I Am A Good Cooker

I just made the most tasty of dinners!

Salmon a la RunnerGirl48.

&

Roasted Vegetables with Couscous and Feta from Spilling the Beans (sans garbanzos).

Oh Friday, How I Love Thee!

I've worked some crazy overtime in the past two days. Good news is that my overtime bank is now full (for extra days off later this fall) and even though I have to get the rest paid out, it will just about pay for one of my Anusara Immersions! If the tax man doesn't take it all, that is.

I didn't get to bed till 3 last night, but I set an alarm for 7:30...can't miss my Friday yoga class (followed by coffee and chit-chat)! I woke up feeling really great at 7, so I got up and am just starting to feel the lack of sleep now.

Today's class was great--we worked on shoulder and skull loop and tried some neat things with headstand and forearm balance (ooh, my shoulders are tight!!). I'm stoked about the workshop next weekend with Desiree and am loving my practice lately. Immersing myself in yoga studies, asana practice and kula (community) has enriched my life in so many ways that I have a difficult time articulating it. All I know for sure is that the path I'm on is true and I treasure each moment along the way.

When I got home this afternoon (yes, class is from 9:30-11 but I didn't get home till 2), I made plans to hike with C. and some of her peeps tomorrow. This meant I had to plan a "summit sammie". Now, I realize that we're hiking to a lake (Rawson), not climbing a peak, but still. I hike better when I know there's good food at the end! Enter the muffaletta! It's HUGE, but is going to be oh, so good! There's the olive spread (with fresh oregano from my patio), ham and capicola (spicy!), provolone & mozza, roasted red, orange & yellow peppers, and roasted zuke & aubergine (sounds so much better than eggplant, dontchya think?). I hollowed out a loaf of sourdough (my Safeway didn't have any other crusty, round loaves) and loaded 'er up! It's now squishing (that's a technical term, by the way) in the fridge.

I had some leftover veggies and remembered the tasty salad I made for Julie's potluck in the spring. Of course, I had no green onions or cilantro, so I had to go back to Safeway. The end product was definitely worth it, though!

Black bean vinagrette + roasted veg + black beans = Deliciousness!

Now, I must finish this cup of herbal tea (cranberry apple zinger, if you're wondering) and get to bed. It's gonna be an early morning!

Busy Monday Morning!

Especially since I slept in! =)

I had set some chickpeas to soak overnight, so I drained them and put them on to cook. 1 hour and 45 minutes later--beautiful chickpeas with nary a preservative in sight! They've been aliquotted into 2 cup servings and frozen (keeping some back for my lunch, of course).

Then, 25 pounds of apples got cored and sliced and frozen to become applesauce, apple crisp or apple pie at a moment's notice in the dead of winter when you'd kill for some tasty, fresh fruit!

Lunch was a new recipe (that I of course adapted):
Mediterranean Greens
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup pine nuts
4-5 cloves crushed garlic (I used garlic scapes and 3 cloves of garlic)
1 onion, sliced
2 bunches chard, rinsed and chopped (I used a mixture of chard, beet greens and kale)
1 lemon, juiced
1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted/chopped
1/4 tsp sea salt (I omitted)
1 cup chickpeas, cooked
feta (for garnish)

Saute pine nuts until golden about 3-5 min. Add oil, onion and chard stems and saute until they begin to soften.

Add garlic (and scapes) saute 30 sec, more.

Add greens and saute until wilted& bright green, about 3-4 min.

Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients.

Garnish with crumbled feta and enjoy!

OH. MY. GOD. So fresh and so tasty!! And an excellent way to use up things that appear in my CSA veggie box each week. =)

Off to plan my yoga class for tonight (I've got it all in my head, just need to put pen to paper) and then brave the rain to teach.

Baked Apple Smoothie

1/2 frozen 'nana
fat free Greek yogurt
1 leftover baked apple
Unsweetened vanilla almond breeze

Blitz in the Magic Bullet. Eat with spoon.
OMG.

I want to marry Jamie Oliver!

