Comeback Kid- Revisiting the Morning Person Project

Just about two years ago, I embarked on a shift of sorts, known around these parts as "The Morning Person Project." The premise was pretty simple. Some of the most accomplished people I know are early risers and it seemed to be the best time to regularly get a workout in. I also, frankly, just needed more hours in the day.

In 2011, all of this is still true and even though I haven't mentioned it in awhile, I think I can tentatively say I'm actually enjoying it. There are a lot of things that seem to be a matter of "fits and starts" but mornings aren't one of them. If consistency can be a challenge for you as well, you know what these little victories feel like.

In addition to just generally being part of the world a little earlier and, ideally, bouncing some endorphins around, I've come to take great care in planning what was at one time my least favorite meal- Breakfast.

I've always done good thinking while cooking and it turns out this is no different in the earlier bit of day. It helps wake up the other side of my brain and it also sets the stage for some good moves later on. With that in mind, I've put my three latest favorites below. None of them, when prepped accordingly, is at all time consuming and they work best when rotated.

Pumpkin Pie Breakfast Parfait: Greek yogurt with two heaping tablespoons of pumpkin puree, topped with cinnamon and a scant handful of Scholars Inn Granola (thanks, Molls!). This is for the sweet tooth mornings and it genuinely tastes like getting dessert for breakfast for 230-250 calories*.

Avocado Toast: A piece of whole wheat toast with half a mashed avocado, hot sauce or salsa, seasoning and one of Bruce's eggs over easy. 300-320 calories*

Breakfast Beets: Pictured in this morning's golden incarnation at the top of this post and in a glorious deep purple above, this is my latest favorite. Maybe atypical as breakfast goes but it feels a little fancier without the extra work. Any fresh herb will do (tarragon and basil are my favorites), just roast your beets the night before (I do mine in foil), leave them out on a plate or refrigerate overnight and then rub the skins of easily in the AM. Chop, add cottage cheese, herbs, lemon juice (+zest if you're up for it) and a couple cracks of good black pepper. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil and tell me it's not genius. Thanks to my dear man, Jamie Oliver. (275-300 calories*)

*This is not about to become a calorie counting blog but I'd already counted them up and am usually at least curious so there you have it.

As for the rest of the morning, it goes a little like this:

• 5:15 Alarm goes off. I get one snooze if I need it (i.e. I am *this close* to unlocking the keys to time travel and need to finish the thought before that pigeon stops talki...zzzzz)
• 5:32 Okay, for real this time. Radio on, ice water poured and four mornings out of five I'm into the workout clothes I laid out on my way to bed. This is very important because I am not firing on all cylinders and something as simple as no clean sports bras could still be a deal breaker. I've made progress but I'm no saint.
• 5:54 Shoes on, teeth brushed, cat fed, face splashed. Jog to the gym. Or run if it's 5:57 already (it usually is).
• 5:59 Deep breath. It's cool and it is that very particular brand of early morning air that feels a bit private. The second freshest breath of the day.
• 6-7 Any assortment of sweaty things. So long as I can wring out my ponytail at the end, I'm in pretty good spirits and, no, I don't think that's gross.
• 7:05 Back to the house, kick on the coffee, finish that glass of water.
• 7:10-7:25 Stop sweating. Morning edition is on and I am now listening to the news, attacking my Reader and drawing a picture of what the day is going to look like.
• 7:30-8 Wash, dry, sparkle. You know the drill.
• 8-8:15 Breakfast with a crispy side of email.
• 8:20-8:35 Off to the races with a good chunk of day already behind me.

Semiramis, Sister Act, City Love

This weekend has been spectacular but you won't find any of the usual suspects in its description. The weather was murky at best, spitting wet snow at worst (most of Saturday). There were no parties, no new corner bakeries or backstreet bistros discovered, no grand plans to be seen. I don't think I've put lipstick on since Friday and even then it was because fishing in my bag for chapstick wasn't catching anything.

Instead, I spent 90% of it alone or with my best friend/neighbor. We made a Brown Line run up to Kedzie on Friday night and it still blows my mind that it takes 1 train and less than $3 to get all the way up into Albany Park, one of the city's more concentrated Middle Eastern neighborhoods. You step off the train and there it is. The best damn Lebanese restaurant I have thought to want. Semiramis.

Last year about this time, there were some strange things afoot in my health department. After an especially long afternoon in an MRI tube, Molly picked me up and we went straight there and had an incredible go of both food and company. Friday, it'd been a wild week* for both of us and we wondered if our friends would be there again. They were and again it was wine, fattoush, kafta and fat fries coated with sumac and garlic mousse. Semiramis and places like it remind me why I love city life so much.

Saturday was a day mostly categorized by the snow. I did 5 miles at the gym because Sister Act was on and I wanted to keep going till "Oh Maria."



Molly and I took off to the Empty Bottle Farmer's Market** picking up a small lemon tart from Celestial Kitchens and a gorgeous fresh baguette from Cook Au Vin. The latter is opening a new location on Milwaukee in Logan Square this summer and I'm looking forward to warm walks up there for bread. Or perhaps a crepe (should you ever be in a position to talk me into going to get a crepe with you, know that the word itself will suffice). There was a Target run for a heart rate monitor (thanks again to Coach Gina) and a quick stop-in at Goddess and the Grocer for their lemon spinach artichoke dip and some Israeli couscous.

I watched the entire 5th season of Weeds (croquet, ftw) and we feasted on the picture at top for dinner: fresh baguette, salted butter, quince preserves, prosciutto, a wedge of Boucheron cheese, fruited Israeli couscous and some of that glorious green dip. We had wine and then I folded laundry. Today I'm taking my heart rate monitor for a spin after brunch at Dave and Lisa's. This weekend was not all that exciting on paper but in reality was filled to the brim with everything I needed.


*When I say wild week I mean so wild I think I actually mentally blocked my ATM pin number. It is the strangest thing. I have had the same one for 3 years and then POOF! It was gone from my head. It's hard for me to even admit this beyond wondering if this has ever happened to anyone else?!

**I will be avoiding travel at all costs on the third weekend of every month in order attend this market. Farmers market in a rock venue with killer bloody marys and excellent vendors. In my neighborhood. Only exception could be Portland next month but the Portland of my imagination is one big rock venue farmers market so I feel justified.

