Friday, July 31, 2009

Hedonism

Happy Friday everyone!

I am off to Sin City this weekend for some crazy bachelorette party fun! I will probably be on a "liquid diet" for this trip so don't expect any food photos. But there is a lot of great food in Las Vegas so you never know!

I'll leave you with a nature photo, since I'll be looking at fake paris, fake new york, fake egypt...fake...well, you get the idea.

This is the meadow I used to bike through on my way to school - see the trail?
View coming down? The ocean. Ah- the old days.


Have a wonderful weekend! I'll return on Monday ready to get back to business! (hint.. primal challenge...)

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Green curry

Sorry to be repetitive but when you get home late from work and are just cooking for one, sometimes you fall into a routine of easy to prepare, familiar favorites. Especially if you already have an open can of coconut milk in the refrig!

I made Thai coconut curry the other night but for a little variation - a green curry rather than red. If you are not making it completely from scratch, the only real difference is in the curry paste you use, as I am sure you already know! I added some chopped serrano chile cuz I like it hot.Squash, red peppers, shrimp, basil, a squeeze of lemon.
Simple, filling, yummy, healthy, easy. Doesn't get much better than that for a weeknight meal!
And...even leftovers for lunch in the office the next day. Yep that is my (foggy/smoggy) view of the ocean in the distance!

Enjoy the day my friends!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Davis California part 2

Another thing about Davis that I really like (besides the turkeys) is that there is a wonderful bicycle culture there. It's a very flat area and many people bike all over town. There are beautiful bicycle paths meandering through parks, bicycle lanes on every street and low speed limits are enforced for autos. Especially when the university is in session, there are tons of students biking all over.

Speaking of bike culture, check out this blog that I have been looking at for a few years now, Copenhagen Cycle Chic. Love it! (those of you who enjoy The Sartorialist might like this site)

Here is a photo of a lovely bike path through the greenbelt.
As I mentioned, we made a delicious veggie meal on Saturday night. My mom and bro are vegetarian, so we ate a lot of veggies! haha! I made okra with cumin and an "appetizer" of sliced Japanese Black tomatoes with a dollop of an eggplant dip I got at the market and a sprinkle of basil. I also made roasted squash with red onions. My sister-in-law made a cucumber and tomato salad with basil and some super yummy beets (I hate beets but these were so good). My mom made the most delicious Indian daal. It was the best daal I ever tasted and I love daal! If you want the "recipes" or anything, just leave me a comment! Thanks for visiting! :)

Monday, July 27, 2009

Davis California

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a great weekend!

I took a little road trip up to Davis, California this weekend to visit family. A long drive up one of the highways many Californians think is hideous and boring (I-5) but some of the scenery is really lovely. You just can't beat the views of rolling brown hills dotted with green oak trees as you come over the "grapevine". You really don't have to travel far from home to see something beautiful. It's one of my pet peeves that people jet all over the world to see sights, but never check out their own backyard! Nothing wrong with traveling the world of course, just make sure you take the time to enjoy your local area too. You know what I mean?

Anyway, it was a nice little getaway! Davis, for those of you who don't know it, is a cute college town located in the Central Valley, California's agricultural hotspot.

The Saturday morning farmer's market is a village event, with tons of shoppers and kids and dogs everywhere. I took some photos for you! They were having an heirloom tomato tasting at the market and I found a new favorite- Japanese Black. Mmmmm.
We made a delicious dinner that night with our booty from the market and my brother's CSA box. I'll post about that tomorrow.

While we were cooking dinner I had a funny experience involving a flock of wild turkeys! This big flock of turkeys flew in suddenly, my mom's dog got out and was chasing them and happened to corner a young turkey. Everyone was screaming and freaking out and running around trying to catch the dog and trying to shoo off the flock of pooping flapping turkeys. Being the stupid moron that I am, I ran over barefoot, picked up the young turkey and took it out of harm's way. Later I realized that I could have been pecked or bitten or clawed - or even attacked by the mother turkey, but I really didn't think and just calmly grabbed the bird. My family was amazed and laughed at me.
A flock of turkeys running away from me as I tried to take a photo of them.
It was like running with the bulls only with turkeys.


A moment too late I realized I should have calmly grabbed the bird and...put it in the oven! haha! I have plans to go back up there around November and get me a turkey for Thanksgiving! :) They looked tasty.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Big salad

Happy Friday everyone!Here's a big salad I ordered for lunch today. I was amazed at the size of the salad - it was huge, I could only eat half and I was stuffed. It made me think about what Brad Pilon recently posted on his site about how portion sizes are so big. And this was just a simple salad! It was tasty though.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Doing anything extra fun? I'm going to a really cool farmer's market in another town. Hopefully I'll get some pics for you! :)

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Breakfast or snack

Hey kids!! Here's a delicious breakfast or snack.

