New Blog - Moved!

I have a new blog! It is my whole combined blog:

This Whole Life

Come find me - follow me - be encouraged. All of these posts are over there - so come on!

31 Whole Days Challenge

Praise God April is (almost) over. Its been a great month, but not for the eating/exercising/weight part of it. May will be different!
I love starting new things, having goals, etc.
Happy Herbivore is doing this and when I saw it - I thought I could do this. It is not RAW, but unprocessed - I think there is a difference.
My friend Sarah is doing it and she has made her own tweaks to make this be balanced and work for her.
So, this month:
1. Going to keep a food journal and really assess how easy or hard it is to eat whole, unprocessed foods (with receipts).
2. Going to apply this wholly while I am at home, but slack some while at restaurants. Try to eat as whole as possible out, but knowing I can't control everything on a menu.
3. Will keep up with my recipes from magazines and will try to just bake then I can give them away and not eat them. I don't have any whole, unprocessed magazine recipes.
4. Will post the highlights and lowlights each wknd for the month of May.

Looking forward to the challenge. Are you up for it?

Durham Farmers' Market and Food Thoughts

Greetings for a Saturday night. Its been a good day.

The Durham Farmers' Market is great local find. All vendors have to be within 50 miles or so of Durham Cty. Which is very local!

I found french breakfast radishes. I have already used them all: in a stir-fry (w broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, zuks) and roasted - which they almost turn to mush. Raw - these have a peppery bite which I'm not used to with regular radishes you buy in the store. I even am going to use the green as a salad tomorrow for lunch.

I found a hybrid green: green leaf and romaine. Hearty lettuce that will stand up for the base of my couscous chicken salad this week.

I also found a winery in Graham that makes Scuppernong and Muscadine wines. So, I tasted all three and liked the Scuppernong the best. May go back and gte some more later - however I was nice and bought my brother some Muscadine wine. Let's see if he likes it as much as Dakota Winery's...

Here are my food thoughts:

1. I have been snacking WAY too much. Not even bad stuff - just eating too much. I don't like that feeling and I don't like that sin.

2. So, I think I will spend tomorrow journaling about it, getting back to God's heart on my eating and exercising, and see if we can get a game plan going here for more obedience.

3. I will (starting tomorrow) take my friend Sarah's advice and maybe try to eat bigger meals so I will not snack every 2 hours to so. I won't be tempted to open that snack drawer in my office. I won't be tempted to grab that handful of SweetTart jellybeans! And if I do snack, it has to ve veggies or fruit - plain. Or with mustard. None of these processed pretzels, or cool whip, or even granola which is higher in fat. I need healthy fruits and veggies.

4. I would rather be able to wear all my clothes than to eat more. But, that shouldn't be more sole reason. I should do it to please my God who sent His Son to die for me. Right now, for me, that doesn't seem to be a big enough reason. Lord...help.

Spicy Maple Pecans

I come from a family of pecan growers. I love those little tasty nuts! :)
So does my Granny. She gave me plenty of them at Christmas time when I was down in FL for a visit. I heard that she liked spiced or sweet pecans. So, for her birthday in February I said I would make her some. Well, now it is about 3 weeks after that and I am just getting around to making/sending them. But, these are so good - so please get them out of your house quickly!

I found this recipe on Hannah's blog (I love her simple yet beautiful photography) and halved it:

1/2 lb pecan halves, unsalted
1 1/2 T unsalted butter, melted
2 T real maple syrup
1/2 T light brown sugar
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/3 tsp cayenne pepper

375. Pan with shallow sides, spray pam. Mix all together to evenly coat. Bake for about 12 minutes, stirring frequently. I only burnt 2 so that is good!

Me? A Beautiful Blogger Award Winner!

Thanks to Sarah at River City Fitness - I am now a Beautiful Blogger. Sarah - thank you for the award and the friendship we've come to have!

Here is how it works:
1. Thank the person who gave you the award. – Thanks Sarah!

2. Paste the award on your blog.

3. Link back to the person who gave you the award.

4. Share seven interesting things about yourself.

5. Nominate up to 7 more beautiful bloggers.

6. Link the bloggers you nominate.

Here’s 7 “interesting” things about myself.