Calypso's Black Bean Salad a la To Kiss the Cook

I've been on a bit of a nostalgic run lately, revisiting places and foods attached to previous lifetimes. I promise, I'm not looking to go back. I read a journal entry or two and I quickly realize that those times held as much complexity as these do, maybe more.

That being said, I think we can all do for a retracing of steps from time to time, or a retracing of crumbs in my case. I follow flavors all kinds of places. They really do all seem to have a taste attached.

The taste in this case is the unexpected combination of sweet and spice in Calypso Cafe's Black Bean Salad. It may sound familiar because I've raved about it in both of my Nashville posts (most recently, Sunday). Having now covered the recreation of Smashed Salmon Salad as my favorite dish in my actual college town, I'm moving on to my favorite forkful from my adopted college town.

There is absolutely no sophistication here. I cannot tell you why I'm so attached to it other than it is a) reminiscent of an uncertain time that turned out beautifully and b) DELICIOUS.

Ingredients

Black Beans
2 cans black beans
1 TB olive oil
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1 Tablespoon chopped garlic (2 cloves)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/3 cup beer (Used Guinness because chocolate undertones go well but anything would work)
1 cup of water

Salad
1 head Romaine lettuce, chopped
2 cups lightly broken tortilla chips
1/2 cup diced red onion
1/2 cup diced tomato
1 1/2 cups chopped roast chicken
1/3 cup shredded/grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/3 cup canned sliced jalapenos (optional)

Cucumber Dill Dressing
1 cucumber, peeled and seeded
1 1/2 cups 2% Greek yogurt (I use this in place of sour cream and mayo. I've yet to be let down.)
1/4 cup fresh dill fronds, chopped (Note: I LOVE fresh dill. You could use less but why?)
1/4 cup olive oil (for texture, no need to break out your best bottle)
1 heaping teaspoon of buttermilk powder
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt
squeeze of lemon juice (optional)

Directions

1) Open, drain and rinse your beans. Set them aside.

2) Saute garlic and onion in olive oil at medium heat in a medium saucepan. Add in spices till everything in the pot is coated and fragrant. 2-3 minutes stirring constantly.

3) Add your beans, mix well then add your beer and water. Bring this up to a boil then immediately turn heat down till you can keep a steady simmer. Simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally till liquid is reduced by a third.

4) While your beans are busy soaking up goodness, make the dressing. Put all of the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Whirl it around. Season to taste and refrigerate. Done.

5) Assemble the rest of your chopped ingredients in the following order: hearty amount of romaine lettuce, tortilla chips, chicken, tomatoes, red onion, cheese.

6) Use a slotted spoon to divide your black beans out over the salads.

7) Pour a liberal bit of cucumber dill dressing over the top of it all. Look at the ingredients. Nothing bad for you here and you'll have plenty left over for use elsewhere (egg salad, salmon filets, drizzle in tomato soup, etc.).

8) Grab a fork and carry on with the crunching.

Couscous with Kale, Clementines, Toasted Almonds and a Poached Farm Egg

Look at that hotbed of overexposed deliciousness. I do feel like I should apologize for the photo but even with the extended bit of daylight (glorious sunshine), I couldn't figure out my dinner decisions till close to eight. No natural light= no lovely photo. I'm sure you understand and I promise I'm about to make it up to you.

I've started saving my cash and calories for my big adventure next month and it's led to a pretty lovely upturn in conscious decision-making. I'll wait till we're 3-4 weeks in to say it's a routine but thanks to the lovely Coach G, things are looking good that I'll stick with it. One hour, five days a week. That's it. Nothing really insane happens during that hour but I sweat and it feels good.

Along with increased activity, I'm eating in when I might typically have eaten out. Aside from a spectacular dinner on Saturday with Caroline at Green Zebra, I've been trying to stay creative with my mealtimes at Wicked Park.

There's a restaurant in my neighborhood called Mana that I've loved since it opened. Mostly vegetarian, inventive and seasonal...tough to ask for much more in a neighborhood joint. Ever since I tried their red quinoa with almonds, currants, mint and tangerine dressing, it's something I crave regularly. I resisted the urge to pick some up and instead tried to recreate with what I had on hand. Recipe serves two so I could relive it for lunch at the office.

Couscous with Kale, Clementine, Toasted Almonds and a Poached Farm Egg


1 cup chicken broth (homemade if you've got it)
1 3/4 tsp olive oil
pinch salt
1 cup couscous (not quite as healthy as quinoa but what I had on hand)
1/4 cup sliced almonds
2 TB water
3 stalks of kale, leaves stripped and cut into 1-2 inch pieces
1 clementine, broken into sections then cut in half again for thinner slices
1 egg
1 tsp white vinegar (optional)
Freshly ground pepper to taste

1) Prepare couscous according to box instructions. Really couldn't be easier. Bring your chicken broth and 3/4 teaspoon of olive oil to a boil. Turn off the heat, add your couscous and cover. Wait 5 minutes, uncover and fluff with a fork. Done.

2) Heat a small frying pan to medium then add your almonds. These will toast quickly so toss them lightly in the pan every 30 seconds until they become fragrant and just slightly golden. Toss these into a ramekin or small bowl-we'll use them in a minute.

3) Add about 2 tablespoons of water to the pan and turn the heat back to medium. Add your kale and cover till the greens are steamed but still bright green in color. Should take about 3-4 minutes.

4) Discard any extra liquid and add kale, almonds and clementine pieces to the couscous. Mix well, divide between plates (and tupperware in my case) then cover plates to keep 'em warm.

5) Can you even believe you're almost done?

6) This is the part that people occasionally find daunting. Poaching the egg(s). Wash out your pot from the couscous and refill about 2/3 full with water. Add the teaspoon of vinegar and bring to a boil.

7) Crack your egg into a ramekin or small bowl (perhaps the one you used for the almonds?) and have it at the ready. Don't skip this part because you don't want to crack the egg directly into that very hot water, it's harder to be gentle.

8) When the water boils, turn down the heat and swirl the water around with a spoon. Gently slide the egg into the center of the swirling, no longer boiling water.

