotQ6Pj3pOC0WdptX-1wBudRzaik5mexpNXDZ1dpHp82/s1600/Eat.Be.Live.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrWr9uQnm1LbCLXJjuXw-acT9iFpKx-xUjyDtQbe1homzmMHoLHygwiH8WXm3NHMBRO2AOrIjkieiG_T4woi_3Rrhsprd2GvieotQ6Pj3pOC0WdptX-1wBudRzaik5mexpNXDZ1dpHp82/s200/Eat.Be.Live.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">I am now part of a group of bloggers who are striving for a healthier 2011. Every Monday, we will be blogging about our progress as well as discussing a topic for the week. In addition, I'll be sharing a healthy tip, food product, and possible recipe to go along with it - The Monday Morsel. My philosophy with loosing weight is all about moderation instead of cutting items out of your diet, so in case you are wondering, my blog won't be turning into a health food blog :) Heck, I'm the mayor of the La Jolla Jack in the Box on <a href="http://foursquare.com/">foursquare</a> right now which I can't believe I just admitted. I've honestly only checked in there 3 or 4 times and it was to use up my 2 free taco coupons that I got from the Padres games before they expired. Someone please take this mayorship away from me!</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I missed last weeks post, so I need to start with outlining my goals. I've stuck to three since I think that's all my brain and life can handle at the moment. The first one you know already:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. Lose 30 lbs. Will that get me to where I want to be? I'm honestly not sure since I haven't been that low in a long time, so I'm taking baby steps. </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">2. Reduce the number of diet coke's consumed. It's a bad addiction and one that I've had for way too long. It all started with Tab when I was young. This Tab commercial didn't help either since I desperately wanted her body.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DJL4yQn_7qQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DJL4yQn_7qQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Yes, I know, bad self image for young girls, but that's a whole other topic. I moved on from Tab to the much healthier (ha!) Diet Coke. I love it. It's like a treat to me, so I'm not sure I can eliminate totally, but reduction is my goal. I've read that 1 diet soda a day is okay, but more than that can harm your kidneys. I just need to stop doing this:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://www.nataliedee.com/072008/a-gallon-of-diet-coke-straight-to-the-dome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://www.nataliedee.com/072008/a-gallon-of-diet-coke-straight-to-the-dome.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Comic courtesy of <a href="http://www.nataliedee.com/">Nataliddee</a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">3. Exercise more - Zumba Fitness for Wii! I'm really excited about this, but mind you, I haven't even tried it yet. We just got a Wii from Santa this year and I'm really hoping it can help me meet my exercise goal. Trying to get Just Dance 2 as well. Thinking about Wii Fit - anyone have experience with these? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">As the group of bloggers with Eat. Live. Be., we're supposed to post our progress the last Monday of the month. I'm going to give you my progress each week - pounds lost (or the reverse, which I don't even want to mention, so let's pretend I didn't), # of diet cokes consumed, # of times I Zumba'd (just made up a new word). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">This week's discussion topic is Where is Your Support Community? My answer = You. Yes, I have my family and they are a great support, but I'll have to admit, it's grown a bit stale. They're used to my weight yo-yoing so I can't blame them. Through this endeavor, I feel like I've made a new commitment and I have all of you as my support. I've also just recently heard about <a href="http://sparkpeople.com/">SparkPeople</a>, a free website to log in your progress and share in a community of like minded people shooting for healthier lifestyles. So where is your support community?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I hope you join me every week on The Monday Morsel! Next week's topic is Baby, It's Cold Outside where my fellow bloggers and I will share how to be inspired during these cold winter months (soup recipes, indoor workout tips, etc). I'm motivated to share my progress with you and welcome you to join me and the other bloggers on our journey. Speaking of the other bloggers, please check out their posts as well And finally, be sure to check out Eat. Live. Be. For a Better 2011 <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/Eat-Live-Be-For-a-Better-2011/139076222815807" target="_blank">on Facebook</a>:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Sarah at <a href="http://www.sarahscucinabella.com/">Cucina Bella</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Cate at <a href="http://sweetnicks.com/weblog/">Sweetnicks</a></span> <br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Maris at <a href="http://www.ingoodtasteblog.net/">In Good Taste</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Chris at <a href="http://www.melecotte.com/">Mele Cotte</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Faith at <a href="http://www.clickblogappetit.com/">Bon Appetit</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Kristen at <a href="http://www.dineanddish.net/">Dine and Dish</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Emily at <a href="http://andersonfamilycrew.blogspot.com/">The Anderson Crew</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Joanne at <a href="http://www.joanne-eatswellwithothers.com/">Eats Well With Others</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Casey at <a href="http://www.thestarnesfam.com/">The Starnes Family</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Patsy at <a href="http://www.friendsfamilyandfood.blogspot.com/">Friends, Family and Food</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Tri-Fit Mom at <a href="http://trifitmom.blogspot.com/">Tri-Fit Mom</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Claire at <a href="http://cookiedoc.blogspot.com/">Cooking is Medicine</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Allison at <a href="http://sweetflours.blogspot.com/">Sweet Flours</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Jen at <a href="http://njepicurean.blogspot.com/">NJ Epicurean</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-15992544592148213132010-12-25T09:42:00.000-08:002010-12-25T09:42:53.278-08:00Happy Holidays!Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season and health and happiness in the new year! <br />
<br />
<br />
<table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://smilebox.com/play/4d6a45324e6a55774d6a493d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_playback_link" target="_blank"><img alt="Click to play this Smilebox photo album" height="303" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d6a45324e6a55774d6a493d0d0a.jpg" style="border: medium none;" width="386" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><a href="http://www.smilebox.com/?partner=hallmark&campaign=blog_snapshot" target="_blank"><img alt="Create your own photo album - Powered by Smilebox" height="46" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" style="border: medium none;" width="386" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td align="center">Personalize your own photo album</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-88078853148755610212010-12-06T09:21:00.000-08:002010-12-18T18:26:13.550-08:00Roasted Cauliflower and Leek Soup<span style="font-size: small;">Well, it's been awhile, but for good reason. I was a tad busy due to the wonderful fact that Mark and I were married on Sunday, Nov 21st! I'm working on a post about the celebration which included craft beer, delectable food (beer and cheese pairings, among other things), but in the meantime, I want to share this heart-warming soup. A pleasant diversion from the more traditional potato and leek soup, I opted for cauliflower, instead of the traditional spud.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjvfhON0OghLz2Ln1UymA8Uyo3zKj3fFCcCNZOfmlsbABxxIsjFcp53I0OEVMBnsIO5Q6fosJssSaiX4r7_7VT8Kuglfjrafyfr5qrX2tWJ5n_cOJEVGHwl1ljebKczlX-PEHu3rXgWC-/s1600/Picture+1033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjvfhON0OghLz2Ln1UymA8Uyo3zKj3fFCcCNZOfmlsbABxxIsjFcp53I0OEVMBnsIO5Q6fosJssSaiX4r7_7VT8Kuglfjrafyfr5qrX2tWJ5n_cOJEVGHwl1ljebKczlX-PEHu3rXgWC-/s400/Picture+1033.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">To bring out the nuttiness in the cauliflower, I roasted it first with shallots. Then I sauteed the leeks in butter and olive oil, adding the cauliflower/shallot mixture once the leeks were softened. The uniqueness of this soup comes from the spice - garam masala. This spice is typically used in Indian cuisine and is a combination of several pungent spices mixed together. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zdht3Gdvlq1CEkiCpXXyDPF-NEBBayy-fjjmGzY1GyBu7EajZcoNwGvjVHaG1bp2Yu1o1wxQ08mTPmF9rPZYQW5UI7MZjdUhXJIpcgmsKqNy5IDFdOrqUj-AFyoG69CRe7NucKbhFivM/s1600/25+640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zdht3Gdvlq1CEkiCpXXyDPF-NEBBayy-fjjmGzY1GyBu7EajZcoNwGvjVHaG1bp2Yu1o1wxQ08mTPmF9rPZYQW5UI7MZjdUhXJIpcgmsKqNy5IDFdOrqUj-AFyoG69CRe7NucKbhFivM/s320/25+640.