1. I started cooking for my family in the 3rd grade - including grocery shopping at Publix

2. One of my fave meals is baked mac and cheese

3. I started running in January 2009

4. I actually am loving the single life right now!

5. I'm about to move to a beautiful state!

6. I love to enjoy fresh picked produce - like Florida Strawberries!

7. I have lost 55 lbs since April 2008. I've kept it off since August 2009 and still want to lose more!

Here are the 7 Beautiful Blogger awards I'm giving out!

1. Beth @ Bethabee

2. Brandi @ Bites

3. Elise @ Simply Recipes

4. Kevin @ Closet Cooking

5. Laura @ In Definition

6. Kari @ Fam

7. Hannah @ Honey & Jam

Thank you all for your inspiration! :)

Food Mantras

Bad food nights make me think so much about what needs to change in my life (usually on the morning after). Yesterday was just a bad eat day - I just ate all day. Especially with a yummy dinner with my friend, Brandi. Man, that girl can make some pulled bbq (and we had a salad).
So, I woke up this morning and thought more about this this morning (it wasn't all thought of this morning, but I had just put some final touches on it). And with changes in my life coming the end of this month (moving, sharing a fridge and freezer, having a Trader Joes and state farmers market close by where I live)...I have greater opp to put these into action.
What are your thoughts on these?

1. EAT LESS. Yes, we all know that, but let me explain. I mean, use little dishes, use little tupperware for meals and snacks to bring to work, be more mindful of portion control, eating less so I will start to be satisfied with less.
2. EAT BETTER. I have now almost completely cut out all processed foods from my diet. But, potato chips (even good for me ones) still make it into the grocery cart, some frozen dinners make it in there as well. I want to make all my salad dressings (which I do), granola bars, meals, snacks, etc. Maybe I'll start buying mostly organic, but I don't know that yet - especially the few times I eat meat, organic meat is so expensive! I don't think I want to go to a CO-OP of CSA because of the NC State Farmers Market that will be so close to me in a month. I am also excited about learning more about canning so I can do something with all these fresh fruits and vegetables.
3. SHOP MORE. This one may not necessarily go with the other two. I've always dreamed of living in a place like NYC or San Fran where I could walk down to the market and pick out what I wanted that day to eat and cook. I do love planning - but something about that is appealing to me. This will have to work because of sharing a fridge now. I need to have less stocked up and buy fresher ingredients. So, I want to go wknd farmers market shopping and then go suppliment that by TJ or HT or Super Walmart for the random things I need.
4. SPEND LESS. Am I really thinking this through? How can all these work? I have figured out that if I do the above three things, than I will actually accomplish this last one. I will waste less food, buy less because I'll be eating less, and be more picky about what I buy.

What are your food mantras or what do you think about these?

Super Bowl Food

Wow, it seems like the Super Bowl was so long ago! And it was only Sunday (2 whole days). It is amazing how fleeting things in life are that are totally not important!

I went over to a friend's house and we both made some stuff we liked, but also picked conferences and made food for that team.

I had the NFC (Saints) and made bourbon chicken (it was sweeter than I wanted it to be, but I have leftovers). Lorrie had the AFC (Colts) and she had oreos (commercials) and Orville Redenbacher - because it is in IN.

The nachos and oreos were fave part for me.

Birthday Eats

no wonder I have a few pounds to shed after a 2 weeks of celebrating my birthday. Look at all the yummy stuff that was put in front of me! :) All was very good. But, my body doesn't perform well after all that eats - just taught me more lessons!

Baked Ziti, garlic bread, Publix yummy desserts and ice cream (Blue Bell frozen yogurt)

Red Robin

Lynn's Paradise Cafe

And may or may not have had any york peppermint patties or dark chocolate covered cherries that are in my house! :)

But, you only turn 33 once. And I've already dissed all those extra pounds - from the bday).