Running Fool

Laura was right: You never regret the runs you do, just the ones you don’t.

I spent all day in a meeting with only a bio-break here and there. No food and only coffee (blech!). Needless to say, by the time I arrived home at 1430h, I was ravenous!! Breakfast (yummy pumpkin smoothie) was a loooooong time ago.

I made some bulgur and while that was soaking, rummaged through the fridge freezer. I found a cod fillet and a little a-ha! light bulb blinked over my head. I bought Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution cookbook last weekend and I seemed to recall a few tasty looking fish dishes. How does bacon wrapped cod with fresh rosemary grab ya? Yeah. TASTY. I had a serving of homemade Greek salad over the bulgur while the fish was sizzling away in the toaster oven.

There *may* have been a nap after lunch.

When I awoke, there seemed to be a big ball of fire in the sky! Good God, could that be the sun?! I hadn't seen it for so long I wasn't sure...

I laced up the runners and headed out while the window of opportunity presented itself. Have I mentioned how I dislike running at any time other than first thing in the morning? No? Well, I dislike running at any time other than first thing in the morning. Must have something to do with my circadian rhythms or something. Whatever. I added in this old friend, Three Post Hill, just for fun:



32:47
7:46 km/h
4.22 km
335 cal

It wasn't fun. It wasn't easy. But the weather was perfect and I feel great now that I'm done!

I'm munching on more Greek salad while the oven is preheating for my next Jamie creation: baked apples! Mmmmm....I was intrigued by the spice mixture (bay leaves?) and the addition of booze (how can this be bad?). I'm sure I won't be disappointed!

Happy Friday!

This Ain't Your Mama's Potato Salad!

Oh, how I wish that my camera worked!

Loosely based on a recipe by Michael Smith (The Chef at Home).

Chop a bunch of green onions. Add a little red onion too, for colour.

Finely chop some celery for crunch.

Mash up 5 hard boiled eggs (I hate the yolks unless it's undetectable).

Then I added a bunch of Epicure Caesar dressing mix to the homemade mayo I had leftover from last week. (I did this last night so the flavor would be spectacular. It was!)

Fry up some bacon. Mmmmm...bacon. Bacon makes everything better. I dig the pig. Remove bacon, but keep the drippings.

Quarter a bag of new, baby red potatoes. Par-cook them (I nuked 'em for about 6 minutes first).

On a baking sheet lined with parchment, arrange the drained, partially cooked spuds. Drizzle with the bacon drippings. If it's not enough, add a little oil. Toss with your hands until they're all happy. Roast in a hot oven (I used convection to speed it up).

When the spuds are golden and lovely and cooked, take them out and let them cool a little. I blotted mine with some paper towel since they were so glisten-y. Throw everything together and add a 1/4 cup of shredded Parmesan cheese.

Oh. Yeah.

Potluck Recipes

So, what did I take to the potluck on Saturday (you may or may not be asking yourself)? I admit, it was a little intimidating taking something to a local foodie's house, but I thought to myself, "Self, you are a GOOD cooker! Do not be afraid!"

Both recipes are from my friends at Quantum Leaps Lodge (where the yoga retreats were). You can also buy the cookbook from their website. I've made (and sampled) lots of the recipes and have yet to find one that I don't like!

Tahini Garlic Dressing
1/2 c nutritional yeast
1/3 c water
1/3 c soya sauce or Braggs
1/3 c apple cider vinegar
2 cloves garlic
2 TB tahini
1 1/2 c vegetable oil

Combine all ingredients except oil in blender. Blend until well combined. With the blender running on low, slowly add the oil through the hole in the lid. Blend well.

* I don't have a blender, just a Magic Bullet, so just whiz it all together in there. Lettuce is merely a vehicle to get this dressing to your mouth!!

The salad was lots of romaine, black beans (what was left over from the recipe below), tomatoes, cucumber, red and orange pepper, red onion, avocado, grated raw beet.

And then there was the *new* recipe. The one I hadn't yet sampled at the Lodge or tried on my own before. But since everything else in their repertoire is excellent and I'd dog-eared this page as one to try...

