I Did It!

Well folks, I did it! Today is the final day of my 21 day No Junk Food Challenge!  I can't begin to tell you how invigorated I feel right now!  I just got back from my final workout at Curves before it closes and weighed in at an even 145 lbs!  So, since the first time I weighed myself starting the challenge I was up to 150.5 lbs (still cringing about that!), my total loss over the three weeks is 5.5 lbs!  I also managed to hit my 300th workout before the closure today!!  This just goes to prove that all it takes is WILLPOWER and DETERMINATION!


Sure, some days were tougher than others - when I had a big cake order and banoffee pie to fulfill, suffering through the aroma of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies my daughter baked last weekend...but I made it through and am all the stronger for it!

My eating habits have changed and I'm hoping the impact will be lasting.  This afternoon we are heading up to our condo in Boyne Falls for a weekend of blissful skiing!  My big indulgence this weekend will be that pizza grinder from the Trophy Room at Boyne Mountain and perhaps a cup of hot cocoa at the top of the slopes!  Other than that I'm pretty confident my choices will be healthy ones!

On Sunday night my daughter wanted to make dinner.  In the fall while I was laid up with a broken ankle and John was recuperating from a hernia surgery, she enlisted my mom's help to create her very own thought out concoction which she has aptly named Broken Shepherd's Pie.  She really wanted to make it again and was insistent about doing all the chopping by herself!  I'm so proud of my little chef!  She took care of everything - even setting the table with serviettes and candles!  Revelling in the praise bestowed upon her, she suggested that from now on, the three kids should take turns making dinner on Sunday nights!  DONE!  What a superb idea!  So next weekend Jacob decided he'll be making pork chops with carrots and corn.  I think it's great!  As I've learned myself over the past two years, there is such pleasure derived from creating a lovely meal and watching others enjoy it too. 

Although it was bittersweet leaving Curves today, I am happy about discovering a new little gem within the same plaza that just opened this week.  Farmer Jack's Market!  I walked in on Monday night to a little produce wonderland of sorts!  They sell organic and local produce, but they also make homemade soups and smoothies!  I was so impressed that I went back the next day to order a smoothie and a snack mix to take with me today.  While I was there I met Felicia, the owner and soup chef!  All the staff are very friendly and knowledgeable and I'm looking forward to getting to know them better.  Felicia's soups are amazing!  I've tried the Potato, Leek and Spinach as well as the Creamy Coconut with Jasmine Rice.  I couldn't resist getting a bowl of soup as well.  I highly encourage you to visit this place!  What a great alternative to caving to the drive-thru beckoning at McDonald's, or other fast food joints!  As I type, I am slurping a Blueberry Bliss smoothie (blueberry, banana & spinach) that I picked up right after my workout!  There is no guilt after consuming a bowl of healthy soup and/or smoothie!  There is no feeling about your choices, making you upset with yourself for making those choices leading you to stress eat



 

There is no guilt to be felt after consuming a bowl of healthy soup and/or smoothie!  No need to feel bad about your choices, leading to depression and despair, causing you to stress eat and further the cycle like you might have had you gone to that fast food restaurant instead! 

So I'll end by urging you to go visit Farmer Jack's Market and Felicia and keep this quote in mind!

Now, I must go and pack!  But Colin, why oh why did you back away from the voice of Paddington?  I saw the film last weekend - loved it, but missed your voice!



No Junk Food Challenge

 Well folks, I am now halfway through my 21 Day - No Junk Food Challenge!  I'm not going to lie to you and say it's been easy as cake, hmmm...cake (don't even think about it!).  But it has certainly gotten easier!  By lunch on day 1 that pumpkin pie was staring me in the face but I held strong and had a bowl of borscht instead.  I also printed out my two words WILLPOWER and DETERMINATION to plaster around the house - on the refrigerator, inside the pantry, on the television!  I printed off smaller copies of the challenge rules and taped one to the inside of my iPhone case as a 'mobile' reminder!                  

 

 

 

 On the Saturday morning, my kids were begging for pancakes so I made them challenge friendly!  I made my yummy Pumpkin Pancakes - made with whole wheat flour so it was ok!

 

Pumpkin Pancakes

2 cups whole wheat flour

2 Tbsp sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

pinch of salt

2 eggs

2 1/4 cups milk

3/4 cup cooked pumpkin puree

3 Tbsp vegetable oil

 

*In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. * In another bowl whisk the eggs, then add the buttermilk, pumpkin puree and oil and mix until combined  *Add egg mixture to the dry ingredients, whisking just enough to combine.  Let stand for 5 min.  *Heat a non-stick griddle to medium heat.  Drop the batter onto the griddle according to the size you wish and cook for approximately 3-4 minutes or until tops look dry and bubbles begin to break.  Do not flatten with a spatula.  Turn pancakes over and cook for another minute or two until browned.  Serve and enjoy!

 

 Last Monday, with the first three days of the challenges successfully under my belt, I went to Curves and was utterly discouraged when the scale told me I was now 150.5 lbs!!!  Yikes, didn't it know it was supposed to move the other direction???  How did that happen?  At any rate, after allowing myself to wallow in self pity for almost a minute, I closed my eyes and envisioned those words emblazoned in front of me WILLPOWER and DETERMINATION!  I'll show those scales who's boss here!  My progress seems staggeringly slow but by Thursday I was back down to 149 lbs!

 

 My first real test came on Wednesday when 5 of us went to Serendipity for lunch to celebrate Carla's birthday.  I have become quite a regular patron since the tea house opened a couple of years ago and I always order the same thing - the Cream Tea.  This is essentially two lovely scones accompanied with a small pot of clotted cream and jam, some fresh berries and a pot of tea.  Serendipity is my go to crutch for both celebrations and pick-me-ups!  I take great solace in every bite of those scones!  Well, it was with great sadness that I gave it up for the sake of this challenge.  Instead I ordered a turkey club sandwich on whole wheat bread - my dessert... the small garden salad joining it!  Surprisingly, I didn't suffer as greatly as I had anticipated when each of my friends savoured their own scones right before my eyes and taste buds!  I did it!!!