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">After cooking in chicken broth for a bit, you can puree the soup to your liking. Sometimes I go smoother, and other times I leave some chunks. Leave the preference up to your palate and enjoy. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUTK9_5jItMYUB2wfuZ-b_rrf9ZNRqX2LMn3v2fsTUMxC4Gq-jNSytVx7hEgaOba0yB64iYEOwkPaNAsHcM7X9deNaSQ50v1J_JSniXpEKuwNeUe42QZdbmHAsfxp2NrOVa_X2q9lUvkl/s1600/25+792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUTK9_5jItMYUB2wfuZ-b_rrf9ZNRqX2LMn3v2fsTUMxC4Gq-jNSytVx7hEgaOba0yB64iYEOwkPaNAsHcM7X9deNaSQ50v1J_JSniXpEKuwNeUe42QZdbmHAsfxp2NrOVa_X2q9lUvkl/s320/25+792.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Roasted Cauliflower and Leek Soup</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1 large head of cauliflower, chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1 shallot, sliced </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Cooking spray </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">2 TBL olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">3 TBL butter</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">2 leeks, cut into 1 inch pieces</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">4 cloves garlic, finely chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1/4 tsp garam masala</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1/4 tsp ground pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">6 cups chicken broth</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">salt to taste</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Preheat over to 500*. Place chopped cauliflower and sliced shallots on a cookie sheet and coat with cooking spray. Roast for 15-20 min or until lightly browned, tossing the mixture at least once while roasting. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil and butter in a dutch oven over medium heat. Add leeks and saute for about 10 minutes, or until they soften. To the leeks, add the cauliflower mixture and the chopped garlic. Saute for another 5 minutes and then add the garam masala and pepper. Stir in the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Remove soup from heat and blend soup with an immersion blender or hand mixer until it reaches the desired smoothness. Season with salt and pepper as needed. </span>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-64985183746266798472010-10-30T10:23:00.000-07:002010-10-30T10:23:25.953-07:00Halloween Treats!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTho2GXLSWT-RI82OiqcaYrtcaHmZ_vyxBGNaaukwEBq5wl0BgmKJq641y8Nq3kZjatRIpe6H1heHfDdEQ5mYxBg2NgRNTZJnse7nM3dZrjGBmdAYmj7yess9kjCIYj77hRM-dH2aQKT4/s1600/Picture+082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTho2GXLSWT-RI82OiqcaYrtcaHmZ_vyxBGNaaukwEBq5wl0BgmKJq641y8Nq3kZjatRIpe6H1heHfDdEQ5mYxBg2NgRNTZJnse7nM3dZrjGBmdAYmj7yess9kjCIYj77hRM-dH2aQKT4/s400/Picture+082.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;">When my 7 year old proclaims..."I don't want to go trick-or-treating this year. I've done it my whole life."...what's a mom who <i>loves</i> Halloween to do? Have a Halloween party instead! The house is decked out with black webbing, white & black pumpkins, and glittery purple accents (I was stuck on a black/purple theme this year), complete with black lights that flank the inside of our porch. And of course, there is the food. It's amazing what people can come up with to make food look spooky and gross! Witches fingers, tombstone sandwiches, calzones made to look like witch hats. Some of the most fun items are the desserts. These <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Spooky-Halloween-Eyeballs/Detail.aspx">Spooky Halloween Eyeballs</a> are quite labor intensive, but so worth it. They taste like peanut butter cups and you can make your monster eyeballs look however you want. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLeF7e9I9sIfNG0OqAJFEHOPhEL9DpK8BzSNlvJQzuGOaUI2a4NMGJijZs4LLDVHWqeqbbvu6kQ-NC3zFwzdYVKKtTkekfhmEhLbIIiU8J00y0fI0WWeEIJ7I7Gnddwp46OHps_BBFsAT/s1600/25+652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLeF7e9I9sIfNG0OqAJFEHOPhEL9DpK8BzSNlvJQzuGOaUI2a4NMGJijZs4LLDVHWqeqbbvu6kQ-NC3zFwzdYVKKtTkekfhmEhLbIIiU8J00y0fI0WWeEIJ7I7Gnddwp46OHps_BBFsAT/s400/25+652.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">We also made <a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000001830671&iid=news-di-101910&PromKey=XET">Chocolate Spiderweb Treats</a>. The base is essentially a rice krispie treat made with cocoa krispies instead. They are topped with melted milk chocolate and then drizzled with circles of white chocolate. To give them a cobweb effect, use a toothpick to pull through the white chocolate. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUi0e-d-PPgMKMotlACEfy2JJwcrYqiYIhUo2ft_osjxLp7VGFy8yogUuqlJ9AIBBQmQF2kFDuu-rhrHrCZg1KTMrwBdph7AWmT1fuBp_Yt5QSNxLpVcqhYE0TCCkTElZ5UJ84HtyM1Bfj/s1600/25+655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUi0e-d-PPgMKMotlACEfy2JJwcrYqiYIhUo2ft_osjxLp7VGFy8yogUuqlJ9AIBBQmQF2kFDuu-rhrHrCZg1KTMrwBdph7AWmT1fuBp_Yt5QSNxLpVcqhYE0TCCkTElZ5UJ84HtyM1Bfj/s400/25+655.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">Lastly, there are the <a href="http://halloween.betterrecipes.com/cinna-mummy-wrapple-pops.html">Cinna-Mummy Wrapple Pops</a>. A slice of green apple, mummy-wrapped with strips of pie crust that have been tossed in cinnamon and sugar. They literally taste like little pieces of apple pie in your mouth. Using raisins for eyes, this is definitely one of the more healthier Halloween treats out there, and delicious too. </span><br />
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Much more cooking to do, but I wanted to share these ghoulish delights! Happy Halloween!</span>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-75498802171150056602010-10-16T10:06:00.000-07:002010-10-16T10:06:55.452-07:00Pear and Almond Crostata<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAj1uEAkwBeSSr2CClTct6aScohjWM85UJDkDVTuKg8QfAThyphenhyphenucWZA-NwbZRk2XlWZxW2jmmJxbxCM3eRSeNNrHFpRLSCGy6AA1RfxZ5vXBWzKahfOS_RgRhlzX9iU37job0Jwg3eSbKgN/s1600/Picture+449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAj1uEAkwBeSSr2CClTct6aScohjWM85UJDkDVTuKg8QfAThyphenhyphenucWZA-NwbZRk2XlWZxW2jmmJxbxCM3eRSeNNrHFpRLSCGy6AA1RfxZ5vXBWzKahfOS_RgRhlzX9iU37job0Jwg3eSbKgN/s400/Picture+449.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/what-would-brian-boitano-make/index.html">What Would Brian Boitano Make</a>? To be brutally honest, I didn't really care until I tried his <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/brian-boitano/pear-and-almond-crostata-recipe/index.html">Pear and Almond Crostata</a>. I remember Brian Boitano the Olympic ice skater, the role model for the kids from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Would_Brian_Boitano_Do%3F">South Park</a>, but the chef? I'm a convert. I'm sure I'll be posting more of his recipes since there are several gems, but with pears in season right now, I thought this one was fitting.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QwrH1kQAbmK9Mx49ytlZCx2nGYC67AQR_5AhtW9TMglbPTNg2J6z8kY7FmHKWbPLlafqiiW4605-eMAvOdm_E7hgzN6KRI8AM8scypvtfGHeBtLGjwl0m_iTAZPijg0qFvRloAvQTmNw/s1600/Picture+443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QwrH1kQAbmK9Mx49ytlZCx2nGYC67AQR_5AhtW9TMglbPTNg2J6z8kY7FmHKWbPLlafqiiW4605-eMAvOdm_E7hgzN6KRI8AM8scypvtfGHeBtLGjwl0m_iTAZPijg0qFvRloAvQTmNw/s400/Picture+443.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">I love rustic tarts and crostatas since you don't have to be perfect with rolling the dough. My rolling pin may be close to my heart (it was my grandmother's) but a pastry chef, I am not. To make things even easier, this crust is made from store bought almond paste. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILJyt0h5Gs0wKJsVNbRIO7WxDD2M-MCygAMxB8Li6ctDLga-e9JU_J51FfLwxBPvzng8vNIQihZ0m5pqMFeMxrtlkz1uqSY6fgdZj1mZcLRJQdvg8AelTlnOCvt5yFd9u17jDudaDpbMm/s1600/Picture+445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILJyt0h5Gs0wKJsVNbRIO7WxDD2M-MCygAMxB8Li6ctDLga-e9JU_J51FfLwxBPvzng8vNIQihZ0m5pqMFeMxrtlkz1uqSY6fgdZj1mZcLRJQdvg8AelTlnOCvt5yFd9u17jDudaDpbMm/s200/Picture+445.jpg" width="145" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">After rolling out a small portion of the flavorful paste to a thin pancake, a dollop of cream cheese filling (cream cheese, egg, vanilla extract, and a touch of flour and sugar) is spread around the center. Then you take a quarter of a pear, cut it into 5 slices, and fan it on top of the filling. To finish the package, wrap the edges of the almond paste around the filling. Once the crostata is brushed with an egg wash and sprinkled with raw sugar, it bakes until it reaches a rich, golden brown shade, shimmering with sugar crystals. I chose not to use all of the garnish that Brian called for (ice cream, almonds, mint), but I did opt for the scoop of cherry vanilla ice cream. Now don't get me wrong, his show is laden with slapstick humor and quirky story-lines, but the recipes are great! So the simple answer to "what would Brian Boitano make?"...really good stuff!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2oypiZDFxbsNoUjewxut1vlBa2zrbnt2xtC3ikou9q3UcRilMWDE2Rgx9i0Jghb5RDwWFTqm5HMHsZs5U35CM-4OBTVzPef0aKcf2xlEmo1Ue0bN6xJvRNhO-4H7044pPNgltiXbGNQs/s1600/Picture+469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2oypiZDFxbsNoUjewxut1vlBa2zrbnt2xtC3ikou9q3UcRilMWDE2Rgx9i0Jghb5RDwWFTqm5HMHsZs5U35CM-4OBTVzPef0aKcf2xlEmo1Ue0bN6xJvRNhO-4H7044pPNgltiXbGNQs/s400/Picture+469.jpg" width="330" /></a></span></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-66576823132958426752010-09-30T21:36:00.000-07:002010-09-30T21:36:30.386-07:00Once upon a year...