Cut up some apricots and toss in a few almonds and a few organic bittersweet chocolate chips. Eat with fingers. Preferably in the park on a sunny day or lazing in bed with your lover. But if you are a slave to "the man" like me, then eating at your desk at work will suffice. hehe!
I find the combo of apricots, nuts and chocolate to be amazingly tasty.

Yum yum! Have an awesome day!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Persian food leftovers

Hey everyone! Happy Wednesday!

Today for lunch I ate delicious leftover persian grilled meat. Have you tried persian food? Tasty meats! I especially like the koobideh - the ground meet with spices. (has breadcrumbs?) Mmmmm.


Steak, chicken, roasted tomato, eggplant mash, spinach leaves, cilantro, a few olives. A bit of lemon juice on top. Yummy!!!

Just fyi, this is a salad size plate. I am not a ginormous pig! OK- well, I am but...

This was a perfect amount for a good lunch. I feel completely full but not sick.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Beach pics....ahhhhhhh relaxation

Thought I'd post some beach pics for you to enjoy on a Tuesday....send your mind to the beach even if you have to sit in the office.

I have a favorite state beach that is near Malibu. I haven't been there in quite a while, I think last time was during the winter. I love this beach because it has rocks and coves and great tide pools and a beautiful canyon. Most of the times I have been there it is pretty deserted so I thought I'd have a nice nature day and enjoy some quiet outside of LA this weekend.

What was I thinking??? A sunny summer Sunday? DUH! It was packed with people and their umbrellas and dogs and coolers! haha!

It was a lovely day at the beach anyhow. Here are some pics...for your relaxation enjoyment.

Cormorants sunning themselves on the rocks.
Cute cove where I went for a swim (water is cold!!)Relaxing on the sand - the waves look small but they would pound you!
Rock formations up the canyon.A beautiful sycamore in the canyon.

I'm going back in the fall/winter to go camping for sure! My friends and I used to camp there when we were in high school.

Have a great day!

Monday, July 20, 2009

Simple and filling breakfast

Yesterday I ate a late breakfast that was simple and filling so I thought I would share it with y'all.

Here are the components:


1 big zucchini, sliced
2 slices of Applegate Farms Sunday Bacon (my current fav), cut up
1 egg
handful of cherry tomatoes
torn up basil leaves

Super easy right? I cut up the zucchini and bacon and sauteed it for a bit then added the tomatoes and then the egg. Threw on the basil leaves. Cooked it up and ate it up. It was really really filling and kept me going for a whole day at the beach.

Perhaps I'll post later on with a nice interlude of beach pics. Got some work to do first...haha!

Have a great Monday! :)

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Just trying to make you drool!

I went to a wacky birthday party this weekend. Before the craziness really started we went to - yes - korean bbq again!! It has become a bit of a tradition among this group of buddies whenever there is something to celebrate.

I took a pic of the meat on the grill just to make you drool! That is a big piece of kimchee on my plate. Mmm...I lOVE THEIR SALAD. It is the best!
By the way, I was thinking that there is something very primal about the korean bbq. No- not just because it is meat on the fire. Because you have to share and everyone is grabbing at the meat like it is their last meal. You have to fight for your dinner. hehe!

I can't believe I was vegetarian for 10 years! I love me some good meat. haha! Maybe I am just making up for lost time?

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Hilarious

I love these! Awesome cavegirl undies.For those of you who read MDA - these are much much better than that "Grok On" t-shirt right? Can you imagine people sending in photos of themselves rock climbing in these?

Just a little something to hopefully make you smile this weekend...have a great one!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Summer fun

Summertime....

Time for grilling outdoors, days at the beach, relaxing meals al fresco... and lots and lots of parties, events and get-togethers. Summer (and spring) are my favorite times of year. But how do you stick to a healthy diet (and even exercise plan) when you are constantly going out for drinks and dinners and parties?? What a problem to have huh? :)
(a sunset on the beach in Manzanillo Mexico from many many years ago)

What do YOU do to stay healthy when happy hour calls your name every day?

Me? I try to stick to one glass of wine that I can sip slowly. I try-but sometimes I just need two glasses, ok? :)

Working out in the morning is a great idea too as it frees up the evenings for fun. I'll sometimes try to eat something healthy like a piece of chicken before I go out, so I am not starving for bar food or other junk. Nicer bars usually have healthier options like salads or seafood appetizers. There will be a few healthy snack options at most parties, but I'll still try and have a snack (nuts) before I head out. Eating something also helps to keep me from getting drunk off of that first sip of wine!