 

 

 And then...the next day...alone in my kitchen...oh, the torture!  I made a banoffee pie for Carla's actual birthday and baked a three layer chocolate chip cake for a 16th birthday - and I couldn't even lick the spoon!  The lovely smells emanating from my kitchen all day could have surely broken the most determined of people, but I remained steadfast and in control (of course I did fix my eyes on the words on the fridge enough times that they are now burned in my psyche!) and danced my way through it listening to Colin sing on my Mama Mia soundtrack!  That night I very successfully completed week 1 of the challenge and lived to tell you about it!

 

 Today we drove up to Kingston to meet my new niece Annie for the first time.  John planned to stop at this place called The Big Apple for lunch and to pick up a pie to take with us.  Knowing that that meant junk food which is not permitted for me, I packed myself a banana, some whole wheat Melba toast with sliced Gruyere cheese and some homemade quince butter I made the night before.  While John and the kids mowed down on pizza, pop and fries, I ordered an apple cider to drink with my lunch in the car.  And you know what?  I was totally ok with that!

 

What they ate

What I ate!

  I'm so pleased that I inspired others with this challenge!  My friend Michelle started the challenge the day after I did, and Brenda will be starting it too!  Michelle has upped the ante on the challenge and we will also be drinking at least 60 oz of water every day!  Some days are harder than others, and things will spring up to test you - but if you have the WILLPOWER and DETERMINATION, I assure you, that you can do it too!  Don't put it off thinking you will start after so-and-so's birthday, or after Valentine's day etc. because there will always be something else ahead.   After the first few days, I didn't even feel as hungry as I thought I would, and the temptations are becoming easier to bare and dismiss!

 

 





Willpower and Determination

Just when you think you've got yourself sorted out and are gung ho for a fresh start...the trap door opens! 

The year began with the death of a friends' sister-in-law dying of cancer, another friend suffering a stroke, the mother of a friend nearly entering the pearly gates, news that Bono may never play guitar again...and Curves will be closing at the end of this month!  Hard not to view the glass as half empty!

On Tuesday, the skies seemed a bit brighter as we celebrated my son's 12th birthday and the birth of my little niece Annie!  I returned some things to the library and noticed Colin looking at me from one of the bookshelves saying, "Take me home with you!" so I signed out the copy of "Railway Man" by Eric Lomax.  You might remember that I saw this film at TIFF in 2013 and it was fantastic!  I then went next door for my workout at Curves...and ABBA music was playing, replacing my previous gloom with captivating visions of Colin on the Greek island in Mama Mia!  Although things were somewhat bittersweet at Curves with the upcoming closure, these small things kept me motivated and inspired to go on.  Curves had replaced items in the club withtaken things down from the boards and replaced them with photos collected over the years - and I found one of me taken on Hallowe'en in 2004 before I got pregnant with my third child.

 

 

Later that night I was watching an episode of The Middle for the first time and Patricia Heaton' character said she occasionally dreamed of Colin Firth!  Sorry, just had to add that in there!  Colin is sending me signs everywhere it seems!

Last night I started a session of Booty Barre taught by my friend Melanie.  With temperatures reaching -30*C, my daughter having strep throat and myself a migraine it was so difficult to make myself get there!  But in the end I'm glad I did - I really needed it!  I knew that if I stayed home it would be that much easier to miss next week and the week after etc.  The two words that I am going to abide by for 2015 are WILLPOWER and DETERMINATION.   Each time I thought it would be so much easier to stay home and curl up on the couch last night - I repeated those words to myself!

This weekend I will be commencing a No Junk Food Challenge that I found on Pinterest.  I believe the key to being successful with this is proper preparation.  Knowing that I will be going to Serendipity next week for Carla's birthday and scones with cream and jam aren't permitted, I will for the first time order just a sandwich (whole wheat bread) and salad or soup.  At the end of the month I will have to forego the pizza grinder that I love so much when we go to our new condo in Boyne Falls.  I will also be hosting one of my book clubs this month so I need to plan what to serve that isn't restricted by the challenge.  Of course I could have waited till these events were over to begin, but then others would just as soon pop up and deter me from ever starting.  Besides, if I can get through those 21 days I know I will be that much prouder and it will be a true test of my WILLPOWER and DETERMINATION!

Today I will be printing out copies of the challenge to post throughout the house where any temptations may lie.  I will be making a pumpkin pie as a sort of 'last supper' for the family to enjoy before I begin the challenge.  Planning menus and snacks is also essential as well so I won't be as likely to succumb to cravings.

Well, wish me luck!  I'll keep you updated on my progress!  What changes/challenges are the rest of you doing so far this year?

New Beginnings!

Since my last entry, I suffered a rather large hematoma on my right leg (soccer injury), took up running and was about to run my first 10K race when a week before I broke my left ankle (again, soccer injury).  Needless to say, these injuries impeded any further progress with my Colin Firth Diet Club, leaving me prone to idleness and weight gain!

I was just recently given the OK to start up at Curves again and I am hoping to work my way out of the slump sooner rather than later!  Last week, upon my return to Curves, I begrudgingly weighed myself and ... gulp...it read 149 lbs.  Yes, I am hanging my head in shame at this very moment, thoroughly disgusted with myself...yet determined to find my way out once again!

It only seemed right, that in the absence of entries for the better part of 2014 I resolve to get myself back on course...with many things...including my blog entries.  And what better subject to inaugurate new beginnings than "Love, Actually"?

As many of you know,  my favourite holiday event is my annual Love Actually party where I invite my lovely friends over (pj's required!) for Chinese food followed by a viewing of our all time favourite Christmas movie!!!  John serves the wine and drives people home to their comfy beds afterwards!  It never fails that we have someone new join us and someone who has not seen it before - I know, I know, I can't believe it either!  It has become my mission to oversee that women the world over succumb to the influence of this film!  This year the newbie was Melanie and she came bearing gift!

Now that's a girl that knows a direct way to my heart!!  This was like a VIP pass good for eternity!  I had a couple new additions to the festivities myself this year.  The ornament that our Elf on the Shelf is wearing which came with the 10th Anniversary DVD and I also ordered wine labels off  Etsy.com!  Next year will be even better when I display the Love Actually pillowcases that Santa brought me for Christmas!!!

My traditional banoffee pie was the best I've ever made!  And of course, it was served after pausing when Juliet (Keira Knightley) arrives at Mark's (Andrew Lincoln) door with her proffered, "Banoffee pie?"!  Carla has requested a banoffee pie for her birthday later this month instead of a cake!