Asian Rice Noodle Salad with Black Bean Vinaigrette
1 package rice noodles
1 medium eggplant, cut in 1 inch cubes
1 medium zucchini, cut in 1 inch cubes
1 large red pepper, cut in 1 inch pieces
3 TB EVOO
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 c almonds
1/2 c black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 c green onions, minced

Preheat oven to 350F.
In a large bowl, toss the eggplant, zuke and pepper with the EVOO and S & P.
Spread veggies on a baking sheet and roast for 30 min or until soft and golden brown. Set aside to cool.
While veggies roast, make dressing (below).
Cook rice noodles as directed on the package. Run under cold water to cool.
Toast almonds in a pan until golden and fragrant, cool, then chop.
In a large bowl, combine the rice noodles, roasted veg, beans, green onions and dressing. Mix well.
Garnish with toasted almonds (don't leave these out--they take this salad to a whole new level!)

Black Bean Vinaigrette
2 cloves garlic
1 TB fresh ginger
1/2 cup pickled sushi ginger
3 TB sushi ginger juice
2 TB apple cider vinegar
3/4 tsp sea salt
3 TB honey
1/2 c black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 c fresh cilantro
3/4 c vegetable oil

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend well.

Yeah....new favourite salad! I've decreased the amount of oil in the garlic tahini dressing and will do the same with the black bean vinaigrette recipe the next time I make it.

OMIGOD, I can cook!

I came home from work and whipped up an AMAZING meal: Indian Dal and Rice (from The Best of the Chef at Home Essential Recipes for Today's Kitchen by Michael Smith). I added all the extras he suggested: cumin seeds and chopped tomato. I didn't have basmati rice though, so substituted jasmine (it was just fine). I had to add more salt when serving, too. YUM! Go buy this cookbook! It also has the best cream of mushroom soup I have ever tasted.

Super easy, relatively quick, cheap and tasty, tasty, tasty. I have to say, since I broke up with the boy last summer, my consumption of Indian food has decreased greatly (it's the only thing I miss about him, really). This dish more than made up for it. It could just be the perfect dal recipe!

I had a crazy busy morning: left at 0830h and got home from yoga and race package pickup at 1252. Left for work at 1340h. I'm kind of tired, now that I think of it! Yoga was awesome, as usual.

On the mat today: adho mukha vrkshasana (handstand). And we practiced hugging in to the midline (even using a block between our thighs to feel inner spiral). I may not be able to move tomorrow! But fun, fun, fun! Lots to play with in my personal practice, that's for sure.

Must get some sleep now, which could be interesting, as they've been cleaning my street for at least the last 2.5 hours that I've been home. =)

African Stew

Yummy, yummy! And an excellent way to get your dark leafy greens in (along with PB, and c'mon, who doesn't like PB?!)

It's from the cookbook, Cooking Vegetarian by Vesanto Melina & Joseph Forest. My friend, Lisa Q., made this for me and I've been hooked ever since. I can't make it without thinking about her!

Makes 6 cups

4 c vegetable stock
1 chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 c peeled, diced yams
1 c cooked chickpeas
1/2 c brown rice
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 c peanut butter
2 c chopped kale
2 TB lemon juice
tamari or soy sauce (optional)
hot sauce

In large pot over medium heat, saute onion and garlic in 2TB stock until soft. Add remaining stock, yams, chickpeas, rice and salt; simmer covered for 45 minutes.

In small bowl, blend peanut butter and 1/2 c of liquid from stew to make smooth paste. Stir into stew along with kale and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in tamari if using.

Serve with lemon wedge and hot sauce.

Jell-o Legs

That's what two days of skiing will getchya. Yesterday's weather was fan-freaking-tastic: sun, occasional flurries, did I mention sun, and no wind up on Goat's Eye.

I practiced some of the black runs I did last weekend and *gasp* even tried a few new ones! Had a small heart attack at lunch when I purchased a small bowl of chili (that comes with a teeny tiny bun) and a bottle of orange juice (I've been fighting a sore throat for days). You want HOW much? Yep, ten bucks. I stopped at Safeway last night and threw together a vat of my own chili while doing laundry for today.

