January 30, 2012 - Featured2

Addicted to Kombucha

January 26, 2012 - Featured2

Cashew, Almond, Coconut Granola

January 25, 2012 - Family

Should we move and to where?

January 24, 2012 - Exercise

My Yoga: Class Reviews from A Newbie

Addicted to Kombucha Cashew, Almond, Coconut Granola Should we move and to where? My Yoga: Class Reviews from A Newbie

Addicted to Kombucha

by admin

I have a problem. It involves being addicted to a fermented beverage. An expensive fermented beverage.

Photo Credit: Synergy

Kombucha. Have you heard of it?

When I describe it to people, their face turns aghast because it really does sound odd.

Kombucha is basically a tea made from fermented fungus. When you buy the GT Kombucha brand, there are usually little slimy pieces of the kombucha floating in it.

You are supposed to drink that.

The drink is sweetened with a bit of juice-my favorite is the gingerade. Filled with fresh, sharp ginger taste.

Oh, I wish I had one right now.

The Kombucha tea is supposed to have a bunch of amazing health benefits but for me—it makes me less likely to crave sweets and I tend to eat less if I have one to sip on in the afternoon.

They are pricey, about $4.00 a bottle at Whole Foods but I feel that it is a suitable splurge once or twice a week.

Photo Credit

My sister makes the stuff at home and has little bottles filled with “scobies” (the name for the pre-fermented fungus baby. I don’t know if I will be growing my own anytime soon— but stranger things have happened.

My advice: Give it a chance. You likely won’t like it on the first try. It takes some getting used to–and by then an addiction will be formed.

Tell Me What you Think!

If you need more information, check out the Synergy website.

This is NOT a paid announcement.

Tags: drinks, kombucha

1 comment

Jan
26

Cashew, Almond, Coconut Granola

by admin

About a year ago, the Bean and I decided we would start a granola company. We experimented with a few varieties (all were amazing!) and even started doodling logo designs. But, like many of my ambitious adventures this one lost its steam (for others see: medical school, cupcake business, moving to Singapore, super crazy cleanse).

Although we haven’t created a business, we are still making granola. Making granola is so easy. It is a lot healthier than processed cereal, and it is a lot cheaper than buying store bought granola.

The only problem is that is goes too fast. We were scooping this out of the container by the handfuls as we passed–it was addictive.

Cashew, Almond, Coconut Granola

Summary: Tasty and perfect!

Inspired by: What’s Gaby Cooking

Ingredients:

3 cups of rolled oats
3/4 cups cashews, chopped
3/4 cups almonds, chopped
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 stick of butter
1/4 cup agave nectar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 raisins
3 Tbs. flax seeds
2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

In a large bowl, toss together oats, nuts, coconut, flax seed, salt and cinnamon.
Melt butter in saucepan with agave nectar and brown sugar. Until sugar is dissolved. Add the vanilla.
Pour the sugar mixture on top of the dry ingredients. Tossing to coat well.
Spread onto a parchment covered baking sheet–leaving a few clumps for texture.
Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.
Toss around on the pan and then add to the oven for another 15 minutes.
Allow to cool.
Once cooled, toss in the raisins. Or if you want to get crazy….add in some chocolate chips too.

Preparation time: 10 minute(s)

Cooking time: 25 minute(s)

Diet type: Vegetarian

Diet tags: High protein

Number of servings (yield): 6

Microformatting by hRecipe.

Tags: breakfast, cereal, food, granola, healthy

1 comment

Jan
25

Should we move and to where?

by admin

That seems to be the most pressing question on my mind right now. As I have mentioned a couple of times, Aaron is almost done with his degree in computer animation and the next adventure is right around the corner. But, where will that adventure lead us? I am pretty open to anything but there are a few requirements:

1) Near an ocean.

Since I am a marine scientist and Aaron is a surfer, this is pretty important. However, I would trade this for some cool international opportunity.

2) Near a city.

I like cities. I like the wide variety of food options, cultural opportunities and just the general sense of excitement. I need to be near them. The End.

3) Good schools.

For this reason, Hawaii is sitting on the bottom of the list.

