Tip of the week...

I'm a little bit of a germophobe.  I mean not in a crazy way.  Not as much as my previous boss.  :)  But especially in cold and flu season, I want to wash my hands as soon as I get out of a store or get done pumping gasoline.  And hand sanitizers just don't cut it for me....it may kill germs, but it doesn't remove any schmutz, etc.  

 I always have Wet Ones in my purse and in my car's console.  As soon as I get back in my car after shopping or pumping gas, I grab a towelette and give my hands a good scrub, front, back, and between fingers.  A good hardy wipe down.

Then I take the still-moist towelette (or a fresh one) and wipe down my steering wheel, my gear shift, my door handle, and my key...anything I may have touched in the process of entering the car.  I have always worried just a bit about this being a little obsessive.  Until today.  Today I heard on the radio that your own steering wheel is probably the dirtiest thing you come in contact with on a regular basis.   "The average steering wheel was found to have four times the amount of colony forming bacteria per square centimeter than a public toilet seat."  A PUBLIC TOILET SEAT, people!

It's dirtier than your cell phone.  Dirtier than a hotel remote control!  (I also wipe those down with towelettes from my purse.  HA!)

Okay.  I am climbing down from my soap (and water) box now.  

Buddha Bowl success...

I was reading The NonConsumer Advocate the other day, and she mentioned Stacey Flowers' videos on YouTube.   I liked this one in particular.  It made me think differently about how I prepare 'bowl' combinations, and resulted in a SPECTACULAR dinner at our house last night.

I've always liked 'bowls' when eating out, but the ones I've tried at home have been sort of unimpressive.  After watching Stacey's video about 'dressing' each item, it sort of clicked, and I was ready to try again.

I cooked some quinoa which I had rinsed and drained well.  I started by first adding a little bit of olive oil to a deep sauce pan with some finely diced onion and garlic, then the quinoa and let them all 'toast' for a minute or so.  Then added the water and cooked per package directions.

Once I had the quinoa started, I preheated the oven to 425° F.  Then I lined a large baking sheet with foil.  I poured about a Tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil onto the foil, and spread it around with my finger tips to make sure the foil was covered with a light coating of oil.

I peeled and sliced some red beets and some golden beets.  (I've never cooked them before, but Stacey's looked SO good that I went out and bought some.)  I put the slices in a large Ziploc bag with about a Tablespoon of olive oil, and squooshed them around to lightly coat all sides with oil.  Then I laid them out at one end of the prepared baking sheet.

I peeled and chopped two sweet potatoes.  I put them in the same Ziploc bag.  I didn't add any more oil, I just squooshed the diced sweet potatoes around, and then added them to the baking sheet.

I rinsed and trimmed a handful of Brussels sprouts (as I'm the only one that likes them), cut them in half, and put them in the same old Ziploc bag (again adding no additional oil) and after squooshing to coat the sprouts with any oil clinging to the bag interior, I added them to one corner of the baking sheet.  

I tried to make sure the baking sheet was not over crowded, and to keep the vegetables somewhat separated.  I sprinkled with salt and pepper, and roasted them at 425° F for about 30 to 40 minutes, flipping them once toward the end of the roasting time.  When the vegetables were nice and tender and caramelized, I lifted them with the foil liner off of the baking sheet and set aside.  

I added a new foil liner to the pan, put the salmon on the pan with some salmon seasoning and baked (still with oven set at 425° F) till the center was almost done (about 10 minutes, but it depends on the thickness of the fillet), then removed the sheet from the oven and let the salmon rest for a few minutes on the sheet to continue it's final cooking.

To assemble my bowls, I started with chopped kale tossed with some lime juice and a little salt.  I added about a cup of quinoa in the center on top of the kale.  I put some roasted beet slices on one side, some roasted sweet potato on the other side, and squeezed in some roasted Brussels sprouts where they would fit.  I placed a serving of salmon (with skin removed) atop the quinoa, and drizzled with a Balsamic reduction.