Now, I must go and work on the rest of my New Year's Resolutions ...one of which is to stop cursing so much, with the exception of Love Actually quotes, because sometimes you just gotta say, "Where the fuck is my fucking coat?" (I often feel obliged to substitute car keys, cell phone etc).

Anyways, I know many of us have endured turmoil of one sort or another over the past year, but I wish you all happiness and health for 2015!

Bridget Jones Bonanza!

What better subject to subject you to on the most romantic month of the year but that of the most romantic movie scenes of all time - you guessed it - Bridget Jones!  (OK, I did start writing this entry in February, Valentine's Day to be precise!)   Particularly that scene at the end where Bridget is running in the snow searching for Mark in nary but her knickers, cardigan and runners only to find Mark exiting the store with a new diary....then envelops her in the warmth of his trench coat...and that kiss!! OH MY!

Back in October, I gathered a few friends and we had the pleasure of meeting the wonderful and ever talented Helen Fielding, author of the Bridget Jones series.  The event, An Evening With Helen Fielding was sponsored by Elle Canada, Random House, Girls Night Out Wines, Purdy's chocolate and Rimmel London to promote the release of Helen's latest book "Mad About the Boy".  The wine was flowing, the chocolates were melting (in our mouths) and the atmosphere was intoxicating!!!  The venue was a loft above a furniture store on Queen St and very posh!  It was during the interview with Helen that I was saddened to hear of Mark's passing.   (Later, on October 31st, a couple of days after my dads' quadruple bypass surgery, I read of Mark's death and texted the following to Carla: 

Just read about Mark's death.  Am in deep sorrow over the loss of such a great man!  It was a very noble death however, but I shall don black today as I grieve the loss of one of Britain's best people) 

 It was so invigorating having the chance to meet the author behind my favourite all time romantic scene!  Helen is witty, down to earth and genuine fun!  Afterwards, we had the chance to meet her and she signed our copies of the book!  By the end of the night we vowed to get together and watch the Bridget Jones movies together!

Well, eventually we were able to agree on a date that suited us all and headed off to Sara's for a Bridget marathon.  Each of us contributed towards our version of the turkey-curry buffet.  I of course took things to a whole new level and brought the blue soup!  I also tried out the orange pudding (without the sugar cages) Mark mentions as he rescues Bridget from her kitchen debacle and chaos.  Amanda being British herself, brought some chocolate and a cheese and pineapple hedgehog!

 

..and just as with Love Actually when we pause the movie as Keira Knightley enters with her proffered, "Banoffee pie?" to partake in the indulgence of my homemade banoffee pie, we paused Bridget Jones's Diary when Mark Darcy peers into the pot and remarks on Bridget's blue soup!  To add to the authenticity of the soup, I saved a portion of leek which I duly tied with ribbon - not the kind Bridget used causing the blueish hue, but regular white string.  (This scene reminds me of a family Christmas dinner when we were all asked to bring something for the meal.  My step sister Candy was asked to bring the squash - well, she did bring the squash, the whole unpeeled, uncooked squash!  In fact the sticker may have still been on it!)  The blue of my soup was attributed to mere food colouring, and although due to the lighting, the soup appears more greenish than blue in the above photo, it really was blue.

 

The dessert Bridget concocted was meant to be an orange pudding. I googled recipes for this and chose to make the one from http://pluckycravings.com/21013/11/04-orangepudding and it was rather tasty!  Time consuming but quite worth the effort in my estimation!  I halved the recipe as it normally serves 10 and there were only 5 of us (and I didn't have enough ramekins either!).

 

While still on a Bridget high, I found a Bridget Jones's Diary mug on eBay and it arrived last week!  Now I can sip my coffee every morning while starring at Colin Firth - it just doesn't get any better than that!  Well, it could if he were to perhaps join me for said coffee sometime!  All I ask is that when Mad About The Boy is made into a movie - please, please, please have Colin Firth in it, you know in flashback scenes and whatnot - the next generation needs the ideal of Mark Darcy to aspire to when searching for a mate!

 

 

 



 



In"eddoe"ble and "Freekeh"'n Gross (D,E,F,)

Well, 'tis a new year full of promising new beginnings!  Our family, along with the Milners started the New Year off with a bang at Disneyworld followed with a Caribbean cruise!  It was nice to get away after a hectic Christmas.  And though, sadly, Colin Firth didn't happen to cross our path -  our male flight attendant bore a striking resemblance to him.  OK, so not really - it was the hair - he had Colin Firth hair!  Even my 14 year old son noticed and commented on it as we debarked the plane! 

The day after we got home I came down with a terrible cold, as did the whole surrounding area.  The weather here has been unbearabye cold this month - I can't remember a winter in all my 40 years that was ever this cold for so longggggggggggggg.  Needless to say, it was hard getting back into the groove.  I didn't get to Curves the first week back at all and it showed when I resumed last week.  My energy level had bottomed out, but I'm on my way to recovery now!  Curves started a new Jillian Michael's workout this month which they run 3 times a day.  This is what I happened to walk into my first day back.  Let me tell you, it's tough!  Basically it is a more intense exercise during the recovery stations and can include planks, squats, jumping jacks etc.  I was sore and achy for the next 2 days.  Yesterday I tried it again and I really do like it!  I think it's just what I need to push my metabolism to the next level as I'm struggling to lose the extra weight.  Silly me, I thought I'd lose weight on this cruise like I did on the Mediterranean one in May - but no - in fact, I passed the 140 lb mark.  Yikes!!  Cruising on the back end of Christmas - not recommended, unless you want to have "thighs the size of tree trunks"!  But we did have great times, great food, and memories to last a lifetime - and it just means I need to work extra hard to get back to where I was.  I mean, I swam with a dolphin in Cozumel!  I tried new foods- oyster, squid, turtle and escargot even!  The important lesson here is not to feel defeated and depressed because the scale decided to visit it's past life, because that's all it was - a visit, but to savour those morsels and memories and resolve to fight harder.  So scale, it's time to come back home and move forward (or downward depending on how
you look at it!).

And speaking of new foods, I'd like to get back to my alphabetical culinary challenge and cover D, E and F.   Some letters are have more abundant selections than others.  For "D" week, we have daikon, dandelion, dragon fruit, fresh dates, dill, Dijon mustard and demerera sugar.

