Happy international women's day!
And while the following video is actually quite serious in nature.... well, James Bond dressed in drag is quite amusing.
Hope you have a wonderful day.
Also, if we were in Russia we'd be receiving flowers all day from complete strangers in the streets.
Today, to celebrate, I am going to go to school. Then I am going to go to my job where I work side by side with other men, then I'll dance, have enough to eat for all my meals, and go to bed in a comfortable apartment with a husband that is kind, respects me and encourages me to follow my dreams. Perhaps someday all the women in the world will be able to say the same.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Croque Monsieur
This is the French (and therefore superior) counterpart to grilled cheese sandwiches (although I do love grilled cheese sandwiches too).
Mix cheese with enough sour cream to make it stick (about two tbsp) and add salt and a good dose of pepper
Put cheese mixture onto non-buttered side of bread and add ham slices
Grill buttered-side down on low heat until cheese is completely melted.
Enjoy!
(Not my photo, but can't find my camera so this'll have to do)
Toast bread lightly, and spread some butter onto one side
Grate swiss cheese (it's also really good to mix half swiss half dubliner)Mix cheese with enough sour cream to make it stick (about two tbsp) and add salt and a good dose of pepper
Put cheese mixture onto non-buttered side of bread and add ham slices
Grill buttered-side down on low heat until cheese is completely melted.
Enjoy!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Creamy zucchini soup
I promise this won't become a foodie blog. That being said, this recipe is too good, fast and easy not to share. The best part is you can indulge and not feel guilty because it's so good for you (well except for the sodium level, but I've decided I don't care about sodium. Salt is too yummy)
My aunt Adeline is actually the one who taught me how to make this, so I give her full credit.
Four zucchini/yellow squash (I often do half and half)
About 3 chicken broth cubes (or beef, whatever tickles your fancy)
Cumin
Seasoned salt
3 tbsp of sour cream, or more if you want to really go crazy
Wash and scrub the zucchini, cut off any parts of the skin that look funny, but don't peel them. Dice.
Boil in about enough water with broth cubes to cover the zucchini, but not too much or your soup will end up too watery. This will take about 15 min or so. Don't boil it so long the zucchini is disintegrating into complete mush though!
Add cumin and seasoned salt to taste. Cumin is the major flavor here, so go ahead--you'll like it. I'd say a heavy sprinkling is enough.
Once the zucchini is soft (not too mushy, but definitely soft) turn off the heat and blend the water and vegetables. I use this little guy:
Be very careful not to splatter because the mixture is very hot and you will burn yourself. It hurts.
Put it back on the heat for a little more.
Mix in the sour cream before serving and enjoy! Serves two, three if you're having it as an entrée.
You can skip the sour cream and it still tastes good, but even just a little bit of sour cream really adds a lot.
Jourdan: aren't you proud I didn't say four zucchinis? :)
My aunt Adeline is actually the one who taught me how to make this, so I give her full credit.
Four zucchini/yellow squash (I often do half and half)
About 3 chicken broth cubes (or beef, whatever tickles your fancy)
Cumin
Seasoned salt
3 tbsp of sour cream, or more if you want to really go crazy
Wash and scrub the zucchini, cut off any parts of the skin that look funny, but don't peel them. Dice.
Boil in about enough water with broth cubes to cover the zucchini, but not too much or your soup will end up too watery. This will take about 15 min or so. Don't boil it so long the zucchini is disintegrating into complete mush though!
Add cumin and seasoned salt to taste. Cumin is the major flavor here, so go ahead--you'll like it. I'd say a heavy sprinkling is enough.
Once the zucchini is soft (not too mushy, but definitely soft) turn off the heat and blend the water and vegetables. I use this little guy:
Be very careful not to splatter because the mixture is very hot and you will burn yourself. It hurts.
Put it back on the heat for a little more.
Mix in the sour cream before serving and enjoy! Serves two, three if you're having it as an entrée.
You can skip the sour cream and it still tastes good, but even just a little bit of sour cream really adds a lot.
Jourdan: aren't you proud I didn't say four zucchinis? :)
What I learned when I started counting calories
I just discovered this awesome food blog: See Jane Cook and the recipes not only look delicious but also very easy. (This place is also awesome) It's funny because since starting this whole diet/workout/eat right thing, I've really been missing some things (the pizza last night that made me regain the pound I had just lost for example) but in general my relationship with food has actually gotten better. Because foods that are more wholesome and less processed automatically have less calories than ones that you buy pre-made, I'm much more inclined to eat healthier and more natural foods.
