For Sarah's birthday, we went to The Henry Ford. We all had a great time, as always, though we almost missed the Rosa Parks Freedom Bus. Jeff & I agreed that since we hadn't seen it anywhere, it must have been a temporary exhibit. We told her that the easiest way to settle it was to ask a docent, who happily told her that it was just on the other side of a wall not too far away. So there, Mom & Dad! (no, she didn't really say that, but I bet she thought it)
Since it happened to be a free admission day, we told her she could get something small from the gift shop. She almost got a t-shirt with "When you can do the common things of life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world." George Washington Carver on it, but eventually went for a Union Civil War soldier's cap.
That girl and hats. Last year, on her Girl Scout trip to Mackinac, she got a coonskin cap. The leaders assured me that it was faux, and yes, you can tell that the cap itself is synthetic, but I swear you can feel bones in the tail part. (shudder) When she was about 3, I did a whole page in her scrapbook of her in various hats. Many of my favorite pictures are of her in hats.
On the way home, I said, "I don't think Sarah's going to be a doctor when she grows up. (a frequently voiced ambition when she was younger) I don't think she's going to be a doctor, or a minister, or a botanist, or a baker. I think she's going to be a milliner." After a discussion of what a milliner does, she responded, "I'm not going to be a milliner. I'm going to be a minister . . . who likes hats."
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Almost Perfect
Now THAT lived up to expectations.
I just finished a really good, filling lunch. I cut up some ginger and a couple cloves of garlic, and sauteed in a tablespoon of olive oil (yes, I measured). After a minute, I threw in a chopped scallion, some chopped red pepper, and the last of the steamed green beans, also chopped. I let it saute for a minute, then added a tablespoon of brown sugar and one of soy sauce. I put a lid on and let it steam for a bit, then took the lid off and added a cup of leftover cooked rice (it turned out very dry, almost like takeout rice, but I'm not sure why), and turn the heat up full power. I could barely hear anything else above the sound of sizzling. Let it go for a few minutes, then turned into a bowl and devoured it. The only thing that would have made it perfect would have been a few shrimp. But for 430 calories, it worked very nicely for today.
I just finished a really good, filling lunch. I cut up some ginger and a couple cloves of garlic, and sauteed in a tablespoon of olive oil (yes, I measured). After a minute, I threw in a chopped scallion, some chopped red pepper, and the last of the steamed green beans, also chopped. I let it saute for a minute, then added a tablespoon of brown sugar and one of soy sauce. I put a lid on and let it steam for a bit, then took the lid off and added a cup of leftover cooked rice (it turned out very dry, almost like takeout rice, but I'm not sure why), and turn the heat up full power. I could barely hear anything else above the sound of sizzling. Let it go for a few minutes, then turned into a bowl and devoured it. The only thing that would have made it perfect would have been a few shrimp. But for 430 calories, it worked very nicely for today.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Kind of a Letdown
I've heard so much about roasted curried cauliflower, and been really eager to try it. Maybe it's that nothing could live up to my expectations, but it was just . . . ok. Jeff & Sarah both rated it a "B," Lauren didn't like it at all, and I would have given it a "C." The only part I really liked were the roasted almonds. I think most of us would be willing to eat it again, but no one would look forward to. That's not something I'm going to put into heavy rotation around here.
Tonight, it's Catch & Kill Night. That means there is a fridge full of leftovers that need to get used up in some way. Find something you want, make it, eat.
Tonight, it's Catch & Kill Night. That means there is a fridge full of leftovers that need to get used up in some way. Find something you want, make it, eat.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
More Yum
Dinner last night was minestrone soup and focaccia. I liked it more than anyone else, but--as usual--homemade bread is a powerful encouragement. Leftovers are for lunch.
I didn't use a recipe for the soup, just sauteed onions, garlic, carrots, onions & celery in a little olive oil, added some broth, a can of white beans, a can of tomatoes, half a package of frozen spinach (I'm going to try to make Hot Pockets some time this week, too), and a half a cup of Ditalini pasta. Also a little Better Than Bullion Vegetarian and Italian seasonings. I usually put Italian Sausage in as well, but I'm trying to cook meat-free a little more frequently.
The focaccia was good, but not as fabulously crispy as the one my SIL makes--I'm pretty sure she uses a lot more olive oil, and that's obviously not a road I can travel too far down.
Tonight, I'm kind of at a loss. Maybe chili, maybe pork chops or stir fry.