The daikon is the elongated white vegetable and tastes like radish.  I had never had this before and it was rather tasty.  I washed and peeled it and then grated it  and served it to everyone just like that - so very simple!  Daikon is excellent for aiding digestion and is low calorie, rich in fibre, vitamin C, and potassium. 

Dandelion greens - blech!!!  I wish I could love them as there are so many health benefits associated with them, but they taste terrible!  Perhaps I should try a different method before I give up on them entirely.  They are helpful in purifying your blood and lowering blood sugars.  Dandelion is also high in fibre and potassium.  I just remembered that I tried dandelion ice cream a couple of years ago at an environmental fair in Toronto - and I actually liked it!  So maybe that's the way to go!  Hmmm...I think it was a pale yellow colour though so maybe it was the flower and not the leaf.

Dragon fruit is just plain fun - the name is fun, it has a pretty colour and surprises you on the inside. When you open it up you will find a white pulp mixed with little black seeds.  The fruit is low in cholesterol, high in fibre and vitamin C and therefore a good antioxidant!

I'm sure you have all tried date squares before, and that's likely how you consume your dates.  I found fresh dates at the grocery store.  They were yellow and attached to a woody vine.  Dates are one of the sweetest fruits of all and the high sugar content can lead to tooth decay and weight gain.  The benefits however are the high mineral content and antioxidant vitamins that help reduce cancer risk, bone loss, heart disease and anemia.

One of the new recipes I tried was a Mushroom Dill Pasta that I found on Pinterest.  The link to the recipe is http://www.sweetpaulmag.com/food/mushroom-dill-pasta.   If you like mushrooms and dill or just want to try something new, it's quite tasty!  Dill is high in calcium and fibre and protects against free radicals and carcinogens.

I added the demerera sugar as a healthier alternative to regular refined sugar.  Demerera is only partially refined and maintains a natural colour.  It differs from brown sugar which attains it's colour from molasses added to white sugar.

Dijon mustard is high in selenium and magnesium which may help prevent cancer and high blood pressure.

Next, we have "E" as in eddoes, eggplant, endives, edamame, eggs. empire apples and escarole.  The most unusual item here is the eddoe  resembling a potatoe in size and colour but has a rough exterior like the cassava  and reminds me of elephant skin with the bristly hairs.  Eddoes are to the Caribbean what potatoes are to the Irish.  It is a main staple.  When googling what to do with them I read that some people may get itchy when peeling them so it was recommended that you put some vegetable oil on your hands first as protection.  I peeled them as you would a potatoe and cut them and boiled them for about 20 minutes.  The texture of a boiled eddoe is very much like that of the potatoe but as Jacob announced after swallowing a bite - "These are in"Eddoe"ble!".   I had to admit that his wit was both clever and amusing to all - although I wouldn't necessarily agree that they were inedible!

Eggplants, otherwise known as aubergines, as my British friend Amanda calls them, are high in fibre and antioxidant nutrients and good for overall heart health.  This time I sliced the eggplant into disks and coated them with some panko and make eggplant fries.  Alas, my family still has not acquired a taste for them. 

Endives have an unusual taste that can take some getting used to.  They are high in vitamins and minerals and beneficial to overall heart health.  The vitamin E may be beneficial for stalling the onset of Alzheimer's.  As my grandmother suffered with Alzheimer's I think I'll be adding more endives in our diet!

I could only find a bag of frozen edamame so I prepared them the same way I would frozen peas.  Edamame is rich in antioxidants, protein and fibre.

There is considerable debate over eggs and whether or not they are good for you.  I've read that the yolk is where you find the high cholesterol, but it is also where the nutrients are.  They are a source of protein, vitamins and potassium.  My opinion is that once in awhile eggs are ok - just don't go overboard - and choose eggs that are labelled "free-range" meaning that the chickens are able to roam freely and eat what they choose the way they were meant to before agricultural giants took over and thought bigger was better and more profitable and began stuffing birds into overcrowded coops and proceeded to then stuff them with antibiotics and steroids!

Escarole lettuce shares the same benefits as other green leafy vegetables in the high fibre and nutrient content.

And lastly we have the "F" - flax seed, fennel, frisee lettuce, Fuji apples, filberts, fettuccine and my favourite - figs!!

Flax seed is good for preventing heart disease, lowering cholesterol, minimizing symptoms of menopause, reducing risk of cancer and preventing constipation.  I often just add some to applesauce or a smoothie.  In "Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal" published by Reader's Digest, a study performed at University of Toronto found that consuming 25-50 mg of flax per day helps to lower blood cholesterol significantly.  As I'm reading this again I'm reminding myself to try to have some everyday as I have another diabetic appointment in March!

I've written about fennel before and commented on it's alien-like appearance - a larger replica of another alien-like looking vegetable - kohlrabi!  Fennel is great in salads and roasted vegetables.  It is full of fibre and beneficial for maintaining blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugars.  The seeds can be used in tea to alleviate bloating and flatulence.

Frisee lettuce is a good antioxidant as it is rich in vitamin C.

Filberts, also known as hazelnuts were my favourite nut when I was young.  When my parents bought bags of mixed nuts to shell over the holidays, I took all the filberts!  You know when a host/hostess puts out a bowl of mixed gumdrops and afterwards all that are left are the boring white and black ones - yup, that's how I always was with my filberts!  The black and white gumdrops were the Brazil nuts and walnuts!  Nuts provide you with protein and fibre and vitamins.  Filberts can increase your good cholesterol and lower the bad cholesterol.

I made a new recipe found on Pinterst -  Fettuccine with Bacon, Almonds and Orange which was absolutely delicious!   Here is the link http://www.cookingclassy.com/2013/01/fettuccine-with-bacon-and-orange/ .  A friend emailed me a recipe for a fennel and apple salad that I paired with it.  What a delectable and enjoyable pasta dish it was!!!

This year I have been extolling my love affair, not only to Colin Firth, but to the fig!  Figs are so good for you and tasty too!  They help prevent heart disease, cancer, and diabetes as they are full of fibre and potassium!

