The Wounded Knee Massacre

Hiya Minxes!

In my ever graceful sashay through life... today I decided to take a little tumble down some stairs! I thought to myself: Self, what could I do that would be unexpected, a little kooky and all the while stay active? My immediate (and obvious) answer was of course: Throw myself down 9 concrete steps.

Broken Glasses: $300. Cracked Tupperware: $1.99. First Aid by Kim: 2 glasses of wine (to be awarded). Trying to explain why a grown woman has scrapes all over both her knees: Priceless.

So after a little damaged pride (not too much left in the bank at this point), a few WSIB forms and a bang up spectacle repair (in the form of Todd- who decided I should look like Lisa Loupner) I was perfectly looked after and put directly to work. These babies STING!

I've just called my Suz to let her know: I WILL be at the gym... I just don't know if I'll be able to bend and straighten my legs in any succession.

In order to heal these gashes... I voted for the omega 3 fatty acids found in tuna to keep my blood thin and my skin supple! I also found this handy as I had broken the tupperware that housed aforementioned meal and needed to consume or dispose before making my lunch bag smell like SeaWorld.

Just a can of white tuna (washed) with 2 tbsp of dijonaise and a couple of chives, stalk of celery and scallions- all served on washed Boston Lettuce. I really like the hydroponic lettuce- less grit and sand than some of the earth bound varieties- and the stalks are fairly flexible, making them good for wrapping and stuffing!

Breakfast was (wait for it....) a green monster. This time I made it with some frozen blackberries, so it turned into more of a Purple Monster. Lunch was a cheese string and some baby carrots on the bus- while watching my beloved Little Dorrit! I'm finally on the last episode and I already know that I'm going to miss these characters! I'm not one to READ Dickens, but honestly, ANYTHING Andrew Davies touches turns into pure gold. He's set to do a Middlemarch remake- which I LOVED the first time! It starred Colin Firth's brother and a Gor-Geous Rufus Sewell.

Speaking of Dickens- Today is Family Literacy Day! I try to take great advantage of my local library, and love seeing families and children there (well- as much I like seeing them anywhere really). My Mum and Da took great time and care to read to me and to make sure that it was a priority... I think it's a fabulous value to instill in children. Do you have memories of a favourite book from your childhood- or a special moment reading with your parents or children?

According to the photographic history of my very sophisticated family- I've always had a fondness for reading on the loo... Thanks goes to Kiki and Puddin' for documenting a 5 year old making her mark on the world.

So now... my peeps... I turn to you! I really need some help in the menu planning department. Trying to plan what to have and then cook most of the components is turning out to be a little more daunting than I esteemed. I AM trying to cook at least 2 new recipes a week- and am having a hard time incorporating that agenda with just getting my act together for regular meals (most of which are transported to work). I'm also finding it a pain to try these recipes while cooking for one. I'd love any suggestions you guys might have for planning/sticking to and brown bagging your meal plans.


So, because I've been a little lazy this week- I'll have to catch you up on the rest of the week.

Sunday- I found myself in quite possibly the biggest conundrum I'd been in in some time. After working a midnight into Sunday- I decided it was going to be a quiet night at home. Fireplace on and wine poured with some spinach pizza (deep dish... oops) baked for a lovely evening... I came to a fork in the road. Test the Nation-with the world's most adorable Liberal (don't find THAT very often huh?) Justin Trudeau OR Celebrity Rehab III with the INDOMITABLE Dennis Rodman. I eventually chose Dr. Drew and gang because... well, because I love a train wreck. Honestly, this guy is a disaster of galactic proportions! He tried to tell the group that he was above all the 12-step stuff and that he was smarter than them and he has reached a 'Zen state! Sure- say hi to Gary Busey in Nirvana! or Tarzana... whichever you get to first!

Monday- Robbie Burns day! 251st birthday of Scotland's Favourite Son... wee Rabbie! I celebrated by having some lunch with my Da at Boston Pizza (I have no substantiated proof that the Scots ever colonized Massachusetts, but there's no Nova Scotia Pizza in my hood).


Nah- just kidding... I had this healthy bugger!

Wasn't great... I really like Jim Treliving- but the guy needs to work on vegetarian healthy options at Boston Pizza!