4) Good opportunities for Aaron.

Let’s see, computer animation? Of course, the key cities are Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Seattle, maybe Portland, Singapore, maybe Berlin, maybe somewhere in New Zealand?

5) Any kind of opportunity for me.

I’ll be honest here, since it is my blog and my space to divulge secrets. I am not tied to my current job. I mean, I am totally tied to the paycheck but I am not super excited about what I have been doing at work lately. I am ready for a change. “Hey, Universe, can you hear me?” I sort of look at Aaron’s job taking us somewhere for a bit so that I can figure out what I want to do when I grow up.

6) Near some mountains.

I want to be able to go on real hikes. And, I want to kids to grow up skiing. I want easy access to snow but not have piles of it in the backyard.

7) Near Family?

I say that with a question because we have lived far from family for quite awhile now. I know that living hear family would make life easier. But, sometimes I wonder if it would also make it harder. Do I really want my mom popping over everyday? Do I really want to be obligated to go to every family event? I don’t know about this one but if I did consider it as a firm requirement that would leave the following places in the running: Seattle, Hawaii, Vermont (the general north east), South Florida.

I plugged all of my requirements into FindYourSpot.com and the program popped out with the following:

1) Portland, OR (Hmmm…maybe. All of my college friends have transplanted to Portland but there is no ocean.)

2) Little Rock, Arkansas (Really? I know nothing about this place.)

3)Providence, RI (The Northeast would be a new experience.)

4) New Haven, CT (I envision cute old houses with white picket fences)

5) Hartford, CT (covered in snow. With a mud room filled with boots.)

6) Baton Rouge, LA (?)

7) Boston, MA ( I do love Boston. Maybe I should explore this a bit more.)

Albuquerque, NM (That whole no ocean thing.)

9) Baltimore, MD (Nope.)

10) Worcester, MA (I think I have an aunt here. Or a cousin.)

11) Honolulu, HI (Would likely be the easiest transition. But, the schools! Ugh. I just don’t know.)

12) San Francisco, CA (Like this idea. Except for cost of living.

Places that I have been seriously considering include Seattle, LA, and New York (NEW YORK!) but they didn’t even make my list on “Find Your Spot”.

Argh. I think I need to read my horoscope. Maybe the stars can shed a little light on this problem.

Did you ever contemplate a big move? How did you decide where to go?

Tags: best city for kids, best city for nature, best city to move, Boston, family, honolulu, Los Angeles, move, New York, Portland, San Fransisco, Seattle

2 comments

Jan
24

My Yoga: Class Reviews from A Newbie

by admin

Photo Credit: Greensmoothieyoga.com

Since the start of the new year, I have been to about 7 yoga classes–which is quite a record for me. Usually, I’ll go to a yoga class, fall asleep, and then vow to never go again. But, since I am working on that handstand goal, I realize that I need to regain some strength and flexibility so I have been trying a bunch of different classes. I figure there has to be one that will click with me. And, I think I may have found the one. But, before I go on about ariel yoga, I want ensure you that I have given all of the “real” yoga classes a try.

Candlelight Yoga: I thought I would really like this. Evening time, relax at yoga class and then leave feeling ready for bed. The problem was during the class I knew the kids hadn’t been fed dinner and I would have to go home to homework, dinner prep, showers and the whole bedtime routine. Not exactly the right frame of mind for a relaxing yoga class. Not to mention, this instructor really was going deep into places I didn’t want to go. She kept referring to my third eye and my kundalini region. Not sure what any of it meant. The class was decent enough but I just didn’t really get it.

Hot Yoga, to Music: I had done Bikram Yoga before (you know heated room, strenuous postures) and really liked it so I was excited for this class. Unfortunately, “hot yoga” doesn’t necessarily mean “Bikram” and “to music” meant–”one of the regular yoga ladies would click play on a CD and do yoga poses directed by a phantom voice dubbed over some bad and very eclectic music”. It was ODD, to say the least. The place was pretty packed so those regulars must not feel as bad as I did about paying $15 to sweat in a hot room. The workout was good–I was sore from all that deep stretching but I don’t know if I would go back to that studio.