9) After 3-4 minutes have passed, remove the egg with a slotted spoon and place it atop the couscous. Top with ground pepper and enjoy.

Absolutely delicious, takes almost no time or prep and heart-healthy. Yes, please.

Smashed Salmon Salad: A Tribute to Kona/College

UPDATED October 25, 2017: I'm sorry to say that 7 years after writing this post, Kona closed its doors in Oxford. May you all have this easy back pocket dinner to eat in tribute.

I'm not really a "look back longingly" kind of girl. I love the pictures and I love the people but am decidedly a bit sad for the "high school/college was the best four years of my life" crowd. Why sell yourself short?

But it was fun. My jobs during the school year consisted of working on the line twice a week at a local restaurant and working in a small gourmet food and wine shop. I spent my earnings at the latter using my employee discount to buy nicer wine than a 21 year old should really have access to. Fun Fact: I was hired to replace a girl named Katie who had just run off with Billy Joel. My closest counterpart at Main Street Gourmet was a woman named Tina who spent her post-divorce summers in France and helped me plan my post-graduation adventure.

Life was good. Life was also frequent tanning appointments (I'm so sorry, skin), peppermint patty shots, huge hair down to my Lumbar and an inescapable lust for the phase of my life I'm in now. So...balance.

Anyhow, that was good, now is good and the only thing my current life was really missing that college TKTC had in spades is pictured at the top of this post. That would be the Smashed Salmon Salad of Kona Bistro fame.

Oxford, Ohio is a small town of cobblestone streets, Georgian brick and the freshly scrubbed faces of young Midwestern yuppies (includes self). There was no sushi, no masala. There were delicious steamed bagel sandwiches, slices of Bruno's, and Skyline 3-ways (chili+spaghetti+cheese). But then there was also Kona.

Kona became a beacon of good eating for me in college. Nice enough to take your parents (my mother demanded it) but affordable enough for a weekly takeout habit. Macadamia nut encrusted tilapia, Ale-marinated flank steak and for $8, I could get heaven in a black takeout box. Heaven in the form of Smashed Salmon Salad.

Turns out that Smashed Salmon Salad exists in a time before cell phone cameras. A Flickr search got me no further. This week I suddenly couldn't go on any longer without Smashed Salmon Salad. Then I realized how simple this dish had to be - only two of these layers require any cooking whatsoever and it was basic.

Smashed Salmon Salad (a recipe at long last; serves 2)

Salmon
2 skinless salmon fillets (about a pound total)
2 TB Dijon mustard
1/4 cup plus 2TB of jarred mango chutney
3 TB olive oil or grapeseed oil

Mashed Potatoes
5 medium red-skinned potatoes, quartered
1/4 cup whole milk or half-n-half (or whatever you prefer for mashed potatoes)
2 TB butter
1/4 tsp garlic powder
Salt and Pepper to taste
1TB Greek yogurt, sour cream or crema (optional)

Layers
2 handfuls of baby spinach, long stems removed
1 cup of matchstick cut carrots (sold this way by the celery sticks and shredded cabbage in the refrigerated part of your produce aisle)
1 Roma tomato, sliced

Directions:
1) Combine Dijon mustard and 1/4 cup of preserves in a small bowl and whisk till combined with a fork. Bust out your favorite marinating dish (8x8 square glass baking dish works for me. Or a zip-top freezer bag). Pour marinade over top of salmon, ensuring all surfaces are covered. If using a baking dish, cover with plastic wrap. Let salmon marinate in the fridge for 15-30 minutes.

2) Put your potatoes on to boil. Cook them till pieces or easily pierced with a fork and tender. About 20 minutes. Drain, return to pot, cover and set aside.

3) Add oil of choice to a large saute pan and let it warm up before adding the salmon fillets. Cook the salmon at medium heat for 5-6 minutes, enough time to get a nice golden crust on one side. Flip the salmon and loosely cover the pan with its top so the heat building will help the salmon cook through. Check the middle of the salmon 5-6 minutes later for progress. The entire salmon-cooking process only takes about 12-15 minutes and depending on the thickness of the salmon, you may need to sear the sides as well. Pretty basic saute plan...I fear I'm making it sound more complicated than it is.

4) Once your salmon is done, shut off the heat but keep the pan covered. Shift your attention back to those potatoes. Add the rest of the "Mashed Potato" ingredients. This is my typical formula for mashed potatoes but use whatever you're used to...yes Matthew, that includes a box if you so choose.

5) Favorite part: The Compilation!

On your plate start with 1 handful of the baby spinach.
Add a generous helping of mashed potatoes on top
3-4 slices of Roma tomato, pressed into mount mashed potato
Freshly ground pepper and a little salt
A scant handful of carrot shreds
One gorgeous salmon fillet place atop (possible divided in half for balance
1 TB of your preserves spread evenly over the top of the salmon to finish

Enjoy with enthusiasm and a glass of whatever makes you the giddiest. I won't judge you if you have an inexplicable craving for an Amaretto Sour afterward. There's a little Oxford in all of us.

The Morning Person Project

chicago skyline at dawn
Originally uploaded by lusia bee

I am embarking on a project.

Maybe best explained as "an experiment" called The Morning Person Project. You see, I am not naturally a morning person. I do not spring fully formed from the head of Zeus, arrows drawn on the day. I rarely sleep past 8:30 but, traveling mornings barred, it's tough for me to mobilize in the AM.

But I've noticed for awhile that a lot of the most successful people I know are true morning people. My dad, for instance, has gotten up pre-dawn my entire life. By the time I tripped over the breakfast table, he'd organized his thoughts, read the news and gotten a jump on the day's communication. The head of my company even named his blog after this same tendency. The list goes on. They are at their most creative, most clear-headed in the early.

Now, circadian rhythms being what they are, I have figured out that I currently have three push points throughout the day. These are natural energy bursts and they seem to be when I am most productive. The first is around 9:30 in the morning, the second at 2 in the afternoon, the third at 6 in the evening. This leads to me working a bit later because I need the quiet time in the office to hear above the dull roar of my own internal conversations for writing and/or bigger strategy.