Then, in true Scottish form- we carried on to my FAVOURITE PUB- Up Yer Kilt! A couple of ciders later we carried on for another couple of places til we ended up at my Da's local. There, I honoured Mr. Burns by doing my best "Ode to the French Onion Soup". Again- no real segue, but soup was all I could really muster off that menu that was vegetarian and wasn't deep fried.

Tuesday- Quiet day- 1 packet of no-name vegetable soup with one sleeve of high fructose corn syrup saltine crackers. SEVERAL glasses of water.

So that's a wrap mein liebchen... back tomorrow and let you know how the crusty kneecaps are doing! I hope I can run! Maybe I'll do a day to day photo spread so you can all see how quickly I heal. Wait for the keloids kids... that's my new talent (I'll cover my X-Men regenerating skin talent in another post- it's sorta freaky... I'm an overhealer*)

Slainte!
Amanda

* This has not been verified by a doctor. It's been downright dismissed in fact, I was told "That's not even a thing". But like Susan Sarandon in Lorenzo's Oil, I won't let the establishment break me.

Lacklustre week...

Hiya Doves!

This has been a stupid week. Not too much going on, and no good reason not to blog... but I haven't really had anything exciting (unlike previous posts... I'm sure) to say!

So here's a quick recap- At the gym Tues, Wed and Thursday... all pointless workouts. Ran/ walked/ cycled... all half hearted. So that's enough of the gym talk.


I think it's because I was missing my energy addiction... the MONSTER.


Working midnights can sometimes mess with you a little bit, and while I was making these faithfully, I was feeling pretty good! But a failure to plan, cook ahead and pack up lunches and snacks turns me into a slave to the take- out... I do not make wise decisions under these circumstances!

So that's enough of that talk too!


Onto healthy things... sorta.

Because I ate out so much of the week, I had some seriously abandoned vegetables in the crisper come Thursday. These veggies showed their dissent by wilting, drying up and all around spoiling. Much like what's been happening in other parts of the world this week, I pulled a few survivors from under the detritus and found myself with a mix mosh of things and no inclination to be very creative. Result: Soup. While not my favourite food, by a long shot, it IS an easy and nutritious way to use a motley crew of vegetables, which is what I had.


So.. green, red, yellow and orange peppers went in with a mirepoix (carrots, onions, celery- Thank you Julia Child for "la nom posh" ), a head of Swiss chard, a can of low sodium tomatoes and some vegetable broth.

Cooked for a few hours, then throw it in the blender- and a soup is born! It's pretty tasty- and AS USUAL, I have way more than I need... so it goes in the freezer, right beside the frozen rats. Yum.


Went out for dins with Maman on Thursday - to what was purported to be "Dinner and a Makeover". Held in a trattoria in Brampton, one which Kiki and Puddin' patronize often, it turned out to be a Mary Kay presentation before dinner. So, not thrilled about that, but happy to be out with my Mumsy and her good friend Ellen and daughter Holly, we stuck it out. Dinner options were decidedly unvegetarian, so like any decent person- I decided to have the least ethical choice of them all... Veal Parmigiana


The veal WAS pretty good... and I didn't suffer any pangs of guilt until later on that evening, when I realized I had declined to buy any Mary Kay because they weren't approved by PETA. Um... should thought that one out a little more.


One of the perks (read bribes) of attending this demo were door prizes! I love pressies!

I won this hot mama just for asking a question! ( I think it may have even been the self incriminating PETA one too... groan.)

I almost gave it away when I won it because it it came in a chocolate box... not into choccies.

Tomorrow after a midnight shift, I'll be doing some cooking for the week. I'll be on afternoons... so that'll help life for a week.


Just wanted to let you guys know about something my Auntie Rachel pointed out to me. If you have or are planning to but some bee pollen for your green monsters.. or other concoctions: bee sure it's pollen gathered from bees that have fed from non-gm crops. According to her information from a beekeeper, those little black and yellow munchkins are killing their bee kids (smile) when they bring back pollen from gm crops... this is one of the reasons for the disappearing bee population. Thanks to Auntie Rachel for that info!



Do you guys ever have trouble getting motivated? Even when you've had some successes... AND you know how much better you feel when you're on the healthy train? VERY FRUSTRATING.