<span style="font-size: small;">I started a food blog. The year has been incredibly filling and fulfilling. I wasn't certain where it was going to take me, but the journey has been more thrilling and eye-opening than I could have ever imagined. I've been to wonderful restaurants, where the dishes have made me study each bite in the hopes of recreating the same tastes at home. I've made some delicious recipes, from folks all over the world and brought those flavors into my home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">But my favorite part about this year hasn't been the food; it's been about the people I've met. The people I've dined with. Friends, family, acquaintances; the couple sitting next to us at the bar. To me it's been about the experience. Food brings everyone together, from all parts of the world. It is a common ground and a necessity we all share. I encourage everyone to embrace this necessity and pursue the most enjoyment as possible through dining, through the experience, instead of simply just eating. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I've learned that several people share this same passion. Take <a href="http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2010/01/nil_by_mouth.html">Roger Ebert</a>. He can't eat anymore. He can't drink anymore. But worst of all, he can't speak anymore. My first thought was the horror of not being able to taste a succulent shrimp or sink your mouth into a crisp apple, but I was wrong. Roger brought me back to the root of it all in his comment "So that's what sad about not eating. The loss of dining, not the loss of food. It may be personal, but for, unless I'm alone, it doesn't involve dinner if it doesn't involve talking. The food and drink I can do without easily. The jokes, gossip, laughs, arguments and shared memories I miss. Sentences beginning with the words, "Remember that time?"...So yes, it's sad. Maybe that's why I enjoy this blog. You don't realize it, but we're at dinner right now." Roger Ebert. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I too enjoy my blog and the people I interact with. That's my favorite part. The individuals and communities that have embraced me, be it online or through our dining experiences. I thank you all for your support, for without you, I wouldn't have learned how deep my passion runs. Oh, and for those of you that wonder where the name "lick-a-plate" came from, you can read about it <a href="http://lick-a-plate.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.html">here</a> on my first blog post. For those that know already, you can see the name is still alive and well, courtesy of my son, Ryan. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_3_7LKa4mLFDiR1kpb-qwVH0aIY8o5HwQoYh0x9yN5O3nL_nI_dXjO62BM_GA7o9eMCGLTmr1cDtsQO1bfd2RzFiH73v9vGYIWN0nt0ovZjU0VFe3TYB13YZIMCwZ-t50qLTOjVcK2Zh/s1600/25+511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_3_7LKa4mLFDiR1kpb-qwVH0aIY8o5HwQoYh0x9yN5O3nL_nI_dXjO62BM_GA7o9eMCGLTmr1cDtsQO1bfd2RzFiH73v9vGYIWN0nt0ovZjU0VFe3TYB13YZIMCwZ-t50qLTOjVcK2Zh/s400/25+511.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-25648136247219740632010-09-11T17:46:00.000-07:002010-09-11T17:46:45.633-07:00Frozen Lemon Pie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIECBs8V74DOpLCEKNQvpl3wsY2STG4UXxSVnTGLpshRhSyBR9b_9rl07w9lVbQv12yUPQvwgBatYe11duNnN5SMh9bUob4LZuXAaXRimTKHdMAMtKTSbogLMa4y-iUlgkJPvbum3U5av-/s1600/25+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIECBs8V74DOpLCEKNQvpl3wsY2STG4UXxSVnTGLpshRhSyBR9b_9rl07w9lVbQv12yUPQvwgBatYe11duNnN5SMh9bUob4LZuXAaXRimTKHdMAMtKTSbogLMa4y-iUlgkJPvbum3U5av-/s400/25+015.jpg" width="350" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">People could argue that lemons are the most useful and versatile fruit when it comes to cooking. I would have to agree with them. Lemon juice in a marinade helps break down tough fibers in meat, yielding tender results. Squirted on fruit, it slows down the oxidation process so they don't turn brown as quickly. Drizzled over seafood, lemon juice turns fish into a succulent treasure from the sea. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRu6xfWYYLma44EAeUc12IK2GB7p3ohhibUTRtVOD1e6Lnu3wJTV7YoQbKTKPVciHV2H0AVbybYNYm8dEX5DoFypQrIR2MVGbzzTr71LsQmrla8BVkpoznVmQIbHDYjcNg3RUwINVG5JZx/s1600/25+147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRu6xfWYYLma44EAeUc12IK2GB7p3ohhibUTRtVOD1e6Lnu3wJTV7YoQbKTKPVciHV2H0AVbybYNYm8dEX5DoFypQrIR2MVGbzzTr71LsQmrla8BVkpoznVmQIbHDYjcNg3RUwINVG5JZx/s400/25+147.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">My parent's neighbors have a huge lemon tree in their yard that is literally dropping fruit on a daily basis. Not wanting this bounty to go to waste, I was graciously given a large bag to explore all of the talents of the lemon. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexup44SHQRqXdbKx0ICT9nNsvqD-BckcHOdUBYHt1KIDs3t6zNHnufgILpnmxQ7S131aYzdQ2rGn1nzykVfk9Mm3SUVH-bU1ncc9HyON2ejEK5aVWcXJreODIBBgCwgc2iVtpEBh1Vqoy/s1600/25+154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexup44SHQRqXdbKx0ICT9nNsvqD-BckcHOdUBYHt1KIDs3t6zNHnufgILpnmxQ7S131aYzdQ2rGn1nzykVfk9Mm3SUVH-bU1ncc9HyON2ejEK5aVWcXJreODIBBgCwgc2iVtpEBh1Vqoy/s200/25+154.jpg" width="82" /></a></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">So what have I made? Interestingly, not lemonade. I guess that would have been an obvious choice, (our lemon harvest is not over yet so it may be in our future), but I was intrigued with other recipes. Limoncello, for example. I actually don't like limoncello, so I'm not sure why I thought my tastes would change just because I was using freshly picked lemons and making it at home with love. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole process, just not the end product. If you do like Limoncello, definitely give it a go (here's a <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Limoncello/Detail.aspx">recipe</a>) since the transformation over the course of 3 weeks is enjoyable. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">For this post, I'll focus on a Frozen Lemon Pie. I love lemon meringue pie, but wanted something a bit different from the norm. This recipe includes cream cheese and condensed milk, lending this pie to be tart and creamy.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhon_Lly7KCnVKIeOErspU1pBPUmAW1eAmAvJDtY2wA0nJlIcaurBFOzbG8oOu68VwLfKKyLh-Vbg8AnuTo1U2amZdCtP67Uzl7a2NuF_eIhfiPrgqOJFzv5fqM_J6nicdqbl7dxlQsKP0O/s1600/25+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhon_Lly7KCnVKIeOErspU1pBPUmAW1eAmAvJDtY2wA0nJlIcaurBFOzbG8oOu68VwLfKKyLh-Vbg8AnuTo1U2amZdCtP67Uzl7a2NuF_eIhfiPrgqOJFzv5fqM_J6nicdqbl7dxlQsKP0O/s320/25+019.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">In my opinion, traditional pie crusts can tend to be soggy, wet ,and all around not that tasty. Create a base with a cracker crust, and you've just transformed your pie with each and every bite - a smooth, creamy interior with the light crunch of an exterior crust. To save time, I did buy a pre-made graham cracker crust, but took it to another dimension by basting the crust with egg and baking it to a golden brown before adding the filling. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCHuV_7d-Bb9asvv6UdDqF9vjCVdogcztbnA3SmIVKKbvSLFytuUNkA5j6fXW5jP3ERNcRzYOPdyvOQg_89qjHgww0fCP68k0JG1ltkGjCGG7taP-c6bltXlEWkK8dJySmhu5w4HwUmqF/s1600/25+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCHuV_7d-Bb9asvv6UdDqF9vjCVdogcztbnA3SmIVKKbvSLFytuUNkA5j6fXW5jP3ERNcRzYOPdyvOQg_89qjHgww0fCP68k0JG1ltkGjCGG7taP-c6bltXlEWkK8dJySmhu5w4HwUmqF/s200/25+022.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I basically followed this recipe for <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Lemon-Icebox-Pie-III/Detail.aspx">Lemon Icebox Pie</a>, but decided to freeze the pie in the end. After whipping the cream cheese and condensed milk with fresh lemon juice and lemon zest, it's as simple as popping it in the freezer for a few hours. The recipe calls for refrigerating the pie, so we tried it that way first, but it felt too heavy and creamy. The flavor was spot on, but it wasn't as refreshing as we had hoped. The freezer is where it's at for this pie. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjExB6t6QsRLZ_14W4b2tRvQDUIbjBcAoKkL8lQHQXu9U5lPqrceUQTitXcGYbWA5DKLKIitaPjz0QvJbnU3V2STBmO2yIxo-Lw0Jh-iXLhgvzCEDoVq-sck6ZVEP6pvru_0eOduo0Ouq/s1600/25+387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjExB6t6QsRLZ_14W4b2tRvQDUIbjBcAoKkL8lQHQXu9U5lPqrceUQTitXcGYbWA5DKLKIitaPjz0QvJbnU3V2STBmO2yIxo-Lw0Jh-iXLhgvzCEDoVq-sck6ZVEP6pvru_0eOduo0Ouq/s400/25+387.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-14810915059979565422010-07-26T13:32:00.000-07:002010-07-26T13:34:06.366-07:00Picnic in the Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlfGaUSpQN79-dCGsd1jVNvO59nOzA5gfhXDXgqLSUdzExlLk1aJMsLjqKYizzxRUxvfnkVHPgF6JrPe2PWQLbeHh3ZouSk6TM_jSpSJCLO-Dh6ZaFMuq0XnHCmg9SvP6KThoOdtuGV24/s1600/25+050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlfGaUSpQN79-dCGsd1jVNvO59nOzA5gfhXDXgqLSUdzExlLk1aJMsLjqKYizzxRUxvfnkVHPgF6JrPe2PWQLbeHh3ZouSk6TM_jSpSJCLO-Dh6ZaFMuq0XnHCmg9SvP6KThoOdtuGV24/s400/25+050.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than with good friends in a beautiful park, complete with a lunch feast! My college girlfriends and I got together with our kids for a full day of eating and playing. Instead of buying your typical macaroni salad or potato salad in the grocery store, I wanted to make a few items and figured my friends could be the guinea pigs. My contribution to our feast was a rice salad, a pasta salad and goat cheese rounds with honey. