Caulifower Curry makes me purr..... ee.

Hiya Possums!

It's been a little while and I apologise... I know at least ONE person has been checking daily to see if I've posted! (Mwah).

It was a staycation week... and I did very little if I'm honest. I organized my spare room and FINALLY got rid of Bellasinead's mortuary. It was a hassle to move, but Joey and the Igor at Goodwill were more than helpful! That same day- Thursday I think, I went with my auntie for lunch at a new Japanese restaurant.

I have said before that 168 Sushi is the best in Brampton... well, the competition is here. More on that later!

A friend of mine mentioned to me that Bee Pollen was really helping her Mom's energy levels. Ever the slave to fad and fandangled ideas, I picked some up the other day and decided to give it a shot in my green monster.
The taste IS distinct.. nutty sort of... hard to really describe. They are crunchy little nuggets of gold that are sweet to start of with, and really lend themselves well to a shake. In with the ground flax, you'd never know they were there... save for a slight aftertaste.

As for the energy contribution... I'm sorry to say I have no definitive results. I find the shakes pretty invigorating on their own, so the added boost of pollen was lost on me if there was one. I will persevere though, increasing the amounts... Keep you posted if I leap any tall buildings!

In one SERIOUS bout of cooking, I hauled out the Vegenomicon and decided to make some Cauliflower and Lentil Curry...

Following the recipe in any book is pretty tough for me. I tend to stray after the third or fourth ingredient, so my results can not be found to be conclusive.

To prep: Vegetable stock, Red Lentils, One inch of ginger, Coriander, One head of cauliflower, Assorted bell peppers (my own addition- they were in the fridge), Onion, Garlic, Chilies, Assorted Curry Spices (cumin, cinnamon, cardamon- I added a pre mixed veggie masala spice mix)
I accompanied my curry with these sexy paratha(s) {I think an 's' is required to pluralize?}

Fry up peppers, onion, garlic and chilies in some grapeseed oil. When onions are translucent, and before garlic burns... add spices and toast them for 30 seconds or so. Next- add vegetable stock (enough to cover, plus an extra inch or so) and lentils.

So now I veer TOTALLY of the recipe's track... It calls for you to add the cauliflower after the lentils have cooked for 12-13 mins and let simmer for a while. I don't like cauliflower unless it's all broken down, so I steamed the hella out of mine and then mashed it whilst the curry was cooking the lentils.

While I was producing A LOT of dishes... I was trying to keep up with the clean up at the same time. Mrs. Garrett is off this week...

When the lentils were tender and mushy (like cauliflower- the only way I like them), I added the cauliflower mash and a can of coconut milk. This is a high calorie and fat ingredient, but it's a healthy fat and the rest of the meal is relatively low cal. The fat content definitely adds to the satiety of the meal.

There she is... with some chopped cilantro and a serious dose of lime juice!

While this was a good recipe (had I actually followed it), it needed some serious KICK and I squeezed a couple of rounds of Sriracha on top. All in all, not bad for my first curry without packages... but not great. Also, while I tried to lessen the quantities in the recipe, I had TONNES when it was complete... so Mum and Joey got some, seems nobody else I know is into curry. Cowardly Bastards!

Friday night I went to the illustrious Tonawanda. Saw one of the WORST- MOVIES- EVER: Amelia. Good golly. If I was ever a Hillary Swank fan, and I haven't been, this would have reversed such affinations in short order. Her accent kept changing from Katherine Hepburn to Eunice Kennedy. Richard Gere is is beginning to look startlingly like Renee Zellweger. Someone give these people a pocket dispenser of stevia... squinty lemon sucking eyes!

I did run into a chocolate fountain, but that's not really my thing... so I had a mini marshmallow and decided to stick a chunk of marble cheese under the wafting waves of milk chocolate. Never again.

So, now that I got my choc/cheese and Indian on... I was like the RAF and back to the Japanese! The lunch I had with my Auntie was SO good, that I decided my food loving girls needed to check this place out too! On Saturday night, we headed back to Tokyo Maki for the weekend night dinner!

This place operates similarly to 168 and Prince and has a fill-out menu that the waiters (who were very attentive- if not a little lacking in communication skills) pick up every few minutes. Food streams out very quickly from the kitchen, and these little worker bees earn every cent as they dart to and fro. Almost like Bridget Jones' mother: "A very industrious people".

