Real Food Sunday

Posted on March 2, 2014 by silvergrrl

I work full time during the week, and take my lunch every day. To save time, I prepare my food for the week on Sunday and divvy it up into glass containers so it’s easy to pack each morning.

This week I’m making Kale Salad, mashed potatoes with garlic & sour cream, roasted butternut squash, and baby bok choy sauteed with a little soy sauce. Yum! All organic.

The kale in particular is blowing me away. It’s red kale (curly style), which I have not tried before, and it was incredibly fragrant when I took it out of the bag. It almost smells like roses. I’m making this recipe that I got from my friend Mary.

Kale Salad
1 bunch Kale, stems removed and chopped
4-5 scallions
1 large red pepper
grated carrot
dried sweetened cranberries (just 1/3 cup or even less adds enough sweet zing, but you decide what suits you)

dressing:
1/4 cup Olive Oil
1/3 cup lemon juice
2 teaspoons Coconut Crystals (you can use sugar, but coconut crystals are low glycemic and full of other nutrients so make a better choice)
1-1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1-2 cloves of garlic
1/2 teaspoon curry
1/4 teaspoon cayenne

Make this at least 8 hours prior to serving so the flavors marry and dance with the kale. I make up the salad in a large ziplock and dress it and shake it in the bag to coat. It’s even better on day 2 and 3.

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In the Moment

Posted on March 1, 2014 by silvergrrl

Today, I am ridiculously happy for no apparent reason. My life is really no different than yesterday, but my attitude is very different. I am determined to enjoy it while it lasts.

So what are the good things I’m pleased about? Here are some of them: I’ve lost 4 pounds in 3 weeks. I’m adding two new classes to my teaching repertoire – Zumba Step and a comprehensive strength/cardio class. Both are early enough in the evening that I won’t be tied up too late. I was able to buy the reformer I’ve been training on for a ridiculously low price last week. I’m planning to help my Mom celebrate her 90th birthday this summer.

Are there stressful things present as well? You bet! But I am not letting them get to me – instead, I’m using them to help me plan so as to ELIMINATE the stress.

So in the moment, today, I’m happy and I am making the most of it.

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Deja Vu All Over Again

Posted on December 13, 2013 by silvergrrl

Early in 1995, my husband Mick & I moved to Maui from Spokane. I basically “retired” from my work in the mainframe computer world and landed on that gorgeous island with no real expectations as to what would happen next. HE was the one with the job that took us there.

I know what you’re thinking: “How luscious! How wonderful to live in a tropical paradise and be able to enjoy it without having to slog off to some horrible job every day!”

And yes, Maui IS amazing. The rainy green jungle. The windsurfers at Ho’okipa (that’s where the picture at the top of this page was taken). The breathing lava flows at Waianapanapa. The high waterfall at Hana. The bamboo forests. Sunrise from the top of Haleakala. Sunset in Kihei. The gentle energy of the land. But I have to tell you that moving there was the most terrifying experience I have ever had.

At that point in my life I defined myself by the things I did. High tech job in the corporate world, city person, well-trained consumer, excellent income. When we moved to Maui, all of that was stripped away. All of it. In the stroke of a plane ride I became just me, whoever the hell that was. During the next four years, I got to figure that out.

In truth, that time was an amazing gift. I am deeply grateful for that interlude. I came out with some deep shifts in my attitudes toward the world and my life that have served me well.

You’re probably wondering why I’m telling you about this ancient history. Here’s the thing: I have realized that I am facing a similar shift RIGHT NOW. Dammit. From the scary before-it-happens side, not the relieved wow-how-wonderful-and-profound side. It helps me to remember I have done this before.

Coming Next: Dismantling my life, one chunk at a time

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Another Thanksgiving has come and gone

Posted on December 1, 2013 by silvergrrl

Four-day weekends are amazing. That last day (today!) feels like an extra bonus day to relax.

This was a nice, peaceful holiday. I had a “first” – first time ever baking pumpkins to make pie instead of using canned. All I can say is WOW – totally worth the small extra effort.

As I have done for several years now, I tweeted things all day Thursday that I’m thankful for. I love the spiritual connection that deepens through the day as I do that.

I got almost all the household “stuff” done yesterday, so today I will relax, so a little cooking, a little knitting, and get in some spinning practice. That would be with fiber, using my drop spindle. I’m not very good yet, but I will get there.

By the way, I updated my “About Me” page.  Go check it out!

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Life in Tiny Chunks

Posted on October 11, 2013 by silvergrrl

Dateline Columbia, SC: Local Woman Crushed Under pile of Naked Scientists
Husband: “I told her she didn’t have to listen to all those back episodes.”

Does that sound like you? It’s the story of my life.

Basic time management says when you feel overwhelmed, break whatever it is down into little manageable pieces and tackle each in turn.

I’m excellent at doing that in my job, but not so much in the rest of my life. I have great intentions: learn Spanish, keep up with my favorite podcasts, stay on top of website updates for the Carolina Butterfly Society (trip reports roll in all summer), keep up with my favorite blogs, etc. etc. etc.

Then I get a little behind. And  little more behind. And the next thing you know I have hundreds of hours of unheard podcasts, hundreds of unread blog posts, and an entire summer’s worth of trip reports to post. And I still have to look up “Lo Nuestro” (title of song by Juanes) because I do NOT have all those stupid pronouns down. I am feeling seriously overwhelmed.