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAKt74dMoqGwz16j1-iawJ1pOHlHOCcaQDFpFBneKkBCgQq8T6q-RQXApqhyOAvtYwWiMQyY9uEMApONxLKqZ6jPFK-hpmSc-X7sKMADi1_hg1MVvlIcpGWkGhDc_hgHtYHg038mYbzf0/s1600/25+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAKt74dMoqGwz16j1-iawJ1pOHlHOCcaQDFpFBneKkBCgQq8T6q-RQXApqhyOAvtYwWiMQyY9uEMApONxLKqZ6jPFK-hpmSc-X7sKMADi1_hg1MVvlIcpGWkGhDc_hgHtYHg038mYbzf0/s320/25+032.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The salads had an added benefit in that I could make them the night before. I love that most salads get better as they sit, so making them ahead is sometimes the best way to go I started with the <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Rice-Salad/Detail.aspx">Rice Salad</a>. The title is deceiving since there are many other components that go into this dish. Peas, celery, onion, pimentos, and protein from hard boiled eggs and a can of tuna. The dressing is made with mayo, mustard, sweet pickle relish, lemon juice, and dill. It's moist, filling, and hearty. The slightly sweet pickle relish is balanced by the pimentos, onion, and dill.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0N12OUiaGRfGQ2Cu7CdEyelhuYLAuRrfGROq0Jkrb9pm-zzqzCyKmVRRKMqcJjq6fjz5SZWVMWx3uK7Kwm8Gy9EVZdak-o99-gkcBDYluKPHJVr-oq6_jwpinXnTIkb5ew2RhpZ50i8c/s1600/25+037a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0N12OUiaGRfGQ2Cu7CdEyelhuYLAuRrfGROq0Jkrb9pm-zzqzCyKmVRRKMqcJjq6fjz5SZWVMWx3uK7Kwm8Gy9EVZdak-o99-gkcBDYluKPHJVr-oq6_jwpinXnTIkb5ew2RhpZ50i8c/s320/25+037a.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">The second salad is called <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Spiral-Pasta-Salad/Detail.aspx">Spiral Pasta Salad</a>. If you are like me, you're probably bored of the basic pasta salad with Italian dressing. Not that I would turn it down, but I was ready for something with a twist. This dressing is made with oil and vinegar (I know, the starting point for Italian dressing) but then taken to a new level with the addition of ketchup, onion, sugar, salt, ground mustard, paprika, garlic powder, and oregano. As with the rice salad, this pasta salad was sweet, but with a tang from the onion, vinegar, and mustard. The base is pasta, celery, tomato, green pepper, and shredded carrots (another slightly sweet item). The kids loved this one. Both of these salads have a slightly sweet element, but when feeding children, that is never a bad thing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The simplicity and distinct flavors of the <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Creamy-Goat-Cheese-and-Honey/Detail.aspx">Creamy Goat Cheese with Honey</a> won over my heart and stomach. I actually did make a portion of this the night before, but waited to drizzle the honey on the day of. I chopped up some left-over pecans I had in the freezer (freezing nuts extends their freshness), and combined them with cinnamon in a small bowl. Then cut a goat cheese round 12 portions, roll them into a ball, and coat them with the pecan and cinnamon mixture. After pressing down gently to form a disc shape, this is where I left these goat cheese morsels to rest overnight in the refrigerator.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DkeW9hLfGbXbhTgm3UwwG2KCCXkeul5Erpv1zNdM3zWikQqrPzTjWCEZ9HQYOOimHdNf0xoBJXu3kdHV1uSGgzyNVndLQEXsBdKOd4bzxM7IMuUe0tQ5UUVIda5OiAeid1gMPTKHiRKH/s1600/25+051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DkeW9hLfGbXbhTgm3UwwG2KCCXkeul5Erpv1zNdM3zWikQqrPzTjWCEZ9HQYOOimHdNf0xoBJXu3kdHV1uSGgzyNVndLQEXsBdKOd4bzxM7IMuUe0tQ5UUVIda5OiAeid1gMPTKHiRKH/s400/25+051.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">The day of the picnic, I chopped up fresh rosemary, sprinkled it over the rounds, and brought the honey with me in the jar that contained the pimentos from the rice salad. Those little glass jars are quite handy! When we were ready to feast, I drizzled the goat cheese with honey and severed them with a fresh baguette. These cheese gems were both crunchy and creamy and when smeared on a torn piece of baguette, were divine. The food was fun, but the company was the best. My college friends and I had a blast laughing about old times while our kids made new memories together. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheuSbZiqPhGkNTUS5i4cxq_e-gaD7wL5rPofbdASD3D7CWTlozifAYdpN0PCvNOSH2YTOEd4d2AdAsQQrNZMaDru2XcL4KZn7IHBSz6slprP87JTeFueR9euhzZc0OGkp8zwPwVglDH-X/s1600/25+056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheuSbZiqPhGkNTUS5i4cxq_e-gaD7wL5rPofbdASD3D7CWTlozifAYdpN0PCvNOSH2YTOEd4d2AdAsQQrNZMaDru2XcL4KZn7IHBSz6slprP87JTeFueR9euhzZc0OGkp8zwPwVglDH-X/s200/25+056.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsn9I9jVKWnFRIF-DoGz0LBOe1xsGUN2bcmARwf8yC96s7llcZ3Br4rB917gFRfQ_aWpdFH6K3jFrABDMRFx1qpAT9SJfiJoOVVtmoPVeIYkxOHP0kkMmlXu_3QdGx7Z36L4U9xiskBjP/s1600/25+059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsn9I9jVKWnFRIF-DoGz0LBOe1xsGUN2bcmARwf8yC96s7llcZ3Br4rB917gFRfQ_aWpdFH6K3jFrABDMRFx1qpAT9SJfiJoOVVtmoPVeIYkxOHP0kkMmlXu_3QdGx7Z36L4U9xiskBjP/s200/25+059.jpg" width="200" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">You may have noticed that all the recipes on this post came from a website called <a href="http://allrecipes.com/">Allrecipes.com</a> (ha ha). But seriously, a feature of theirs that I love, is the ability to put in <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Search/Ingredients.aspx">ingredients</a> you have on hand and search for recipes containing those ingredients. You can even exclude ingredients you don't want. I know there are several other websites that have this ability, but I tend to find a lot of interesting recipes on this website. It's a great way to use up what you have in your fridge and pantry!</span>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-46515649394884676642010-07-19T08:29:00.000-07:002010-07-19T08:29:35.103-07:00Strawberry Cardamom Bread<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuazVp9dRUZAlxrAlhyphenhyphenB3Ubwx_9-YlvSrNTS6-hpUJDKJ_t0TYto-bq1_BjTRxb4P0-tlN5wnUHc53sLSGLncIPiVognwXSW8MbN0JCZb2cMiuGoqGK6iRwIhEcJ_uaWwWugrTzOG2-W4/s1600/25+114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuazVp9dRUZAlxrAlhyphenhyphenB3Ubwx_9-YlvSrNTS6-hpUJDKJ_t0TYto-bq1_BjTRxb4P0-tlN5wnUHc53sLSGLncIPiVognwXSW8MbN0JCZb2cMiuGoqGK6iRwIhEcJ_uaWwWugrTzOG2-W4/s400/25+114.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> 'Tis the season...for luscious, and cheap, strawberries! I was looking for something new to do with strawberries and this recipe grabbed me due to the addition of cardamom. A spice used mainly in Indian cuisine, I had only used this spice one other time before in a cookie recipe. Marie posted this <a href="http://theenglishkitchen.blogspot.com/2010/06/strawberry-cardamom-bread.html">Strawberry Cardamom Bread</a> to her wonderful blog, <a href="http://theenglishkitchen.blogspot.com/">The English Kitchen</a>. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1YkLafsiWi3V6YyWBouZI62CbWsZ7TgaqCGQQWUIrbeE5zTkf6ZnlT0oGnnLviYNlV33qX7fccjAQOPvnYhU9V1lBGSBEEHksVLrsTRoiJOWVcvqlKbqcRlSk2RQdEkqumlgvtoya_lC/s1600/25+134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1YkLafsiWi3V6YyWBouZI62CbWsZ7TgaqCGQQWUIrbeE5zTkf6ZnlT0oGnnLviYNlV33qX7fccjAQOPvnYhU9V1lBGSBEEHksVLrsTRoiJOWVcvqlKbqcRlSk2RQdEkqumlgvtoya_lC/s400/25+134.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">The ingredients seem at first to be a pretty typical of a quick bread, but then there is the addition of creamy sour cream and fragrant cardamom. Marie used actual cardamom pods, removed the seeds, and ground them up. Trying to use up the cardamom I already had, I passed on the pods and stuck with the jarred spice. I'm sure it wasn't nearly as fragrant, but the wonderful aroma and flavor did come through. A unique twist on strawberry bread and delightful to enjoy at any time of day.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcHl3doOFFPiDs7lRBXLMI_4jPTNTofXB85KiIuiGdBTYEFAv0mbCuSgKb-KbjTO-V0xQs7DGIJyimN1PaWuM8NEAE_62HEmTvX_QGK3FuZo4TE5Mzztfngm7B7fvCWFnAA8R6XTbqfc7/s1600/25+126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcHl3doOFFPiDs7lRBXLMI_4jPTNTofXB85KiIuiGdBTYEFAv0mbCuSgKb-KbjTO-V0xQs7DGIJyimN1PaWuM8NEAE_62HEmTvX_QGK3FuZo4TE5Mzztfngm7B7fvCWFnAA8R6XTbqfc7/s400/25+126.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-9105259459555264202010-07-03T13:16:00.000-07:002010-07-03T13:16:50.858-07:00Ballpark Food at PETCO Park!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbgMs8SpLHUxAsmelvWii8dtZFkFgheLcVYuhrIUotBL0liqizYf7unKTpUOrNwj1xtLRO0ZhLcXMI7tj3EMmmVrysb7O6YKnESzMLC5ys4YvZgcScZ4v4gwARdMWtsL7ZBP7xznPUawX/s1600/25+089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbgMs8SpLHUxAsmelvWii8dtZFkFgheLcVYuhrIUotBL0liqizYf7unKTpUOrNwj1xtLRO0ZhLcXMI7tj3EMmmVrysb7O6YKnESzMLC5ys4YvZgcScZ4v4gwARdMWtsL7ZBP7xznPUawX/s400/25+089.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>We love our Padres so we try to make it to as many games as we can. Since my parents are half-season ticket holders, we've been fortunate to attend a fair amount of games which has allowed us the wonderful opportunity to try some of PETCO's finest food attractions. Some are winners and some are losers. I'm going to do my best to give you our personal take on what we've tried so far and how we liked it. I welcome your thoughts too, since we haven't tried everything! <br />
