Seeing Green

I've been making more of an effort to eat more veggies and less meat. This is pretty ridiculous, but it only recently occurred to me that not every meal needed to include a protein - and I've been having fun playing around with vegetarian options as a result.

I went a little NUTZOOOOOOOO on the sugar last week, and I think my skin is acting out as a result. Therefore I am attempting to 'detox' from both real and fake sugar as much as I can, for as long as I can this week. I have made it two days with one slip - a glass of my 'liquid crack' tonight at dinner, which is a secret concoction that I will have to let you in on in a later post. I've also been going heavy on the green foods - as I know they are packed with vitamins and minerals and are terrific, all-natural tools to help cleanse out your system. (Ewe, sorry, but it's the truth!)

Tonight I wanted to share a recipe I threw together the other night - and all of the ingredients (minus the dressing) were coincidentally green! I've been playing with names, and so far the only one I've got is

THE QUEEN GREEN SALAD. Yes, I believe this one shall do.




For the salad:
~ 1 or 1/2 firm yet yielding avocado (honestly, finding them when they are juuust perfect is an art form)
~ 1/4 english or lemon cucumber
~ 1-2 small Green Zebra tomatoes (my newest OB.SES.SION - I discovered them in my Aunt Laurie's garden in Denver a few weeks ago - they are a little big sour and DEMAND a very gentle dusting of sea salt. Sweeter tomato-likers should find a normal green Heirloom tomato)
~ 1 handful of snap peas

For the dressing:
* This is an adaptation from the amazing salad dressings that I've seen my mom put together over the years. I enjoy a very vinegary, mustard-spicy dressing - much like the dijon mustard dressings found on simple French greens. If you want to take out the pucker a bit, add some sugar, or go easy on the vinegar. Have fun playing around with the ingredients! That's how I came about my fave!

~ 1 rounded spoonful of dijon mustard (the spiciest one I've found is from Trader Joes - and it's like $1.50!! A steal!
~ 2 T Champagne vinegar
~ 1 - 1/2 T GOOD Olive Oil - preferable something you'd use as a dipping oil, versus a cooking oil
~ Freshly ground pepper and Sea salt to taste.


Optional Add in's:
~ 2 t lemon juice - this really gets the salivary glands going
~ 1 t lemon zest - pumps up the lemon flavor (there is much more flavor found in the rind, versus the juice, and it's oil so it blends well with the Olive Oil
~ 1 t super finely chopped Scallions, or Shallots - best if you can let them sit in the champagne vinegar for an hour or two to soften



Dice up all of the lovely green veggies into diced pieces that are similar in bite size. Shake up the dressing in a closed tupperware container, or whisk it in a bowl. Drizzle very lightly over the veggies - you can always add more, but you can't take it back!

And voila! The perfect, healthy meal or side dish, that's fun to eat and easy on the eyes too!

Long live the QUEEN!

eat pray love & pbj

Well, it's been awhile since I last posted. To be honest, this week was one of those weeks in which I was really up in my head - over-analyzing, worrying, stressing - you get the gist. I tend to have these sorts of weeks from time to time, and I have a hard time focusing on the positive. That being said, finding ways to live in the moment, work on the things that are in my power, and leave the personally un-fixables alone is one of my biggest goals for myself.

Last night I went to see Eat Pray Love - and it was fantastic. I was so in love with the book, and being able to see it on the silver screen was just wonderful. I can relate to so many of the things the main character goes through in this story - particularly at this juncture of my life. She basically makes a decision to end the life in which she had become miserable to strive for a happier more fulfilling one. So seeing this movie was really encouraging for me, because you get to see her ups and downs and sadnesses and joys - everything that comes along with forging ahead into an unknown future. I wholeheartedly recommend this movie to every woman out there - particularly the ones who are in the midst of fearless self discovery.

On top of that, a song with which I used to be obsessed came on during car ride home. It's called Objects of My Affection by Peter Bjorn and John. It's essentially about the process of wondering if you are better off now than you used to be, and embracing your past and your future in an honest, thoughtful way. I also love how the singer acknowledges that it's ok to take time for yourself to do nothing, because I often over-schedule and commit to doing too much, and I get angry with myself for being exhausted. Finding a happy medium for personal and social commitments is another goal of mine. The song is filled with little bits of knowledge that impress me and make me happy to be ME!


Favorite lines?

And the question is, was I more alive
Than than I am now?
I happily have to disagree
I laugh more often now, I cry more often now
I am more me

Please enjoy the video below - and the lyrics are posted as well.

Download this mp3 from Beemp3.com

Objects of My Affection - Peter Bjorn and John

I remember when, when I first moved here
A long time ago
'cause I heard some song I used to hear back then
A long time ago
I remember when, even further back
In another town
'cause I saw something written I used to say back then
Hard to comprehend

And the question is, was I more alive
Than than I am now?
I happily have to disagree
I laugh more often now, I cry more often now
I am more me

But of cause some days, I just lie around
And hardly exist
And can't tell apart what I'm eating
From my hand or my wrist
'cause flesh is flesh, flesh as flesh as flesh
The difference is thin
But life has a certain ability of breathing new
life into me
So I breathe it in
It says here we are, and we all are here
And you still can make sense
If you just show up and present an honest face
Instead of that grin

And the other day, this new friend of mine
Said something to me
Just because something starts differently
Doesn't mean it's worth less
And I soaked it in, how I soaked it in
How I soaked it in
And just as to prove how right he was
Then you came
So I'm gonna give, yes I'm gonna give
Im gonna give you a try
So I'm gonna give, yes I'm gonna give
I'm gonna give you a try

And the question is, was I more alive
Than than I am now?
I happily have to disagree
I laugh more often now, I cry more often now
I am more me

quoting cary

I'm reading this fascinating article in Vanity Fair about how Cary Grant's wife, Betsy Drake, got him to take LSD in a desperate attempt to save their marriage (He was falling in love with Sophia Loren) through new-age psychotherapy in the late 1950's ~ who knew Cary Grant was into psychedelics, man?