These turned out absolutely DELICIOUS!  And relatively low in WW points, since the only things that had points in the bowl were the oil, quinoa, sweet potato and balsamic; all the rest of the veg and salmon are zero point.

And now for a humorous postscript:
Someone (who shall remain nameless, but lives in our garage apartment) is into the peak season at work with the holidays coming up.  I texted him a photo of the really fab meal in our fridge for him if he so desired.  He came in from work exhausted about midnight and took his 'bowl' to go.

Today it occurred to me that I might better send him a warning.  His response made me truly laugh out loud.

I'm a smooth(ie) operator...

My number one goal for the year is to have breakfast every day...extra points if it's healthy.  :)  I figured smoothies were something I could manage, and would add more fruits and vegetables to my day.  I've been buying fresh fruit as well as frozen and using fresh vegetables.

I just noticed that my piece of ginger root looks like a little lobster.  :)

I love the Rubbermaid Brilliance containers for keeping the fruit in the freezer.  With the lid as well as the container being clear, I can tell easily what is in each one, and the way the lid is designed they stack easily and don't tumble around every time I open the freezer drawer.  (This opinion is not sponsored, I just really like them.)  I bought these specifically for this purpose, because I didn't want my fruit in the freezer confused with Carey's work meals.  

This one has a banana, a small orange, a few slices of frozen peach, some frozen blueberries, a handful of spinach, and a piece of sliced ginger.  I pour some coconut milk and some Just Black Cherry juice (100% juice good for inflammation from arthritis) over the top as well as a scoop of organic egg white protein powder, and blend.  If it's too thick, I add some ice cubes and/or a little water and blend again.

So far I have been really good at getting this made and consumed first thing every morning, even on the mornings that I've had to be out of the house by 7 a.m. for work.

Pecan Hummus...

The first time I ate at Green Vegetarian Cuisine in San Antonio, I came home wishing I had some more of their pecan hummus.  It was SOOOO good!  I thought, what the heck, I'll see if I can find a recipe for pecan hummus online.  The very first response in the Google list was for Green Vegetarian Cuisine's Raw Pecan Hummus!  Man was I excited, but for some reason I didn't make it right then or any time since.

I made another trip to the restaurant last month, and they weren't serving it currently since pecan's weren't in season.  Total disappointment.

Today I wanted something snack-y but healthy, and I remembered I had a bag of pecans stored in my freezer.  Slapped those babies in the food processor with some garlic, apple cider vinegar, extra virgin olive oil and sea salt.  (The recipe calls for water as needed for consistency, but I didn't need any.)

Whizzed it till it was a nice hummus consistency.

Then I cut up some vegetables to dip into it.

This was my lunch.  It was REALLY easy and REALLY good!  If you like pecans, you have to try this.

This is a totally different take on hummus since it doesn't contain garbanzo beans or tahini, and it uses apple cider vinegar instead of lemon juice.  SO GOOD!  

It makes me want to have a party just so I can serve this and see the response.  :)  I think it would also make awesome tea sandwiches on white bread with cream cheese on one side and pecan hummus on the other.

I'm so excited that there's more left in the fridge!

I've posted the recipe at What's Cookin' 4 Miles North of Nowhere.

The best medical advice...

image credit: Bing clip art

My doctor of nine years took a leave of absence a couple of years ago.  I remember, because I had several appointments to get treatment and follow up for my case of shingles in the weeks before she left.  Oh, I have missed her so much!  Her replacement is very nice, but the office, which was handy to get to when we lived on the ranch, is really pretty inconvenient now that we have moved; even worse is making the long drive when you don't feel good.

Monday I found out that my 'old' doctor (ha!  she's barely older than my daughter) is starting a new practice much closer and convenient for me.  Happy, happy, happy!.  She's smart, and skilled, and pays attention to details.  She is the first to have suspected one of my chronic issues, and thankfully she hounded me to get further testing and follow up with specialists when I kept putting it off.  I am ecstatic at the prospect of being under her care again.

I had an appointment this morning to get records and insurance in place and catch up, and also to move my prescriptions to a more convenient pharmacy.  Eventually going to the doctor and getting prescriptions filled won't be like taking a tour of central Texas.