Random Dinner and Loneliness

This contains no recipes - well, maybe I'll put what I had for dinner tonight.
OK - here's dinner: 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt, 3 tsp pom arils, 4 pecans - all mixed together; plate of baby spinach with ketchup as my dressing; 1/2 kroger breadkfast muesli bread with honey peanut butter. Yes, I don't always cook gourmet things.
I come to a dividing line. I'm trying to think through this - so if any of you care to respond, I welcome the conversation.
Dinner is meant to be shared. Lunch - give or take (most of us work) - we can eat in the rush of everything. But, I long for the day that I have people to eat dinner with. Yes, the loud crunching (remind me not to make anything that makes noise), the slurping of soup (remind me not to make soup), or the complaining of "I don't like ________" (reminder: you can't please everyone all the time, as my Dad used to say). Dinner...I actually enjoyed Thanksgiving meal because we all sat around the table, people enjoyed what I cooked, people were talking, there was conversation. Not so much in my apt. Some days it is very nice to come home to the quiet. Some days - like today - I wish I cooked a nice healthy meal and actually sat down to the table (instead of the chair in my living room), carried on a conversation about "how was your day, honey" or "what did you learn in school".
Dinner and loneliness. I've read many articles through the years that even if you live by yourself, you need to fix a meal, sit down at the table with the table set. I sometimes do that - most of the time I don't. "Maple Street Memories" by the Statler Brothers is my conversation piece tonight (and one of my favorite songs, I rememember singing it in the car when I was younger).
I can see how the elderly lose their appetite - they don't want to eat by themselves. I wish I had that problem - I eat. But, sometimes it is just more interesting when you eat with others.
I like discussing the food with others, I like having a warm body in the house along with me.
And I pair this with the fact that I love living by myself.
Anyway, just thought I would share.
"She's got a hundred dollar wallet made of caribou" - quoatable words by David Wilcox as I listen to "Daddy's Money", staring at my empty black and red bowls, knowing that I have to do Bob's Biggest Loser Boot Camp video before going to small group tonight - in the cold.

Always Around

Just got to thinking about things that can always be found in different places in my kitchen. Here goes my list. Top 5 things in each section:

Freezer
1. Berries (fresh picked)
2. Ginger (to make it last longer)
3. Chips (chocolate, butterscotch, cinnamon, white chocolate)
4. Candy bars (great to mix into blondies or cookies, or eat for an occasional snack) - right now I have york peppermint patties and snicker bites
5. Chicken or fish (some kind of healthy protein)

Fridge
1. Mustard (condiment of choice on raw veggies)
2. Carrots - raw for munching or salads
3. Mixed greens and/or baby spinach
4. Vanilla yogurt
5. Arthur's Whole Wheat Sandwich Thins

Pantry
1. Dry beans
2. Chicken stock
3. Peanut butter (Peanut Butter and Co's Dark Chocolate Dreams or Skippy Natural)
4. Honey
5. Canned beans

Baking section:
1. Flours: wheat, bread, and regular
2. Raisins
3. Craisins
4. Sugar - white, brown, dark brown, and raw
5. Oats - plain rolled oats from the bins at Whole Foods

What is always in your kitchen?