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Two carts that I find most intriguing are FriarFit and Gluten Free. FriarFit seems like a great idea - I always come to the ballpark to find healthy foods. Okay, but seriously, there were people in line, so someone had the right idea. But Gluten Free? I know some people need to exclude gluten from their diet, but I also partially think some people are doing it as a fad right now. We'll see if the Gluten Free cart is around next year.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg577RkJ7A0W1CHCVEnjMvJ1Q95Hy9-ev7RYfG5kuMZhsFejfP523KZ-q5eRPQ3hUrZC2kowWqMNfPWBOHJC7ytlpO4Q5WUASmPj2MaSj5ADOVQw6y21u8kFbbbHW1-N-v69WWUobf6ld6Y/s1600/Picture+1002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg577RkJ7A0W1CHCVEnjMvJ1Q95Hy9-ev7RYfG5kuMZhsFejfP523KZ-q5eRPQ3hUrZC2kowWqMNfPWBOHJC7ytlpO4Q5WUASmPj2MaSj5ADOVQw6y21u8kFbbbHW1-N-v69WWUobf6ld6Y/s200/Picture+1002.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpoVbmvZUMuIV0PHuH4n3DvhYyKnkY0Fwqsq6VuMgBu_SKeZfP4B-i8ByQGO0ARK1_cfSKLzBqu8Oq1dl6JMrO0axnn0IDFn1OHoisT1xqSd3Be2SFgsRxbQIhGBC-R64AHdREcKDotJQ/s1600/25+085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpoVbmvZUMuIV0PHuH4n3DvhYyKnkY0Fwqsq6VuMgBu_SKeZfP4B-i8ByQGO0ARK1_cfSKLzBqu8Oq1dl6JMrO0axnn0IDFn1OHoisT1xqSd3Be2SFgsRxbQIhGBC-R64AHdREcKDotJQ/s200/25+085.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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Moving into the Western Metal Supply building, there are several good food stations. However, the first thing that catches my eye, is the beautiful blue glow from the bar. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuzkKrmhyy0hQ_JKNxX5LNPoH7di_sMx5wZc3lxTy3C-6GQC89h2W8ZuxMq5fEwrl4ONhYAXkCLFFxjDcq0KgwlhZ_6IPFicSpCh_gHAuNp__Zu65tII7OVS1LEkWe4CoxKVeBZBnw7u4/s1600/Picture+1016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuzkKrmhyy0hQ_JKNxX5LNPoH7di_sMx5wZc3lxTy3C-6GQC89h2W8ZuxMq5fEwrl4ONhYAXkCLFFxjDcq0KgwlhZ_6IPFicSpCh_gHAuNp__Zu65tII7OVS1LEkWe4CoxKVeBZBnw7u4/s320/Picture+1016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This is a unique space. The original brick building is structurally impressive and they converted this floor into quite the social scene. There is an outdoor sitting area that is open to all; to regulate the crowd, they rotate people every 3 innings, I believe. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIa-tkf3kWI_KLg6eB2I75Oe_Ctfz_sJwKwvIQqzxMNKTCKTvqea3Y4akUmFIL4rJ56Z60hMmEUbmA0gleIJUnSD0Q4hQ9AGMK-FZUYbfJSz6xMxEHEcKUmgU1OnCMLlwlabameJzY6x4U/s1600/Picture+1017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIa-tkf3kWI_KLg6eB2I75Oe_Ctfz_sJwKwvIQqzxMNKTCKTvqea3Y4akUmFIL4rJ56Z60hMmEUbmA0gleIJUnSD0Q4hQ9AGMK-FZUYbfJSz6xMxEHEcKUmgU1OnCMLlwlabameJzY6x4U/s200/Picture+1017.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAws4u98r49UXQl7ISCbAHmJfDAxAGjq_m3rGqJgg9HR0xq-cuVS2b4etQZs-2hWqXFY4aNWjsMT-I73sdNlHqMNyi7XOQ_SbEbPG6OtWti4bANY6WFgFeC4lZR-p4O4HmTa-cvnHCW32/s1600/Picture+1018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAws4u98r49UXQl7ISCbAHmJfDAxAGjq_m3rGqJgg9HR0xq-cuVS2b4etQZs-2hWqXFY4aNWjsMT-I73sdNlHqMNyi7XOQ_SbEbPG6OtWti4bANY6WFgFeC4lZR-p4O4HmTa-cvnHCW32/s200/Picture+1018.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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Some of the best food stations are here inside the Western Metal Supply - carved brisket sandwiches, nachos with all the toppings in the world, sausages of all types (including the Sonora, which is a spicy sausage wrapped in bacon). It's all pricey, but what isn't at the ballpark. For what you get at these stations, it seems to be worth it, compared to the basic hot-dog and nacho stands. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GEgR_2rB9GkCf29dPRhvIar8GT21Oc6pLAcIX45P4ZXmVFkH9sxczoxj6VYgY5O34CsRRvrAO3JuHKseHBNvdIgmkP0PovDAnZyaBUaX4yZwaiF1gLgt0DHdzZG8v6t6_Z9CHlTsmg2F/s1600/25+103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GEgR_2rB9GkCf29dPRhvIar8GT21Oc6pLAcIX45P4ZXmVFkH9sxczoxj6VYgY5O34CsRRvrAO3JuHKseHBNvdIgmkP0PovDAnZyaBUaX4yZwaiF1gLgt0DHdzZG8v6t6_Z9CHlTsmg2F/s320/25+103.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The brisket is pretty darn good, as long as you dress it up. The meat on it's own is bland, but it comes with bbq sauce and coleslaw. The trick is to put this all together, including the coleslaw on top, and then you have an extremely messy, but very tasty sandwich! The portions are huge, which does not necessarily equate to good in my book, but you do get your monies worth. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMsKddFXrlTT9CPOvnilUun1ffrc-1JdKR2e63HI6bnVqZo9BdUWKdsBwv7W5cBsxz84KBtBt5rSyvNn7Qv_leQ-jIYzNzQ0_oD1bvTkyc1_WB8zNh1vy5DSBQ5NHIDeZf9FCNcQKIPe9/s1600/25+079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMsKddFXrlTT9CPOvnilUun1ffrc-1JdKR2e63HI6bnVqZo9BdUWKdsBwv7W5cBsxz84KBtBt5rSyvNn7Qv_leQ-jIYzNzQ0_oD1bvTkyc1_WB8zNh1vy5DSBQ5NHIDeZf9FCNcQKIPe9/s320/25+079.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Another bar within Petco Park is on the Field level in the "Mercado". It's towards the back and has some great views of the convention center and railroad tracks. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-Rr_jfUE9UiUNgxEh9l19gVuGCVE5zsoidpCnOw-IpjHGZeIxtkIwYj5LKjrmzxr1O33WacJOk_ts-0Xrj-keQ-ZSRCZey1FsmHKalgC7EP8VjI4o3HCUmsBrHVIBKqPGcdSTYkZ8YrR/s1600/25+093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-Rr_jfUE9UiUNgxEh9l19gVuGCVE5zsoidpCnOw-IpjHGZeIxtkIwYj5LKjrmzxr1O33WacJOk_ts-0Xrj-keQ-ZSRCZey1FsmHKalgC7EP8VjI4o3HCUmsBrHVIBKqPGcdSTYkZ8YrR/s400/25+093.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XYfMMZm77JkZsHHByc2L1lvkTC1xqympHzKe41BFPf2kkEr-iNMX5CFsIsiSdbGfH-s4Pob37fhXbSpWi8V04TpaWpwZvLGGqhwjsfqv9ylReCkq1utI9VtO8gfvCwH-OyDpxgyEpLn8/s1600/25+095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XYfMMZm77JkZsHHByc2L1lvkTC1xqympHzKe41BFPf2kkEr-iNMX5CFsIsiSdbGfH-s4Pob37fhXbSpWi8V04TpaWpwZvLGGqhwjsfqv9ylReCkq1utI9VtO8gfvCwH-OyDpxgyEpLn8/s400/25+095.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This is also a full bar, with slushy drinks (never tired them), and some decent beer on tap. Lately, I've been enjoying a refreshing <a href="http://www.widmer.com/age_gate.aspx?redir=http://www.widmer.com/default.aspx">Widmer</a> with a lemon wedge. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhujXlxSn30ERtX4E9QXKhb1QB0E_r7mJF6kWPo95jhyphenhyphenQnA3VGxYJTkQwxTmKcwBPe7NIuDsr-GxTR_gkU4NnA7nz3HWjvkqlbPXvXE9DSIdaAPEDG4IDN8Xc6GU9iMVOz2OlDHTmNLU2/s1600/25+080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhujXlxSn30ERtX4E9QXKhb1QB0E_r7mJF6kWPo95jhyphenhyphenQnA3VGxYJTkQwxTmKcwBPe7NIuDsr-GxTR_gkU4NnA7nz3HWjvkqlbPXvXE9DSIdaAPEDG4IDN8Xc6GU9iMVOz2OlDHTmNLU2/s320/25+080.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwjewM5iNWJWT1JYxUY_OtUD7oFo1etDA07s1Z1yZTi9vPiYKiKqrLwkz-_VRJmxOQRAIFNl0CScom2UclzFpMTT4wM6KEqj822yOZJK5-dITQXFdigfKVkln5xDaZ5vXG4JVX573Z06u/s1600/25+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwjewM5iNWJWT1JYxUY_OtUD7oFo1etDA07s1Z1yZTi9vPiYKiKqrLwkz-_VRJmxOQRAIFNl0CScom2UclzFpMTT4wM6KEqj822yOZJK5-dITQXFdigfKVkln5xDaZ5vXG4JVX573Z06u/s200/25+006.jpg" width="195" /></a> The "Mercado" is a food court. They have your basics, but then they also have <a href="http://www.rubios.com/">Rubio's</a> and <a href="http://www.gofishanthonys.com/index2.html">Anthony's Fish Grotto</a>. I've eaten the fish and chips from Anthony's a few times (like once per season) and keep thinking I like it and then after I get it, realize I was mistaken...or else they've gone down hill in the last couple of years. The must for the fish and chips, is to top them both with the malt vinegar and lemon.<br />
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Now onto our favorite item at the ballpark - Rubio's shrimp burrito. A mildly spicy burrito that is packed with pinto beans, rice, salsa fresca, cheese, chipotle sauce, and shrimp that pop in your mouth. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5iXV1qH359lD74DDfcR6JWKibdNtng-sjFNHmKrH1oa7fTl3Cpyd2DtVa52fS-h8X6mCfIfsG_rJfpqGiW9vZPD0XlXJ4aGm7pH7VNKUwiJupVDsLiwecoKJo9AF4OQBX10vOxAeZDW91/s1600/25+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5iXV1qH359lD74DDfcR6JWKibdNtng-sjFNHmKrH1oa7fTl3Cpyd2DtVa52fS-h8X6mCfIfsG_rJfpqGiW9vZPD0XlXJ4aGm7pH7VNKUwiJupVDsLiwecoKJo9AF4OQBX10vOxAeZDW91/s400/25+008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It's the same shrimp burrito you would get at a Rubio's restaurant, but I am impressed with how fresh it tastes. The shrimp aren't rubbery, there are actual jalepeno peppers in there, and freshly diced tomatoes. Reasonably priced and big enough to split, you definitely get a bang for your buck. Nice job, Rubio's. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPadt11PlKgdhNHC4bBKr2u7hAKpJ4cBbAMay1rxG6S_PHjJr3Be1CkQt0UyznTsE3sZoctx1kmM2-6Pm58CAmiyJi0umWpz8w0SVrrEFBQOGOeoVIQmy0O5ma1igv3rpR4MgL_IuG9g4t/s1600/25+098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPadt11PlKgdhNHC4bBKr2u7hAKpJ4cBbAMay1rxG6S_PHjJr3Be1CkQt0UyznTsE3sZoctx1kmM2-6Pm58CAmiyJi0umWpz8w0SVrrEFBQOGOeoVIQmy0O5ma1igv3rpR4MgL_IuG9g4t/s320/25+098.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>If you want something more basic, outside of hot-dogs, they also have <a href="http://www.rubys.com/">Ruby's</a> for burgers and <a href="http://www.oggis.com/">Oggi's</a> for pizza. I give kudos to Oggi's for trying something a little unique at the ballpark, their Padres slice - tomatoes (2 slices), spinach, and a few specks of feta - but it just isn't that good. I must preface this with also saying that I've never liked Oggi's pizza to begin with, so I'm not surprised that I didn't care for this one. Funny thing, though, is that I've ordered this a few times. I'll have that craving for pizza and always think it may be better than the last time. It's not, but it's pizza.<br />