To deal with the trip reports, I started posting one a day – just 1! – and I’m almost halfway through the backlog. Doesn’t feel overwhelming, doesn’t take a big commitment. This morning (yes, I’m a little slow sometimes) I started to wonder where else I could apply that same principle.

So here’s my challenge to myself: start where I am, figure out how to catch up on the things that are important. And lose the COMPULSION to catch up on those that aren’t. Maybe today I will listen to one Spanish lesson, or read one blog, or rock out with one episode of Punky!Radio.

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Fruit Cobbler Recipe

Posted on August 3, 2013 by silvergrrl
Peach Blueberry Cobbler

Local SC peaches, NC blueberries in a delicious cobbler.

This time of year is so wonderful with all the fruit in the markets! One of my favorite desserts is fruit cobbler, and this is the recipe I use. Simple, easy, and delicious. It reminds me of my childhood.

This cobbler in the picture was made with fresh local fruit. Yum!!

 

Fruit:
2-3 cups of fresh fruit, peeled & sliced if necessary
a little sugar (I never measure this)

2 Tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter

Batter:
1 C Sugar
1 C flour
1/2 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 C milk (a splash more if you are using whole wheat flour)

Prepare the fruit as needed, and put it in a bowl. Sprinkle a little sugar over it & stir well. Let sit while you do the next steps.

Turn the oven to 350F, put the 2 T butter in a 9×9 pan (I use glass), and put the pan in the oven.

While the butter is melting, mix the sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, and milk together. If you like, you can add a little cinnamon too.

When the butter is melted, take the baking pan out of the oven and tilt it to get the butter all over the bottom. Then pour the batter into the pan. The butter will goosh up the sides, that’s fine. Put the fruit on top of the batter in a fairly even layer. Sprinkle with a little cinnamon if you like.

When the oven is finished heating, put the cobbler in and bake for 40-45 minutes, until the edges are nicely brown & starting to pull away from the pan.

Enjoy! Serve with ice cream, or even just a little milk poured over it. And if 9×9 just isn’t enough, you can use a 13×9 and increase all the ingredients by half.

As a side note: I use organic ingredients as much as possible: full-fat dairy (from grass-fed cows, when I can find it), sugar, and I grind my own flour. When I buy fruit, I really prefer organic, but local will win just for the superior flavor & freshness.

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Practicing Mindful Eating

Posted on July 24, 2013 by silvergrrl

I turn away from my desk and computer and take a bite of my delicious lunch. As I chew, I set my fork down and gaze out the window. Only after I swallow do I pick up my fork for another bite.

I wish I could say that every bite of every lunch – every meal – was like that. I usually am halfway through before I remember my new intention, to mindfully enjoy my food bite by bite. To thoroughly chew so as to get the most benefit from the healthy food I am blessed to enjoy.

It takes time to build new habits, and I am being patient with myself.

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Foodist Next Steps

Posted on July 23, 2013 by silvergrrl

I did the food log for two and a half weeks. Enough to see clearly that when I plan ahead, I eat well. When I DON’T plan ahead, I tend to run out of healthy groceries and snacks. Then I will eat whatever is handy, which tends to be chips and chocolate.

The next step for me is to list out my “home court habits” – those established habits that work in my favor (like eating a healthy breakfast every day). Thanks to my handy reminder software, that’s on my radar for today.

I’ll also be making a list of those habits that *don’t* work in my favor. Then I can start to replace those with better habits.

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Loving the Paper Food Log

Posted on July 4, 2013 by silvergrrl

I am a geek. I love electronics – if I can do it on my phone, I’m a happy camper. In the past, when I have tracked my food and exercise, I have used mobile apps and loved them. My favorite, if you are interested, is VidaOne Diet and Fitness. I have lost many pounds, and mostly kept them off, with that app. If you are counting calories, there’s no other way to go.

But I’m not counting calories now. I’m trying to get the whole picture of my life around food and movement. And I’m finding that the inherent limitations of electronic tracking make it an inferior tool for THIS process.

Enter the pen-and-paper old-fashioned write-it-down log. Completely free form, I can put whatever details I like in whatever format I like (Color! Arrows! Scribbling in the margin!) which appeals to my inner artist. My notebook is small enough to carry around pretty easily, and if necessary I can always make a list on my phone and transfer it later with fuller details.

I did not expect to like this format. Pen & paper? How tedious! How last century! I’m really pleased to discover that it’s wonderful.

Thank you, Darya Pino Rose, for the nudge that has led me to a great new tool.

 

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The Food Log

Posted on July 3, 2013 by silvergrrl

My eating habits are just plain crazy.

Half the time I am SO good – healthy breakfasts on workdays, I pack my lunch and healthy snacks every day, I avoid processed food like poison.

But.

Evenings and weekends are a very different story. I tend to snack a LOT, and not healthy. We eat out more instead of cooking home meals. As a result, my weight tends to swing high by Sunday night, and back to “normal” by Wed. or Thurs. And “normal” has been creeping higher lately. Not good. I am NOT going to buy new clothes.

However, I am firmly convinced that dieting is a cheerless waste of time and I have no interest in screwing up my metabolism.

What to do?

Enter the book Foodist, by Darya Pino Rose. She advises keeping a detailed food log to track not only food (been there, done that), but feelings and circumstances as well as exercise and sleep patterns. All this to help identify HABITS.

So I’m taking the challenge of the PAPER food log, not electronic, with all kinds of notes included. It’s more interesting than I thought it would be. I have another week and a half to go, and this weekend I will have an eagle eye on my life.

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