...And we cannot forget fish!  Full of omega-3 and protein, it is important to include fish in your diet to help prevent heart disease, stroke, inflammation and memory loss.  We usually have fish (primarily salmon) on Wednesday nights.

"F" week happened to fall on the week of Halloween and dinner that night consisted of Freekeh and spiders!  The spiders are hot dog wieners with spaghetti noodles poked through and boiled to look like spiders (just something fun I do for the kids on Halloween) and Freekeh is a grain that looks very much like quinoa.  I made a salad with it adding cucumber, tomato, basil and lemon juice.  Of course if the kids wanted to go out trick-or-treating, they had to eat their spiders and freekeh first!  My very tactful daughter Kristen announced rather vehemently that it was 'freekeh'n' gross!!  Oh, my little drama queen!!!  Amy and James came over and they both tried it - in fact Amy ate lots of it and became my favourite Milner kid that night!
Last, but by no means, least, I've left the best for last!  Frog legs!!!

 

Oh, I had sooo much fun with this one.  I kept telling the kids we would be having frog legs for "F" week and they weren't happy about it to say the least.  Turns out I couldn't find them when I needed them anyways.  But alas, when searching for octopus for "O" week, I discovered some in the frozen fish section.  Why didn't I think of that before??  Well, it's because I've been buying fresh fish from the counter and I never go to the frozen food sections anymore.  I've had frog legs several times in the past, but it's been probably 18 years or so.  I remember the first time John and I spent a weekend in Quebec City and I ordered the frog legs!  The great thing about frog legs is they are bendy!  So of course I grossed John out by having my frog legs leap and dance across the fancy tableware!  

The squeals of disgust and adamant disdain coming from my kids relating to the their pending meal I'd worked so hard to prepare was utterly priceless!  It might seem somewhat cruel as to how much pleasure I gained from all of this!  I waited with bated breath for Matthew to take his first bite and then asked, "What's wrong Matthew - do you have a frog in your throat?".  Guess you had to be there but it turned out to be a pretty comical endeavour!  Of course, the meal would not be complete without entertainment, so I had my frog dance an little Irish jig for everyone!

Well, kids, that's payback for telling me that my meals are In"eddoe"ble and "Freekeh"'n Gross!!!

And speaking of "F".....I still need to watch my new "Fever Pitch" movie I got from Santa!




 

 

 



 



"The lobster?...In the nativity play?"

LITTLE DAISY:  we've been given our parts in the Nativity play.  And I'm the lobster.

KAREN:  The lobster?

LITTLE DAISY:  Yes

KAREN:  In the nativity play?

LITTLE DAISY:  Yes,  First Lobster.

KAREN:  There was more than one lobster present at the birth of Jesus?

LITTLE DAISY:   Durr....

  As many of you know from last year, "Love Actually" is my favourite part of Christmas!  Each December, I invite my girlfriends over for dinner and the movie.  We order Chinese food which John picks up for us, and we consume copious volumes of wine whilst listening to the "Love Actually" soundtrack to set the mood!  Last year we added another new tradition to the mix, my homemade banoffee pie, for which I pause the movie at the precise moment Keira Knightley greets "Mark" at his door with her proffered, "Banoffee pie?"

I'm going to jump ahead in my alphabet inspired cuisine as the week of "Love Actually" nicely coincided with "L" week!  In fact the next day I made lobster for the first time, severely annoying my kids as I kept repeating, "Lobster?  In the Nativity Play?" ad nauseum with a British accent!  I had never purchased nor cooked a lobster in my life.  In fact I can't even remember the last time I had even eaten lobster.  Perhaps it was when I was young and we went to Peggy's Cove for summer vacation, or I may have gone to a Red Lobster restaurant...anyways, I was determined to buy and cook a lobster that week!  I must admit, as I approached the seafood counter in slow motion on tip-toe, with squinted eye, it was with much hesitation and trepidation.  Would I have to buy a live lobster with his beady black eyes staring at me, begging for immunity?  Did I have it in me to buy one live and watch it's demise, all of my own doing?  Phew!  No life crustacean's swimming in defeat in the tanks!  My choices were precooked claws (which is my favourite part of a lobster) or fresh tails.  I chose the tails and it was like the alphabet cuisine gods were shining on me as lobster happened to be on sale for half price that week and as you may guess, it is not the cheapest fish to buy!  A few years ago I was at an event where I met Massimo Capra and received a personally signed copy of his cookbook, "One Pot Italian Cooking".  I figured it was high time I put this book to use and opted to try his Tagliatelle All'Aragosta - or rather, Tagliatelle with Lobster Sauce!  The perfect recipe to kill two birds with one stone, or two "L"'s with one dish!!  Along with the tagliatelle pasta, this recipe incorporates both lobster and leeks!  The kids weren't as impressed with it as I was though, and I discovered the next day that lobster doesn't taste as good as left-overs.

lobster - the Omega -3 fatty acids found in lobster are beneficial to both your heart and your brain and is also high in minerals such as selenium, phosphorous and zinc.  It is high in protein and low in fat and cholesterol

leeks - are good for preventing cancer with their high concentration of antioxidants.  They are also helpful in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure

Years ago, my friend Michelle P. emailed me her recipe for Red Lentil Soup with Lemon (a NY Times recipe) which has sat in my green file folder of accumulated recipes ever since.  Well this was my opportunity to try it out finally!  It was a nice filling low cal soup!  I didn't puree the soup as suggested in the directions as I liked the texture as it was.  This was a relatively easy recipe to make and one that I will add to my soup repertoire!

 

lentils - high in fibre, therefore good for lowering cholesterol and improving digestive health. The high fibre content will make you feel full faster and therefore can be beneficial for weight loss.

 

lemons & limes - high in vitamin C and good for lowering cholesterol, cancer risk, heart disease. 

I also tried a new recipe incorporating lemon grass!  I altered a recipe for Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken adapted from Food & Wine Magazine, October 2007.  I omitted the curry powder and substituted one jalapeno pepper for 3 chilies.  It was delicious!  Kristen asked for more!!!