But what if there was a fourth? A fourth time for me to find peaceful productivity. Perhaps lose a pound or two in the process. That would be worth the experiment, I think. Two years ago I saw a trainer at 6am 3-4 times a week for two months. While the trainer part isn't in the cards now, it was interesting enough to merit movement and I found that I was in the office earlier and my "push periods" self-adjusted. I could meditate quietly while working out, come home, shower, check my feeds while my hair dried and then head to the office without any added doddering around due to delayed alertness.

Eventually I fell back into a later set of habits (sadly one that involved less sweat) but I look back at that and remember that it was fun. Fun to be awake first. Fun to have started with something so holistically good for me rather than something that just tasted good or sounded good.

I'm not foolish enough to think that I'll stop relishing the slow meandering mornings and quiet curled up nights but I think it's okay for me to look into other sources of joy lit up by fresh morning light. I had a great weekend with my mom in town, she being the eternal motivator, and I think I've thought about it enough.

My proposal? I have a gym that is less than 2 minutes walking from Wicked Park. I will tweet every morning when I get up early enough to go and would be happy to see I have morning company. I know it's not a lot but it's a start. I've set out workout ensembles for the week. Experiment begins tomorrow. Fingers crossed that I don't blow up the lab.

Any natural risers out there? Care to share your secrets?

I put together a new workout playlist in the comments over at NOLA 2010 so check that out if you too could use the motivation.

Dinner That is Easy, Healthy and Tastes Good

New plan. Instead of naming posts with misleading words like "edition" in the title, I will name posts after Google searches that I would like to lead people here. And then be only slightly less misleading because for every Cooking Light recipe or farmer's market trip, there's an all-butter crust just lurking in the darkness.

What? This doesn't look evil to you? Of course it doesn't. It is fresh kale that has been lightly tossed in extra virgin olive oil and the juice of half a lemon. There is nothing wrong with this picture beyond the portion but, never you worry, it cooks down.

See? 10 minutes at 425. Seasoned lightly with sea salt and pepper then piled as a mountain on a plate. It is flanked by the slices of a freshly picked apple and a few thin slices of extra sharp white cheddar cheese. The only diabolical thing here is that it tastes. so. good. Crisp kale with a lemon zing. Crunchy sweet apple with creamy cheese. It is hardly gourmet but it is dangerously good.

Like pie is good. Like cake is good. Like croissants and bechamel sauce are good. Cue Linda Blair.

I don't mean to be evil. I really don't. I want to be inspired and collected and self-disciplined. It's just that pie occasionally gets in the way. Pie and my cat. I'd blame the couch but the couch is mostly innocent this time. If I don't get up off it, it's the fault of HC putting her paw in my outstretched hand, creating warm spots all over this chilly apartment.

Alas, she refuses to be held accountable. Typical. Thus, I must bear my own burden. It's time to get back to the gym. It's time to deep-dive into these beautiful fall veggies. It's time to make time. Tasty, flaky roadblocks are allowed so long as I'm in good enough shape to jump over them.

MRIIIII....Thought I Was Dying

It's a crass title for a post. I know it is. But that doesn't make it any less true and it somewhat explains what put a small stop in my big, flashy blog comeback. No, this is not an April Fool's Day joke.

A week and a half ago, my legs fell asleep under a table in Evanston while I was out to lunch with CVDJ. This had been happening with greater frequency since the new year but this time they never really came back. Pins and needles for the rest of the day. And night. And by Sunday, it was my arms too. My back ached but the feeling was more disconcerting than anything else. By Tuesday I was having a full battery of bloodwork at the doctor's office and the symptoms persisted. Thursday night I was chugging "berry smoothie" flavored barium for a CATscan. And then it was Friday. And I was still feeling the pins and needles along with pain in my neck and back.

Friday night I went in for an MRI of my brain and a CATscan of my "trunk." Looking. Looking for multiple sclerosis. Looking for tumors. Looking for something.

I would not consider myself a type A person. My version of "clean" is stacks. That includes dishes 6 days out of 7. Clean clothes could stay in the laundry basket for a week.

The one area of my life in which I have managed to be completely organized is my health. Vaccines, vitamins, dentists, antioxidants- I'm on it. If I'm in pain or if something is clearly "off" I am at the doctor. And I love my doctor, which helps. She knows I err on the side of hypochondriasis but maintains that "doubt can be as damaging as disease" so she listens. She's also not afraid to prescribe yoga and some Metamucil when she suspects it's stress. You're welcome for that.

Back to Friday. A lot of my symptoms added up to MS- numbness, woman of child-bearing age, limited exposure to sunlight/vitamin D deficient. This isn't a death sentence. In fact there is a pretty incredible stem cell treatment happening in Chicago but it's not a cakewalk and I was scared out of my mind. OUT of my mind. And if it's not MS than it is clearly cancer. A tumor is compressing my spine and I am dying. OUT OF MY MIND.

So I did everything they told me to so that my tests could be as accurate as possible. You have to drink the barium nastiness 24 hours ahead of the catscan which meant bringing it to work. We've had some incidences of lunch thievery at the office and I caught myself fantasizing more than once that a thief would mistake my "berry smoothie"for one of those Naked Juices. Then the whole office could get catscans and whoever had the GI tract that lit up like the Bellagio was our culprit. The 62nd floor would throw me a parade and it would end with cookie cake and chocolate milk (I couldn't eat for several hours in advance of the CT so more daydreams than usual climaxed with food).

Then Friday night arrived, I was ushered in for my MRI, I was on my own. Sweet technicians but I had no idea how LOUD those suckers are! I had to lay completely still for 30 minutes. The only break was for an IV at the 20 minute mark. Anything containing needles should not be considered a break. Unless it's acupuncture but I'll get to that later.

I did manage to keep myself entertained though. For thirty minutes I imagined they were using the radio frequency to actually watch my thoughts so I came up with the most out-there buisiness I could. And when the unicorns and 6th dimensions got old, I reverted back to Dr. Who and making whoopie. Same thing I do on a treadmill actually. I was cracking myself up and more than once had to have the stern version of my headvoice tell me to "Knock it off, kitten, you're gonna get us in trouble."

