5 months?!?!?

Really? I've avoided blogging for five months?

Well, in what can only be described as the kind of pandemonium that is all consuming, I've been busy for a few months. Yes, I knew the 65+ hour weeks would eventually get to me, but throw in several trips to Southern California, pneumonia and ear infections, a wedding in Hawaii, my husband moving three time zones away and having to keep up with a house that is way too big for me, I'm busy.

As the holidays approach, I reflect on the last five months and wish I would have gotten my ass in gear and focused. While I pretend that I am not still consuming leftover Halloween candy, I'll admit that my eating has suffered.

Anyway, accountability and tracking, here I come. I am re-energized and praying that somehow I can magically melt away 30 lbs. before Thanksgiving...BUT I'll be happy with 5 or 6, especially as I realize my exercise capabilities are completely related to my ability to get rid of this lingering cough.

So, Happy Holidays, everyone, and hopefully I can start posting some yummy food that will redirect my attention from the leftover almond joys and reese's pb cups and toward the kind of healthy stuff my body really wants.

Back on Track

I turned 30 last Wednesday. What should have been motivation to stay on track and eat well turned into the consumption of cake, ice cream, too much alcohol and one too many breakfast burritos. Today, we're back on track.

Monday: Free Range, Hormone/Antibiotic-free Sausages (or in Bryan's case Sausage Hotdogs)
Homemade Orzo Macaroni Salad
Strawberries

Tuesday: Meatloaf
Red Potatoes
Asparagus

Wednesday: Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs
Salad

Thursday: Chicken Tacos
Black Bean Salad

I also made a greek quinoa salad and a spanish quinoa salad for the week. Bryan grocery shopped with me and picked out some of his favorite items, too.

Goal: Get to one of the mid-week farmer's markets. This should work out because my boss is on vacation.

This week's menu isn't nearly as creative as I'd like it to be, but everything is simple and tasty. It should get us back on track. I'm going to find some yummy recipes this week to drop in for next week.

Weekly Meal Plan

We spent the weekend in Orange County celebrating the baptism of our nephew, Xavier, so I'm a day behind in putting together my meal plan.

I'm using a lot of meat that's been living in my freezer for a few weeks, so my grocery trip should be light. If I can, I'll be making a quick trip over to the farmer's market at Fremont Park during lunch, but I'm guessing my produce will be coming from the Nugget this week.

Tuesday-

Hamburgers/Hot Dogs on the grill or stove grill
Greek Salad Quinoa (enough to have a grain in the refrigerator all week)
Asparagus

Wednesday-

Chicken Tacos
Green Salad

Thursday-

Chicken Fingers (with homemade breadcrumbs, coconut and curry)
Jesus Salad (Spelt)
Mashed Potatoes

Friday-

Spaghetti with homemade sauce
turkey meatballs or sausage
Green Salad

It's really nothing special this week, but coming off a weekend of restaurants and the taco lady, I need some good, clean eating.

Grain of the week

Let me preface this by saying that I'm a sucker for quinoa. Everything about that silly, little grain makes it so amazingly appetizing. In the past, my quinoa dishes have been mostly based on a traditional greek salad. I've thrown feta, olives, tomatoes, onions and bell peppers into a bowl with some balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Today I thought I'd try something a little different.


Remember those irresistable boxes of rice-a-roni that were part of the 10/$10 sales every other week at the grocery store? While everyone else inhaled pilaf, I became a huge fan of their spanish rice version. I often made a meal, albeit unhealthy, out of the spanish rice, a can of tomatoes and a pound of ground beef. So, when I came across a recipe for Spanish Quinoa on http://www.recipezaar.com/, I knew I needed to try it.

After I finished prepping the meat, veggies and salad for our Sunday barbeque, I went to work on the recipe--chopping onions, mincing garlic, etc.

Within 30 minutes, the entire dish was complete.....and only about 1 1/2 servings. Seriously, it fit in one of the smaller bowls in my place settings. I brought some of it for lunch today and it smells and looks like the real thing, but I'm thinking next time if I want this to last most of the week, I should double (or triple) the recipe.

Spanish Quinoa (Serves 1 1/2 - 2)

• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 14 1/2 oz. can of Muir Glen organic tomatoes with green chiles
• 1/2 cup quinoa
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Heat oil and add onion and garlic until translucent

Meanwhile, open the tomatoes and drain, reserving the juice. Add enough water to the juice to total 1 cup.

Pour juice into onion and garlic and bring to a boil.

Add quinoa, cumin and chili powder, lower heat and simmer covered for 15 minutes (or until liquid is gone).

Uncover and stir in tomatoes. Cook for another 2-4 minutes.

Salt and pepper to taste.

Sunday cooking for the week

Tomorrow is my dear, darling husband's birthday and our third wedding anniversary (Yay, us!). I got him a new grill and all the necessary supplies for backyard barbequeing. Mind you, this weekend is the hottest so far this year, but I can't wait to start eating all the yummy stuff we cooked on it today.


As was recommended to me by Amanda (http://www.eatyourroots.com/-- GO THERE!!), we're going to start cooking meat for the week on Sunday so dinners are a little more convenient. Today's meals for the week include:

• pork marinated in some sweet/spicy recipe from the Barbeque Bible
• Carne Asada
• Chicken cooked with various seasonings -- homemade barbeque sauce, lemon pepper and chipotle.

We also threw on some Hebrew National hotdogs, some asparagus (purchased at the farmers' market in Carmichael) and corn on he cob (purchased at Whole Foods). I made a variation of my grandmother's potato salad and a homemade angel food cake with fresh, local strawberries.

It was a success. Pictures will be uploaded later.

An Introduction...

I have tried every diet under the sun. There are a few exceptions to that statement - the cookie diet or the grapefruit diet - but mostly I've tried them all. Subsequently, I've watched my weight and health yo-yo over the years.

In anticipation of my 30th birthday, I am embarking on yet another adventure in reteaching myself to eat with an emphasis on whole foods, locally grown produce and hormone-free meats. I think my ultimate goal, beyond getting healthy, is to enjoy what I eat, rather than rely on convenience or apathy when making decisions about food.

About 2 months ago I started working with a nutrition expert. Not to be confused for a nutritionist, Amanda (http://www.eatyourroots.com/) doesn't weigh me in or restrict any types of food, instead she focuses on eating sustainably and locally by infusing diets with grains and seasonal produce. She's helped me to organize menu plans and even gone grocery shopping with me. Our weekly meetings are less a lecture and more conversations about progress and new recipes.

In addition to posting a few of my favorite recipes, I am hoping that blogging will help keep me accountable to getting and staying healthy. It helps that the food I'm eating is (mostly) amazingly good.