She told me to cut out soda and get more exercise.  So when I got home I grabbed a cup of unsweet tea and took the girlies home to spend some time in their pool.

I was in for hours.

It was exhausting!  :)

A trip of a thousand miles begins with a single phone call...

I arrived in Kentucky on Tuesday, and was welcomed by my sweet friend, the other Kathleen (she's the one in gingham).

We are using this visit to focus on getting healthy.  She is taking on chemo, and I am taking on my weight (too much of it) and my fitness (too little of it).  Today we both exercised and bought healthy things at the grocery store.

I will stay as long as she can stand me...we're playing it by ear.

Just one more, I promise...

I know, I know...enough about the jars of salad!

But I wanted you to see what a massive amount of salad fits in just one quart jar!

Yeah.  That's a LOT of salad.  Not to be confused with a salad plate...the plate above is a full size dinner plate.

The sheer volume surprises me every time I plate it up.

An apple a day...

I haven't been writing much, because I have been tired...exhausted...fatigued...pooped!  All week last week, I came home from work, went directly into the bath tub, and then straight to bed.  My previous weekend of non-stop cleaning and bargain hunting just about did me in.  (I've said it before, and I'll say it again..."Housework [not to mention tax season] is hazardous to your health!")  Anyway, I was feeling so awful, that I made an appointment to see my doctor.  She will, of course, tell me that I need to lose weight.  Duh.

So Sunday, when I finally started feeling better, I decided to spend some of my energy stocking up on healthy foods.  

What better way to start the week than with an apple a day.  Yes, I hear you.  "Why do you have a rubber band around your apple, Kathleen?"  Well, it's an awesome little tip I came across...probably on Pinterest...and thought worthy of sharing.

I'm always looking for ways to eliminate morning tasks.  If I try to add one little thing to my morning routine, it WILL be skipped in favor of one more slap to the snooze button.  Therefore, I am ALWAYS looking for ways to do things the night before.

Take breakfast for example.  I'm not really a breakfast person, but I like an apple with almond butter once I get to work.  Kind of hard to eat a whole apple at my desk...and REALLY messy to try to dip it in almond butter.

Enter my trusty apple slicer...

Sunday night, I sliced my apple, but instead of taking it apart, just kept it together and slid a rubber band around it.  I popped the whole thing into a ziplock baggie, and then into my lunchbox in the refrigerator.

Ta-da!  This is how it looked when I got to work this morning...hardly any browning at all.  Crisp and perfect slices for dipping.

The salad in a jar I posted about a couple of weeks ago worked great.  Sunday, I also made up enough to last me through another week.  This week's salad didn't look as pretty in the jar...not colorful enough.  The tomatoes are hiding in the bottom, and all the other ingredients...baby corn cobs, celery, mushrooms, roasted chicken, lettuce mix...all kind of blend into one another colorwise.  (Good move, Kath, forgot to put in the shredded carrot and radish...sheesh.)

As for the doctor, I will keep my Friday appointment.  I will take my lecture.  I will ask about a sleep study.  I will discuss rescheduling some tests.  I will act on her advice.

I have reached a jarring conclusion...

This is the first week at my latest attempt at a healthier lifestyle.  I found this idea for salad in a jar on Pinterest.  Supposedly it stays fresh all week.  You put the dressing in the bottom of a wide-mouth quart jar first.  Then you add layers; first the things that won't get soggy while sitting in the dressing (cherry tomatoes, radishes, celery, cucumbers?), then the meat and/or cheese, and last the greens.  Then when you're ready to eat it, just shake it up to distribute the dressing, and pour it into a bowl.  I'll let you know how it works out.

Since going back to working full time, my schedule is really out of whack.  I usually don't get home until 7:30 pm at the earliest, so I either end up grabbing dinner for us out, or throwing something really quick together.  The slow cooker comes in really handy, and the guys have been helping out, but even if I am ready to eat the moment I walk through the door, that still puts it very near bedtime.  Then I don't sleep well.  And all those calories consumed right before a prolonged period of inactivity are probably contributing to my weight gain.  :(

So I'm thinking that I will eat a good lunch, either out or leftovers from home, and then right before I leave work at 6:00, I will eat one of my jars of salad for my dinner.  Being consumed earlier than my arrival home and being fresh fruit and vegetables should be healthier all around.