Yoga at the YMCA: I know, I know, yoga at the Y, is “gym yoga”. Not the same feel, not the same energy that you get from doing yoga at a tiny converted house in the arty part of town. BUT, at my YMCA, the Wednesday night class has been one of my favorites. The instructor is not the touchy, feel-y yoga instructor you would expect but rather kind of like a little drill sergeant. When I walked in, she was barking order, “Grab a band. No shoes in my class. Put everything away.” I was a little bit scared. Once class began, it just worked. All the poses flowed into one another, she explained things without disrupting the flow of the class, and she added that spiritual stuff without turning me off. It felt like fitness. It felt good. The only downside was the constant thumping coming from the spinning class next door.

Power Flow: This was a so-so class. It just so happened to be the yoga teacher trainees last class together. So, the class was packed with yoga teacher trainees AND me. The class was fine-I suppose. I didn’t leave loving it or hating it. Just kind of a neutral feeling. I guess I should try this one again.

Ariel Yoga: MY FAVORITE! I am pretty sure this doesn’t actually count as real yoga. But, it is so fun. You hang from hammocks and get your body to do all kinds of fun things that you may not normally try. For example, I stood in a headstand for about 5 minutes. And, during my second class I did a supported backbend. The instructor is great, friendly and welcoming….The only issue I have with this class is really trying to stay in the yoga frame of mind and just having fun. So many times, I wanted to just smile or laugh at the fun I was having but kept trying to remember to breath and stay in the yoga frame of mind.

After my second ariel yoga class, I went home and did a headstand on my own, against the wall. I was so proud of myself.

If you are in the Sarasota area, these are the studios I have checked out:

Body Heat Yoga (Hot Yoga Classes)

Reflex Arts Dance and Yoga (Candlelight, Power and Ariel)

YMCA Berlin Branch (Great Yoga Class)

How do you feel about Yoga? Gone to any amazing classes?

Tags: ariel yoga, bikram yoga, candlelight yoga, fitness, gym yoga, health, hot yoga, power yoga, relfex arts dance and yoga, sarasota, sarasota yoga, YMCA yoga, yoga

1 comment

Jan
20

Indian Chicken Curry

by admin

Aaron has a friend named Corey. Corey and Aaron were friends for years before I met Aaron and Corey continues to be Aaron’s friend, and not mine. It’s not that I don’t like the guy–I actually do find him really interesting and nice, but I always feel that I am invading their guy time–so I hang back. When we visit Hawaii now, I make sure to add flexibility into the schedule so that they can hang out. They look at websites about graphic design and video games and Corey always seems to have some sort of new foodie thing he wants Aaron to sample. This guy, Corey, needs a food blog. He is web savvy and an excellent cook. Not to mention, he is an artist and has the luxury of time to devote to his work.

Aaron always brings me food back from Corey’s house. I remember some amazing sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving the year I was in the hospital giving birth. Homemade naan bread. Black eyed peas and cornbread for New Years. Of course I like Corey–he sends me food. On more recent visits to Corey’s house, Aaron has brought home chicken curry. The most amazing chicken curry I have ever tasted. I have begged Aaron to get the recipe but he never remembers or Corey is protective of it–not sure which. Aaron has been there during the production of the dish and remembers the following: 1) there are lots of spices, and 2) there is no dairy. Helpful? Not so much.

The other day, as I was flipping through Edible Sarasota, I saw a recipe for Chicken Curry from Tandoor Restaurant in Sarasota. The recipe was big on spices but had no dairy. Could it be THE RECIPE? I had to try it out.

The verdict: Pretty close to Corey’s Chicken Curry but not exactly there. Don’t get me wrong–this is some good curry–one of the best I have made, but still not Corey’s Curry. Maybe the spice combination was just off slightly. I am still going to be looking for that recipe but in the meantime, this Chicken Curry will do me just fine. And, for vegans/vegetarians, just substitute tofu or veggies for the chicken and you are good to go.