Better week ahead..


Slainte!
Amanda

Oodles of Noodles... and not the regular kind!

Hiya Midges!

It's been a few days since I posted... and I know you're counting desperately on these updates (yuk yuk), so I apologise!

It's been a busy weekend, with lots of eating and not a lot of picture taking... but I'll do my best to recap!

Friday I had my Mum over for dinner and along with some champies, I decided to make a Shiritaki noodle stir fry. For those of you unacquainted with "The Miracle Noodle"- it's a tofu based pasta with zero carbs and a very low calorie count- pictured below is one package of angel hair, making two hearty bowls.... 80 calories for the whole thing!

You simply open the pack, drain the noodles (this part is very important... the liquid is GROSS), rinse them off in some warm water- and then heat them up in a skillet- or add them to your prepared dish! A little mushier than regular wheat pasta- they hold up well when not overcooked.

We had ours with some pesto, spinach, peppers, and whatever else was at the bottom of the crisper!

The shot is a 'leetle blurrry'.... the champies made it seem like perfect focus at the time.

The shiritaki noodles are available in several different shapes, from fettuccine size to this angel hair, so you could use them as a substitute for pasta, soba noodles, egg noodles... whatever your little heart desires.

On Saturday- I went to see Avatar. Holy-fricking-Moly! This movie was ridiculous! The special effects are out of this world (no pun intended) and the 3D version knocked my socks off! While my companion and I both commented on how anti- American, or at least how anti-colonialism the movie was... it also has a really interesting environmental message. I won't spoil the plot for anyone here, but the lessons to be learned from that VERY sexy paraplegic and his blue pals is an important one. As an aside.... alien sex is sorta HOT.

Went for japanese all you can eat after the movie and totally forgot to take pictures of what was definately the most interesting looking food I've eaten all week. Sorry. It'll have to suffice for me telling you that 168 Sushi is the best in Brampton! The rolls are plump and plentiful, the sashimi is fresh and delicious and the tempura is light and not greasy at all! The presentation is gorgeous as well... picture worthy. Next time, I promise!

So that's when things went off the rails a bit... I was at Kiki and Puddin's on Sunday night as we had to get an early start to the hospital Monday morning. We decided to order pizza and wings. We all know that some really healthy choices can be made with pizza... don't we! Lots of veggies are a great choice, thin and whole wheat crusts are an option and no meat and light cheese can make pizza a really sensible choice. Right?

Yup, well I had Boston Pizza's Perogie Pizza... a cavalcade of starch! A fairly greasy crust topped with potatoes, sour cream, cheddar cheese and bacon. God... I'm hanging my salivating head in shame even as I type this.

There is nothing even remotely healthy about this slice... or the other three that followed it. I can't even fool myself that the green onions are an excellent source of chlorophyll... It was just a big, salty, potato-y fat absess.

Following that artery clogger... we had some wings.

These are not Quorn wings or tempeh wing shaped treats... these are chicken wings. Not proud folks... not proud.

So after a long, unproductive day at the hospital (returning home Ari Nussbaum-less), I met up with my friend at Jack Astors and had a few of these bad boys... (thanks to Farmer Freddy)

The food at Jack Astors is not great- but I've got to respect a place that has a regular and large option for a glass of wine. God Bless you Jack. And your astors.

After all the debauchery of the weekend, it was high time to straighten up and fly right!

Some people think that their life would be complete with the perfect partner or a million dollars or a bangin' body. I woke up this morning and realised that what my life was missing was this...

Don't worry Ma, I haven't ventured into S&M again... This is a spiralizer! I've been eying one for a while and decided upon waking that I had to have one. Immediately.

So I went to the Apple Factory (where I espied this contraption in the fall) and picked one up. Then, just like justifying buying a new outfit to match newly acquired earrings, I decided a grocery run was in fine order. Off to Fortinos for an unplanned 200$ shop, and Bob's my uncle (or was... but that's another story)! I bought several spiralizer-able vegetables and present to you, my loyal fans, this nest of green love...

I mean- c'mon! Can you beat Zucchini Spaghetti? Me thinks not!