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I haven't touched on <a href="http://www.randyjonesbb.com/">Randy Jones BBQ</a>. When the Padres were at Qualcomm, I pretty much saturated myself in Randy Jones items, so I hardly get it anymore since we've moved to the new ballpark. It may be time, though. I can't live on shrimp burritos alone. <br />
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You may have noticed I didn't mention anything sweet. I don't do sweets at the ballpark. It's probably because I'm normally drinking beer, and the ballpark doesn't have a beer that would pair nicely with ice cream. So instead, here are some of the beautiful sights at the ballpark.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3wo7cDqiEjeVTJ_tgQw_fQfTStmSFLip8nyDTMqanC-ubsKfljOupmvIJoAKo0-WxNYC7EV-w2-x8GV4jqVMWxhyphenhyphenyQnkdXj-BplGIItzyAQ6cjT6zkvln3GG6lUE1d65kjuac1KMoIGT/s1600/25+088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3wo7cDqiEjeVTJ_tgQw_fQfTStmSFLip8nyDTMqanC-ubsKfljOupmvIJoAKo0-WxNYC7EV-w2-x8GV4jqVMWxhyphenhyphenyQnkdXj-BplGIItzyAQ6cjT6zkvln3GG6lUE1d65kjuac1KMoIGT/s320/25+088.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-RjTBk2hT9oaLSG7tO8OxvLA3WaBleX9_L2HACHfYOsiz4UUlMoI9b9mPqO3a6_yg5z8d52kqwtkZVm4FOo-CL1F_uzQ9Kmxx43WRFW2G1FBjKcSQfVNPmOgDBYR8N7Eisu-8Hnq4jJU/s1600/25+084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-RjTBk2hT9oaLSG7tO8OxvLA3WaBleX9_L2HACHfYOsiz4UUlMoI9b9mPqO3a6_yg5z8d52kqwtkZVm4FOo-CL1F_uzQ9Kmxx43WRFW2G1FBjKcSQfVNPmOgDBYR8N7Eisu-8Hnq4jJU/s320/25+084.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGUBonGtFgq7z1mbYvbf7Gs2FbBUU1GTbtJW7lIBwrk26EFYYLgL03qVgY-ZHNhpWgDcpa4LQvS_D6fnIk0k5baYn7QPxLdpYoM92gsy0ECpYsXTdZCErjZPPVz8JmyrvGToR-VgSRKiT/s1600/Picture+1005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGUBonGtFgq7z1mbYvbf7Gs2FbBUU1GTbtJW7lIBwrk26EFYYLgL03qVgY-ZHNhpWgDcpa4LQvS_D6fnIk0k5baYn7QPxLdpYoM92gsy0ECpYsXTdZCErjZPPVz8JmyrvGToR-VgSRKiT/s400/Picture+1005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>But of course what surpasses all of this, is the game and the people watching. Depending on the game, sometimes people watching wins out! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSOeZWRHn4T6Du3avbKfp-Uq7MdZvKoTZ9Ytr17o1InBQDDcBocVF4znDwclsdhsR6VD9EN6w7Ju74BKebCAzE2875zY7XACUvjc9jQiZUqYLbXxCWkOtWvr8FL1zYanfjC8-dq3CK4Sb/s1600/25+096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSOeZWRHn4T6Du3avbKfp-Uq7MdZvKoTZ9Ytr17o1InBQDDcBocVF4znDwclsdhsR6VD9EN6w7Ju74BKebCAzE2875zY7XACUvjc9jQiZUqYLbXxCWkOtWvr8FL1zYanfjC8-dq3CK4Sb/s320/25+096.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>When we were taking the scenery photos on the upper deck level, we noticed a lady walking towards us that appeared to have some OCD tendencies. She made it her mission to touch the flowers as she strolled the length of the walkway. We were in her way, but stood our ground since we were curious to see what would happen. She went around us, but didn't break her pattern, and continued until the end of the flower bed. <br />
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We do enjoy the games and have been lucky enough to be in attendance for 2 grand slams this year! To Mark's dismay, we only saw one of the grand slams since he agreed to accompany me on my photo scenery tour, so therefore missed one of them. We heard the crowd, caught the end of it on the tv screen, but Mark may hold it against me for a little while longer. <br />
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I urge all locals to visit PETCO Park and support our <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/">#1 San Diego Padres</a>!Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-64215880304456471692010-06-19T09:05:00.000-07:002010-06-19T09:05:06.092-07:00Dressed up Brownie Bites!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcgPnRGq18XWsPovu0B2ZQ3afl4uxxCSNyg-9aqe4puKrVN8_GIFmwd1cXNJRGBmpS2efkbsq4BaVKUSXRKXfNoB-zVh6hKE4cJ256dhDcaiWRzNUj8mt47L7znF1PgJh060PYQIi-9sp/s1600/25+101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcgPnRGq18XWsPovu0B2ZQ3afl4uxxCSNyg-9aqe4puKrVN8_GIFmwd1cXNJRGBmpS2efkbsq4BaVKUSXRKXfNoB-zVh6hKE4cJ256dhDcaiWRzNUj8mt47L7znF1PgJh060PYQIi-9sp/s400/25+101.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">I was in a pinch and needed a quick treat to take to Ryan's school for his birthday celebration. For the kids whose birthdays are in the summer, they set aside a special day to celebrate them during school. I thought about bringing cookies or cupcakes, but then I would have to buy 2 containers to ensure one for each child (pricey!). My eyes wandered to the brownie bites, most likely since I personally love them, but it was also the perfect amount in one package. The only problem is that they looked a bit boring, for kids at least.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I thought about what I had at home - sprinkles. What child doesn't love sprinkles? I made my way over to the baking goods aisle and picked up an "easy cheese" bottle of priced-to-sell yellow frosting. Ryan probably would have preferred red frosting, but for some reason the yellow was reduced to move stock. Don't worry, I checked for an expiration date, but couldn't find one - that must mean it's still safe.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTpHASBe0x3QISgG1O0jqqr0AASKp8R23TDRSAvA3Apbv7vu2FezcuTW37m9hhJA3egPtPeWE9eIQwp35fi4G7y-0MZa7PQLkGQe2tuo1xuoCAA06VDotdizS2LgTv36K9mOluXDYsxTH/s1600/25+103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTpHASBe0x3QISgG1O0jqqr0AASKp8R23TDRSAvA3Apbv7vu2FezcuTW37m9hhJA3egPtPeWE9eIQwp35fi4G7y-0MZa7PQLkGQe2tuo1xuoCAA06VDotdizS2LgTv36K9mOluXDYsxTH/s400/25+103.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWwGCjLgHow0sflgOokxbU0NVFaQXqd3EawBe9AOj7NmGQ6v7272hJH0-n0S6GWm567wVqXnfH4803HxThPvvcqLRYo9DqNMhA3ZN7nos1QGYfuf387GnCDWDAB0lhXOyJe64V5B5qPTh/s1600/25+111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWwGCjLgHow0sflgOokxbU0NVFaQXqd3EawBe9AOj7NmGQ6v7272hJH0-n0S6GWm567wVqXnfH4803HxThPvvcqLRYo9DqNMhA3ZN7nos1QGYfuf387GnCDWDAB0lhXOyJe64V5B5qPTh/s200/25+111.jpg" width="153" /></a>I was also tempted to look in the snack aisle for a true bottle of sharp cheddar <a href="http://www.nabiscoworld.com/easy-cheese/">easy cheese</a>. I may be a foodie, but there are some strange processed foods that I enjoy! The great thing about these containers of frosting is that they come with 4 tips to create some fun shapes and patterns. If I was talented, I may have used more than one tip, but alas, that didn't happen. Ryan helped me squirt the frosting, shake the sprinkles, and then handed them out proudly to his friends at school today. It was a success and an easy one at that!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6hShd8Puc25DAEals9OwPvSDs2FLUtUdCQNksbsQZVGuSDgmRa1JIbWOfLY19Pd6kyaV1MB4b1iVfpuyZl2x2qs99dWkRnE7Fl0r2kXLtadDgVXUpqXSqI4q3ZmOm5CBE2cCdPxSCEDh/s1600/25+108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6hShd8Puc25DAEals9OwPvSDs2FLUtUdCQNksbsQZVGuSDgmRa1JIbWOfLY19Pd6kyaV1MB4b1iVfpuyZl2x2qs99dWkRnE7Fl0r2kXLtadDgVXUpqXSqI4q3ZmOm5CBE2cCdPxSCEDh/s400/25+108.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-25876848130093156742010-06-10T10:21:00.000-07:002010-06-10T10:21:08.258-07:00Fish Tacos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LaHb8CvOgF0FkJf6ggo6zNcOVGirHamJFANDtiW3-RWnWeS8zhPFNJIaNzWa3igwtkComoDU0Nt0EPmMNirBMrw4VVkQPrcDGAi7KBam_BJktphyX1fbC1lhk7l1R1FwdQ-CAYtHmBi9/s1600/Picture+907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LaHb8CvOgF0FkJf6ggo6zNcOVGirHamJFANDtiW3-RWnWeS8zhPFNJIaNzWa3igwtkComoDU0Nt0EPmMNirBMrw4VVkQPrcDGAi7KBam_BJktphyX1fbC1lhk7l1R1FwdQ-CAYtHmBi9/s400/Picture+907.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>There are so many ways to make fish tacos, from grilled to fried, with white sauce or salsa, and from shredded cabbage to pickled vegetables. I must say, I honestly have no preference. I guess it is more my mood that determines what I want, versus not liking it one way or the other. Living in San Diego, it is quite simple to find an excellent fish taco in practically any part town, which is why I've never made them at home until now.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJipEluFHXmGhQATa_x8c_BkH05MdOX-DIu7AwYJM2nakrerJRY_2hc8pKn766s-vL49pfaBqzVbY7GBlU10SwsjWXmnRNEWqjKry4IevdkV_MrN2Q55zrl8XvWhbtdz-R_Kr9sDeBSs1/s1600/Picture+910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJipEluFHXmGhQATa_x8c_BkH05MdOX-DIu7AwYJM2nakrerJRY_2hc8pKn766s-vL49pfaBqzVbY7GBlU10SwsjWXmnRNEWqjKry4IevdkV_MrN2Q55zrl8XvWhbtdz-R_Kr9sDeBSs1/s200/Picture+910.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