A warning though: While the restaurant offers beer and wine, they do NOT offer liquor. This was an especially unfortunate notification as I was dining with this years winner of the "Girl Who Most Deserves a Drink" award and there was not a shot of rye to be found.

Among the various rolls and tempuras, we also had some Agedashi (fried soft tofu- my new favourite), tuna and salmon sashimi, edamame, teriyaki and this beautiful bouncing boy... an avocado pizza...I've had sushi pizza before, but it's not been great. This was AWESOME! The rice cake base was so crispy and warm compared to the creamy cold top, just an excellent combination of flavours and textures! Considering they eat essentially no dairy, I have no idea how the Japanese got on the mayo train- but I want to shovel coal all day and conduct that mayo train into my mouth station because I approve people... I approve!

This is my mayonnaise delight look. This is also a reminder that while green eyeshadow might look good in the powder room ladies... this does not always translate to the dining room.

More MAYJAH mayo, but on a healthier incarnation, on these adorable little cucumber rolls.

A ribbon of cucumber wrapped around shrimp and avocado with heavenly spicy mayo and sesame seeds. So basic, so delightful. I will be making these at home soon... think I will use surimi instead of shrimp. These are so light you could easily pop 5-10 in a sitting.

I did nothing at ALL at the gym last week- but I did go for a tan... if you don't lose the fat, you might as well make it less chalky.

I am currently addicted to the series Little Dorrit (it's Dickens- but Andrew Davies produced it... he did the mini series' Pride and Prejudice as well as He Knew He Was Right) and found myself perfectly incapacitated while imagining myself being rescued from impoverished obscurity by Matthew MacFayden. Also, Jamie's Ministry of Food is back on the Food Network- really educational about working class people and cooking/eating habits. I watched it on it's first go around and found it fascinating and a little sad.

New favourite show is definitely Come Dine with Me! 30 mins episodes each night have 5 strangers hosting dinner parties for each other and at the end of the week one of them wins 1000$ (it's actually pounds- but I can't find that symbol) based on the scoring of their dinnermates. I know 30 mins a day can be a bit consuming... but it's such light viewing, it's great for background noise. The commentator is HILARIOUS.

I've written off the Bachelor and Jersey Shore is coming to a premature (in my opinion) ending. I guess this means I'll have to turn off the fireplace and go outside and interact with real people. Sigh...

So it's Monday now- and I walked/ran outside for 4k, as the weather was pretty decent. I'm off to the gym in the morning, with a pretty pathetic stirfry for dinner tonight. No pics required folks... take my word for it, sad.

On a side note... I've texted twice to Rogers to donate to Haiti... has anyone else tried this? I know it's only ten dollars all told, but I thought it better than sending down my curry.

Slainte!

Amanda

My Fridge Was a TLC Special!

How was your weekend Squidlets?

Mine was great! Worked for most of it, but off tonight and up to big things... big things! By that I mean Eastenders marathon, laundry and fridge cleaning! Yeah, I'm a party girl!

Yesterday, after work (at 0715), I was lucky enough to have some brekkie with the lovely La. We went to Cora's. It's a great chain from QC, offering some very healthy and very decadent breakfast and lunch plates! From nutella and banana crepes to a Full English, there are tonnes of options in all ranges of the health/nutrition scale.

While I was ever so tempted to have the aforementioned crepes, I opted for some lighter, healthier fare!

It was sooooo tasty! Thanks La for the invitation and the company! What a nice way to end a midnight shift!

So after a wee sleep today, I was up and at 'em knowing that I desperately had to clean out this fridge. So I went to Sobey's to get some groceries (I know, seems silly to get food BEFORE cleaning out the fridge... but I required wine for this task!) and plunged right into it! You've seen the before pics (I won't punish you by posting them again)... are you ready for the afters? Well first, I feel like I must regale you with a bit of a description of my Frigidaire Bacteria Crypt...

I must say, I thought I was a pretty clean- fridge sorta girl. I wipe up spills when they happen, throw out items that are clearly past due date or starting to smell naff. I was sure that although there were clearly some problem areas, it would be the normal seeps and gobs of everyday living. I was not prepared for what I beheld. I did not take pictures of the concerned areas, as I've been told that what I find interesting... other people find fairly offensive. Let it be said that I may be channeling my inner Jonas Salk and that if yogurt had stem cells, I have just earned a fellowship at the Mayo Clinic.