Catscan was much shorter, still with the IV. Only the IV fluid this time was special. It makes your insides warm. And my very sweet tech. was talking me through this and telling me what would happen first and how long it would last and then omgooooooodniiiight why is everything above my thighs and below my belly button so warm?!

Oh. IV fluid goes where the blood goes. My nose was still cold so I think we know where my body feels attention most appropriate. How embarrassing...blaming the MRI for that one. It did pass about a minute later. The things you learn.

In an effort to resurrect my night and cement her place in my perennial heart of hearts, Molly came to pick me up at the hospital and took me to the best Lebanese place this side of Beirut. Semiramis. BYOB, seated next to "the boys." The boys being the owner and his 3 best friends- all 50-70 year old soccer fanatics changing between English, Arabic and French. The Ethiopian waitress slapped one upside the head at one point because he apparently used a bad word in Arabic. I cannot overemphasize how much I love this place. Falafel and Shawarma Fatima salad and the fries covered in sumac with garlic paste that I would eat spoon-style, even if it meant forgoing a make-out with E. Cullen. Lucky for me, the more garlic I consume, the feistier Jaimeson gets (Greek thing) so that works out.

At the end of the night, I went to bed thinking about French pastries, Turkish coffee and funny old men who sketch restaurant patrons on the tablecloths every Friday. This is just as well because every single one of my tests came back clear as a bell. A loud bell that I am now ringing from the tops of tall buildings, of which we have many here in Chicago. Symptoms persist but potentially a pinched nerve from dancing to too much bad 90's music or a latent injury from silly shoes. I have my first acupuncture appointment on Monday and my mom comes in on Friday. I owe her a drink and we are going to the Violet Hour to get one.

Because I am not dying. I am very very very living.



*Living, but a little sad that my MRI did not apparently show 213% more genius than average. My doctor probably wouldn't tell me if it had though because she knows I'd prefer to go to Sweden and Budapest than sit in a lab explaining my genius to a bunch of scientists. Or talk about pie, whichever came out first.

** Just drop the WebMD and step slowly away from the computer if it is after 8pm.

*** Yes, I'm feeling a little cheeky but I'd like the moral of the story to be that you're your own best health advocate. Pay attention.

Sugar Penalty for The Sweet Life

Molly's birthday cake, Barefoot Contessa Coconut Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, served with Raspberry Sauce and Camille's homemade Coconut Ice Cream

Dear Lovely Friends d'Internet,
How are you? I am fine. No, seriously....I know I keep disappearing on you but I'm still kickin and in some areas, kickin some ass. We'll blame the pain meds for the crass language.

Yes, pain meds. I think we've discussed my tendency toward dental dilemma before. I have to have a root canal tomorrow and at this point I'm just excited for the novacaine- the last 36 hours have really been a new level of discomfort. As you can see, I'm a fan of getting the bad news out of the way first.

The good news? Can't keep a good woman down (ok, maybe not 110% good woman but definitely trying and the rest is really just little bits of mischief here and there). Because I had a great weekend- wine at Bin Wine Cafe, Palomas at Salud, lil Dyl in my 826 Chi class "Happily Ever After?", the girls over for cake and wine for Molly's birthday(see top), GREAT SEASONAL BEER at the Map Room with artisan salami flown in from Pike's Place....all in the midst of 7 inches of rain. Not too shabby!!

And work is rocking. I'm busy. I'm working really hard and it's not slowing down anytime soon. Which is fine by me...things are heating up in the kitchen and I like it that way. Most of all- I'm a month and a half in and knowing it was the right move. I'm working on the things I want to work on, I'm working with people (on all sides) that I want to work with and this is why you go to the big leagues...you learn something new every damn day. There go those gauche pain meds again- back to your proper-ish southern belle tomorrow:)

Odds and Ends:
Late dinner at La Madia in River North last night. Even on my soft things/soup only diet, P and I had a GREAT dinner- house-cured olives (not as good as Bin's but still pretty awesome), "pizza fondue," chicken-spinach-ricotta ravioli in brown butter sauce, scallops with late summer corn salad and a bottle of Delta Pinot Noir.

Taco Soup recipe from Mom. Jaimeson and I ate two meals of this on the Cape over Labor Day and with mom dancing around going "it's just so easy!!" I knew I was going to need to make some. She's not kidding. Brown a pound or two of ground turkey in some PAM then add the following:
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 packet dried Ranch seasoning
1 can diced tomatoes (I used one with onion and garlic)
1 can black beans
1 can red beans
1 can white beans
1 can corn
2 cans chicken broth
2 small cans V8
TKTC Note: + pinch of Ground Ancho Pepper and a pinch of cinnamon

I hope you recycle cause that's a lot of cans. And seriously- just dump the cans in once the meat has browned and let it heat through. Ta-DA! Serve with a little low fat sour cream/Mexican crema and the cheddar of your choosing. It makes a lot. I had a bowl that night, a tupperware for lunch today and still had this left over...Two single serving Tupperware containers and probably three servings in the big guy. Or just two if we fast forward two weeks and Jaimeson and I are up late watching True Blood, drinking wine and being hungry.

What I'm listening to:
Good Arms Vs. Bad Arms by Frightened Rabbit (another spot ON request from Brother)
I'll Find a Way by Rachael Yamagata (tour starts Saturday)
Paper Planes by M.I.A. (from Lex- you should see me listening to this on the train...so street)

V-Feasting

I have all the makings of a fantastic vegan feast tonight. I just need to know what to do or where to look for some hot hot recipes??

I have: Lite Firm Tofu, a bunch of Rainbow Chard, Brown Rice and an assortment of spices and condiments.

Ideas?
Overcoat was kind enough to direct me toward veganyumyum.com so the linked recipe for Sweet Chili Lime Tofu might fit the bill if I can sub chard for collard greens and brown rice for quinoa. Or even this Marmalade Tofu with Kale and Lemon Pearl Couscous. I'm trying to avoid the grocery store even though it's among my favorite places.

Other Headlines:

I woke up at 3:30am last night to seriously loud alley cat sex. HoneyCat and I both crowded at the window to catch the peep show but mostly it was just a bunch of loud wailing with one cat in attack mode on its back. So...not that different from what I imagine happening with the three remaining Ukranian hookers on my block at about that same time.
When I couldn't get back to sleep, I said a little blessing for the time difference and called my favorite mustache. He then proceeded to talk dirty by walking me through the tomato, feta and garlic omelet he was making with caramelized red onion. I'm re-creating that one for brunch tomorrow and am already anticipating the delicious of it all.