Into the pot:
-an onion
-3 cloves garlic
-pound of lean ground turkey
-1 red, yellow and orange pepper
-1 zuke
-loads of 'shrooms
-can of kernel corn, drained and rinsed
-can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
-can of lentils, drained and rinsed
-2 x 28oz cans of whole tomatoes (I rough chopped 'em up)
-package of chili seasoning for the crock pot (I'm out of chili spices and waiting for my Epicure order!)

Hey, for six bucks, I'll share some with you, and lemme tell ya, it's better than what you get on the hill!

Today I met up with my new skiing buddy, who's SEVENTY and we tackled the steeps and baby bumps. Too much fun! I know my skills are improving when I'm thinking that Delirium Dive (a double black run that requires avalanche gear to enter) might be possible (not this year, but sometime). The very fact that I'm not freaked out by this:



anymore is HUGE! The greatest part about skiing with Dan is that I know he won't take me somewhere out of my league. He'll push me, yes, but he is also contractually obligated to keep me alive and unhurt! =)

We were planning a few runs that we'll have to do when he's out of uniform--he's not allowed to take me on just anything!

Alas, my chili gave me great staying power (had to eat it cold because the microwaves in the lodge SUCK. One was broken and the other was being used by people trying to heat food from frozen. It took too long) to get through the day! Oh, and did I mention that I realized on the gondola that I forgot my mitts at home? Yep. So there went my plan of staying down on Goat's Eye & Wolverine all morning. Had to go to the top to buy a new pair. And apparently all women have small hands. Nary a mitten in my size to be found. So I walked out with some fabulous snazzy Burton gloves.



All in all, a good couple days of skiing. And there's supposed to be more snow tomorrow!

I guess this year it's a Lion

With a birthday at the beginning of March (Thursday, in case you're wondering. There are two shopping days left!), I know first hand of the "in like a lion, out like a lamb". Some years it was full on spring for my birthday, other years, like this one, freezing my bits off in the deep freeze of winter.

I don't care, I'm going skiing tomorrow. And Wednesday! It's snowing out there and I'm fast running out of ski days, since the entire month is all about me! For example:

- March 11-13: trip to Fun-couver with my mom to see the amazing Dr. Wayne Dyer and Marianne Williamson at the "I Can Do It" conference. There will be other fun things too, because, well, Fun-couver is FUN!

- March 18-20: yoga retreat in Golden, BC with my yoga teachers, Nora and Judy

- March 25-28: trip to Hamilton to visit friends and run Around the Bay (30K)

Not much time to hit the slopes, so I must take advantage while I can!

In preparation, I thought I'd make up a schwack of chili for lunch at the hill. I pulled out a few cookbooks and settled on Vive le Vegan's Cocoa-Coconut Chili. I was intrigued by the addition of cocoa, coconut milk, allspice and cinnamon to the traditional chili ingredients. The result: it's ok. It's not bad, but it's not the best chili ever, either. I thought there could have been more heat (I had to add quite a bit of hot sauce) and a squeeze of lime and cilantro helped bring out the flavours. Maybe when it's reheated...would I make it again? I doubt it. I can do better on my own.

Alas, I need to clean up the kitchen, pack the lunch (there may also be some *cough cough* Amarula and hot chocolate going in the lunch bag) and gather up my gear. I bought a pair of super warm long johns at Patagonia this afternoon to keep me warm on the chair lift!

Happy Monday!

Is it Friday yet?

Hmpf! Didn't think so. But tomorrow's my Friday, so I just need to get through till then!

Last night I met with my Course in Miracles group. My take-home message: If your life is only a seven, it's 'cause you're only showing up as a seven! It was a lovely evening of good company, good tea and spiritual nurturing. Just whatchya need in this frigid cold we're engulfed in! Did I mention it's currently -33*C with the windchill?? (Good thing the forecast for the weekend in the mountains is good--I need to hit the slopes--Sunshine's got a schwack of snow since I was there last Monday. I'm planning on going on Sunday and Tuesday, & maybe Wednesday too--we'll see how my quads are feeling.)