I'd love to hear your tips! What do you do to stay healthy during party season?

Thursday, July 16, 2009

More books I am reading

I really enjoy reading. However, living in the big city of the automobile, I do a lot of driving - or sitting in traffic. I like listening to NPR (gosh I am showing how nerdy I am!) but sometimes hearing the news can get depressing and repetitive. Well, why not read books while you are in the car?

Audiobooks are a life saver when you are stuck in gridlock. I also download audiobooks to my ipod and listen to them when I am going for a long walk. Very enjoyable!

Two books I have been listening to lately are:

The Well-Dressed Ape by Hannah Holmes
This book is super entertaining if you are a science nerd like me. The author looks at human biology and behavior from an outsider's perspective. She examines everything from the evolution of the eyeball to human mating behaviors. Lots of weird trivia to truly annoy your friends. (seriously!) The lady reading it has a nice soothing voice.

Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond
This is a much heavier book, it won a Pulitzer. It's been around for a long time but I have just gotten to it! The author analyzes why some cultures/societies dominated others. He attributes a lot of it to agriculture. Fascinating book. A bit hard to follow as an audiobook, especially while multitasking, because it is very detailed and intellectual. I tended to get a little distracted and have to go and rewind.

A friend just recommend Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Maybe I'll read that next. I love Malcolm Gladwell. You've read The Tipping Point, right? :)

Anyone reading something good (fiction, non fiction, whatever)? Please give me recommendations! I love books.

Random refrigerator again

Some evenings I get home from work/working out and I am thinking "holy cow, there is nothing in the refrigerator and I am sooo hungry!" Last night was one of those nights.

Searched around...found zucchini, ground bison, basil. Decided to make pesto and cook up the bison and zucchini in a pan. It was delicious! A few olives and cherry tomatoes for some excitement.
I even made enough for lunch leftovers. Yay!

Sorry about the obsession with bison lately. I promise next week I will move on to chicken or fish or something.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Guacamole!

OK, I know. Everyone thinks THEY make the best guacamole. But you know what? I make the best guacamole. hahahaha!

The ingredients in my guacamole are as follows: avocado, serranos, lemon or lime, salt, cilantro, cherry tomatoes. Just say no to onions. EW! ;) I don't really have a guacamole recipe for you since I just throw the ingredients together, but I do have some suggestions.

#1: add a lot of lemon or lime juice
#2: add some cut up sweet cherry tomatoes

Dinner last night was bison patties with guacamole and roasted veggies (eggplant, squash, shallots). SO filling and SO yummy!
Have a great great day! :) YAY!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Octo

Noooooo- not octo-mom. Are we over her yet? I haven't watched TV in a while. (I know, what is wrong with me?!?)

Went out for some appetizers at a cute Italian bar. One of the best snacks was this grilled octopus with veggies and herbs. I could have eaten 5 plates of this. I am really liking grilled octopus lately.
Another great appetizer we had were spicy peppers stuffed with tuna and herbs and baked. I didn't take a photo but they were amazingly delicious. I REALLY want to make them myself, but I could not figure out what kind of peppers they used. They were smaller than an egg, somewhat round in shape, and pretty hot. Maybe "cherry peppers"? More research is needed. Stay tuned....

Have a great day my friends!

Monday, July 13, 2009

Northern Thai BBQ

Last night I went out for northern Thai food. It was delicious. We ordered spicy BBQ, some spicy pork patties and a sour salad with shrimp. Everything had great flavor from the herbs (cilantro, mint, basil) and spices. It comes with sticky rice but I chose not to partake in that.
I really loved the pork patties. They are made of ground pork mixed with herbs and spices. They have great flavor! They are served with fried mint leaves and garlic. MMmmm.

Have you tasted northern Thai food before? If not, try it!

Happy Monday!

Friday, July 10, 2009

Harissa

Last night I blended up some harissa paste to eat with my fish dinner. Harissa is super easy and you can really use any type of dried pepper you want. I had ancho peppers on hand so that is what I used. Anchos have a little bit of a sweet flavor which I like. I combined them with chile de arbol which are pretty spicy. You can also use guajillo or new mexico chiles. Anything you like!Most recipes have the addition of coriander seeds but i didn't have any so I made it without. Sorry the pics look kinda gross but it was amazingly tasty after fasting all day.

Harissa
2 Ancho peppers
4 Chile de Arbol peppers
2 Garlic cloves
1 Teaspoon Sea Salt
Olive Oil to make a paste

Soak dried chiles in hot water until softened. (chile de arbol won't soften tho) Toss in blender or food processor. Blend. Eat. Yummy!