In really super sexy news, I have swimmer's ear. I must have just turned nine and June and it's actually 1992. Eardrops are still de rigeur. And I have to "step away from the Q-tips." At least I like my doctor. And now that I'm 100% public transit, walking through Ravenswood Manor in the middle of a beautiful workday to get to the office was a little kickass. Even though I'm 9 and my ear hurts.

Going for a run (with cotton in my ears...HOT) and coming home to make something healthier than the bar food I've had the last two nights.

Much love,
Meatless

Tastespotting- A Great Break from Napping

I mentioned this yesterday but I am obsessed with TasteSpotting. Makes me want to get cooking so I can get featured! I've already found Larissa on there...who's next? Sues?

Larissa's Mushroom & Spinach Tart

This is also a GREAT way to find other food blogs (in fairness, I don't know that I still fit in this category but I'm living with/in it). My five favorites thus far (in no particular order):

Joy the Baker

From Argentina With Love

Farida's Azerbaijani Cookbook

Chez Us

My Achy Bakey Heart (covered yesterday)

I swear I'm inspired but just not feelin so hot...I did manage to feed myself a stellar feel good breakfast this morning though! (shortly before returning to bed)

Strawberries on the bottom with a half tsp of Chicago Honey Co-Op honey (a sweet reminder that the Green City Market re-opens tomorrow!!), a thin layer of Kashi Honey Almond Go Lean! Crunch, 1/2 a sliced banana, another 1/2 tsp of honey, Greek Style kefir poured over the top.

Stir and feel good about yourself and at least one decision you've made today.

Speaking of great decisions (no sarcasm), as of yesterday afternoon, I finally had access to my iTunes again. First thing I did was buy Ashtar Command's Love Songs in Advance of the Landing. Blister of the Spotlight*, China, Rosa, Holding Out for Love...all fantastic. This is going to be the album that sounds like spring for me, I can feel it.

Also playing in my kitchen (this should make Brother proud), Sunshine by Atmosphere. Yes, it's hip hop...is that still what the kids are calling it? Whatever it is, I'm a little addicted.

Lady Lovelylinks

In apology for the overwhelming length of the post from yesterday, I am doing a post that is mostly links and pretty pictures today. Although the "Train to Paris" story is worth a read if you're bed ridden or something:) Enjoy!

I'm still thoroughly enjoying the Fleet Foxes, who I figured out last weekend when they opened for Blitzen Trapper at Schubas. Nice nice guys and very different from anything else I've been listening to lately. Haunting like an an old Americana folk song...reminds me of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow a bit.
My plan was to use the pic on the far right to illustrate this segment. For some reason I see Lady Lovely Locks in their Sun Giant cover. The fact that this site exists is a little creepy to me but I'm not hatin'. Anyway, upon my Google Image search I found a couple other fun ones so love on the montage and snag the EP- just released on iTunes all of 4 days ago.

If you just want some new music and you want it now: Greg Laswell (yum), Joshua Radin and- a TKTC favorite person- Cary Brothers all had new loves come out very recently.
For all my girls planning weddings...Creature Comforts did a pretty cute piece on planning a chic and affordable day.

Capital A Prints out of Detroit has some pretty sweet poster designs up. I love this one for Jens Lekman- one of my Scandocrushes-but found about about them through the Blitzen boys (check out their lightening jar here). I keep coming up with ideas to decorate my "office space" and it runs a real gamut between peacock blue wall with gold frames and the vintage mirrors I've been collecting OR framed prints of concert posters and some personal photos (other than my fridge, there are none in my apartment). That may be a project for next week, once I rid myself of this huge box of nonsense that's been here since I moved in.This Just In: FashionIndie has determined that curls AND big hair are in for Spring. Guess I'm in luck as I wake up with this hot mess every day. I shouldn't say that, I actually like my hair. It's like shoes- no matter where I'm at in my jeans sizes, I can usually depend on it to at least do it's own thing. A girl in Starbucks yesterday asked me what I put in it so I will now recommend two things to all you curlies:

1) Bumble & Bumble Curl Conscious Creme if your hair is my texture.
2) NaturallyCurly.com to determine what your texture is and/or a SLEW of products for the kink-inclined;)

TKTC Note: Not actually awake in this picture and reserving the right to take it down if reconsidered.

Style Files gets all the extra credit for finding this gorgeous "white house" in Paris. More pics after the jump but there are so many worn, natural touches. Very Greek Isles, everything textured and sunwashed. Yum.
Love this. I'm definitely not usually this Flash-Bang but this just looks lux. Sadly it is priced...consistently. I'm going to covet anyway.
So Decorno is over Robert Longo. But he's new to me and I'm loving this shot. I feel like it's kinda nice to just be a hobby decorator when things like this come up. I know what I like so I don't really worry about what's in or out. I also happen to think I could ROCK this dress but beside the point...focusing on the "art."Photo above is TKTC Saturday thus far. Greek-style Kefir (new to TKTC), strawberries and a little honey for breakfast with a big ole cup of Peet's, blog love and eventually some laundry-folding, gym running madness. Yesterday I did 4 miles in 31 minutes (do the math, I'm not so fast) so today I'm gonna see if I can kick it up a notch.

Potential Energy

Priority Mail: These all went out this afternoon!

I spent a lot of the day today thinking about potential. Workwise, I was thinking about new clients and old clients. Both are in places to take off should a few new ideas take hold. The new client is of particular interest to me at the moment because it's something new for me and the line relates strongly to something I'm passionate about (skin-protection, nourishment etc).

But in the pause spots between releases and drafts, I thought about my friends and I thought about myself. I have four very good friends right now, totally unrelated to each other, who are on the cusp of these beautifully big things in their lives. Tremendous opportunities that run the full gamut and I will share each in turn as they come to fruition. Because I've got no doubt that they will and I'm thrilled for them. Seriously, the last few weeks have had me giving little yips of excitement after emails and phone calls! They've always been superstars to me but things are starting to happen and, well, one more cryptic yay and I'll move on. YAY!!