For example, the other day I got some of those "Grandma's recipe" chocolate chip cookies out of the vending machine in a moment of weakness: over 300 calories. Five bites, and it was over. That's pretty crazy when you think about it. If I had made cookies at home though, it would have been nearly half the amount.
Also, I can stock up on vegetables like crazy without having to worry, so because I want to maximize quantities I can have a massive salad and not feel bad. Ranch dressing, however, is the bane of my existence. I LOVE ranch dressing, but it really doesn't love me. Neither does Kraft in general. One tablespoon of ranch dressing is a whopping 74 calories, and while that doesn't look like much, that's about the same amount of calories in the entire salad. Yikes. The sad thing is that I absolutely hate light. It's disgusting. I'm not sure how I'll get around this... maybe homemade ranch would be less fattening? You'd think the girl from the land of vinaigrette could just go with that, but ranch dressing has played a solid role in my acculturation... If you want some vinaigrette though, here's my recipe:
Half and half olive oil and balsamic vinegar
A clove or two of garlic crushed
Salt and Pepper
Herbes de Provence. This is a mix of herbs native to southern France, but if you can't find it (I don't know if they sell it here, I had my dad smuggle a whole bag through airports) just mix the following herbs*:
1 tablespoon thyme
1 tablespoon chervil
1 tablespoon rosemary
1 tablespoon summer savory
1 teaspoon tarragon
1 teaspoon marjoram
1/2 teaspoon oregano
2 powdered or chopped bay leaves
*This makes a 1/3 cup mix. Don't put the whole thing in your vinaigrette!
And keep in mind it's OK to only use some of the herbs, you still get a nice flavor with just thyme, rosemary, oregano and bay leaves.Many people also put in a tablespoon of Dijon Mustard (the gritty kind with plenty of texture, not the nasty yellow goo you put on hot dogs) which is good, but that makes a different taste. I really like the vinegar. You can really mix and match the ingredients to make it what you want.
Anyway. Where was I?
I think fruit juice was the biggest surprise. An 8 oz glass of apple juice (it's just water with some apple in it right?) is nearly 120 calories. In fact some scientists are saying that it's basically as bad as soda (minus the caffeine). Might as well just have some strawberries in that case.
A lot of this is common knowledge, stuff you hear about all the time, but it's not until you start really tracking your intake and reading labels closely that you realize just how much junk there is in your food. Or how sneaky the food companies are: lobbies are very, very powerful organizations... ahem. (Speaking of lobbyists, have you seen this article? That must be terribly awkward)
So for example, those chocolate chip cookies I was talking about:
Did you notice the serving size? Who buys a pack of two cookies, eats one and throws out the other? So you read the list, and while the entire package contents are on the right, it's easy to not notice it. And again, who really only eats one cookie at a time. Seriously?
I'd like to see a law passed that forces companies to not make the serving size "a quarter of a cookie" (think I'm joking? Go to the Twilight Zone and read the nutrition information on those jumbo chocolate bottom cookies. I can't remember the name at the moment, but I'll go check it out). There is a very serious portion problem in this country (and yes, I recognize that it's spreading to Europe and Asia as well). Honestly, I wish vendors would just make things in 1-portion sizes, because it gets really frustrating... On another level, it's really sick that we're buying 4-portion packs of popcorn when some kids get a cup of goat's milk for the day. Hey, here's an ethical business plan: copy Toms' business model only for food. You buy a (1-portion) pack of cookies and the company donates the other portion (of something a little healthier hopefully) to a child from a third-world country.
Ok, off my soapbox.
So far it's been about trade-offs and rationing. Last night, I really wanted a PB&J, but one look at the nutritional information on the back of the jar nearly made me hit the ceiling, so I compromised. I only used one slice of bread cut in half, and therefore got half the calories--with the taste I was craving. I didn't feel as guilty because I was still letting myself indulge, but reasonably. And because I've been eating smaller portions lately, I didn't feel like I was starving after that.
Unfortunately, Andrew came home with pizza later that night, but oh well... If you do slip up and go crazy on lunch, it's OK to just have a cucumber and a big bowl of broth for dinner. It's not the end of the world. (Ok first, calm down, I am eating real food. Also, I've often heard that it's better to eat a light dinner and use up most of your calories at lunch.)