Wasn't sure what to have for dinner tonight, so instead of wandering the aisles of Safeway aimlessly, I hopped on the bus and headed to Sunterra. There I gathered ingredients for a Greek salad and got some Mediterranean stuffed chicken breasts. After unloading the dishwasher so that I could reload it again, I started to work on the salad:

-cooked a cup of quinoa
-chopped a red and a yellow pepper
-chopped a cuke & a pint of cherry tomatoes
-chopped 1/4 of a red onion

Made a dressing with:
-3 TB EVOO
-3 TB Epicure Greek Salad Dressing
- red wine vinegar, lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove, crushed

Toss it all together and let it sit at room temp to let the flavours meld. Mmmmmm! Make it a complete meal by adding a can of drained, rinsed chickpeas.

Now I'm going to clean up my kitchen, pack lunch for tomorrow, make a pot of herbal tea, roll out my yoga mat and have a quiet, restorative practice. Afterwards, I do believe a soak in the tub with my new book, A Thousand Splendid Suns, is in order!

Cookin' Fool!

My kitchen smells yummy!

I've been a busy girl tonight:
-planned my *first* yoga class for the Eating Disorders Program for tomorrow night
-made tomato fennel fish stew
-made veggie pizza
-crock pot is cooking a chicken taco soup

Into the pot went (in this order):
-onion
-celery (2 stalks)
-garlic (2 cloves)
-orange pepper
-Epicure taco seasoning (~3 tsp)
-chili powder (~2 tsp)
-can of niblet corn, drained
-can of white navy beans, drained and rinsed well
-two bone-in chili pepper chicken breasts from Costco
-can of diced tomatoes (not drained)

The lid is on and it's turned on low. By morning, I'll have a yummy chicken taco soup! I'll just have to take the bird out, shred it, give the rest a good mix, add the bird back in and VOILA!

I'll let you know how it all tastes.

I'm working straight through till Friday (thank goodness for days off) and then the weekend, too. I know that I will need to have healthy, hearty food to get me through the week.

This week is going to be great, though! How come?
-Teaching tomorrow night.
-A Course in Miracles group meets tomorrow. So excited that I came across this--I went to a vision board workshop yesterday (OMIGOD, so AMAZING!!) and the facilitator mentioned it.
-Anusara 'All you need is love' class on Wednesday and tea with my yogi friends beforehand
-Sparkly bits covered on Thursday
-Off on Friday but am going to another yoga class and fulfilling my commitment that I made in yesterday's workshop
-Work Saturday, Christmas party Saturday night
-Work Sunday.
-Rest Monday.
-Work Tuesday evening.
-Leave for Hawaii on THURSDAY!!

Hmmm....guess I'll have to fit some running in there somewhere. I wasn't able to fit in my 20 miler (32K) but I can certainly get some solid running in during the week.

Whew! I'm going to bed.

Tomato Fennel Fish Stew

From this month's Chatelaine.

Fish stew

Make it. I used basa because my Safeway didn't have haddock or tilapia that wasn't coated in a mystery sauce or deep fried.

It's easy, quick and tasty on a cold winter night!

Whirlwind of Activity

Hello!

I had a super busy, great day! I had coffee with an old co-worker who's moved on to bigger and better things in the company and is in town on a big project. It was great to catch up with her!

Then I connected with M and we hit the mall running. A quick stop in Chapters (and almost $50 later) and I emerged. Stops at the Bay, Ricki's, RW&CO, the post office, Lulu and Sephora rounded out our evening. We high-fived when we walked out of Lulu without having opened our wallets.

I got to hear a race report for the half marathon she just did. I think all of these races are in our future. An all girls race? Sign me up!