It seems very logical...I hope it keeps well, and helps my situation.

Back to Paleo...

I'm jumping back on the Paleo wagon.  I felt so much better while I was doing it before.  I cannot even count the number of times I've been to the chiropractor in the past month.  Aches and pains...back and joints.  I've read that Paleo helps rid the body of inflammation.  I know my knees felt a lot better last time, as well as my energy level.

Paleo is eating fresh, unprocessed food: meats, vegetables, nuts & seeds...some fruit and a little starch...no sugar, grains, or dairy.

I feel like I've taken a zillion photos of salad with berries, red onion, and salmon, homemade honey mustard dressing, and just a tiny bit of feta.  Can't help it, it's SO good!  This one would please Elaine Benes.  And there's some in the fridge to take to work tomorrow for lunch.

I need to find more Paleo recipes for the slow cooker!

 

Paleo progress...

Mixed greens.  Avocado.  Blackberries.  Dried cranberries.  Feta.  Spicy sauteed shrimp.  Homemade honey dijon dressing.

Two weeks doing Paleo.  Here is the strangest thing I have noticed:  I have to go to the grocery store much more often, and I don't mind!  The only reason I can come up with is that the food options doing Paleo keep me mostly in the produce and seafood/meat department and not having to maneuver down every aisle. 

I've said for a long time that the reason I hate grocery shopping is because the stores are SO huge and have an overwhelming amount of choices.  Eliminating everything containing wheat, sugar, and dairy from my list makes it much less overwhelming.  Also I feel more energetic now, so the mere thought of going to the store doesn't make me crawl back into bed and pull the covers over my head.

The feta cheese (dairy) I added to the salad tonight is not Paleo approved...neither was the tortilla (wheat) that I ate with lunch today.  C'est la vie.

Going Paleo...

Tilapia dusted with almond flour and pan browned in olive oil

Zucchini sliced lengthwise, topped with a tiny bit of parmesan and baked til just browning

Grape tomatoes and sliced avocado

I've resisted for a long time.  Kasey and Beau have been eating the Paleo way for over a year now, I think.  The kids too, except that they aren't overly strict with the kids.  The children still drink milk and eat cheese, and no worries about what's eaten away from home.

I'm finally jumping on the bandwagon due to constant aches and pains.  I'm hoping that the dairy-free and gluten-free change may help with that.  So for the next thirty days I'm giving it a trial period.

Quick description of Paleo: meats, vegetables, nuts & seeds...some fruit and a little starch...no sugar, grains, or dairy.

Photo above was dinner last night.  Yum!  The almond flour that I used to dust the tilapia browned beautifully and tasted great...I just added a little salt, pepper, and dill.  The Parmesan on the squash was not on plan, but it was minimal (maybe a teaspoon on the entire pan of squash).

The zucchini couldn't be fresher.  It was delivered to my office yesterday by a great friend...one who shares the produce of their garden and the eggs from their chickens!  Of course she'd be a great friend even without those perks, but the perks are lovely!  Thanks, V...your generosity couldn't have been more timely!

A sweet surprise...

Two of my friends got together and sent me an Edible Arrangement as a belated birthday present.  These are SO good.  You can't really see them very well in the photo, but there are chocolate covered orange sections interspersed throughout the arrangement.  The flowers are pineapple slices with a cantaloupe ball for the center...so cute.

They can forget my birthday every year!  :)

Good thing we've already made a dent in the Thanksgiving leftovers...and a good thing we have adjustable shelving in the refrigerator!  :)

So...

So...after work I took my shopping list and did the weekly shop at the mega-store.  I thought it was very energetic of me, considering I knew when I got home I'd be unloading them all by my lonesome.