This recipe for healthy <a href="http://recipes.health.com/recipes/1906408-fish-tacos">Fish Tacos</a> peaked my interest due to the marinated fish, the pickled vegetables, and the avocado & mango salsa. I'm not even a fan of mangoes, but thought I would give it a try. The ingredients may look lengthy, but the steps are broken up into 3 easy segments, beginning with pickling radishes and red onion in red wine vinegar, sugar, and chili powder.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDuWlq8l-lqRXnfZqinZ_qmpuGE-MGre69tHYblbICKB4suf1M6tKBccTnIQtfATGRtu9XvNUJ8LZABgOVXMV3Z8pDZQ4Sv6amsHfH9ji5JvQ-gJ8sY8Q-kvSws02-tiuDrM7GCZDfi7y/s1600/Picture+911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDuWlq8l-lqRXnfZqinZ_qmpuGE-MGre69tHYblbICKB4suf1M6tKBccTnIQtfATGRtu9XvNUJ8LZABgOVXMV3Z8pDZQ4Sv6amsHfH9ji5JvQ-gJ8sY8Q-kvSws02-tiuDrM7GCZDfi7y/s200/Picture+911.jpg" width="196" /></a>Once they have boiled on the stove, the pickled pink vegetables rest until the other ingredients are ready. The next step in the process is to marinate the fish. I used halibut since we had that on hand. The fish sits in a simple mixture of lime juice, chili powder, and garlic. The recipe calls for a 10 minute marinade, which is probably just about right. Unfortunately, I completely misjudged when Mark was going to be home, so my poor halibut bathed in the acidic marinade for too long.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbbv07rE_t4IbwfUftcdW9rrxGD7-sPt6Qbj8RgOGvnKisiB6SaZLTaCk-G7iE9h_Nq9VJd95rSdTCPCkqKmIUuOHlgak3brgUabkXaEzNdjmdnwdLCNDgAwPVye7y5miYVRncnYRTewV/s1600/Picture+912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbbv07rE_t4IbwfUftcdW9rrxGD7-sPt6Qbj8RgOGvnKisiB6SaZLTaCk-G7iE9h_Nq9VJd95rSdTCPCkqKmIUuOHlgak3brgUabkXaEzNdjmdnwdLCNDgAwPVye7y5miYVRncnYRTewV/s320/Picture+912.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The remaining step is to make the salsa. In this preparation, the avocado & mango are mixed with chili powder, lime juice, and cilantro. What intrigued me most about this recipe is the uniqueness, yet consistency, of the ingredients. The chili powder is used in each of the three components. The lime juice is used in both marinating the fish, and in the salsa. And even after letting all the components sit for a bit, this turned out to be a very bright-tasting and refreshing fish taco.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4LugcVT912H7ucCXghBMpj5zhdr8ebkrZcA-tJc6l1Gcjlnih6Oni8Rn-EP-rvJ-xltnU0DkmAo26LCIJzp6V57bfMVCWlIYTbKPs4GBlZGpyg1mWACv1EhIc2T_Eifo_ZW3WlBTLM2-/s1600/Picture+915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4LugcVT912H7ucCXghBMpj5zhdr8ebkrZcA-tJc6l1Gcjlnih6Oni8Rn-EP-rvJ-xltnU0DkmAo26LCIJzp6V57bfMVCWlIYTbKPs4GBlZGpyg1mWACv1EhIc2T_Eifo_ZW3WlBTLM2-/s400/Picture+915.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-31254792508726628332010-06-04T09:21:00.000-07:002010-06-04T09:21:52.554-07:00Herbed Beer Bread<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfb9px-C5PSaSA2Kf1s4U4pg9iXLAJhzHPhxvz2zM2fiHaIePBr-mO7FZc7RnzTnDiFNcgas4fSZATVkhXUlZFy_RlpOhtn2BnlyLkD0WEGbT4YzFbzBVFWnlJDzEBKikhNPV35Lxe9Ap/s1600/Picture+887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfb9px-C5PSaSA2Kf1s4U4pg9iXLAJhzHPhxvz2zM2fiHaIePBr-mO7FZc7RnzTnDiFNcgas4fSZATVkhXUlZFy_RlpOhtn2BnlyLkD0WEGbT4YzFbzBVFWnlJDzEBKikhNPV35Lxe9Ap/s400/Picture+887.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">Thanks to the <a href="http://www.ecurry.com/blog/">eCurry</a> blog, I found something quick and delicious to do with my self-rising flour that had expired! I was worried about the "rising" power since it was past the expiration date and I hadn't kept it in the freezer, like I do with some of my other less-used flours. This recipe was so simple and versatile, that I thought it would be a perfect way to use up my flour. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIpg9ehiqykkUKqpPIxdWgBW9xIGtV5GcPFIYKE-noZC4-UxWzmmA9fQ2czMfQNp8ZURp1h7dHfk2bKO4fuypCvWQBWgRFhw8nzNHrl3mDUCOqpqNSrhozglhBfjiY39e4-aAnlnNoxFy/s1600/Picture+876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIpg9ehiqykkUKqpPIxdWgBW9xIGtV5GcPFIYKE-noZC4-UxWzmmA9fQ2czMfQNp8ZURp1h7dHfk2bKO4fuypCvWQBWgRFhw8nzNHrl3mDUCOqpqNSrhozglhBfjiY39e4-aAnlnNoxFy/s320/Picture+876.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">On the eCurry blog, the author creates her <a href="http://www.ecurry.com/blog/breads/herbed-beer-bread/">Herbed Beer Bread </a>with Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, and ground black pepper. I chose a different route, since I had some fresh herbs to use up - dill and parsley, along with some dried Italian seasoning. As you can see, I used a decent amount which made the bread incredibly flavorful. For the beer choice, I went with <a href="http://www.karlstrauss.com/PAGES/Brews/OurBeer/AmberLager.html">Karl Strauss Amber Lager</a>. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdncTjHt_KQvpa5sV2vuVvUgNDraeUsOSPv7bCWL_ISYrg2ohdne8pLqtW_tuP33J72P1wB0r5wmsqZUerN16pNQanGzAKTXG9YlZ4mUv6Ctnd_AC0ZG1wJxzlqhQJkj5jWx-VeCZUuXQ/s1600/Picture+880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdncTjHt_KQvpa5sV2vuVvUgNDraeUsOSPv7bCWL_ISYrg2ohdne8pLqtW_tuP33J72P1wB0r5wmsqZUerN16pNQanGzAKTXG9YlZ4mUv6Ctnd_AC0ZG1wJxzlqhQJkj5jWx-VeCZUuXQ/s320/Picture+880.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">After mixing together the flour, herbs, and a few teaspoons of sugar, you pour the only liquid ingredient (beer!) into the mix. I love seeing the amber bubbles appear at the surface as it hits the flour. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9xjCfmfHlekzKumTwdy32aKMSXiy5Xk5VT2KeO4D8EhrZo5n8UzeYJrGhZwwaq7sG9DqKB0VXlo33cqtFibhlkX8-iKP6PsZPpA8SNvq-DVs29-NwtTSFtm2wXV6DZbzfEvkOuu5cXawW/s1600/Picture+882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9xjCfmfHlekzKumTwdy32aKMSXiy5Xk5VT2KeO4D8EhrZo5n8UzeYJrGhZwwaq7sG9DqKB0VXlo33cqtFibhlkX8-iKP6PsZPpA8SNvq-DVs29-NwtTSFtm2wXV6DZbzfEvkOuu5cXawW/s400/Picture+882.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">This remaining step is key. During the last 10 minutes in the oven, the top of the bread is brushed with melted butter. Yum. The crust transforms into this crunchy, buttery, wonderfulness. Subsequently, as I have made this bread (still using up my expired flour), I've experimented with different fresh herbs, like tarragon, and also stronger beers. All combinations have been excellent which is why this bread is so versatile. Use it to make an egg sandwich in the morning, or into some bruschetta in the evening. This bread is a good staple to have around. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4OtMP5RaNeTvHb0RRamnyUxBCH4Sc3gxGg6ysY-o2fJ7E4l_YTtcXk9MJ2o1eFrhjmOFqKJnIVA-Gl55wIeXGq108QQ8WJ3wC3gzGy6DgfyG4L0b1rQk5uUHZ7pIGWR3UmgNoPK01HJYj/s1600/Picture+890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4OtMP5RaNeTvHb0RRamnyUxBCH4Sc3gxGg6ysY-o2fJ7E4l_YTtcXk9MJ2o1eFrhjmOFqKJnIVA-Gl55wIeXGq108QQ8WJ3wC3gzGy6DgfyG4L0b1rQk5uUHZ7pIGWR3UmgNoPK01HJYj/s200/Picture+890.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdLIWNJbGWz72xEHs1RvWHVyVoDMi9_TCGh_HKjwbW2G_uu92yZF2TPowOlDS6F8Yjptew6xjC7HoyzwxUiiqeQnWcQUhnZnYRuNMQN_RVe_-oeTPnSMZhQ8Ob8rL1WbNiSGPNyRXaVdV/s1600/Picture+885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdLIWNJbGWz72xEHs1RvWHVyVoDMi9_TCGh_HKjwbW2G_uu92yZF2TPowOlDS6F8Yjptew6xjC7HoyzwxUiiqeQnWcQUhnZnYRuNMQN_RVe_-oeTPnSMZhQ8Ob8rL1WbNiSGPNyRXaVdV/s200/Picture+885.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-78941685237724765062010-05-27T08:20:00.000-07:002010-05-27T08:20:56.483-07:00Farfalle with Salmon & Mint<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizf7LB3rcqfO19jQuR9zj1jb1bU-jIZ8I4svZR7nhyphenhyphenNTFLAsLyIlrb24NvVIj6Sd76Eo7g_6mXwi7kV2Dr9fmHZWho8SKeo3xXMgoz-Wxm2BI1xO3qe5hy7ThqVpHa3TpVongNag-gxuX9/s1600/Picture+1021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizf7LB3rcqfO19jQuR9zj1jb1bU-jIZ8I4svZR7nhyphenhyphenNTFLAsLyIlrb24NvVIj6Sd76Eo7g_6mXwi7kV2Dr9fmHZWho8SKeo3xXMgoz-Wxm2BI1xO3qe5hy7ThqVpHa3TpVongNag-gxuX9/s400/Picture+1021.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I've been cooking with leeks more and more lately. They have a light taste, are less pungent than an onion, and sometimes give off a hint of cucumber. I've always heard they are a pain to clean, but it is quite simple if you prep them first (in this recipe, they are sliced), then agitate in a bowl of water to release the sand. One final rinse and they're ready for use.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReeJ6qzbcrFYYRjdbQ7Fhe9LgVR3FCbQSwdqw69Wl_k1XmI1KSHaX8Wo5aD2qw5fqowfEhhNkgMCc4T0zECelJp3g9IHHsAjKN0R-xldhCXBIxweMLfU0kxoc4Q9E_mnkAXLGDmPctNq3/s1600/Picture+1023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReeJ6qzbcrFYYRjdbQ7Fhe9LgVR3FCbQSwdqw69Wl_k1XmI1KSHaX8Wo5aD2qw5fqowfEhhNkgMCc4T0zECelJp3g9IHHsAjKN0R-xldhCXBIxweMLfU0kxoc4Q9E_mnkAXLGDmPctNq3/s200/Picture+1023.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.womansday.com/Recipes/Fafalle-with-Salmon-Mint-Recipe">Farfalle with Salmon & Mint</a> - salmon, leeks, sour cream, mint, and pasta. Mint and salmon...with sour cream? This recipe definitely sounded different, which means I had to try it! One great aspect of this dish is that everything (minus the pasta) is cooked in the same pot. Easy clean up!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzgWrh_V6TdkP8ZC0wQQcVeeHsaox4w7wUAh_c5Y2ZCidHw8JQPCwczSgkmRS0-s-DyXzB_QIauVCD0gu2n15M6bz5eCKClVhEE35P-cH_HYXO1lOJY5g463xbHKVRv94qWZDI8B6Fo9U/s1600/Picture+1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzgWrh_V6TdkP8ZC0wQQcVeeHsaox4w7wUAh_c5Y2ZCidHw8JQPCwczSgkmRS0-s-DyXzB_QIauVCD0gu2n15M6bz5eCKClVhEE35P-cH_HYXO1lOJY5g463xbHKVRv94qWZDI8B6Fo9U/s200/Picture+1024.jpg" width="186" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">First the leeks are sauteed in butter, salt & pepper, and a portion of the chicken broth. Once they simmer for a minute, you lay the salmon on top the leeks and cover the pot, to allow the salmon to steam and the leeks to become tender. After removing the salmon, the rest of the broth and lemon zest is added to the leeks. The salmon is broken up into pieces. Lastly, everything is tossed together; the pasta, salmon, leek mixture, sour cream, and mint. The result is a healthy and comforting salmon pasta dish, with freshness of the mint, brightness of the lemon zest, and a touch of creaminess from the sour cream. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFjHgiAxi7oggMz5enFVMemVyEGKSQL1765XScQcGh4B05qbVdP2AhW71AVOTrFOK5vC8xvEvQauNcimxu844Eqj-zMpKZGctyfK4i0QpdqLbAh489eDjIqx5m-FXXN6iuKWSQPnAG038/s1600/Picture+1027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFjHgiAxi7oggMz5enFVMemVyEGKSQL1765XScQcGh4B05qbVdP2AhW71AVOTrFOK5vC8xvEvQauNcimxu844Eqj-zMpKZGctyfK4i0QpdqLbAh489eDjIqx5m-FXXN6iuKWSQPnAG038/s400/Picture+1027.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-81614688096127863022010-05-17T10:27:00.000-07:002010-05-18T08:09:21.108-07:00How to Cook Real Food - An Online Cooking Class<span style="font-size: small;">I want to share this great concept from Nourished Kitchen - an <i>online</i> cooking class on how to eat real food and cook from scratch! I know for myself, the ability to take an online class at the time that best suits my schedule, is a huge advantage. I'm going to be signing up myself, so feel free to join me on this adventure! The video below explains the goal of the classes and for additional information on the course, please click <a href="http://www.nourishedkitchen.com/ecourse?AFFID=35684">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">This series of 12 online classes is all about real food, shopping locally, and targeting what's in season, all while on a budget. Here are the specifics:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><b>Classes start June 1st</b></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><b>12-week long course</b></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><b>Only $120 </b></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><b>Less than $10 a class!<br />