Lemongrass - helps to cleanse organs and improves circulation

When I was about three years old we moved to a new house, and I became best friends with Limoy who lived across the street.  Limoy's family is Chinese and years later they opened a Chinese restaurant in town.  It was at this restaurant where I was first introduced to the lychee!  It resembles a white grape when the reddish peel is removed.  Twenty years or so had passed since I ate my last lychee!  I could only find them in a can or a tetra-pak juice box.  Trudging through the alphabet we were now more than half way and the kids are not as willing as I'd like when it comes to trying new things, so I opted for some old school bribery techniques to coerce them into trying lychee fruit.  If they ate 3 of them they could have nachos for a snack, and if they ate 5 they could also have a bit of ice cream for dessert.  Jake is always the most difficult kid to get to eat things but my bribery technique worked and he admitted that the lychees weren't that bad!  After eating his first three, he willingly asked for the other two!

Lychee - high in antioxidants and vitamin C, they are no saturated fats or cholesterol and the high potassium content is beneficial for maintaining good blood pressure

Also in my "L" picture, was a bag of dried lima beans which I haven't used yet.  Lima beans have antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, fibre and potassium which are beneficial for blood pressure and heart health.

I weighed myself at Curves yesterday after my workout and the damage thus far during Christmas festivities has me at 138.5 lbs.  I'm counting on my on board metabolism to kick in once again as we will be going on another cruise at the beginning of the new year.  I defied the odds and actually lost weight during our Mediterranean cruise while most others gained and gained some more!  My blood pressure is pretty good so all seems to be in good form, and I think, "If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion you'll find that love actually is all around...."

Merry Firthmas to all, and to all a good night!!!

ABC....easy as 1,2,3 and Infusing The Muse!

Now that I am back on track, I'll be updating my blog entries more regularly!  I will also be making more of an effort to "infuse my muse" aka Colin Firth into my progress.  My last entry ended with me heading off to watch "When Did You Last See Your Father?" which I felt was appropriate given the events following my dad's heart attack.  In the film, Blake (Colin) returns home to help his mother and sister care for his father dying of intestinal cancer.  Blake reminisces and tries to come to terms with his relationship with his father before it's too late.  Luckily, my own father has been given a new lease on life, but I have become all too aware over the past 2 months how unpredictable and fragile life is!  All the more reason to work harder at maintaining a healthier lifestyle for myself and my family!

What I haven't been keeping you up to date on is my weekly quest to eat foods starting with a certain letter of the alphabet.  I am currently working on "J" week but I need to start at the beginning.  Some "A" foods I bought I had already mentioned to you i.e. the atemoya, apricot, almonds, acai berry juice and agave nectar.  Now, we must remember that the focus needs to be on healthy foods, although my kids keep trying to weasel the opposite as often as possible but to no avail!!!  You may notice they pulled a fast one on me and substituted a pear for my arugula for this photo!

Acai berries - these berries are very healthy.  The berries come from the acai palm tree found in Central and South America and are known for their antioxidant properties aiding in the prevention of heart disease and cancer.  I wasn't able to find actual berries, so the juice had to suffice!  It can be quite tart so I water mine down some.

Acorn squash - known as a winter squash and is very tasty!  I cut mine in half, scoop out the seeds, add a little butter and brown sugar and bake in the oven until it is nice and soft.  Squash is very high in fibre and potassium, making it a good addition to a diabetic diet.

Agave nectar - a natural 'sugar' that has a much lower glycemic index than granulated sugars and is vegan to boot!  I often use agave nectar to sweeten my coffee now instead of sugar.

Almonds - while high in fats, they are actually good for your heart health as they contain magnesium and potassium.  Potassium is good for maintaining blood pressure and lack of appropriate magnesium can be linked to higher risk of heart attack.  Remember according to "Wheat Belly", you can eat as many nuts as you wish as long as they are raw!  Almonds also have antioxidant properties!!

Amaranth - having never heard of amaranth before this was a shot in the dark.  Is it a grain or a seed?  The store labelled it as a grain, but there may be some debate there.  I added mine to some yogurt and added some chopped apricot.  Afterwards I Googled some information about amaranth and discovered that I should have cooked it.  Oh well, what's done is done and I lived to tell the tale!!  Amaranth is very high in protein and fibre, therefore aiding in the prevention of heart disease and is effective in lowering cholesterol levels.  Bring it on!!!! 

Apples - you know what they say, 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away!".  Apples are good for maintaining blood pressure.  In "Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal",  I read that those who eat apples are 37% less likely to have hypertension and 28% less likely to develop Diabetes.  Apples also aid in the reduction of LDL (bad) cholesterol.  I really should start obeying those Dr.'s orders huh?

Apricots - much like apples, this fruit is also helpful for reducing high cholesterol, blood pressure, cancer risk, and can also lower LDL cholesterol.  From my high school days as an anaemic, I can tell you that dried apricots are a good source of iron too!

Artichokes - are high in antioxidants and good for reducing one's risk of breast cancer and skin cancer (hopefully my friend Melissa is reading this part!).  They are also full of fibre and can alleviate indigestion...and hangovers too apparently!

Arugula - My British friend Amanda knows this as 'rocket' and has somewhat peppery taste in comparison with other lettuces.  It is very high in fibre and antioxidants, good at lowering cholesterol levels, keeping blood sugars in balance and reducing risks of heart disease.

Asparagus - is very high in fibre, essential minerals and antioxidants.  It is also good for maintaining a healthy blood pressure as it helps to rid the body of excess salt.

Atemoya - I've already touched on this in a previous entry, but didn't realize that this fruit is a hybrid cross of sugar apple and cherimoya.  It is good for reducing high blood pressure and risk of cancer.  The seeds are toxic so be careful!

Avocado - last but not least - the avocado!  I still don't like the taste of straight avocado but I do enjoy it mixed with mango in a smoothie!  Avocados are great for reducing cholesterol, risk of heart disease and cancer.

The following week led us on the path of "B".  Just look at all that good stuff!

Bananas - great source of potassium, and good at maintaining healthy blood pressure and blood sugar levels.  Also known to decrease stress, anxiety and depression! To mix things up a bit I bought red bananas which kind of scared the kids off a bit, but there really wasn't much difference in taste.  They are a little smaller so it's a great snack size!

Beans - beans are good for decreasing the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes.  I went out on a limb here and bought black beans for the first time.  Each time I've been in Costa Rica I purposefully avoided any rice or veggie dishes containing black beans as if they would induce symptoms of the black plague!  Fear not the black bean, I professed to myself - I will consume said beans and yet prevail!  After all, you know what they say about beans!  "Beans. beans, they're good for the heart; the more you eat the more you _ _ _ _!"

