Monday, November 30, 2009

The right thing for the vain reasons

You all know about my weight loss, and my food choices, and how I have done it all the healthy way and feel good and strong and healthy. But here's the part I try to downplay.
A big motivating factor for me is vanity.
I know, not an attractive quality. But that's how it is. I'm 37 and in a few months I'll have a teenager. And I am cool with that! I proudly own those aspects of myself!
But good Lord, I do not want to LOOK the part.
I have dyed since the first grey hair, and plan to do so for many years to come. Much of the money I used to spend on high calorie coffee drinks, I now spend on unguents with alpha hydroxy acid, grapeseed oil, and other ingredients that promise "to hide fine lines and wrinkles". I eat foods with antioxidants, like blueberries and nuts, like crazy. I am starting to share clothes with my daughter.
It helps that I was blessed by good genes-my grandmother never looked her age, either. (Many of my other close female relatives have smoked, so not such an accurate template). And I *do* think the next thing is my favour is that I have never smoked. I drink mostly water, tea, and black coffee now. A lot of decisions I make are based not just, or even so much on the health benefits, but that I am VAIN and want people to say always "You look so much younger than that!"

Friday, November 27, 2009

Wow, in the past year

I have lost 35 pound ( though I think I gained almost 5 back yesterday, I have given up dairy completely and gotten off albuterol ( unless I am exposed to excessive perfume or second hand smoke), have cured myself of what I though was IBS. I have given up all alcohol except a few glasses of red wine a month. I have given up calorie laden ( and pricey) coffee drinks, and started a purist coffee life. I have added daily cardio, weights, and more walking to my life. taking walks while my kids are in lessons has been a lifesaver, physically and mentally. I feel fantastic- better than I ever have in my life. Ever. here is to the last 25 pounds and more fitness goals reached!

Friday, November 20, 2009

It's Friday night, it must be time for kettle corn

I swear I am addicted to the stuff!

In a heavy bottom pan, stir together 3 TBL olive oil, 3 TBL sugar, and 1/2 a cup of popcorn kernels. Set over medium heat, and pop, shaking occasionally, until the popping slows down. Remove from heat, but let set a few minutes so any last kernels can pop and it crisps up. You'll probably scorch some to the bottom but who cares? Salt liberally because popcorn without lots of salt is like sex without an orgasm.

Pork Vindaloo in the crockpot.Ada

Adapted ( rather loosely) from the Joy of Cooking

Heat your crock pot to high. Cut about 3 ish pound of pork into chunks. Toss them in. Drizzle with a little olive oil- if you're making this dish, you don't care about fat anyway. Chop an onion and toss it in. Toss in all the following, then stir it all up and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 7-8:

a few TBl garlic
3 TBL grated ginger
about 3 TBL curry powder
2 tsp cumin
about 1 tsp each of cardamon, cloves, and cinnamon
1 can tomato paste.

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Bread machine Naan

By request- this recipe is adapted from "The Barbecue Bible" by Steve Raichlen

Combine in bowl of bread machine:
4 cups white whole wheat flour
1/2 cup vital wheat gluten
1 egg
2 1/2 tsp yeast
about 1 TBL olive oil
about 1 TBL sugar or honey
about 1 cup warm water

Start processing and watch closely to see if it will need more water. It may need up to a cup more. Allow dough cycle to finish. Remove and cut into gold ball size pieces. If you don't have access to a grill ( the best way to make them, but don't ask me how, Brian does that) heat up a cast iron skillet to medium hot. If you have more than one, it will go faster. Cook on each side about 2-4 minutes, or until it bubbles and brown spots start to form. Try to make them last until supper.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Lost Boys : The Tribe

When I was a teenager, I was obsessed with "Lost Boys" I watched it several times a week and could recite it the way I can recite Princess Bride. What was not to love...it had Keifer Sutherland, both Coreys, the awesomest Doors song ever, and a buff shirtless guy playing a sax. And vampires. So when I read that a SEQUEL had been made, I was off to add it to my Netflix queue.This movie has Angus Sutherland, a Corey,a song by some group I have never heard of, and a shirtless guy playing a sax who really needed a muumuu. And vampires that made those in "30 Days of night " look like neat, polite eaters. They at least had the sense to include "Cry Little Sister" ( redone, of course) and some lines from the original about the death throes of vampires. As so often happens, the sequel epically failed to live up to the original.

Sunday, November 08, 2009

When you teach your kids a dead language


DSCN3399
Originally uploaded by gojirama aka romanylass
they are going to insult their siblings in a dead language, then have to write apologetic notes like this.