So even these accumulations might be the results of daily living and cooking.... but I found a spider. Not actual specimen!

It WAS dead... but really? REALLY? A spider in the fridge? How did it get in there? How did it survive? I thought the fridge was a posi-lock, reverse oxygen chamber in which things of this ilk would not... nay, COULD not live?

If I'm looking at the positive slant here... I have to think: Spiders eat other insects, this little alien benefited my Frigidaire's eco-system by keeping the other bug populations at bay (I daren't think of it's sustenance) . I have not yet convinced myself that this is either plausible or positive. I guess if I had to pick a fridge predator... the spider would be it. Much better than a Komodo dragon or **gasp** the Mozambican Centipede. Jonas Salk I may be, Dr. Livingston I am not!

After I hauled out that crunchy carcass, it was all guns a blazin! I scrubbed the heckers out of that beast, and tossed some old condiments and re-arranged and TA DA...

There she is! All sparklin' and Sh*t!

Tomorrow, I'm off to the Asian market to get some veggies (WAY cheaper there), and stock up those newly shined up crisper drawers!

I think I'll be making some brown rice stuffed peppers tomorrow for lunch and spaghetti squash with spinach and antipasto for dinner... I'll wait to see what local produce is available at Oceans!

I'm going to use my double tomorrow to try to do some menu planning. Do you guys plan your menus? Any tips? Do you incorporate new recipes into plans?

Slainte!

Amanda

New Camera!

Hello Tadpoles!

Today I bought myself a new camera so I can glaze all of your eyes over in HD!

I have been happily snapping away at: Schmeicel, my mantelpiece and artistic groupings of lint. This is in an effort to get to know my new Canon SD780 ELPH ... I think you'll appreciate the results!

Firstly: What screams Happy New Year to all my blog friends? I'll tell you what!

FOOT FINGERS!!!!!!!!!!!

Nothing says out with the old and in with the new like some cotton/spandex blend separated toes! These things are the grilled cheese of footwear... C-O-M-F-O-R-T

Secondly: I thought you all might want to know what houses this precious little idiot savant!

This does! My little cottage in the city! Complete with fireplace in which to cook gingerbread and children!

And third(ly?): What does my fridge look like before the transformation (we're at T minus 5 til Jan 5th- start day)?

Not horribly UNhealthy... but not what Gillian McKeith would approve of either! Please note the 90$ dollar bottle of Perrier Joulet Champies in the wine section! Dont' worry, as much as I love the stuff, this girl is NOT paying that much for the bubbles. I won this at work in a wine auction.. fiddle dee dee!

I posted this shot so I can post the AFTER pic and you guys can see the changes. Besides removing the petrie born sea monkey colony from the fridge and the frozen rats (RIP Bellasinead) from the freezer- the changes will be reflected in many ways!

• No more meats/ meat products
• Greater variety in fruits and vegetables (I'm Captain Obvious, nice to meet you)
• Less cheese based foods (Even vegetarians can be chubby mucous slugs)
• More juices (Not just the grape kind- I have a fab juicer and LURVE ((pervy love)) fresh veg juice)
• More tupperware/glass containers (Since I started cooking I appreciate the economics and quality in making my own soup, juice, sauce, salad mixes.... etc.)
• Prepared fruits/veg/meals (We all know that convenience is king, if i take the time to prep the foods I'll need >>> the assembly time is no issue >>> eating what I've planned is easier >>> control over what goes in this potty mouth!

Are you looking forward to the new fridge look? Good... can you come over and help me clean it out? I kid... sorta. On the running front- I wore sneakers out to Future Shop. End of update.

I took some pics at dinner(breakfast) with my friend La, but for whatever reason- they are not saved. This is a shame, because it was Chicken Parmesan w/ Fettucine Alfredo. I thought by posting this and documenting the cholesterol fest... I would feel ashamed and have a really healthy lunch(midnight snack). Well, I do have a healthy lunch, but I don't feel ashamed. I feel proud... proud that I am SO generous to myself. (Yeah, I'm gagging too... )

Pics to be posted of tonights food tomorrow... no exercise AT ALL, as I'm on a quick turn: finishing work at 0700 and then back in at 1500 for a double!

... and that's 2 shifts of potluck people!

What are you guys having for special New Year's Eve treats?

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