Anyways, just came across this terrific quote that I feel is quite pertinent to my recent revelations about my own life:

'I know that, all my life, I've been going around in a fog. You're just a bunch of molecules until you know who you are'

Truuuue dat, Cary Grant!





picture courtesy of pagina12.com

Peanut Butter-Oatmeal Rounds

This past weekend I made a quick trip to Denver, CO to pay a visit to my Grandma Barbara. My Aunt Laurie invited me to stay with her and my Uncle Todd and Cousin Molly ~ so I wanted to do something special as a thank you gift. Being fellow coffee lovers, I first bought them a bag of Blue Bottle coffee, and then I searched through my cookbooks for a good sounding cookie recipe. I also wanted to bake enough so that I could bring some to Grandma as well. This recipe caught my eye and the cookies ended up tasting fantastic - sweet with just the right amount of saltiness. It was also a great choice because the cookies were hearty and moist enough to endure my travels.

By the way, it wasn't until after I baked these that I realized I seem to be quite keen on Peanut Butter these days... interesting :)


ingredients
3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter (I used creamy)
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup chopped cocktail peanuts
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate pieces



instructions
1. In a large mixing bowl beat butter and peanut butter with an electric mixer on medium speed ~ about 30 seconds or till combined





2. Add about half of the flour to the butter mixture. Then add the sugar, brown sugar, eggs, baking powder, vanilla, and baking soda. Beat till thoroughly combined, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. Then beat or stir in the remaining flour. Still in rolled oats and chopped peanuts and chocolate pieces.


















3. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. (I laid down Parchment Paper just to be sure that the cookies did not stick) Bake in a 375 degree oven about 10 minutes or till edges are lightly browned. Remove cookies and cool on wire racks. Makes about 50.





Recipe c/o Better Homes and Gardens' Cookies Cookies Cookies copyright 1992

music flick picks

I love movie soundtracks. They often serve as excellent introductions to new bands or artists. There are also soundtracks, such as Dazed and Confused, that successfully compile amazing hit songs from decades past.

I have an obsessive tendency to run home after seeing a movie to seek out songs I've heard during the flick. So when I discover that there is an entire SOUNDTRACK full of the songs I've just heard, a surge of adrenaline and excitement courses through my veins. I then enter into a full blown love affair with my new found treasures.



Below is a list of my top 12 ( I couldn't stop at 10 ) movie soundtracks - #1 being my most favorite.

1. Laurel Canyon

2. Clueless

3. Dazed and Confused

4. Garden State

5. Forrest Gump



6. Dumb and Dumber

7. King Pin

8. Crazy Beautiful

9. Biodome (I'm not even kidding)

10. Cruel Intentions

11. Blue Crush

12. Empire Records




soundtrack links:
http://www.stlyrics.com/l/laurelcanyon.htm
http://www.stlyrics.com/c/clueless.htm
http://www.stlyrics.com/d/dazedandconfused.htm
http://www.stlyrics.com/g/gardenstate.htm
http://turnerclassic.moviesunlimited.com/product.asp?sku=S11161
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109686/soundtrack
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116778/soundtrack
http://www.stlyrics.com/c/crazybeautiful.htm
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115683/soundtrack
http://www.stlyrics.com/c/cruelintentions.htm
http://www.stlyrics.com/b/bluecrush.htm
http://www.stlyrics.com/e/empirerecords.htm



Now it's your turn! I'd love to hear some of your favorites!

lezioni

Last week was one of those nutzo weeks during which I felt like I had to utilize every last second in order to get things done. I worked late on Tuesday and then realized I had nothing fresh in my fridge for dinner, so I made a beeline for T-Joes. After racing around the store picking up flowers, produce and pretty much whatever flashed in front of my eyes, I made it to the check out stand in less than 18 minutes (which is very impressive for those of you who have never gone grocery shopping with me).





Racing home, I made two trips from my car to the elevator, parked my car, took the elevator up to my apartment, dragged everything into my kitchen, unloaded my groceries, arranged my flowers, and finally took the things I wanted to cook for dinner out on the counter.






I stood there furiously chopping my kale and tomatoes, when suddenly I was like - HOLD ON, SISTER!!!















Why are you still insisting on this insanely rushed behavior? I could almost hear the screeching sounds that the Roadrunner makes when he comes across one of Wile E. Coyote's traps... Stop right there in your tracks, Allie Phelps!





I love to cook! I would so much rather cook myself dinner than order in or microwave a frozen dinner. I asked myself why I was speeding through the process ~ just so I could plunk myself down on the couch to catch up on The Real Housewives of New Jersey? Silly me!


It was definitely a mini wake-up of sorts. Sure, there are times when we need to rush about getting as much done as we can in order to carve out some time for ourselves. But cooking dinner should be the perfect way to relax and wind down after a hectic day. I took a deep breath, retrieved and put on an awesome CD that my friend Mike made for me, and slowed myself down to enjoy my time in the kitchen. Then, when I eventually made it to the couch to enjoy my dinner, I made sure to thoroughly enjoy each bite I took, after bidding myself a little BUON APETITO!