Then there's me. In a lot of ways I feel like I've been makin it happen on the health front in particular. After 7 weeks in the gym, I have muscle again. I feel strong again. The shape of my body has changed and it feels amazing.

However, it's time to step it up one more notch. While my body fat % has moved down fairly steadily, my weight has not. Now one is a much better indicator of health than the other so I know I'm getting SOMETHING done but there's room to improve now that I've kicked it off strong.

Blunt Bottom Line: There is a KICKASS body underneath a few stubborn layers and the time for complacency is long gone. I've gotten this far, Turbo drive can take it from here.

I need to get all this potential energy into the realm of kinetic. Any all motivation is perfectly encouraged!

Just Souper...Thanks for Asking

The Original- Cooking Light, October 2007

Tearsheets really couldn't have come at a better time. Knowing what I want to make and that I have everything need is saving my homelife right now. And making it healthy and delicious as well. Tonight- Sweet Potato and White Bean Soup with Sage-Walnut Pesto from October's Cooking Light. Again with LOADS of my favorite ingredients, although I was skeptical as to how they'd all go together. I was also inspired that their roses were the same color as mine. Yeah. I also match my water glass to my shirt every day at work. Sue me.

*Sweet Potato
*Pesto- Fresh Sage, EVOO, Walnuts
Fresh Lemon Juice
*White Beans (Recipe calls for Cannellini, but Navy or Great Northern would work...)
Leeks
Fresh Flat Leaf Parsley
*Swiss Chard
*Garlic
Asiago Cheese

It's cold and overcast here so soup sounded fantastic. Also, when I stopped into Stanley's to grab produce, it cost me $8.32 for what will end up being about 5 meals. I'll take it. Another thing to look at here is the asterisks. These are "Super Foods." They are linked to one of my very favorite sites: World's Healthiest Foods. It breaks down all of the good stuff in the ingredients you want to use. Plus, if you have 3 or more of these in a recipe and you don't sop them in butter, you're doing really well. I had EIGHT tonight. Yesssssss:)

Click the picture for the Readable Tearsheet

This was filling, made a ton and I had pesto leftover that I can freeze and use with gnocchi or crostini at a later date. Other than that...one pot clean-up and pretty straight forward. Full recommendation though. My 4 additional servings should get me through the first warm snap!

Mine- Much better than it looks.

a) I can't wait to get a real camera with my tax refund, and
b) I got a little overzealous with the pesto and stirred it before taking the photo, thus giving it a deceptively muddled complexion.

Well-Red

I have more stories from the weekend, the red dress and the long talks but didn't leave the office till 8, the gym till 9:30 and just ate a bowl of frozen broccoli for dinner. As Bri would say, I'm a Monday.

However, several of my regular reads did give me some nice things to look at as I sorted through my steamed greenery so I'll send you to them. Cause they're great, you are too and you'll probably be friends.

What a deliciously romantic tradition. From Orangette.

The Girl List from Angie. Funny and so so true. 3, 6, 10, 12, 18-21....all of them.

decor8 uses Fruit-Stripe Gum colors as an organic cure for seasonal blues/ slush syndrome.

Creature Comforts makes me think blue isn't so bad after all.

We Are Not Martha made a hot V-Day playlist. I'm gonna say ditto plus Sigur Rose, Jose Gonzalez and Thomas Dybdahl.

Whipped (& TKTC) are loving doctored frozen waffles for breakfast.

Big Time Fancy nailed it on a problem we all come to at some point...trying to like the good guy for once.
TKTC Note: In a totally random coincidence, I had Sunday brunch yesterday at the diner pictured in Fancy's header. She's never been there, I now have and will say you should all go to The Arcade when you're in Memphis. Sweet potato pancakes, bacon and grits: $7. Resting my case. And my head. Goodniiiight!

Boulettes D'Agneau Aux Pruneaux ("American" Version)

One of my favorite parts of getting into the blog scene for myself is the spontaneous collaborative efforts that start to happen over time. Miss Scarlett, for instance, has already inspired one of my recent posts but she has now done it again. Her adaptation for Boulettes D'Agneau Aux Pruneaux (Lamb & Fruit Spiced Meatballs), originally by Clotilde Desoulier of Chocolate & Zucchini, got my mouth watering and my mind wandering.

MS made it her own by using meats other than lamb, thereby creating little mixed meatbombs to mingle with the amazing flavors in the original recipe (orange zest, fresh parsley, fruit, North African spices, garlic, etc.). I love both recipes but when I got to Whole Foods (coupons in hand) I thought I could it put my own monogram on it. Take a French-Moroccan recipe, once removed, and add a little US of A while maintaining the integrity of the initial conception. The secret would still have to be in the meat ( you say it and try avoiding any thought of Hannibal, Idgie and/or Mr. Todd...Gew).

Got it. Nothing says American like bison :) And it's a good bit leaner than ground beef! 1/2 pound please! Next...I'm gonna bring the lamb back. I love lamb, I know that's what the original calls for and (price check)...Not bad. 3/4 lb please! That leaves one more. I'd hoped for turkey because I know it makes good meatballs (and interesting evenings) but alas, no such luck at WF. Ground chicken it is. All lean, all fresh and I think I've kept the melting pot thing going:)

Now to get started...

Boulettes D'Agneau Aux Pruneaux des Les Etats Unis
(adapted from I'll Never Go Hungry Again & Chocolate & Zucchini)

3/4 lb. Lean Ground Lamb
1/2 lb. Lean Ground Bison
1/2 lb. Ground Chicken
24 good-quality prunes/dried plums, pitted and roughly chopped
3-4 small shallots, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/2 c. fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped, plus 2 TB for dip
2 tbs. freshly grated orange zest (approx 2 oranges-worth)
1/2 tsp. of All-spice (I used a combination of equal parts cinnamon, nutmeg and ground cloves)
1/4 tsp. Ground Coriander
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 tbs. olive oil, plus 1 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. fine sea salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1/3 cup 2% Fage Greek yogurt
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
*Good cooking music courtesy of Yael Naim & Carla Bruni (France's First Femme?)