I didn't use a recipe for the soup, just sauteed onions, garlic, carrots, onions & celery in a little olive oil, added some broth, a can of white beans, a can of tomatoes, half a package of frozen spinach (I'm going to try to make Hot Pockets some time this week, too), and a half a cup of Ditalini pasta. Also a little Better Than Bullion Vegetarian and Italian seasonings. I usually put Italian Sausage in as well, but I'm trying to cook meat-free a little more frequently.
The focaccia was good, but not as fabulously crispy as the one my SIL makes--I'm pretty sure she uses a lot more olive oil, and that's obviously not a road I can travel too far down.
Tonight, I'm kind of at a loss. Maybe chili, maybe pork chops or stir fry.
Monday, February 14, 2011
LIfe is Too Short . . .
. . . to eat boring food.
Going back to the doc Friday went about as expected--I had lost a little weight, but my blood pressure was still up a little too high. So the gauntlet was thrown down. She said that she wanted me back in another month, and if I hadn't lost some weight, etc. it was meds for me. She gave me a subscription for a water pill in the meantime, which I can tolerate because I know it's short term. Anyone who knows me knows that I avoid pills when I can. So consider me motivated.
Part of being motivated is trying to remember what I used to make myself for lunches. I can figure out dinners for the whole family, but lunches give me different options. The only two things I could remember were Cold Sesame Noodles and Spanish Rice (which includes lots of veggies). It was kind of frustrating. I remember that I used to eat really tasty lunches when I did Weight Watchers last time.
So I spent some time this afternoon looking through some recipes I've saved and the archives at Cheap Healthy Good. I've also started thumbing through my copy of The Best Light Recipe. And I have to say, I'm really getting excited about food again! The thing is, I like a much greater variety of foods than the rest of my family. Dinners are fairly standard, but since lunches are just for me, I can make whatever I want.
The possibilities are endless! Black beans, garbanzos, quinoa, tuna in tomatoes--the sky's the limit!
I tried two new recipes tonight, both based on Barefoot Contessa recipes. Roasted Broccoli and Roasted Butternut Squash. They both did use some oil, but not a lot. They were reasonably popular, and will certainly be made again.
I still long for carbs & fat in great measure. Birthday season has begun, and that brings a lot of decadent stuff with it. But I'm looking forward to eating stuff that is tasty and healthier. Vive le Yum!
Going back to the doc Friday went about as expected--I had lost a little weight, but my blood pressure was still up a little too high. So the gauntlet was thrown down. She said that she wanted me back in another month, and if I hadn't lost some weight, etc. it was meds for me. She gave me a subscription for a water pill in the meantime, which I can tolerate because I know it's short term. Anyone who knows me knows that I avoid pills when I can. So consider me motivated.
Part of being motivated is trying to remember what I used to make myself for lunches. I can figure out dinners for the whole family, but lunches give me different options. The only two things I could remember were Cold Sesame Noodles and Spanish Rice (which includes lots of veggies). It was kind of frustrating. I remember that I used to eat really tasty lunches when I did Weight Watchers last time.
So I spent some time this afternoon looking through some recipes I've saved and the archives at Cheap Healthy Good. I've also started thumbing through my copy of The Best Light Recipe. And I have to say, I'm really getting excited about food again! The thing is, I like a much greater variety of foods than the rest of my family. Dinners are fairly standard, but since lunches are just for me, I can make whatever I want.
The possibilities are endless! Black beans, garbanzos, quinoa, tuna in tomatoes--the sky's the limit!
I tried two new recipes tonight, both based on Barefoot Contessa recipes. Roasted Broccoli and Roasted Butternut Squash. They both did use some oil, but not a lot. They were reasonably popular, and will certainly be made again.
I still long for carbs & fat in great measure. Birthday season has begun, and that brings a lot of decadent stuff with it. But I'm looking forward to eating stuff that is tasty and healthier. Vive le Yum!
Saturday, February 05, 2011
HWoC Saturday
Today, had steel cut oatmeal w/brown sugar & raisins for breakfast, a roast beef sandwich w/a slice of mozzarella & light mayo for lunch, and Roast Pork Loin with Garlic & Rosemary and baked sweet potatoes for dinner. Water to drink. No snacks.
Boring. Boring, boring, BORING. The roast is always good, and I love baked sweet potatoes, but I before that I was standing around the kitchen, trying to forget about the caramel apple dip in the refrigerator. I really wanted some coffee or tea or some other hot thing when we came in from running a couple of errands in the blizzard. We didn't get to Randazzo's because of said blizzard, so I'll have to wait to get some more produce. I might have some grapes tonight.