Indian Chicken Curry

From Tandoor Restaurant, Sarasota, Florida

Prep Time: 20 minutes| Cook Time: 30 minutes

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

2 large tomatoes

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2-3 cloves minced garlic

1 Tablespoon ginger, finely chopped

1 large onion, finely chopped

1 1/2 teaspoons turmeric

1 teaspoon cumin powder

1 teaspoon coriander

1 teaspoon garam masala

Salt and red chile to taste

2 pounds boneless chicken, cut into bite sized pieces

1 bunch of fresh cilantro, chopped

1) Boil a small pot of water and add tomatoes, removing as soon as the skins split. Place them in cold water to cool and the slip off the skins. Puree and set aside.

2) Heat oil in a deep pan. Add garlic and ginger and saute until lightly browned. Add onion. Stir in tomato and spices. Add salt and chile to taste.**At this point, I grabbed the immersion blender and blending the chunks out. Corey’s version was smooth so I knew I didn’t want the onion and garlic chunks to remain. It worked well except for being splattered by the hot mess.**

3) Cook for 1 minute and then add the chicken, stirring well. Cook covered for 5 minutes stirring occasionally.

4) Add water as necessary to thin the sauce and continue cooking for approximately 10 minutes or until the chicken is tender.

5) Serve topped with cilantro, with naan or rice, or both.

Tags: chicken, curry, food, indian, naan, spicy curry, vegan, vegetarian

1 comment

Jan
18

Two Weeks In, How am I doing?

by admin

If you remember back to my “New Years Goals Post”, you might have begun to think that I have actually lost my marbles. Me? Do a handstand and then walk? Not a sight that many people want to see. But, I am sticking to it. That and all of those other little plans I made for 2012 (you can find the comprehensive list here). I thought, since it is mid-January, that I should just check in and see where I am on my goals. (I am reading “The Happiness Project” and it seems that constant reminders of our goals can either help achieve them or make you so annoyed and frustrated that you give up on them. I am hoping for the latter.)

So, how am I doing on the handstand goal?

In the past two weeks, I have:

1) gone to five! yoga* classes (including a fun ariel yoga class and a weird hot yoga class);

2) practiced handstands in my room, up against a wall. (Thanks for the tip, Kristi!) During that time, I had a couple of seconds of perfect balance without touching the wall!;

3) tried to do a backbend and realized that either my arms are just way too weak or my body is way to big;

4) lost 1.2 pounds. I have a mini-goal of 5 pounds by the end of January–so I’ll be saying goodbye to sugar from here on out.

Feeling pretty good about those minor accomplishments. As far as other goals:

1) I have gone to spin class 4 times and went and priced out bicycles for the Seattle to Portland ride. Spinning makes me work so hard that I want to cry–seriously tears start to well up in my eyes sometimes. Does that happen to anyone else?

2) I’ve been cooking a ton and have recipes for chicken curry, amazing pork butt, and strawberry cheesecake ice cream and some experimental peanut butter bars posting soon. You will love them all.

3) On the home front, I am trying to be nice. Exceptionally nice (a tip from “The Happiness Project”). And, it seems to be working**.

4) Blogging has gone to the wayside, as far as writing goes–but I am having my site totally redesigned and getting ready to launch a whole new blog. I am very excited about that and will tell you more about it later.

5) I’m reading again! Like I have mentioned twice now, I am reading, “The Happiness Project” and just finished, “Poser:My Life in 23 Yoga Poses”. Up next: Ishmael (upon my brothers request) and Bossypants by Tina Fey.

6) I’ve watched good movies, including Our Idiot Brother, True Grit, and the pilot for the FX show “Justified”.

I’m hoping to keep this momentum going through the year and I am happy to say that I have lasted two weeks and feel like I am going strong.

How are you doing with your New Year Goals?

* More later on the yoga front. There is so much to say.