Beets - great source of essential nutrients and low in calories and contain no trans fats or saturated fats.  I think I went a good 10 years or so without eating beats, and now I've got all my kids liking beets!  However, I had never tried the leafy parts before and thought this challenge was the apt time to do so!  I steamed the leaves just like I would spinach and we ate the whole vegetable root & leaves!

(Chinese) Bitter Melon - or rather Blech Melon!!!  Part of this challenge involves trying as many new foods as possible, and unfortunately this was one of them!  Bitter is an understatement!  I sliced it like a cucumber and handed out the slices raw for each of us to taste - needless to say one was plenty!  This is the "Buckley's" of "B" produce!  It's a good source of fibre and antioxidants and has so many health benefits that I would suggest trying it as a cure all for all that ails you - if you can stomach it that is!  From what I read when Googling what it was and what to do with it, I found it seems to be especially beneficial for diabetics as it helps reduce blood sugar levels.

Blackberries - rich in antioxidants which can reduce cancer risk.  Next time you are suffering from PMS, you might find relief from a handful of these black beauties!

Blueberries - has a lower glycemic index than most fruits and may prevent hardening of the arteries!

Bok Choy - not a favourite of mine or the rest of the household, but it is low in calories and full of antioxidants.

Bran - the fibre in bran reduces blood cholesterol levels and is therefore good for reducing risk of heart attacks, Diabetes, and cancer.  I use bran in cranberry bran muffins which are delish!

Brazil nuts - these are great for a vegetarian diet because they are considered a complete protein and are high in fibre and the antioxidant selenium.  Although they contain fat, Brazil nuts are helpful in reducing cardiovascular disease and cholesterol

Broccoli - high in fibre and calcium, it can help decrease your risk of bladder, colorectal, breast and lung cancers as well as heart disease!  Try out this Broccoli Cheese & Potato Soup recipe found at http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/12/broccoli-cheese-and-potato-soup.html.  I couldn't wait to eat it and nearly forgot to take a photo - until the bowl was half empty - very tasty!

Brussels Sprouts - a relatively new staple in our house that even my kids have come to accept over the past year or so - they are great for reducing cholesterol (even more so when steamed than raw) and blood pressure levels, and risk of heart disease and cancer.  I recently found some purple ones as the store!!!!  Purple Stew anyone?

Bulgur - this is a grain that contains more fibre than oats and is great for your digestive system.  I admit that I haven't tried this food yet, the package is still in the pantry.  Perhaps I'll revisit it during a week where there is little letter availability!

Butternut Squash - low fat, high in fibre and carotenoids.  I made a butternut squash and apple soup recipe from my Canadian Living cookbook and wrote names in the bowls with yogurt!  Yummy!

 

...and then there were the culinary "C's"

 



Cabbage - helps prevent colon, breast and gynecologic cancers as well as diabetes

 

Cardoni - looks like thick celery, but tastes nothing like it - rather more like bitter melon - ewww!  Supposedly good for lowering cholesterol levels but unfortunately the bitterness makes it unpleasant to eat.  I just bought this last week as it wasn't available the week I was searching for "C"'s.

 

Canary Melon - has some essential nutrients but is high in sugar.

 

Cantaloupe -  Full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories and linked to reduced risk of metabolic syndrome.

 

Carrots - Here's some trivia for you - did you know that carrots are native to Afghanistan?  They are really helpful in reducing cholesterol levels and risk of diabetes and cancer and also improve eyesight.  Avoid purchasing 'baby' carrots.  These aren't really baby carrots - they have been run through machines to attain a uniform shape.  Furthermore, Carla told me these 'baby' carrots are also bleached.  I was saddened to hear of this as they are convenient for packing in kids lunches.  Sorry kids but you will be taking a more natural kind of carrot sticks to school in future.  It's worth the extra effort to buy the real deal if you ask me!  "Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal" informs that carrots have an increased nutritional value when cooked as it breaks down the walls encasing the beta-carotene.

 

Cashews - good for heart health!

 

Cassava - kind of looks like a really long, waxy potato.  High in antioxidants and good at alleviating arthritis.  I made a new recipe called Cassava in Coconut (Muhogo Wa Nazi) from http://www.food.com/recipe/cassava-in-coconut-muhogo-wa-nazi and paired it with salmon and bok choy.  You may appreciate cassava more than I did if you can get past the smell of it, not that it's particularly unpleasant - just oddly different.  While I don't foresee myself purchasing another cassava from the supermarket, I was recently introduced to a cassava coconut pone (cake) at a scrapbooking retreat I attended a couple of weeks ago.   Thanks to my Short Stack Foodie buddy Jackie, I was privy to this delightful dessert which just so happens to be wheat-free!  She purchased the pone from a small restaurant called Ya-Man along with some tropical ice creams(coconut, mango and sour sop).  Sometimes things just taste better in a different package!  I plan on visiting this restaurant at some point and yes, I will be purchasing some cassava pone! 

 

Catfish - low in calories and fat and a good source of protein.  First time ever trying catfish and it was a success!  I guess I avoided it in the past because I couldn't get past the vision of eating whiskers!  It was a nice light tasting fish!  I  baked mine in the oven covered in fresh tomatoes, green pepper and basil from my garden along with some garlic!

Cauliflower - high in fibre and vitamin C, therefore good for reducing cancer risk.  In fact, a friend of mine who has had cancer was treated with vitamin C injections so this makes perfect sense!

 

Celeriac or Celery Root - an odd looking vegetable that indeed smells and tastes like celery.  Celeriac reduces risk of heart disease and is fat free!  I found a recipe on Pinterest for Celeriac Champ which I really enjoyed.  You can find the recipe at http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/333626/celeriac-champ

 

Celery - good for reducing rish of cancer and lowering blood pressure

 

Cheerios - I added this because they are made from oats which is good for hearth health

 

Cheese - I've mentioned before that cheese may be a leading contributor to my cholesterol issues due to the fat content, but it sure does taste good!  Pg. 75 of "Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal" has a warning:

"Tyramine, found in aged cheeses such as cheddar, blue cheese, and Camembert, also interacts with monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, drugs sometimes used to treat depression, and can cause a life-threatening rise in blood pressure."