Then I made a very yummy batch of African Stew. My friend Lisa Q. introduced me to this fabulous vegetarian concoction of chickpeas, brown rice (I used quick cooking barley), sweet potato, onion, garlic, peanut butter and kale. Served up with a wedge of lemon (or lime) and some hot sauce and it's to. die. for! If I wasn't so lazy, I'd post the recipe. But now I just want to clean up the kitchen so it's not such a disaster to wake up to in the morning, do my physio and hit the hay.

How was your day?

Physio Rehab

Photo from www.saucony.com

Well, I was right! It was the shoes! We have a new plan: ease into 'em gradually, and make more regular appointments for physio. Oh, and do the exercises!!

I had acupuncture on both legs and while I had jelly legs as I left, they're starting to feel better now. I also have an appointment on Monday afternoon. Have I mentioned how much I love my physio? My running is SO much better since I started seeing her. And my body likes physio too--happy body = good running.

Whipped up a pasta dinner with stuff in my fridge:

-zuke
-onion
-shallot
-garlic
-28 oz diced tomatoes

Saute veg in a bit of EVOO. Add tomatoes and simmer till liquid has reduced to barely anything. Add:

-red wine (I had some Shiraz laying about)
-fresh basil
-anchovy paste (don't worry, you can't taste it! It adds a whole new dimension to the sauce)

Simmer some more until desired thickness (another 20 minutes or so).
Served up over a cup of macaroni (original, I know) with a tablespoon of grated Parm (the real stuff, not the powder from the green can. Trust me, it's like the anchovies!)

Super yummy! And I also have leftovers!

I have the day off tomorrow and am looking forward to:
-a run
-some yoga
-noodles for lunch
-possibly a kirtan (chanting)
-drinks to say goodbye to a coworker
-dinner with Carol, who I haven't seen in what seems like ages!

Whew! And I'm almost done the blanket--10 rows left!

It's the Weekend!

Reasons to celebrate:

- Michelle's in town again this weekend!

- The AMAZING fish and chips with tartar sauce I made for dinner last night. The recipe in Crazy Plates was a guide, I added some Epicure Tyee fish rub (I think it's just called fish rub now, 'cause nobody knows what "tyee" means. FYI: "the big one") to the coating. I also fiddled with the tartar sauce: I added 1/2 TB asparagus relish from the farmer's market and a chopped sweet pickle for the sweet relish and then added capers just cause capers make everything better.

- The Peach & Raspberry Cobbler I made. I was inspired by Jaime's post the other day. I substituted raspberries for the blackberries (I'm not a big fan) and Oh My! A photo doesn't do this baby justice, so I won't include one.

- My WI. Another 0.4 gone. I like it.

- Starting the day with an awesome Yoga class filled with wonderful yogis and an inspiring teacher. Mind, body and spirit are all happy.

- Registering for a knitting workshop! A new skill: entrelac! It looks like this. I WILL have the baby blankie done by then, I swear!

- Registering for a weekend workshop with another wonderful yoga teacher!

- A bike ride, perhaps? We'll see what Mother Nature has in store for later this afternoon.

- An afternoon nap with Nerm. Need I say more?

Garden goodness

Sweet and Spicy Swiss Chard
from All Recipes dot com
The onion and chard all came from my garden!

I doubled the recipe and threw in some black beans (1/2 cup). Calorie King says the whole thing plus the beans is 579 calories. It's tasty, although I think I'd put more ginger in next time. It's definitely different than how I usually eat chard (one of my very favourite veggies!)

And here's Nerm in her new penthouse:

500 Worthy

What, pray tell is worthy of the 500th post on this blog?

Lemme tell ya:

Graham wafter + Nutella

Oh. My. God.

OMIGOD!

Was my lunch good!!

Into the container went:
-romaine lettuce
-cilantro
-1 cup heirloom tomatoes
-1 cup cucumber
-red onion
-1/4 avocado
-6 strips Sesame Ginger tempeh, prepared as per package
-1/2 cup black beans

Dressed with:
1 tsp sesame oil
1 1/2 TB seasoned rice vinegar
1 TB lemon juice

I would have taken a photo, but I was too busy enjoying it!

Thanks, Sheryl!