By placing the zuke where the apple would go (yes, this machine COULD be called an apple peeler to the uninitiated), you can create a loopy veggie ribbon that has the same shape as an endless spaghetti strand. Tossed in a little olive oil (as above) and some garlic and shayka shayka, this gorgeous girl will taste awesome nuked for a minute or so!

Tonight I'll top it with some sauteed peppers in a tomato sauce- but much like the Shiritaki noodles, the possibilities are endless! You can even try to make a zucchini Loch Ness Monster- as I've done here...

Good golly- the fun I'm going to have with this hot rod! Maybe I'll make food braids. And food friendship bracelets. And food shoe laces.

Sadly- no news on the running... this ebola cough and the activities of the weekend have kept me away (not that I fought very hard, to be honest). Once I zithromax the frack out of this chest infection I'll be back... I have a VERY patient workout partner who is relying on me, so no more slacking when the respiratory sytem is back on-line! Maybe if I make her some food jewellry, she'll forgive me!

Do you guys have any weird kitchen gadgets that you love? Do you try to buy only 'muti-task' devices? Am I an idiot for thinking most food would look better in squiggly lines?

Slainte!

Amanda

Squash and Snookie... Snookie and Squash

Hello Tootsie Rolls!

It's almost the end of the week and I am so pleased to say that after tonight's midnight shift... I am off for a week! It has been a pretty long stretch since December 24th, working lots of hours with a max of 24 hours off in between... and quite a few doubles in the mix! With EIGHT overtime shifts in the past 2 weeks... I am feeling quite deserving of a BIG glass of wine tomorrow night!

Gym update: Have put in 15k this week. Treadmill at gym 2x and one brisk walk (WAY too icy to run) outside. Still have this naughty chest infection, so all of the treadmill time was run/walk... got the kilometers in, but in horrible time! I have resolved to finally visit the doctors... this cough and wheezing is just not going away.

Despite all of the family stuff I have at the beginning of the week (fingers crossed pls), I am aiming for 20k for the week... at least 4x 5k. Depending on the outcome of my Da's surgery on Monday, I may or may not be spending much time at my parent's house over the next week. Not too far from my place, and the same distance to the gym... so despite some stress and a little inconvenience- I have no excuse to fall off the rails!

After all, my Mum DOES have a blender... so I have no excuse not to make one of these babies and set the tone for the day...

I've started the past 3 days now with a Green Monster... and am feeling better for it! Honestly, I can't say enough about how great these shakes are! I've given some to people at work (who accepted it skeptically) and most of them liked it! Even my Mum got in on the party tonight and had one with me before work. Now that I have the basic recipe down pat... I'm going to start playing around with some different additives. I'm thinking ginger, basil, garlic, frozen fruit, pumpkin, kale... the ideas are endless! If you haven't visited the Green Monster Movement site yet, be sure to follow the link to check out tonnes of hints for combinations!

Just as I am typing this... a friend blackberried me to ask me if I had slipped something in her drink! She had some only an hour ago and has a burst of energy! I'll ask her to submit her testimonial as proof... jk.

Another morning beverage I've been enjoying at all times of the day is bodum tea...

I was lucky enough to receive this french press for Christmas, and although I don't usually drink coffee (I save up my coffee points for really good espresso), this little device is PERFECT for loose teas. I find it makes a stronger tea, which I prefer, because the leaves and fleurs can float or sink and permeate the hot water on their own accord. They aren't caged in by a mesh tea ball or perforated spoon. The brew above is rose hip. It looks better than it tastes in my opinion. I've recently purchased Jasmine, Green Tea w/ brown rice and Japanese Green (my favourite). At some tea specialty stores, these blends can cost you a pretty penny, but at the Asian market, a large bag will run you from 2-3$. Obviously, there aren't the 'yuppie' teas we might be interested in at most of these markets, but there is a HUGE selection of oriental brews. Steeping your tea in a glass press or pot lets you really enjoy the whole ritual of the tea taking... very Zen!

In other nifty and thrifty news... I have just finished the second half of a spaghetti squash. These little nerds are also really inexpensive, make several servings and can be topped with ANYTHING! Just like nature's perfect little blank canvas!


Last night I had half of her with some baby spinach, antipasto and goat cheese.