So...after putting away all the groceries, I sit down to relax and chill, and the phone rings.  Now that the big event is behind us, Kasey wants to start walking in the evenings.  Do I want to start tonight?

So...I go through my closet, and I can't find my lace-up walking shoes.  Hmmm...when was the last time I saw them?  Well.  Must have been before the move I'm guessin'.

So...I decide that my best option were my Birks garden shoes.  Seriously, they have really great insoles.  I may not remember exactly how old these shoes are, but they do still support the arches and hug the heels.

So...I drive over to Kasey's, and we start out walking with the girls riding their bikes.  About two blocks into our walk Chloe decides she doesn't want to ride her bike anymore.  We manage to 'encourage' her to finish the walk/ride.

So...when we've made it about halfway I ask Kasey what distance the route is.  I thought she said three-quarters of a mile (but having finished it now, I'm pretty sure she must have said three and a quarter miles).

So...we've started our summer-evening walks, and I'm wondering if I still have an unpacked box of shoes somewhere.  I think I might as well invest in some new lace-ups.

Happy feet...

These be some happy feet.  Today they went to the reflexologist and got massaged for an hour.  Then they learned that they are schlepping around ten pounds less these days than they were last month.  Then they came home and went for a nice long soak.

Ahhhhhhhhhh!...indeed.

Meatless Monday...

This is what we had for dinner tonight. Y! U! M!

I am really, really trying to eat healthier, and came across this recipe at Meatless Monday. On their site, click on the 'Favorite Recipes' tab, and you will find the recipe for Black Bean Tostadas under 'Dinner'.

Oh my darlin' Clementine...

Am I the last one on the bandwagon again?

For the last couple of weeks, my coworkers have been bringing little Clementines to work and singing their praises. Okay, so they're little oranges. Big deal. But since I'm trying to take in more fruits and veggies, I decided to give them a try and picked up a bag while I was at the grocery today.



Size comparison anyone? That plum is a little on the large size, but it's not a giant.

Good things do come in small packages. These are really good...sweet, seedless, easy to peel. If you've never tried them, give them a whirl.

Experimentation...

I was looking for a whole grain bread recipe for the bread machine. I found one online that uses seven-grain cereal. It sounded good and had great reviews. Of course, I was wondering if I could make it even a little healthier. I replaced the bread flour with whole wheat...the white sugar with brown sugar Splenda...and the margarine with olive oil. It's not the prettiest loaf I've ever made, but (holy moly!) it is SO delicious! Dense and moist...nutty and flavorful. YUM.

Can't wait to try it in the toaster for breakfast.

I think I'll play with the recipe a little more. I'll post it after a few more tries.

We interrupt this program...

Not a stellar photo, but I was in a hurry...I was hungry! Luckily it tasted better than the photo looks. Turkey burger with baked sweet potato 'fries.' If you're interested, you can find the recipe here (along with a somewhat better photo).

As I was enjoying my dinner, it occurred to me that I really needed to thank Simply Joolz, without whom I would never have thought to add beet root (pickled beets) and shredded carrot to my sandwiches. It is the most fabulous way to get another vegetable or so in your day, and I've been enjoying them this way since I first saw some yummy sandwich photos on her blog.

And on the subject of sandwich fixins...I bought the new Kraft olive oil mayonnaise recently. I think it's awesome, and it has half the fat and calories of regular mayo. It has a little more sodium, but I'm willing to overlook that in the small amount I'll be using.

Okay, the commercial is over now, you can un-mute.

Challenging...

I made some brown rice and chicken salad that I have been eating over the weekend. It was pretty good...lovely when I added a side of edamame. I love those little beans. I love their whiskery little pods. I love the way they split open and the beans jump out. Love the texture, and the ease of preparation. I love everything about them.

That's why I decided to Google the nutrition facts...everything I really love always seems to have a drawback. Good source of fiber. Awesome. Good source of protein. Super. Good source of Vitamin K. Crap! Guess I can't binge on these babies. Ah, the joys of food and prescription interaction.

I'm starting a new challenge today...from now to the end of the year. There is money riding on it. There is no going back. Treadmill, here I come!