I've also finally been getting myself to the gym. I realized that the only way I could make myself go was to bring a change of clothes to school/work and stop off on the way home. That way it doesn't require an extra trip, and I've already lugged my shoes around campus all day so I darn well better end up using them! It's all about tricking yourself :)
I'm aware that people have different metabolisms, body types, genes, health issues, etc. but this is what I've found has been working for me. I don't know the first thing about nutrition (OK, I do know a little) but I
know that I've developed something that works for me:
Revolutionary, no? I feel so much better now that I'm not shoving junk down my throat and that I'm not overeating anymore. I'll make one thing very clear: it's absolutely been about aesthetics, and I don't see anything wrong with that. I want to slim down and tone up: I'm a dancer, so my body is part of my art, and a huge part of my "career" is appearing on camera.
I have a weight loss goal at the moment, which is why my caloric intake for now is pretty low, but I have a very specific target weight and as soon as I reach it, I plan on readjusting my daily goal for weight maintenance.
And dang it, I've already lost weight and I'm proud of it!
For example, the other day I got some of those "Grandma's recipe" chocolate chip cookies out of the vending machine in a moment of weakness: over 300 calories. Five bites, and it was over. That's pretty crazy when you think about it. If I had made cookies at home though, it would have been nearly half the amount.
Also, I can stock up on vegetables like crazy without having to worry, so because I want to maximize quantities I can have a massive salad and not feel bad. Ranch dressing, however, is the bane of my existence. I LOVE ranch dressing, but it really doesn't love me. Neither does Kraft in general. One tablespoon of ranch dressing is a whopping 74 calories, and while that doesn't look like much, that's about the same amount of calories in the entire salad. Yikes. The sad thing is that I absolutely hate light. It's disgusting. I'm not sure how I'll get around this... maybe homemade ranch would be less fattening? You'd think the girl from the land of vinaigrette could just go with that, but ranch dressing has played a solid role in my acculturation... If you want some vinaigrette though, here's my recipe:
Half and half olive oil and balsamic vinegar
A clove or two of garlic crushed
Salt and Pepper
Herbes de Provence. This is a mix of herbs native to southern France, but if you can't find it (I don't know if they sell it here, I had my dad smuggle a whole bag through airports) just mix the following herbs*:
1 tablespoon thyme
1 tablespoon chervil
1 tablespoon rosemary
1 tablespoon summer savory
1 teaspoon tarragon
1 teaspoon marjoram
1/2 teaspoon oregano
2 powdered or chopped bay leaves
*This makes a 1/3 cup mix. Don't put the whole thing in your vinaigrette!
And keep in mind it's OK to only use some of the herbs, you still get a nice flavor with just thyme, rosemary, oregano and bay leaves.Many people also put in a tablespoon of Dijon Mustard (the gritty kind with plenty of texture, not the nasty yellow goo you put on hot dogs) which is good, but that makes a different taste. I really like the vinegar. You can really mix and match the ingredients to make it what you want.
Anyway. Where was I?
I think fruit juice was the biggest surprise. An 8 oz glass of apple juice (it's just water with some apple in it right?) is nearly 120 calories. In fact some scientists are saying that it's basically as bad as soda (minus the caffeine). Might as well just have some strawberries in that case.
A lot of this is common knowledge, stuff you hear about all the time, but it's not until you start really tracking your intake and reading labels closely that you realize just how much junk there is in your food. Or how sneaky the food companies are: lobbies are very, very powerful organizations... ahem. (Speaking of lobbyists, have you seen this article? That must be terribly awkward)
So for example, those chocolate chip cookies I was talking about:
Did you notice the serving size? Who buys a pack of two cookies, eats one and throws out the other? So you read the list, and while the entire package contents are on the right, it's easy to not notice it. And again, who really only eats one cookie at a time. Seriously?
I'd like to see a law passed that forces companies to not make the serving size "a quarter of a cookie" (think I'm joking? Go to the Twilight Zone and read the nutrition information on those jumbo chocolate bottom cookies. I can't remember the name at the moment, but I'll go check it out). There is a very serious portion problem in this country (and yes, I recognize that it's spreading to Europe and Asia as well). Honestly, I wish vendors would just make things in 1-portion sizes, because it gets really frustrating... On another level, it's really sick that we're buying 4-portion packs of popcorn when some kids get a cup of goat's milk for the day. Hey, here's an ethical business plan: copy Toms' business model only for food. You buy a (1-portion) pack of cookies and the company donates the other portion (of something a little healthier hopefully) to a child from a third-world country.