Time, Bravo, Top Chef, and TV Dinners as recorded by Joel Stein

Gotta hand it to Time magazine. Joel Stein is a great writer. His article in the latest Time is called "TV Dinners Get Literal". A frozen food company has picked up a line of tv dinners that will be using Top Chef meals created for the tv show. I think you need to read the whole article (very short), but these are some of the "highlights". And I agree wholly with Joel Stein, just for the record.
Harry Balzer, a dude who tracks food trends, "You are going to eat four to five times today, and the one thing I know you aren't to do is try to get someone else to prepare those meals." Today I did that. I had a meal out with a friend. That is fine. Not all the time, but occasionally - and I love to eat out. But, very seldom do I have pre-packaged foods in my fridge. I seldom buy a rotisserie chicken because I know it is cheaper and tastes better when I cook a raw one in the oven. I don't buy frozen veggies that often because I would rather go pick mine from a local farm or buy them fresh from the market - even buy a ton of them and freeze them myself.
"I ordered all five of Schwan's Top Chef meals - which cost $10-12$ per meal." Folks - come on. I can eat on 5 meals for that. Or more. Do you know how much money you are wasting just to pop something in the microwave for minutes 30 seconds, peel off the cover, stir, and repeat. So, not only is your stomach and the rest of your body suffering - but so is your wallet!
"The cauliflower, though a weird glop that was totally unlike cauliflower, kind of compelling." I would rather spend 2$ on a head of cauliflower, take a minute to chop it up, put it on a roasting sheet pan, and throw it in oven. I don't want a weird glop of something white on a plate.
"They used fresh ingredients (talking about the Top Chef folks). By the time this gets to you, its a salty mush. I'm sure Kevin didn't put guar gum in it." All these fake ingredients - go on, grab a fake meal out of your freezer, read the ingredients - anything fake? You don't need them. I am loving eating a mostly whole diet. It is so much better for me. Even my granola bar today had 3 ingredients in it: dates, peanuts, and salt - all natural ingredients - and so very good!
"The Top Chef deal is targeting people who don't have time to cook but do have time to watch TV. Its going to make a fortune!" Oh, if people only knew how stupid and true that was. Joel hit the mark on the head. People will watch Top Chef just to have something to talk about at the water cooler (I'll be watching the whole season when I get home for Thanksgiving this week), buy all the Top Chef gadgets for the kitchen, and then use the knife they bought to cut a slit in the film cover on their frozen meal.
Wake up folks!

I read way too many food blogs when....

My breakfast this morning consists of:

1/2 cup whole wheat apple cider couscous with Trader Joes orange flavored dried cranberries
1/2 cup ff vanilla yogurt
1 T Nature's Path Pumpkin Flax Seed Granola
1 tsp flax seeds

And I enjoyed every bite! :)

Thanks food bloggers!

Kitchen's Cure

Wow - if you are anything like me, there is so much food in your kitchen, food you never use, old stuff, etc. Well, The Kitchn is sponsoring/hosting a 4 week Kitchen Cure. I'm definitely taking it. I'll be taking pictures of before and after. The first week starts today. An assisngment is given each Friday - and you have all week to complete it.
Mom and I have been doing a good job of cleaning out some by eating leftovers instead of eating out all the time while she has been here.
But - much more to go. Like, leaking jars of homemade strawberry jam - gotta clean out that fridge!
So - go join! Your kitchen and the health of you and your family will improve by the end of the 4 weeks!

Simply Good by Mark Bittman

Another great article in this month's Runner's World. Mark Bittman is a great cook and a good runner - been doing both a long time, so I think he's pretty knowledgeable. He cooks sane, simple food - and runs a lot. More than I will ever run - guess I can have hopes right?
"To me, running and cooking are both uncomplicated pleasures that can be enjoyed with minimum equipment and time." One of the reasons I picked up running was because it was cheap and I could do it most anywhere. I didn't pick up cooking for the same reasons. I love to cook, but I wish I could cook cheaper! I love having random ingredients, and simple ingredients, fresh ones, aren't always really cheap. But, I also don't have tons of gadgets. I have my good pots and pans, a few good knives, and other simple things. Two things I love: microplane and my dutch oven. Fab!
"Plants, of course, means vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, and nuts. What do these things have in common? One, they don't have ingredients, they are ingredients. Two, they might be shelled, or peeled, or trimmed, but they are essentially unprocessed." I love unprocessed foods. Give me fresh ingredients - none of this fake stuff. I'd rather have unsweetened tea (drinking Gold Peak Tea right now) then sweet tea made with sugar (too high in calories) or fake sugar (hint: fake). I do drink some diet stuff every now and then, but he does talk about moderation in this article as well.
"It was important I maintain my love affair with food. I believe no food is "evil" - its the proportions that are off. Don't fall into the trap of thinking about foods as good or bad - nothing is evil, or is going to hurt you in moderate proportions, similarly, no food is going to save you." I love this quote. I may write this on my fridge or something. Every year for my bday - I have Cheesecake Factory Dulce Le Leche cheesecake - I eat most or all of it. But, I don't have it every day. I love cheese - but if I do, I don't have it in 2 cups of homemade mac and cheese, I an ounce of it - or some shredded over a great salad. I love Oreos. If I could eat just one, I'd have them around the house - but I can't, so I don't bring them into my kitchen.
"Increasingly, studies show plant-based diets lead to weight loss or help prevent obesity." This is very true - but again, moderation is the key. Don't eat 1 cup of pistachios - eat 1/4 cup. Don't eat 2 cups of black bean soup - eat a cup. It is still all about serving sizes and moderation - even with dealing with healthy, nutritious food. I am still very much learning this myself.
"Studies show that diets rich in plant foods, moderate in fat and protein, and low in processed foods can help protect against diabetes." This is key! Obesity and bad eating habits are two key factors in adult diabetes. I have to give my Dad props in this area. Many years ago the doc told him to watch his sugar intake. He started. Now, he has kept off a bunch of weight for a few years now and has no medical problems, taking no medicine, is in great health! Go Dad!
"Unquestionable, eating sanely has rejuvenated my running, made me more youthful, and helped me feel, well, simply good." Eating good foods and treating your body well - exercising - makes you feel better! You perform better, you work better, you sleep better, you have fun better. Try it!
"Its impossible to eat well if you don't shop; its nearly impossible to eat well if you don't cook." I know many friends who dread going grocery shopping. I love it. I wish I had more money to do it with. I wish I could shop all the time at Whole Foods - but I can't (nor do I need to, Walmart is just as good). I miss Publix and guarantee I would grocery shop more if I lived near one. If any of you out there want grocery shopping how to have fun while doing it lessons, or need some new healthy recipes - ask me!