Cut in half, seeds scooped out and then roasted downward dog with some olive oil spritz and some vegetable seasoning (shayka- shayka as it's known to Kiki and Puddin') at 400 deg f for 40 mins.

Scrape the guts out with a fork, and instantly, a thatch of spaghetti-like stands will emerge! I just folded in some baby spinach (raw- no need to steam, the heat from the cooked squash does it for you), topped with some antipasto and put a wee glob (official term) of goat cheese on top... and... VOILA!

Isn't she gorgeous? So many colours are always a good sign of something healthy (hence Smarties... ). But like every beautiful girl... after giving so much of herself to everyone else, she feels a little empty inside...

Ah she served us well! Good thing I didn't name her, this blog would be turning into a eulogy. I'm clearly taking this 'relationship with my food' thing too far.

Following in yesterdays footsteps, with half of her... shit- I mean: half of the spaghetti squash left... I decided more of the same would suit me just fine. Maybe just a different topping to change up the game a bit.

Roasted as above, but topped with some sauteed peppers and garlic and a little white wine. On the side were some baked tomatoes stuffed with some 1% cottage cheese flavoured with some Shayka- Shayka. The tri- colore effect was especially prudent as I was lucky enough to be watching Jersey Shore. I have now named this dish "Guidette Squash".


It was so filling... and I still have a quarter of the recently-broken-up-with squash at home. Tomorrow I'll have a WHOLE night at home and to myself, so I'll come up with something brilliantly exciting and creative... I'm sure.


I''ll be back tomorrow... I just watched Food Inc, so I have that to talk about. As well as my big plans to try curling in February, winter tennis, The Bachelor, The Biggest Loser, the idea of weekly/monthly challenges and other random thoughts.


Do you set weekly or monthly challenges for yourself? What have you tried?


Slainte!

Amanda

And So it Begins...

Let's just jump right in to the deep end. I might as well announce my goals for this bloggy blog off the top! This, to my mind, will serve three purposes: I will remember them, I will be accountable for them, my mother will know about them (and lovingly prod me towards them).


I will be doing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon on September 26, 2010. This is my priority, my main focus- because it seems SO hard! Not much more to say about that. It will be my first. I am semi-working out now- but it's been lacklustre. Training to 5k, then 10k increments will of course help... but this is one Big Mutha of a goal for me. Cross all available body parts for me please.

Along the way, however, I have a few less intimidating goals for myself as well.

I have been dabbling in vegetarianism for the past few months, with decent success. I felt better, looked better and spent less on groceries. I'm going to make this a more permanent conversion now. I still will consider myself a flexitarian- nothing should be totally off limits (except maybe PCP)- but I'm going to try to be mostly chaste to the veggie gods. Part of this particular part of my little adventure is going to require me learning to cook. I've been so inspired by the blogs I've been trolling these past few months, I've ventured forth into the kitchen with brazen aplomb. Some complete failures of course... but some fantastically successful meals as well! Cooking for one can be difficult sometimes (my roommate is a cat- no THE cat, Schmeicel), so I've coerced my darling friends (Red, La, Suz) , parents (Kiki and Pudd'n) and dear Auntie (Joey) into taste testing my concoctions. They are supportive and polite. Not always in that order. I'll be posting recipes (with links to sources) as well as results and pics of said masterpieces.

I am interested in starting a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) garden in my hometown. My recent interests in food, its origins and in whole eating have brandished me with information that I found truly startling about food costing/subsidized food availability/ low income obesity and poverty related malnutrition. I have MUCH work to do to get going, the idea is not even embryonic at this stage- but tonnes of ideas, lots of support and the time to do the legwork!

I'm sure there were a few more goals I set for myself when I started filling out the blog forms... speak conversational Japanese, save 30K by December, teach my cat to run a bath, meet and marry Ed Burns... This is why I think it's helpful to write them down. I've got a tinge of the old goldfish brain.

It must be said that during this petit-voyage, there will be various random blogs on my very random life. Movie reviews, people reviews, observations and the accountings of the things that could and do only happen to me.

There will also be quite a few glasses of champagne along the way, that's how I roll.

Please support, comment, correct, chastise, submit and embrace this blog! I'm relying on you to help me keep going!

Slainte!
Amanda