** Except my mom. For some reason, it doesn’t work with her.

Tags: handstand, happiness project, my life in 23 yoga poses, new year resolutions, poser, spin class, touch base, yoga

1 comment

Jan
13

Indian Samosas

by admin

Since high school, we would always have some kind of Indian food for Thanksgiving. My parents had to deal with our odd eating habits from early on and they never seemed to sync with each others. For example, my sister became vegetarian when she was 9, I was vegan from age 19 to 22. My brother became a Hare Krisha when he was in high school and didn’t eat meat, mushrooms, and onions. My dad was the only one that was consistent. He enjoyed his regular old meat and potatoes and would always sneak away to McDonalds for a Big Mac. Recently, my brother and I started eating meat, my mom became a vegetarian and…….SHOCKINGLY, my dad has become a vegetarian and is thinking of switching to being a vegan. I’m excited to make fun of his Tofurky at the next family Thanksgiving.

Just kidding, I’ll probably just make him these samosas and let him know how proud I am of him. (But, they aren’t vegan so……he will have to cheat a bit.)

Vegetable Samosas

Prep Time: 30 minutes| Cook Time: 20 minutes

1 package of Phyllo dough

2 pounds of potatoes

2 cups of frozen peas

2 T olive oil

2tsp of curry powder

1/2tsp of paprika

1tsp of grounded coriander

1/2tsp of cinnamon powder

1tsp of cumin powder

1/4 cup of melted butter

1) Cut the potatoes into chunks and boil until tender. About 15 minutes. Once soft, mash them a bit using a fork. You don’t want mashed potatoes here but more of a chunky consistency.

2) In a small bowl, mix together the spices.

3) Heat the oil in a frying pan. Add the potatoes, spices and toss together. Throw in the peas and mix all together.

4) Cut the phyllo into strips that are about 3 inches wide by 6 inches long. Place a tablespoon of mixture onto the top corner of the dough. Fold the dough over and fold each into a triangle.

5) Seal the edges with a bit of water.

6) Place on a slip mat or a buttered cookie sheet. Before placing in the oven, brush all of the samosas with melted butter.

7) Bake for 20 minutes until well browned.

8 ) Serve with fruit or mint chutney.

Tags: food, indian, samosa, vegetarian, vegetarian samosa

1 comment

Jan
05

Poetry by the Bean

by admin

Poem #1

The lime green trees

cover the blanket of cloudy white snow.

This glorious sight

is like magic to your eyes.

The gentle breeze of the snowy air

rushes past golden yellow stones and boulders.

This wondrous sight is like

freedom to the earth

and peace to the universe.

-The Bean, Age 9 (December 2011)

Tags: bean, family, poetry

1 comment

Jan
04

Happy New Year!

by admin

All right, all right, I realize its a little late and that I haven’t posted since before Christmas…BUT, I have been thinking about you, dear blog readers, for awhile now. Its just that—I took a week off of work and though I did a lot of cooking, reading, watching movies ( I SAW A GROWN UP MOVIE IN THE THEATER!), and lots of TV (love, love, love Breaking Bad), I just never really felt like busting out my computer and writing it all out. I had the best intentions, really I did. Just no follow through. I really think I need the super structure of my normally super micro managed life to actually get anything done. If I have it on a checklist, I do it. Unfortunately, I didn’t make any checklists during my vacation so I didn’t do much.

Anyway, so here it is. The new year. Time for getting back to work on my goals and dreams and enough sitting around feeling sorry for myself. And, I really have been lately. For some reason, I am having a harder time than normal coming up with goals and plans for the new year. Sure, I have a list of things I want to do, places to visit, self and home improvement projects I want to tackle. Ambitious blogging goals. Ambitious family dream type goals–but, all them seem so complicated. Hopefully, it is just a funk that I will pass through with ease. I need to work on making my lists and getting through them–who cares if my goals are so random and disconnected. Gotta start somewhere, right?

I do have one big goal for the new year. I will tell you if you promise not to laugh, wonder if I am crazy or warn me of imminent paralysis (mom!). *

Photo Credit: Yogaworkout.com

By December 31, 2012—-I want to be able to walk on my hands for 20 feet. You know, do a handstand and then walk. 20 feet. Across a room, the beach or my yard.

“Why?”, you may ask yourself, “would this 37 year old, mother of two even care to be able to do something so childish?”