Check out cool stuff at Mark's website. Live healthy. You'll be glad you did!

"Food for Thought" - Southern Living January 2009

During my lunch break today, I went to an office down the hall and picked up the January 2009 copy of Southern Living. The last page in there had this article.
My brother has been inspiring me with his writings on Florida - so I thought I would tap into Southern Cuisine.
I grew up on smoked mullet, black eyed peas, cornbread, chicken and rice, mustard greens, fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits, corn beef hash and rice, liver and onions, sweet tea, banana pudding, hummingbird cake, strawberry pizzas, chicken casserole, goulash, fried catfish straight from the Suwannee River - all these things are still tasty to me! They remind me of home.
Southern cuisine does that. It reminds you of simpler times, home, front porches, the river (and by this I mean the Suwannee), summers on a farm playing with doodle bugs, swimming with cousins, playing softball in the field, "enter your favorite southern past time here". I love being from the South. It is the greatest thing!
So, here are some thoughts from the article by Marti Buckley Kilpatrick subtitled "One world traveler finds her Southern roots in a bowl of greens."
1. "If you want to get a Southerner impassioned, ask him or her about the correct way to cook collard greens." SO TRUE! Anyone can tell you their family recipe for many of the above dishes. And if you differ - you are wrong. Just true - same with gumbo, clam chowder Cincinnati chili, or any other "northern foods".
2. "If collards couldn't be incorporated into my global worldview, then did I really have hope as a Southerner?" I love to travel and have been all over the world. I love to try new cuisines and taste other cultures' food. But, if people ask me what I would live on the rest of my life - if I could only have one food - Southern. That's it. Well-cooked Southern. Now, it isn't healthy - but I could learn moderation and pick up the exercise!
3. I love her last paragraph - so here it is: "After a couple hours of simmering (collards), I settled onto the sofa with a bowl of slow-cooked collards. I realized that everything I love about the South was contained in this steaming mess o' greens - the simplicity, the straightforwardness of the flavor, the comfort and warmth that flooded my mouth and throat after every spoonful. I may go far and wife, fall in love with faraway cuisines, people, and places, but it's a relief to know that all it will take to remind me of my roots is a simple stewed vegetable." And that is why I still love to make Southern foods.
Thanks to my Papa, Granny, Mom, Dad, Alan, Martha, Aunt Gladys, Lindsay, and many others over the years who have taught me about southern cuisine. I live currently in Louisville, KY - it is NOT the SOUTH. That is why I have to get home every now and then to go back to my roots. I'll never forget. I pray one day that God allows me to live in the South again. But, if not, at least I know how to cook Southern.