Boring.
Boring. Boring, boring, BORING. The roast is always good, and I love baked sweet potatoes, but I before that I was standing around the kitchen, trying to forget about the caramel apple dip in the refrigerator. I really wanted some coffee or tea or some other hot thing when we came in from running a couple of errands in the blizzard. We didn't get to Randazzo's because of said blizzard, so I'll have to wait to get some more produce. I might have some grapes tonight.
Boring.
Friday, February 04, 2011
Healthy Week of Cooking
Semi-inspired by the Crazy Week of Sewing from a few years ago.
This week, I'm going to keep track of everything I eat. For accountability's sake, I will post here daily. Everything. What this means is that since I'll have to "fess up," I'll be a lot more likely to stay away from junk food of all kinds.
What brought this on? My blood pressure this morning. It was 176/100. That is just crazy high, especially considering that I've never had blood pressure issues before. The doc gave me a week to see if it was just an aberration. So it's no caffeine and no extra salt for me this week. Oatmeal for breakfast. Lean lunches & dinners, including soups. Tomorrow, we're finally going to pick up the Wii Fit we've been talking about for a month.
Tonight, I had half an avocado and a French Dip Sandwich. Probably a little too much salt, now that I think of it. And definitely not enough vegetables, but I still feel a little crappy, and the price of fruits & veg at Meijer was appalling. I'll hit Randazzo's tomorrow and we'll be in good shape.
This week, I'm going to keep track of everything I eat. For accountability's sake, I will post here daily. Everything. What this means is that since I'll have to "fess up," I'll be a lot more likely to stay away from junk food of all kinds.
What brought this on? My blood pressure this morning. It was 176/100. That is just crazy high, especially considering that I've never had blood pressure issues before. The doc gave me a week to see if it was just an aberration. So it's no caffeine and no extra salt for me this week. Oatmeal for breakfast. Lean lunches & dinners, including soups. Tomorrow, we're finally going to pick up the Wii Fit we've been talking about for a month.
Tonight, I had half an avocado and a French Dip Sandwich. Probably a little too much salt, now that I think of it. And definitely not enough vegetables, but I still feel a little crappy, and the price of fruits & veg at Meijer was appalling. I'll hit Randazzo's tomorrow and we'll be in good shape.
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Homesick
"I need a vacation," a friend of mine said the other day. I agreed with her--she does need a vacation. I do, too, preferably someplace toasty warm where I can listen to waves hitting a beach.
The ironic thing is, I get vacations fairly regularly. We've been to Florida almost half a dozen times. Last year, we went to Washington D.C. There's a chance we'll go to New Orleans this year (all these relate to relatives in Florida in some way). But every time we plan a trip, a little voice inside my head whispers, "You're never going to get back to Idaho. Never." (The voice also whispers that I'll never get back to Switzerland, but I've kind of resigned myself on that point.)
We started going to the Diamond D when I was about 9 or 10. Idaho can be blamed for the camera that is always in my hand, even now: the first summer we went, I fell in love with the mountains; the second summer, I brought drawing paper (and discovered that I have no talent for drawing); the third summer, I brought my first camera, and the rest is history.
How does this relate to my previous comment that a planetarium made me homesick? No, not the laser light show you might expect (that was in Salt Lake City, anyway). It was the projection of the night sky. All those stars, stars you don't even imagine can exist when you live in a city. The first summer we were at the ranch, I saw a sky so full of stars that it was downright surreal. Sitting in the chair at Wayne State on Monday, looking up at the projections of stars on the ceiling, reminded me of that summer night back in the 70's so strongly it was almost painful.
So why haven't I gone back to Idaho in 20 years? Why haven't I shown my family real mountains, my old house, the diner where I had my first dish washing job, the chapel where my Dad & Stepmom got married, and skies so blue they look airbrushed? $. $$$. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. The benefit of our previous vacations is that they are relatively short, and we can stay with relatives most of the time. An Idaho trip is inherently longer, and would be all motels. There's also the cost of gas & food. I think the last time we were thinking about it, we figured it would cost about $3K. And that's if we didn't stay at the Diamond D! If we're that close, I'd also want to hit Yellowstone, and Jeff thinks that's close enough to Denver to catch a Colorado Rockies game. That kind of income is not currently disposable, if you get my drift.