Yikes!  Perhaps I should acquire a taste for non-aged cheeses - any suggestions?

Cherries - can reduce risk of cancer, lower cholesterol and risk of heart disease.  I didn't find any fresh cherries so I bought frozen cherries and covered them with dark chocolate - mmm...mmmm!

Chia Seeds - packed with antioxidants, fibre, and protein. Also good for maintaining blood sugar levels and decreasing risk of heart disease.  As with the amaranth grain, I added chia seeds to some Greek yogurt.

Chiles - reduces cancer risk.  Spicy foods can increase metabolism, therefore good for losing weight!  I used a Cubanelle Pepper that week and added it on my pizza

Chocolate - Thank heaven for chocolate!  Much to the chagrin of my kids, I purchased dark chocolate (good news is that are starting to develop a taste/tolerance for it!).  Dark chocolate is much better for you than milk chocolate, particularly if it's at least 60% cocoa.  Chocolate has many health benefits including lowering blood pressure, risk of heart disease and mood disorders.  Pg. 79 of "Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal" states:

"Chocolate can cause or exacerbate canker sores."

Unfortunately, my two youngest kids inherited troublesome canker sores from their father who also suffers from them.  Sorry kids, but you had better hand over all chocolate to me in future!

Cilantro - antioxidant, effective for toxic metal cleansing, anti-anxiety, and may improve sleep

Clementines  - high in vitamin C

Coconut - full of fibre and potassium and therefore helpful in reducing blood pressure, but it is high in cholesterol so avoid cooking with coconut oil.  I bought my first whole coconut and the kids and I punctured the bowling ball like holes in the bottom with a screwdriver to draw out the water to drink.  I then grated some fresh coconut flakes to add to some butternut squash soup.  I also made this Grilled Hawaiian Chicken with Coconut-Cilantro Rice recipe found at http://bevcooks.com/2011/07/grilled-hawaiian-chicken-with-coconut-cilantro-rice/, but next time I'll leave out the cilantro (not a fan)

Cranberries - good for preventing urinary tract infections, heart disease, cancer and blood cholesterol levels.  Juice should be 100% juice and diluted to minimize effects of high sugar content.

Cucumbers - are 95% water, therefore a good healthy food to prevent weight gain!  I found out this summer just how easy they are to grow in your very own garden!!

My friend Michelle recently shared something on Facebook that I'd like to share with you.  When you bring home your groceries, fill the kitchen sink with water and add 1 cup of vinegar, then add your fruits and veggies and let sit for 10 minutes or so.  This will clean the produce of dirt, pesticides and residue!  Aren't those little purple Brussels sprouts cute?

 

A couple of weeks ago, four friends and I attended a fashion show at the Burlington Art Centre featuring clothing from local stores.  As an added bonus, the price of the ticket included wine and food samples from local restaurants.  The proceeds from the event went to Breast Cancer Support Services which is my philanthropy of choice - so one couldn't go wrong attending this event!  I'm glad I opted not to have a meal at home beforehand because the food was AMAZING!  Our favourite morsel of the evening was the Braised Pork Belly Taco with roasted poblano & maple vinaigrette, apple & chive slaw and crispy sweet potatoes created by Adam Baxter, Head Chef of Honey West in Burlington.  Majella and I would be utterly embarrassed to recall how many times we returned for seconds, thirds....!  This photo is of the very last one - which shortly after posing for this photo, performed a most elegant happy dance in my belly as it met up with it's many friends consumed before it!  These tacos are not part of the regular menu at Honey West, but I do declare - you simply must go in and ask Adam to whip some up for you!  Just this afternoon, I called Adam asking him to recreate these for our upcoming Christmas party!!  For those of you planning to attend, I suggest you come rather early to try these before some (ah hem - Madge!) snatch them up!  The somewhat peculiar thing about these tacos is that those yellow sticks are actually sweet potato!  I do NOT like sweet potato as a rule, but Adam has opened up my culinary palate.  Granted, this is not the healthiest way to eat sweet potato as they are deep fried (definitely not conducive to heart health) but they are small and it's ok to treat yourself once in a while - everything in moderation!  I need to come clean and confess that we grabbed a handful of these sweet potatoes to much on like popcorn during the show!

 



 Last week I went to Woodstock to visit my dad only to find he wasn't doing very well.  His blood sugars were irregular and his blood pressure plummeted when standing, causing him to faint - not good!  The next day he had a follow-up appointment with his surgeon and was readmitted to hospital.  He had lost too much weight too fast and became dehydrated so he was hooked up to an IV for a couple of days.  Just when he thought he'd be going home again, ultrasounds revealed a pseudoaneurysm in his groin where the angiogram was performed.  It had tripled in size in the span of 2 days, requiring additional surgery to remove.  The procedure was successful and Dad is back home again - hopefully for good this time!!  He's also been given the OK to drive again so I'm sure he is appreciating the reward of regaining some autonomy back!

On Friday I had a follow-up appointment with my Diabetic Nurse to check my blood pressure.  I was sure to drink lots of water in the morning and I conjured happy images of paddle boarding with Rocket on the way there.  My blood pressure read 123/86!!!!!!  Best reading at the doctor's office yet!!!  Needless to say, I left feeling elated and didn't bawl my eyes out this time!  Now, she was still concerned about the diastolic but it has improved.  She was going to discuss the situation with my doctor and thought he may want to put me on a water pill - but since I haven't heard from them yet, I'm assuming I've got the all clear!!! Before I left her office, I laid my hands on her desk and very emphatically declared, "I am NOT going to get Diabetes!"

The last lines from "When Did You Last See Your Father" were very poignant and luckily things didn't reach this far with my dad - and for that I am very grateful!  I now have more time to appreciate my relationship with my dad and work together to improve our health!

"And when did you last see your father? Was it when they burned the coffin? Put the lid on? When he exhaled his last breath? When he sat up and said something? When he last recognized you? When he last smiled? When did you last see your father? The last time he was healthy, active? The last time he had an argument about something? Those weeks in which we tried to say goodbye were like a series of depletion's. Each day I thought 'he can't get less like himself than this.' Yet each day he did. So I've been trying to recall the last time I actually saw him. The last time he was unmistakeably... there. In the fullness of being, I dunno... him."