What I Like Right Now

I haven't done one of these in a while, so here goes.
1. Tomatoes - end of summer crop. Tomatoes seemed to come late this year due to the weather, so I'm still enjoying yummy ones. Had a tomato sandwich last night.
2. Roasted Garlic Hummus - I made some last weekend and have been eating on it all week.
3. Ginger - I love the sweet yet with a kick of spice.
4. Granola and granola bars - something I eat almost every day of the week.
5. Great Value (Walmart) ice cream sandwiches - 110 calories - yummy!

True Florida Grits

True story about true grits - and sausage. Who says you have to eat Cheerios to live a long life?
http://www.tampabay.com/video/?bcpid=28597115001&bctid=29775739001

Fun video!

Food Review: Fage Yogurt

So, many blogs and magazines lately have been talking about yogurt. What kinds, flavors, how much sugar, protein, carbs, etc.
Fage 0% is a greek yogurt that many have said is outstanding! They even told people how to eat it for its best: with honey and fruit.
So, I bought some (hey, its only 2 points), stirred it up (very creamy, looks more like sour cream than yogurt), added some Kentucky honey and fresh blueberries. Took one bite. Didn't like it at all. It wasn't sweet - and this is what they said - but I guess i like my yogurt a little sweeter.
But, I didn't want to waste my blueberries so I took them out, rinsed them off, and put them in a bowl of multi-grain cheerios instead! And a peach sliced in there - it was yummy.
So, if I need Greek yogurt - I'll know which brand to get, but if I just want to eat some yogurt with fruit and granola - I'll stick with Yoplait!

What I like right now:

I love these little installments!
1. Frozen blueberries. I went and picked some at Hubers last weekend. I almost like these frozen better than fresh. They are so yummy. I eat a handful with some Cool Whip Free - nice evening snack after walking and yoga.
2. Gelato Gilberto's. Amazing place near the Summit in the ville - totally opposite end of town, so I'm glad or I would eat more. I'm still thinking about the Key Lime Pie I tried and the Cookies and Cream on a cone which I devoured. Glad it had less calories than Cold Stone. Going there again hopefully on the 11th.
3. Mustard. I think I may have put this on here before. I love its tang. And the fact that it is natural and few calories. I'm dipping my carrots in them right now for part of my lunch.
4. Homemade Jam. My friend Rachael taught me how to make freezer jam. SO GOOD! I've never had jams taste as much like their fruit counterparts as this. So glad I still have 3 ctrs in my freezer. I just had some on a pbj.
5. Water. I know - this is a copout. But, I drink it mostly room-temp because I don't like it cold unless I have a straw. I drink so much of this stuff. I'm glad its free at restaurants (and you can probably see most wait-staff rolling their eyes because it takes away from the price of your total bill - or doesn't add anything to it). But, its also good for you - and great when it is really hot outside (like its been recently in the Ville).

Things I like this week

I love summer - fresh fruits and veggies! They are so yummy. Well, here is what is keeping me happy in the kitchen lately:
1. Fresh strawberries. Rayann and I went to Huber's in IN this past weekend. I got about 13 lbs of strawberries. They are very juicy and sweet. I do plan on making a berry pie and some scones when my friend comes to visit. The rest will just be eaten. And I've given some away to neighbors and friends. Kinda reminds me of Plant City strawberry season!
2. Sun-Ni Original Hummus. I usually like to make my own hummus. But, with having a busy weekend and starting housesitting today - just haven't had time. The best hummus store bought is Sun-Ni. I love Lotsa Pasta's and Grape Leaf's and definitely George's Garage in Durham.
3. Hint of Lime Tostitos. Man - they are so addicting. Salty and tangy. Great with corn and black bean salsa.
4. Fresh everything. Right now in my fridge I have green beans, tomatos, apples, cherries, zuks, cuks, corn on the cob. Yum! So healthy too.
5. Barbara's Organic Pomegranite Granola Cereal. Its what I've been eating for breakfast. Got it at Rainbow Blossom.