Don't get me wrong; I love Michigan. It's gorgeous here, especially in the fall, especially if you get out of the city. Almost all our family is here. There are so many opportunities and events here. I've said that if I could live anywhere, it would be Michigan.
But. I do ache to go back, if only for a visit. It is sometimes depressing to look out at nothing but flat city. It is always frustrating when friends send me pictures of snowy mountains. I just don't see how I'm going to home anytime soon.
Edit: Amy's comment made me realize that I left one important thing out of this post, one thing that Idaho has that no place else does, no matter how beautiful that other place may be or how brightly the stars may shine. Idaho has Pat, one of my best friends ever, who is still friends with me even though I keep talking about coming out to see him and never follow through.
The ironic thing is, I get vacations fairly regularly. We've been to Florida almost half a dozen times. Last year, we went to Washington D.C. There's a chance we'll go to New Orleans this year (all these relate to relatives in Florida in some way). But every time we plan a trip, a little voice inside my head whispers, "You're never going to get back to Idaho. Never." (The voice also whispers that I'll never get back to Switzerland, but I've kind of resigned myself on that point.)
We started going to the Diamond D when I was about 9 or 10. Idaho can be blamed for the camera that is always in my hand, even now: the first summer we went, I fell in love with the mountains; the second summer, I brought drawing paper (and discovered that I have no talent for drawing); the third summer, I brought my first camera, and the rest is history.
How does this relate to my previous comment that a planetarium made me homesick? No, not the laser light show you might expect (that was in Salt Lake City, anyway). It was the projection of the night sky. All those stars, stars you don't even imagine can exist when you live in a city. The first summer we were at the ranch, I saw a sky so full of stars that it was downright surreal. Sitting in the chair at Wayne State on Monday, looking up at the projections of stars on the ceiling, reminded me of that summer night back in the 70's so strongly it was almost painful.
So why haven't I gone back to Idaho in 20 years? Why haven't I shown my family real mountains, my old house, the diner where I had my first dish washing job, the chapel where my Dad & Stepmom got married, and skies so blue they look airbrushed? $. $$$. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. The benefit of our previous vacations is that they are relatively short, and we can stay with relatives most of the time. An Idaho trip is inherently longer, and would be all motels. There's also the cost of gas & food. I think the last time we were thinking about it, we figured it would cost about $3K. And that's if we didn't stay at the Diamond D! If we're that close, I'd also want to hit Yellowstone, and Jeff thinks that's close enough to Denver to catch a Colorado Rockies game. That kind of income is not currently disposable, if you get my drift.
Don't get me wrong; I love Michigan. It's gorgeous here, especially in the fall, especially if you get out of the city. Almost all our family is here. There are so many opportunities and events here. I've said that if I could live anywhere, it would be Michigan.
But. I do ache to go back, if only for a visit. It is sometimes depressing to look out at nothing but flat city. It is always frustrating when friends send me pictures of snowy mountains. I just don't see how I'm going to home anytime soon.
Edit: Amy's comment made me realize that I left one important thing out of this post, one thing that Idaho has that no place else does, no matter how beautiful that other place may be or how brightly the stars may shine. Idaho has Pat, one of my best friends ever, who is still friends with me even though I keep talking about coming out to see him and never follow through.
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Buncha Sissies
DeathStorm! Snowpocalypse! Run! Run for your lives!
Girl, please. I know the roads are slippery and there have been a lot of accidents. Drifts are nothing to mess with, and that wind is bad. I feel for anyone who has to be out on the roads, and I'm very happy and grateful that my family can stay home today.
But this level of panic, again, is just ridiculous. Seriously, how many times do we hear about a major storm coming in and we get relatively little snow? I've become incredibly jaded toward weather casters. I know predicting snowfall is an inexact science, but I really wonder if these guys know what they're doing.
Now, Idaho. Idaho gets snow. I have a picture of my dad on the roof of our house when I was in college, up to his hips in snow. With a shovel. Because that's what you do in Idaho. You get on the roof and shovel the snow off so it doesn't collapse. Because you get a lot of snow.
One time we drove north to Stanley. We stopped on Galena summit to eat the lunch we brought with us, climbing to the top of the snowdrift at the scenic overlook. When we got to the top, we realized that we were level with the little service building there. Hell of a view, dude. Driving down into the valley, the snow was higher than the roof of the car. Road was beautifully plowed, sky was amazingly blue--it was a great day. You just couldn't see anything other than the road in front of you and the sky above.