By the way, harissa is great with any kind of meats or veggies. In addition, I love to add it to nuts or olives to make them spicy. It makes a great party snack. Try it- you can't stop eating it!

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Doner Kebab

Have you had doner kebab before? According to the amazing wikipedia it is a "Turkish dish made of lamb meat cooked on a vertical spit and sliced off to order. Two similar dishes are called schwarma in Arabic and gyros in Greek, although ingredients and sauces differ."

My dad and I went to a doner kebab place last night for dinner. I guess it is typically eaten in a wrap or sandwich form but we had salads. It looks like it has a lot of feta and yogurt but it was really just on top.

It was ok. I like gyro meat better.

Fasting today until dinner. What shall I make tonight? Maybe I'll make up some harissa? What do you think? :)

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Steak dinner

Hi everyone! Finally got around to cooking something so I thought I'd post it. I had some leftover broiled eggplant, yellow squash and red peppers. Bought an organic flank steak and cooked it up in a pan with some salt and some chopped shallots.
Yes, it looks like a lot of food! It was! But don't worry, I only ate half and saved the rest for lunch today. I'm going out to dinner tonight with my Pops. Hmm, where shall we go?

I hope you all are having a great week!

Monday, July 6, 2009

Leftovers

Lunch today was some food we had in the refrigerator at work. I had some leftover gyro meat and I threw it over some spinach, eggplant and squash. I tossed in some pickled jalapenos for some tang and spice. Delish!
Have a great day!

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Just saying hi

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July with lots of good food!

I didn't cook anything or even eat much because I had sort of a rough emotional weekend. But hopefully things will be looking up from here! :)

Enjoy your day!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Thai Coconut Curry

Red curry last night with shrimp, eggplant, yellow squash, and basil. Super simple and sooo tasty. I made extra for lunch today as well but I really wanted to just eat the whole thing last night.
What are you all doing for the 4th of July? Anything exciting?

Random fruit question

OK- I have a random question today.

Those of you who eat fruits besides tiny berries - do you usually eat it out of hand or cut it up? I'm just curious.

I never really ate a lot of fruit growing up. I think it was because I was eating grocery store fruit which just tastes like CRAP in my opinion. Once I discovered seasonal, farmer's market fruits - well, I ate more! Once I started eating fruits more often, I realized that I preferred to eat them cut up into pieces, rather than whole and just taking a bite. Is this weird? Many of my friends do this too. Is it because biting through the skin is unpleasant? I don't know.

I'm curious - how do you eat apples, peaches, nectarines, pears, plums, avocados(just kidding)? Do you slice and dice or just take a big bite?

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Quick Easy Lunch

Rabbit Rabbit everyone!

Lunch at work today:

Mixed lettuce from the farmers market
Leftover chicken bits
Pickled peppers
French feta cheese
Torn up basil leaves
A few olives




Normally I bring leftovers to work for lunch. Today, no leftovers. So I scrounged in the work kitchen for what I might have in the refrig and freezer. Luckily I found some random chicken bits that I had frozen in a little container. Cool. I added some veggies from this morning's trip to the farmer's market and viola! Lunch!

For those of you who eat dairy - I found a new tasty cheese! I will have to go back to the store to check it out in more detail because I bought it in the bulk section, but I believe it is "French Feta". WOW it is so good. I am not the biggest fan of feta as it is a little too salty for me. But this is creamier and not as salty. Woo- I love it!! Just what I need - a new cheese to eat. Hmmph.

Tonight- I think I will make thai curry. What do you think- red or green? Hmmmmmm.

Photo of the Day

Went out to dinner last night at a tapas bar in Santa Monica. It's the cutest place, looks just like a tiny tapas bar in Spain. Um, not that I have been to Spain yet but...well, it's cute! A great place for a hot date! Ate some primal-ish tapas - shrimp, lamb chops, olives, cheese. A glass of Albarino.

Anyway, since I didn't cook last night here are two photos of the day for you. I like to take pictures of old-looking, shipwreck-looking boats.

Here is one in Belize off Ambergris Caye. (or maybe Caye Caulker?) Have you been there? Amazing diving. Not that I dive (yet) but we snorkeled like maniacs. Belize is awesome!Here is one in Point Reyes in Northern California. Have you been there? Amazing hiking! :)
I was going through old pictures last weekend. Maybe I'll keep posting some - mostly for my own enjoyment - sorry if they are boring! I gotta liven up my work day somehow by looking at photos of past adventures.

Have a great day!!