My reasoning goes something like this: Every year, I commit to getting into shape. And, as races are run or pounds come off, I still don’t really feel as if I have made any progress. I should have run faster. I should have lost more weight or kept it off longer. I should have eaten healthier. I should have worked out harder. I find myself making the same goals year in and year out. Each year, I start fresh with heavier weights and faster treadmill paces. And, then I get bored.

The handstand idea is a way to actually prove to myself that I am stronger, fitter and healthier than the previous year. Doing a handstand with extra pounds won’t be easy. So, some of that will have to go. Walking on my hands with a weak core–just won’t work. So, core strengthening will need to be involved. To me, there are lots of little aspects of walking on my hands that will require me to work on my health and fitness. And, I think it sounds like a fun goal. One that I will be happy to work on–day in and day out. Fun–another key to my life in 2012. Having a bit more fun with my life.

As a side note, I am also going to try to regain some back flexibility and would like to be able to do a full bridge by the end of the year.

And, if I am really dreaming big…….I may even be able to conquer this weird looking pose.

There it is. I have divulged my new years goal to you all–something my mother warned me not to do.

I will be updating those little lists at the bottom of the blog–places I hope to travel to, foods I want to cook, and things I want to do lists if you are interested in what I will be working on this year.

Wishing you all a FUN, happy and healthy new year!

-kg

Tags: core training, fitness, goals, handstand, health, new year, resolutions, yoga

2 comments

Dec
20

Chocolate-Covered-Peanut-Butter-Pretzel Truffles

by admin

Before December, I was frantically making lists of things to do, things to bake, recipes to try for the holiday season. Now, that Christmas is a week away, I feel so overwhelmed that I don’t want to cook anything. Hopefully, my funk will fade before Friday because I have lots of guests coming over for our annual Christmas Eve open house and I have lots to prepare. If not, I’ll just make a quadruple batch of these chubby hubby truffles and I don’t think anyone will mind. These are so good, in fact, that I had to make two batches in two days just to be sure to get a photo of them. They go fast. Fortunately, they are also a cinch to make.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Truffles

1½ cups crushed pretzels
½ cup creamy peanut butter
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
Pinch of salt
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips Note: I like the bittersweet chips in almost everything, if you prefer you could use semisweet or even, blech, milk chocolate.
1 tablespoon vegetable shortening

1. Mash up your pretzels by putting the pretzels in a plastic bag and rolling/mashing/smushing with a rolling pin.

2. In a small bowl, (I used a four cup measuring cup), combine the brown sugar, peanut butter, salt and butter. Stir this up until it is blended and smooth. Add pretzel bits. Mix. Add powdered sugar. Mix some more.

3. Using a small cookie scoop, make little balls of the mixture, placing each on either a wax-paper lined cookie sheet or a slip-mat. Once all the balls are rolled, put in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Be careful, at this point savages may be sneaking into the fridge to swipe some of the confections. Guard with your life.

4. Once the balls have cooled for awhile, it is time to dip them. Microwave the chocolate chips and vegetable shortening together in a small bowl at 50% power in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until completely melted and smooth.

5. I never have much luck with dipping in chocolate, but this time it worked out OK. I think the key is–working one at a time. Take one from the fridge, dip into the melted chocolate and use a fork to roll it around, ensuring that it is completely coated with chocolate. Then, before placing it back on the wax paper, let any extra chocolate drip off.

6. Return the baking sheet to the refrigerator and again chill for at least 30 minutes. Garnish with a drizzle of melted peanut butter. Store Hide in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Adapted from the Brown Eyed Baker

Tags: candies, chocolate, food, holiday treats, peanut butter, pretzel, trufffles, vegan

1 comment

Addicted to Kombucha

Cashew, Almond, Coconut Granola

Cashew, Almond, Coconut Granola

Ingredients:

Instructions

Should we move and to where?

Did you ever contemplate a big move? How did you decide where to go?

My Yoga: Class Reviews from A Newbie

How do you feel about Yoga? Gone to any amazing classes?

Indian Chicken Curry

Two Weeks In, How am I doing?

Indian Samosas

Poetry by the Bean

Happy New Year!

Chocolate-Covered-Peanut-Butter-Pretzel Truffles

Upcoming Trips….

Recent Travels

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