</b></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Hurry! Enrollment ends Memorial Day, May 31<sup>st</sup></b></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <b>Click here to sign up: <a href="http://www.nourishedkitchen.com/ecourse?AFFID=35684">REGISTER HERE</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here is additional detail on what will be covered:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lesson #1 - What is Real Food & Where to Find It</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lesson #2 - Eat Whole Grain</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lesson #3 - Homemade Sourdough Bread</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lesson #4 - Homemade Salad Dressings</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lesson #5 - Prepare Seasonal Vegetables</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lesson #6 - Make Real Pickles</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lesson #7 - Roasted & Slow-cooked Meats</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lesson #8 - Stocks, Broths & Soups</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lesson #9 - Easy Homemade Yogurt & Cheese</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lesson #10 - Soda & Soft Drink Alternatives</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lesson #11 - Naturally Sweet Desserts</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lesson #12 - Menus & Meal Planning</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Also, you'll receive various tools, tips, menu planners, chart of seasonal vegetables, etc. The classes will be conducted (posted) on a schedule, but it doesn't mean you have to attend on a schedule. The flexibility is there to watch the tutorials, download the printable materials, all on your own schedule. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">If you want to sign up, enrollment ends on May 31st, so time is short. Happy, healthy eating!</span><br />
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<em>Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Nourished Kitchen’s online eCourse, so I will be earning a commission from any sales made after clicking a link in this post. </em></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5500868510644081133.post-17000194567822763772010-05-14T09:25:00.000-07:002010-05-14T09:25:02.485-07:00Pineapple Chorizo Burgers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNSQcaZPu4MrgViiWBwUn_UiefUrI8X21R8OAmJz5HlvU2MH6IodjHb-R3-mX7mqQ6xEKj_9aq7QU2gvBPlBkaqoc4yVfYqBLmp1u7mFSNi5IynZngwEEiyyBn2ABX1jzHFnSlMiAFqMj/s1600/Picture+1013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNSQcaZPu4MrgViiWBwUn_UiefUrI8X21R8OAmJz5HlvU2MH6IodjHb-R3-mX7mqQ6xEKj_9aq7QU2gvBPlBkaqoc4yVfYqBLmp1u7mFSNi5IynZngwEEiyyBn2ABX1jzHFnSlMiAFqMj/s400/Picture+1013.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">Along with some of my fellow food bloggers, I will soon be embarking on an adventure to find San Diego's best burger. With all of this talk about burgers, I thought I should share one of my personal favorites, this <a href="http://en.petitchef.com/recipes/main-dish/pineapple-chorizo-burgers-fid-707072?in=nl_daily&utm_source=daily_menu&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Menu_email&utm_content=title">Pineapple Chorizo Burger</a> from <a href="http://www.aspicyperspective.com/">A Spicy Perspective</a>. It is a simple, yet highly flavorful burger, made with ground pork, chorizo, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme and oregano, then topped with avocado and grilled pineapple. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRUXrYGgpadk0uoe2cXmxzxkdMRX8i2ZuAb-sSGyeduM4VU-vDwEHeKPiInfsQ0UcApsJ4sN7SuQJEoehyR29ZCmc0m5g2VFm8k3nc0_KrZMPjCtXohOTPiERzgwpUnUaiEopoS2k6OlY/s1600/Picture+1001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRUXrYGgpadk0uoe2cXmxzxkdMRX8i2ZuAb-sSGyeduM4VU-vDwEHeKPiInfsQ0UcApsJ4sN7SuQJEoehyR29ZCmc0m5g2VFm8k3nc0_KrZMPjCtXohOTPiERzgwpUnUaiEopoS2k6OlY/s320/Picture+1001.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">My favorite way to eat an avocado is straight from the skin with a little salt. I was going to say I don't think I've ever had an avocado that I didn't like, but that isn't true. Last year at the San Diego Fair, I tried deep fried avocado. It just wasn't right. They say everything can be deep fried, but that doesn't mean that it will be good! Ironically, the deep fried avocado tasted richer to me than the deep fried Oreo that we ended the night with. The healthy fats in this bright green fruit are best left to themselves and possibly a little olive oil, but deep frying is a no no in my book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The pineapple is a difficult fruit to tackle, but since fresh pineapple is always best, I decided to try the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DE4FZ?ie=UTF8&tag=lickaplate-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0000DE4FZ">Vacu Vin Pineapple Slicer</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=lickaplate-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0000DE4FZ" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />. I know some of you may be laughing, because seriously, this could definitely be done with a knife, but it truly makes the job easier. After slicing off the top and bottom of the pineapple, you center the middle over the core and begin turning and pushing down at the same time. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6xxkqQtrkUShH5csrYa5LQISA34e7vGYNFjNeZ9wqOX3kC6Vji3hSW9R6_Ztt-QvBR3P3EUyE-6y2cMabpLdyWWMIx0LkV_vsjhMe9Orxu7Rrg3QxTKqJN0rPQysV-bmtDYEIcR20roG/s1600/Picture+1008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6xxkqQtrkUShH5csrYa5LQISA34e7vGYNFjNeZ9wqOX3kC6Vji3hSW9R6_Ztt-QvBR3P3EUyE-6y2cMabpLdyWWMIx0LkV_vsjhMe9Orxu7Rrg3QxTKqJN0rPQysV-bmtDYEIcR20roG/s200/Picture+1008.jpg" width="175" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTb2S-toBe5OHP27Tu_AidzdE_1F2fkvXFzQlloP0pAWITUg8zbqtBwqP2lfYaAmdPv53NCH6-FYUte31Syv0F8P7tkXtsVXl9z4aI1m7ejJIiWtXPeKn-Q1XxXZpifmmkLoW7ehye701/s1600/Picture+1011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTb2S-toBe5OHP27Tu_AidzdE_1F2fkvXFzQlloP0pAWITUg8zbqtBwqP2lfYaAmdPv53NCH6-FYUte31Syv0F8P7tkXtsVXl9z4aI1m7ejJIiWtXPeKn-Q1XxXZpifmmkLoW7ehye701/s200/Picture+1011.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">What you're left with is a shell of the skin and perfect rings that hug the slicer. After removing the handle, the rings slide off and voila! Pineapple rings with the core removed!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11H8Qg8dtODzrEDZRf1uLc6JKIOA52SLFaPK1v_lGdb7KDF0zoSf8ngzxYeEJQdqaa1R0MuBM4Rhmsi8UVT-ED7j76JoNc3_QTP4T2ObtdED41JubOWXlwcqIiOKMxruiz7T-PGcYcdph/s1600/Picture+1012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11H8Qg8dtODzrEDZRf1uLc6JKIOA52SLFaPK1v_lGdb7KDF0zoSf8ngzxYeEJQdqaa1R0MuBM4Rhmsi8UVT-ED7j76JoNc3_QTP4T2ObtdED41JubOWXlwcqIiOKMxruiz7T-PGcYcdph/s320/Picture+1012.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">True, not all pineapples are the same size, but each time I've done this, I haven't had any problems with the core being too big. The only thing I do is tidy up the edges of the rings by slicing off any excess skin, which is normally not much.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvZ7yqviDHps8sM_qP9qtWE8RikU8NFC6tmR37shg0r4_adw3PWR5S7Swe8U_SzWAlExt-viE3uMwTe453HdtLYLW_Je8uKonEfHYvrWCHcCIa0kIyCr2zN2bIXcsQMGZK9BANmCfUtPt/s1600/Picture+918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvZ7yqviDHps8sM_qP9qtWE8RikU8NFC6tmR37shg0r4_adw3PWR5S7Swe8U_SzWAlExt-viE3uMwTe453HdtLYLW_Je8uKonEfHYvrWCHcCIa0kIyCr2zN2bIXcsQMGZK9BANmCfUtPt/s400/Picture+918.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">Everything used to make this burger is grilled, minus the avocado, of course. The recipe calls for assembling and topping with pico de gallo or chunky salsa. We used just a little bit of mayonnaise as to not take away from the 3 layers of flavor. The tropical taste of the pineapple and avocado balance out the slight spice of the chorizo, all in all, making it a great summer burger!</span>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867892217616786105noreply@blogger.com3