Ok, off my soapbox.
So far it's been about trade-offs and rationing. Last night, I really wanted a PB&J, but one look at the nutritional information on the back of the jar nearly made me hit the ceiling, so I compromised. I only used one slice of bread cut in half, and therefore got half the calories--with the taste I was craving. I didn't feel as guilty because I was still letting myself indulge, but reasonably. And because I've been eating smaller portions lately, I didn't feel like I was starving after that.
Unfortunately, Andrew came home with pizza later that night, but oh well... If you do slip up and go crazy on lunch, it's OK to just have a cucumber and a big bowl of broth for dinner. It's not the end of the world. (Ok first, calm down, I am eating real food. Also, I've often heard that it's better to eat a light dinner and use up most of your calories at lunch.)
I've also finally been getting myself to the gym. I realized that the only way I could make myself go was to bring a change of clothes to school/work and stop off on the way home. That way it doesn't require an extra trip, and I've already lugged my shoes around campus all day so I darn well better end up using them! It's all about tricking yourself :)
I'm aware that people have different metabolisms, body types, genes, health issues, etc. but this is what I've found has been working for me. I don't know the first thing about nutrition (OK, I do know a little) but I
know that I've developed something that works for me:
"eat real food, eat less of it and exercise"
(See this NYT article. The author also talks about the FDA and food lobbies...)
Revolutionary, no? I feel so much better now that I'm not shoving junk down my throat and that I'm not overeating anymore. I'll make one thing very clear: it's absolutely been about aesthetics, and I don't see anything wrong with that. I want to slim down and tone up: I'm a dancer, so my body is part of my art, and a huge part of my "career" is appearing on camera.
I have a weight loss goal at the moment, which is why my caloric intake for now is pretty low, but I have a very specific target weight and as soon as I reach it, I plan on readjusting my daily goal for weight maintenance.
And dang it, I've already lost weight and I'm proud of it!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Wishful thinking
I feel like a new woman right now.
All my midterms and papers are handed in. Dancesport is coming up and the dancing is feeling good, despite the fact that we only started practicing last week. (It helps that Andrew spends a ton of time practicing already, I just have to jump in and follow him... although I could definitely use some more work.)
And most importantly, spring seems to be creeping up on us. Which means that
1) Soon I won't have to lug around my enormous coat that leaves feathers all over my clothes, especially the dark ones (although I am very glad for the warmth it provided all the freezing winter long)
2) General Conference is next month.
3) Easter is next month. Easter may almost top Christmas on my favorite holidays list. (Unfortunately, due to my current dietary goals it will not be as calorie-filled as past years. I don't know if I dare make an exception quite yet.)
4) Soon I won't have to wear a million layers anymore. And I can wear summer pants, and skirts, and short-sleeved t-shirts, and make lots more clothes.
5) We'll be in France in two months!
Of course the minute I post this it's going to start snowing again or something, but the weather can't get to me now--bring it on. I'm going to France.
And maybe I'll take my sewing machine, because I want to make these:
Also, I'm thinking of some good khakis.
All my midterms and papers are handed in. Dancesport is coming up and the dancing is feeling good, despite the fact that we only started practicing last week. (It helps that Andrew spends a ton of time practicing already, I just have to jump in and follow him... although I could definitely use some more work.)
And most importantly, spring seems to be creeping up on us. Which means that
1) Soon I won't have to lug around my enormous coat that leaves feathers all over my clothes, especially the dark ones (although I am very glad for the warmth it provided all the freezing winter long)
2) General Conference is next month.
3) Easter is next month. Easter may almost top Christmas on my favorite holidays list. (Unfortunately, due to my current dietary goals it will not be as calorie-filled as past years. I don't know if I dare make an exception quite yet.)
4) Soon I won't have to wear a million layers anymore. And I can wear summer pants, and skirts, and short-sleeved t-shirts, and make lots more clothes.
5) We'll be in France in two months!
Of course the minute I post this it's going to start snowing again or something, but the weather can't get to me now--bring it on. I'm going to France.
And maybe I'll take my sewing machine, because I want to make these:
Also, I'm thinking of some good khakis.
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