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine meat, prunes, shallots, garlic, parsley, orange zest, spices, eggs, 2 tbs. olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix will with your hands. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.

2. Remove bowl from fridge. Wash hands well and keep them damp. Scoop out rounded tablespoons of the mixture and roll into balls between your palms*. Set aside in a single layer on plates until you've made as much as you plan on cooking.

3. Heat 1 tsp. olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add a single layer of meatballs without crowding the pan. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring the meatballs gently so they are browned all over. Set aside on a clean plate and cover with foil while you work on the rest.

4. Made a quick dip by mixing the 2 TB of chopped parsley into yogurt along with fresh lemon juice and a little fleur de sel.I struck it lucky and still had whole wheat couscous leftover from last night's dinner so I pulled that out, warmed it up and plated. Delicious. Seriously...totally different and DELICIOUS. I am using my leftover meat mix for when the colleagues are over on Saturday evening.

TKTC Notes:
1) I need a zester. I was using the lowest setting on a 4-sided grater and chewed up the side of my hand in the process. Funny how I got a trial issue of Cooks Illustrated in the mail yesterday, offering a free zester with subscription. Susie- were you the one talking about CI? And how did they know?!

2) Next time I will break out the food processor on the pruneaux. They're sticky and thus kind've a pain to chop. Even with my L'Economie knives which cut anything like its room temp. butter.

3) I will also be inviting friends for dinner next time as this one is ready to be shared. Chester got some frozen soup yesterday (which he promptly ate for breakfast) and I am not above running a messy test kitchen.

Going to bed with a smile: Happy moment for the day was looking at my items on the conveyor belt at the grocery store. All fresh, organic-ish and healthy. Hyacinth in photo also courtesy of WF and contributing to how good my apartment smells/feels at the moment. I 've got a fresh lb of Peet's French Roast and a workout with Chester to look forward to in the very early AM and thus...I am off.

Butternuts: A Healthy Cooking Explosion

As promised, I've got a healthy recipe- Butternut Squash Soup. Yes, I done just had butternut squash last night but what can I say? I love orange food and don't need glasses yet for that reason (maybe some genes too).

Can't take all the credit on finding the recipe though ...that would be my blog buddies: Miss Scarlett of I'll Never Go Hungry Again and Susie/Chels of We Are Not Martha. My Boston counterpart and fellow orange foodie, the lovely Susie, and her partner-in-crime just started We Are Not Martha and even after just a few weeks, it is a very nice translation of all "good things" for the twentysomething. I'm loving it so far!! Miss Scarlett is just a revelation of health and had no small part in my getting back into the gym- no small deed after that much time away.

I used to make a version with Light Coconut Milk and curry and freeze it for the college boyfriend but this was even easier as a weeknight meal after a long workout and a long day. Abby was over (always game for a healthy night in) and while I didn't heed Sues' advice to get pre-cut and peeled squash, we chatted as I made a total mess in the 2.5 ft circumference of my trashcan and then nuked it for 5 min in the microwave.

I have a half moon scar on my left thumb from failing to do that second step in college and with a college-grade knife, no less. Vivid memories of blood in a dish towel, yelling up the Sugar Shack stairs to CVD(J), " CCCCC....Can you drive me to the hospital please?" Stitches by way of butternut squash. Sheesh. No such terror this time and I am officially coming back to my point. Recipe below with TKTC notes at the very bottom:

Butternut Squash Soup Ingredients Serves 4 to 6. 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 onion, coarsely chopped Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper 3 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch chunks 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth 1 to 3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Directions In a large Dutch oven or pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion. Season with salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add squash, broth, and enough water (4 to 5 cups) to cover. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium, and simmer until squash is tender, about 20 minutes. Using a blender or an immersion blender, puree broth and vegetables until smooth. If using a blender, work in batches and fill only halfway, allowing heat to escape: Remove cap from hole in lid, cover lid firmly with a dish towel, and blend. Transfer to a clean pot as you work. Adjust soups consistency with a little water if necessary. Season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.

TKTC Notes: Original recipe is from Martha Stewart. You can watch the video version here.

• There is not a lot of salt in this. To add flavor without the sel, add about two shakes each of curry powder, ground cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg and one shake of cayenne. Top it off with fresh ground pepper.
• Makes a lot. Have tupperware ready.
• Ok, maybe an extra pinch of sea salt wont' kill you...
  

You can see in the top picture that we didn't JUST eat soup. We had a baby romaine salad with walnuts, low fat feta, craisins, sliced pork tenderloin and hard-boiled egg as well. Dressing? Well Paul Newman Light Balsamic of course. I love that dressing so much that I decided to wear and decorate my kitchen with it. False.

I forgot that I had already shaken the dressing and loosened the top before serving our soup. So when I went to shake-n-toss, it exploded all. over. everything. There was a lot of salad dressing scented laughter and I still have some crusted to my neck I think. Yum- fresh from the gym and covered in dressing. The picture doesn't even do it justice. Thank God Abs was there to witness the ridiculousness.

Bottom line? Delicious and easy Wednesday meal with all kinds of health going on.

Also, today (Wed) marked Day 1 of a 4 day training blitz. I've been going 3-4 times a week in January but this week I'm looking at 5 and I'm excited. Mostly I'm excited that it doesn't hurt to sit down to pee anymore (curse that extra X chromosone) but I'm also ecstatic that I feel like I've finally stopped spinning my wheels and can (just ever so barely) see a difference. This is a very important day because now I'm trying to see how far I can take this. After the early days of straight up dragging my sore, shaking legs out of bed, I'm starting to compete.

And I lost tonight.

CarrieAnne- 4-5 inches shorter than me and petite all-around- 100% burned me in wind sprints tonight. No gazelle stride was going to get me out of that. I bang out lunges at 6x her rate but she's still doing more work because I rely on my inseam to go the distance. Hence why her little legs are so good at getting around so damn fast. Matt was laughing at me because he could see it: I hate to lose. Not in a bad way but man alive. They say that playing a sport with someone a little better than you is the best thing you can do for yourself. You play up. This definitely applies outside of sports as well and I'm always looking for the challenge (and trying to be one).

I'll be in at 6am tomorrow to take another crack at it. For CarrieAnne's sake, of course ;)