And yes, there is an element of "when I was a kid, we had to walk 23 miles to school in the snow, uphill both ways." Whatever. That doesn't change a thing. This "2011 blizzard" is for amateurs.
Girl, please. I know the roads are slippery and there have been a lot of accidents. Drifts are nothing to mess with, and that wind is bad. I feel for anyone who has to be out on the roads, and I'm very happy and grateful that my family can stay home today.
But this level of panic, again, is just ridiculous. Seriously, how many times do we hear about a major storm coming in and we get relatively little snow? I've become incredibly jaded toward weather casters. I know predicting snowfall is an inexact science, but I really wonder if these guys know what they're doing.
Now, Idaho. Idaho gets snow. I have a picture of my dad on the roof of our house when I was in college, up to his hips in snow. With a shovel. Because that's what you do in Idaho. You get on the roof and shovel the snow off so it doesn't collapse. Because you get a lot of snow.
One time we drove north to Stanley. We stopped on Galena summit to eat the lunch we brought with us, climbing to the top of the snowdrift at the scenic overlook. When we got to the top, we realized that we were level with the little service building there. Hell of a view, dude. Driving down into the valley, the snow was higher than the roof of the car. Road was beautifully plowed, sky was amazingly blue--it was a great day. You just couldn't see anything other than the road in front of you and the sky above.
And yes, there is an element of "when I was a kid, we had to walk 23 miles to school in the snow, uphill both ways." Whatever. That doesn't change a thing. This "2011 blizzard" is for amateurs.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Tangerine Lemon Curd
One of the blogs I visit with some regularity is Joy the Baker. About a week ago, she put up a recipe for Tangerine Lemon Curd. I am cray-cray about lemon curd, and have always wanted to try to make it, but was put off by the whole double boiler thing. Joy's recipe is super simple--throw all the ingredients in a saucepan and cook gently so as to not scramble the eggs. I liked the idea of rubbing the zest into the sugar, and I knew Sarah would have a good time doing that with her mortar & pestle.
We had a busy day yesterday (more about that tomorrow, including how a planetarium show can make me homesick), and I knew I would want to do something quick and easy for dinner. Around these parts, that means breakfast for dinner. We stopped to pick up some sausage links, eggs, and canned biscuits.
Digression: yes, I know canned biscuits can't hold a candle to homemade. I know homemade biscuits are super easy, cheaper, and don't have unpronounceable ingredients. But I also know that sometimes I don't want to dirty even one more bowl, much less take 5 minutes to measure a few ingredients and then roll out dough and cut it out. Sue me.
But I did want to try something new, and the lemon curd recipe seemed fairly straightforward. We didn't have any tangerines, so I used all lemon. I zested the lemons and put Sarah to work with the mortar & pestle. We threw everything in the saucepan and let it go, whisking pretty frequently over medium/low heat. We strained it afterward, just to make sure it would be nice and smooth, and put it on the table with the rest of dinner.
As with most new things around here, it was a qualified success. Sarah & I really liked it, Jeff & Lauren had no interest in it. That said, I see much, much more lemon curd in our futures, to say nothing of tangerine curd at Christmas and lime curd this summer. Viva la curd!
We had a busy day yesterday (more about that tomorrow, including how a planetarium show can make me homesick), and I knew I would want to do something quick and easy for dinner. Around these parts, that means breakfast for dinner. We stopped to pick up some sausage links, eggs, and canned biscuits.
Digression: yes, I know canned biscuits can't hold a candle to homemade. I know homemade biscuits are super easy, cheaper, and don't have unpronounceable ingredients. But I also know that sometimes I don't want to dirty even one more bowl, much less take 5 minutes to measure a few ingredients and then roll out dough and cut it out. Sue me.
But I did want to try something new, and the lemon curd recipe seemed fairly straightforward. We didn't have any tangerines, so I used all lemon. I zested the lemons and put Sarah to work with the mortar & pestle. We threw everything in the saucepan and let it go, whisking pretty frequently over medium/low heat. We strained it afterward, just to make sure it would be nice and smooth, and put it on the table with the rest of dinner.
As with most new things around here, it was a qualified success. Sarah & I really liked it, Jeff & Lauren had no interest in it. That said, I see much, much more lemon curd in our futures, to say nothing of tangerine curd at Christmas and lime curd this summer. Viva la curd!
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